The Impact of Building Information Modelling (BIM) Strategies in Energy Sustainability Elements to Sustainable Campus Using PLS-SEM Approach

This paper establishes a structural relationship between BIM strategies in eleven (11) energy sustainability elements divided into management and technical aspects that impact a sustainable campus. The work established thirteen (13) benchmarks for independent variables and one (1) dependent variable. The exploratory research design used in this study led to the structural model development being the central focus of the study. A judgmental sampling technique was used to distribute a questionnaire survey among local engineers, assistant engineers, and technicians in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The research population survey employed 78 returned questionnaires. The analysis used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses. The result indicate that the management and technical aspects of Energy Sustainability Elements (ESE) have a significant impact on sustainable campus with path coefficients of 2.447 and 5.032, respectively. The findings have revealed that hypothesis 1 and hypothesis 2 were all positive and significant at the 0.05 level, indicating that these two hypotheses are valid and supported. This study provides valuable information and insights for Malaysian universities to achieve a sustainable campus by adopting building information modelling (BIM) strategies in the context of energy efficiency

The Impact of Building Information Modelling (BIM) Strategies in Energy Sustainability Elements to Sustainable Campus Using PLS-SEM Approach

This paper establishes a structural relationship between BIM strategies in eleven (11) energy sustainability elements divided into management and technical aspects that impact a sustainable campus. The work established thirteen (13) benchmarks for independent variables and one (1) dependent variable. The exploratory research design used in this study led to the structural model development being the central focus of the study. A judgmental sampling technique was used to distribute a questionnaire survey among local engineers, assistant engineers, and technicians in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The research population survey employed 78 returned questionnaires. The analysis used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses. The result indicate that the management and technical aspects of Energy Sustainability Elements (ESE) have a significant impact on sustainable campus with path coefficients of 2.447 and 5.032, respectively. The findings have revealed that hypothesis 1 and hypothesis 2 were all positive and significant at the 0.05 level, indicating that these two hypotheses are valid and supported. This study provides valuable information and insights for Malaysian universities to achieve a sustainable campus by adopting building information modelling (BIM) strategies in the context of energy efficiency

The impact of Building Information Modelling (BIM) strategies in energy sustainability elements to sustainable campus using PLS-SEM approach

This paper establishes a structural relationship between BIM strategies in eleven (11) energy sustainability elements divided into management and technical aspects that impact a sustainable campus. The work established thirteen (13) benchmarks for independent variables and one (1) dependent variable. The exploratory research design used in this study led to the structural model development being the central focus of the study. A judgmental sampling technique was used to distribute a questionnaire survey among local engineers, assistant engineers, and technicians in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The research population survey employed 78 returned questionnaires. The analysis used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses. The result indicates that the management and technical aspects of Energy Sustainability Elements (ESE) significantly impact sustainable campus with path coefficients of 2.447 and 5.032, respectively. Furthermore, the findings have revealed that Hypothesis 1 and Hypothesis 2 were all positive and significant at the 0.05 level, indicating that these two hypotheses are valid and supported. This study provides valuable information and insights for Malaysian universities to achieve a sustainable campus by adopting building information modeling (BIM) strategies in the context of energy efficiency

Liaison Old Age Psychiatry Service in a Medical Setting: Description of the Newcastle Clinical Service

Liaison Old Age Psychiatry services (LOAP) have begun to emerge in the UK and further development of the service is supported by the latest health policies. Since qualitative and quantitative studies in this area are lacking, we have undertaken a detailed quantitative prospective review of referrals to the Newcastle LOAP to evaluate the clinical activity of the service. We report high referral rates and turnover for the LOAP service. Reasons for referral are diverse, ranging from requests for level of care and capacity assessments and transfer to other clinical services to management of behaviour, diagnosis, and treatment. We outline the value of a multidisciplinary model of LOAP activity, including the important role of the liaison nursing team, in providing a rapid response, screening, and followup of high number of clinical referrals to the service

Biohydrogen Production by Modified Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Reactor (AFBR) Using Mixed Bacterial Cultures in Thermophilic Condition

Anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) with slight modifications was investigated to increase biohydrogen production at high temperature. The modifications include a decrease in the total liquid volume to 3.3 L, in addition to an external work in the form of high temperatures, high dilution rates and high rates of de-gassed effluent recycling. These modifications were applied to overcome the thermodynamic constrains preventing the simultaneous achievement of high hydrogen yield (HY) and hydrogen productivity (HP) in an (AFBR). Bacterial granulation successfully induced under a high temperature of 65oC. The bacterial granules consisted of a multispecies bacterial consortium comprised of thermophilic clostridial and enterobacter species. Hydrogen production rate (HPR) of 7.57 L H2/L/h and hydrogen yield of 5.82 mol H2/ mol glucose were achieved at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 1 h and effluent recycle rate of 3.6 L/ min, with V/F er equal to 0.9

Comparing and Optimizing Nitrate Adsorption from Aqueous Solution Using Fe/Pt Bimetallic Nanoparticles and Anion Exchange Resins

This research work was carried out for the removal of nitrate from raw water for a drinking water supply. Nitrate is a widespread ground water contaminant. Methodology employed in this study included adsorption on metal based nanoparticles and ion exchange using anionic resins. Fe/Pt bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared in the laboratory, by the reduction of their respective salts using sodium borohydride. Scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometry, and X-ray florescence techniques were utilized for characterization of bimetallic Fe/Pt nanoparticles. Optimum dose, pH, temperature, and contact time were determined for NO3- removal through batch tests, both for metal based nanoparticles and anionic exchange resin. Adsorption data fitted well the Langmuir isotherm and conformed to the pseudofirst-order kinetic model. Results indicated 97% reduction in nitrate by 0.25 mg/L of Fe/Pt nanoparticles at pH 7 and 83% reduction in nitrate was observed using 0.50 mg/L anionic exchange resins at pH 4 and contact time of one hour. Overall, Fe/Pt bimetallic nanoparticles demonstrated greater NO3- removal efficiency due to the small particle size, extremely large surface area (627 m2/g), and high adsorption capacity

Green Synthesis of Zn(OH)₂/ZnO-Based Bionanocomposite using Pomegranate Peels and Its Application in the Degradation of Bacterial Biofilm

The ability and potency of bacterial species to form biofilms, which show antibiotic resistance thereby avoiding antibiotic surfaces, is a major cause of prolonged infections. Various advanced approaches have been employed to prevent or damage bacterial biofilms, formed by a variety of bacterial strains, to help prevent the associated infectious disease. In this context, zinc-based nanostructures have been recognized as a potential antibiotic agent against a broad spectrum of bacterial communities. As a result, a sustainable and green synthesis method was adapted in the present study to synthesize a Zn(OH)(2)/ZnO-based bionanocomposite, in which aqueous extracts of waste pomegranate peels (Punica granatum) were employed as a natural bioreducing agent to prepare the bionanocomposite at room temperature. Furthermore, FT-IR, XRD, DLS, UV-Visible, PL spectroscopy, FE-SEM, and TEM were used to characterize the green route synthesized a Zn(OH)(2)/ZnO bionanocomposite. The average crystallite size was determined using the Scherrer relation to be 38 nm, and the DLS results indicated that the Zn(OH)(2)/ZnO bionanocomposite had a hydrodynamic size of 170 nm. On the other hand, optical properties investigated through UV-Vis and PL spectroscopy explored the energy bandgap between 2.80 and 4.46 eV, corresponding to the three absorption edges, and it covered the blue spectrum when the sample was excited at 370 nm. Furthermore, the impact of this green route synthesized a Zn(OH)(2)/ZnO bionanocomposite on the biofilm degradation efficiency of the pathogenic bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis PF_1 using the Congored method was investigated. The Congored assay clearly explored the biofilm degradation efficiency in the presence of a 50 mg/mL and 75 mg/mL concentration of the Zn(OH)(2)/ZnO bionanocomposite against the bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis PF_1 grown for 24 h. This study can be further applied to the preparation of bionanocomposites following a low-cost green synthesis approach, and thus prepared nanostructures can be exploited as advanced antimicrobial agents, which could be of great interest to prevent various infectious diseases

Dose optimization of β-lactams antibiotics in pediatrics and adults:A systematic review

Background: β-lactams remain the cornerstone of the empirical therapy to treat various bacterial infections. This systematic review aimed to analyze the data describing the dosing regimen of β-lactams. Methods: Systematic scientific and grey literature was performed in accordance with Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The studies were retrieved and screened on the basis of pre-defined exclusion and inclusion criteria. The cohort studies, randomized controlled trials (RCT) and case reports that reported the dosing schedule of β-lactams are included in this study. Results: A total of 52 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 40 were cohort studies, 2 were case reports and 10 were RCTs. The majority of the studies (34/52) studied the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of a drug. A total of 20 studies proposed dosing schedule in pediatrics while 32 studies proposed dosing regimen among adults. Piperacillin (12/52) and Meropenem (11/52) were the most commonly used β-lactams used in hospitalized patients. As per available evidence, continuous infusion is considered as the most appropriate mode of administration to optimize the safety and efficacy of the treatment and improve the clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Appropriate antibiotic therapy is challenging due to pathophysiological changes among different age groups. The optimization of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters is useful to support alternative dosing regimens such as an increase in dosing interval, continuous infusion, and increased bolus doses

A Systematic Review on Clinical Safety and Efficacy of Vancomycin Loading Dose in Critically Ill Patients

Background: The clinical significance of utilizing a vancomycin loading dose in critically ill patients remains unclear. Objective: The main aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of the vancomycin loading dose in critically ill patients. Methods: We performed a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, the Web of Science, MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, the Saudi Digital Library and other databases were searched. Studies that reported clinical outcomes among patients receiving the vancomycin LD were considered eligible. Data for this study were collected using PubMed, the Web of Science, MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar and the Saudi Digital Library using the following terms: “vancomycin”, “safety”, “efficacy” and “loading dose” combined with the Boolean operator “AND” or “OR”. Results: A total of 17 articles, including 2 RCTs, 11 retrospective cohorts and 4 other studies, met the inclusion/exclusion criteria out of a total 1189 studies. Patients had different clinical characteristics representing a heterogenous group, including patients in critical condition, with renal impairment, sepsis, MRSA infection and hospitalized patients for hemodialysis or in the emergency department. Conclusions: The study shows that the target therapeutic level is achieved more easily among patients receiving a weight-based LD as compared to patients received the usual dose without an increased risk of new-onset adverse drug reactions

Liaison Old Age Psychiatry Service in a Medical Setting: Description of the Newcastle Clinical Service

Liaison Old Age Psychiatry services (LOAP) have begun to emerge in the UK and further development of the service is supported by the latest health policies. Since qualitative and quantitative studies in this area are lacking, we have undertaken a detailed quantitative prospective review of referrals to the Newcastle LOAP to evaluate the clinical activity of the service. We report high referral rates and turnover for the LOAP service. Reasons for referral are diverse, ranging from requests for level of care and capacity assessments and transfer to other clinical services to management of behaviour, diagnosis, and treatment. We outline the value of a multidisciplinary model of LOAP activity, including the important role of the liaison nursing team, in providing a rapid response, screening, and followup of high number of clinical referrals to the service