The Effect Of Building Information Modeling Technology On The Future Of Architecture Education Development In Universities

At the beginning of the current century , and with the development of computer technology , a new system based on three-dimensional drawings and modeling appeared with an accurate definition and description of all the elements in the submitted design , with the big development of construction methods and the advancement of the related technology and software, the advantages of the new system were defined and became more specific and relied in many organizations , companies and in design and construction institutions , and this system was called the building information modeling (BIM) . Despite the importance of the system , its work is limited to the international and large companies ,and there is no clear vision so far for its use in urban development and in the sustainable design of the new communities . Therefore , this research reviews the importance of the (BIM) system in the construction industry and integrated interactive system , and its role in the process of developing architectural education and the development of academic curricula and its effect on the modern requirements of the education process . and that is by presenting the results of a field study that was conducted on the extent of the spread understating and development of the method of working with the (BIM) system in Egypt and presenting some important recommendations

Inelastic analysis of octagonal concrete-filled steel tubular short columns under eccentric loading

Octagonal concrete‐filled steel tubular (OCFST) columns combine the benefits of circular and square concrete‐filled steel tubular (CFST) columns so that they not only possess higher strength and ductility but also provide the ease of connection to composite beams. However, research studies have been very limited on the performance analysis of OCFST short beam‐columns subjected to eccentric loading. In this study, a fiber‐based numerical model is developed for the performance simulation of high‐strength OCFST short beam‐columns under eccentric loading. The simulation model takes into account material nonlinearities and concrete confinement induced by the octagonal steel tube. Computational methods are given that predict the axial load–moment interaction curves and moment–curvature responses of OCFST beam‐columns. The developed fiber model is verified against available test data with good accuracy. The influences of important parameters on the responses of high‐strength OCFST short beam‐columns are studied by means of utilizing the computational model. It is found that the behavior of OCFST beam‐columns is significantly influenced by the diameter‐to‐thickness ratio of the cross‐section, concrete strength, steel yield stress, and axial load ratio. Interaction equations are proposed for expressing the axial load–moment strength envelopes of the cross‐sections of OCFST beam‐columns and validated against numerical results

Outcome and toxicity of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide versus gemcitabine and vinorelbine regimen for pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma

BackgroundPediatric classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) is a curable disease; however, the optimal salvage regimen is unclear for relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease. This study aimed to compare response rates, toxicity, event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS) of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) with gemcitabine and vinorelbine (GV) regimen after first-line doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (ABVD) in pediatric patients with R/R CHL.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of 132 pediatric patients with R/R CHL treated from July 2012 to December 2020 with ICE (n = 82) or GV (n = 50).ResultsThe median age at relapse was 13.9 years, and 68.2% were men. Rates of complete response, partial response, and progressive disease before consolidation were 50.6%, 3.7%, and 45.7% for ICE and 28.5%, 0%, and 71.5% for GV (P = 0.011). By multivariate analysis, regimen (P = 0.002), time to relapse (P = 0.0001), and B-symptoms (P = 0.002) were independent factors to lower response rates. Hematological toxicity, electrolyte disturbance, hemorrhagic cystitis, infectious complications, and hospital admission for fever neutropenia were statistically significant higher for the ICE regimen. Treatment-related mortalities were 2.4% for ICE and 2% for GV (P = 0.86). The 3-year EFS was 39.3% ± 11.4% for ICE and 24.9% ± 12.5% for GV (P = 0.0001), while 3-year OS was 69.3% ± 10.6% and 74% ± 12.9% (P = 0.3), respectively. By multivariate analysis, regimen (P = 0.0001), time to relapse (P = 0.011), B-symptoms (P = 0.001), and leukocytosis (P = 0.007) were significant for EFS, while anemia (P = 0.008), and progressive disease on early response evaluation (P = 0.022) were significant for OS.ConclusionsThe ICE regimen had a better overall response rate and EFS, but higher toxicity, than GV; however, OS and mortality were similar

Experimental and numerical studies of reinforced concrete stair beams strengthened with steel bars and plates

The bends under sagging moments in a Reinforced Concrete Stair Beam (RCSB) in staircases may be damaged because of improper detailing design or construction; therefore, they need to be strengthened or repaired. The structural behavior of strengthened RCSBs has not been investigated adequately. This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations on the flexural strengthening of RCSBs with bends under sagging moments. Tests on RCSBs were undertaken that were strengthened by using either the Near-Surface Mounted Steel Bars (NSMSBs) or the Externally Bonded Steel Plates (EBSPs). Three steel materials were employed, including Steel Bars (SBs), Steel Sheets (SSs) and Stainless-Steel Plates (SSPs). The test program and outcomes are described in detail of six full-scale strengthened RCSBs loaded up to collapse. A finite element model is developed employing ABAQUS to simulate the performance of the tested RCSBs. It is found that the utilized strengthening techniques effectively enhance both the cracking and ultimate loads in addition to the energy absorption capacity. The agreement between simulations and experiment is good, suggesting that the model of nonlinear finite element analysis can be used with confidence to perform further parametric instigations

Controversy and consensus on indications for sperm DNA fragmentation testing in male infertility: A global survey, current guidelines, and expert recommendations

Purpose: Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing was recently added to the sixth edition of the World Health Organization laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. Many conditions and risk factors have been associated with elevated SDF; therefore, it is important to identify the population of infertile men who might benefit from this test. The purpose of this study was to investigate global practices related to indications for SDF testing, compare the relevant professional society guideline recommendations, and provide expert recommendations. Materials and Methods: Clinicians managing male infertility were invited to take part in a global online survey on SDF clinical practices. This was conducted following the CHERRIES checklist criteria. The responses were compared to professional society guideline recommendations related to SDF and the appropriate available evidence. Expert recommendations on indications for SDF testing were then formulated, and the Delphi method was used to reach consensus. Results: The survey was completed by 436 experts from 55 countries. Almost 75% of respondents test for SDF in all or some men with unexplained or idiopathic infertility, 39% order it routinely in the work-up of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), and 62.2% investigate SDF in smokers. While 47% of reproductive urologists test SDF to support the decision for varicocele repair surgery when conventional semen parameters are normal, significantly fewer general urologists (23%; p=0.008) do the same. Nearly 70% would assess SDF before assisted reproductive technologies (ART), either always or for certain conditions. Recurrent ART failure is a common indication for SDF testing. Very few society recommendations were found regarding SDF testing. Conclusions: This article presents the largest global survey on the indications for SDF testing in infertile men, and demonstrates diverse practices. Furthermore, it highlights the paucity of professional society guideline recommendations. Expert recommendations are proposed to help guide clinicians

Is muscle activation diverse in females with isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis contrasted with age-matched healthy controls during stair descent task?

Background: Patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PF OA) is exceptionally predominant and limiting. However, little is known about the risk factors that contribute to its onset and progression.Purpose: The aim of this study was to decide if women with PF OA descend stairs using different muscular activation strategies compared to similarly aged healthy controls.Methods: Thirty-one women with isolated PF OA and 11 similarly aged healthy women took part in this study. The activation onset and duration of PF OA in vastus medialis oblique (VMO), vastus lateralis (VL), gluteus medius (GM), transversus abdominis (TrA), and multifidus muscles were evaluated during the stair descent task using surface electromyography (EMG).Results: There was a non-significant difference between women with PF OA and healthy controls regarding all tested variables, except for the GM activation onset that was significantly delayed in women with PF OA, with the p-value of 0.011.Conclusion: The causes of PF OA differ and might not always be due to a lack of quadriceps strength or VMO activation deficiency, and prospective longitudinal studies are required to confirm this assumption

Dietary Effect of Antibiotic Growth Promoter and Essential Oil on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Some Physiological Indicators in Broilers

In this bioassay, we assessed the comparative effect of antibiotic growth promoter(AGP) and of essential oil (EO) addition on the growth performance, carcass traits, and some physiological indicators in the male Ross 308 broilers. A total of 90 healthy chicks (1 day of age) were randomly allocated to three groups, each comprising 6 replicates of 5 chicks. The first group was a control without any additive in water or feed, the second one was offered a drinking water with 0.5 g/l/day of antibiotic, and the third one was supplied a drinking water with 0.5 ml/liter of EO. In this study, neither AGP nor EO supplementation affected BW, BWG, FI, and FCR (p < 0.05) by AGP and EO supplementations compared to the untreated control group. In conclusion, it seems that there were no significant differences between the use of AGP or EO supplementation compared with the control group. Therefore, finding from this study demonstrated that essential oil (EO) could be used as a substitute for colistin antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) for broilers, and it’s the best strategic way to achieve healthy hygiene meat production free of antibiotic residues

Impact of varicocele repair on semen parameters in infertile men: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: Despite the significant role of varicocele in the pathogenesis of male infertility, the impact of varicocele repair (VR) on conventional semen parameters remains controversial. Only a few systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) have evaluated the impact of VR on sperm concentration, total motility, and progressive motility, mostly using a before-after analytic approach. No SRMA to date has evaluated the change in conventional semen parameters after VR compared to untreated controls. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of VR on conventional semen parameters in infertile patients with clinical varicocele compared to untreated controls. Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed using Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases following the Population Intervention Comparison Outcome (PICOS) model (Population: infertile patients with clinical varicocele; Intervention: VR [any technique]; Comparison: infertile patients with clinical varicocele that were untreated; Outcome: sperm concentration, sperm total count, progressive sperm motility, total sperm motility, sperm morphology, and semen volume; Study type: randomized controlled trials and observational studies). Results: A total of 1,632 abstracts were initially assessed for eligibility. Sixteen studies were finally included with a total of 2,420 infertile men with clinical varicocele (1,424 patients treated with VR vs. 996 untreated controls). The analysis showed significantly improved post-operative semen parameters in patients compared to controls with regards to sperm concentration (standardized mean difference [SMD] 1.739; 95% CI 1.129 to 2.349; p<0.001; I2=97.6%), total sperm count (SMD 1.894; 95% CI 0.566 to 3.222; p<0.05; I2=97.8%), progressive sperm motility (SMD 3.301; 95% CI 2.164 to 4.437; p<0.01; I2=98.5%), total sperm motility (SMD 0.887; 95% CI 0.036 to 1.738; p=0.04; I2=97.3%) and normal sperm morphology (SMD 1.673; 95% CI 0.876 to 2.470; p<0.05; I2=98.5%). All the outcomes showed a high inter-study heterogeneity, but the sensitivity analysis showed that no study was sensitive enough to change these results. Publication bias was present only in the analysis of the sperm concentration and progressive motility. No significant difference was found for the semen volume (SMD 0.313; 95% CI -0.242 to 0.868; I2=89.7%). Conclusions: This study provides a high level of evidence in favor of a positive effect of VR to improve conventional semen parameters in infertile men with clinical varicocele. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first SRMA to compare changes in conventional semen parameters after VR with changes in parameters of a control group over the same period. This is in contrast to other SRMAs which have compared semen parameters before and after VR, without reference to a control group. Our findings strengthen the available evidence and have a potential to upgrade professional societies’ practice recommendations favoring VR to improve conventional semen parameters in infertile men