Cooperative problem-based learning experience and coaching strategies of engineering course

The problem-based learning (PBL) methodologies are considered adequate for core engineering courses. The integration between cooperative learning and PBL methodologies establishes an encouraging environment for the students. However, for effective implementation of cooperative problem-based learning (CPBL) environment, close supervision of students’ experiences is vital, and deficient areas are to be improved, as PBL is a dynamic process. A study was conducted for the first-year undergraduate engineering class taught under the PBL environment. The objective was to evaluate the course by the preview of students, for highlighting weak domains in the teaching methodology for future improvements. A course experience questionnaire was designed considering PBL implications, with 35 question items, and 31 responses were collected by the end of the semester. Three different analyses were performed on the collected data, i.e., descriptive statistics and Cronbach’s alpha, Student's t-test, and Pearson Chi-square test. The achieved results supported the effective adoption of the PBL system by the students. However, few areas were highlighted requiring special consideration, such as PBL workload, pressure due to extra course content, and assessment opportunities under the PBL system. It was proved that maximum students considered PBL methodologies convenient and effective for learning than the traditional learning approach

The Social and Spiritual Factors Affecting Chronic Renal Dialysis Patients in Gaza Strip

Background: End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is a progressive worsening of kidney function over a period of months or years. It is a complex debilitating disease that needs a lifelong treatment. Because patients with ESRD cannot be cured of their underlying conditions and mostly underwent hemodialysis program, it usually leads to many physical and medical consequences and complications, and beside them, there are lots of concealed social and spiritual factors that can affect people who have this disease or are on renal dialysis. Some studies about medical and clinical consequences of ESRD and renal dialysis were conducted but this study will be the first one to determine the factors affecting the social and spiritual wellbeing of patients who are on renal dialysis in Gaza Strip. Objectives: It is important to give a detailed picture about the social and spiritual wellbeing of patients who are on renal dialysis to

Staff Developed IP Program Increases Antimicrobial Stewardship and Decreases HAIs Rates

The burden of Hospital Associated Infections (HAIs) in intensive care units is extremely high and cannot be overemphasized, with more than one third ofa all HAIs being acquired in intensive care units. This study firstly aimed to involving the health care team in identifying causes of HAIs and antibiotic use, then involving the health care team in developing activities and interventions to improve the quality of health care in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Ranteesy Pediatric Hospital (RPH). The research team then evaluated the effectiveness of these interventions. The study design is Quasi experimental (pre and post-test), all the staff who worked in the intensive care unit were involved in this study. The three phases of the project: assessing the preexisting stage, development and implementation of the interventions, and evaluating its effectiveness after 12 months. The researchers used many quality assessment tools to help identifying, collecting, displaying, monitoring, and improving the quality of health care. These tools are Brainstorming, self-administered questionnaire, check list, flow charts, fish bone analysis, Pareto chart, trend chart, and run chart. Result revealed that lack of knowledge; supervision and experience were the mostly perceived causes of HAI in the ICU. Post intervention tests showed statistical significant improvement and a decrease in the rate of HAIs in comparison to the pre-test, and the mean of positive cultures (blood, sputum, urine, wounds or CSF) decreased from 76% to 42%, used of antibiotics vials per week decreased from 130 to 92 vials, and the average hospital stay days from (8-10) to (5-8). The study findings supported the need for health educational programs about infection control and prevention, and monitoring staff performance at RPH ICU in order to reduce the rate of HAIs and antibiotic use. KEYWORDS: hospital associated infections prevention, infection prevention in pediatric ICU, infection control pediatric ICU, quality improvement pediatric ICU, prevention of HAIs.The burden of Hospital Associated Infections (HAIs) in intensive care units is extremely high and cannot be overemphasized, with more than one third ofa all HAIs being acquired in intensive care units. This study firstly aimed to involving the health care team in identifying causes of HAIs and antibiotic use, then involving the health care team in developing activities and interventions to improve the quality of health care in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Ranteesy Pediatric Hospital (RPH). The research team then evaluated the effectiveness of these interventions. The study design is Quasi experimental (pre and post-test), all the staff who worked in the intensive care unit were involved in this study. The three phases of the project: assessing the preexisting stage, development and implementation of the interventions, and evaluating its effectiveness after 12 months. The researchers used many quality assessment tools to help identifying, collecting, displaying, monitoring, and improving the quality of health care. These tools are Brainstorming, self-administered questionnaire, check list, flow charts, fish bone analysis, Pareto chart, trend chart, and run chart. Result revealed that lack of knowledge; supervision and experience were the mostly perceived causes of HAI in the ICU. Post intervention tests showed statistical significant improvement and a decrease in the rate of HAIs in comparison to the pre-test, and the mean of positive cultures (blood, sputum, urine, wounds or CSF) decreased from 76% to 42%, used of antibiotics vials per week decreased from 130 to 92 vials, and the average hospital stay days from (8-10) to (5-8). The study findings supported the need for health educational programs about infection control and prevention, and monitoring staff performance at RPH ICU in order to reduce the rate of HAIs and antibiotic use. KEYWORDS: hospital associated infections prevention, infection prevention in pediatric ICU, infection control pediatric ICU, quality improvement pediatric ICU, prevention of HAIs

Impact of Zero Energy Building: Sustainability Perspective

In an era with major developments in the energy sector, along with many benefits of energy consumption, it is also showing adverse effects on the end-users and the environment due to emission of various harmful gases mainly carbon dioxide (CO2). To deal with these issues, the zero energy building emerges to bring constructive developments through the construction industry. The concept of zero energy building is to develop a structural building which can generate its own required energy and have zero negative effects. The energy will be enough to fulfill all the requirements of the building operations and can save natural quarries. By increasing the numbers of zero energy buildings, major reforms can be brought in the construction industry and thus stabilizing the economy and the climate

Material Classification via Machine Learning Techniques: Construction Projects Progress Monitoring

Nowadays, the construction industry is on a fast track to adopting digital processes under the Industrial Revolution (IR) 4.0. The desire to automate maximum construction processes with less human interference has led the industry and research community to inclined towards artificial intelligence. This chapter has been themed on automated construction monitoring practices by adopting material classification via machine learning (ML) techniques. The study has been conducted by following the structure review approach to gain an understanding of the applications of ML techniques for construction progress assessment. Data were collected from the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases, concluding 14 relevant studies. The literature review depicted the support vector machine (SVM) and artificial neural network (ANN) techniques as more effective than other ML techniques for material classification. The last section of this chapter includes a python-based ANN model for material classification. This ANN model has been tested for construction items (brick, wood, concrete block, and asphalt) for training and prediction. Moreover, the predictive ANN model results have been shared for the readers, along with the resources and open-source web links

Staff-developed infection prevention program decreases health care–associated infection rates in pediatric critical care

BACKGROUND Health care–associated infections are an international problem that occurs in an estimated 10% of all hospital admissions globally. 3 Health care–associated infections not only increase morbidity and mortality in patients but also cause a considerable economic burden on health care. 4 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the incidence of HAI is 1.7 million infections and 99 000 deaths per year. 1 Health care–associated infections cost an estimated $28 billion to$33 billion each year. 1 The mean prevalence of HAI in Europe is 7.1 per 100 patients. In England,£ 1000 million annually is budgeted by the National Health Service for HAI. 5 In Canada, the incidence of HAI is greater than 220 000 per year and results in 8500 to 12 000 deaths; the direct costs of HAI are estimated at $1 billion annually. 6 Health care–associated infections cost Thai hospitals 10% of their annual

Data Processing Using Artificial Neural Networks

The artificial neural network (ANN) is a machine learning (ML) methodology that evolved and developed from the scheme of imitating the human brain. Artificial intelligence (AI) pyramid illustrates the evolution of ML approach to ANN and leading to deep learning (DL). Nowadays, researchers are very much attracted to DL processes due to its ability to overcome the selectivity-invariance problem. In this chapter, ANN has been explained by discussing the network topology and development parameters (number of nodes, number of hidden layers, learning rules and activated function). The basic concept of node and neutron has been explained, with the help of diagrams, leading to the ANN model and its operation. All the topics have been discussed in such a scheme to give the reader the basic concept and clarity in a sequential way from ANN perceptron model to deep learning models and underlying types

Road Accident Data Collection Systems in Developing and Developed Countries: A Review

The road accidents trigger major financial loss and casualties to the individual as well as the state as a whole. The intelligent safety systems are developed to provide all road users with a safe transport system. This approach acknowledges the sensitivity of individuals to extreme injury in road accidents and recognizes the need for the system for improvement. To establish a proper system for road accident prevention, records from prior accidents play a key role in the evaluation and prediction of the accident, damage, and consequences. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate and comparing existing practices in developing and developed countries for collecting road accident data. Moreover, the manual and digital approaches of data collection are highlighted. Keeping this in mind, this review provides an overview of how developing countries currently collect their data and their data dissemination methods to extract such useful information, which could prove beneficial in deciding the road safety programs for the well-being of end-users

A comprehensive review of disputes prevention and resolution in construction projects

The construction industry is complex, fragmented, dynamic and involves many parties in an adversarial relationship. This makes disputes almost inevitable in any construction project. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the adopted methodologies in resolving disputes that arise in the construction projects. The paper evaluates and classifies the different methods of disputes resolution. A comparison was conducted between the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The paper distinguishes between the traditional method of disputes resolution; litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods such as arbitration, mediation, med/arb, mini-trial and dispute review board. In conclusion there is no best way to solve all kind of disputes in construction projects, however, a general step by step process of how disputes should be addressed is finally presented