Strategies for enhancing construction waste recycling: A usability analysis

Prior works have suggested various strategies to increase construction waste recycling (CWR) rates. However, choosing the strategies is challenging without a lateral comparison. Therefore, this study aims to compare the usability of various strategies that target the enhancement of CWR implementation. To achieve this purpose, thirteen CWR enhancement strategies were identified from a systematic literature review. Then, questionnaire survey data were collected from 106 construction project managers. The collected data were analyzed via mean score ranking, normalization, overlap analysis, agreement analysis, and factor analysis. Additionally, the data were analyzed using a proposed formula for computing usability indexes using the cost, easiness, and effectiveness values. The results show that three strategies have high usability indexes: organize temporary bins in each construction zone, identify construction activities that produce recyclable materials, and enhance company policies related to CWR. These strategies with high usability indexes are consistent with the overlapping cheap, effective, and easy strategies. This study provides researchers and practitioners with optimal strategies for enhancing CWR implementation. Effective CWR enhancement strategies can improve CWR rates in construction projects. Future researchers can also adopt this study’s approach in computing usability indexes through questionnaire surveys

Strategies for enhancing construction waste recycling: A fuzzy synthetic evaluation

Construction waste recycling (CWR) is one of the solutions that address construction waste issues. As various strategies target the enhancement of CWR implementation, stakeholders face difficulties in selecting the right strategies. Understanding the effectiveness of the strategies can guide stakeholders in making better decisions. Therefore, this study evaluates strategies that target the enhancement of CWR implementation. To do that, CWR enhancement strategies were identified through a systematic literature review. Then, the identified strategies were inserted into a questionnaire survey and distributed to project managers. Finally, 108 responses were collected and analyzed using the factor analysis and fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) techniques. The factor analysis grouped 12 out of the 13 enhancement strategies into two interrelated groups: direct and indirect enhancement strategies. However, the FSE technique indicated that the overall effectiveness of the enhancements strategies is only between neutral and high. This is due to the effectiveness of both groups is also only between neutral to high. This study contributes to the literature by evaluating existing CWR enhancement strategies. The findings allow practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to justify developing new and alternative enhancement strategies for CWR

Construction waste recycling: Enhancement strategies and organization size

The continuous increment of construction projects worldwide is raising the amount of construction waste (CW). A significant amount of CW in landfills can critically impact the economy and environment if not addressed properly. Construction waste recycling (CWR) is one solution for reducing CW in landfills. Organizations are implementing various strategies for enhancing CWR implementation in practice. However, small-medium enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises (LEs) might face different challenges in implementing those strategies due to their different organizational characteristics. Therefore, this study compares the cost and easiness of implementing CWR enhancement strategies between SMEs and LEs. To achieve that objective, this study analyzes survey data from 108 construction industry practitioners using descriptive statistics, normalization, Kruskal-Wallis, and overlap analysis techniques. The major findings include ‘raise project team awareness on CWR’ and ‘organize temporary bins in each construction zone’ are simple and low-cost enhancement strategies for all organization sizes. Also, there are additional simple and low-cost strategies for LEs: ‘identify construction activities that produce recyclable materials,’ ‘use information technology to facilitate CWR processes,’ and ‘enhance company policies related to CWR.’ These findings contribute to a better knowledge of the optimal CWR enhancement strategies for different organization sizes

Impact of COVID-19 on Construction Projects: The Case of India

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the whole world, including India, especially in the construction sector. The study aims to identify, compare, and analyze the critical pandemic impacts (CPI) on construction projects in India. To achieve this, 40 interviews with industry professionals, are followed by a systematic review to identify the CPI. The data collected was used to develop a survey, sent to industry professionals all over India, with a return of 92 valid responses. The data were analyzed using reliability analysis, mean score ranking, overlap analysis, agreement analysis, and correlation analysis. The overall critical pandemic impact includes ‘labor scarcity,’ ‘supply chain disruption,’ ‘decreased construction productivity,’ ‘increased project financing rejection rate,’ and ‘reduced foreign investment in the construction industry.’ The findings could aid authorities and policymakers in taking suitable actions toward solving the current CPI in India. Project managers and owners could consider the current CPI in order to formulate better plans. Overcoming CPI could lead to an economic leap in India

Asymmetric Oxidation of Enol Derivatives to α-Alkoxy Carbonyls Using Iminium Salt Catalysts: A Synthetic and Computational Study

We report herein the first examples of asymmetric oxidation of enol ether and ester substrates using iminium salt organocatalysis, affording moderate to excellent enantioselectivities of up to 98% ee for tetralone-derived substrates in the α-hydroxyketone products. A comprehensive density functional theory study was undertaken to interpret the competing diastereoisomeric transition states in this example in order to identify the origins of enantioselectivity. The calculations, performed at the B3LYP/6-31G(D) level of theory, gave good agreement with the experimental results, in terms of the magnitude of the effects under the specified reaction conditions, and in terms of the preferential formation of the (R)-enantiomer. Just one of the 30 characterized transition states dominates the enantioselectivity, which is attributed to the adoption of an orientation relative to stereochemical features of the chiral controlling element that combines a CH interaction between a CH 2 group in the substrate and one of the aromatic rings of the biaryl section of the chiral auxiliary with a good alignment of the acetoxy group with the other biaryl ring, and places the smallest substituent on the alkene (a hydrogen atom) in the most sterically hindered position

Overview On Surgical Management Of Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder syndrome is a persistent and incapacitating disorder that has profound medical, psychological, and social implications, greatly impacting the wellbeing of countless individuals globally. A significant number of individuals experience urine urgency, which can be extremely bothersome. The primary indicator of overactive bladder (OAB) is a sense of urgency, often accompanied by increased urine frequency and nocturia. After ruling out other medical conditions with similar symptoms, the initial approach to managing OAB is providing guidance on fluid consumption and bladder training. If needed, antimuscarinic medicines may be added as a supplement. If patients have significant distress from OAB symptoms even after maximizing medicinal treatment, they may choose to undergo invasive procedures. There is currently a limited understanding of the hierarchical structure of central nervous system control. However, the use of functional imaging is starting to reveal the difficulties that need to be addressed in this area. Current research is exploring the use of botulinum neurotoxin-A injection, oral β3-adrenergic agonists, and innovative methods for nerve stimulation as potential therapies. The inherent subjectivity of urine urgency, the absence of animal models, and the complex pathophysiology of overactive bladder (OAB) pose substantial obstacles to achieving effective clinical therapy

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Strategies for Enhancing Construction Waste Recycling: A Usability Analysis

Prior works have suggested various strategies to increase construction waste recycling (CWR) rates. However, choosing the strategies is challenging without a lateral comparison. Therefore, this study aims to compare the usability of various strategies that target the enhancement of CWR implementation. To achieve this purpose, thirteen CWR enhancement strategies were identified from a systematic literature review. Then, questionnaire survey data were collected from 106 construction project managers. The collected data were analyzed via mean score ranking, normalization, overlap analysis, agreement analysis, and factor analysis. Additionally, the data were analyzed using a proposed formula for computing usability indexes using the cost, easiness, and effectiveness values. The results show that three strategies have high usability indexes: organize temporary bins in each construction zone, identify construction activities that produce recyclable materials, and enhance company policies related to CWR. These strategies with high usability indexes are consistent with the overlapping cheap, effective, and easy strategies. This study provides researchers and practitioners with optimal strategies for enhancing CWR implementation. Effective CWR enhancement strategies can improve CWR rates in construction projects. Future researchers can also adopt this study’s approach in computing usability indexes through questionnaire surveys