Identification and Analysis of Hindering Factors of ICT Adoption in Project Management in Iraq

تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات مهمة جدا في إدارة المشاريع. الهدف من هذا البحث هو تحديد وتحليل العوامل التي تعيق تبني تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات في إدارة المشاريع. في هذا البحث، تم جمع 23 عاملا فعالا من مقابلة مع المهندسين والخبراء ومديري المشاريع والمصممين في المكاتب الاستشارية وشركات البناء. تم تجميع هذه العوامل في سبع فئات "العوامل المالية، العوامل البشرية، العوامل الفنية، العوامل القانونية، العوامل الإدارية، العوامل الثقافية، العوامل الأمنية". تم توزيع استبيان استقصائي شمل 75 من المستجيبين على مختلف الشركات ومكاتب الاستشارات. تم إجراء تحليل إحصائي باستخدام حزم SPSS و. Excel تم استخدام مؤشر الاهمية النسبية لمعرفة أهم العوامل التي تعيق تبني تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات في إدارة المشروعات. كشفت النتائج التي تم الحصول عليها من الاستطلاع أن العوامل الرئيسية التي تحول دون اعتماد تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات في إدارة المشاريع (مرتبة من أسوأ العوامل ذات القيم النسبية للمؤشر الهام، على التوالي) وهي نقص التدريب على محتوى تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات في عملية البناء (86.4 ٪)، الرضا عن أساليب وداوت العمل التقليدية (84.8 ٪)، مشكلة تكامل / توافق تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات مع العمل (82.9 ٪)، وضعف التشغيل البيني بين التطبيقات / المنظمات المختلفة (81.3 ٪)، وضعف جودة و / أو كمية البنية التحتية للاتصالات (81 ٪).Information and communication technology is very important in projects management. The objective of this research is to identify and analysis the factors hindering the adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in projects management. In this research, 23 effective factors were collected from interview with engineers and experts in project managers and designers in consultant bureaus and construction companies. These factors are grouped into seven categories "Financial Factors, Human Factors, Technical Factors, Legal Factors, Administrative Factors, Cultural Factors, Security Factors ". A survey questionnaire of 75 respondents was distribute among different companies and consultant bureaus. A statistical analysis was done using SPSS and Excel packages. The relative important index was used to find out the most significant factors that hindering the adoption of ICT in projects management. The results accomplished from survey revealed that major factors hindering ICT adoption in projects management (ranked from the worst factors with Relative Important Index values, respectively) namely, Lack of training on ICT content of construction process (86.4%), Satisfaction with traditional working methods and tools (84.8%), Problem of ICT integration/compatibility with the work (82.9%), Poor interoperability between different applications/organizations (81.3%), poor quality and/or quantity of telecommunication infrastructure (81%)

An investigation into solid waste problem in the Egyptian construction industry: A mini-review

Solid waste management (SWM) is one of the most critical global challenges nowadays. It has a severe negative effect on the triple bottom line of sustainability. Construction and demolition waste (CDW) contributes about 50% of the total global annual generated SW. In the particular case of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region including Egypt, the SW problem has become a major challenge, and the need to find sustainable solutions is overwhelming. However, the region faces several challenges that hinder the development of an effective and efficient SWM system. This has resulted in the predominance of unsustainable SWM practices such as indiscriminate disposals. The aim of this paper is to investigate the escalating problem of SW in the MENA region, while focusing on CDW in Egypt as a part of the total generated SW, by reviewing the most recent research papers, and technical and governmental reports on the SW problem. The main challenges towards effective and efficient SWM systems and recommendations for improvement are gathered in this study based on the explored literature. Findings from this study are expected to be beneficial to local and central governments, academics, construction industry practitioners, and policymakers contending with the problems of SW in the MENA region and especially CDW in Egypt

Age and Body Anthropometry as Predicting Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among Egyptian Obese Women

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most prevalent entrapment neuropathy in the upper limb. The most consistent risk factors are female gender, age, and obesity. The results of previous studies are conflicting, and moreover, data from studies regarding obesity and nerve conduction velocity are not available for our Egyptian population. AIM: This study was designed to investigate the contribution of age and body anthropometry as predictor factors to the CTS and to identify patients at high risk for CTS among Egyptian obese women. METHODS: The study included 120 obese women grouped according to the clinical and electrodiagnostic (EDX) findings into two groups: 60 with CTS and 60 without CTS (non-CTS). EDX study was used in the diagnosis of median nerve entrapment at the level of the wrist, according to the American Association of Neuromuscular and EDX Medicine. Body weight and height were measured and then body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was determined from the measured waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC). Mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) was measured as well. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the power of age and body anthropometry as predictor factors for CTS. RESULTS: CTS obese cases showed significantly lower values of both median motor nerve conduction velocity (MMNCV) and median sensory nerve conduction velocity compared to those without CTS. Significantly higher median sensory latency and median motor latency have been found in CTS cases compared to non-CTS group. Significant differences in the mean age have been found between the two groups and a tendency for higher body anthropometry measures in the CTS cases relative to those without CTS. Moreover, there were negative correlations between MMNCV and obesity indices. Age showed the highest area under the ROC curve, followed by BMI, WHR WC, HC, and MUAC. CONCLUSION: Age and obesity indices are important risk factors that can be used as predictors to CTS in obese women. Age is a more powerful diagnostic tool relative to the anthropometric measurements. Women of age above 40 years and suffering from a high degree of obesity are at risk of developing CTS

Diversity of active constituents in Cichorium endivia and Cynara cornigera extracts

The present study attempts to explore the phytochemical constituents of different extracts from Cynara cornigera and Cichorium endivia plant materials. The two species studied are native in Egypt. Five different solvents, viz., aqueous, methylene chloride, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol were used. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, sterols (stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol), terpenes (α-amyrin, ursolic and oleanolic acid), and hydrocarbons (n-alkane), the latter found in low amount. The ethyl acetate and water extracts of C. cornigera root showed lower mass fractions of phenolic compounds ranged from 20 to 81 g/100 g, and higher amounts in ethyl acetate extract of the inflorescences and butanol extract of the root where values ranged from 195 to 399 g/100 g. The β-sitosterol and stigmasterol were present in all plant extracts. Oleanolic and ursolic acids were detected in roots, leaves and inflorescences of C. cornigera and in C. endivia shoot. The ethyl acetate extracts from C. cornigera leaf and inflorescence attained higher chemical diversity than the other extracts. Alternatively, sterols and triterpenes were the major constituents. The high chemical diversity of active constituents justifies the future potential use of the two species at commercial level

GENES CONFERRING ANTIMICROBIAL-RESISTANCE AMONG KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE IN THE ARABIAN GULF COUNTRIES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Objective: The objective of the study was to look on the prevalence of six AMR genes (CTX-M, TEM, SHV, NDM-1, OXA-48, and VIM genes) in the province of the Arabian Gulf. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published studies from the Arabian Gulf countries and analyzed the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes pattern present in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Methods: The present study used the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology as a guideline for reporting findings. An electronic search was conducted in online databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Web of Science from January 2014 to June 2020 following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Articles published were included in the study resistance pattern among 2036 isolates were analyzed. These isolates conferred the AMR genes including OXA-48 (n=500), CTX-M (n= 1796), SHV (n=1637), TEM (n=1492), NDM-1 (n=500), and VIM (n=302). Results: Of 160 initially searched studies, 28 entries met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to meta-analysis. Critical appraisal of studies or quality assessment revealed a mean quality score was 4.2, with an SD of 1.6. The analysis revealed predominant AMR genes wereOXA-48 followed by CTX-M, SHV, TEM, NDM-1, and VIM in the Arabian Gulf region. Conclusion: The Arabian Gulf countries share a high prevalence of OXA-48, CTX-M followed by SHV, TEM, NDM-1, and VIM genes. Antimicrobial-resistant in K. pneumoniae is a threat to public health and this needs strong surveillance to curb this threat

The effect of placenta previa on fetal weight and feto-maternal blood flow: a prospective cohort study

Background: The current study aims to evaluate the effect of placenta previa on the fetal weight and to explore its effect on the uterine and umbilical arteries blood flow.Methods: The current study was a prospective cohort study conducted at Assiut Women’s Health Hospital, Egypt from 1st of October 2016 to 30th of September 2017 including placenta previa and non-placenta previa women. They were followed up by two-dimensional ultrasound and Doppler blood flow in the uterine and umbilical arteries. The main study outcome was the number of low birth weight (LBW) babies delivered at or beyond 37 weeks and blood flow changes in uterine and umbilical arteries.Results: Two hundred twelve women were divided into two groups; group I included 106 placenta previa women (PP group) and 106 non-placenta previa women (NPP group). The number of LBW babies were comparable in both groups without statistically significant difference (P value= 0.555). Neither; uterine artery nor umbilical artery blood flow had any significant differences between the groups.  Preterm delivery was significantly higher in the PP group (p value=0.000).Conclusions: Although there is no agreement, in the literature, on the association between placenta previa and LBW, authors suggest that placenta previa is not a reason for LBW babies. In addition, placenta previa shows no effect on uterine artery or umbilical artery blood flow