Designing a dynamic fenestration to improve visual performance in educational spaces using daylight

This research studies the daylighting performance of diverse design prototypes of a classroom unit. The prototypes are suggested for high-performance approach that reflects a dynamic design, through the incorporation of daylight that will boost up the learning experience. Simulation is carried out using Radiance and Daysim for daylighting measurements and Evalglare for glare analysis. Window to Wall Ratio (WWR) and window-sill height are designed to provide the optimum daylight levels for students performing different educational tasks. These two variables are evaluated according to certain goals and within certain constraints to refine the optimum solution. The result of this research is a design of dynamic façade that opens and shuts in response to the illumination levels required by the task performed; such as traditional learning, discussion or computer activities. The function of the dynamic façade is to achieve uniform and sufficient daylight in the classroom to perform visual tasks with minimal discomfort caused by the glare

The stages of students’ behaviour change functioning as predictors of dropout

Due to the expansion of higher education, the number of students attending universities has significantly grown for the last few decades. However, many students drop out of higher education due to several reasons, such as lack of motivation, inadequate learning techniques, or teachers’ requirements. One of the main reasons is motivation, which is closely connected to behaviour change. The concept is taken from the medicine discipline but can properly be applied in education as well. The stage of behaviour change can predict the possible risk of dropout. The current research was conducted among the freshmen IT students in two countries (Hungary, Israel) at the beginning of their second university semester in order to measure and identify at which stage of the behaviour change cycle they are situated. The results could draw university management’s attention whether they need to introduce and implement any prevention programs to avoid students’ dropout

Boosting the Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation Performance of TiO₂ Nanotubes by Surface Modification Using Silver Phosphate

Photoelectrocatalytic approaches are fascinating options for long-lasting energy storage through the transformation of solar energy into electrical energy or hydrogen fuel. Herein, we report a facile method of fabricating a composite electrode of well-aligned TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) decorated with photodeposited silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) nanoparticles. Assessment of the optical, physiochemical and photoelectrochemical features demonstrated that the fabricated TNTs/Ag3PO4 films showed a substantially boosted photocurrent response of 0.74 mA/cm2, almost a 3-fold enrichment in comparison with the pure TNTs. Specifically, the applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of the fabricated TNTs/Ag3PO4 composite electrode was 2.4-fold superior to that of the pure TNTs electrode. In these TNTs/Ag3PO4 photoanodes, the introduction of Ag3PO4 over TNTs enhanced light absorption and improved charge transfer and surface conductivity. The developed process can be generally applied to designing and developing efficient contact interfaces between photoanodes and numerous cocatalysts

Boosting the Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation Performance of TiO2 Nanotubes by Surface Modification Using Silver Phosphate

Photoelectrocatalytic approaches are fascinating options for long-lasting energy storage through the transformation of solar energy into electrical energy or hydrogen fuel. Herein, we report a facile method of fabricating a composite electrode of well-aligned TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) decorated with photodeposited silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) nanoparticles. Assessment of the optical, physiochemical and photoelectrochemical features demonstrated that the fabricated TNTs/Ag3PO4 films showed a substantially boosted photocurrent response of 0.74 mA/cm2, almost a 3-fold enrichment in comparison with the pure TNTs. Specifically, the applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of the fabricated TNTs/Ag3PO4 composite electrode was 2.4-fold superior to that of the pure TNTs electrode. In these TNTs/Ag3PO4 photoanodes, the introduction of Ag3PO4 over TNTs enhanced light absorption and improved charge transfer and surface conductivity. The developed process can be generally applied to designing and developing efficient contact interfaces between photoanodes and numerous cocatalysts

Depression and Its Associated Factors among Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending the primary health care centers in United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and depression are major global public health problems. Depression negatively affects the course of DM through hormonal, neuronal, or immune system changes that directly affect the body's ability to produce or use insulin. The coexistence of depression with DM also results in poor glycemic control by causing poor self-care behaviors such as lack of physical activity. The coexistence of depression with DM also results in poor glycemic control. The study aimed to assessing depression and Its associated Factors among diabetes mellitus patients attending the primary health care centers in United Arab Emirates. This study was conducted on 463 diabetic patients attended the primary health care centers during 8th may to 26th may, 2021. Nine primary health care centers were selected according to the accessibility. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was selected of the actual 9 criteria upon which the diagnosis of DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) depressive disorders is based. Our study showed that there was non-significant difference in depression Levels between non-smokers and smokers, there was non-significant difference in depression Levels and education levels, there was significant difference in depression Levels and marital status, non-significant difference in depression Levels and nationality, non-significant difference in depression Levels and type of diabetes. Conclusion based on this study the prevalence of depression among female diabetes mellitus was high. From this study we concluded that depression levels: non-depressed, mild depression, moderate depression, moderately and severe depression are high in married participants comparing with single, divorced and widow participant

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licenseBackground: 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods: This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation: Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods: A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study—a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·85 [95% CI 2·58–5·75]; p<0·0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63·0% vs 82·7%; OR 0·35 [0·23–0·53]; p<0·0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer. Interpretation: Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research