Method for automated requirement checking in social housing projects

One of the possible strategies for improving the quality of construction projects is the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM), which involves innovations in information technology and changes in critical processes. In the social housing sector in Brazil, the need to evaluate a large number of projects proposed for funding in a very short time frame is a major challenge. Automated design checking has been pointed out as one of the main opportunities for the use of BIM in the building industry. The evaluation of social housing projects by governmental bodies is often based mainly on the experience of construction professionals, which may result in lack of uniformity in the criteria adopted, and in a time consuming and costly process. The aim of this research study is to propose a method for automated checking of requirements for the design of social housing projects by using BIM. This method was tested in two housing projects funded by the Minha Casa, Minha Vida programme, and compared to the manual process. This investigation also makes contributions related to the understanding of the nature of the requirements involved in this type of project, and discusses the process changes needed to introduce automated design checking. Keywords: Design checking; BIM; Code-checking; Social housing projects; Low income housin

Building information modelling to cut disruption in housing retrofit

There is a large stock of solid-wall homes in the UK with poor thermal insulation and low energy performance. Although the UK government has supported efforts to improve these buildings, the identification of appropriate technical solutions that effectively improve the existing stock remains challenging. This research investigates how four dimensional building information modelling (4D BIM) could improve the retrofit of social housing, specifically that of ‘no-fines’ solid-wall homes, through the development of what-if scenarios that enable the analysis of alternative solutions considering costs, energy performance and disruption to users. This paper focuses on the use of 4D building information models to evaluate disruption to end users. The results indicate that the development of such models supports a better understanding of the retrofit process on site. It also supports the definition of production plans with as minimal disruption as possible to users while delivering energy-oriented and cost-effective solutions

Kindliche Verhaltensauffälligkeiten im ersten Lebensjahr und mütterliche Belastung in der Zeit der COVID-19-Pandemie

Theoretischer Hintergrund: Die COVID-19-Pandemie stellte in vielen Bereichen eine Belastung für Familien dar, insbesondere durch die einschneidenden Beschränkungen zu Beginn. Fragestellung: Wie wirkte sich dies auf die Belastung von Müttern mit Kindern im ersten Lebensjahr und auf die kindliche Verhaltensregulation aus? Methode: In einer Online-Befragung schätzten 577 Mütter das Schrei-‍, Schlaf- und Fütter-/Essverhalten ihrer Kinder (M = 7.3; 0 – 12 Mon., SD = 3.25) und ihre eigene Belastung ein, zudem Stresserleben, depressive Symptomatik, Partnerschaftszufriedenheit und Bonding. Ergebnisse: Schlafprobleme traten bei 21.7 %, schwer tröstbares und häufiges Schreien bei 12.3 % und exzessives Schreien bei 1.6 % der Kinder auf. Mindestens jede fünfte Mutter fühlte sich durch Schreien oder Schlafprobleme belastet. Mehr Stress, beeinträchtigtes Bonding und weniger Partnerschaftszufriedenheit erklärten 17 – 21 % der Varianz der mütterlichen Belastung durch Schrei- und Schlafverhalten. In der Zeit der stärksten Beschränkungen zeigte sich signifikant mehr Belastung in der Gruppe von Müttern, die von vermehrtem Schreien und verlängerter Einschlaflatenz berichteten, sowie mit mindestens einem weiteren Kind im Haushalt (MANOVA). Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Pandemiebedingt belastend für Mütter im ersten Jahr scheinen eingeschränkter Zugang zum Versorgungssystem, die Betreuung von mehr als einem Kind sowie das Alter des Kindes zu sein, während eine gute Beziehung zum Kind (Bonding) und/oder zum Partner (Partnerschaftszufriedenheit) abmildernd wirken.Theoretical background: The COVID-19 pandemic placed a burden on families in several respects, particularly because of the severe confinement imposed at its beginning. The confinement in spring 2020 led to social disruption and a reduction of supportive structures. In the first year of an infant’s life, the psychological well-being of a mother–child dyad is particularly susceptible to external stressful changes. Research question: How did the restrictions from the pandemic affect families with children in the first year of the infant’s life, particularly infant regulatory problems and related maternal stress? Methods: In an online survey, N = 577 mothers reported on their infants’ behavior (0 – 12 months of age, M = 7.3 months, SD = 3.3) regarding their crying, sleeping, and feeding/eating behavior as well as the respective distress experienced during the restrictions. Measures of current maternal well-being included overall perceived stress, depressivity, relationship satisfaction, and maternal bonding. Frequency/duration of infantile crying, sleep latency as well as night awakenings and feeding/eating problems were surveyed following clinical criteria (DC: 0 – 5) and percentile scores, respectively. The association of infant behavior and maternal distress was examined using linear regression and MANOVA. Results: Overall, at least one in five mothers felt burdened by her child’s regulatory problems during the time of severe restrictions. More than one in four mothers reported being highly or very highly distressed by her child’s crying. Sleeping problems, such as prolonged sleep latency (> 90th percentile) or several nightly awakenings, were reported for 21.7 % of the children. Difficulty to console and frequent crying were reported for 12.3 % and excessive crying for 1.6 % of the children. Higher levels of stress as well as increased impairment in maternal bonding and less relationship satisfaction explained 17 – 21 % of the variance of maternal distress from crying and sleeping problems. Significantly more distress was evident in the group of mothers who reported increased crying and prolonged latency to fall asleep (> 45 min) and with more than one child in the household during the period of most severe restrictions (MANOVA). A lack of medical, psychotherapeutic, and other means of care was reported by nearly a quarter of the respondents and was the only restriction that was significantly related to the perception of more stressful child behavior. Discussion and conclusion: Pandemic-related stressors for first-year mothers appear to be enhanced by limited access to the care system, caring for more than one child, the increasing age of the child, while a good relationship with the child (bonding) and/or partner (relationship) satisfaction provide buffers

Health-related quality of life and late morbidity in concurrent chemoradiation and radiotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma

Objective: Concurrent chemoradiation has improved survival of patients with cervical carcinoma. However, follow-up of randomized studies is relatively short and data on long term toxicity are scarce, as is information on their health-related quality of life. This study assesses and compares incidences of late side-effects among patients treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiation using two toxicity scoring systems, and investigates impact on health-related quality of life. Methods: Between 1985 and 1993, 114 patients underwent radiotherapy (n=39) or chemoradiation (n=75) for stage IIA-IVB cervical carcinoma. Late side-effects were scored retrospectively by reviewing medical charts using standardised checklists, focusing on bladder- and intestinal side effects. Health-related quality of life was assessed once using the EORTC QLQ-C30. Results: No significant differences in late treatment-related side-effects between radiotherapy and chemoradiation groups were found. Grade >= 2 toxicity was found in 33% (bladder), and in 6% (bowel). Only 1.8% had both grade 3-4 toxicity. Bladder syndrome with high urinary frequency, urine incontinence and small bowel toxicity had a significant impact on health-related quality of life. Conclusion: Grade 2 are relatively frequent late side effects in curatively treated patients, but are not enhanced by the addition of chemotherapy. Their negative impact on health-related quality of life stresses the importance of new radiation techniques, aiming at reduction of these side effects

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for organ-confined prostate cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Improved understanding of prostate cancer radiobiology combined with advances in delivery of radiation to the moving prostate offer the potential to reduce treatment-related morbidity and maintain quality of life (QOL) following prostate cancer treatment. We present preliminary results following stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) treatment for organ-confined prostate cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>SBRT was performed on 304 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer: 50 received 5 fractions of 7 Gy (total dose 35 Gy) and 254 received 5 fractions of 7.25 Gy (total dose 36.25 Gy). Acute and late toxicity was assessed using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scale. The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite questionnaire was used to assess QOL. Prostate-specific antigen response was monitored.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At a median 30-month (26 - 37 month, range) follow-up there were no biochemical failures for the 35-Gy dose level. Acute Grade II urinary and rectal toxicities occurred in 4% of patients with no higher Grade acute toxicities. One Grade II late urinary toxicity occurred with no other Grade II or higher late toxicities. At a median 17-month (8 - 27 month, range) follow-up the 36.25 Gy dose level had 2 low- and 2 high-risk patients fail biochemically (biopsy showed 2 low- and 1 high-risk patients were disease-free in the gland). Acute Grade II urinary and rectal toxicities occurred in 4.7% (12/253) and 3.6% (9/253) of patients, respectively. For those patients with a minimum of 12 months follow-up, 5.8% (12/206) had late Grade II urinary toxicity and 2.9% (6/206) had late Grade II rectal toxicities. One late Grade III urinary toxicity occurred; no Grade IV toxicities occurred. For both dose levels at 17 months, bowel and urinary QOL returned to baseline values; sexual QOL decreased by 10%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The low toxicity and maintained QOL are highly encouraging. Additional follow-up is needed to determine long-term biochemical control and maintenance of low toxicity and QOL.</p

Publication Records of Faculty Promoted to Professor: Evidence from the UK Accounting and Finance Academic Community

This study investigates the publication profiles of 140 accounting and finance faculty promoted to the senior rank of professor at UK and Irish universities during the period 1992 to 2007. On average, approximately 9 papers in Association of Business Schools (ABS) (2008)-listed journals, with 5 at the highest 3*/4* quality levels in a portfolio of 20 outputs are required for promotion to professor. Multivariate analysis provides evidence that publication requirements in terms of ABS ranked journal papers have increased over time, an effect attributed to the government research assessment exercise. There is no evidence that requirements differ for: internal versus external promotion, male versus female candidates; accounting versus finance professors, research intensity of institution peer group; or government research ranking of unit. There is also no evidence of a substitution effect in relation to increased recent publication history, quantity of non-ABS outputs or sole-authorship, all of which show a significant complementary effect. It is noted that there is very limited overlap in the UK and US publication journal sets, suggesting underlying geographically-based paradigm differences. The benchmarks provided in this study are informative in a range of decision settings: recruitment; those considering making an application for promotion to a chair and those involved in promotion panels; cross-disciplinary comparisons; and resource allocation. The evidence presented also contributes to the emerging policy debates concerning the aging demographic profile of accounting faculty, the management of academic labour and the Research Excellence Framework