Construction Risk Analysis and Control

This course focuses on risk identification, risk assessment, risk management, risk mitigation, acceptance, and transfer. Quality assurance and Quality control are introduced also

Detection of Carbapenems and Colistin Resistance Genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii: A Single-center Study in Iran

Background: This study aimed to determine carbapenems, colistin resistance genes, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii isolates.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, specimens of patients with bloodstream, urinary tract, and surgical site nosocomial infections were enrolled. P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii isolates were identified using conventional methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) on isolates was performed using the disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for colistin as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The combination meropenem disk method was used to detect metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). The blaNDM, blaVIM, blaIMP, and mcr-1 genes were identified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and Sequencing.Results: Forty strains of P. aeruginosa and forty strains of A. baumannii were isolated from hospitalized patients. The overall prevalence of multidrug-resistance (MDR) was 50% and 95% in P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii isolates, respectively. Almost all the MDR isolates were resistant to cefepime and piperacillin. Colistin had significant inhibitory activity against the isolates. MBL was detected in 25.0% and 15.0% of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii, respectively. We detected no blaNDM, blaVIM, blaIMP, and mcr-1 genes in our A. baumannii isolates. Moreover, only three P. aeruginosa isolates were positive for blaIMP gene.Conclusion: The alarming proportion of MDR P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii isolates was reported in the current study. Effective infection prevention practices are required and AST should guide patients' treatment

Employing biomimicry in urban metamorphosis seeking for sustainability: case studies

Objective: The current study has aimed to develop the framework of biomimicry involvement in urban metamorphosis for sustainability. This research has engaged four objectives to achieve the aim. Objective one is to explore the rudiment interaction between human and nature through interrogating history, nature’s design. Objective two is to excavate the biomimicry in emulating nature’s genius. Objective three is to investigate the association between biomimicry and sustainable development, focusing on architectural features. Objective four is to develop the framework based on the biomimicry rules for human evolution and survival in the natural environment. Methodology: To achieve objective one, the grounded theory method was applied for scrutinizing human development and human awareness about their natural environment. To achieve objective two, an evidence study was conducted on the biomimicry emulation of nature’s genius. To achieve objective three, a critical literature review was conducted using content analysis method to identify the biomimicry focus and architectural features. Through matrix development method, the focus and architectural features were tabulated. To achieve objective four, the waterfall framework design method and case studies were conducted to plot this framework. Conclusions: This research gained a better understanding of biomimicry-based on theories of the evolution of organisms, including humans in the urban context, as measurement against sustainable benchmarks. It followed the paths of ecological researcher and urban philosophers, such as Freya Mathews and Moore, by re-versioned the human relationship with nature and the surrounding environment and observing human actions and development about life principles. In particular, the research found out that biomimicry is an approach that recently becomes the focus of many researchers of different disciplines seeking a solution for human problems.The biomimicry has been merged with sustainable architecture design through specific features; included, form and function, geometry, metaphor, movement, material, pattern, proportion, sustainability, and technology. Furthermore, biomimicry is an approach that involves nature as a model, mentor, and measure for inspiration, which converges law, principles, and strategies in the context of biomimicry-based on human evolution. Originality: The findings allowed architects and urban designers to enhance people’s awareness of their natural environment and provide a better perception of biomimicry in the application of human world, whether founded because of base instinct or a strategic view derived from the life’s principle

Echocardiographic Findings of ICU-Admitted COVID-19 Patients: a Multicenter Retrospective Study

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has left many victims and caused many problems for the healthcare systems of different countries. Many COVID-19 patients have cardiovascular complications, which are detectable using echocardiography. This study aimed to determine the echocardiographic findings and their association with mortality in an intensive care unit (ICU)-admitted COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU of four hospitals in Tehran, Iran, from April 2020 to March 2021 were recruited. Data were collected by the census method. We reviewed the medical records regarding demographic features, clinical history, laboratory results, and echocardiographic findings. Finally, variables were compared regarding disease outcomes at the end of hospitalization. We used the Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, independent-samples t-test, and logistic regression model to analyze the data. Results: This study showed that the mean age of 629 COVID-19 patients was 66.42±14.53 years. Overall, 56.8% of the patients were male. Multivariate regression analysis showed that age (OR=1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05), left ventricular ejection fraction (OR=0.95; 95% CI: 0.92-0.98), and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (OR=1.12; 95% CI: 1.06-1.18) were predictors of mortality. Conclusion: Cardiovascular involvement is prevalent among critically ill COVID-19 patients. Among echocardiographic findings, EF and s-PAP were significantly associated with the disease outcomes

Effect of recycled homogeneous ceramic waste aggregates on water absorption of mortar

Nowadays, concern for environmental issues encourages the researchers to find a solution for reducing depletion of natural resources. Utilizing the industrial wastes as a construction material is a win-win situation which has two benefits; first, will solve the problem of the landfill and on another hand by recycling and reusing the waste will increase natural materials reservation life span. Ceramic wastes are one of the by-products of ceramic manufacturing, which is directly meant for landfill ends traditionally. There have been several studies on replacement of ceramic waste with concrete admixture. However, there is no research on the effect of the using high rate of ceramic waste replacement on the rate of water absorption. This experimental work focuses on utilizing the homogeneous ceramic wastes as recycled aggregates and partial cement replacement and verifies the effect of this replacement on water absorption of mortar. River sand fully replaced by recycled ceramic aggregates and 40% of cement was replaced by fine ceramic powder. The specimens were cast in 100 x 100 x 100 mm cube for compressive strength test and water absorption test. Mortar containing the recycled ceramic wastes shows lower water absorption in compared to control specimens where the rate value, at the age of 90 days, are 1.32% and 2.11%, respectively

Assessing Attitudes of Medical Students towards First Contact with Patient in Tehran (2016-17)

Background: Early experience of clinical arena as first situations can be effective in selection or refusing medicine as profession is so important that programmers and administrators should consider these settings as one of the most elements in educational programs.Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study and including presently studying students in medicine field of medical sciences universities. Sample size was estimated for 275 students. Participants were selected from schools of medicine: Iran University (IUMS), Shahid Beheshti University, and Islamic Azad University using stratified random sampling method. Data was collected in March of 2016 by a researcher made questionnaire determined its validity and reliability. Data was analyzed using chi-squared test, t-test, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test.Results: Mean score of medical students’ attitude from 15 five-degree scale questions was 51.22 ± 6.32. The mean scores of attitude in men and women were 51.37±6.16 and 51.06±6.53, respectively (p=0.687). Overall, 13.8 % of students had positive attitude towards first contact with patient, 10.5 % of students had negative attitude and 75.6 % had no opinion. The mean scores of attitude towards first contact with patient in Iran university, Shahid Beheshti university and Islamic Azad university were 50.40±5.00, 52.71±5.91 and 46.12±5.97, respectively (p<0.001). The mean scores of attitude towards first contact with patient in reformed educational system and old educational system were 52.35±5.83 and 46.12±5.97 respectively, with a significant difference between two types of educational system (p<0.001).Conclusion: As respects more positive attitude of students in reformed educational system in comparison with old educational system, special attention to courses of early contact with patient may contribute to decreasing educational insufficiency and distance between theory and practice and lead to the satisfaction all of beneficiaries

Emerging factors shaping identity of indigenous urbanism concurrently adopting modernity in qatar: The application of diffusion theory

Forms, designs, and symbols are the components of built environment, which transfer the information of place and identity to users. This research aimed to explore the emerging factors shaping the identity of local urban districts while adopting the global culture and modernity. To achieve this aim, the research has conducted two phases within which include a few steps. Phase one was to explore different urban zoning. It includes a detailed analysis of the different architectural styles and elements that have spread the identity concerning the main constituents of urban zones. Because of the difficulty to survey the whole Doha region, this research has focused on four mega projects with different characteristics in Doha Governorates; Pearl Qatar (representing Islamic architecture), Souq Waqif (representing traditional architecture), Msheireb project (as the combination of traditional and modern architecture), and West Bay (as the reference for global approach). Phase one has two steps; Field Observation and Field survey. Phase two was to explore the new elements spread for built environment's identity with the concentration on the selected sites in Doha. Phase two has two steps; Photo survey and Interviews. To test the proposed premise, this phase prolonged into human geography using Torsten Hagerstrand's diffusion theory. The findings of this research help architects and urban designers to enhance susers' awareness of their natural environment, and provide a better perception of identity in local urban districts and vernacular architecture, based on instinct and strategic view derived from the global culture and societal modern architecture principles.Scopu

Prioritizing occupants understanding level on residential building energy consumption

The building sector is widely known for its greenhouse gas and carbon emission which is very significant to the global warming as observed in recent years. Many research works highlighted that buildings has a negative impact on the society as it consumes up to 80% of the total energy used during operation stage. In Malaysia, electricity energy consumption in buildings is 63,354GWh out of the total 116,353GWh of total energy consumed in the country in the year 2012. This paper consider the understanding level of the residential owners in their building energy usage at their various residential buildings. Energy use by household varies widely, this is due to the living standard of a country, type of buildings and climate condition of the region. The study is based on the tips and guides to energy efficiency at home of the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey form and was analyzed using regression analysis, the results indicates that the occupants have little or no proper understanding of Air-condition, Home appliance and Lighting appliances

Waterproof performance of concrete: a critical review on implemented approaches

Permeation of water and other fluids in concrete can result in degradation and other aesthetic problems which shorten concrete structures' life. Several studies have been undertaken to produce waterproofing additives that extend the service life of concrete elements. Consequently, a great deal of repair and maintenance costs could be avoided. This paper aims to review the studies which have used various agents and tests to evaluate the waterproofing efficiency of concrete. The study establishes the taxonomy and construct of research in concrete waterproofing research. Study established frequency aggregation of different additive used and tests applied. The technique adopted by majority of the researchers was the use of surface coating. Water absorption was found to be the most common test in this research area. Study delineated that most researchers focused on the use of polymer-based materials, silicates containing compound, silanes, siloxanes, cementing materials and some nano materials. Finally, study established three classification of additives based on material structure, method of application and additives functions

Efficiency of Microalgae Chlamydomonas on the Removal of Pollutants from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)

AbstractMalaysia is considered as a major palm oil producer in the world. Therefore, it is vital to utilize an environmentally friendly and inexpensive method to treat palm oil mill effluent (POME) in Malaysia. Nowadays, the use of microalgae to remove pollutants from POME has gained a lot of attention. The main objective of this research was to investigate the effect of POME as a nutrient on the microalgae growth and analyze the removal rate of pollution. In this study, a pure culture Chlamydomonas incerta was aseptically transferred to an Erlenmeyer flask containing POME. The effect of POME as a high nutritional substrate, different cultivation scales, carbon total nitrogen (C:TN) ratio, and the lipid productivity of microalgae C. incerta were assessed. C. incerta was grown at room temperature under continuous illumination with the intensity of ± 15 (μmol/m2/s) for 28 days, followed by the measurement of chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction at different substrate concentrations. The results of this study demonstrated that organic carbon was removed by C. incerta for the ratio of 100:7, 100:13, and 100:31 respectively within the second day of cultivation. Fast growth of microalgae was observed in organic and inorganic substrates for adoption within the second day of experiment. The optimum achievement rate of nutrient removal with C. incerta was about 67.35% of COD for 250mg/L of POME concentrations in 28 days. The significance of this study is regarding the introduction of a new microalgae strain with a high ability to remove nutrients from POME, which can contribute to the effort in finding an efficient and economic technology for improving our environment