Architectural Design and Management: Research Roadmap

This Research Roadmap aims to establish the principal issues in Architectural Design and Management. It is an advance for architectural research to be organised in this way; and addresses six themes: Conceptual Framework State of the Art Future Scenario Development Strategy Research Contribution Research Agenda It sets out the scope for research and innovation, and suggests how this may receive more prominence on the international stage

A importância dos sistemas de impermeabilização na durabilidade das estruturas

A relevante quantidade de patologias ligadas a infiltrações de água em nossas edificações verticais imobiliárias são incompatíveis com os níveis e estágios avançados de inovações tecnológicas, desenvolvimento e racionalização que a construção civil tem vivido nos últimos anos. Este fator associado à realidade de um mercado altamente competitivo, e ainda ao elevado grau de exigência dos consumidores que é progressiva desde o advento do código de defesa do consumidor, devem ou deveriam fazer os empreendedores/ construtores refletirem seriamente sobre a forma e momento em que se pensa no item impermeabilização em seus empreendimentos. Esse trabalho tem como objetivo, apresentar os prejuízos/problemas causados pela ausência de um especialista de impermeabilização já na fase de execução dos projetos de uma equipe multidisciplinar, com ênfase, aos danos gerados a estrutura das edificações (especialmente corrosão de armaduras) e da mesma forma mostrar que essa presença pode ao menos minimizar muitas dessas patologias que quase sempre possui soluções simples quando pensadas no momento e local adequado, ou seja, na etapa de projeto. Foi utilizado para elaboração do artigo, um banco de dados referente a analise de 22 edificações, todos eles localizados na Região Metropolitana do Recife – Brasil, e sendo os empreendimentos com entrega recente, ou seja, inferior a 5 (cinco) anos. Os resultados obtidos indicam a importância do tema, mostrando que gestão da impermeabilização, desde a fase inicial do empreendimento (projetos) é fundamental para durabilidades da estrutura.Tópico 6: Patrimonio Urbano de los siglos XVIII al XX. Técnicas de Limpieza y de Conservación

Knowledge management in real estate Project development: case study in contractors

Empreendimentos desenvolvidos no setor imobiliário têm se tornado cada vez mais complexos exigindo uma articulação eficiente entre toda a equipe multidisciplinar envolvida para o sucesso de sua implementação. Visto que decisões na fase de projeto podem influenciar todo o ciclo de vida do empreendimento, a gestão do conhecimento aplicada ao processo de projeto pode contribuir no atendimento aos requisitos dos\ud investidores, clientes e usuários e na melhoria do desempenho do empreendimento. A função de gestor do processo de projeto, antes exercida pelos arquitetos, tem sido conduzida em muitos casos, por incorporadoras ou construtoras, que têm desenvolvido competências para a gestão do empreendimento como um todo, como estratégia de criação de valor para seus clientes e para controlar os riscos associados ao projeto. O artigo propõe expor que conhecimento deve ser gerenciado em empresas de engenharia e construção, os fluxos de transferência do conhecimento ao longo do ciclo de vida do empreendimento e aspectos fundamentais para eficácia do processo de projeto e sucesso na transferência de conhecimento, identificados em estudos de caso baseados em três construtoras, caracterizadas por conduzir empreendimentos de caráter exclusivo, que conquistaram um posicionamento no mercado. Palavras-chave:\ud Gestão de Projetos; Gestão do conhecimento; Empreendimentos imobiliários; Integração; Comunicação.Projects developed in real estate sector have become more complex demanding an efficient articulation of the multidisciplinary team to achieve the success of its implementation. Due to the fact that decisions made in the design phase may influence all the Project life cycle, knowledge management applied to design process may contribute to achieve the investor, client and user requirements and improve the Project performance. The multidisciplinary team knowledge sharing across organizational boundaries, represents a potential for client expectations attendance and may improve the earned value of the design, construction, operation and maintenance. Design manager function, usual ly performed by architects, has been led by management companies, and in some cases, by contractors, that have developed project and design management competences as a strategy to create value for their clients and control risks associated with the project. The article aims to expose which knowledge should be managed in engineer and construction companies, the knowledge transference flow during the Project life cycle and the essential aspects for its success, identified in the case studies based on three contractors, known to lead exclusive Projects, which have conquered a high market position. Key-words: Design Management; Knowledge Management; Real Estate Projects; Integration; Communication

Using the March of Dimes "Becoming a Mom" Prenatal Program to Improve Maternal Attitudes and Knowledge

BACKGROUND: Premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome were identified as issues contributing to infant mortality in Kansas by the state’s Blue Ribbon Panel. The March of Dimes Becoming a Mom (BAM) prenatal program was implemented in four counties identified with high infant mortality rates and significant birth numbers (Geary, Saline, Sedgwick, and Shawnee) by the Kansas Blue Ribbon Panel. The purpose of this study was to identify the changes in prenatal attitudes, knowledge, and health outcomes among BAM program participants. METHODS: A collaborative community-based model incorporating multidisciplinary teams was created to address the health disparity gap in birth outcomes. Patients participated in multiple prenatal education sessions using a curriculum developed by the March of Dimes. A pre-/post-test design was implemented for the prenatal sessions. Changes in attitudes were assessed using descriptive statistics. Paired t-tests were used to assess the difference in knowledge questions from pre- and post-tests. Health outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Participants were 69% White, 87% spoke English, 64% were under age 26, 41% were employed full time, 45% had some high school or had a diploma, 39% had Medicaid, and 49% were enrolled in WIC (N=114). Participants demonstrated a statistically significant increase in knowledge among 14 out of 32 questions including: identifying signs of preterm labor, what to do during preterm labor, postpartum symptoms, and baby sleep position. There were also changes in prenatal attitudes including: need for prenatal care as soon as possible, continuing prenatal care when feeling healthy and not smoking during pregnancy. Relative frequencies were tabulated for week of delivery, infant birth weight, type of delivery, and presence of maternal and infant medical conditions. CONCLUSION: The March of Dimes BAM program participants reported improvements in prenatal knowledge. The BAM program can improve maternal knowledge through a community-based collaborative model of care. The combined prenatal education program with quality prenatal care can result in better maternal and child health outcomes

CLUSTAG: Hierarchical clustering and graph methods for selecting tag SNPs

Summary: Cluster and set-cover algorithms are developed to obtain a set of tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that can represent all the known SNPs in a chromosomal region, subject to the constraint that all SNPs must have a squared correlation R 2 > C with at least one tag SNP, where C is specified by the user. © The Author 2004. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio

A Qualitative Assessment of Kansas Tracking and Reporting of Controlled Substances (K-TRACS)

Introduction. This study assessed the Kansas Tracking and Reporting of Controlled Substances system (K-TRACS), the online controlled prescription medication monitoring website in Kansas. The specific aims were to determine if and when pharmacists and physicians in Kansas were using K-TRACS and to identify any perceived benefits or barriers to using K-TRACS. Methods. A non-randomized, convenience sample of Kansas pharmacists and family physicians were interviewed face to face using a guided semi-structured questionnaire. NVivo 10 (QSR International Pty Ltd.) was used to analyze data. Results. Ten physicians and sixteen pharmacists were interviewed. All pharmacists and 70% of physicians were using K-TRACS. Usage was prompted by encounters with new patients or unease with the patient interaction. The perceived benefits included increased communication with the patient and all providers, increased provider comfort with treating chronic pain, and altered prescriber habits. Barriers to the use of K-TRACS were identified as login, password, and operating system problems. Conclusions. Among study participants, K-TRACS is used regularly, is perceived to be a benefit to providers, patients and communities, and has become a useful new tool in the treatment of chronic pain. K-TRACS is perceived to facilitate increased communication between providers and with patients

Identifying Stressors Experienced by Single Fathers Who Are Parenting in New York City

Fathers face difficulties when taking on the single parent role, including having to prove their ability to care for their children alone. Existing research does not address issues concerning single fathers and the stressors they experience in raising their children. This study addresses these issues and helps researchers understand single fathers by using a qualitative approach to understand their perception of parenting. Fourteen participants from New York City participated in semi-structured interviews to elicit information about this phenomenon. This study focused on experiences the men have while being a single parent, the impact of living in New York City on single fathers parenting, and helpful services for single fathers. After completion of the interviews, each discussion was input into the memos section of Nvivo for use in the analysis phase. Interviews were separated into descriptive nodes addressing each area of interest. Data was then dissected into subnodes, which assisted in determining the themes, represented by participant responses. The last analysis step included the establishment of important ideas for each of the three research questions. The findings show fathers experience stressors when being a single parent as they identified childcare, the absence of the child\u27s mother, finances, housing, medical insurance, and communication issues as stress factors. Surprisingly, a majority of the participants felt living in New York positively impacted their parenting. Although a majority of the participants identified stress as part of their parenting experience, all the fathers identified services as a practical tool to help them improve their parenting. Several implications for positive social change after completing this research study include helping providers understand the needs of this population, and identifying the need for support to help improve parenting for this population

Sinopse do artigo “Migrânea aguda na gravidez: oportunidades terapêuticas”

Acute migraine is a debilitating pain crisis for which there are several therapeutic options, although no single universally effective prescription. When the migraine attack occurs in pregnant women, the pharmacological treatment options are very limited and a complex situation arises, in which to do or not to do have potential implications. The fear of possible damage to the fetus by the mother or the physician and the effect of recurrent and severe pain on the pregnant woman do not have a unidirectional response. For most drugs, the real risk potential in pregnancy has not been established, and suffering from chronic or recurrent pain also has potential adverse effects on pregnancy. This often leads to inaction or to the prescription of medication that is not necessarily useful. Pain should be treated effectively in all circumstances and pregnancy is no exception. This paper reviews the available options for the treatment of migraine attacks that may be used in pregnant women

Petasites hybridus: scientific evidence A

Migraine is the leading cause of disability in individuals aged 15 to 49 worldwide, emphasizing the need for diverse preventive treatments. In 2023, Brazil introduced highly purified Petasites hybridus. This article comment the manuscript Loder and coworkers, 2012 one of the primary studies that positioned Petasites hybridus among the Level A evidence medications in the American Consensus of the episodic migraine preventive treatment in 2012.DevelopmentA 1990s German study, randomized and placebo-controlled, involved 60 patients using a Petasites hybridus root extract for migraine prevention. Though effective, the study had notable shortcomings. To validate its findings, independent investigators and statisticians conducted a comprehensive efficacy reassessment following International Conference on Harmonisation E9 Guidelines. Results showed a significant -50% reduction in migraine episodes for 45% of the treatment group, compared to 15% in the placebo group. The active treatment group also saw a significant drop in migraine attacks needing acute medication (from 20.6% to 7.1%), unlike the placebo group (12.8% to 11.7%). The reanalysis confirmed the treatment group\u27s superiority across 12 primary efficacy metrics, supporting its effectiveness.CommentarySeveral studies, including this reanalysis and an American study, support Petasites hybridus for migraine prevention, leading to its Level A evidence classification. Its mechanisms include antinociceptive, anti-CGRP, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic effects.ConclusionThe reanalysis confirmed the efficacy of Petasites hybridus from Grossman’s study. The German team minimized bias through rigorous statistical methods. Petasites hybridus should be considered for first-line and subsequent migraine prevention, potentially combined with other medications based on patient needs.

Review of ventilation systems in operating rooms in view of infection control

The Postoperative Infection Rate (PIR) generally depends on factors such as the type of surgery, the cleanliness of equipment, medical procedures, and the level of microorganisms in the immediate and surrounding environments. Another major factor to consider is the quality of the air in the operating room (OR). The aim of this paper is review different ventilation systems in order to evaluate the of infection control (IC). This review consists of a literature review and observations in OR. The objective is to assist design engineers in developing more efficient ventilation systems, and to help stakeholders in choosing the "best" system for the particular type of surgery they need to perform. The practical result will be that security aspects of IC will be strengthened, which should lead to lower PIR