Analytical examination of dynamic elements in modern architectural facades for advanced structural aesthetics

Introduction: The visual appeal and distinctiveness of a building’s external appearance can be enhanced by incorporating aesthetically pleasing and structurally coherent components, such as diagrids and external bracings. These components not only contribute to the building’s visual appeal but also communicate its structural logic. The aim of this research is to investigate how architectural surfaces can contribute to a building’s urban identity by integrating visually appealing and structurally sound structural systems.Methods: The research focuses on analyzing and understanding the formal structure, generating diverse patterns, and assessing their impact on stability. The goal is to develop architectural surface components that are both aesthetically pleasing and proficient in their application. The study involves analyzing architectural projects that address surfaces in alignment with structural connections and various connecting and modulating mechanisms. Significant architectural achievements from different historical periods were examined to construct a comprehensive knowledge framework.Results: The research conducted a detailed analytical and descriptive investigation into the intricate mechanisms of form surfaces within Modernity and Deconstruction architecture and their impact on structural relationships. The study revealed that by integrating structural connections and modulating mechanisms, it is possible to create architectural surface components that enhance a building’s visual appeal, artistic expression, and urban identity while maintaining structural stability and balance.Conclusion: The research concludes that integrating structural connections and modulating mechanisms into architectural surface components can significantly enhance a building’s visual appeal, artistic expression, and urban identity. By developing aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound elements, such as diagrids and external bracings, architects can create buildings that not only communicate their structural logic but also contribute to the overall urban fabric. This study provides valuable insights for architects and designers seeking to enhance the visual and structural qualities of their buildings

Assessment of the challenges influencing the adoption of smart building technologies

Introduction: Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing focus on Smart Building Projects (SBP) and the technologies associated with them. Numerous studies have been conducted globally to define smart building technologies (SBT), identify challenges, and explore areas for improvement. This study aims to examine the concept and terminology of SBT and the expertise and experience of participants in SBP in the Arab Gulf countries, specifically Saudi Arabia. The study also investigates the challenges faced by SBT throughout its life cycle.Methods: To identify and assess the challenges affecting the adoption of smart building technologies. This approach included a literature review, pilot-testing, and a questionnaire survey. The survey targeted a sample of 90 architects/engineers, managers, and contractors.Results: A total of 55 challenges were identified and categorized into four groups, corresponding to the key phases of the project life cycle. These phases include the programming and feasibility analysis phase, design phase, installation and commissioning phase, and operation and maintenance phase. The findings of this research expand the body of knowledge by providing architects/engineers, managers, and contractors in the architecture, engineering, construction, and facility management (AEC/FM) industry with insights into the influential challenges related to the adoption of SBT. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the concept and terminology of smart building technologies and explores the challenges faced by SBT during its life cycle. By identifying and categorizing these challenges, the study provides valuable information to AEC/FM practitioners, enabling them to overcome obstacles and improve the adoption of SBT

Prevalence And Antibiotic Resistance Pattern Of Linezolid And Vancomycin Resistant Gram-Positve Cocci Isolated From Surgical Site Infections

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Gram-positive cocci isolated from surgical site infections. Out of 320 bacterial isolates, 268 (83.75%) were identified as Staphylococcus spp. and 52 (16.25%) were identified as Enterococcus spp. Among staphylococci, 71.64% were coagulase-positive and 28.36% were coagulase-negative. The antimicrobial resistance of all isolates was tested with a disc diffusion method. The majority (69%) of coagulase-positive staphylococci were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) while 31% were methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). All staphylococci were found to be susceptible to vancomycin and only two isolates were found to be resistant to linezolid. On the other hand, high level (28%) of resistance to vancomycin was observed in enterococci and no enterococcal isolates exhibited resistance towards linezolid. Results revealed that all investigated isolates were resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline. High prevalence of erythromycin and ciprofloxacin resistance was observed in 91 and 77% of isolates, respectively, while only 18 and 28% of the isolates were resistant to amikacin and clindamycin, respectively

Evaluating the Amount of Tooth Movement and Root Resorption during Canine Retraction with Friction versus Frictionless Mechanics Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND: The current study was carried out to compare the amount of tooth movement during canine retraction comparing two different retraction mechanics; friction mechanics represented by a NiTi closed coil spring versus frictionless mechanics represented by T - loop, and their effect on root resorption using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).METHOD: Ten patients were selected in a split-mouth study design that had a malocclusion that necessitates the extraction of maxillary first premolars and retraction of maxillary canines. The right maxillary canines were retracted using T - loops fabricated from 0.017 X 0.025 TMA wires. The left maxillary canines received NiTi coil spring with 150 gm of retraction force. Pre retraction and post retraction Cone Beam Computed Tomography were taken to evaluate the amount of tooth movement and root resorption using three-dimensional planes.RESULTS: T - loop side showed statistically significant higher mean anteroposterior measurement than NiTi coil spring side, indicating a lower amount of canine movement pre and post a canine retraction. Concerning the root resorption, there was no statistically significant change in the mean measurements of canine root length post retraction.CONCLUSION: The NiTi coil spring side showed more distal movement more than the T-loop side. Both retraction mechanics with controlled retraction force, do not cause root resorption

A Green Way of Producing High Strength Concrete Utilizing Recycled Concrete

Multiple studies have investigated the influence of recycled aggregates derived from concrete waste on the efficacy of structural concrete manufactured in recent times. By utilizing recycled aggregates obtained from construction and demolition debris, it is possible to safeguard natural aggregate resources, reduce the demand for landfill space, and promote the utilization of sustainable building materials. However, compared to natural aggregate, bonded cement mortar on recycled concrete aggregate exhibits higher porosity, greater water absorption capacity, and lower strength. The mechanical and durability characteristics of freshly poured and hardened concrete made from recycled concrete aggregate are adversely affected as a result. This study presents comprehensive experimental research aimed at examining the residual mechanical properties and resistance to acid attack of normal and high-strength mixes of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) using the compressible packing model. Recycled aggregate was employed as both coarse and fine aggregate. The recycled concrete samples were prepared in a manner that corresponded to the proportions of both the coarse and fine aggregates. Twelve mixtures were designed and cast, and their performance was evaluated based on various strength parameters (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength) as well as acid attack resistance properties (porosity and ultrasonic pulse velocity). The findings indicate that recycled concrete aggregate can be utilized in the production of high-strength concrete, with mechanical property values that are significantly acceptable compared to concrete containing natural aggregates. Moreover, the addition of Silica Fume as a cement replacement in concrete plays a crucial role in enhancing sulphate resistance. In terms of concrete product utilization, recycled concrete and its significance in this study played a crucial role in environmental preservation. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-10-08 Full Text: PD

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

ZERO ENERGY SCHOOLS AN APPROACH TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN KSA

ABSTRACT Mankind's current confrontation with many major environmental problems, as a result of the depletion of energy sources conventional energy. This has resulted in serious environmental problems. In view of the need for increased energy demand and the impact of consumer life on crises fallout. In order to prevent risks arising from these problems, many ideas and concepts have emerged that attempt to formulate formulations for environmental consciousness. Sustainable development and its concepts are the basis for identifying ways of dealing rationally with the environment. As well as principles of sustainable architecture, green architecture and buildings zero energy and other as an intellectual framework conducive to reducing problems and especially the energy problem. Zero-energy schools can be seen as a good concept and a successful way to transmit environmental issue from curricula to application in pupils' daily lives as well as encouraging participation in environmental responsibility by students, teachers, parents and all sectors of the community. The research aims to shed light on the idea of zero energy schools directly and review the methods and techniques used in designing these schools and the possibility of applying it as a sustainable entry point in Arab cities, especially those with a desert nature for its sense of environmental and human activism. Research approached the analytical research curriculum and the case study curriculum by analyzing the theoretical ideas associated associated with the concepts of green architecture, zero energy schools, addressing their objectives, their role in publishing principles, With a review of a pilot model of a school in order to come up with a set of methods which can be adapted to the environmental conditions of Arab cities and climates in order to apply them To reach the design of a zero-energy school while studying the applicability of this idea in the Arab city constitutes. Keywords: Energy, Energy Rationalization, Sustainable Development, Schools, Zero Energy, Architecture