Deciphering the Nexus: Blockchain-Smart Contracts and Their Transformative Potential in the Construction Industry

The construction industry, characterized by its intricate processes and extensive stakeholder networks, stands at the cusp of a digital revolution. The adoption of blockchain-smart contract (BCSC) technology is at the heart of this transformation. This research delves deep into the BCSC within the construction arena to provide comprehensive insight into its probable applications, inherent challenges, and potential future trajectories. Leveraging the PRISMA analysis technique, a curated collection of relevant academic research articles was assembled, shedding light on the existing body of knowledge regarding the application of BCSC technology in construction. The authors developed an innovative user interface tool customized to automatically analyze Excel files exported from Scopus and Science Direct databases to ensure a rigorous approach. Preliminary findings highlight the existing gaps between the theoretical potential of blockchain and its tangible implementation in the construction domain. This study consolidates existing literature and emphasizes the critical domains and key parameters that future studies should address. The paper paves the way for innovative breakthroughs by pinpointing these gaps, pushing the boundaries of how blockchain and smart contracts might reshape the construction industry\u27s future landscape

Deciphering the Nexus: Blockchain-Smart Contracts and Their Transformative Potential in the Construction Industry

The construction industry, characterized by its intricate processes and extensive stakeholder networks, stands at the cusp of a digital revolution. The adoption of blockchain-smart contract (BCSC) technology is at the heart of this transformation. This research delves deep into the BCSC within the construction arena to provide comprehensive insight into its probable applications, inherent challenges, and potential future trajectories. Leveraging the PRISMA analysis technique, a curated collection of relevant academic research articles was assembled, shedding light on the existing body of knowledge regarding the application of BCSC technology in construction. The authors developed an innovative user interface tool customized to automatically analyze Excel files exported from Scopus and Science Direct databases to ensure a rigorous approach. Preliminary findings highlight the existing gaps between the theoretical potential of blockchain and its tangible implementation in the construction domain. This study consolidates existing literature and emphasizes the critical domains and key parameters that future studies should address. The paper paves the way for innovative breakthroughs by pinpointing these gaps, pushing the boundaries of how blockchain and smart contracts might reshape the construction industry\u27s future landscape

Organizational Justice among Kindergarten Leaders from the Perspective of teachers

The current research aimed to identify the extent to which kindergarten leaders (administrators and supervisors) practicing organizational justice and propose some recommendations for applying organizational justice by kindergarten leaders. Data collection tool was a questionnaire - prepared by the researcher -. The research sample consisted of (284) kindergarten teachers from kindergarten, Minia Educational Administrations, from the nine centers of Minia Governorate. Findings of the study revealed that organizational justice among kindergarten leaders from the Perspective of teachers was achieved at a low level. The research sample suggested a number of suggestions for achieving organizational justice among kindergarten leaders, In addition the research proposed some recommendations for achieving organizational justice among kindergarten leaders

Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of women in the reproductive age towards prenatal screening for congenital malformations, Alexandria-Egypt

Background: The study was conducted to explore the Egyptian women’s attitudes toward the prenatal screening (PNS) for congenital malformations and termination of pregnancy if medically indicated and assessing their knowledge and beliefs regarding prenatal screening.Methods: A total of 351 Egyptian women in the reproductive age giving birth to at least one child completed a structured questionnaire to assess their knowledge of prenatal diagnosis and their willingness to undergo prenatal screening as well as their opinions on termination of pregnancy if medically indicated. Women's beliefs were also assessed.Results: More than half of studied women (52.71%) are lacking knowledge about the availability of the accurate tests for prenatal screening of congenital malformations. After giving information about PNS, more than three quarters (77.5%) of the studied women held positive attitudes toward the prenatal screening for congenital malformations. The other one quarter was either refusing or not sure about their opinion (4.6% and 17.9% respectively). Only 58.7% accepting termination of pregnancy if medically indicated. Positive attitude towards PNS was significantly higher among females with older age (P=0.019) as well as those of higher social class as indicated by higher level of education (p=0.026), urban residency (p=0.046) and working women (p=0.005). Perceived seriousness of congenital malformations and believing in the importance of early detection of such condition were the significant motives to undergo PNS.Conclusions: There is marked lack of knowledge about the prenatal screening tests among the studied women. After giving information about PNS, most of them shows a positive attitude towards carrying out these tests and about half of them reported their acceptance for termination of pregnancy if medically indicated based on prenatal diagnosis of sever congenital malformations. Emphasis national needs for health education programs about PNS importance and development of well-structured national program for PNS

Non-Palpable Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Initially Diagnosed by Inguinal Lymph Node Biopsy

Metastasis from breast cancer to the inguinal lymph nodes or the vulva is a rare event with very few cases reported in literature. A 38-year-old lady presented complaining of progressive abdominal enlargement. Physical examination was unremarkable apart from abdominal enlargement and enlarged right inguinal lymph node. Radiology showed marked ascites, omental thickening, bilateral small ovarian masses, suspicious right inguinal lymph node (LN) as well as breast fibrocystic disease. Cytological examination of the ascitic fluid revealed malignant cells. Core needle biopsy from the inguinal LN suggested metastatic breast carcinoma. Breast MRI showed heterogeneous fibro-glandular tissue and moderate parenchymal enhancement. Random core needle biopsies from the breast led to the diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma. The patient received 8 cycles of docetaxel/carboplatin protocol, with partial response. Next, she was maintained on hormonal treatment (Anastrazole) till the ascites re- accumulated. Vulvar nodules appeared whose biopsy revealed infiltration by the same tumoral tissue. She received 6 cycles of Endoxan and Pharmarubicin till regression was achieved, and then she was subjected to Exemestane. Thorough clinical assessment including of all lymph node basins and gynecological assessment are crucial in all breast cancer patients, particularly those with invasive lobular subtypes. Keywords: Breast neoplasms, Lobular, Vulva, Vulvar metastasis, Neoplasm metastasi

Assessment of Quality of Life among Beta-Thalassemia Major Patients Attending the Hematology Outpatient Clinics at Cairo University Hospital

AIM: This paper aimed at assessing the quality of life (QoL) among beta (β)-thalassemia major patients using the short-form-36questionnaire (SF-36) and determining the factors associated with it. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among β-thalassemia major patients who were attending the hematology outpatient clinic at Cairo University Hospital using the consecutive sampling technique. Data were collected between October 2016 and March 2017. The QoL was assessed for patients aged ≥17 years. During the study period, a total number of 112 patients were included for participation. RESULTS: The mean age of the studied group was 18.32 ± 1.33 years. Most of the included patients (93.63%) had 1 monthly blood transfusion. The mean total score of SF-36 was 44.90 ± 7.54. Among the QoL domains of the studied patients, the “general health perception” domain was the most affected one with a mean score of (add the value of the score here), while the “vitality” domain was the least affected one. No statistically significant difference was reported between males and females regarding different QoL domains except for the “vitality” domain which mean score was significantly higher in males compared to females (p = 0.05). The age at onset of the disease and at first blood transfusion was the most documented factors to be positively correlated with the QoL among the studied patients. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the QoL in thalassemia major patients is compromised. QoL assessment should be performed for all thalassemia patients to determine and implement the necessary interventions that focus on the affected domains

Osteopontin for Early Detection of Microvascular and Macrovascular Type 1 Diabetic Complication

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between osteopontin and diabetes complication in type 1 diabetic patient. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy types 1 diabetic and 60 healthy volunteers were studied. Full history, examination, laboratory tests of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), serum lipids {cholesterol, triglyceride (Tg), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein – cholesterol (LDL-c)}, oxidised low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), Osteopontin and urinary microalbuminuria (albumin/creatinine ratio) were done. Image study in the form of a carotid intimal medial thickness (cIMT) and aortic intimal medial thickness (aIMT), renal doppler for resistivity index was also done for all participant included in the study. RESULTS: Urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, lipid profile, osteopontin, cIMT and aIMT were higher in people with diabetes. Osteopontin was higher in people with diabetes with positive microalbuminuria and cIMT. Systolic blood pressure, microalbuminuria and cIMT had a positive correlation with osteopontin in people with diabetes. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that osteopontin had a significant correlation with cIMT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the cut off value of Osteopontin for detection of cIMT was > 60 with a specificity of 100% and sensitivity 80.5%, while that of albumin/creatinine ratio was > 64 with a specificity of 66.7 and sensitivity of 92.3. CONCLUSION: Osteopontin is higher in type 1 diabetics and is useful for early detection of diabetic microvascular and macrovascular complication

Frequency of Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HFE) Gene Mutations in Egyptian Beta Thalassemia Patients and its Relation to Iron Overload

AIM: This study aimed to detect the most common HFE gene mutations (C282Y, H63D, and S56C) in Egyptian beta thalassemia major patients and its relation to their iron status. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 50 beta thalassemia major patients and 30 age and sex matched healthy persons as a control group. Serum ferritin, serum iron and TIBC level were measured. Detection of the three HFE gene mutations (C282Y, H63D and S65C) was done by PCR-RFLP analysis. Confirmation of positive cases for the mutations was done by sequencing.RESULTS: Neither homozygote nor carrier status for the C282Y or S65C alleles was found. The H63D heterozygous state was detected in 5/50 (10%) thalassemic patients and in 1/30 (3.3%) controls with no statistically significant difference between patients and control groups (p = 0.22). Significantly higher levels of the serum ferritin and serum iron in patients with this mutation (p = 001).CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there is an association between H63D mutation and the severity of iron overload in thalassemic patients