THE EVOLUTION OF THE FUNCTION AND DESIGN OF SPACES IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES THROUGH THE DIGITAL ERA

Along with technology development in all fields of contemporary life, activities come development regarding architectural requirements. The functions, spaces usage, types of buildings, etc. have changed. Certain architectural elements and spaces have disappeared while other functions have either disappeared or been minimized. The change has also exceeded the architectural level to the urban level, affecting the urban planning elements, sizes, and decision-making processes. Developments in technology exert a great influence on communication as well as data entry, saving, and archiving; which, in return, has had a direct impact on libraries’ spaces, operating systems, functions, and user types. As a result, the traditional space requirements and old architectural theories should be revised. This research aims to study the theoretical requirements of architectural academic libraries and the implications of technology development for spaces, functions, and types of users in the last ten years, through analyzing ten university libraries that were recently established in Europe and the USA that use the latest technologies. The outcome is applied to a case study: the architectural academic library of Beirut Arab University on Debbieh campus. The research finds that physical libraries will not be replaced by digital libraries easily, although the extensive use of technology has led to continuous changes in library spaces. The technological revolution in the field of mobile phones and applications which facilitated the accessibility of information and the possibility of searching and indexing has boosted the trend in changing library collections from physical to digital phenomena. In addition, the ideas of shared spaces and Pop-up Campuses, where libraries are completely virtual and universities are without boundaries, will also affect these traditional library-related theories. It is hoped that the results and recommendations will assist the development of a new approach and method regarding library design, which may consequently affect university buildings design, especially since the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is pushing us toward social distancing and online applications

THE IMPACT OF ATRIUMS ON THERMAL AND DAYLIGHTING PERFORMANCE

The energy crisis is one of the main focuses of attention across the world. Atrium spaces have become a main part of most public buildings all over the world, regardless of their environmental aspects. The arguments of a good space, the psychological atmosphere and the impact on energy consumption are the main problems that face any designer, environmental designers in particular. In atrium design, there is more than one aspect to be considered; architectural, functional, economic, environmental, construction and psychological aspects are the main aspects that should be considered in the early design stage. The environmental aspect is the most important of all; this is affected by several factors, such as the daylighting and thermal performance. Much research has studied this aspect in relation to a certain location, case, factor or multiple factors; these results might thus be limited. The complication and contradiction of these factors leads to the necessity of studying and analysing them. The question that this research aims to answer is how a building can benefit from daylighting with or without excess heat gain according to the climatic conditions, through determining the main factors that should be studied and their impacts on the design of atrium space

Paediatricians’ referral preference of patients with embolised intravascular foreign bodies: a survey-based study

Background: Central line insertion is a routine procedure in medical practice. Dislodgement of lines into the vascular system is a rare complication. We noticed that paediatric health care providers (PHCP) contact the cardiac or general paediatric surgeon for extraction of dislodged lines more frequently than using the less invasive percutaneous approach.Aim: To study the referral preference of PHCP for patient with embolised intravascular foreign bodies.Methods: A questionnaire with three questions was distributed to PHCP of all paediatric subspecialties, including surgery, in two tertiary care centres. The questions were about the total number of patients seen with central line, experience with complications, and preferred specialty for removal of dislodged central lines.Results: The questionnaire was distributed to 128 professionals. The response rate was 79% (n101). Incomplete answers (n14) were excluded. The grades of responders were senior consultants 18%, junior consultants 38%, and residents 43%. Thirty nine percent of care providers experienced dislodgement or fragmentation of central lines. The majority (82%) prefer to refer the patients for surgical removal. Conclusions: Most PHCP in the selected hospitals prefer to refer patients with embolised foreign bodies in the vascular system for surgical removal. The local health policy should be updated for the use of the alternative percutaneous approach.Keywords: cardiac surgery; clinical practice; transcatheter retrieva

63. Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, associated with intracranial calcifications and left parietal hemangioma (Sturge–Weber Syndrome)

Case reportNeurocutaneous disorders are characterized by skin lesions (port wine stain, hypopigmented patches) associated with intracranial features (ipsilateral leptomeningeal angiomas, intracranial calcifications and subsequent seizures). Some of these patients will also have opthalmological findings.These disorders are occasionally accompanied by congenital heart disease. Example: PHACE syndrome which is associated with aortic coarctation. On the contrary, Sturge–Weber syndrome, apart from one single case report, is usually not described with congenital heart disease. In the mentioned case report, 13year old female had along with this syndrome, pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect. As the author of this case report questioned whether this might be a new association, we would like to report our patient.This is a 14months old boy with pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum along with intracranial calcification, seizures along with strabismus and tunnel vision. Clinical findings were similar to Sturge–Weber syndrome, though cutaneous features were not present. Brain CT angio with contrast was diagnostic for Sturge–Weber and showed calcifications as well as left parietal hemangioma.As far as we know, this specific association has never been reported before and might be a new constellation as suggested by Huseyin Tan et al. (2003)

Disaster management in industrial areas: perspectives, challenges and future research

Purpose: In most countries, development, growth, and sustenance of industrial facilities are given utmost importance due to the influence in the socio-economic development of the country. Therefore, special economic zones, or industrial areas or industrial cities are developed in order to provide the required services for the sustained operation of such facilities. Such facilities not only provide a prolonged economic support to the country but it also helps in the societal aspects as well by providing livelihood to thousands of people. Therefore, any disaster in any of the facilities in the industrial area will have a significant impact on the population, facilities, the economy, and threatens the sustainability of the operations. This paper provides review of such literature that focus on theory and practice of disaster management in industrial cities. Design/methodology/approach: In the paper, content analysis method is used in order to elicit the insights of the literature available. The methodology uses search methods, literature segregation and developing the current knowledge on different phases of industrial disaster management. Findings: It is found that the research is done in all phases of disaster management, namely, preventive phase, reactive phase and corrective phase. The research in each of these areas are focused on four main aspects, which are facilities, resources, support systems and modeling. Nevertheless, the research in the industrial cities is insignificant. Moreover, the modeling part does not explicitly consider the nature of industrial cities, where many of the chemical and chemical processing can be highly flammable thus creating a very large disaster impact. Some research is focused at an individual plant and scaled up to the industrial cities. The modeling part is weak in terms of comprehensively analyzing and assisting disaster management in the industrial cities. Originality/value: The comprehensive review using content analysis on disaster management is presented here. The review helps the researchers to understand the gap in the literature in order to extend further research for disaster management in large scale industrial cities.Peer Reviewe

Correlation Between the Total Small Bowel Length and Anthropometric Measures in Living Humans : Cross-Sectional Study

Open Access via Springer Compact AgreementPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Controller Energy management for hybrid renewable energy system

A new modified configuration for the stand-alone photovoltaic- wind ndash diesel generator system with and without battery to electrify a remote area household load in Egypt is presented. The displaying, reenactment, and operational control technique for the framework is produced. The created control intends to enhance the energy flow inside the framework, with the end goal that the heap is fulfilled autonomous on the varieties in insolation, the temperature and the wind speed. Additionally, it means to ensure the battery against overcharging or excessive discharging. Also, it means to secure the worldwide framework against the unpredictable excess or defict of the available energy

Antibacterial activity of Libyan Juniperus phoenicea L. leaves extracts against common nosocomial pathogens

In ancient times, botanical extracts were essential complementary method for microbial control. This study has been carried out to assess the antibacterial activities of methanol, acetone, and aqueous leaf extracts of Libyan Juniperus phoenicea L. against multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, S. haemolyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis) using the agar well diffusion method. Based on the inhibition zone's diameter or appearance, the tested MDR bacteria were identified as susceptible, intermediate, or resistant using the standard criteria. The current study's findings showed that the concentration, type of solvent and bacterial species had a significant impact on the effectiveness of the plant extracts. Results of the study revealed that the methanol and acetone extracts demonstrated moderate to excellent antibacterial properties against all tested bacteria at all predefined concentrations (25, 50, 75, and 100%), with the zone of inhibition ranging from 15.66 to 27.66 mm. Among the tested solvents, the aqueous extract of J. phoenicea was the least effective against the clinical bacterial isolates. Further, the plant's leaf extracts were more effective against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Most importantly, neither the aqueous extract nor the standard antibiotics inhibited P. aeruginosa, while the methanol and acetone extracts displayed remarkable inhibition zones against all tested bacteria. Consequently, the plant extracts (acetone and methanol) in this study may provide insightful information about the potential use of J. phoenicea leaves as a natural antibacterial agent, which could be used to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria

EMBEDDING VIRTUAL REALITY IN ARCHITECTURAL PEDAGOGY: INSTRUCTIONISM VERSUS CONSTRUCTIONISM APPROACH

As more related to the typology of architectural pedagogy, Instructionism and Constructionism theories are used to make more advancement in this domain. They are concerned with the role of both instructor and learner within the outline of a well structured pedagogical framework (education system). However, the developments in information technology and its imprints on all life aspects have profoundly influenced this system. Architecture pedagogy -as in many other domains- is now radically affected by information technology (IT) developments. Virtual reality is one of the leading applications of IT in architecture. This paper is concerned with embedding virtual reality in architectural pedagogy. It investigates the approach to use this technology best within an understanding of Instructionism and Constructionism theories. It proposes a framework to highlight the role of virtual reality technology in these regards. In its last part, this paper interprets the findings of questionnaire results from students of the Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Built Environment at Beirut Arab University (BAU) to validate its proposed framework. The application shows the positive impacts of using virtual reality as a compulsive force to keep ‘Instructionism’/ ‘Constructivism’ vicious circle. This would be of great potential for architecture students to get more in-depth experiences

Disaster management in industrial areas: Perspectives, challenges and future research

Purpose: In most countries, development, growth, and sustenance of industrial facilities are given utmost importance due to the influence in the socio-economic development of the country. Therefore, special economic zones, or industrial areas or industrial cities are developed in order to provide the required services for the sustained operation of such facilities. Such facilities not only provide a prolonged economic support to the country but it also helps in the societal aspects as well by providing livelihood to thousands of people. Therefore, any disaster in any of the facilities in the industrial area will have a significant impact on the population, facilities, the economy, and threatens the sustainability of the operations. This paper provides review of such literature that focus on theory and practice of disaster management in industrial cities. Design/methodology/approach: In the paper, content analysis method is used in order to elicit the insights of the literature available. The methodology uses search methods, literature segregation and developing the current knowledge on different phases of industrial disaster management. Findings: It is found that the research is done in all phases of disaster management, namely, preventive phase, reactive phase and corrective phase. The research in each of these areas are focused on four main aspects, which are facilities, resources, support systems and modeling. Nevertheless, the research in the industrial cities is insignificant. Moreover, the modeling part does not explicitly consider the nature of industrial cities, where many of the chemical and chemical processing can be highly flammable thus creating a very large disaster impact. Some research is focused at an individual plant and scaled up to the industrial cities. The modeling part is weak in terms of comprehensively analyzing and assisting disaster management in the industrial cities. Originality/value: The comprehensive review using content analysis on disaster management is presented here. The review helps the researchers to understand the gap in the literature in order to extend further research for disaster management in large scale industrial cities.Scopu