Subcontractor's Selection Practice in the Gaza Strip

Construction contracting involves subcontracting. The evolution of subcontractors has a substantial impact on the construction process. An increasing amount of building construction projects are contracted to subcontractors. Despite the significant role that is played by subcontractors, little attention has been paid to the selection process of specialty contractors. The aim of this study is to identify and evaluate the main effective factors considered by general contractors in the selection of subcontractors. This study is based on a questionnaire survey of thirty-one main contractors in the Gaza Strip. The results indicate the most important effective factors in subcontractors' selection are project size and complexity, applying specification and quality, compliance with programming and quality, experience of subcontractor, and nature and specialty of subcontractors

Cerium Oxide Nanostructures and their Applications

Due to excellent physical and chemical properties, cerium oxide (ceria, CeO2) has attracted much attention in recent years. This chapter aimed at providing some basic and fundamental properties of ceria, the importance of oxygen vacancies in this material, nano‐size effects and various synthesis strategies to form diverse structural morphologies. Finally, some key applications of ceria‐based nanostructures are reviewed. We conclude this chapter by expressing personal perspective on the probable challenges and developments of the controllable synthesis of CeO2 nanomaterials for various applications

Death, Dying, and End-of-Life Care in the US and the Netherlands: A Scoping Review

Introduction: The aim of End of Life (EOL)-care in any setting is to improve the quality of life of patients and families through medical or non-medical interventions. The study aims at identifying gaps in the literature produced on the topic and informs areas for future research in the field. Objective: To identify articles that discuss death and dying, with the elderly > = 70, living at home, or in nursing homes, in assisted living, or community centres, in hospice or palliative care, in hospitals or emergency care. Methods: A scoping review of studies in the U. S. and in the Netherlands. Using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the selected studies were analysed and categorized by themes, and then summarized based on positive, negative and ambiguous views on death discussions at all four (4) levels of discussion. Results: From a total of one hundred and fifty-nine studies, twenty-five studies passed the selection criteria. Twenty-one were for the U. S., and four were for the Netherlands. The selected studies were analysed and categorized by themes. Conclusion: The review pointed to a dearth of material that measured the outcome of discussions on the subject of death and dying with the elderly. Future studies could consider discussions on death and dying from the perspective of patients’ anxiety and distress, instead of concerns over financial support, religious and ethnic issues, ethical and legal parameters, and extra medical training.publishedVersio

Safety performance of subcontractors in the Palestinian construction industry

Subcontractors perform most of the construction works and their effect on industry are apparent in different activities of construction. Therefore, subcontractors need more attention from government and contractors union. The aim of this paper is to identify, evaluate, and rank factors that influence safety performance of subcontractors in the Gaza Strip (Palestine) according to their relative importance. The study concluded that reported accident rates will decrease among subcontractors and their workers if new workers are trained well in the work site and they are informed about dangerous places, and if a workable safety plan is well preplanned. The results also showed that reported accident rates increased among subcontractors when using old, unsafe equipment and due to the complexity or difficulty in the construction sites features. Owners and general contractors need to stipulate strict clauses for safety in the contract for improving safety record of subcontractors. Construction workers must receive proper job related safety and health training with a safety logbook. It is recommended that the subcontractors and workers should attend continuing safety programs on regular basis as part of their perquisite to work in construction sites

Nanostructured Metal Oxides-Based Electrode in Supercapacitor Applications

To overcome the obstacle of low energy density, one of the most intensive approaches is the development of new materials for supercapacitor electrodes. Most explored materials today are carbon particle materials, which have high surface areas for charge storage. But in spite of these large specific surface areas, the charges physically stored on the carbon particles in porous electrode layers are unfortunately limited. Regarding advanced supercapacitor electrodes, metal oxides are considered the most promising material for the next generation of supercapacitors owing to their unique physical and chemical properties. In this chapter, the rational design and fabrication of metal oxide nanostructures for supercapacitor applications are addressed

Modeling Users’ Empowerment in E-Health Systems

In conventional e-health initiatives, customers (patients) are mostly perceived as recipients of medical care, where they play little roles in the process of health decision making. Empowerment in e-health enables individuals to access their health data and consult online with medical staff. The proposed concept is intended to improve the existing e-health theory in relation to patient empowerment. The study suggests a model that expands the role of customers (patient) in three dimensions: as an individual health actor, social health agent, and medical partner. This study is theoretically significant because it explores a comprehensive approach of patient empowerment in e-health systems to achieve best practice customer service, establish long-term customer relationships to improve customer satisfaction, and achieve better health literacy of individuals.publishedVersio

Rubber Pad Sheet Metal Forming of Round Metal Blanks into Multi Shape Axisymmetric Cups by FEA and Experimental Methods

Rubber-pad forming process of round sheet blanks into axisymmetric cups is studied by numerical and experimental approaches. In the experiments, round metal sheets are formed into the axisymmetric cups by pressing them between a rubber pad and a former block with desirable shape. To investigate influences of different parameters on the forming load, three former blocks with different shapes, blank material of low carbon steel (ST12) with thickness 0.5 mm ,three polyurethane rubber with different hardness (50,60 and 70) shore A and rubber pad having three different thickness (40,60 and 80) mm . ANSYS Workbench utilized to perform the numerical part of this research. The results showed that the produced cup height is significantly affected by rubber pad hardness

Empowering Diagnosis: A Review On Deep Learning Applications for COVID-19 and Pneumonia in X-Ray Images

The emergence of COVID-19, a highly contagious virus capable of infecting both the upper and lower respiratory tracts, has led to one of the deadliest pandemics in modern history, claiming millions of lives worldwide. Early and accurate detection of this rapidly spreading disease is crucial for effective containment and saving lives. Chest X-ray (CXR) stands out as a promising diagnostic tool due to its accessibility, affordability, and long-term sample preservation. However, distinguishing COVID-19 pneumonia from other respiratory ailments poses a significant challenge. This article delves into various approaches utilized for COVID-19 detection and the hurdles encountered in this endeavor. The imperative for developing automated detection systems to mitigate virus transmission via contact is underscored. Notably, deep learning architectures such as ResNet, Inception and Googlenet have been deployed for COVID-19 detection, albeit with a focus on identifying pneumonia cases. Discriminating between COVID-19-induced pneumonia and pneumonia caused by other pathogens remains a formidable task, demanding innovative solutions for accurate and timely diagnosis