bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extra-Illustration and Ephemera
Authors: Calè Luisa
Published: June 2020

In “A Friendly Gathering: The Social Politics of Presentation Books and their Extra-Illustration in Horace Walpole’s Circle,” Lucy Peltz plays with the technical and metaphorical senses of “gathering” to reflect on the materiality and sociability of altered books in the Strawberry Hill set. The practice of extra-illustration consisted in unbinding the book, cutting loose the gatherings of leaves that make up its quires, in order to interleave them with additional pages, or to inlay each page into windows cut through larger sized paper. The process is captured in Walpole’s correspondence: “Mr Bull is honouring me, at least my Anecdotes of Painting, exceedingly. He has let every page into a pompous sheet, and is adding every print of portrait, building, etc., that I mention and that he can get, and specimens of all our engravers. It will make eight magnificent folios, and be a most valuable body of our arts.” Specimens collected and collated with the text anchor, document, and illustrate the words on the page. As a result, an identical multiple in a print run was turned into a unique object. Through the art of extraillustration, the extra-illustrator Richard Bull “erected for himself a monument of taste.” In its monumentalizing aims and dimensions, extra-illustration could be considered an antidote against ephemera, yet transience is inherent in its attempt to document the text with reproductions that might be dispersed. The concept runs the gamut, from Walpole’s paratexts—his title Fugitive Pieces in Verse and Prose (1758), which he presents as “trifles” and “idlenesses”—to his supposedly “diminutive” house, which he called “a paper Fabric and an assemblage of curious Trifles, made by an insignificant Man.” In this essay, I will read the practice of extra-illustration against the grain to recuperate the ephemeral side of “the pompous sheet,” the composite object unbound from its gatherings, and alternative forms of the page as a detached piece, a scrap, a caption appended to objects in the house. I will focus my discussion on two complementary book collections produced by Richard Bull: his extra-illustrated copy of Walpole’s Description of Strawberry Hill, now at the Lewis Walpole Library, and his curious compilation of occasional publications bound with the title-page A Collection of the Loose Pieces printed at Strawberry-Hill, and the alternative title Detached Pieces Printed at Strawberry Hill, now at the Huntington Library.
Transthoracic Versus Transhiatal Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer: A Nationwide Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Analysis
Authors: Mertens Alexander C. , Kalff Marianne C. , Eshuis Wietse J. , Van Gulik Thomas M. , Van Berge Henegouwen Mark I. , Gisbertz Suzanne S. ,   the Dutch Upper GI Cancer Audit group
Published: June 2020

Background

Chemoradiation followed by resection has been the standard therapy for resectable (cT1-4aN0-3M0) esophageal carcinoma in the Netherlands since 2010. The optimal surgical approach remains a matter of debate. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the transhiatal and the transthoracic approach concerning morbidity, mortality and oncological quality.

Methods

Data was acquired from the Dutch Upper GI Cancer Audit. Patients who underwent esophagectomy with curative intent and gastric tube reconstruction for mid/distal esophageal or esophagogastric junction carcinoma (cT1-4aN0-3M0) from 2011 to 2016 were included. Patients who underwent a transthoracic and transhiatal esophagectomy were compared after propensity score matching.

Results

After propensity score matching, 1532 of 4143 patients were included for analysis. The transthoracic approach yielded more lymph nodes (transthoracic median 19, transhiatal median 14; p < 0.001). There was no difference in the number of positive lymph nodes, however, the median (y)pN-stage was higher in the transthoracic group (p = 0.044). The transthoracic group experienced more chyle leakage (9.7% vs. 2.7%, p < 0.001), more pulmonary complications (35.5% vs. 26.1%, p < 0.001), and more cardiac complications (15.4% vs. 10.3%, p = 0.003). The transthoracic group required a longer hospital stay (median 14 vs. 11 days, p < 0.001), ICU stay (median 3 vs. 1 day, p < 0.001), and had a higher 30-day/in-hospital mortality rate (4.0% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.009).

Conclusions

In a propensity score-matched cohort, the transthoracic esophagectomy provided a more extensive lymph node dissection, which resulted in a higher lymph node yield, at the cost of increased morbidity and short-term mortality.
Chatting with chatbots: Sign making in text-based human–computer interaction
Authors: Duncker Dorthe
Published: June 2020

This paper investigates the kind of sign making that goes on in text-based human–computer interaction, between human users and chatbots, from the point of view of integrational linguistics. A chatbot serves as a “conversational” user interface, allowing users to control computer programs in “natural language”. From the user’s perspective, the interaction is a case of semiologically integrated activity, but even if the textual traces of a chat may look like a written conversation between two humans the correspondence is not one-to-one. It is argued that chatbots cannot engage in communication processes, although they may display communicative behaviour. They presuppose a (second-order) language model, they can only communicate at the level of sentences, not utterances, and they implement communicational sequels by selecting from an inventory of executable skills. Instead of seeing them as interlocutors in silico, chatbots should be seen as powerful devices for humans to make signs with.
Philosophy as communication theory
Authors: Siebers Johan
Published: June 2020

There has been comparatively little attention for the fundamental ontology of communication in recent philosophy. Nevertheless, from classical metaphysical accounts of relationality and communal being to the analysis of intersubjectivity in phenomenology and to concrete existence as understood by process philosophy, the communicative structure of the act of being has been, if not explicitly then implicitly, a perennial component of metaphysical reflection. Communication theory can be conceived in such a way that it takes this ontological dimension into account. The ramifications of connecting being to communication in this way are explored in discussion with the conceptualizations of communication in integrationism and biosemiotics. An interpretation of Gabriel Marcel’s existential analysis of “my life” is used to show what philosophy as communication theory (in the strong sense of the notion elaborated here) might look like.
Management of limb length problems during total hip arthroplasty for patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip
Authors: Benjamin Biju , Haddad Fares S
Published: June 2020

The anatomy of the acetabulum and femur is usually significantly altered in people with developmental dysplasia of the hip and this leads to secondary osteoarthritis of the hip joint. Ideal positioning of implants and reduction of the joint is technically demanding during arthroplasty. Lengthening may result in nerve palsies and therefore procedures may have to be undertaken to shorten the femur. Other complications include dislocation and non-union at the shortening osteotomy site. Thorough preoperative planning and templating is required before surgery to assess the need for shortening. Shortening osteotomies can be performed at the proximal femur, diaphysis or distal femoral levels, with subtrochanteric being the most common level. The procedure should be customised for each patient after extensive planning and detailed counselling.
In vitro effects of macrophages on orthopaedic implant alloys and local release of metallic alloy components
Authors: Heise G. , Black C. M. , Smith R. , Morrow B. R. , Mihalko W. M.
Published: June 2020

Aims

This study aimed to determine if macrophages can attach and directly affect the oxide layers of 316L stainless steel, titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V), and cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy (CoCrMo) by releasing components of these alloys.

Methods

Murine peritoneal macrophages were cultured and placed on stainless steel, CoCrMo, and Ti6Al4V discs into a 96-well plate. Cells were activated with interferon gamma and lipopolysaccharide. Macrophages on stainless steel discs produced significantly more nitric oxide (NO) compared to their control counterparts after eight to ten days and remained elevated for the duration of the experiment.

Results

On stainless steel, both nonactivated and activated cell groups were shown to have a significant increase in metal ion release for Cr, Fe, and Ni (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, and p = 0.020 respectively) compared with medium only and showed macrophage-sized corrosive pits on the stainless steel surface. On titanium alloy discs there was a significant increase in aluminum (p < 0.001) among all groups compared with medium only.

Conclusion

These results indicated that macrophages were able to attach to and affect the oxide surface of stainless steel and titanium alloy discs. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(7 Supple B):116–121.
Incidental and unexpected findings
Authors: Owen-Johnstone Maisie , Broderick Damian , Graham Richard M
Published: June 2020

In this series of cases, we highlight that a patient’s reason for presentation may not always be as it seems.
Policy spotlight
Authors: Lovatt Lillian
Published: June 2020

This regular feature aims to provide key political news in relation to dentistry and an update of the Faculty’s policy activities. You can find out more in the Government Relations and Media Centre sections of the FDS website.
Termas públicas en la Hispania de época antonina: una aproximación a su secuencia evolutiva.
Authors: Romero Vera Diego
Published: June 2020

In this work we will review briefly the archaeological evidence of public bath buildings dated in the second century belonging to a score of Hispania’s urban centres. On the basis of this documentation, we would like to offer a first approach to the characteristic features of the public thermal buildings of that time in Hispania.
Differential evolution-based optimal power allocation scheme for NOMA-VLC systems
Authors: Dong Zanyang , Shang Tao , Li Qian , Tang Tang
Published: June 2020

This paper investigates a downlink power allocation scheme for application of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) in visible light communication (VLC) systems. Aiming to achieve a flexible tradeoff between sum rate and user fairness depending on administrators’ subjective setting and acquire the optimal solution for any setting, we formulate two optimization problems, which are closely aligned with the practical application. Specifically, one is user fairness-guaranteed sum rate maximization, the other is sum rate-guaranteed user fairness maximization. Moreover, through classified discussion around the threshold guaranteeing user fairness or sum rate, we present rigorous mathematical derivation and optimization analysis, and two corresponding algorithms are proposed. Furthermore, through numerical simulation, the superiority of our proposed algorithms over conventional schemes is verified in terms of meeting the practical demand and performance gain in sum rate, user fairness, and coverage probability.
Low-power-consumption polymer Mach–Zehnder interferometer thermo-optic switch at 532  nm based on a triangular waveguide
Authors: Lin Baizhu , Wang Xibin , Lv Jiawen , Cao Yue , Yang Yue , Zhang Yongbo , Zhang Ao , Yi Yunji , Wang Fei , Zhang Daming
Published: June 2020

We designed and fabricated a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) thermo-optic switch with an inverted triangular waveguide. The inverted triangular waveguide achieves a fundamental mode in a large waveguide dimension, which can reduce the coupling loss and increase the extinction ratio. The triangular waveguide-based switch was simulated and presented higher heating efficiency and lower power consumption than that of the traditional rectangular waveguide-based switch. Compared with the traditional rectangular waveguide-based device, the power consumption of the proposed device is reduced by 60%. Spacing photobleaching was introduced to fabricate the inverted triangular waveguide and adjust the refractive index to minimize the mode number. The insertion loss of the typical fabricated device with a 2 cm length is about 7.8 dB. The device shows an extinction ratio of

∼

8.1

d
B

at 532 nm with a very low power consumption of 2.2 mW, and the switching rise time and fall time are 110 and 130 µs, respectively. The proposed single-mode waveguide and low-power-consumption optical switch have great potential applications in visible optical communication fields such as wavelength division multiplexing and mode-division multiplexing.
Liquid crystal integrated metalens with dynamic focusing property
Authors: Zhou Shenghang , Shen Zhixiong , Li Xinan , Ge Shijun , Lu Yanqing , Hu Wei
Published: June 2020

Metalenses are developing fast towards versatile and integrated terahertz (THz) apparatuses, while tunable ones are highly pursued. Here, we propose a strategy that integrates dielectric metasurfaces with liquid crystals (LCs) to realize the dynamic focal spot manipulation. The silicon pillar meta-units of the metasurface are properly selected to generate different phase profiles for two orthogonal linear polarizations, permitting a laterally or axially altered focal spot. After LCs integrated, polarization-multiplexed focusing can be achieved via electrically varying the LC orientations. We demonstrate two metalenses with distinct functions. For the first one, the uniformly aligned LC works as a polarization converter, and further switches the focal length by altering the bias. For the second one, an LC polarization grating is utilized for rear spin-selective beam deflection. Consequently, a THz port selector is presented. This work supplies a promising method towards active THz elements, which may be widely applied in THz sensing, imaging, and communication.
Lighting with Lasers
Authors: Rahman Faiz
Published: June 2020

Diode laser technology has opened doors for new approaches to
illumination—both directional and general-that could challenge
LEDs.
Karakter Keberagamaan di Java Pasca Geertz
Authors: Aji Gutomo Bayu
Published: June 2020

Karakter keberagaman Geertz yang sering digunakan sebagai gambaran situasi keagamaan di Indonesia telah berubah secara drastis setelah peristiwa politik tahun 1965. Konteks perang dingin yang menggunakan Wahabi-salafisme sebagai instrumen pengendalian komunisme telah menciptakan tekanan dan ancaman yang memungkinkan terbentuknya otoritarianisme keagamaan. Dalam struktur dominasi dan sub-ordinasi, pemerliharaan otoritarianisme itu dilakukan melalui pemeliharaan agama resmi yang diakui pemerintah dan penggunaan diskursus toleransi sebagai instrumen hegemoni terhadap kepercayaan-kepercayaan sub-ordinat. Gus Dur merupakan aktor yang memainkan peranan penting dalam pembongkaran otoritarianisme itu. Tetapi sepeninggalnya, kecenderungan otoritarianisme semakin mengeras ketika bersinggungan dengan oligarkhi yang menguasai sumber daya ekonomi-politik. Kelompok pedesaan terutama petani kecil dan buruh tani adalah yang paling dipinggirkan dengan instrumen penjinakan ganda yaitu revolusi hijau dan otoritarianisme keagamaan. Kata kunci: keberagaman, otoritarianisme keagamaan, toleransi, dialog agama, rekonsiliasi, marjinal. Abstract Geertz’s religious characterization underwent drastic change since the ‘65 event. Western influences and the use of Wahabi-salafism as instruments of religious politics have changed the open model of religious life. After that event, the model of religious life turns into closed; formed on the basis of a political security agenda and limited to five official religions.. This article views the model as the basis for the formation of an authoritarian religious character, among others, which gives space to modernists to control the political infrastructure of religious and state religious resources, strengthen limited official religious arrangements, allow pressures and threats to work on religious conversion, purification of traditions and labeling untruth. In addition, the model is used to produce a discourse of tolerance which has the following tendencies: the discourse of tolerance originating from Western political philosophy is contradictory to the religious norms that are growing in Indonesian society, and the discourse operates in a limited manner among official religions as the dominant discourse that is dominant creating formal-exclusivism that strengthens the authoritarian religious character. Key words: diversity, authoritarianism, tolerance, religious dialogue, reconciliation, marginality
Hubungan Kadar Plasma Chemerin dengan Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance pada Remaja Obesitas
Authors: Dioni Silvy , Rini Eka Agustia , Yerizel Eti
Published: June 2020

Latar belakang. Obesitas pada anak berhubungan dengan meningkatnya risiko sindrom metabolik, seperti resistensi insulin. HOMA-IR merupakan marker yang sering digunakan untuk menilai resistensi insulin. Chemerin merupakan protein 18 kDa yang dihasilkan jaringan adiposa, berfungsi sebagai chemoatractant memegang peran penting berkontribusi terhadap perkembangan inflamasi dan resistensi insulin. Tujuan. Untuk mengetahui hubungan kadar chemerin dengan HOMA-IR pada remaja obesitas.Metode. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian cross sectional yang dilakukan pada 3 sekolah menengah umum (SMU) di kota Padang. Jumlah sampel berjumlah 28 remaja obesitas dan 28 remaja dengan IMT normal. Obesitas ditentukan berdasarkan nilai IMT, HOMA-IR dihitung berdasarkan rumus yang menggunakan nilai glukosa dan insulin puasa. Glukosa diukur dengan metode glucose hexokinase fotometrik, insulin diperiksa dengan metode chemiluminessence immunoassay dan kadar plasma chemerin dengan metode ELISA. Data dianalisis dengan sistem komputerisasi dengan uji korelasi.Hasil. Kadar plasma chemerin lebih tinggi pada kelompok obesitas dibandingkan kontrol 121,52 (SD 2,09) ng/ml vs 97,23(SD 2,41) ng/ml, p: 0,001 dan pada kelompok obesitas dengan resistensi insulin dibandingkan non resistensi insulin 133,1(SD 19,24) vs 115,09 (SD 19,52), p=0,001. Terdapat hubungan lemah kadar chemerin dengan nilai HOMA-IR pada obesitas(r=0,382;p=0,045) dan hubungan lemah kadar chemerin dengan nilai HOMA-IR pada obesitas resistensi insulin (r=0,297;p=0,405).Kesimpulan. Terdapat hubungan lemah kadar chemerin dengan nilai HOMA-IR pada remaja obesitas, dan hubungan lemah kadar chemerin dengan nilai HOMA-IR pada obesitas resistensi insulin.
Korelasi Kadar NT- proBNP dengan Fungsi Fraksi Ejeksi Ventrikel Kiri pada Gagal Jantung Anak
Authors: Syamsi Khairunnisa , Hariyanto Didik , Herman Rahmatina B.
Published: June 2020

Latar belakang. NT proBNP sudah digunakan secara luas sebagai penanda terpercaya untuk mengetahui disfungsi ventrikel dan gagal jantung pada dewasa, penelitian pada bidang pediatrik masih terbatas.Tujuan. Mengetahui korelasi antara kadar NT- proBNP dengan fungsi fraksi ejeksi ventrikel kiri pada gagal jantung anak.Metode. Penelitian analitik observasional dengan concecutive sampling terhadap 23 orang anak pasien gagal jantung menggunakan nilai modifikasi Ross ≥7. Penilaian fraksi ejeksi ventrikel kiri dilakukan dengan alat ekokardiografi Philip HD 11 XE M-Mode dengan menggunakan tranducer pediatrik berfrekuensi 8-12 MHz. Pengukuran kadar NT- proBNP dengan The Elecys 2010 pro-BNP II assay. (Roche diagnostic; Mannheim, Germany). Pengolahan data dengan Uji Korelasi Pearson.Hasil. Terdapat korelasi kuat kadar NT- proBNP dengan fraksi ejeksi ventrikel kiri (r=-0,624; p=0,001). Pemodelan prediksi regresi linier didapatkan hubungan antara NT- proBNP dengan fungsi fraksi ejeksi ventrikel kiri adalah fraksi ejeksi = 60,935 -0,001 *NT-Pro BNP.Kesimpulan. Korelasi bermakna antara peningkatan kadar NT- proBNP dengan penurunan fungsi fraksi ejeksi ventrikel kiri pada anak penderita gagal jantung. NT- proBNP dapat dipertimbangkan untuk menilai fungsi fraksi ejeksi ventrikel kiri.
Faktor Risiko Mortalitas pada Anak dengan Syok di Ruang Perawatan Intensif Rumah Sakit dr. Moewardi Surakarta
Authors: Sutadi Karmono , Pudjiastuti Pudjiastuti , Martuti Sri
Published: June 2020

Latar belakang. Syok merupakan sepertiga penyebab mortalitas anak di ruang rawat intensif anak. Penelitian mengenai faktor risiko mortalitas pasien anak dengan syok di ruang rawat intensif anak memiliki hasil bervariasi.Tujuan. Menganalisis faktor risiko mortalitas pasien anak dengan syok di ruang perawatan intensif rumah sakit dr. Moewardi Surakarta. Metode. Penelitian dilakukan di rumah sakit dr. Moewardi Surakarta pada bulan Agustus 2018 dengan data rekam medis pasien antara Juli 2016 hingga Juli 2018. Subjek dilakukan penilaian karakteristik berupa usia, jenis syok, skor PRISM III, skor vasoaktif-inotropik, ventilasi mekanik, fluid overload, dan mortalitas.Hasil. Didapatkan 70 subjek yang memenuhi kriteria inklusi. Mortalitas pasien anak dengan syok adalah 71,4%. Hasil analisis bivariat menunjukkan usia < 1 tahun memiliki risiko mortalitas 5,52 (95% CI 1,15-26,48) p=0,02. Sementara jenis syok sepsis memiliki OR 4,83(95% CI 1,26-18,58) p=0,02; skor vasoaktif-inotropik ≥20 memiliki OR 6,00 (95% CI 1,94-18,60) p=0,01; skor PRISM III ≥8 memiliki OR 9,75 (95% CI 2,97-32,10) p 0,00; fluid overload ≥10% memiliki OR 5,67 (95% CI 1,47-1,88) p=0,01. Hasil tidak signifikan didapatkan pada kebutuhan bantuan ventilasi mekanis dengan nilai OR 1,17 (95% CI 0,42-3,32) dan nilai p=0,76. Hasil analisis multivariat menunjukkan fluid overload >10%, skor PRISM III >8 dan skor vasoaktif-inotropik >20 memiliki nilai OR (95%CI) berturut-turut 10,82 (1,59-73,43); 32,86 (3,01-358,36); dan 57,84 (3,80-881,50) dengan nilai p<0,05.Kesimpulan. Usia >1 tahun, syok septik, skor vasoaktif-inotropik ≥20, skor PRISM III ≥8, fluid overload ≥10% merupakan faktor risiko mortalitas pasien anak dengan syok.
Republic of Guinea
Authors: Mugnier Clifford J.
Published: June 2020

The Grids & Datums column has completed an exploration of
every country on the Earth. For those who did not get to enjoy this
world tour the first time, PE&RS is reprinting prior articles from
the column. This month's article on the Republic of Guinea was
originally printed in 2002 but contains updates to their coordinate
system since then
Delineamento Automático de Crateras de Impacto em Imagens HRSC da Superfície de Marte
Authors: Oliveira Renan Furlan de , Silva Erivaldo Antonio da
Published: June 2020

Crateras de impacto são as estruturas mais estudadas nas ciências planetárias, devido à grande quantidade de informações que podem revelar sobre a história, geologia e processos físicos de um planeta. A necessidade de investigações sobre as crateras está aumentando, já que muitas missões estão sendo lançadas no espaço, adquirindo dados cada vez mais ricos e detalhados. Desenvolver algoritmos que detectem crateras em superfícies planetárias através de imagens tem sido o foco de pesquisas no mundo todo. Neste sentido, o objetivo desta pesquisa é desenvolver uma metodologia para detectar e delinear, automaticamente e simultaneamente, crateras de impacto na superfície marciana. A abordagem baseia-se nos fundamentos da morfologia matemática e consiste em três etapas: (i) pré-processamento e filtragem para a remoção de ruídos e realce de bordas, (ii) segmentação pela transformação watershed e estratégias da dinâmica dos contornos para a detecção e delineamento das crateras, e iii) pós-processamento para o refinamento da detecção. O conjunto de dados utilizado foi constituído por crateras representadas a partir de imagens de alta resolução espacial da superfície de Marte. Especificamente, imagens da High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) com resolução espacial de 12,5 m/pixel. As taxas globais de detecção verdadeira foram de 83,5%, enquanto as taxas de detecção falsa foram de 13,1%, considerando-se cerca de 1000 crateras com raio entre 500 e 1000 metros. Pode-se concluir que a abordagem proposta se apresentou de forma eficiente e, portanto, contribui para a solução de um problema atual no contexto da detecção e extração de crateras em superfícies planetárias.
BIM AND VR/AR TECHNOLOGIES: FROM PROJECT DEVELOPMENT TO LIFECYCLE ASSET MANAGEMENT
Authors: Salem Ossama , Samuel Immanuel John , He Song
Published: June 2020

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is becoming more and more an industrial standard for the AEC industry that can provide an integrated approach for effectively managing data and information throughout a project lifecycle. Planning, design, and construction phases of different types of projects can benefit from integrating other technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) with BIM to enhance its functionalities, including virtual walkthrough, schedule visualization, clash detection, and as-built modeling. Additionally, asset management functions during the maintenance and operation phase of facilities and infrastructure can substantially benefit from this kind of integration. This paper will provide a comprehensive review upon several emerging technologies regarding (1) technological advancements reflected by software and hardware development, (2) applications in the design, construction and asset management through integration with BIM in all phases of projects, and (3) current state of research and practice. It will specifically, provide some limiting factors that prevent VR/AR from further deployment, including lack of GPS accuracy, complexity in development and unclear data security will be explained. Additionally, this paper will present the ben
LEBANESE HERITAGE: PRESERVING VALUES TO BUILD IDENTITY
Authors: Mazzetto Silvia
Published: June 2020

The urbanization of the populated Lebanese centers, along with the urgent requirement to provide homes and services for local people, immigrants and war refugees, altered the appearance of the historic center of many cities, damaging the historic public buildings and gravely threatening their survival. Affecting the direction of the rapid urbanization is a permanent conflict, between the creation of a new, post-modern cultural identity and the promotion of traditional architecture as a tentative way to establish new connections with the Lebanese historical heritage. Traditional culture and ancient architectural constructions are the results of historical processes and the products of the Lebanese society that need to be preserved and transmitted to future generations. Understanding the past is an indispensable tool for the comprehension of the Lebanese society. How can we preserve the values of the Lebanese heritage and transfer them to the future in building up the new country identity? The paper presents research conducted at the Lebanese American University School of Architecture and Interior Design by assessing the values of Lebanese heritage to be transferred to future generations.
BLOCKCHAIN APPLICATION FOR CONTRACT SCHEMES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Authors: Pattini Giulia , Di Giuda Giuseppe Martino , Tagliabue Lavinia Chiara
Published: June 2020

The proposed research aims at illustrating how Blockchain technology can support the contract execution optimizing and assuring a transparent information flow during the phases of the construction process. The traditional approach, chased in the industry, is indeed more hierarchical than networked, resulting in a high fragmentation of contracts and the break of companies in numerous tiers. This context prevents effective collaboration, hindering the achievement of the project objectives. The recent digital transition, guided by Building Information Modeling (BIM), has promised the creation of a shared environment for the information created and exchanged during the entire process, in favor of collaboration and reduction of critical issues typical related to the sector. Despite the initial promises, the use of BIM has shown problems related to trust and transparency of information, not encouraging participants to collaborate in meeting common goals. For these reasons, the study aims to investigate the potential of Blockchain technology in the management of the information flow to ensure transparency and stability of the process. The research proposes four frameworks showing how Blockchain can be integrated with the construction contract to support the execution of each phase, highlighting the improvement of information sharing, traceability of each activity or service and support for collaboration.
A MANUAL SUCTION TOILET FOR SEWAGE REDUCTION
Authors: Basantes Andres , Saez Jose , Davis Michael , Tapia Ameila
Published: June 2020

In Ecuador, 46.4% of households lack access to a sewerage system, where as a result much wastewater is discharged from sewerage into the environment untreated. This paper presents the results of a research project aimed at the development of prototypes that retrofit existing toilets into a manual suction ultra-low flush toilet. These prototypes use around one liter of water, and therefore the amount of sewage produced is substantially reduced. The strategy covered two areas. First, the prototype design is developed with the active participation from users using sociological study tools such as workshops, focus groups and interviews, which enabled to polish or re-define design aspects aimed at improving levels of end-user acceptance. Second, dissemination of results and designed products is implemented through web platforms to enable replicability, allowing potential participation from external collaborators. The main approach of this research is to act at a small scale (houses, departments, buildings) in order to amend the amount of metric tons of wastewater within a larger urban scale.
A RELATIONAL DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR LIFE-CYCLE COST ANALYSIS OF BIM PROJECTS
Authors: Likhitruangsilp Veerarsak , Le Hang T. T. , Yabuki Nobuyoshi , Ioannou Photios G.
Published: June 2020

Life-cycle analysis (LCCA) has become a necessary tool for green procurement for construction projects in many countries. Calculating life-cycle costs (LCCs) requires a variety of data that need to be gathered from diverse sources throughout the project life span. This information is usually stored in paper-based documents and are not well organized. These practices cause poor-quality data, which lead to incorrect results. Consequently, current LCCA in practice is extremely challenging. Data management is a major component for executing this sustainable development concept. This paper develops a relational database management system (RDBMS) that can support in calculating the LCCs of building projects. The system is structured to manage a large volume of design and construction data in a multi-parametric form. This allows users to integrate the proposed system with other modern construction platforms, especially building information modeling (BIM). In this paper, Autodesk Revit, a most widely-used BIM software, is adopted for authoring BIM models of a building and estimating relevant costs. Microsoft Access is used for developing a database management system (DBMS), which is designed to collaborate with the BIM models for LCCA. The system can significantly expedite the LCCA for a building with minimal errors and mistakes in data management and accurate LCCs.
IMPROVING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PERFORMANCE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: CONTRACTOR APPROACH
Authors: Adekunle Samuel A. , Aigbavboa Clinton , Ejohwomu Obuks A.
Published: June 2020

Achieving project success remains the aim of every project sponsor. The sponsor engages different professionals in the built environment to this end. However, unforeseen factors modify agreed terms, causing delay and leading to loss of time and money. Delay causes an overrun of cost and time having a heavy financial burden on the client and other stakeholders involved in the project. Most times, the contractor is always the focus when this happens. At many other times, other stakeholders, who failed in their obligations, only surface after a study of the contract conditions is carried out. Thus, this study examines project performance in the construction industry in Nigeria, but from a contractor’s perspective. The study adopts a survey research design. A total number of 75 questionnaires were administered to contractors, who were members of the Federation of Construction Industry and other private sector organizations, but 37 were successfully retrieved and analyzed. The result shows that to improve construction project performance in developing countries, the following issues need to be tackled: design and installation issues, payment issues and construction difficulties arising from incomplete designs by consultants. The study recommends, among other solutions, the incorporation of contractors from the project planning phase and adoption of BIM, which is presently not prevalent in the industry.
BEHAVIOR OF HIGH STRENGTH FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE SQUARE COLUMNS WITH HYBRID BARS
Authors: Al-Taan Saad , Aldoski Abduljalil
Published: June 2020

The paper presents test results on 20 high-strength fiber reinforced concrete square columns subjected to concentric and eccentric loading. The study aim was to examine the effect of the weight of steel fibers on the strength and behavior of HSC columns under concentric and eccentric loading. All columns were longitudinally reinforced with 4 GFRP bars 6 mm diameter, and two steel bars 10 mm diameter, making the reinforcement ratio (ρg = 0.0181), and steel ties at 64 mm spacing. The studied test variables included the steel fiber weight ratio and the eccentricity. To prevent premature spalling in the concrete cover, it was discovered that it helps to add steel fibers to HSC mixtures in concrete columns. In addition, this also increases the strength of eccentrically loaded reinforced columns compared to that for concentrically loaded columns. The strength and behavior were predicted also by the proposed method. The predicted and the experimental results found to be in a good agreement.
FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST EFFECTIVE BUILDING MATERIALS MANAGEMENT (EBMM) IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Authors: Ogundipe Kunle , Owolabi James , Ogbebor Chadril
Published: June 2020

Building construction projects are carried out using various material resources. These materials have to be managed to enhance value, minimize waste and ensure that time and cost related goals are attained. The research looked at the factors militating against effective building materials management (EBMM) in order to identify major factors leading to material wastage in construction project delivery in the FCT Abuja, Nigeria. The study adopted purposive sampling method to distribute 100 copies of survey questionnaire to some selected professionals from both consulting and contracting firms in the study area. 86 copies of questionnaire retrieved were analyzed to know the implication of these factors on the process and delivery of construction projects. 25 identified factors militating against EBMM were ranked using RII. The finding of the study revealed that lack of compliance to materials specification and standards (RII=0.81), little knowledge on materials specifications and standards (RII=0.80), poor communication system (RII=0.79), were the top factors militating against materials management. The findings further indicate that delay and abandonment of project (RII=0.82), cost overrun (RII=0.81) and ineffective allocation of materials (RII=0.79), were the three major implications these will have on EBMM. The study concluded that for the EBMM, professional involved in building production processes should understand the importance of specifications and standards to avoid disastrous effects on building materials usage and management in the construction projects delivery.
PRODUCTIVITY IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Authors: Almathami Khedher Yahya , Coffey Vaughan , Trigunarsyah Bambang
Published: June 2020

Since the late 1990s, the construction industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has lagged behind the rest of the world in actual levels of productivity and productivity growth. This is despite the KSA Government’s tremendous support for the construction industry and the expectation that, in the coming decades, the KSA construction industry will continue to develop and grow to achieve the targets of Saudi Vision 2030. This paper explores in depth the concept of productivity to gain insights through answering two questions contextualized within the KSA construction industry: 1) How do managers perceive productivity? and 2) How is productivity measured? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 senior managers with 10-27 years’ experience in project management in the KSA construction industry. Qualitative analysis of interview results found that around 40% of interviewees had little or an incorrect understanding of the concept of productivity and its relevance to production processes. This poor understanding of productivity and its measures extends to the lack of clear specific procedures for regular measurement of productivity.
PROFIT SHARING IN OVERCOMING PROJECT RESULTS AS A STRATEGY TO INCREASE REVENUE FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES
Authors: Mognhol Tiely Zurlo , da Silva Tássia Farssura Lima , Melhado Silvio Burrattino
Published: June 2020

In the construction industry, the exceeding costs and reduced profits have become usual in the ongoing projects, which motivates companies to seek strategies to resolve these problems in order to increase the sponsors satisfaction. This paper examines the interface of design process management, risk management as well as cost management as a strategic tool for overcoming the results initially anticipated for infrastructure projects and consequently increase profits for construction companies. This analysis has been developed through literature review and case studies, in which fourteen project managers from six infrastructure projects of a Brazilian civil construction company were interviewed. The results demonstrate that: (1) the design process management reduces risks, deadlines and execution costs; (2) the identification and control of risks reduces project and execution uncertainties; (3) the cost management adequate to the stakeholders profile reduces the loss of results; and (4) the share of profits from overcoming results encourages active collaboration from employees in the conduction of management processes. The research also revealed that items (1), (2), (3) and (4) relate in a cyclical way, in which item (4) propels the other items, and the increase in profits feedback into the process.
LANDSLIDE INVESTIGATION ASPECTS
Authors: Todorov Miroslav , Todorov Mihail , Kamenarov Georgi
Published: June 2020

Landslide processes are a distinct phenomenon with a huge impact on human way of life. Those gravitational movements in the upper layers of the crust can have a dramatic effect in river valleys, coastal regions and mountainous terrains. The reasons for their existence and development lie in naturally occurring processes in the lithosphere and the atmosphere and large-scale human activity. Investigating various natural and anthropogenic phenomena is vital, with attention to climate change processes. In the report of the European Commission (2012) an alarming level of erosion and abrasion is observed, with more than 630 000 areas with landslide processes. According to MRRB in Bulgaria there are near 2000 zones with active movements. The current investigation focuses on a fragment of the Bulgarian coast prone to landslide that was researched in 2017. The first registered movements date back to 2010. Characterizing for this case is the relatively quick developments of the movements, which affect urban areas. This publication revolves around a complex engineering investigation, which provides an understanding how and why activation processes in the researched zone form, while using well-known proven methods. The used techniques for investigation focus on usability issues, as well as on the opportunity to corelate different sets of data, gather important information and reinforce it with monitoring. The focus here is on these three combined steps: information, prediction, monitoring.
INVESTIGATING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN STABILIZED EXCAVATION BY NAILING AND ADJACENT URBAN TUNNELS: CASE STUDY
Authors: Hosseini Somaye , Parsaei Mahmood
Published: June 2020

Urban development could be evaluated by considering the transportation and construction industries. The transportation industry development causes an increase in the urban subway lines as well as underground tunnels. Concerning the construction industry, the large-scale buildings development such as commercial malls, high-rise buildings, and underground parking structures may require deep excavations at metropolitan projects. In this paper, a parametric study is carried out by considering the distance of a tunnel from a retaining wall with the staged construction. PLAXIS 2.0D ver.8.5 software is used as an analysis tool. The results show that existing tunnels are affected more than retaining walls during an excavation when the structural response is considered. By increasing the horizontal distance of tunnel center from the wall, lateral displacement and the bending moment of the tunnel would decrease 14% and the vertical displacement and bending moment of tunnel’s Crown would reduce by 15% and 12%, respectively. These interaction effects become negligible after a distance of 5 times the tunnel diameter. Besides, the existence of the tunnel in the vicinity of excavations would increase the top horizontal displacement of the retaining wall by about 13%. It is worthwhile to point out that the current paper is based on a case study on Sharif University multistory underground parking located near the subway tunnel in Tehran city stabilized by deploying a nailing and anchorage system.
THE EFFECTS OF POOR PERFORMANCE ON ROADS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
Authors: Mushato Winnie , Mashwama Nokulunga Xolile , Thwala Didibhuku , Aigbavboa Clinton
Published: June 2020

Good performance increase productivity in the construction projects and it contribute positively to the growth of the South African Economy. The aim of the paper was to investigate the impacts of poor performance on roads infrastructure projects in the Gauteng Province. Questionnaires were distributed to various construction firms which were registered with South African approved council bodies and also with construction industry development board. The questionnaires were sent via emails and dispersed during site and briefing meeting for contractors. 76 out of 100 questionnaires were collected and were used for the study. Random sampling method was used. Research findings revealed that loss of productivity; Cost overrun; disease outbreak; Time overrun; Environmental impact; Conflicts; Disputes between owner and contractor; Loss of skilled workers; stress on the contractor; Reworks were the major impacts on the construction of road infrastructure, in the South African Construction industry. Therefore, cost overrun, and time overruns can be avoided by limiting change and variation orders. In addition, skills transfer is needed so that skilled workers can pass the knowledge to the new manpower before they retired. Poor performance creates stress on the contractor as the contractor will experience the problems such as reworks, termination of contract, and default on loan repayment by the contractor.
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH EVALUATION OF LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE WITH EXPANDED GLASS AGGREGATE BY ULTRASONIC PULSE VELOCITY METHOD
Authors: Collins Christopher , Hedjazi Saman
Published: June 2020

In the present study, a non-destructive testing method was utilized to assess the mechanical properties of lightweight and normal-weight concrete specimens. The experiment program consisted of more than a hundred concrete specimens with the unit weight ranging from around 850 to 2250 kg/m3. Compressive strength tests were performed at the age of seven and twenty eight days. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) was the NDT that was implemented in this study to investigate the significance of the correlation between UPV and compressive strength of lightweight concrete specimens. Water to cement ratio (w/c), mix designs, aggregate volume, and the amount of normal weight coarse and fine aggregates replaced with lightweight aggregate, are the variables in this work. The lightweight aggregate used in this study, Poraver®, is a product of recycled glass materials. Furthermore, the validity of the current prediction methods in the literature was investigated including comparison between this study and an available expression in the literature on similar materials, for calculation of mechanical properties of lightweight concrete based on pulse velocity. It was observed that the recently developed empirical equation would better predict the compressive strength of lightweight concrete specimens in terms of the pulse velocity.
EVALUATION OF COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF SYNTHETIC FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE
Authors: Hedjazi Saman , Castillo Daniel
Published: June 2020

This paper evaluates the effect of discrete fibers in concrete on the pulse velocity and mechanical properties of FRC. Two different type of synthetic fibers consisting of Polypropylene and Nylon were investigated. The effect of concrete mix proportions such as types of fiber, volume fraction of fiber, water-to-cement ratio (w/c), and curing conditions were examined. An experimental program was designed and conducted on 100 mm x 200 mm cylindrical specimens to evaluate the properties of FRC. The compressive strength obtained from the Compression Test Machine (CTM) was compared to those calculated from UPV. The difference between two types of synthetic fibers on concrete properties were investigated. Results show that the highest compressive strength of Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Concrete (PFRC) was achieved at 0.5% fiber volume fraction, whereas for Nylon Fiber Reinforced Concrete (NFRC) the highest compressive strength was obtained at 1.0% fiber volume fraction. Additionally, results show that the available equations relating UPV to compressive strength of concrete need modifications when used for different fibers. Therefore, either new or modified empirical equations are needed for better estimation of mechanical properties of FRC.
EFFECT OF SLAG AND GLASS ON CONCRETE PROPERTIES
Authors: Solanki Pranshoo , Long Ryan , Hu Xi
Published: June 2020

New innovative ways are being developed to recycle by-products and waste material in concrete that otherwise would end up in landfill. Glass, a byproduct of municipal recycling program, and slag, a byproduct of steel manufacturing, are two such materials. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of partially substituting sand with glass powder and cement with slag on compressive strength and electrical resistivity of concrete. A total of 16 concrete mixtures including one control with different substitution level of sand with glass and cement with slag were designed and further tested for compressive strength. Portland cement was substituted with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% slag by weight. On the other hand, fine aggregates (or sand) was substituted with glass sand, with level of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% by weight. Additional selected mixes were prepared by substituting both cement (20%, 40%, 50%) and fine aggregates (20%, 40%, 60%) with slag and glass, respectively. Cement substitution with slag up to 40% was found to increase the compressive strength of concrete beyond which decrease in strength was noticed. Fine aggregate substitution with glass powder produced concrete weaker than the control specimens. Mixes prepared by substituting 40% cement with slag and 20% fine aggregates with glass powder produced highest strength among all the different combinations of slag and glass containing specimens.