bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Platelet-associated anti–GPIIb-IIIa autoantibodies in chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura recognizing epitopes close to the ligand-binding site of glycoprotein (GP) IIb
Authors: Kosugi Satoru , Tomiyama Yoshiaki , Honda Shigenori , Kato Hisashi , Kiyoi Teruo , Kashiwagi Hirokazu , Kurata Yoshiyuki , Matsuzawa Yuji
Published: July 2002

Localization of epitopes for platelet-associated (PA) anti–GPIIb-IIIa (αIIbβ3) autoantibodies in chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura remains elusive. Previous studies suggest that PA antibodies recognize the tertiary structure of intact glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa. To localize their epitopes using antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the reactivity of 34 PA anti–GPIIb-IIIa antibodies was examined with recombinant GPIIb-IIIa having a defect in ligand-binding sites in either GPIIb or GPIIIa, and no major conformational change was induced: KO variant GPIIb-IIIa was attributed to a 2–amino acid insertion between residues 160 and 161 in the W3 4-1 loop in GPIIb, and CAM variant GPIIb-IIIa was attributed to D119Y in GPIIIa. In one third (11 of 34) of the patients, PA antibodies showed a marked decrease (less than 50%) in reactivity with KO compared with wild-type GPIIb-IIIa. Their reactivity was also impaired against GPIIbD163A-IIIa. In sharp contrast, they reacted normally with CAM GPIIb-IIIa. OP-G2, a ligand-mimetic monoclonal antibody, markedly inhibited their binding to GPIIb-IIIa in patients with impaired binding to KO GPIIb-IIIa, but small GPIIb-IIIa antagonists did not. In addition, a newly developed sensitive ELISA indicated that autoantibodies showing impaired binding to KO are more potent inhibitors for fibrinogen binding. The present data suggest that certain PA anti–GPIIb-IIIa autoantibodies recognize epitopes close to the ligand-binding site in GPIIb, but not in GPIIIa.
Presence of N regions in the clonotypic DJ rearrangements of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes indicates an exquisitely short latency in t(4;11)-positive infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Fasching Karin , Panzer Simon , Haas Oskar A. , Borkhardt Arndt , Marschalek Rolf , Griesinger Frank , Panzer-Grümayer E. Renate
Published: July 2002

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is frequently initiated in utero at a time of developmentally regulated insertion of N regions into the DJH rearrangements of immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) genes. Here it is shown that N regions are present in the clonotypic DJH rearrangements in 11 of 12 infant ALLs with t(4;11). These data are compared with the 122 previously published DJH sequences and were found to have a pattern similar to that of ALL in children older than 3 years at diagnosis but were unlike that in children younger than 3 years who predominantly lack N regions. These findings, therefore, indicate that t(4;11)-positive infant ALL is initiated later in fetal development than most B-cell precursor ALL from children younger than 3 years and that they have a shorter latency period already in utero.
Cytolytically inactive terminal complement complex causes transendothelial migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Dobrina Aldo , Pausa Mario , Fischetti Fabio , Bulla Roberta , Vecile Elena , Ferrero Elisabetta , Mantovani Alberto , Tedesco Francesco
Published: July 2002

Intravital microscopy was used to monitor leukocyte traffic across rat mesenteric postcapillary venules induced by the inactive terminal complement (C) complex (iTCC) topically applied to ileal mesentery. Leukocytes started rolling within 15 minutes from the administration of iTCC, and by 1 hour they adhered almost completely to the endothelium emigrating from the vessels in the next 3 hours. C5a caused a similar, though less marked, effect, whereas boiled iTCC was inactive, excluding the contribution of contaminating lipopolysaccharide. The complex stimulated the migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) across endothelial cells (ECs) in a transwell system after a 4-hour incubation of ECs with iTCC added to the lower chamber of the transwell, whereas a 30-minute incubation was sufficient for C5a and interleukin (IL)-8 to induce the passage of PMNs. C5a was not responsible for the effect of iTCC because this complex had no chemotactic activity and contained too small an amount of C5a to account for the transendothelial migration of PMNs. Similarly, the effect of iTCC was not mediated by IL-8 released by stimulated ECs because anti–IL-8 failed to inhibit the migration of PMNs induced by the complex. Unlike tumor necrosis factor-α, iTCC did not cause the redistribution of platelet–endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), and PMN mobilization was partially blocked by anti–PECAM-1 antibodies.
Primary cutaneous lymphomas: applicability of current classification schemes (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, World Health Organization) based on clinicopathologic features observed in a large group of patients
Authors: Fink-Puches Regina , Zenahlik Paulus , Bäck Barbara , Smolle Josef , Kerl Helmut , Cerroni Lorenzo
Published: July 2002

Classification of primary cutaneous lymphomas (PCLs) is the subject of ongoing controversy. Based on a series of 556 patients, the applicability of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) classification for PCLs was assessed and compared to the proposed World Health Organization (WHO) classification of hematologic malignancies. The large majority of patients could be properly classified according to the scheme proposed by the EORTC. Comparison of estimated 5-year survival for specific diagnostic categories of PCLs demonstrated nearly complete concordance of the present results with those of the EORTC study for most of the indolent cutaneous T-cell lymphomas and cutaneous B-cell lymphomas, whereas differences were found for mycosis fungoides-associated follicular mucinosis and Sezary syndrome. A few patients with newly described entities (CD8+ epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma, primary cutaneous natural killer/T-cell lymphoma) could not be classified according to the EORTC scheme. Comparison of the EORTC with the WHO classification showed that the EORTC scheme allows a more precise categorization of the patients, especially for cutaneous B-cell lymphoma. In conclusion, the study confirmed that the EORTC classification allows a better management of patients with PCL. Small amendments to that classification should be carried out to account for recently described entities and to unify some of the diagnostic categories.
Creating accessible and inclusive undergraduate studentship opportunities: the ENRRICH experience
Authors: Beattie Robert , Russell Kelly , Wittmeier Kristy , Mitchell-Dueck Jenna , Cheung Kristene , Rastegar Mojgan , Slike Alana , Williams Valerie , Chan Ming-Ka , Wilson Mary , Protudjer JLP
Published: February 2025

Recognizing the systemic exclusion of structurally oppressed groups from academic awards, the ENRRICH (Excellence in Neurodevelopment and Rehabilitation Research In Child Health) summer studentship emphasized the inclusion of structurally oppressed groups. Herein, we outline the processes in creating this funding opportunity, and plans for improvement, including enhanced representation among supervisors.
Zero-trust based dynamic access control for cloud computing
Authors: Wang Ri , Li Chen , Zhang Kun , Tu Bibo
Published: February 2025

Most corporations and organizations rely heavily on access control to protect data accessibility and enable resource sharing across networks and departments. However, with the development of cloud computing, traditional boundary protection struggles to mitigate the increasing attacks and threats. In addition, most existing dynamic access control methods match static rules with dynamic metrics, which cause system damage through their delayed responses to threats and attacks. The zero-trust architecture (ZTA) provides continuous authentication and dynamic authorization for all users to accommodate the security demands of cloud computing. Drawing inspiration from the ZTA, we first present a TBAC (Trust-based Access Control) model and design a trust assessment methodology to update user trustworthiness. Then, we introduce dynamic rules in the TBAC model to implement a dynamic access control system DR-TBAC (TBAC with Dynamic Rule). We apply the DQN (Deep Q-Network) algorithm to dynamically update the trust thresholds based on static rules comparing dynamic trust with predefined trust thresholds to achieve adaptive access control policies. In this paper, we rebuild the cloud security access environment from the perspective of dynamic trust and rule optimization and strengthen the constraints on user behaviors throughout the access control lifecycle of cloud computing. Finally, a thorough analysis and assessment regarding offline training models and the online deployment of the DR-TBAC system into the cloud platform highlight its security and accuracy relative to baseline models.
Applied modelling of semiosphere in interspecific cohabitation contexts
Authors: Delahaye Pauline
Published: February 2025

The semiosphere, as theorized by Jesper Hoffmeyer, is an interesting concept for those who want to create tools and models that need to consider a large variety of umwelten interacting and coexisting in the same space. As our contemporary times are witnessing a significant drop in biodiversity, and facing several issues that threaten both our ecosystems as well as human ways of living, the question arises what applications we can really obtain from these tools and models and how they can serve the purposes of sustainability, biodiversity conservation, environmental protection or cohabitation improvement. In this paper, I mainly explore the applications regarding the last-mentioned aspect, and also explain how it impacts the previous ones. I discuss the concept of interspecific cohabitation, listing the different categories of situations that can be included under this common denominator, and detail why this concept is central to understanding and apprehending the contemporary challenges we are facing. The article also observes the kinds of solutions that semiotics, via umwelt perspectives, can offer to improve this cohabitation or solve the issues interspecific contexts can generate.
Umwelt theory seen from the perspective of fūdo theory: Uexküll, Watsuji, and Imanishi on nature, harmony, and totality
Authors: Terada Masahiro
Published: February 2025

This paper investigates the contemporary meaning of umwelt theory by comparing it with fūdo theory. The Japanese term ‘fūdo’ is similar to ‘umwelt’ as it carefully revises how subject and object relate to each other. Fūdo theory was developed by Tetsuro Watsuji (1889–1960), a Japanese philosopher; Kinji Imanishi (1902–1992), a Japanese biologist; and Augustin Berque (b. 1942), a French geographer and philosopher. First, this paper investigates Watsuji’s view of the place of ‘self ’ in the environment and Imanishi’s view of the place of species in the environment. Second, it compares how umwelt and fūdo theories address problems related to the subject and environment, harmony, the concept of nature, and disciplinarity, pointing out the parallelism between the two theories. Third, this paper examines the relevance and interpretation of umwelt and fūdo theories in contemporary academic discourse, with a focus on the concepts of harmony and totality.
Gatherings in Biosemiotics 24: Bloemfontein, South Africa 2024
Authors: Jansen Van Vuuren Xany , Marais Kobus
Published: February 2025

Gatherings in Biosemiotics 24: Bloemfontein, South Africa 2024
The Study of Some Individual and Social Factors on Risk Health Behaviors (RHB) Among University Students
Authors: Ashtiani Elham G.
Published: February 2025

This research investigated effect of Individuals and social factors on Risk Health Behaviors (RHB) among university students. A total of 700 students were randomly selected from IAU, Tehran-Iran. The instrument used to collect data was a survey questionnaire that designed based on The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) by researchers. In this research, we evaluated rate of (RHB) based on gender, ethnic status, and marital status among students. The result of the study indicated that there are differences between RHB among study groups in this research.
CASE STUDY COMPARISONS OF THE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT ON SOCIAL HOUSING AFTER EARTHQUAKE
Authors: Davis Michael , Villacis Enrique , Rodriguez M. Lorena , Ayarza Cynthia , Davila Domenica , Fernandez Cristina , Jarrin Daniela , Nacevilla Josselyn , Vizcaino Javier
Published: February 2025

This research seeks to distinguish which factors influence the ecological footprint and what types of construction have the least environmental impact in a post-disaster social housing building. The first case study is a government social housing design, built with bamboo and concrete masonry blocks, and another design by Ensusitio, a private practice approach to social housing built with bamboo and earth. These houses were granted to victims of the April 2016 earthquake in the Ecuadorian coastal region. The investigation process was carried out based on primary research, which was used to understand how Ensusitio carried out the construction process of Meche's house and also based on a secondary investigation of government social housing. With this information, a comparison is made between them to determine which of the two has the least ecological footprint
ASSESSMENT OF BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING UPTAKE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Authors: Ojelabi Rapheal Abiodun , Omuh Ignatius Owoicho , Afolabi Adedeji Olushola , Tunji-Olayeni Patience Fikiyemo
Published: February 2025

The need for digitization of industries' production process has been given high attention in the 21st century. This is due to the upsurge in technology in the present age. Industries which include manufacturing, telecommunication and aviation among others have set the pace for others to follow in the use of digital tools in their production process. Therefore, this study is aimed at examining the awareness and level of uptake of a digital tool like Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the management of construction project and the challenges limiting its use within the built environment. The study adopted a survey method by randomly selecting 120 construction practitioners in construction firms operating in Lagos state Nigeria. Likewise, 120 structured questionnaires were distributed to the targeted respondents, however, 100 questionnaires were retrieved. The data collected from the survey were processed using Mean item score, percentage, and relative importance index. Findings garnered from the study revealed that construction organization awareness of the BIM tool is very high, however, its uptake in the construction industry is not encouraging. It further revealed that the driving factor in encouraging the BIM adoption cut across the government, the construction industry and the clients. In conclusion, the study recommends that the trio should provide an adequate support structure and push for BIM implementation in construction project delivery.
THEORETICAL VALUATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY ON LOW-COST HOUSING
Authors: Makgobi Gladness , Mashwama Nokulunga , Thwala Wellington , Aigbavboa Clinton
Published: February 2025

The paper delivers a theoretical analysis of corporate governance and sustainability on low-cost housing. One of the constraints faced by low-cost housing projects is poor governance, which should be the development prospective of a company whose directive is to refine the economic potential of the countries in the process of transformation. Literature is the main method to investigate the research problem. Published, unpublished papers and journals were accurately reviewed to find solutions to the subject matter. The study revealed that it is a prerequisite in terms of the National Environmental Management Act for National and provincial department to formulate an Environmental Implementation Plan for any building construction activities that will have an impact on the environment. Green and sustainable are terms filled on company yearly reports, but the question is whether the Corporate Social Responsibility is valued or well thought of or highly regarded. The paper will assist the industry to realise that the achievement of the company does not only rely on the compliance of legislation and standards, but also by a broad series of economic, environment and social problems in a manner that is useful to global society. Organizational sustainability is an established requirement with many obligatory conditions enforcing ISO 14001 and environmental standards to be adhered to. Refining environmental performance through efficient use of energy and resources intensifies the success of companies.
INTEGRATING BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING AND VISUAL PROGRAMMING FOR BUILDING LIFE-CYCLE COST ANALYSIS
Authors: Likhitruangsilp Veerasak , Le Hang T. T. , Yabuki Nobuyoshi , Ioannou Photios G.
Published: February 2025

In recent years, the fierce competition in worldwide real-estate market has pushed the stakeholders towards the sustainability for buildings. Life-cycle cost (LCC) is an effective economic evaluation tool that provides a detailed account for all costs related to constructing, operating, maintaining, and disposing a construction project over a defined period of time. Awareness of better value of money throughout the LCC is beyond the initial price. Governments and Contracting authorities add the LCC as a key provision in the context of National Codes and Council Directives to promote the growth of sustainability concept. Current LCC analytical methods are costly, laborious, and time-consuming due to the difficulties of obtaining information and implementing many single LCC analyses for all building elements, which may be attributed to the inaccuracy of results. Building information modeling (BIM) is a modern technology that can potentially overcome the asperities that obstruct practical LCC implementation. This paper develops a new automated system for performing LCC analyses for new building projects by integrating BIM authoring programming with visual programming. The proposed system consists of two main modules. The BIM module is designed to retrieve 3D geometric and physical parameters of building element types. The life-cycle cost calculation module can perform automatic estimating and report results. This system provides an economic evaluation tool for the owner to manage the total life-cycle budget of their projects.
BEST PRACTICES FOR THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR THE HORIZONTAL DESIGN-BUILDER
Authors: Migliaccio Giovanni C. , Minchin R. Edward , Gatti Umberto C. , Ptschelinzew Lourdes , Atkins Kenneth E. , Hostetler Gregory A.
Published: February 2025

In early 1990s, the American driving public insisted that planned highway and bridge projects be completed quicker than was possible using the Design-Bid-Build (DBB) construction project delivery system, which had dominated the industry since 1930s. This led state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to explore fast-track methods of construction. In late 1980s, some DOTs had experimented with Design-Build (D-B) delivery system. Forty-two state DOTs and numerous county and municipal transportation agencies now use the system and it remains the most popular integrated construction project delivery system in US transportation construction despite Federal Highway Administration efforts through the Every Day Counts initiatives to popularize newer methods such as Construction-Manager-as-General-Contractor and Alternative Technical Concepts. Its popularity is due to the speed with which projects move from conception through to completion and the ability through early contractor participation to implement innovative ideas that improve quality and further enhance the speed of the project. With all this speed, however, the design process has struggled to stay ahead of construction, especially when the Design-Builder is faced with new responsibilities such as Right-of-Way acquisition, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, the environmental permitting process, utility re-location, etc. This paper recounts the research performed by a team led by the University of Florida to produce a guidebook to help both design-builder and owner with the design management process for transportation infrastructure construction.
THE BREXIT AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACTS ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Authors: Ataei Hossein , Taherkhani Farnaz
Published: February 2025

In June 2016, the United Kingdom voted to depart from the European Union (EU) with 51.9% of the votes versus 48.1%. A short-term increase in the overall construction project costs is anticipated due to shortage of less-expensive skilled workers and more costly construction equipment imports from the EU. This may result in slower growth for commercial and residential industry sectors. The long-term issue of Brexit will affect private investment in British infrastructure. As demand increases globally on construction of new civil infrastructure or rehabilitation of existing systems, the global investors and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) firms will be more mindful and conservative in investing in UK projects. The UK government will seek more private financing for the country's capital projects as easier access to the EU funds-as existed prior to Brexit-may no longer be an alternative. The UK will be a riskier destination for private investors or Public-Private Partnerships (PPP's) because of the developing instability and complexities in the new post-Brexit econo-political environment. As a result, a slower turnout in major infrastructure projects is anticipated. This paper investigates the economics of the post-Brexit UK and the opportunities and threats to the construction industry. It addresses the role of the government and the availability of public funding and how construction regulations and standards will be impacted as a result.
EXPLORING APPLICATIONS OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Authors: Shojaei Alireza
Published: February 2025

Blockchain provides a secure decentralized information management system that can solve many common problems facing the construction industry. The loose structure of the construction industry, the way that public and private projects are tendered, and the supply chain system it uses for material and service delivery provide unique challenges and problems. New information technology management systems such as BIM and RFID are used to address some of these issues, though not completely. Blockchain technology can be used to further improve the information management systems in construction, provide more automation and mitigate many possible legal conflicts by default. Implementation of blockchain technology in the construction industry can also result in the use of smart contracts with fewer administrative struggles, improve the flow of the project, material, and service delivery, and increase the security and currentness of BIM or project documents. This study aims to explore the applications of blockchain technology in improving the construction industry's information management systems. It is concluded that not only the blockchain technology has potential in addressing some of the common problems in the construction industry but also it is adaptable to the construction industry structure and the way it is practiced. Thus, blockchain technology is a viable option for adaptation in the construction industry.
CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY FOR STRAIN GAGE INSTALLATION IN AIRPORT PAVEMENTS
Authors: Kioa Gregory , Singh Amarjit
Published: February 2025

Installing strain gages in a pavement can give useful information on pavement distress before visible marks appear on the pavement surface. The installation of sensors at existing and busy airports comes at a price, with a very short construction window, because of the need for least disruption to air traffic owing to the expensive concessions paid by airlines almost a year in advance. As such, a proposed project on a runway at Kahului airport, Maui, Hawaii could only be granted three six-hour nights, from 11 pm to 5 am, while Honolulu airport executed a project on a taxiway that has a 7-day window, on which this article will focus. Among the many constraints-both for construction and airport safety-is the requirement that concrete attain 5000-psi strength before the taxiway is reopened to air traffic. This means that the major work of concreting on the taxiway must be completed before the end of the 4th day of the construction window. Thus, scheduling must be done in 15-minute slots. In addition, precision is key, and high productivity is required. This article describes the construction method behind this unique project.
COST OPTIMIZATION OF MULTIPLE RESOURCES ALLOCATION FOR MULTI-PROJECTS
Authors: Aboul Fotouh Sarah , Ezeldin A. Samer
Published: February 2025

As the construction industry grows year by year, optimization of resources is becoming essential to reduce their required number, their costs and as a consequence the total cost of the project. Project managers have to face problems regarding management of cost, time, and available resources for single projects. What is more challenging is to optimize the available resources for multiple projects, which would result in appreciable savings. Most of the companies in the construction industry commonly optimize the resources for single project. However, with the presence of several mega projects in many developing countries running at the same time, there is a need for a model to enhance the efficiency of available resources among multiple simultaneous projects. This paper discusses a numerical model of cost optimization and allocation of up to nine resources for up to three projects for a given company, taking into consideration the transportation of resources from one project to another and the cost of unused resources. The model was developed using a genetic algorithm, and it is used on the identified critical resources. It calculates the cost of each resource, minimizes the cost of extra resources, cost of unused resources, and generates the schedule of each project within a selected overall program.
THE PROJECT BOUNDARY AND OCCUPATIONAL STRESS
Authors: Farnes Ken
Published: February 2025

Despite advances in project management practices and profession, projects continue to have an unacceptably high failure rate, which may be influenced by project manager being highly stressed and their decision-making capabilities becoming narrowed. The project manager's role necessitates that they occupy the boundary between sponsoring organisation, clients, and other actors involved in the project environment, where they are often subjected to time pressures, project uncertainties, conflicting demands, complex and often dynamic social structure involved in the project environment. In this social constructionist study thirty six senior executives participants were interviewed. It was observed that when discussing the person-environment fit and competencies of a project manager, occupational stress and stress management were overlooked by executive project sponsors as a possible contributing factor for poor project manager performance and poor project outcomes. Despite the growing body of research evidence that has identified occupational stress across many different professions as having an adverse impact on an individual's performance and health, there has been little recognition within project management literature of the impacts of stress or coping strategies for managing stressors within the project environment. This strongly suggests that additional research on stress focused on the project environment is warranted, and that both project sponsors and project managers need to be made aware of the antecedents to stress and consequences of stress both in the personal and business sense.
QUANTITY UNCERTAINTIES IN REINFORCEMENT WORKS-COMPARISON OF PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE CLIENTS
Authors: Kummer Markus
Published: February 2025

Uncertainties are systematically considered and dealt with by applying probabilistic calculation methods, such as Monte Carlo simulations. When selecting appropriate distribution functions for input parameters, users are constantly faced with the issue of having to choose the "right" distribution function for the relevant parameter. Quantities of individual works play a crucial role for costing and pricing, but also for construction process and logistics planning purposes. Quantities stated by the client in its structural specifications are fraught with uncertainties owing to, for instance, incomplete plans at the time of specification, inaccurate calculations, or mere estimates. This is why actual quantities can either be greater or smaller than the specified quantities. This paper demonstrates how distribution functions can be derived from expert surveys delivering responses from actual construction practice. Specific reference is made to reinforcement works whilst distinguishing between public and private clients. The outcomes of the survey presented and discussed in this paper include descriptive data analyses as well as violin plots and fitted distribution functions.
IMPROVING OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY BY USING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND BIM
Authors: Kelm Agnes , Meins-Becker Anica , Helmus Manfred
Published: February 2025

Despite a slight decrease in the number of accidents at work on German construction sites, a large number of accidents on construction sites occurred as a result of the collision of different trades. An important potential is in the optimization of the safety and health by making available predefined information about work safety for all involved trades. The aim of the project is the application of the BIM-method and the use of RFID-technology and Augmented Reality to improve work safety in the real estate and construction industry. It has to identify, define, and standardize information relevant to work safety so that they can be used for prevention-measures with Building Information Modeling (BIM). To do so, a process map was developed to map all relevant occupational health and safety processes during the lifecycle phases of a building. Therefore, all work safety-relevant processes have to be identified and defined. Furthermore, a demonstrator was developed in order to show possibilities like the usage of Augmented Reality (AR) and a commercially available tablet with a web app, in combination with Bluetooth beacons and RFID technology, based on a common data base. This will lead to the possibility of cross-company planning regarding work safety-relevant processes with BIM as well as the optimization of work safety in additional use of AutoID-Technologies.
AN INVESTIGATION OF FATAL ACCIDENTS IN DEMOLITION WORK OF BUILDINGS
Authors: Takahashi Hiroki
Published: February 2025

Buildings constructed in Japan during a period of high economic growth, 1954-1973, have deteriorated, and many need to be demolished. In the course of that demolition work, accidents have occurred, but the causes and circumstances of many of them are largely unknown. This study investigates accidents that occurred during building demolition work in Japan between 2010 and 2014, with the goal of preventing future accidents. The results show that fatal accidents while demolishing buildings accounted for 6.5% of all fatal accidents on construction sites. The greatest number of fatal accidents can be attributed to falls and collapsing walls. The causes of falls were found to be two-fold. First, in the process of demolishing a building, frequently, a hole is cut in the floor and scrap materials are thrown into it to dispose of them; however, workers have been known to fall into this hole and be injured fatally. It was also found that many workers do not use full harnesses. The cause of collapsing walls was identified as follows. When a wall is demolished, its lower part is often cut through to weaken it, at which point the wall can collapse, crushing workers. Analysis of the study results shows that greater attention must be paid to creating a system that promotes fall prevention and safe wall-cutting on demolition sites.
GLOBALIZATION AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT EDUCATION
Authors: Ataei Hossein
Published: February 2025

Globalization is the study of dramatic global changes and their consequences in different fields of economy, technology and communications during the past two to three decades. Similar to other industry sectors or professional practices, globalization has enabled the construction industry to take advantage of cross-border markets and benefit from the opportunities that the globalized economy has provided. Advances in transportation, data sharing and communication have given construction professionals and the labor force unprecedented access to markets that were previously insulated. As the political borders have turned to be increasingly irrelevant and the national economies have become more interdependent, the socio-cultural differences are hence accentuated and further exposed due to historically-existing dissimilarities in societal cultures and business norms. In this paper, the main goal is to understand the globalization and its implications for the world economy specifically focusing on the construction industry. This paper studies the impacts of globalization in construction engineering and management profession and further investigates on the opportunities and threats that a globalized economy and more-synchronized business practices will bring for industry and how Construction Engineering educators shall successfully address those unprecedented issues in teaching Construction Engineering Management courses to the next generation of the industry leaders.
CRITICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING BUILDING GRADUATES' EMPLOYABILITY IN A DEVELOPING ECONOMY
Authors: Afolabi Adedeji , Ojelabi Rapheal , Tunji-Olayeni Patience , Omuh Ignatius , Oyeyipo Opeyemi
Published: February 2025

Schools of higher learning are endowed with the prerogative of churning out employable graduates to the workplace. This can only be achieved by measuring the need-thermometer in skills and capacities required in the industry in comparison with the education provided by the higher institutions. The study was aimed at evaluating the critical factors that influence building graduates' employability in a developing economy. Using an employer-academia perspective, a cross-section survey system through a questionnaire instrument provided information on graduate employability in the built environment industry. Top management officials in construction industry and academia in the built environment in schools of higher learning in Lagos and Ogun State provided the data for the study. Statistical tools such as stacked bars and Linear Regression was used in presenting the data. The study revealed major skills (communication, teamwork, professional expertise/problem-solving, self-management, planning and organizing, ICT, life-long learning, and initiative/enterprise) required by employers in the construction industry. The study showed that teaching strategies and curriculum content can influence building graduates' employability. In conclusion, the study developed a framework for increasing building graduates' employability to align with the skills needed by employers in the built environment in a developing economy. It is recommended that schools of higher learning need to continually measure the needs of the industry and incorporate findings into a robust construction curriculum. Work-learning settings should be encouraged for construction students.
RECTIFICATION THEORY AND REINFORCEMENT PRACTICE BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF COUNTERFORCE CENTER
Authors: Zhu Yanpeng , Yang Kuibin , Tao Jun , Wang Xiuli
Published: February 2025

Like buildings with other types of foundations, buildings with pile foundations can tilt because of irrational designs, imperfections of foundation treatment, poor construction qualities, even the change of water environment during usage, etc. By studying and analyzing the causes for the inclination, this paper has proposed a theory of rectification and reinforcement for buildings with pile foundations based on the principle of counterforce center, which makes building be rectified by changing the counterforce center of pile foundation so that it can be in the same vertical line with the gravity center of upper structure. Then the calculation method was given. Combining with an engineering project, it has been proved that the principle of counterforce center is a good guidance for the rectification and reinforcement for buildings with pile foundations.
EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF SOIL REINFORCEMENTS IN UNPAVED ROAD
Authors: Salim Nahla
Published: February 2025

In this study, a series of 24 laboratory tests were conducted on a footing resting on crushed stone with 17.68 kN/m3 dry unit weight overlying sandy soils of two relative densities corresponding to (60% and 80%). The subbase layer is of crushed stone with a thickness of 5, 7.5 and 10 cm. Ten tests were conducted under static load with and without geogrid. All the other 14 model tests were carried out under harmonic load which was applied in a sequence determined prior (40% of static load). Tests were conducted at (2) Hz frequency according to the loading value. The process of the loading was continued until the number of cycles reached 104. The results indicated that, for static load and with the inclusion of the geogrid, as the thickness of the subbase layer increases, the percentage of increase in bearing capacity was reduced. In general, using geogrid reinforcement with subbase thickness of 7.5 and 5 cm causes an increase in bearing capacity approximately 1.5 to 2 times greater than for unreinforced respectively. This means that by using geogrid reinforcement, the thickness of subbase can be reduced which causes a reduction in construction cost.
EFFECTS OF AN ENZYME ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SUBGRADES
Authors: Ionescu Daniela , Petrolito Joe
Published: February 2025

An efficient transportation system requires a good network of roads provided with pavements that can withstand both the heavy and frequent traffic demands and environment variations while requiring minimal maintenance. However, roads are sometimes built where the sub-grade soil does not comply with the specifications and needs to be replaced with an acceptable soil that satisfies these requirements. To minimize the construction cost and the impact on the environment that the road construction would have, stabilizing agents (lime, cement or fly ash), are commonly used to improve the characteristics of in-situ soils. However, this process adds to the cost of road construction and maintenance. Therefore, alternative, environmental-friendly solutions have been investigated to reduce these costs. In recent years, enzymes have been used successfully to stabilize mostly fine-grained soils. This paper reports on an on-going research program on the use of various stabilizing agents to improve the properties of in-situ sub-grades for rural roads. Two locally-sourced soils were used in this investigation. The effects of cement, cement-fly ash mix and Perma-zyme binders on the properties of the selected soils were investigated. A series of tests was performed to establish the strength, stress-strain and deformation characteristics of the supplied soils. The results were compared to establish if Perma-zyme is suitable as stabilizing agent for the supplied soils.
MECHE'S HOUSE OR "BEING IN THE WORLD": A POST-DISASTER COMMUNITY BUILDING EXPERIENCE
Authors: Hinojosa Fernando , Villacís Enrique , Rodriguez Maria Lorena , Ayarza Cynthia
Published: February 2025

On April 16, 2016, Ecuador had suffered a 7.8 earthquake. The experience designing and building of Meche's house, a post-disaster alternative building process, is analyzed in this paper applying Martin Heidegger's concepts of Dwelling, Being in the World and Being There. These allow better understanding to the idea of housing in the community where the object is built, to visualize its most symbolic space, also it enables to see how the users of the built dwelling make it their own, the construction, form and materials despite that in the beginning of the construction process they did not accept them. This article tries to explain two questions: The house of Meche reflects its habitat: Where is it built? And how Meche, who is the homeowner, and the participants make the house and experience their own, in order to replicate the appropriate construction and resilience.
FATIGUE LIFE ANALYSIS OF RAIL-WELDS USING LINEAR ELASTIC FRACTURE MECHANICS
Authors: Alamnie Mequanent M. , Endalemaw Yalelet
Published: February 2025

The initiation and growth of fatigue cracking is mainly due to high stress concentration, heterogeneity and poor quality of weld. The detection and rectification of such weld defects are major concerns of rail network managers to reduce potential risk of rail breaks and derailments. To estimate the fatigue life of welded joints and to analyze the progress of fatigue cracks, a fracture mechanics-based analysis and fatigue models were developed using Finite Element Analysis. The initial flaw is obtained from a sample weld using ultrasonic flaw detecting machine test. Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) approach based on the Paris law was applied to determine critical crack size and the number of cycles to failure using FRANC3D software. The inspection interval of rail welds before fracture (failure) was suggested based on reliability and life cycle analysis that correspond with minimum overall cost and frequency interval. It is recommended that fracture-based models in combination with reliability analyses can be a sustainable infrastructure decision-making algorithm.
IMPLEMENTING CONTRACTOR KNOW-HOW IN EARLY PHASES OF COMPLEX INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Authors: Paar Lena , Ninaus Cornelia , Heck Detlef
Published: February 2025

The importance of bringing contractor know-how into early construction project phases has long been recognized by the construction industry. Although experts and practitioners have considered new forms of procurement and management for construction projects, no significant solutions have been identified until now. It should be mentioned in this context that the Austrian government initiated the implementation of a new procurement approach in 2015 by reducing the opportunity for public clients to award the contract to the bid with the lowest price in conformity with the European guidelines. Austria's infrastructure industry is thus seeking new approaches that are able to implement the know-how of all parties involved in a project. The aim of this paper is to identify possibilities for early contractor involvement and its potential for optimizing the project management in the Austrian infrastructure industry.
MECHANICAL AND DURABILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF GGBS DOLOMITE GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE
Authors: Shashikala Aikot Pallikkara , Nagarajan Praveen , Parathi Saranya
Published: February 2025

Production of Portland cement causes global warming due to the emission of greenhouse gases to the environment. The need for reducing the amount of cement is necessary from sustainability point of view. Alkali activated and geopolymeric binders are used as alternative to cement. Industrial by-products such as fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), silica fume, rice husk ash etc. are commonly used for the production of geopolymer concrete. This paper focuses on the development of geopolymer concrete from slag (100% GGBS). Effect of different cementitious materials such as lime, fly ash, metakaolin, rice husk ash, silica fume and dolomite on strength properties of slag (GGBS) based geopolymer concrete are also discussed. It is observed that the addition of dolomite (by-products from rock crushing plants) into slag based geopolymer concrete reduces the setting time, enhances durability and improves rapidly the early age strength of geopolymer concrete. Development of geopolymer concrete with industrial by-products is a solution to the disposal of the industrial wastes. The quick setting concrete thus produced can reduce the cost of construction making it sustainable also.
COMPUTATIONAL SIMULATION OF HYGROTHERMAL PERFORMANCE OF PLASTERS WITH ENHANCED MOISTURE ACCUMULATION CAPABILITY
Authors: Kočí Jan , Fořt Jan , Maděra Jiří
Published: February 2025

Series of computational simulations are performed within this paper in order to investigate the hygrothermal response of several plasters with enhanced accumulation properties. The newly developed plasters are modified from the reference sample by adding various amounts of super absorbent polymers. Then, the basic physical, thermal and hygric properties are determined in the laboratory conditions and subsequently used as an input parameter in the computational simulations. The simulation output showed that even a thin layer of exterior and interior plaster may significantly affect the hygrothermal performance of the entire building envelope due to increased moisture and thermal buffering of the surface layers. Differences in relative humidity distribution across the studied construction were generally up to 10 % between individual plasters, differences of temperature distribution were mostly negligible, except for the cases when sudden changes of surface temperature were observed. Then, the thermal buffering was evident and the differences of temperature in surface layers were up to 4°C among studied plasters.
DEVELOPMENT OF PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE MODEL FOR PROPER REHABILITATION AND MAINTENANCE USING FIRST ORDER MARKOV CHAIN
Authors: Issa Amjad , Abu Eisheh Sameer
Published: February 2025

The development of pavement performance model is an important step in prediction the future condition of pavement section and accordingly identifying the right road rehabilitation and maintenance in the right time for the right section. The first order Markov chain probabilistic model is used to predict the degradation of flexible pavement in Palestine. A pilot study is conducted on part of the road network in Nablus City. Visual road condition assessment is performed, and the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is used in rating pavement sections by dividing the roads each 100 m length. The prediction of the pavement condition rating for each section in the first five to ten years of section age will enhance the applying of preventive maintenance strategy and consequently urges the Local Governmental Units to use the limited allocated budgets specified for pavement maintenance in a cost-effective manner by applying maintenance actions such as crack sealing, surface patching, micro-surfacing, milling and overlay, etc.
CHALLENGES OF USING NON-DEGRADABLE WASTE MATERIAL POLYSTYRENE PACKING IN REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Authors: Ngene Ben , Bamigboye Gideon , Asemota Osato
Published: February 2025

Weight and Environmental concerns are two elements that have made the search for alternative materials of construction critical in today’s construction industry. The importance of finding a solution to the problem has given rise to the use of non-degradable materials. This study examines the challenges of making such material as polystyrene used in product packaging a part of the structural element in construction. Such adventure it is envisaged reduced the volume and number of landfill sites in Nigeria where air pollution arising from dump sites affects the health of citizens. To achieve this aim, Styrofoam was used as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate (granite) by volume. The replacement was carried out in varying percentages of 10, 20 and 30% Styrofoam concretes respectively with a concrete mix ratio of 1:1:2. The result obtained showed that concrete produced using Styrofoam as the alternative aggregate possess lesser values of compressive strength when compared with the control of conventional concrete without Styrofoam. The optimal percentage of a replacement for Styrofoam concrete was 10% with a compressive strength of 21.33 N/mm2 while the control concrete had a compressive strength of 33.26 N/mm2. The loss of strength of Styrofoam concrete is compensated by the reduction of the requirement for landfill sites and the attendant pollution generated while the concrete can be used for non-structural elements in construction.