Browse Articles

Blueprint for progress: Understanding the driving forces of BIM adoption in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) construction industry

Building information modeling (BIM) as a virtual and digital mode of representing construction activities gained significant attention and facilitated construction projects. Nevertheless, many driving forces (DFs) trigger the adoption of BIM. Different kinds of studies have been conducted regarding the DFs of BIM adoption in developed countries. However, few studies have classified the adoption of DFs of BIM technology in developing countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A range of previous literature identified these DFs in a different context, but there is a need to answer two main questions. First, what DFs could influence BIM adoption in the construction sector of (KSA); second, what could be the possible framework to prioritize these DFs. Therefore, Fuzzy Delphi Methodology (FDM), Interpretive structural modeling (ISM), and MICMAC were applied to answer these questions. Study results highlight that ’Reduced cycle time of the design process’ and ’Efficient construction planning and management’, are the main DFs to BIM adoption in the construction sector of (KSA). This study is the first to employ a hybrid FDM, ISM, and MICMAC approach to evaluate BIM implementation DFs in the KSA context. This study informs policymakers and industry practitioners in (KSA) to develop targeted strategies for effective BIM adoption. This study enhances collaboration and communication among construction industry stakeholders by understanding the significant DFs and their interrelationships.

Analysis of antibacterial drug use and bacterial resistance in psychiatric hospital in the epidemic

The electric field influence on EC-0.18 eV electron trap level in (100)-oriented β-Ga2O3 crystals grown by the Czochralski method

In this Letter, we demonstrate the application of Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) and Laplace DLTS (L-DLTS) techniques to unintentionally doped β-Ga2O3 crystals grown by the Czochralski method. It is clearly shown that the capacitance signal associated with the electron emission from a trap level previously identified in the literature as E14 and characterized by an activation energy of 0.18 eV is found to be a superposition of electron emissions from two closely spaced energy levels. Furthermore, we noted that the corresponding L-DLTS signal splits into two well separated components with activation energies of 196 and 209 meV, and the splitting occurs as the electric field in the space charge region of a Schottky diode exceeds 2 × 107 V/m (0.2 MV/cm). Additionally, a strong dependency of DLTS and L-DLTS signals on the electric field strength and resulting enhancement of the electron emission from these two trap states agree well with the 1D Poole–Frenkel (PF) model, suggesting donor-like behavior of both states. Finally, we found that the barrier height for thermal emission of the electrons is significantly reduced in our samples by 121 meV due to the PF effect for experimental conditions corresponding to an electric field of 3.5 × 107 V/m (0.35 MV/cm).

Implementation and first report of the Brazilian Kidney Biopsy Registry

Background Kidney biopsy registries are valuable tools for guiding clinical practice and developing health policies. In 2021, the Brazilian Society of Nephrology (SBN) created the Brazilian Kidney Biopsy Registry (BKBR). This is the first BKBR report, presenting patient data from 2021. Methods BKBR is a web-based platform hosted on the BSN website, which contains patient demographics, clinical data, frequency, and distribution of histologic diagnosis of Brazilian adult native kidney biopsies. Results Of the 1012 cases registered in 2021, 954 cases were evaluated after excluding pediatric and kidney transplant cases. Twenty-one centers enrolled patients, with representation from all Brazilian regions. There was a slight predominance of females (52.6%), a mean age of 44.7 ± 16 years, and 13.6% of patients were >65 years old. The main indication for kidney biopsy was renal dysfunction (56%) and nephrotic syndrome (41.4%), respectively. At the time of the biopsy, 47.9% of the patients were hypertensive and 15.2% were diabetic. Although 66.2% of patients had eGFR ≤60ml/min/1.73m2 upon biopsy, the majority (60.2%) had mild interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. The most frequent diagnosis in the BKBR was glomerular disease (74.8%). Lupus nephritis was the most frequent diagnosis of glomerular disease (22.6%), followed by IgA nephropathy (13%) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (12.2%). Conclusion This is the first report of a Nationwide registry of kidney biopsies in Brazil. This data provides pivotal information about the kidney disease profile in this country with continental dimensions.

Global sensitivity analysis of roof hazard factors based on information entropy and the surrogate model

Abstract The prevention and management of coal mine roof accidents remain challenging issues because it is difficult to evaluate and quantify the interaction effects of the disaster hazard factors objectively. This paper proposes a novel approach: combining information entropy and the surrogate model—and applies Sobol’s method, aiming to solve it and to obtain the hazard factors’ 1th and the global sensitivity value without human intervention. The results show that: (1) The complex logical relationships and interactions of roof hazard factors can be transformed into quantifiable numerical values by building a co-occurrence matrix of disaster factors and calculating its information entropy. (2) The sensitivity levels of roof hazard factors can be successfully distinguished and categorized into priority management and prevention or general management and prevention using the surrogate model and Sobol’s sensitivity method. The novel sensitivity analysis approach suggested in this study considers both the individual impacts of hazard factors and their interactions, offering a more thorough framework for risk assessment as well as a fresh perspective and tool for coal mine safety research.

Ferroelectric tunnel junction based on Zr0.75Hf0.25O2/Al2O3 composite barrier

Ferroelectric tunnel junction (FTJ) with tunable tunnel electroresistance is promising for emerging nonvolatile memory applications. In this work, 6 nm-thick Hf-doped ZrO2 ferroelectrics with Zr : Hf = 3 : 1 (ZHO), exhibiting a high remanent polarization of 30 μC/cm2, was prepared and further used to build Pt/ZHO/Al2O3/W FTJ devices with adding 1 nm-thick Al2O3 dielectric layer to reduce the leakage. The FTJ delivered superior performance with a tunneling electroresistance ratio of over 7000, outperforming previously reported other FTJ devices based on hafnia/zirconia ferroelectrics. Under 100 ns single-pulse writing, the FTJ exhibited multiple stable states, good retention over 104 s, and switching endurance exceeding 5 × 104 cycles. Additionally, it delivered a relatively high read current density of 8 A/cm2 at 0.2 V. The results demonstrate that the ZHO/Al2O3 composite structure can effectively alter the tunneling barrier height and increase tunneling current, resulting in a large ON/OFF ratio. The results underscore a great potential of ZHO ferroelectrics in the future development of high-performance nonvolatile memory technologies.

Olympic combat sports and mental health in children and adolescents with disability: A protocol paper for systematic review

Introduction Mental health is important for children and adolescents, particularly those with disabilities. While the mental health advantages of sports participation are well-documented, the specific type of sport may have heightened relevance for children and adolescents with disabilities. The objective of this systematic review protocol is to outline the rationale and methodology for investigating how participation in Olympic combat sports influences the mental health outcomes of this unique population, which is more susceptible to developing mental health issues than their neurotypical counterparts. Methods and analysis A comprehensive search will be conducted across academic databases, including the Cochrane Library, ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science. The focus will be on identifying randomized and non-randomized controlled trials (RCTs and non-RCTs, respectively), and observational studies with control groups that explore the impact of Olympic combat sports on the mental health of children and adolescents with disabilities. To assess the risk of bias, the Rob 2.0 tool will be employed for RCTs, and the ROBINS-I tool for CTs. For longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, the National Institute of Health’s Study Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-sectional Studies will be used. The review process will be conducted using Covidence, possibly utilizing JASP software for meta-analysis if the retrieved studies exhibit sufficient homogeneity. Data that cannot be included in the meta-analysis will be synthesized using the Synthesis without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) tool. Furthermore, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) will provide a framework consisting of five broad domains: intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, characteristics of individuals, and the process of implementation.

Ecological complexity of zoonotic malaria in macaque natural hosts

Oxygen impurities in AlN and their impact on optical absorption

Oxygen is a common impurity in AlN samples. Using hybrid density functional calculations, we investigate the role of substitutional oxygen (ON) in the optical absorption. We construct configuration coordination diagrams for ON and related complexes. Our results indicate that an optical transition involving ON− (a DX center) gives rise to an absorption band peaked at 2.22 eV, suggesting it is a source of the absorption band with an onset at ∼ 2 eV observed in oxygen-containing samples. We also propose that neutral ON–DX complexes can form, which would give rise to absorption peaking at 3.06 eV. In addition, we find that oxygen, in spite of its DX character, may behave as an “optically shallow donor” and be involved in optical transitions from deep defect states to the conduction band. This observation provides an alternative physical mechanism for the optical absorption bands observed in AlN samples in the visible and ultraviolet (UV) region.

The accuracy of capture per unit effort in predicting density of a cryptic snake was more sensitive to reductions in spatial than temporal coverage

A critical component of monitoring wildlife populations is understanding changes in population size or abundance. However, for most populations a complete census is not possible; thus, trends or abundance need to be estimated through alternative means, such as indexes. An important aspect of using indexes, such as capture per unit effort (CPUE), is validating them as accurate or precise predictors of population trends or abundance. We completed such analyses using data collected from visual surveys and trapping for brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) within a 5-ha enclosure that was undergoing a continuous population decline. During a ~ 6-year period, we censused and marked the snake population to fully enumerated the population, with new individuals resulting from births and removals resulting only from mortality (natural or experimental). From trapping and visual surveys, we were also able to calculate CPUE as a function of trap nights or km surveyed and used regressions to forecast snake density (snakes/km) in the enclosure from CPUE. We also rarefied the true dataset to measure whether reductions in sampling intensity, either temporally or spatially, affected the accuracy or precision in predicting snake density from CPUE. We found that trap CPUE demonstrated no statistical relationship to density based on our study methods. CPUE during visual surveys did predict actual density, with sufficient spatial and temporal sampling intensity. CPUE from visual surveys was relatively robust against reductions in temporal sampling when spatial intensity remained high. However, reductions in the spatial area covered to less than 50% of the enclosure rapidly reduced the accuracy and precision in using CPUE to forecast density. Our results indicate that visual surveys are a relatively accurate measure of true density for brown treesnakes, given sufficient spatial sampling effort. The spatial area of coverage required for CPUE to accurately predict changes in abundance was, however, intense with > 50% of the spatial area required to be sampled on a given sampling night. Our results indicate that CPUE is only reliable as an index of abundance or population trends for cryptic snakes, if sampling effort covers most of the landscape over which populations are being estimated.

Magnetic surgical marker navigation for excision of non-palpable ultrasound visible breast lesions: first 200 cases in a French cancer center

Low-frequency noise and DC I–V characterization of gamma-ray irradiation-induced degradation and trap behaviors in a-IGZO TFTs

This work reports the impact of gamma-ray (γ-ray) irradiation-induced degradation based on the trap behaviors in amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors. By employing multiple measurement configurations via low-frequency noise and direct current I–V characterization, we quantitatively investigated the energetic distribution of subgap density-of-states in the a-IGZO channel and the spatial distribution of oxide traps (Not) in the gate insulator, respectively. Also, the qualitative analysis was performed to determine the oxygen-related defects after γ-ray irradiation using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Furthermore, the validity of our results was additionally confirmed by measuring the breakdown voltage and applying positive-bias stress to the fabricated devices exposed to radiation for accelerated tests.

Metarhizium mendonceae sp. nov.: An important biological control agent for insect pests

The Metarhizium anisopliae complex consists of 34 formally described phylogenetic species. Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato has been used for decades in Brazil as a biological control agent for controlling spittlebugs in sugarcane plantations. We investigated the identities of the Metarhizium isolates used in mycoinsecticide formulations through multilocus phylogenetic analyses and morphological characterization for species delimitation. A well-supported clade containing only isolates from this study formed a sister group with species of M. anisopliae sensu stricto, which we described as a new taxon, M. mendonceae sp. nov. Isolates URM 8144 and URM 8145 are used in the formulation of various brands of biological insecticides; however, they have always been referred to as M. anisopliae. According to the antibiosis assay, all the isolates of this new species were able to colonize and kill Mahanarva spectabilis nymphs. Therefore, M. mendonceae has been used in the formulation of mycoinsecticides for several decades under the name M. anisopliae.

Profiling difenoconazole and flusilazole resistance, fitness penalty and phenotypic stability in Venturia inaequalis

Direct measurement of thermal Knudsen forces in rarefied gas environments

At micro- and nanoscales, momentum transfer between surfaces is influenced by various physical mechanisms, including quantum fluctuations, electromagnetic interactions, electric charges, and the dynamics of (rarefied) gases. Under non-isothermal conditions, rarefied gases give rise to thermal Knudsen forces whose magnitudes strongly depend on the gas species and surface characteristics. Knudsen forces are particularly relevant in nanotechnology, optical manipulation, and aerospace systems, where gas rarefaction occurs due to highly confined geometries, sub-micrometer length scales, and reduced particle densities. Despite their significance, predictive modeling of Knudsen forces is limited by a lack of comprehensive experimental data across diverse materials and surface morphologies. In this work, we present a highly sensitive and adaptable measurement platform capable of directly quantifying Knudsen forces using a suspended, interchangeable micro-cantilever within controlled rarefied helium and nitrogen environments. The system integrates optical fiber interferometry to precisely capture out-of-plane displacements at sub-micrometer resolution, driven by Knudsen forces. From the empirical data, we derive a robust correlation linking the magnitudes of Knudsen forces to energy accommodation coefficients, offering deeper insights into the underlying gas–surface interaction mechanisms.

Effects of outdoor play on body composition and physical performance in children: the Yamanashi Adjunct study of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Introduction Childhood is a pivotal developmental stage that substantially affects lifelong habits. Recent research has emphasized the vital role of outdoor play in children’s mental and physical well-being. Despite the World Health Organization recommending 1 hour of daily physical activity for children, a knowledge gap exists regarding the specific link between children’s physical performance, body composition (evaluated through bioelectrical impedance analysis [BIA]), and outdoor play habits. Methods Utilizing data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, a national birth cohort study, this study included 494 eight-year-old participants. The assessment included body composition (height, weight, body fat percentage, predicted muscle weight, and phase angle using BIA) and physical performance (50 m sprint, standing long jump, 20 m shuttle run, and handgrip strength). Parents provided information on children’s outdoor playtime. Results The group with more outdoor play demonstrated superior sports test results, particularly among boys. Girls engaged in increased outdoor play exhibited higher predicted muscle weights, whereas boys showed greater phase angles in the lower limbs. Handgrip strength correlated with phase angle and predicted muscle weight. Notably, the association between body composition and sports test results was more pronounced in boys than in girls, with phase angles exhibiting stronger links to running and jumping. Conclusion This pioneering study explored the relationship between outdoor play, body composition, and physical performance in children. Outdoor play positively correlated with improved sports performance, revealing sex disparities in body composition changes. Unlike previous studies focusing on general physical development, this study scrutinized specific physical functions, uncovering correlations between phase angle and muscle quality. Findings suggest that outdoor play positively impacts muscle quality, especially in boys, contributing to enhanced physical performance in children. Understanding these effects on body composition and physical activity is imperative for promoting children’s health.

Analyzing the influence of manufactured sand and fly ash on concrete strength through experimental and machine learning methods

Abstract River sand supplies are decreasing due to overexploitation and illicit sand mining. One ton of Portland cement production (the main binder in concrete) emits about one ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Thus, this study replaced conventional cement and river sand (R sand) with recycled waste materials (fly ash and manufactured sand (M sand)). The concrete mix proportions were designed using M40 grade, and the Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and R sand were replaced with 0–85 wt% of fly ash and 0-100 wt% of M sand. The concrete samples were tested for compressive strength after 3–90 days of curing. Furthermore, machine learning (ML) techniques were engaged to predict the compressive strength of the concrete samples using Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Gaussian Process Regression (GPR). Besides, the concrete samples containing fly ash, M sand, and R sand were characterized for microstructures and elemental compositions using SEM-EDS. The results revealed improved concrete compressive strength by incorporating fly ash and M sand. After 28 days of curing, OPC and R sand were partially replaced with 25 and 50 wt% of fly ash and M sand attained the designed strength of M 40 grade concrete. XGBoost model yielded the most accurate performance metrics for forecasting the compressive strength in training and testing phases with R2 values equal to 0.9999 and 0.9964, respectively, compared to LSTM, SVM, and GPR. Thus, the XGBoost approach can be a viable technique for forecasting the strength of concrete incorporating fly ash and M sand. SEM-EDS analyses revealed compact formations with high calcium and silicon counts. Thus, the XGBoost approach can be a viable technique for forecasting the strength of concrete incorporating fly ash and M sand.

Enhanced near-infrared photoresponse of SnS2 nanosheets by Er–Yb co-doping

Rare earth (RE) ions are important dopants to modulate semiconductor properties because of their abundant energy levels. Herein, a simple Er–Yb co-doping strategy was developed to enhance the near-infrared optoelectronic properties of SnS2 nanosheets. The constructed device based on Er–Yb co-doping SnS2 has a detectivity of ∼4.97 × 108 Jones at 980 nm. The enhanced photoresponse of the doped system at 980 nm could be attributed to the upconversion behavior of the Er–Yb ion pairs. The Yb3+ ions as sensitizers significantly enhance the upconversion emission and near-infrared photoresponse properties of the material. The energy transfer from Yb3+ to Er3+ ions can occur between different layers of co-doping nanosheets by investigating the properties of the constructed SnS2:Er/SnS2:Yb homojunction nanosheets. Density functional theory calculations reveal that Er or Yb doping introduces slight structural and charge distribution changes owing to the similarity in the metal–atom coordination structure between SnS2 and RE sulfide. Our study demonstrates that RE doping is an effective way to improve the near-infrared photoresponse of 2D materials and clarifies the relationship between luminescence and photoelectric properties.

Flowing between gongs: Mixed-methods insights into shared flow and temporal distortion in music performance

Ideas of temporal distortion prevail in the discourse of flow research, where references are often made to “time flying”. Nonetheless, little research has investigated how flow affects time perception in terms of both directionality and surrounding context, particularly within shared flow. Simultaneously, temporal distortion during music listening has been explored, but little is known about how time is experienced by performers. With this in mind, we aimed to investigate whether time distortion is associated with the experience of shared flow state, and the awareness participants have towards influencing factors on such experiences, in the context of music performance. Four groups of Javanese gamelan ensembles (total N = 36, age in years M = 44.83, SD = 14.993, 47.2% female), played in three conditions. We collected qualitative and quantitative data; focus groups and follow-up surveys explored understandings of shared flow and time, while questionnaires included pre-validated scales and an item requiring participants to estimate how much time they thought had passed. Qualitative and mixed methods findings suggest an optimal middle ground of conditions for “time flying” to occur, akin to flow state. Meanwhile, quantitative results indicate a complex relationship between temporal distortion and shared flow, whereby the relationships are opposed under two shared flow factors.

Molecular characterization of some multidrug resistant Candida Auris in egypt

Abstract Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast that causes healthcare-associated and deep-seated infections. Notably, the emergence of this yeast is alarming as it exhibits resistance to azoles, echinocandins, and amphotericin B, which may lead to clinical treatment failure in patients. This study aims to identify and characterize the genetic determinants of antifungal resistance in C. auris among some local clinical isolates to contribute for understanding the molecular epidemiology of C. auris in Egypt. Four test strains were identified based on the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequence and phylogenetic analysis. Antifungal susceptibility was determined using the VITEK 2 system. Molecular analysis of ERG11, ERG3, FKS1, and FKS2 was used to identify mutations associated with antifungal resistance. The four test strains were identified as C. auris. Evolutionary analysis was conducted, and sequences of ITS regions were submitted to GenBank. The mutations Y132F in ERG11 and F635Y in FKS2 were identified, which are known to confer resistance to azoles and echinocandins, respectively. The emergence of C. auris in Egypt represents a public health concern. Hospitals should implement strict infection control measures to prevent its spread. Effective treatment guidelines and ongoing monitoring of antifungal resistance are essential to combat this emerging pathogen.