Digital Commons Network^™

Utilization Of Bixin-Loaded Polycaprolactone Nanoparticles To Ameliorate E-Cigarette-Induced Damage To Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells, Sophia R. Claymore

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) have increased in popularity and usage over the last few decades. E-cigs are generally composed of a liquid containing nicotine flavoring chemicals, a battery, a vaporization chamber, and a coil that heats the liquid upon inhalation of the mouthpiece. E-cigs were initially introduced as a healthy alternative to cigarette smoking. However, recent research has demonstrated that e-cigs elicit comparable cytotoxic and dangerous effects to conventional cigarettes. Bixin has been introduced in recent research as a candidate for therapeutic applications due to its innate anticancer, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory characteristics. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged over the past few decades …

Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting The Fimh Adhesin Protect Against Uropathogenic E. Coli Uti, Edward D B Lopatto, Jesús M Santiago-Borges, Denise A Sanick, Sameer Kumar Malladi, Philippe N Azimzadeh, Morgan W Timm, Isabella F Fox, Aaron J Schmitz, Jackson S Turner, Shaza M Sayed Ahmed, Lillian Ortinau, Nathaniel C Gualberto, Jerome S Pinkner, Karen W Dodson, Ali H Ellebedy, Andrew L Kau, Scott J Hultgren

2020-Current year OA Pubs

As antimicrobial resistance increases, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are expected to pose an increased burden in morbidity and expense on the health care system, increasing the need for alternative antibiotic-sparing treatments. Most UTIs are caused by uropathogenic

Academic Help-Seeking Resources For Construction Students: A Scoping Review, Luciana Debs, Alex Sander Clemente Souza

CIB Conferences

Previously, few resources were available for students seeking help with their undergraduate homework. These resources would often include peers, instructors, and textbook. However, today, in addition to the resources mentioned previously, many more options that provide just-in-time support for students’ learning exist, including online resources. Previous research has explored students’ help-seeking behavior online for basic sciences, general or engineering education. However, given the technical aspects of the construction discipline, it is unclear how construction students navigate the available resources and what those resources are. The present paper utilized a scoping review, evaluating 26 academic papers from Scopus to identify resources …

Location-Based Work Sampling: Application And Evaluation For Workflow Issue Identification, Tobias Fiirgaard, Malik Namage, Cristina Toca Pérez

CIB Conferences

This study explores the application of Location-Based Work Sampling (LBWS) to enhance construction site management, focusing on workflow issue identification. For that, a Case Study was conducted on a new construction project in Herning, Denmark. The authors applied the LBWS tool to identify the distribution of working time of seven trades. The Case Study presented a structured five-step methodology: (1) understanding, (2) adaptation, (3) application, (4) analysis, and (5) evaluation. During the adoption step, the “Ajour system” app was selected as the optimal software based on the technique “Chosen By Advantages”. At the application step, the authors registered 2,800 random …

Practices And Challenges In Measuring And Monitoring Construction Productivity, Laura Gutierrez-Bucheli Dr., C Savindi Ranthika Perera Dr, Duncan Maxwell A/Prof, Rachel Couper Dr.

CIB Conferences

Construction productivity has been the focus of extensive analysis and study, with many attempts made to measure and monitor it. However, there is still significant ambiguity surrounding its definition, and there is little agreement on the most effective measurement approach. This systematic review investigates how productivity has been conceptualised and measured in construction research. The review has focused on exploring research foci and key features of the frameworks, including productivity definition, level of analysis, and measurement approach. Findings reveal current productivity measurement in construction research often focuses narrowly on specific tasks and short-term metrics, hindering the assessment of long-term impacts. …

The Role Of Smart Homes In The Journey Towards Net-Zero : A Review, Samira Awwal, Patricia Tzortzopoulos Prof., Rakesh Mishra Prof., Leigh Fleming Dr., Mohammad Ruhail Gulzar

CIB Conferences

Achieving net-zero requires an integrated approach to energy efficiency throughout a building’s life cycle. Energy consumption can be optimised and carbon emissions can be reduced when utilising smart technologies. This paper explores the role of smart home technology in achieving net-zero home goals, by synthesising existing literature on smart energy, user behaviour, and sustainable building strategies. A rapid evidence review is conducted to identify technologies that support net-zero through smart home systems. Key findings indicate that while smart homes can significantly contribute to reducing energy consumption and carbon footprints, challenges such as limited public awareness, data privacy concerns and policy …

Reduce Energy Consumption Through Digital Twin: A Literature Review, Buddhika Priyankara Arsecularatne, Navodana Rodrigo Dr., Ruidong Chang Dr.

CIB Conferences

The construction industry (CI) is confronted with a critical challenge: the promotion of digital transformation through digital twin (DT) technology, while simultaneously reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions within the built environment (BE). Given the substantial influence of buildings on global emissions, it is imperative to implement energy-efficient solutions. DT technology has emerged as a transformative instrument for the monitoring and optimising building energy use, particularly when it is incorporated with automated building management systems. This integration enables precise energy regulation, real-time insights, and substantial energy savings. This study conducted a systematic literature review of 60 articles from 2020 to …

Exploring Fire Safety Challenges On Construction Sites: Insights From Stakeholders, Kexin Liu, Gaang Lee, Max Kinateder, Vicente A. González

CIB Conferences

Construction sites face significant fire safety challenges due to flammable materials, hot work, a dynamic environment, and large workforces. Despite efforts to improve construction safety, fire incidents continue to pose a significant risk to construction workers, properties, and surrounding buildings. This paper aims to identify and prioritize current construction fire safety challenges and further guide future research directions. A structured hybrid workshop was conducted to gather insights from relevant stakeholders across industry, health and safety organizations, and standards organizations. Prior to the workshop, challenges were identified through literature and an online survey completed by participants. In the first part of …

Comparison Of Ageing-Friendly Supporting Facilities Between Self-Financed And Government-Subsidized Residential Care Homes: Evidence From China, Yueran Li, Mei-Yung Leung

CIB Conferences

Ageing-friendly supporting facilities are commonly implemented in residential care homes for older people. These facilities not only support the daily activities of older people but also affect their physical and psychological health. However, the development of ageing-friendly supporting facilities usually varies among homes due to differences in construction and operational funding. In order to better accommodate older residents, it is essential to compare the ageing-friendly supporting facilities across different residential care homes and identify the key variances. A total of 69 samples were collected from two primary categories of residential care homes in China, namely self-financed homes and government-subsidized homes. …

Improving User Experience Through Bedroom Lighting Services For Older People Living In Personal Houses, Mei-Yung Leung, Yueran Li

CIB Conferences

The global ageing tendency underscores the necessity for indoor building services to accommodate the needs of older adults. Bedroom lighting services encompass both natural and electric lighting as well as supporting facilities such as light control, shading devices, and anti-reflection finishes. It facilitates visual interactions between occupants and their living environment. The user experience of older people reflects the extent to which current bedroom lighting services address their needs, which significantly influences their well-being in later years. Key aspects valued by older users can be divided into the sufficiency of task lighting, evenness during movement, navigation in the room, convenience, …

Mapping Public-Private Partnerships With Smart Retrofitting In Built Infrastructure Facilities: A Bibliometric Analysis And Systematic Review, Nimesha S. Jayasena, Sanduni Peiris, Daniel W. M. Chan, Mohan M. Kumaraswamy, Joseph H. K. Lai

CIB Conferences

Against the backdrop of burgeoning global interest in sustainable development, this study pioneers a bibliometric analysis and systematic review focusing on the intersection of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and smart retrofitting (SR) for built infrastructure facilities, including both buildings and civil engineering infrastructure facilities. As the demand for intelligent and eco-friendly solutions escalates, integrating the particular strengths of PPPs with those of SR, charters a new course that synergises and extends the reach of each approach by itself. Drawing on the relevant research publications from the ‘Scopus’ database, this paper utilizes the ‘VOSviewer’ software to unravel the collaborative landscapes within the …

Designing And Prototyping A Smart Upper-Limb Exoskeleton For Enhancing Wellbeing And Productivity In Construction, Alireza Moghayedi, Carlos Cifuentes, Marcela Munera, Mohammadhadi Sarajchi

CIB Conferences

The construction industry is plagued by high rates of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), workplace injuries, and low worker productivity, necessitating innovative solutions to enhance worker safety, health, and efficiency. This study presents the design and prototyping of, a wearable upper-limb exoskeleton (EXOCON) tailored for construction tasks, particularly heavy lifting. The exoskeleton integrates advanced technologies, including ergonomic and biomechanical engineering, multimodal sensory systems, and a hierarchical control architecture, to provide active assistance while minimizing physical strain on workers. Anthropometric and 3D body scanning techniques were employed to customize the design for diverse body sizes and genders, ensuring user inclusivity and comfort. EXOCON’s …

A New Approach To Sustainable Healthcare Facility Management: The Case Of Türkiye, Sinan Terzioglu, Sarel Lavy, Orhan Koç

CIB Conferences

Types of healthcare facilities (HF) range from simple medical clinics to large integrated hospitals. Today, HF are expected to fulfill their service responsibilities in an uninterrupted and continuous manner in an environment of constantly developing medical treatment services, support services, maintenance and repair activities, and changing laws, codes, requirements, and standards related to the health and safety of patients, staff, and visitors. A major change in the provision of healthcare services was initiated in Türkiye in 2003, where healthcare delivery models in other developed countries were taken as examples. As a result of these changes, new integrated HF began to …

Case Study: Comparison Study Between Dispute Adjudication Boards And Arbitrations For Construction Contract Resolution, Sebastian Soto Ortiz, Daniel J. Mascaraque Glenn

CIB Conferences

The construction Industry is a sector vulnerable to disputes in terms of parties not being able to reach agreements. Collaboration between parties (client, contractor, subcontractors) is altered when a conflict arises and threatens to disturb relations, schedules and even the project itself. Typical methods to solve unresolved disputes involve arbitrations and court litigation, however, both options present conditions that take time and cost from both parties. Managing dispute resolution methods in construction contracts is crucial to avoid delays and ensure the work completion within the scheduled timeframe. This paper investigates the implementation and effectiveness of Dispute Arbitration Boards (DABs) in …

Health And Safety Perceptions Of Construction Workers In Denmark, Cristina Toca Pérez, Malik Namage, Lorenzo Loyola, Melisa Ergul, Stephanie T. Salling

CIB Conferences

Construction is among the most hazardous industries, with risk factors existing on multiple levels, ranging from individual to organizational issues. Ensuring a healthy and safe workplace is crucial for worker performance and job satisfaction and is also highlighted in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. This study involved a national survey among construction workers in Denmark conducted in 2023. The study aimed to address two primary research questions: 1) the number of years of industry experience and 2) the size of projects influence workers' perceptions of Health and Safety (H&S). The research design involved six steps: 1. Theoretical framework, 2. …

Developing Amenities To Create More Sustainable And Inclusive Human Settlements, Jeremy Thobo Gibberd Dr

CIB Conferences

Sustainable human settlements are the totality of any organised human community whether a city, town or village. This includes amenities such as parks, sports facilities, libraries, schools and clinics. Rapid urbanisation and a lack of resources in many developing countries, such as South Africa, mean that some human settlements may not have these amenities. A lack of amenities in human settlements affects the quality of life and hampers the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those for health (SDG3), education (SDG4), inequality (SDG10), and sustainable cities (SDG11). In South Africa, a lack of amenities in human settlements also affects …

Renewable Energy Projects For Un Sdgs: A Literature Review, Karmila Seran, James Rotimi, An Le Thi Hoai

CIB Conferences

In 2015 all UN Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which provides roadmap for peace and prosperity for the world. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the center of it. This study examines the vital role that renewable energy projects play in accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations considering the growing environmental concerns and the pressing need for sustainable development. This research employs a critical literature review approach to review studies on the practices of renewable energy projects to achieve SDGs. The findings underscore the importance of continued investment in renewable …

Socio-Sustainable Architectural Design Through Ethical Implementation Of Generative Design And Artificial Intelligence, Yael Netser, Erica Cochran Hameen, Pingbo Tang

CIB Conferences

The design and valuation of buildings require a weighted assessment of many qualitative and quantitative values; the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can potentially enhance this process and the built environment. However, preserving the ethics and social sustainability of architectural design is crucial. Generative Design (GD) can potentially add value to new buildings and improve functionality and sustainability by generating design while weighing many quantitative measures effectively (e.g., functionality, economy, energy performance etc.). Generative AI (GAI) can potentially generate and assess designs based on learning from large sets of quantitative and qualitative data. However, underlying qualitative social, cultural, and ethical …

Addressing Urban Blight For Cities Under Uncertain Conditions, Analysis Within Un Sdg 11, Qadri H. Shaheen, Sameer Abu-Eisheh, Hafez Shaheen, George Berghorn

CIB Conferences

Background: Urban blight, the deterioration of previously developed urban areas, manifests through physical decay and social neglect, posing challenges to sustainability. This study examines urban blight within the framework of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), which aims to create inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities, with a focus on Nablus, Palestine, under uncertain socio-political conditions.

Objective: We seek to analyze blight’s impact on the built environment and propose solutions aligned with SDG 11, emphasizing resilience and inclusivity in cities facing prolonged uncertainty.

Methodology: Through a case study of Nablus, we analyze blight characteristics using spatial mapping, statistical …

Exploring The Interplay Between Digital Technologies And Circular Procurement In The Construction Industry: Current Trends And Future Research Directions, Benjamin Kwaku Ababio, Weisheng Lu, Prince Antwi-Afari, Frank Ato Ghansah Dr

CIB Conferences

Amidst advancements in the adoption of digital technologies (DT) for the construction industry, the supply and value chain management function has undergone significant transformation in recent times. This transformation has created new possibilities for enhancing sustainability practices in the industry, with circular procurement (CP) as an undoubtedly crucial strategy to achieve circular economy goals on construction projects. However, the links between DT and CP, as well as their implications for construction supply chain processes, have remained unclear with limited research attention. This study addresses the knowledge gap by employing a comprehensive review of extant literature to gather insights into the …

Role Of Urban And Rural Communities In Sustainable Built Environment, Hemanta Doloi

CIB Conferences

With 8.1 billion people on the planet, currently about 60% live in urban centers and 40% live in rural settings. However, due to a clear disparity in living standards and also perhaps the availability of resources generally, as predicted by the United Nations, the urban population is increasing to reach 68% by 2050. This increasing trend of urbanisation is further escalated due to the traditional way of perceiving the urban-rural divide and worldwide efforts towards closing the gap. Demand for housing and infrastructure resulting from the rapid urbanization not only adds to the current carbon footprints but also hinders necessary …

Benchmarking International Best Practices For Circular Skills Training: Lessons For Australia, Olabode Emmanuel Ogunmakinde, Ashkan Memari, Masoud Aghajani

CIB Conferences

Managing construction and demolition waste poses a persistent challenge necessitating effective management strategies. Circular economy principles have been acknowledged as pivotal for addressing this challenge, demanding a profound reassessment of design, construction, and maintenance practices, particularly focusing on material utilisation. Consequently, it is crucial to implement targeted training programs tailored for construction professionals. Furthermore, there exists a compelling rationale for integrating circular design thinking principles into academic curricula, acknowledging a critical skills gap in Australia. However, effective strategies to address this challenge remain an ongoing pursuit. This study aims to identify global best practices for advancing circular skills by conducting …

Enhancing Disaster Resilience: A Review Of Public-Private Partnership Models For Secondary Hazard Risk Transfer, Olabode Emmanuel Ogunmakinde, Temitope Egbelakin

CIB Conferences

Disasters, whether natural or man-made, often result in cascading secondary impacts that exacerbate direct damages and losses. While governments at different levels bear most of the response and recovery costs, the increasing frequency and severity of disasters have stretched public budgets, suggesting the need for collaboration with the private sector. However, innovative risk transfer instruments involving private capital markets have emerged globally to help governments and communities better manage expenditures related to secondary hazards. Therefore, this study reviews public-private partnership (PPP) models to identify those that can help transfer risks associated with secondary hazards. Through a systematic review of literature …

Advancing Sustainability Through Smart Building Concepts In Developing Countries: Insights From Ghana, Frank Ato Ghansah Dr, Amos Darko Dr, Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari Dr, Benjamin Kwaku Ababio, Young Bert, Rafiu Seidu, Nazif Amina, De-Graft Owusu-Manu

CIB Conferences

The last decade has seen a paradigm shift in building sector research from sustainable building to smart building, and it is anticipated that these two concepts will merge, meeting the increasing demands of the United Nations sustainable development goals 3, 9, 11, 13, and 17. However, it is discernible from prior studies that developing countries lack the proper means to adopt the smart building concept to achieve sustainability in the building sector, and this has received inadequate attention in existing studies. Thus, this study identifies the critical factors to adopt the smart building concept for sustainability throughout the building lifecycle …

Challenges And Benefits Of Using Bim Technologies To Improve Construction Safety: An Exploratory Case Study, Abdulaziz Alotaibi, John A. Gambatese

CIB Conferences

Building Information Modeling (BIM) continues to experience rapid growth in the construction industry. BIM changes how design and construction can be approached by using algorithms that automatically assess various elements of project designs and construction, including potential safety risk. Compared with other approaches which evaluate safety risk during the design and execution phases, BIM models can help reduce the number of workers and resources used to ensure proper safety management. This paper presents a research study to investigate BIM technologies (e.g., Robotic Total Station and Navisworks) commonly implemented and any challenges and needed improvements to benefit construction safety. The research …

Facilities Management Integration Into Construction Management Curriculum: Core Competencies, Deniz Besiktepe, Barry Mcauley, Anthony E. Sparkling, James Jenkins, Mark Mulville

CIB Conferences

The construction industry has long been known for issues in stakeholder collaboration due to the fragmentation in its realm. Facilities Management (FM) received increasing attention with the shifted trends of the construction industry from a siloed discipline to a holistic approach where educational efforts need to align with this transformation. FM and building operations related topics need to be infused into the construction management (CM) curriculum to improve the analytical reasoning and critical thinking of the future workforce. With that, this study aims to identify the core competencies in CM and FM areas as a first step to determining the …

Evaluation Of Temporary Structures Contractual Frameworks: An Industry-Wide Survey Study, Ali E. Esmail, John A. Gambatese, Abdulaziz Alotaibi

CIB Conferences

Temporary structures are integral to construction. Yet, the complexities and risks associated with these structures often need to be more adequately addressed in standard construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) contracts. This gap in practice underscores the need for an in-depth exploration of contractual challenges and potential improvements related to temporary structures. This study investigated the barriers to including comprehensive risk provisions in standard CM/GC contracts for temporary structures and assessed industry professionals' perspectives on their effectiveness and potential improvements. Employing a survey questionnaire distributed across all 50 states in the United States, the research garnered 465 valid responses from various industry …

A Reliability-Based Conceptual Framework For Carbon Trading Management In The Construction Sector, Linna Geng, Robert Moehler, Patrick X.W. Zou, Yingbin Feng

CIB Conferences

The construction sector is increasingly impacted by carbon trading policies across its supply chains in various countries. These policies require construction entities to purchase carbon permits if their emissions exceed allocated limits, while those with lower emissions can sell excess permits. A key challenge is the effective allocation of carbon responsibility, which directly affects the cost-effectiveness and the success of carbon trading in reducing the sector emissions. However, quantifying uncertainty in carbon emissions remains a significant challenge. This paper introduces a reliability-based framework that captures uncertainties and interactions between carbon emissions and allocations under a shared responsibility model between construction …

Smart Device Energy Adaptation: Critical Drivers Towards Energy Sustainability In Purpose-Built Student Housing Market In Ghana, Iruka C. Anugwo, Miller W. Appau, Elvis Attakora-Amaniampong, Jachike C. Anugwo

CIB Conferences

The high demand and energy consumption in student housing raise significant financial, social, environmental, and organizational concerns in achieving sustainability. This study assesses the critical drivers of smart energy adaptation among Purpose-Built student housing in Ghana. The study used a quantitative research method, whilst 225 questionnaire surveys were distributed among the student housing investors (through Public-Private Partnership) within eight public tertiary and technical universities in Ghana. The study findings uncovered eight energy devices used in student housing in Ghana, which were classified into entertainment, cooking, learning, ventilation, heating, laundry, consumer electronics, and personal grooming appliances. Thus, a 59%, 25%, and …

Resilient Technology Adoption By Facility Managers For Enhanced Building Resilience In The Usa, Sandeep Langar, Sarel Lavy

CIB Conferences

Climate changes significantly impose stresses on the physical and the built environment. Facility Managers (FMs) within the buildings are vital in maintaining the optimal performance of facilities, particularly in the face of increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters. Therefore, this study presents preliminary findings about the in-house facility managers' adoption and implementation patterns for technologies enhancing the resilience of a facility within the USA. The research also identifies the barriers to adopting resilient technologies, per the facility managers. The research utilized an online survey with the facility managers within the USA as the general population. When the publication was …