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1 – 10 of 88Roma G. Elfadel, Hala M. Refat, H. Abdelwahab, Salem S. Salem, Mohamed A. Awad and M.A.M. Abdel Reheim
This paper aims to investigate the prepared modified alkyd and poly(ester-amide) (PEA) resins as antimicrobial and insecticide binders for surface coating applications.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the prepared modified alkyd and poly(ester-amide) (PEA) resins as antimicrobial and insecticide binders for surface coating applications.
Design/methodology/approach
Salicylic diethanolamine and 4-(N, N-dimethylamino) benzylidene glutamic acid were prepared and used as new sources of polyol and dibasic acid for PEA and alkyd resins, then confirmed by: acid value, FT-IR and 1H-NMR. The coating performance of the resins was determined using measurements of physico-mechanical properties. The biological and insecticide activities of the prepared resins were investigated.
Findings
The tests carried out revealed that the modified PEA and alkyd enhanced both phyisco-mechanical and chemical properties in addition to the biological and insecticide activities. The results of this paper illustrate that the introduction of salicylic diethanolamine and 4-(N, N-dimethylamino) benzylidene glutamic acid within the resin structure improved the film performance and enhanced the antimicrobial activity performance of PEA and alkyd resins.
Research limitations/implications
The modified alkyd and PEA organic resins can be used as biocidal binders when incorporated into paint formulations for multiple surface applications, especially those that are exposed to several organisms.
Originality/value
Modified alkyd and PEA resins based on newly synthesized modifiers have a significant potential to be promising in the production and development of antimicrobial and insecticide paints, allowing them to function to restrict the spread of insects and microbial infection.
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Ali A. Ali, H. Abd El-Wahab, Moustafa S. Abusaif, Ahmed Ragab, Omar A. Abdel-Jaid, E.A. Eldeeb and Yousry A. Ammar
The paper aims to the preparation of novel disperse dye based on azo salicylaldehyde derivatives TF-A [2-hydroxy-5-((3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)diazenyl)benzaldehyde] and full…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to the preparation of novel disperse dye based on azo salicylaldehyde derivatives TF-A [2-hydroxy-5-((3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)diazenyl)benzaldehyde] and full evaluation of their use as disperse dye TF-ASC [bis 2-hydroxy-5-((3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)diazenyl)benzaldehyde Schiff base with 4,4'-methylenedianiline] for dyeing polyester fabric at various conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
The dispersed dye was synthesized via Schiff base condensation in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate cerium ammonium nitrate 10 mmole% as an eco-friendly catalyst at room temperature. The chemical structure of the prepared dye was characterized via elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H- and 13 C-NMR spectroscopic analysis tools. This study thoroughly examined the dyeing of disperse dye TF-ASC on polyester at various conditions. The characteristics of dyed polyester fabric were measured by colour measurements, as well as light, washing, crock fastness and finally, colour strength. The discrete fourier transform (DFT) theoretical studies, including EHOMO, ELUMO and optimized geometrical structure, were assumed and discussed in detail.
Findings
The results showed that the synthesized organic dye TF-ASC was highly functional and appropriate for this kind of dyeing method. The dyeing fabrics obtained from disperse dye TF-ASC, properties possess high colour strength as well as good overall fastness properties. These dyes had a high affinity for polyester fabric, with just a tiny change in dye affinity when the pH was changed, even under alkaline circumstances. The dye levelness and shade depth of the colour results were good, and there were a variety of hues from light brownish yellow to deep brownish yellow. The results obtained from DFT computational studies such as EHOMO, ELUMO, optimized structure, diploe moment µ and electrophilicity index deduced that prepared organic dye TF-ASC is more applicable as a dispersed dye.
Originality/value
This research is significant because it provides a new dye for dyeing polyethylene terephthalate fibres with exceptional brightness and levelness; the method of preparation is a useful pathway due to its being known as a green chemistry method.
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Mohammad Osama, Aly Sherif and Mohamed Badawy
This paper aims to enlighten the importance of the risk management process which is considered as a major procedure to effectively handle the potential inherent risks in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to enlighten the importance of the risk management process which is considered as a major procedure to effectively handle the potential inherent risks in the construction industry. However, most traditional risk analysis techniques are based on theories that deal with each risk factor as an independent, which does not take into consideration the causal relationships between risk factors.
Design/methodology/approach
This study aspires to identify the overall risk of the administrative construction projects in Egypt and to recognize the most influencing risk factors through the project life cycle by using Bayesian belief networks (BBN). Through a review of the literature, 27 risk factors were identified and categorized as the most common risk factors in the construction industry. A structured questionnaire was performed to estimate the probability and severity of these risks. Through site visits and interviews with experts in the construction field, 200 valid questionnaires were collected. A risk analysis model was developed using BBNs, then the applicability of this model was verified using a case study in Egypt.
Findings
However, the outcome showed that critical risks that manipulate administrative construction projects in Egypt were corruption and bribery, contractor financial difficulties, force majeure, damage to the structure and defective material installation.
Practical implications
The proposed study presents the possibilities available to the project parties to obtain a better forecast of the project objectives, including the project duration, total project cost and the target quality by examining the causal relationships between project risks and project objectives.
Originality/value
This study aspires to identify the overall risk of the administrative construction projects in Egypt and to recognize the most influencing risk factors through the project life cycle by using BBNs.
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K.I.L. Abhayantha, B.A.K.S. Perera, H.A.H.P. Perera and Roshani S. Palliyaguru
Environmental risks (ERs) are critical to any highway construction project (HCP). One of the main contracting parties responsible for ERs is the contractor. Hence, it has been…
Abstract
Purpose
Environmental risks (ERs) are critical to any highway construction project (HCP). One of the main contracting parties responsible for ERs is the contractor. Hence, it has been crucial to look into ways to control ERs in HCPs from the contractor’s perspective. This study aims to investigate how ERs can be managed in HCP in Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research approach with three rounds of Delphi was used. Statistical techniques were used to analyse and validate the ERs, the parties to whom the risks were to be allocated, and risk management measures identified from the empirical data collection.
Findings
The study reveals the 11 most significant ERs for HCP. Further, the most significant ERs in HCP were mainly found to be the responsibility of contractors in Sri Lanka. Twenty-four most appropriate risk response measures were determined; 13 were found to be common measures that could be used to manage two or more risks, while the remaining 11 were unique to specific risks.
Originality/value
Overall, this research determines the most significant ERs in HCP, the best risk allocation among the parties and appropriate risk-handling strategies and measures for each significant ERs. Additionally, the study addresses the demand for ERs management in HCP.
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Mojtaba Maghrebi, Ali Shamsoddini and S. Travis Waller
The purpose of this paper is to predict the concrete pouring production rate by considering both construction and supply parameters, and by using a more stable learning method.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to predict the concrete pouring production rate by considering both construction and supply parameters, and by using a more stable learning method.
Design/methodology/approach
Unlike similar approaches, this paper considers not only construction site parameters, but also supply chain parameters. Machine learner fusion-regression (MLF-R) is used to predict the production rate of concrete pouring tasks.
Findings
MLF-R is used on a field database including 2,600 deliveries to 507 different locations. The proposed data set and the results are compared with ANN-Gaussian, ANN-Sigmoid and Adaboost.R2 (ANN-Gaussian). The results show better performance of MLF-R obtaining the least root mean square error (RMSE) compared with other methods. Moreover, the RMSEs derived from the predictions by MLF-R in some trials had the least standard deviation, indicating the stability of this approach among similar used approaches.
Practical implications
The size of the database used in this study is much larger than the size of databases used in previous studies. It helps authors draw their conclusions more confidently and introduce more generalised models that can be used in the ready-mixed concrete industry.
Originality/value
Introducing a more stable learning method for predicting the concrete pouring production rate helps not only construction parameters, but also traffic and supply chain parameters.
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Hyun Jeong Koo and James T. O’Connor
In recent decades, professionals in the architecture, engineering and construction industry have come to recognize building information modeling (BIM) as one of the most powerful…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent decades, professionals in the architecture, engineering and construction industry have come to recognize building information modeling (BIM) as one of the most powerful technologies available to ensure successful project outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to explore the benefits of BIM on design defect prevention during the design phase of building projects.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors qualitatively analyzed 160 design defect leading indicators (LIs) to identify key themes for design defect prevention. Then, by matching appropriate BIM functionalities to each key LI theme, they identified BIM-supported key LI themes.
Findings
The result of this paper served as the foundation of a BIM-based key design processes framework, which identifies the necessary data, project parties, actions and applicable BIM functions for preventing particular design defects. In addition, the authors found that BIM implementation can benefit 71.2% of the LIs of the design defects associated with problematic deliverables.
Originality/value
This study establishes the current state of BIM use for design defect prevention and also gives practitioners precisely targeted guidelines for using BIM functions during the design phase for better quality management.
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Chaohui Zhang, Yijing Li and Tian Li
In recent years, the demand for road traffic has continued to increase, but the casualties and economic losses caused by traffic accidents have also remained high. Therefore, the…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, the demand for road traffic has continued to increase, but the casualties and economic losses caused by traffic accidents have also remained high. Therefore, the use of social service robots to manage, supervise and warn real-time traffic information has become an inevitable trend of traffic safety management.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to explore the inherent objective development law of road traffic accidents, in this paper, the factor analysis (FA) is used to explore the main influencing factors of traffic accidents, then the random forest algorithm is applied to build an FA–RF-based road traffic accident severity prediction model to predict two- and three-category accidents.
Findings
By comprehensively comparing the classification results of the two- and the three-category accident prediction, it also finds that due to the intersection between injuries and fatalities and the lack of necessarily external environmental information, the FA–RF model has a large degree of misjudgment for injuries and fatalities. Therefore, it is recommended to establish a real-time autonomous information communication mechanism between different kinds of social robots, which can improve the prediction of traffic accidents.
Originality/value
(1) A fusion model of FA–RF is considered to predict traffic accidents, which can be applied in traffic service robot. (2) It is recommended to establish a real-time autonomous information communication mechanism between different kinds of social robots, which can improve the prediction of traffic accidents.
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Comprehending the determinants influencing the sustained engagement in social commerce assumes paramount importance for its success, particularly within the context of developing…
Abstract
Purpose
Comprehending the determinants influencing the sustained engagement in social commerce assumes paramount importance for its success, particularly within the context of developing countries. This study employs complexity theory to examine the antecedents of the intention toward social commerce continuance.
Design/methodology/approach
A structured online survey was designed to collect data regarding four behavioural factors: satisfaction, trust, online social support, and continuance intention. The net effect of each construct was evaluated using a symmetrical modelling technique, and to identify the asymmetric effect, the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis was conducted.
Findings
The findings of the structural equation modelling confirmed the importance of satisfaction and online social support for continuance intention. The asymmetric analysis revealed three recipes leading to social commerce continuance intention and three combinations for its absence, contributing to understanding the complexity of online consumer decision-making.
Research limitations/implications
Theoretically, this research highlights the interplay between online social support, trust, satisfaction, and s-commerce continuance intention. Gaining insights into the main factors influencing social media participants' behaviour assists business organizations and policymakers to foster the growth, and the sustainability of the s-commerce.
Originality/value
Combining two distinct methodologies, the findings of this paper allow for a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted dynamics that underlie consumer behaviour and provide actionable insights for businesses seeking to refine their strategies within the dynamic realm of social commerce. Further, the study offers a valuable roadmap for marketers and policymakers to enhance consumer relationships and augment the efficacy of social commerce initiatives.
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Rania Ali Albsoul, Muhammad Ahmed Alshyyab, Sawsan Alomari, Hashim AlHammouri, Zaid Al-Abed, Zaid Kofahi, Raya Atiyeh, Rana Alsyoof, Ashraf Jamrah, Abdulwahab Alkandari, Erika Borkoles, Sireen Alkhaldi and Gerard Fitzgerald
To assess patient safety culture in a teaching hospital in Jordan, identify the demographic and professional characteristics that impact safety culture, and benchmark patient…
Abstract
Purpose
To assess patient safety culture in a teaching hospital in Jordan, identify the demographic and professional characteristics that impact safety culture, and benchmark patient safety culture with similar studies in the region.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional design was applied. Responses were analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.
Findings
In total, 430 (80.5%) participants were nurses and physicians; 300 (56.20%) were females; 270 (50.6%) were in the age group 25–34 years of age. Participants provided the highest positive ratings for “teamwork within units” (60.7%). On the contrary, participants recorded a low positive reaction to the proposition that the response to error was punitive in nature. Of the participants, about 53% did not report any events in the past year.
Originality/value
The average positive response of PSC composites varied from 28.2 to 60.7%. Therefore, patient safety culture in this Jordanian hospital was revealed fragile. This research informs and enables managers and policymakers to plan for future interventions to improve patient safety culture in healthcare institutions.
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Wenping Xu, Wenwen Du and David G. Proverbs
This study aims to determine the key indicators affecting the resilience of the construction supply chain to flooding and calculate the resilience of the urban construction supply…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the key indicators affecting the resilience of the construction supply chain to flooding and calculate the resilience of the urban construction supply chain in three cases city.
Design/methodology/approach
This study combines expert opinions and literature review to determine key indicators and establish a fuzzy EWM-GRA-TOPSIS evaluation model. The index weight was calculated using the entropy weight method, and GRA-TOPSIS was used for comprehensive evaluation.
Findings
The results of the study show that the three cities are ranked from the high to low in order of Hangzhou, Hefei and Zhengzhou.
Originality/value
The innovative method adopted in this study comprising EWM-GRA-TOPSIS reduced the influence of subjectivity, fully extracted and utilized data, in a way that respects objective reality. Further, this approach enabled the absolute and relative level of urban construction supply chain resilience to be identified, allowing improvements in the comprehensiveness of decision-making. The method is relatively simple, reasonable, understandable, and computationally efficient. Within the approach, the entropy weight method was used to assign different index weights, and the GRA-TOPSIS was used to rank the resilience of the construction supply chain in three urban cities. The development of resilience provides a robust decision-making basis and theoretical reference, further enriching research methods, and having strong practical value. The study serves to improve risk awareness and resilience, which in turn helps to reduce losses. It also provides enhanced awareness regarding the future enhancement of supply chain resilience for urban construction.
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