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METASCAPES | ARCHITECTURAL QUESTS IN THE METAVERSE
Get PDFThe paper investigates the appropriateness of CAAD software and computational design tools for the creation of metaverse content along with the workflows and limitations involved. In parallel the research aims to assess the validity of architecture design studio research in the context of the metaverse, and its capability to produce results that justify further explorations in such direction
MEMORABILITY OF SPATIAL FEATURES IN VIRTUAL REALITY - SÜLEYMANIYE EXPERIENCE
No full textThe goal of this study is to uncover and understand the user\u27s perception of spatial features as they interact with cultural heritage in a virtual environment. The virtual reality (VR) experience adopted Kaufmann\u27s three-fold imagery conception to structure the research methodology, which suggests that linguistic representation, visual imagery representation, and exploratory activity all have a strong relationship during the problem-solving/creative process. Since it has distinctive spatial features, the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul was chosen for the VR experience as part of the scope. Following the VR experience in two sessions, it was analyzed using semi-structured interviews, sketching, and route extraction. The initial findings of this study revealed differences in individuals\u27 perception and memorability of spatial qualities in the VR environment
LOW-COST PORTABLE WIRELESS ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY TO DETECT EMOTIONAL RESPONSES TO VISUAL CUES - VALIDATION AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
Get PDFThis paper validates the using a low-cost EEG headset – Emotiv Insight 2.0 – for detecting emotional responses to visual stimuli. The researchers detected, based on brainwave activity, the viewer’s emotional states in reference to a series of visuals and mapped them on valance and arousal axes. Valence in this research is defined as the viewer’s positive or negative state, and arousal is defined as the intensity of the emotion or how calm or excited the viewer is. A set of thirty images – divided into two categories: Objects and Scenes – was collected from the Open Affective Standard Image Set (OASIS) and used as a reference for validation. We collected a total of 720 data points for six different emotional states: Engagement, Excitement, Focus, Interest, Relaxation, and Stress. To validate the emotional state score generated by the EEG headset, we created a regression model using those six parameters to estimate the valence and arousal level, and compare them to values reported by OASIS. The results show the significance of the Engagement parameter in predicting the valence level in the Objects category and the significance of the Excitement parameter in the Scenes category. With the emergence of personal EEG headsets, understanding the emotional reaction in different contexts will help in various fields such as urban design, digital art, and neuromarketing. In architecture, the findings can enable designers to generate more dynamic and responsive design solutions informed by users’ emotions
VALIDATION OF THE ARABIC VERSION OF THE FOOD SAFETY AND HYGIENE QUESTIONNAIRE AMONG NUTRITION STUDENT
Get PDFThere is shortage of data on food safety knowledge and practices among Lebanese food handlers due to the lack of a reliable tool. The aim of the current study is to determine the reliability as well as the validity of an adopted Arabic version of the Osaili et al (2013) food safety questionnaire. Translation and back translation and testing equivalence were done using standard accepted procedures. A total of 110 undergraduate Nutrition and Dietetics students completed the questionnaire consisting of five subscales that covers major food safety concepts including personal hygiene, safe storage, cross contamination prevention, knowledge of health problems affecting food safety and symptoms of foodborne diseases. Construct validity was tested using knowledgeable group analysis; internal consistency was determined using Cronbach’s α and item-to-total correlation. Temporal stability was evaluated by test–retest reliability in a subgroup of 67 students. The results showed non-significant difference between scores of English and Arabic versions revealing equivalence. For the psychometric analysis, the significant statistical difference for most of food safety knowledge scores between lower and higher years of study indicates satisfactory construct validity. The test-retest reliability of the Arabic questionnaire showed a good temporal stability (ICC\u3e0.8), while the Cronbach’s α for the total scales ranged between 0.611 and 0.736 revealing an acceptable and satisfactory level of internal consistency for the items retained in the questionnaire. The translated Arabic version of the food safety questionnaire can be considered as a consistent and reliable tool, to be used as food safety knowledge assessment among food handlers
A FOUR-YEAR FORGOTTEN URINARY CATHETER IN A SEXUALLY ACTIVE YOUNG MALE AND ITS MANAGEMENT: A CASE REPORT
Get PDFThe urinary catheters’ mean indwelled duration after PIUR (primary interventional urethral realignment) is 25 days. Only four cases of forgotten urinary catheter were reported in the literature. The objective of this clinical case report is to highlight the unusual finding of a four-years forgotten urinary catheter in a young sexually active 23-year-old man and its management, aspiring future similar endeavors. A 23-year-old man presented to the hospital exhibiting severe supra-pubic pain and inability to urinate for one day. He described undergoing PIUR for a traumatic urethral rupture four years ago. An indwelling urinary catheter was placed subsequently, that he claims being removed by his physician 21 days later. Urinary hesitancy and frequency were reported since then, maintaining normal sexual activity. Based on having a tender vesicular globe, and a disclosed rod inside his penis, he was diagnosed with urinary retention by a foreign body and admitted to the hospital for further investigations. Vesicular decompression by a supra-pubic catheter was performed. A non-contrast pelvic CT scan revealed a calcified elongated structure suspecting an encrusted retained urinary catheter. In the operating room, rigid ureteroscope with the assistance of lithotripsy were proficient in fragmenting only intra-urethral calcifications. Sequentially, an open cystolithotomy evacuated the remaining calcified vesicular balloon. Patient was asymptomatic on subsequent visits denying any urinary symptoms and stating normal sexual activity. Removing such a foreign body, especially when severely encrusted as well as avoiding trauma to the urethra while minimizing patient morbidity remain a clinical confront for the surgeon. Hence, minimally invasive procedures are always preferred. In this case, we had to assist the rigid ureteroscope and the lithotripsy by an open cystolithotomy for the large calcified balloon. Nevertheless, this method has proved to be safe and efficient. Thus, it is suggested to be used in future comparable cases
قياس الرهاب الاجتماعي
Get PDFيتناول هذا الكتاب عدداً من المقاييس النفسية التي تهتم بقياس الرهاب الاجتماعي social phobia، حيث تم عرض ستة مقاييس لها خصائص عالية من الصدق والثبات على عينات أجنبية وعربية. ويعد الكتاب مفيداً لاطلاع الباحثين وطلاب الدراسات العليا، وهو من إعداد أ.د. بدر الانصاري استاذ علم النفس في كلية العلوم الاجتماعية -جامعة الكويت
THE IMPACT OF PLASTERING ON THE HYGROTHERMAL BEHAVIOUR OF HISTORICAL SANDSTONE LOCATED IN THE COASTAL REGION OF LEBANON
Get PDFIn an unusual trend in the conservation practice of built heritage in Lebanon, the external plaster layer, which protects the sandstone from weathering factors, is being removed for aesthetic reasons. These buildings are in a coastal region, hot humid climate in the summer and moderate cold weather in the winter. This paper discusses the importance of external and internal plastering of the historical sandstone bearing wall, by the mean of a computational tool that underlines the role of the plastering in the hygrothermal behaviour of the historical stone, in the aim to validate the practice of the ancestors in covering the envelope of their buildings to avoid the degradation of these natural stones. The methodology adopted in this paper is a comparative quantitative study, using a hygrothermal simulation modelling tool, named Wufi Pro, which is a standard program for evaluating moisture conditions in building envelopes developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) Stuttgart, Germany. The results are in the form of values for the heat and moisture fluxes through the high porosity sandstone assembly that composes the building envelope. These values represent the hygrothermal behaviour of the stone, and they are compared between two cases, one without plastering while the second has the inner and outer layers of traditional plaster. The analysis of the results is guiding to a conclusion that favours one of the two cases, taking into consideration the interstitial condensation threat avoided by the means of plastering
PREVALENCE OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS AMONG ORTHODONTIC PATIENTS (CROSS-SECTIONAL CLINICAL SURVEY)
Get PDFOrthodontic treatment as a risk factor for the development of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) has been a controversy in literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of TMD, as defined in the Diagnostic Criteria (DC)/TMD Axis II, among orthodontic patients. A cross-sectional study (N=180) consisted of 3 groups: 60 control patients seeking orthodontic consultation, 60 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment for 3-5 months, 60 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment for 10-14 months. Patients answered a structured questionnaire that rated their oral parafunctions according to the Oral Behavior Checklist (OBC), pain intensity levels according to the Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS), jaw functional limitations according to the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale 20 (JFLS-20), psychosocial factors (PHQ-9) and somatization levels (PHQ-15). The Chi Square test showed a statistically significant difference p-value=0.001 among both active orthodontic groups (3-5 months/10-14 months) regarding masticatory limitation (53.3%), vertical mobility limitation (41.7% for 3-5 months and 55.0% 10-14 months) and verbal & emotional expression limitation (53.3% 3-5 months and 66.7% 10-14 months). The findings revealed that as orthodontic treatment progresses, the limitation increases. Moreover, no statistical significance was observed between the three groups regarding oral parafunctional habits, chronic pain levels, psychosocial status and somatization. Orthodontic treatment is not a major factor associated with the symptoms of the TMD. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the true role of orthodontic treatment in the development of TMD
KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES OF NURSES REGARDING ANTIBIOTIC STEWARDSHIP IN NORTH LEBANON: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Get PDFABSTRACT: Background: Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global issue. Several associations are supporting the implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs in all hospitals. This program is multidisciplinary in its nature however, nurses are often not included in the antibiotic stewardship team. The role of nurses in antibiotic stewardship needs further development, and additional information is needed regarding gaps in nurses’ knowledge and attitudes toward antibiotic stewardship. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of nursing staff regarding antibiotic stewardship in North Lebanon and identify the barriers that prevent their participation. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to 120 nurses working in four hospitals in North Lebanon. The survey included 29 questions addressing (1) demographic and professional characteristics; (2) knowledge and attitude about antibiotic stewardship; (3) delivery of antimicrobials; (4) knowledge and attitude about antimicrobial use, (5) and knowledge and attitude about antimicrobial resistance. Results: In total, 100 staff nurses (33.3%) responded to the survey. 60% of the nurses were familiar with the term antibiotic stewardship and 57% received training in this subject, however, gaps in their knowledge were recorded. Almost all nurses (97%) believed they should be involved in antibiotic stewardship interventions. There was no association between years of experience or level of education with being familiar with ASP. Conclusion: This study showed that although many nurses are familiar with the term antibiotic stewardship, their overall knowledge of core elements and their potential roles in AS were limited. In addition, nurses stated that concerns over physician pushback and knowledge of antibiotics as barriers to their participation in the program. The results highlight the need for further education to fill the gaps in their knowledge
EXTENDING THE ROLE OF ARCHITECTURE INTERVENTION ACROSS THE DISASTER LIFE CYCLE
Get PDFDisasters have been a common occurrence since the beginning of time, yet they are increasing phenomenally worldwide and especially in developing countries. Factors that led to the cause of destructive disasters are often complex and interrelated; researchers detect human influence and rapid development is intensifying the damage and scale of disaster-prone areas through urban sprawl and human interference. Observing the disaster life cycle, it is made up of four stages: preparedness stage, resilience and mitigation stage, response and relief stage, and finally reconstruction and recovery stage. The main focus usually lies in the response and relief stage which comes immediately after the disaster has struck. The aim of this research is to extend the architectural intervention across all stages of the disaster; using a dynamic disaster response system made up of three components, primarily a disaster educational centre that can reliably respond to any disaster occurrence using a network of prebuilt structures spread across the perimeters of disaster-prone areas. The structures help with strategic preparedness, promote resilience, mitigating damage and spread, provide recovery and relief, and aid in eventual reforestations and reconstructions. As well as, designed to host an adaptable module of prefabricated units that can be easily mobilized and transported to plug-in to the host structures; the hosting structures will also provide a mechanical response across all stages of the disaster life cycle with a minimum disruptive footprint. Utilizing primarily the inductive method, this research will analyse the effectiveness of this unconventional architectural design approach in how it functions both reactively and strategically across all stages of any disaster life cycle. The paper also relies on analytical and deductive methods to help portray the effectiveness of the unconventional architectural design approach in how it functions both reactively and strategically across all stages of any disaster life cycle