13780 research outputs found
Sort by
Towards a Sustainable Model for Finishing Materials in Mixed-Use Gated Community Buildings
Get PDFABSTRACT
The concept of sustainability has recently become widespread, and most industries attempt to fulfill all requirements to qualify as sustainable. The construction industry is a prime polluting activity that contributes significantly to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Moreover, use of specific finishing materials such as paint and coatings adds to the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) which are extremely harmful to the human health. Hence, proper choice of building and finishing materials can potentially reduce such emissions and takes the building a step closer to qualify a building as a sustainable one. While the construction industry in Egypt is one of the economically indispensable ones, yet it often disregards the negative environmental impacts. The use of conventional materials such as cement, bricks and paint are more common due to their availability and potentially lower prices. Meanwhile, several alternative building and finishing materials can be suggested to replace the conventional ones while being more environmental friendly and possibly cost effective on the long run.
This work focuses on mixed-use developments using New Giza Community as a case study to investigate the potential use of sustainable alternative building and finishing materials and their impact on projects cost, indoor air quality and the environment. The aim of this work is to conduct a comparative evaluation of conventional and unconventional alternative building and finishing materials from an economic and environmental perspectives. Through this study, the differences between both categories of materials will be highlighted; hence encouraging the use of unconventional materials for more cost effective, efficient, and sustainable buildings.
New Giza is considered a high-end mixed-use development including different residential typologies, healthcare, and educational facilities as well as sports and leisure amenities. Such area could have shown great potential in attempting to achieve sustainability. It could have become a sustainable mega project and could have shown serious attempts to become more cost effective and energy efficient.
According to the conducted analysis, multiple alternative materials have significant potential uses in the construction industry such as hempcrete, bamboo, Byblocks, reclaimed wood, No VOC paint and green cement. Some alternative building materials have proven to be slightly more costly when taking into consideration the initial cost. However, the increase in cost is relatively small vis-à-vis the envisioned benefits. For instance, no VOC paint’s price is 19.3% higher than conventional paint while green cement initial cost is 17.2% higher than Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC).
Interviews with engineers, site and project managers of various multinational construction companies have confirmed that the demand for more sustainable materials is increasing although slightly more costly in the initial phase. Similarly, interviews with project managers in New Giza showed great interest in moving towards green construction and starting to implement use of sustainable building materials that will contribute to a greener environment.
Keywords: Building Materials, Finishing, Alternatives, Indoor Air Quality, Volatile Organic Compounds
Developing and Forecasting the Egyptian Construction Cost Index
Get PDFAccurate cost estimation is pivotal for the success of construction projects, yet the industry grapples with challenges related to cost overruns. Uncertainties and unforeseen variables often introduce discrepancies, particularly during the planning phase. Economic changes, considered uncontrollable risks, significantly influence these fluctuations. Various research endeavors have quantified the impact of economic conditions on construction costs, emphasizing the correlation between economic indicators and project expenses. Addressing these challenges, the Construction Cost Index (CCI), a tool introduced by Engineering News Record (ENR), accurately delineates the correlation between economic changes and construction costs. Despite its global efficacy, an Egyptian Construction Cost Index is yet to be established, presenting an opportune moment to gauge the country\u27s economic performance precisely. Establishing an Egyptian Construction Cost Index not only augments project planning precision but also mitigates risks associated with estimating construction expenditures. This initiative aligns with global best practices, fostering a more informed and efficient construction industry in Egypt. This research endeavors to create a tailored Construction Cost Index (CCI) specifically for the Egyptian context. Simultaneously, an advanced machine learning model is developed with dual objectives: a) to uncover intricate relationships between CCI and various construction-related parameters, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Producer Price Index (PPI), GDP, Money supply, domestic liquidity, and others; and b) to predict future CCI values based on these identified parameters. The methodology commences with meticulous data collection, focusing on both construction materials and macroeconomic leading indicators. Subsequently, the CCI is calculated from prevalent construction materials in Egypt, namely steel, cement, and bricks. Rigorous analyses, including correlation analysis and Granger causality tests, are then conducted to discern the impact of macroeconomic leading indicators on CCI predictions. In the final stage, the Vector AutoRegression (VAR) method is applied to
forecast CCI values for the next 8 months. All statistical analyses, encompassing correlation analysis, Granger causality tests, and the VAR model, have been executed with precision using the R software. This comprehensive methodological framework is intricately designed to elevate both the accuracy and applicability of CCI forecasts within the distinctive dynamics of the Egyptian construction landscape. The outcomes of the VAR analysis reveal a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 14%, with a maximum observed percentage error of 18%. These values, indicative of superior predictive accuracy, position the model as a notable advancement in understanding CCI dynamics. Previous attempts lacked a comprehensive consideration of economic and political factors, emphasizing the significance of this research in developing a holistic CCI and strategically integrating dimensions to enhance forecasting accuracy. This research contributes invaluable insights to the field, addressing intricacies specific to the Egyptian construction sector
Assessing Adoption Barriers of Sustainable Packaging in Egypt
Get PDFSustainable packaging has become an essential part of business decisions and corporate directions. With the rise of environmental damages due to improper waste management and unsustainable practices, businesses have a major responsibility to analyze their products’ life cycles and redesign them with sustainability in mind. Applying sustainable packaging could save companies large amounts of resources, therefore cutting costs, while also achieving the legal and social duty as a corporation towards society and the environment. Many developing countries, with specific focus on Egypt, have recently focused on legislative and corporate decisions in order to encourage more sustainable practices. Egypt’s new Waste Management Law 202 of 2020, the first of its kind, was created to regulate the waste management industry by creating a new regulatory authority to oversee proper waste management and recycling practices and develop a national strategy to improve waste disposal and recycling. This enabled stricter initiatives to take place, “Post-Consumer Plastic Waste Pact” developed by the Ministry of Environment in early 2021 as a leading initiative, where eight Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) pledged commitment to enhancing their product lifecycle management by incorporating plastic waste recollection and recycling efforts; creating a circular economy for plastics. However, given the current supply chain cycle and the packaging ecosystem, the motivation to shift to more sustainable practices needs to be deeply analyzed with a closer look at the barriers to incorporate this change within the industry. This study aims at assessing the implementability of sustainable packaging in Egypt by evaluating the packaging landscape, ecosystem and barriers of adoption within the FMCGs and externally. The study incorporates technology adoption theories with the barriers of adoption and uses those as a baseline for the multi-case analysis of eight FMCG manufacturers in Egypt to evaluate their sustainable packaging practices and the organizational value achieved from their adoptions. The paper develops a stakeholder relationship matrix for the sustainable packaging ecosystem along with a barriers relationship matrix outlining their mitigation measures. The relationship matrices can form a basis for developing countries with similar circumstances to understand how stakeholders affect the strategic interests of FMCG firms and how their interdependence can be maximized in order to achieve sustainable business practices. With a growth in sustainability priorities in developing countries and worldwide, the explorative study unfolds future research opportunities
Exploring Purpose, Practices, and Impacts of Non-Formal Education in Egypt
Get PDFThis research explores non-formal education in Egypt, analyzing its alignment or divergence with prevalent human capital and modernization discourses. Using a narrative approach, the study explores the practices of four organizations that offer non-formal education opportunities in greater Cairo: San3a Tech, Wataneya Society, Alwan wa Awtar, and AlAthar Lina. The study explores the narration of 9 educators and 10 learners from these organizations to understand from educators’ perspectives how they design their experiences and its relation to the culture and needs of the targeted audience. It also looks at what kind of impact do these experiences have on the learners. The study uses the human capabilities approach and culturally relevant education models as a framework to understand these narrations.
The study shows two methods used in developing non-formal education in the Egyptian context: adaptation of imported models and participatory approaches within target communities. Culture is perceived in these organizations as a multifaceted aspect. It is seen as a silent factor, barrier, dynamic factor, and resource. The study offers a different perspective of culturally relevant education than the one studied in a multicultural context like the United States.
The findings highlight that while employability remains a central concern, these organizations extend their impact beyond conventional human capital ideals. They situate themselves in a place between neoliberal approaches and liberatory approaches to education, focusing on individual empowerment. The study identifies enhanced self-awareness, self-efficacy, and social competency as key outcomes for learners engaged in these non-formal education experiences.
The study implies the need to diverge from the one-size-fits-all all in education, more research on the meaning of culturally relevant education in the Egyptian context, and longitudinal impact assessments of non-formal education programs beyond the confinements of the human capital impacts
Peace-Building and Stability after Civil Wars: The Cases of Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Get PDFWhy do some rebel groups successfully establish stable and sustainable states after civil wars, while others fail? Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are two African countries that experienced long and bloody civil wars. Despite the commonalities, the two cases strongly diverged in the political outcomes after civil war. Angola successfully made the transition to stability and prosperity, while the DRC slipped back into violence. This thesis compares and contrasts between the two peace- building processes in both countries. The results illustrate that two main variables made the difference between the two cases, the geography of the capital city and the strength of state institutions. The two variables allowed the regime in Angola to defeat the opposition and establish control over the whole territory, thereby independently implemented locally crafted peace building-process. On the other side, external intervention in the peace-building process undermined stabilization efforts
Lebanon needs food, water, medicine and social media
Get PDFLebanon has a history of instability, weak governance, and a strong civil society. The country has been in a state of crisis for decades and currently, the state is experiencing multiple crises at once. Political tensions, an economic crisis, and plummeting of the Lebanese Lira, together with the COVID-19 crisis have amounted to the instability of the state. All these tensions escalated even further when Beirut experienced a huge explosion in the port on 4 August 2020, killing over two hundred people and injuring thousands.
Civil society organizations play a crucial role in the development and survival of Lebanon. In a crisis, the civil society organizations in Lebanon are required to constantly change their nature and adapt to the political, social, and economic situation of the state. The weak state creates a strong civil society but one that is never able to develop further than providing basic needs. When there is an absence of the state, civil society organizations fill the role that the state leaves. In a state like Lebanon, the sectarian divide offers another challenge. The sustained instability opens the door for organizations that affiliate with a certain sectarian identity to be established, therefore dividing the population and creating unfair access to the services of those organizations.
Social media is becoming a great source of information, especially in times of crisis. Billions of people have some sort of access to the Internet and social media, therefore making it highly accessible and used worldwide. Civil society organizations, relief organizations, and non-governmental organizations are active users of social media for informal communication and information sharing, and civil society organizations use social media during times of crisis to create awareness, raise donations and communicate with the audience. When the explosion in Beirut happened, relief organizations turned to social media in an effort to create the awareness that was needed to establish funds and donations. By actively using specific social media strategies, such as using photos and videos, the Lebanese relief organizations generated donations to assist the Lebanese population with basic necessities such as food, water, medical care, and shelter.
The aim of this study is to research how Lebanese relief organizations navigated basic need shortages through Instagram and Facebook in the immediate aftermath of the blast in the Beirut port. This study presents a case study that focuses on the Lebanese Red Cross, the Lebanese Food Bank, Beit El Baraka, and the International Committee of the Red Cross’s use of Instagram and Facebook to deliver basic needs to the affected Lebanese population after the explosion on 4 August 2020. It will delve deeper into the analysis of social media strategy, crisis management, and the importance of social media utilization. The research will also highlight how civil society operates in a state that is going through multiple crises, and how relief aid is organized when faced with the biggest non-nuclear explosion that affected the local civil society personally
Investigating the Association Between Gut Bacteria and Childhood Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Get PDFBackground: The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains unclear. However, it’s believed to be a multifactorial condition. Several studies suggest the involvement of gut and oral microbiome in the predisposition of ASD symptoms. Understanding the pathophysiology could aid in developing better treatment strategies that improve the quality of life of ASD individuals and their caregivers.
Aim: The current study aims at characterizing the gut and oral microbiome composition of ASD children compared to their healthy siblings and mothers as control groups.
Methods: Stool and saliva samples were collected from fourteen families at Ain Shams University Hospital, Outpatient Clinic. The 16S rRNA V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the bacterial DNA extracted from the samples were sequenced and then analyzed using QIIME2 and R studio.
Results: Several bacterial taxa belonging to phylum Actinobacteriota were differentially abundant in the study groups’ saliva and stool samples. Additionally, a reduction in butyrate-producing bacteria was seen in ASD stool samples.
Conclusion: The current study provides evidence of altered microbiota composition in ASD children. However, future large-scale studies would give a better picture of the observed dysbiosis and possible ways to correct it
Codeswitching in the Egyptian Arabic Movies: How do social variables trigger codeswitching?
Get PDFAbstract
This is a qualitative study designed to examine the growing linguistic practice of codeswitching in a sociolinguistic context. For this purpose, 7 Egyptian Arabic films were purposefully selected to investigate what social variables and contexts can be associated with codeswitching. Data was sampled in 43 experts from the 7 films. The data was analyzed in terms of the social variables of education, social class, identity, stance, and age, within the theoretical framework of the critical discourse analysis, the accommodation theory, and the social arena theory. Although the study started with these social variables in mind, data analysis revealed two additional variables that may trigger codeswitching: jobs and intense emotions. Moreover, the study concludes that codeswitching is not merely a product of linguistic factors but also because of sociological reasons. In addition, it poses a few questions that highlight more aspects of codeswitching that may interest future research
Academic Success in First-Year Engineering Students at Private Higher Education Institutions in Egypt: Key Factors
No full textThis research aimed to identify the key factors contributing to the success of first-year engineering students at private higher education institutions (HEIs) in Egypt. It specifically examined how various independent variables influence the success of these students, measured as the dependent variable. By analyzing these relationships, the study seeks to pinpoint key success factors (KSFs) for first year engineering students in this specific educational context. The research work employed a mixed methods approach, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The quantitative analysis involved collecting data through a survey administered to a sample of first year engineering students at private universities in Egypt. The survey collected data on student-related factors such as age, gender, perceptions and preconceptions, previous knowledge, study habits, parental education, and ethnicity, as well as institutional-related factors such as curriculum structure, professors\u27 pedagogical competencies, professors\u27 scientific competencies, and academic support services. The collected data were statistically analyzed by conducting a multivariate regression analysis. The qualitative aspect of the research work involved conducting interviews with first year engineering students to gather more in-depth insights into their experiences and perceptions. The interviews focused on exploring the students\u27 perspectives on the factors that contribute to their success, as well as any challenges they may have faced during their first year of engineering studies. The study\u27s findings provide valuable insights into the key factors that contribute to the success of first-year engineering students at private universities in Egypt, which can inform the development of effective strategies to support student success. The results of this research work contribute to the existing literature on student success in engineering and may inform future research in this area
Understanding the Relationship Between Perceived Childhood Experiences and Relationship with God
Get PDFThe present study explores the relationship between perceived childhood experiences and one’s current relationship with God in an Egyptian Muslim sample. While such relationship has been researched in Western contexts, there is a notable gap in understanding these dynamics within Muslim Middle Eastern cultures. In this study, 180 participants, brought up in Muslim households, were given the following questionnaires: both versions of the Parental Acceptance Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ) referring to the father and mother, Attachment to God Inventory (AGI), and Images of God (LAMBI Scale). The results presented the internal consistency of both the AGI and LAMBI scales with the Egyptian Muslim population in this study. In addition, the findings highlighted a significant positive correlation between perceived parental rejection (both maternal and paternal) and current anxious attachment to God. As for avoidant attachment with God, it was negatively correlated with viewing God as Benevolent but held no significant statistical power with perceived parental rejection. Furthermore, images of God held no statistically significant correlations with perceived parental rejection. In addition, self-rated religiosity was negatively correlated with maternal rejection. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between perceived childhood experiences and one’s relationship with God, providing insights into how cultural and religious factors might impact such relationship. These results hold implications for the counseling and developmental fields of psychology for Muslim populations, especially in further understanding the developmental pathway of one’s relationship with God