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Building Information Modelling (BIM) plays a major role in enhancing the building project process. However, BIM implementation in building projects has not been categorized, and no previous investigation of its value in the different building project types has been undertaken. This research intended to evaluate BIM implementation in building projects and to identify its values, challenges, and enablers. Experts from BIM consultancy organizations were the respondents in this study. Based on nine interviews and 26 responses to a structured questionnaire, a quantitative approach to the content validity method was adopted. The results reveal that BIM implementation in mid- and low-rise buildings is very low. Only top organizations are able to implement BIM in their projects. Experts suggested that local organizations are not able to implement BIM due to their inability to adopt the BIM system as a digital management process throughout the project life cycle. In addition, there was consensus agreement based on the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) that BIM adds significant value to building projects, which includes providing collaborative organizations, greater communication, increased client satisfaction, more cost-savings, increased productivity, and a new way of reasoning for projects. This research also identified 20 challenges and 45 enablers of BIM implementation in mid- and low-rise building construction by the local firms. From the result, it was found that the presented variables were reliable, as reported in the interview transcripts and based on the majority of experts’ opinions. This research provides an important list of challenges and success factors that need to be considered to overcome the critical issue of low BIM implementation in building projects.

Commercial broiler chickens are frequently infected with Ecoli serotypes in form of collibacillosis which characterized as an initial respiratory infection (air sacculitis) followed by generalized septicemia, perihepatitis and pericarditis. The present work aimed to study the ability of E.coli O125 previuosly isolated and identified from diseased broilers suffered from pericarditis , airsacculitis and perihapatitis to induce a disease and The current study aimed to determine the pathogenicity of E. coli serogroup O125 in broiler chicks, a trial of prevention and treatment using probiotic ( Guardyazin-m) or antibiotic (Cipronate20%). The chicks were divided into seven groups including control negative, orally infected , subcutenously infected , probiotic treated group, and finally antibiotic treated group. The clinical signs, mortality, performance parameters and postmortem examination as well as the pathological changes in liver and intestine were recorded. The probiotic group gave the best results in controlling infection by E. coli O125 followed by antibiotic. In conclusion, the E. coli O125 serogroup was pathogenic to chicks when experimentally inoculated, so particular attention must be directed toward E. coli O125 as a pathogen infecting bird. Also probiotics was of great value in protection against the E. coli infection and improve the performance parameters of chicks . Its effect on feed consumption , weekly body weight gain and feed conversion rate (FCR) was determined.

E coli infection in poultry is one of the principle causes of mortality and morbidity in chickens and turkeys resulting in retardationof growth and decreased feed conversion rate . The most common form of collibacillosis is characterized as an initial respiratoryinfection (air sacculitis) followed by generalized septicemia, perihepatitis and pericarditis. The present study aimed to identify thebacteria associated with pericarditis , airsacculitis and perihapatitis in Egyptian broiler chickens. A total 300 samples of diseasedand dead broilers from 3-6 weeks age were collected. The isolated bacteria included E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Shigella spp. AndEnterobacter spp. Sero-grouping of the isolated E. coli strains revealed O125, O158, O55,O129, O20 , O6 , O8 , O27, O115,O142 and un-typed strains with prevalence of 16%, 12%, 8%, 8%, 8% , 8% , 8% , 8% ,4%,4% and 16% respectively. Themajority of E coli isolates were sensitive to colistin sulphate (38%) and Norofloxacin (38%) followed by ciprofloxacin (19%),cefotaxim (19%) and Ofloxacin (19%). On the other hand, E coli were resistant (100%)to amoxicillin, clindamycin ,Erythromycin and streptomycin. PCR analysis for antibiotic resistance genes of E coli detected that 12 serogroups isolates werepositive using the specific primers for Aada2 , BlaCTX and TetA(A) genes. The current study demonstrated the high prevalenceof E. coli indeed broilers suffered from pericarditis , perihepatitis and airsacculitis . Measures are needed to control E. colicontamination in poultry farms to reduce economic losses caused by infection of E.coli.

Total Quality Management (TQM) practices are well-known to encourage the performance of organizations in terms of procedures, services, and products to meet customers’ expectations. TQM plays a critical role in developing products as well as other developments in the arena of construction industry organizations. This paper reviews the concept of TQM, benefits and connection between TQM and project performance in construction organizations. The reviewed studies focused on practices and adoption of quality through implementing TQM in the construction industry and its suitable applications in the various phases of the construction project. The concept of TQM mostly facilitates attaining continual performance improvements in order to sustain business excellence. This study contributes to the science and knowledge on TQM and project performance by delivering theoretical significance on TQM ability to improve the performance of the construction industry. Numerous studies have recommended the practices and adoption of TQM are likely to enhance a company’s performance. This paper has further identified some benefits of TQM such as improvement in product quality, increased customer satisfaction, and continues improvement towards world-class organizations and achieve the customers’ needs and expectations successfully.

Aim of the work To assess the clinical significance of serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and its -863 C/A and 1031 T/C promoter polymorphism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and find any association to disease activity and damage. Patients and methods Forty-two female SLE patients and 30 age and gender matched healthy control were included. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index and the Systemic Lupus International Collaboration Clinics-damage index were assessed. Serum TNF-α levels were measured and genotyped for TNF-α-863 C/A and 1031 T/C promoters. Results The SLE patients had a mean age of 28.5 ± 7.6 years and disease duration 3.3 ± 2.9 years. The mean serum TNF-α level in the SLE patients (8.2 ± 9.8 pg/ml) was significantly higher than in the control (3.5 ± 2.6 pg/ml) (p = 0.005). The TNF-α-863AA genotype was significantly frequent (52.4%) in the SLE patients compared to control (23.3%) (p = 0.012). Those patients had a significantly increased proteinuria and a tendency to a higher serum TNF-α level. Patients with TNF-α-1031 CC genotype had a significantly increased serum TNF-α levels (p = 0.002) and frequency of mucocutaneous manifestations (p = 0.03) as well as a higher frequency of lupus nephritis (LN) compared to those with TT genotype (p = 0.04). Only serum TNF-α level would predict the disease activity. Conclusion TNF-α-863 promoter gene polymorphism may be considered as a genetic marker for SLE susceptibility and its AA genotype was associated with LN and with high serum TNF-α production. The TNF-α-1031 AA genotype was related to an increased serum TNF-α level as well as to mucocutaneous manifestations and LN.

The increase in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) associated mortality is predominantly due to accelerated coronary artery and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis with increased risk of ischemic heart disease about 50% in RA patients compared to controls.To study the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease in RA, role of inflammatory cytokine interplay, disease activity and rheumatoid factor positivity.Eighty RA patients and 44 healthy controls were included. All subjects were younger than 45years for females and 55years for males with exclusion of all traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis. Interleukin (IL) 1, 6 and 18 were assessed in all subjects. RA patients fulfilled ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria and were subjected to Dobutaminestress-echocardiography, diseases activity assessed by DAS-28, X-ray hands for Larsen score and function assessment by HAQ.RA patients had significantly higher serum IL 1, 6 and 18 than controls (p=0.00 in all). Thirty four (42.5%) patients had hypertensive reaction on Dobutamine-stress-echocardiography, four of them had ischemic change, and 46 (57.5%) had normal reaction. All patients with hypertensive reaction had positive RF (p=0.00), 10 had DAS-285.1, 20 had DAS-28 from 3.2 to5.1 and 4 were in remission (p=0.001). CRP was higher in patients with hypertensive reaction (p=0.003) while serum levels of IL1, 6 and 18 showed no significant difference. In all patients, serum levels of IL1, 6 and 18 showed significant positive correlation with VAS, HAQ and DAS-28 (p0.001 in all). Only IL18 showed significant positive correlation with X-ray score in all patients.Disease activity and RF positivity play an important risk factor for ischemic heart disease in RA. Serum levels of IL1, 6 and 18 did not help much in detecting patients at risk of ischemic heart disease. Better control of RA disease activity with early remission helps in preventing cardiac complications. More studies on larger number of patients are needed for better understanding of mechanism of ischemic heart disease in RA.

Aim of work: To study the genetic variants of glutathione S-transferases and monocyte CD64 expression in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and to evaluate their role in disease susceptibility, activity and damage. Patients and methods: Forty female SLE patients and 40 age matched controls were genotyped for GSTP1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, conventional PCR and were assessed for monocyte CD64 expression level using flow cytometry. SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and the systemic lupus international. collaborating clinics/damage index (SLICC DI) were considered. Results: The patients mean age was 28.13 ± 4.56 years and disease duration of 6.4 ± 4.9 with a SLEDAI of 14.4 ± 7.1 and SLICC/DI 3.7 ± 1.5. The frequency of GSTM1 null genotype tended to be higher (55%) in SLE patients compared to the controls (and 42.5%) (p = 0.09). The frequency of GSTT1 null genotype was significantly higher in SLE patients (25%) compared to controls (12.5%) (p

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an immune-mediated fibrotic disease. Urotensin II (UTS2) is a new peptide with vasoactive and fibrogenic features, an association of UTS2 gene polymorphisms with SSc has been reported in the Turkish population. Objectives To study the possible association of UTS2 (T21M and S89N) gene polymorphisms with SSc in Egyptian patients. Methods 41 SSc patients and 70 healthy control subjects were genotyped for UTS2 (T21M and S89N) polymorphisms by TaqMan real-time PCR and PCR-RFLP, respectively. Results The frequency of the S/N genotype and N allele of UTS2 S89N were significantly higher in SSc patients as compared to the healthy controls (p = 0.037, OR 4.60; p = 0.041, OR 4.26, respectively). The Rodnan score was significantly higher in SSc patients carrying the combined (T/M + M/M) genotype of UTS2 T21M polymorphism as compared to those with the wild T/T genotype (p = 0.018). Conclusion UTS2 (T21M and S89N) gene polymorphisms may play an important role in the susceptibility and the clinical outcome of SSc in Egyptian patients.

BackgroundSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare multi-system autoimmune disease characterized by vascular abnormalities with an increased prevalence of macrovascular disease.Aim of the workTo evaluate macro-vascular disease (atherosclerosis) in SSc patients and determine its relation to the disease activity and severity.Patients and methodsTwenty-five SSc patients and 20 matched controls were included. The modified Rodnan skin score (mRss) and disease severity by Medsger’s severity score were assessed. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and flow mediated vasodilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery were measured. Traditional vascular risk factors were assessed by thorough history taking and laboratory investigations.ResultsThe age of the patients ranged from 15 to 60years and they were 22 females and 3 males. 15 had limited and 10 diffuse cutaneous SSc. All SSc patients had an increased IMT (1.24±0.29mm) which was normal in the control subjects (0.77±0.09mm) (p

Clinical studies have reported a significant association between matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), particularly (MMP-9), and inflammatory diseases including Behçet's disease (BD).To study the relationship between MMP-9 rs17576 gene polymorphism and the development of BD, and its relation to disease activity among Egyptian patients.A total of 100 BD patients and 100 healthy control volunteers were genotyped for MMP-9 rs17576 polymorphism with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), followed by the confirmation of our results in random subgroups using direct DNA sequencing technique.The frequency of the GG genotype and G allele was significantly higher in BD patients as compared to the normal controls (p = 0.011, OR 8.61; p = 0.03, OR 1.65, respectively). There was no significant association between the MMP-9 rs17576 polymorphism and the clinical outcomes of BD.our study suggests a significant association of the MMP-9 rs17576 A/G polymorphism with increased risk of BD development in Egyptian patients.

Aim of the work: The aim of the present work was to assess the effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) co-morbidity and the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in Behçet’s disease (BD) patients and to study their relation to clinical manifestations and disease activity. Patients and methods: Thirty-eight BD patients and another 38 age and sex matched controls were studied. The disease activity was assessed using BD Current Activity Form (BDCAF) score and the adult treatment panel criteria were used to define the presence of MetS. The cIMT was measured by ultrasonographic scanning. Results: The BD patients were 30 males and 8 females with a mean age of 36.2 ± 7.8 years and disease duration of 7.6 ± 5.1 years. MetS was more frequent in BD patients (28.9%; 7 males and 4 females) compared to the control (10.5%; 2 males and 2 females). The mean IMT in the patients (0.78 ± 0.32 mm) was significantly increased compared to the control (0.42 ± 0.12 mm) (p

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by tissue hypoxia and excessive fibrosis of skin and internal organs. Objective To evaluate the possible role of angiogenesis imbalance in the pathogenesis of SSc. Subjects and methods Twenty-five SSc patients and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Assay of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin was done for all patients and controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were subjected to modified Rodnan skin score (mRss), pulmonary function tests (PFTS) and skin biopsies for histopathological skin thickness score assessment. Results There was significant increase in the mean levels of serum VEGF and endostatin in SSc patients compared to controls (t = 4.07, P

[3]-Radialene-based dopant CN6-CP studied herein, with its reduction potential of +0.8 vs Fc/Fc+ and LUMO level of -5.88 eV, is the strongest molecular p-dopant reported in open literature so far. The efficient p-doping of the donor-acceptor copolymer PDPP(6-DO)2TT having the HOMO level of -5.5 eV was achieved which confirmed by UV-vis-IR spectroscopy studies and DFT calculations. Films of PDPP(6-DO)2TT doped by CN6-CP exhibit electrical conductivities up to 50 S/cm which is one of the highest conductivity for molecularly doped semiconducting polymers. The high conductivity is attributed to a good structural order in the doped polymer as confirmed by x-ray scattering studiesdue and its high doping level. CN6-CP shows a relatively good thermal stability up to 280°C and it withstands sublimation in vacuum which makes it potentially suitable for the doping of small semiconducting molecules processed by vacuum evaporation techniques. The superior electron affinity of CN6-CP significantly broadens the range of semiconductors that can be used in devices in the p-doped state.