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Human resource management (HRM) plays a vital role in the growth and sustainability of companies and in achieving company objectives, as HRM relates to the workers’ practices and their functional roles. The main objective of this paper is to identify the HRM strategies, practices and their impact on worker’s performance in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Industry. The method which was used in this study was based on three stages. After the completion of the database and web engine search, the total number of sources found were 149. Next, the sources’ titles and abstracts were reviewed and those marked as relevant to the review were chosen to be retrieved and thoroughly reviewed. The sources were chosen based on the following inclusion criteria: (a) the sources implied in HRM strategies in the AEC industry, (b) the sources released between 2010 and 2023, (c) the online sources, and (d) the English-language sources. Also, the selected sources are reviewed to extract the factors using the content analysis method which is a thorough and systematic study of the contents of a specific body of material. In addition, content analysis is carried out to extract practices of HRM strategies and their impact on worker performance. This can be followed up and observed through the figures and tables that come later. As a final result, which concludes the outputs of the previous stages which results in a first-round total of 31 HRM strategies practice but in the second-round result of reaching 39 different sources from 149 related sources. After that, discussing the most popular between them based on the appearance of it in the sources which reviewed beside that, the impact of it on worker’s performance were viewed in the AEC industry. Based on that, it was found the following 5 categories of strategies: (1) Human Resources Planning; (2) Polarization and Recruitment; (3) Training and Development; (4) Human Resources Following-up; (5) Career Planning. At the same time the most popular practices are based on appearance in sources: In terms of Human Resources Planning Strategy, “The company’s management analyses the functions accurately”. In Polarization and Recruitment Strategy, “The company’s internal resources are the best to provide its human resource needs” and “Selection and recruitment policies are in line with the company’s current and future needs”. In Training and Development of Human Resources Strategy, “The company evaluates the results of development and training programs to achieve the purpose of feedback”. In Human Resources Following-up Strategy, “There is a fair incentive system in the company”. In Career Planning Strategy, “There is a clear description of the relationship of workers to each other”. Finally, human resource management strategies and practices are one of the major players in the AEC industry, which is evidenced by its impact on the performance of workers. First published online 22 October 2024

The construction industry is deemed a hazardous industry in terms of occupational safety and health (OSH) which is the obligation of all project parties during the project life cycle. This research aims to investigate the role of the client in fostering construction safety, in the planning and design stages in the Gaza Strip, a territory of Palestine. A quantitative survey was designed and used where the response rate of the distribution came to 72.48% (79 responses). The results were obtained from questionnaire responses and findings based on the ranking indicate a lack of awareness of the construction project clients about their responsibilities on OSH practices. Establishing a special unit in the syndicate of engineers to review the design and plans and consider their compatibility with new design theories that deal with safety and establishing an independent institutional body. The body concerned with OSH issues in all aspects and clauses is necessary to make a real revision for consultant firms’ classification criteria with a high priority for OSH issues. With considering these issues a major criterion in the classification will be made while reducing the classification in the event of injuries and deaths at the company.

Ultra-lightweight foam concrete (ULFC) is a relatively new construction material that has gained attention recently due to its unique properties. This material is not very heavy and low-density, making it easy to form into different shapes and sizes. Its excellent thermal insulation makes it popular for building walls, roofs, and floors. This review paper provides an in-depth examination of the properties and characteristics of ULFC. Its composition typically consists of cement, water, foam, additives, and the various manufacturing methods used to produce it—the mechanical properties of ULFC, including its compressive strength. The density of ULFC can vary greatly, usually falling between 100 and 600 kg/m3. The diversity of this can be affected by different factors, such as the kind and number of additives applied and the methods of foaming and thickening employed. The paper highlights the various applications of ULFC in the construction industry. Its use is as a TC material, which can help reduce heating and cooling costs; as a structural material, it can help reduce dead loads of structures. The review paper also discusses the challenges associated with ULFC production, including foam stability. Foam insulation concrete emits 302–508 kg CO2 per cubic meter, primarily due to Portland cement, but enhances building energy efficiency, reducing household CO2 emissions, while advanced recycled insulation materials offer superior thermal and acoustic properties with lower environmental impact. Additionally, we examine the current research on ULFC and suggest potential avenues for future investigation. This paper aims to introduce and put forward a range of cutting-edge and original recommendations and informative guidelines, with the ultimate objective of directing and shaping future research endeavors that focus on effectively exploiting and utilizing ultra-light foamed concrete.

Seawater concrete (SWC) is an environmentally friendly construction material that addresses freshwater scarcity concerns by utilising seawater as a mixing water source. This review study comprehensively examines SWC by focusing on its fresh properties, hardened properties, seawater composition, microstructure and porosity, hydration process, durability, test methods and electrical resistivity. The study analyses the influence of additives and admixtures on SWC’s performance by considering constituents such as cement, aggregates and seawater. It also explores the impact of manufacturing techniques, including mix design. The potential of SWC is revealed and compared with that of conventional concrete by evaluating and comparing their mechanical properties, such as compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, stress-strain behaviours, tensile strength and flexural strength. This study primarily aims to thoroughly examine the characteristics of SWC in its fresh and hardened states. It also assesses the advantages and drawbacks of seawater as a mixing water source. Moreover, this study delves into the impact of seawater composition on crucial aspects, such as the hydration process, microstructure and porosity of concrete. It also used various test methods to explore SWC durability, including resistance to chloride ingress, sulphate attack and carbonation. Furthermore, the importance of electrical resistivity for corrosion prevention is discussed in this study. The carbon-negative cement production and carbonation curing of seawater concrete underscore groundbreaking advancements, emphasizing sustainability and climate mitigation in the construction industry. Overall, this study aims to enhance the comprehension of SWC and provide valuable insights for engineers, researchers and policymakers in concrete technology.

Achieving construction projects (CPs) with minimal waste requires not only good construction planning, but also effective management for safety and waste of resources through the project cycle. The aim of this paper is to identify and rank safety factors (SF) during the design phase (DPh) of a project that have positive effects in minimizing waste (cost, time and materials) during its construction. Data and information was gathered from available literature, structured interviews, and questionnaire conducted for 111 randomly selected construction organizations. Triangulation method to enhance the validity and reliability of the study findings was used. The research revealed 18 important SF that had positive effects on minimizing waste in CPs during the DPh. The five most important SF that should be considered to minimise waste are: capabilities and behaviour of the design team in the safety field, appropriateness of quantities and specifications for safety system (SS), appropriateness of foundation system for SS, appropriate public and special conditions for SS and appropriate electrical design for SS. The best linear model was developed on the basis of the importance index of the identified factors. A model was developed to minimize waste in CPs by using SS during the DPh. It is recommended that adequate attention must be given to safety criteria during DPh to minimize resources waste.

Due to the advantages and challenges specific to geopolymer concrete, especially the ultra-high-performance geopolymer concrete (UHP-GPC) ones, additional studies are warranted. This paper aims to improve the understanding of UHP-GPC by investigating its properties. This research investigates the influence of steel fiber and microsilica (also known as silica fume) on the mechanical characteristics of ultra-high performance geopolymer concrete (UHP-GPC). Three different volume fractions of steel fiber of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% and four microsilica volumes by the total mass of the binder of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 25% were utilized. The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural behavior, and fracture energy are all investigated. Besides, the SEM analyses were performed to understand the mechanism of strength improvement based on the reaction products and micromorphology. The results show that by increasing the amount of microsilica, the amount of steel fiber can be decreased without changing the way UHP-GPC mechanical characteristics.

Ultra-high-performance geopolymer concrete (UHPGPC) was investigated in this paper using microsilica and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) comprising polypropylene fiber (PF) and steel fiber (SF). The first group of mixing ratios was used to develop a control mixture with maximum compressive strength for this purpose. In the second group, nine mixtures were used to evaluate the effect of the fibers on the compressive strength, split strength, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity of UHPGPC. Furthermore, the SEM analyses were performed to understand the mechanism of strength improvement based on the reaction products and micromorphology. The results indicate that the presence of PF in samples containing SF enhances its mechanical properties. Moreover, the results indicate that replacing PF with SF reduces mechanical strength while increasing durability.

Krabbe's disease (KD) is primarily a demyelinating disorder, but recent studies have identified the presence of neuronal protein aggregates in the brain, at least partially composed by alpha-synuclein (α-syn). The role of this protein aggregation in the pathogenesis of KD is largely unknown, but it has added KD to a growing list of lysosomal storage diseases that can be also be considered as proteinopathies. While the presence of these protein aggregates within the KD brain is now appreciated, the remainder of the central nervous system (CNS) remains uncharacterized. This study is the first to report the presence of thioflavin-S reactive inclusions throughout the spinal cord of both murine and human spinal tissue. Stereological analysis revealed the temporal and spatial accumulation of these inclusions within the neurons of the ventral spinal cord vs. those located in the dorsal cord. This study also confirmed that these thio-S positive accumulations are present within neuronal populations and are made up at least in part by α-syn in both the twitcher mouse and cord autopsied material from affected human patients. Significantly, neonatal gene therapy for galactosylceramidase, a treatment that strongly improves the survival and health of KD mice, but not bone marrow transplantation prevents the formation of these inclusions in spinal neurons. These results expand the understanding of α-syn protein aggregation within the CNS of individuals afflicted with KD and underlines the tractability of this problem via early gene therapy, with potential impact to other synucleinopathies such as PD.

Abstract Aggregation of α-synuclein, the hallmark of α-synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease, occurs in various glycosphingolipidoses. Although α-synuclein aggregation correlates with deficiencies in the lysosomal degradation of glycosphingolipids (GSL), the mechanism(s) involved in this aggregation remains unclear. We previously described the aggregation of α-synuclein in Krabbe’s disease (KD), a neurodegenerative glycosphingolipidosis caused by lysosomal deficiency of galactosyl-ceramidase (GALC) and the accumulation of the GSL psychosine. Here, we used a multi-pronged approach including genetic, biophysical and biochemical techniques to determine the pathogenic contribution, reversibility, and molecular mechanism of aggregation of α-synuclein in KD. While genetic knock-out of α-synuclein reduces, but does not completely prevent, neurological signs in a mouse model of KD, genetic correction of GALC deficiency completely prevents α-synuclein aggregation. We show that psychosine forms hydrophilic clusters and binds the C-terminus of α-synuclein through its amino group and sugar moiety, suggesting that psychosine promotes an open/aggregation-prone conformation of α-synuclein. Dopamine and carbidopa reverse the structural changes of psychosine by mediating a closed/aggregation-resistant conformation of α-synuclein. Our results underscore the therapeutic potential of lysosomal correction and small molecules to reduce neuronal burden in α-synucleinopathies, and provide a mechanistic understanding of α-synuclein aggregation in glycosphingolipidoses.

Objectives. Lean construction techniques have been considered an effective approach and strategy to reduce accidents in construction projects. This article aims to investigate the application of the lean construction principle and its impact on occupational health and safety. Methods. To achieve the aim, an analytical descriptive method was used. The data were collected through a questionnaire, with 70 respondents who were chosen using a random stratified sample method. The questionnaire evaluated the perception of contractors and consultants about the important lean construction factors and their impact on construction project safety. Results. There is an agreement that the application of lean construction techniques can be impeded by challenges like lack of lean construction knowledge, complexity, misconception about lean construction and difficulties in changing employees. Conclusions. The study identified strategies that could be used to address these challenges that will improve the safety of construction projects. These include enlightenment on benefits of the lean practice, publication of improvements realized from lean practice, training, workers' involvement and empowerment, persistence, robust planning and gradual implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to identify the competencies required for project managers in Amman in order to overcome challenges in green construction projects and deliver them successfully. This research has adopted the analytical descriptive and field study methods, where a special questionnaire has been designed and distributed to 100 construction companies and organisations, including consultants, contractors and international and academic institutions. The research sample consists of project managers, engineers and any other position for people who have sufficient experience in the construction phase generally and in sustainable construction projects particularly. The received 84 questionnaires have been analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results show that risk challenges in green construction projects have ranked higher than cost and time challenges. The personal attributes of the project manager have ranked higher than the required knowledge areas and skills. This study recommends identifying the importance of green buildings to Amman society, including residents and government officials. It also recommends the training of project managers in Amman so they develop the required competencies for managing green construction projects successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mega-project is a major project or a group of projects of significant cost that attract a high level of public attention or political interest because of substantial direct and indirect impacts on the community, environment, and state budget. Capturing and sharing the knowledge from the performance of the current mega projects is essential in order to avoid losing vital corporate knowledge assets in the construction industry. The learned lessons are gained from experience, success, and failure for improving future performance. This research aims to review and read out the lessons learned from 77 research papers that have dealt with the barriers that hinder the successful performance of mega building construction projects in developing countries, identify and classify the main obstacles, and propose improvements for successful implementation and management of mega building construction projects. The results of this paper will help project owners, construction companies, and other stakeholders in developing countries to overcome the limitations in the execution of mega building construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]