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The construction sector of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), valued at USD 152 billion and employing 2.54 million people by 2023, is crucial to its economy. However, it faces challenges such as delays, disputes, and cost overruns. This study aims to address these issues by implementing Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the KSA, based on an extensive literature review highlighting the role and significance of BIM in mitigating construction claims. BIM improves collaboration, communication, and data integration among stakeholders. Hence, this study proposes a comprehensive BIM Package framework comprising Revit Architecture, Microsoft Project, and Cost-X to reduce claims effectively. Validated through a KSA claims case study with a USD 1,870,000 claims value and 360-day delay, the BIM Package significantly reduced the claims value to USD 188,000 and saved 275 days. Interview sessions were conducted to validate the effectiveness of the BIM Package; 95% favored the use of BIM, 86% supported NEC4 contract adoption alongside BIM, 100% acknowledged BIM's potential in reducing design errors, 95% were confident in the case study's accuracy, and 82% were satisfied with data accuracy. This study confirms that BIM is an effective approach for minimizing construction claims in the KSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of new technologies, artificial Intelligence, BANI environment and multidimensional complexity in projects requires project managers to have an innovative instinct to formulate efficient project management practices to achieve project success. Most articles in the extant literature have discussed leadership factors impacting project success; however, leadership behavioural practices encompassing characteristics/dimensions have not been considered and discussed in a unified manner. Therefore, a need arises with an objective for such a study to bridge the gap of a systematic literature review on leadership behavioural practice characteristics and provide a unified summarised effort to understand relationships with project success from relevant studies between 2000 and 2021. A sample of 72 out of 2805 articles was finally selected for rigorous analysis in a seven-step literature review process. This SLR has identified high to moderate levels of tangible managerial interpersonal and emotional behavioural practice characteristics compared to low-level task-oriented and intellectual practices on construction projects. Compelling evidence shows that relationship-building and people-oriented project leaders using effective communication and collaborative working are highly valued compared to taskoriented project leaders on successful construction projects. Effective leadership practices and findings from this SLR will provide a benchmark for future researchers to investigate further construction projects to generalize SLR outcomes on a broader scale. In addition, project organizations can use our identified cluster listings of behavioural practice characteristics during their recruitment process of project professionals. Low-valued soft skills in our analysis need more investigations in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a significant sector in the Middle East, with annual expenditures exceeding USD 120 billion. It employs 15% of the workforce and consumes more than 14% of the country's energy resources. Despite the significant growth in the Saudi construction sector, it faces various challenges due to the rapid launch of mega projects, such as the Line project engaged with the NEOM project, as well as other new projects as part of the Saudi Vision 2030. The challenges might be limited to a shortage of skilled labourers, rising costs, construction disputes, and material shortages. This study aims to investigate claims management procedures under traditional practice and compare them with a proposed BIM package as an alternative solution to mitigate construction disputes. The objective of the study focuses on reducing the time consumed when analysing claims against the level of accuracy of claims values. The proposed BIM model improves and streamlines the claims process through automation. This study presents prospective and retrospective methods in delay analysis under an accepted programme. A questionnaire survey was conducted, and out of a total of 123 practitioners, 79 replied. The findings in tables in this article reveal that there are demands and a growing awareness of BIM in the KSA construction industry. The results reveal that BIM can help to reduce potential disputes and can reduce overall project cost overruns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a significant sector in the Middle East, with annual expenditures surpassing USD 120 billion. It employs approximately 15% of the workforce and consumes more than 14% of the country's energy resources. However, the Saudi construction sector encounters numerous challenges, including a deficiency in skilled labor, escalating costs, disputes, and material shortages. This study aims to investigate the origins of construction disputes in KSA and emphasize the significance of employing Building Information Modeling (BIM) applications to diminish the factors causing claims in both commercial and residential construction projects. The methodology employed comprises a comprehensive literature review and a field survey consisting of interview sessions. This study analyzes a total of 50 contributing factors to the causes of claims, along with conducting a field survey interview session involving 35 participants. The findings reveal seven substantial sources that give rise to construction claims in the KSA, impacting 75 projects, as discussed in this study. Furthermore, the research critically evaluates the advantages of utilizing BIM technology to mitigate construction disputes in the KSA. The data analysis results indicate that the reliance on traditional project management approaches is one of the catalysts for the emergence of disputes in the construction industry, particularly in the KSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries including Ukraine use battle management systems (BMS) like Delta that enable command to share situation awareness information; this study focuses on the distribution of information across a warfighting network. Similar to natural systems, where autonomous agents, such as ants and bees, follow a set of simple rules, a BMS is a network of bases and electronic warfighting platforms that have military assets as agents within the network, guided by the defense doctrine. The rationale for the workability of such a system is based on each subsystem being reliable when multiple subsystems interact. However, the potential permutations and combinations of interactions can cause unpredictable negative or positive feedback loops, resulting in unpredictable and unwanted outcomes. The results of emergent behavior are unexpected and sometimes unwanted in areas such as intelligence, and wireless networks. Understanding emergent behavior is imperative in understanding complex engineering systems, and to present new insights, and take practical steps toward improving complex systems design and analysis. This paper presents the BMS and networks with examples of user-defined system integration of the network soldier concept. We believe that Ukrainian and other armies can directly benefit from utilising meta cybernetics, meta metasystem model analysis to control emergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this systematic literature review was to investigate the current understanding of the competencies needed by Engineering Asset Management personnel in local authorities within Australia. During the development of the search string for the literature review, it was found that there were no available peer-reviewed articles on Engineering Asset Management competencies through an Australian local authority lens between January 2010 and December 2019 within the searched databases. Based on this, the search string criteria was re-focused onto Engineer Asset Management competencies within Australia (in general), as the new frame. Using this updated string search, the authors searched several databases (EBSCOHost, Informit, Scopus Informit and Web of Science) for research published in English between January 2010 and December 2019 that detailed the competencies deemed necessary for personnel undertaking Engineering Asset Management activities within the Australian context. Additional records were searched for in relation to the topic, from a range of Engineering and Engineering Management Conferences held between 2010 and 2019. Two hundred and thirty publications were identified through database searches, while eight conference proceedings were identified from the additional conference search. These were initially checked for duplicates, and then subjected to the refinement stage against a detailed review criteria, as per the PRISMA framework checklist process. Four articles progressed through the full PRISMA framework process. Further in-depth reviews of the remaining four papers found that one article was principally focused on the Australian Quality Framework (AQF) certification training processes, while the remaining three papers contained data of competency requirements (and example subjects) for Engineering Asset Management personnel within Australia. This data was collated, and through a deductive qualitative content analysis, was coded into three common themes: (1) Technical skills, (2) Professional skills – internally focused and (3) Professional skills – externally focused. The review process undertaken within this research initially showed that there were no papers within the original search frame of Australian local authorities, while the updated search detailed limited available literature within the general Australian context. This highlights an apparent gap within the available literature for the research topic scope during the period within January 2010 and December 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk management continues to be a major feature of the project management of large construction, engineering, technological, and research and development projects in an attempt to reduce uncertainties and to achieve project success. There are uncertainties and risks at every stage of R&D projects through the product lifecycle. Therefore, management of the risks is an important challenge for the R&D project managers, and the close linking of project risk management with the success of the project is acknowledged across the world. Thus, the focus of this study is on the management of risk in delivering complex research and development projects within the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. Even though the management of risks related to the military environments has been studied for several years, studies on the risks pertaining to research and development of the military environments are still comparatively low and almost negligible in the UAE. This gives value to such type of study for filling in the literature. This chapter discuss the theoretical background of the subject at hand. It highlights the perspective of project management and risk management, in addition to reviews of the related literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building industry has a substantial potential for short-run and cost-effective greenhouse gases emission mitigation with long-term positive sustainability impacts. There are, however, a variety of human-based barriers, detracting from the leverage of the mitigation plans in this industry. The impacts of human-based factors are especially critical in the small size residential buildings, whereby a wide range of stakeholders plays serious roles in the housing development. In Australia, one critical human-based factor in the residential sector is the occupants' preferences, increasing substantially diversity and complexity of the dwelling units' physical characteristics. This paper intends to explain the role of feasibility assessment and design process in improving the energy performance of the Australian residential sector. Accordingly, an overview of the Australian housing characteristics assists in addressing the key characteristics of the Australian housing preferences. The analyses show that typological monotony, high range of owneroccupied housing, alongside occupants' affordability are a number of characteristics of the Australian housing, which facilitate the implementation of housing efficiency plans in the early stages of housing provision. Some other characteristics, e.g. floor area, number of bedrooms, and number of people per dwelling units are some inefficient housing preferences, stressing the significant role of designers in encouraging the residents toward efficient choice behaviors. Accordingly, the design process has the potential to impact the energy demands of Australian housing through Housing-Resident Fit, by the implementing the key components of sustainable housing design, impacting the occupants' preferences, and simplifying their domestic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineers have a significant role in the sustainable development and management of resources. This responsibility encompasses the three generally accepted dimensions of sustainability -- environment, economic and social - and applies to engineering projects throughout their life cycle. Sustainable engineering practice is supported by professional engineering associations, such as Engineers Australia, which includes the promotion of sustainability as a principle of its Code of Ethics. It has also been given impetus by the recent Paris Agreement on climate change. However, while there has been considerable progress in this field, there is much work required to achieve a truly sustainable future. While the industry has a major role in promoting and encouraging sustainable practices in engineering projects, educators also have a significant role in this process, through developing and fostering the knowledge and skills of sustainability in engineers. At the undergraduate level, this task is normally undertaken through courses that teach the principles of sustainable engineering practice. A major challenge for educators, however, is the ongoing development of the knowledge and skills of sustainable engineering taught in such courses. While postgraduate courses can achieve this objective, the majority of practicing engineers are unlikely to be able to undertake the detailed formal study. Meeting this gap between sustainable engineering knowledge and its implementation, therefore, presents challenges to educators. Possible options proposed include an ongoing commitment by government and society to sustainability in engineering projects, ongoing implementation of innovative sustainable engineering practices, and lifelong learning in sustainable engineering practices by professional engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: BICSTaR (GS-EU-380-4472/GS-CA-380-4574/GS-IL-380- 5335) is an ongoing, multinational, observational cohort study evaluating real-world effectiveness and safety of B/F/TAF in ART naïve (TN) and ARTexperienced (TE) PLWH. Materials and Methods: This 12M pooled analysis included PLWH starting B/F/TAF in clinical practice from June 2018 to September 2020 (latterly during the COVID-19 pandemic) in Europe/Israel/Canada. Outcomes included virological effectiveness (HIV‐1 RNA <50 copies/ml [missing=excluded]), persistence, drug‐related adverse events (DRAEs), and laboratory parameters. Results: One-thousand one hundred thirty-five PLWH were included (Table 1). The TE group had older median age than TN. Of TE participants, 65%/20%/16% switched from INSTI/NNRTI/PI-based regimens (36% TDF/46% TAF/13% ABC); 12% had prior virologic failure. Baseline resistance was documented in 124/535 participants (NRTI/NNRTI/PI/ INSTI=6%/6%/3%/0.2%). Prevalence of comorbidities (47%/72% TN/TE) and concomitant medication usage was high. At 12M, 97% (149/154) of TN and 96% (771/800) of TE participants had HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/ml, and persistence on B/F/TAF was high [91% (1032/1135)]. In a multivariable analysis, TE participants with neuropsychiatric disorder ongoing at baseline had lower odds for viral suppression (odds ratio=0.45, 95% CI: 0.21-0.96). There was no emergence of resistance to the components of B/F/TAF. DRAEs occurred in 13% (148/1135) of participants; gastrointestinal and neuropsychiatric DRAEs were the most common (3% each). Discontinuations due to DRAEs were low (TN 4%; TE 6%). Serious DRAEs were rare (0.2%; 2 TE participants with depression). Lipidchanges are shown (Figure 1). Conclusion: B/F/TAF was associated with high levels of effectiveness and persistence after 12M in this large real-world cohort of TN and TE PLWH with a high comorbidity burden. Effectiveness was demonstrated across key subgroups (females, older participants, late presenters). Importantly, there were no new or unexpected safety findings. Collectively, these real-world data continue to support the use of B/F/TAF in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: BICSTaR is an ongoing, multinational, observational cohort study evaluating B/F/TAF in ART therapy-naïve (TN) and ART-experienced (TE) PLWH. The BICSTaR population has a high baseline prevalence of comorbidities (particularly neuropsychiatric). PROs were prospectively collected. Materials and Methods: One hundred eighty TN/955 TE participants were considered for the 12M analysis (cut-off Feb 2021, including people enrolled from Jun 2018 to Sept 2020, i.e. partially during the COVID19 pandemic). PRO measures: Adherence [visual analogue scale (VAS)]; physical/mental health [short form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire: Aggregated physical/mental component summary (PCS/MCS) scores; HIV-symptom index (HIV-SI; symptoms dichotomised into bothersome/not bothersome); HIV treatment satisfaction questionnaire (HIVTSQ; TE only); physician visits. VAS/SF-36/HIV-SI: Analysis population restricted to participants with questionnaires completed at both baseline/12M. SF-36/HIV-SI/HIVTSQ were described for participants with/without prior/ongoing neuropsychiatric comorbidities (TE only as TN subgroup was small). Results: Adherence to treatment was high at baseline (TE) and was maintained at 12M after switch to B/F/TAF [Table 1 (T1)]. Statistically significant improvements in PCS/MCS scores were observed in TN participants at 12M (p<0.05); scores remained stable in TE participants (Figure 1). The medyan (Q1, Q3) number of bothersome symptoms in TN participants declined from 6 (2, 9) at baseline to 2 (0, 6) at 12M (p<0.001; T1); TE, no change in absolute count. Statistically significant reductions in the frequency of several bothersome symptoms were reported in TN participants (p<0.05) (TE: No statistically significant changes). Treatment satisfaction was high at baseline (TE), with improvements observed at 12M following switch to B/F/TAF (p<0.001) (T1). Physician visits are shown (T1). In TE participants with baseline prior/ongoing neuropsychiatric comorbidities [275/955 (29%)], similar PRO trends were seen. Conclusion: In this real-world cohort of PLWH with a high prevalence of comorbidities (and in the setting of a global pandemic), patient-reported adherence, physical/mental health, bothersome symptoms, and treatment satisfaction were maintained/showed improvements during 12M of B/F/ TAF treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of agribusiness in Australia and across the world, water is contaminated with nutrients and pesticides which threaten riverine environments, wetlands, urban drinking water supplies and also marine assets such as the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Much can be done and sustainable management practices (SMP) can be put into place to reduce water impacts from agriculture. Required investment levels are insignificant compared to the economic advantages to be gained from adopting appropriate SMP across Australian and global agribusiness. SMP technologies need to be targeted at specific pesticides (eg. atrazine, simazine, diruron, ametryn, hexazinone, tebuthiuron, dieldrin, metalochlor, 2,4 D, triclopyr, picloram and bromacil). Surface runoff from agricultural enterprises is conventionally managed by retention lagoons facilitating water reuse on-farm, but these can be breached during heavy storms. Long term deep drainage from fields and seepage from lagoons can also lead to contaminated groundwater. Research, development and testing of appropriate non-leaking/reactive spillways and subsurface geostructures needs to take place across the various agricultural industries. For surface water it is suggested that spillways could be designed with replaceable biochar baffles, and for groundwater, trenches of biochar could form Permeable Reactive Barriers (PRB). The potential for green or brown waste material derived biochar products, which could be readily manufactured from farm refuse and manure, needs to be thoroughly investigated in this regard. The challenge for engineers is to come up with geostructural designs which are efficient, cost effective and which will be taken up and embraced by Australian and world agribusiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced and sustainable engineering materials, such as engineered fibre composites, geoploymer cement, and recycled concrete have the potential to reduce demand on scarce resources, improve safety, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to positive initiatives in civil engineering design and construction in areas like foundations and structural members. For example, engineered fibre composites can replace other materials (such as timber), because of their high strength to weight ratio, light weight and ease of installation. They can also have positive impacts on sustainability. While advanced materials have several advantages, their take-up by industry, and in particular small and medium enterprise companies (SMEs), has in a number of cases been relatively slow. This is likely to be the result of a number of factors, such as relatively high cost, financial risk in using an unproven technology, lack of suitable design standards, an unproven life cycle, uncertainty over long-term sustainability issues, and possible changed building and construction methods. Advantages and disadvantages of the use of selected advanced and sustainable materials in civil engineering projects are investigated. A weighted scoring methodology for improved evaluation of their advantages and disadvantages, with a view to aiding decisions, is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The ongoing observational BICSTaR study aims to demonstrate effectiveness, safety and tolerability of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) in routine clinical practice in at least 1400 antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naive (TN) and ARTexperienced (TE) people living with HIV (PLHIV). Materials and Methods: This 12-month (12M) analysis of PLHIV receiving B/F/TAF in Europe and Canada assessed HIV 1-RNA (missing data=excluded analysis), drug-related (DR) adverse events (AEs), persistence and weight/body mass index (BMI) change. Results: At the time of data cut-off (March 2020), 513 participants (n=84 TN/n=429 TE) completed a 12M visit. Most were male (91%) and white (89%); the median age was 38 (TN) and 49 (TE) years. Prevalence of comorbidities at baseline was 76%; the most common were neuropsychiatric (28%), hyperlipidemia (18%) and hypertension (18%). 71%/18%/13% of TE participants switched from INSTI/NNRTI/PI-based regimens, respectively (26% TDF); 8% had a history of prior virologic failure. Baseline primary resistance prevalence by historical genotype was 9% [n=43/513; 5% had resistance mutations associated with NNRTIs, 3% PIs, 3% NRTIs (n=8 M184V/I, n=1 K65R) and 0.2% with INSTIs (n=1 G140S)]. At 12M, 100% of TN (n=74/74) and 96% (n=357/373) TE participants had viral load (VL) <50 copies/ml. Comparable and high effectiveness was observed in both male and female participants, including older individuals (Table 1). No major resistance substitutions to the components of B/F/TAF emerged. DRAEs occurred in 14% (n=12/84) of TN and 15% (n=64/429) of TE participants, with the most common being gastrointestinal (5%) and neuropsychiatric (4%); discontinuations due to DRAE were low (TN 3.6% and 7.2% TE) and 90% of study participants remained on B/F/TAF (n=462/513). Serious DRAEs were rare [0.4%; all in TE participants (n=2 depression)]. At 12M, median (Q1, Q3) weight change was +2.5 kg (0.5, 6.3) for TN (n=48) and +0.9 kg (-1.0, 3.0) for TE (n=269), with small changes in BMI of +0.8 kg/m² (0.1, 1.9) for TN and +0.3 kg/m² (-0.3, 1.0) for TE. Weight increase >10% was observed in 19% (n=9/48) and 5% (n=15/269) of TN and TE participants, respectively. Conclusion: The use of B/F/TAF in this real-world clinical cohort was associated with a high level of effectiveness and safety through 12M, inclusive of male, female and older PLHIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What Is This Summary About?: This is a summary of an article about an ongoing study called the BICSTaR study.The BICSTaR study includes people with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) who are taking a medicine called bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (shortened to B/F/TAF). B/F/TAF is a single tablet that contains 3 different drugs for the treatment of HIV. The drugs work together to reduce the levels of HIV so that the virus can no longer be detected by a blood test.People taking part in the study are adults with HIV living in Europe, Canada, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. People take 1 tablet of B/F/TAF once a day. They are either taking B/F/TAF as their first treatment for HIV, or they have switched to B/F/TAF from another HIV treatment.Researchers looked at how well B/F/TAF worked and how safe it was in people who took B/F/TAF for a year., What Are the Key Takeaways?: Researchers found that B/F/TAF worked well in almost all people in the study by reducing levels of HIV in the blood. The virus could not be found in the blood of more than 9 out of 10 (94%) people who were taking B/F/TAF as their first HIV medicine and more than 9 out of 10 people (97%) who had taken another HIV medicine before starting B/F/TAF. This is known as having an 'undetectable viral load' and is a major goal for HIV treatment success. Researchers did not find any evidence of HIV developing resistance to B/F/TAF, which might stop B/F/TAF from working properly.Around 1 out of 10 people (13%) had side effects (any unwanted sign or symptom that people have when taking a medicine that researchers think might be caused by the medicine) that might have been caused by B/F/TAF. Most of these side effects were not classified as serious. Less than 1 out of 100 (0.1%) people had serious side effects that might have been caused by B/F/TAF. Only 6 out of 100 people stopped taking B/F/TAF due to side effects caused by B/F/TAF. As a result, more than 9 out of 10 people (95%) took B/F/TAF for at least 1 year., What Were the Main Conclusions Reported by the Researchers?: B/F/TAF worked well in people with HIV in this study. Most people (around 9 out of 10) did not have any side effects.

Background: Despite increased integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) use, limited large-scale, real-life data exists on INSTI uptake and discontinuation., Setting: International multicohort collaboration., Methods: RESPOND participants starting dolutegravir (DTG), elvitegravir (EVG), or raltegravir (RAL) after January 1, 2012 were included. Predictors of INSTI used were assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models describe time to and factors associated with discontinuation., Results: Overall, 9702 persons were included; 5051 (52.1%) starting DTG, 1933 (19.9%) EVG, and 2718 (28.0%) RAL. The likelihood of starting RAL or EVG vs DTG decreased over time and was higher in Eastern and Southern Europe compared with Western Europe. At 6 months after initiation, 8.9% (95% confidence interval: 8.3% to 9.5%) had discontinued the INSTI (6.4% DTG, 7.4% EVG, and 14.0% RAL). The main reason for discontinuation was toxicity (44.2% DTG, 42.5% EVG, 17.3% RAL). Nervous system toxicity accounted for a higher proportion of toxicity discontinuations on DTG (31.8% DTG, 23.4% EVG, 6.6% RAL). Overall, treatment simplification was highest on RAL (2.7% DTG, 1.6% EVG, and 19.8% RAL). Factors associated with a higher discontinuation risk included increasing year of INSTI initiation, female gender, hepatitis C coinfection, and previous non-AIDS-defining malignancies. Individuals in Southern and Eastern Europe were less likely to discontinue. Similar results were seen for discontinuations after 6 months., Conclusions: Uptake of DTG vs EVG or RAL increased over time. Discontinuation within 6 months was mainly due to toxicity; nervous system toxicity was highest on DTG. Discontinuation was highest on RAL, mainly because of treatment simplification.