A working model of the Internet-based steel construction consulting system for architects

As Internet becomes largely used in the AEC (architecture, engineering andconstruction) industry, the main focus is in the area of information and project management. In thedynamic engineering consulting, less has been done so far. This research tries to find thepossibility and potential of the Internet application in design and consulting for the AEC industryby proposing a working model in specific area, steel construction. Several issues have beendiscussed: defining and formatting the typical procedure and character of the steel constructionconsulting, behavior approach based on activities among partners, and the model organization.

基于Consultant Climate导向与斯维尔验证的烟台某售楼处节能改造研究

以烟台某售楼处节能改造项目为例,通过Consultant Climate分析帮助设计者快速找到主要能耗矛盾并进行节能改造,再利用斯维尔进行改造后的评价。结果显示:Consultant Climate能够快速找到地区气候缺陷并提出量化策略,斯维尔能够准确合理给出节能率。结合两者可以帮助设计者快速准确地找到适应气候的设计策略,提高工作效率,避免因气候调节能力不佳导致重新改造所带来的资源浪费。

Accidental placement of venous return catheter in the superior vena cava during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe pneumonia: A case report

BACKGROUND Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(V-V ECMO)has become an important treatment for severe pneumonia,but there are various complications during the treatment.This article describes a case with severe pneumonia success-fully treated by V-V ECMO,but during treatment,the retrovenous catheter,which was supposed to be in the right internal vein,entered the superior vena cava directly in the mediastinum.The ECMO was safely withdrawn after multidiscip-linary consultation.Our experience with this case is expected to provide a reference for colleagues who will encounter similar situations.CASE SUMMARY A 64-year-old man had severe pulmonary infection and respiratory failure.He was admitted to our hospital and was given ventilation support(fraction of inspired oxygen 100%).The respiratory failure was not improved and he was treated by V-V ECMO,during which the venous return catheter,which was supposed to be in the right internal vein,entered the superior vena cava directly in the mediastinum.There was a risk of massive mediastinal bleeding if the catheter was removed directly when the ECMO was withdrawn.Finally,the patient underwent vena cava angiography+balloon attachment+ECMO with-drawal in the operating room(prepared for conversion to thoracotomy for vascular exploration and repair at any time during surgery)after multidiscip-linary consultation.ECMO was safely withdrawn,and the patient recovered and was discharged.CONCLUSION Patients may have different vascular conditions.Multidisciplinary cooperation can ensure patient safety.Our experience will provide a reference for similar cases.

Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors During Pregnancy: A Multicenter Study in West Africa, Dakar, Senegal

Context: Non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, are major causes of complications during pregnancy, posing significant risks to maternal and fetal health. Pregnancy increases cardiovascular risks, particularly through the development of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, requiring early screening and close monitoring to prevent adverse outcomes. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors in pregnant women in Senegal and identify associated socio-behavioral and economic determinants. Methodology: A descriptive, analytical cross-sectional study with prospective data collection was conducted over three months (April 10 to July 10, 2023). The study included pregnant women aged 15 and older from three public hospital maternity wards in Senegal. We studied sociodemographic aspects, cardiovascular risk factors, and collected information on previous and current pregnancies, including the number of pregnancies, parity, miscarriages, the number of prenatal consultations, and the number of fetuses. Written consent was obtained. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 222 pregnant women were enrolled, representing 28% of prenatal consultations. The average age was 29.18 years (range 15 - 47). Most participants (90%) lived in Dakar suburbs, 74.20% had no medical coverage, 84% worked in the informal sector (p = 0.043), and 18% had no education. Among them, 30.63% were in their first pregnancy, 34% were nulliparous, and 3.15% were grand multiparous. The average number of prenatal visits was 3.5, with about 40% having more than four visits. Risk factors included hypertension (17%), more prevalent in women over 30 (p = 0.043), diabetes (4%), and smoking (2%). Conclusion: The study highlights critical prenatal health needs and socio-economic challenges faced by pregnant women, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies to improve healthcare access and health education.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Consultants’ Roles in Improving Value for Money in Public Infrastructure Projects in Ghana

Ghanaian construction projects encounter a number of challenges, including low health, safety, and environmental requirements, poor performance, and time and cost overruns. To provide value for money (VFM) on government infrastructure projects in Ghana, this research assesses the roles of project consultants, specifically architects and quantity surveyors, and highlights important obstacles. A cross-sectional survey design involving architects and quantity surveyors yielded a 96% response rate after 100 questionnaires were distributed. Consultants’ responsibilities also include monitoring standards compliance, providing advice on delays, controlling budgets, and advising on project completion dates. Difficulties encompass a lack of promptness in decision-making, unethical conduct, political pressure, and inadequate focus on contract administration and construction audits. Project urgency, longevity, political clout, timely decision-making, and team experience are important variables that impact VFM. Policy makers and construction management practitioners should take note of the implications for Ghana’s public infrastructure projects.

基于Climate Consultant的现代民居被动式优化策略分析——以豫北地区为例

为改善豫北地区现代民居室内热环境状况,提高民居气候适应能力。采用Climate Consultant软件分析豫北地区的气候数据,得出了适用于该地区的被动式建筑策略组合及各策略有效时间比。结合冬夏两季现代民居室内外的热环境实测数据,针对夏季炎热和冬季寒冷问题分别提出了被动式优化策略:民居功能分区设计采用“向心性”的空间布局、冬季在一层檐廊处增设阳光间、改善围护结构保温隔热设计;夏季疏通建筑自然通风的路径、增设遮阳设施、改善庭院绿化。通过以上适宜性被动式优化策略,提高现代民居室内热舒适性,为豫北地区现代民居的建设和改造提供了重要的理论依据和有价值的参考。

Reliable transmission of consultative committee for space data systems file delivery protocol in deep space communication

In consultative committee for space data systems（CCSDS） file delivery protocol（CFDP） recommendation of reliable transmission,there are no detail transmission procedure and delay calculation of prompted negative acknowledge and asynchronous negative acknowledge models.CFDP is designed to provide data and storage management,story and forward,custody transfer and reliable end-to-end delivery over deep space characterized by huge latency,intermittent link,asymmetric bandwidth and big bit error rate（BER）.Four reliable transmission models are analyzed and an expected file-delivery time is calculated with different trans-mission rates,numbers and sizes of packet data units,BERs and frequencies of external events,etc.By comparison of four CFDP models,the requirement of BER for typical missions in deep space is obtained and rules of choosing CFDP models under different uplink state informations are given,which provides references for protocol models selection,utilization and modification.

Family Forest Owners’ Motivation to Control Understory Vegetation: Implications for Consulting Forestry

Forest vegetation management has evolved as a recognized component of intensive forest management practice. It involves the management of competing vegetation necessary to obtain the high yields expected in modern forest plantations via control of interfering plants that influence regeneration outcome, impact timber stand development, and limit native plant and wildlife diversity. It includes cultural control, fire control, mechanical control, biological control, and chemical control. The public perception of forest vegetation management, especially chemical control, is sometimes negative due to health and environmental concerns. It is an important tool in the forest management alternatives available to consulting foresters managing family forest lands (the vast majority of private forest land in the United States). We report on a study that addresses the motivations of family forest owners that implement forest vegetation management practices and the motivation of those who chose not to implement after forester recommendations to do so. For those who do implement forest vegetation management, improvement of wildlife habitat and increased timber growth was the main motivation. For those who did not, cost was the main concern. Size of forest holding plays a major role in determining who will practice intensive forestry.

Analysis and Related Suggestions on the Whole Process Engineering Consulting Service Mode at Home and Abroad

This paper first introduces the basic connotation of China’s whole-process engineering consulting.Immediately,analyze the organization model,service procurement model and charging standards of foreign whole-process engineering consulting(international terminology full-life cycle engineering consultant).Second,discuss the government’s role in the development of engineering consulting from two aspects:service management and market access.Finally,combined with the above analysis,the specific problems faced in the implementation process of the whole process engineering consulting are compared.Provide relevant suggestions on how companies and individuals respond to industry development trends.

Consultation system of forecasting the mine floor flood

In this paper, on the basis of the analysis of the current situation of the mine floor flood and the consultation system study, the overall design and structure, specially, the mechanism of many kinds of method for making a strategic decision and reasoning of the system of prevention and control of mine floor flood are introduced. The applied examples are given at last.

Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme(G-DEP):Africa consultative meeting report

In order to enhance and restore the ecosystems of natural capital in African arid regions,the Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme(G-DEP)consultative meeting was hosted in Dakar,Senegal,from 23 to 25 September 2019.This paper details the first African meeting of the G-DEP.Consultative meeting reviewed preceding dryland ecosystems case studies,identified vulnerable arid and semi-arid regions,and proposed sustainable solutions to problems.It also identified the successes and failures of previous attempts to improve vulnerable ecosystems and ultimately formed an action plan to improve these attempts.Climate,ecosystems,and livelihoods for Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),Great Green Wall Initiative(GGWI)for Sahara and Sahel,and China-Africa cooperation on science,technology,and innovation are three extra main sections concerned of the meeting.Separately,more specific topics as the complicated relationship between these natural processes and human activity,including pastoralism,soil restoration,and vegetation regenerate techniques,were fully discussed.Consultative meeting also identified the positive effects international collaboration can have on dryland regions,specifically in the capacity of sharing information,technology,and innovation on purpose to develop a joint proposal for long-term research programs in African arid and semi-arid areas.Moreover,meetings that review the progress made on ecosystem management for the sustainable livelihoods in Africa,identification of priority areas,and the development and implementation of ecosystem programs for proper research and collaboration in African arid and semi-arid zones,have been proposed as strategic recommendations to enhance the global partnership for sustainable development.Furthermore,as the outcomes of the workshop,there are three steps proposed to handle African dryland climate changes,several aspects suggested to solve current dilemmas of the GGWI,and a series of actions recommended for G-DEP related activities in Africa.

Cultivating global health professionals: evaluation of a training course to develop international consulting service competence in China

Background:China’s accelerating development and increasingly important role in global health engagement create a great demand for global health professionals including international consulting experts.This study reported the detailed development and evaluation of an international consulting training for global health workforce.Methods:Based on Kirkpatrick’s model,a mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the training.Quantitative and qualitative data on participants’reaction,learning,and application of the learned knowledge and skills were collected by a training evaluation survey at the ending of training and a follow-up interview in three months after the training.Results:Thirty-six participants attended the training and 34 of them completed quantitative investigation.The training satisfaction evaluations were positive,for which participants rated the training program highly and over 90%of them agreed with the usefulness of the training.About knowledge and skills change,participants showed improved consulting knowledge and skills from pre-to post-training(P<0.001).A total of 23 participants accepted follow-up interview,and most participants applied knowledge and skills learned from the training in their daily work or study.However,only 30.4%of participants applied their learning in the consulting program.The largest barrier of application was the lack of consulting opportunities.In addition,almost all the participants reported that they would be glad to attend more training courses in the future.Conclusion:The international consulting training program was well-received,and was feasible to improve the consulting service competence of global health professionals.According to participants’feedback,it is essential to develop and expand consulting training in the field of global health.

Desirability of Knowledge Management in Civil Engineering Consulting Firms

KM （knowledge management） has in the recent past been promoted as a means of harnessing and utilising intellectual resources and to improve innovation, business performance and client satisfaction within the construction industry. However, there has been no attempt to ascertain the required level of KM within any given firm. The study reported in this paper aimed at establishing a general equation for assessing a firm’s required level of KM. Through literature review and a questionnaire survey, a total of 22 key indicators of KM were established. The interaction and effects of the key indicators against turnover and employee base were established, yielding an elliptic paraboloid fitted graph over which desirability could be calculated. It was observed that there is a continuous relationship among the firm’s turnover, employee base and the identified key indicators. In practice, firms have different combinations of the employee base and turnover. The derived equation fits well with the different combinations. Firms can, through the use of such equations, determine the level of effort and investment required to implement KM.

为零部件企业助力——访德国德罗雅克(Drozak Consulting)企业管理咨询公司

随着市场竞争的日趋激烈,零部件企业普遍面临成本和竞争的压力.如何有效控制成本、如何寻找优质供应商、如何提高企业竞争力、如何优化生产流程……企业面临越来越多的难题. ……

Knowledge Transfer and Management Consulting:The Effect of Consultant and Client Characteristics

Knowledge transfer(KT)from the consultant to the client is an important area that needs to be repeatedly addressed and thoroughly understood.The aim of this research was to examine the assumption that client characteristics and consultant competencies play a defining role in the effective transfer of knowledge to the client party.The authors examined the critical aspects and competencies required of the consultant,and the characteristics and attitudes required of the client,which would contribute to a successful transfer of knowledge,through unstructured in-depth interviews and concise questionnaires.Eighty consulting assignments were studied from both the client side and the consultant side.A conceptual model is presented,factor analysis was used to validate the constructs,and partial least squares were used to test the model.The findings showed that the consultants’professionalism,skills,and behavior were significant contributors to KT to the client.Surprisingly,neither the consultant knowledge nor client characteristics had any significance to the KT to the client.

The Prospect of Ethical Consulting

Ethical consulting is a critical professional activity that is very critical to the very survival of the corporate world and is thus likely to boom within the shortest possible time in the future. This predictive statement is based on the consequential effect of the bankruptcy of Ertron and WorldCom and its aftermath legislature, Sarbanes-Oxley Act （Lander, 2004）. The main issues boarder on how ethics influence organizations＇ operations and to what extend these influences can be coded and managed to enhance objectivity and minimize fraud. The methodology applied in this paper was an exploratory approach under the qualitative design. It encapsulates a thorough review of literature on the subject matter and draws inferences to address the research objectives. It was found that ethical consulting was possible and consultants venturing into the area need to be strategically diversified to enable them to design and develop customized ethical codes for the heterogeneous clientele with appropriate supporting monitoring and compliance procedures.

Intelligent Mobile Platform for Patent Consulting Service

Intelligent patent consulting service platform is an integrated service platform based on Android and IOS operating system. It can achieve the customized service at the mobile end and can provide intelligent search service, intelligent service delivery, interactive learning and collaborative consulting and other multi-dimensional services, to meet the needs of a large number of users. This paper provides a mobile platform for the applicant side of the functional modules of the design.

Construction and Application of Oral English Evaluation Index System Based on AHP

The paper confirms evaluation indexes of oral English with the application of Delphi technique and expert consultation, and then establishes hierarchical structure model of oral English evaluation index system. The weight of each evaluation index is determined with the methods of Delphi and expert consultation again. A group of students＇ oral English is subsequently evaluated by using AHP （Analytic Hierarchy Process） based on oral English evaluation index system and the weights we set up in this thesis.

傣族传统民居建筑原型对气候设计策略的回应与补充研究

随着美丽乡村的建设与乡村振兴步伐的驱动,一些不当思潮与建设的侵袭,传统民居被大量模仿现代城市建筑的新建民居取代,简单实现了功能空间多样化的需求,却成为生态脆弱、品质较差、文化缺失的代表,民居发展面临种种困境。为了科学有效地助力传统民居传承及美丽乡村建设,如何深入挖掘潜藏于传统民居建筑原型中的绿色属性与生态经验,成为在理论研究方面人们关注的热点问题。选择云南省勐腊地区的水傣干栏式傣家竹楼传统民居为研究对象,基于被动式气候设计理论,针对傣家竹楼建筑原型,提炼民居应对湿热气候的被动式设计原型策略,比对Climate Consultant软件分析所得的被动式设计标准策略,探讨民居建筑原型的原型策略对标准策略的回应率。研究结果表明:傣家竹楼建筑原型在遮阳、防热、防雨、防潮、保温与节能等方面对标准策略的最低、最高回应率分别为67%与100%,平均回应率84.8%。受材料及技术条件的限制,部分策略的回应不足,但是通过其他的方法及措施可以得到很好的补充。傣族传统民居建筑原型的绿色特性及生态智慧,揭示了地域性传统建筑以地域自然、社会环境为约束,以建筑综合性能为核心的生态设计理论控制的科学原理。本研究的结果对湿热地区民居的设计建造及现代传承提供理论依据。