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EFFECT OF RECYCLED PET PLASTIC ON THE MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF HOLLOW CONCRETE BLOCKS
(2025-11-16) Seifi,Majdi
The accumulation of plastic waste, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poses significant environmental issues due to its durability and detrimental degradation byproducts. The construction industry faces pressure to minimize reliance on natural resources like sand. Utilizing PET as a partial sand replacement in hollow concrete block production in Palestine presents a sustainable solution, reducing plastic waste and conserving natural aggregates.
This research investigated the impact of PET plastic waste as a partial fine aggregate (Sand) substitute in hollow concrete blocks, assessing different replacement ratios on compressive strength, unit weight, and thermal insulation. Four concrete mixtures were created with PET-to-sand replacement ratios of 0%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight. Shredded PET was sourced from post-consumer waste, and full-sized hollow blocks were cast. Testing evaluated compressive strength at 7 and 28 days, as well as block mass, specific weight, and thermal conductivity.
Increased PET content consistently decreased block weight while significantly enhancing thermal insulation. Thermal conductivity decreased from 1.12 to 0.47 W/m·°C, and R-values more than doubled. Compressive strength reduced at 10% and 15% PET but recovered at 20%, achieving 6.66 MPa at 28 days, similar to the control mix. PET-modified blocks showed brittle failure patterns. PET waste can be effectively reused in non-loadbearing hollow concrete blocks, enhancing thermal resistance and reducing weight while maintaining adequate strength, supporting sustainable building practices.
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RoboMealMate: Innovating Restaurant Service Hospitality with AI (Artificial Intelligence)
(2025) Osama Mansour; Ahmad Rasheed
The RoboMealMate project is designed to harness the technological revolution in artificial
intelligence and robotics in restaurant automation, customer service, and smart hospitality.
The project aims to enhance customer service efficiency, reduce operational costs, and
provide customers with a unique experience. The robot will serve as a waiter. It will navigate
autonomously in restaurant environments, interacting with customers, taking orders, and
conversing with them.
• Importance aspects to cover:
1. Robot interaction: implement a friendly design that seamlessly interacts with
customers the design will include a screen for signs and emotions and a
microphone for speech recognition.
2. Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance: implement LiDAR-based SLAM
(Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) and image processing for accurate
movement and obstacle avoidance.
3. AI: using speech recognition, order processing, and image-based learning to
enhance adaptability and add human-like behavior.
4. Safety and reliability: ensure that the robot is secure for restaurant
environments, especially crowded environments by choosing the right
components, sensors, and design that is compatible with the work
environment.
• Objectives:
1. Enhance customer service.
2. Increase productivity and accuracy in the work environment.
3. Reduce operational costs.
4. Harnessing of AI and robotics revolution in serving people and
RoboMealMate is just the beginning.
• Methodology:
1. Hardware process:
Create a design for the robot body, then set up and connect the components,
such as the Raspberry Pi, Arduino Mega, sensors(LiDAR, ultrasonic, etc.),
camera, Screen, motors, and power supplies. Make sure that all components
are connected correctly.
2. Software process:
In this process, we will implement the algorithms for AI parts like OpenAI
API, speech-to-text and text-to-speech APIs, image processing, LiDAR-base
SLAM, ...etc.
3. Testing and debugging process: Test the robot in different situations, ensure that the
functionalities are working correctly, and handle the errors.
• Similar Projects:
While other restaurant robots exist, such as Pepper and Bear Robotics’ Servi,
RoboMealMate aims to stand out by incorporating advanced AI for interactive
communication, adaptable learning, and seamless integration in small to medium-
sized restaurant spaces.
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PalClinc: AI-powered scheduling and consulting Application for Palestine clinics.
(2025) Osama Mansour; Ahmad Rasheed
In light of the many difficulties facing the health sector in Palestine resulting from several
factors, the most important of which are the ongoing conflict with the Israeli occupation,
the scarcity of infrastructure, and the migration of skilled workers. In this project, we will
shed light on important problems of the health sector in Palestine, which are the lack of a
public system that facilitates scheduling appointments in clinics, the relatively high cost of
medical consultations, there is no personal medical history for citizens they can use in any
health center, there is no personal medical examination history, if you need advice you
have to pay.
PalClinc aims to address the urgent need to improve the accessibility and efficiency of
healthcare in Palestine by employing technology and artificial intelligence to develop a
comprehensive software solution that integrates all private clinics, government clinics,
government hospital clinics, private hospital clinics, and health center clinics into a unified
platform. This system includes users' medical histories and medical examination histories
available for the patients and their therapists. The users can interact with AI medical
consultants to get advice and understand their examination results and medical situations.
Objectives:
1. Create an application that contains all types of clinics.
2. Recording medical records and medical examinations to ensure that there is a
medical file for each user.
3. Incorporate AI consultants to provide free or low-cost medical advice, improving
patient outcomes.
4. Ensure an effective structure for organizing appointments and reviews.
Methodology:
1. Research: identify specific needs of healthcare providers and patients in Palestine.
2. System design: design the architecture of the system, design database, front-end
design, AI model design.
3. Back-end: develop a server-side software that manages all the processes.
4. Front-end: develop a user-friendly user interface to interact with the server side.
5. AI integration: create and train AI algorithms to provide medical consultations.
6. Validation and testing: test the system and validate AI recommendations against
human professionals.
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DECISION-MAKING TOOL FOR PROPER SLUDGE DEWATERING IN PALESTINE
(An-Najah National University, 2025-11-18) Salahat Anas
In Palestine, managing municipal sewage sludge (MSS) is becoming one of the most significant environmental issues. Sludge generation has steadily increased as a result of population growth and the quick construction of wastewater treatment facilities. Sludge's final treatment and sustainable use, however, are still quite limited, and it is typically left unmanaged. This puts society, the environment, and public health at risk. Additionally, there is a glaring knowledge and decision-making gap because so few research studies have addressed this issue in Palestine.
By creating a useful tool to select the best sludge dewatering method and offering suggestions for wastewater treatment facilities, this study aims to assist Palestinian decision-makers. To aid in long-term planning and management, it is also crucial to forecast future sludge volumes at the Nablus West Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The study employed two primary methods. First, various dewatering techniques were compared using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) according to social, environmental, and economic factors. After gathering information from published research and reports, it was examined and modified in consultation with subject-matter specialists and engineers. Second, the study estimated sludge quantities for the upcoming decades by analyzing recorded operational data from Nablus West WWTP along with design parameters and population projections.
To help choose the best sludge drying techniques, a Python-based decision support tool was created. The tool incorporates economic, environmental, and technical factors into an organized framework for making decisions based on multiple criteria. It makes it possible to compare different drying options objectively by using systematic weighting and scoring procedures. In sludge management planning, this method encourages more open, consistent, and data-driven decision-making.
According to the AHP analysis's findings, sludge dewatering beds are the best choice for wastewater treatment facilities in Palestine. This approach struck the best possible balance between social acceptance, environmental safety, and cost. Furthermore, the forecasting analysis indicated that Nablus West WWTP's sludge production would rise sharply in the future.
The study concludes that, given the present situation, Sludge dewatering beds continue to be the most environmentally friendly option for Palestinian conditions. The ongoing rise in sludge production, however, highlights the pressing need for improved resource allocation and planning. Engineers, officials, and legislators can use the developed decision-making tool to help them make well-informed decisions that enhance sludge dewatering.
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EFFICACY OF INTRATHECAL CHLOROPROCAINE AND BUPIVACAINE ON CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING DAY-CASE SURGERY: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
(An-Najah National University, 2025-11-30) Haj Hamad, Raheeq
Background: Day-case procedures require anaesthetics with rapid onset, effective anesthesia, prompt recovery, and minimal complications. Bupivacaine provides extended analgesia but causes delayed recovery and potential hemodynamic instability. Chloroprocaine offers a swift onset and recovery; however, its use in outpatient surgery in Palestine remains inadequately investigated.
Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intrathecal chloroprocaine compared with bupivacaine in patients undergoing outpatient (day-case) surgery by assessing key clinical outcomes.
Methods: A descriptive comparative cross sectional study was conducted at Al Itihad Hospital in Nablus, Palestine, from March to June 2025. One hundred adult patients (ages 18-65) undergoing elective outpatient procedures under spinal anesthesia were randomized to receive either intrathecal chloroprocaine (Group A) or intrathecal bupivacaine (Group B). Primary outcomes measured were block properties and motor/sensory regression times. Secondary outcomes included hemodynamic stability, postoperative analgesia requirements, ambulation time, and complications. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: Chloroprocaine demonstrated faster sensory (3.12 ± 0.56 min) and motor block onset (4.92 ± 0.63 min) compared to bupivacaine (4.26 ± 0.53 min and 5.68 ± 0.86 min, respectively; p < 0.01). The chloroprocaine group experienced shorter block duration. This has lead to quicker ambulation and discharge. More chloroprocaine patients required postoperative analgesics (66% vs. 38%; p = 0.003). Hemodynamic measures including hypotension, bradycardia, and hypertension showed no significant differences between groups. No serious complications occurred.
Conclusion: Both chloroprocaine and bupivacaine are safe and effective for spinal anesthesia in outpatient procedures. Chloroprocaine offers rapid onset, reduced recovery time, and expedited discharge but requires more postoperative analgesia.