An Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Self Compacting Concrete by using Fiber Reinforcement

The invention of Self Compacting Concrete has been tremendous and continuing growth in the working area over the past decade, culminating in its widespread usage in today’s reality. It outperforms regular cement in application and completion, cost, work reserve funds, and solidity. The addition of strands enhances its qualities, particularly those related to SCC’s post- break behaviour. The goal is to investigate the strength properties of SCC when mixed with various types of strands. Different strand types and filament speeds are among the variables studied. The essential characteristics of SCC, including strength, break energy, sturdiness, and sorptivity, must be controlled. The hydrated design and security development between fiber and blend will be examined using an electron microscope to examine the tiny building of several mixes. 12mm cut glass fiber, carbon fiber, and basalt fiber will be used in the request, as they have been for quite some time. 0.0 percent, 0.1 percent, 0.15 percent, 0.2 percent, 0.25 percent, and 0.3 percent of strands are removed based on volume. The request is broken down into two parts. The first half involves creating a planned blend for SCC of a detailed assessment, such as M30. The second half involves adding filaments such as glass, basalt, and carbon strands to the SCC blends and evaluating and verifying their plastic and hardened properties. The experiment demonstrates a modest improvement in SCC aspects by adding strands of various types and altering the volume. Carbon fiber is the most improved in the more challenging state, followed by Basalt fiber and Glass fiber, and the least improved in the plastic state due to its high-water absorption. Glass fiber fared better in the plastic state. Basalt fiber fared better in the present study regarding cost, appropriate amount, and overall viability.

An Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Self Compacting Concrete by using Fiber Reinforcement

The invention of Self Compacting Concrete has been tremendous and continuing growth in the working area over the past decade, culminating in its widespread usage in today's reality. It outperforms regular cement in application and completion,cost, work reserve funds, and solidity. The addition of strands enhances its qualities, particularly those related to SCC's post- break behaviour. The goal is to investigate the strength properties of SCC when mixed with various types of strands. Different strand types and filament speeds are among the variables studied. The essential characteristics of SCC, including strength, break energy, sturdiness, and sorptivity, must be controlled. The hydrated design and security development between fiber and blend will be examined using an electron microscope to examine the tiny building of several mixes. 12mm cut glass fiber, carbon fiber, and basalt fiber will be used in the request, as they have been for quite some time. 0.0 percent, 0.1 percent, 0.15 percent, 0.2 percent, 0.25 percent, and 0.3 percent of strands are removed based on volume. The request is broken down into two parts. The first half involves creating a planned blend for SCC of a detailed assessment, such as M30. The second half involves adding filaments such as glass, basalt, and carbon strands to the SCC blends and evaluating and verifying their plastic and hardened properties. The experiment demonstrates a modest improvement in SCC aspects by adding strands of various types and altering the volume. Carbon fiber is the most improved in the more challenging state, followed by Basalt fiber and Glass fiber, and the least improved in the plastic state due to its high-water absorption. Glass fiber fared better in the plastic state. Basalt fiber fared better in the present study regarding cost, appropriate amount, and overall viability

Understanding Disorder in Rectangular Dielectric Microcavity CROWs (Project Report 0642603-Y2)

This NSF-funded project [0642603] is a five-year (60 months) CAREER (Faculty Early Career Development Program) unified research and education development program, which focused on the physics and applications of optical waveguiding in the CROW (Coupled Resonator Optical Waveguide) structure. The CROW structure is suitable as the foundation of this project because it offers a very high four-wave mixing (FWM) nonlinearity based on the slow-light effects on each of the pump, signal and idler modes. The triple resonance effects can result in a large improvement of the nonlinear coefficient even with a modest improvement of the slowing factor. However, understanding the effects of disorder in CROWs is important, since it can limit the amount of slowing that can be achieved, and hence, the enhancement of slow-light enhanced nonlinearity.

BACE1, but not BACE2, function is critical for metabolic disorders induced by high-fat diets in C57BL/6N mice

Beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is required for the production of toxic amyloid peptides and is highly expressed in the brain, but also to a lesser extent in major peripheral organs such as muscle and liver. In contrast, BACE2 is mainly expressed in peripheral tissues and is enriched in pancreatic beta cells, where it regulates beta-cell function and mass. Previous reports demonstrated that loss of BACE1 function decreases body weight, protects against diet-induced obesity and enhances insulin sensitivity in mice, whereas mice lacking Bace2 exhibit reduced blood glucose levels, improved intraperitoneal glucose tolerance and increased beta-cell mass. Impaired glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance are hallmarks of type 2 diabetes and have been implicated in Alzheimers disease. Therefore, we tested the contribution of the individual BACE isoforms to those metabolic phenotypes by placing Bace1 knockout (KO), Bace2 KO, Bace1/2 double knockout (dKO) and wild-type (WT) mice on a high-fat high-cholesterol diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. Bace1 KO and Bace1/2 dKO mice showed decreased body weight and improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance vs. WT mice. Conversely, Bace2 KO mice did not show any significant differences in body weight, glucose tolerance or insulin resistance under our experimental conditions. Finally, subchronic MBi-3 mediated BACE1/2 inhibition in mice in conjunction with a HFD resulted in a modest improvement of glucose tolerance. Our data indicate that lack of BACE1, but not BACE2, function contributes mainly to the metabolic phenotypic changes observed in Bace1/2 dKO mice, suggesting that inhibition of BACE1 has the greater role (vs. BACE2) in any potential improvements in metabolic homeostasis.

Multi-institutional intervention to improve patient perception of physician empathy in emergency care

BackgroundPhysician empathy has been linked to increased patient satisfaction, improved patient outcomes and reduced provider burnout. Our objective was to test the effectiveness of an educational intervention to improve physician empathy and trust in the ED setting.MethodsPhysician participants from six emergency medicine residencies in the US were studied from 2018 to 2019 using a pre–post, quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design with randomisation at the site level. Intervention participants at three hospitals received an educational intervention, guided by acognitivemap (the ‘empathy circle’). This intervention was further emphasised by the use of motivational texts delivered to participants throughout the course of the study. The primary outcome was change in E patient perception of resident empathy (Jefferson scale of patient perception of physician empathy (JSPPPE) and Trust in Physicians Scale (Tips)) before (T1) and 3–6 months later (T2).ResultsData were collected for 221 residents (postgraduate year 1–4.) In controls, the mean (SD) JSPPPE scores at T1 and T2 were 29 (3.8) and 29 (4.0), respectively (mean difference 0.8, 95% CI: −0.7 to 2.4, p=0.20, paired t-test). In the intervention group, the JSPPPE scores at T1 and T2 were 28 (4.4) and 30 (4.0), respectively (mean difference 1.4, 95% CI: 0.0 to 2.8, p=0.08). In controls, the TIPS at T1 was 65 (6.3) and T2 was 66 (5.8) (mean difference −0.1, 95% CI: −3.8 to 3.6, p=0.35). In the intervention group, the TIPS at T1 was 63 (6.9) and T2 was 66 (6.3) (mean difference 2.4, 95% CI: 0.2 to 4.5, p=0.007). Hierarchical regression revealed no effect of time×group interaction for JSPPPE (p=0.71) nor TIPS (p=0.16).ConclusionAn educational intervention with the addition of text reminders designed to increase empathic behaviour was not associated with a change in patient-perceived empathy, but was associated with a modest improvement in trust in physicians.

Small-Cell Lung Cancer Long-Term Survivor Patients: How to Find a Needle in a Haystack?

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by a rapid progression and a high resistance to treatments. Unlike other solid tumors, there has been a scarce improvement in emerging treatments and survival during the last years. A better understanding of SCLC biology has allowed for the establishment of a molecular classification based on four transcription factors, and certain therapeutic vulnerabilities have been proposed. The universal inactivation of TP53 and RB1, along with the absence of mutations in known targetable oncogenes, has hampered the development of targeted therapies. On the other hand, the immunosuppressive microenvironment makes the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which have achieved a modest improvement in overall survival in patients with extensive disease, difficult. Currently, atezolizumab or durvalumab, in combination with platinum–etoposide chemotherapy, is the standard of care in first-line setting. However, the magnitude of the benefit is scarce and no predictive biomarkers of response have yet been established. In this review, we describe SCLC biology and molecular classification, examine the SCLC tumor microenvironment and the challenges of predictive biomarkers of response to new treatments, and, finally, assess clinical and molecular characteristics of long-term survivor patients in order to identify possible prognostic factors and treatment vulnerabilities.

Patients Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs) Trajectories After Elective Hip Arthroplasty: A Latent Class Growth Analysis

Background. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are an extensively used tool to assess and improve the quality of healthcare services. PROMs are affected by individual characteristics in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty (HA). The aim of this study is to identify distinct groups of patients with unique score-trajectories using the Latent Class Growth Analysis (LCGA) technique and to determine patients’ features associated with these groups.Methods. We conducted a prospective, cohort study analyzing PROMs questionnaires (Euro Quality 5 Dimensions 3L, EQ-5D-3L, Euro-Quality-Visual-Analytic-Score, EQ-VAS, Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, HOOS-PS) administered to patients undergoing elective HA at successive time points. For each score, LCGA was carried out to identify subgroups of patients assessed pre-operatively, and at 6 and 12 months after HA. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the latent trajectories.Results. We identified three distinct trajectories for each PROM score. These trajectories indicated high response heterogeneity to the HA among the patients (n=991): one trajectory showing an improvement at 6 months followed by a plateau, a second trajectory showing a lower starting level followed by a consistent improvement, and a third trajectory showing a modest improvement at 6 months followed by a modest decline at 12 months. Patient’s gender, ASA score ≥3, obesity and the main diagnosis were significantly associated with different PROMs trajectories.Conclusions. These findings underline the importance of patient-centered care, supporting the usefulness of integrating PROMs data alongside routinely collected healthcare records for guiding clinical care and maximizing patient outcomes. Trial registration number: Protocol version (1.0) and trial registration data are available on the platform www.clinicaltrial.gov with the identifier NCT03790267, posted on December 31, 2018.

Assemblies of the genomes of parasitic wasps using meta-assembly and scaffolding with genetic linkage

Safe, effective biological-control introductions against invasive pests depend on narrowly host-specific natural enemies with the ability to adapt to a changing environment. As part of a project on the genetic architectures of these traits, we assembled and annotated the genomes of two aphid parasitoids, Aphelinus atriplicis and Aphelinus certus. We report here several assemblies of A. atriplicis made with Illumina and PacBio data, which we combined into a meta-assembly. We scaffolded the meta-assembly with markers from a genetic map of hybrids between A. atriplicis and A. certus. We used this genetic-linkage scaffolded (GLS) assembly of A. atriplicis to scaffold a de novo assembly of A. certus. The de novo assemblies of A. atriplicis differed in contiguity, and the meta-assembly of these assemblies was more contiguous than the best de novo assembly. Scaffolding with genetic-linkage data allowed chromosomal-level assembly of the A. atriplicis genome and scaffolding a de novo assembly of A. certus with this GLS assembly, greatly increased the contiguity of the A. certus assembly to the point where it was also at the chromosomal-level. However, completeness of the A. atriplicis assembly, as measured by % complete, single-copy BUSCO hymenopteran genes, varied little among de novo assemblies and was not increased by meta-assembly or genetic scaffolding. Furthermore, the greater contiguity of the meta-assembly and GLS assembly had little or no effect on the numbers of genes identified, the proportion with homologs or functional annotations. Increased contiguity of the A. certus assembly provided modest improvement in assembly completeness, as measured by % complete, single-copy BUSCO hymenopteran genes. The total genic sequence increased, and while the number of genes declined, gene length increased, which together suggest greater accuracy of gene models. More contiguous assemblies provide uses other than gene annotation, for example, identifying the genes associated with quantitative trait loci and understanding of chromosomal rearrangements associated with speciation.

The Role of Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive malignancy arising from mesothelial cells that line the serous membranes of the body. Cytotoxic chemotherapy has been a mainstay of therapy, resulting in a modest improvement in overall survival, but toxicity limits the eligible patient population. Few targeted agents beyond bevacizumab have demonstrated superior efficacy compared to placebos. With an improved understanding of the relationship between the immune system and cancer progression, immunotherapies are playing a greater role in the treatment of many cancers. Several early- and late-phase trials in malignant pleural mesothelioma, including assessments of the first-line efficacy of combination ipilimumab/nivolumab treatment, have now demonstrated promising results for both immune checkpoint inhibition and cell-based therapies. These immune therapies are likely to play a central role in the treatment of this disease going forward.

OTHR-01. SNO 2020 DIVERSITY SURVEY: DEFINING DEMOGRAPHICS, RACIAL BIASES, CAREER SUCCESS METRICS AND A PATH FORWARD FOR THE FIELD OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY

BACKGROUND Neuro-oncology has grown tremendously since 2010, marked by increasing society membership, specialized clinical expertise, and new journals. Yet, modest improvement in racial/ethnic diversity amongst clinical trial participants, researchers and clinicians led us to conduct a survey identifying opportunities to enhance diversity and inclusiveness amongst neuro-oncology professionals. METHODS Summer 2020, the Women and Diversity Committee of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) distributed an anonymous online survey to members and affiliates (European Association of Neuro-Oncology, Asian Society for Neuro-Oncology, Society for Neuro-Oncology Latin America and Society for Neuro-Oncology Sub-Saharan Africa). The survey captured personal and professional characteristics, biases, effective mentorship qualities, career success metrics, and suggested field/society changes. Results were analyzed by geography, profession, age, racial/ethnic and sexual identity. Standard descriptive statistics characterized the study population. RESULTS The 386 respondents were predominantly female (58%) with a median age range of 40-49 years (31%), White (65%), and SNO members (97%). Most worked in North America (77%) in a research profession (67%). A majority of White respondents reported never experiencing biases (64%), while the majority of non-White respondents reported unconscious biases/microaggressions, followed by a lack of/limited mentorship. Qualitative assessments showcased that personal/professional success metrics were linked to needed improvements in diversity and inclusion efforts within the neuro-oncology community. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of racial/ethnic biases and poor mentorship rates amongst underrepresented groups in neuro-oncology is high and potentially linked to the limited diverse representation amongst members and affiliates. These findings warrant a swift implementation of equity and inclusion practices within the neuro-oncology field.