Conventional Specimens Research Articles

Penetration resistance and damage characteristics of cementitious mortar with partially replaced waste tire rubber as a filler against high-speed impact loading

Concrete, as the sole construction material, demonstrates an inadequate performance against high-speed impact loading. Resistance to such loading can be increased by adding rubber from the waste tire industry. In this study, the performances of cementitious mortar with the addition of waste tire rubber (WTR) powder were investigated against the strike of a high-speed projectile. By setting the target flow above 110 % and air content within a range of 5–7%, mortar with 30 % WTR was selected for high-speed impact test. Selected mortar specimens demonstrated significantly high resistance to damage and penetration against a high-speed projectile at impact speeds of 300 m/s and 420 m/s. Further, an experimental study revealed the contrasting behaviour of mortar specimens with WTR powder from that of conventional specimens, where typical compression occurred due to triaxial stress at the tunnel circumference formed by the intrusion of the projectile. Recommendation is made for composite mortar containing a less-stiff material such as rubber for new variables to be defined in the existing formulae, to quantify penetration in high-speed loading; given that the penetration resistance of specimens with 30 % WTR was larger than that of the control specimen, even with its lower compression strength.

The Effect of Intraoperative Margin Assessment During Breast Conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer in a Dutch Cohort

IntroductionIntraoperative specimen radiography is a routinely used procedure to ensure adequate resection of non-palpable breast tumors. Intraoperative digital specimen mammography (IDSM) is an alternative to conventional specimen radiography (CSR) which provides immediate specimen evaluation and can potentially decrease operation time. IDSM may also result in lower positive margin and re-excision rates. IDSM was implemented in our hospital in 2018. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of using IDSM versus CSR on operation time, margin status and re-excision rates in breast conserving surgery. MethodsThe present study is a single-center retrospective cohort study with 2 patient cohorts: one which underwent CSR (n = 532) and one which underwent IDSM (n = 475). The primary outcome was the operation time. Secondary outcomes were the margin status of the primary surgery, the cavity shaving rate, and the re-excision rate. Differences between cohorts were compared using univariate statistics and multiple regression analyses to adjust for variables that were significantly different between the groups. ResultsIDSM use was associated with an 8-minute reduction in surgery time (B = -8.034, 95% CI [-11.6, -4.5]; P < .001). Treatment variables independently associated with the operation time included use of IDSM, type of surgery, and performance of cavity shaving. Cavity shaves were more often performed when IDSM was used (24% for IDSM vs. 14% for CSR, P < .001), while the proportion of negative margin rates (93% for IDSM vs. 96% for CSR, P = .070) was comparable. ConclusionIDSM was associated with a modest reduction in operation time. Surgeons performed more cavity shaves since the introduction of IDSM, but this increase was not reflected by difference in negative margin rates.

Experimental and numerical investigations on shear behavior of high-strength bolted connections after impact

For structures subjected to extreme loading, such as impact, the plastic deformation of structural connections is vital to life safety. Despite its importance, a loss of deformation capacity in connections via fracture of bolts has been repeatedly noted experimentally and in situ. To further investigate the residual strength of high-strength bolted connections after impact damage, this paper presents investigations on shear performance of high-strength bolted connections. This is the first study to report strength and deformation performance for structural bolts after impact damage. A total of 144 specimens were tested for the study, with varying impact height, steel plate thickness, bolt shank diameter, and high-strength bolt grade as the main variables. Experimental results involving failure modes, strain development, and effect of parameters are presented in detail. The observed failure mode is typical bolt shear failure, characterized by extrusion deformation around the bolt hole. The increasement of the thickness of steel plate, the diameter of bolt shank, and grade of bolt would improve the ultimate strength. The shear stiffness is positively correlated with impact height, thickness of steel plate and grade of bolt, but the ductility is decreased with the increment of thickness of steel plate. In addition, the results obtained from the finite element simulation are in agreement with the experimental findings. The simulation analysis shows that the specimens after impact damage are different from those of conventional specimens. Parameters formulae are then proposed with sufficient accuracy for the ultimate strength of high-strength bolted connections with impact damage.

Comparison of FNA-based conventional cytology specimens and digital image analysis in assessment of pancreatic lesions.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is one of the most important diagnostic tools for investigation of suspected pancreatic masses, although the interpretation of the results is controversial. In recent decades, digital image analysis (DIA) has been considered in pathology. The aim of this study was to assess the DIA in the evaluation of EUS-FNA based cytopathological specimens of pancreatic masses and comparing it with conventional cytology analysis by pathologist. This study was performed using cytological slides related to EUS-FNA samples of pancreatic lesions. The digital images were prepared and then analyzed by ImageJ software. Factors such as perimeter, circularity, area, minimum, maximum, mean, median of gray value, and integrated chromatin density of cell nucleus were extracted by software ImageJ and sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff point were evaluated in the diagnosis of malignant and benign lesions. In this retrospective study, 115 cytology samples were examined. Each specimen was reviewed by a pathologist and 150 images were prepared from the benign and malignant lesions and then analyzed by ImageJ software and a cut point was established by SPSS 26. The cutoff points for perimeter, integrated density, and the sum of three factors of perimeter, integrated density, and circularity to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions were reported to be 204.56, 131953, and 24643077, respectively. At this cutting point, the accuracy of estimation is based on the factors of perimeter, integrated density, and the sum of the three factors of perimeter, integrated density, and circularity were 92%, 92%, and 94%, respectively. The results of this study showed that digital analysis of images has a high accuracy in diagnosing malignant and benign lesions in the cytology of EUS-FNA in patients with suspected pancreatic malignancy and by obtaining cutoff points by software output factors; digital imaging can be used to differentiate between benign and malignant pancreatic tumors.

Experimental study on concrete by partial replacement of fine aggregate with steel slag and cement with metakaolin and glass powder

The present study will describe the characteristics and the effects of concrete properties when fine aggregate is partially substituted by steel slag and cement partially substituted by metakaolin and glass powder at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30. Compressive, tensile, flexural strength, and durability tests were conducted on the cube and cylinder specimens. The test results were compared with conventional concrete specimens. The tests are conducted on specimens for 7days and 28days. Based on the outcomes of the study, it was concluded that replacing cement and fine aggregate with glass powder, metakaolin, and steel slag increases the strength of concrete and reduces attack at 30% replacement. Hopefully, the results have clearly demonstrated the concrete constructions can also be made from eco-friendly alternative materials which are cost-effective and sustainable for longtime.

Development and evaluation of cenospheres/polyethylene glycol composite microcapsule for temperature-regulation of asphalt pavements

ABSTRACT In this study, a phase change material microcapsule was produced by using cenospheres as the microcapsule shell, polyethylene glycol 2000 as the phase change material, and silica sol as the sealing material. The produced CenoPCM microcapsule was analyzed using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The thermal properties and stability of the CenoPCM were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and a thermal cycling test. The results showed that the phase change temperature and enthalpy of the CenoPCM were 55.7°C and 101.4 J/g, respectively, with a mass loss of 2.35% at 200°C. After 200 thermal cycles, the mass change remained stable at 2.05%. An outdoor test was conducted to assess the impact of CenoPCM on the thermal performance of asphalt mixtures. In comparison with conventional asphalt mixture specimens, the maximum temperature differences at depths of 2, 5, and 8 cm below the surface of the phase change asphalt mixture specimens were 4.9°C, 6.4°C, and 5.9°C, respectively. Finally, the influence of CenoPCM on the performance of asphalt mixtures was evaluated, revealing a promising future for its use in asphalt pavements.

Experimental and Numerical Study on Hysteretic Behavior of Frictional Energy Dissipation Steel Truss.

In this study, the hysteretic behavior of a novel frictional energy dissipation steel truss (FED-ST) is examined. The proposed FED-ST incorporates a friction damper with brass as the friction material into the top chord of traditional truss to improve the seismic performance of the staggered truss framing systems. A FED-ST specimen with a scale of 1:2.5 was subjected to a hysteresis test. The hysteretic behavior, ductility, and energy dissipation capability were analyzed considering the test findings. It is demonstrated that the FED-ST specimen has favorable ductility and an energy dissipation capacity that is 7.3 times more than that of a conventional truss specimen. The test findings were then used to compare and validate a finite element (FE) model. The FE analysis results are in strong agreement with the test results, demonstrating the validity of the modeling approach. To further investigate the impact of the cover plate width on the behavior of the FED-ST, preliminary parametric research was also carried out.

Study on the degradability of plastics with prodegradant additives during anaerobic and aerobic biological waste treatment processes

The degradability of conventional plastic packaging specimens made from PP and PET, that were produced with novel prodegradant additives, was investigated during biological waste treatment processes. The additives were merchandised to foster the degradation of commodity plastics by enzymatic or by abiotic processes. Four different plastic packaging specimens and two different additives were evaluated for their biodegradability during anaerobic and aerobic waste treatment conditions. Aerobic treatment was investigated in laboratory rotting tests, simulating conditions during composting in a plant according to the Austrian state-of-the-art, while anaerobic treatment was investigated in laboratory digestion reactors. The study shows that only the PET specimens showed a loss of mass of ca. 6.5%, during 50 days of digestion at 52 °C. None of the specimens degraded during the aerobic rotting process. None of the materials fragmented into microplastic particles of sizes > 1 mm under the investigated conditions. However, FTIR analysis revealed the oxidation in the case of PP specimens, which indicated a mediated oxidation process during composting, independent of the merchandised mechanism of predegradation. Under anaerobic conditions, the plastic specimens containing reactors produced more biogas within the first 20 days of digestion, that did not originate from an observable degradation of the plastics.

A new bone adhesive to fix mandible fractures in New Zealand Rabbits: cytotoxicity assay and comparison of bone formation with conventional plate and screw method

Statement of the Problem: Using plate and screws as the conventional bone fixation method in maxillofacial fractures leads to many complications as plate exposure, infection or unpleasant feeling on touching. Finding a substitute fixation method has been a far desire for many years.&#x0D; Purpose: This study compared the new bone formation using an experimental bone adhesive containing a functional monomer (benzophenone tetracarboxylic di-methacrylate, BTDMA) and the conventional plate and screw in fractured mandibles of rabbit.&#x0D; Materials and Method: This is an experimental animal study. The artificial fractures were induced at the mandibular angles of three male New Zealand rabbits. Screw and plate were used as control and titanium mesh with the resin-based bone adhesive containing 15 wt. % BTDMA monomer were applied as treatment. The mandible radiography were obtained and the density of the fracture line was compared to the control. The newly formed bone was assessed by a microscope.&#x0D; Results: The results obtained from the MTT cytotoxicity assay showed that 70% of cells were able to grow in the presence of the adhesive. The radiographic density of mesh-adhesive specimens was 119.88±76.29, while conventional plate specimens' density was 120.38±73.89. The average new bone formation score in the mesh specimens and plate specimens was 3.67±4.62 and 7±4.36, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups. The application of bone adhesive containing 15% BTDMA monomer in a group of the rabbits showed lamellar bone formation.&#x0D; Conclusion: Using bone adhesives containing BTDMA could lead to a new bone formation with high density in the case of adequate bonding to the fractured area.

Self-healing capability of conventional, high-performance, and Ultra High-Performance Concrete with commercial bacteria characterized by means of water and chloride penetration

This study analyzes the self-healing capability of conventional, High-Performance, and Ultra High-Performance Concrete specimens, incorporating commercial bacteria products that are easily accessible, marketed, and affordable from different sectors. Bacteria were incorporated into different mediums: immobilized in diatomaceous earth and liquid. Specimens were pre-cracked to a range of 50–450 μm cracks and were left to heal for 28 days in 3 different conditions (1) water immersion, 2) one week of water immersion followed by three weeks in a humidity chamber, and 3) humidity chamber. To evaluate the self-healing enhancements of specimens using a bacteria-based healing agent, self-healing efficiency was quantified by optical assessment of crack closure, recovery of water tightness via water permeability testing, and chloride permeability via cracks and matrix. The results show that bacterial agents increased the protection against chloride penetration in cracked and healed specimens of conventional concrete, especially when the specimens were healed in water immersion. Owing to the dense matrix of HPC and UHPC, the chloride penetration in the presence of cracks up to 400 μm can be kept below 10 mm. Crack closure greater than 50% is required in UHPC samples to get a significant healing ratio. The penetration through the cracks is approximately twice that of the matrix penetration in conditions when healing is not enhanced.

A study on the mechanical and durability properties of bacterial culture with Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as partial replacement for cement

In concrete structures, the formation of cracks leads to reduction in the strength of the structures. Bioconcrete is an environmentally friendly material used for healing of cracks. In this study, the indigenous bacteria Bacillus cereus KOV15 obtained from the soil is used in bioconcrete with Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as partial replacement for cement. Five different mixes of concrete such as conventional concrete and various mixes of concrete with bacterial broth culture (30% GGBS + 5% bacterial broth culture), (30% GGBS +10% bacterial broth culture), (40% GGBS + 5% bacterial broth culture) and (40% GGBS + 10% bacterial broth culture) were used to find the mechanical and durability properties and to study the microstructure of bioconcrete. The maximum percentage increase in the cube compressive strength, the split tensile strength and the flexural strength of bioconcrete was 26.79%, 11.69% and 21.3% respectively for concrete with 30% cement replaced with GGBS and 10% bacterial broth culture in comparison with the control concrete at the 28th day. The XRD, SEM and EDX analyses were performed to identify the calcium carbonate formation in bioconcrete. The SEM images of the bioconcrete with GGBS as replacement for cement have better hydrated form and have lesser pores than the conventional concrete. The EDX results exhibited a significant increase in the amount of calcium in the bioconcretewith 30% GGBS and 10% bacterial broth culture by 103.82% than that of the conventional concrete.The permeability of chloride ion was very low (903.2 Coulombs) in concrete with 10% bacterial broth culture and 30% GGBS as partial replacement for cement. The water absorption was maximum (3.03%) in the conventional concrete specimens when compared to other bioconcrete specimens with bacterial broth culture and GGBS as partial replacement for cement. Bioconcrete showed very low permeability and higher acid resistance than the conventional concrete. The Load deflection studies exhibited higher ultimate load and ductility factor for bioconcrete and the failure pattern of bioconcrete indicated lesser number of cracks, minimum crack width and no shear failure pattern. The indigenous Bacillicus Cereus KOV15 strains can be used for the synthesis of green construction materials like calcite-based biocement.

Tensile behavior of improved CFRP-square hollow steel tube composite member strengthened with thick-walled steel tube

An improved CFRP-square hollow steel tube (CFRP-SHST) composite member strengthened with a thick-walled section at each end of the steel tube was proposed to prevent premature debonding of CFRP. The square hollow section (SHS) steel tube in the proposed composite member is composed of two thick-walled SHS at both ends and a thin-walled SHS at the center. The test of six proposed CFRP-SHST composite member specimens and one conventional CFRP-strengthened equal-thickness SHS composite member specimen under axial tension load was carried out. Test results indicated that the proposed CFRP-SHST composite member had a better bonding performance, as well as higher ductility than the conventional composite member due to the presence of the thickened sections. The failure mode was the exterior CFRP rupture and interfacial debonding near the end section of the loading side for the improved composite member. Besides, finite element analysis (FEA) was developed to investigate the interfacial stress distribution and the evolution of adhesive layer damage. In addition, a simple calculation approach for tensional carrying capacity was proposed, which was verified by test results.

Experimental investigation on axial local compressive behavior of square concrete-filled double tubular stub columns

This paper investigated local compressive behavior of square concrete-filled double tubular (CFDT) specimens. A total of twenty-nine specimens were tested under axial local compression to study the influence of the inner tube, bearing block shape, local compression area ratio, outer steel tube thickness, concrete strength, and steel strength on the local compressive bearing capacity of specimens. The working mechanism of CFDT under local compression was analyzed. The results show CFDT specimens exhibit superior bearing capacity and ductility, compared to conventional CFST specimens. The larger confinement effect coefficient ξ or local compression area ratio β can delay the appearance of the descending stage of N - Δ curve and improve the ductility of the specimen. The increasing degree of bearing capacity is related to β. When β = 2.25, the most effective measure is to increase the thickness of the outer tube, up to 36.8 %. When β = 9, the use of high-strength concrete is more conducive to improving the bearing capacity, up to 21.8 %. The shape of bearing block has little effect on the bearing capacity. In addition, finite element model was established and analyzed based on experimental results, reasonably agreement was obtained between numerical and measured results. An evaluation method for calculating the local bearing capacity were proposed, which showed good consistency with experimental results.

P-012 Time, risk &amp;amp; motion study of an integrated artificial intelligence robotic system for semen analysis

Abstract Study question Can integration of a robotic system for semen analysis reduce operational failure modes and eliminate risk in the IVF laboratory? Summary answer A robotic system for semen analysis reduces operational failure modes and eliminates severe risks including those associated with reduced patient experience and increased patient stress. What is known already Recently, the ever-evolving field of IVF has experienced a rise in innovations to boost laboratory performance. Considering the lack of robust evidence in some of them, decisions on implementation are often based on opinion and product cost. Currently, an approach to assess risk, time and effectiveness has not been fully described. IVF is not error-free (Sakkas et al., 2018), hence all new technology coming into the laboratory ought to reduce risk of errors happening. Study design, size, duration Failure mode effects analysis (FMEA) was carried out on the workflow integration into an IVF centre (&amp;gt;500 cycles per annum) to evaluate the possible procedural risks of manual semen analysis compared to a digitalised pathway. Possible sources of error were identified, and the Risk Priority Number (RPN), a product of likelihood, severity and detection of incidence was associated with each risk, as previously described by Rienzi et al., 2015. Participants/materials, setting, methods Using a systematic decision-making approach to quantify the value of incorporating the use of a robotic system (Mojo AISA) for semen analysis. Main results and the role of chance Five process phases were identified for conventional specimen analysis. There were eight associated process steps and 29 failure modes, among which 13 risks were given a moderate (RPN 15-50, i.e. data entry errors, incorrect count and sperm classification) and three were severe RPNs (RPN&amp;gt;50), resulting in reduction in efficacy of treatment. Protocol using the robotic system resulted in a reduction of process phases to four and failure modes to 16, with four moderate and none severe RPNs. Implementation of the robotic system improved workflow by optimising time in motion for the IVF specialist and further reducing active time by at least 30%. Limitations, reasons for caution FMEA is a proactive method to identify potential incidents and help to develop strategies to mitigate risks. Ultimately, this forms part of a scheme for responsible development. The likelihood of incidences and time analysis were estimated based on clinical experience. Risks inherent to sample handling remained present. Wider implications of the findings The robotic system has the potential to eliminate risks that exist when manually inputting data to electronic medical records, whilst offering support to IVF specialists. Trial registration number not applicable

Seismic performance of corroded non-seismically and seismically detailed RC beam-column joints rehabilitated with High Strength Fiber Reinforced Concrete

The experimental investigation was undertaken to restore the seismic performance of the corrosion-damaged beam-column joint (BCJ) rehabilitated with High Strength Fiber Reinforced Concrete (HSFRC). A total of eight exterior beam-column sub-assemblages were cast following two types of reinforcement detailing as per IS 456:2000 and IS 13920:2016, respectively. Three specimens from each reinforcement detailing regime were subjected to three different levels of corrosion and thereafter rehabilitated with HSFRC. The hysteresis behavior, energy dissipation, stiffness degradation, crack patterns, and damage index of all rehabilitated specimens are analyzed and compared with the conventional specimens. Test results indicate that the replacement of damaged concrete with HSFRC can recover the strength of corrosion-damaged BCJ when the corrosion ratio is within 10 %. The peak load-carrying capacity and initial stiffness of rehabilitated specimens showed a significant increase up to 36 % and 84 % respectively, when compared to control specimens. The ductile detailing rehabilitated specimens showed up to 90 % higher equivalent viscous damping ratio than the non-ductile ones, exhibiting close stirrups arrangement superiority. Despite recovering the load-carrying capacity at initial drifts, the seismic performance of non-ductile and ductile rehabilitated specimens having 17.76 % and 20.32 % corrosion ratio were not recovered at higher drifts.

Underwater surface abrasion of conventional and geopolymer concrete using the ASTM C1138 approach

This study focuses on the development of unique geopolymer-based composites made using industrial byproducts and waste materials. The first test variable was the compressive strength grade, where conventional concrete specimens with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and GPC specimens having three target design strengths (20, 30 and 40 MPa) were prepared and tested. All specimens were tested at different ages, which is the second variable of the study, where early ages (3 and 7 days) and mature age (28 days) were adopted. It is worth mentioning that both geopolymer and concrete samples had the exact quantities of filler and binder materials. Then, the specimens were tested following the procedure of standard ASTM C1138 approach under-water abrasion tests, which were conducted at 6 intervals of 12 h each. The recorded abrasion results revealed higher abrasion losses for specimens with lower design strengths regardless of the type of concrete. Besides, the influence of the sample's age on enhancing the abrasion resistance was more apparent in conventional concrete samples than geopolymer ones since the last gained their design strength early, about three days. The GPC specimens exhibited lower abrasion losses compared to their corresponding OPC ones revealing a better abrasion resistance. The difference was the highest at the age of 3 days due to the early strength development of GPC. The abrasion resistance enhancement of GPC specimens compared to their corresponding OPC ones at 3 days was 72% for the design strength of 20 MPa and around 55% for the higher design compressive strengths.

Conventional specimen radiography in breast-conserving therapy: a useful tool for intraoperative margin assessment after neoadjuvant therapy?

PurposeA previous study in our breast unit showed that the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative specimen radiography and its potential to reduce second surgeries in a cohort of patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were low, which questions the routine use of Conventional specimen radiography (CSR) in this patient group. This is a follow-up study in a larger cohort to further evaluate these findings.MethodsThis retrospective study included 376 cases receiving breast-conserving surgery (BCS) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) of primary breast cancer. CSR was performed to assess potential margin infiltration and recommend an intraoperative re-excision of any radiologically positive margin. The histological workup of the specimen served as gold standard for the evaluation of the accuracy of CSR and the potential reduction of second surgeries by CSR-guided re-excisions.Results362 patients with 2172 margins were assessed. The prevalence of positive margins was 102/2172 (4.7%). CSR had a sensitivity of 37.3%, a specificity of 85.6%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 11.3%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 96.5%. The rate of secondary procedures was reduced from 75 to 37 with a number needed to treat (NNT) of CSR-guided intraoperative re-excisions of 10.In the subgroup of patients with clinical complete response (cCR), the prevalence of positive margins was 38/1002 (3.8%), PPV was 6.5% and the NNT was 34.ConclusionThis study confirms our previous finding that the rate of secondary surgeries cannot be significantly reduced by CSR-guided intraoperative re-excisions in cases with cCR after NACT. The routine use CSR after NACT is questionable, and alternative tools of intraoperative margin assessment should be evaluated.

Concordance between cryobiopsy and forceps biopsy specimens in assessment of immunohistochemistry staining for non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Cryobiopsy is recently being promoted for biopsy of tumors in the lung periphery in precision medicine for lung cancer; the obtained tissue samples have been reported to be more useful compared to those obtained using forceps, because of the larger volume and higher quality. However, the influence of freezing and thawing of tissues when performing cryobiopsy on the results of immunohistochemistry (IHC) has not been completely understood. In this study, consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy with cryobiopsy for peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) at our institution between June 2017 and November 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Specimens of diagnosed cases of unresectable or recurrent non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) were selected. We compared the results of IHC assessment for programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) in cryobiopsy specimens versus conventional forceps biopsy specimens from the same site in the same procedure. Twenty-four of 40 patients were male (60%). The most frequent histologic type of cancer was adenocarcinoma (n=31, 77.5%), followed by NSCLC (n=4, 10%), squamous cell carcinoma (n=3, 7.5%), and others (n=2, 5%). The concordance rates of the tumor proportion scores (TPSs) for PD-L1, IHC score for HER2 and, IHC scores for HER3 were 85%, 72.5%, and 75%, respectively; the weighted kappa were 0.835, 0.637, and 0.697, respectively. Freezing and thawing associated with cryobiopsy had virtually no effect on the results of IHC. We suggest that cryobiopsy specimens would therefore be ideal for precision medicine and translational research.

Effects of Partial Replacement of Sand by Crushed E-Waste on Mechanical Properties of Concrete

Abstract: Electronic waste is an increasing issue and a serious pollution problem for the environment and human life. The disposal of electronic waste is becoming a serious problem. The main potential for addressing the disposal of large amounts of electronic waste material is in the construction industry. The excess cost of coarse aggregate has forced civil engineers to find out an alternative solution for the construction materials. So, we can use e-waste as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate. Using electronic waste in construction will not only reduce the waste materials like electronic waste from the earth but also reduce the construction material(concrete) that will lead to economic construction. for Concrete mixes, different rate percentages of E-waste were selected and three different types of conventional and standard specimens have been decided to be partly replaced by E-waste at a percentage rate of 10%, 20%, and 30% for a coarse aggregate. M25 Concrete is usually prepared for conventional specimens without using E-waste aggregates. The results and effectiveness of concrete with e-waste replacement and the physical and mechanical properties of the following have been studied in this paper.

Seismic performance and shear lag effect of T-shaped steel plate reinforced concrete composite shear wall

This research introduces an experimental test and finite element method to study the seismic performance and shear lag effect of T-shaped steel plate reinforced concrete composite shear walls (SPRCWs). Low-cycle cyclic loading tests were conducted on five T-shaped specimens and one conventional rectangular specimen, with axial compression ratio, shear span ratio, and geometric dimensions of web and flange as the primary test parameters. The test results demonstrated that the specimens showed bending, bending-shear, and shear failure modes depending on the shear span ratios, with T-shaped specimens exhibiting more satisfactory seismic behavior than the rectangular specimen. Furthermore, the T-shaped specimens showed better seismic behavior under compression in the flange than under tension. Smaller axial compression ratios and web lengths, as well as greater flange widths, resulted in better deformation capacity and energy dissipation capacity, and the bearing capacity was enhanced by increasing the axial compression ratio and web length. Test results were used to investigate the shear lag effect of T-shaped SPRCW, and a parametric study was performed using ABAQUS to examine the impact of various design parameters on the shear lag effect. The simulation results indicated that increasing the wall height and steel plate ratio in the flange, and reducing the flange width could significantly weaken the shear lag effect. In contrast, the web length and axial compression ratio have little effect on the shear lag effect.