Viable Construction Research Articles

From interdependence to pro-environmental behavior: Development and validation of the Preference for Explanations in Terms of Interdependence (PETI) scale for children

Interdependence, a mutual dependence between entities, is a key concept to understand interactions occurring in social and natural environments. We argue that understanding social and natural phenomena in terms of interdependence could predict children's pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). The existing literature reveals a lack of studies promoting PEBs among children. We first reviewed the literature on interdependence to demonstrate why it is a theoretically viable construct to foster PEBs in children. Second, we identified a lack of instruments to measure children's preference for explanations in terms of interdependence. Thus, in study 1, we developed and administered a 9-item vignette-based scale combining pictures and everyday situations with various explanations, the Preference for Explanations in Terms of Interdependence scale—PETI to 351 Swiss pupils (10-12 years old). Exploratory factor analysis revealed a one-dimensional structure. Analyses showed satisfying nomological and predictive validity (on self-reported behaviors). Study 2 (N = 96) was conducted at recreational areas and aimed at extending the predictive validity of the PETI scale to actual behaviors. Contrary to our expectations, results revealed no direct effect of the PETI score, but a significant main effect of age, and a significant interaction effect between PETI and age showing that PETI was more positively associated to PEBs for older (10-13 years old) than for younger (6-9 years old) children. Reliability analyses suggested that the PETI scale is better suited for children aged 10 and over. We discuss the utility of the PETI scale in studying the relationship between children's understanding of interdependence and the endorsement of PEBs.

Responsible brand leadership in services: fostering love, ethics, and empowerment

ABSTRACT Recognizing the absence of clear guidance from marketing literature on the most effective leadership approach for brands, this study explores how brands, akin to human leaders, can strategically adopt responsible leadership. Thus, current research conceptualizes and examines responsible brand leadership's direct and indirect effects on brand-related variables, including brand love, positive ethical judgment, and customer empowerment. Moreover, it examines the influence of ethical judgment and customer empowerment on brand love. The proposed framework was tested in restaurant contexts due to its dynamic nature. Data from 358 diners were collected via a structured questionnaire, and hypotheses were tested using MPlus 8.3. This study establishes responsible brand leadership as a viable construct and offers compelling evidence that it leads to positive outcomes. Multigroup analysis further validates the effectiveness of responsible leadership across gender and restaurant type. Brand managers can adopt responsible brand leadership for enhanced brand reputation and positive customer relationships.

A Psychological, Historical Analysis of Post-Slavery Trauma and Post-Slavery Growth: Are They Viable Constructs?

Around the turn of the 20th century, two sociologists, W. E. B. Du Bois, and E. Franklin Frazier, produced separate narratives depicting the legacy of slavery. Du Bois documented both the apparent negative consequences as well the way many ex-slaves achieved “uplift” within a short period of time, following Emancipation. Frazier claimed that exiting slavery the ex-slaves were a broken and damaged community in dire need of assimilation. In the 1930s, when Black psychologists entered the picture, their contribution tended to favor and extend Frazier’s work, resulting in a series of studies documenting racial self-hatred and damage to the self-concept. Inspired by contemporary biological and genealogical research showing trauma can become embedded in DNA structures and transmitted from one generation to another, Joy DeGruy theorized that most African Americans suffer from a Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome [PTSS]. Missing from DeGruy’s theorizing was mention of theory and research on the way trauma can result in positive psychological outcomes or Post-Traumatic Growth [PTG]. The current work attempts to summarize theory and research for both PTSS and PTG, as each may apply to an analysis of the psychological legacy of slavery.

Eco-friendly building materials: full-scale replacement of mineral aggregates with rice husk

In a context where sustainable construction and ecology are increasingly central, the construction industry is constantly seeking alternative materials that are both economical and eco-friendly. Concurrently, global rice production generates significant amounts of rice husks, often considered as low-value waste. This study deviates from traditional approaches that favor the use of rice husk ash (RHA) as a mineral additive, to explore the potential of rice husks themselves as a complete substitute for sand in concrete formulations. After meticulous characterization of the physicochemical properties of rice husks, several concrete formulations were designed and subjected to a battery of tests. The results are promising. They show that concrete based on rice husks exhibits satisfactory mechanical properties for a wide range of applications, from slabs to load-bearing walls. The compressive strength varies between 0.56 MPa and 5.41 MPa depending on the composition, while the thermal conductivity falls within a range of 0.070 W m−1 K−1 to 0.129 W m−1 K−1, which is comparable to other agro-concretes. This research highlights the promising potential of rice husks as a sand substitute material in concrete. It thus paves the way for more ecologically responsible and economically viable construction alternatives, while proposing a value-added solution for a widely available agricultural byproduct.

Optimizing self-compacting mortars with fillers from sustainable industrial by-products: evaluation of durability parameters

This study investigates the transformative potential of repurposing non-biodegradable industrial by-products, specifically glass, brick, and sanitary ceramic waste, as alternative fillers for self-compacting mortars (SCM). Positioned within the framework of sustainability and enhanced performance, we conduct an in-depth comparative analysis against traditional limestone fillers to ascertain the efficacy of these unconventional materials. Employing a comprehensive methodology, we conduct spreading tests, evaluate heat of hydration, and assess mechanical resistance. Additionally, we delve into key durability parameters, including water-accessible porosity and capillarity, to comprehensively understand the nuanced effects of diverse fillers on the characteristics of the resulting self-compacting mortars. The experimental timeline unfolds through a series of assessments, measuring compressive and tensile strengths at strategic intervals - 2, 7, 28, 90, 270, and 365 days post-application. After 270 days of maturation, our study rigorously examines durability parameters. The findings unequivocally reveal a significant enhancement in SCM performance when incorporating glass, brick, and sanitary ceramic waste as fillers, outperforming conventional limestone fillers. Of notable significance is the consistent superiority of ceramic fillers across a spectrum of metrics. This research significantly contributes to the understanding of sustainable repurposing of industrial by-products in construction. Moreover, it highlights the pivotal role played by ceramic fillers in elevating rheological, mechanical, and durability attributes of self-compacting mortars. Beyond its immediate implications, this study opens new avenues for environmentally responsible and economically viable construction materials, promising further advancements and innovation in the field.

Shot-Earth as Sustainable Construction Material: Chemical Aspects and Physical Performance

Soil has long been one of the most widely used building materials globally. The evolution of soil-based construction materials has seen steady improvement over the centuries, even as traditional materials have given way to newer options like reinforced concrete. Nonetheless, soil-based construction has maintained its relevance and, in recent decades, has garnered increased attention due to sustainability concerns and renewed research interest. Among the innovative earth-based materials, shot-earth (SE) stands out as one of the most advanced. Research on SE has facilitated efficient handling of soil variability in mix design and provided structural engineers with relevant models for dimensioning and detailing reinforced SE constructions. This paper focuses on studying the durability characteristics of various types of SE to ascertain their ability to withstand environmental degradation over their intended lifespan. The tests conducted indicate that SE can serve as a viable construction material in numerous real-life scenarios, offering a sustainable alternative to existing materials.

Marble Powder as a Soil Stabilizer: An Experimental Investigation of the Geotechnical Properties and Unconfined Compressive Strength Analysis.

Fine-grained soils present engineering challenges. Stabilization with marble powder has shown promise for improving engineering properties. Understanding the temporal evolution of Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) and geotechnical properties in stabilized soils could aid strength assessment. This study investigates the stabilization of fine-grained clayey soils using waste marble powder as an alternative binder. Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the geotechnical properties of soil-marble powder mixtures, including Atterberg's limits, compaction characteristics, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS). The effects of various factors, such as curing time, molding water content, and composition ratios, on UCS, were analyzed using Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) techniques, including histograms, box plots, and statistical modeling. The results show that the CBR increased from 10.43 to 22.94% for unsoaked and 4.68 to 12.46% for soaked conditions with 60% marble powder, ITS rose from 100 to 208 kN/m2 with 60-75% marble powder, and UCS rose from 170 to 661 kN/m2 after 28 days of curing, molding water content (optimum at 22.5%), and composition ratios (optimum at 60% marble powder). Complex modeling yielded R2 (0.954) and RMSE (29.82 kN/m2) between predicted and experimental values. This study demonstrates the potential of utilizing waste marble powder as a sustainable and cost-effective binder for soil stabilization, transforming weak soils into viable construction materials.

Double sill stilling basin to enhance energy dissipation for a strong hydraulic jump with a high Froude number

Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) is a new and viable construction material for concrete gravity dams. It is gaining popularity due to its low cost and fast deployment. The design of a stilling basin, part of a dam that controls the hydraulic jump and dissipates energy, is crucial. One of the important considerations is the Froude number at the spillway toe (F1), which determines the type of hydraulic jump that will occur. An energy dissipator is also required to prevent scour caused by the change in flow conditions from supercritical to subcritical. Double sills installed downstream of the steep chute way channel can be used as an energy dissipator. This study uses hydraulic modeling to evaluate the flow energy reduction and subcritical flow conditions in a stilling basin with double sills. The investigation is expected to provide better information on hydraulic jump control.

Aristotelian Practical Wisdom (Phronesis) as the Key to Professional Ethics in Teaching

This article is about a virtue ethical approach to the professional ethics of teaching, centred around the ideal of phronesis (practical wisdom) in an Aristotelian sense. It is grounded empirically in extensive research conducted at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues into teachers and other UK professionals, and it is grounded theoretically in recent efforts to revive an Aristotelian concept of phronesis as excellence in ethical decision-making. The article argues for the need for a virtue-based approach to professional practice, based on time-honoured Aristotelian assumptions and culminating in a conceptually viable construct of phronesis as a psycho-moral integrator and adjudicator. After setting some of the historical background in Sect. 1, Sect. 2 charts the most relevant empirical findings. Section 3 introduces a call for phronesis as a guide to virtue-based professional ethics: its role, nature, and methods of instruction. Section 4 adds some caveats and concerns about if and how phronesis can be cultivated as part of teacher training. Finally, Sect. 5 offers some concluding remarks about the novelty and radicality of the approach on offer in this article.

Random cellulose acetate nanofibers: a breakthrough for cultivated meat production.

Overcoming the challenge of creating thick, tissue-resembling muscle constructs is paramount in the field of cultivated meat production. This study investigates the remarkable potential of random cellulose acetate nanofibers (CAN) as a transformative scaffold for muscle tissue engineering (MTE), specifically in the context of cultivated meat applications. Through a comparative analysis between random and aligned CAN, utilizing C2C12 and H9c2 myoblasts, we unveil the unparalleled capabilities of random CAN in facilitating muscle differentiation, independent of differentiation media, by exploiting the YAP/TAZ-related mechanotransduction pathway. In addition, we have successfully developed a novel process for stacking cell-loaded CAN sheets, enabling the production of a three-dimensional meat product. C2C12 and H9c2 loaded CAN sheets were stacked (up to four layers) to form a ~300-400 μm thick tissue 2 cm in length, organized in a mesh of uniaxial aligned cells. To further demonstrate the effectiveness of this methodology for cultivated meat purposes, we have generated thick and viable constructs using chicken muscle satellite cells (cSCs) and random CAN. This groundbreaking discovery offers a cost-effective and biomimetic solution for cultivating and differentiating muscle cells, forging a crucial link between tissue engineering and the pursuit of sustainable and affordable cultivated meat production.

Dual Plate Fixation of Periprosthetic Distal Femur Fractures.

Dual implants for distal femur periprosthetic fractures (DFPF) is a growing area of interest for these challenging fractures with dual plating (DP) emerging as a viable construct for these injuries. In the current study we review our experience with DP constructs. Retrospective case series with comparison group. Level 1 academic trauma centerPatients/Participants: Adults >50 years old sustaining comminuted OTA/AO 33-A2 or 33-A3 DFPF treated with either DP or a single distal femur locking plating (DFLP). Patients with simple 33-A1 fractures were excluded. Prior to 2018 patients underwent DFLP after which the treatment of choice at our institution became DP. 34 patients treated with DFLP and 38 with DP met inclusion and follow up criteria. The average patient age in the DFLP group was 74.8 +/- 7.3 years compared to 75.9 +/- 11.3 years in the DP group. Dual plating or single DFLP. Reoperation rate, alignment, and complications. Average follow up was 18.2 +/- 13.8 months in the DFLP group and 19.8 +/- 16.1 months in the DP group (p=0.339). There were no statistical differences in demographics, fracture morphology, loss of reduction, or reoperation for any cause (p>.05). However, DP patients were more likely to be weight bearing in the twelve-week postoperative period (p <0.001) and return to their baseline ambulatory status (p = 0.004) compared to DFLP patients. Dual plating of distal femoral periprosthetic fractures maintained coronal alignment with a low reoperation rate even with immediate weight bearing and these patients regained baseline level of ambulation more reliably as compared to patients treated with a single distal femoral locking plate.

Design and implementation of a bioclimatic housing prototype for the Bolivian highlands

The Mechanical - Electromechanical Engineering research institute, made up of a multidisciplinary team, designs and implements a bioclimatic housing prototype for the Bolivian highlands, located near the Andes Mountains at an altitude of 3,000 to 4,000 meters above sea level. This project was developed and implemented with financing from the Swiss Cooperation for Bolivia, within the Climate Change Adaptation projects.&#x0D; The design process includes: the sociocultural study of the inhabitants of the region, where direct information is collected from the peasants on the conception of housing in their culture and ancestral construction characteristics of their houses. Subsequently, the climate of the region (temperatures, solar radiation, winds and relative humidity) is characterized with the help of a meteorological station, which provided historical records of 5 years. Those data were sufficient to be able to carry out a reliable characterization, with which the Typical Meteorological Year is determined. Likewise, local construction materials that may be useful in the design are studied, analyzing their thermal and mechanical properties in the laboratory.&#x0D; Finally, with all the information described, an architectural design is carried out taking into account bioclimatic aspects, ways of harnessing solar energy, distribution of the room and a viable construction cost for the economic reality of the region. The developed architectural model is optimized in an energy simulation program (Siter Vs. 1.2), achieving energy savings of 65%. The software used is owned property of the research institute&#x0D; The house has been monitored with temperature sensors for about a year and six months, to date it shows good results, where the correct functioning of the elements and constructive forms is evidenced, reflecting a temperature inside the house of around 10 °C above room temperature 24 hours a day.

Physicochemical and Microstructural Characterization of Klias Peat, Lumadan POFA, and GGBFS for Geopolymer Based Soil Stabilization

Peat soils are highly heterogeneous and considered problematic because they have a high moisture content and low shear strength. It requires stabilization to enhance its engineering properties before it is transformed into a viable construction material. The use of geopolymers as stabilizer materials for weak soils has been on the rise recently due to their low carbon footprint compared to the use of conventional stabilizer materials like cement. Geopolymerization occurs as a result of the alkali activation of aluminosilicate materials. In this study, peat soil and the aluminosilicate materials Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) are characterized to assess their suitability as geopolymer precursor materials. A series of laboratory studies were carried out to determine the physicochemical properties of the materials, such as particle size distribution, moisture and organic content, specific gravity, pH, and electrical conductivity. Furthermore, the XRD, XRF, and FESEM tests were carried out to ascertain the mineral characteristics, elemental chemical composition, and morphological characteristics of these materials, respectively. The peat soil is classified as hemic peat with sufficient aluminosilicate content (Si/Al ratio of 2.11). The POFA is identified as Class F pozzolan with adequate Si+Al+Fe oxide content (67.9%), as stipulated by ASTM C618. The GGBFS material was found to be appropriate for geopolymer production, with a Si/Al ratio of 2.17, a hydration modulus of 2.38 (good hydration), and a basicity coefficient of 1.32 (alkaline material favorable for geopolymerization). Based on the geopolymer precursor material suitability assessment criteria, all the materials assessed were deemed suitable for geopolymerization, and the effectiveness of POFA-GGBFS geopolymer to improve peat soil properties should be studied in depth. At present, there are limited studies pertaining to the use of alkali-activated POFA-GGBFS blends to improve peat soil properties. As a result of this material characterization phase, planned works involving the compressive strength testing program on alkali-activated POFA-GGBFS-peat soil blends at ambient temperature will be carried out in the near future. The eventual aim of this research is to remediate the peat soil to be repurposed as road subgrade material. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2023-04-02-07 Full Text: PDF

Prefabricated Construction in Sri Lanka: A Proposed Adoption Strategy and a Pilot Case Study from Sustainability Perspective

Prefabricated construction (PFC) has increasingly been recognised as a viable construction solution that has the potential to address the typical issues of conventional construction. Portability, quick fixing ability, less labour intensity, a massive potential for quality, productivity enhancements, and environmental savings are some of the most highlighted benefits of PFC. Developed nations and other industrialised regions have been applying these construction methods more successfully compared to developing economies such as Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is slow in adopting PFC because of some inherent barriers. Thus, this study aims to strengthen the case for shifting to PFC in Sri Lanka. Firstly, the current status of the PFC in the Sri Lankan context is described, including the barriers to adoption. Subsequently, an adoption strategy is proposed using the learnings from successful countries. This adoption framework discusses in-depth strategies/ initiatives to overcome current barriers to adopt prefabrication in construction projects. Finally, a pilot case study is carried out to assess the potential of PFC from a sustainability perspective. The results show that PFC has potential time savings and slight improvements in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than traditional construction in the selected case studies. Reduced times have a huge positive impact on sustainability by cost savings and environmental benefits from less on-site waste and emissions from fuel and electricity usage of construction machines. The outcomes of this study can influence construction industry stakeholders, including government and academia, towards escalating the use of prefabricated technologies to maximise sustainability and project-specific benefits.

Evaluation of Light Cementitious Matrix with Composite Textile Reinforcement from Garment Waste.

The use of recycled waste has been the focus of several studies due to its potential to allow a more sustainable use of construction materials and minimize improper waste disposal in landfills or incinerators. More specifically, garment textile waste has been examined as internal reinforcement of cementitious matrices to increase the deformability and control fissure formation. In this study, polyester textiles are analyzed and incorporated in cementitious composites in order to evaluate their mechanical properties. Results show that significant improvements in mechanical properties of composites are obtained depending on the impregnation treatment applied to the textile waste. In the direct tensile stress test, the waste impregnation with styrene butadiene polymer plus silica fume improved 35.95% in the weft direction and 9.33% in the warp direction. Maximum stress increased 53.57% and 64.48% for composites with styrene-butadiene rubber impregnation and styrene-butadiene rubber plus silica fume impregnation, respectively, when compared to the unreinforced composite. The flexural tensile strength of composites impregnated reinforcements with styrene-butadiene rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber plus silica fume presented increases in strength by 92.10% and 94.73%, respectively, when compared to the unreinforced sample. The impact test confirmed that styrene-butadiene rubber plus silica fume impregnation produced greater tenacity of the composite. In the microstructure, it is confirmed that the impregnated textile reinforcement resulted in composites with greater adhesion between the fabric and the cementitious matrix. Thus, light textile waste is concluded to be a viable construction material for non-structural elements.

Confined masonry in seismic regions: Application to a prototype building in nepal

Confined Masonry (CM) has emerged as an economical and viable construction technique, which is practiced in many seismically vulnerable zones around the world. Despite having performed well during past earthquakes, many seismically prone areas such as Nepal are reluctant to adopt confined masonry as a reliable method of building construction due to limited number of works in understanding its behavior under earthquake loading in comparison to more accepted construction such as RC frame structures and even lesser number of works comparing the behavior of full-fledged building models. Also, modeling of CM buildings still is not commonplace. The objective of this study is to validate a numerical model with the experimental results and to compare the features of the confined masonry thus modeled from a validated process with reinforced concrete construction in terms of seismic behavior and cost of construction in the scenario of Nepal. To attain this objective, the finite element models are developed for confined masonry wall panels which are validated using experimental results from existing works of literature. Then finite element models of prototypical confined masonry and reinforced concrete buildings, using locally available material properties, were developed so as to study the behavior of both under seismic loading by performing pushover analysis and preparing fragility curves. Moreover, a parametric study is performed to study the influence of critical parameters on the overall behavior of the building models. Finally, with the help of the results obtained, CM building has been established as a technically and economically viable building practice in seismically vulnerable areas.

Progress in C-C and C-Heteroatom Bonds Construction Using Alcohols as Acyl Precursors.

Acyl moiety is a common structural unit in organic molecules, thus acylation methods have been widely explored to construct various functional compounds. While the traditional Friedel-Crafts acylation processes work to allow viable construction of arylketones under harsh acid conditions, recent progress on developing acylation methods focused on the new reactivity discovery by exploiting versatile and easily accessible acylating reagents. Of them, alcohols are cheap, have low toxicity, and are naturally abundant feedstocks; thus, they were recently used as ideal acyl precursors in molecule synthesis for ketones, esters, amides, etc. In this review, we display and discuss recent advances in employing alcohols as unusual acyl sources to form C-C and C-heteroatom bonds, with emphasis on the substrate scope, limitations, and mechanism.

X-Ray Triggered Nanoscintillators Photosensitize Pancreatic Cancer and Stimulate a Robust Systemic Immune Response

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> X-ray excited photodynamic therapy (XPDT) utilizes X-ray excited nano-scintillators as a light source for photodynamic therapy to treat solid tumors in deep tissues and stimulate immunogenic tumor necrosis. The goals of our study were twofold: (1) to assess the efficacy of a novel XPDT agent, pYSM, in enhancing the regression of murine pancreatic tumors using low doses of radiation, and (2) to evaluate the immunogenic effects of XPDT and immunotherapy in stimulating a systemic anti-tumor immune response. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> pYSM was synthesized by coating Y₂O₃:Eu nanoparticles in a mesoporous silica shell before loading the shell with methylene blue dye as a photosensitizer and encapsulating the complex in polyethylene glycol to improve systemic circulation. The generation of reactive oxygen species from irradiating pYSM in solution was measured by a singlet oxygen sensor green (SOSG) assay. In vitro studies were conducted using Panc02, a murine pancreatic cell line, by culturing cells with pYSM and measuring the cell viability after irradiation. In vivo studies were performed using C57BL/6 mice with subcutaneous bilateral flank injections of Panc02 cells. A biodistribution assay was performed to confirm that the intravenous tail-vein injection of pYSM resulted in the accumulation of the XPDT agent within the tumor microenvironment. Only right-sided tumors were treated with either XPDT+immunotherapy, XPDT only, radiotherapy only, or pYSM only, and left-sided tumors were left untreated. Tumor growth delay curves were measured for both treated and untreated tumors, and flow cytometry was performed on both tumors to measure the immune response in all treatment groups. <h3>Results</h3> XPDT mediated by pYSM resulted in the greater generation of reactive oxygen species generation under a 10 Gy dose when compared to controls. And in vitro studies confirmed the greater cytotoxic effects of pYSM under X-ray irradiation as compared to controls. Additionally, in vivo studies showed the enhanced tumor regression of pYSM-mediated XPDT+immunotherapy as compared to controls in both right-sided (treated) and left-sided (untreated) tumors, suggesting an abscopal effect, as well as an increase in immune responses within the microenvironment of both right-sided and left-sided tumors. <h3>Conclusion</h3> pYSM is a novel, viable construct capable of performing XPDT to treat solid tumors. Additionally, XPDT mediated by pYSM combined with immunotherapy can generate a systemic anti-tumor immune response that leads to the regression of treated tumors as well as an abscopal effect. This combined treatment modality can be used to treat deep-seated solid tumors with poor immunogenic profiles.

Charcot Arthropathy Limb Salvage with 3D Custom Cage and Dynamic Hindfoot Fusion Nail Combination Fixation: A Case-Series

Category: Diabetes; Ankle; Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Patients with Charcot arthropathy with hindfoot collapse present a difficult challenge for foot and ankle surgeons. While traditional limb salvage options include tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis with accepted shortening, thin wire external fixation, or TTC arthrodesis with bulk femoral head allograft, new 3-dimensional (3D) custom patient specific implants offer a new treatment modality for limb salvage for this difficult issue. The purpose of this case-series is to offer one surgeon's experience with this new treatment technique for limb salvage. Methods: All patients undergoing limb salvage procedures for hindfoot collapse between 2018 and 2022 with a custom 3D hindfoot cage with TTC hindfoot fusion intramedullary nail were included for analysis. Along with patient demographics and length of follow up, patients were asked a series of questions on a telephone survey in order to measure patient reported outcomes including current ambulatory status and whether they would have elected to undergo the same treatment modality again. Complications were also tracked. Finally, radiographs were analyzed to evaluate the degree of deformity correction on both coronal and sagittal planes as well as degree of deformity correction maintenance at last radiographic follow up. Results: 13 patients were included in the analysis. 10 of the 13 patients had Charcot arthropathy. 2 patients had deep infections that ultimately required below knee amputation. 11 out of 13 patients had successful limb salvage as defined by the maintenance of a functional limb without need for amputation. Interestingly, both patients who failed limb salvage and required below knee amputations reported that they would prefer to have undergone the same attempt at limb salvage even with the resulting amputation. Radiographically, the average amount of coronal plane deformity correction was 25 degrees while the average amount of sagittal plane deformity correction was 6 degrees. The average amount of deformity correction maintenance seen at last radiographic follow up was high with a loss of only 0.5 degrees in coronal plane deformity correction loss throughout the time period and an average of 2 degrees of sagittal plane deformity correction loss. Conclusion: While still a challenging pathology to treat, custom patient specific 3D implants combined with TTC hindfoot fusion nail is a viable construct for patients with Charcot arthropathy undergoing limb salvage for hindfoot collapse.

Assessment of Palm Kernel Shell Powder Strengthened with Renolith as Partial Replacement for Cement

The increase in the population density of the world today requires man to find a suitable substitute to cement as a major material used in construction in order to find an economical, safe and eco-friendly structure for habitation. Palm Kernel shells contribute to the ever-growing volume of solid waste in the environment and its conversion to a viable construction material cannot be overemphasized. This research is therefore focused on the use of Palm Kernel Shell Powder (PKSP) as a partial replacement for cement. Experimental tests were carried out on the PKSP at replacement levels of 0,10, 15, 25, 50 and 75%. Renolith, a chemical polymer was added at 0, 12.5 and 25% by volume to the concrete mix. Slump and compressive strength tests were carried out in line with relevant specifications. The results revealed that PKSP can adequately replace cement at an optimum value of 15%. The addition of Renolith at 12.5% to the mix also improved the strength and workability properties of the mix. It was concluded that the use of PKSP as partial replacement for cement will provide an economy of 15% by volume for cement and an eco-friendly environment through the conversion of PKS wastes to construction material.