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Background: Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction due to an inflammatory immune response triggered by an infection. In 2016, a shortened sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA score), known as the quick SOFA (qSOFA) score, replaced the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) system of diagnosis. Objective: The aim of our work was to investigate the validity of qSOFA in predicting the outcome of patients with sepsis in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This prospective comparative study was conducted on 100 patients from August 2017 to August 2018, with sepsis and evidence of multi-organ failure (MOF) at the time of emergency department presentation, who was admitted to the critical care department, Cairo University, Egypt, to evaluate the qSOFA score for predicting outcome in septic patients. Results: The mean age of all patients was 67.55±13.3 years and the majority (74%) of patients were males. The predominant cause of sepsis was pneumonia (87%). Multiple regression analysis showed that qSOFA at day-0 had an independent effect on increasing organ dysfunction (p<0.05). The overall mortality was 32%. By using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, qSOFA score at day-0 predicted patients' mortality with poor accuracy (sensitivity= 43% and specificity=70%) (p=0.042). SOFA score at day-1 predicted patients' mortality with good accuracy (sensitivity=84% and specificity= 76%) (p<0.01). The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score predicted patients' mortality with good accuracy (sensitivity=87% and specificity=72%) (p<0.01). Conclusion: qSOFA at admission is a useful predictor of sepsis and evidence of multi-organ failure in critically ill patients in ED. qSOFA had poor sensitivity and moderate specificity for short-term mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the mechanical behaviour of extended end - plate steel connections including comparison with full size experiments. Contact and friction laws have been taken into account with nonlinear, three dimensional finite element analysis. Material and geometric nonlinearities have been implemented to the model, as well. Results are then compared with experimental tests conducted at the Jordan University of Science and Technology. According to the most significant observation of the analysis, a separation of the column flange from the extended end - plate occurs. Other important structural parameters of the connection, like the impact of some column stiffeners on the overall response, local buckling of the column and friction of the beam to column interface, have been examined as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some of the results from an experimental research project on the behavior of extended end-plate connections subjected to moment conducted at the Structural Laboratory of Jordan University of Science and Technology. Since the connection behavior affects the structural frame response, it must be included in the global analysis and design. In this study, the behavior of six full-scale stiffened and unstiffened cantilever connections of HEA- and IPE-sections has been investigated. Eight high strength bolts were used to connect the extended end-plate to the column flange in each case. Strain gauges were installed inside each of the top six bolts in order to obtain experimentally the actual tension force induced within each bolt. Then the connection behavior is characterized by the tension force in the bolt, extended end-plate behavior, moment-rotation relation, and beam and column strains. Some or all of these characteristics are used by many Standards; therefore, it is essential to predict the global behavior of column-beam connections by their geometrical and mechanical properties. The experimental test results are compared with two theoretical (equal distribution and linear distribution) approaches in order to assess the capabilities and accuracy of the theoretical models. A simple model of the joint is established and the essential parameters to predict its strength and deformational behavior are determined. The equal distribution method reasonably determined the tension forces in the upper two bolts while the linear distribution method underestimated them. The deformation behavior of the tested connections was characterized by separation of the column-flange from the extended end-plate almost down to the level of the upper two bolts of the lower group and below this level the two parts remained in full contact. The neutral axis of the deformed joint is reasonably assumed to pass very close to the line joining the upper two bolts of the lower group. Smooth monotonic moment-rotation relations for the all tested frames were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]