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Eco-friendly nature, low cost, life-cycle superiority and lightweight are the key drivers pushing today's technology towards employing natural fibers as reinforcement for cementitious-based composites. The present study provides an extensive experimental and finite element analysis aiming to develop a sustainable cementitious composite reinforced with natural fibers. Different concentrations of kenaf and coconut fibers were chemically treated and incorporated into the stabilized sand and specimens were cast and compacted using a modified compaction method. The mechanical, microstructural, and durability properties of the specimens were investigated by various types of tests. A validated 3D slab track model was also developed using a finite element method, which includes all components of the railway infrastructure to assess the performances of this composite under realistic operation scenarios. The outcomes indicated that reinforcing cementitious composite with a certain amount of kenaf fiber (1.5% wt of dry sand) can significantly improve the mechanical behavior and durability performance of the composite through microstructural enhancement. This study opens proper perspectives on the immense potential of the natural fibers in order to develop sustainable, reliable and affordable cementitious composites for different infrastructures applications related to structural layers in transportation, pavements, slope protection and stabilization, embankment, and building foundation.

Synthesis of (multi)block copolymers using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization generally suffers from the limitation that the order of the blocks must be considered. Herein, syntheses of block copolymers by RAFT polymerization using trithiocarbonate RAFT species are conducted as solution, miniemulsion, and emulsion polymerizations to demonstrate that the issue of monomer order for styrene and butyl methacrylate can be largely overcome in emulsion polymerization under carefully chosen conditions. The presence of monomer droplets in emulsion polymerization - in addition to polymer particles that constitute the locus of polymerization - leads to a reduction in the ratio of RAFT end groups to monomer at the locus of polymerization. Consequently, fragmentation of the RAFT adduct radical in the "backward"("wrong") direction is associated with fewer monomer additions, thus minimizing the impact of this undesired kinetic event. It is demonstrated that RAFT emulsion polymerization can be exploited to prepare an alternating pentablock copolymer composed of methacrylates (with 10 mol % styrene) and styrene without consideration of monomer order, thereby significantly broadening the scope of RAFT polymerization for multiblock copolymer synthesis.

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Contains fulltext : 218601.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access), OBJECTIVES: To develop evidence-based recommendations for clinicians caring for children (including infants, school-aged children, and adolescents) with septic shock and other sepsis-associated organ dysfunction. DESIGN: A panel of 49 international experts, representing 12 international organizations, as well as three methodologists and three public members was convened. Panel members assembled at key international meetings (for those panel members attending the conference), and a stand-alone meeting was held for all panel members in November 2018. A formal conflict-of-interest policy was developed at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. Teleconferences and electronic-based discussion among the chairs, co-chairs, methodologists, and group heads, as well as within subgroups, served as an integral part of the guideline development process. METHODS: The panel consisted of six subgroups: recognition and management of infection, hemodynamics and resuscitation, ventilation, endocrine and metabolic therapies, adjunctive therapies, and research priorities. We conducted a systematic review for each Population, Intervention, Control, and Outcomes question to identify the best available evidence, statistically summarized the evidence, and then assessed the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. We used the evidence-to-decision framework to formulate recommendations as strong or weak, or as a best practice statement. In addition, "in our practice" statements were included when evidence was inconclusive to issue a recommendation, but the panel felt that some guidance based on practice patterns may be appropriate. RESULTS: The panel provided 77 statements on the management and resuscitation of children with septic shock and other sepsis-associated organ dysfunction. Overall, six were strong recommendations, 52 were weak recommendations, and nine were best-practice statements. For 13 questions, no rec

Objectives: To determine if lopinavir/ritonavir +/- hydroxychloroquine will reduce the proportion of participants who survive without requiring ventilatory support, 15 days after enrolment, in adult participants with non-critically ill SARS-CoV-2 infection. Trial design: ASCOT is an investigator-initiated, multi-centre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Participants will have been hospitalised with confirmed COVID-19, and will be randomised 1:1:1:1 to receive lopinavir /ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine, both or neither drug in addition to standard of care management. Participants: Participants will be recruited from >80 hospitals across Australia and New Zealand, representing metropolitan and regional centres in both public and private sectors. Admitted patients will be eligible if aged ≥ 18 years, have confirmed SARS-CoV-2 by nucleic acid testing in the past 12 days and are expected to remain an inpatient for at least 48 hours from the time of randomisation. Potentially eligible participants will be excluded if admitted to intensive care or requiring high level respiratory support, are currently receiving study drugs or their use is contraindicated due to allergy, drug interaction or comorbidities (including baseline QTc prolongation of 470ms for women or 480ms for men), or death is anticipated imminently.

OBJECTIVES: To develop evidence-based recommendations for clinicians caring for children (including infants, school-aged children, and adolescents) with septic shock and other sepsis-associated organ dysfunction. DESIGN: A panel of 49 international experts, representing 12 international organizations, as well as three methodologists and three public members was convened. Panel members assembled at key international meetings (for those panel members attending the conference), and a stand-alone meeting was held for all panel members in November 2018. A formal conflict-of-interest policy was developed at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. Teleconferences and electronic-based discussion among the chairs, co-chairs, methodologists, and group heads, as well as within subgroups, served as an integral part of the guideline development process. METHODS: The panel consisted of six subgroups: recognition and management of infection, hemodynamics and resuscitation, ventilation, endocrine and metabolic therapies, adjunctive therapies, and research priorities. We conducted a systematic review for each Population, Intervention, Control, and Outcomes question to identify the best available evidence, statistically summarized the evidence, and then assessed the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. We used the evidence-to-decision framework to formulate recommendations as strong or weak, or as a best practice statement. In addition, "in our practice" statements were included when evidence was inconclusive to issue a recommendation, but the panel felt that some guidance based on practice patterns may be appropriate. RESULTS: The panel provided 77 statements on the management and resuscitation of children with septic shock and other sepsis-associated organ dysfunction. Overall, six were strong recommendations, 49 were weak recommendations, and nine were best-practice statements. For 13 questions, no rec