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Background and Objective: The 21st century has witnessed a surge in global internet usage, particularly in developing nations like India. Internet addiction, also known as pathological internet use (PIU) or internet addiction (IA), has emerged as a mental health concern, especially among university students. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of IA among MBBS students in a medical college in Delhi, India, and explore the association of IA with sociodemographic and internet usage patterns. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 300 undergraduate medical students. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which included the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) developed by Dr. Kimberley Young. The IAT measures various aspects of internet use, and scores are categorized as normal user, mild addiction, moderate addiction, and severe addiction. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of onset of internet use was 14.4 ± 1.6 years. Smartphones were the most common devices used for internet access (96.3%), and the mean daily internet usage was 2.9 h ± 0.9 (standard deviation [SD]). The study found that 70.7% of students maintained a permanent login status. The majority of subjects used the Internet for coursework (89.7%) and information searches (88.7%). The prevalence of IA was significant, with 90% of participants being addicted to varying degrees. The grading of IA revealed 10% with no addiction, 54.6% with mild addiction, 32% with moderate addiction, and 3.3% with severe addiction. Conclusion: IA is a prevalent public health concern among medical students in Delhi, with a majority of participants being addicted to some extent. Females showed a higher proportion of addiction compared to males. Certain internet activities, such as social networking and watching online videos, were significantly associated with IA. The study highlights the need for recognizing IA as a public health concern and further research to understand its impact on the youth. Longitudinal studies are recommended to observe the development and progression of IA over time.

In our earlier study, the impact resistance of slabs made up of concrete containing hybrid fibers (i.e., steel and synthetic fibers in various proportions) was evaluated through an experimental program. The test specimens, measuring 600 × 600 × 90 mm, were cast with varying amounts of fibers, while some were kept as control samples without any fibers. The high-velocity impact tests were conducted using a gas-gun system, where hemispherical steel projectiles were fired at the slabs. The craters’ sizes and penetration depths were measured. The hybrid fibers in the concrete reduced spalling and scabbing damage and reduced the size of craters. In the current study, the impact response of the hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (HFRC) slabs was investigated numerically. LS-DYNA software was employed for this investigation, and crack sizes, areas of spalling and scabbing damages, and penetration depths were estimated. The numerical simulations provided an efficient and practical tool for analyzing the HFRC slabs’ response against impact load. The use of hybrid fibers decreased front surface damage and prevented concrete particles from flying out of the back face. The inclusion of fibers in concrete increased the perforation energy by 49%–203%. The numerical predictions of penetration depth were reasonably close, with absolute errors varying from 3.6%− 32.6%, and the error in the prediction of maximum rebar strain varied from 2.5% to 12.7%. The presented model thus has the capability to predict the local damages of various types of RC and HFRC slabs with acceptable accuracy.

Composite walls consist of two reinforced concrete (RC) walls with or without a filling between them. The use of RC composite walls instead of thick monolithic concrete walls can save material costs significantly. However, it is still unknown if a composite wall system with some granular filling can provide impact resistance comparable to a monolithic RC wall. The objective of this experimental study was to investigate the effect of granular fillings between the two RC walls in improving the impact potential of composite walls and compare the behavior of such walls with that of an equivalent monolithic RC wall. For this purpose, the specimens were prepared to simulate monolithic and composite RC walls. These specimens were tested with a gas gun under single and multiple/repetitive impact loading using hemispherical nose projectiles. The composite walls’ response was then studied and compared with the response of monolithic and no-filling composite walls. Test results and the analysis of the results demonstrate that the idea of using a composite wall system is very promising as the impact response of a composite wall system is much improved than a monolithic wall of the same total thickness and reinforcement. The ballistic limit of the composite wall was also found. In order to predict the ejected mass from a composite wall system, a new analytical model was proposed. There was reasonable agreement between the test results and the prediction.

This paper experimentally investigates the dowel action contribution of longitudinal reinforcement, a hybrid of steel and GFRP bars (usually adopted for avoiding corrosion of steel bars), in concrete deep beams for different reinforcement schemes. The self-consolidating concrete without and with steel fibers (0.9 % and 1.2 % by volume) was used. Sixteen simply supported deep beams of 140 × 300 (depth) × 1500 mm were tested under the two-point loads. A model is developed to predict the shear capacity of deep beams without web reinforcement, taking into consideration the dowel action contribution of longitudinal reinforcement, which is a hybrid of steel and GFRP rebars. The results showed a significant dowel action contribution of steel as well as GFRP rebars to beam shear strength. However, the use of a hybrid system of steel and GFRP bars caused a reduction in the dowel action of steel bars due to their combined action.

Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars are emerging as a potential replacement for steel rebars due to their vulnerability to corrosion. However, the shear behavior of GFRP bars is not well established, especially in functionally graded self-compacting concrete (SCC) deep beams reinforced with hybrid rebars (GFRP and steel). This article experimentally explores the behavior of functionally graded high-strength SCC deep beams having a hybrid of steel and GFRP bars as tension reinforcement. A total of fourteen deep beams were prepared with varying reinforcement ratios and steel fiber volume fractions. There were three groups of deep beams: (i) plain SCC (i.e., no fibers) beams, (ii) fiber-reinforced SCC (FRSCC) beams having 0.6 % and 1.2 % steel fibers, and (iii) functionally graded deep beams. The functional grading was achieved by casting beams in two layers, with the first layer of lower two-thirds depth having steel fibers and the second layer without fibers. The beams were shear deficient and tested in flexure. The shear resistance of functionally graded deep beams was compared with beams having fibers in full depth and without fibers. The test results reveal the significance of the hybrid system of rebars, which is found to effectively improve the structural capacity of concrete beams and increase the load required to initiate cracking. In addition, the mixing of fibers in concrete enhanced the deep beam shear capacity by 15–23 % for 0.6 % fibers and 37–39 % for 1.2 % fibers. The increase in the shear resistance of concrete deep beams was not influenced by the use of hybrid rebars compared to using GFRP bars only. A model is developed for assessing the shear resistance of functionally graded fiber-reinforced concrete deep beams by incorporating the dowel action of hybrid longitudinal reinforcing bars. The study indicates that the dowel action provided by GFRP bars is comparable to the steel bars of the same area.

In the Middle East, wall-like reinforced concrete (RC) columns are a common choice in multistory buildings. Sometimes, these columns need axial retrofitting for increased load capacity. In practice, unstrengthened columns bear their load, and if retrofitting is necessary, the load is released before the upgrade—unlike in past research studies that overlooked this real-world scenario. This study aimed to investigate the response of preloaded wall-like RC columns after being retrofitted using different configurations. In the experimental campaign, two half-scale columns were cast and axially loaded to 80% of their capacity, and the load was then totally released. After that, these specimens were strengthened with two different schemes, and hence, they were concentrically loaded until failure. In both schemes, the section shape was not modified. The first scheme comprised wrapping carbon FRP (fiber-reinforced polymer) sheets together with near-surface mounted (NSM) steel rebars. However, the second technique was composed of wrapping glass FRP (GFRP) sheets together with NSM steel rebars and bolted steel plates. The second scheme was found to be superior to the first one due to the extra confinement provided by the bolted steel plates. This scheme improved the peak load, stiffness, and dissipated energy by 115%, 75%, and 524%, respectively. Other than the testing campaign, nonlinear numerical modeling was undertaken to examine the behavior of tested specimens. The models were utilized to conduct a parametric study, exploring the influence of the percentage of preloading and the amount of load release on the response of columns strengthened with the second scheme.

The concept of microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is in vogue for quite some time; but a multitude of factors that would lead to optimal bacterial activity enabling real time application of the technique in various intended processes are yet to be standardized. This study is an attempt to elucidate some of these factors. The study was conducted in sand columns simulating standard cement mortar conditions of high pH at room temperature. Sporosarcina pasteurii ATCC6453 cultures in broths at variable cell counts of 1 × 103, 105, 107, and 109 ml−1 with 0.2M concentrations of urea and calcium chloride were poured onto sand columns in plastic sheet molds. After variable incubation period of 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, urease activity of the bacterium was assayed calorimetrically. Physical verification of calcite deposition was done with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) after 28 days of treatment. Urease activity escalated significantly with increasing cell count and incubation period. SEM and XRD examinations revealed remarkable deposition of calcite in the columns under treatment.

Increasing demand for concrete construction and the consequent increase in the production of conventional Portland cement is thwarting efforts towards sustainable construction practices. This is seen in the carbon dioxide footprint caused by cement manufacturing as well as natural resources consumption. Therefore, the so-called geopolymer or alkali-activated composites using byproduct or natural materials are seen as a potential substitute for cement-based binders. Similarly, recycled rubber recovered from shredded tires has been used in concrete mixes, which in addition to the environmental benefit, offers desirable properties, e.g., improved deformability and energy dissipation capacity. Therefore, this paper investigates the influence of introducing recycled rubber in metakaolin-based geopolymer mixes on the workability, compressive behavior (stress–strain components and failure mode), flexural strength, unit weight, air content, and water absorption percentage. Seven mixes were employed for this purpose with two main variables comprising rubber size (fine, coarse, or combination of both) and replacement percentage (0%, 20%, and 40%). Recycled rubber was observed to reduce the mix workability by 4%–52.5% and 40%–62.5% when fine or coarse rubber particles were added to concrete mixes, respectively. Average compressive strength of 14.3–37.7 MPa was achieved when fine and/or coarse rubber particles replaced 20% or 40% of the conventional fine and/or coarse aggregates. Furthermore, rubberized geopolymer concrete showed more deformability than plain mixes coupled with lightweight characteristics, which are desirable in many construction applications. This indicates the suitability of the rubberized geopolymer concrete for developing low to moderate-strength concrete for non-structural and structural applications.

Reinforced concrete (RC) one-way ribbed slabs serve as a prevalent flooring solution in the Middle East. In this region, the occurrence of openings within these slabs is frequent, particularly when making modifications to existing buildings. However, these openings compromise the stiffness and load-bearing capacity of the slabs, necessitating strengthening measures. All of the available investigations were carried out on strengthening RC one- and two-way solid slabs with openings. However, a noticeable research gap exists, as none of these studies have delved into the strengthening of RC one-way ribbed slabs with openings. This gap was bridged in this study by conducting a comprehensive experimental inquiry into the effectiveness of utilizing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates to restore the flexural capacity of RC one-way ribbed slabs featuring flexure openings. The experimental program comprised four half-scale one-way ribbed slabs (having three ribs) divided into one unstrengthened specimen without openings to act as a reference, one unstrengthened specimen with a single opening located in the peak-moment region, and two FRP-strengthened slabs each having a single opening located in the peak-moment region. The dimensions of each slab were 2600 mm (length) × 825 mm (width) × 175 mm (thickness). The openings were square (side length = 400 mm), which included cutting the middle rib. The slabs were tested under four-point flexure until failure. It was revealed that strengthening slabs using FRP sheets fully restored the flexural capacity, which was even exceeded by up to 8%. However, the secant stiffness and dissipated energy were partially restored compared with the unstrengthened slab without opening, and these response parameters were reduced by up to 19% and 32%, respectively. Moreover, the displacement ductility for strengthened specimens was moderately reduced compared with the unstrengthened specimen without opening. Furthermore, an analytical procedure was suggested based on section analysis for quick and reasonable assessment of the peak load for both unstrengthened and strengthened one-way ribbed slabs with and without flexure openings.

Damage induced by fire is considered a serious threat to reinforced concrete structures during their useful lifetime. While concrete is a non-flammable material, its exposure to fire affects its stress-strain characteristics and durability. Given that a full replacement and/or demolition option is economically inefficient for fire-damaged structures, a better alternative for lengthening their service life involves repair or strengthening the damaged members. The current testing program primarily investigated the influence of strengthening by glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) sheets on the behavior of heat-damaged plain and fiber-reinforced normal and high strength concretes. Strengthening was considered for concrete cylinders after being exposed to 400 °C and 600 °C temperature and left to cool by air cooling or water quenching. Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) mixes were cast with steel, polypropylene, or a hybrid of steel and polypropylene fibers. For plain and various fiber-reinforced normal strength concretes exposed to 400 °C and cooled by ambient air cooling or water quenching, the compressive strength of GFRP confined concrete increased by 39% to 48% and 42% to 56%, respectively (in comparison to the unheated specimens). However, this enhancement was observed to be higher for concretes heated at 600 °C.

Steel buildings are generally susceptible to the risk of progressive collapse in case one or a few load-carrying members are lost in an extreme event such as blast, impact, or fire. Thus, to avoid the catastrophic collapse of steel structures, it is imperative to investigate and learn from the performance of existing steel buildings for progressive collapse potential. The Ohio Union building, a multi-story steel-framed building that existed on the campus of Ohio State University, was tested earlier before its demolition by one of the co-authors for progressive collapse assessment under the successive removal of four columns located at the first-story level. The aim of this study is to conduct NLD (nonlinear dynamic) analysis for the building considering buckling of columns to numerically assess its potential for progressive collapse and then compare it with test observations. The calibrated finite element (FE) model was then extended to incorporate more hypothetical sequential and simultaneous column-loss scenarios. As one of the most widely accepted documents used among practicing engineers for numerical assessment of progressive collapse potential of buildings, the 2003 GSA (General Services Administration) guidelines were also applied. The simplified LS (linear static) analysis approach of the GSA guidelines was used for assessing the progressive collapse risk of the building, and the results were then compared with both test observations and NLD analysis. New dynamic increase factors (DIFs) are recommended for both force- and deformation-controlled actions to be used with the LS analysis.

This experimental study aims to examine the effectiveness of shear stirrups and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthening scheme in enhancing the deep beams’ shear strength. For this purpose, a total of six deep beam specimens of 150 mm × 300 mm (depth) × 1000 mm with an effective span of 750 mm, classified into three groups of two specimens each, were prepared. The beams of the first group were of normal concrete (NC). The beams of the second group were prepared using ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). In the third group, the UHPFRC deep beams were strengthened using CFRP strips. Each group had two beams – one with no shear stirrups and another with shear stirrups. All deep beams were tested under four-point loading until failure. According to the experimental results, shear stirrups effectively contributed to enhancing shear strength, ultimate load, and deformation capacity for NC deep beam. By utilizing the UHPFRC mix, the deep beams’ shear strength was upgraded significantly compared with the NC deep beams, but the deformation capacity was reduced. The implemented strengthening scheme was effective in the enhancement of deep beams’ shear strength and deformation capacity. The improvement in the shear strength of strengthened UHPFRC deep beams was moderate (16%); however, a considerable increase was observed in the deformation capacity as the displacement and energy ductility indices were enhanced by 49% and 185%, respectively.

Reinforced concrete (RC) wall-like columns are commonly employed in structures in Saudi Arabia. These columns are preferred by architects owing to their minimum projection in the usable space. However, they often need strengthening due to several reasons, such as the addition of more stories and increasing the live load as a result of changing the usage of the building. This research aimed to obtain the best scheme for the axial strengthening of RC wall-like columns. The challenge in this research is to develop strengthening schemes for RC wall-like columns, which are favored by architects. Accordingly, these schemes were designed so that the dimensions of the column cross-section are not increased. In this regard, six wall-like columns were experimentally examined in the event of axial compression with zero eccentricity. Two specimens were not retrofitted to be used as control columns, whereas four specimens were retrofitted with four schemes. The first scheme incorporated traditional glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) wrapping, while the second one utilized GFRP wrapping combined with steel plates. The last two schemes involved the addition of near-surface mounted (NSM) steel bars combined with GFRP wrapping and steel plates. The strengthened specimens were compared with regard to axial stiffness, maximum load, and dissipated energy. Besides column testing, two analytical approaches were suggested for computing the axial capacity of tested columns. Moreover, finite element (FE) analysis was performed for evaluating the axial load versus displacement response of tested columns. As an outcome of the study, the best strengthening scheme was proposed to be used by practicing engineers for axial upgrading of wall-like columns.

The use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) rebars is nowadays becoming popular in reinforced concrete (RC) construction due to their excellent inherent properties such as corrosion resistance, lightweight, and high strength to weight ratio. The steel rebars, being susceptible to corrosion, are being replaced by FRP rebars. The higher strength of FRP rebars, as compared to steel, requires larger lap lengths when embedded in concrete. Although laps in steel rebars can be replaced by mechanical couplers, this is not feasible for FRP rebars. Thus, the present study investigates the use of couplers for Glass FRP (GFRP) rebars. Three types of couplers were tried: (i) steel pipe coupler, (ii) CFRP pipe coupler, and (iii) CFRP sheet coupler. These couplers were tested in direct tension for assessing their feasibility and establishing the design requirements. Although the steel pipe coupler demonstrated excellent performance, the use of CFRP pipe and CFRP sheet couplers were not successful. However, the performance of CFRP sheet couplers can be improved by increasing the length of sheet, and/or number of wraps.

Geopolymer is emerging as a potential alternative material to the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) owing to its energy efficiency and environmental protection. However, the effect of the mix design parameters on the behavior of geopolymer concrete (GPC) produced using local metakaolin (MK) is not well established. This paper presents findings from a comprehensive experimental program to study the effect of various mix design parameters on the properties of fresh and hardened MK-based GPC. Seventeen mixes were cast in four groups to investigate the effect of four parameters, including sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio, alkaline solids to MK ratio, aggregate content, and water to solids ratio on the properties of GPC. The investigated properties included workability, density (wet and dry), development of compressive strength with age, splitting tensile strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water absorption, and horizontal abrasion resistance. Besides, two reference OPC concrete mixes, equivalent to two MK-based geopolymer mixes, were tested for the sake of comparison. The test results were helpful in developing a better understanding of the behavior of MK-based GPC. Some useful models are proposed for predicting workability, splitting tensile strength, water absorption, and weight loss in abrasion for MK-based GPC. The test results were supplemented and confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis performed on some selected GPC mixes.

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is commonly adopted as an effective binder in the production of concrete and cementitious mortars. The metakaolin (MK) based geopolymer (GP) binder offers a sustainable alternative to the OPC due to its essential environmental and technical benefits in reducing the carbon footprint. In the present study, two conventional and six GP repair mortars were used. Three GP mortars were plain (without fibers), and the remaining three were produced by mixing Polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) fibers. The GP mixes were produced by varying sand content, alkaline solids to MK, and sodium silicate to NaOH ratios, resulting in different molar ratios. The test specimens were prepared by overlaying a 5 mm thick layer of repair mortar on a concrete substrate for conducting pull-off strength tests. This research was undertaken to investigate the effect of exposure to elevated temperatures on the performance of bond strength of GP mortar used as a repair material. The test specimens were subjected to ambient temperature and elevated temperatures of 200 and 400 °C for a duration of 3 h before conducting pull-off tests. The test results revealed that the selected GP mixes could be a promising alternative repair material for structures due to their good bond strength performance. The addition of fibers in stable mixes of GP mortars enhanced the bond strength at ambient as well as when exposed to 200 °C, through crack control mechanism.

In RC (reinforced concrete) frame structures, wall-like columns are laid within the space occupied by masonry walls to maximize usable space and thus minimize the column projections into the usable area. These columns often require strengthening owing to various reasons, including increasing the number of stories, changes in building usage, and others. The use of a hybrid system comprising NSM (near-surface mounted) steel rebars combined with CFRP (carbon-fiber reinforced polymer) laminates may be considered a sound technique for strengthening such wall-like building columns. The prime aim of this study is to devise an efficient scheme using a hybrid NSM/CFRP system to strengthen existing RC wall-like columns. Six half-scale RC wall-like columns were prepared and tested under monotonic concentric axial compression. Two columns were unstrengthened to serve as control specimens (CW1 and CW2), and four specimens were strengthened using four different schemes (SW1, SW2, SW3, and SW4). As favored by architects, all strengthening schemes were designed so that the dimensions of the column cross-section were not increased. The effects of strengthening schemes on the enhancement of axial capacity, energy dissipated, and stiffness were evaluated to find the most efficient scheme. Among the four studied schemes, using vertical continuous NSM rebars in combination with the wrapping of the three CFRP layers onto the exterior column surface (in specimen SW2) was the most efficient as it enhanced the ultimate load capacity by 80%. Three-dimensional FE (finite element) analysis was also conducted to predict the response of test specimens. The test results matched well with the FE outputs, which justified the accuracy of the used constitutive models for concrete, steel rebars, and CFRP sheets.

Concrete is classified as a multi-composite material comprising three phases: coarse aggregate, mortar, and interfacial transition zone (ITZ). Fine and coarse aggregates occupy approximately 70–85% by volume, of which coarse aggregate typically constitutes more than two-thirds of the total quantity of aggregate by volume. The current study investigates the concrete performance produced using various recycled construction and by-product industrial waste coarse aggregates. Six types of coarse aggregates: manufactured limestone, quartzite, natural scoria, by-product industrial waste aggregate, and two sources of recycled concrete aggregates with densities ranging from 860 to 2300 kg/m3 and with different strength properties were studied. To determine the coarse aggregate contribution to the overall concrete performance, lean and rich concrete mixtures (Mix 1 and Mix 2) were used. Mix 1 (lean mixture) consisted of a ratio of water to cement (w/c) of 0.5 and cement content of 300 kg/m3, whereas a higher quantity of cement of 500 kg/m3 and a lower w/c ratio of 0.3 were used for Mix 2 (rich mixture). The results showed that while the compressive strength for different aggregate types in Mix 1 was comparable, the contribution of aggregate to concrete performance was very significant for Mix 2. Heavyweight aggregate produced the highest strength, while the lightweight and recycled aggregates resulted in lower mechanical properties compared to normal weight aggregates. The modulus of elasticity was also substantially affected by the coarse aggregate characteristics and even for Mix 1. The ACI 363R-92 and CSA A23.3-04 appeared to have the best model for predicting the modulus of elasticity, followed by the ACI-318-19 (density-based formula) and AS-3600-09. The density of coarse aggregate, and hence concrete, greatly influenced the mechanical properties of concrete. The water absorption percentage for the concrete produced from various types of aggregates was found to be higher for the aggregates of higher absorption capacity.

Experimental and numerical investigations on the retrofitting of half-scale wall-like reinforced concrete (RC) columns were conducted. The axial compressive behavior of the control un-strengthened wall-like RC column (having a section aspect ratio of four) was compared with the strengthened columns. The columns were strengthened by employing external confinement through fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) wraps and/or steel/FRP strips with/without modification of the column cross-section. The characteristics of axial load versus displacement and strain curves were discussed. The experimental results were also compared with the numerical models, which were first validated against the previous studies. A reasonably close agreement was achieved between the numerical and the test results with an error in prediction of less than 10% for the peak load. With the different schemes used for confinement, the enhancement in the load capacity of strengthened columns was in the range of 30–42% of the control column. In addition, significant ductility improvements were seen in schemes that employed the FRP wraps after shape modification.

A simulation-based probabilistic method is proposed for assessing the reliability of steel-lined and prestressed fiber-reinforced concrete (PFRC) slabs against the impact loads. The impact testing of several prestressed and non-prestressed FRC slabs of 800 × 800 × 100 mm in size was carried out. The experimental program involved projectile impact testing of prestressed and non-prestressed FRC slabs using a gas gun. Three parameters were varied for testing of slabs under the projectile impact, viz., a quantity of steel fibers in the concrete, steel lining on the backside of the slab, and the prestressing level. The probability-based reliability analysis of all the tested specimens was then performed to highlight the influence of steel lining, steel fibers, and prestress in enhancing the safety of RC (reinforced concrete) slabs against projectile impacts. Projectile impact velocity exceeding the slab’s ballistic limit was assumed to lead to the failure of the PFRC slab, i.e., the perforation failure of the slab. Study results indicate that when no steel fiber was present, slab reliability was low. Adding fibers to slabs increases slabs’ reliability significantly. Specimens with the highest steel fiber content (1.2%) showed the greatest increase in reliability. The steel lining on the back face makes the slab’s reliability almost doubled in comparison with those without lining. Additionally, steel lining makes the PFRC slabs as reliable as desired. It was further noticed that the prestressing helps in enhancing the slab safety against projectile impacts. Even a minimal amount of prestressing makes a noticeable improvement in the reliability of PFRC slabs.

The formulas available in the literature for predicting the projectile impact response of reinforced concrete (RC) targets are generally developed based on the results of impact tests. Recently, however, in order to avoid performing involved and challenging projectile impact tests, the impact response of RC targets was predicted using the quasi-static punching response of RC slabs. In this paper, the concept is extended to concrete slabs strengthened with textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) or carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets externally bonded to the concrete surface. In 16 groups, 96 slabs of 600 × 600 × 90 mm size were cast and tested under quasi-static and impact loads. The slabs were reinforced with two types of reinforcement: ϕ8@100 mm and ϕ4@25 mm. The singly and doubly reinforced concrete slabs with rebar spacing of 100 mm were strengthened using externally bonded CFRP and TRM on the back side of the slab specimens. Two mixes of concrete, representing normal and high-strength concretes, were used. The results of the present study reveal that the CFRP and TRM strengthening of RC slabs enhanced the energy absorption in punching by 57–130% and 20–59%, respectively. The use of WWM in singly and doubly reinforced slabs also resulted in a 30–42% and 41–63% increase in energy absorption in punching, respectively. An earlier proposed model was modified to incorporate the influence of strengthening (CFRP and TRM) in the estimation of the projectile perforation energy of the strengthened RC slabs with the help of energy absorbed in their quasi-static punching. This perforation energy was then employed for predicting the ballistic limit of CFRP- and TRM-strengthened slabs. The predictions show good agreement with the experimentally observed ballistic limits.

Worldwide the concrete industry has started embracing the utilization of recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs) resulting from demolition and construction waste as full or partial substituents in the production of high-strength concrete (HSC) due to their economic and environmental benefits. Several parameters were experimentally investigated in this study. The first parameter analyzed the effect of replacing varying percentages of coarse aggregate with recycled aggregate. The second parameter examined the influence of two aggregate sizes (10 and 20 mm). The third parameter was intended for investigating the influence of three different RCA treatment methods utilizing sodium silicate immersion, cement slurry, and the Los Angeles (LA) abrasion simulation. The test results generally indicated degradation in the engineering properties of concrete produced using untreated RCA compared to the control. The degree of reduction increased as the replacement percentage was increased regardless of the aggregate size. The reduction in compressive strength appeared to have a more pronounced effect in comparison to the splitting tensile strength. The use of treated RCA improved concrete slump by 15–35%. This also caused enhancement in the engineering properties, especially for the LA abrasion mechanical treatment, which was very promising for both aggregate sizes. In comparison with the untreated RCA, the relative enhancement in water absorption was up to 76%, whereas splitting tensile and compressive strengths increased by 3–50% and 5–60%, respectively.

Abstract In the present study, a probabilistic procedure is presented for estimating the reliability of hybrid fiber reinforced concrete (HFRC) slabs against the impact of hemispherical nose projectiles considering uncertainties involved in the material, geometric and impact parameters. The influence of hybrid fibers in improving the safety level of reinforced concrete slabs against impact loads has also been studied on a parametric basis. The failure of the HFRC slabs was assumed to occur when the impact velocity of the projectile exceeds the ballistic limit of the slab i.e. perforates the slab. To illustrate the procedure, a probabilistic analysis was carried out on the impact test results of HFRC slabs containing different proportions of hooked-end steel, polypropylene and Kevlar fibers, recently published by the authors. Reliability assessment was performed for a range of applied nominal impact loads by varying the impact velocity of the given projectile. Reliability analysis yields the safety level of all the HFRC slabs against the impact of the above projectile. Effect of fibers, especially steel fibers, and slab thickness on the reliability of HFRC slabs are also investigated on a parametric basis.

Learning Objectives: To survey graduating EM residents on their perceptions of the EM job market and its effect on their desire to pursue fellowship training.Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes to the emergency medicine (EM) workforce which pose challenges to residents graduating from EM training programs. New graduates face increasing uncertainty in the search for their first job. EM graduates in 2020 and 2021 saw a notable decrease in opportunities compared to years prior. ACEP’s Workforce Study (April 2021) predicts a surplus of emergency physicians by 2030. Objectives: To survey graduating EM residents on their perceptions of the EM job market and its effect on their desire to pursue fellowship training.Methods: We surveyed senior residents (PGY2 and above) at three- and four-year EM residency programs in the greater NYC area. Paper surveys were mailed out to each of the programs with a return envelope; a virtual link to complete the survey was also made available. Surveys were distributed from August 2021 to November 2021 to 22 EM residency programs (695 residents). Participation was voluntary and anonymous. The only demographic information gathered was program name and PGY level.Results: A total of 412 senior residents from the 22 EM residency programs completed the survey. Of the 412 seniors, 183 were PGY2s, 174 were PGY3s, and 55 were PGY4s and 5s (we included responses from residents in combined EM/IM programs). Survey questions and results are summarized in Table 1. Compared to colleagues in previous years, graduating EM residents anticipated broadening their job search. 58% of those considering fellowship after residency stated that their interest in fellowship has increased due to anticipated challenges in the job market (difficulty securing a full-time attending position).Conclusions: The majority of senior residents expressed concern about the current and future EM job market. How and where EM graduates apply for jobs may be impacted as a result. These data may prove valuable to residency programs, institutions, physician groups, and EM-bound medical students.

Introduction: As scholarship moves into the digital sphere, applicant and promotion and tenure (P&T) committee members lack formal guidance on evaluating the impact of digital scholarly work. The P&T process requires the appraisal of individual scholarly impact in comparison to scholars across institutions and disciplines. As dissemination methods evolve in the digital era, we must adapt traditional P&T processes to include emerging forms of digital scholarship.Methods: We conducted a blended, expert consensus procedure using a nominal group process to create a consensus document at the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors Academic Assembly on April 1, 2019.Results: We discussed consensus guidelines for evaluation and promotion of digital scholarship with the intent to develop specific, evidence-supported recommendations to P&T committees and applicants. These recommendations included the following: demonstrate scholarship criteria; provide external evidence of impact; and include digital peer-review roles. As traditional scholarship continues to evolve within the digital realm, academic medicine should adapt how that scholarship is evaluated. P&T committees in academic medicine are at the epicenter for supporting this changing paradigm in scholarship.Conclusion: P&T committees can critically appraise the quality and impact of digital scholarship using specific, validated tools. Applicants for appointment and promotion should highlight and prepare their digital scholarship to specifically address quality, impact, breadth, and relevance. It is our goal to provide specific, timely guidance for both stakeholders to recognize the value of digital scholarship in advancing our field.

Part One of this two-article series reviews assessment tools to measure burnout and other negative states. Physician well-being goes beyond merely the absence of burnout. Transient episodes of burnout are to be expected. Measuring burnout alone is shortsighted. Well-being includes being challenged, thriving, and achieving success in various aspects of personal and professional life. In this second part of the series, we identify and describe assessment tools related to wellness, quality of life, resilience, coping skills, and other positive states.

Introduction: In 2017, the Standardized Video Interview (SVI) was required for applicants to emergency medicine (EM). The SVI contains six questions highlighting professionalism and interpersonal communication skills. The responses were scored (6-30). As it is a new metric, no information is available on correlation between SVI scores and other application data. This study was to determine if a correlation exists between applicants’ United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and SVI scores. We hypothesized that numeric USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) scores would not correlate with the SVI score, but that performance on the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) portion may correlate with the SVI since both test communication skills.  Methods: Nine EM residency sites participated in the study with data exported from an Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®) report. All applicants with both SVI and USMLE scores were included. We studied the correlation between SVI scores and USMLE scores. Predetermined subgroup analysis was performed based on applicants’ USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores as follows: (≥ 200, 201-220, 221-240, 241-260, >260). We used linear regression, the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test for statistical analyses.  Results: 1,325 applicants had both Step 1 and SVI scores available, with no correlation between the overall scores (p=0.58) and no correlation between the scores across all Step 1 score ranges, (p=0.29). Both Step 2 CK and SVI scores were available for 1,275 applicants, with no correlation between the overall scores (p=0.56) and no correlation across all ranges, (p=0.10). The USMLE Step 2 CS and SVI scores were available for 1,000 applicants. Four applicants failed the CS test without any correlation to the SVI score (p=0.08).  Conclusion: We found no correlation between the scores on any portion of the USMLE and the SVI; therefore, the SVI provides new information to application screeners.

Part One of this two-article series reviews assessment tools to measure burnout and other negative states. Physician well-being goes beyond merely the absence of burnout. Transient episodes of burnout are to be expected. Measuring burnout alone is shortsighted. Well-being includes being challenged, thriving, and achieving success in various aspects of personal and professional life. In this second part of the series, we identify and describe assessment tools related to wellness, quality of life, resilience, coping skills, and other positive states.

Introduction: In 2017, all medical students applying for residency in emergency medicine (EM) were required to participate in the Standardized Video Interview (SVI). The SVI is a video-recorded, uni-directional interview consisting of six questions designed to assess interpersonal and communication skills and professionalism. It is unclear whether this simulated interview is an accurate representation of an applicant’s competencies that are often evaluated during the in-person interview. Objective: The goal of this study was to determine whether the SVI score correlates with a traditional in-person interview score.Methods: Six geographically and demographically diverse EM residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education participated in this prospective observational study. Common demographic data for each applicant were obtained through an Electronic Residency Application Service export function prior to the start of any scheduled traditional interviews (TI). On each TI day, one interviewer blinded to all applicant data, including SVI score, rated the applicant on a five-point scale. A convenience sample of applicants was enrolled based on random assignment to the blinded interviewer. We studied the correlation between SVI score and TI score.Results: We included 321 unique applicants in the final analysis. Linear regression analysis of the SVI score against the TI score demonstrated a small positive linear correlation with an r coefficient of +0.13 (p=0.02). This correlation remained across all SVI score subgroups (p = 0.03).Conclusion: Our study suggests that there is a small positive linear correlation between the SVI score and performance during the TI.

Abstract This paper investigates the stress-strain characteristics of Hybrid fiber reinforced concrete (HFRC) composites under dynamic compression using Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) for strain rates in the range of 25 to 125 s-1. Three types of fibers - hooked ended steel fibers, monofilament crimped polypropylene fibers and staple Kevlar fibers were used in the production of HFRC composites. The influence of different fibers in HFRC composites on the failure mode, dynamic increase factor (DIF) of strength, toughness and strain are also studied. Degree of fragmentation of HFRC composite specimens increases with increase in the strain rate. Although the use of high percentage of steel fibers leads to the best performance but among the hybrid fiber combinations studied, HFRC composites with relatively higher percentage of steel fibers and smaller percentage of polypropylene and Kevlar fibers seem to reflect the equally good synergistic effects of fibers under dynamic compression. A rate dependent analytical model is proposed for predicting complete stress-strain curves of HFRC composites. The model is based on a comprehensive fiber reinforcing index and complements well with the experimental results.

Abstract The paper presents experiments involving punching of RC slabs strengthened using externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheet and textile reinforced mortar (TRM). Twelve RC slab specimens of two concrete grades (39.9 and 63.2 MPa) and employing two strengthening schemes (CFRP and TRM) were tested. Specimens were supported on two opposite edges. Experimental load-displacement variations show two peak loads in strengthened slabs and one peak followed by a plateau in control. Second peak or the plateau corresponds to the combined action of aggregate interlock and the dowel action of back face rebars and strengthening layers. The dowel action of back face rebars and strengthening layers had no role in ultimate punching load (i.e. first peak). Strengthened slabs showed 9-18% increase in ultimate punching load (i.e. first peak) whereas there was significant increase in the second peak load (190-276% for CFRP; 55-136% for TRM) and energy absorption (~66% for CFRP and 22-56% for TRM). An analytical model was also developed for predicting the punching shear strength (first and second peaks) of strengthened slabs showing good comparison with experiments.

INTRODUCTION Emergency Medicine (EM) fellowships are becoming increasingly numerous and there is a growing trend among EM residents to pursue postgraduate fellowship training. There is scant data published on the prevalence of postgraduate training amongst EM physicians. We aim to describe the prevalence and regional variation of fellowships amongst EM residency leadership METHODS We conducted an online anonymous survey which was sent to the EM Council of Residency Directors (CORD) membership in October 2014. The survey was a brief questionnaire, which inquired about fellowship, secondary board certification, gender, and length in a leadership position of each member of its residency leadership.  Responses to the survey were separated into four different geographic regions. The geographic regions were defined by the same classification used by the National Resident Matching  Program (NRMP).  Residency leadership was defined as program director (PD), associate PD and assistant PD.  Residencies who did not complete the survey were then individually contacted to encourage completion. The survey was initially piloted for ease of use and understanding of the questions with a select few EM PDs. RESULTS Responses were obtained from 145 out of the 164 ACGME accredited EM residencies (88%). The fellowship prevalence amongst PD, Associate PD, and Assistant PDs was 21.4%, 20.3%, and 24.9% respectively. The most common fellowship completed was a fellowship in toxicology. Secondary board certification among PD, associate PD, and assistant PD was 9.7%, 4.8%, and 2.9% respectively. 82% of PDs have at least five years in residency leadership. 76% of PDs were male, and there was a near even split of gender amongst associate PDs and assistant PDs. The Western region had the highest percentage of fellowship and or secondary board certification amongst all levels of residency leadership. Conclusions: There is a low prevalence of fellowship training and secondary board certification amongst EM residency leadership with the most common being toxicology. Assistant PD’s who the majority had less than 5 years residency leadership experience had the highest percentage of fellowship training. There is a regional variation in the percentage of residency leadership completing postgraduate training.

Social media (SM) is a form of electronic communication through which users create online communities and interactive platforms to exchange information, ideas, messages, podcasts, videos, and other user-generated content. Emergency medicine (EM) has embraced the healthcare applications of SM at a rapid pace and continues to explore the potential benefit for education. Free Open Access Meducation has emerged from the ever-expanding collection of SM interactions and now represents a virtual platform for sharing educational media. This guidance document constitutes an expert consensus opinion for best practices in the use of SM in EM residency education. The goals are the following: 1) Recommend adoption of SM as a valuable graduate medical education (GME) tool, 2) Provide advocacy and support for SM as a GME tool, and 3) Recommend best practices of educational deliverables using SM. These guidelines are intended for EM educators and residency programs for the development and use of a program-specific SM presence for residency education, taking into account appropriate SM stewardship that adheres to institution-specific guidelines, content management, Accreditation Council for GME milestone requirements, and integration of SM in EM residency curriculum to enhance the learner’s experience. Additionally, potential obstacles to the uptake of SM as an educational modality are discussed with proposed solutions.

Introduction: Board scores are an important aspect of an emergency medicine (EM) residency application. Residency directors use these standardized tests to objectively evaluate an applicant’s potential and help decide whether to interview a candidate. While allopathic (MD) students take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), osteopathic (DO) students take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX). It is difficult to compare these scores. Previous literature proposed an equation to predict USMLE based on COMLEX. Recent analyses suggested this may no longer be accurate. DO students applying to allopathic programs frequently ask whether they should take USMLE to overcome this potential disadvantage. The objective of the study is to compare the likelihood to match of DO applicants who reported USMLE to those who did not, and to clarify how important program directors consider it is whether or not an osteopathic applicant reported a USMLE score. Methods: We conducted a review of Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) data for 2010-2011 in conjunction with a survey of EM residency programs. We reviewed the number of allopathic and osteopathic applicants, the number of osteopathic applicants who reported a USMLE score, and the percentage of successful match. We compared the percentage of osteopathic applicants who reported a USMLE score who matched compared to those who did not report USMLE. We also surveyed allopathic EM residency programs to understand how important it is that osteopathic (DO) students take USMLE. Results: There were 1,482 MD students ranked EM programs; 1,277 (86%, 95% CI 84.3-87.9) matched. There were 350 DO students ranked EM programs; 181 (52%, 95% CI 46.4-57.0) matched (difference=34%, 95% CI 29.8-39.0, p