Finite Element Modelling of the Interfacial Debonding Behaviour between Carbon Fibre Textile and Concrete

This research deals with integrating finite element modelling into the investigation of the interfacial debonding behaviour between carbon fibre textile and concrete. A Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) replicating a pull-out simulation was initially validated and verified against a numerical model from an existing study, involving the single fibre pull-out from an epoxy matrix. The CZM was then modified by using experimental data obtained from a laboratory pull-out test involving a single carbon fibre tow embedded in a concrete matrix. By incorporating finite element modelling to the CZM, the modified numerical model was then able to successfully replicate the experimental force – displacement curve; producing a debonding force of 0.9082kN, closely matching up with the debonding force of 0.9021kN from the experiment. The experimental debonding load was used as the basis for calibrating values for the maximum shear stress (τmax) and complete separation displacement (δs). Through numerous trials and a series of adjustments, the carbon fibre tow – concrete matrix interface was found to have a maximum shear stress (τmax) of 6.475MPa at a complete separation displacement (δs) of 0.775mm. The values corresponding to interfacial parameters defined in the study were only based on a single set of experimental results. This presents questionable issues regarding the validity and reliability of the findings. As a result, it is therefore recommended that multiple experiments be carried out in order to ensure that the calibrated τmax and δs are both accurate and representative of the true interfacial behaviour

Das Metabolische Tumorvolumen im initialen Staging als Prädiktor für das Therapieansprechen bei Patienten in frühen Stadien des Hodgkin-Lymphoms

In dieser retrospektiven Analyse wurden 107 Patient:innen der HD16-Studie untersucht, um den prädiktiven Wert von Metabolic Tumor Volume (MTV) und Total Lesion Glycolysis (TLG) im initialen PET-0 für das Therapieansprechen nach zwei Zyklen ABVD beim Hodgkin-Lymphom im Frühstadium zu bewerten. Es wurden drei verschiedene Schwellenwertmethoden (SUV4.0, SUVmax41%, 140% Liver SUVmax) zur Volumenbestimmung verglichen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass insbesondere feste Schwellenwerte wie SUV4.0 eine stabile Reproduzierbarkeit und einen moderaten prädiktiven Wert auf das PET-2-Ansprechen bieten. MTV und TLG könnten somit zukünftig zur Individualisierung der Therapie beitragen

The Americanization of Barbadian English

Abstract This paper investigates attitudes and perceptions of Barbadians toward British and American English on the one hand, and the degree of structural Americanization of contemporary Barbadian English as documented in a corpus of Facebook comments on the other hand. The results indicate a discrepancy between explicitly formulated preferences and actual production patterns; while American English is devalued by most respondents, the advancement of cross‐linguistic influence of American English on the levels of orthography and lexicon of Barbadian English is undeniable. The findings further suggest a continued linguistic identification with British norms in the perception of many Barbadians, while the awareness of an emerging local standard variety is only slowly gaining ground

The Americanization of Barbadian English

This paper investigates attitudes and perceptions of Barbadians toward British and American English on the one hand, and the degree of structural Americanization of contemporary Barbadian English as documented in a corpus of Facebook comments on the other hand. The results indicate a discrepancy between explicitly formulated preferences and actual production patterns; while American English is devalued by most respondents, the advancement of cross-linguistic influence of American English on the levels of orthography and lexicon of Barbadian English is undeniable. The findings further suggest a continued linguistic identification with British norms in the perception of many Barbadians, while the awareness of an emerging local standard variety is only slowly gaining ground