Prediction Model of the Coring Asphalt Pavement Performance through Response Surface Methodology

Pavement evaluations provide crucial information regarding the performance and service life of asphalt concrete (HMA). They examine the structure of an existing pavement before deciding on different maintenance alternatives. The Klang Valley, as part of one of the developing areas in the state of Selangor, generates a high volume of traffic every day due to the increasing number of vehicles crossing the area. Every day, the impact of axle loads caused by vehicles has a negative impact on flexible pavement, resulting in road deterioration due to extreme distress. Pothole failures are one of the most common causes of distress. Five research areas in the Klang Valley area that have deteriorated owing to pothole failures were chosen as case studies. The objective of the study is to investigate the existing flexible pavement conditions by means of laboratory testing consisting of physical, volumetric, and performance tests using collected core samples. As a result, the data collected was compared to the Malaysian Public Work Department’s (PWD) standard. Data from laboratory tests was analyzed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to determine correlations with parameters influencing distress. Historical data design was carried out between test components and responses, which consisted of laboratory parameters. Axial strain, tensile strength ratio, and stability were the responses measured in the RSM. The created models between the independent variables and responses revealed a high level of correlation. The binder content, degree of compaction, and stiffness were the most significant operating parameters from the 3D plots. Optimized performance due to asphaltic pavement failure was observed at binder content (5.1%), degree of compaction (97%), and stiffness (3.1 kN/mm) to achieve ultimate axial strain (5000 microstrains), tensile strength ratio (80%), and stability (9.2 kN). The study showed that the response surface methodology (RSM) is an effective statistical method for providing an appropriate empirical model for relating parameters and predicting the best performance of an asphaltic mixture to reduce flexible pavement failure

The study on range of motion of hip and knee in prayer by adult Muslim males. A preliminary report

Introduction: Praying represents a fundamental activity of daily living in Muslim community. Muslims need to adopt several postures that require deep flexion of the knee and hip to perform this daily obligation. This is a preliminary report of the study on hip and knee range of motion conducted to obtain normative passive and functional range of flexion data during Muslim prayers in both weight-bearing joints of normal Muslim adults. Methods: A cohort of Malay men aged between 20 to 30 years was recruited in this cross-sectional study. Passive range of motion and flexion angles of the joints in various postures during prayer were measured using a standard goniometer. The difference against existing normative range of motion database available and the influence of various factors were analysed. Factors analysed include body mass index and other anthropometric measurements. Results: Sixty participants recruited for the preliminary phase of this study. The mean (SD) of passive hip and knee flexions were higher compared to other existing normative range of motion database. A unit increase in body mass index will have 0.782 units lower of knee range of motion. The hip and knee flexion arc were from 74.1° to 119.0° and from 3.3° to 119.7° respectively. Conclusion: The range of motion involved for prayers was more for the knee but less for the hip as compared to the measured passive range of motion. Body mass index has a significant linear negative relationship with the passive range of motion of the knee, but not the hip

Range of motion study of the hip and knee in prayer by Muslims: a preliminary report

Background and Objectives: Praying or solah, represent a paramount and fundamental activity of daily living in Muslim community. Muslims need to adopt several postures that require deep flexion of the knee and hip to perform this daily obligation. The increased in demand of joint flexion has been the focus of research into development of knee and hip replacement implants suitable for Asian Muslim population. However, there is a lack of data on normative range of motion studies pertaining to these joints in relation to the postures in prayer by the Muslims. The aim of this study is to simultaneously obtain normative passive and functional range of flexion data during prayer by Muslims in the knee and hip joints of normal adults. Methodology: 60 Malay men aged between 20 to 30 years were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Passive range of motion and flexion angles of the hip and knee joints in various postures during prayer were measured using a standard goniometer. The difference against existing normative range of motion database available and the influence of various factors formed the core matter of this study. Factors analyzed include body mass index (BMI), length of limbs, abdominal and limb circumferences. Results: The demographic and range of motion data were documented and presented as minimum and maximum range, mean, and standard deviation. The mean (SD) of the passive hip flexion and passive knee flexion were 141.3°(7.0) and 152.9°(4.7) respectively, which were higher compared to other existing normative range of motion database. The BMI demonstrated a significant correlation with the passive range of motion of the knee joint. The mean (SD) flexion angle of the left and right hip joints during three postures in prayer by Muslims; bowing (ruku’), prostration (sujood) and sitting (jalsah), were 74.3°(6.6) and 74.1°(6.2), 119.0°(9.4) and 118.1°(9.1), and 77.7°(5.1) and 77.3°(4.6) respectively. Similarly, the flexion for the said prayer postures in the bilateral knee joints were 3.3°(4.1) and 3.6°(4.0), 119.7°(7.1) and 115.8°(6.4), and 153.3°(5.6) and 153.8°(6.0) correspondingly. The hip and knee flexion arc in this study were from 74.1° to 119.0° and from 3.3° to 119.7° respectively for the young Malay male adults performing prayers. Conclusion: The ROM involved for prayers was more for the knee joint and less for the hip joint as compared to the measured passive ROM. This reflects that a higher knee flexion angle compared to hip flexion is necessary to attain the sitting postures. Defining the range of motion of hip and knee during prayers will satisfy the basic demands of Muslim patients undergoing arthroplasty surgery

Range of motion study of the hip and knee in prayer by Muslims: a preliminary report

Background and Objectives: Praying or solah, represent a paramount and fundamental activity of daily living in Muslim community. Muslims need to adopt several postures that require deep flexion of the knee and hip to perform this daily obligation. The increased in demand of joint flexion has been the focus of research into development of knee and hip replacement implants suitable for Asian Muslim population. However, there is a lack of data on normative range of motion studies pertaining to these joints in relation to the postures in prayer by the Muslims. The aim of this study is to simultaneously obtain normative passive and functional range of flexion data during prayer by Muslims in the knee and hip joints of normal adults. Methodology: 60 Malay men aged between 20 to 30 years were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Passive range of motion and flexion angles of the hip and knee joints in various postures during prayer were measured using a standard goniometer. The difference against existing normative range of motion database available and the influence of various factors formed the core matter of this study. Factors analyzed include body mass index (BMI), length of limbs, abdominal and limb circumferences. Results: The demographic and range of motion data were documented and presented as minimum and maximum range, mean, and standard deviation. The mean (SD) of the passive hip flexion and passive knee flexion were 141.3°(7.0) and 152.9°(4.7) respectively, which were higher compared to other existing normative range of motion database. The BMI demonstrated a significant correlation with the passive range of motion of the knee joint. The mean (SD) flexion angle of the left and right hip joints during three postures in prayer by Muslims; bowing (ruku’), prostration (sujood) and sitting (jalsah), were 74.3°(6.6) and 74.1°(6.2), 119.0°(9.4) and 118.1°(9.1), and 77.7°(5.1) and 77.3°(4.6) respectively. Similarly, the flexion for the said prayer postures in the bilateral knee joints were 3.3°(4.1) and 3.6°(4.0), 119.7°(7.1) and 115.8°(6.4), and 153.3°(5.6) and 153.8°(6.0) correspondingly. The hip and knee flexion arc in this study were from 74.1° to 119.0° and from 3.3° to 119.7° respectively for the young Malay male adults performing prayers. Conclusion: The ROM involved for prayers was more for the knee joint and less for the hip joint as compared to the measured passive ROM. This reflects that a higher knee flexion angle compared to hip flexion is necessary to attain the sitting postures. Defining the range of motion of hip and knee during prayers will satisfy the basic demands of Muslim patients undergoing arthroplasty surgery

The effect of body mass index (BMI) on the performance in prayer by Muslims : preliminary report of the study on range of motion of the hip and knee.

Background and Objectives: Praying or solah, represent a paramount and fundamental activity of daily living in Muslim community. Muslims need to adopt several postures that require deep flexion of the knee and hip to perform this daily obligation. The intention of this study is to simultaneously obtain normative passive and functional range of flexion data during Muslim prayers in the knee and hip joints of normal Muslim adults. Methodology: A cohort of Malay men aged between 20 to 30 years was recruited in this cross-sectional study. Passive range of motion and flexion angles of the hip and knee joints in various postures during prayer were measured using a standard goniometer. The difference against existing normative range of motion database available and the influence of various factors formed the core matter of this study. Factors analyzed include body mass index (BMI), length of limbs, abdominal and limb circumferences. Results: 60 participants were recruited for the preliminary phase of this study. The mean (SD) of the passive hip flexion and passive knee flexion were higher compared to other existing normative range of motion database. The BMI demonstrated a significant correlation with the passive range of motion of the knee joint but not statistically proven with the hip joint. The hip and knee flexion arc in this study were from 74.1° to 119.0° and from 3.3° to 119.7° respectively for the young Malay male adults performing prayers. Conclusion: The ROM involved for prayers was more for the knee joint and less for the hip joint as compared to the measured passive ROM. This reflects that a higher knee flexion angle compared to hip flexion is necessary to attain the sitting postures. BMI has a significant linear negative relationship with the knee passive ROM. A unit increase in BMI will have 0.782 units lower of ROM of the knee joint

Characteristics and outcomes of an international cohort of 600 000 hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Background: We describe demographic features, treatments and clinical outcomes in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 cohort, one of the world's largest international, standardized data sets concerning hospitalized patients. Methods: The data set analysed includes COVID-19 patients hospitalized between January 2020 and January 2022 in 52 countries. We investigated how symptoms on admission, co-morbidities, risk factors and treatments varied by age, sex and other characteristics. We used Cox regression models to investigate associations between demographics, symptoms, co-morbidities and other factors with risk of death, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Results: Data were available for 689 572 patients with laboratory-confirmed (91.1%) or clinically diagnosed (8.9%) SARS-CoV-2 infection from 52 countries. Age [adjusted hazard ratio per 10 years 1.49 (95% CI 1.48, 1.49)] and male sex [1.23 (1.21, 1.24)] were associated with a higher risk of death. Rates of admission to an ICU and use of IMV increased with age up to age 60 years then dropped. Symptoms, co-morbidities and treatments varied by age and had varied associations with clinical outcomes. The case-fatality ratio varied by country partly due to differences in the clinical characteristics of recruited patients and was on average 21.5%. Conclusions: Age was the strongest determinant of risk of death, with a ∼30-fold difference between the oldest and youngest groups; each of the co-morbidities included was associated with up to an almost 2-fold increase in risk. Smoking and obesity were also associated with a higher risk of death. The size of our international database and the standardized data collection method make this study a comprehensive international description of COVID-19 clinical features. Our findings may inform strategies that involve prioritization of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who have a higher risk of death

The value of open-source clinical science in pandemic response: lessons from ISARIC

International audienc

ISARIC-COVID-19 dataset: A Prospective, Standardized, Global Dataset of Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19

The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 dataset is one of the largest international databases of prospectively collected clinical data on people hospitalized with COVID-19. This dataset was compiled during the COVID-19 pandemic by a network of hospitals that collect data using the ISARIC-World Health Organization Clinical Characterization Protocol and data tools. The database includes data from more than 705,000 patients, collected in more than 60 countries and 1,500 centres worldwide. Patient data are available from acute hospital admissions with COVID-19 and outpatient follow-ups. The data include signs and symptoms, pre-existing comorbidities, vital signs, chronic and acute treatments, complications, dates of hospitalization and discharge, mortality, viral strains, vaccination status, and other data. Here, we present the dataset characteristics, explain its architecture and how to gain access, and provide tools to facilitate its use