RESEARCH REVIEW FOR THE PRESENCE OF PHYSICAL LITERACY IN THE WORLD

The concept of Physical Literacy was reinvigorated twenty-five years ago by M. Whitehead and has since gained an ever broader ground in all continents. It essentially describes a human activity of great importance, the individuals’ embodied ability to maintain their movement throughout the life course in order to enhance their quality of life. Because physical literacy was associated with various aspects of an individual’s life and with all ages, numerous groups around the world adopted its objectives and principles, specific policies were developed and programmes were implemented for its promotion, while books were written and several scientific articles were published on the subject. The purpose of this study was to review the research literature to establish what is currently known about the extent to which Physical Literacy has been achieved in all countries. It specifically studies which countries implemented physical literacy programmes and promotion policies, what results these brought, who they were targeted at, and who were responsible for their implementation. The study also investigates whether the assessment/measurement of physical literacy is possible and necessary, as well as which other areas of life and knowledge it can be associated with. A systematic collection and review of papers related to Physical Literacy was chosen by searching databases and the worldwide web. Their content was then systematically analysed with the content analysis method. NVivo12 qualitative data analysis software was used as a tool for codifying and analysing collected data. Research data indicate an increased interest in the concept of physical literacy, its implementation and advancement globally, mostly in Canada and the United Kingdom. The policies proposed in most countries are mostly associated with the field of education and least associated with sports, recreation or public health. A variety of programmes were found, mostly related with childhood, while the shortage of programmes focused on adults is registered as a great gap in the course of consolidating physical literacy. The non-linear nature of the concept requires rejection of conventional assessment methods and adoption of a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods for the evaluation of interventions. However, the term still seems to be unclear, many times resulting in its confusion with other similar concepts. Studies focusing on the results of physical literacy programmes are long-term and this is why a lot of them are still in progress. People’s awareness and mobilisation in this specific field nevertheless signal an encouraging sign for the future and for having healthier societies.  Article visualizations

Experimental investigation of substandard RC columns confined with SRG jackets under compression

This paper aims to explore the behaviour of substandard reinforced concrete (RC) columns confined with Steel-Reinforced Grout (SRG) jackets under monotonically increasing uniaxial compression. A total of 24 specimens of short RC columns of square cross section were designed to fail due to longitudinal reinforcement buckling. Single-layered SRG jackets were applied to 18 of these specimens, whereas the rest served for control without SRG jackets. Parameters of this investigation were the type and density of the steel fabric as well as the corner radius of the cross section. The employed SRG jacketing managed to increase the strength and strain capacity and postpone the buckling of the longitudinal steel bars to occur at higher compressive strain level. Confinement effectiveness with respect to the lateral confining pressure exerted by the used SRG jacketing is discussed along with the observed mode of failure

Global Interventions for Seismic Upgrading of Substandard RC Buildings

A methodology is developed in this paper for the design and proportioning of interventions for seismic upgrading of substandardreinforced-concrete (RC) buildings. The retrofit approach is presented in the form of a simple design tool that aims toward both demand reduction and enhancement of force and deformation supply through controlled modification of stiffness along the height of the building. This objective is achieved by engineering the translational mode-shape of the structure, so as to optimize the distribution of interstory drift. Resultsfrom the proposed approach are summarized in a spectrum format in which demand, expressed in terms of interstory drift, is related to stiffness. Design charts, which relate the characteristics of commonly used global intervention procedures to influence drift demands, are developed to facilitate the retrofit design. The intervention procedures considered in this paper are reinforced-concrete jacketing, the addition of reinforced concrete walls, and the addition of masonry infills. The proposed methodology is also amenable to adaptation to other strengthening methods, such as the addition of cross-bracing

Retrofit Design Methodology for Substandard R.C. Buildings with Torsional Sensitivity

Recent earthquakes have revealed the susceptibility of non-ductile reinforced concrete (R.C.) buildings with deficiencies related to stiffness and/or mass irregularities in plan and elevation. This paper proposes a design methodology for the seismic upgrading of rotationally sensitive substandard R.C. buildings. The methodology aims to first eliminate the effect of torsional coupling on modal periods and shapes and then modify the lateral response shape of the building in each direction so as to achieve an optimum distribution of interstory drift along the building height. A case study is used to illustrate practical application of the proposed methodology

Compressive Behaviour of Concrete Columns Confined with Steel-Reinforced Grout Jackets

This paper investigates the compressive strength of concrete columns confined with a new jacketing system using high strength steel reinforced fabrics embedded in an inorganic matrix (SRG). A comprehensive experimental programme was conducted on 52 cylindrical columns with SRG jackets and 15 control specimens under monotonic uniaxial compression load. The test specimens were designed to investigate the influence of different design parameters including the density of the fabric (1, 1.57, 4.72 cords/cm), number of layers (1, 2), overlap length (24, 36 cm), bonding agent (4 different types of mortar) and the concrete strength (16–30 MPa). The test results highlight the efficiency of the proposed method, where one-layered and two-layered SRG jackets could increase the strength capacity of the unconfined specimens by up to 122% and 193%, respectively

A review on the shear performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with externally bonded mortar-based composites

This paper reviews the performance of shear strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams with the use of externally bonded mortar-based composite jackets (e.g. FRCM, ECC, UHPFRC). An experimental database was compiled gathering all the known studies in strengthening shear deficient RC beams using innovative mortar-based systems. The role of the RC beams’ inherent deficiencies as well as the impact of the design parameters of the alternative jacketing configurations were identified. Existing design models proposed to predict the contribution of the mortar-based composites to the shear strength of RC beams were assessed using the database and conclusions were drawn regarding their accuracy

Νευροενδοκρινείς νεοπλασίες του παγκρέατος: κατηγοριοποίηση, διάγνωση και σύγχρονη θεραπευτική προσέγγιση

Οι παγκρεατικοί νευροενδοκρινείς όγκοι (PNETs) είναι μια σπάνια ομάδα νεοπλασμάτων που προέρχονται από πολυδύναμα προγονικά κύτταρα στο επιθήλιο του παγκρεατικού πόρου. Τα περισσότερα PNETs είναι μη λειτουργικά, τα δε λειτουργικά εκκρίνουν διάφορες ορμόνες με αποτέλεσμα την εκδήλωση συγκεκριμένων κλινικών συνδρόμων. Οι κλινικοί γιατροί θα πρέπει να γνωρίζουν τις ποικίλες κλινικές και βιοχημικές εκδηλώσεις , καθώς ένα πολύ βασικό βήμα για τη διαχείριση αυτών των σπάνιων όγκων είναι η πρωταρχική υποψία της υποκείμενης διάγνωσης. Η διάγνωση τωννευροενδοκρινών όγκων του παγκρέατος απαιτεί επικαιροποιημένη και ενδελεχή διεπιστημονική προσέγγιση που περιλαμβάνει ειδικότητες όπως η ενδοκρινολογία, η γαστρεντερολογία, η ακτινολογία, η ογκολογία και η χειρουργική.Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are a rare group of neoplasms arisingfrom multi-potential stem cells in the epithelium of the pancreatic duct.Most PNETs are nonfunctional, while functional PNETs secrete various hormones resulting in specific clinical syndromes. Clinicians should be aware of the varied clinical and biochemical manifestations of these tumors due to the importance of clinical suspicion of the diagnosis. Management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors requires an updated multidisciplinary approach involving, among others, specialties such as endocrinology, gastroenterology, radiology,pathology oncology, and surgery

Metallic fabric jackets: an innovative method for seismic retrofitting of substandard RC prismatic members

This paper presents the results of a recent experimental research study where metallic (high-strength steel cord) fabric jackets (MF jackets) were utilised for the seismic upgrading of substandard reinforced concrete members. The proposed intervention method and its practical application are described in detail. Specimens were cantilevers with a square cross-section, representing a typical building column at half scale. The length of the test region corresponded to half the span of a typical storey building column under lateral sway. Due to lack of adequate seismic detailing the specimens were susceptible to various modes of failure such as web shear failure, buckling of compression reinforcement or failure in the lap splice region. The as-built specimens were first damaged up to failure after being subjected to combined axial loading and cyclic lateral displacement reversals simulating seismic loading. In the next phase, specimens were retrofitted with both composite and metallic fabric jackets and then tested again under the same load history. The results of this preliminary experimental research programme show that the metallic fabric jackets performed in an excellent way compared to glass- and carbon-fibre reinforced polymer jackets, increasing substantially both the strength and the deformation capacity of the repaired members. The excellent mechanical performance of the metallic fabrics combined with many of the advantages of the synthetic wraps (easy handling, no change in member dimensions) and the intrinsic favourable properties of steel (fire resistance), underline the potential of this novel material in repair/strengthening of reinforced concrete as an alternative option for jacketing applications

Delaying the Occurrence of Bar Buckling in RC Columns Confined with SRG Jacketing

This paper investigates experimentally the structural performance of substandard reinforced concrete (RC) short columns confined with steel-reinforced grout (SRG) jackets under monotonically increasing uniaxial compression. The study comprised 24 square cross section short RC columns having alternative arrangements of shear reinforcement (ratio of stirrup spacing to longitudinal bar diameter ranging from 4.2 to 12.5). The short columns were retrofitted with externally applied SRG jacketing differing by the density of the fabric (4 cords/in and 12 cords/in) and the number of fabric layers (1 and 2). The test results showed that retrofitting significantly changed the behaviour of the specimens compared to the unconfined counterparts. For columns at risk of premature failure due to insufficient support of compression bars provided by the sparse stirrups, the SRG jackets delayed bar buckling, enabling the members to achieve greater strength and deformation capacity. The well-detailed specimens helped establish the maximum effectiveness of SRG confinement