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This research aimed to enhance the impregnation of carboxylate styrene butadiene rubber (XSBR) polymer on jute yarns, thereby improving the mechanical properties of textile-reinforced cementitious composite (TRCC). An experimental investigation on the use of cellulose microcrystals and nanofibrils as additives to XSBR admixture was conducted. Four different solutions containing XSBR are presented, and the interactions between each solution and the fibers, as well as the treated fiber–matrix interactions, were analyzed. For these interaction analyses, the influence of XSBR impregnation was assessed using scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The mechanical properties of both non-treated and treated jute fibers were evaluated through direct tensile tests, and the bond between treated and non-treated jute yarns and the cementitious matrix was assessed through pull-out tests. The results demonstrate a significant enhancement not only in the mechanical behavior of the treated fibers but also in the overall performance of the TRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter published in the Blood Cancer Journal discusses the challenges in treating relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and the limited efficacy of current treatment options. The authors aim to validate the findings of the SCHOLAR-1 study, which reported poor outcomes for patients with refractory DLBCL, in a population-based study in the Netherlands. The study analyzes data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and includes 197 patients with DLBCL, transformed follicular lymphoma (tFL), and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL). The study findings suggest that the prognosis for patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL remains poor, despite recent advances in treatment options. The study highlights the need for improved treatment strategies for these patients. [Extracted from the article]

The water–cement/binder ratio and the admixture of water-reducing agents strongly affect the rheological properties of cement pastes. This study develops mathematical models to predict the apparent viscosity of cement pastes with varying water-cement/binder ratios and polycarboxylate-based superplasticizer content by introducing the power law shear stress-shear strain relation of non-Newtonian fluids into the Navier–Stokes motion equations. The developed models are compared with the results of rheological experiments and verified for their accuracy in simulating the apparent viscosity of cement pastes. These models provide insight into the rheological behaviour of cement pastes and could have practical applications in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing concerns regarding global warming and the scarcity of raw materials in the construction industry have led to a growing need for alternative low-carbon binders to partially replace ordinary Portland cement. To assess the suitability of pozzolans as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), the R3-test has been introduced and successfully validated for a wide range of materials. This test provides an opportunity to analyze the reactivity classification and study the reaction mechanisms and kinetics of novel SCMs in a well-controlled environment. In this study, the focus lies on evaluating the early reactions of lime paste samples through isothermal calorimetry tests conducted at 40 °C. However, conventional mixing methods present experimental challenges. In-situ mixing fails to achieve proper paste homogenization, while ex-situ mixing results in a temperature difference at the start of testing due to the elevated testing condition of 40 °C. To address these concerns, a novel calorimetric methodology is proposed for early detection of reactivity responses. The main concept involves establishing a baseline correction for the temperature difference caused by ex-situ mixing, which is calibrated using an inert sample. This correction allows for the extraction of the heat generated by the early reactions. Combined with the Tian time correction, this methodology enables the evaluation of early reactions in lime paste samples measured with isothermal calorimetry at 40 °C within the first 100 min after mixing. The effectiveness of this methodology was demonstrated by evaluating the early reactions and the impact of potassium sulfate on three different types of metakaolin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The longevity of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has improved progressively over the past decades, making it essential to understand long-term health outcomes, such as second primary malignancies (SPMs). Therefore, this nationwide, population-based study assessed the risk of SPM development in CLL patients diagnosed during 1989-2019 in the Netherlands compared to the expected number of malignancies in an age-, sex-, and period-matched group from the general Dutch population. In 24,815 CLL patients followed for 162,698.49 person-years, 4369 SPMs were diagnosed with a standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 1.63 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59–1.68). This elevated risk was observed for solid (SIR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.65–1.75) and hematological SPMs (SIR 1.42; 95% CI, 1.24–1.62). The highest risk for SPMs was noted beyond five years post-diagnosis (SIR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.62–1.77), for male individuals (SIR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.64–1.77), and patients aged 18–69 years (SIR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.79–2.05). The risk of SPMs was higher in CLL patients who received anti-neoplastic therapy (SIR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.96–2.28), as compared with those who did not (SIR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.53–1.63). Routine surveillance activities and tailored interventions to counteract the increased morbidity and excess mortality associated with SPMs are essential for improving long-term outcomes in CLL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

However, this would only potentially influence estimates for patients diagnosed during the 1990s since the age-standardized incidence rate of CLL in the Netherlands remained comparatively steady as of the early 2000s, and the life expectancy of CLL patients continued to increase thereafter [[2]]. As the LEL has not been assessed for CLL patients, our nationwide, population-based study complements and extends the study of Kajüter and colleagues by estimating the life expectancy of CLL patients. We read with interest the article by Kajüter and colleagues about the relative survival of 2,327 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) diagnosed from 1993 to 2016 in Münster, Germany [[1]]. We thus encourage monitoring the progress in the population level survival of CLL patients since excess mortality persists in modern times, even for CLL patients surviving up to ten years post-diagnosis [[14]]. [Extracted from the article]

It is unclear whether survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) continues to increase in an era where rituximab-containing chemotherapy reigns for almost two decades. Therefore, we evaluated trends in primary therapy and relative survival (RS) among Dutch DLBCL patients diagnosed between 1989 and 2018. Analyses were performed separately according to the stage I (N = 6952) and stage II–IV disease (N = 20,676), stratified by calendar period and age (18–64, 65–74, and ≥75 years). The use of chemotherapy ± radiotherapy increased over time across all age and stage groups. As of the mid-2000s, >95% of chemotherapy-treated patients received chemoimmunotherapy, irrespective of age and stage. Overall, RS increased significantly over time across all age groups, especially after 2003 when rituximab-containing chemotherapy had become the standard of care. However, RS increased less pronounced between 2003–2010 and 2011–2018 than between 1989–2002 and 2003–2010. These findings were congruent across all studied stage groups. Five-year RS across the three age groups during 2011–2018 was 96%, 84%, and 67% for stage I DLBCL and 75%, 60%, and 46% for stage II–IV DLBCL. Collectively, survival in DLBCL increased modestly beyond the initial introduction of rituximab, with apparent survival differences across age and stage that warrant novel treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Furthermore, patients diagnosed with MM at autopsy ( I n i = 46) and synchronous malignancies within a time interval of 3 months before or after MM diagnosis ( I n i = 237) were excluded. The rapidly evolving treatment landscape of multiple myeloma (MM) has dramatically improved the survival of MM patients over time. In the second model (M2), patients with a PMD were classified as patients (a) with or (b) without receipt of systemic therapy and/or radiotherapy before MM diagnosis. By assessing the impact of an SPM on mortality risk, we observed a higher mortality risk among MM patients with a PMD than MM patients without a PMD. [Extracted from the article]

Risk of secondary haematological malignancies in patients with follicular lymphoma: an analysis of 1028 patients treated in the rituximab era. Synchronous malignancies diagnosed within six months from FL diagnosis ( I n i = 248; 1.8% of the total FL population) were excluded to minimize detection bias since synchronous malignancies probably reflect incidental findings instead of SPMs. The improved longevity of patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) is offset by an increased risk of a variety of second primary malignancies (SPMs) compared to the general population [[1]]. Therefore, to complement and extend the currently sparse literature on SPM development in FL, this nationwide population-based study aimed to assess the risk to develop SPMs in various subgroups of FL patients in the Netherlands diagnosed during a 30-year period. [Extracted from the article]

Identification of risk factors for early mortality (EM) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients may contribute to different therapeutic approaches in patients at risk for EM. This population-based study aimed to assess trends in EM and risk factors for EM among MM patients diagnosed in the Netherlands. All MM patients, newly diagnosed between 1989 and 2018, were identified in the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Patients were categorized into three calendar periods (1989–1998, 1999–2008, 2009–2018) and into five age groups (≤65, 66–70, 71–75, 76–80, >80 years). EM was defined as death by any cause ≤180 days post-diagnosis. We included 28,328 MM patients (median age 70 years; 55% males). EM decreased from 22% for patients diagnosed in 1989–1998 to 13% for patients diagnosed in 2009–2018 (P < 0.01) and this decrease was observed among all age groups. Exact causes of death could not be elucidated. Besides patient's age, we found that features related to a more aggressive disease presentation, and patient characteristics reflecting patients' physical condition were predictive of EM. In summary, EM decreased from 1999 onwards. Nevertheless, EM remains high, especially for patients aged >70 years. Therefore, novel strategies should be explored to improve the outcome of patients at risk for EM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These recommendations have been prepared by the corresponding working group within RILEM TC 287-CCS "Early-age and long-term crack width analysis in RC structures", following work by the previously ceased RILEM TC 254-CMS "Thermal cracking of massive concrete structures". This recommendations document is developed in complementarity to the state-of-the-art report of RILEM TC 254-CMS and aims to provide expert advice and suggestions to engineers and scientists interested in modelling the thermo-chemo-mechanical behaviour of massive concrete structures since concrete casting. Recommendations regarding geometrical characteristics and complexities, concrete properties and appropriate material models, boundary conditions and loads, and numerical model peculiarities with relevance to the simulation of the thermo-chemo-mechanical behaviour of massive concrete structures are given herein. The recommendations have been reviewed and approved by all members of the TC 287-CCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rituximab-containing chemotherapy remains a viable frontline treatment option for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in the era of novel agents. However, its effectiveness in the second-line setting-in relation to previous rituximab exposure in first-line-has hardly been evaluated in a population-based setting. Therefore, in this comprehensive, population-based study, we assessed the impact of first-line treatment with rituximab-containing chemotherapy on the effectiveness of second-line treatment with rituximab-containing chemotherapy. We selected all 1735 patients diagnosed with CLL between 2004 and 2010 from the Dutch Population-based HAematological Registry for Observational Studies (PHAROS). The primary endpoint was treatment-free survival (TFS). First- and second-line treatment was instituted in 663 (38%) and 284 (43%) patients, respectively. In first line, the median TFS was 19.7 and 67.1 months for chemotherapy without (n = 445; 67%) and with rituximab (n = 218; 33%), respectively (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadjusted], 0.83; P = 0.031). The median TFS among recipients of second-line chemotherapy without (n = 165; 57%) and with rituximab (n = 121; 42%) was 15.0 and 15.3 months, respectively (HRadjusted, 0.93; P = 0.614). Of the 121 patients who received rituximab-containing chemotherapy in second-line, 89 (74%) and 32 (26%) received first-line chemotherapy without and with rituximab, respectively. Median TFS in these two treatment groups was 18.3 and 12.1 months, respectively (HRadjusted, 1.71; P = 0.060). Collectively, in this population-based study, the effectiveness of first-line treatment with rituximab-containing chemotherapy was less pronounced in second-line treatment. The hampered effectiveness of rituximab-containing chemotherapy in second-line could not be explained by previous rituximab exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multiscale framework for thermo-mechanical analysis with phase transformations is proposed in this work. The formulation covers those cases including coupled constitutive equations for simulating thermo-mechanical processes considering phase transformation phenomena. The general case of temperature- and phase-dependent procedures, involving nonlinear plasticity concepts, is considered as main framework in order to formulate the material dissipation at both micro- and macroscopic level of observation. Thermodynamic consistency conditions for computational up/downscaling between micro- and macroscales are presented, with special focus on phase transformation phenomena, for both the mechanical and thermal homogenization. Classical Coleman-Gurtin thermodynamics is employed at the microscale, whereas an extended framework is considered at the macroscale due to the temperature gradient dependency of the macro stress. The multiscale procedure is based on a variational approach largely discussed in the literature. The overall coupled process at both micro- and macroscopic scales, averaging criteria, thermal, mechanical and phase change constitutive expressions, as well as the corresponding homogenization rules, are discussed and derived in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical CO2 reduction to useful fuels is a promising strategy for the sustainable energy production. However, because CO2 reduction reaction involves sluggish kinetics, the development of high performing catalyst is a first priority for the success in this system. Herein, cost effective fabrication of oxide-derived silver catalyst for CO2 electro-reduction was successfully prepared by simple chemical solution deposition involving the following steps: (i) spin-coating of precursor solution, (ii) oxidation by air-annealing, and (iii) electrochemical reduction. The prepared silver catalyst achieved 83.7% of CO Faradaic efficiency at − 1.19 VRHE with an outstanding mass activity of 465.04 A g− 1 which was originated from the unique features of the catalyst as well as precursor solution. With the introduced fabrication method, the precursor solution containing relatively low silver concentration was preferred to form small silver particles, resulting in high catalytic activity. We anticipate the developed method to be widely applied for the preparation of oxide-derived metal catalysts and metal alloy nanostructured catalysts in advanced CO2 conversion system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As survival of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) increases and the number of patients who live long rises, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) becomes a relevant endpoint. Few studies investigated this, mainly as a secondary endpoint in randomized clinical trials where patients with early stage CLL/SLL, and elderly/frail patients were underrepresented. The aim of our study was to assess HRQoL in a population-based setting, including these previously underrepresented patients. Out of 175 patients diagnosed with CLL/SLL between 2004 and 2011, 136 (78 %) returned the HRQoL questionnaire. The outcomes were compared to an age- and sex-matched norm population. Detailed data on stage and treatment were extracted from a population-based hematological registry (PHAROS). Patients ever treated for CLL/SLL reported significantly poorer HRQoL than the norm population ( p < 0.01 with large clinically important differences. Interestingly, no differences were observed between the norm population and patients under active surveillance. In contrast to our hypothesis, patients treated with chlorambucil reported the lowest HRQoL scores. Drastic, long-lasting negative effects of starting treatment on HRQoL cannot be excluded, whereas active surveillance does not seem to provoke worrying, anxiety, or depressive symptoms. Further elaborate research into the impact of starting therapy on HRQoL is needed, especially in patients that are underrepresented in most clinical trials, and thoroughly consider its results during revision of treatment guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]