The Value of the Diagonal Shear Stress of the Masonry on Laboratory Testing

The earthquake resulted in structural, non-structural damage, material and non-material losses and even death. Material losses in the form of damage to houses, household furniture, loss of property. Non-material losses in the form of loss of peace, comfort. The above damage is anticipated by increasing the brick wall elements which contribute well to increasing its capacity to carry the combined external forces that occur during the earthquake. In particular, increasing the strength of a brick wall can be done by selecting the quality of the wall constituent materials and designing the brick wall. This research is addressed to investigate the value of the diagonal shear stress of the masonry brick due to the external forces. The testing was carried out as laboratory testing by using the preference model and method. The results of this study is that normal bricks reach 1500 to 1800 Kgf, and the normal diagonal shear stress reaches 1.6603788 Kg/cm2, while initial cracking at 400 to 800 Kgf, later cracking at 800 to 1,000 Kgf and failing at 1,500 – 1,800 Kgf

Effect of ejaculation frequency on ram semen characteristics, seminal plasma composition and chilled sperm quality

The aim of this study was to see how chilled sperm quality is affected by ejaculation frequency and its correlation to seminal plasma composition in INRA 180 rams. Five rams were collected at high (HFE) and low frequencies (LFE). For the high frequency, the rams were collected three times on the same day every three days for 18 days. In the low frequency collection, three consecutive ejaculates were collected once a week for four weeks. Ejaculates were collected at 20-minute intervals in either HFE or LFE. Semen characteristics, concentration of total protein, lipid, cholesterol and fructose in seminal plasma were assessed. Semen samples were extended in skim milk-based extender at 15 °C, then evaluated at different storage times (0, 8, and 24 h). Fresh sperm quality parameters, seminal plasma composition, and stored sperm quality were shown to be higher in LFE than in HFE and in the first and second ejaculates than in the third one. After 24 h of storage, sperm quality was correlated to seminal plasma components. In conclusion, the frequency of ejaculation has an effect on the fresh and stored semen quality as well as on seminal plasma composition in INRA 180 rams

Effet du dilueur et de la température du stockage sur les paramètres de motilité des spermatozoïdes du bélier conservés à l’état liquide

The objective of this work was to compare the effect of eight extenders (Skim milk, INRA96®, Tris Eggs Yolk, Triladyl®, Ovipro®, Andromed®, Optixcel® and Duragen®) on ram sperm motion parameters. Two experiments were carried out to determine the effect of extenders on ram sperm preservation at 15°C (Experiment 1), or at 5°C (Experiment 2). Semen was collected using an artificial vagina weekly for 10 weeks from two breeds (INRA180, n=4, on Monday and Boujaâd, n=4, on Friday). Aliquots were extended in each extender to a final concentration of 0.8 × 109 spermatozoa/ml and stored at 15°C or 5°C for 24 h. Motility and kinematic parameters assessment were performed using a CASA system. Sperm motility and kinematic parameters decreased significantly over time of storage in all extenders and storage temperature. The overall CASA parameters were affected by extenders in different manners depending on breed and storage temperature. Skim milk, Duragen®, and INRA96® provided the best CASA results. Keywords: Semen, extender, motility, kinematic parameters, storage temperature, ram breed.L’objectif de ce travail était de comparer l’effet de huit dilueurs (lait écrémé, INRA96®, Tris jaune d’œuf, Triladyl®, Ovipro®, Andromed®, Optixcel® et Duragen®) sur les paramètres du mouvement du sperme du bélier. Deux expérimentations ont été réalisées pour déterminer l’effet des dilueurs sur la conservation du sperme de bélier à 15°C (expérimentation 1), ou à 5°C (expérimentation 2). Le sperme a été collecté à l’aide d’un vagin artificiel chaque semaine durant 10 semaines des deux races ovines (INRA180, n=4, lundi et Boujaâd, n=4, vendredi). Des aliquotes du sperme ont été diluées dans chaque dilueur à une concentration finale de 0,8 x 109 spermatozoïdes/ml et conservées à 15°C ou 5°C durant 24 heures. La motilité et les paramètres cinétiques ont été évalués à l’aide d’un système CASA. La motilité des spermatozoïdes et les paramètres cinétiques ont diminué significativement au cours du temps de stockage dans tous les dilueurs et les températures de stockage. Les dilueur ont affecté les paramètres générés par le système CASA de différentes manières en fonction de la race et de la température du stockage. Le lait écrémé, Duragen® et INRA96® ont fourni les meilleurs résultats de CASA. Mots-clés: Sperme, dilueurs, motilité, paramètres cinétiques, température du stockage, race du bélier

Development of protein rich pregelatinized whole grain cereal bar enriched with nontraditional ingredient: Nutritional, phytochemical, textural, and sensory characterization

This study was aimed to use extrusion cooking as a pretreatment for non-conventional seeds (Indian horse chestnut flour) to blend them with whole grain flours (whole wheat flour, whole barley flour, and whole corn flour) for the development of a pregelatinized cereal bar (PCB). In this study, date paste (7.5–17.5%) and walnut grits (2.5–12.5%) were incorporated at varying levels to prepare PCB. The PCB was evaluated for its nutritional, color, textural (both three-point bending test and TPA), antioxidant activity, and sensory attributes. The flexural modulus, rupture stress, and fracture strain of PCB increased with the incorporation of a higher proportion of date paste. The protein and fiber content in PCB increased from 7.74 to 9.13% and 4.81 to 5.59% with the incorporation of walnut grits and date paste, respectively. The DPPH, total phenolic content, and water activity of PCB were determined, which progressively enhanced with increased levels of walnut grits and date paste. The correlation between sensory attributes and instrumental texture on PCB was also investigated. The correlation results showed a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between texture analysis and sensory hardness, springiness, adhesiveness, and negatively correlated to instrumental and sensory cohesiveness. For sensorial attributes, all PCB samples presented average scores of 7/10 and 4/5 for buying intention. Therefore, whole grain extrudates, date paste, and walnut grits can be efficiently used to develop PCB with improved nutritional, nutraceutical, and economic values

Progressive skin fibrosis is associated with a decline in lung function and worse survival in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis in the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) cohort.

Objectives To determine whether progressive skin fibrosis is associated with visceral organ progression and mortality during follow-up in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). Methods We evaluated patients from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research database with dcSSc, baseline modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) ≥7, valid mRSS at 12±3 months after baseline and ≥1 annual follow-up visit. Progressive skin fibrosis was defined as an increase in mRSS &gt;5 and ≥25% from baseline to 12±3 months. Outcomes were pulmonary, cardiovascular and renal progression, and all-cause death. Associations between skin progression and outcomes were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable Cox regression. Results Of 1021 included patients, 78 (7.6%) had progressive skin fibrosis (skin progressors). Median follow-up was 3.4 years. Survival analyses indicated that skin progressors had a significantly higher probability of FVC decline ≥10% (53.6% vs 34.4%; p&lt;0.001) and all-cause death (15.4% vs 7.3%; p=0.003) than non-progressors. These significant associations were also found in subgroup analyses of patients with either low baseline mRSS (≤22/51) or short disease duration (≤15 months). In multivariable analyses, skin progression within 1 year was independently associated with FVC decline ≥10% (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.65) and all-cause death (HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.31 to 5.09). Conclusions Progressive skin fibrosis within 1 year is associated with decline in lung function and worse survival in dcSSc during follow-up. These results confirm mRSS as a surrogate marker in dcSSc, which will be helpful for cohort enrichment in future trials and risk stratification in clinical practice

Predictors of disease worsening defined by progression of organ damage in diffuse systemic sclerosis: a European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) analysis.

Objectives Mortality and worsening of organ function are desirable endpoints for clinical trials in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to identify factors that allow enrichment of patients with these endpoints, in a population of patients from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research group database. Methods Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of diffuse SSc and follow-up over 12\ub13 months. Disease worsening/organ progression was fulfilled if any of the following events occurred: new renal crisis; decrease of lung or heart function; new echocardiography-suspected pulmonary hypertension or death. In total, 42 clinical parameters were chosen as predictors for the analysis by using (1) imputation of missing data on the basis of multivariate imputation and (2) least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. Results Of 1451 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 706 had complete data on outcome parameters and were included in the analysis. Of the 42 outcome predictors, eight remained in the final regression model. There was substantial evidence for a strong association between disease progression and age, active digital ulcer (DU), lung fibrosis, muscle weakness and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level. Active DU, CRP elevation, lung fibrosis and muscle weakness were also associated with a significantly shorter time to disease progression. A bootstrap validation step with 10 000 repetitions successfully validated the model. Conclusions The use of the predictive factors presented here could enable cohort enrichment with patients at risk for overall disease worsening in SSc clinical trial

Racial differences in systemic sclerosis disease presentation: a European Scleroderma Trials and Research group study

Objectives. Racial factors play a significant role in SSc. We evaluated differences in SSc presentations between white patients (WP), Asian patients (AP) and black patients (BP) and analysed the effects of geographical locations.Methods. SSc characteristics of patients from the EUSTAR cohort were cross-sectionally compared across racial groups using survival and multiple logistic regression analyses.Results. The study included 9162 WP, 341 AP and 181 BP. AP developed the first non-RP feature faster than WP but slower than BP. AP were less frequently anti-centromere (ACA; odds ratio (OR) = 0.4, P &lt; 0.001) and more frequently anti-topoisomerase-I autoantibodies (ATA) positive (OR = 1.2, P = 0.068), while BP were less likely to be ACA and ATA positive than were WP [OR(ACA) = 0.3, P &lt; 0.001; OR(ATA) = 0.5, P = 0.020]. AP had less often (OR = 0.7, P = 0.06) and BP more often (OR = 2.7, P &lt; 0.001) diffuse skin involvement than had WP.AP and BP were more likely to have pulmonary hypertension [OR(AP) = 2.6, P &lt; 0.001; OR(BP) = 2.7, P = 0.03 vs WP] and a reduced forced vital capacity [OR(AP) = 2.5, P &lt; 0.001; OR(BP) = 2.4, P &lt; 0.004] than were WP. AP more often had an impaired diffusing capacity of the lung than had BP and WP [OR(AP vs BP) = 1.9, P = 0.038; OR(AP vs WP) = 2.4, P &lt; 0.001]. After RP onset, AP and BP had a higher hazard to die than had WP [hazard ratio (HR) (AP) = 1.6, P = 0.011; HR(BP) = 2.1, P &lt; 0.001].Conclusion. Compared with WP, and mostly independent of geographical location, AP have a faster and earlier disease onset with high prevalences of ATA, pulmonary hypertension and forced vital capacity impairment and higher mortality. BP had the fastest disease onset, a high prevalence of diffuse skin involvement and nominally the highest mortality

Inventario del Fondo Frontón Jai Allai (1905 - 1918)

El fondo Frontón Jai Allai reúne, a través de un libro de registro de accionistas de 1904-1918, información relacionada con acciones del club, su valor y la cantidad de acciones que poseían sus miembros. Algunos de sus accionistas fueron la Sociedad de Mejoras Públicas, el Club Unión, Carlos Coriolano Amador, Ricardo Olano, Alejandro Villa Latorre, Gonzalo Mejía Trujillo, Vicente V. Villa, entre otros. A principios del siglo XX, se introdujo en Antioquia el juego de la pelota vasca por inmigrantes vascos, en su mayoría religiosos, que practicaban este tradicional deporte. El primer espacio para su práctica fue el Frontón de Jai Allai, que estuvo ubicado en el sector de Guayaquil, pero esta actividad deportiva no tuvo buena acogida y a los pocos años desapareció, convirtiendo los terrenos del Frontón Jai Allai, en espacios adaptados para la celebración de competencias y espectáculos públicos, como velódromo, hipódromo y autódromo, entre otros. En 1917 fue clausurado por su gerente Gustavo Restrepo, dando paso a la urbanización del sector promovida por el empresario Carlos Corioliano Amador.El archivo está conformado por 2 carpetas y 104 folios agrupados en las siguientes series documentales: Documentos contables: 2 carpetas para un total de 104 folios