Epicardial adipose tissue and pericoronary fat thickness measured with 64-multidetector computed tomography: potential predictors of the severity of coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between pericoronary fat and the severity and extent of atherosclerosis, quantified using 64-multidetector computed tomography, in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. METHODS: The study population consisted of 131 patients who were clinically referred for noninvasive multislice computed tomography coronary angiography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease. Patients were classified as follows: no atherosclerosis, Group 1; nonobstructive atherosclerosis (luminal narrowin

Performance Assessment of Base Plate Connections with Anchor Rod Sleeves

This research presents findings from a study focused on evaluating the performance of exposed base plate connections featuring anchor rods under cyclic loading conditions. The study introduces an innovative sleeve system approach designed to enhance the ductility of column base connections. The inclusion of a steel sleeve with defined geometric characteristics between the base plate and the anchor rod washer modifies the load path within the connection, resulting in a more ductile response. The study utilizes a validated finite element (FE) model to analyze exposed base plate connections featuring different sleeve shapes, illustrating the concept behind this novel method. The innovative approach discussed in this research has the potential to significantly increase the rotational capacity of connections without compromising their inherent strength

Determining the Effect of Seasonal Variation in Spruce (Picea orientalis L.) Wood Treated with Various Impregnations on Combustion Resistance

Prepared test specimens were surface treated and coated with synthetic and water-based outdoor varnishes after being chemically impregnated. The test specimens were left outdoors to determine the effects of impregnation and treatment on the wood during each of the four seasons. Caucasian spruce (Picea orientalis L.) test specimens were prepared and combustion analyses were performed. As a result of the combustion test, weight loss results, as compared with the control, were 89% lower in the spring specimens, 90% lower with impregnation, and 90% lower with the synthetic varnish coating. Furthermore, the O2 amount during combustion was found to be the highest in combustion with a flame source in the winter specimens (21%). The CO2 amount was the highest in combustion without a flame source for full-year specimens (20%). The CO amount was the highest in combustion without a flame source of full-year specimens (31,787 ppm), and the NO amount was the highest during glowing of full-year specimens (55 ppm). Final results showed impregnation with Tanalith-E and water-based varnish coating to be the most effective fire protective treatments

Combustion Characteristics of Impregnated and Surface-treated Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) Wood Left Outdoors for One Year

Treating wood with impregnating materials in order to improve resistance to burning is a commonly employed safety measure. In this study, chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) wood samples were impregnated using either Tanalith-E or Wolmanit-CB according to ASTM-D 1413-76 and surface-treated using water-based or synthetic varnish according to ASTM-D 3023. These samples were used to investigate the combustion characteristics of samples left outdoors for one year as detailed in ASTM-E 160-50. The combustion temperatures of the samples left outdoors were similar upon impregnation with either Tanalith-E or Wolmanit-CB. However, the combustion temperature of the samples treated with synthetic varnish was lower than those that were treated with water-based varnish. The time to collapse and the total duration of combustion of the samples left outdoors were shorter for those impregnated with Wolmanit-CB. Weight loss of the samples left outdoors was higher for those that were impregnated with Tanalith-E and treated with water-based varnish. Gas analysis of the samples that were left outdoors indicated that the O2 content of flue gas from samples that were impregnated with Wolmanit-CB and treated with synthetic varnish was high and the CO content of flue gas from the same samples was low