Efficiency of alternative intensity measures for the seismic assessment of monolithic free-standing columns

open4siThis paper deals with the dynamic response of a free-standing ancient column in the Roman Agora of Thessaloniki, Greece as a means to shed more light on the complex behaviour of rocking bodies under seismic excitation. Numerical analyses utilizing discrete element method were carried out with the use of multiple seismic records selected based on the disaggregation of the seismic hazard for the region of interest. To identify their impact on structural performance, earthquake Intensity Measures, such as Peak Ground Acceleration and Peak Ground Velocity are examined for the case of a column that sustained no visible permanent deformations during the Ms = 6.5 Thessaloniki earthquake of 1978. The analysis revealed a weak correlation of PGA and PGV with the response results and a significant influence of the mean frequency (fm) of the seismic motion. No coupling was found between the maximum displacement of the top during the oscillation and the permanent post-seismic deformations. The complementarity of both earthquake Intensity Measures in the structural vulnerability assessment is also depicted.openPappas, Athanasios; Sextos, Anastasios; da Porto, Francesca; Modena, ClaudioPappas, Athanasios; Sextos, Anastasios; DA PORTO, Francesca; Modena, Claudi

Η δίκαιη διάρθρωση των κοινωνικοοικονομικών ανισοτήτων, μία προσέγγιση υπό την οπτική των ικανοτήτων

Στη διπλωματική μου εργασία, επεξεργάζομαι το ερώτημα του πως μία θεωρία δικαιοσύνης μπορεί να αξιοποιήσει την έννοια των ικανοτήτων. Αρχικά, βασιζόμενος σε μία ισχνή αντίληψη του προσώπου και εξετάζοντας διάφορες αντιλήψεις για την ισότητα, επιχειρηματολογώ για το ότι η έννοια των ικανοτήτων μπορει να συσχετιστεί με μία ελκυστική αντίληψη για την ισότητα. Επακολούθως, χρησιμοποιώ τη σχέση μεταξύ της έννοιας των ικανοτήτων και της ισότητας για να διατυπώσω μία αρχή δικαιοσύνης. Σε αυτό το φόντο, προσπαθώ να δείξω μία κανονιστική σύνδεση μεταξύ των ικανοτήτων και των ανρθωπίνων δικαιωμάτων, επιδιώκοντας έτσι να ανοίξω το δρόμο για ένα νέο ερευνητικό πεδίο.In my master thesis, I tackle the question how can a theory of justice draw on and use the notion of capabilities. First, relying on a thin conception of personality, I discuss several conceptions of equality and I argue that the concept of capabilities relates to an appealing conception of equality. Subsequently, I use this nexus between capabilities and equality to formulate a principle of justice. Against this backdrop, I shape a normative link between capabilities and human rights, aiming to pave the way for new research field

Myocardial ischemia in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis assessed with single photon emission tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging

BACKGROUND: Non-specific cardiac symptoms in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) could indicate early cardiovascular disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), with 99mTc tetrofosmin stress–rest single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT), in 13 RA female patients with atypical cardiac symptoms, was compared to 44 weight- and age-matched females with similar cardiac complaints (control group). Smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity and cardiac heredity were recorded and compared between the study and control group. MPI was assessed using 17 segment polar map and with a scale of 0 to 5 scoring. RESULTS: Patients with RA demonstrated higher cardiovascular risk (46%) compared to control individuals (17%). In addition, patients with RA had more irreversible myocardial ischemic abnormalities in their MPI than the control group. Dyslipidemia and obesity was found more frequent in RA patients with MPI SSS ≥ 4. CONCLUSION: RA patients with atypical cardiac complaints are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease; early detection and monitoring of this patient group could potentially reverse or successfully manage the consequences of the upcoming cardiovascular disease

Urothelial Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder in Young Adults: Presentation, Clinical behavior and Outcome

Introduction. There is not much evidence regarding clinical behavior of bladder cancer in younger patients. We evaluated clinical characteristics, tumor recurrence and progression in patients younger than 40 years old with urothelial bladder carcinoma. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 31 patients less than 40 years old who were firstly managed with bladder urothelial carcinoma in our department. Data were analysed with the Chi-square test. Results. Mean age was 31.7 years. Mean followup was 38.52 months (11–72 months). Nineteen (61%) patients were diagnosed with GII and 2 (6%) patients with GIII disease. Five (16%) patients presented with T1 disease. Three (9%) patients with invasive disease underwent cystectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy and one developed metastatic disease. Ten (32%) patients recurred during followup with a disease free recurrence rate of 65% the first 2 years after surgery. From those, 1 patient progressed to higher stage and three to higher grade disease. No patient died during followup. Conclusions. Bladder urothelial carcinoma in patients younger than 40 years is usually low stage and low grade. Management of these patients should be according to clinical characteristics and no different from older patients with the same disease

Review of material measures for surface topography instrument calibration and performance verification

As the need for the manufacturing of complex surface topographies increases, traceable measurement with known uncertainties can allow a manufacturing process to remain stable. Material measures are the link in the chain that connects the surface topography measurement instrument's output to the definition of the metre. In this review, the use of material measures is examined for the purposes of instrument calibration and performance verification based on the metrological characteristics framework, as introduced in ISO 25178 part 600. The material measures associated with each metrological characteristic are investigated in terms of fabrication, geometry and functionality. Material measures for metrological characteristics are discussed in a sequential approach, focusing on material measures that have been developed for specific measurement technologies and optical surface topography measurement instruments. There remains a gap in the metrological characteristic framework for the characteristic, topography fidelity, and the review highlights current methods using reference metrology and alternative approaches using virtual instruments to quantify the effects of topography fidelity. The influence of primary instruments is also reviewed in the context of uncertainty propagation. In the conclusion, the current challenges are identified with regards to the scarcity of available material measures in the lower nanometre range, and the limitations in terms of cost, complexity, manufacturing time and industrial applicability