Structural Characteristics of Load Bearing Straw Bale Walls

Straw bales offer a renewable and affordable construction material suitable for a range of uses as both thermal insulation in walls and roofs, and for low rise loadbearing structural walls. As a co-product of food production, it places no further pressure on land use, and in common with other crop-based materials, straw captures and stores carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, offering the means to construct buildings with a net negative carbon emissions footprint. Straw also further reduces operational carbon emissions by virtue of its excellent thermal resistance. However, despite these benefits, and a successful construction history extending over 100 years in many countries worldwide, straw bale construction has still to make a major commercial impact in the wider construction market. Limited technical understanding of some fundamental performance characteristics (including structural capacity, hygrothermal behaviour, and durability), absence of technical standards, and a lack of certification and product warranty for straw bale, still remain barriers to wider acceptance. In this paper results are presented from a study on full-scale straw bale walls to evaluate the structural performance under vertical loading and lateral loading. The performance of identical straw bale walls, with and without plaster coats, is presented. The study is also unique in presenting on out-of-plane lateral loading and wall performance under eccentric vertical load cases. The research will support structural designers and enable wider uptake of this sustainable form of construction

The accuracy of CRASH3 for calculating collision severity in modern European cars

CRASH3 is a computer program that enables a vehicle's change of velocity during a crash to be deduced from the observed damage to the vehicle(s) involved. Along with other programs that share similar mathematical techniques, it is widely used internationally, particularly by groups and individuals who have access to damaged vehicles but not the accident scene, and it is applied to a wide range of vehicles and accident circumstances. Crash tests conducted under controlled conditions provide an opportunity to assess the program's accuracy. In this paper CRASH3 is applied to vehicles tested during 1996-98 in the first three phases of the EuroNCAP program. This includes results from 26 models tested in 64 km/h offset frontal impacts and 50 km/h side impacts. On average, velocity changes were underestimated by 1 km/h for the side test and 7 km/h for the frontal test–this includes the effect of a special treatment of deformable barriers not available in the standard program

The statistical accuracy of Delta-V in systematic field accident studies

Much attention has been paid to the importance of calculating delta-V (the change of velocity during impact) and other impact severity measures accurately. However delta-V cannot be evaluated in every case sampled by a systematic study of road accidents. This can lead to statistical distortions if the subsample of cases for which delta-V is calculated is not representative of the whole sample. This problem has received less recognition than the problem of calculating delta-V accurately when it is calculated. This paper contains new results on the accuracy of CRASH3 delta-V for European passenger cars and a discussion of the problem of calculating delta-V for a representative subsample. On the data available, CRASH3 underestimates delta-V for rigid and deformable barrier impacts but not frontal car-to-car impacts. The statistical results obtained using any single method for calculating delta-V are likely to be unrepresentative of certain classes of impact type, impact severity and collision partner. A flexible approach towards using a variety of methods to evaluate delta-V is necessary to counter this difficulty

Campus Vol IV N 4

Lang, Pete. The Rain . Prose. 2. Chase Jr., Richard and Jack K. Matthews Jr. Fitz and the Field house . Picture. 3. Gould, Jim. After Graduation day . Prose. 4. Runkle, Pete. As We Danced Off Both our Shoes . Prose. 5. Hawk, Bob. Fields of Concentration For Seniors! . Cartoon. 6. De Lackner, Barbara. Spring fever . Poem. 8. Goodwin, Joyce. Would That Time Were A . Poem. 8. Ward, Nancy. It Was Fall . Poem. 8. Rounds, Dave. Untitled. Cartoon. 8. Johnston, Ed. Campus Casuals . Prose. 9. Gilbert, Ralph. Campus Progress Report . Picture. 10. Rounds, Dave. Untitled. cartoon. 12

Clinical, laboratory and pathological findings in dogs experimentally infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum

The aim of this comparative study was to investigate the development of clinical signs and accompanying haematological, coproscopic and pathological findings as a basis for the monitoring of health condition of Angiostrongylus vasorum infected dogs. Six beagles were orally inoculated with 50 (n = 3) or 500 (n = 3) A. vasorum third stage larvae (L3) obtained from experimentally infected Biomphalaria glabrata snails. Two dogs were treated with moxidectin/imidacloprid spot-on solution and two further dogs with an oral experimental compound 92days post infection (dpi), and were necropsied 166dpi. Two untreated control dogs were necropsied 97dpi. Prepatency was 47-49days. Dogs inoculated with 500L3 exhibited earlier (from 42dpi) and more severe respiratory signs. Clinical signs resolved 12days after treatment and larval excretion stopped within 20days in all four treated dogs. Upon necropsy, 10 and 170 adult worms were recovered from the untreated dogs inoculated with 50 and 500L3, respectively. Adult worms were also found in two treated dogs, in the absence of L1 or eggs. Despite heavy A. vasorum infection load and severe pulmonary changes including vascular thrombosis, only mild haematological changes were observed. Eosinophilia was absent but the presence of plasma cells was observed. Neutrophilic leucocytes showed a transient increase but only after treatment. Signs for coagulopathies were slight; nevertheless coagulation parameters were inoculation dose dependent. Ten weeks after treatment pulmonary fibrosis was still present. Infections starting from 50L3 of A. vasorum had a massive impact on lung tissues and therefore on the health of affected dogs, particularly after prepatency, although only mild haematological abnormalities were eviden

Az 500 gramm alatti születési sulyú koraszülöttek túlélésének változása klinikánkon.

INTRODUCTION: The mortality and morbidity of extremely low birth weight infants (birth weight below 1000 grams) are different from low birth weight and term infants. The Centers for Disease Control statistics from the year 2009 shows that the mortality of preterm infants with a birth weight less than 500 grams is 83.4% in the United States. In many cases, serious complications can be expected in survivals. AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to find prognostic factors which may improve the survival of the group of extremely low birth weight infants (<500 grams). METHOD: Data of extremely low birth weight infants with less than 500 grams born at the 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University between January 1, 2006 and June 1, 2012 were analysed, and mortality and morbidity of infants between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008 (period I) were compared those found between January 1, 2009 and June 1, 2012 (period II). Statistical analysis was performed with probe-t, -F and -Chi-square. RESULTS: Survival rate of extremely low birth weight infants less than 500 grams in period 1 and II was 26.31% and 55.17%, respectively (p = 0.048), whereas the prevalence of complications were not significantly different between the period examined. The mean gestational age of survived infants (25.57 weeks) was higher than the gestational age of infants who did not survive (24.18 weeks) and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0045). CONCLUSIONS: Education of the team of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, professional routine and technical conditions may improve the survival chance of preterm infants. The use of treatment protocols, conditions of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and steroid prophylaxis may improve the survival rate of extremely low birth weight infants. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(10), 404-408

Methane emissions from the storage of liquid dairy manure: Influences of season, temperature and storage duration

Methane emissions from livestock manure are primary contributors to GHG emissions from agriculture and options for their mitigation must be found. This paper presents the results of a study on methane emissions from stored liquid dairy cow manure during summer and winter storage periods. Manure from the summer and winter season was stored under controlled conditions in barrels at ambient temperature to simulate manure storage conditions. Methane emissions from the manure samples from the winter season were measured in two time periods: 0 to 69 and 0 to 139 days. For the summer storage period, the experiments covered four time periods: from 0 to 70, 0 to 138, 0 to 209, and 0 to 279 continuous days, with probing every 10 weeks. Additionally, at the end of all storage experiments, samples were placed into eudiometer batch digesters, and their methane emissions were measured at 20 degrees C for another 60 days to investigate the potential effect of the aging of the liquid manure on its methane emissions. The experiment showed that the methane emissions from manure stored in summer were considerably higher than those from manure stored in winter. CH4 production started after approximately one month, reaching values of 0.061 kg CH4 kg(-1) Volatile Solid (VS) and achieving high total emissions of 0.148 kg CH4 kg(-1) VS (40 weeks). In winter, the highest emissions level was 0.0011 kg CH4 kg(-1) VS (20 weeks). The out comes of these experimental measurements can be used to suggest strategies for mitigating methane emissions from manure storage

The Antitumorigenic Function of EGFR in Metastatic Breast Cancer is Regulated by Expression of Mig6

Numerous studies by our lab and others demonstrate that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays critical roles in primary breast cancer (BC) initiation, growth and dissemination. However, clinical trials targeting EGFR function in BC have lead to disappointing results. In the current study we sought to identify the mechanisms responsible for this disparity by investigating the function of EGFR across the continuum of the metastatic cascade. We previously established that overexpression of EGFR is sufficient for formation of in situ primary tumors by otherwise nontransformed murine mammary gland cells. Induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is sufficient to drive the metastasis of these EGFR-transformed tumors. Examining growth factor receptor expression across this and other models revealed a potent downregulation of EGFR through metastatic progression. Consistent with diminution of EGFR following EMT and metastasis EGF stimulation changes from a proliferative to an apoptotic response in in situ versus metastatic tumor cells, respectively. Furthermore, overexpression of EGFR in metastatic MDA-MB-231 BC cells promoted their antitumorigenic response to EGF in three dimensional (3D) metastatic outgrowth assays. In line with the paradoxical function of EGFR through EMT and metastasis we demonstrate that the EGFR inhibitory molecule, Mitogen Induced Gene-6 (Mig6), is tumor suppressive in in situ tumor cells. However, Mig6 expression is absolutely required for prevention of apoptosis and ultimate metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells. Further understanding of the paradoxical function of EGFR between primary and metastatic tumors will be essential for application of its targeted molecular therapies in BC

Súlyos keringési elégtelenséggel járó neonatalis hyperthyreosis = Severe circulatory insufficiency in a patient with neonatal hyperthyroidism

A szerzők egy Basedow–Graves-kór miatt korábban thyreoidectomián átesett, kezeletlen anya koraszülöttjének esetét ismertetik. Gondozatlan terhességből magzati tachycardia, fenyegető intrauterin asphyxia miatt sürgős császármetszéssel született a 33. hétnek megfelelő érettségű, 1350 gramm súlyú, dysmaturus (testsúlypercentil 180/perc), cardialis decompensatio miatt béta-blokkoló, digoxin- és dobutaminterápiát igényelt. Kivizsgálása során cardiomegalia, pericardialis folyadékgyülem, súlyos tüdőhypoplasia, mitralis és tricuspidalis insufficientia, hepatosplenomegalia igazolódott. A pajzsmirigy-szabadhormonok szintje többszörösen meghaladta a referenciaértéket (fT4: > 6 ng/dl, fT3: > 30 pg/ml), a TSH-szint ugyanakkor 0 volt. Légzéstámogatást 7, keringéstámogatást 10 napig igényelt, propranolol- mellett K-jodid-kezelésben részesült. Tachycardiája mérséklődött, a béta-blokkoló kezelést csökkentett adagban kapta tovább, pajzsmirigyhormonszintjei fokozatosan a normális tartományba kerültek. A szerzők felhívják a figyelmet arra, hogy a Basedow–Graves-kórban szenvedő anya újszülöttjénél jelentős súlybeli, növekedésbeli elmaradás, súlyos keringési elégtelenség, thyreotoxicosis tünetei alakulhatnak ki, és hangsúlyozzák az anyai hormon-, valamint antitestszintek nyomon követésének jelentőségét. | Authors describe a case of a premature infant whose mother had a history of thyroidectomy due to Graves’ disease and her hormonal status was not controlled during pregnancy. She did not receive prenatal care and on 33rd week the premature infant was delivered by emergency cesarean section because of fetal tachycardia and imminent intrauterine asphyxia. The infant with a weight of 1350 gram (percentile 180/min) and cardiac decompensation. Further examinations proved cardiomegaly, pericardial fluid, severe pulmonary hypoplasia, mitral- and tricuspid insufficiency and hepatosplenomegaly. The level of free thyroid hormones was several times higher than normal (fT4: > 6 ng/dl, fT3 > 30 pg/ml), while TSH level was 0. Respiratory support was required for 7 days, inotropic support for 10 days; at the same time propranolol and K-iodide were administered. Eventually, the tachycardia settled and beta-blocker therapy was continued with reduced doses. Finally, the thyroid hormone levels became normal. Authors emphasize that newborns of women suffering from Graves’ disease can significantly lag behind in weight increase, may have severe circulatory insufficiency and symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. We also emphasize the importance of the monitoring maternal hormone levels and antibody titers

Quantitative TaqMan® real-time PCR assays for gene expression normalisation in feline tissues

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Gene expression analysis is an important tool in contemporary research, with real-time PCR as the method of choice for quantifying transcription levels. Co-analysis of suitable reference genes is crucial for accurate expression normalisation. Reference gene expression may vary, e.g., among species or tissues; thus, candidate genes must be tested prior to use in expression studies. The domestic cat is an important study subject in both medical research and veterinary medicine. The aim of the present study was to develop TaqMan(R) real-time PCR assays for eight potential reference genes and to test their applicability for feline samples, including blood, lymphoid, endocrine, and gastrointestinal tissues from healthy cats, and neoplastic tissues from FeLV-infected cats. RESULTS: RNA extraction from tissues was optimised for minimal genomic DNA (gDNA) contamination without use of a DNase treatment. Real-time PCR assays were established and optimised for v-abl Abelson murine leukaemia viral oncogene homolog (ABL), beta-actin (ACTB), beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), beta-glucuronidase (GUSB), hydroxymethyl-bilane synthase (HMBS), hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT), ribosomal protein S7 (RPS7), and tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein, zeta polypeptide (YWHAZ). The presence of pseudogenes was confirmed for four of the eight investigated genes (ACTB, HPRT, RPS7, and YWHAZ). The assays were tested together with previously developed TaqMan(R) assays for feline glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and the universal 18S rRNA gene. Significant differences were found among the expression levels of the ten candidate reference genes, with a ~10;6-fold expression difference between the most abundant (18S rRNA) and the least abundant genes (ABL, GUSB, and HMBS). The expression stability determined by the geNorm and NormFinder programs differed significantly. Using the ANOVA-based NormFinder program, RPS7 was the most stable gene in the tissues studied, followed by ACTB and ABL; B2M, HPRT, and the 18S rRNA genes were the least stable ones. CONCLUSION: The reference gene expression stability varied considerably among the feline tissues investigated. No tested gene was optimal for normalisation in all tissues. For the majority of the tissues, two to three reference genes were necessary for accurate normalisation. The present study yields essential information on the correct choice of feline reference genes depending on the tissues analysed