CFRP flexural and shear strengthening technique for RC beams : experimental and numerical research

Near surface mounted (NSM) technique has proved to be a very effective technique for the flexural strengthening of RC beams. Due to the relatively small thickness of the concrete cover that several beams present, cutting the bottom arm of steel stirrups for the installation of NSM laminates might be a possible strategy, whose implications on the beam’s load carrying capacity need to be assessed. When steel stirrups are cut, however, the shear resistance can be a concern. This also happens when a strengthening intervention is carried out to increase the flexural resistance of a beam, since in certain cases it is also necessary to increase the shear resistance in order to avoid the occurrence of brittle shear failure. The present work assesses the effectiveness of a technique that aims to increase both the flexural and shear resistance of RC beams that have the bottom arm of the steel stirrups cut for the application of NSM laminates. This assessment is performed by experimental and numerical research. The main results of the experimental program are presented and analyzed, and the innovative aspects of a constitutive model implemented in a computer program are described, being their virtues and deficiencies discussed.The study reported in this paper forms a part of the research program "CUTINEMO - Carbon fiber laminates applied according to the near surface mounted technique to increase the flexural resistance to negative moments of continuous reinforced concrete structures" supported by FCT, PTDC/ECM/73099/2006. The authors wish to acknowledge the support also provided by the S&P, Casais and Artecanter Companies. The second Author acknowledges the grant under the aforementioned research project. The third author acknowledges the financial support of FCT, PhD Grant number SFRH/BD/23326/2005

Design and development of a multiplex microsatellite panel for the genetic characterisation and diversity assessment of domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo)

Domestic turkey production generally utilises only a few genetically improved lines, and local breeds are severely endangered as a result. Furthermore, the genetic resources of domestic turkeys have not been properly investigated, which could, ultimately, lead to the extinction of local breeds and negatively affect their corresponding genetic diversity and environmental adaptation. Although, several microsatellite markers have been designed for mapping and quantitative trait locus analysis, there is no standard panel of markers for genetic characterisation or genetic diversity assessment. Accordingly, the present study aimed to develop a set of polymorphic microsatellite markers that could be used for international turkey population studies. Thirty-nine microsatellites were selected based on polymorphism, DNA sequence and chromosome position, as well as on amplification efficiency, success rate and the absence of nonspecific amplification. The markers were screened using 105 DNA samples from local turkey breeds from Mexico, the United States, Italy, Brazil, Egypt and Spain. A total of 401 alleles were identified, with a mean number of alleles per marker of 10.28 \ub1 4.25. All microsatellites were polymorphic, with at least four alleles and no more than 19 alleles. Furthermore, allelic richness ranged from 3.810 to 17.985, mean heterozygosity ranged from 0.452 \ub1 0.229 to 0.667 \ub1 0.265, polymorphic information content values ranged from 0.213 (MNT264) to 0.850 (RHT0024) and the mean Fis value was 0.322. Overall, the panel was highly polymorphic and exhibited moderate Hardy\u2013Weinberg disequilibrium, thereby indicating its value as a tool for biodiversity and population structure studies that could play an important role in promoting the conservation of local turkey breeds.Highlights Important genetic resources reside within indigenous turkey populations. These are linked to historic heritage production values and breeds. It is important to preserve this heritage and genetic diversity, which threatens to be lost as production systems focus on production characteristics. Microsatellite markers, even though, they are now replaced by single nucleotide polymorphism automatic genotyping platforms in many fields of genetics, remain a viable alternative thanks to their cheapness and simplicity of study which makes them particularly useful when the population to be studied lacks information of the prior genetic structure

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Intensive Periodontal Therapy on Metabolic and Inflammatory Markers in Patients With ESRD: Results of an Exploratory Study

Periodontitis is a novel risk factor for inflammation and cardiovascular disease in the dialysis population. Limited information about the impact of periodontal therapy in patients receiving dialysis exists

The Role of Oestrogen Receptor Beta (ERβ) in the Aetiology and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Challenges facing the treatment of type 2 diabetes necessitate the search for agents which act via alternative pathways to provide better therapeutic outcomes. Recently, an increasing body of evidence implicates the activation of oestrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) in the development and treatment of underlying conditions in type 2 diabetes. This article summarizes available evidence for the involvement of oestrogen receptors in insulin secretion, insulin resistance as well as glucose uptake and highlights the potential of ERβ as a therapeutic target. Background: Recent studies indicate an association between the activation of each of the isoforms of ER and recent findings indicate that ERβ shows promise as a potential target for antidiabetic drugs. In vitro and in vivo studies in receptor knockout mice indicate beneficial actions of selective agonists of ERβ receptor and underscore its therapeutic potential. Conclusion: Studies are needed to further elucidate the exact mechanism underlying the role of ERβ activation as a therapeutic approach in the management of type 2 diabetes

Alginate-nanohydroxyapatite hydrogel system: Optimizing the formulation for enhanced bone regeneration

Ceramic/polymer-based biocomposites have emerged as potential biomaterials to fill, replace, repair or regenerate injured or diseased bone, due to their outstanding features in terms of biocompatibility, bioactivity, injectability, and biodegradability. However, these properties can be dependent on the amount of ceramic component present in the polymer-based composite. Therefore, in the present study, the influence of nanohydroxyapatite content (30 to 70 wt%) on alginate-based hydrogels was studied in order to evaluate the best formulation for maximizing bone tissue regeneration. The composite system was characterized in terms of physic-chemical properties and biological response, with in vitro cytocompatibility assessment with human osteoblastic cells and ex vivo functional evaluation in embryonic chick segmental bone defects. The main morphological characteristics of the alginate network were not affected by the addition of nanohydroxyapatite. However, physic-chemical features, like water-swelling rate, stability at extreme pH values, apatite formation, and Ca2+ release were nanoHA dose-dependent. Within in vitro cytocompatibility assays it was observed that hydrogels with nanoHA 30% content enhanced osteoblastic cells proliferation and expression of osteogenic transcription factors, while those with higher concentrations (50 and 70%) decreased the osteogenic cell response. Ex vivo data underlined the in vitro findings, revealing an enhanced collagenous deposition, trabecular bone formation and matrix mineralization with Alg-nanoHA30 composition, while compositions with higher nanoHA content induced a diminished bone tissue response. The outcomes of this study indicate that nanohydroxyapatite concentration plays a major role in physic-chemical properties and biological response of the composite system and the optimization of the components ratio must be met to maximize bone tissue regeneration.This work was financed by FEDER – Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020 – Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, by Portuguese funds through FCT/MCTES in the framework of the project “institute for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007274), by Project Biotherapies (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000012) and by Joana Barrosʼ PhD grant (SFRH/BD/102148/2014). The authors would also like to acknowledge Rui Rocha (CEMUP), Rui Fernandes (HEMS), Rossana Correia (HEMS) and Liliana Grenho (FMDUP).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio