Finite element model with imposed slip surfaces for earth mass safety evaluation

The study of earth masses requires numerical methods that provide the quantification of the safety factor without requiring detrimental assumptions. For that, equilibrium analysis can perform fast computations but require assumptions that limit its potentiality. Limit analysis does not require detrimental assumptions but are numerically demanding. This work provides a new approach that combines the advantage of both the equilibrium method and the limit analysis. The defined hybrid model allows probabilistic analysis and optimization approaches without the assumption of interslice forces. It is compared with a published case and used to perform probabilistic studies in both a homogeneous and a layered foundation. Analyses show that the shape of the density probability functions is highly relevant when computing the probability of failure, and soil elasticity hardly affects the safety of factor of the earth mass.Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade—COMPETE, and by Portuguese Funds through FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, within the projects PEst –C/MAT/UI0013/2011 and PEst–OE/ECM/UI4047/2011

Room Temperature Al18F Labeling of 2-Aminomethylpiperidine-Based Chelators for PET Imaging

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a non\u2010invasive molecular imaging technology that is constantly expanding, with a high demand for specific antibody\u2010derived imaging probes. The use of tracers based on temperature\u2010sensitive molecules (i.\u2009e. Fab, svFab, nanobodies) is increasing and has led us to design a class of chelators based on the structure of 2\u2010aminomethylpiperidine (AMP) with acetic and/or hydroxybenzyl pendant arms (2\u2010AMPTA, NHB\u20102\u2010AMPDA, and 2\u2010AMPDA\u2010HB), which were investigated as such for {Al18F}2+\u2010core chelation efficiency. All the compounds were characterized by HPLC\u2010MS analysis and NMR spectroscopy. The AlF\u201018 labeling reactions were performed under various conditions (pH/temperature), and the radiolabeled chelates were purified and characterized by radio\u2010TLC and radio\u2010HPLC. The stability of labeled chelates was investigated up to 240\u2005min in human serum (HS), EDTA 5\u2005mM, PBS and 0.9\u2009% NaCl solutions. The in\u2005vivo stability of [Al18F(2\u2010AMPDA\u2010HB)] 12 was assessed in healthy nude mice (n=6). Radiochemical yields between 55\u2009% and 81\u2009% were obtained at pH\u20055 and room temperature. High stability in HS was measured for [Al18F(2\u2010AMPDA\u2010HB)] 12, with 90\u2009% of F\u201018 complexed after 120\u2005min. High stability in\u2005vivo, rapid hepatobiliary and renal excretion, with low accumulation of free F\u201018 in bones were measured. Thus, this new Al18F\u2010chelator may have a great impact on immuno\u2010PET radiopharmacy, by facilitating the development of new fluorine\u201018\u2010labeled heat\u2010sensitive biomolecules

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in intensive care units: a multicenter study by ESGCIP and EFISG

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is an opportunistic, life-threatening disease commonly affecting immunocompromised patients. The distribution of predisposing diseases or conditions in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) and subjected to diagnostic work-up for PJP has seldom been explored. Materials and methods: The primary objective of the study was to describe the characteristics of ICU patients subjected to diagnostic workup for PJP. The secondary objectives were: (i) to assess demographic and clinical variables associated with PJP; (ii) to assess the performance of Pneumocystis PCR on respiratory specimens and serum BDG for the diagnosis of PJP; (iii) to describe 30-day and 90-day mortality in the study population. Results: Overall, 600 patients were included in the study, of whom 115 had presumptive/proven PJP (19.2%). Only 8.8% of ICU patients subjected to diagnostic workup for PJP had HIV infection, whereas hematological malignancy, solid tumor, inflammatory diseases, and solid organ transplants were present in 23.2%, 16.2%, 15.5%, and 10.0% of tested patients, respectively. In multivariable analysis, AIDS (odds ratio [OR] 3.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–9.64, p = 0.029), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (OR 3.71; 95% CI 1.23–11.18, p = 0.020), vasculitis (OR 5.95; 95% CI 1.07–33.22, p = 0.042), metastatic solid tumor (OR 4.31; 95% CI 1.76–10.53, p = 0.001), and bilateral ground glass on CT scan (OR 2.19; 95% CI 1.01–4.78, p = 0.048) were associated with PJP, whereas an inverse association was observed for increasing lymphocyte cell count (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.42–1.00, p = 0.049). For the diagnosis of PJP, higher positive predictive value (PPV) was observed when both respiratory Pneumocystis PCR and serum BDG were positive compared to individual assay positivity (72% for the combination vs. 63% for PCR and 39% for BDG). Cumulative 30-day mortality and 90-day mortality in patients with presumptive/proven PJP were 52% and 67%, respectively. Conclusion: PJP in critically ill patients admitted to ICU is nowadays most encountered in non-HIV patients. Serum BDG when used in combination with respiratory Pneumocystis PCR could help improve the certainty of PJP diagnosis