Fire design method for concrete filled tubular columns based on equivalent concrete core cross-section

In this work, a method for a realistic cross-sectional temperature prediction and a simplified fire design method for circular concrete filled tubular columns under axial load are presented. The generalized lack of simple proposals for computing the cross-sectional temperature field of CFT columns when their fire resistance is evaluated is evident. Even Eurocode 4 Part 1-2, which provides one of the most used fire design methods for composite columns, does not give any indications to the designers for computing the cross-sectional temperatures. Given the clear necessity of having an available method for that purpose, in this paper a set of equations for computing the temperature distribution of circular CFT columns filled with normal strength concrete is provided. First, a finite differences thermal model is presented and satisfactorily validated against experimental results for any type of concrete infill. This model consideres the gap at steel-concrete interface, the moisture content in concrete and the temperature dependent properties of both materials. Using this model, a thermal parametric analysis is executed and from the corresponding statistical analysis of the data generated, the practical expressions are derived. The second part of the paper deals with the development of a fire design method for axially loaded CFT columns based on the general rules stablished in EN 1994-1-1 and employing the concept of room temperature equivalent concrete core cross-section. In order to propose simple equations, a multiple nonlinear regression analysis is made with the numerical results generated through a thermo-mechanical parametric analysis. Once more, predicted results are compared to experimental values giving a reasonable accuracy and slightly safe results.The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity for the help provided through the project BIA2012-33144, and to the European Community for the FEDER funds.Ibáñez Usach, C.; Aguado, JV.; Romero, ML.; Espinós Capilla, A.; Hospitaler Pérez, A. (2015). Fire design method for concrete filled tubular columns based on equivalent concrete core cross-section. Fire Safety Journal. 78:10-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2015.07.009S10237

Fiber beam model for fire response simulation of axially loaded concrete filled tubular columns

This paper presents a fiber beam model for the fire response simulation of concrete filled tubular columns of circular section under concentric axial load. The model consists of two parallel components, one with a circular tubular steel section, and the other with a solid circular concrete section. The components interact with nonlinear longitudinal and transverse links at the end nodes. The element is formulated on a system without rigid body modes and accounts for large displacement geometry through the co-rotational formulation connected both longitudinally and transversely at their nodes by link elements. The model is capable of representing different types of concrete infill of the steel tubes: plain, reinforced and steel fiber reinforced concrete of normal or high strength. It is validated against experimental data from column specimens under fire. The results are also compared against a three-dimensional finite element model characterized by its accuracy of fire response simulation.The authors express their sincere gratitude to Prof. Filip C. Filippou for his comments to the paper. Also to the Spanish "Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion" for the help provided through the Project BIA2009-9411; to the Valencian autonomous community institution "Generalitat Valenciana" for the support given by means of the ACIF/2010/219 Program; and to the European Union for its collaboration through the FEDER funds.Ibáñez Usach, C.; Romero, ML.; Hospitaler Pérez, A. (2013). Fiber beam model for fire response simulation of axially loaded concrete filled tubular columns. Engineering Structures. 56:182-193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2013.05.004S1821935

Tratamiento hormonal del cáncer de mama

Hormonal therapy has been the first systemic treatment against breast cancer. Up to now Tamoxifen and ovarian supression/ablation were the best optionts we had to treat early breast cancer as advancer disease. The advent of aromatase inhibitors, new SERMS and antistrogen Fulvestrant have supoused a great advance in the treatment of this disease and at the same time have complicated the election of the optimal drug for each patient. This article tries to review the aviable treatment options insiting on its indications

A crowdsourcing database for the copy-number variation of the Spanish population

Background: Despite being a very common type of genetic variation, the distribution of copy-number variations (CNVs) in the population is still poorly understood. The knowledge of the genetic variability, especially at the level of the local population, is a critical factor for distinguishing pathogenic from non-pathogenic variation in the discovery of new disease variants. Results: Here, we present the SPAnish Copy Number Alterations Collaborative Server (SPACNACS), which currently contains copy number variation profiles obtained from more than 400 genomes and exomes of unrelated Spanish individuals. By means of a collaborative crowdsourcing effort whole genome and whole exome sequencing data, produced by local genomic projects and for other purposes, is continuously collected. Once checked both, the Spanish ancestry and the lack of kinship with other individuals in the SPACNACS, the CNVs are inferred for these sequences and they are used to populate the database. A web interface allows querying the database with different filters that include ICD10 upper categories. This allows discarding samples from the disease under study and obtaining pseudo-control CNV profiles from the local population. We also show here additional studies on the local impact of CNVs in some phenotypes and on pharmacogenomic variants. SPACNACS can be accessed at: http://csvs.clinbioinfosspa.es/spacnacs/. Conclusion: SPACNACS facilitates disease gene discovery by providing detailed information of the local variability of the population and exemplifies how to reuse genomic data produced for other purposes to build a local reference database

Representation of a mathematical model to predict methane output in dairy goats

Ruminants may contribute to global warming through the release of methane (CH4) gas by enteric fermentation. Most CH4 emissions from ruminants are estimated using simple regression equations. Thus a mechanistic dynamic model to predict CH4 output by goats was developed by using a computer-aided simulation device via object-oriented modeling. The model was structured into seven stocks; body weight, feed, metabolism, milk, methane and reserves (with two stocks). The goat model was set up to simulate indoor facilities in which the goat was fed a mixed ration. Then, 24 goats were used to evaluate the model during 150 days of lactation. A calorimetry system based on an open circuit respiration mask was used for quantification of respiratory CH4 production, as a way to validate the CH4 simulated. The mathematical simulation model estimated an average CH4 conversion factor (Ym) value of 5.3%, and an average daily CH4 production of 1.55 MJ/d. The average daily CH4 production for the validation group of goats was 1.51 MJ/d. Based on our simulation over 5 months of lactation for a mixed diet, use of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change values (Ym = 6.5) could result in an overestimation of enteric CH4 for dairy goats fed concentrate diets.This study was support by INIA Project (Ref. RTA2011-00107-C02-02).Fernández Martínez, CJ.; Espinos Gutierrez, FJ.; López Luján, MDC.; García Diego, FJ.; Cervera Fras, MC. (2013). Representation of a mathematical model to predict methane output in dairy goats. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 91:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2012.11.013199

Generation of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from an unaffected female carrier of mutation in SACSIN gene

The human iPSC cell line, CARS-FiPS4F1 (ESi064-A), derived from dermal fibroblast from the apparently healthy carrier of the mutation of the gene SACSIN, was generated by non-integrative reprogramming technology using OCT3/4, SOX2, CMYC and KLF4 reprogramming factors. The pluripotency was assessed by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. This iPSC line can be used as control for Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) disease

Plasma metabolome and skin proteins in Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A patients.

ObjectiveCharcot-Marie-Tooth 1A (CMT1A) disease is the most common inherited neuropathy that lacks of therapy and of molecular markers to assess disease severity. Herein, we have pursued the identification of potential biomarkers in plasma samples and skin biopsies that could define the phenotype of CMT1A patients at mild (Mi), moderate (Mo) and severe (Se) stages of disease as assessed by the CMT neuropathy score to contribute to the understanding of CMT pathophysiology and eventually inform of the severity of the disease.MethodsWe have used: (i) a high-throughput untargeted metabolomic approach of plasma samples in a cohort of 42 CMT1A patients and 15 healthy controls (CRL) using ultrahigh liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and (ii) reverse phase protein microarrays to quantitate the expression of some proteins of energy metabolism and of the antioxidant response in skin biopsies of a cohort of 70 CMT1A patients and 13 healthy controls.ResultsThe metabolomic approach identified 194 metabolites with significant differences among the four groups (Mi, Mo, Se, CRL) of samples. A multivariate Linear Discriminant Analysis model using 12 metabolites afforded the correct classification of the samples. These metabolites indicate an increase in protein catabolism and the mobilization of membrane lipids involved in signaling inflammation with severity of CMT1A. A concurrent depletion of leucine, which is required for the biogenesis of the muscle, is also observed in the patients. Protein expression in skin biopsies indicates early loss of mitochondrial and antioxidant proteins in patients' biopsies.ConclusionThe findings indicate that CMT1A disease is associated with a metabolic state resembling inflammation and sarcopenia suggesting that it might represent a potential target to prevent the nerve and muscle wasting phenotype in these patients. The observed changes in metabolites could be useful as potential biomarkers of CMT1A disease after appropriate validation in future longitudinal studies

Clinical, biochemical, molecular and therapeutic aspects of 2 new cases of 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase deficiency

Our aim was to report two new cases of hyperlysinemia type I describing the clinical, biochemical and molecular features of the disease and the outcome of lysine restriction. Two children presented with febrile seizures followed by developmental delay, clumsiness and epilepsy. At age 2 and 8. years a biochemical and genetic diagnosis of hyperlysinemia type I was confirmed and lysine-restricted diet was started in both cases. Three years after initiation of lysine restriction, case 1 had not suffered further seizures. In case 2, tremor and dysmetria improved, but fine motor clumsiness persisted. Mild cognitive impairment was present in both patients despite dietary treatment. Laboratory studies: Plasma, urine and cerebrospinal fluid amino acid concentrations were measured by ion exchange chromatography. Mutation analysis of the AASS gene was performed by directly sequencing the PCR products. The plasma lysine values were higher than 1200. μmol/L in both cases. Additionally, an increase in dibasic aminoaciduria was observed. Lysine restriction decreased plasma lysine values and nearly normalised dibasic aminoaciduria. Mutational screening of the AASS gene revealed that case 1 was a compound heterozygote for c.2662 + 1_2662 + 5delGTAAGinsTT and c.874A > G and that case 2 was a compound heterozygote for c.976_977delCA and c.1925C > G. In conclusion, we present two children with hyperlysinemia type I and neurological impairment in which implementation of lysine-restricted diet achieved a mild improvement of symptoms but did not reverse cognitive impairment. The partial decrease of lysine concentrations and the normalisation of urine excretion of dibasic amino acids after lysine restriction further reinforce the possibility of this therapeutic intervention, although further investigations seem necessary. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER); Instituto de Salud Carlos III, SpainPeer Reviewe

Generation of a human iPSC line from a patient with autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) caused by mutation in SACSIN gene

The human iPSC cell line, ARS-FiPS4F1 (ESi063-A), derived from dermal fibroblast from the patient autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) caused by mutations on the gene SACSIN, was generated by non-integrative reprogramming technology using OCT3/4, SOX2, CMYC and KLF4 reprogramming factors. The pluripotency was assessed by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. Differentiation capacity was verified in vitro. This iPSC line can be further differentiated toward affected cells to better understand molecular mechanisms of disease and pathophysiology