Application Of Sustainable Design Principles To Increase Energy Efficiency Of Existing Buildings

This study investigates the effectiveness of different energy retrofitting techniques and examines the impact of employing those methods on energy consumption of existing residential buildings. Based on the research findings, the most effective and practical method of retrofitting has been proposed in order to improve energy efficiency of existing buildings. In order to achieve this goal, an existing residential building has been simulated in FirstRate 5 software so as to determine the existing thermal performance of the building. Afterwards, considering sustainable design principles, different insulation layers, glazing, and construction materials have been employed to conduct a comprehensive thermal performance study. Based on the research outcomes, the best technique for increasing energy efficiency of existing buildings and reducing their environmental impact and footprint has been identified and proposed for practical purposes

Long-term structural behaviour of composite sandwich panels

© Avestia Publishing, 2017. New materials are great additions to the structural world dominated by concrete and steel creating sustainable products and low impact materials that can go head to head with concrete and steel. The new materials being discovered can often outperform traditional materials and have added benefits that improve the in-life performance such as thermal capabilities and sound insulation. One of these construction materials are sandwich panels made of two materials that are relatively weak in their separated state, but are improved when they are constructed together in a sandwich panel. Sandwich panels can be used for almost any section of a building. Polystyrene/cement mixed core and thin cement sheet facings sandwich panels are Australian products made of cement-polystyrene beaded mixture encapsulated between two thick cement board sheets. Long-term structural behaviour of these sandwich panels are relatively unknown. Therefore, in this study, in order to understand the creep and creep recovery behaviour and properties of those sandwich panels, a series of experimental tests have been performed and the outcomes have been explained and discussed. Based on the results of this study, values for immediate recovery, creep recovery and irrecoverable creep strain are determined and proposed. In addition, typical creep and creep recovery design charts have been developed and presented for practical applications in structural engineering

Timber Portal Frames vs Timber Truss-Based Systems for Residential Buildings

© 2019 Harry Far and Claire Far. A large number of structures have been built during or after the construction of a house or residential-zoned building, which are not built at the same time and/or integrally with the structural integrity of the residential dwelling. These include carports, pergolas, sheds, and barns. The typical method of constructing these structures is a general timber truss and column system. The aim of this study is to look at the feasibility and economic incentive that may be gained from using a timber portal frame system, similar to the steel or timber portal frames used for larger industrial constructions, over the traditional timber truss and column arrangement. In this study, designs for three cases of timber truss and timber portals were carried out using industry appropriate methods and standards. Using the design information and data gathered through talks with industry professionals, both methods of construction were compared on cost and overall time duration. From the comparison of the truss and portal designs, the use of timber portal frames over timber truss systems proved to have advantage in relation to overall cost and man power involved. This could certainly affect the current attitude towards the construction of small residential buildings in the future

Tinjauan Yuridis Pembatalan Merek Dagang Terdaftar Terkait Prinsip Itikad Baik (Good Faith) dalam Sistem Pendaftaran Merek (Studi Putusan Nomor 356 K/pdt.sus-haki/2013)

Merek yang adalah salah satu bagian dari wujud karya intelektual memiliki peranan penting bagi kelancaran dan peningkatan perdagangan barang atau jasa dalam kegiatan perdagangan dan investasi yang terjadi pada perkembangan globalisasi sekarang ini yang perlu untuk dilindungi. Perlindungan itu sendiri berupa pendaftaran merek kepada Dirjen HKI. Berkaitan dengan pendaftaran merek, wujud perlindungan dari negara terhadap pendaftaran merek adalah merek hanya dapat didaftarkan atas dasar permintaan yang diajukan pemilik merek yang beritikad baik atau dikenal dengan prinsip Good Faith. Walaupun pemerintah telah memberlakukan prinsip itikad baik, mengatur tentang tata cara pendaftaran akan suatu merek yang harus ditolak dan tidak dapat didaftarkan serta perlindungan hukum terhadap pemilik merek terdaftar, tetapi masih sering didapati permasalahan dalam pemeriksaan merek dan hal yang sering menjadi permasalahan adalah mengenai persamaan pada pokoknya atau keseluruhan dan mengenai merek terkenal. Hal tersebut terdapat dalam perkara Krakatau Steel yang melayangkan gugatan kepada Pengadilan Niaga atas merek milik Perwira Adhitama Sejati yang telah terdaftar dengan alasan pendaftaran tersebut dilakukan atas dasar itikad tidak baik yang seharusnya dibatalkan.Kata kunci : Pembatalan Merek, Itikad Baik, Sistem Pendaftaran Merek, Kasus Krakatau Stee

Experimental Investigations on Behaviour of Steel Structure Buildings

In this study, a comprehensive procedure for design, building and commissioning of scale steel structure building models has been developed and presented for practical applications in shaking table test programmes. To validate the model, shaking table tests and numerical time history dynamic analyses were performed under the influence of different scaled earthquake acceleration records. Comparing the numerical predictions and experimental values of maximum lateral displacements, it became apparent that the numerical predictions and laboratory measurements are in a good agreement. As a result, the scale structural model can replicate the behaviour of real steel structure buildings with acceptable accuracy. It is concluded that the physical model is a valid and qualified model which can be employed for experimental shaking table tests

The effect of synbiotic supplementation on atherogenic indices, hs-CRP, and malondialdehyde, as major CVD-related parameters, in women with gestational diabetes mellitus:a secondary data-analysis of a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND: Women with GDM have a higher risk of future cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Meanwhile, synbiotics have been demonstrated to have favorable impacts on atherogenic indices, and inflammatory and oxidative stress indicators, all of which are known to be CVD-predictive factors. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of synbiotic supplementation on the atherogenic indices of plasma, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) in women with GDM. METHODS: Eligible pregnant women with GDM were randomized into two groups to receive a daily synbiotic capsule [500 mg of L.acidophilus(5 × 10(10) CFU/g), L.plantarum(1.5 × 10(10) CFU/g), L.fermentum(7 × 10(9) CFU/g), L.Gasseri(2 × 10(10) CFU/g) and 38.5 mg of fructo-oligo-saccharides], or placebo, for 6 weeks. The ratios of TC/HDL-C, LDL/HDL-C, and logTG/HDL-C were calculated as the atherogenic indices. Serum hs-CRP and MDA concentrations were quantified before and after the intervention. Cohen’s d(d) was used to calculate the magnitude of the effect. RESULTS: Ninety participants completed the study. There was no significant difference in dietary antioxidant and mineral intakes between the two groups. Compared with placebo, synbiotic supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in logTG/HDL-C ratio with a medium–low effect size (mean difference = −0.11; 95% CI −0.21, 0; P values for the placebo and the intervention groups were 0.02, and 0.042, respectively; P between groups = 0.003; d = 0.25). No significant changes were observed in other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 6 weeks of synbiotic supplementation in women with GDM resulted in a significant improvement in logTG/HDL-C, suggesting that synbiotics may have a beneficial role in reducing the risk of future CVDs associated with GDM. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to confirm the veracity of these results. Trial Registration IRCT201511183140N16 (December 29th, 2015)

Oncogenic Ras activation of Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase-independent pathways is sufficient to cause tumorigenic transformation

Substantial evidence supports a critical role for the activation of the Raf-1/MEK/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in oncogenic Ras-mediated transformation. For example, dominant negative mutants of Raf-1, MEK, and mitogen-activated protein kinase all inhibit Ras transformation. Furthermore, the observation that plasma membrane-localized Raf-1 exhibits the same transforming potency as oncogenic Ras suggests that Raf-1 activation alone is sufficient to mediate full Ras transforming activity. However, the recent identification of other candidate Ras effectors (e.g., RalGDS and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase) suggests that activation of other downstream effector-mediated signaling pathways may also mediate Ras transforming activity. In support of this, two H-Ras effector domain mutants, H-Ras(12V, 37G) and H-Ras(12V, 40C), which are defective for Raf binding and activation, induced potent tumorigenic transformation of some strains of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. These Raf-binding defective mutants of H-Ras induced a transformed morphology that was indistinguishable from that induced by activated members of Rho family proteins. Furthermore, the transforming activities of both of these mutants were synergistically enhanced by activated Raf-1 and inhibited by the dominant negative RhoA(19N) mutant, indicating that Ras may cause transformation that occurs via coordinate activation of Raf-dependent and -independent pathways that involves Rho family proteins. Finally, cotransfection of H-Ras(12V, 37G) and H-Ras(12V, 40C) resulted in synergistic cooperation of their focus-forming activities, indicating that Ras activates at least two Raf-independent, Ras effector-mediated signaling events

c-Fos as a Proapoptotic Agent in TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells

Tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)/Apo-2L promotes apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Although many cancers are sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, some evade the proapoptotic effects of TRAIL. Therefore, differentiating molecular mechanisms that distinguish between TRAIL-sensitive and TRAIL-resistant tumors are essential for effective cancer therapies. Here, we show that c-Fos functions as a proapoptotic agent by repressing the antiapoptotic molecule c-FLIP(L). c-Fos binds the c-FLIP(L) promoter, represses its transcriptional activity, and reduces c-FLIP(L) mRNA and protein levels. Therefore, c-Fos is a key regulator of c-FLIP(L), and activation of c-Fos determines whether a cancer cell will undergo cell death after TRAIL treatment. Strategies to activate c-Fos or inhibit c-FLIP(L) may potentiate TRAILbased proapoptotic therapies

Is socioeconomic status associated with biological aging as measured by telomere length?

It has been hypothesized that one way in which lower socioeconomic status (SES) affects health is by increasing the rate of biological aging. A widely used marker of biological aging is telomere length. Telomeres are structures at the ends of chromosomes that erode with increasing cell proliferation and genetic damage. We aimed to identify, through systematic review and meta-analysis, whether lower SES (greater deprivation) is associated with shorter telomeres. Thirty-one articles, including 29 study populations, were identified. We conducted 3 meta-analyses to compare the telomere lengths of persons of high and low SES with regard to contemporaneous SES (12 study populations from 10 individual articles), education (15 study populations from 14 articles), and childhood SES (2 study populations from 2 articles). For education, there was a significant difference in telomere length between persons of high and low SES in a random-effects model (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.060, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.002, 0.118; P = 0.042), although a range of sensitivity analyses weakened this association. There was no evidence for an association between telomere length and contemporaneous SES (SMD = 0.104, 95% CI: −0.027, 0.236; P = 0.119) or childhood SES (SMD = −0.037, 95% CI: −0.143, 0.069; P = 0.491). These results suggest weak evidence for an association between SES (as measured by education) and biological aging (as measured by telomere length), although there was a lack of consistent findings across the SES measures investigated here

Impact of the Specific Mutation in KRAS Codon 12 Mutated Tumors on Treatment Efficacy in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Receiving Cetuximab-Based First-Line Therapy: A Pooled Analysis of Three Trials

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of specific mutations in codon 12 of the Kirsten-ras (KRAS) gene on treatment efficacy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Patients: Overall, 119 patients bearing a KRAS mutation in codon 12 were evaluated. All patients received cetuximab-based first-line chemotherapy within the Central European Cooperative Oncology Group (CECOG), AIO KRK-0104 or AIO KRK-0306 trials. Results: Patients with KRAS codon 12 mutant mCRC showed a broad range of outcome when treated with cetuximab-based first-line regimens. Patients with tumors bearing a KRAS p.G12D mutation showed a strong trend to a more favorable outcome compared to other mutations (overall survival 23.3 vs. 14-18 months; hazard ratio 0.66, range 0.43-1.03). An interaction model illustrated that KRAS p.G12C was associated with unfavorable outcome when treated with oxaliplatin plus cetuximab. Conclusion: The present analysis suggests that KRAS codon 12 mutation may not represent a homogeneous entity in mCRC when treated with cetuximab-based first-line therapy. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base