A masonry catalogue for the Groningen region

Human induced seismicity has become an uprising problem in the Groningen region of The Netherlands, in which the vast majority of buildings are non-seismically engineered unreinforced masonry houses. In order to accurately assess the seismic vulnerability of these buildings, a characterization of the constitutive masonry is required. In 2015, as a part of a larger project, a campaign on the material characterization of existing buildings was performed, including laboratory and in-situ testing of the masonry walls. The campaign constitutes the germ for the creation of a regional material properties database. 16 buildings were tested in total, comprising residential structures and schools, dating from the early ‘20s to 2005. The constitutive walls included both clay and calcium silicate brick masonry of various qualities and conditions. The in-situ testing included non-destructive tests such as rebound hammer and sonic tests, and semidestructive test, i.e. flat jack and shove test. Samples were carefully taken to the laboratory, where the destructive campaign took place, including compressive, flexural, shear and bond wrench tests. Despite of the limited number of sampled buildings, the campaign provided a better insight of the researched material. The available data suggests that the use of sub-typologies (e.g. depending of the masonry quality or condition) could reduce the dispersion on the results. A first attempt of correlation between in-situ and laboratory tests is proposed, which could benefit from further calibration. In this paper, the material characterization campaign is described, and the main outcomes are discussed

Can a Gleason 6 or Less Microfocus of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PC) remains a cause of death worldwide. Here we investigate whether a single microfocus of PC at the biopsy (graded as Gleason 6 or less, ≤5% occupancy) and the PSA <10 ng/mL can define the archetype of low-risk prostate disease. 4500 consecutive patients were enrolled. Among them, 134 patients with a single micro-focus of PC were followed up, and the parameters influencing the biochemical relapse (BR) were analysed. Out of 134 patients, 94 had clinically significant disease, specifically in 74.26% of the patients with PSA <10 ng/mL. Positive surgical margins and the extracapsular invasion were found in 29.1% and 51.4% patients, respectively. BR was observed in 29.6% of the patients. Cox regression evidenced a correlation between the BR and Gleason grade at the retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP), capsular invasion, and the presence of positive surgical margins. Multivariate regression analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between the presence of surgical margins at the RRP and BR. Considering a single micro-focus of PC at the biopsy and PSA serum level <10 ng/mL, clinically significant disease was found in 74.26% patients and only positive surgical margins are useful for predicting the BR

Disease-specific and general health-related quality of life in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients: The Pros-IT CNR study

Background: The National Research Council (CNR) prostate cancer monitoring project in Italy (Pros-IT CNR) is an observational, prospective, ongoing, multicentre study aiming to monitor a sample of Italian males diagnosed as new cases of prostate cancer. The present study aims to present data on the quality of life at time prostate cancer is diagnosed. Methods: One thousand seven hundred five patients were enrolled. Quality of life is evaluated at the time cancer was diagnosed and at subsequent assessments via the Italian version of the University of California Los Angeles-Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI) and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Results: At diagnosis, lower scores on the physical component of the SF-12 were associated to older ages, obesity and the presence of 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities. Lower scores on the mental component were associated to younger ages, the presence of 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities and a T-score higher than one. Urinary and bowel functions according to UCLA-PCI were generally good. Almost 5% of the sample reported using at least one safety pad daily to control urinary loss; less than 3% reported moderate/severe problems attributable to bowel functions, and sexual function was a moderate/severe problem for 26.7%. Diabetes, 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities, T2 or T3-T4 categories and a Gleason score of eight or more were significantly associated with lower sexual function scores at diagnosis. Conclusions: Data collected by the Pros-IT CNR study have clarified the baseline status of newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. A comprehensive assessment of quality of life will allow to objectively evaluate outcomes of different profile of care

Seismic bridge response modification due to degradation of viscous dampers performance

The goal of this thesis is to analyze the variation of a seismic response of a bridge in case of degradation of installed viscous fluid damper. The study was conducted with nonlinear time-history analyses of a detailed three- dimensional FE model of the Vincent Thomas Bridge, provided by Caltrans. Three different type of excitations were used (two white noises and a real measured earthquake). Such numerical model, including cables, suspenders, suspended structure, towers, cable bents and anchorages, reflects the state of the structure after the last retrofit phase, when dampers and fuses were installed and towers were stiffened. A preliminary validation of the numerical model of the bridge, aimed to ensuring the reliability of the FE model, has been carried out by comparing the numerical response with recorded signals. The degraded performance of the dampers was simulated through the use of gap, spring and viscous elements and validated against experimental results of real devices. The parametric study was intended to investigate the effects of progressive degradation of the energy dissipators on the bridge structural performance, both under service load conditions and seismic excitations. Results indicated a significant level of relative displacement experienced by the devices during daily loading conditions, potentially resulting in a premature degradation due to wear of the internal components of the units. For this reason an alternative device was proposed at least in conceptual terms, in order to decompose the dampers during service loading and to engage then only in case of seismic event. A solution to the early degradation of the damper devices has been propose

Experimental campaign on double-leaf stone masonry specimens at the University of Pavia and EUCENTRE Pavia

Seismic response of unreinforced masonry (URM) structures is influenced by the behaviour of spandrel elements, as also demonstrated by numerical simulations and post-earthquake observation. Until recently, the understanding of the seismic behaviour of these structural components was not supported by adequate experimental tests. Only in the last few years some experimental programs have been performed with the purpose of studying the in-plane cyclic behaviour of masonry spandrel beams, made of clay bricks or perforated blocks. The experimental study presented in this work aims at investigating the seismic behaviour of stone masonry spandrels, both in the presence or in the absence of a horizontal tensile resistant element. For this reason, an experimental apparatus was designed in order to test full-scale masonry spandrel specimens. The test setup allows one to investigate the behaviour of spandrels reproducing realistic boundary conditions in the element; in particular, attention was paid to the connection between spandrel and piers. Cyclic quasi-static tests were performed on four specimens in EUCENTRE Lab, University of Pavia, Italy. The specimens were made of double-leaf stone masonry with 2 different geometries and different horizontal force and timber lintel configurations. The deformation field of the masonry was monitored also by high precision infrared camera able to position a series of passive markers glued on the specimen