An Investigation on Sheeting Acting as a Diaphragm on a Reinforced Precast Concrete Frame

It is well-known that for single-storey steel structures, the framework is greatly strengthened and stiffened following the attachment of the roof, floors and walls. The panels in the roofing, flooring and side cladding are also known as “shear diaphragms” by virtue of their resistance to being deformed into parallelograms. This has been verified by on-site practical experience of many structures and design provisions are available for structural engineers. Despite the fact that for single-storey structures, the corrugated steel sheets are the standard elements in constructing the envelopes, in what concerns the reinforced concrete frames there are no guidelines nor recommendations on how to consider the diaphragm effect in structural analysis. In order to better understand the interaction between the corrugated steel sheets and the reinforced concrete frame, a real precast reinforced concrete frame structure was built for experimental testing. The aim of the experimental test is to study the diaphragm effect for reinforced concrete structures and based on the results to identify the discrepancies identified compared to steel structures. The investigation attempts to provide a starting point for future research on the stressed skin design acting on reinforced concrete frames. At the end of the article conclusions are drawn based on the experience obtained during the experimental test

Strain and Displacement Measurements in Reinforced Self-Compacting Concrete Beams with Openings Using Digital Image Correlation Technique

In structural engineering, strain and displacement are critical parameters, and measuring these parameters outside of the laboratory is a challenge for concrete researchers. Recent advances have enabled digital image correlation (DIC) to calculate the concrete surface displacements of chosen targets in a series of images recorded during an experiment. This paper presents a comparison between traditional and optical measurements to evaluate the efficiency of the DIC technique in recording the deformations of reinforced concrete beams. Tests were perfomed on two small-scale reinforced self-compacting concrete beams with small circular openings in 3-point bending

Profiling of Polyphenolic Compounds of Leontopodium alpinum Cass Callus Cultures Using UPLC/IM-HRMS and Screening of In Vitro Effects

Leontopodium alpinum Cass. (edelweiss) is recognized as a frequent constituent of anti-aging skin care products, providing increased antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defense. Considering the growing demand and the protected status of edelweiss in many countries, alternative methods of production have been developed, one of them being callus culturing. This study reports the phytochemical composition of a methanolic extract of L. alpinum callus cultures, characterized by liquid chromatography coupled to ion-mobility high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC/IM-HRMS). The methanolic extract exhibited strong free radical scavenging activity (122.19 ± 7.28 mg AAE/g dw), while the quantitative evaluation revealed that four major constituents (phenylpropanoid derivatives) represent 57.13% (m/m) of the extract. Consequently, a screening of antiproliferative effects was performed on ten cancer cell lines, representative of prostate, colon, lung and breast cancer, showing inhibition of colony formation in all cases. These results provide a comprehensive phytochemical characterization of L. alpinum callus cultures using advanced IM-HRMS, while the in vitro explorations confirmed the potent antioxidant properties of edelweiss which are worth exploring further in cancer prevention

Phytochemicals as Regulators of Tumor Glycolysis and Hypoxia Signaling Pathways: Evidence from In Vitro Studies

The full understanding of the complex nature of cancer still faces many challenges, as cancers arise not as a result of a single target disruption but rather involving successive genetic and epigenetic alterations leading to multiple altered metabolic pathways. In this light, the need for a multitargeted, safe and effective therapy becomes essential. Substantial experimental evidence upholds the potential of plant-derived compounds to interfere in several important pathways, such as tumor glycolysis and the upstream regulating mechanisms of hypoxia. Herein, we present a comprehensive overview of the natural compounds which demonstrated, in vitro studies, an effective anticancer activity by affecting key regulators of the glycolytic pathway such as glucose transporters, hexokinases, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase or lactate dehydrogenase. Moreover, we assessed how phytochemicals could interfere in HIF-1 synthesis, stabilization, accumulation, and transactivation, emphasizing PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathways as important signaling cascades in HIF-1 activation. Special consideration was given to cell culture-based metabolomics as one of the most sensitive, accurate, and comprising approaches for understanding the response of cancer cell metabolome to phytochemicals