Illuminating the x-Axis by ?-Floodlights

Given a set S of regions with piece-wise linear boundary and a positive angle α < 90°, we consider the problem of computing the locations and orientations of the minimum number of α-floodlights positioned at points in S which suffice to illuminate the entire x-axis. We show that the problem can be solved in O(n log n) time and O(n) space, where n is the number of vertices of the set S

Assessment of existing steel frames: Numerical study, pseudo-dynamic testing and influence of masonry infills

Most of existing steel multi-storey frames in Europe have been designed before the introduction of modern seismic design provisions, hence they often exhibit low performance under earthquake loads due to their low lateral resistance and energy dissipation capacity. In addition, such structures often include rigid and brittle masonry infill walls that highly influence their lateral response and distribution of damage pattern. However, current procedures for the assessment of existing steel buildings in Europe, included in the Eurocode 8 – Part 3 (EC8–3), do not provide adequate guidance for the assessment of ‘weak’ steel frame with masonry infill walls. Moreover, most of available modelling approaches of masonry infills formerly developed for reinforced concrete (RC) structures do not properly represent the behaviour of infill walls in steel frames. An improved numerical has to be provided to satisfactorily mimic infill walls' behaviour in steel moment frames. To this end, an experimental and theoretical study was carried out within the framework of HITFRAMES (i.e., HybrId Testing of an Existing Steel Frame with Infills under Multiple EarthquakeS) SERA project. This paper firstly presents the limitations of current EC8–3 by conducting a code-based assessment on a case study steel moment frame using pushover analysis. Three different single strut models, widely used for simulating the presence of masonry infills in RC structures, are considered for the numerical analyses. The paper also presents the results of pseudo-dynamic (PsD) tests performed on a large-scale 3D steel frame with masonry infills. The capability of the different masonry infill models is successively evaluated by comparisons between numerical and experimental results. On the basis of the obtained results, recommendations on how to potentially improve the single strut model for masonry infills surrounded by steel frames are also provided

The potential of gene delivery for the treatment of traumatic brain injury.

Acknowledgements: not applicable.Therapeutics for traumatic brains injuries constitute a global unmet medical need. Despite the advances in neurocritical care, which have dramatically improved the survival rate for the ~ 70 million patients annually, few treatments have been developed to counter the long-term neuroinflammatory processes and accompanying cognitive impairments, frequent among patients. This review looks at gene delivery as a potential therapeutic development avenue for traumatic brain injury. We discuss the capacity of gene delivery to function in traumatic brain injury, by producing beneficial biologics within the brain. Gene delivery modalities, promising vectors and key delivery routes are discussed, along with the pathways that biological cargos could target to improve long-term outcomes for patients. Coupling blood-brain barrier crossing with sustained local production, gene delivery has the potential to convert proteins with useful biological properties, but poor pharmacodynamics, into effective therapeutics. Finally, we review the limitations and health economics of traumatic brain injury, and whether future gene delivery approaches will be viable for patients and health care systems

Rapid normalization of vasculitis-induced left ventricular dysfunction related with multiple cardiac thrombi

We present a young female patient admitted in the emergency department with pulmonary edema, severely impaired left ventricular function, and simultaneous intracardiac thrombi in left and right ventricle as well as in right atrium, at echocardiography. A magnetic resonance tomography showed excess myocardial tissue edema and diffuse gadolinium enhancement. Blood analysis showed an elevated eosinophils count. The patient showed a rapid normalization of left ventricular function as well as resolution of intracardiac thrombi and myocardial tissue edema 3 months after proper treatment with cyclophosphamide and steroids for Churg–Strauss syndrome. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York

EPR STUDY OF LOCALIZED CU2+ PARAMAGNETIC-IONS AND CU2+ PAIRS IN THE OXYGEN-DEFICIENT PRBA2CU3O6+X AND PR(0.5)R(0.5)BA(2)CU(3)O(6+X) (R=Y,ER) COMPOUNDS

Low-temperature EPR measurements are presented for the PrBa2Cu3O6+x and Pr(0.5)R(0.5)Ba(2)Cu(3)O(6+x) (R = Y,Er) compounds with oxygen deficiency (tetragonal phase). The nuclear hyperfine interaction of the Cu2+ ions has been observed in both compounds. The origin of the Cu2+ EPR spectra has been associated with localized divalent copper ions in the Cu(1) sites. A time-induced transformation of the Cu2+ local crystal-held symmetry from orthorhombic to tetragonal, related to the oxygen distribution in the Cu(1) plane, has been detected. The EPR spectra of pairs of weakly exchange-coupled divalent copper ions were also observed. These copper pairs are suggested to occur in the Cu(1) planes and to be magnetically isolated from the antiferromagnetic CuO2 planes

Assessment of existing steel frames: Numerical study, pseudo-dynamic testing and influence of masonry infills

Most of existing steel multi-storey frames in Europe have been designed before the introduction of modern seismic design provisions, hence they often exhibit low performance under earthquake loads due to their low lateral resistance and energy dissipation capacity. In addition, such structures often include rigid and brittle masonry infill walls that highly influence their lateral response and distribution of damage pattern. However, current procedures for the assessment of existing steel buildings in Europe, included in the Eurocode 8 – Part 3 (EC8–3), do not provide adequate guidance for the assessment of ‘weak’ steel frame with masonry infill walls. Moreover, most of available modelling approaches of masonry infills formerly developed for reinforced concrete (RC) structures do not properly represent the behaviour of infill walls in steel frames. An improved numerical has to be provided to satisfactorily mimic infill walls' behaviour in steel moment frames. To this end, an experimental and theoretical study was carried out within the framework of HITFRAMES (i.e., HybrId Testing of an Existing Steel Frame with Infills under Multiple EarthquakeS) SERA project. This paper firstly presents the limitations of current EC8–3 by conducting a code-based assessment on a case study steel moment frame using pushover analysis. Three different single strut models, widely used for simulating the presence of masonry infills in RC structures, are considered for the numerical analyses. The paper also presents the results of pseudo-dynamic (PsD) tests performed on a large-scale 3D steel frame with masonry infills. The capability of the different masonry infill models is successively evaluated by comparisons between numerical and experimental results. On the basis of the obtained results, recommendations on how to potentially improve the single strut model for masonry infills surrounded by steel frames are also provided