Flexure of continuous HSC beams with external CFRP tendons: effects of fibre elastic modulus and steel ratio

The results of a theoretical study on the flexural behaviour of continuous high-strength concrete (HSC) beams prestressed with external fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) tendons are presented. A previously developed numerical model is extended to the analysis of continuous HSC beams with external FRP tendons. A numerical test is conducted on two-span externally prestressed beams made of HSC with compressive strength of 90 MPa. The external tendons are assumed to be carbon FRP (CFRP) composites covering a wide range of modulus of elasticity. Various levels of nonprestressed steel ratio are used. Comprehensive aspects of behaviour of such type of beams are examined. The results show that CFRP with high elastic modulus of 500 GPa mobilizes quite different structural responses compared to those with normal elastic modulus, and that the amount of nonprestressed steel affects remarkably the behaviour of such beams. The study also indicates that some moment redistribution knowledge valid for conventional continuous concrete beams may not be applicable to continuous HSC beams with external FRP tendons

Phase synchronization of coupled bursting neurons and the generalized Kuramoto model

Bursting neurons fire rapid sequences of action potential spikes followed by a quiescent period. The basic dynamical mechanism of bursting is the slow currents that modulate a fast spiking activity caused by rapid ionic currents. Minimal models of bursting neurons must include both effects. We considered one of these models and its relation with a generalized Kuramoto model, thanks to the definition of a geometrical phase for bursting and a corresponding frequency. We considered neuronal networks with different connection topologies and investigated the transition from a non-synchronized to a partially phase-synchronized state as the coupling strength is varied. The numerically determined critical coupling strength value for this transition to occur is compared with theoretical results valid for the generalized Kuramoto model.Comment: 31 pages, 5 figure

Factors affecting moment redistribution at ultimate in continuous beams prestressed with external CFRP tendons

A numerical investigation of redistribution of moments in continuous concrete beams prestressed with external carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) tendons at failure loads is described. A finite element analysis (FEA) model is introduced, and an extensive parametric study is carried out on two-span continuous beams. The factors examined in this study include the content of non-prestressed steel, tendon eccentricities, tendon area, effective prestress, span-to-height ratio, concrete strength, CFRP modulus of elasticity and load type. The results obtained from FEA are compared with those obtained from various codes. The study shows that the importance of some factors is not reflected in the codes. When used to calculate the degree of moment redistribution in these beams, the parameter εt (net strain in extreme tension steel) seems to be more reasonable than the parameter c/d (ratio of neutral axis depth to section effective depth). A simplified equation for calculating the degree of moment redistribution at ultimate is proposed

Reliability of the Brazilian version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Lung (FACT‐L) and the FACT‐Lung Symptom Index (FLSI)

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of the Brazilian version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) with the FACT-Lung Symptom Index (FLSI) questionnaire. INTRODUCTION: The assessment of quality of life in patients with lung cancer has become an important evaluative endpoint in current clinical trials. For lung cancer patients, one of the most common quality of life tools available is the FACT-L. Despite the amount of data available regarding this questionnaire, there are no data on its performance in Brazilian lung cancer patients. METHODS: The FACT-L with the FLSI questionnaire was prospectively administered to 30 consecutive, stable, lung cancer outpatients at baseline and at 2 weeks. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient between test and retest for the FACT-L ranged from 0.79 to 0.96 and for the FLSI was 0.87. There was no correlation between these questionnaire dimensions and clinical or functional parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian version of the FACT-L with FLSI questionnaire is reliable and is quick and simple to apply. This instrument can now be used to properly evaluate the quality of life of Brazilian lung cancer patients

Glycerol monooleate/solvents systems for progesterone transdermal delivery: In vitro permeation and microscopic studies

A liberação transdérmica de muitos fármacos é dificultada pelas características de barreira do estrato córneo. Promotores químicos de absorção cutânea são capazes de interagir com os constituintes do estrato córneo, induzindo aumento temporário e reversível na permeabilidade da pele. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de sistemas monoleína (monoleato de glicerol)/solventes na absorção percutânea de um fármaco lipofílico (a progesterona), através do estrato córneo de camundongos sem pelo, bem como o efeito da monoleína nas características estruturais do estrato córneo, por meio de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (SEM) e microscopia de varredura confocal a laser (CLSM). As alterações morfológicas observadas no estrato córneo de camundongos sem pelo sugerem efeito da monoleína na barreira da pele. E, ainda, o aumento no fluxo In vitro da progesterona, bem como na penetração in vivo do marcador fluorescente (fluoresceína), apontam a monoleína como potencial promotor de absorção cutânea. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os sistemas monoleína/solventes provocaram alterações na estrutura do estrato córneo, que poderiam causar o aumento da permeação da progesterona através da pele de camundongos sem pelo, otimizando, deste modo, a liberação transdérmica deste fármaco.Transdermal delivery of most drugs is precluded by the barrier characteristics of the stratum corneum (SC). Chemical penetration enhancers are capable of interacting with SC constituents, inducing a temporary reversible increase in the skin permeability. The aim of this work was to assess the influence of glycerol monooleate (GMO)/solvents systems on percutaneous absorption across hairless mouse SC of a lipophilic drug, progesterone (PG), as well as its effect on the SC structural characteristics, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The morphological changes observed in the hairless mouse SC suggest a GMO effect on the skin barrier. In addition, the increase in the In vitro PG flux and in vivo penetration of a fluorescent label point towards GMO as a potential absorption enhancer. The results obtained showed that GMO/solvents systems provoked changes in the SC that could be causing increased permeation of PG across hairless mouse skin, optimising in this way the transdermal delivery of this drug

Effects of myenteric denervation on extracellular matrix fibers and mast cell distribution in normal stomach and gastric lesions

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud \ud In this study the effect of myenteric denervation induced by benzalconium chloride (BAC) on distribution of fibrillar components of extracellular matrix (ECM) and inflammatory cells was investigated in gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Rats were divided in four experimental groups: non-denervated (I) and denervated stomach (II) without MNNG treatment; non-denervated (III) and denervated stomachs (IV) treated with MNNG. For histopathological, histochemical and stereological analysis, sections of gastric fragments were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin, Picrosirius-Hematoxylin, Gomori reticulin, Weigert's Resorcin-Fuchsin, Toluidine Blue and Alcian-Blue/Safranin (AB-SAF).\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud \ud BAC denervation causes an increase in the frequency of reticular and elastic fibers in the denervated (group II) compared to the non-denervated stomachs (group I). The treatment of the animals with MNNG induced the development of adenocarcinomas in non-denervated and denervated stomachs (groups III and IV, respectively) with a notable increase in the relative volume of the stroma, the frequency of reticular fibers and the inflammatory infiltrate that was more intense in group IV. An increase in the frequency of elastic fibers was observed in adenocarcinomas of denervated (group IV) compared to the non-denervated stomachs (group III) that showed degradation of these fibers. The development of lesions (groups III and IV) was also associated with an increase in the mast cell population, especially AB and AB-SAF positives, the latter mainly in the denervated group IV.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud \ud The results show a strong association in the morphological alteration of the ECM fibrillar components, the increased density of mast cells and the development of tumors induced by MNNG in the non-denervated rat stomach or denervated by BAC. This suggests that the study of extracellular and intracellular components of tumor microenvironment contributes to understanding of tumor biology by action of myenteric denervation.We are grateful to Domingos Zanchetta Netto and Luiz Roberto Falleiros-Jr for technical assistance. CFE and CBM were supported by Fundação de Amparo á Pesquisa - FAPESP (grants 08/05722-6 and 03/10634-5, respectively) and SRT by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico - CNPq (grants 301111/05-7 and 300163/2008-8).We are grateful to Domingos Zanchetta Netto and Luiz Roberto FalleirosJr for technical assistance. CFE and CBM were supported by Fundação de Amparo á Pesquisa FAPESP (grants 08/057226 and 03/106345, respectively) and SRT by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico CNPq (grants 301111/057 and 300163/20088)

Antimicrobial activity and flow rate of newer and established root canal sealers

Endodontic sealers that possess both optimum flow ability and antimicrobial properties may theoretically assist in the elimination of microorganisms located in confined areas of the root canal system. The antimicrobial effects and the flow rate of the following sealers were investigated and compared: Kerr Pulp Canal Sealer EWT, Grossman's Sealer, ThermaSeal, Sealer 26, AH Plus, and Sealer Plus. The agar diffusion test was used to assess the antimicrobial activity of the sealers. In the flow assay, the sealers were placed between two glass slabs and a weight of 500 g was placed on the top of the glass. The diameters of the formed discs were recorded. All root canal sealers tested showed some antimicrobial activity against most of the microorganisms. There were no significant differences between the materials tested (p > 0.05). All root canal sealers also flowed under the conditions of this study. Statistical analysis of the results revealed that AH Plus and Kerr Pulp Canal Sealer EWT had flow values significantly superior to the other sealers tested (p > 0.05). Taken together, these findings suggest that these sealers have the potential to help in the microbial control in the root canal system

Flow cytometry immunophenotyping for diagnostic orientation and classification of pediatric cancer based on the euroflow solid tumor orientation tube (Stot)

© 2021 by the authors.Early diagnosis of pediatric cancer is key for adequate patient management and improved outcome. Although multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) has proven of great utility in the diagnosis and classification of hematologic malignancies, its application to non-hematopoietic pediatric tumors remains limited. Here we designed and prospectively validated a new single eight-color antibody combination—solid tumor orientation tube, STOT—for diagnostic screening of pediatric cancer by MFC. A total of 476 samples (139 tumor mass, 138 bone marrow, 86 lymph node, 58 peripheral blood, and 55 other body fluid samples) from 296 patients with diagnostic suspicion of pediatric cancer were analyzed by MFC vs. conventional diagnostic procedures. STOT was designed after several design–test–evaluate–redesign cycles based on a large panel of monoclonal antibody combinations tested on 301 samples. In its final version, STOT consists of a single 8-color/12-marker antibody combination (CD99-CD8/numyogenin/CD4-EpCAM/CD56/GD2/smCD3-CD19/cyCD3-CD271/CD45). Prospective validation of STOT in 149 samples showed concordant results with the patient WHO/ICCC-3 diagnosis in 138/149 cases (92.6%). These included: 63/63 (100%) reactive/disease-free samples, 43/44 (98%) malignant and 4/4 (100%) benign non-hematopoietic tumors together with 28/38 (74%) leukemia/lymphoma cases; the only exception was Hodgkin lymphoma that required additional markers to be stained. In addition, STOT allowed accurate discrimination among the four most common subtypes of malignant CD45− CD56++ non-hematopoietic solid tumors: 13/13 (GD2++ numyogenin− CD271−/+ nuMyoD1− CD99− EpCAM−) neuroblastoma samples, 5/5 (GD2− numyogenin++ CD271++ nuMyoD1++ CD99−/+ EpCAM−) rhabdomyosarcomas, 2/2 (GD2−/+ numyogenin− CD271+ nuMyoD1− CD99+ EpCAM−) Ewing sarcoma family of tumors, and 7/7 (GD2− numyogenin− CD271+ nuMyoD1− CD99− EpCAM+) Wilms tumors. In summary, here we designed and validated a new standardized antibody combination and MFC assay for diagnostic screening of pediatric solid tumors that might contribute to fast and accurate diagnostic orientation and classification of pediatric cancer in routine clinical practice.This research was funded by the EuroFlow Consortium; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (FAPERJ), numbers: E26/110.105/2014, E-26/010.101259/2018, and E26/102.191/2013; grant from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brasília, Brazil (CNPQ), Brasília, Brazil, numbers: 303765/2018-6, 409440/2016-7, and 400194/2014-7; and Instituto Desiderata/Chevron, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, grant “Actions to improve pediatric cancer assistance in RJ”; the EuroFlow Consortium (grant LSHB-CT-2006-018708); Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBER-ONC; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Madrid, Spain and FONDOS FEDER), numbers: CB16/12/00400, CB16/12/00233, CB16/12/00369, CB16/12/00489 and CB16/12/00480; grant from Bilateral Cooperation Program between Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-CAPES (Brasília/Brazil) and Dirección General de Políticas Universitárias (DGPU)-Ministério de Educación, Cultura y Deportes (Madrid/Spain) number DGPU 311/15

Genera Euastrum Ehrenberg ex Ralfs and Micrasterias C.Agardh (Conjugatophyceae-Desmidiaceae) from two Amazon black water environments (Manaus,Amazonas-Brazil)

An investigation of genera Euastrum Ehrenberg ex Ralfs and Micrasterias C.Agardh from an Amazon floodplain lake of the Negro river Basin was undertaken. The samples were collected using a plankton net in four stations on the Tupe Lake and one station near a lake on the Negro river. The species were identified and described on the basis of morphological and morphometrical characteristics. A total of 12 species were identified, five species of Euastrum genus (E. evolutum var. perornatum; E. gemmatum var. monocyclum; E. ornans; E. sinuosum; E. spinulosum), and seven of Micrasterias genus (M. borgei; M. radiata var. brasiliensis; M. torreyi; M. laticeps var. acuminata; M. mahabuleshwarensis var. amazonensis; M. rotata var. rotata; M. siolii). All species, except M. radiata Hassal var. brasiliensis Grönblad, were found in the Negro river; on the other hand, only seven species were found in the Tupé lake, three of Euastrum and four of Micrasterias.Foi realizado um inventário das espécies dos gêneros Euastrum Ehrenberg ex Ralfs e Micrasterias C.Agardh de dois ambientes de águas pretas do município de Manaus, um lago de inundação (lago Tupé), e o rio Negro. As coletas foram realizadas com rede de plâncton em quatro estações no lago e uma no rio Negro, situada próxima ao lago. Um total de 93 amostras foi analisado, coletadas em escala mensal no período de março de 2002 a outubro de 2003. As espécies foram descritas e ilustradas com base na sua morfologia e morfometria. Um total de 12 espécies foi identificado, sendo cinco do gênero Euastrum (E. evolutum var. perornatum; E. gemmatum var. monocyclum; E. ornans; E. sinuosum e E. spinulosum), e sete do gênero Micrasterias (M. borgei; M. radiata var. brasiliensis; M. torreyi; M. laticeps var. acuminata; M. mahabuleshwarensis var. amazonensis; M. rotata var. rotata; M. siolii). Todas as espécies, exceto M. radiata Hassal var. brasiliensis Grönblad, foram registradas no rio Negro, enquanto no lago Tupé foi registrado, no geral, apenas sete espécies, três de Euastrum e quatro de Micrasterias