Detail design, building and commissioning of tall building structural models for experimental shaking table tests

Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Summary In the areas of seismic engineering, shaking table tests are powerful methods for assessing the seismic capacity of buildings. Since the size and capacity of existing shaking tables are limited, using scale structural models seems to be necessary. In recent years, many experimental studies have been performed using shaking table tests to determine seismic response of structural models subjected to various earthquake records. However, none of the past research works discussed practical procedure for creating the physical model. Therefore, in this study, a comprehensive procedure for design, building and commissioning of scale tall building structural models has been developed and presented for practical applications in shaking table test programmes. To validate the structural 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 tall buildings with acceptable accuracy. It is concluded that the physical model is a valid and qualified model that can be employed for experimental shaking table tests

Mechanical properties of sandwich panels constructed from polystyrene/cement mixed cores and thin cement sheet facings

© 2015, © The Author(s) 2015. Sandwich panels are 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 including roofs, walls and floors. These building components are regularly required to provide insulation properties, weatherproofing properties and durability in addition to providing structural load bearing characteristics. Polystyrene/cement mixed cores and thin cement sheet facings sandwich panels are Australian products made of cement-polystyrene beaded mixture encapsulated between two thick cement board sheets. The structural properties of sandwich panels constructed of polystyrene/cement cores and thin cement sheet facings are relatively unknown. Therefore, in this study, to understand the mechanical 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 modulus of elasticity and ultimate strength of the sandwich panels in dry and saturated conditions have been determined and proposed for practical applications

Turner syndrome. Relation between genotype and phenotype and long-term follow-up studies.

Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder with a prevalence of approximately 1/2 500 live female births. There is complete or partial absence of one of the two sex chromosomes, resulting in a genetic constellation of 45,X monosomy or 45,X/46,XX mosaic, respectively. In the present studies, using more accurate analysis with Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH), we investigated whether the international classification of the “genotype-phenotype correlation” should be different. TS women were compared with age-matched controls from the WHO MONICA study, carried out in Gothenburg, into cardiovascular risk factors and bone data. Stigmata were counted and balance and hearing were tested. Mosaics had fewer stigmata, no aortic dissection, were diagnosed 8 years later, had better balance and fine motor function and fewer cardiovascular risk factors compared with 45,X monosomy. The 45,X/46,XX mosaics were, thus, more similar to controls. Mosaicism mitigated stigmata and the cardiovascular and fracture risk factor profile in TS. Hypothyroidism and elevated liver enzymes are common in TS but no prospective studies have been performed. Thyroid function and liver enzymes were studied in TS patients during five years. The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 23% with an annual incidence of 3.2%, and the corresponding figures for elevated liver enzymes were 36% and 3.4%, respectively. Hypothyroidism was not associated with karyotype, family history or other metabolic factors but elevated thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies were found in almost half of the TS cases with hypothyroidism. The most prevalently increased liver enzyme was gamma glutamyl transferase (GT) which was correlated with serum cholesterol, independently of obesity, waist/hip ratio and glucose level, but not with serum estradiol. Every third TS woman developed hypothyroidism at five years and those with elevated TPO were at highest risk. Annual thyroid function control is mandatory. More than every second TS woman had elevated liver enzymes at five years. The elevated liver enzymes were benign. Estrogen replacement can be continued in TS

Screening for amyloid in subcutaneous fat tissue of Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis: clinical and laboratory characteristics

Objective: To screen for amyloid and to assess associated clinical and laboratory characteristics in Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Abdominal subcutaneous fat aspirates were consecutively collected from 112 patients (103 women, nine men) having RA for five years or more. To detect amyloid, fat smears were stained with Congo red and the concentration of amyloid A protein in fat tissue was measured. Clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics of the patients were assessed. Results: Amyloid was detected in eight (7%) of the fat smears stained with Congo red. Compared with the Congo red stain, the sensitivity for detecting amyloid by measurement of amyloid A protein in fat tissue was 75% and the specificity was 100%. The amount of amyloid found was small for both methods. The median disease duration of the eight amyloid patients was significantly longer (17 years) than that of the non-amyloid patients (10 years). Bronchopulmonary disease and constipation were more common, whereas proteinuria and chronic renal insufficiency were not. The number of swollen joints and the number of red blood cells were significantly lower in the amyloid group. Conclusions: Quantification of amyloid A protein and staining with Congo red are strongly concordant methods of screening for amyloid in fat tissue. The prevalence of amyloid in Egyptian patients with RA is 7%. Proteinuria is not a discriminating feature, whereas long disease duration, constipation, bronchopulmonary symptoms, and a moderate to low number of red blood cells may help to identify the arthritic patients with amyloid

Turner karyotype and childbirth

Turner karyotype and childbirth Anna Hagman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, 2013. [email protected] Turner syndrome (TS) is a sex chromosome aberration and occurs in 1/2500 live born girls. One X chromosome is absent or structurally changed in all (monosomy) or some (mosaicism) of the cells. TS is characterized by short stature, ovarian failure and cardiac defects. Mortality is increased, mostly owing to cardiovascular disease and aortic dissection. Pregnancies in women with TS are rare, but have increased owing to oocyte donation (OD) and are reported to be of high risk. The aim of this thesis was to describe characteristics of mothers to girls with TS and characteristics of newborns with TS and to evaluate the obstetric and neonatal outcomes in women with Turner karyotype and whether the pregnancy increased morbidity after delivery. Characteristics of mothers giving birth to girls with TS from 1973-2006 and their newborns with TS were investigated in a study using the Swedish Genetic Turner Register (SGTR) and the Swedish Medical Register (MBR). Mothers to girls with TS were older and shorter than mothers from the general population. More girls with TS were born late preterm and were small for gestational age than controls. In a registry study, using the SGTR, the MBR, and the Cause of Death Register (CDR), 115 women with Turner karyotype who gave birth to 208 children (after both spontaneous and OD pregnancies) born 1973-2007, were studied. One woman had an aortic dissection. Singletons of women with Turner karyotype had lower gestational age, but similar size at birth and the rate of birth defects did not differ. In a Nordic, descriptive study on women with TS who had delivered after OD 106, women and 131 children born from 1992-2011 were included, and data from medical records were registered. The rate of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy was 35%. Life-threatening events occurred in four pregnancies (3.3%) including one with aortic dissection. The rate of preterm birth was 8% and low birth weight 9%. In a population-based registry study, mortality and morbidity in 124 women with Turner karyotype who had given birth from 1973-2010 was compared with women with Turner karyotype without childbirth and a control group from the MBR. The SGTR, the MBR, the National Patient Register, the CDR and Cancer Register were used. Morbidity and mortality in the total Turner group were increased as compared with the controls. Morbidity from cardiovascular diseases was increased before and during pregnancy but similar after more than one year after delivery and no deaths were seen. In conclusion, pregnancies in women with TS are high risk pregnancies owing to hypertensive disorders and aortic dissection. Neonatal outcomes in women with TS are generally reassuring. Women who gave birth to girls with TS were shorter and older. Key words: Turner syndrome, obstetric, neonatal outcome, Turner karyotype, pregnancy, maternal, neonatal characteristics. ISBN 978-91-628-8648-