Validation of a New Analytical Formula to Predict the Steel Temperature of Heavily Insulated Cross-Sections

Fire protection is a popular solution to slow down the temperature increase in steel elements subjected to fire, and simple equations, such as the mass lumped formula proposed in EN1993-1-2, may be employed to estimate the steel temperature in the cross-section. The EN1993-1-2 formula assumes that the temperature of the exposed insulation surface and the surrounding gas are equal. This simplification may provide inaccurate results for heavily insulated steel sections. Therefore, a new mass lumped formula was derived, accounting for more accurate boundary conditions considering the heat flux impinging the insulation. On these premises, this work evaluates how the new simple formula fares with respect to the EN1993-1-2 formula. In this respect, a comprehensive comparison with the results of 1-D and 2-D analyses considering several insulation materials and thicknesses of insulation and steel is thoroughly presented. The proposal results in being always safe and better estimates steel temperatures relevant in the structural fire engineering context. Its use is particularly recommended for heavily insulated sections, where the ratio between the insulation and the steel heat capacities is higher than 14, and the EN1993-1-2 formula gives unsafe predictions

A Retrofit Method to Mitigate Progressive Collapse in Steel Structures

Accidental events, such as impact loading or explosions, are rare events characterized by a very low probability of occurrence. However, their effects often lead to very high human losses and economic consequences as are likely to trigger the progressive collapse of the buildings. The pro-gressive collapse of structures attracted the attention of many researchers and the topic has been widely investigated in recent years. In addition, increasing interest has been shown also on the definition of retrofit strategies able to increase the robustness of existing structures. The present work investigates the performance and the design of a retrofit solution to increase the robustness of steel moment resisting frames. A case study structure is selected and modelled in OpenSees, including both mechanical and geometrical non-linearities. Non-linear static analyses have been carried out on the frame, simulating a column loss scenario to investigate the subsequent load re-distribution. The simulations showed that the case study was unable to redistribute the load and hence retrofitting was required. Among others, a truss system was added at the rooftop level of the building allowing the definition of an alternative load path. The analyses outcomes showed how the proposed retrofit method allows to increase the robustness of the case study structure and allowed for critical remarks on the checks required when this retrofit system is employed

Retrofit of existing steel structures against progressive collapse through roof-truss

The paper presents the results of a comprehensive study on the evaluation of the effectiveness of a retrofit strategy of existing steel buildings against progressive collapse. In this respect, it investigates the performance and the design of a retrofit solution to increase the robustness of steel Moment Resisting Frame buildings. A truss steel system added at the building's rooftop level (i.e., ‘roof-truss’), and intended to define an alternative load path, was investigated as a retrofit solution. The numerical model key components, including the plastic hinges and the beam-column connections, were validated against available experimental results. The validated models were then used to study the robustness of the structure under column loss scenarios by means of non-linear static and dynamic analyses performed in OpenSees. The simulations allowed for the identification of possible failure modes and alternative load paths together with the definition of the Dynamic Increase Factor (DIF). In this regard, it is shown that column buckling is critical for the selected case study. Moreover, the outcomes showed how the proposed retrofit solution allows the definition of effective alternative load paths when subjected to column loss scenarios and informs on the critical details that should be checked by employing this retrofit system

HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT AND ROAD COLLISIONS WITH UNGULATES. A RISK ANALYSIS AND DESIGN SOLUTIONS IN TRENTINO, ITALY

This study investigates wildlife vehicle collisions with wild ungulates in the Italian Autonomous Province of Trento (PAT) located in the Eastern Italian Alps with a consistent anthropic population and pervasive summer and winter tourism. Both the populations of wild ungulates and vehicular traffic are increasing as well as road collisions leading to animals killed, vehicles damaged and human injuries and fatalities. The purpose of this work was to use FOSS4G to identify the road sections with a high number of collisions and then propose and design practical engineering solutions tailored to each of these hotspots. QGIS 3.16.6, GRASS 7.8.5 and GRASS 8.2 were used to standardize the data set, process georeferenced road collision with ungulates registered by local authorities, perform the hotspot analysis and the final maps. Field surveys were carried out to investigate the local morphology at each hotspot and once the more appropriate practical solutions were chosen, a specific detailed project was proposed including its costs. A cost benefit analysis comparing the cost of the infrastructures with the cost of roadkills shows that the infrastructures are effective in reducing the costs in the medium-long term. The construction of the five proposed infrastructures would reduce deer investments by 6% (about 250 collisions avoided in five years). Such solutions should be more numerous and widely distributed in order to have a greater impact. This FOSS4G procedure can be replicated elsewhere to plan the position of crossing structures, and for application to EU funds, thus mitigating Human-wildlife conflicts (HWC)

Numerical analysis of the behaviour of stainless steel cellular beam in fire

This paper appeared in a special Issue: Proceedings of Nordic Steel 201

Persistence of long-term COVID-19 sequelae in patients with cancer: An analysis from the OnCovid registry

Introduction: A significant proportion of patients with cancer who recover from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) may experience COVID-19 sequelae in the early post-infection phase, which negatively affect their continuity of care and oncological outcome. The long-term prevalence and clinical impact of the post-COVID-19 syndrome in patients with cancer are largely unknown. Methods: In this study, we describe the time course of COVID-19 sequelae in patients with non-advanced cancers enrolled in the OnCovid registry. Results: Overall, 186 patients were included, with a median observation period of 9.9 months (95%CI:8,8–11.3) post-COVID-19 resolution. After a median interval of 2.3 months post-COVID-19 (interquartile range: 1.4–3.7), 31 patients (16.6%) reported ≥1 sequelae, including respiratory complications (14, 7.6%), fatigue (13, 7.1%), neuro-cognitive sequelae (7, 3.8%). The vast majority of the patients were not vaccinated prior to COVID-19. COVID-19-related sequelae persisted in 9.8% and 8% of patients 6 and 12 months after COVID-19 resolution. Persistence of sequelae at first oncological follow-up was associated with history of complicated COVID-19 (45.2% vs 24.8%, p = 0.0223), irrespective of oncological features at COVID-19 diagnosis. Conclusion: This study confirms for the first time that, in a largely unvaccinated population, post-COVID-19 syndrome can affect a significant proportion of patients with non-advanced cancer who recovered from the acute illness. COVID-19 sequelae may persist up to 12 months in some patients, highlighting the need for dedicated prevention and supportive strategies

Natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and breakthrough infections in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients with cancer

Background Consolidated evidence suggests spontaneous immunity from SARS-CoV-2 is not durable, leading to the risk of reinfection, especially in the context of newly emerging viral strains. In patients with cancer who survive COVID-19 prevalence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections are unknown. Methods We aimed to document natural history and outcome from SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in patients recruited to OnCovid (NCT04393974), an active European registry enrolling consecutive patients with a history of solid or haematologic malignancy diagnosed with COVID-19. Results As of December 2021, out of 3108 eligible participants, 1806 COVID-19 survivors were subsequently followed at participating institutions. Among them, 34 reinfections (1.9%) were reported after a median time of 152 days (range: 40–620) from the first COVID-19 diagnosis, and with a median observation period from the second infection of 115 days (95% CI: 27–196). Most of the first infections were diagnosed in 2020 (27, 79.4%), while most of reinfections in 2021 (25, 73.5%). Haematological malignancies were the most frequent primary tumour (12, 35%). Compared to first infections, second infections had lower prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms (52.9% vs 91.2%, P = 0.0008) and required less COVID-19-specific therapy (11.8% vs 50%, P = 0.0013). Overall, 11 patients (32.4%) and 3 (8.8%) were fully and partially vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 before the second infection, respectively. The 14-day case fatality rate was 11.8%, with four death events, none of which among fully vaccinated patients. Conclusion This study shows that reinfections in COVID-19 survivors with cancer are possible and more common in patients with haematological malignancies. Reinfections carry a 11% risk of mortality, which rises to 15% among unvaccinated patients, highlighting the importance of universal vaccination of patients with cancer

Explaining varieties of corruption in the Afghan justice sector

© 2015 Taylor & Francis. Judicial reform in Afghanistan is seriously undermined by systemic corruption that has resulted in low legitimacy of the state and weak rule of law. This article reviews the main shortcomings in the Afghan justice system with reference to 70 interviews conducted in Kabul. Building on legal pluralism and a political economic approach, the shortcomings and causes and consequences of corruption in the Afghan justice sector are highlighted. These range from low pay, resulting in bribery; criminal and political intrusion into the judiciary; non-adherence to meritocracy, with poorly educated judges and prosecutors; and low funding in the judicial sector resulting in weak case tracking and human rights abuses in the countryside. This is followed by sociological approaches: understanding corruption from a non-Western approach and emphasis on religion, morality and ethics in order to curb it

Homologous recombination DNA repair defects in PALB2-associated breast cancers.

Mono-allelic germline pathogenic variants in the Partner And Localizer of BRCA2 (PALB2) gene predispose to a high-risk of breast cancer development, consistent with the role of PALB2 in homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair. Here, we sought to define the repertoire of somatic genetic alterations in PALB2-associated breast cancers (BCs), and whether PALB2-associated BCs display bi-allelic inactivation of PALB2 and/or genomic features of HR-deficiency (HRD). Twenty-four breast cancer patients with pathogenic PALB2 germline mutations were analyzed by whole-exome sequencing (WES, n = 16) or targeted capture massively parallel sequencing (410 cancer genes, n = 8). Somatic genetic alterations, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the PALB2 wild-type allele, large-scale state transitions (LSTs) and mutational signatures were defined. PALB2-associated BCs were found to be heterogeneous at the genetic level, with PIK3CA (29%), PALB2 (21%), TP53 (21%), and NOTCH3 (17%) being the genes most frequently affected by somatic mutations. Bi-allelic PALB2 inactivation was found in 16 of the 24 cases (67%), either through LOH (n = 11) or second somatic mutations (n = 5) of the wild-type allele. High LST scores were found in all 12 PALB2-associated BCs with bi-allelic PALB2 inactivation sequenced by WES, of which eight displayed the HRD-related mutational signature 3. In addition, bi-allelic inactivation of PALB2 was significantly associated with high LST scores. Our findings suggest that the identification of bi-allelic PALB2 inactivation in PALB2-associated BCs is required for the personalization of HR-directed therapies, such as platinum salts and/or PARP inhibitors, as the vast majority of PALB2-associated BCs without PALB2 bi-allelic inactivation lack genomic features of HRD.ER

Specialist palliative and end-of-life care for patients with cancer and SARS-CoV-2 infection: a European perspective

Background: Specialist palliative care team (SPCT) involvement has been shown to improve symptom control and end-of-life care for patients with cancer, but little is known as to how these have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we report SPCT involvement during the first wave of the pandemic and compare outcomes for patients with cancer who received and did not receive SPCT input from multiple European cancer centres. Methods: From the OnCovid repository (N = 1318), we analysed cancer patients aged ⩾18 diagnosed with COVID-19 between 26 February and 22 June 2020 who had complete specialist palliative care team data (SPCT+ referred; SPCT− not referred). Results: Of 555 eligible patients, 317 were male (57.1%), with a median age of 70 years (IQR 20). At COVID-19 diagnosis, 44.7% were on anti-cancer therapy and 53.3% had ⩾1 co-morbidity. Two hundred and six patients received SPCT input for symptom control (80.1%), psychological support (54.4%) and/or advance care planning (51%). SPCT+ patients had more ‘Do not attempt cardio-pulmonary resuscitation’ orders completed prior to (12.6% versus 3.7%) and during admission (50% versus 22.1%, p < 0.001), with more SPCT+ patients deemed suitable for treatment escalation (50% versus 22.1%, p < 0.001). SPCT involvement was associated with higher discharge rates from hospital for end-of-life care (9.7% versus 0%, p < 0.001). End-of-life anticipatory prescribing was higher in SPCT+ patients, with opioids (96.3% versus 47.1%) and benzodiazepines (82.9% versus 41.2%) being used frequently for symptom control. Conclusion: SPCT referral facilitated symptom control, emergency care and discharge planning, as well as high rates of referral for psychological support than previously reported. Our study highlighted the critical need of SPCTs for patients with cancer during the pandemic and should inform service planning for this population