An extended finite element model for modelling localised fracture of reinforced concrete beams in fire

Open Access funded by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under a Creative Commons license.A robust finite element procedure for modelling the localised fracture of reinforced concrete beams at elevated temperatures is developed. In this model a reinforced concrete beam is represented as an assembly of 4-node quadrilateral plain concrete, 3-node main reinforcing steel bar, and 2-node bond-link elements. The concrete element is subdivided into layers for considering the temperature distribution over the cross-section of a beam. An extended finite element method (XFEM) has been incorporated into the concrete elements in order to capture the localised cracks within the concrete. The model has been validated against previous fire test results on the concrete beams.The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council of Great Britain under Grant No. EP/I031553/1

Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990–2017 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Health system planning requires careful assessment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemiology, but data for morbidity and mortality of this disease are scarce or non-existent in many countries. We estimated the global, regional, and national burden of CKD, as well as the burden of cardiovascular disease and gout attributable to impaired kidney function, for the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017. We use the term CKD to refer to the morbidity and mortality that can be directly attributed to all stages of CKD, and we use the term impaired kidney function to refer to the additional risk of CKD from cardiovascular disease and gout. Methods The main data sources we used were published literature, vital registration systems, end-stage kidney disease registries, and household surveys. Estimates of CKD burden were produced using a Cause of Death Ensemble model and a Bayesian meta-regression analytical tool, and included incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability, mortality, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). A comparative risk assessment approach was used to estimate the proportion of cardiovascular diseases and gout burden attributable to impaired kidney function. Findings Globally, in 2017, 1·2 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·2 to 1·3) people died from CKD. The global all-age mortality rate from CKD increased 41·5% (95% UI 35·2 to 46·5) between 1990 and 2017, although there was no significant change in the age-standardised mortality rate (2·8%, −1·5 to 6·3). In 2017, 697·5 million (95% UI 649·2 to 752·0) cases of all-stage CKD were recorded, for a global prevalence of 9·1% (8·5 to 9·8). The global all-age prevalence of CKD increased 29·3% (95% UI 26·4 to 32·6) since 1990, whereas the age-standardised prevalence remained stable (1·2%, −1·1 to 3·5). CKD resulted in 35·8 million (95% UI 33·7 to 38·0) DALYs in 2017, with diabetic nephropathy accounting for almost a third of DALYs. Most of the burden of CKD was concentrated in the three lowest quintiles of Socio-demographic Index (SDI). In several regions, particularly Oceania, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, the burden of CKD was much higher than expected for the level of development, whereas the disease burden in western, eastern, and central sub-Saharan Africa, east Asia, south Asia, central and eastern Europe, Australasia, and western Europe was lower than expected. 1·4 million (95% UI 1·2 to 1·6) cardiovascular disease-related deaths and 25·3 million (22·2 to 28·9) cardiovascular disease DALYs were attributable to impaired kidney function. Interpretation Kidney disease has a major effect on global health, both as a direct cause of global morbidity and mortality and as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. CKD is largely preventable and treatable and deserves greater attention in global health policy decision making, particularly in locations with low and middle SDI

Sinteza i vrednovanje analgetskog, protuupalnog i ulcerogenog djelovanja nekih triazolo- i 2-pirazolil-pirido[2,3-d]-pirimidina

New series of 2-hydrazino-7,8-dihydro-6H-cyclopenta[5,6]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines and its 1,7,8,9-tetrahydrocyclopenta[5,6]pyrido[2,3-d][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidine, 1,7,8,-9-tetrahydrocyclopenta[5,6]pyrido[2,3-d][1,2,3,4]tetrazolo[4,5-a]pyrimidine, 8,9-dihydro-7H-cyclopenta[5,6]pyrido[2,3-d]imidazolo[1,2-a]pyrimidine, 2-(pyrazol-1-yl)-7,8-dihydro-6H-cyclopenta[5,6]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives were prepared in order to obtain new compounds with potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity and low ulcerogenic effect. The compounds possessing potent anti-inflammatory activity were further tested for their analgesic and ulcerogenic activities. Compounds 3-amino-6-(4-aryl)-9-(4-arylmethylene)-cyclopenta[5,6]pyrido[2,3-d][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidin-5(H)-one (4c), 1-amino-2-methyl-6-(4-aryl)-9-(4-aryl-methylene)-cyclopenta[5,6]pyrido[2,3-d]imidazolo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(H)-one (6a), 2-amino-5-(4-aryl)-8-(4-arylmethylene)-cyclopenta[5,6]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4(H)-one (9), 2-(3-amino-5-hydroxypyrazol-1-yl)-5-(4-aryl)-8-(4-arylmethylene)-cyclopenta[5,6]-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(H)-one (10a) and 3-thioxo-6-(4-aryl)-9-(4-arylmethylene)-cyclopenta[5,6]pyrido[2,3-d][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidin-5(H)-one (13) showed significant analgesic effects. Compound 2-(3-amino-5-hydroxypyrazol-1-yl)-5-(4-aryl)-8-(4-arylmethylene)-cyclopenta[5,6]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(H)-one (10a) was evaluated as the lead compound having higher anti-inflammatory activity (82.8%) than ibuprofen (79.5%) and lower ulcerogenic effect.U radu je opisana sinteza serije 2-hidrazino-7,8-dihidro-6H-ciklopenta[5,6]pirido[2,3-d]pirimidina i njihovih 1,7,8,9-tetrahidrociklopenta[5,6]pirido[2,3-d][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pirimidinskih, 1,7,8,9-tetrahidrociklopenta[5,6]pirido[2,3-d][1,2,3,4]tetrazolo[4,5-a]pirimidinskih, 8,9-dihidro-7H-ciklopenta[5,6]pirido[2,3-d]imidazolo[1,2-a]pirimidinskih i 2-(pirazol-1-il)-7,8-dihidro-6H-ciklopenta[5,6]pirido[2,3-d]pirimidinskih derivata s potencijalnim protuupalnim i analgetskim te manjim ulcerogenim djelovanjem. Spojevima s izraženim protuupalnim djelovanjem testirano je analgetsko i ulcerogeno djelovanje. Spojevi 3-amino-6-(4-aril)-9-(4-arilmetilen)-ciklopenta[5,6]pirido[2,3-d][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pirimidin-5(H)-on (4c), 1-amino-2-metil-6-(4-aril)-9-(4-aril-metilen)-ciklopenta[5,6]pirido[2,3-d]imidazolo[1,2-a]pirimidin-5(H)-on (6a), 2-amino-5-(4-aril)-8-(4-arilmetilen)-ciklopenta[5,6]pirido[2,3-d]pirimidin-4(H)-on (9), 2-(3-amino-5-hidroksipirazol-1-il)-5-(4-aril)-8-(4-arilmetilen)- ciklopenta[5,6]-pirido[2,3-d]pirimidin-4(H)-on (10a) i 3-tiokso-6-(4-aril)-9-(4-arilmetilen)-ciklopenta[5,6]pirido[2,3-d][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pirimidin-5(H)-on (13) pokazali su značajno analgetsko djelovanje. Spoj 2-(3-amino-5-hidroksipirazol-1-il)-5-(4-aril)-8-(4-arilmetilen)-ciklopenta[5,6]pirido[2,3-d]pirimidin-4(H)-on (10a) je vodeći spoj s jačim protuupalnim djelovanjem (82,8%) od ibuprofena (79,5%), a slabijim ulcerogenim djelovanjem

Mapping the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™) Generic Core Scales onto the Child Health Utility Index–9 Dimension (CHU-9D) Score for Economic Evaluation in Children

Background: The Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™) questionnaire is a widely used, generic instrument designed for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL); however, it is not preference-based and therefore not suitable for cost–utility analysis. The Child Health Utility Index–9 Dimension (CHU-9D), however, is a preference-based instrument that has been primarily developed to support cost–utility analysis. Objective: This paper presents a method for estimating CHU-9D index scores from responses to the PedsQL™ using data from a randomised controlled trial of prednisolone therapy for treatment of childhood corticosteroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome. Methods: HRQoL data were collected from children at randomisation, week 16, and months 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48. Observations on children aged 5 years and older were pooled across all data collection timepoints and were then randomised into an estimation (n = 279) and validation (n = 284) sample. A number of models were developed using the estimation data before internal validation. The best model was chosen using multi-stage selection criteria. Results: Most of the models developed accurately predicted the CHU-9D mean index score. The best performing model was a generalised linear model (mean absolute error = 0.0408; mean square error = 0.0035). The proportion of index scores deviating from the observed scores by 13 years) or patient groups with particularly poor quality of life. ISRCTN Registry No: 1664524

Zika Virus Encoding Nonglycosylated Envelope Protein Is Attenuated and Defective in Neuroinvasion

ABSTRACT Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus responsible for sporadic outbreaks of mild and febrile illness in Africa and Asia, reemerged in the last decade causing serious human diseases, including microcephaly, congenital malformations, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Although genomic and phylogenetic analyses suggest that genetic evolution may have led to the enhanced virulence of ZIKV, experimental evidence supporting the role of specific genetic changes in virulence is currently lacking. One sequence motif, VNDT, containing an N-linked glycosylation site in the envelope (E) protein, is polymorphic; it is absent in many of the African isolates but present in all isolates from the recent outbreaks. In the present study, we investigated the roles of this sequence motif and glycosylation of the E protein in the pathogenicity of ZIKV. We first constructed a stable full-length cDNA clone of ZIKV in a novel linear vector from which infectious virus was recovered. The recombinant ZIKV generated from the infectious clone, which contains the VNDT motif, is highly pathogenic and causes lethality in a mouse model. In contrast, recombinant viruses from which the VNDT motif is deleted or in which the N-linked glycosylation site is mutated by single-amino-acid substitution are highly attenuated and nonlethal. The mutant viruses replicate poorly in the brains of infected mice when inoculated subcutaneously but replicate well following intracranial inoculation. Our findings provide the first evidence that N-linked glycosylation of the E protein is an important determinant of ZIKV virulence and neuroinvasion. IMPORTANCE The recent emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Americas has caused major worldwide public health concern. The virus appears to have gained significant pathogenicity, causing serious human diseases, including microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. The factors responsible for the emergence of pathogenic ZIKV are not understood at this time, although genetic changes have been shown to facilitate virus transmission. All isolates from the recent outbreaks contain an N-linked glycosylation site within the viral envelope (E) protein, whereas many isolates of the African lineage virus lack this site. To elucidate the functional significance of glycosylation in ZIKV pathogenicity, recombinant ZIKVs from infectious clones with or without the glycan on the E protein were generated. ZIKVs lacking the glycan were highly attenuated for the ability to cause mortality in a mouse model and were severely compromised for neuroinvasion. Our studies suggest glycosylation of the E protein is an important factor contributing to ZIKV pathogenicity

A DNA Origami-Based Chiral Plasmonic Sensing Device

Accurate and reliable biosensing is crucial for environmental monitoring, food safety, and diagnostics. Spatially reconfigurable DNA origami nanostructures are excellent candidates for the generation of custom sensing probes. Here we present a nanoscale biosensing device that combines the accuracy and precision of the DNA origami nanofabrication technique, unique optical responses of chiral plasmonic assemblies, and high affinity and selectivity of aptamers. This combination enables selective and sensitive detection of targets even in strongly absorbing fluids. We expect that the presented sensing scheme can be adapted to a wide range of analytes and tailored to specific needs.Peer reviewe

Ultrathin Silica Coating of DNA Origami Nanostructures

The DNA origami technique has emerged as one of the most versatile bottom-up nanofabrication methods due to its ability to construct well-defined complex three-dimensional nanostructures and guide assembly of functional nanoscale objects with unprecedented precision, high yields, and controlled stoichiometry. Nonetheless, limited compatibility with biologically relevant fluids and typical solvents utilized in nanofabrication often restricts applications of DNA origami-based assemblies and devices. Here we present an approach for coating DNA origami structures with silica. By careful adjustment of experiment parameters, we achieved reproducible growth of ultrathin silica shell in solution without agglomeration or deformation of DNA origami structures. The silica-coated structures are stable in water and exhibit an increased resistivity to nuclease-mediated degradation. In addition, the coated structures preserve their structural integrity in polar organic solvents. We anticipate that our results will aid further advancement of DNA origami techniques as the nanofabrication method.Peer reviewe