PLASTIC ANALYSIS OF STEEL FRAME STRUCTURE

This paper presents the plastic analysis of steel frame structure loaded by gravity loads. By applying the cinematic theorem of ultimate analysis, the ultimate load for the case of elastic - ideally plastic material is calculated. The identical structure was treated in the computer program SAP2000 where the zone of material reinforcement in the plastic area was covered. Keywords: Steel frame structure, plastic analysis, ultimate gravity load, material reinforcement

THERMAL INSULATION EFFECTS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BUILDING STRUCTURES

This paper presents the use of Finite Element Method for heat transfer analysis. Connections wall-beam-floor structures with different positions of the thermal insulation have been analyzed and conclusions about energy efficiency and energy loss are made. Keywords: heat transfer, numerical analysis, finite elements, thermal insulation, energy efficiency

Transcriptomic profiling of TK2 deficient human skeletal muscle suggests a role for the p53 signalling pathway and identifies growth and differentiation factor-15 as a potential novel biomarker for mitochondrial myopathies

Background Mutations in the gene encoding thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) result in the myopathic form of mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome which is a mitochondrial encephalomyopathy presenting in children. In order to unveil some of the mechanisms involved in this pathology and to identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets we have investigated the gene expression profile of human skeletal muscle deficient for TK2 using cDNA microarrays. Results We have analysed the whole transcriptome of skeletal muscle from patients with TK2 mutations and compared it to normal muscle and to muscle from patients with other mitochondrial myopathies. We have identified a set of over 700 genes which are differentially expressed in TK2 deficient muscle. Bioinformatics analysis reveals important changes in muscle metabolism, in particular, in glucose and glycogen utilisation, and activation of the starvation response which affects aminoacid and lipid metabolism. We have identified those transcriptional regulators which are likely to be responsible for the observed changes in gene expression. Conclusion Our data point towards the tumor suppressor p53 as the regulator at the centre of a network of genes which are responsible for a coordinated response to TK2 mutations which involves inflammation, activation of muscle cell death by apoptosis and induction of growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in muscle and serum. We propose that GDF-15 may represent a potential novel biomarker for mitochondrial dysfunction although further studies are required

Epigenetic signature of chronic maternal stress load during pregnancy might be a potential biomarker for spontaneous preterm birth

Preterm birth is the leading cause of mortality in newborn infants and can lead to significant neonatal morbidities. Spontaneous preterm birth accounts for at least 50.0% of all preterm births. We argue that chronic maternal stress load, which is an important risk factor for spontaneous preterm birth, could be represented by epigenetic signature of several specific genetic loci in the mother’s blood. A literature search was done in PubMed with the following keywords: “DNA methylation,” “epigenetics,” “maternal stress” and “preterm birth” from year 2000 to 2017. We suggest that these genetic loci might be related to vulnerability and hypersensibility of stress response during pregnancy in women with preterm births. The mother’s epi-genetic stress bioprofile was supposed to be a result of chronic maternal stress load since her birth. This epigenetic bioprofile might also be a potential biomarker for spontaneous preterm birth. DNA methylation changes are tissue-specific and human stress response manifests mostly through the central nervous system (CNS). Nevertheless, we found evidence that methylation changes of DNA isolated from blood leucocytes might be a reliable measure of stress-related epigenetic changes that occur in the CNS. Evaluating biological mechanisms through the development of simple assays based on epigenetic changes to measure chronic stress loads in expectant mothers can lead to our ability to prepare more effective measures for the prevention of preterm births, as well as leading to more effective treatment strategies for both expectant mothers and their newborns

Functional outcome of children with mitochondrial diseases

We evaluated the functional outcome in a cohort of 22 children with mitochondrial diseases. The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory was administered and scaled scores determined. A large variability in functional skills was seen in all 3 assessed domains: Self-Care (46.4 \ub1 25.6 S.D.; median 42.4; range 11.8-100), Mobility (47.1 \ub1 30.4 S.D.; median 46.7; range 6.1-100), and Social Function (49.7 \ub1 22.3 S.D.; median 45.6; range 21.6-100). There was also a large variability in caregiver assistance, ranging from independent functioning to total dependence on assistance for the following: Self-Care (29.0 \ub1 33.7 S.D.; median 10.1; range 0-100), Mobility (36.6 \ub1 38.5 S.D.; median 26.1; range 0-100), and Social Function (42.9 \ub1 32.4 S.D.; median 44.4; range 0-100). The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory scores describe in depth different, but strongly related, aspects of everyday functioning in children with mitochondrial diseases. The importance of caregiver assistance in helping these children should not be underestimated. The use of assistive devices was estimated, which were found to be used by few patients. \ua9 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Ethylsulfate in Water, Acetonitrile, and Dichloromethane: Molar Conductivities and Association Constants

Molar conductivities, Λ, of dil. solns. of the ionic liq. 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate in water, acetonitrile (AN), and dichloromethane (DCM) were detd. as a function of temp. (AN: T = (273.15 to 313.15) K; DCM: T = (273.15 to 308.15) K; water: T = (278.15 to 313.15) K) in the concn. range c = (≈ 0.25 to ≈ 5) × 10-3 mol/dm-3. The data were analyzed with Barthel's low-concn. chem. (lcCM) model to obtain the limiting molar conductivities, Λ∞(T), and assocn. consts., KA°(T), of this electrolyte in the investigated solvents. From Λ∞(T) the Eyring activation enthalpy of charge transport was detd. and found to be slightly larger than the corresponding value for viscous flow of the solvent. Strong ion pairing was found for the electrolyte in DCM (KA° ≈ 6/104 mol-1/dm3), whereas ion assocn. in AN is rather weak (KA° ≈ 40 mol-1/dm3). From the temp. dependence of KA°(T) the enthalpy and entropy of the ion-pairing process were calcd., and ion assocn. was found to be entropy-driven for both nonaq. solvents. In water the salt is fully dissocd

Hydration and ion association of aqueous choline chloride and chlorocholine chloride

The choline ion (Ch(+)) is ubiquitous in nature and also its synthetic homologue, chlorocholine (ClCh(+)), is widely used. Nevertheless, surprisingly little information on the hydration and counter-ion binding of these cations can be found in the literature. In this contribution we report effective hydration numbers, determined by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, and ion-pair association constants with Cl-, determined by dilute-solution conductivity measurements. In combination with RISM calculations the obtained data suggest that for Ch(+) water is bound to the hydroxy group via hydrogen bonds whereas for ClCh(+) a rather stiff clathrate-like shell around the chlorine atom seems to be formed. With Cl- both cations form contact ion pairs with association constants of only B2 to 3 M-1

Light, neutron, X-ray scattering, and conductivity measurements on aqueous dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide/1-hexanol solutions

Ternary systems of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C12TAB)/1-hexanol/water are examd. for series with const. surfactant/alc. molar ratios of 8:2, 8:4, 8:6, and 8:8 at surfactant concns. of 6.167-61.67 g/L (0.02-0.20 mol/L). The methods used are cond. measurements, differential refractometry, static and dynamic light scattering, small-angle neutron scattering, and X-ray scattering. Crit. micelle concns. and the degree of dissocn. of the micelles are detd. by cond. measurements. The refractive index increment is given for each series as well as static and dynamic light-scattering intensities plotted as a function of the surfactant concn. From small-angle neutron-scattering expts. a detailed picture of the size and the geometry of the micelles could be obtained, whereas small-angle X-ray scattering allowed information about the thickness of the interfacial film to be inferred. A hypernetted chain calcn. with solvent plus ion-averaged screened Coulombic potentials combined with an ellipsoidal core/shell model permitted a simultaneous and coherent description of all scattering results