A discrete-cracking numerical model for the in-plane behavior of FRCM strengthened masonry panels

In this paper, the structural behavior of masonry panels strengthened with a system made up of composite fiber grids embedded in a cementitious matrix (FRCM) is presented. The non-linear behavior of the unreinforced and reinforced panels is numerically simulated by means of a simplified micro-modelling approach. This approach concentrates all the non-linearities and failures in the joints and in potential crack surfaces within the bricks, placed vertically in the middle of each brick. The FRCM strengthening system is discretized by a continuous bi-directional fiber grid constituted by trusses embedded into a cementitious matrix. A calibrated bond-slip relationship is applied between the fibers and the mortar matrix assuming an idealized bilinear law. The typical experimental load–displacement curve for a FRCM strengthened panel shows three principal phases that correspond to different failure mechanisms: masonry cracking, mortar matrix cracking and ultimate failure of the panel. The non-linear numerical analyses show a good agreement with experimental results and the modeling approach is found to be adequate to reproduce the described experimental behavior. The results of a parametric study on both the material and the geometrical properties of the FRCM system are also presented

Time-extended inductive tokamak discharges with differentially-tilted toroidal field coils

The strong toroidal magnetic field required for plasma confinement in tokamaks is generated by a set of D-shaped coils lying equidistant on meridian planes toroidally located around the central axis of the device. A major technological challenge tied to this configuration is represented by the large Lorentz force acting on the coils and arising from the interaction of the coils’ currents with the magnetic field generated by the coil system itself. As this force is given by the cross product of the coil current and the magnetic field, various kinds of coil geometry modification have been proposed to alleviate this problem, from an inclination of the entire coil in order to maintain its planarity, to azimuthal tilting of all, or parts of, the coil profile. When the inner legs of the coils are tilted, apart from a reduction of the electromagnetic forces, a solenoid-like structure is formed which introduces additional magnetic flux linked to the plasma. Considering compact, high field devices, it is shown that when this additional flux is exploited, totally or in part, to ramp up the plasma current, the discharge time can be extended by a significant amount without resorting to noninductive current drive systems. Operational scenarios with inner-leg-tilted toroidal field coils are presented

Coronary angioscopy

Coronary angioscopy will not replace angiography as the gold standard for imaging atherosclerotic coronary arteries. However, there may well be a clinical niche for a technology that gives accurate information regarding a specific lesion, if that information can be used to improve the acute or chronic outcome of an interventional procedure. Our experience demonstrates that angioscopy indeed provides this information. Using angioscopy, we now have access to information regarding arterial wall disease that heretofore has been available only at necropsy. In addition, whereas angiography has provided only a 2-dimensional, gray-scale image of the coronary vessels, angioscopy offers a full-color, 3-dimensional perspective of the intracoronary surface morphology. These important lesion-specific details, not reliably available from angiography alone, may ultimately be used to improve patient outcome and to assess risk

Experience of 170 cases of ductal carcinoma in ' (DCIS)

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Simultaneous determination of wave speed and arrival time of reflected waves using the pressure-velocity loop

This is the post print version of the article. The official published version can be found at the link below.In a previous paper we demonstrated that the linear portion of the pressure–velocity loop (PU-loop) corresponding to early systole could be used to calculate the local wave speed. In this paper we extend this work to show that determination of the time at which the PU-loop first deviates from linearity provides a convenient way to determine the arrival time of reflected waves (Tr). We also present a new technique using the PU-loop that allows for the determination of wave speed and Tr simultaneously. We measured pressure and flow in elastic tubes of different diameters, where a strong reflection site existed at known distances away form the measurement site. We also measured pressure and flow in the ascending aorta of 11 anaesthetised dogs where a strong reflection site was produced through total arterial occlusion at four different sites. Wave speed was determined from the initial slope of the PU-loop and Tr was determined using a new algorithm that detects the sampling point at which the initial linear part of the PU-loop deviates from linearity. The results of the new technique for detecting Tr were comparable to those determined using the foot-to-foot and wave intensity analysis methods. In elastic tubes Tr detected using the new algorithm was almost identical to that detected using wave intensity analysis and foot-to-foot methods with a maximum difference of 2%. Tr detected using the PU-loop in vivo highly correlated with that detected using wave intensity analysis (r 2 = 0.83, P < 0.001). We conclude that the new technique described in this paper offers a convenient and objective method for detecting Tr, and allows for the dynamic determination of wave speed and Tr, simultaneously

Varietalidad y etiquetado: Porcentaje mínimo de cortes de vinos wine varietals and labelling

Se evaluaron 95 vinos experimentales, cosecha 2016, tanto en su estado puro (100%) como a distintos porcentajes de combinación (90; 85; 80; 75; 60%), con el fin determinar el porcentaje mínimo de una variedad que debe tenerse en cuenta en un corte de vino etiquetado como “variedad única”. Los respectivos cortes de las variedades bajo estudio (Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Syrah, Merlot, Tempranillo, y Aspirant Bouchet) fueron supeditados al Análisis Descriptivo Cualitativo (se evaluaron 6 atributos olfativos/gustativos), y al Análisis Discriminativo Comparativo (2 repeticiones y 14 determinaciones), contando con un panel de expertos de tipo descriptivo (N = 7). Finalmente los datos sensoriales fueron analizados a través de la Prueba del Signo con diseño de muestras apareadas, a través del cual, la mayoría de los cortes de vinos por debajo del 85% mostraron diferencias significativas (P < 0.05) con respecto al vino patrón (100%). Esto es, se identifica organolépticamente aquella variedad que se encuentra en mayor proporción, cuando el vino está constituido con un mínimo de 85% de dicha variedad

Hsa-miR-155-5p Up-Regulation in Breast Cancer and Its Relevance for Treatment With Poly[ADP-Ribose] Polymerase 1 (PARP-1) Inhibitors

miR-155-5p is a well-known oncogenic microRNA, showing frequent overexpression in human malignancies, including breast cancer. Here, we show that high miR-155-5p levels are associated with unfavorable prognostic factors in two independent breast cancer cohorts (CSS cohort, n = 283; and TCGA-BRCA dataset, n = 1,095). Consistently, miR-155-5p results as differentially expressed in the breast cancer subgroups identified by the surrogate molecular classification in the CSS cohort and the PAM50 classifier in TCGA-BRCA dataset, with the TNBC and HER2-amplified tumors carrying the highest levels. Since the analysis of TCGA-BC dataset also demonstrated a significant association between miR-155-5p levels and the presence of mutations in homologous recombination (HR) genes, we hypothesized that miR-155-5p might affect cell response to the PARP-1 inhibitor Olaparib. As expected, miR-155-5p ectopic overexpression followed by Olaparib administration resulted in a greater reduction of cell viability as compared to Olaparib administration alone, suggesting that miR-155-5p might induce a synthetic lethal effect in cancer cells when coupled with PARP-1-inhibition. Overall, our data point to a role of miR-155-5p in homologous recombination deficiency and suggest miR-155-5p might be useful in predicting response to PARP1 inhibitors in the clinical setting

Sequentially based analysis versus image based analysis of Intima Media Thickness in common carotid arteries studies - Do major IMT studies underestimate the true relations for cardio- and cerebrovascular risk?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Image-based B-mode ultrasound has gained popularity in major studies as a non-invasive method of measuring cardio- and cerebrovascular risk factors. However, none of the major studies appears to have paid sufficient attention to the variation in end diastolic wall process. By using sequentially based analyses (SBA) of Intima-Media Thickness (IMT), the general purpose of this study was to show that the current image based (ECG tracked) analysis (IBA) has some major variations and might underestimate the true relations for cardiovascular events and stroke for IMT measurement.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>The study group consisted of 2500 healthy male subjects aged between 35 to 55 years. 4 sequences (300 images) were analyzed per subject. 750,000 images were analysed throughout the course of this study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>IBA showed significantly lower mean, maximal, and minimal values for IMT in CCA than for SBA. The correlation analysis between IBA and SBA with the cardio- and cerebrovascular risk factors showed a higher correlation of SBA for all risk factors. The Pearson coefficient was 0.81, p < 0.01, for SBA versus Framingham CHD risk level (FCRL) and 0.49, p = 0.01, for IBA versus FCRL.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>IBA did not measure the true maximal values of the IMT in this study. Together with the correlation analysis, this indicates that IBA might underestimate the true relations for IMT and risk factors.</p

Immersed boundary-finite element model of fluid-structure interaction in the aortic root

It has long been recognized that aortic root elasticity helps to ensure efficient aortic valve closure, but our understanding of the functional importance of the elasticity and geometry of the aortic root continues to evolve as increasingly detailed in vivo imaging data become available. Herein, we describe fluid-structure interaction models of the aortic root, including the aortic valve leaflets, the sinuses of Valsalva, the aortic annulus, and the sinotubular junction, that employ a version of Peskin's immersed boundary (IB) method with a finite element (FE) description of the structural elasticity. We develop both an idealized model of the root with three-fold symmetry of the aortic sinuses and valve leaflets, and a more realistic model that accounts for the differences in the sizes of the left, right, and noncoronary sinuses and corresponding valve cusps. As in earlier work, we use fiber-based models of the valve leaflets, but this study extends earlier IB models of the aortic root by employing incompressible hyperelastic models of the mechanics of the sinuses and ascending aorta using a constitutive law fit to experimental data from human aortic root tissue. In vivo pressure loading is accounted for by a backwards displacement method that determines the unloaded configurations of the root models. Our models yield realistic cardiac output at physiological pressures, with low transvalvular pressure differences during forward flow, minimal regurgitation during valve closure, and realistic pressure loads when the valve is closed during diastole. Further, results from high-resolution computations demonstrate that IB models of the aortic valve are able to produce essentially grid-converged dynamics at practical grid spacings for the high-Reynolds number flows of the aortic root