Response of beam-to-column web cleated joints for FRP pultruded members

Physical testing is used to characterize the structural properties of beam-to-column joints, comprising pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) H-shapes of depth 203 mm, connected by 128 mm-long web cleats and two M16 bolts per leg. Testing is performed on two batches of nominally identical specimens. One batch had web cleats of pultruded FRP and the other had structural steel. The structural behavior of the joints is based on their moment-rotation responses, failure modes, and serviceability vertical deflection limits. Joints with FRP cleats failed by delamination cracking at the top of the cleats, and when the cleats were of steel, the FRP failure occurred inside the column members. Neither failure mode is reported in the design manuals from pultruders. At the onset of the FRP damage, it was found that the steel joints were twice as stiff as the FRP joints. On the basis of a characteristic (damage) rotation, calculated in accordance with Eurocode 0, the serviceability deflection limits are established to be span/300 and span/650 for the joints with FRP and steel cleats, respectively. This finding suggests that appropriate deflection limits, in relation to cleated connections, should be proposed in manufactures’ design manuals and relative design standards and design codes. Failure to address the serviceability, by the engineer of record, could lead to unreliable designs

Distinct repeat motifs at the C-terminal region of CagA of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from diseased patients and asymptomatic individuals in West Bengal, India

Background: Infection with Helicobacter pylori strains that express CagA is associated with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric adenocarcinoma. The biological function of CagA depends on tyrosine phosphorylation by a cellular kinase. The phosphate acceptor tyrosine moiety is present within the EPIYA motif at the C-terminal region of the protein. This region is highly polymorphic due to variations in the number of EPIYA motifs and the polymorphism found in spacer regions among EPIYA motifs. The aim of this study was to analyze the polymorphism at the C-terminal end of CagA and to evaluate its association with the clinical status of the host in West Bengal, India. Results: Seventy-seven H. pylori strains isolated from patients with various clinical statuses were used to characterize the C-ternimal polymorphic region of CagA. Our analysis showed that there is no correlation between the previously described CagA types and various disease outcomes in Indian context. Further analyses of different CagA structures revealed that the repeat units in the spacer sequences within the EPIYA motifs are actually more discrete than the previously proposed models of CagA variants. Conclusion: Our analyses suggest that EPIYA motifs as well as the spacer sequence units are present as distinct insertions and deletions, which possibly have arisen from extensive recombination events. Moreover, we have identified several new CagA types, which could not be typed by the existing systems and therefore, we have proposed a new typing system. We hypothesize that a cagA gene encoding higher number EPIYA motifs may perhaps have arisen from cagA genes that encode lesser EPIYA motifs by acquisition of DNA segments through recombination events

Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Suppress Elastase-Induced Murine Abdominal Aortic Inflammation and Aneurysm Expansion Through Paracrine Factors

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially lethal disease associated with immune activation-induced aortic degradation. We hypothesized that xenotransplantation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) would reduce aortic inflammation and attenuate expansion in a murine AAA model. Modulatory effects of ADSCs on immune cell subtypes associated with AAA progression were investigated using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMNCs) cocultured with ADSCs. Murine AAA was induced through elastase application to the abdominal aorta in C57BL/6 mice. ADSCs were administered intravenously, and aortic changes were determined by ultrasonography and videomicrometry. Circulating monocytes, aortic neutrophils, CD28− T cells, FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), and CD206+ M2 macrophages were assessed at multiple terminal time points. In vitro, ADSCs induced M2 macrophage and Treg phenotypes while inhibiting neutrophil transmigration and lymphocyte activation without cellular contact. Intravenous ADSC delivery reduced aneurysmal expansion starting from day 4 [from baseline: 54.8% (saline) vs. 16.9% (ADSCs), n = 10 at baseline, n = 4 at day 4, p < 0.001], and the therapeutic effect persists through day 14 (from baseline: 64.1% saline vs. 24.6% ADSCs, n = 4, p < 0.01). ADSC administration increased aortic Tregs by 20-fold (n = 5, p < 0.01), while decreasing CD4+CD28− (-28%), CD8+CD28− T cells (-61%), and Ly6G/C+ neutrophils (-43%, n = 5, p < 0.05). Circulating CD115+CXCR1−LY6C+-activated monocytes decreased in the ADSC-treated group by day 7 (-60%, n = 10, p < 0.05), paralleled by an increase in aortic CD206+ M2 macrophages by 2.4-fold (n = 5, p < 0.05). Intravenously injected ADSCs transiently engrafted in the lung on day 1 without aortic engraftment at any time point. In conclusion, ADSCs exhibit pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects in vitro as well as in vivo during the development of AAA. The temporal evolution of these effects systemically as well as in aortic tissue suggests that ADSCs induce a sequence of anti-inflammatory cellular events mediated by paracrine factors, which leads to amelioration of AAA progression

Pulmonary metastasectomy versus continued active monitoring in colorectal cancer (PulMiCC): a multicentre randomised clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Lung metastasectomy in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer has been widely adopted without good evidence of survival or palliative benefit. We aimed to test its effectiveness in a randomised controlled trial (RCT). METHODS: Multidisciplinary teams in 13 hospitals recruited participants with potentially resectable lung metastases to a multicentre, two-arm RCT comparing active monitoring with or without metastasectomy. Other local or systemic treatments were decided by the local team. Randomisation was remote and stratified by site with minimisation for age, sex, primary cancer stage, interval since primary resection, prior liver involvement, the number of metastases, and carcinoembryonic antigen level. The central Trial Management Group were blind to patient allocation until completion of the analysis. Analysis was on intention to treat with a margin for non-inferiority of 10%. RESULTS: Between December 2010 and December 2016, 65 participants were randomised. Characteristics were well-matched in the two arms and similar to those in reported studies: age 35 to 86 years (interquartile range (IQR) 60 to 74); primary resection IQR 16 to 35 months previously; stage at resection T1, 2 or 3 in 3, 8 and 46; N1 or N2 in 31 and 26; unknown in 8. Lung metastases 1 to 5 (median 2); 16/65 had previous liver metastases; carcinoembryonic antigen normal in 55/65. There were no other interventions in the first 6 months, no crossovers from control to treatment, and no treatment-related deaths or major adverse events. The Hazard ratio for death within 5 years, comparing metastasectomy with control, was 0.82 (95%CI 0.43, 1.56). CONCLUSIONS: Because of poor and worsening recruitment, the study was stopped. The small number of participants in the trial (N = 65) precludes a conclusive answer to the research question given the large overlap in the confidence intervals in the proportions still alive at all time points. A widely held belief is that the 5-year absolute survival benefit with metastasectomy is about 35%: 40% after metastasectomy compared to < 5% in controls. The estimated survival in this study was 38% (23-62%) for metastasectomy patients and 29% (16-52%) in the well-matched controls. That is the new and important finding of this RCT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT01106261. Registered on 19 April 2010

Seasonal variations in the nitrogen isotopic composition of settling particles at station K2 in the western subarctic North Pacific

Intensive observations using hydrographical cruises and moored sediment trap deployments during 2010 and 2012 at station K2 in the North Pacific western subarctic gyre (WSG) revealed seasonal changes in δ15N of both suspended and settling particles. Suspended particles (SUS) were collected from depths between the surface and 200 m; settling particles by drifting traps (DST; 100-200 m) and moored traps (MST; 200 and 500 m). All particles showed higher δ15N values in winter and lower in summer, contrary to the expected by isotopic fractionation during phytoplankton nitrate consumption. We suggest that these observed isotopic patterns are due to ammonium consumption via light-controlled nitrification, which could induce variations in δ15N(SUS) of 0.4-3.1 ‰ in the euphotic zone (EZ). The δ15N(SUS) signature was reflected by δ15 N(DST) despite modifications during biogenic transformation from suspended particles in the EZ. δ15 N enrichment (average: 3.6 ‰) and the increase in C:N ratio (by 1.6) in settling particles suggests year-round contributions of metabolites from herbivorous zooplankton as well as TEPs produced by diatoms. Accordingly, seasonal δ15 N(DST) variations of 2.4-7.0 ‰ showed a significant correlation with primary productivity (PP) at K2. By applying the observed δ15 N(DST) vs. PP regression to δ15 N(MST) of 1.9-8.0 ‰, we constructed the first annual time-series of PP changes in the WSG. Moreover, the monthly export ratio at 500 m was calculated using both estimated PP and measured organic carbon fluxes. Results suggest a 1.6 to 1.8 times more efficient transport of photosynthetically-fixed carbon to the intermediate layers occurs in summer/autumn rather than winter/spring

Improved deformation behavior in Ti-Zr-Fe-Mn alloys comprising the C14 type Laves and β phases

Laves phase alloys are promising materials for several structural applications, but the extreme brittleness is the predominant shortcoming of a Laves matrix. One potential solution to overcome this shortcoming is to alloy Laves matrix with some soft matrix. A group of Ti-35Zr-5Fe-xMn (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 wt%) alloys was cast with an aim to improve deformation in Laves alloy compositions. The phase and microstructure analyses reveal dual phase matrices, including a β phase and a C14 type Laves phase in the investigated alloys. The mechanical properties such as yield strength, hardness and plastic strain for the investigated alloys are found to be significantly sensitive to volume fraction of the Laves phase. Ti-35Zr-5Fe shows impressive ultimate compressive strength (~1.7 GPa), yield strength (1138 MPa) and large plastic strain (23.2 %). The fracture mechanisms are dependent on the microstructure of the alloys. Additionally, the work-hardening ability of the investigated alloys have also been evaluated based on the analyses of slip band patterns formed around the micro-hardness indentations. Notably, the extreme brittleness is not encountered in all the Ti-35Zr-5Fe-xMn alloys and all exhibit very good compressive elongation including the maximum (32.5 %) in Ti-35Zr-5Fe

Complicated Giant Splenic Hydatid Cyst: Case Report and Literature Review

Turyalai Hakimi,1 Said Karim Zarif,2 Farida Rezavi,1 Mansoor Aslamzai,3 Sultan Ahmad Halimi,4 Mohammad Ayoub Aslamy,1 Mohammad Anwar Jawed1 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kabul University of Medical Science, Maiwand Teaching Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan; 2Department of Emergency and Trauma Surgery, Kabul University of Medical Science, Ali Abad Teaching Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan; 3Department of Neonatology, Kabul University of Medical Science, Maiwand Teaching Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan; 4Department of Pathology, Kabul University of Medical Science, Ali Abad Teaching Hospital, Kabul, AfghanistanCorrespondence: Turyalai Hakimi, Email [email protected]: Hydatid disease is a zoonotic parasitic infection predominantly caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. It remains endemic across various regions globally. In nearly 90% of cases, hydatid cysts develop in the liver and lungs; however, other organs, including the spleen, may rarely be affected, particularly in regions with high disease prevalence. A 15-year-old female patient was referred to our pediatric surgery emergency department with a complaint of a splenic cystic mass. The patient had a history of previous surgery for a hepatic hydatid cyst. Clinical evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of a splenic hydatid cyst. During surgical procedure, the cyst was found to be infected, containing straw-colored fluid, with significant adhesions to the diaphragm and surrounding tissues, complicating the procedure. A splenectomy was performed, and the patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery. Diagnosing splenic hydatid cysts can be challenging due to their nonspecific clinical presentation and the rarity of the condition. If left untreated, these cysts may lead to serious complications, including rupture and secondary infection. This case highlights an unusual location of the hydatid cyst in a patient with limited access to appropriate and definitive treatment.Keywords: spleen, giant, hydatic cyst, diaphragm, complication, splenectom

A complete genome sequence of Cupriavidus necator H16 (DSM 428)

The hydrogen-utilizing strain Cupriavidus necator H16 (DSM 428) was sequenced using a combination of PacBio and Illumina sequencing. Annotation of this strain reveals 6,543 protein-coding genes, 263 pseudogenes, 64 tRNA genes, and 15 rRNA genes

Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided Complete vs Culprit-Only Revascularization in Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease : The SLIM Randomized Clinical Trial

The benefits of fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided complete coronary revascularization in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and multivessel disease remain unclear.To compare FFR-guided complete revascularization of nonculprit lesions vs culprit-only revascularization in patients with NSTEMI and multivessel disease.This prospective, investigator-initiated, multicenter, international randomized clinical trial was conducted at 9 hospitals in Europe. Patients with NSTEMI and multivessel disease who had successful revascularization of the culprit lesion were enrolled between June 2018 and July 2024, and final follow-up was completed on July 21, 2025. The analysis was conducted on July 28, 2025. Eligibility criteria included the presence of at least 1 stenosis of at least 50% in a nonculprit lesion amendable for revascularization.Patients were randomized to receive either FFR-guided complete or culprit-only revascularization during the index procedure. Staged revascularization within 6 weeks after the index procedure was allowed in the culprit-only group.The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, any revascularization, and stroke at 1 year. Key secondary outcomes included individual components of the primary outcome, net adverse clinical events, all-cause death or nonfatal myocardial infarction, cardiac rehospitalization, and bleeding events.Among 478 randomized patients (mean [SD] age, 65.9 [10.6] years; 347 [72.9%] males), 240 were randomized to receive FFR-guided complete revascularization and 238 were randomized to receive culprit-only revascularization, with crossover occurring in 7 patients in the culprit-only group. The primary outcome occurred in 13 patients (5.5%) in the FFR-guided complete revascularization group vs 32 patients (13.6%) in the culprit-only group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.38 [95% CI, 0.20-0.72]; P = .003). Rates of any revascularization (3.0% vs 11.5%; HR, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.11-0.56]; P < .001) and net adverse clinical events (6.3% vs 15.3%; HR, 0.39 [95% CI, 0.21-0.70]; P = .002) were also significantly lower in the complete revascularization group, while there were no significant differences in the remaining secondary outcomes.FFR-guided complete revascularization during the index procedure resulted in a significant reduction in the composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, any revascularization, and stroke at 1 year. This was mainly driven by reduced repeat revascularization.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03562572