Nonlinear modelling of the seismic response of masonry structures: Calibration strategies

In this paper, a simple and practitioners-friendly calibration strategy to consistently link target panel-scale mechanical properties (that can be found in national standards) to model material-scale mechanical properties is presented. Simple masonry panel geometries, with various boundary conditions, are utilized to test numerical models and calibrate their mechanical properties. The calibration is successfully conducted through five different numerical models (most of them available in commercial software packages) suitable for nonlinear modelling of masonry structures, using nonlinear static analyses. Firstly, the panel stiffness calibration is performed, focusing the attention to the shear stiffness. Secondly, the panel strength calibration is conducted for several axial load ratios by attempts using as reference the target panel strength deduced by well-known analytical strength criteria. The results in terms of panel strength for the five different models show that this calibration strategy appears effective in obtaining model properties coherent with Italian National Standard and Eurocode. Open issues remain for the calibration of the post-peak response of masonry panels, which still appears highly conventional in the standards

Impacto de la alfabetización mediática e informacional en el Caribe . Diseño, validación y aplicación de un cuestionario sobre competencia mediática del profesorado

La alfabetización mediática e informacional (AMI) de los docentes para favorecer procesos críticos de interacción, producción y difusión de la información, basados en valores y en una estética consciente, es un tema central en la inclusión socioeducativa de los medios en los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Propuestas teórico-prácticas desarrolladas para formar a los educadores se hacen cada vez más necesarias y pertinentes. Esta investigación recoge un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo y correlacional que presenta el proceso de diseño y validación de un cuestionario inédito, cuya finalidad es medir la percepción de competencia mediática de docentes dominicanos en el marco de un proyecto internacional. Igualmente, se presentan los primeros resultados obtenidos tras la aplicación piloto de la herramienta antes y después de la implementación de una propuesta formativa. Se constata que el instrumento de recogida de datos presenta una adecuada validez de contenido y constructo, además de reflejar valores muy favorables respecto a su fiabilidad. Los principales resultados señalan que los docentes que participaron en el curso formativo sobre competencia mediática mejoraron significativamente sus niveles competenciales percibidos en todas las dimensiones medidas, aunque aparecieron algunas diferencias significativas relacionadas con la edad. Se constata la necesidad de seguir aplicando acciones formativas flexibles y adaptadas a cada contexto para continuar avanzando en la alfabetización mediática docente

Optimization of a high work function solution processed vanadium oxide hole-extracting layer for small molecule and polymer organic photovoltaic cells

We report a method of fabricating a high work function, solution processable vanadium oxide (V2Ox(sol)) hole-extracting layer. The atmospheric processing conditions of film preparation have a critical influence on the electronic structure and stoichiometry of the V2Ox(sol), with a direct impact on organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell performance. Combined Kelvin probe (KP) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) measurements reveal a high work function, n-type character for the thin films, analogous to previously reported thermally evaporated transition metal oxides. Additional states within the band gap of V2Ox(sol) are observed in the UPS spectra and are demonstrated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to be due to the substoichiometric nature of V2Ox(sol). The optimized V2Ox(sol) layer performance is compared directly to bare indium–tin oxide (ITO), poly(ethyleneoxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and thermally evaporated molybdenum oxide (MoOx) interfaces in both small molecule/fullerene and polymer/fullerene structures. OPV cells incorporating V2Ox(sol) are reported to achieve favorable initial cell performance and cell stability attributes

Tungsten Oxide Nanorods Array and Nanobundle Prepared by Using Chemical Vapor Deposition Technique

Tungsten oxide (WO3) nanorods array prepared using chemical vapor deposition techniques was studied. The influence of oxygen gas concentration on the nanoscale tungsten oxide structure was observed; it was responsible for the stoichiometric and morphology variation from nanoscale particle to nanorods array. Experimental results also indicated that the deposition temperature was highly related to the morphology; the chemical structure, however, was stable. The evolution of the crystalline structure and surface morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectra and X-ray diffraction approaches. The stoichiometric variation was indicated by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Pramipexole effects on startle gating in rats and normal men

Dopamine D3 receptors regulate sensorimotor gating in rats, as evidenced by changes in prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle after acute administration of D3 agonists and antagonists. In this study, we tested the effects of the D3-preferential agonist, pramipexole, on PPI in normal men and Sprague–Dawley rats. Acoustic startle and PPI were tested in clinically normal men, comparing the effects of placebo vs. 0.125 mg (n = 20) or placebo vs. 0.1875 mg (n = 20) pramipexole, in double blind, crossover designs. These measures were also tested in male Sprague–Dawley rats using a parallel design [vehicle vs. 0.1 mg/kg (n = 8), vehicle vs. 0.3 mg/kg (n = 8) or vehicle vs. 1.0 mg/kg pramipexole (n = 8)]. Autonomic and subjective measures of pramipexole effects and several personality instruments were also measured in humans. Pramipexole increased drowsiness and significantly increased PPI at 120-ms intervals in humans; the latter effect was not moderated by baseline PPI or personality scale scores. In rats, pramipexole causes a dose-dependent reduction in long-interval (120 ms) PPI, while low doses actually increased short-interval (10–20 ms) PPI. Effects of pramipexole on PPI in rats were independent of baseline PPI and changes in startle magnitude. The preferential D3 agonist pramipexole modifies PPI in humans and rats. Unlike indirect DA agonists and mixed D2/D3 agonists, pramipexole increases long-interval PPI in humans, in a manner that is independent of baseline PPI and personality measures. These findings are consistent with preclinical evidence for differences in the D2- and D3-mediated regulation of sensorimotor gating

Study protocol for the multicentre cohorts of Zika virus infection in pregnant women, infants, and acute clinical cases in Latin America and the Caribbean: The ZIKAlliance consortium

Background: The European Commission (EC) Horizon 2020 (H2020)-funded ZIKAlliance Consortium designed a multicentre study including pregnant women (PW), children (CH) and natural history (NH) cohorts. Clinical sites were selected over a wide geographic range within Latin America and the Caribbean, taking into account the dynamic course of the ZIKV epidemic. Methods: Recruitment to the PW cohort will take place in antenatal care clinics. PW will be enrolled regardless of symptoms and followed over the course of pregnancy, approximately every 4 weeks. PW will be revisited at delivery (or after miscarriage/abortion) to assess birth outcomes, including microcephaly and other congenital abnormalities according to the evolving definition of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). After birth, children will be followed for 2 years in the CH cohort. Follow-up visits are scheduled at ages 1-3, 4-6, 12, and 24 months to assess neurocognitive and developmental milestones. In addition, a NH cohort for the characterization of symptomatic rash/fever illness was designed, including follow-up to capture persisting health problems. Blood, urine, and other biological materials will be collected, and tested for ZIKV and other relevant arboviral diseases (dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever) using RT-PCR or serological methods. A virtual, decentralized biobank will be created. Reciprocal clinical monitoring has been established between partner sites. Substudies of ZIKV seroprevalence, transmissio