Exceptional atmospheric events resilience of the curtain wall

The paper presents the results of a research conducted on codes and standards adopted internationally for the design, construction and testing of hurricane- and tornado-resistant façades. These façades are built using technologies that pass tests in order to verify the resistance of both the frame and the glazed surface to the impacts caused by wind-borne debris during these extreme meteorological events. The aim of the research is the identification of the best practices that have been adopted, in order to increase the resilience of building envelopes to this weather phenomenon, evaluating the possible applicability of adopting the principles to the specific needs of the European and Italian market

La resilienza del curtain wall ad eventi atmosferici eccezionali

The paper presents the results of a research conducted on codes and standards adopted internationally for the design, construction and testing of hur- ricane- and tornado-resistant fa\ue7ades. These fa\ue7ades are built using technologies that pass tests in order to verify the resist- ance of both the frame and the glazed sur- face to the impacts caused by wind-borne debris during these extreme meteorologi- cal events. The aim of the research is the identification of the best practices that have been adopted, in order to increase the resilience of building envelopes to this weather phenomenon, evaluating the pos- sible applicability of adopting the principles to the specific needs of the European and Italian market

Resistencia de unión a la dentina de dos cementos selladores de endodoncia después de la medicación intraconducto de hidróxido de calcio con dos tipos de vehículos

Objective: Compare the dentin bond strength of Grossman´s sealer (Grossdent) and Apexit Plus sealer (IvoclarVivadent) after intra-canal medication of calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 associated with vehicles of camphorated parachlorophenol (CMPC) and chlorhexidine 2% (CHX). Methodology: This was an in vitro experimental study. A sample of 44 monoradicular human teeth were disinfected and divided into 4 groups of intra-canal medication (N= 9) and 2 control groups. The teeth were disinfected and root canals were instrumented using a hybrid technique. Two groups were medicated with Ca(OH)2 and CMPC and two groups with Ca(OH)2 and CHX 2% for two weeks. One group of each medication was filled with Grossman´s sealer and the others with Apexit Plus sealer using the lateral compaction technique. The control groups were filled only with the two sealers mentioned previously. Samples were cut into 2 mm thick discs and placed on a push test with a universal testing machine. Results: The highest value of the means was obtainedby the group medicated with Ca(OH)2 in association with CMPC and filled with Apexit Plus (m 3.742; SD 0.808), while the lowest value was presented by the group of Ca(OH)2 associated with CMPC, filled with Grossman´s sealer (m 1,371; SD 0.699). Statistical differences were considered with p<0.001. Conclusion: Root dentin bond strength is influenced by intra-canal medication prior to endodontic filling.Objetivo: Comparar la resistencia de unión a la dentina del cemento sellador tipo Grossman (Grossdent) y Apexit Plus (Ivoclar Vivadent) después de la medicación intraconducto de hidróxido de calcio Ca(OH)2 con vehículos de paramonoclorofenol alcanforado (PMCFA) y de clorhexidina al 2% (CHX). Metodología: Estudio experimental in vitro. Se seleccionó una muestra de 44 dientes humanos monorradiculares y fueron divididos en 4 grupos con medicación intraconducto (n = 9) y 2 grupos control. Los dientes fueron desinfectados y los conductos radiculares instrumentados usando una técnica híbrida. Se medicaron dos grupos con hidróxido de calcio más PMCFA y dos grupos con hidróxido de calcio más CHX 2% durante dos semanas. De cada grupo con medicación uno fue obturado con cemento sellador endodóntico Grossman y el otro con Apexit Plus, mediante la técnica de compactación lateral. Los grupos control fueron obturados solo con los dos cementos anteriormente mencionados. Se cortaron las muestras en discos de 2 mm de espesor y fueron sometidas a prueba de empuje con una máquina de ensayo universal. Resultados: El valor de la media más alta lo obtuvo el grupo medicado con Ca(OH)2 más PMCFA y obturado con Apexit Plus (m 3,742 y DE 0,808), mientras que el valor más bajo lo presentó el grupo de Ca(OH)2 más PMCFA obturado con cemento Grossman (m 1,371 y DE 0,699), presentaron diferencias significativas (p < 0,001). Conclusión: La resistencia de unión a la dentina radicular se ve influenciada por la medicación intraconducto previa a la obturación endodóntica

Hyperalgesic activity of kisspeptin in mice.

BACKGROUND: Kisspeptin is a neuropeptide known for its role in the hypothalamic regulation of the reproductive axis. Following the recent description of kisspeptin and its 7-TM receptor, GPR54, in the dorsal root ganglia and dorsal horns of the spinal cord, we examined the role of kisspeptin in the regulation of pain sensitivity in mice. RESULTS: Immunofluorescent staining in the mouse skin showed the presence of GPR54 receptors in PGP9.5-positive sensory fibers. Intraplantar injection of kisspeptin (1 or 3 nmol/5 μl) induced a small nocifensive response in naive mice, and lowered thermal pain threshold in the hot plate test. Both intraplantar and intrathecal (0.5 or 1 nmol/3 μl) injection of kisspeptin caused hyperalgesia in the first and second phases of the formalin test, whereas the GPR54 antagonist, p234 (0.1 or 1 nmol), caused a robust analgesia. Intraplantar injection of kisspeptin combined with formalin enhanced TRPV1 phosphorylation at Ser800 at the injection site, and increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the ipsilateral dorsal horn as compared to naive mice and mice treated with formalin alone. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate for the first time that kisspeptin regulates pain sensitivity in rodents and suggest that peripheral GPR54 receptors could be targeted by novel drugs in the treatment of inflammatory pain.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are

Small leucine rich proteoglycans are differently distributed in normal and pathological endometrium

BACKGROUND: During the woman's fertile period, the non-pregnant uterus is subject to constant cyclic changes. The complex mechanisms that control the balance among proliferation, differentiation, cell death and the structural remodeling of the extracellular matrix can contribute to the benign or malignant endometrial pathological state. The small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) are important components of cell surface and extracellular matrices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, we showed that the distribution patterns of SLRPs were completely modified in the pathological compared to normal endometrium. RESULTS: The expression of SLRPs was low/absent in all endometrial pathologies examined compared to normal endometrium. We observed an increase of lumican from proliferative to secretory phase of the endometrium and a decrease of fibromodulin, biglycan and decorin. In menopause endometrial tissue, the level of expression of fibromodulin, biglycan, decorin and lumican dramatically decreased. CONCLUSION: The results revealed the prominence and importance of proteoglycans in the tissue architecture and extracellular matrix organization

Automated Analysis of Proliferating Cells Spatial Organisation Predicts Prognosis in Lung Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Lung neuroendocrine neoplasms (lung NENs) are categorised by morphology, defining a classification sometimes unable to reflect ultimate clinical outcome, particularly for the intermediate domains of adenocarcinomas and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. Moreover, subjectivity and poor reproducibility characterise diagnosis and prognosis assessment of all NENs. The aim of this study was to design and evaluate an objective and reproducible approach to the grading of lung NENs, potentially extendable to other NENs, by exploring a completely new perspective of interpreting the well-recognised proliferation marker Ki-67. We designed an automated pipeline to harvest quantitative information from the spatial distribution of Ki-67-positive cells, analysing its heterogeneity in the entire extent of tumour tissue—which currently represents the main weakness of Ki-67—and employed machine learning techniques to predict prognosis based on this information. Demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed framework would hint at a possible path for the future of grading and classification of NENs. ABSTRACT: Lung neuroendocrine neoplasms (lung NENs) are categorised by morphology, defining a classification sometimes unable to reflect ultimate clinical outcome. Subjectivity and poor reproducibility characterise diagnosis and prognosis assessment of all NENs. Here, we propose a machine learning framework for tumour prognosis assessment based on a quantitative, automated and repeatable evaluation of the spatial distribution of cells immunohistochemically positive for the proliferation marker Ki-67, performed on the entire extent of high-resolution whole slide images. Combining features from the fields of graph theory, fractality analysis, stochastic geometry and information theory, we describe the topology of replicating cells and predict prognosis in a histology-independent way. We demonstrate how our approach outperforms the well-recognised prognostic role of Ki-67 Labelling Index on a multi-centre dataset comprising the most controversial lung NENs. Moreover, we show that our system identifies arrangement patterns in the cells positive for Ki-67 that appear independently of tumour subtyping. Strikingly, the subset of these features whose presence is also independent of the value of the Labelling Index and the density of Ki-67-positive cells prove to be especially relevant in discerning prognostic classes. These findings disclose a possible path for the future of grading and classification of NENs

Curtain walling resiliency for tall buildings: standards, testing, and solutions

People's existence is facing the effects of climate change that bring recurrent and new calamities. These are influencing both the building design and the government requirements to deal with, among other things. There is an urgent need to adopt technology solutions that answer the necessity for resilient built environments to achieve human safety and property safeguard. In urban areas, tall buildings have contributed to the definition and progress of building envelopes in the last several decades, advancing the professional expertise of façade designers. These experts are called to carry out a consistent quantity of inputs to accomplish numerous goals, including structural, energy, and comfort performances. In this chapter, the international façade resilience best practices that have been established to withstand potential disasters are examined. The available test standards on this topic are discussed, the testing procedures are presented, and the tools to explore solutions that can reduce façade vulnerability in extreme conditions are developed. Finally, façades are shown in their potentiality, leading to the constitution of resilient building envelopes capable of adapting to forthcoming extreme events. From this perspective, the building envelope design becomes a prepping practice, anticipating future calamities

Cyclone-Resistant Fa\ue7ades : Best Practices in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Philippines

Over the past decade, the Asia-Pacific region has seen unprecedented growth in terms of its economy and its urban population. As growth in this area occurs, the demand for additional high-density residential and office space has also increased, resulting in record numbers of high-rise buildings being constructed, concentrated primarily in urban areas. The urban growth in this region has largely occurred in coastal areas, which unfortunately are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyclones and typhoons. This research report presents the norms and standards of the major tall building markets in 12 jurisdictions within the Asia-Pacific regions (including Australia and New Zealand), for the impact of flying debris on curtain walls during strong wind events in the urban environment. It provides a critical and urgent summary of the gap between the level of risk and the level of regulation concerning fa\ue7ade resilience in these vulnerable, highly populated regions. This report will serve as an indispensable reference document for industries and professionals in the design and renovation of curtain walls, and as a means of presenting tangible examples of the existing best practices in the Asia-Pacific region to developers and building owners

Exceptional atmospheric events resilience of the curtain wall

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The paper presents the results of a research conducted on codes and standards adopted internationally for the design, construction and testing of hurricane- and tornado-resistant façades. These façades are built using technologies that pass tests in order to verify the resistance of both the frame and the glazed surface to the impacts caused by wind-borne debris during these extreme meteorological events. The aim of the research is the identification of the best practices that have been adopted, in order to increase the resilience of building envelopes to this weather phenomenon, evaluating the possible applicability of adopting the principles to the specific needs of the European and Italian market.</span></p