Non-linear analysis of RC masonry-infilled frames using the SLaMA method: part 1—mechanical interpretation of the infill/frame interaction and formulation of the procedure

The simple lateral mechanism analysis (SLaMA) is an analytical method to assess the force–displacement capacity curve of Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures composed of frames, cantilever walls or dual wall/frame systems. The current version of the method was proposed in the 2017 New Zealand guidelines for the seismic assessment (NZSEE in New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, the seismic assessment of existing buildings—technical guidelines for engineering assessments, Wellington, 2017). Regarding frame structures, the possible influence of infill walls is currently considered locally with checks on the RC members. However, it is universally known that infills have a major effect on the global capacity curve of the frame. In this paper, a comprehensive SLaMA method for infilled frames is proposed, which allows considering the influence of the infills on the global force–displacement curve without any numerical algorithm. The extended SLaMA method is herein formalised and it is validated in a companion paper (part 2) through an extensive parametric analysis. The extended SLaMA is based on the possibility to separately calculate the base shear contributions of the frame and the infills, in turn based on global equilibrium considerations. Such considerations also allow defining a novel procedure to post-process the results of pushover or time-history analyses where infills are modelled as diagonal struts, or to interpret experimental tests. This allows, within a single numerical analysis, to decouple the frame and infills contributions to the base-shear capacity. The decoupling procedure is herein demonstrated for an ideal two-storey, one-bay masonry-infilled frame with different infills configurations

Simplified polynomial formulation for the calculation of the Moment-Curvature diagram of RC rectangular sections

The seismic response of multi-span RC bridges is often based on the response of the piers, provided that deck, bearings and foundations remain elastic. The seismic response of a RC bridge pier is influenced, in general, by different mechanisms (i.e. flexure, shear, lap-splice or buckling of the longitudinal reinforcement bars, second order effects). For mechanisms different from the flexural one, simplified formulations are available in literature. On the other hand, the flexural behaviour of the pier can be characterised by means of equivalent plastic hinge length and Moment-Curvature diagram of the base section, usually carried out with a computer software. In this paper, it is proposed a simplified analytical solution to obtain the Moment-Curvature relationship for rectangular RC sections, in both principal axes. The solution is based on adjusted polynomials, fitted against a database of 800 numerical Moment-Curvature analyses of rectangular RC sections. The proposed polynomials allow to define the cross-section capacity curve through the position of 6 characteristic points and they are based on 4 input parameters: depth-towidth ratio of the cross-section, axial force ratio, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, transversal reinforcement ratio. The solution is tested through the application to a RC rectangular section case study and comparison of the resulting capacity curves to the outcome of refined numerical Moment-Curvature analyses. The results show that the proposed analytical solution is a reliable method to characterise the flexural response of RC rectangular cross-sections

Contextual adaptative interfaces for Industry 4.0

[EN] Information technologies are intrinsically connected to the manufacturing processes, with more data generated each second. To efficiently operate machines, users must sort out information that is relevant to them in specific moments and contexts. In this paper, we propose an architecture that combines context – e.g. location, type of order, available assets, previous actions – with information established through user stereotypes

Ions and water transmembrane transport in nervous and testicular cultured cells in low gravity conditions

Aim of the present study was to investigate on the possible alter- ations induced by on ground modeled microgravity on ion-water transport proteins at cellular level. For the purpose we used astrocytes, C6 line, neurons (NT2 line from human teratocarci- noma) and testicular cells (germ cells, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells; primary cultures from trypsinised prepuberal pig testes). Modeled microgravity was achieved by a desktop 3D Random Positioning Machine, cultures were kept rotating for 30’, 1h and 24h. After 30’, immunopositivity for the antibodies to Na+/K+ATPase and Na+/K+/Cl- co-transporters was greatly diminished, the plasma membrane appeared to be altered, and the mitochondria inner cristae were disrupted. Immunostaining to the antibody to the water channel aquaporin 4 was very bright. After 1h at random rotation immunostaining for the heat shock protein Hsp27 was visible, After 24h, immunostaining for the ion transport proteins was again like that of the controls,plasma membrane and the mitochondria were again normal. Immunostaining for aquaporin 4 become again similar to that of the controls. We conclude that low gravity induces only tran- sient alterations in the cell’s transmembrane ion-water trans- port: the cells are able to adapt to the gravity vector changes in few hours

An Evaluation of Therapeutic Noninferiority of 0.005% Latanoprost Ophthalmic Solution and Xalatan in Patients With Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension.

PURPOSE: To assess the therapeutic noninferiority of 0.005% latanoprost ophthalmic solution versus Xalatan in the treatment of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a double-masked, randomized, multicenter study. A total of 184 patients with a diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension were randomly assigned to either 0.005% latanoprost ophthalmic solution or Xalatan for 12 weeks. The primary end-point was the change in intraocular pressure (IOP) at 12 weeks in the 2 groups. Noninferiority was reached if the 2-sided 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the difference between adjusted treatment means were entirely within the interval from -1.5 to +1.5 mm Hg. RESULTS: The difference between treatments in the change of IOP from baseline to the end of treatment was 0.12 mm Hg (95% CI: -0.47, 0.71) in the intention-to-treat population and 0 mm Hg (95% CI: -0.58, 0.57) in the per protocol population. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of drug-related adverse events. The most commonly reported drug-related local adverse events were: ocular hyperemia, eyelashes growth, and eye irritation. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that 0.005% latanoprost ophthalmic solution is noninferior to Xalatan in lowering IOP and is generally well tolerate

Non-linear analysis of RC masonry-infilled frames using the SLaMA method: part 1—mechanical interpretation of the infill/frame interaction and formulation of the procedure

The simple lateral mechanism analysis (SLaMA) is an analytical method to assess the force–displacement capacity curve of Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures composed of frames, cantilever walls or dual wall/frame systems. The current version of the method was proposed in the 2017 New Zealand guidelines for the seismic assessment (NZSEE in New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, the seismic assessment of existing buildings—technical guidelines for engineering assessments, Wellington, 2017). Regarding frame structures, the possible influence of infill walls is currently considered locally with checks on the RC members. However, it is universally known that infills have a major effect on the global capacity curve of the frame. In this paper, a comprehensive SLaMA method for infilled frames is proposed, which allows considering the influence of the infills on the global force–displacement curve without any numerical algorithm. The extended SLaMA method is herein formalised and it is validated in a companion paper (part 2) through an extensive parametric analysis. The extended SLaMA is based on the possibility to separately calculate the base shear contributions of the frame and the infills, in turn based on global equilibrium considerations. Such considerations also allow defining a novel procedure to post-process the results of pushover or time-history analyses where infills are modelled as diagonal struts, or to interpret experimental tests. This allows, within a single numerical analysis, to decouple the frame and infills contributions to the base-shear capacity. The decoupling procedure is herein demonstrated for an ideal two-storey, one-bay masonry-infilled frame with different infills configurations

Simplified moment-curvature relationship in analytical form for circular RC sections

The behaviour of regular multi-span simply-supported bridges is strongly dependent on the behaviour of its piers. The response of a pier is governed, in general, by different mechanisms: flexure, shear, second order effects, lap-splice of longitudinal bars or their buckling. The flexural behaviour is an important part of the problem, and it can be characterised through the equivalent plastic hinge length and the Moment-Curvature law of the fixed end. In this paper, a procedure to calculate the Moment-Curvature relationship of circular RC sections is proposed which is based on defining the position of few characteristic points. The analytical formulation is based on adjusted polynomial functions fitted on a database of fibre-based analyses. The proposed solution is based on three parameters: dimensionless axial force, mechanical ratio of longitudinal reinforcement, geometrical ratio of transverse reinforcement. A benchmark case is presented to compare the solution to a FEM non-linear analysis. Even if it is based on few input data, this solution allows to have good indicators on the material performances (e.g. yielding, spalling, etc). For these reasons, the proposed approach is deemed to be particularly effective in performing quick yet accurate mechanics-based regional-scale assessment of bridges

Molecular and clinical studies in five index cases with novel mutations in the GLA gene

Fabry disease is a metabolic and lysosomal storage disorder caused by the functional defect of the α-galactosidase A enzyme; this defect is due to mutations in the GLA gene, that is composed of seven exons and is located on the long arm of the X-chromosome (Xq21–22). The enzymatic deficit is responsible for the accumulation of glycosphingolipids in lysosomes of different cellular types, mainly in those ones of vascular endothelium. It consequently causes a cellular and microvascular dysfunction. In this paper, we described five novel mutations in the GLA gene, related to absent enzymatic activity and typical manifestations of Fabry disease. We identified three mutations (c.846_847delTC, p.E341X and p.C382X) that lead to the introduction of a stop codon in positions 297, 341 and 382. Moreover we found a missense mutation (p.R227P) in the exon 5 of the GLA gene and a single point mutation (c.639 + 5 G > T) occurring five base pairs beyond the end of the exon 4. These mutations have never been found in our group of healthy control subjects > 2300. The studied patients presented some clinical manifestations, such as cornea verticillata, hypo-anhidrosis, left ventricular hypertrophy, cerebrovascular disorders and renal failure, that, considering the null enzymatic activity, suggest that the new mutations reported here are related to the classic form of Fabry disease. The identification of novel mutations in patients with symptomatology referable to FD increases the molecular knowledge of the GLA gene and it gives clinicians an important support for the proper diagnosis of the disease