Numerical modeling strategy for the simulation of nonlinear response of slender reinforced concrete structural walls

A three-dimensional nonlinear modeling strategy for simulating the seismic response of slender reinforced concrete structural walls with different cross-sectional shapes is presented in this paper. A combination of nonlinear multi-layer shell elements and displacement-based beam-column elements are used to model the unconfined and confined parts of the walls, respectively. A uniaxial material model for reinforcing steel bars that includes buckling and low-cyclic fatigue effects is used to model the longitudinal steel bars within the structural walls. The material model parameters related to the buckling length are defined based on an analytical expression for reinforcing steel bars embedded in reinforced concrete elements, which are developed based on beam-on-springs model, and validated with experimental tests of boundary elements of structural walls available in the literature. Six experimental case studies of reinforced concrete walls with rectangular-shape, T-shape, and U-shape cross-section are used to validate the structural wall numerical modeling strategy

Flow Model Selection for Water Soluble Polymer Solutions

This research deals with the effect of type and concentration of different polymer solutions on rheological behavior and apparent viscosity. All polymers studied in this work are water soluble, which are: XC-polymer, Carboxymethyl cellulose (two types), Hydroxyethyl cellulose and Polyvinyl alcohol. 55 experiments were performed with different polymer types and concentrations at 30 C ( 1 C). By using the Solver Add-in in Microsoft Excel®, the power law flow model was found to be the best fits the experimental results. The apparent viscosity of each polymer used at different concentrations was decreased with shear rates. It was found that XC-polymer solutions have higher shear stresses than other polymers. Also it was found that XC-polymer solutions have a higher viscosity, and its viscosity decreases much more than other polymer solutions used in this study

Angiomyofibroblastoma: Imaging and histopathology of a rare benign mesenchymal tumor

Angiomyofibroblastomas, aggressive angiomyxomas and cellular angiofibromas are rare mesenchymal tumours with many overlapping radiological, histopathological and immunohistochemical features. Amongst these tumours angiomyofibroblastoma is relatively benign mesenchymal tumour with very low chances of recurrence. It is clinically confused with bartholin gland cyst due to its well demarcated and smooth appearance. Due to overlapping histopathological features its very difficult even for experienced pathologists to differentiate between these mesenchymal tumours. Earlier desmin reactivity was thought to be specific for angiomyofibroblastoma but recently many aggressive angiomyxomas have also been found to be positive for desmin. Ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may be useful in diagnosis and ruling out more sinister malignancies. A well demarcated lesion with characteristic histopathological appearance of alternating hypo and hypercellular edematous regions with abundant blood vessels and stromal cells with dispersed chromatin is usually seen in angiomyofibroblastoma. Immunohistochemistry may further help in diagnosis. We here report a case of vaginal angiomyofibroblastoma. The diagnosis was made on the basis of imaging and was confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry.Keywords: Histopathology and immunohistochemistry; imaging; mesenchymal tumours; vaginal angiomyofibroblastom

Modelling the Ghanaian Inflation Rates Using Interrupted Time Series Analysis Approach

The article considers the application of interrupted time series analysis to model yearly inflation rates in Ghana from 1996 to 2006. This article, therefore, explored the effectiveness of the economic policy intervention in the year 2001 on the inflation rate time series for the period 2001 to 2006 using the interrupted time series experiment. We also sort to use this model to make forecasts of future values. To achieve this objective, yearly inflation rates for the period were obtained from Bank of Ghana (BoG). The Box-Jenkins Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) method with interruption was employed in analyzing the data using Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS) version 20. It was found that the rate of inflation in Ghana can be fitted with an autoregressive model of order one, i.e. AR (1) model. From the results of the tests of the difference between the means before and after intervention, as well as the interrupted time series experiment, indicated that the intervention successfully reduced the rate of inflation in the Ghana’s economy. Keywords: Inflation, Interrupted Time Series, Box-Jenkins Method

Effect of Type and Concentration of Different Water Soluble Polymer Solutions on Rheological Properties

This research deals with experimental study of the effect of concentration of polymer solutions on rheological properties. All polymers studied in this work are water soluble, which are: XC-polymer, Carboxymethyl cellulose (two types), Hydroxyethyl cellulose and Polyvinyl alcohol. The rheological properties of these polymer solutions was investigated using a Couette coaxial cylinder rotational viscometer ( Fann model 35A ), by measuring shear stresses versus shear rates (i.e. the flow curve). 55 experiments were performed with different polymer solutions concentrations at temperature 30 C ( 1 C). It was found that as polymer concentration increased, the flow behavior index (n) decreased and the consistency index (k) increased. This behavior reflects the fact that as polymer concentration increases the solution become far from Newtonian fluid. Correlations were found which describe the effect of polymer concentration on n and k (for each polymer used in this study) and presented in a linear and exponential form respectively

Studying the Factors Affecting the Settling Velocity of Solid Particles in Non-Newtonian Fluids

The aim of this research is to study the factors affecting the settling velocity (V S ) in Non-Newtonian fluids which are the rheological properties, concentrations of non-Newtonian fluids, particle shape and size. An experimental apparatus was designed and built, which consists of Perspex pipe of length of 160 cm. and inside diameter of 7.8 cm. to calculate the settling velocity, also electronic circuit was designed to calculate the falling time of particles through fluid. Two types of solid particles were used; glass spheres and crushed rocks as irregularly shaped particles with different diameters and compared with each other. The concept of equivalent spherical diameter (D S ) was used to calculate the diameters of irregularly shaped particles. The settling velocity was calculated for Non-Newtonian fluids which represented by Power- Law fluid. Two types of polymers were used, Carboxy Methyl Cellulose with concentrations of (3.71, 5, 15 and 17.5) g/l and polyacrylamide with concentrations of (2, 4 and 6) g/l. The results showed that the settling velocity decreased when fluid becomes far from Newtonian behavior (flow index n decreased) and also when concentrations of polymer solutions increased, also, the settling velocity increased with particle diameter or volume. Three sets of equations were concluded; the first relates settling velocity with flow index (n), the second relates settling velocity with concentrations, and the third relates settling velocity with particle diameter

Designing a broad-spectrum integrative approach for cancer prevention and treatment

Targeted therapies and the consequent adoption of "personalized" oncology have achieved notablesuccesses in some cancers; however, significant problems remain with this approach. Many targetedtherapies are highly toxic, costs are extremely high, and most patients experience relapse after a fewdisease-free months. Relapses arise from genetic heterogeneity in tumors, which harbor therapy-resistantimmortalized cells that have adopted alternate and compensatory pathways (i.e., pathways that are notreliant upon the same mechanisms as those which have been targeted). To address these limitations, aninternational task force of 180 scientists was assembled to explore the concept of a low-toxicity "broad-spectrum" therapeutic approach that could simultaneously target many key pathways and mechanisms. Using cancer hallmark phenotypes and the tumor microenvironment to account for the various aspectsof relevant cancer biology, interdisciplinary teams reviewed each hallmark area and nominated a widerange of high-priority targets (74 in total) that could be modified to improve patient outcomes. For thesetargets, corresponding low-toxicity therapeutic approaches were then suggested, many of which werephytochemicals. Proposed actions on each target and all of the approaches were further reviewed forknown effects on other hallmark areas and the tumor microenvironment. Potential contrary or procar-cinogenic effects were found for 3.9% of the relationships between targets and hallmarks, and mixedevidence of complementary and contrary relationships was found for 7.1%. Approximately 67% of therelationships revealed potentially complementary effects, and the remainder had no known relationship. Among the approaches, 1.1% had contrary, 2.8% had mixed and 62.1% had complementary relationships. These results suggest that a broad-spectrum approach should be feasible from a safety standpoint. Thisnovel approach has potential to be relatively inexpensive, it should help us address stages and types ofcancer that lack conventional treatment, and it may reduce relapse risks. A proposed agenda for futureresearch is offered

Electronic Patient Record for Dental Charting

The use of electronic patient records has a great positive potential to improve clinical practice and patient safety. These improvements can be realized through improved legibility and communication, standardized documentation, streamlined storage and consistent reporting. This paper addresses the development of an electronic patient record for dental charting as an alternative means towards a user-friendly and patient-centered dental environment. It considers prevalent dental charting practices, proposes a patient dental database and presents a dental charting application prototype, capable of capturing and displaying patient dental records. Data from this database is mapped and can be further manipulated through the patient's interactive dental chart. This interactivity not only offer quick-to-comprehend interfaces, but also reduces miscommunicationss. It will affect positively the legibility of dental records, enable a standardized documentation and a more consistent reporting

Cinnamon zeylanicum extract improves some metabolic disorders associated with polycystic ovary syndrome by modulating miR-21/SIRT-1/GSK-3β pathways

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a commonly occurring condition, influencing both metabolic and reproductive system-related functions. Hence, the objective of this research was to examine the possibility influence of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (CZ) on hormonal disorders, hyperinsulinemia, inflammation and some gene expressions in rats with PCOS pathogenesis. 50 female albino rats were classified into five groups: Control group: rats were received no medication. Induced PCOS Group: rats were treated daily with Letrozole at dose 1 mg/kg for 28 days. Metformin group: rats were given metformin at dose 150 mg/kg for 30 days after receiving Letrozole. Cinnamomum zeylanicum group: rats received Letrozole like group II and treated for 30 days with 200 mg/kg of the hydroalcoholic extract of CZ. Metformin + CZ group: rats given daily metformin and hydroalcoholic extract of CZ for 30 days after Letrozole administration. PCOS Rats exhibited a marked elevation of serum testosterone and LH hormone with a marked decrease of FSH hormone. A significant increase in insulin and glucose concentrations, augmented in TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations, upregulation of GSK-3β and miRNA-21 genes, and downregulation of SIRT-1 expression. Histopathological examination revealed multiple ovarian cysts with a notable absence of corpora lutea, increased stromal thickness, hyperplasia of the theca cells, and follicular arrest. Management of diseased rats with CZ extract showed noticeable improvement in all parameters. The findings indicate that cinnamonaldehyde in Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract has beneficial effects on hormonal imbalance, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation underscoring its potential as a treatment approach for PCOS.         

Estimate Zinc-Oxide Particles on PMMA Mechanical Properties

Background: Poly-methylmethacrylate is the most used dental material for the construction of removable prosthodontic appliances. Unfortunately, it has shown to be lacking two important properties which are radio-opacity and mechanical strength. Zinc-oxide (ZnO) powder is widely used in dentistry and is considered a semiconductor material with the radio-opaque property. Purpose: To determine the effect of ZnO filler powder on some mechanical properties (impact and transverse strength) of microwave-cured acrylic denture base. Approach: The ZnO powder was added to the acrylic polymer powder in two percentages of 2% and 4% by weight. The prepared sample of acrylic resin was evaluated with impact and transverse strength (n=10). ANOVA and Tukey test were used at a P-value of (P≤0.05). Results: Significant reduction in the transverse strength was noticed in the acrylic denture base with the incorporation of ZnO powder as a filler material in both concentrations. However, non-significant differences were observed in the impact strength with the incorporation of the ZnO filler agent. Conclusions: The addition of ZnO radio-opacifier powder as a filler agent could affect the properties (impact and transverse strength) of microwave-cured acrylic resin