Structural fire performance of earthquake-resistant composite steel–concrete frames

Seismic and fire design of a building structure may be two very demanding tasks, especially if included in a performance based design philosophy. For the time being, the necessary harmonization on the regulations concerning these two design fields is almost missing, thus preventing the effective possibility of an integrated design. Besides, while many countries have already moved towards the use of performance-based codes for seismic design, the application of such methodologies for the fire design of structures is still limited in scope. Within this framework, the development of suitable procedures introducing structural fire performance issues for a comprehensive design methodology is needed.In this paper, a numerical investigation for the assessment of the structural fire performance of earthquake resistant composite steel–concrete frames is presented. With reference to a case study defined in the framework of a European Research Project, a great effort was devoted to the identification of the key structural parameters allowing for a possible correlation between the predictable performances under seismic and fire loadings, when these two are considered as independent actions.At the conceptual design level, the most suitable structural solution with respect to both design actions was chosen, including composite beams and circular steel concrete-filled columns. The frame was designed in order to resist severe seismic action according to the ductile design approach provided by Eurocode 8; the parameters affecting members’ sizing were outlined in this phase. Afterwards, the seismic performance of the designed frame was investigated by means of non-linear static analyses; once the seismic performance objectives were met, in order to evaluate the structural fire performance of the whole frame a set of criteria was defined. To this purpose, thermo-mechanical analyses under different boundary conditions were developed and in order to identify the possible mechanisms leading to structural failure, the state of stress at the critical cross-sections at different times of fire exposure was investigated. Another point of main concern was represented by the assessment of the influence of different restraining conditions on the achieved fire resistance rating and kind of structural failure.Moreover, the proposed methodology allowed making an estimate of the amount of axial restraint provided to the heated beams by the surrounding structure; in this view, the importance of choosing column elements in function of their flexural stiffness was revealed, in order to correlate it with the predictable performances under both seismic and fire loadings.     

Fe modeling of the apparent spot technique in circular laser hardening

Circular laser hardening is the laser surface treatment used in the case of cylindrical workpieces. The single-track treatment is a particular case of circular laser hardening used when only one revolution of the workpiece is executed since the treatment of a narrow surface is required. As a result, an annular narrow hardening track is obtained. During the laser hardening, the initial and final parts of the workpiece are overlapped and treated twice. The main drawback of this treatment is the back-tempering effect focused on the overlapping zone. This phenomenon leads to a hardness decrease in the overlapping zone. To avoid this problem, a new technique called apparent spot (AS) was introduced by the authors. The aim of the AS technique is to increase in a fictitious way the dimensions of the laser spot. In the case of circular laser hardening, this technique results into a high-speed rotation (up to 1,000 rpm) of the cylindrical workpiece instead of the traditional low speed. So, a uniform hardening zone without overlapping and back tempering is obtained. However, despite these benefits, there is still a lack of knowledge about the physics of this treatment in particular referring to the thermal cycle that affects the workpiece. In order to enhance the knowledge of this technique in this work, the AS was modeled via the FE approach. DEFORM software was used to model the circular laser hardening process. The software was firstly validated by a comparison with experimental results. Once the software reliability was tested, a regression model was estimated to predict the surface temperature within the treatments. Good agreement was found between the prediction model and the numerical results.     

Direct-EI in LC-MS: towards a universal detector for small-molecule applications

This review article will give an up-to-date and exhaustive overview on the efficient use of electron ionization (EI) to couple liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with an innovative interface called Direct-EI. EI is based on the gas-phase ionization of the analytes, and it is suitable for many applications in a wide range of LC-amenable compounds. In addition, thanks to its operating principles, it prevents unwelcome matrix effects (ME). In fact, although atmospheric pressure ionization (API) methodologies have boosted the use of LC-MS, the related analytical methods are sometime affected by inaccurate quantitative results, due to unavoidable and unpredictable ME. In addition, API's soft ionization spectra always demand for costly and complex tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) instruments, which are essential to acquire an "information-rich" spectrum and to obtain accurate quantitative information. In EI a one-stage analyzer is sufficient for a qualitative investigation and MS/MS detection is only used to improve sensitivity and to cut chemical noise. The technology illustrated here provides a robust and straightforward access to classical, well-characterized EI data for a variety of LC applications, and readily interpretable spectra for a wide range of areas of research. The Direct-EI interface can represent the basis for a forthcoming universal LC-MS detector for small molecules.     

Intranucleolar localization of DNA topoisomerase IIalpha is a distinctive feature of necrotic, but not of apoptotic, Jurkat T-cells

Two distinct types of cell death have been described: apoptosis and necrosis. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the differences between these two types are far less numerous than initially thought. Morphological analyses might provide important information to distinguish apoptotic from necrotic samples. We recently reported that in necrotic, but not apoptotic, HL-60 human myeloid leukaemia cells, the nuclear protein topoisomerase IIalpha concentrated in nucleoli. In order to ascertain whether or not this phenomenon was restricted to a peculiar cell type or could be detected also in cells of lymphoid lineage, we performed an investigation aimed at defining the localization of topoisomerase IIalpha in apoptotic and necrotic Jurkat human T lymphoblastoid cells. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that topoisomerase IIalpha was excluded from the condensed chromatin of apoptotic cells, whereas in necrotic cells it was localized in discrete nuclear dots. Immuno-electron microscopy analysis showed that topoisomerase IIalpha was undetectable in nucleoli of normal and apoptotic cells, whereas it was present in the nucleolus of necrotic cells irrespectively of the type of inducer used (ethanol, H(2)O(2), HgCl(2)). Taken together, our findings identify topoisomerase IIalpha as a potential morphological marker useful to discriminate between apoptotic and necrotic cells.     

Formulation of muds for pelotherapy: effects of “maturation” by different mineral waters

Spa centres in northern Italy use clayey admixtures for the formulation of muds to be used in pelotherapy. The basic ingredient (“virgin” clay) is a dressed bentonitic geomaterial with mineralogical composition: smectite 60–70%, illite 5–10%, kaolinite 10–15%, quartz 5–10%, calcite 5–10% and feldspars 2–3%.The peloid muds are obtained by “maturation” of the virgin clay with mineral waters gushing out in situ which have different geochemistry: sulphureous, Ca-sulphate, Ca–Mg-sulphate and Br–I-salty (after the Italian regulation DPR 105/92). The maturation treatment is varying with respect to the mixing procedure and lasting time.Peculiar parameters have been tested to verify the effects of various maturation treatments, i.e., changes with respect to virgin clay.Formation of organic matter is due to the presence of microorganisms and algae in the maturation habitat. The <2 μm fraction is generally decreased due to clay particles agglomeration. Mineralogical changes are mainly concerning the degradation of clay minerals, as smectite and illite, and subordinately to the dissolution of calcite. Cation exchange capacity (CEC), soluble salts, water retention, swelling index, activity, consistency parameters (WL, WP and PI), thermal behaviour and cooling kinetics are influenced by the geochemistry of mineral waters used for the maturation treatments but with some opposite trends for Br–I-salty water, and for sulphureous and Ca-sulphate waters, respectively.Noteworthy was the influence of high-pH value of the virgin clay on the pH of peloid muds (in fact, the pH of the used mineral waters is ranging around the natural value). Furthermore, the temperature reached by the peloid muds after 20 min of application (calculated after an innovative mathematical model) is influenced by water retention. An increase in plasticity index and a slower cooling are considered to improve the quality of the obtained peloid muds for pelotherapy.The observed different cation exchange behaviour and soluble salt content could be discriminant for either dermatological masks or thermal body cataplasms.A need of regulation (standard procedures) is suggested to certificate the clay geomaterials suitable for pelotherapy and also for drugs formulation.     

Exploring the Role of Skeletal Muscle in Insulin Resistance: Lessons from Cultured Cells to Animal Models

Skeletal muscle is essential to maintain vital functions such as movement, breathing, and thermogenesis, and it is now recognized as an endocrine organ. Muscles release factors named myokines, which can regulate several physiological processes. Moreover, skeletal muscle is particularly important in maintaining body homeostasis, since it is responsible for more than 75% of all insulin-mediated glucose disposal. Alterations of skeletal muscle differentiation and function, with subsequent dysfunctional expression and secretion of myokines, play a key role in the pathogenesis of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases, finally leading to cardiometabolic complications. Hence, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle function related to energy metabolism is critical for novel strategies to treat and prevent insulin resistance and its cardiometabolic complications. This review will be focused on both cellular and animal models currently available for exploring skeletal muscle metabolism and endocrine function.     

Inferences about the location of food in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) in two sensory modalities.

The authors tested the ability of capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) to make inferences about hidden food. In Experiment 1, we showed the content of 2 boxes, 1 of which was baited (visual condition, VC) or we shook both boxes producing noise from the baited box (auditory condition, AC). Seven subjects (out of 8) were above chance in the VC, whereas only 1 was above chance in AC. During treatment, by manipulating empty and filled objects subjects experienced the relation between noise and content. When tested again, 7 capuchins were above chance in the VC and 3 in AC. In Experiment 2, we gave visual or auditory information only about the empty box and, consequently, successful choice implied inferential reasoning. All subjects (out of 4) were above chance in the VC, and 2 in the AC. Control tests ruled out the possibility that success resulted from simply avoiding the shaken noiseless box, or from the use of arbitrary auditory information. Similar to apes (Call, 2004), capuchins were capable of inferential reasoning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the main flow features and instabilities in an unbaffled vessel agitated with an eccentrically located impeller

The hydrodynamics of an unbaffled vessel stirred by an eccentrically located Rushton turbine is investigated with both Laser Doppler Anemometry and flow visualisation techniques. The flow field is shown to be characterised by a strong circumferential motion which develops itself around two main vortices, one above and one below the impeller, both inclined with respect to the vertical plane. Such vortices are not steady but move periodically very slowly in comparison to the impeller rotational timescale. Accordingly, two low frequency components, whose values are linearly dependent on the impeller rotational speed, are identified across the vessel. The energetic contribution to the turbulent kinetic energy of such flow instabilities is significant so that they should be taken into account when evaluating micro-mixing information from turbulence quantities. Besides, an additional low frequency component is observed and related to vortex shedding phenomena from the flow-shaft interaction which occur in eccentric agitation operation. The flow discharged from the impeller is also measured and discussed.     

Social influences on the acquisition of tool-using behaviors in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella).

To identify behaviors related to acquisition of tool-use in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella), we presented two tool-using tasks to two groups, extending findings by Westergaard and Fragaszy (1987) and Visalberghi (in press). Five Ss learned to use the tools in each task. The primary predictor of success was level of interest in the task. Observation of others at the apparatus did not facilitate exploratory behaviors or contact with the tools in the observers. Most animals performed exploratory behaviors more often when they were at the apparatus alone than when with another, whether or not the other was using a tool. Observers were quick to learn the relationship between another's activities and the appearance of food. We conclude that capuchins do not readily learn about instrumental relations by observation of others or imitate other's acts. Imitation probably plays no role in the spread of novel instrumental behaviors among monkeys. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

\upalpha 5\upbeta 1-integrin and MT1-MMP promote tumor cell migration in 2D but not in 3D fibronectin microenvironments

Cell migration is a crucial event for physiological processes, such as embryonic development and wound healing, as well as for pathological processes, such as cancer dissemination and metastasis formation. Cancer cell migration is a result of the concerted action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), expressed by cancer cells to degrade the surrounding matrix, and integrins, the transmembrane receptors responsible for cell binding to matrix proteins. While it is known that cell-microenvironment interactions are essential for migration, the role of the physical state of such interactions remains still unclear. In this study we investigated human fibrosarcoma cell migration in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) fibronectin (FN) microenvironments. By using antibody blocking approach and cell-binding site mutation, we determined that $\upalpha _{5}\upbeta _{1}$ -integrin is the main mediator of fibrosarcoma cell migration in 2D FN, whereas in 3D fibrillar FN, the binding of $\upalpha _{5}\upbeta _{1}$ - and $\upalpha _\mathrm{v}\upbeta _{3}$ -integrins is not necessary for cell movement in the fibrillar network. Furthermore, while the general inhibition of MMPs with GM6001 has no effect on cell migration in both 2D and 3D FN matrices, we observed opposing effect after targeted silencing of a membrane-bound MMP, namely MT1-MMP. In 2D fibronectin, silencing of MT1-MMP results in decreased migration speed and loss of directionality, whereas in 3D FN matrices, cell migration speed is increased and integrin-mediated signaling for actin dynamics is promoted. Our results suggest that the fibrillar nature of the matrix governs the migratory behavior of fibrosarcoma cells. Therefore, to hinder migration and dissemination of diseased cells, matrix molecules should be directly targeted, rather than specific subtypes of receptors at the cell membrane.