Explosive spalling of normal strength concrete slabs subjected to severe fire

The first part of this paper presents an experimental investigation on explosive spalling of six full-scale normal strength reinforced concrete slabs subjected to conventional fire curve ISO834 and severe hydrocarbon fire curve, performed at the Fire Research Centre, University of Ulster, UK focusing on concrete thermal behaviour and the explosive spalling phenomenon. Each slab was loaded with 65% of its BS8110 design load and was heated from the bottom side only. Temperatures profile was recorded at three depths within the slabs and the moisture content was also measured before and after the tests. The deflection of the slabs was recorded at the middle of the 3 m span. The second part of the paper presents a numerical study on the normal concrete slabs using the finite element method. The concrete slabs were modelled including the embedded reinforcement to conduct a non-linear transient structural analysis taking into account cracks appearance and creep. A comparison between the experimental and the FEM results is presented in the paper.     

The Therapeutic Potential of Milk Extracellular Vesicles on Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer remains one of the leading prevalent cancers in the world and is the fourth most common cause of death from cancer. Unfortunately, the currently utilized chemotherapies fail in selectively targeting cancer cells and cause harm to healthy cells, which results in profound side effects. Researchers are focused on developing anti-cancer targeted medications, which is essential to making them safer, more effective, and more selective and to maximizing their therapeutic benefits. Milk-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) from camels and cows have attracted much attention as a natural substitute product that effectively suppresses a wide range of tumor cells. This review sheds light on the biogenesis, methods of isolation, characterization, and molecular composition of milk EVs as well as the therapeutic potentials of milk EVs on colorectal cancer.     

Transaminase reaction rates, transport activities and TCA cycle analysis by post-steady state 13C NMR

In this work, we present the post-steady state analysis of the TCA cycle and a closed form solution to the rate of label washout from the C4 carbon of glutamic acid through the transaminases and the malate-aspartate shuttle and then through alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. We demonstrate using a model of this problem that the rate of label washout depends not only on the flux through alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, but most importantly on the activity of the malate-aspartate shuttle as determined by the forward and reverse fluxes through the transaminases and by the rate of transport of glutamate and alpha-ketoglutarate across the mitochondrial membrane.     

Effects of central alpha-adrenergic agonists on hormone-induced 3% NaCl and water intake

The ultrastructural distribution of the proteins responsible for the silver staining of NORs was analyzed on serial thin sections of preembedded silver-stained rat kangaroo PtK1 metaphase chromosomes. Our results show that the Ag-NOR proteins present a crescent-shaped distribution at the secondary constriction of each chromatid. Moreover, in some cases the crescent-shaped structures of both chromatids are not symmetrically arranged but show different orientations. These observations, together with our own and previously reported light microscopy results obtained on silver-stained mammalian chromosomes, lead us to suggest a mechanism for the formation of apparent secondary constrictions at NORs.     

Glucocorticoid receptor binding to rat liver nuclei occurs without nuclear transport

The binding of cell-free activated glucocorticoid receptor-steroid complexes from HTC cells to various preparations of HTC and rat liver nuclei has been examined under conditions that did or did not support the nuclear translocation of macromolecules via nuclear pores. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such study with functionally active isolated nuclei. Conventionally prepared HTC nuclei were found to be porous, as determined from their inability to exclude the fluorescent macromolecule phycoerythrin (PE) at 4 degrees C. Thus the nuclear binding of activated complexes to these nuclei can not involve nuclear translocation. Further studies, using established conditions with sealed nuclei prepared from rat liver, revealed that nuclear translocation of PE containing a covalently linked, authentic nuclear translocation sequence could be obtained at 22 degrees C, but not at 4 degrees C. However, under the same conditions, activated glucocorticoid complexes displayed equal levels of nuclear binding at both temperatures. We therefore conclude that the current translocation conditions with intact rat liver nuclei are not sufficient to reproduce the nuclear transport of glucocorticoid complexes observed in intact cells. The nuclear binding that was seen with intact rat liver nuclei was not affected by aurintricarboxylic acid, which selectively inhibits protein-nucleic acid interactions. The antibody AP-64, shown to be specific for amino acids 506-514 of the nuclear translocation sequence of the rat glucocorticoid receptor, inhibited the nuclear binding of activated complexes, apparently by blocking receptor access to the nuclear membrane. Collectively, these data argue that activated complex binding to nuclei capable of nuclear translocation involves only an association with nuclear membrane components such as nuclear pores. Thus this system, and these reagents, may be useful in future studies of activated complex binding to nuclear pores.     

Clinicopathologic correlations of antiphospholipid antibodies. An autopsy study

This study evaluated the predictive utility of the drinking-related control orientation for successful treatment outcome among Finnish inpatient alcoholics (N = 106, 16% women). Using the Drinking-Related Locus of Control (DRIE) scale by Keyson and Janda (unpublished; see Lettieri, Nelson, & Sayers, 1985), it aimed to discover to what extent the DRIE scores measured at the end of treatment predict (a) the timing and severity of the first drinking occasion after treatment, and (b) the 6 and 12 months' total treatment outcome of the sample. The DRIE scores correlated with the time to the first drinking occasion (r = -.27, p < .02). Internal subjects started to drink later (p < .004), drank less on the first occasion (p < .001), and continued for fewer days (p < .005) than external subjects. Moreover, internal orientation was more common among abstinent and external orientation among unimproved subjects during the first 6 (p < .02) and 12 months (p < .05) after treatment. The results thus support the beneficial role of internal control attributions.     

Cellular immunity is activated and a TH-2 response is associated with early wheezing in infants after bronchiolitis

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether abnormalities of cellular immunity are present and linked to early wheezing after bronchiolitis. METHODS: We prospectively studied 26 infants hospitalized for a first episode of bronchiolitis and without any prior immune, cardiac, or respiratory disease. Blood was obtained at the time of enrollment and 5 months later for the assessment of the total cellular and differential counts, CD4+ (helper) and CD8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic) lymphocytes, and the activation markers CD23 (low-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor) and CD25 (interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor). The cytokines interferon gamma (T-helper (TH) type-1 cytokine) and IL-4 (TH-2) were measured in plasma and in vitro after stimulation with IL-2 or with the house-dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) antigen. A daily log of episodes of wheezing was kept by parents after discharge. RESULTS: We found an increase in blood eosinophils, an increased percentage of CD4+, CD25+, and CD23+ lymphocytes in subjects at 5 months compared with the time of bronchiolitis and with healthy subjects of the same age (p < 0.05). Plasma IL-4 levels, although not different from those of healthy subjects, also increased significantly. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from infants who wheezed produced more IL-4 in vitro, 5 months after bronchiolitis, in response to D. farinae antigen. In babies who wheezed, a positive correlation was found between the total number of days that wheezing occurred and the blood eosinophil count. Babies who wheezed more often (> 20 days) had more peripheral blood basophils and eosinophils, and peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from these subjects at the time of bronchiolitis produced less interferon gamma on stimulation with IL-2. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchiolitis is followed by activation of cellular immunity, and early wheezing in infants is associated with a TH-2 response.     

On the use of ambulatory blood pressure recordings and insulin sensitivity measurements in support of the insulin-hypertension hypothesis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the possible correlations between ambulatory blood pressure and insulin sensitivity, compared with correlations between office blood pressure and insulin. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Policlinic at the Department of Geriatrics, Uppsala, Sweden. PATIENTS: Caucasian patients (n = 149) of both sexes with untreated essential hypertension. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp and office blood pressure in all subjects. In subgroups, also the oral glucose-tolerance test (n = 96) and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (n = 84). RESULTS: Significant correlations were seen between the insulin sensitivity index and ambulatory blood pressure recordings, whereas fasting plasma insulin levels were uncorrelated with office blood pressure. The insulin sum and the 2-h insulin level of the oral glucose-tolerance test were more closely correlated with ambulatory blood pressure recordings than was the fasting insulin level. In multiple regression analyses the night-time diastolic blood pressure showed a significant correlation with the insulin sensitivity index even after controlling for the effects of sex, age and body mass index. CONCLUSION: The apparent association between blood pressure and insulin resistance not only is obscured by measurement error, but is also affected by the particular measures of insulin resistance and blood pressure used. The present study provides further evidence that a relationship exists between blood pressure and hyperinsulinaemia or insulin resistance.     

MRI of intracranial subependymomas

OBJECTIVE: We report imaging features of two cases of subependymoma, a relatively rare benign intraventricular neoplasm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The first case was a lateral ventricular tumor, which grew to a large size before becoming symptomatic. The second case was a fourth ventricular subependymoma with extensive cisternal spread. RESULTS: In Case 1, absence of postcontrast enhancement suggested the correct diagnosis. However, in Case 2 heterogeneous enhancement made the diagnosis uncertain. In both cases, pre- and postoperative MRI was superior to other modalities in defining tumor extent and delineating the surrounding anatomy. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging is the modality of choice for studying subependymomas. The diagnosis should be placed among differential considerations for intraventricular tumors.