The Increase of The Relative Amount of Nodular Calcification In Femoral Plaques is Associated With Milder Lower Extremity Arterial Disease

Vascular calcification exists in different forms that reflect variable clinical and histological implications. Categories of calcification have not been quantified in relation to the clinical presentation of lower extremity arterial disease. The study analyzed 51 femoral plaques collected during femoral endarterectomy, characterized by > 90% stenosis. The plaques were longitudinally sectioned, stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin and digitized for a deep learning platform for quantification of the relative area of nodular calcification to the plaque section area. Vessel measurements and quantity of each calcification category was compared to the clinical risk factors and outcomes. nodular calcification area proportion is associated with reduced risk of severely lowered toe pressure (< 30mmHg) (OR=0.910, 95%CI =0.835-0992, p<0.05), severely lowered ankle brachial index (<0.4), (OR=0.912, 95%CI=0.84-0.986, p<0.05), and semi-urgent operation (OR=0.882, 95%CI=0.797-0.976, p<0.05). The analysis was adjusted by age, gender, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. Increase of the relative amount of nodular calcification in femoral plaques with over 90% stenosis is associated with protection against severe LEAD, identified by severely lowered toe pressure and ankle brachial index and semi-urgent operations. Nodular calcification may contribute to a slower obstruction, hence milder obstructive ischaemic presentation.

The use of ultrasonography as a tool to evaluate the quadriceps muscle in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review

The aim of this review is to understand the feasibility and potential clinical utility of US in measurements of the quadriceps muscles in patients with COPD. A total of 217 studies were identified and after applying the inclusion criteria, 12 were selected. The data were systematically searched by two independent reviewers. Of the included articles, five evaluated the maximal voluntary contraction of the quadriceps muscle and the Transverse Section Area (TSA) measured by US, of these, 4 found a remarkably reduced strength in COPD and in one article, it was described that this reduction occurs in all grades of the disease. Moreover, the greater the thickness of the quadriceps, the greater the maximum voluntary contraction of this musculature, however, the TSA is reduced in these patients when compared to healthy individuals. Thus, it is suggested that the AST, evaluated by US, can be used to assess the presence and/or severity of musculoskeletal dysfunction in these patients. The sonographic evaluation of the quadriceps in patients with COPD may provide a safe, effective, low-cost, reliable and reproducible evaluation, allowing the identification and monitoring of peripheral muscle dysfunction in this population, even when compared with other strategies.

Effects of sediment deposit on the hydraulic performance of the urban stormwater drainage system

Sediment deposit is a critical factor strongly affecting the drainage capacity of the conduits due to its cross-section area narrowing and roughness increasing. In this study, a numerical model was applied to investigate the influences of sediment deposit on the hydraulic performance of the drainage conduits. The Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe (NL-TN) basin, located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was selected as a case study. The drainage network of the NL-TN basin was simulated by using the EPA-SWMM model. The effects of sediment deposit were assessed by a non-dimensional comparison of the simulated peak flows of the sediment-deposited conduits and the clean ones. The results indicated that the sediment deposit significantly affects the flow capacity of the conduits and could cause severe inundation. Narrowing of the cross-section area has more impact on the hydraulic performance of the conduit than the increase in the roughness. A 40% increase in the Manning coefficient could decline the peak flow to approximately 80-90%, while a 40% increase in sediment thickness depth could degrade the peak flow by about 60-70% to compare with the peak flow of the clean conduit. The findings could support decision makings on the operation and maintenance of the sewer system and adaptation to extreme rainfall events.

Constant stress arches and their design space

It is generally accepted that an optimal arch has a funicular (moment-less) form and least weight. However, the feature of least weight restricts the design options and raises the question of durability of such structures. This study, building on the analytical form-finding approach presented in Lewis (2016. Proc. R. Soc. A 472 , 20160019. ( doi:10.1098/rspa.2016.0019 )), proposes constant axial stress as a design criterion for smooth, two-pin arches that are moment-less under permanent (statistically prevalent) load. This approach ensures that no part of the structure becomes over-stressed under variable load (wind, snow and/or moving objects), relative to its other parts—a phenomenon observed in natural structures, such as trees, bones, shells. The theory considers a general case of an asymmetric arch, deriving the equation of its centre-line profile, horizontal reactions and varying cross-section area. The analysis of symmetric arches follows, and includes a solution for structures of least weight by supplying an equation for a volume-minimizing, span/rise ratio. The paper proposes a new concept, that of a design space controlled by two non-dimensional input parameters; their theoretical and practical limits define the existence of constant axial stress arches. It is shown that, for stand-alone arches, the design space reduces to a constraint relationship between constant stress and span/rise ratio.

Flexural Behaviour of Different Stiffener Section Area on Full Height Rectangular Opening Castellated Steel Beam

Vierendeel is one of failure mechanisms in a castellated steel beam. Vierendeel mechanism is the main failure that occurs in a full high rectangular opening castellated beam. Vierendeel decrease castellated flexural capacity compare to the original wide flange section beam. One solution to prevent the vierendeel mechanism is by installing a diagonal stiffener in form of a steel bar on a castellated beam. The research’s purpose is finding the effect of different size of steel bar diameter on the flexural capacity. Four different sizes of steel bar diameter used in this research: 10 mm, 12mm, 16 mm, and 19 mm. Castellated beam flexural capacity is analysed with the method of truss analysis and pushover analysis. This study shows it can be infer that the bigger size of steel bar diameter does not always determine the higher flexural capacity of the castellated beam. Optimum value of the beam’s flexural capacity is affected by the strength of the flange section. The largest increment of flexural capacity between original wide flange compare to the castellated beam is 139.4% by using 16 mm diameter of the diagonal stiffener.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME APRICOT VARIETIES GROWN IN THE NORTHEAST AREA OF ROMANIA

The aim of this paper was to evaluated of some apricot genotypes grown in the Romanian North Eastern area conditions. During 2016-2018 studies were done at seven apricot cultivars (‘Mamaia’, ‘Ovidiu’, ‘Fortuna’, ‘Amiral’, ‘Goldrich’, ‘Traian’ and ‘Dacia’) which were in the experimental plot at RSFG Iaşi, Romania. Number of days and sum of the active temperature from swelling buds (51 BBCH stage) to the beginning of blooming (61 BBCH stage), trunk section area of the tree and also fruit’s weight were evaluated. Fruit weight of ‘Dacia’ registered 89.3 g but at ‘Amiral’ were 75.3 g as average for three years, but statistically there were no significant differences from the average. Regarding the period from the swelling of buds to blooming, the shortest period was of 10 days for the ‘Dacia’ and ‘Traian’ and the longest period was 14 days for the ‘Ovidiu’. The sum of the active temperatures above the biological limit has varied according to the climatic conditions of the studied years from 103°C to the ’Dacia’ and ‘Traian’ to 136°C for the ‘Ovidiu’.

The EFFECT OF HYDROPHYTES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY CANAL

The hydrophytes in canal effect directly canal performance by reducing water velocity, enhances sedimentation and reduce canal cross section area which raise water level and reduces water flow. Indirectly the hydrophytes detaches from their origin and flow with water stuck with outlet and reduces its proportionality. In this regard a study was conducted on secondary canal known as Yar Husain Minor (YHM) of Maira Branch Canal, which is part of the Upper Swat Canal Irrigation System in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Maira Branch Canal and its secondary canal were designed for Crop Based Irrigation Operation (CBIO), which could supply irrigation water for maximum copping intensity (180%) even during peak periods of irrigation requirements. The current water allowance was 0.67 Ls-1 ha-1 (6.6 mm day-1), which was based on the maximum crop water requirements. The several challenges for operation of YHM and other secondary canals of Maira Branch came from physical barrier mostly in the form of hydrophytes on the performance of YHM canal. Further challenges came from the fact that it receives water from River Swat which is turbid in summer and River Indus (Tarbela Reservoir) which is clear with low turbidity. This caused sedimentation and growth of hydrophytes in the YHM. Furthermore Triangular Profile Crump’s weirs were in all secondary canals including YHM for proportional division to the tertiary outlets (moghas). The study objectives were to investigate the effects of hydrophytes on canal capacity and at the outlets on the performance of the YHM. Hydrophytes growth was observed in head reaches of canal and samples were collected and were identified at the Department of Weed Science & Botany, The University of Agriculture Peshawar. Five types of aquatic weeds were identified. The hydrophytes growth in canal head reaches directly reduces the cross section by more than 50%. Indirectly the detached hydrophytes were get stuck in the outlets and affected its performance. Therefore, daily discharges were measured with/without detached hydrophytes at each outlet from staff gauging. Frequency was based on days stone hydrophytes present divided by total time. It was concluded that secondary canal performance was low due to hydrophytes. The hydrophytes and users interventions influenced the outlets performance by 80%. Trifurcators type outlets were more prone to influence by hydrophytes followed by bifurcators outlet.

Pengaruh Luas Penampang Wadah Terhadap Besarnya Reduksi Volume Sampah Organik Rumah Tangga Menggunakan Larva Lalat Bsf (Black Soldier Fly)

This research is Quasi experimental with the Post Only Group Design method. This study uses the amount of maggot and organic waste with a ratio of 1: 2, with 1/2 kg of maggot against 1 kg of garbage, with a volume of 6000 cm3 containers and a variation of the cross sectional variation of 20x20 cm2 with a height of 15 cm, the cross section area of ​​30x20 cm2 with a height of 10 cm and 10 cm and the cross section area of 30x40 cm2 with a height of 5 cm. Based on the results of the research that has been made, the waste reduction by BSF larvae, the cross-sectional area of ​​20x20 cm was 516.7 gr, the cross-sectional area of ​​30x20 cm was 555.6 gr, while the cross-section area of ​​30x40 cm was 644.4 gr. The highest reduction is obtained from the cross-sectional area of ​​30x40 cm. Based on the results of the normality test it obtained the value of P-Value> α (0.05). This indicates that the data is distributed normally by looking at the variant difference test, obtained a value of p-value 0.049 (<α). Then it can be concluded that there is an influence between cross-sectional area and waste reduction by BSF larvae. The wider cross-section of the garbage container, the easier BSF larvae reduce organic waste.

Experimental Investigation on Bending Behavior of Existing RC Beam Retrofitted with SMA-ECC Composites Materials

In order to realize the self-centering, high energy consumption, and high ductility of the existing building structure through strengthening and retrofit of structure, a method of reinforced concrete (RC) beam strengthened by using Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) and Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) was proposed. Four kinds of specimens were designed, including one beam strengthened with enlarging section area of steel reinforced concrete, one beam strengthened with enlarging section area of SMA reinforced concrete, beam strengthened with enlarging section area of SMA reinforced ECC, and beam strengthened with enlarging section area of steel reinforced ECC; these specimens were manufactured for the monotonic cycle loading tests study on its bending behavior. The influence on the bearing capacity, energy dissipation performance, and self-recovery capacity for each test specimens with different strengthening materials were investigated, especially the bending behavior of the beams strengthened by SMA reinforced ECC. The results show that, compared with the ordinary reinforced concrete beams, strengthening existing RC beam with enlarging section area of SMA reinforced ECC can improve the self-recovery capacity, ductility, and deformability of the specimens. Finally, a revised design formula for the bending capacity of RC beams, strengthened with enlarging sections of ECC, was proposed by considering the tensile capacity provided by ECC, and the calculated values are in good agreement with the experimental value, indicating that the revised formula can be well applied to the beam strengthening with enlarging section of SMA-ECC Materials.

Combining Exercise, Protein Supplementation and Electric Stimulation to Mitigate Muscle Wasting and Improve Outcomes for Survivors of Critical Illness - the ExPrES Study

Background: The combination of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with high protein supplementation (HPRO) to preserve muscle mass and function has not been assessed in ICU patients. We compared the effects of a multimodal intervention combining NMES and HPRO with mobility and strength rehabilitation program (NMES+HPRO+PT) to standardized ICU care (SC). Methods: Over 14 days the SC group received usual critical care and rehabilitation while the NMES+HPRO+PT received 30 minutes NMES twice daily for 10 days applied to the quadriceps and dorsiflexors bilaterally and a mean 1.3±0.4 HPRO g/kg body weight in addition to SC. Nonresponsive patients received passive exercises and once responsive were encouraged to exercise actively. Primary outcome measures were muscle volume and cross-section area (CSA) measured using CT-imaging. Secondary outcomes included nutritional status, nitrogen balance, effect on delirium, and days on mechanical ventilation (MV).Results: On day 14, the NMES+HPRO+PT group lost significantly less muscle volume of both thighs and lower legs compared to SC group. The mean combined left and right thigh CSA and volume of the NMES+HPRO+PT group was significantly larger than the SC group on day 14. The nitrogen balance of the SC group was negative throughout the study duration, while the NMES+HPRO+PT group was positive on days 5, 9, and 14. At any time during their ICU stay SC patients experienced more delirium than the PT+NMES+HPRO group (46% vs 32%, p=0.09) although not statistically significant. There were no differences between groups when comparing length of stay or days on MV. Conclusion: The combination of NMES, HPRO and PT resulted in mitigation of lower extremity muscle loss and amelioration of clinical status of patients admitted to the ICU. The value of NMES, HPRO and PT independently in the initial and ongoing care of ICU survivors beyond 14 days of admission remains to be evaluated.Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT3195127