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Equivalent Static Wind Loads (ESWLs) represent an extremely useful tool for the characterization of the structural response to the wind action and provide a convenient way for structural engineers in order to include the results of a complete, rigorous, buffeting analysis in the design process. Recently, a novel approach to the determination of ESWLs has been proposed which is based on the adoption of Proper Skin Modes for the characterization of the static/quasi-static structural response. In that study, the reconstruction of the extreme internal forces over the structure for all structural members has been performed in a least square sense and a smoothed version of the maximum/minimum operators, typical of envelope calculations, has been adopted. By using such formulation, it is possible to use efficient, gradient-based, optimization techniques in the minimization procedure which leads to the identification of ESWLs. In this paper, two refinements of the original technique are proposed: the least square approach is modified in order to ensure a complete covering of the envelope and the original formulation is extended in order to take into consideration the contemporaneity between effects. Finally, the proposed approach is tested on a large span suspended roof derived from the structural model of the New Juventus Stadium showing extremely encouraging results.

The correct and safe design of structures subjected to the wind actions requires a realistic estimate of the wind effects on their resisting systems. In this context, the present paper proposes a complete numerical study that, starting from Large Eddy Simulation of the turbulent flow around a low-rise building, arrives to the assessment of the wind loading effects, that is the evaluation of design forces in all structural elements. Since it is well known that a realistic representation of the turbulent features found in the lower part of the atmospheric boundary layer is required in order to obtain accurate predictions of the structural response, firstly, the incoming flow turbulence is synthetically generated by means of the Modified Discretizing and Synthesizing Random Flow Generator technique. Then, the obtained synthetic fluctuation field is used as inflow condition for the subsequent Large Eddy Simulations taking into consideration different angles of attack. Results in terms of pressure distributions statistics are analyzed and systematically compared to experimental data. Finally, starting from both simulated and experimental pressure fields, dynamic structural analyses are performed and results directly compared in terms of design forces in the structural elements.

In this paper we report the design, synthesis, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of a series of benzothiazine N-acylhydrazones 14a–h, planned by structural modification of piroxicam (1), a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Among the synthesized analogues, compounds 14f (LASSBio-1637) and 14g (LASSBio-1639) were identified as novel antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory prototypes, active by oral administration, acting by a mechanism of action that seems to be different from that of piroxicam, since they were inactive as an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) at concentrations of 10 mM.

Specific cytokines and the costimulatory protein CD40 play role in inducing immunoglobulin (Ig)A production by B cells in the humoral immune response. However, to date, the role of these mediators was not investigated in chronic periodontitis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the local levels of interleukin (IL)-21, IL-21 receptor (IL-21R), IL-4, IL-10 and CD40 ligand (CD40L) on chronic periodontitis subjects and their relationship with the salivary levels of IgA. Gingival biopsies and un-stimulated saliva were collected from chronic periodontitis (n = 15) and periodontally healthy (n = 15) subjects. The mRNA levels of IL-4, IL-10, IL-21, IL-21R, CD40L in the gingival biopsies were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The salivary levels of IgA and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in the gingival biopsies were analyzed by ELISA. The mean levels of IgA were significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis compared to periodontally healthy group (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels for IL-21 was higher (P < 0.05) in the chronic periodontitis when compared to the healthy group. However, the expression of IL-21R and CD40L did not differ between groups. The IL-10 was significantly elevated at mRNA and protein levels in chronic periodontitis when compared to periodontally healthy group (P < 0.05). Conversely, the mRNA levels as well as the protein amount of IL-4 were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in chronic periodontitis than healthy ones. In conclusion, the upregulation of IL-21 and IL-10 and downregulation of IL-4 in periodontitis tissues may be collectively involved in the increased levels of salivary IgA in chronic periodontitis subjects.

Oral Diseases (2012) 18, 147–152 Objective: The Family with sequence similarity 5 member C (FAM5C) has been suggested to contribute in aggressive periodontitis. However, there is no data regarding its role in chronic periodontitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the FAM5C expression in chronic periodontitis and to study association of FAM5C with key immunoinflammatory markers. Material and Methods: Gingival biopsies were harvested from periodontally healthy subjects (n = 10) and chronic periodontitis subjects (n = 15). The levels of mRNA of FAM5C, interleukin (IL)-17, IL-6, IL-23, IL-10, IL-4, interferon-γ, toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, TLR-4, osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, transforming growth factor-β, transcription factor forkhead box p3, and transcription factor orphan nuclear receptor C2 were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: FAM5C mRNA levels were not different between periodontally healthy and diseased tissues (P > 0.05). Gene expressions of IL-17, TNF-α, OPG, RANKL, TLR-2, and TLR-4 were higher in periodontitis, when compared to periodontally healthy sites (P 0.05). There were no correlations between the gene expression of FAM5C and the other immunoinflammatory markers (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, it seems that FAM5C expression does not contribute to chronic periodontitis.

This work reports on the electrochemical oxidation of oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTCH) [(4S,4aS,5aS,6S,12aS)-4-dimethylamino-1,4,4a,5, 5a,6,11,12a-octahydro-3,6,10,12,12a-hexahydroxy-6-methyl-1,11-dioxonaphthacene-2-carboxamide] on a RuO2 electrode (DSA®) by cyclic voltammetry and electrolysis. The electrocatalytic efficiency of the electrode material was investigated as a function of different aqueous buffer solutions with pH values of 2.10 and 5.45 as supporting electrolytes. Spectrophotometric studies have shown that OTCH is stable in such solutions. The electrochemical degradation of OTCH is pseudo-first order at both pH values investigated with rate constants, k, of 9.9 × 10−5 s−1 (pH 2.10) and 1.9 × 10−4 s−1 (pH 5.45) at 21 ± 1 °C. Microbiological studies with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 have shown that OTCH lost antibacterial activity after 120 min of electrolysis at 50 mA cm−2.

Introduction Pres de 15 % des patients d’oncohematologie developpent une insuffisance respiratoire aigue (IRA) necessitant une admission en reanimation ou leur mortalite est d’environ 50 %. Etat des connaissances Le pronostic de ces patients n’est pas determine par les caracteristiques de la pathologie maligne mais bien par la cause de l’insuffisance respiratoire aigue. En effet, la necessite de recourir a la ventilation mecanique et la presence d’autres dysfonctions d’organes dominent le pronostic. Meme si l’utilisation de la ventilation non invasive chez ces patients a reduit le recours a l’intubation et diminue la mortalite, son utilisation prolongee chez les patients les plus graves empeche une prise en charge diagnostique et therapeutique optimale. Perspectives La fibroscopie bronchique avec lavage broncho- alveolaire (LBA) est consideree comme la pierre angulaire du diagnostic etiologique mais sa rentabilite diagnostique, faible, au mieux de 50 %, nourrit un interet croissant pour le scanner thoracique haute resolution et reveille regulierement un engouement transitoire pour la biopsie pulmonaire chirurgicale. Par ailleurs, chez les patients hypoxemiques, la fibroscopie bronchique avec LBA pourrait etre a l’origine du recours a la ventilation mecanique et par la meme, d’une mortalite accrue. La place des outils non invasifs de developpement recent est en cours d’evaluation. En effet, si la performance individuelle des techniques de diagnostic moleculaire sur les expectorations, le sang, les urines ou les secretions nasopharyngees est etablie, l’ensemble de ces outils comme alternative au LBA n’a pas encore ete rapportee. Conclusion Cette revue traite de l’insuffisance respiratoire aigue chez les patients d’oncohematologie. Elle propose une revue recente de la litterature, et s’attache aux controverses actuelles, en particulier le rapport benefice-risque de la fibroscopie bronchique avec LBA chez les patients severement hypoxemiques.

A well known peculiarity of the structural response to wind loading is that static, quasi-static and resonant effects are present, in general, without a clearly dominant contribution. In such conditions, the calculation of wind effects would require to consider a large number of modes due to the relevant contribution of high frequency ones. In the present paper, in order to alleviate inaccuracies in the evaluation of static and quasi-static effects, induced by the truncation of the modal base, an efficient approach to the evaluation of static and quasi-static corrections is developed. To this purpose, a new class of pressure modes, called Proper Skin Modes (PSMs), is introduced and the corrections are evaluated based on the structural response to such modes, statically applied. PSMs can be seen as a novel modal version of traditionally adopted influence coefficients and naturally arise from the adopted pressure interpolation technique. The obtained approach is compact and efficient leading to a reduced data exchange between structural and wind engineers and to an optimal organization of the software used to perform the analyses. The proposed procedure is tested on a low-rise and a high-rise building showing very good performances.

Preliminary results of a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of rectangular cylinder performed with Open Foam are presented. This is the preliminary part of a longer research project aimed at systematically study the ability of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques in reproducing the flow around slender bodies with sharp edges at high Reynolds numbers. In spite of the simple geometry, the problem is influenced by a number of parameters which makes its correct solution difficult to be achieved. The LES approach presented here appears to be a good candidate for this purpose but further analysis must be performed. Indeed, we highlight the need to adopt a finer resolution in the spanwise direction in order to capture the very anisotropic turbulent dynamics. Furthermore, it emerges the need of Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) data in order to shed light on the compound role played by the turbulence model, the grid resolution and the inlet conditions.

In this paper, a new mixed nonuniform Transformation Field Analysis (TFA) homogenization technique for deriving the overall mechanical response of heterogeneous materials is proposed. The new TFA approach is based on a mixed stress variational formulation of the elasto-plasticity theory, assuming stresses and plastic multiplier as independent variables. The case of periodic composites is considered, so that the homogenization is performed on a repetitive unit cell that plays the equivalent role of representative volume element for random media. The unit cell of the material is divided into subsets and in each subset the weak form of the compatibility condition and of the consistency condition are enforced, leading to a simultaneous evaluation of the stress and of the plastic strain field. It is assumed that the stress field satisfies a priori the equilibrium equations while the inelastic strain distribution is evaluated as function of the assumed stress resulting nonuniform in each subset. Some numerical examples are performed in the framework of plane stress plasticity in order to assess the effectiveness of the proposed technique. In particular, the homogenization results are compared with the ones carried out by micromechanical nonlinear finite element analyses.

A new fully coupled multiphase model for hygrothermal analysis and prediction of salt diffusion and crystallization in porous building materials is presented. The relative humidity, the temperature, the concentration of the dissolved salt and the concentration of precipitated salts are assumed as independent variables. A suitable modelling of the crystallization/dissolution and hydration/dehydration processes allows considering salts with hydrous and anhydrous crystals. Some numerical applications on fired-clay bricks show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Interactions between single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and peptides are investigated. An existing polarizable force field, using distributed multipoles up to quadrupoles for the electrostatics, is modified to include a description of the non-bonded interactions between a SWNT and peptides. Adsorption energies and structures calculated with this potential are compared with data from electronic structure theory. Simulations of binding and non-binding peptide aptamers, as identified from experiment, are shown to agree with current experimental observations.

Este trabalho foi realizado na fazenda de maricultura localizada na enseada de Macieis, baia de Ilha Grande (Angra dos Reis,RJ). No outono de 2004, mexilhoes (Perna perna) foram coletados para detectar a presenca da ficotoxina acido ocadaico (AO).Esta toxina pode ser produzida por algumas especies de dinoflagelados pertencentes aos generos Prorocentrum e Dinophysis.Os mexilhoes, ao se alimentarem destas microalgas, acumulam a toxina, principalmente em sua glândula digestiva(hepatopâncreas), desencadeando no ser humano a sindrome do Envenenamento Diarreico por Moluscos (EDM). A ficotoxinaAO e o principal responsavel pela sindrome EDM, que e caracterizada por nauseas, dores abdominais, vomitos e diarreia, seforem consumidos moluscos contaminados com concentracoes a partir de 48 mg AO.g-1 de hepatopâncreas de molusco.Glândulas digestivas dos mexilhoes coletados foram homogeneizadas para extracao e deteccao de AO. As amostras foramanalisadas por Cromatografia Liquida de Alta Eficiencia com Deteccao Fluorescencia (CLAE-DF). Os resultados cromatograficosindicaram a presenca da toxina AO, em baixa concentracao (~ 2ng AO.g-1 hepatopâncreas de molusco), em apenas uma dasamostras da primeira coleta (marco/2004) e sua ausencia nas coletas posteriores (abril e maio/2004).

This paper presents a general time-domain description of the loads acting on a moving cylindrical body immersed in a two-dimensional low-speed flow, aiming to consistently extend the framework of thin airfoil theory to mildly bluff sections, such as those usually employed for decks of modern long-span bridges. In order to systematically accommodate typical features of bluff-body aerodynamics, the classical Theodorsen and Wagner results are reorganized within a unified dimensionless approach, and generalized preserving their main formal structure. Accordingly, circulatory and non-circulatory contributions are separately described and superimposed, and generalized downwash-related terms are introduced. The strong duality between time-domain and frequency-domain representations is focused, and direct relationships between proper Wagner-like indicial functions and Theodorsen-like circulatory functions are deduced. Thereby, following the Scanlan formulation for bridge deck sections, flutter derivatives are represented by superimposing circulatory and non-circulatory effects, resulting in a frequency-domain description fully consistent with the Theodorsen's theory. The model is based on few parameters that can be estimated by simplified strategies and, when applicable, by asymptotic relationships. An identification procedure involving few experiments or numerical simulations is proposed and numerically implemented. Simulation results obtained in the case of a flat thin plate and of a closed box section, similar to the cross-section of the Great Belt East Bridge, are successfully compared with theoretical and/or numerical solutions, highlighting effectiveness and soundness of the presented identification strategy.

Polybrominated diphenyl ether flame-retardants (PBDEs) are thyroid-disrupting environmental chemicals. We investigated the effects of postnatal exposure to DE-71 (a mixture of tetra- and penta-brominated congeners), n-propylthiouracil (PTU) and thyroxine (T4) replacement on open-field (OF) and radial maze (RAM) tests. Wistar rats (5 males/5 females per litter, 32 litters) were treated orally (PND 5-22) with PTU (4mg/kg bw/d), DE-71 (30mg/kg bw/d), with and without co-administration of T4 (15μg/kg bw/d, sc). PTU depressed T4 serum levels and body weight gain and enlarged thyroid gland. Although decreasing T4 levels, DE-71 did not change thyroid and body weights. PTU-treated rats showed hyperactivity (PND 42 and 70), and working and reference memory learning deficits (RAM, PND 100). Although not altering motor activity and working memory, DE-71 caused a reference memory deficit (females only). T4 co-administration averted hypothyroxinemia and long-term cognitive deficits caused by PTU and DE-71.

Heat, moisture and salt transport combined with salt crystallization strongly influence the durability of porous construction materials like masonry. With this in mind, this paper presents a novel coupled multiphase model for hygrothermal analysis of masonry structures and effective prediction of stress induced by salt crystallization. Firstly, the model is calibrated through experimental data. In particular, water and brine uptake and evaporation tests on a single brick and on a simple masonry column are reproduced. Then, the model is used to simulate the results of an extensive experimental campaign carried out on a masonry wall exposed to weather conditions for 2 years. Very good agreement between the model predictions and the experimental evidence is obtained, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Summary: Exacerbation of prior pulmonary involvement may occur during neutropenia recovery. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-related pulmonary toxicity has been documented in cancer patients, and experimental models suggest a role for G-CSF in acute lung injury during neutropenia recovery. We reviewed 20 cases of noncardiac acute respiratory failure during G-CSF-induced neutropenia recovery. Half the patients had received hematopoietic stem cell transplants. All patients experienced pulmonary infiltrates during neutropenia followed by respiratory status deterioration coinciding with neutropenia recovery. Neutropenia duration was 10 (4–22) days, and time between respiratory symptoms and the first day with more than 1000 leukocytes/mm3 was 1 (−0.5 to 2) day. Of the 20 patients, 16 received invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation, including 14 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Five patients died, with refractory ARDS. In patients with pulmonary infiltrates during neutropenia, G-CSF-induced neutropenia recovery carries a risk of respiratory status deterioration with acute lung injury or ARDS. Clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for this diagnosis, which requires eliminating another cause of acute respiratory failure, G-CSF discontinuation and ICU transfer for early supportive management including diagnostic confirmation and noninvasive mechanical ventilation.

Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, transmitted primarily by inhalation of aerosolized droplets containing the organisms. There is an infection of the respiratory tract and the tubercle bacilli spread via lymphatic system and bloodstream to many different organs. Generally, the pulmonary tuberculosis infections are asymptomatic and a positive skin test result is the only indication of it. Approximately 10% of infected individuals develop active disease. Immunosuppression caused by systemic diseases or medication increases the risk of developing tuberculosis. In addition to the pulmonary tract, tuberculosis may affect many organs and systems, including lymph nodes, larynge, middle ear, genitourinary tract, musculoskeletal system, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, pericardium, and skin. Ocular involvement is an uncommon event in tuberculous infection, and there are several presentations involving the iris, ciliary body, choroid, retina and optic nerve. The diagnosis is based in the detection of mycobacteria in fluids and tissues. If there is no available material for analysis, a presumptive diagnosis is made and therapeutic test initiated. The therapy is based in anti-tuberculous drugs and corticosteroids. The standard treatment protocol in Brazil includes isoniazid, rifampim, and pyrazinamid for two months, followed by isoniazid and rifampin for four months for susceptible organisms. Alternative regimens are necessary in the presence of drug resistance.

This paper presents the structural health assessment of a railway ancient masonry arch bridge located in Bologna, Italy. A three-dimensional finite element model of the entire bridge, tuned on in situ experimental tests, has been used for the assessment. In particular, the finite element model has been employed to evaluate the structural health of the bridge both in its actual state and in the hypothesis of a structural strengthening intervention.

Critically ill patients have many reasons to present with pleural effusions whose incidence in the intensive care unit (ICU) varies from about 8% (clinically documented effusions) to more than 60% (effusions detected using routine ultrasonography). Management of pleural effusions in ICU patients is similar to this used in overall patients. Indeed, pleurocentesis is safe in mechanically ventilated patients, pleurocentesis has an impact on diagnosis and treatment, and no clinical parameter allows to exclude pleural infection. This review discusses various aspects of pleural effusions in the ICU and suggests a research agenda for pleural effusions in ICU patients, particularly regarding management of infectious pleural effusions and these associated with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Nowdays adults with cystic fibrosis are no more attended in pediatric centers. Transition from pediatric to adult care centers must be anticipated. It requires the preparation of patients and families and a cooperation between both teams. Now, there are more patients and they are healthier. Adults centers caregivers have to pay particular attention to new young patients, to manage cystic fibrosis adult issues and to deal with more frequent comorbidities and severe complications. Adults centers will need better resources to maintain good quality of cares and improved life expectancy.

Cognitive dysfunction is a major sign of cerebral malaria (CM). However, the underlying mechanisms of CM cognitive outcome remain poorly understood. A body of evidence suggests that adult neurogenesis may play a role in learning and memory processes. It has also been reported that these phenomena can be regulated by the immune system. We hypothesized that memory dysfunction in CM results from hippocampal neurogenesis impairment mediated by the deregulated immune response during the acute phase of CM. C57Bl/6 mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) strain, using a standardized inoculation of 10(6) parasitized erythrocytes. Long-term working memory was evaluated using the novel object recognition test. The mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin-receptor-kinase (TRK-B) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the frontal cortex and hippocampus was estimated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The protein levels of cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and CCL11 and neurotrophins BDNF and NGF were determined using a cytometric bead array (CBA) kit or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell viability in the hippocampus was analyzed by Confocal Microscopy. Neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus was determined through quantification of doublecortin (DCX) positive cells. PbA-infected mice presented working memory impairment on day 5 post-infection. At this same time point, CM mice exhibited a decrease in DCX-positive cells in the dentate gyrus in parallel with increased cell death and elevated inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and CCL11) in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. A significant reduction of BDNF mRNA expression was also found. IL-6 and TNF-α correlated negatively with BDNF and NGF levels in the hippocampus of CM mice. In summary, we provide further evidence that neuroinflammation following PbA-infection influences neurotrophin expression, impairs adult hippocampal neurogenesis and increases hippocampal cell death in association with memory impairment following CM course. The current study identified potential mediators of memory impairment in CM.

Ceramic materials are nowadays widely used in many industrial applications, ranging from the production of sanitary wares to advanced mechanics. Despite their diffusion, their production process still involves inefficient product development procedures, often based on a trial and error approach. In particular, during drying and firing, the initial shape given by the mould undergoes significant deformations due to plastic strains and volumetric shrinkage. As a consequence, the prediction of the mould shape, needed to obtain a given final product, becomes a problem of primary importance. The first step towards the definition of an effective mould prediction procedure is to accurately simulate the whole industrial process. The aim of the present paper is to build an effective, yet simple, simulation procedure suitable for implementation in the industrial practice. In this article, the adopted modelling strategy is discussed and the results of the numerical model are compared with experimental data highlighting the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The arguments discussed in the paper have been addressed in collaboration with SACMI, a world leading company in the production of machineries for the ceramic industry.

We present a methodology for estimating causal functional linear models using orthonormal tensor product expansions. More precisely, we estimate the functional parameters $\alpha$ and $\beta$ that appear in the causal functional linear regression model:$$\mathcal{Y}(s)=\alpha(s)+\int_a^b\beta(s,t)\mathcal{X}(t)\mathrm{d}t+\mathcal{E}(s),$$ where $\mbox{supp } \beta \subset \mathfrak{T},$ and $\mathfrak{T}$ is the closed triangular region whose vertexes are $(a,a) , (b,a)$ and $(b,b).$ We assume we have an independent sample $\{ (\mathcal{Y}_k,\mathcal{X}_k) : 1\le k \le N, k\in \mathbb{N}\}$ of observations where the $\mathcal{X}_k $'s are functional covariates, the $\mathcal{Y}_k$'s are time order preserving functional responses and $\mathcal{E}_k,$ $1\le k \le N,$ is i.i.d. zero mean functional noise.

An efficient whole cell bioreduction of trifluoroacetophenones to highly enantioenriched alcohols is demonstrated.

A full account to the preparation and application of three appropriately substituted vinylcyclohexenes (2,2-dimethyl-3-vinylcyclohex-3-en-1-ol, 2,2-dimethyl-3-vinylcyclohex-3-en-1-one and 3,3-dimethyl-2-vinylcyclohexene) in thermal Diels-Alder reactions with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters (methyl tiglate and methyl angelate) is given. This approach delivered the racemic synthesis of ten octalin derivatives bearing a rearranged drimane skeleton (4 diastereomers of 1-methoxycarbonyl-6-hydroxy-1,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1,2,3,5,6,7, 8,8a-octahydronaphthalene; 1-methoxycarbonyl-6-oxo-1,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydronaphthalene; 2-methoxycarbonyl-6-oxo-1,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene; 3 diastereomers of 1-methoxycarbonyl-1,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene and 2-methoxycarbonyl-1,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene) . Central synthetic features included preparation of enoltriflates by Stang's protocol and the successful palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction (Stille reaction) of the triflate with the tri-n-butylvinylstannane. The octalins relative stereochemistry was unequivocally ascertained by spectroscopic methods and/or X-ray crystallography and these data now stand as useful tools to support the correct assignment of related natural products usually isolated in minute amounts. O presente trabalho relata a preparação e aplicação de três vinilcicloexenos devidamente funcionalizados (2,2-dimetil-3-vinilcicloex-3-en-1-ol, 2,2-dimetil-3-vinilcicloex-3-en-1-ona e 3,3-dimetil-2-vinilcicloexeno) em reações de Diels-Alder com ésteres a,b-insaturados (tiglato de metila e angelato de metila). Esta abordagem levou à síntese racêmica de dez octalinas possuindo esqueleto drimânico rearranjado (4 diastereoisômeros do 1-metoxicarbonil-6-hidroxi-1,2,5,5-tetrametil-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octaidronaftaleno; 1-metoxicarbonil-6-oxo-1,2,5,5-tetrametil-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 -ocataidronaftaleno; 2-metoxicarbonil-6-oxo-1,2,5,5-tetrametil-1,2,3,5,6,7, 8,8a-octaidronaftaleno; 3 diastereoisômeros do 1-metoxicarbonil-1,2,5,5-tetrametil-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octaidronaftaleno e 2-metoxicarbonil-1,2,5,5-tetrametil-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octaidronaftaleno) . Para a preparação dos dienos, utilizou-se a reação de acoplamento catalisada por paládio (reação de Stille) entre enoltriflatos (preparados pelo protocolo de Stang) e tri-n-butilvinilestanana. A estereoquímica relativa dos produtos foi estabelecida a partir de métodos espectroscópicos e análise de difração de raios-X de alguns dos derivados. Estes dados podem servir para a identificação de novos produtos naturais e corrigir algumas estruturas da literatura.

This paper presents a hybrid stress approach for the analysis of laminated composite plates. The plate mechanical model is based on the so called First-order Shear Deformation Theory, rationally deduced from the parent three-dimensional theory. Within this framework, a new quadrilateral four-node finite element is developed from a hybrid stress formulation involving, as primary variables, compatible displacements and elementwise equilibrated stress resultants. The element is designed to be simple, stable and locking-free. The displacement interpolation is enhanced by linking the transverse displacement to the nodal rotations and a suitable approximation for stress resultants is selected, ruled by the minimum number of parameters. The transverse stresses through the laminate thickness are reconstructed a posteriori by simply using three-dimensional equilibrium. To improve the results, the stress resultants entering the reconstruction process are first recovered using a superconvergent patch-based procedure called Recovery by Compatibility in Patches, that is properly extended here for laminated plates. This preliminary recovery is very efficient from the computational point of view and generally useful either to accurately evaluate the stress resultants or to estimate the discretization error. Indeed, in the present context, it plays also a key role in effectively predicting the shear stress profiles, since it guarantees the global convergence of the whole reconstruction strategy, that does not need any correction to accommodate equilibrium defects. Actually, this strategy can be adopted together with any plate finite element. Numerical testing demonstrates the excellent performance of both the finite element and the reconstruction strategy.

The use of diastereomeric alcohol dialkylphosphonate derivatives to determine the enantiomeric excesses via 31P-NMR signal ratios of anisochronous meso and threo isomers was successfully applied to secondary alcohols (Feringa’s method). Expansion of the methodology to primary alcohols possessing the hydroxyl groups thethered to the stereogenic centers by two or more methylene groups proved the method to be inefficent. The comparison between the coupled and decoupled spectra is important in order to identify the signals corresponding to the dialkylphosphonates. Nevertheless the methodology should be applied whenever the amount of the alcohol and its structure are not the limiting factors. O uso de derivados fosfonatos de dialquila diastereoisoméricos na determinação de excessos enantioméricos através da razão entre os sinais de 31P-NMR anisócronos dos isômeros meso e treo, foi bem sucedido para álcoois secundários (método de Feringa), porém revelou-se ineficiente para álcoois primários com dois ou mais grupos metilênicos entre as hidroxilas e os centros estereogênicos. Observou-se adicicionalmente que era importante obter os espectros acoplados e desacoplados para se certificar dos picos correspondentes aos fosfonatos de dialquila. Entretanto, esta metodologia merece ser aplicada sempre que a quantidade de álcool disponível e sua estrutura não forem fatores limitantes.

A estatística circular é aplicada a dados em que é possível notar um comportamento periódico que caracteriza a obtenção dos chamados dados circulares. A existência de um ritmo circadiano no metabolismo de abelhas africanizadas pode influenciar no horário de mortalidade de operárias e de emergência de rainhas, sendo obtidas nesse caso, medidas circulares, caracterizadas pelo horário de ocorrência de tais eventos. As visitas de abelhas às flores de uma planta podem, igualmente, fornecer dados circulares. A finalidade do trabalho foi verificar aplicabilidade da estatística circular em dados apícolas. Utilizaram-se os dados de três experimentos: 1- forrageamento de abelhas em alecrim do campo; 2- emergência de rainhas e 3- horário de mortalidade de operárias (considerando-se o horário de montagem de experimento à noite (19 h 30 min) e durante o dia (7 h 30 min)). Todos os conjuntos de dados utilizados foram testados em relação a duas distribuições: uniforme e Von Mises (ou normal circular) e foram ajustados à segunda. Concluiu-se que, para o forrageamento de abelhas no alecrim o modelo da normal circular é com um horário médio de forrageamento igual a 11 h 29 min com grande dispersão. Existe também um ritmo circadiano que regula o horário de emergência de rainhas e de mortalidade das abelhas operárias. Para o experimento de emergência de rainhas obteve-se o intervalo de confiança a 95 % para a média circular igual a (4 h 12 min; 9 h 05 min). O horário médio de mortalidade no caso da montagem realizada durante o dia ocorre após 4 h 18 min, com longevidade estimada em 8 h e 37 min, enquanto para indivíduos mantidos sob as mesmas condições, sendo alterado apenas o horário de montagem do experimento para as 19 h 30 min, estima-se uma longevidade de 19 horas e 37 minutos. É recomendável, portanto que, para a execução de experimentos laboratoriais com adultos de abelhas, seja incluído na metodologia experimental o horário de montagem do experimento.

To review the short- and long-term results in patients who underwent removal of infected or exposed mesh and reconstruction of the abdominal wall with simultaneous mesh replacement.Patients undergoing removal of an infected or exposed mesh and single-staged reconstruction of the abdominal wall with synthetic mesh replacement over a 16-year period were retrospectively reviewed from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were operated and followed by a single surgeon. Outcome measures included wound complications and hernia recurrence.From 1996 until 2012, 41 patients (23 F, 18 M), with a mean age of 53.4 years and mean BMI of 31.2 ± 8 kg/m(2), were treated for chronic mesh infection (CMI). A suppurative infection was present in 27 patients, and 14 had an exposed mesh. The need for recurrent incisional hernia repair was observed in 25 patients; bowel resections or other potentially contaminated procedures were associated in 15 patients. The short-term results showed an uneventful post-operative course after mesh replacement in 27 patients; 6 (14.6%) patients developed a minor wound infection and were treated with dressings and antibiotics; 5 (12%) patients had wound infections requiring debridement and one required complete mesh removal. On the long-term follow-up, there were three hernia recurrences, one of which demanded a reoperation for enterocutaneous fistula; 95% of the patients submitted to mesh replacement were considered cured of CMI after a mean follow-up of 74 months.CMI can be treated by removal of infected mesh; simultaneous mesh replacement prevents hernia recurrence and has an acceptable incidence of post-operative acute infection. Standard polypropylene mesh is a suitable material to be used in the infected surgical field as an onlay graft.

Summary An extensive search for randomised controlled clinical trials was accomplished to compare dental prostheses and occlusal splints constructed with or without face-bow transfer, and question whether face-bow transfer may present better clinical results than simpler approaches. Studies were identified by searching electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Latin American and Caribbean Literature on the Health Science, and Brazilian Bibliography of Dentistry). The keywords ‘dental articulator’, ‘semi-adjustable articulator’, ‘face-bow’, ‘jaw relation record’ and ‘occlusal splint therapy’ were used. The minimum inclusion requirements were (i) randomised controlled trials with patients of any age, (ii) comparison between dental prostheses or occlusal splints constructed with or without face-bow transfer and (iii) assessment of clinician's time, number of occlusal contacts, patient satisfaction or masticatory function. The search resulted in the identification of 8779 articles. Subsequently, 8763 articles were excluded on the basis of title and abstract. By the end of the search phase, eight randomised controlled trials were considered eligible. Current scientific evidence suggests that face-bow transfer is not imperative to achieve better clinical results in prosthodontics. Randomised clinical trials suggest that simpler approaches for the construction of complete dentures and occlusal splints may present acceptable results, while no clinical study has investigated its use in fixed and removable partial dentures.

Lung transplantation (LT) is associated with an increased risk of infection, cancer, chronic renal failure, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Some risk factors precede transplantation and could benefit for early diagnosis and optimised care.The incidence of comorbidities and their treatment before referral were assessed in 157 consecutive lung transplant candidates between 2008 and 2011.The median age was 37years [25; 51]. Fifty-six percent had a body mass index below 19kg/m(2). In the COPD group, only 50 % had undergone a pulmonary rehabilitation program in the preceding 2 years. Osteoporosis was present in 42 %, of whom 36 % were on bisphophonate therapy. Vitamin D deficiency was present in 65 %. Previously undiagnosed cardiovascular risk factors were discovered during LT assessment: hypertension in one patient, hypercholesterolemia in 6 % and diabetes in 4 %. Poor dental condition necessitating extractions were found in 41 % of patients. Protective anti-HBs antibodies levels were present in 50 % of the patients at the time of referral.The assessment and early treatment of nutritional disorders, osteoporosis and risk factors for infection as well as addressing associated cardiovascular risk factors should be optimised in the care of patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency. The potential for becoming a lung transplant candidate in the future should be kept in mind early in the global management of those patients.

The synthesis of chiral amines is still a challenge for organic synthesis since optically pure amines are of great importance for the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Among all the methodologies developed until now, chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution has proven to be useful for the preparation of enantioenriched primary chiral amines. In our continuous efforts toward the development of a continuous flow process, herein we report our results on the continuous flow kinetic resolution of (±)-1-phenylethylamine leading to the desired products with high enantiomeric ratios (>200) and short residence times (40 minutes) using ethyl acetate as the acyl donor.

Introduction Le pronostic de la transplantation pulmonaire (TP) apres un an est conditionne par la survenue d’une dysfonction chronique du greffon (DCG). Les mecanismes ne sont pas univoques, mais plusieurs facteurs de risque d’origine immunologiques ou non immunologiques ont ete identifies, dont la survenue d’infections des voies respiratoires virales ou bacteriennes. Les infections a VRS sont frequentes apres TP ou allogreffe de moelle et representent un modele de virose a tropisme bronchiolaire. L’objectif de ce travail est l’etude des phenomenes en cause dans les infections a VRS avec retentissement fonctionnel apres TP. Methodes Il s’agit d’une etude observationnelle, monocentrique retrospective de 42 cas consecutifs d’infection a VRS parmi la cohorte de transplantes pulmonaire entre le 01/01/2013 et le 01/06/2016. Les donnees cliniques, biologiques et radiologiques des patients presentant une deterioration du VEMS de plus de 10 % des valeurs initiales (groupe DET ; n = 30) sont comparees a celles des malades stables (groupe STA ; n = 12). Une seconde analyse porte sur le risque de degradation fonctionnelle persistante a six mois de l’episode infectieux. L’analyse statistique est univariee au seuil de significativite 0,05. Resultats Les seuls facteurs significativement associes a une deterioration fonctionnelle respiratoire sont la preexistence d’une DCG, et les antecedents de degradation fonctionnelle aigue sur virose respiratoire. Le nombre et l’intensite des rejets aigus, la presence d’anticorps anti-HLA, la pathologie respiratoire basale, la frequence du RGO, de l’atopie ou la nature des co-infections ne different pas entre les groupes. Dans le groupe DET, 33 % des patients ont une deterioration persistante de la fonction a 6 mois. Conclusion Cette etude confirme l’impact pejoratif potentiel du VRS sur la fonction respiratoire apres TP et suggere que les mecanismes en jeu sont la consequence directe du virus, sans argument pour la mise en jeu de phenomenes allo-immuns, dans la limite de notre echantillon reduit. Ces resultats suggerent aussi l’existence d’un profil phenotypique de vulnerabilite aux infections respiratoires virales chez certains receveurs de TP, qui pourraient ne pas etre egaux dans le risque fonctionnel post-viral.

Introduction Le risque d’infection a Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) est majore apres transplantation d’organe justifiant une recommandation de vaccination prealable [1] . Apres transplantation pulmonaire (TP), les series de pneumopathies infectieuses, majoritairement consacrees a la periode postoperatoire, rapportent peu de cas d’infection a Sp. Nous avons analyse les cas d’isolement de ce germe dans notre centre. Methodes Il s’agit d’une analyse retrospective descriptive monocentrique sur la cohorte de 538 receveurs de TP suivis entre le 01/01/2010 et le 01/09/2016. Le critere d’inclusion est la presence de Sp dans un prelevement bacteriologique et/ou la presence verifiee d’un antigene urinaire positif. L’analyse des donnees cliniques, biologiques et des patients est descriptive. Resultats Sp est isole 83 fois chez 60 patients dans un delai median de 7,5 mois post-TP. Parmi ceux ci, Sp est isole en postoperatoire immediat dans 12 cas (donneur 7 cas, receveur 2 cas, acquisition nosocomiale 3 cas). Les souches sont sensibles, intermediaires et resistantes a l’ampicilline dans respectivement 89,8 et 3 % des cas. Neuf des 60 patients (15 %) ont un tabagisme actif post-TP lors de l’isolement. Vingt et un patients restent asymptomatiques, 12 presentent une bronchite aigue et 27 au moins un episode de pneumopathie. L’incidence des pneumopathies est de 1,72 pour 100 patients-annee, superieure dans les 2 ans post-TP. Une co-infection virale est presente dans 29 % des cas. Une admission en soins intensifs est necessaire dans 19 % des cas. La mortalite est nulle. L’utilisation depuis 3 ans de la vaccination anti-pneumococcique conjuguee puis polysaccharidique post-TP coincide avec une diminution de la frequence des isolements de Sp. Parmi les patients presentant une pneumopathie, aucun n’avait recu une vaccination conforme aux recommandations. Conclusion Bien que retrospective et sans groupe temoin comparatif, cette etude souligne la frequence non negligeable des infections a Sp apres TP. La possibilite d’isolements dans le periode perioperatoire, la precocite de la colonisation post-TP, de la survenue des pneumopathies et la co-incidence entre une politique vaccinale plus intensive et la reduction des isolements sont autant d’elements en faveur la vaccination combinee avant la greffe.

Nowdays adults with cystic fibrosis are no more attended in pediatric centers. Transition from pediatric to adult care centers must be anticipated. It requires the preparation of patients and families and a cooperation between both teams. Now, there are more patients and they are healthier. Adults centers caregivers have to pay particular attention to new young patients, to manage cystic fibrosis adult issues and to deal with more frequent comorbidities and severe complications. Adults centers will need better resources to maintain good quality of cares and improved life expectancy.

We present a class of dilation integral equations. The equations in this class depend on a dilation parameter $a\in\mathbb{R}.$ The existence of non trivial solutions in $L^1(\mathbb{R})$ is studied as a function of the dilation parameter. The main result establishes the non existence of these solutions for $|a| 1,$ and sufficient conditions for these equations to have no solutions but the trivial one or to have an infinitude of non trivial solutions in case $|a|=1.$ In all these cases, the dimension of the space of $L^1(\mathbb{R})$-solutions is determined. When $|a|>1$ we have succeeded in writing the frequency domain representation of the solutions as convergent infinite products.

We establish strict inequality bounds for the binomial sums $\sum_{i=0}^n {n\choose i} \frac{(-1)^i}{2i+1}$ and prove the asymptotic result: $$\sum_{i=0}^n {n\choose i} \frac{(-1)^i}{2i+1} \sim \sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2n+1}}, \mbox{ as } n\to \infty.$$

The Family with sequence similarity 5 member C (FAM5C) has been suggested to contribute in aggressive periodontitis. However, there is no data regarding its role in chronic periodontitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the FAM5C expression in chronic periodontitis and to study association of FAM5C with key immunoinflammatory markers.Gingival biopsies were harvested from periodontally healthy subjects (n = 10) and chronic periodontitis subjects (n = 15). The levels of mRNA of FAM5C, interleukin (IL)-17, IL-6, IL-23, IL-10, IL-4, interferon-c, toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, TLR-4, osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, transforming growth factor-b, transcription factor forkhead box p3, and transcription factor orphan nuclear receptor C2 were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction.FAM5C mRNA levels were not different between periodontally healthy and diseased tissues (P0.05). Gene expressions of IL-17, TNF-a, OPG, RANKL, TLR-2, and TLR-4 were higher in periodontitis, when compared to periodontally healthy sites (P0.05), while no differences between groups were observed for the other genes evaluated (P0.05). There were no correlations between the gene expression of FAM5C and the other immunoinflammatory markers (P0.05).Within the limits of this study, it seems that FAM5C expression does not contribute to chronic periodontitis.

Existing research on structural deterioration of historic structures generally concentrated on direct mechanical causes of deterioration rather than on physical-chemical effects of aggressive agents on the mechanical parameters of masonry and their interaction. The research presented herein studies deterioration of masonry in a unified environmental framework which accounts for both the mechanical and the physical-chemical effects and their coupling. Numerical models and experiments have considered various cases including mechanically damaged and undamaged masonry walls with moisture capillary rise from foundations, with and without salt inclusions at different concentrations. Examples from on-going work are shown.

Introduction Apres transplantation pulmonaire (TP), les cancers bronchiques sont majoritairement developpes sur poumon natif apres transplantation unilaterale et plus rarement transmis par le donneur. Les cellules souches du receveur repeuplent minoritairement le greffon donnant lieu a un troisieme mecanisme rare d’oncogenese dont un cas est rapporte ici. Cas clinique Une patiente non fumeuse de 50 ans atteinte de mucoviscidose developpe de multiples micronodules millimetriques dans les premiers mois suivant une TP bilaterale d’un donneur de sexe masculin tabagique a 35 paquets-annees. Ces lesions regressent sauf une qui evolue vers un adenocarcinome TTF1 + pT1aN0M0 traite par lobectomie 4 ans apres la TP. Le caryotype des cellules tumorales analyse par technique de FISH revele qu’elles proviennent de la receveuse. La patiente est sans rechute a un an. Discussion L’epithelium du greffon pulmonaire est le siege d’un chimerisme dont les modalites d’installation et de regulation sont mal connues. Des cellules souches du receveur repeuplent precocement le greffon et donnent naissance a une composante minoritaire de l’epithelium. On peut imaginer qu’une anomalie des phenomenes de proliferation et de differentiation puisse parfois aboutir a une neoplasie par repopulation non controlee du greffon, illustree par ce cas. Un role de l’immunite dans la regulation de ces phenomenes est possible, amenant a l’hypothese que l’immunosuppression pourrait favoriser cette forme rare de cancer. Conclusion Un desordre de la repopulation du greffon par des cellules souches du receveur peut aboutir a la survenue d’un cancer bronchique apres transplantation pulmonaire.