Ductility of the Tensile Zone in Bent Wooden Beams Strengthened with CFRP Materials

This article presents experimental results from the bending of technical-scale models of beams reinforced in the tension zone with CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers) materials, with a focus on the benefits resulting from the increased ductility in the tension zone of these beams. In experimental tests, the mechanical properties of reinforced beams were compared with unreinforced beams in terms of the maximum load, deflection, images of damage, stiffness, and distribution of deformation. The results showed that the proposed reinforcement solution was advantageous due to its strength and stiffness, and the safety of the structure. Based on this analysis, it was concluded that the reinforcement of wood with CFRP materials has a positive effect on the behavior and safety of structures. Also, a method of analytical checking of strengthened beams with small cross-sections was presented in the article.     

The Wear on Roller Press Rollers Made of 20Cr4/1.7027 Steel under Conditions of Copper Concentrate Briquetting

This paper defines the wear process of rollers made of 20Cr4. Rollers with a diameter of 1000 mm were installed in a roller press used for the production of drop-shaped briquettes and the copper concentrate was briquetted for 1100 h. Three-dimensional (3D) geometry analysis, metallographic analysis, macroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, as well as hardness measurements were performed. It was observed that the working surface was non-uniformly worn. The smallest wear affects the molding cavities situated on the outermost edges of the ring. The wear increases as the center of the ring is approximated, and it reaches its maximum at the middle of the ring. The molding cavities also wear asymmetrically. For the shape considered in this study, the lower part of a cavity is subject to a higher wear rate. We found that the material of the working ring was carburized, but its hardness was significantly lower than required. The roller ring microstructure changes depended on the distance from the cavity’s face. An investigation of the wear mechanisms showed different types of abrasive wear, corrosive processes, and plastic deformation. The exact type and course of wear were described, depending on the location on the working surface.     

Total left main coronary artery occlusion in a female patient after AVSD surgical repair in childhood as a cause of non ST elevation myocardial infarction

A case of a 51-year-old woman with symptoms of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome and concomitant atrial flutter is presented. Patient underwent atrioventricular septal defect repair in childhood. Coronary angiography showed total occlusion of left main coronary artery and massive collateral network originating from right coronary artery supplying entire left coronary artery. Ablation of atrial flutter had been performed and patient was subsequently submitted to mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valvuloplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting. The potential causes of left main occlusion are in this case discussed.     

Comprehensive investigation of genetic variation in the 8q24 region and multiple myeloma risk in the IMMEnSE consortium

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have shown that the 8q24 region harbours multiple independent cancer susceptibility loci, even though it is devoid of genes. Given that no GWAS data are currently available for multiple myeloma (MM), we tested the hypothesis that genetic variants in this region could play a role in MM risk. We genotyped 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms of 8q24 in 1188 MM cases and 2465 controls and found a statistically significant (P = 0·0022) association between rs2456449 and MM risk. These data provide further evidence that the genetic variability in the 8q24 region is associated with cancer risk, particularly haematological malignancies.     

The effect of treatment with risperidone,olanzapine or phenothiazines on cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia

INTRODUCTION: Theaimofthestudywastocomparetheeffectsofrisperidone, olanzapine and phenothiazines on cognitive functions in schizophrenia during short-term (4 &#45 6 weeks) and long-term (3 &#45 4 months) treatment. METHOD: Seventy patients with schizophrenia were investigated: 30 treated with risperidone, 20 with olanzapine and 20 with phenothiazines, in standard doses. Psychometric measurements were made with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and neuropsychological tests included the Trail Making Test (TMT), the Stroop Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). RESULTS: PANSS negative symptoms decreased significantly after risperidone and olanzapine, did not change after short-term, and improved marginally after long-term, phenothiazine treatment. Risperidone treatment resulted in significant amelioration of performance on all neuropsychological tests after both short- and long-term treatment. Olanzapine gave benefit on five out of seven subtests, although in most instances this effect was noted only after long-term treatment. Olanzapine was inferior to risperidone in improving WCST performance. Treatment with phenothiazines brought about improvement on two subtests while the results on three showed significant deterioration. CONCLUSION: The results obtained suggest that novel antipsychotics show differential effect on cognition, with risperidone especially improving working memory; however, their effect on negative symptoms and cognitive functions is better than that of typical neuroleptics.     

Immunohistochemical evaluation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and estrogen and progesterone receptors in invasive breast cancer in women

Introduction

Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression are crucial in the biology of breast carcinoma. HER-2/neu gene is amplified and overexpressed in 15-30% of invasive breast cancers. HER-2-positive breast cancers have worse prognosis than HER-2 negative tumors and possess distinctive clinical features. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of HER2 in cancer tissue of patients with invasive breast cancer in correlation with tumor type, histological grade, tumor size, lymph node status, and expression of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor.

Material and methods

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 40 patients with invasive HER-2-positive breast cancer and from 191 patients with HER-2-negative breast cancer were used in this study. HER2 expression was determined using the test HerceptTest™ DAKO.

Results

Among 231 cases of breast cancer, 18 invasive lobular carcinomas and 213 invasive ductal carcinomas were diagnosed. Sixty percent of HER-2-positive breast cancers were ER-positive compared with 77% in the HER-2-negative group (p = 0.002). The expression of PR was observed in 43% of HER-2-positive breast cancers and in 72% of HER2-negative tumors (p = 0.003). Excessive expression of HER2 protein was detected in 60% of patients positive for estrogen receptors, which may worsen prognosis in these patients.

Conclusions

Determination of HER2 overexpression in breast cancer patients, allows for a determination of a group of patients with a worse prognosis.