Search results for "itt"

Modelling load-transmission mechanisms in axially loaded RC columns retrofitted with steel jackets

2018

The use of steel jacketing technique is a common practice for retrofitting existing reinforced concrete (RC) columns, as it allows increasing load-carrying capacity and ductility of the member. When the external jacket has no-end connections – i.e. the jacket is indirectly loaded- the load sustained by the column is transferred from the inner RC core to the external jacket through shear stresses along the contact surface. The assessment of this mechanism is quite complex, due to the marked non-linear behaviour of constituent materials and to the calibration of a proper shear stress-relative slip constitutive law of the concrete-to-steel interface. In this paper, a step-by-step analytical ap…

Towards a Security Competence of Software Developers

2020

Software growth has been explosive as people depend heavily on software on daily basis. Software development is a human-intensive effort, and developers' competence in software security is essential for secure software development. In addition, ubiquitous computing provides an added complexity to software security. Studies have treated security competences of software developers as a subsidiary of security engineers' competence instead of software engineers' competence, limiting the full knowledge of the security competences of software developers. This presents a crucial challenge for developers, educators, and users to maintain developers' competences in security. As a first step in pushi…

Occupational physical heaviness and sitting as predictors of mortality: a 26-year follow-up

2018

Genome-wide association meta-analysis highlights light-induced signaling as a driver for refractive error

2018

Skin affections after sulfur mustard (SM) exposure include erythema, blister formation and severe inflammation. An antidote or specific therapy does not exist. Anti-inflammatory compounds as well as substances counteracting SM-induced cell death are under investigation. In this study, we investigated the benzylisoquinoline alkaloide berberine (BER), a metabolite in plants like berberis vulgaris, which is used as herbal pharmaceutical in Asian countries, against SM toxicity using a well-established in vitro approach. Keratinocyte (HaCaT) mono-cultures (MoC) or HaCaT/THP-1 co-cultures (CoC) were challenged with 100, 200 or 300 mM SM for 1 h. Post-exposure, both MoC and CoC were treated with 1…

Intrathecal B-cell accumulation and axonal damage distinguish MRI-based benign from aggressive onset in MS.

2019

ObjectiveWe explored the incremental value of adding multiple disease activity biomarkers in CSF and serum for distinguishing MRI-based benign from aggressive MS in early disease course.MethodsNinety-three patients diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or early MS were divided into 3 nonoverlapping severity groups defined by objective MRI criteria. Ninety-seven patients with noninflammatory neurologic disorders and 48 patients with other inflammatory neurologic diseases served as controls. Leukocyte subsets in the CSF were analyzed by flow cytometry. CSF neurofilament light chain (NfL) and chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) levels were measured by ELISA. Serum NfL levels were e…

Ocrelizumab Extended Interval Dosing in Multiple Sclerosis in Times of COVID-19.

2021

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical consequences of extended interval dosing (EID) of ocrelizumab in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.MethodsIn our retrospective, multicenter cohort study, we compared patients with RRMS on EID (defined as ≥4-week delay of dose interval) with a control group on standard interval dosing (SID) at the same period (January to December 2020).ResultsThree hundred eighteen patients with RRMS were longitudinally evaluated in 5 German centers. One hundred sixteen patients received ocrelizumab on EID (median delay [interquartile range 8.68 [5.09–13.07] weeks). Three months after the last ocrelizumab in…

Effects of a 20-week high-intensity strength and sprint training program on tibial bone structure and strength in middle-aged and older male sprint a…

2017

This randomized, controlled, high-intensity strength and sprint training trial in middle-aged and older male sprint athletes showed significant improvements in mid-tibial structure and strength. The study reveals the adaptability of aging bone, suggesting that through a novel, intensive training stimulus it is possible to strengthen bones during aging. High-load, high-speed and impact-type exercise may be an efficient way of improving bone strength even in old age. We evaluated the effects of combined strength and sprint training on indices of bone health in competitive masters athletes, who serve as a group of older people who are likely to be able to participate in vigorous exercise of th…

Clinical implications of serum neurofilament in newly diagnosed MS patients: a longitudinal multicentre cohort study

2020

Abstract Background We aim to evaluate serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), indicating neuroaxonal damage, as a biomarker at diagnosis in a large cohort of early multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Methods In a multicentre prospective longitudinal observational cohort, patients with newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) were recruited between August 2010 and November 2015 in 22 centers. Clinical parameters, MRI, and sNfL levels (measured by single molecule array) were assessed at baseline and up to four-year follow-up. Findings Of 814 patients, 54.7% (445) were diagnosed with RRMS and 45.3% (369) with CIS when applying 2010 McDonald criteria (R…

Heart rate acceleration at relative workloads during treadmill and overground running for tracking exercise performance during functional overreaching

2020

AbstractMaximal rate of heart rate (HR) increase (rHRI) as a measure of HR acceleration during the transition from rest to exercise, or during an increase in workload, tracks exercise performance. rHRI assessed at relative rather than absolute workloads may track performance better, and a field test would increase applicability. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of rHRI assessed at individualised relative workloads during treadmill and overground running for tracking exercise performance. Treadmill running performance (5 km time trial; 5TTT) and rHRI were assessed in 11 male runners following 1 week of light training (LT), 2 weeks of heavy training (HT) and a 10-day tap…

Age-related trends of lesser pelvic architecture in females and males: a computed tomography pelvimetry study

2017

The pelvis and the spine form a system balancing human skeleton. Within this system, the pelvis adapts to age-related changes in the spine. Previous studies were predominantly focused on changes of pelvic parameters in the sagittal plane. The aim of this study was to reveal age-related changes of lesser pelvic dimensions at different levels of the pelvic cavity in the sagittal and coronal planes and to explore sexual dimorphism in age-related tendencies. The computed tomography pelvimetry was performed on the three-dimensional workstation. The research sample included 211 females aged 18 to 84 years and 181 males aged 18 to 82 years, who underwent an examination at the Riga East University …