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The variation of secondary moments in post-elastic range, including whether the secondary moment shall be considered in ultimate limit state calculations, has been a subject of much controversy for many years. Towards a better solution to this problem, the concept of secondary moment due to prestressing is extended into nonlinear stage. By using the method of stiffness variation, fifteen prestressed continuous beams with bonded tendons were numerically simulated in which the ratio of initial secondary moment (M2) to ultimate elastic loading moment (Me) was 0. 15-0. 36. Based on the extended secondary moment concept, a formula for moment redistribution at the ultimate limit state was put forward with relative depth of compression zone (ξ) and M2/Me as the influencing parameters. A test specimen (ξ = 0 .3 5) from literature was analyzed to compare the proposed formula and existing formulas for moment redistribution. A two-span prestressed continuous beam (ξ = 0. 18) with large degree of moment redistribution was designed and tested under monotonic loading whose support reactions were measured and used in checking the prediction by the proposed formula. It is shown that the proposed formula is conservative and gives predictions that are closer to the test results than the existing formulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five RC short columns retrofitted with prestressed steel jacket (PSJ) and one RC short column were tested under static loading to investigate the axial compression resistant behavior and compression bearing capacity of retrofitted columns. The main test parameters were prestressed level of PSJ (α) and configuration characteristic value of PSJ (ŋ). The test results indicate that compressive strength of retrofitted column is enhanced effectively and the ductility of the columns is improved significantly. The compression resistant mechanism of PSJ is discussed arid the compression bearing capacity of retrofitted columns are analyzed. It is indicated that the strength development coefficient of PSJ depends on the prestressed level and configuration characteristic value of PSJ. According to the superposition method, a formula is suggested to calculate the compression bearing capacity of the retrofitted columns. The calculated results show good agreement with the test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strontium loaded titania nanotube arrays (NTSr), as well as titania nanotube arrays (NT), have been regarded as effective coatings to promote bone regeneration on titanium implants, but an understanding of the full extent of early processes affected by such surface modifications is absent. To address this limitation, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of Sprague-Dawley rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMMSCs) cultured on unmodified titanium sheets (Con), NT and NTSr specimens. By pairwise comparisons we found that NT and NTSr shared a majority of differentially expressed genes. The Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that NT and NTSr up-regulated a bunch of genes that are annotated to the cytoskeleton. The results were supported by immunofluorescent, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and western blotting assays. By inhibiting the cytoskeleton through pharmacological agents, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) on NT and NTSr were also suppressed. Informed by these results, we concluded that NT and NTSr specimens reorganized the cytoskeleton of cultured cells that may play a crucial role in osteogenic lineage commitment. This work uncovered the transcriptome-wide responses of Sprague-Dawley rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on unmodified titanium sheets (Con), TiO 2 nanotube array (NT) and strontium loaded TiO 2 nanotube array (NTSr) coated titanium sheets. Through a high-throughput sequencing technique and further validation assays we found that genes that are annotated with the cytoskeleton or the cytoskeleton-associated processes were up-regulated on NT and NTSr samples, and these alterations may play a crucial role in topography-induced osteogenic lineage commitment of stem cells on these surfaces. Unlabelled Image • The transcriptome-wide differences were unveiled by employing RNA-seq on Con, NT and NTSr specimens. • A strengthened cytoskeleton organization of MSCs on NT and NTSr specimens was found. • The enhanced cytoskeleton-related profiles played a crucial role in osteogenic lineage commitment of MSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]