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Ultrasonic techniques have been developed worldwide aimed to determine and monitor various important properties of cement-based materials. In recent years, advances in computer and experimental equipment have allowed the development of advanced ultrasonic systems. This chapter describes principles of determination of various properties of cement-based materials using ultrasonic techniques. Advantages and limitations of these techniques are briefly presented and discussed. State-of-the-art form of the chapter gives other researchers a comprehensive overview of the developed ultrasonic procedures. Due to their clear physical basis, accuracy, and ease of use, ultrasonic techniques have a great potential to soon become standard testing techniques for determination of setting and other properties of fresh and early-age cement-based materials. The first steps in this direction have already been performed.

International audience; Background: Finite element modeling of the human head offers an alternative to experimental methods in understanding the biomechanical response of the head in trauma brain injuries. Falx, tentorium, and their notches are important structures surrounding the brain, and data about their anatomical variations are sparse. Objective: To describe and quantify anatomical variations of falx cerebri, tentorium cerebelli, and their notches. Methods: 3D reconstruction of falx and tentorium was performed by points identification on 40 brain CT-scans in a tailored Matlab program. A scatter plot was obtained for each subject, and 8 anatomical landmarks were selected. A reference frame was defined to determine the coordinates of landmarks. Segments and areas were computed. A reproducibility study was done. Results: The height of falx was 34.9 ± 3.9 mm and its surface area 56.5 ± 7.7 cm2. The width of tentorium was 99.64 ± 4.79 mm and its surface area 57.6 ± 5.8 cm2. The mean length, height, and surface area of falx notch were respectively 96.9 ± 8 mm, 41.8 ± 5.9 mm, and 28.8 ± 5.8 cm2 (range 15.8-40.5 cm2). The anterior and maximal widths of tentorial notch were 25.5 ± 3.5 mm and 30.9 ± 2.5 mm; its length 54.9 ± 5.2 mm and its surface area 13.26 ± 1.6 cm2. The length of falx notch correlated with the length of tentorial notch (r = 0.62, P < 0.05). Conclusion: We observe large anatomical variations of falx, tentorium, and notches, crucial to better understand the biomechanics of brain injury, in personalized finite element models.

During early age, the autogenous and thermal deformations are two of the most important concrete properties that are involved in the cracking risk in cement-based materials and concrete structures (especially for massive structures). For that reason, several test rigs were developed in the past for the monitoring since casting time of these deformations. During early age, the thermal strain depends strongly on the evolution of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the thermal conductivity, the heat capacity, the heat release of the cement paste and the boundary conditions. During hydration process, both autogenous and thermal strains occur simultaneously and cannot be directly distinguished. In previous work, two kinds of methodology were used to monitor the CTE. The first method uses two distinct tests with two different histories of temperature in order to define autogenous and thermal strain. The second method uses only one test during which repeated thermal variations are applied to a sample. This chapter reports on the most recent advances on the physical mechanisms associated to the development of the autogenous strain and the CTE. The recent devices and test protocols developed for the simultaneous monitoring of the coefficient of thermal expansion and the autogenous strain at three different scales (cement paste, mortar and concrete) are presented. The global testing methodologies bear some similarities but major differences remain in the test set up designs, in the testing processes and also in the data processing. Based on the physical mechanisms, existing test facilities and test protocols, a new test protocol is established and is compared to existing test protocols. Finally, recommendations are proposed for the determination of the autogenous strain and the CTE.

Restrained deformations in concrete structures induce the development of stresses and sometimes cracking. Therefore the whole service life of concrete structures is influenced by the appropriate consideration of the early age behaviour of concrete under restrained conditions. For that reason, several devices were developed in the past to characterize the risk of cracking of cement-based materials. In the 1990s, a new experimental concrete testing concept has been designed: the Temperature Stress Testing Machine (TSTM). The device is able to monitor several parameters such as the age of cracking, the stiffness development and the stress relaxation. Between 1990 and 2010, less than fifteen laboratories worldwide have developed or acquired this kind of experimental equipment. All devices bear some similarities but major differences remain in the test set up designs, in the testing processes and also in the scale of the material used. This chapter summarizes all existing technics used to assess the behavior of concrete under restrained deformation, a comparison of the different existing TSTM is presented. New advanced techniques aim at monitor the cracking risk of cement-based materials such as the active ring test or the elliptical ring test are also presented.

This chapter presents a new methodology developed to monitor the E-modulus and the ageing of the short term creep simultaneously. The methodology is based on a repeated minute-scale-duration loadings test for which periodically a loading is applied and kept constant during few minutes and finally removed. The repeated minute-scale-duration loadings test is used to quantify the E-modulus when the load is applied or removed and the aging creep when the load is kept constant or till the moment that the load is applied. This methodology is coupled to a permanent loading which allows characterizing creep for long duration. Different test setups and protocols of loading were developed in three laboratories to monitor the ageing of the E-modulus and the creep function on concrete or cement paste since setting or one day after casting. This chapter reports on the differences between the devices used, between the protocols of loading and between the data analysis. Different applications of the repeated minute-scale-duration loadings test are also presented.

Monitoring the evolution of early age properties of concrete is necessary to provide input data to the models of prediction of the behavior of concrete structures since setting time. The experimental challenge lies in the fact that this monitoring must be fully automatic since the earliest age because the hardening process of the concrete takes place continuously over a period counted in hours and even in days after the casting time. This research paper presents a new methodology developed at ULB and IFSTTAR to monitor the creep and relaxation of an ordinary concrete chosen as reference concrete since setting time. Compressive creep rigs and two test devices were used: at ULB, a Temperature Stress Testing Machine (TSTM) specifically designed for testing concrete since setting time under free and restraint conditions and at IFSTTAR, a test set up called BTJASPE developed to monitor, in compression, the modulus of elasticity, the creep and the relaxation of a concrete since very early age. For the sake of the study, the same concrete has been used in the two laboratories. In addition, this study is performed at a constant temperature to exclude this parameter, at this step of the study. The methodology is based on experimental measurements with two kinds of test. A classical creep test with permanent loading during one week and a repeated minute-long loading test for which every 30 min, a loading is applied and kept constant during 5 min and finally totally removed. The classical test is used to characterize the non-aging creep function and the repeated minute-long loading test is used to quantify the aging creep functions.

Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of opioids for control of intractable cancer pain has been used since 1982. We present here our experience of intracerebroventricular administration of pain treatments including ziconotide associated with morphine and ropivacaine for patients resistant to a conventional approach, with nociceptive, neuropathic, or mixed pain. These clinical cases were conducted with patients suffering from refractory pain, more than 6/10 on a numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) while on high-dose medical treatment and/ or intolerance with significant side effects from oral medication. The baseline study visit included a physical examination and an assessment of pain intensity on a NPRS. Under general anesthesia, a neuronavigation device was used to place the catheter on the floor of the third ventricle, supported by an endoscope. Then, drugs were injected in the cerebroventricular system, through a pump (external or subcutaneous). The primary objective was to measure pain evaluation with ICV treatment after a complete withdrawal of other medications. Four patients were enrolled: 3 with intractable cancer pain and one with central neuropathic pain. The median NPRS at baseline was 9.5 [8.5; 19]. The mean NPRS after one month was 3.5 [3; 4.5]. Ziconotide was initiated at 0.48 µg/dy and up to a median of 1.2 µg/dy [1.0; 1.56]. The median dose of morphine and ropivacaine used initially was respectively 0.36 mg/dy [0.24; 0.66] up to 0.6 mg/dy [0.45; 4.63] and 1.2 mg/dy [0; 2.4] up to 2.23 mg/dy [1.2; 3.35]. Minor side effects were initially observed but transiently. One psychiatric agitation required discontinuation of ziconotide infusion. For intractable pain, using ziconotide by intracerebroventricular infusion seems safe and efficient, specifically for chronic neoplastic pain of cervicocephalic, thoracic, or diffuse origin and also for pain arising from a central neuropathic mechanism. Key words: Intracerebroventricular infusion, ziconotide, intractable pain, nociceptive and neuropathic pain

The Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) protein is a key mediator of innate immunity that plays a central role in the immune response to invading pathogens (bacterial, viral) and transformed cells. A next generation human STING agonist, JNJ-‘6196 was developed that cures mice of their tumors in preclinical models when administered by the IV route. JNJ-‘6196 was rationally selected to have a weaker binding affinity and fast off rate but functionally is a strong cytokine inducer and an efficient activator of human dendritic cells. JNJ-‘6196 exhibits a unique cytokine induction profile in human PBMCs compared to other cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) that are not curative by the IV route in mice with higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines that mediate antitumor activity and lower levels of those that promote suppressive M2 macrophages. In preclinical models of cancer in mice, JNJ-‘6196 eliminates bilateral tumors when administered IV, and demonstrates activity over a wide therapeutic range. Cured mice are immune to further re-challenge due to the expansion and persistence of tumor specific CD8+ T-cells following JNJ-‘6196 administration. Moreover, JNJ-‘6196 increased the effectiveness of checkpoint inhibitors, turning a PD-1 resistant model into a responsive model. Although it is a very potent inducer of antitumor cytokines in mouse and cyno, it is tolerated at similar dose levels as other CDNs that are not systemically active. The functional properties that confer systemic activity were investigated by comparing gene signatures of JNJ-‘6196 to another CDN that was not curative when administered by the IV route. Differences in the intensity of cytokine gene induction were likely responsible for systemic activity rather than genes that were selectively induced by this IV-active compound. The pharmacologic mode of action of JNJ-‘6196 was investigated and found to be Cmax driven based on efficacy and cytokine readouts. JNJ-‘6196 creates an immune inflamed microenvironment in tumors and could expand the population of patients that respond to immunotherapy. The ability to administer JNJ-'6196 systemically and the potential to synergize with other immunotherapeutics could create unique combination modalities and differentiate this compound from other STING agonists. Citation Format: Szeman Ruby Chan, Gilles Bignan, Emily Pierson, Sally Mahady, Hayley Ta, Wim Schepens, Jan Willem Thuring, Heng Keang Lim, Monicah Otieno, Thomas Wilde, Monica Singer, Nancy Bogdan, Shefali Patel, Leo Luistro, Liam Campion, Melissa Smith, Diana Wiley, Kathryn Packman, Michael Allegrezza, Caitlin Morgan, Jocelyn Sendecki, Glenn Van Aller, Daniel Krosky, Peter Connolly, James Edwards, Kim Staquet, Stuart L. Emanuel. JNJ-‘6196: A next generation STING agonist with potent preclinical activity by the IV route [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5567A.

This chapter reviews current knowledge of the effects of hypnotic anesthetic agents on brain resting-state networks (RSNs) that sustain consciousness. Although full exploration of the networks under anesthesia is not yet available, current evidence indicates that anesthetic agents with hypnotic properties dose-dependently modulate RSN functioning. Each anesthetic agent has specific effects that are not uniform within a given network and probably correlate with the specific clinical features observed when one agent or another is used. Observations made on RSNs during anesthesia are supplementary arguments to link the networks with specific aspects of consciousness and connectedness to the environment and to confirm their physiological functions. The precise link between observations made on RSNs during anesthesia and known biochemical targets of anesthetic agents, or their effects on systems that regulate the sleep–wake cycle, is not established yet. PET studies using radiolabeled probes that specifically target a neurotransmission system offer insights into the links. New technological advances and modes of functional data analysis, such as Granger causality and dynamic causal modeling, will help in obtaining a more in-depth exploration of the complex interactions between brain regions, their modulation by anesthesia, and their role in information processing by the brain. Effects of hypnosis on RSNs also have been studied. The hypnotic state is useful for performing surgical procedures and explorations without general anesthesia. The hypnotic state is associated with specific changes in the activity of RSNs that confirm hypnosis as a specific brain state, different from normal wakeful consciousness and anesthetic states.

Background Central neuropathic pain related to spinal cord injury is notoriously difficult to treat. So far most pharmacological and surgical options have shown but poor results. Recently ziconotide has been approved for use both neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain. In this cohort study, we assessed responder rate and long-term efficacy of intrathecal ziconotide in patients with pain related to spinal cord injury. Methods Patients presenting chronic neuropathic related to spinal cord lesions that was refractory to medical pain management were considered for inclusion. Those accepting were tested by lumbar puncture injection of ziconotide or continuous intrathecal infusion and if a significant decrease in pain scores (>40%) was noted they were implanted with a continuous infusion pump. They were then followed up for at least 1 year with constant assessment of the evolution of pain and side effects. Results Out of the 20 patients tested 14 had a decrease in pain scores of more than 40% but only 11 (55%) were implanted with permanent pumps due to side effects and patient choice. These were followed up on average for 3.59 years (±1.94) and in eight patients an above threshold decrease in pain scores was maintained. Overall in patients that responded to the test baseline VAS was 7.91 and 4.31 at last follow-up with an average dose of 7.2 μg of ziconotide per day. Six patients (30%) did not respond to any test and in three patients side effects precluded pump implantation. No significant long-term effects of the molecule were noted. Conclusion This study shows response to intrathecal ziconotide test in 40% of the patients of a very specific population in whom other therapeutic options are not available. This data justifies the development further studies such as a long-term randomized controlled trial. Significance Intrathecal Ziconotide is a posible alternative for the treatment of pain in patients with spinal cord injury and below level neuropathic pain.

In this chapter, the nature, the physical and chemical properties and the content of the concrete constituents will be discussed for the understanding of the way of making an optimized mixture proportioning of the concrete for massive applications where the temperature rise must be minimized.

Modeling the early age evolution of concrete properties is necessary to predict the early age behavior of structures. In case of restrained shrinkage or application of prestress load [1], creep plays an important role in the determination of the effective stress. The difficulty lies in the fact that the modeling of creep must be based on experimental data at early age and this data must be obtained automatically because the hardening process of the concrete takes place rapidly during the first hours and also the first days. This paper presents a new methodology to model basic creep in compression since setting. Two kinds of tests are used: classical loadings and repeated minute-scale-duration loadings. The classical test is used to characterize the creep function for one age at loading and the repeated minute-scale-duration loadings test is used to define two ageing factors for the creep function. A new model based on the physical mechanisms and the two ageing factors is presented. A comparison with the Model Code 2010 is done and an advanced way to consider ageing with the Model Code 2010 is presented.

The aim of this study is the determination of time-zero, a reference time from which the autogenous deformation is expressed, and the effect of this choice on the evolution of autogeneous deformation of concretes with different slag proportions (0 and 71%). The determination of time-zero is based on the setting evolution measured by means of several experimental methods (mechanical, electrical and ultrasonic). Autogenous deformation is also measured with a new shrinkage testing set-up developed at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles. Following the experimental results it appears that a time-zero equal to the final setting is the most adequate choice for classic concretes. For slag cement concretes, characterized by an expansion of their cement matrix at early age, time-zero should be taken equal to the time of the expansion peak.

Subgaleal hematoma in the newborn infant is rare, occurs early, and often bears serious consequences. We report on 2 subacute cases of bruising of the scalp that occurred following the use of a suction cup. Emergency treatment consisted of a transfusion of packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma. Children born by use of vacuum extractor or forceps require careful monitoring by the nursing staff throughout their stay in the maternity unit.

An extensive experimental study has been carried out in the framework of the French National Project MIKTI devoted to innovative composite structures to extend the Belgian technique of composite prebent beams called “preflex” beams, to very high performance concrete (VHPC). By comparison with experience gained from the Belgian precast industry, the main advantage of using VHPC with silica fume is to reduce the prestressing losses of the system, thanks to a significant decrease of the creep in addition to the possibility of optimizing the weight and the span of the beam. Major issues of the research were to validate a design method at serviceability state related to concrete cracking and at ultimate limit state corresponding to instability of the steel girder and the preservation of the composite behaviour of the beam even after a large number of live load cycles. The analysis of the global response of two 13 m long beams monitored during several months allowed to conclude the feasibility to optimize a prebent beam with a VHPC. (A)

Summary Purpose of the study Anterior tarsectomy for pes cavus in adults is designed to relieve pain and correct the deformity. The present study reports radiological and clinical results with anterior tarsectomy in 39 cases of pes cavus. Material and methods The study concerned 39 cavus feet in 33 patients (22 males, 11 females; mean age: 31 years, range 16–49 years). Clinical outcome was assessed in terms of pain, function and motion, using the AOFAS classification. Radiological assessment (anteroposterior and lateral stress X-ray, views with Meary superficial wire-marking) measured the Djian angle, talometatarsal alignment, talar slope, calcaneal slope, calcaneal valgus, and osteoarthritis stage in adjacent joints. Results Mean follow-up was 9.8 years (range, 1–25). Mean AOFAS score at follow-up was 69.2/100 points (range, 14–100). Pain decreased considerably in 75% of cases, and 68% of patients recovered normal activity. The foot was aligned correctly in 67% of cases. At last follow-up, pes cavus remained undercorrected in 80% of feet, but mean Djian angle had improved from 100° to 111.3°. Calcaneal valgus improved from 30.8° to 24.8° and the podoscopic footprint was normal in 51% of feet. In 74% of feet, adjacent joints presented progressive osteoarthritic degeneration. Subjectively, 70% of patients were very satisfied or satisfied with minor reservations. Objective outcome was excellent or good in 66% of feet. Discussion and conclusion Outcome in terms of function, motion, complications and satisfaction was good, although pain relief results were poor. Anterior tarsectomy is able to correct initial pes cavus deformity and compensate anomalies of the hindfoot, but its correction capacity is limited, and its efficacy in case of clawfoot is poor. Anterior tarsectomy spares the adjacent Chopart complex and Lisfranc joints while inducing hypermobility, and leads to arthritis in 74% of cases. Better results are obtained in cases of reestablishment of the Meary-Tomeno line and of hindfoot valgus, as well as in cases of correction of equinus and clawfoot deformities. Worse results are observed in case of neurological evolutive disease or insufficient correction of the preceding deformities. Level of evidence: Level IV. Therapeutic Study.

A prefabricated, prebended and prestressed railway bridge deck was instrumented in June 2000 with strain gauges and vibrating wire extensometers. It is a kind of structure in which large time-dependent stress redistributions between steel and concrete are expected to occur. The purpose of this paper is to report on the comparison between strains recorded in situ on an instrumented bridge deck of this kind up to four years after its construction with values computed within the framework of four different time-dependent analyses: (a) a pseudo-elastic analysis with variable modular ratios for concrete used for the design of these bridge decks; (b) a step-by-step method applying the principle of superposition; (c) a step-by-step method incorporating a recovery function; and (d) an original modelling method. This final analysis is presented in Part 1 of this paper, which is based on the evolution of three fundamental local parameters: the temperature, the degree of advancement of reaction of hydration and the water content in concrete.

This paper presents a comprehensive modelling of the time-dependent deformations of high-performance concretes (HPCs) based on chemo-physical phenomena. For each component of the concrete delayed effects (autogenous shrinkage, thermal strain, desiccation shrinkage, basic creep, intrinsic desiccation creep, structural desiccation creep), a modelling based on the local evolution in time of the temperature, the degree of advancement of the hydration reaction and the water content of concrete is proposed. These variables are computed with the CESAR–LCPC finite-element code. The model is applied in this paper to predict the time-dependent strain evolution of concrete cylindrical specimens undergoing shrinkage and creep tests in laboratory conditions.

International audience; The Boussinesq approximation provides a convenient framework to describe the dynamics of stably-stratified fluids. A fundamental motion in these fluids consists of internal gravity waves, whatever the strength of the stratification. These waves may be unstable through parametric instability, which results in turbulence and mixing. After a brief review of the main properties of internal gravity waves, we show how the parametric instability of a monochromatic internal gravity wave organizes itself in space and time, using energetics arguments and a simple kinematic model. We provide an example, in the deep ocean, where such instability is likely to occur, as estimates of mixing from in situ measurements suggest. We eventually discuss the fundamental role of internal gravity wave mixing in the maintenance of the abyssal thermal stratification.; The Boussinesq approximation provides a convenient framework to describe the dynamics of stably-stratified fluids. A fundamental motion in these fluids consists of internal gravity waves, whatever the strength of the stratification. These waves may be unstable through parametric instability, which results in turbulence and mixing. After a brief review of the main properties of internal gravity waves, we show how the parametric instability of a monochromatic internal gravity wave organizes itself in space and time, using energetics arguments and a simple kinematic model. We provide an example, in the deep ocean, where such instability is likely to occur, as estimates of mixing from in situ measurements suggest. We eventually discuss the fundamental role of internal gravity wave mixing in the maintenance of the abyssal thermal stratification. Résumé Sur les ondes internes de gravité : de l'instabilité paramétrique au mélange abyssal dans l'océan. L'approximation de Boussinesq constitue un cadre bien adapté à l'étude des fluides stablement stratifiés. Des ondes de gravité internes s'y développent, quel que soit le niveau de stratification, qui peuvent être instables par instabilité paramétrique. Turbulence et mélange en résultent. Après un bref rappel sur les propriétés des ondes de gravité internes, nous montrons comment s'organisent les transferts d'énergie, dans l'espace et dans le temps, lorsqu'une onde interne est paramétriquement instable. Un modèle cinématique simple est employé pour cela. Puis nous illustrons ce processus et ses conséquences par un exemple océanique : l'instabilité paramétique se produit très certainement dans l'océan profond, comme le suggèrent les mesures in situ. Nous discutons finalement du rôle fondamen-tal des ondes de gravité internes dans l'entretien de la stratification abyssale, par le mélange qu'elles induisent.

Resume Dans le traitement chirurgical du pied plat valgus reductible de l’adulte, l’arthrodese mediotarsienne a pour objectifs l’indolence et la correction de la deformation. Le but du travail etait l’evaluation radio-clinique des resultats de cette intervention. L’etude retrospective portait sur 22 pieds plats valgus reductibles chez 19 patients âges en moyenne de 43 ans (15-75). La revision clinique et radiographique etait realisee au recul moyen de 7 ans et 4 mois (6 mois-20 ans et 3 mois). Nous avons deplore deux pseudarthrodeses d’evolution favorable apres greffe spongieuse. A la revision, le score de Kitaoka etait de 73,5 points/100 (de 53 a 94). La douleur et la fonction etaient significativement ameliorees mais l’amplitude globale du pied en flexion/extension restait inchangee. Le pied etait axe dans 68 % des cas. La pente talienne et la divergence talo-calcaneenne etaient normalisees mais il persistait un defaut de correction de l’angle de Djian et une cassure de la ligne de Meary dans, respectivement, 68 et 41 % des cas. Le valgus calcaneen etait reduit de 6,6° (16,6° a 10°). Dans 50 % des cas, les articulations voisines presentaient une progression de la degenerescence arthrosique. Subjectivement, 73 % des patients etaient tres satisfaits et satisfaits. Objectivement, 68 % des resultats etaient excellents ou bons. Le recours a l’arthrodese mediotarsienne a permis une amelioration globale de la douleur ainsi qu’une recuperation fonctionnelle satisfaisante sans morbidite superieure a une simple arthrodese talo-naviculaire. Nos resultats restent, en ce sens, comparables a ceux de la litterature. Neanmoins, la restauration de la voute plantaire reste cliniquement et radiographiquement limitee. D’autre part, devant la frequence des remaniements arthrosiques, certes moderes et souvent asymptomatiques, des articulations voisines et face a la difficulte des patients jeunes a reprendre une activite sportive, les solutions chirurgicales conservatrices devraient certainement etre preferentiellement choisies.

Within the framework of the French National Research Project MIKTI dealing with ‘composite steel-concrete footbridges and bridges for tomorrow', a loading test was performed in Belgium on a railway bridge deck consisting of simply supported composite ‘Preflex’ beams. The bridge was 30 years old at the time of the test so the time-dependent stress redistribution between the steel of the girders and the concrete was almost stabilised. The bridge deck was loaded progressively by two heavy diesel-electric locomotives. A 4 m long zone situated at the mid-span of the deck was instrumented and monitored during the loading test. The following measurements were taken: the mid-span deflection; the slopes in five locations; the length variations of 16 extensometers of 250 mm length situated near the bottom fibre of the beam and acoustic emission. All of the measurements showed that the behaviour of the bridge deck under the test load was linear elastic, the concrete was not cracked before the test and no cracking appeared in the concrete during the test. The concrete part of the cross-section fully contributed to the stiffness of the beam, confirming the excellent long-term behaviour of this kind of railway bridge, even after a very large number of live load-cycles applied on them during more than 30 years of service. These observations are in very good agreement with the values of stresses computed by a step-by-step method, applying the principle of superposition of linear viscoelasticity for modelling the time-dependent stress redistribution in these composite beams.

Casting simulations of self-compacting concrete are carried out in order to obtain a value of the minimum fluidity needed to cast a VHPC precambered composite beam. The mix proportioning of the concrete takes into account this minimum value. The numerical predictions are finally compared with the experimental observations during two casting tests and the real casting of the two 13 m beams. Although the simplifying assumptions needed to carry out the simulations are numerous, there is an agreement between the predictions and the real casting.

Advanced distal neoplasia found at sigmoidoscopy could be the marker for more proximal lesions.In the setting of a screening clinic, subjects underwent flexible sigmoidoscopy. If no significant lesion was found, sigmoidoscopy was planned after 5 years. If an advanced neoplasia was found, colonoscopy was performed just after the first sigmoidoscopy and at 1, 3 and 5 years. If a non-advanced neoplasia was found, sigmoidoscopy was performed at 1, 3 and 5 years and followed by colonoscopy if advanced lesion was found.At first screening 1704/1912 (88%) subjects had a negative sigmoidoscopy, 104 (5.4%) had an advanced neoplasia, 96 (6%) had a non-advanced neoplasia and eight (0.4%) had invasive colorectal cancer (CRC). At follow-up examinations at 1, 3 and 5 years, among 170 subjects with advanced and non-advanced neoplasia, one developed invasive CRC and 47 (31.6%), advanced neoplasia. At 5 years, among 718 first negative sigmoidoscopies, 572 (80%) were confirmed negative and 97 (14%) had advanced neoplasia. Colorectal cancer status at 5 years could be checked for interval cancers in 97% of subjects and no CRC was diagnosed in subjects who did not attend sigmoidoscopy at 5 years. Comparison of the incidence of invasive CRC to the data of registries of the Netherlands and Luxembourg suggested that the incidence of CRC was decreased by 36%-46%. Seven of the nine CRCs were Duke's A and the two others were Duke's B and C.Screening with sigmoidoscopy followed by colonoscopy in case of positive sigmoidoscopy leads to substantial decreases in the incidence of CRC. Most CRCs found are at an early, curable stage of their development.

An ileal perforation occurred shortly after birth in 4 very premature newborns. Diagnosis was made on an abdominal distension with a pneumoperitoneum on X-ray. There were no biological, radiological nor histological signs of necrotizing enterocolitis. There were no digestive short- or long-term complications. According to the few authors who described this syndrome, there are some risk factors, but they were not clearly involved in our cases. Ileal perforation in the absence of signs of necrotizing enterocolitis is rarely reported but should be well known because of its good prognosis.

SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

This study evaluated the potential of the skin as a non invasive route for RSV vaccination using two G protein-derived molecules, G2Na and G5 in mice. G2Na contains T and B-cell epitopes whether G5 is a pure B-cell epitope. In contrast to G5, G2Na coadministered with CT three times at 1 month interval onto 1cm of square area shaved skin, elicited a consistent serum anti-G2Na and anti-CT IgG response. The anti-G2Na IgG response was dominated by IgG1 isotype, an indirect marker of a Th2 type of response. Dramatic reduction and decrease of RSV titers in lung tissues and in the nasal tract, respectively, following intranasal virus challenge revealed biological relevance of the transcutaneous immunization in the context of RSV vaccine. These results suggest that the transcutaneous route may offer a promising potential for novel RSV vaccine strategy, simple, painless and economical.

A simply supported bridge deck of a new type with trough shaped cross section has been instrumented with strain gages and vibrating wire extensometers in June 2000 in order to assess its time-dependent behaviour. Additionally, creep and shrinkage tests on the C60 concrete used in this bridge deck are carried out in our laboratory. This paper reports on the comparison between creep and shrinkage measurements on the concrete samples and the predicted values by the more recent models. Then, bridge deck strain measurements are compared with predicted values by two pseudo—elastic analysis methods: the first one uses simply a variable modulus of elasticity whereas the second one applies the age adjusted effective modulus method.

Monitoring the evolution of an early age set of parameters on concrete is necessary to predict the early age behaviour of structures. The difficulty lies in the fact that this monitoring must be automatic because the concrete hardening process takes place over a long period after the casting. This paper presents a new methodology and an apparatus, specifically designed at IFSTTAR, to monitor the hardening process of a concrete. Mainly, the Young’s modulus can be monitored in compression. Measurements start soon after having cast the concrete and the sample temperature is completely controlled so that the concrete maturity is well mastered. The performances of this apparatus, obtained on an ordinary concrete, are compared to more classical measurements using an extensometer mounted on the sample just after the setting time and to ultrasonic measurements. In these cases, the temperatures were not controlled and results have to be expressed in equivalent time. A comparison with another method developed and used at ULB by using the same concrete, in the frame of a joined cooperation between our two laboratories is achieved. This test set up is based on the so called Temperature Stress Testing Machine (TSTM). This device has been specifically designed with a control of the concrete maturity by the use of a dummy specimen only submitted to free deformations (thermal, shrinkage). The TSTM allows compressive and tensile testing starting just after the setting time. In addition, concrete properties, such as compressive and tensile strength, have been characterized at early age. These values have been used for the design of the loading histories applied in the automatic tests. The heat released by the cement hydration has also been measured in order to express the results on a maturity scale.

This paper deals with the use of embedded piezoelectric transducers to monitor the ultrasonic P-wave velocity evolution during the setting and hardening phases of concrete since casting time. The main advantage of the technique is the ability to overcome the limitations of traditional methods which do not allow to apply specific mechanical boundary conditions during the measurement. The embedded transducers are based on the "Smart Aggregates" concept previously developed at the University of Houston, Texas. Two piezoelectric transducers are embedded in a prismatic mold and the evolution of the P-wave velocity is recorded for the first 24 hours in concrete after casting time. The results are very promising and show a good agreement with classical ultrasonic tests using external transducers. © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2012., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

This note deals with the use of embedded piezoelectric transducers to monitor the ultrasonic P-wave velocity evolution during the setting and hardening phases of concrete subsequent to casting time. The main advantage of the technique is the possibility of overcoming the limitations of traditional methods which prevent the application of specific mechanical boundary conditions during the measurement. The embedded transducers are based on the smart aggregates concept previously developed at the University of Houston, Texas. Two piezoelectric transducers are embedded in a prismatic mold and the evolution of the P-wave velocity is recorded for the first 24h in concrete after the casting time. The results are very promising and show a good agreement with classical ultrasonic tests using external transducers. © 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Summary Background Computed tomography (CT) coupled with arthrography remains the reference standard for the preoperative evaluation of rotator cuff tears. The objectives of this study were to evaluate intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibilities of CT-arthrographic assessment of the subscapularis tendon and to assess the validity and reliability of this investigation. Hypothesis CT-arthrography is reliable and reproducible for the preoperative characterisation of subscapularis tendon lesions. Material and methods We retrospectively reviewed 67 shoulders with rotator cuff tears in one or more tendons managed by arthroscopy, both to confirm the diagnosis and to allow therapeutic interventions. Each of the 67 preoperative CT-arthrograms was evaluated by three readers, of whom the first two evaluated the images twice at an interval of 30 days. The following were recorded at each reading: partial- or full-thickness tear in one or more rotator cuff tendons, intra-tendinous delamination, tendon stump retraction, and fatty degeneration of the muscles. The position of the long head of biceps tendon was assessed. A statistical analysis was performed using Fleiss’ method to compute intra-observer and inter-observer variabilities in CT-arthrography assessment of the subscapularis tendon status. Validity of this assessment was measured by computing the concordance coefficients between CT-arthrography and arthroscopy. Results Specificity of CT-arthrography was satisfactory for assessing the subscapularis tendon. Sensitivity was low. Significant inter-observer and intra-observer variabilities were documented. The concordance coefficients between CT-arthrography and arthroscopy indicated that major differences were common with all three readers. When assessing the subscapularis tendon by CT-arthrography, all readers experienced difficulties in distinguishing intact tendons, delaminated tendons, and tendons with tears confined to the upper third. Discussion Although CT-arthrography remains the reference standard for the preoperative investigation of rotator cuff tears, significant variability occurs in assessing the continuity of the subscapularis tendon. Reliability of this assessment is not optimal, as shown by our evaluation of concordance with arthroscopy. Although our data should be interpreted in the light of the investigation and measurement biases present in our study, they suggest that CT-arthrography may fail to provide a valid and reproducible assessment of the subscapularis tendon. The development of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR-arthrography will probably improve the preoperative evaluation of subscapularis tears in the near future. Level of evidence Level III; diagnostic value study.

International audience; Oceanic observations from western Europe and the south-western Indian ocean have provided evidence of the generation of internal solitary waves due to an internal tidal beam impinging on the pycnocline from below - a process referred to as 'local generation' (as opposed to the more direct generation over topography). Here we present the first direct numerical simulations of such a generation process with a fully nonlinear non-hydrostatic model for an idealised configuration. We show that, depending on the parameters, different modes can be excited and we provide examples of internal solitary waves as first, second and third modes, trapped in the pycnocline. A criterion for the selection of a particular mode is put forward, in terms of phase speeds. In addition, another simpler geometrical criterion is presented to explain the selection of modes in a more intuitive way. Finally, results are discussed and compared with the configuration of the Bay of Biscay.

A randomized, three-arm parallel study was performed to evaluate the acute analgesic potency and tolerance of a single oral dose of 40 mg piroxicam, 60 mg codeine, and a combination of 20 mg piroxicam and 30 mg codeine in 90 patients with chronic pain due to cancer. Thirty patients were randomized to each group. Pain intensity and pain relief were assessed at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours after dosing using a four-point analog scale. At the end of the study period, both the patient and the observer gave a global impression of the efficacy of the therapy. Volunteered side effects and their severity were noted. The results indicated that the sum of the pain intensity differences was not statistically significant between the three groups (analysis of variance). For the overall evaluation of the efficacy, speed of action, and side effects, no statistically significant differences were seen between the three treatment groups. The results of this study suggest that piroxicam may be of value in the treatment of some types of cancer pain.

This paper focuses on the internal tide emitted from a continental slope in a uniformly stratified fluid. Results from numerical simulations using the MITgcm and from laboratory experiments performed on the Coriolis platform in Grenoble are compared. Due to their peculiar dispersion relation, internal gravity waves organize into localized beams of energy. We show that the beam structure is well-predicted by the viscous theory of (Hurley and Keady, 1997), assuming that the internal gravity wave field is emitted by a horizontally oscillating cylinder whose radius is the radius of curvature of the topography at the beam emission. The wave beam can bear a sub-harmonic parametric instability whose vertical scale is recovered from resonant interaction theory. Reflection of the wave beam on the bottom leads to the generation of harmonic beams, consisting of free and trapped waves.

SummaryIntroductionAcromioclavicular dislocation (ACD) is frequent, at 8% of all shoulder traumas. Management in grade III lesions remains controversial. The present study assessed objective and subjective results at medium-term follow-up (mean, 60 months; range, 12–120 mo) in 27 patients managed by Ligastic® ligament reconstruction for acute dislocation.Patients and methodsThis is a multicenter, multi-surgeon retrospective study. Between 1998 and 2006, 59 patients were operated on for grade III or IV ACD, in one teaching hospital (Lille, France) and one general hospital (Tourcoing, France). Follow-up was performed by an independent (non-operator) observer. The 27 acute cases followed up underwent comparative bilateral radioclinical shoulder examination. Initial X-ray assessment found 14 grade-III (52%) and 13 grade-IV (48%) dislocations using Patte's classification.ResultsMean Constant score was significantly lower on the operated side (82.44 vs 90.04; p

This experimental research allowed to emphasize two main factors for the quality of the measurements by active stress-meters: on one hand, the accuracy of the location and the orientation of the jacks considering the severe conditions during the casting and in contrast, and the reliability with time of the embedded strain gages considering the possible presence of important electric disturbances in the environment. However, during 4 months, the quality of the strain signals used for the control turned out satisfactory and the obtained values are close to the theoretical computation. The evolution of the pressure during the same period shows a good regularity and a good agreement between the measurements and the values computed by the two-function method using the CEB-MC90 model code in its 1999 version for the prediction of concrete creep and shrinkage11 and the model of Yue and Taerwe10 for the creep recovery law (maximal difference of only 0.6 MPa after 4 months of recording). The aim of the direct measurement of stresses can be considered as reached, the prediction of the stress state in the beam according to the two-function method being validated with a precision of ±1.5% (uncertainty of about 1 MPa for a devise designed for a stress range up to 35 MPa).

Histiocytic cells infiltrating the lesions in eosinophilic granuloma of bone as well as in cutaneous histiocytosis X were studied using a murine monoclonal antibody (MA) produced with proliferating cells from an eosinophilic granuloma of bone. This MA reacts with Langerhans cells (LC) of normal human skin or mucous membranes and with proliferating cells of eosinophilic granuloma of bone and skin lesions of Letter-Siwe disease, as shown by immunohistochemistry and immunogold labelling. As other murine MA's obtained after immunization with human cortical thymocytes, this MA immunoprecipitates the 49-kDa CD1a antigen found on human LC and thymic-cell surfaces but not its breakdown product after treatment with trypsin, as demonstrated by analysis of immunoelectron labelling, cytofluorometry and gel electrophoresis. This first production of a CD1a MA from an eosinophilic granuloma supports the concept of Langerhans-cell histiocytosis.

Extending the Belgian techniques of steel-concrete prebent beams to very high performance concrete (VHPC: self-compacting C80/95 with silica fume) has been the subject of an extensive experimental study. The main advantage of VHPC use in lieu of C50 concrete is decreasing the system's prestressing losses thanks to significant creep deformation decrease, together with possible beam weight and serviceability domain optimization, compared to present Belgian constructions. Using a self compacting concrete with a suitable maximum aggregate size due to the very dense wire, sensor, ribbed stirrups, and steel square rib network was necessary, as one research step was concrete casting around two 13 m-span steel girders' bottom flange. In addition, to remove prebending loads applied on the steel girders 48 hours after casting, a very high compressive strength has to be developed in the VHPC. Both realistic (same as within the beam) and standard isothermal (20° C) temperature conditions were used to examine autogeneous shrinkage development. So that a correct beam structural behavior analysis could be done, variable (same as within beam) and standard (20° C, 50% RH) ambient condition creep and shrinkage tests, Young's modulus, and mechanical characterization were used. Reduction of VHPC delayed deformations by about a factor of two when compared with currently used C50 concrete could be demonstrated, which made prebending use significantly more efficient, due to mixture proportion optimization efforts. Reporting on these experimental investigations and presenting the computational method used for VHPC creep and shrinkage time-dependent evolution prediction based on European creep and shrinkage model codes and the Yue and Taerwe proposed creep recovery model is the purpose of this paper. Innovative French railway bridges are examined.

In the past, a significant effort was made to research long-term behavior analysis of a kind of prebent and prestressed composite steel-concrete beam used extensively in simply supported railway bridge decks in Belgium, which have U- shaped cross sections and are trough type. Extensive experimental research has been performed in tandem for the Belgian steel-concrete prebent beams to very high performance concrete (VHPC) technique. VHPC's main advantage over the C50 concrete currently used is prestressing system loss decrease due to a significant creep deformation decrease. Development of realistic models for continuous railway bridge construction feasibility assessment by connecting such simple decks over intermediate supports was a research motivation. A paramount condition for railway bridge decks is no cracking under load, which implies devising, between the simply supported decks, a form of in situ connection prestressing. To be able to cope with multiple construction and loading phases for such a highly heterogeneous structure, a structural analysis program was developed. Beam-type displacement-based finite element analysis is the framework within which the structural analysis is performed. The superposition algorithm forms the basis of a step-by-step time-dependent analysis. The CEB-FIP MC 90 creep and shrinkage model was found to reproduce recorded laboratory creep and shrinkage test strains for the C80/95 VHPC and the C50/60 concrete of the singly supported decks. Yue and Taerwe's proposed two-function method's step-by-step time-dependent analysis accommodates creep recovery effects occurring at unloading. This paper's purpose is to present a continuous bridge with prebent and prestressed composite decks' construction phases design optimization study. There is analysis of the continuous bridge's long-term behavior's most influential parameters.

The present study evaluated the usefulness of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) assay for the detection of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) and genogrouping on skin lesion biopsies in patients with purpura fulminans (PF). Retrospective single-centre study. Adult and paediatric intensive care units at the University Hospital of Rouen. All patients admitted between January 2000 and January 2006, with a final diagnosis of PF and for which a skin biopsy and blood cultures were performed, were included. Skin biopsy and blood cultures were used for culture and rtPCR. Thirty-four patients fulfilled the criteria (27 children and 7 adults). Nm rtPCR performed on skin biopsy was positive in 100% (34/34) of cases, compared with only 14.7% (5/34) for skin culture (p = 0.0001). rtPCR genogrouping on skin biopsy was positive in 58.8% (20/34) of the cases compared with 14.7% (5/34) for skin culture (p = 0.0013). For patients (n = 17) in whom rtPCR was performed both on blood and skin biopsy, skin biopsy gave a significantly higher rate of Nm detection [100% (17/17) vs. 58.8% (10/17); p = 0.023] and genogroup characterisation [76.5% (13/17) vs. 35.3% (6/17); p = 0.045] than blood. We encountered no specimen with culture-positive and rtPCR-negative results (negative predictive value of rtPCR 100%). In suspected PF cases, skin biopsy is more reliable to identify Nm and its genogroup than blood or, probably, CSF, especially when PCR methods are used. This could help the implementation of public health interventions, especially concerning a vaccination policy.

Publisher Summary Up to 300 composite railway bridge decks of a new kind, belonging to the trough type with U shaped cross section, have been constructed in Belgium for 10 years. They seem to perform according to expectations. However, this chapter has some concerns about the variability between the measured and computed camber of these bridge decks just after the transfer of pre-stressing. In order to explain this variability, the chapter makes a statistical analysis with a sample of 42 bridge decks using 10 variables like the concrete compressive strength, the heat cure, the type of steel girder, and the age of concrete at pre-stressing. The ratio between maximum tensile stress and yield strength in the steel girders at the pre-flexion and the type of steel girder are found to be the most significant variables to explain the variability. If the steel girder is hot-rolled and the tensile stress/yield strength ratio in the steel girders at the pre-flexion is high, then the difference between the measured and computed cambers is high too. So, the construction process of the steel girders is important because of its influence during the elastification phase. The purpose of the chapter is to report on this statistical analysis in order to explain the influence of each of these variables on the behavior of these composite railway bridge decks.

Background: Epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) play a critical role in the induction of contact hypersensitivity. The LCs leave the skin, move to the regional lymph nodes and present the allergens embedded in the HLA–DR molecule to naive T–lymphocytes. To allow LC emigration from the epidermis, E–cadherin must be downregulated. In this study, we have examined the early events that occur in the human epidermis after exposure to three strong contact sensitizers and two commonly used fragrances by examining alterations of E–cadherin and HLA–DR expression. Methods: To determine whether E–cadherin and HLA–DR levels were modulated by allergens, flow cytometry was utilized to evaluate E–cadherin and HLA–DR expression on human epidermal LCs exposed to the different chemicals for 4 h at 37°C. Results: In vitro stimulation with the contact sensitizers isoeugenol, cinnamaldehyde, 2,4,6–trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid, Bandrowski’sbase, or p–phenylene diamine resulted in a dose–dependent decrease of HLA–DR expression on the surface of LCs without affecting the number of positive cells. These contact allergens induced a downregulation of E–cadherin expression as well as a significant decrease of the percentage of E–cadherin–positive cells. Incubation with an irritant, sodium lauryl sulfate, did not significantly change HLA–DR and E–cadherin expression. Conclusions: Based on the alteration of E–cadherin and HLA–DR expression of human LCs under short–term exposure conditions, there was a clear difference between contact sensitizers and a well–characterized irritant. For the first time, the ability of fragrance allergens in dipropylene glycol, a widely used vehicle in fragrance and cosmetic industries, was demonstrated to induce human LC phenotypic alterations. In combination with a series of in vitro tests, this rapid and simple method should help to detect the sensitizing potential of a substance to be applied onto the human skin as an alternative to animal testing.

Clinical trials involving quality of life measurement published in the literature suffer from important weaknesses due to the lack of information on numerous topics. The psychometric properties of the instruments are often lacking as well as data on the number of patients treated and analyzed. The handling of missing data is rarely documented. In order to facilitate the reporting of trials and the evaluation of published results, this article proposes a set of general guidelines for the reporting of clinical trials which include a quality of life assessment. A checklist designed to assist authors is appended.