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Within the Master's course "Civil Engineering" at TU Darmstadt, a project has to be carried out. In the winter term 2018/2019 this was the design and fabrication of a bridge spanning 6 m and made entirely from paper. Students had to find bridge types suitable for the use of paper, develop and optimise cross sections and bracing systems and furthermore prove the load bearing capacity. This included the use of experimental methods explicitly. Finally, the bridge had to be erected crossing a small creek. No materials other than paper, cardboard and glue were allowed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel, cost-effective deployable tool for the construction of highly skewed and curved steel girder bridges that will provide the necessary geometrical adjustments to the adjacent girders for the fit-up and installation of cross-frames. This tool consists of two cables and one hydraulic jack and would be deployed near the location where a cross-frame needs to be installed. The jack would be extended or contracted to rotate the girders such that they are approximately parallel to one another to achieve the desired geometry for the installation of the cross-frame without requiring force-fitting. After the cross-frame is installed, the deployable tool would be released and reused elsewhere. This paper presents a numerical investigation of the efficacy of this deployable tool in facilitating the installation of cross-frames for two prototype bridges: a highly skewed and a curved steel girder prototype bridge. Three-dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) analyses of the prototype bridges under steel dead load at the construction increment just before the cross-frames would be installed were performed to first understand the challenges in cross-frame fit-up. The deployable tool was then incorporated into the developed FE model to determine the forces in the system throughout its deployment and the installation of the cross-frames. A control sequence for the deployment was developed and evaluated. For the prototype bridges considered in this research, the peak force in the hydraulic jack was 26.6 kN (5.97 k), meaning that off-the-shelf technologies could be used. The peak von Mises stress in the installed cross-frame was 22.4 MPa (3.25 ksi), indicating that the procedure is not overstressing the system. Overall, this research demonstrates the promise of a new tool to facilitate cross-frame installation in highly skewed and curved steel girder bridges and culminates in recommendations on the use of this technology in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite wide use of terms such as "digital manufacturing" and "digital fabrication" in the constructional steel industry, actual use to date is mostly limited to research and development activities. In contrast, other heavy industries, such as automotive and aerospace have moved much faster and implemented many aspects of digital manufacturing and fabrication in product creation and traditional workflows. As a foil to the current state of the industry, this paper presents the erection, and disassembly of a simple, two‐storey frame that employs an alternative steel connection that can be manufactured using current plasma, laser, and water jet technologies, referred to as the intermeshed steel connection (ISC). The field demonstration described in this paper shows the connection's ability to reduce on site erection time, substantially reduce the number of site bolts, eliminate site welding, and allow for easy deconstruction. The connection has been under testing and development through a consortium of the University College Dublin, Queens University Belfast and, the University of Minnesota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the unique replacement of three historical bridge spans across the Hracholusky dam in the Czech Republic. The erection of the bridge was performed using longitudinal launching of a new bridge structure onto the old one, connecting and rotating the structure around a longitudinal axis before removing the old span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intends to study William Golding's 1964 novel The Spire as a post-empire novel having tell-tale signature of a colonialist mind at work behind the primary motive of erecting a spire. The novel is fraught with post-Freudian understanding of human psychology of building phallic structures which also carries the colonialist motive of domination and self-aggrandisement. The architectural aspect of colonialism is a symbolic one of imposition and authority. One can interpret the event of 9/11 as a symbolic destruction of hegemony and neo-imperialism, as represented through the destruction of Twin Towers by the third world terrorists. Golding's novel The Spire can profitably be read against the backdrop of decolonisation and the post-empire hangover of the colonialist mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evaluation of sexual disorders among persons receiving methadone replacement therapy is of great importance, because these problems may lead to non-compliance and relapse. This study aimed to estimate the effect of methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) on sexual function among addicted Iranian men using met-analysis. Methods: Investigating the available data banks, relevant studies were identified. After exclusion of duplicates, irrelevant papers and low quality articles, eligible papers were entered into the meta-analysis. Prevalence and standardized mean difference of sexual function scores were illustrated by forest plots based on sexual desire, orgasm and erectile function. Findings: During the primary search, 5341 evidences were identified. After application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria and quality assessment, nine papers were detected eligible for final meta-analysis. Total prevalence [95% confidence intervals (CI)] of sexual disorders and erectile dysfunction among Iranian men under methadone therapy were estimated as 66.3% (27.1-105.5) and 77.5% (61.9-93.1), respectively. The standardized mean differences (95% CI) of Sexual desire, orgasm and erection before and after methadone therapy were estimated as 0.16 (-0.68, 0.99), -0.01 (-0.75, 0.74) and 0.11 (-0.41, 0.64), respectively. Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed that methadone therapy did not significantly influence the sexual desire, erectile function and orgasm among opium dependent men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exponential growth of e‐commerce in the last decade boosts the need of large logistic centers. Steel rack supported warehouses (SRSWs) are one of the most competitive solutions for such infrastructures. The execution phase of SRSWs is challenging, as the stability of the structure has to be ensured throughout the different erection stages. The wind action is here particular important. The density of structural elements and the incompleteness of the SRSWs structure, is a vulnerable condition under wind loads. The determination of wind forces during execution according to the EN 1991‐1‐4 is very limited when dealing with open frame structures, and in particular, with structural systems such as SRSWs. In order to overcome this lack, the wind action on SRSWs during execution has been subject of a recent concluded RFCS research project "STEELWAR". This paper presents the proposal of a method to determine the wind forces on SRSWs under construction. The method is derived from a series of wind tunnel tests. Subsequently, given the inherent limitation of such experimental program, the extension of the method to a range of practical cases is proposed. Finally, an application to a real case study is used to assess the vulnerability of the SRSWs during the execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urethral stricture disease (USD) represents a complex urological problem. Urethroplasty is considered the gold standard for the treatment of USD. Most available studies report outcome data obtained from retrograde urethrography and uroflowmetry. Only a limited number of papers describe the effect of urethroplasty on erectile function and their results are inconsistent. The goal of this prospective study was to evaluate the effect of urethroplasty on both lower urinary tract and erectile function using objective parameters and standardized patient-reported outcome measurement tools. Materials and Methods: A total of 55 consecutive patients with USD were enrolled into the study. Patients underwent ventral onlay urethroplasty, urethroplasty according to the Asopa technique, dorsal onlay urethroplasty, cutaneous flap urethroplasty using the Orandi technique or anastomotic repair. All patients were evaluated using uroflowmetry, urethrography, the PROM-USS questionnaire and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaire (IIEF-5) pre-operatively and consequently post-op, in 3-month intervals. This study presents the comparison of baseline pre-op parameters and parameters 12 months after the surgery using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance. Results: A significant improvement in uroflowmetry parameters, all domains of the PROM-USS questionnaire, as well as the overall score of the IIEF-5 was observed. No statistically significant differences between sub-groups were found when comparing treatment results in patients with short versus long strictures and patients with penile urethra stricture versus bulbar or membranous urethra stricture. Conclusions: Urethroplasty yielded very good functional results with respect to both lower urinary tract and erectile functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior to 1900 the railways were mainly built by manual labour. Masonry arch, timber and cast-iron bridges were constructed piecemeal. Long spans over waterways were floated out on pontoons and raised using hydraulic presses. As bridges of timber and cast iron became unsuitable they were replaced by wrought iron and later by steel or concrete. Speed of construction was vital once railways came into use demanding that works were carried out in track possessions and this influenced construction methods thenceforth. Steam breakdown cranes appeared from 1875 and were soon being used in bridge construction. As crane capacities increased bridges were erected in larger elements. The adoption of welding to replace riveting and wider use of concrete in superstructures after 1945 was assisted by the introduction of road mobile cranes whose capacities reached 1000 tons by the 1990s. 'Rolling-in' of spans preassembled alongside the tracks was developed to reduce possession periods. From the 1980s Transporters were introduced to install complete spans, so eliminating temporary works. Substructures beneath live tracks had been traditionally constructed in cofferdams spanned by waybeams, but from the 1960s pipe-jacking techniques were adapted to form such substructures. Piled foundations on each side of the railway have increasingly been adopted and from the 1970s integral portal frame bridges or boxes have been installed by sliding-in, with transporters, by jacking or pulling in open cut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural grouting between load-bearing elements is a critical component of precast concrete erection stability planning. Engineers, construction managers, precast concrete erectors, and grout installers require critical education and training to avoid localized structural failures and, in extreme cases, catastrophic collapses of total structures. Although current building codes and standards provide no specific requirements and limited guidance for installation or special inspection of these grouted joints, steps must be taken by responsible entities to begin to develop and formalize procedures to ascertain the quality and extent of installed grout, especially in nonvisible places. Each project must have a dependable methodology and procedure to ensure that all grouting required by the precast concrete engineer is properly installed, and this procedure must include mechanisms to mark completion for all inspector/ reviewer entities to visibly see (such as buried columns or grouted couplers). The procedure must also require certain individuals (such as the precast concrete erection supervisor, main grouter, or field engineer or manager) to be accountable for following the erection stability plan and its corresponding grouting and welding requirements. Companies responsible for installing structural grout must ensure that their workers are well trained on proper grout mixing, placing restraints, and associated challenges and are retaught whenever significant time passes between projects. Training must also be conducted whenever new members join field crews. As demonstrated throughout this white paper, the industry must consistently produce and adhere to project-specific erection stability plans that incorporate allowable building progress with welded and grouted completion points and issue stop work directives, without exception, if not achieved. Moreover, each project must have a dependable methodology and procedure to ensure that all grouting required by the precast concrete engineer is properly installed. It is imperative that lessons learned from the historical lack of consistent attention to this highly critical building connective element be shared so that the industry can move forward from these past issues while maintaining a permanent mindset of the risk to life safety if grout is not given the utmost attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural grouting between load-bearing elements is a critical component of precast concrete erection stability planning. Engineers, construction managers, precast concrete erectors, and grout installers require critical education and training to avoid localized structural failures and, in extreme cases, catastrophic collapses of total structures. Although current building codes and standards provide no specific requirements and limited guidance for installation or special inspection of these grouted joints, steps must be taken by responsible entities to begin to develop and formalize procedures to ascertain the quality and extent of installed grout, especially in nonvisible places. Each project must have a dependable methodology and procedure to ensure that all grouting required by the precast concrete engineer is properly installed, and this procedure must include mechanisms to mark completion for all inspector/ reviewer entities to visibly see (such as buried columns or grouted couplers). The procedure must also require certain individuals (such as the precast concrete erection supervisor, main grouter, or field engineer or manager) to be accountable for following the erection stability plan and its corresponding grouting and welding requirements. Companies responsible for installing structural grout must ensure that their workers are well trained on proper grout mixing, placing restraints, and associated challenges and are retaught whenever significant time passes between projects. Training must also be conducted whenever new members join field crews. As demonstrated throughout this white paper, the industry must consistently produce and adhere to project-specific erection stability plans that incorporate allowable building progress with welded and grouted completion points and issue stop work directives, without exception, if not achieved. Moreover, each project must have a dependable methodology and procedure to ensure that all grouting required by the precast concrete engineer is properly installed. It is imperative that lessons learned from the historical lack of consistent attention to this highly critical building connective element be shared so that the industry can move forward from these past issues while maintaining a permanent mindset of the risk to life safety if grout is not given the utmost attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual motivation is an abstract concept referring to the mechanisms determining the responsivity to sexually relevant stimuli. This responsivity determines the likelihood of producing a sexual response and the intensity of that response. Both responsivity to stimuli and the likelihood of making a response as well as the intensity of response are characteristics of an individual. Therefore, we need to assume that the concept of sexual motivation materializes in physiological mechanisms within the individual. The aim of the present communication is to analyze the requisites for the endeavor to materialize sexual motivation. The first requisite is to provide an operational definition, making the concept quantifiable. We show that parameters of copulatory behavior are inappropriate. We argue that the intensity of sexual approach behaviors provides the best estimate of sexual motivation in nonhuman animals, whereas the magnitude of genital responses is an exquisite indicator of human sexual motivation. Having assured how to quantify sexual motivation, we can then proceed to the search for physiological or neurobiological underpinnings. In fact, sexual motivation only manifests itself in animals exposed to appropriate amounts of gonadal hormones. In female rats, the estrogen receptor α in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus is necessary for the expression of sexual approach behaviors. In male rats, androgen receptors within the medial preoptic area are crucial. Thus, in rats sexual motivation can be localized to specific brain structures, and even to specific cells within these structures. In humans, it is not even known if sexual motivation is materialized in the brain or in peripheral structures. Substantial efforts have been made to determine the relationship between the activity of neurotransmitters and the intensity of sexual motivation, particularly in rodents. The results of this effort have been meager. Likewise, efforts of finding drugs to stimulate sexual motivation, particularly in women complaining of low sexual desire, have produced dismal results. In sum, it appears that the abstract concept of sexual motivation can be reliably quantified, and the neurobiological bases can be described in non-human animals. In humans, objective quantification is feasible, but the neurobiological substrate remains enigmatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evaluation of sexual disorders among persons receiving methadone replacement therapy is of great importance, because these problems may lead to non-compliance and relapse. This study aimed to estimate the effect of methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) on sexual function among addicted Iranian men using met-analysis.Methods: Investigating the available data banks, relevant studies were identified. After exclusion of duplicates, irrelevant papers and low quality articles, eligible papers were entered into the meta-analysis. Prevalence and standardized mean difference of sexual function scores were illustrated by forest plots based on sexual desire, orgasm and erectile function.Findings: During the primary search, 5341 evidences were identified. After application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria and quality assessment, nine papers were detected eligible for final meta-analysis. Total prevalence [95% confidence intervals (CI)] of sexual disorders and erectile dysfunction among Iranian men under methadone therapy were estimated as 66.3% (27.1-105.5) and 77.5% (61.9-93.1), respectively. The standardized mean differences (95% CI) of Sexual desire, orgasm and erection before and after methadone therapy were estimated as 0.16 (-0.68, 0.99), -0.01 (-0.75, 0.74) and 0.11 (-0.41, 0.64), respectively.Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed that methadone therapy did not significantly influence the sexual desire, erectile function and orgasm among opium dependent men.

Abstract: This paper discusses the behavior of post-tensioned space trusses with the hypar (hyperbolic paraboloid) shape, and the ultimate load test that was performed on one such structure. The tested hypar space truss was post-tensioned in the bottom chords of one diagonal. In this paper, the essential characteristics of shape formation are discussed on the basis of a small-scale test model. Results of experimental testing and nonlinear finite element analysis indicate that a planar rectangular layout can be deformed into a pre-determined hypar shape using the shape formation method proposed in this paper. Also the feasibility of the proposed method for constructing a hypar space truss has been presented. It follows that a nonlinear finite element analysis can be used in accurately predicting the behavior of the space truss and the required post-tensioning force. Through ultimate load testing, it is shown that the hypar space truss has significant structural strength. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The paper studies the action and clinical significance of a reflex termed the 'cervicocavernosus' reflex. Twenty-two healthy women (mean age 39.7±10.2 SD years) entered the study. The cervix uteri was stimulated both mechanically and electrically by a needle electrode. The response of the bulbo- and ischiocavernosus muscles was recorded by a needle electrode inserted in each muscle. In 10 subjects, the cervix was anesthetized and the cavernosus muscles' response to stimulation of the anesthetized cervix was recorded. The vaginal pressure was measured at rest and on cervical stimulation by means of a balloontipped catheter introduced into the vagina. The mean vaginal pressure at rest was 5.2±1.8 SD cmHO and on cervical stimulation 38.8±10.6 cmHO. The cavernosus muscles showed no resting activity. Upon cervical stimulation, the muscles contracted with a mean amplitude of 286.4±55.6 SD μV for the bulbocavernosus muscle and 176.6±48.8 μV for the ischiocavernosus muscle; the mean latency of the reflex response was 59.2 ±10.6 SD ms. Stimulation of the anesthetized cervix did not evoke contraction of the muscles. The cervicocavernosus reflex could play a role in enhancing both clitoral and penile erection during the sexual act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angelika Korovessi, eine prominente griechische Bildhauerin, entwarf eine Stahlskulptur, die in Paris vor einem öffentlichen Gebäude permanent ausgestellt ist. Die Skulptur ist eine abstrakte geometrische Komposition aus nichtrostendem Stahl und steht auf einem Sockel, der in einem Wasserbecken unter der Wasseroberfläche liegt. Die einzelnen Teile der Skulptur bestehen aus geschweißten, dünnwandigen, rechteckigen Hohlquerschnitten variabler Höhen, die miteinander durch kurze Rohrstücke verbunden sind. Das Werk wurde in Athen hergestellt, für den Transport in zwei Teile geteilt und vor Ort in Paris zusammengebaut. Dieser Beitrag berichtet über die Modellierung, die rechnerischen Nachweise und der Konstruktion des Kunstwerkes. Steel in sculpture - Structural design of the sculpture 'le chemin de l'eau' in Paris. Aggelika Korovessi, a prominent Greek sculptress, designed a sculpture to be permanently exhibited outside a public building in Paris. The sculpture is an abstract geometric composition from stainless steel and rests on a basis which is submerged in water. The individual parts are composed from welded thin-walled rectangular hollow sections with variable heights that are connected by short tubes. The sculture was fabricated in Athens, divided in two pieces because of transportation reasons and assembled on site in Paris. This paper reports on the design and construction of the artwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the influence of gravity forces on additively constructed objects of a viscoelastic aging material (in a special case, of a purely elastic material) in the absence of additional surface loads and prestresses in the accreted material elements. It is shown that the stress-strain state of such objects crucially depends on how the process of their gradual formation evolves in time. The main tendencies whose interaction determines the process of deformation of these objects under a given formation regime are revealed and analyzed. The general reasoning is illustrated by the results of numerous numerical experiments performed in the framework of the model of linear mechanics of accreted bodies, which was developed by the authors for studying the essentially two-dimensional engineering problem on the erection of a heavy circular arched structure (a semicircular vault) on a smooth horizontal base by the method of layer-by-layer thickening of a blank structure previously erected on the base. This problem is used as an example in the detailed studies of the influence of the erection regime of a viscoelastic aging structure on the development of its stress state. We show that it is very important to take into account the influence of gravity forces during the entire process of erection of heavy objects rather than in their final configuration. It is conclusively shown that, without considering this influence, one can arrive at completely false conclusions about the current and resulting states of the erected structures such as overestimation of their strength and stability at the stage of formation and of their bearing capacity in their operation. The possibilities of efficient control of the stress state of the considered arch structure by varying the rate of the additional material accretion to the structure are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sexual dysfunction in males is, therefore, the result of the disorder of the normal sexual function continuously and over a certain period of time. The term "dysfunction" comes from the Greek "dis" - a prefix with a negative sense of the term sickness and "function", replacing the name of sexual impotence (Latin impotentia, ae), signifying the impotence of a person to achieve certain things. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In current practice, the effects of the evolutionary erection of cable-stayed bridge superstructure are rarely included into the simulation of its tensioning process. In fact, stay forces in service are usually defined in early stages of design, when the construction process has not even been conceived in detail yet. In order to fill this gap, the effects of the evolutionary erection of cable-stayed bridge superstructure throughout the tensioning process are studied in this paper. This study is focused on steel cable-stayed bridges erected on temporary supports. For the very first time a new criterion to include the effects of the evolutionary erection of cable-stayed bridges into the definition of the stay forces in the service state is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bei der Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg kann man ohne Übertreibung von einem Projekt mit hohem architektonischen Anspruch sprechen. Zahlreiche technische und konstruktiv innovative Lösungen sind Teil der Architektur und ermöglichen erst den neuen, aufgesetzten Gebäudekörper auf dem historischen Kaispeicher mit dem integrierten großen Konzertsaal. Ohne Baustellenzugang oder näherer Projektkenntnisse wird dabei dem Außenstehenden gar nicht ersichtlich sein, in welchen Bereichen der Stahlbau eine tragende Rolle bei diesem Megaprojekt spielt. Dieser Beitrag soll zeigen, wie die herausfordernde Bautechnik gerade in zahlreichen stahlbauspezifischen Konstruktionen im Bereich des Rohbaus in der Ausführung planerisch gelöst und umgesetzt worden sind. Geschildert werden diese Erfahrungen anhand einiger herausragender Beispiele aus Sicht des ausführenden Generalunternehmers HOCHTIEF zusammen mit der zurzeit ausführenden Stahlbaufirma, der Firma spannverbund GmbH. Structural steelwork of the Elbphilharmonie. The Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg without exaggeration can be called a project of high-class architecture. Numerous technical and construction finesses are part of the architecture and only allow the new building structure with its integrated great concert hall to be placed upon the historical warehouse. Without access to the construction site or deeper project knowledge, it will not be obvious for an outsider, in which areas structural steelwork is playing an important part in this challenging project. This paper therefore intends to show, how the technical challenges especially in steelwork specific parts of the structural work were dealt with in planning and execution. These experiences are described from the point of view of the general contractor HOCHTIEF and one of the main steelwork contractors, spannverbund GmbH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Die Bauausführung für den Ersatzneubau der Schnettkerbrücke begann mit der Zuschlagserteilung an das Unternehmen Schachtbau Nordhausen GmbH im September 2005. Schnell zeigte sich, dass die Realisierung des Bauwerksentwurfs für die technisch und optisch anspruchsvolle Brücke in dieser exponierten Lage für alle Beteiligten eine große Herausforderung war. Die Herstellung erfolgte unter schwierigen Randbedingungen. So musste der Bauablauf unter weitestgehender Aufrechterhaltung des Straßen- und Bahnverkehrs erfolgen. Die Gründungssituation erwies sich als außerordentlich schwierig. Neben dem Neubau musste auch noch die alte Brücke mit einem aufwendigen Verfahren abgebrochen werden. Zusätzlich waren die Interessen der Bewohner des Stadtteils Schönau zu berücksichtigen, da sie während der Bauzeit vom Baustellenverkehr besonders betroffen waren. Der folgende Aufsatz beschreibt die technischen Lösungen zur Umsetzung der komplexen Bauaufgabe. Eine generelle Bauwerksbeschreibung erfolgte bereits einem ersten Teil über den Ersatzneubau der Schnettkerbrücke [1]. Replacement of the Bridge Schnettkerbrücke in Dortmund: Building of the bridge (part 2). The replacement of the Bridge Schnettkerbrücke started with the assignment of the construction company Schachtbau Nordhausen GmbH in September 2005. It was quickly to realize, that the building of this technical and optical ambitious bridge was a great challenge for all participants. The erection had to take place under difficult conditions. The disturbance of road and railroad traffic must be reduced to a minimum. The building of the foundations was very difficult. Besides of the building of the new bridge the old bridge must be deconstructed. The interests of the inhabitants of the urban district Schönau had to be respected, because they were disturbed by the site traffic during the whole construction period. The following paper describes the technical solutions to execute the complex construction process. For a general description of the bridge see [1]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: During the erection of long-span steel truss bridges, the bridge decks and the steel truss girders are commonly constructed simultaneously in order to shorten the construction period, leading to wind suction effect on the decks when wind strikes. This effect may have a remarkable influence on the wind-resistant behavior of stiffened steel truss bridges which hold long-span cantilevers during erection, as wind suction can act together with the gravity load to increase the structural response. However, neither current codes nor studies have taken this effect into account. This paper is intended to investigate the wind suction effect and its influence on the static wind-resistant behavior of stiffened steel truss bridges during construction. Two wind tunnel tests, including a high-frequency base balance (H-FBB) test and a synchronous multi-pressure sensing system (SM-PSS) test, were carried out with the world''s longest arch-stiffened steel truss bridge as a model. On the basis of the experimental results, two net pressure coefficients which could be used to determine the wind suction are proposed. A finite element analysis considering the wind suction effect is also performed, through which the wind suction influence on the model bridge during erection is obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of aphrodisiacs dates back thousands of years in Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Roman, and Greek cultures. Although the scientific basis of these substances was not understood, aphrodisiacs were valued for their ability to enhance the sexual experience. Their use allowed for human procreation and the ability to obtain a sexually fulfilling relationship. Aphrodisiacs used historically include ambrein, Bufo toad, Spanish fly, yohimbine, Tribulus terrestris, horny goat weed, muira puama, MACA root, Panax ginseng, nutmeg, saffron, and cacao. Previous studies on these substances have shown potential aphrodisiac properties using animal models and in human clinical trials. Aphrodisiacs were shown to relax corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue in animals, improve erection quality in humans and animals, or increase sexual behavior and satisfaction in humans and animals. Although most studies showed positive effects of aphrodisiacs on sexual enhancement, more studies are needed to understand their mechanism of action. The need for clinical trials using larger populations is also evident to prove the effectiveness of aphrodisiacs for human use. This paper will review recent scientific studies conducted on these commonly used aphrodisiacs, and determine whether the results support or refute their use for human sexual enhancement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Submerged Floating Tunnel, also known as Archimedes Bridge, appears to be a very suitable technical solution for waterway crossings. In spite of it, no SFT has been constructed yet in the world, probably due to the total lack of experimental data on the actual behaviour of SFTs under both traffic and environmental actions, such as currents, waves and earthquakes. The scope to fill the gap between theory and reality can be pursued only by the construction of a full-scale prototype of SFT. At this aim, the SIJLAB (Sino-Italian Joint Laboratory of Archimedes Bridge), a joint venture involving Italian and Chinese institutions, has carried out the design of the first SFT (Archimedes Bridge) prototype in the World, to be fabricated and erected in the Qiandao Lake (People’s Republic of China). This paper deals with the description of the various aspects faced in the design of the Archimedes Bridge prototype. The features of the selected location and the structural scheme, together with all the design requirements and design phases and outputs, are illustrated. The structural analyses aimed at investigating the prototype behaviour under the environmental loads and selecting the most suitable cable system configuration are described and the obtained results are discussed. The conception and the design of the constructional details, such as the anchoring connections, the internal and end joints, the windows are presented. The technical solution for the foundation of the anchoring system is illustrated. Finally, the fabrication and erection procedures are briefly described, they representing an important aspect of the design of such a revolutionary technological system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Steel structure plays a significant role in civil engineering. However, there are many factors affecting steel erectors and contractors to have a successful erection of steel structures. Thus, this study seeks to examine the factors affecting steel structure erection in construction projects within the context of a developing country. The study adopted a survey research method; a questionnaire to identify 47 factors, were assessed. A purposive sampling approach was used to identify 20 construction companies specialising in steel structures erections in Lagos, Nigeria. Sixty-three (63) questionnaires were distributed to the targeted population, which included 32 project managers, 14 project engineers and 17 site engineers of current and past steel structure projects carried out by the selected companies in Lagos. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed skills and experience, job site planning, availability of electrical power for tools, insufficient supervision and method of construction as the top most five factors affecting steel structure erection in construction project in Nigeria. The findings provide in-depth insight of the factors affecting steel structure erection in construction project that can help project managers in development of strategies for improving the erection of steel structure in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Priapism, a prolonged penile erection in the absence of sexual arousal, is common among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Hypogonadism is also common in patients with SCD. While the administration of exogenous testosterone reverses hypogonadism, it is contraceptive. We hypothesized that the stimulation of endogenous testosterone production decreases priapism by normalizing molecular signaling involved in penile erection without decreasing intratesticular testosterone production, which would affect fertility. Treatment of SCD mice with FGIN‐1‐27, a ligand for translocator protein (TSPO) that mobilizes cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane, resulted in eugonadal levels of serum testosterone without decreasing intratesticular testosterone production. Normalized testosterone levels, in turn, decreased priapism. At the molecular level, TSPO restored phosphodiesterase 5 activity and decreased NADPH oxidase‐mediated oxidative stress in the penis, which are major molecular signaling molecules involved in penile erection and are dysregulated in SCD. These results indicate that pharmacologic activation of TSPO could be a novel, targetable pathway for treating hypogonadal men, particularly patients with SCD, without adverse effects on fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions affecting men. ED can arise from disruptions during development, affecting the patterning of erectile tissues in the penis and/or disruptions in adulthood that impact sexual stimuli, neural pathways, molecular changes, and endocrine signalling that are required to drive erection. Sexual stimulation activates the parasympathetic system which causes nerve terminals in the penis to release nitric oxide (NO). As a result, the penile blood vessels dilate, allowing the penis to engorge with blood. This expansion subsequently compresses the veins surrounding the erectile tissue, restricting venous outflow. As a result, the blood pressure localised in the penis increases dramatically to produce a rigid erection, a process known as tumescence. The sympathetic pathway releases noradrenaline (NA) which causes detumescence: the reversion of the penis to the flaccid state. Androgen signalling is critical for erectile function through its role in penis development and in regulating the physiological processes driving erection in the adult. Interestingly, estrogen signalling is also implicated in penis development and potentially in processes which regulate erectile function during adulthood. Given that endocrine signalling has a prominent role in erectile function, it is likely that exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a risk factor for ED, although this is an under-researched field. Thus, our review provides a detailed description of the underlying biology of erectile function with a focus on the role of endocrine signalling, exploring the potential link between EDCs and ED based on animal and human studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extend, in significant ways, the theory of truncated boolean representable simplicial complexes introduced in 2015. This theory, which includes all matroids, represents the largest class of finite simplicial complexes for which combinatorial geometry can be meaningfully applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Andrologie (11662654) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In current practice, the effects of the evolutionary erection of cable-stayed bridge superstructure are rarely included into the simulation of its tensioning process. In fact, stay forces in service are usually defined in early stages of design, when the construction process has not even been conceived in detail yet. In order to fill this gap, the effects of the evolutionary erection of cable-stayed bridge superstructure throughout the tensioning process are studied in this paper. This study is focused on steel cable-stayed bridges erected on temporary supports. For the very first time a new criterion to include the effects of the evolutionary erection of cable-stayed bridges into the definition of the stay forces in the service state is presented.

Prestressed membrane roofs have been designed since the invention of prestressed concrete. They are described in the basic books written by pioneers of prestressed concrete. For illustration, four architecturally most successful roofs are discussed. The authors emphasize that the prestressed membrane roofs are still modern, structurally efficient, and architecturally interesting. If they are assembled of precast members, they can be erected without scaffolding. Recently, the authors have studied different membrane structures from the point of view of their architectural and structural arrangement, process of erection, and static and dynamic behavior. In-depth studies were carried out for membranes of simple curvature situated above the whole or portion of the rectangle area and self-anchored membranes supported by arches or shells. Also self-anchored suspension membranes situated above circular or elliptical plans, hypar membranes, and membranes of a free form that are suspended on arches or suspension cables were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dialectics operates, Derrida writes, 'in raising or erecting what falls'. Yet the Hegelian system is problematized in the sense that, in the Genet column of Glas, what substitutes for the system is not a well-grounded philosophical alternative, but a sort of disseminal substitution itself, working within as much as against the system it resists. The confrontation staged by the text is not between homosexual transgression, on the one hand, and heterosexual normativity as the origin of the social bond, on the other, but instead a confrontation between two perspectives on the transcendental. The problem of Glas is that the two columns seem to 'come out the same' (in French 'revenir au même', amounting to the same) at the very moment when they seem to radically differ or diverge. Put differently, this problem is that of a contagion between the two sides. Why is there a risk of contagion and of similarity? What does this do to the transcendentality in question? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual function is a high priority quality of life issue among the spinal cord injury (SCI) population. Over 12,000 new cases are reported in the USA annually, with males being twice as likely to incur a SCI compared to females. SCI males may suffer from erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction and infertility, while SCI females may suffer from dysfunctions of sexual arousal and orgasm. Assessment of sexual dysfunction in SCI individuals relies on questionnaires and reflex circuitries, highlighting the need for better quantitative assessment and outcome measures. Treatments for SCI males include pharmacotherapy, physical aids, and surgical interventions; however, treatments for SCI females is severely lacking. Advancements in assessments and treatments in both animal models and humans will pave the way for greater sexual dysfunction intervention in SCI individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a spectrum of options is available for erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment, ED in diabetics, post-prostatectomy patients, and those with Peyronie's disease (PD) may be more severe in degree and less likely to respond to conventional medical therapies. Unfortunately, there have been limited breakthroughs in therapeutic options for severe ED during the past decade. However, one of the more fascinating strategies in preclinical development to treat ED is stem cell transplantation. Depending on the cell type, recent research has demonstrated that with transplantation, these stem cells can exert a paracrine effect on surrounding penile tissues and differentiate into smooth muscle, endothelium, and neurons. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have become a valuable resource because of their abundance and ease of isolation. It is evident that ADSCs may provide a realistic, therapeutic modality for the treatment of ED. In this review, we will cover the literature that has evaluated ADSCs in the treatment of ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the association of testosterone deficiency and priapism in adult men with sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods: A cross-sectional study of 50 adult men with SCD (hemoglobin SS) was performed. All patients had early morning blood taken for total and free testosterone, FSH, LH, prolactin, lipid levels, LDH and hematological indices. Patients completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire regarding priapism frequency, duration and treatment. Testosterone deficiency was defined as a serum total testosterone <12 nmol/L (346 ng/dL). Results: The mean age of the study population was 34.2 ± 8.9 years. Priapism was noted in 24 (48 %) patients and was most frequently seen in men between ages 18-25 years. Testosterone deficiency was observed in 11 of the 50 (22 %) patients, particularly in 6 of 24 (25 %) patients with histories of priapism. There was no difference in mean total testosterone levels in patients with and without a history of priapism (16.7 ± 4.9 nmol/L and 15.4 ± 5.9 nmol/L, respectively) ( p = 0.43). Similarly, there was no difference in serum LH and FSH levels based on history of priapism. Conclusion: Testosterone deficiency is prevalent in patients with SCD; however, we did not identify an association based on a history of priapism. Larger, prospectively gathered data are needed to define the priapism profile of SCD patients with testosterone deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plication techniques are not a panacea for deformities associated with Peyronie’s disease or congenital curvature. However, they do provide certain advantages, both theoretic and real, over competing procedures such as grafting. Depending on the technique, plication procedures have minimal risk of de novo erectile dysfunction, minimal risk of injury to the dorsal neurovascular bundle, and may be used for a variety of angulation deformities, including multiplanar curvature and severe degrees of curvature. A variety of incisions may be used, including the classic circumcision with degloving but also ventral raphe, dorsal penile inversion, and penoscrotal. These may be helpful in preventing postoperative morbidity and in sparing the prepuce if desired. Plication may also be combined with procedures such as penile prosthesis for correction of residual curvature. Lastly, despite its complications, plication techniques are very well tolerated, are relatively simple to perform and result in the very high satisfaction rates. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives This study aims to further elucidate the role of adrenergic transmission in erection and to highlight whether adrenergic transmission in the penis modulates sildenafil's action. Methods measurement of intracavernosal pressure in the anesthetized rat model. Key findings Guanethidine (3 and 6 mg/kg) potentiated intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) rises in response to cavernous nerve stimulation by 4.375 ± 0.425 and 18.375 ± 1.085% respectively. Propranolol did the opposite. In presence of guanethidine, sildenafil (0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg) potentiated ICP/MAP responses by 81.571 ± 4.918%, 147.83 ± 10.864% and 279.285 ± 23.053% at 1 Hz compared to 22.277 ± 2.139%, 123.571 ± 8.443% and 186.25 ± 13.542% respectively in the absence of guanethidine. Propranolol inhibited the effect sildenafil at all frequencies of stimulation. Verapamil exhibited a pro-erectile action and potentiated the effect of sildenafil (0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg) on erectile responses corresponding to 85.25 ± 6.716%, 146 ± 11.288% and 221.571 ± 19.032% respectively compared to 26.011 ± 1.911%, 87.142 ± 8.73% and 182.2 ± 16.921% in its absence. Conclusions This study provides functional evidence that inhibition of sympathetic tone peripherally results in enhancement of erectile function. β-adrenergic receptors seem to play an important role in erection. The combination of sildenafil and guanethidine or verapamil could have a potential advantage on erectile function but propranolol may mask the effect of sildenafil on erectile function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Priapism is defined as a persistent, painful erection that continues beyond, or is unrelated to, sexual stimulation. It may be categorized as either ischemic (low/absent flow) or nonischemic (high flow). Stuttering priapism is a variant of the ischemic type that is characterized by repetitive, transient, painful, self-limiting episodes of priapism. It is associated with various hematological disorders, including sickle cell disease and pharmacological treatments. The consequences of ineffective treatment of priapism are erectile dysfunction and impaired quality of life due to chronic pain and physical disfigurement. Many of the existing medical therapeutic options for treatment of stuttering priapism are nonmechanistic and associated with significant adverse effects. However, the scientific knowledge of stuttering priapism has transitioned in the past few years, from a condition that is poorly understood to one that has borne a burst of evolving molecular science. In this review, the pathophysiology of priapism is discussed, with particular emphasis on new molecular effectors and mechanisms. Novel treatment methods, as well as potential future agents, based on the emerging molecular evidence are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]