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The design and construction of mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) walls is widespread and stiffness-based MSE wall designs are becoming popular. In MSE wall design, the pullout resistance of reinforcement plays a major role. For various field conditions, properties such as the normal stress and stiffness of reinforcement are hard to determine in the laboratory. In this study, a numerical model, developed using finite-element software, was used to assess pullout behaviour by varying other parameters such as normal stress, soil friction angle and, especially, the stiffness of reinforcements. Pullout resistance factors (F*) were developed based on the stiffness of the reinforcements considered in this study, which were in the range 100−10 000 kN/m for normal stresses of 10–300 kPa (equivalent to a maximum MSE wall height of 17 m). The developed design chart can be used for the optimistic design of MSE walls.

Antibiotic resistance is a global health challenge, involving the transfer of bacteria and genes between humans, animals and the environment. Although multiple barriers restrict the flow of both bacteria and genes, pathogens recurrently acquire new resistance factors from other species, thereby reducing our ability to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Evolutionary events that lead to the emergence of new resistance factors in pathogens are rare and challenging to predict, but may be associated with vast ramifications. Transmission events of already widespread resistant strains are, on the other hand, common, quantifiable and more predictable, but the consequences of each event are limited. Quantifying the pathways and identifying the drivers of and bottlenecks for environmental evolution and transmission of antibiotic resistance are key components to understand and manage the resistance crisis as a whole. In this Review, we present our current understanding of the roles of the environment, including antibiotic pollution, in resistance evolution, in transmission and as a mere reflection of the regional antibiotic resistance situation in the clinic. We provide a perspective on current evidence, describe risk scenarios, discuss methods for surveillance and the assessment of potential drivers, and finally identify some actions to mitigate risks., In this Review, Larsson and Flach discuss the drivers of and bottlenecks for environmental evolution and transmission of antibiotic resistance, and they explore environmental surveillance strategies that could complement clinical surveillance systems.

Natural Products are molecular “special equipment” that impart survival benefits on their producers in nature. Due to their evolved functions to modulate biology these privileged metabolites are substantially represented in the drug market and are continuing to contribute to the discovery of innovative medicines such as the recently approved semi-synthetic derivative of the bacterial alkaloid staurosporin in oncology indications. The innovation of low molecular weight compounds in modern drug discovery is built on rapid progress in chemical, molecular biological, pharmacological and data sciences which together provide a rich understanding of disease-driving molecular interactions and how to modulate them. NPs investigated in these pharmaceutical research areas create new perspectives on their chemical and biological features and thereby new chances to advance medical research. New methods in analytical chemistry linked with searchable NP-databases solved the issue of reisolation and enabled targeted and efficient access to novel molecules from nature. Cheminformatics delivers high resolution descriptions of NPs and explores the substructures that systematically map NP-chemical space by sp3-enriched fragments. Whole genome sequencing has revealed the existence of collocated gene clusters that form larger functional entities together with proximate resistance factors thus avoiding self-inhibition of the encoded metabolites. The analysis of bacterial and fungal genes provides tantalizing glimpses of new compound-target pairs of therapeutic value. Furthermore, a dedicated investigation of structurally unique, selectively active NPs in chemical biology demonstrates their extraordinary power as shuttles between new biological target spaces of pharmaceutical relevance.

The standard analysis method for High Strain Dynamic Testing (HSDT, commonly known as Dynamic Load Testing) data is Signal Matching. Signal Matching is a procedure, in which a dynamic soil model and a dynamic pile model are combined with the recorded signals, resulting in a simulated soil response in the form of the upward travelling wave. The simulated upward traveling wave is then compared with the upward travelling wave calculated from the measured strain and acceleration signals. By adjusting the soil model, the match between the simulated and calculated (measured) response is improved, until a high degree of correlation is achieved. The resulting soil model is assumed to give an accurate representation of the soil strata along the pile shaft. Subsequently, this soil model is used to calculate or simulate the static pile behavior (mobilized capacity and load-settlement diagram). The limitation of this method is that there is no unique combination of soil and pile model that will generate a (very) good match, which means that the outcome depends on the person performing the match. By performing the match and then validating the results the reliability of the signal match is enhanced greatly. In this paper the importance of validated signal matching is illustrated with the intention of initiating a thorough discussion among practitioners how to deal with the HSDT results.

Debido al notable incremento de construcciones de naves industriales en Ecuador, es necesario realizar un análisis técnico-económico para conocer la incidencia del costo de materiales sobre ellas. Para ello, se elaboró una muestra de 40 naves, fijando relación entre luz libre (L), altura del pórtico (H) y distancia entre pórticos (B), con el propósito de determinar una métrica. Para este estudio se estableció el peso de la estructura en kg/m². Con los resultados se aplicó un modelo matemático (interpolación de Lagrange), se obtuvo un polinomio que describe el modelo de cada grupo de naves y su representación gráfica, por consiguiente, se determinó una aproximación del peso de estructuras. Las métricas que se hallaron tienen una repercusión directa en el costo de los materiales de las estructuras, estas se obtuvieron al multiplicarlas por el costo del kg de acero. Se realizó una comprobación con una muestra de 6 naves, en las se halló el peso utilizando el diseño por factores de carga y resistencia y luego con el polinomio; obteniéndose un error: para naves moduladas a 5 m una media de 0,03 % con una desviación de 0,03 y para naves moduladas a 6 m, una media de 0,07 % con una desviación de 0,03

A better understanding of leaf rust progress curves is highly desired by wheat breeders and pathologists to achieve more precise and ambitious predictors of disease development. High variations in leaf rust progress across different wheat cropping systems can cause difficulties and uncertainties for study of disease increase rate. A number of standard curves were fitted to a four-season data set on leaf rust severity ratings to find further descriptive disease curve elements for wheat cultivars under different sowing dates. A Gaussian model provided the best fitted parameters to be considered as wheat leaf rust progress curve elements. According to H-test results, sowing date and cultivar resistance factors significantly affected the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), maximum disease severity, and Gaussian parameters m and s. Multivariate analysis indicated considerable association among AUDPC, leaf rust onset, maximum disease severity, and three Gaussian parameters. With this new proposed approach, a better understanding of the variables to be measured for estimating wheat leaf rust development will be obtained.

Ticks cause various harmful effects on livestock with a combination of direct and indirect effects. Resistance status of one host tick Rhipicephalus microplus from two districts, Banaskantha (BK) and Patan (PN) of North Gujarat was tested against synthetic pyrethroids (deltamethrin and cypermethrin) by adult immersion test (AIT).Ticks were collected from six talukas each from BK and PN. Tick isolates from eight places showed resistance against deltamethrin having resistance factor ranging from 2.52–22.59. Further, isolates from six places, Ranuj, Dhanera, Radhanpur, Patan, Dhaneri and Kheda showed resistance against cypermethrin with resistance factor in range of 2.42–18.66. The results reveal a remarkable variance of susceptibility to deltamethrin and cypermethrin in the R. microplus populations studied. Isolates from PN district, from talukas Ranuj, Patan, Radhanpur, and Sidhpur were resistant to deltamethrin with resistance level II in all the places and resistance factors estimated were 16.73, 16.7, 9.64, and 7.25, respectively. Tick isolated from Patan, Radhanpur and Ranuj were resistant to cypermethrin with resistance level II, II and I, respectively with resistance factor of 11.74, 6.74 and 2.42, respectively. The slope and R2 values for deltamethrin resistant tick isolates were in the range of, 0.64 ± 0.33 to 2.28 ± 0.21 and 50.0 to 97.62; and that for cypermethrin resistant tick isolates was 0.64 ± 0.33 to 2.28 ± 0.21 and 46.53 to 88.26 respectively. The finding is significant, as it reports the development of resistance against most commonly used acaricides in very large area of North Gujarat and the data generated would be useful in formulation of effective control strategies against ticks of this large geographic region.

This paper establishes an analytical correlation between factor of safety (FS) and reliability index β values commonly used in the design of drilled shafts in sand. This is achieved through fragility analysis of unit shaft and base resistances, calculated using finite element analysis-based capacity calculation equations, for drilled shafts. Analytical fragility curves are developed for allowable unit resistances along the pile shaft and at the pile base. Developed fragility curves are used to map FS values with corresponding values of β. Such analytical FS–β correspondence is not well established in literature. Comparison of results from fragility analysis with those obtained through conventional Monte Carlo simulations reveals excellent agreement. Developed FS-β correlation is employed in reliability analysis to estimate load and resistance factors corresponding to different FS values. Evaluated load and resistance factors compare very well with AASHTO specifications.

First Order Reliability Methods (FORM) have been used by specification committees in the reliability analyses required for the calibration of resistance and safety factors for the past 40 years. However, these methods are iterative, require input information that may not be readily available, and make comparisons between different approaches or design frameworks difficult. This paper presents a set of simplified equations to estimate reliability indices , resistance factors and partial safety factors based on simpler First Order Second Moment (FOSM) considerations for the US and Eurocode frameworks, which are particularized for different load cases, and on the semi-probabilistic approach prescribed in the Eurocode 0. The equations provide direct relationships between the reliability calibration results corresponding to different design frameworks, and can be used to estimate resistance factors as simple cross-checks for the US framework based on the partial safety factors derived for the Eurocode (or vice versa) from basic statistical input information and given target reliability, including when the data available in the literature is insufficient to perform FORM analyses. The accuracy of the proposed equations is assessed against reliability results derived using FORM techniques for an extensive database of steel and stainless steel frames subjected to gravity and combined gravity plus wind load cases collected from the literature, and limitations for their applicability are recommended. The results demonstrate that the set of equations proposed in this paper provides accurate estimations of the reliability index, resistance factors and partial safety factors and can assist specification committees in the process of calibrating suitable system factors.

There has been a considerable progress in the reliability-based code development procedures. The load and resistance factors in the AASHTO bridge design code were determined using the statistical parameters from the 1970's and early 1980’s. Load and resistance factors were determined by first fixing the load factors and then calculating resistance factors. Load factors were selected so that the factored load corresponds to two standard deviations from the mean value and the resistance factors were calculated so that the reliability index is close to the target value. However, from the theoretical point of view, the load and resistance factors are to be determined as coordinates of the so-called “design point” that corresponds to less than two standard deviations from the mean. Therefore, the optimum load and resistance factors are about 10% lower than what is in the AASHTO LRFD Code. The objective of this paper is to revisit the original calibration and recalculate the load and resistance factors as coordinates of the “design point” for prestressed concrete girder bridges. The recommended new load and resistance factors provide a consistent reliability and a rational safety margin.

Surgical patients with purulent-inflammatory diseases make up 35-45%, postoperative purulent complications occur in 24-30% of cases. Surgical wound infections account for up to 15% of the total number of nosocomial infections. Mortality in surgical purulent infection is from 40 to 75%. We studied 103 strains of UPM isolated from wounds in patients undergoing treatment in the surgical department of the KNP KOR Kyiv Regional Clinical Hospital. Among this group of microorganisms were representatives of the Enterobacteriaceae – 34.9% family. Non-fermenting gramnegative bacteria accounted for 15.5% of all selected strains. The leading causative agents of wound infections in patients in the surgical department of the KNP KOR Kyiv Regional Clinical Hospital are representatives of the Enterobacteriaceae family – 34.9%. The most common pathogen was E. coli (16.5%). The most active antibiotic for enterobacteria was netilmicin. With cephalosporin antibiotics, the most active cefotaxime is 47.2±8.3%. It was found that 52.8±8.3% of strains of enterobacteria isolated from wounds in surgical patients were betalactamase producers, 25.0±7.2% showed combined phenotypes. Cephalosporinases were isolated from beta-lactamases: ESβL – 44.4±8.3% of strains, and AmpC – 11.1±5.2% of producer strains. 25.0±7.2% of the strains were producers of Klebsiella pneumonia carbapenemases (KPC). Beta-lactamase producers were K. pneumoniae strains (75%). ESβL producers showed resistance to cephalosporin antibiotics, fluoroquinolones, however, they remained sensitive to netilmicin (75.0±15.3%) and meropenem (50±17.1%). The carbapenemase producing strains were resistant to ampicillin, amikacin, fluoroquinolones, ceftazidime, carbapenem. Resistance to all antibiotic groups was detected in the strain that was the carrier of the combined phenotype ESβL + AmpC + KRS.

Planning a steel-concrete composite structure using the LRFD (Load and Resistance Factor Design) method is a method that clearly takes into account the boundary conditions, various load factors, and resistance factors, where in this case the resistance factor is needed to maintain the possible lack of structural strength, while the factor load is used to anticipate the possibility of an overload that is formulated. This planning uses a composite structure that is focused on profile steel beams, steel deck plates, and composite columns. Dead and live loads are calculated based on the Indonesian loading regulations for 1983 buildings, while earthquake loads are calculated based on the earthquake resistance planning procedure for building and non-building structures as stipulated in SNI 1762-2012. The steel-concrete composite structure itself is calculated based on the specifications for the design of steel structure buildings using the LRFD method as stated in SNI 03-1729-2002. The structural analysis in the form of the magnitude of the force acting on the building was carried out using the SAP2000 application while the analysis of the feasibility of using the dimensions of the composite structure based on the SNI used was done manually. From the planning results, the dimensions of beam and column cross-sections for each floor plate 1, 2 and 3 are B1 250/250, B2 250/175, B3 300/150, and K1 350/350. The use of steel decks on floor plates 1, 2, and 3 uses shear connectors (studs) with a diameter of 19 mm with 40, 20, and 25 shear connectors, respectively. The joints used in the main and child beams on floors 1, 2, and 3 respectively use 19 mm diameter bolts with 4 bolts, 2 bolts, and 4 bolts respectively, while the connections to columns and beams use diameter bolts 20 mm with the number of bolts 8 pieces.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically implemented modality to tackle intractable diseases, including cancer. Nevertheless, its efficacy is largely compromised by some resistance factors from t...

Use of bamboo as a construction material has world-wide potential given it is lightweight, highly-renewable, and fast-growing. The pitfall lies largely in the variability of the material properties...

Jack-up drilling rigs are widely used in the offshore oil and gas exploration industry. Although originally designed for use in shallow waters, trends in the energy industry have led to a growing demand for their use in deep sea and harsh environmental conditions. To extend the operating range of jack-up units, their design must be based on reliable analysis while eliminating excessive conservatism. In current industrial practice, jack-up drilling rigs are designed using the working(or allowable) stress design (WSD) method. Recently, classifications have been developed for specific regulations based on the load and resistance factor design (LRFD) method, which emphasises the reliability of the methods. This statistical method utilises the concept of limit state design and uses factored loads and resistance factors to account for uncertainly in the loads and computed strength of the leg components in a jack-up drilling rig. The key differences between the LRFD method and the WSD method must be identified to enable appropriate use of the LRFD method for designing jack-up rigs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare and quantitatively investigate the differences between actual jack-up lattice leg structures, which are designed by the WSD and LRFD methods, and subject to different environmental load-to-dead-load ratios, thereby delineating the load-to-capacity ratios of rigs designed using theses methods under these different enviromental conditions. The comparative results are significantly advantageous in the leg design of jack-up rigs, and determine that the jack-up rigs designed using the WSD and LRFD methods with UC values differ by approximately 31 % with respect to the API-RP code basis. It can be observed that the LRFD design method is more advantageous to structure optimization compared to the WSD method.

This paper reviews various models for the shear strength prediction of reinforced concrete (RC) deep beams with and without web reinforcement. A database of 381 tests on deep beams was utilized to conduct a comparative study among the analytical models and the code equations. The accuracy of each model was evaluated based on the statistical analysis and the performance test. It was found that code equations for the shear strength of RC deep beams are too conservative to estimate the shear strength of deep beams. Therefore, simplified improved shear equations for RC deep beams with and without web reinforcement were proposed from genetic algorithm (GA). The most significant parameters and their interactions that affect the shear strength of deep beams were identified by factorial design. The proposed equations were calibrated by reliability analysis which can be used for future design purposes. The resistance factors for the shear design equations were calculated at a target reliability index, βT of 3.5 in order to achieve an acceptable level of structural safety.

This paper presents a case study of the landscape of Bulue Village in Soppeng District, Indonesia, showing that site suitability evaluation was an important step in the process of ecotourism development planning of protected area which accommodated the landscape characteristics. Spatial multicriteria decision analysis combined with descriptive analysis was utilized as a methodology in this study. The results of the analysis showed that the landscape had (1) highly suitable 1.33%; (2) moderately suitable 16.94%; (3) marginally suitable 73.21%, and (4) not suitable 8.51% for ecotourism. Moreover, there were livelihood-based and nature-based tourism attraction potential and tourism market opportunities. However, there were the resistance factors that need to be overcome, particularly in preventing furtherforest degradation, improving accessto tourism attractions, and empowering the community. This paper points out the importance of evaluating and mapping of landscape characteristics in the process of ecotourism development planning of Bulue Village to ensure sustainable use of landscape.

Light-induced tuber greening is one of the most important quality defects of potato. Although varietal and maturity factors are known to affect greening resistance, physiological mechanisms of resistance are poorly understood. We proposed that physiological and biochemical factors within the tuber periderm provide resistance and hypothesised that resistance is primarily related to suberin content. We investigated differences in the tuber periderm between genotypes and tuber maturities that varied in greening propensity. We examined suberin and light-induced pigment accumulation, and phellem cell development and studied greening propensity in mutant and chemically treated tubers with enhanced suberisation. Resistance to greening was strongly linked to increased suberin in the periderm, which varied with variety and tuber maturity. Furthermore, greening was reduced in mutant and chemically treated tubers with enhanced suberisation. Increases in phellem cell layers and light-induced carotenoids and anthocyanins were identified as secondary resistance factors. Our work represents the first physiological mechanism of varietal and tuber maturity resistance to greening, expanding the known functionality of suberin and providing for the first time a biomarker that will aid producers and breeders in selection and improvement of potato varieties for greening resistance.

Relevance. Potato ladybug is a polyphagous pest. Its distributed throughout the Far East, in India, Korea, Japan and the countries of South America. Most affected by it are potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, pumpkin, melon, beans. Leaving the veins intact pest eats the soft tissue of the leaf. Such leaves die quickly. Potato ladybug is a carrier of some diseases of potato and it also causes damage to plants. But insecticides pollute products and sustainable insect populations. The use of varieties with high resistance to pest damage eliminates the need for mass application of insecticides.Methods. The data on a preliminary assessment of potato varieties of domestic and foreign selection for resistance to a twenty-eight-point potato ladybug Henosepilachna vigintiomaculata Motch. (Fabricius, 1775) in the Primorye Territory. This work aim work was a preliminary assessment of the traditional potato breeding resistance factors to pest damage. The experiment out using generally accepted methods for the study and evaluation of potato varieties for pests with minor modifications was carried.Results. As a study result it was found that Belmonda, Labella, Red Lady, Queen Anna, Lilly, Sante varieties were the least suitable for passing the stages of ontogenesis and nutritional nutrition of the pest. The most tolerant to the pest – varieties Smak, Casachok, Yantar. The maximum mortality of potato ladybug larvae was observed in varieties Belmonda, Dachny, Augustin, Yubilyar, Labella, Sante, Koroleva Anna, Laperla in laboratory experiment. Minimum on varieties Smak, Casachok, Yantar, Red Lady. The data indicate the manifestation of an antibiotic barrier in potatoes, which must be confirmed by a field experiment.

Most of the construction standards and project specifications allow using higher resistance factors once geotechnical design parameters are estimated through static pile load test results. Instrumented axial load tests are performed to verify the pile design and to provide valuable information to permit an economically feasible redesign. Bi-directional static load test (BDSLT or O-cell test), an innovative load test method, performed simultaneously in two directions; adopting sacrificial hydraulic cells was used frequently in the Middle East and the global foundation industry. This paper presents the performance of two preliminary instrumented bored cast-in-situ friction test piles of 1000 mm (PTP1) and 750 mm (PTP2) by BDSLT using sacrificial hydraulic jacks, socketed in the Sandstone and Calcisiltite of the Business Bay Project, Dubai. The test piles were instrumented with 4 levels of vibrating wire strain gauge technology and were load tested to determine the pile-rock interactions within the various segments of the piles. By using Eurocode 7 procedure, the characteristic compressive shaft resistance of piles was determined from the test results to optimize pile foundation design. The results have led to a reassessment of the piles and barrettesinitial pile design to quantify the geotechnical parameters precisely to execute an economically sustainable project in Dubai.

Load and resistance factor design (LRFD) is widely used in building codes for reliability design. In the calculation of load and resistance factors, the third-moment method (3M) has been proposed to overcome the shortcomings (e.g., inevitable iterative computation, requirement of probability density functions (PDFs) of random variables) of other methods. With the existing 3M method, the iterative is simplified to one computation, and the PDFs of random variables are not required. In this paper, the computation of load and resistance factors is further simplified to no iterations. Furthermore, the accuracy of the proposed method is proved to be higher than the existing 3M methods. Additionally, with the proposed method, the limitations regarding applicable range in the existing 3M methods are avoided. With several examples, the comparison of the existing 3M method, the ASCE method, the Mori method, and the proposed method is given. The results show that the proposed method is accurate, simple, safe, and saves material.

Introduction: Enough scientific evidence is available on the harmful effects of air pollution on the health of human beings, fauna, flora, and ecosystems in general. The mechanical and electronical monitoring networks are the first option for the air quality diagnosis, but they do not allow a direct and precise assessment of the impacts in living organisms that may result from the exposure to air pollutants. Objective:To evaluate the changes in the composition of corticulous lichen communities as a response to various stress factors in areas with different levels of air quality to diagnose the state of pollution or intervention in an area with a more complete option. Methods: Air quality contrasts and changes in richness and coverage of corticulous lichens in response to different stress factors, such as land use and distance to roads, in three different biomonitoring areas, were evaluate using GIS, and the data are presented in an easy-to-understand grey scale coded isoline map. Results:Indicators such as lichen coverage (R= -0.4) and richness (R= -0.7) are inverse correlated with PM2.5 concentrations in each area.A total of 110 lichen species were identified, being Phaeophyscia chloantha(Ach.) Moberg and Physcia poncinsii Huethe most frequent species (present in 38 and 33 % of the 86 sampled phorophytes, respectively). The intra-area relationships of lichen richness exhibit significant relationships with regards to the land use and distance to roads (with correlations coefficients greater than 0.5) and the Simpson index was higher than 0.9, in places with better conditions in terms of air quality and microenvironments, likewise the resistance factors calculated suggest that the most sensitive species can be found in environments with a lesser degree of disturbance. Conclusion:These evaluations represent more criteria elements for the diagnosis of the environmental health in the biomonitoring areas. Introducción: Existe suficiente evidencia científica de los efectos nocivos de la contaminación atmosférica sobre la salud de los seres humanos, fauna, flora y ecosistemas en general. La primera opción para el diagnóstico de la calidad del aire son las redes de monitoreo mecánicas o electrónicas, pero estas no permiten evaluar de forma directa y precisa el impacto en los organismos vivos como resultado de la exposición a contaminantes del aire. Objetivo:Evaluar los cambios en la composición de las comunidades de líquenes cortícolas como resultado a la exposición de factores de estrés ambiental en áreas con diferentes niveles de calidad del aire para diagnosticar el estado de contaminación o intervención en una zona de una manera más completa. Métodos: Se determinaron los contrastes y cambios en la calidad del aire, la riqueza y cobertura de líquenes cortícolas en respuesta a diferentes factores de estrés, como usos del suelo y distancia a carreteras, en tres diferentes áreas de biomonitoreo, las cuales fueron evaluadas usando GIS. Los datos se presentan en un mapa de isolíneas con códigos en escala de grises fácil de entender. Resultados:Indicadores como cobertura (R= -0.4) y riqueza (R= -0.7) de líquenes están inversamente correlacionados con las concentraciones de PM2.5en cada área. Se identificaron un total de 110 especies de líquenes, siendo Phaeophyscia chloantha(Ach.) Moberg y Physcia poncinsiiHue las especies más frecuentes (presentes en 38 y 33 % de los 86 forófitos muestreados, respectivamente). Las relaciones intra-área de riqueza de líquenes exhiben relaciones significativas con respecto al uso del suelo y distancia a carreteras (con coeficientes de correlación mayores a 0.5) y el índice de Simpson fue mayor a 0.9, en lugares con mejores condiciones en términos de calidad del aire y microambientes. Asimismo, los factores de resistencia calculados sugieren que las especies más sensibles se pueden encontrar en ambientes con menor grado de perturbación. Conclusión:Estas evaluaciones representan más elementos de criterio para el diagnóstico de la salud ambiental en las áreas de biomonitoreo.

The stability of slender columns is a topic that has been dealt with in research and practice for many years. The importance of this topic also increases with the possibility of using non-linear modeling approaches to determine the stability and with the increasingly complex safety formats. In order to show the complexity and the variability associated with the non-linear models, two previous contributions discussed and compared (a) the results of the Round Robin Non-Linear Modeling, and (b) the existing international associated standard specifications and safety concepts with respect to experimental results. The aim herein is to determine the reliability level (safety index) on the basis of these investigations and findings and to examine the existing safety formats of classical and extended probabilistic analyses and to derive any necessary adjustments. In addition, the method of the safety format Estimation of Coefficient of Variance of resistance (ECOV) is used for the determination of the global safety resistance factors based on the non-linear analyses’ findings of the Round Robin modeling partners., This paper describes work mainly carried out during IABSE activities. The authors would like to acknowledge IABSE Commission 1 for supporting this project, the authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the Interreg project ATCZ190 SAFEBRIDGE. The authors also gratefully acknowledge Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education. This work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. APVV-150658. The authors also would like to express their thanks for the support provided from the Czech Science Foundation project MUFRAS No. 19-09491S. In addition, this work was partly financed by: (1) national funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under Grant No. PD/BD/143003/2018 attributed to the seventh author; and (2) FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC) under the R&D Unit Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), under Reference UIDB/04029/2020.

Background. The fight against the spread of infectious diseases creates the problem of resistance to pathogens and the most resistant of them – the propagators of nosocomial infections – are formed in hospitals because of a number of reasons. The solution of the problem lies in different areas, but the search of new effective means for the treatment of such diseases remains relevant right today. The shortest way to do this is to find the "pain points" of the pathogens themselves, i.e. the factors of their pathogenicity and resistance to which the action of novel antiseptics should be directed. Objective. We aimed to analyse and evaluate the main factors of pathogenicity and resistance of pathogens of nosocomial infections to determine modern approaches to the development of novel antimicrobials. Methods. Search and systematization of new scientific data and results concerning pathogenic factors of microbial pathogens that can be used as targets for the action of drugs. Results. Over the last 10–20 years, due to the development of new research methods in biology, it has become possible to clarify the features and additional conditions for the detection of pathogenic factors of nosocomial infections. Additional mechanisms of manifestation of resistance, adhesiveness, invasiveness, transmission of signs, secretion of toxins by pathogens are shownthat determines the general increase of their resistance to the action of currently used means. The general idea of ​​creating antiseptics that will not increase the resistance of pathogens can now be implemented by using substances with multidirectional or indirect mechanisms of action that minimally affect the metabolism of the cell and significantly reduce its resistance and pathogenicity. Conclusions. Factors of pathogenicity of propagators of nosocomial infections and mechanisms of their implementation can be considered as the main targets for the action of novel antiseptics that will inhibit the spread of pathogens without increasing their resistance. The promising substances for such drugs, among other things, are bacteriophages and their modifications, enzybiotics, immunobiotics, autoinducer inhibitors, quorum sensing-system inhibitors, b-lactamase inhibitors and others. Some of these substances in combination with the new generation of antibiotics significantly enhance their effectiveness and together they are able to overcome the resistance of even multidrug-resistant pathogens., Проблематика. Борьба с распространением инфекционных заболеваний порождает проблему резистентности патогенов, а наиболее стойкие из них – возбудители нозокомиальных инфекций – формируются в больницах в результате ряда причин. Решение проблемы находится в разных плоскостях, но актуальным остается поиск новых эффективных средств для лечения таких заболеваний уже сегодня. Наиболее короткий путь к этому – найти “болевые точки” самих возбудителей, то есть факторы их патогенности и резистентности, на которые и должно быть направлено действие новейших антисептиков. Цель. Анализ и оценка основных факторов патогенности и стойкости возбудителей нозокомиальных инфекций для опреде­ления современных подходов к разработке новейших антимикробных средств. Методика реализации. Поиск и систематизация новых научных данных и результатов относительно факторов патогенности микробных возбудителей, которые могут быть использованы как цели для действия лекарственных препаратов. Результаты. В течение последних 10–20 лет в результате появления новых методов исследований в биологии стало возможным выяснение особенностей и дополнительных условий проявления факторов патогенности возбудителей нозокомиальных инфекций. Показаны дополнительные механизмы проявления устойчивости, адгезивности, инвазивности, трансмиссии при­знаков, секреции токсинов патогенами, определяющие общее повышение их резистентности к действию используемых ныне средств. Общая идея создания антисептиков, которые не будут способствовать повышению устойчивости патогенов, сейчас может быть реализована с использованием субстанций с разнонаправленными или опосредованными механизмами действия, минимально влияющими на метаболизм самой клетки и существенно снижающими ее стойкость и патогенность. Выводы. Факторы патогенности возбудителей нозокомиальных инфекций и механизмы их реализации могут рассматриваться как основные мишени для действия новейших антисептиков, которые будут приостанавливать распространение патогенов, не повышая их резистентность. Среди перспективных субстанций для таких средств – бактериофаги и их модификации, энзибиотики, иммунобиотики, ингибиторы аутоиндукторов, ингибиторы quorum sensing-системы, ингибиторы b-лактамаз и другие. Часть из этих веществ в комбинации с антибиотиками нового поколения значительно усиливает их эффективность, и вместе они способны преодолевать сопротивление даже полирезистентных патогенов., Проблематика. Боротьба з поширенням інфекційних захворювань породжує проблему резистентності патогенів, а найбільш стійкі з них – збудники нозокоміальних інфекцій – формуються в лікарнях унаслідок низки причин. Проблема вирішується в різних площинах, але актуальним лишається пошук нових ефективних засобів для лікування таких захворювань уже сьогодні. Найкоротший шлях до цього – знайти “больові точки” самих збудників, тобто фактори їх патогенності та резистентності, на які й має бути спрямована дія новітніх антисептиків. Мета. Аналіз та оцінка основних факторів патогенності та стійкості збудників нозокоміальних інфекцій для визначення сучасних підходів до розробки новітніх антимікробних засобів. Методика реалізації. Пошук і систематизація нових наукових даних і результатів щодо факторів патогенності мікробних збудників, що можуть бути використані як цілі для дії лікувальних препаратів. Результати. Упродовж останніх 10–20 років унаслідок появи нових методів досліджень у біології стало можливим з’ясування особливостей і додаткових умов вияву факторів патогенності збудників нозокоміальних інфекцій. Показані додаткові механізми вияву стійкості, адгезивності, інвазивності, трансмісії ознак, секреції токсинів патогенами, що визначає загальне підвищення їх резистентності до дії використовуваних нині засобів. Загальна ідея створення антисептиків, які не сприятимуть підвищенню стійкості патогенів, наразі може бути реалізована з використанням субстанцій із різноспрямованими або опосередкованими механізмами дії, що мінімально впливають на метаболізм самої клітини та суттєво знижують її стійкість і патогенність. Висновки. Фактори патогенності збудників нозокоміальних інфекцій та механізми їх реалізації можуть розглядатися як основні мішені для дії новітніх антисептиків, що будуть гальмувати поширення патогенів, не підвищуючи їх резистентність. Серед перспективних субстанцій для таких засобів – бактеріофаги та їх модифікації, ензибіотики, імунобіотики, інгібітори аутоіндукторів, інгібітори quorum sensing-системи, інгібітори b-лактамаз та інші. Частина з цих речовин у комбінації з антибіотиками нового покоління значно підсилює їх ефективність, і разом вони здатні долати опір навіть полірезистентних патогенів.

The design practice of micropiles in Ontario soils under the ultimate limit state was improved through both statistical and reliability analyses of a database of 40 micropile load tests. Micropile design is extremely dependent on engineering experience and judgement due to the lack of an accurate estimation of the bond strength. The FHWA manual of micropiles only provides wide ranges of bond strength in different ground conditions. Micropile load tests were conducted by Keller Foundations Ltd and collected for this study. From a statistical analysis, Fuller and Hoy’s method was selected as the best method to estimate the failure load from non-failed tests. Adjusted parameters were given to predict the bond strength of micropiles. A method was proposed to estimate the contributions from the cased length and the tip to the total resistance. In the end, a reliability analysis was conducted and the resistance factors were recalibrated.

Plazomicin is currently the only next-generation aminoglycoside approved for clinical use that has the potential of evading the effects of widespread enzymatic resistance factors. However, plazomicin is still susceptible to the action of the resistance enzyme AAC(2′)-Ia from Providencia stuartii. As the clinical use of plazomicin begins to increase, the spread of resistance factors will undoubtedly accelerate, rendering this aminoglycoside increasingly obsolete. Understanding resistance to plazomicin is an important step to ensure this aminoglycoside remains a viable treatment option for the foreseeable future. Here, we present three crystal structures of AAC(2′)-Ia from P. stuartii, two in complex with acetylated aminoglycosides tobramycin and netilmicin, and one in complex with a non-substrate aminoglycoside, amikacin. Together, with our previously reported AAC(2′)-Ia-acetylated plazomicin complex, these structures outline AAC(2′)-Ia’s specificity for a wide range of aminoglycosides. Additionally, our survey of AAC(2′)-I homologues highlights the conservation of residues predicted to be involved in aminoglycoside binding, and identifies the presence of plasmid-encoded enzymes in environmental strains that confer resistance to the latest next-generation aminoglycoside. These results forecast the likely spread of plazomicin resistance and highlight the urgency for advancements in next-generation aminoglycoside design.

This study presents the development and calibration of resistance factors for the serviceability limit state (SLS) condition (φSLS) used in the load and resistance factor design (LRFD) of deep foundations. The performance function was established based on load corresponding to tolerable displacement (Qδtol) and design load (Qd). A dataset of published full-scale load tests including projects from Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico was compiled and consisted of 60 load test cases comprising 33 driven piles and 27 drilled shafts. Resistance factors for SLS conditions were calibrated for tolerable displacements using both the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and the First Order Second Moment (FOSM) approaches. From the calibration study, resistance factors at SLS conditions were obtained ranging from 0.33 to 0.62 using FOSM method and 0.37 to 0.67 using the MCS for driven piles. In the case of drilled shafts, SLS resistance factors ranged from 0.37 to 0.77 following the FOSM method and 0.41 to 0.86 based on MCS.