Ultrahigh-speed imaging for high-impact concrete deformation analysis in pre- and post-cracking stages.

The evaluation of high-speed camera image sequence analysis results in concrete material testing under high-impact loading necessitates the consideration of the effect of the image quality on the measurement accuracy and thus on the potential of the geometric measurements derived from the image sequences. In this contribution, we evaluate the application potential of three ultrahigh-speed cameras with frame rates up to 10 Mfps to analyze the deformation of concrete specimens before and after main crack formation in bending and compression tests. Specifically, we evaluate the Kirana 7M and Shimadzu HPV-X2 cameras with ISIS sensor architecture, and the Phantom TMX 7510 camera with BSI CMOS sensor technology. Three-point bending tests and split-Hopkinson pressure bar tests are performed on 160×40×40m m 3 cuboids and on 80 mm long, 50 mm diameter cylinders. Prior to main crack formation, the displacement vector field represents the specimen deformation, with higher values indicating the position where main cracks will initiate and propagate. Deformations of 80 µm in 54 µs for a bending test and of 154 µm in 36.67 µs for a compression test could be measured. The main cracks are then detected using displacement vector field discontinuity analysis techniques, and their evolution is followed to estimate the crack propagation velocity. Average velocities in bending tests between 603 and 854 m/s have been determined over a time interval up to 40 µs. An investigation of the camera sensor operation of the three optical devices is presented to assess their suitability for deformation analysis. Laboratory tests and real experimental results show that the quality of the propagation vector field, the crack detection, and the crack tip tracking are obviously affected by the image quality, but more significantly by the spatial and temporal resolution due to the small relative step deformations.

KS-WNK1 is required for the renal response to extreme changes in potassium intake.

Kidney-specific with-no-lysine kinase 1 (KS-WNK1) is an isoform of WNK1 kinase that is predominantly found in the distal convoluted tubule of the kidney. The precise physiological function of KS-WNK1 remains unclear. Some studies have suggested that it could play a role in regulating potassium renal excretion by modulating the activity of the Na+-Cl- cotransporter (NCC). However, changes in the potassium diet from normal to high failed to reveal a role for KS-WNK1, but under a normal-potassium diet, the expression of KS-WNK1 is negligible. It is only detectable when mice are exposed to a low-potassium diet. In this study, we investigated the role of KS-WNK1 in regulating potassium excretion under extreme changes in potassium intake. After following a zero-potassium diet (0KD) for 10 days, KS-WNK1-/- mice had lower plasma levels of K+ and Cl- while exhibiting higher urinary excretion of Na+, Cl-, and K+ compared with KS-WNK1+/+ mice. After 10 days of 0KD or normal-potassium diet (NKD), all mice were challenged with a high-potassium diet (HKD). Plasma K+ levels markedly increased after the HKD challenge only in mice previously fed with 0KD, regardless of genotype. KSWNK1+/+ mice adapt better to HKD challenge than KS-WNK1-/- mice after a potassium-retaining state. The difference in the phosphorylated NCC-to-NCC ratio between KS-WNK1+/+ and KS-WNK1-/- mice after 0KD and HKD indicates a role for KS-WNK1 in both NCC phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. These observations show that KS-WNK1 helps the distal convoluted tubule to respond to extreme changes in potassium intake, such as those occurring in wildlife.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The findings of this study demonstrate that kidney-specific with-no-lysine kinase 1 plays a role in regulating urinary electrolyte excretion during extreme changes in potassium intake, such as those occurring in wildlife. .

Comportamiento de la invalidez total permanente. Municipio Puerto Padre. Enero-julio de 2011 / Behavior of permanent total disability. Municipality of Puerto Padre. January-July 2011

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en el municipio Puerto Padre de enero a julio de 2011, con el objetivo de determinar el comportamiento de la invalidez total permanente. Fueron revisadas las estadísticas de la Comisión Municipal de Peritaje Médico Laboral y los expedientes de los trabajadores dictaminados. Las principales variables incluidas fueron los tipos de dictámenes, edad y sexo, años de trabajo, principales causas de jubilación, categoría ocupacional y organismos de procedencia. Entre los principales resultados se observó que la mayoría de los trabajadores dictaminados fueron del sexo masculino; la invalidez total permanente predominó en el grupo de 56 y más años y en el sexo masculino; el mayor número de jubilados tenía 26 años y más de trabajo; las enfermedades del sistema ostiomioarticular y del tejido conectivo y los tumores constituyeron las principales causas de invalidez total, y los obreros agrícolas fue la categoría ocupacional que más casos aportó(AU)

We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study in the municipality Puerto Padre from January to July 2011, with the aim of determining the behavior of the permanent total disability. Statistics of the Municipal Commission of Labour Medical Expertise were revised and records of the workers audited. The main variables included were the types of decisions, age, sex, years of work, leading causes of retirement, occupational category and originating agencies. The main results showed that the majority of workers were male audited; permanent total disability predominated in the group of 56 years old and over and in males, with the largest number of retirees was 26 years and more of work; ostiomioarticular system diseases and connective tissue and tumors were the main causes of total disability, and agricultural workers were the occupational category that most cases brought(AU)

Algunas variables clínico-epidemiológicas de la tuberculosis pulmonar Puerto Padre 2008-2012 / Some Clinic-epidemiologic Variables of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Puerto Padre 2008-2012

La tuberculosis es tan antigua como la humanidad, a pesar de existir desde tiempos remotos no puede ser considerada como una enfermedad del pasado. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo, para determinar algunas variables clínico epidemiológicas de la tuberculosis en el municipio de Puerto Padre, en el quinquenio 2008-2012. Se obtuvieron los siguientes resultados: la tendencia de la tuberculosis fue estacionaria en ese período, pero a partir del año 2009 ha tenido un ligero incremento, con una tendencia ascendente en los últimos cuatro años. El sexo más afectado fue el masculino, para un 82,6 por ciento, y el 43,5 por ciento fue del grupo de edad de 45-64 años; la forma clínica pulmonar es la de mayor frecuencia, con un 95,7 por ciento y los de baciloscopia positiva un 65,2 por ciento. Los factores de riesgo que más se presentaron fueron el albergamiento prolongado en instituciones cerradas, con un 34,8 por ciento, el alcoholismo, con un 26,1 por ciento y la edad mayor de 65 años, con un 21,7 por ciento. Los reclusos tuvieron la mayor incidencia, un 26,1 por ciento, seguidos de los desocupados, con cuatro casos (17,4 por ciento) y de las amas de casa y jubilados, con tres casos cada uno, para un 13 por ciento. Hubo deficiencias en el diagnóstico, ya que un 52,2 por ciento se diagnosticó en la atención secundaria y el 48,8 por ciento de los casos fueron diagnosticados con más de dos meses de haber comenzado los síntomas (AU)

Tuberculosis is as old as humanity, but in spite of existing from remote times, it cannot be considered as an illness of past times. A descriptive and retrospective study was carried out in order to determine some clinical and epidemiological variables of the tuberculosis in Puerto Padre Municipality, from 2008 to 2012. The following results were obtained: the tendency of tuberculosis was stationary during the period, but from 2009 there has been a slight increase with an ascendant tendency during the last 4 years. Male was the most affected sex, for a 82,6 per cent, as well as the age group of 45 to 64 years old, for a 43,5 per cent; the clinical pulmonary type showed the highest incidence with a 95,7 per cent, and the positive bacillus copy, a 65,2 per cent. The most frequent risk factors were: the long-lasting accommodation in closed institutions, 34,8 per cent; alcoholism, 26,1 per cent; and the age older than 65 years, 21,7 per cent. Prisoners had the greatest incidence: a 26,1 per cent, followed by 4 cases of unemployed people: 17,4 per cent, housewives and pensioners, with 3 cases each one: 13 per cent. There were deficiencies in the diagnosis, since a 52, 2 per cent was diagnosed in the secondary attention, and the 48,8 per cent of the cases were diagnosed after more than two months of having showed the first symptoms (AU)