22 research outputs found
Fragility curves for low-damage rocking dissipative connections of precast concrete buildings
No full textDifferent low-damage technologies have recently been developed to meet society's growing expectations for earthquake-proof buildings. Among others, the PRESSS (PREcast Seismic Structural System) technology has proved its capability to withstand earthquakes with minimal damage, effectively mitigating socio-economic losses. However, applying loss assessment methodologies can pose challenges due to the lack of data regarding fragility functions for low-damage structural components. This paper aims to propose a method for computing numerical fragility curves for rocking dissipative structural components. To achieve this, archetypes of precast concrete structures were analyzed to develop fragility models for this technology.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Architectural Technolog
Contractual relations between professional footballers and football clubs in the Republic of Croatia
No full textRad nastoji pobliže približiti ugovorne odnose pofesionalnih nogometaša i nogometnih klubova u Republici Hrvatskoj. U tom nastojanju, u radu se polazi od objašnjavanja monopolno-hijerarhijske strukture nogometnog ustroja u Hrvatskoj ali i u svijetu. Zatim, autor opisuje vrste ugovora koji se mogu sklopiti između navedenih subjekata, a posebnu pažnju posvećuje najraširenijem obliku - ugovoru o profesionalnom igranju. Prilikom analize tog ugovora, autor objašnjava njegovu pravnu prirodu, razlike u odnosu na njemu slične ugovore, njegove odredbe te modalitete njegova prestanka. Na kraju, rad obraća pažnju na ulogu nogometnih agenata u posredovanju između nogometaša i nogometnih klubova te opisuje o koji ugovor uređuje odnose posrednika i nogometnog kluba, odnosno nogometaša.The paper aims to bring closer the contractual relations of professional football players and football clubs in the Republic of Croatia. In this effort, the paper starts from explaining the monopoly-hierarchical structure of the football organization in Croatia but also in the world. Next, the author describes the types of contracts that can be concluded between the mentioned entities, and he pays special attention to the most widespread form - the professional playing contract. When analyzing that contract, the author explains its legal nature, the differences compared to similar contracts, its provisions and the modalities of its termination. At the end, the paper pays attention to the role of football agents in mediating between football players and football clubs and describes which contract governs the relationship between the mediator and the football club, i.e. football players
Contractual relations between professional footballers and football clubs in the Republic of Croatia
No full textRad nastoji pobliže približiti ugovorne odnose pofesionalnih nogometaša i nogometnih klubova u Republici Hrvatskoj. U tom nastojanju, u radu se polazi od objašnjavanja monopolno-hijerarhijske strukture nogometnog ustroja u Hrvatskoj ali i u svijetu. Zatim, autor opisuje vrste ugovora koji se mogu sklopiti između navedenih subjekata, a posebnu pažnju posvećuje najraširenijem obliku - ugovoru o profesionalnom igranju. Prilikom analize tog ugovora, autor objašnjava njegovu pravnu prirodu, razlike u odnosu na njemu slične ugovore, njegove odredbe te modalitete njegova prestanka. Na kraju, rad obraća pažnju na ulogu nogometnih agenata u posredovanju između nogometaša i nogometnih klubova te opisuje o koji ugovor uređuje odnose posrednika i nogometnog kluba, odnosno nogometaša.The paper aims to bring closer the contractual relations of professional football players and football clubs in the Republic of Croatia. In this effort, the paper starts from explaining the monopoly-hierarchical structure of the football organization in Croatia but also in the world. Next, the author describes the types of contracts that can be concluded between the mentioned entities, and he pays special attention to the most widespread form - the professional playing contract. When analyzing that contract, the author explains its legal nature, the differences compared to similar contracts, its provisions and the modalities of its termination. At the end, the paper pays attention to the role of football agents in mediating between football players and football clubs and describes which contract governs the relationship between the mediator and the football club, i.e. football players
Serum chloride as a respiratory failure marker in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
No full textRespiratory failure is the most common cause of death in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and occurs with great variability among patients according to different phenotypic features. Early predictors of respiratory failure in ALS are important to start non-invasive ventilation (NIV). Venous serum chloride values correlate with carbonate (HCO3-) blood levels and reflect metabolic compensation of respiratory acidosis. Despite its wide availability and low cost, few data on serum chloride as a prognostic marker exist in ALS literature. In the present study, we evaluated serum chloride values at diagnosis as prognostic biomarkers for overall survival and NIV adaptation in a retrospective center-based cohort of ALS patients. We collected all ALS patients with serum chloride assessment at diagnosis, identified through the Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta Register for ALS, evaluating the correlations among serum chloride, clinical features, and other serum biomarkers. Thereafter, time-to-event analysis was modeled to predict overall survival and NIV start. We found a significant correlation between serum chloride and inflammatory status markers, serum sodium, forced vital capacity (FVC), ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) item 10 and 11, age at diagnosis, and weight loss. Time-to-event analysis confirmed both in univariate analysis and after multiple confounders’ adjustment that serum chloride value at diagnosis significantly influenced survival and time to NIV start. According to our analysis, based on a large ALS cohort, we found that serum chloride analyzed at diagnosis is a low-cost marker of impending respiratory decompensation. In our opinion, it should be added among the serum prognostic biomarkers that are able to stratify patients into different prognostic categories even when performed in the early phases of the disease
Update on recent advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
No full textIn the last few years, our understanding of disease molecular mechanisms underpinning ALS has advanced greatly, allowing the first steps in translating into clinical practice novel research findings, including gene therapy approaches. Similarly, the recent advent of assistive technologies has greatly improved the possibility of a more personalized approach to supportive and symptomatic care, in the context of an increasingly complex multidisciplinary line of actions, which remains the cornerstone of ALS management. Against this rapidly growing background, here we provide an comprehensive update on the most recent studies that have contributed towards our understanding of ALS pathogenesis, the latest results from clinical trials as well as the future directions for improving the clinical management of ALS patients
Report on Complementary RI and User Communities in Africa
No full textOne of the objectives of IPAD-MD is to reach out to complementary infrastructures and user communities in Africa in order to increase the reach of INFRAFRONTIER and EMMA resources and services.
This report details the progress made by INFRAFRONTIER using IPAD-MD funded activities to establish consequential and relevant ties to complementary African researchers
Characterization of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor-enriched prelysosomal compartment in NRK cells
No full textAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis caregiver burden and patients’ quality of life during COVID-19 pandemic
No full textObjective: To assess patients Quality of life (QoL) and the burden of their caregivers during Covid-19 pandemic and specifically the impact of two-month lockdown period. Methods: In April 2020, a total of 60 patients and 59 caregivers were administered by phone scales assessing patients’ QoL (McGill QoL Questionnaire), general health status (EQ-5D-5L), and caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Interview). The administration was repeated one month after the end of lockdown measures, with the addition of a qualitative questionnaire (COVID-QoL Questionnaire) exploring family reorganization and personal perception of lock down. Results: QoL and perceived health status did not worsen during lockdown, while caregiver burden increased (p = 0.01). Patient’s QoL and caregiver burden were inversely correlated at T1 (ZBI total score mildly correlated with Mc Gill existential subscore, p = 0.02, rho = 0.30 and with Mc Gill total score, p = 0.05, rho = 0.265). No significant correlations were found at T2. According to the COVID-QoL questionnaire, caregivers perceived lower family help compared to patients (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Restricted measures of lockdown period during COVID-19 pandemic did not result in a significant reduction of QoL in our cohort of ALS patients, while caregiver burden significantly increased. ALS motor impairment may have played a role in the unchanged life conditions of patients. Instead, the restriction of family help for primary caregivers could be responsible of their increased burden, reflecting the importance of a wide social support in the management of this clinical condition
