Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) colonizes the human nasopharynx and is a significant pathogen worldwide. Pneumolysin (Ply) is a multi-functional, extracellular virulence factor produced by this organism that is critical for pathogenesis. Despite the absence of any apparent secretion or cell surface attachment motifs, Ply localizes to the cell envelope of actively growing cells. We s...

In this study, the tensile and compressive behaviors of pure and hybrid composite laminates reinforced by basalt–nylon bi-woven intra-ply fabrics were experimentally investigated. Epoxy resin was used as the matrix material. The purpose of using this hybrid composite is to obtain superior characteristics by using the good strength property of basalt fiber with the excellent toughness of ny...

This paper outlines an experimental investigation carried out for the analysis of failure mechanisms in fibrous laminated composite plates containing stress raisers, in the form of cutouts, under static biaxial planar compressive loadiing. A specially designed biaxial loadiing frame was used to test a series of 48 ply graphite/epoxy composite laminated plates with centrally located circular hol...

i Abstract In design with composite materials, the capability of tailoring the properties of the structure with respect to the specific load requirements in each direction, allowed by their anisotropic nature, is coupled with the development of interlaminar stresses transferred through the thickness. Specifically, at the free edge of the laminate, due to the change in fiber orientation and the ...

BACKGROUND All-soft tissue suture anchors provide advantages of decreased removal of bone and decreased glenoid volume occupied compared with traditional tap or screw-in suture anchors. Previous published data have led to biomechanical concerns with the use of first-generation all-soft suture anchors. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS The purpose of this study was to evaluate the load to 2-mm displacement a...

• Forty-seven dowelled cross-laminated timber (CLT) connections were tested. Increased row spacing and end distance significantly increased ductility. Reinforcement by screws or threaded dowels with nuts enhanced performance. 3-ply (135 mm), 5-ply (175 mm ), 7-ply (275 mm) CLT panels employed. Overstrength ductility of determined. Dowel embedment tests performed to determine theoretical overstr...

BACKGROUND The number of people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Myanmar has been increasing rapidly in recent years. This study aimed to estimate rates of virological failure on first-line ART and switching to second-line ART due to treatment failure at the Integrated HIV Care program (IHC). METHODS Routinely collected data of all adolescent and adult patients living with...

This paper reports results from an investigation into the suction caissons failure mechanisms under vertical pull-out loads. An insight to the failure mechanisms of suction caissons paves the path for developing analytical solutions to their pull-out capacity. The numerical models of suction caissons have first been calibrated by and verified against several experimental data from other researc...

In this paper, effects of ply orientation of adjacent plies with (ϕ//θ) interfaces on mode II critical strain energy release rate (fracture toughness) of multidirectional (MD) laminate has been studied. Ply orientation of adjacent plies is one of the most important parameters affects the mode II critical strain energy release rate () in the initiation of the delamination. To  study this paramet...