Performance of RC buildings after Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes: lessons toward performance based design

Two simultaneous earthquakes occurred in the Kahramanmaraş-Pazarcık and Kahramanmaraş-Elbistan districts of Turkey on February 6,2023,and with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6,respectively.These events caused the highest estimated loss recorded in Turkey within the last century from natural disasters.The key reason for the extensive loss was the proximity of eleven cities to the earthquake epicenters.Middle East Technical University teams investigated the building sites in Gaziantep,Kahramanmaras,Hatay,Adiyaman and Adana.The ground motion recordings revealed that in certain locations of Gaziantep,Kahramanmaraşand Hatay,the ground motion levels exceeded the maximum credible earthquake level defined for a return period of 2,475 years in the Turkish Earthquake Code.Residential building performance was investigated with respect to the construction year,which is a good indicator of compliance with modern seismic codes and inspection procedures.About 97%of the collapsed buildings were constructed prior to 2000,whereas over 5,000 buildings,which were built after 2000,collapsed or required urgent demolition.Most of the buildings with minor or greater structural damage sustained heavy infill wall damage rendering occupancy impossible.Aside from damage in older construction with significant structural deficiencies,the damage in some of the more recent and better constructed buildings was observed to be surprisingly poor.This can be attributed to the level of ground motion,significant ductility demands,poor material and workmanship and damage to non-structural elements.With the estimated total loss of above 100 billion dollars and over 50,000 casualties,the current seismic design criterion based on ductility and acceptance of structural damage should be re-evaluated to ensure a more resilient urban environment in high seismic regions.

Bi-weekly docetaxel and 5-fluorouracil:an effective and feasible treatment for advanced gastric cancer with poor performance status

Background:The survival benefits from cytotoxic chemotherapy have been demonstrated in advanced gastric cancer(AGC).A large proportion of AGC patients initially present poor performance status(PS);however,most of the clinical evidence comes from trials on patients with good PS.A better-designed regimen is greatly needed for AGC patients with poor PS.Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a modified combination regimen with docetaxel plus 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)every two weeks as first-line treatment in AGC patients with poor PS.Methods:From September 2011 to December 2013,12 patients diagnosed with AGC with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG)PS scores of 3 or 4 were included in this study.All the patients received docetaxel 60 mg/m^(2) on Day 1,5-FU 400mg/m^(2) intravenous(i.v.)bolus on Day 1,and a 46-hour continuous i.v.infusion of 5-FU 2400mg/m^(2) every two weeks,until disease progressed or patients experienced unacceptable toxicity or declined treatment.Detailed clinical,pathologic and survival data were all recorded.Results:Eleven out of 12 patients were assessable for responses,whereas nine cases(75%)achieved partial response,one(8.3%)achieved stabilized disease,and one(8.3%)had progressive disease.The median progression-free survival was 6.5 months(95%CI:4.8–8.2).The median overall survival was 12.0 months(95%CI:9.0–15.0).The most common Grade 3/4 toxicities were anemia in seven patients(58.3%).No patient experienced febrile neutropenia.Conclusion:The novel modification of bi-weekly docetaxel and 5-FU is a promising treatment option for AGC with poor PS,showing great efficacy and acceptable toxicity.

Pharmacological Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation—Modalities in Equines and Companion Animals

Cardiac arrhythmias are probably more common in horses than in any other domestic animal species where poor performance and exercise intolerance is the most frequent clinical complaint. Atrial fibrillation is a type of cardiac arrhythmia that appears as a common finding during medical examinations in humans, large breed dogs and horses. Clinical presentations are of a particular value in racehorses in high performing activities. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, secondary to a primary disease or without any sign of comorbidity. The generation and maintenance of Atrial Fibrillation requires a substrate. Some breeds have a genetic predisposition to developing Atrial Fibrillation. Most cases of Atrial Fibrillation are of the paroxysmal type and self-regulate within a few hours to days without the need for treatment. The focus of this study is on the arrhythmic agents that are used for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation, therefore other arrhythmic agents may not be included, or are included to demonstrate their effect on increasing, inhibiting or decreasing efficacy when used together with medications for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. The “working horse” for the pharmacological treatment of Atrial Fibrillation is Quinidine.