Current design codes for fire resistance of structures are based on isolated member tests subjected to standard fire conditions. Such tests do not reflect the behaviour of a complete building under either normal temperature or fire conditions. Many aspects of behaviour occur due to the interaction between members and cannot be predicted or observed in tests of isolated elements. Performance of real structures subject to real fires is often much better than that predicted from standard tests due to structural continuity and the provision of alternative load paths. This paper reports on the results of a collaborative research project (Tensile membrane action and robustness of structural steel joints under natural fire, European Community FP5 project HPRI-CV 5535) involving the following institutions: Czech Technical University (Czech Republic), University of Coimbra (Portugal), Slovak Technical University (Slovak Republic) and Building Research Establishment (United Kingdom). It consists of an experimental programme to investigate the global structural behaviour of a compartment on the 8-storey steel-concrete composite frame building at the Cardington laboratory during a BRE large-scale fire test, aimed at the examination of the temperature development within the various structural elements, the corresponding (dynamic) distribution of internal forces and the behaviour of the composite slab, beams, columns and connections. r

Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, a recently available option for patients with refractory epilepsy, has demonstrated safety and efficacy. We report four patients with refractory epilepsy who experienced ventricular asystole intraoperatively during initial testing for implantation of the vagus nerve stimulator. Acute intraoperative vagus nerve stimulation may create ventricular asystole in humans. Extracorporeal cervical vagus nerve stimulation testing with continuous EKG monitoring intraoperatively before generator implantation is warranted.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract