Powder Characterisation of ZincModified Synthetic Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H)

Despite being one of the most abundant materials in the world, several aspects of C-S-H still remain unknown. It has been shown that minor additions of zinc enhance the early age strength of the cement’s clinker as it increases C-S-H reactivity, but the mechanisms behind this are still unclear. As C-S-H is the main hydration product of cement, understanding the effect of zinc on it’s growth can help improve cement’s properties and thus lower its CO2 emissions by partially substituting it with SCMs. In this project, high Ca:Si ratio (>1.5) C-S-H and Zn-modified C-S-H have been successfully synthesized by a dropwise precipitation method. Samples were preliminary characterised through XRD, which confirmed that zinc was incorporated into the structure of C-S-H and no new phases were formed. TGA quantified the bound water, carbonation and portlandite losses. It also showed that portlandite formation did not have a significant impact in the corrected Ca:Si ratio. TEM micrographs showed the nanofoil morphology of both C-S-H and Zn-modified C-S-H. Particle size distributions (PSD) were studied using laser diffraction., concluding that C-SH was agglomerating into particles that are 1-20 µm. PSD frequency plots also showed the formation of two main agglomerates families of 4.9 and 6.6 µm, regardless of the amount of zinc. SSA values, obtained through N2 adsorption experiment and using the BET model, oscillated between 133 and 325 m2 /g. When both values from PSD and SSA were used, an agglomeration factor FAG could be calculated. It ranged from 110 to 171, which concludes that the C-S-H is a very heavy agglomerated powder. Also, zeta potential results indicated that positive Na+ and Ca+2 ions adsorbed from the dispersion media onto the C-S-H surface, with a preference for the latter when both were competing. Also, when supernatant was used as the dispersion medium, zeta potential values decreased for Zn-modified C-S-H. This supports the current Zn-modified C-S-H atomistic structure theory, which points to zinc substituting silicon and calcium atoms in CS-H surface

Todo lo que puedas comer: depredación de vertebrados e invertebrados autóctonos por parte de la araña introducida Parasteatoda tepidariorum (C.L. Koch, 1837) (Araneae: Theridiidae) en dos hábitats antropogénicos de Italia

Reportamos las dos principales presas autóctonas de la araña introducida Parasteatoda tepidariorum (C.L. Koch, 1841) en dos hábitats antropogénicos de los Alpes italianos, específicamente una especie de lagartija y una especie de escorpión: Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque, 1810) y Alpiscorpius sigma  Kovařík, Štundlová, Fet & Šťáhlavský, 2019. Además, describimos brevemente el comportamiento depredador de esta araña con ambas presas, destacamos la escasez de registros de depredación de invertebrados sobre vertebrados en Europa y comentamos posibles efectos negativos sobre las poblaciones autóctonas

Helimagnets by disorder: Its role on the high-temperature magnetic spiral in the YBaCuFeO5 perovskite

Most of the spiral magnetoelectric multiferroics investigated in recent years are geometrically or exchangefrustrated magnets, where the presence of triangular or other frustrated spin networks produce low magnetic transition temperatures. This critically limits their potential uses. The exceptional stability of the spiral magnetic order (at TS) in the layered structure of the YBaCuFeO5 double perovskite involves a nonconventional mechanism: spiral order by disorder. The model has been theoretically developed by Scaramucci et al. [Phys.Rev.Res. 2, 013273 (2020)] after the discovery of a huge impact of cation disorder on TS [M. Morin et al., Nat. Commun. 7, 13758 (2016)]. In this work the influence of disorder (and only disorder) on the magnetic phase diagram is studied on a quantitative basis extending the range of previous studies. We thoroughly investigate the impact of frustration due to B-site disorder (nd) on the magnetic spirals in the reference composition YBaCuFeO5.The interplay between disorder, stability, and the detailed features of the incommensurate spiral magnetic orders were systematic, quantitative, and methodically investigated in samples of identical composition, spanning a wide range of nd values. Three different regimes are distinguished in the YBaCuFeO5 phase diagram versus disorder. A triple point is found in YBaCuFeO5 driven by Fe/Cu disorder that sets limits to TS and the cycloidal component of the helicoidal order. These layered materials appear as a very efficient realization of the avenue “spiral order by disorder” to supply functional helimagnets at normal working temperatures

Differential Immune Response to Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Tissues in the α1,3Galactosyltransferase-Knockout Mouse Model

Anti-Gal antibodies; Bioprosthetic heart valves; Cellular immune infiltrateAnticuerpos anti-Gal; Válvulas cardíacas bioprotésicas; Infiltrado inmune celularAnticossos anti-Gal; Vàlvules cardíaques bioprotèsiques; Infiltrat immune cel·lularStructural valve deterioration (SVD) of bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) has great clinical and economic consequences. Notably, immunity against BHVs plays a major role in SVD, especially when implanted in young and middle-aged patients. However, the complex pathogenesis of SVD remains to be fully characterized, and analyses of commercial BHVs in standardized-preclinical settings are needed for further advancement. Here, we studied the immune response to commercial BHV tissue of bovine, porcine, and equine origin after subcutaneous implantation into adult α1,3-galactosyltransferase-knockout (Gal KO) mice. The levels of serum anti-galactose α1,3-galactose (Gal) and -non-Gal IgM and IgG antibodies were determined up to 2 months post-implantation. Based on histological analyses, all BHV tissues studied triggered distinct infiltrating cellular immune responses that related to tissue degeneration. Increased anti-Gal antibody levels were found in serum after ATS 3f and Freedom/Solo implantation but not for Crown or Hancock II grafts. Overall, there were no correlations between cellular-immunity scores and post-implantation antibodies, suggesting these are independent factors differentially affecting the outcome of distinct commercial BHVs. These findings provide further insights into the understanding of SVD immunopathogenesis and highlight the need to evaluate immune responses as a confounding factor.This research was funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under Grant Agreement no. 603049, TRANSLINK. This work was also supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad-ISCiii (PI15/00181) and the PERIS SLT002/16/00445 funded by the Department of Health of Generalitat de Catalunya, all granted to CC and co-funded by FEDER funds, a way to build Europe. IDIBELL benefits from CERCA support. S.G.K. was partially supported by an IDIBELL summer internship. The funding agencies did not influence in any other way than by providing financial support

Integrated miRNA/mRNA Counter-Expression Analysis Highlights Oxidative Stress-Related Genes CCR7 and FOXO1 as Blood Markers of Coronary Arterial Disease

Our interest in the mechanisms of atherosclerosis progression (ATHp) has led to the recent identification of 13 miRNAs and 1285 mRNAs whose expression was altered during ATHp. Here, we deepen the functional relationship among these 13 miRNAs and genes associated to oxidative stress, a crucial step in the onset and progression of vascular disease. We first compiled a list of genes associated to the response to oxidative stress (Oxstress genes) by performing a reverse Gene Ontology analysis (rGO, from the GO terms to the genes) with the GO terms GO0006979, GO1902882, GO1902883 and GO1902884, which included a total of 417 unique Oxstress genes. Next, we identified 108 putative targets of the 13 miRNAs among these unique Oxstress genes, which were validated by an integrated miRNA/mRNA counter-expression analysis with the 1285 mRNAs that yielded 14 genes, Map2k1, Mapk1, Mapk9, Dapk1, Atp2a2, Gata4, Fos, Egfr, Foxo1, Ccr7, Vkorc1l1, Rnf7, Kcnh3, and Mgat3. GO enrichment analysis and a protein–protein-interaction network analysis (PPI) identified most of the validated Oxstress transcripts as components of signaling pathways, highlighting a role for MAP signaling in ATHp. Lastly, expression of these Oxstress transcripts was measured in PBMCs from patients suffering severe coronary artery disease, a serious consequence of ATHp. This allowed the identification of FOXO1 and CCR7 as blood markers downregulated in CAD. These results are discussed in the context of the interaction of the Oxstress transcripts with the ATHp-associated miRNAs

Chronic kidney disease-associated inflammation increases in risks of acute kidney injury and mortality after cardíac surgery

Cardiovascular mortality increases with decreasing renal function although the cause is yet unknown. Here, we have investigated whether low chronic inflammation in chronic kidney diseases (CKD) could contribute to increased risk for coronary artery diseases (CAD). Thus, a prospective case-control study was conducted in patients with CAD and CKD undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery with the aim of detecting differences in cardiovascular outcomes, epicardial adipose tissue volume, and inflammatory marker activity associated with renal dysfunction. Expression of membrane CD14 and CD16, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and hsa-miR-30a-5p were analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Epicardial fat volume and tissue inflammation in perivascular adipose tissue and in the aorta were also studied. In the present study, 151 patients were included, 110 with CAD (51 with CKD) and 41 nonCAD controls (15 with CKD). CKD increased the risk of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) as well as the 30-day mortality after cardiac surgery. Higher counts of CD14++CD16+ monocytes were associated with vascular inflammation, with an increased expression of IL1β, and with CKD in CAD patients. Expression of hsa-miR-30a-5p was correlated with hypertension. We conclude that CKD patients show an increased risk of CSA-AKI and mortality after cardiovascular surgery, associated with the expansion of the CD14++CD16+ subset of proinflammatory monocytes and with IL1β expression. We propose that inflammation associated with CKD may contribute to atherosclerosis (ATH) pathogenesis

The role of antibody responses against glycans in bioprosthetic heart valve calcification and deterioration

Outcomes research; Risk factorsInvestigación de resultados; Factores de riesgoRecerca dels resultats; Factors de riscBioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) are commonly used to replace severely diseased heart valves but their susceptibility to structural valve degeneration (SVD) limits their use in young patients. We hypothesized that antibodies against immunogenic glycans present on BHVs, particularly antibodies against the xenoantigens galactose-α1,3-galactose (αGal) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), could mediate their deterioration through calcification. We established a large longitudinal prospective international cohort of patients (n = 1668, 34 ± 43 months of follow-up (0.1–182); 4,998 blood samples) to investigate the hemodynamics and immune responses associated with BHVs up to 15 years after aortic valve replacement. Early signs of SVD appeared in <5% of BHV recipients within 2 years. The levels of both anti-αGal and anti-Neu5Gc IgGs significantly increased one month after BHV implantation. The levels of these IgGs declined thereafter but anti-αGal IgG levels declined significantly faster in control patients compared to BHV recipients. Neu5Gc, anti-Neu5Gc IgG and complement deposition were found in calcified BHVs at much higher levels than in calcified native aortic valves. Moreover, in mice, anti-Neu5Gc antibodies were unable to promote calcium deposition on subcutaneously implanted BHV tissue engineered to lack αGal and Neu5Gc antigens. These results indicate that BHVs manufactured using donor tissues deficient in αGal and Neu5Gc could be less prone to immune-mediated deterioration and have improved durability.This work was supported by the European Union Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007/2013) under grant agreement no. 603049 for the Translink Consortium. This research was also funded by a European Union H2020 Program grant no. ERC-2016-STG-716220 to V.P-K. and by the Elizabeth and Nicholas Slezak Super Center for Cardiac Research and Medical Engineering (to V.P-K.). This work was supported by an Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale translational grant no. 2012-2016 to T.L.T. This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad-ISCiii (PI15/00181) and the PERIS SLT002/16/00445 funded by the Department of Health of Generalitat de Catalunya (both granted to C.C.), and cofunded by FEDER (European Regional Development Fund), a way to build Europe. This work was supported by an Israel Ministry of Science & Technology PhD fellowship to S.B. We thank L. Adler for her assistance in the affinity purification of anti-Neu5Gc antibodies and IgG subclass analysis. Finally, we thank N. Bovin from the Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, who provided the Bdi-C3 PAA substrate needed to develop the anti-αGal assays

Diet and exercise modulate gh-igfs axis, proteolytic markers and myogenic regulatory factors in juveniles of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

© 2021 by the authors.The physiological and endocrine benefits of sustained exercise in fish were largely demonstrated, and this work examines how the swimming activity can modify the effects of two diets (high-protein, HP: 54% proteins, 15% lipids; high-energy, HE: 50% proteins, 20% lipids) on different growth performance markers in gilthead sea bream juveniles. After 6 weeks of experimentation, fish under voluntary swimming and fed with HP showed significantly higher circulating growth hormone (GH) levels and plasma GH/insulin-like growth-1 (IGF-1) ratio than fish fed with HE, but under exercise, differences disappeared. The transcriptional profile of the GH-IGFs axis molecules and myogenic regulatory factors in liver and muscle was barely affected by diet and swimming conditions. Under voluntary swimming, fish fed with HE showed significantly increased mRNA levels of capn1, capn2, capn3, capns1a, n3, and ub, decreased gene and protein expression of Ctsl and Mafbx and lower muscle texture than fish fed with HP. When fish were exposed to sustained exercise, diet-induced differences in proteases’ expression and muscle texture almost disappeared. Overall, these results suggest that exercise might be a useful tool to minimize nutrient imbalances and that proteolytic genes could be good markers of the culture conditions and dietary treatments in fish.This study was supported by the projects from the “Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad” (MINECO) AGL2015-70679-R and RTI2018-100757-B-I00 to J.G. and J.B., and the “Xarxa de Refèrencia d’R+D+I en Aqüicultura” and the 2017SGR1574 from the “Generalitat de Catalunya”. M.P.- A., I.G.-P. and E.J.V. were supported by predoctoral fellowships from the MINECO, BES-2016-078697, PRE2019-089578 and BES-2013-062949, respectively

MiR-125b downregulates macrophage scavenger receptor type B1 and reverse cholesterol transport

Objective: To determine whether miR-125b regulates cholesterol efflux in vivo and in vitro through the regulation of scavenger receptor type B1 (SR-B1). Approach and results: We demonstrated that miR-125b is up-regulated in the human aortas of patients with CAD and is located in macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We identified SCARB1 as a direct target of miR-125b by repressing the activity of the SCARB1 3'-untranslated region reporter construct. Moreover, the overexpression of miR-125b in both human and mouse macrophages as well as VSMCs was found to downregulated the expression of the SCARB1 and the SR-B1 protein levels, thereby impairing alpha-HDL-mediated macrophage cholesterol efflux in vitro. The in vivo reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) rate from non-cholesterol-loaded macrophages transfected with miR-125b to feces was also found to be decreased when compared with that of control mimic-transfected macrophages. Conclusions: Together, these results provide evidence that miR-125b downregulates SCARB1 and SR-B1 in both human and mouse macrophages as well as VSMCs, thereby impairing macrophage cholesterol efflux in vitro and the whole macrophage-specific RCT pathway in vivo

An eHealth ecosystem for stepped and early psychosocial care in advanced lung cancer: Rationale and protocol for a randomized control trial

Background: Receiving a diagnosis of lung cancer is an emotional event, not least because it is usually diagnosed at advanced stages with limited life expectancy. Although evidence-based educational, emotional, and social interventions exist, they reach few patients and usually when it is too late. Objective: This project will be carried out in a comprehensive center for cancer care and health research, aiming to study the efficacy, costs, and utility of an eHealth ecosystem to meet the psychosocial needs of patients with advanced lung cancer. Method: We will enroll 76 patients with advanced lung cancer into an eHealth ecosystem of stepped and personalized psychosocial care for 9 months. These patients will be compared with another 76 receiving usual care in a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial. The following main outcomes will be measured every 3 months: emotional distress, spirituality, demoralization, quality of life, and medication adherence. Secondary outcomes will include symptomatology, health education, cost-utility analyses, usability and satisfaction with the platform, and time to detect emotional needs and provide care. Baseline differences between groups will be measured with the Student t-test or chi-square test, as appropriate. We will then compare the main outcomes between groups over time using multilevel linear models, report effect sizes (Hedges' g), and assess noninferiority. The cost-utility of both interventions will be considered in terms of quality adjusted life years and quality of life given the costs of providing each treatment. Discussion: This randomized controlled trial should provide new evidence on the efficacy and cost-utility of an eHealth ecosystem to deliver personalized and timely psychosocial care to patients with advanced lung cancer