Characterization of the interface between fresh concrete and formwork

Concrete surface quality is generally linked to the development conditions of concrete close to the formwork. This work aims to study the influence of the nature of release agent and the quantity of fine elements on the chemical interactions at the concrete/oil/formwork interface. Five concretes were prepared at 28, 30, 32, 34, and 36% of paste to study the influence of paste volume on the friction between formwork and fresh concrete. The friction tests were performed using an apparatus which can reproduce the same conditions of construction sites. In addition, a physicochemical investigation was achieved to identify the effect of fine elements on the ability to form the interstitial mediums at the interface. The formation of soap in the vicinity of the formwork surfaces was also studied as a function of the content and the nature of oils. The results showed that the friction between fresh concrete and formwork depends on the pore solution content present at the interface

Comportement tribologique des huiles de décoffrage à l'interface béton/coffrage (influence de la formulation du béton)

Dans un contexte où le développement durable est devenu une priorité majeure, les entreprises du secteur du bâtiment doivent faire face, à de nouvelles exigences en termes de respect de l environnement. En particulier, lors de la mise en œuvre du béton dans les coffrages, une huile de démoulage d origine minérale faiblement biodégradable est couramment utilisée comme couche séparatrice anti-adhérente. La nature de cette huile génère des risques importants de pollution environnementale. De nouvelles formulations d huile de décoffrage d origine végétale ont ainsi été développées.L apparition de cette nouvelle gamme de produit nécessite une connaissance suffisante de leur comportement à l interface béton/huile/coffrage. Ce mémoire contribue à l étude de l influence de la formulation du béton sur le comportement tribologique à l interface béton/coffrage en présence de deux huiles de démoulage de nature différente (une huile végétale et une huile minérale). La zone du béton à l approche du coffrage a été étudiée à l état durci et frais sans huile de démoulage. Tout d abord, l évolution de la densité apparente du béton à l approche d une paroi a été évaluée en fonction de la pression de contact et du volume de pâte. Puis, une analyse complète de cette zone à l interface à l état frais a été réalisée afin d estimer le rapport E/L et la quantité de pâte mobilisée à l approche de la paroi coffrante. Une étude physico-chimique a été effectuée en reconstituant les milieux interstitiels de l interface béton/huile/coffrage contenant un dosage différent en superplastifiant et en huile. Plusieurs techniques adaptées à ces milieux complexes, ont été utilisés afin d évaluer la formation de savons et de déterminer la stabilité des émulsions obtenues. Cette thèse se conclue par une étude du frottement du béton frais contre une paroi coffrante avec et sans huile de démoulage à l aide d un tribomètre plan/plan. Plusieurs formulations de béton sont étudiées. Les résultats obtenus ont permis de comprendre le mode d action des éléments fins et le dosage en superplastifiant aux interfaces béton/coffrage et béton/huile/coffrage. Dans le cas de l'huile d'origine végétale, le savon formé à partir des esters et des acides gras contribue à réduire les frottements en stabilisant l émulsion et en organisant l interface. Cependant, la présence du superplastifiant est indispensable pour avoir des performances élevées dans le cas de l huile minérale.In a context where sustainable development has become a major priority, the companies in the building field must face to new requirements in terms of respect of the environment. In particular, during the concrete pouring, a mineral release agent, poorly biodegradable is currently used as separating layer non-stick. The nature of this oil creates significant risks of environmental pollution. New formulations of release agent of vegetable origin were developed.The appearance of this new product range requires a sufficient knowledge of their behavior at the interface concrete/release agent/formwork. This report contributes to the study the effect of the concrete composition on the tribological behavior at the interface concrete/formwork with two release agents of different nature (vegetable release agent and mineral release agent). The zone of concrete near the formwork was studied without release agents. First, the evolution of the density of the concrete at the approach of a wall was evaluated as a function of the contact pressure and the past volume. Then, a comprehensive analysis of this fresh layer was carried out to estimate the W/B ratio and the amount of paste mobilized close to the formwork. A physicochemical study was performed by reconstituting the interstitial medium of the interface concrete/release agent/formwork containing a different dosage of oil and superplasticizer. Several adapted techniques to these complex medium were used to evaluate the formation of soaps and to determine the stability of the obtained emulsions. This thesis ends with a study of the friction of fresh concrete against the formwork with and without release agent using a plan/plan tribometer. Many formulations of concrete are studied. The results were allowed to understand the mechanism of action of the fines element and the dosage of superplasticizer at the interfaces concrete/formwork and concrete/release agent/formwork. In the case of vegetable release agent, the soap formed from the esters and fatty acids contributes to reduce the friction by stabilizing the emulsion and organizing the interface. However, the presence of the superplasticizer is necessary to obtain a high performance for the mineral release agent.ARRAS-Bib.electronique (620419901) / SudocSudocFranceF

A Malaria Vaccine That Elicits in Humans Antibodies Able to Kill Plasmodium falciparum

BACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 3 is a malaria vaccine candidate that was identified, characterised, and developed based on a unique immuno-clinical approach. The vaccine construct was derived from regions fully conserved among various strains and containing B cell epitopes targeted by human antibodies (from malaria-immune adults) that are able to mediate a monocyte-dependent parasite killing effect. The corresponding long synthetic peptide was administered to 36 volunteers, with either alum or Montanide ISA720 as adjuvant. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Both formulations induced cellular and humoral immune responses. With alum, the responses lasted up to 12 mo. The vaccine-induced antibodies were predominantly of cytophilic classes, i.e., able to cooperate with effector cells. In vitro, the antibodies induced an inhibition of the P. falciparum erythrocytic growth in a monocyte-dependent manner, which was in most instances as high as or greater than that induced by natural antibodies from immune African adults. In vivo transfer of the volunteers' sera into P. falciparum–infected humanized SCID mice profoundly reduced or abrogated parasitaemia. These inhibitory effects were related to the antibody reactivity with the parasite native protein, which was seen in 60% of the volunteers, and remained in samples taken 12 mo postimmunisation. CONCLUSION: This is the first malaria vaccine clinical trial to clearly demonstrate antiparasitic activity by vaccine-induced antibodies by both in vitro and in vivo methods. The results, showing the induction of long-lasting antibodies directed to a fully conserved polypeptide, also challenge current concepts about malaria vaccines, such as unavoidable polymorphism, low antigenicity, and poor induction of immune memory

Long-Term Clinical Protection from Falciparum Malaria Is Strongly Associated with IgG3 Antibodies to Merozoite Surface Protein 3

Using data from malaria cases in Senegal, Pierre Druilhe and colleagues found that antibodies of the IgG3 isotype directed to merozoite surface protein 3 (MSP3) were strongly predictive of clinical outcome

Experience and Challenges from Clinical Trials with Malaria Vaccines in Africa.

Malaria vaccines are considered amongst the most important modalities for potential elimination of malaria disease and transmission. Research and development in this field has been an area of intense effort by many groups over the last few decades. Despite this, there is currently no licensed malaria vaccine. Researchers, clinical trialists and vaccine developers have been working on many approached to make malaria vaccine available.African research institutions have developed and demonstrated a great capacity to undertake clinical trials in accordance to the International Conference on Harmonization-Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) standards in the last decade; particularly in the field of malaria vaccines and anti-malarial drugs. This capacity is a result of networking among African scientists in collaboration with other partners; this has traversed both clinical trials and malaria control programmes as part of the Global Malaria Action Plan (GMAP). GMAP outlined and support global strategies toward the elimination and eradication of malaria in many areas, translating in reduction in public health burden, especially for African children. In the sub-Saharan region the capacity to undertake more clinical trials remains small in comparison to the actual need.However, sustainability of the already developed capacity is essential and crucial for the evaluation of different interventions and diagnostic tools/strategies for other diseases like TB, HIV, neglected tropical diseases and non-communicable diseases. There is urgent need for innovative mechanisms for the sustainability and expansion of the capacity in clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa as the catalyst for health improvement and maintained

A Conserved Multi-Gene Family Induces Cross-Reactive Antibodies Effective in Defense against Plasmodium falciparum

BACKGROUND: Two related merozoite surface proteins, MSP3 and MSP6, have previously been identified as targets of antibody-dependent cellular inhibition (ADCI), a protective mechanism against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Both MSP3 and MSP6 share a common characteristic small N-terminal signature amino-acid stretch (NLRNA/G), a feature similar to MSP3-like orthologs identified in other human and primate malaria parasites. METHODS/RESULTS: This signature amino-acid sequence led to the identification of eight ORFs contiguously located on P. falciparum chromosome 10. Our subsequent investigations on their expression, localization, sequence conservation, epitope sharing, immunogenicity and the functional role of antibodies in defense are reported here. Six members of P. falciparum MSP3-multigene family share similar sequence organization within their C-terminal regions, are simultaneously expressed as merozoite surface proteins and are highly conserved among parasite isolates. Each of these proteins is a target of naturally occurring antibodies effective at parasite killing in ADCI assays. Moreover, both naturally occurring antibodies and those generated by immunization display cross-reactivity with other members of the family and exhibit varied binding avidities. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The unusual characteristics of the MSP3 multi-gene family lead us to hypothesize that the simultaneous expression of targets eliciting cross-reactive antibody responses capable of controlling parasite densities could represent an immune process selected through evolution to maintain homeostasis between P. falciparum and human hosts; a process that allows the continuous transmission of the parasite without killing the host. Our observations also have practical consequences for vaccine development by suggesting MSP3 vaccine efficacy might be improved when combined with the various C-terminus regions of the MSP3 family members to generate a wider range of antibodies acting and to increase vaccine immunogenicity in varied human genetic backgrounds

Antibody responses to <i>P. falciparum</i> blood stage antigens and incidence of clinical malaria in children living in endemic area in Burkina Faso

Abstract Background High parasite-specific antibody levels are generally associated with low susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum malaria. This has been supported by several studies in which clinical malaria cases of P. falciparum malaria were reported to be associated with low antibody avidities. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of age, malaria transmission intensity and incidence of clinical malaria in the induction of protective humoral immune response against P. falciparum malaria in children living in Burkina Faso. Methods We combined levels of IgG and IgG subclasses responses to P. falciparum antigens: Merozoite Surface Protein 3 (MSP3), Merozoite Surface Protein 2a (MSP2a), Merozoite Surface Protein 2b (MSP2b), Glutamate Rich Protein R0 (GLURP R0) and Glutamate Rich Protein R2 (GLURP R2) in plasma samples from 325 children under five (05) years with age, malaria transmission season and malaria incidence. Results We notice higher prevalence of P. falciparum infection in low transmission season compared to high malaria transmission season. While, parasite density was lower in low transmission than high transmission season. IgG against all antigens investigated increased with age. High levels of IgG and IgG subclasses to all tested antigens except for GLURP R2 were associated with the intensity of malaria transmission. IgG to MSP3, MSP2b, GLURP R2 and GLURP R0 were associated with low incidence of malaria. All IgG subclasses were associated with low incidence of P. falciparum malaria, but these associations were stronger for cytophilic IgGs. Conclusions On the basis of the data presented in this study, we conclude that the induction of humoral immune response to tested malaria antigens is related to age, transmission season level and incidence of clinical malaria

Exposure, infection, systemic cytokine levels and antibody responses in young children concurrently exposed to schistosomiasis and malaria

Despite the overlapping distribution of Schistosoma haematobium and Plasmodium falciparum infections, few studies have investigated early immune responses to both parasites in young children resident in areas co-endemic for the parasites. This study measures infection levels of both parasites and relates them to exposure and immune responses in young children. Levels of IgM, IgE, IgG4 directed against schistosome cercariae, egg and adult worm and IgM, IgG directed against P. falciparum schizonts and the merozoite surface proteins 1 and 2 together with the cytokines IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA in 95 Zimbabwean children aged 1–5 years. Schistosome infection prevalence was 14·7% and that of Plasmodium infection was 0% in the children. 43. 4% of the children showed immunological evidence of exposure to schistosome parasites and 13% showed immunological evidence of exposure to Plasmodium parasites. Schistosome–specific responses, indicative of exposure to parasite antigens, were positively associated with cercariae-specific IgE responses, while Plasmodium-specific responses, indicative of exposure to parasite antigens, were negatively associated with responses associated with protective immunity against Plasmodium. There was no significant association between schistosome-specific and Plasmodium-specific responses. Systemic cytokine levels rose with age as well as with schistosome infection and exposure. Overall the results show that (1) significantly more children are exposed to schistosome and Plasmodium infection than those currently infected and; (2) the development of protective acquired immunity commences in early childhood, although its effects on infection levels and pathology may take many years to become apparent

Antibody Reactivity to Merozoite Antigens in Ghanaian Adults Correlates With Growth Inhibitory Activity Against Plasmodium falciparum in Culture.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum uses a repertoire of merozoite-stage proteins for invasion of erythrocytes. Antibodies against some of these proteins halt the replication cycle of the parasite by preventing erythrocyte invasion and are implicated as contributors to protective immunity against malaria. Methods: We assayed antibody reactivity against a panel of 9 recombinant antigens based on erythrocyte-binding antigen (EBA) and reticulocyte-like homolog (Rh) proteins in plasma from children with malaria and healthy adults residing in 3 endemic areas in Ghana using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Purified immunoglobulin (Ig)G from adult plasma samples was also tested for invasion inhibition against 7 different P falciparum culture lines, including clinical isolates. Results: Antibodies against the antigens increased in an age-dependent manner in children. Breadth of reactivity to the different antigens was strongly associated with in vitro parasite growth inhibitory activity of IgG purified from the adults. The strongest predictors of breadth of antibody reactivity were age and transmission intensity, and a combination of reactivities to Rh2, Rh4, and Rh5 correlated strongly with invasion inhibition. Conclusions: Growth inhibitory activity was significantly associated with breadth of antibody reactivity to merozoite antigens, encouraging the prospect of a multicomponent blood-stage vaccine