Thermodynamic evidence of giant salt deposit formation by serpentinization: an alternative mechanism to solar evaporation

International audienceThe evaporation of seawater in arid climates is currently the main accepted driving mechanism for the formation of ancient and recent salt deposits in shallow basins. However, the deposition of huge amounts of marine salts, including the formation of tens of metres of highly soluble types (tachyhydrite and bischofite) during the Aptian in the South Atlantic and during the Messinian Salinity Crisis, are inconsistent with the wet and warm palaeoclimate conditions reconstructed for these periods. Recently, a debate has been developed that opposes the classic model of evaporite deposition and argues for the generation of salt by serpentinization. The products of the latter process can be called "dehydratites". The associated geochemical processes involve the consumption of massive amounts of pure water, leading to the production of concentrated brines. Here, we investigate thermodynamic calculations that account for high salinities and the production of soluble salts and MgCl2-rich brines through sub-seafloor serpentinization processes. Our results indicate that salt and brine formation occurs during serpentinization and that the brine composition and salt assemblages are dependent on the temperature and CO2 partial pressure. Our findings help explain the presence and sustainability of highly soluble salts that appear inconsistent with reconstructed climatic conditions and demonstrate that the presence of highly soluble salts probably has implications for global tectonics and palaeoclimate reconstructions

Management and monitoring of public buildings through ICT based systems: Control rules for energy saving with lighting and HVAC services

Abstract The presented work addresses the topic of energy savings in existing public buildings, when no significant retrofits on building envelope or plants can be done and savings can be achieved by designing intelligent ICT-based service to monitor and control environmental conditions, energy loads and plants operation. At the end of 2010 the European Commission, within the Seventh Framework Program, has founded a project entitled "Smart Energy Efficient Middleware for Public Spaces" (SEEMPubS). To achieve this goal the project will implement, in a set of demonstrator buildings, an interoperable web-based software and hardware solution for real-time monitoring and control of lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning services, through both wired and wireless sensor networks. In this paper the first phase of the project, concerning the selection of the environments to be used as demonstrator and the definition of the control and monitoring strategies to reduce energy consumptions for lighting and air conditioning, are presented

Percutaneous Trans-Thoracic Procedures in Children With Tumors of Thoracic Wall, Mediastinum and Lung. The Experience of a Single Institution

Background While percutaneous trans-thoracic procedures (PTTP) are commonly performed in adults with tumors of thoracic wall, mediastinum and lung, the experience is limited in children, in whom however less invasive methods should be the choice for the diagnosis or the identification of small pulmonary nodules that need to be removed, sparing lung tissue. The results of the PTTP performed by the interventional radiologists in our Pediatric Surgery Department are analyzed. Methods CT-guided biopsies, utilizing a 64-slice CTscanner, with low-radiation dose, were performed applying the coaxial technique with 16-18G needles with a single tissue path. For localization of lung nodules before surgery, two 20G-hook wires were positioned beyond the nodule. CT images after each manipulation of the needles were obtained. US-guided biopsies were performed either with or without coaxial technique through a needle bracket. Younger patients required sedation. All patients underwent a chest radiogram two hours after the procedure and remained under observation for 24 hours. Results From January 2015 to March 2019, 23 procedures were performed in 22 patients (Age:16M- 19Y): 6 patients underwent CT-guided biopsy (4 lung nodules, 2 mediastinal mass); 3 underwent 4 CT-guided hook-wire localization of pulmonary nodules, just before surgery; 13 underwent US-guided biopsy (posterior mediastinum 2; anterior mediastinum 5, thoracic/intrathoracic mass 5). Adequate core biopsies were obtained in all patients, except three, who underwent thoracoscopy/thoracotomy. The hook-wires were successfully positioned in all cases, as confirmed by histology. After the procedure, two patients presented perilesional hemorrhage and one pneumothorax, but they did not required treatment. Conclusion PTTP were successful in most patients, without significant complications. These techniques should be encouraged to avoid diagnostic aggressive surgical approaches in children with cancer. For all cases a multidisciplinary team is essential to discuss the indications and planning the procedures

Comparative retrospective study on the modalities of biopsying peripheral neuroblastic tumors: a report from the Italian Pediatric Surgical Oncology Group (GICOP)

Background: Peripheral neuroblastic tumors are the most common extracranial solid neoplasms in children. Early and adequate tissue sampling may speed up the diagnostic process and ensure a prompt start of optimal treatment whenever needed. Different biopsy techniques have been described. The purpose of this multi-center study is to evaluate the accuracy and safety of the various examined techniques and to determine whether a preferential procedure exists. Methods: All children who underwent a biopsy, from January 2010 to December 2014, as a result of being diagnosed with a peripheral neuroblastic tumor, were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included patients’ demographics, clinical presentation, intraoperative technical details, postoperative parameters, complications, and histology reports. The Mann–Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: The cohort included 100 patients, 32 of whom underwent an incisional biopsy (performed through open or minimally invasive access) (Group A), and the remaining 68 underwent multiple needle-core biopsies (either imaging-guided or laparoscopy/thoracoscopy-assisted) (Group B). Comparing the two groups revealed that Group A patients had a higher rate of complications, a greater need for postoperative analgesia, and required red blood cell transfusion more often. Overall adequacy rate was 94%, without significant differences between the two groups (100% vs. 91.2% for Group A and Group B, respectively, P = 0.0933). Conclusions: Both incision and needle-core biopsying methods provided sub-optimal to optimal sampling adequacy rates in children affected by peripheral neuroblastic tumors. However, the former method was associated with a higher risk of both intraoperative and postoperative complications compared with the latter

Drug delivery to tumours using a novel 5-FU derivative encapsulated into lipid nanocapsules

In this work, a novel lipophilic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) derivative was synthesised and encapsulated into lipid nanocapsules (LNC). 5-FU was modified with lauric acid to give a lipophilic mono-lauroyl-derivative (5-FU-C12, MW of about 342 g/mol, yield of reaction 70%). 5-FU-C12 obtained was efficiently encapsulated into LNC (encapsulation efficiency above 90%) without altering the physico-chemical characteristics of LNC. The encapsulation of 5-FU-C12 led to an increased stability of the drug when in contact with plasma being the drug detectable until 3 h following incubation. Cytotoxicity assay carried out using MTS on 2D cell culture showed that 5-FU-C12-loaded LNC had an enhanced cytotoxic effect on glioma (9L) and human colorectal (HTC-116) cancer cell line in comparison with 5-FU or 5-FU-C12. Then, HCT-116 tumour spheroids were cultivated and the reduction of spheroid volume was measured following treatment with drug-loaded LNC and drugs alone. Similar reduction on spheroids volume was observed following the treatment with drug-loaded LNC, 5-FU-C12 and 5-FU alone, while blank LNC displayed a reduction in cell viability only at high concentration. Globally, our data suggest that the encapsulation increased the activity of the 5-FU-C12. However, in-depth evaluations of LNC permeability into spheroids are needed to disclose the potential of these nanosystems for cancer treatment

Proposal for a highly intermittent heating law for discontinuously occupied buildings

This article presents an intermittent heating controller which is designed for calculating the supply temperature of hot-water-radiator heating systems. This controller uses a new heating law which has been obtained by inverting a simplified model for calculating the internal temperature of a building in relation to the external temperature, as well as the supply temperature of the distribution circuit and the temperature of the structure. The latter is used to determine the thermal state of the building, which is an important parameter in the evaluation of energy needs when a building is heated in an intermittent mode. During non-occupancy periods, the parameters of the model are automatically modified by a recursive least-squares routine. A second law optimizes the heating restart time during non-occupancy periods; this law also incorporates a learning mechanism. The controller's performance is analysed, and the results are compared with those of a controller using a classical heating law which does not take into account the thermal state of building. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the new heating controller leads to performances comparable with those obtained by classical methods, but for a higher degree of intermittence. This means that the comfort obtained is similar, but that the energy consumption is lower. The new heating law also proves to be advantageous in other ways; it provides faster learning, much better lower temperature control and a reduction in instances of overheating during inter-season periods, when little heating is needed

Management of Symptomatic Mesenchymal Hamartoma of the Chest Wall: Surgical Resection Only in Symptomatic Cases.

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the chest wall (MHCW) is a rare neonatal benign tumor with an estimated incidence of 1 in 3 000 among primary bone tumors, and 1 in one million in the general population. Traditionally, the treatment of choice was an "en bloc" resection, but surgery limited to symptomatic cases, is now suggested by most authors due to the numerous cases of spontaneous regressions. We report 2 patients of symptomatic MHCW, characterized by progressive respiratory distress, who underwent surgical treatment with prompt resolution of symptoms. Surgeons and neonatologists should be aware of this rare condition and its possible fatal or nearly-fatal complications

Bowel parasitosis and neuroendocrine tumours of the appendix. A report from the Italian TREP project.

Five children with a neuroendocrine tumour (NET) of the appendix associated with a parasitic bowel infection are described, and the possibility of inflammation-triggered carcinogenesis is discussed. Schistosoma haematobium is linked primarily to bladder cancer but it has been reported in association with several other histotypes, including NETs of the gastrointestinal tract. Conversely, Enterobius vermicularis has not yet been claimed to participate in the onset of pre-cancerous conditions or tumours. The rare occurrence of contemporary appendiceal NETs and parasitic infection, raises the intriguing hypothesis of an inflammation-related carcinogenesis, although a cause-effect relationship cannot be established. Larger international series of childhood appendiceal NETs, which also include countries with higher prevalence of parasitic bowel infections, are needed to further clarify this possible cause-effect relationshi