Reuse of Zeolite By-Products Derived from Petroleum Refining for Sustainable Roads

The reduction in consumption of natural resources (fuel, gas, etc.) and contaminant emissions (CO2, CO, NOx, etc.) during the production of asphalt mixtures has become one of the main challenges in road engineering. Warm mix asphalts (WMAs) have been developed in order to achieve this objective while ensuring the mechanical performance and durability of traditional hot mix asphalts (HMAs). However, these materials are commonly manufactured using additives or products whose production could reduce both their environmental benefits and cost effectiveness. /is paper presents a research study that aims to analyse the reuse of zeolite wastes derived from petroleum refining in the production of warm mix asphalts. For this purpose, two different types of zeolite wastes were analysed as additives for the manufacture of two warm mix asphalts, whose mechanical performance was compared with conventional WMA and hot mix asphalt. /e results indicate that zeolite wastes with a lower particles size presented higher capacity to absorb water, while its dosage at 0.3% allows for producing warm mix asphalts at temperatures around 145°C, with comparable workability and densification to conventional HMA at 165°C without reducing its bearing capacity, fatigue life, and resistance to water action and plastic deformation.“Soluciones de Pavimentación Ecológicamente Sostenibles: Ecoasfaltos” funded by the Ministry of Economy and Knowledge of Andalusia and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain in the framework of CTA (Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía)

Bench-scale photoelectrocatalytic reactor utilizing rGO-TiO2 photoanodes for the degradation of contaminants of emerging concern in water

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in water. Photocatalysis (PC) and photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) are potential advanced oxidation processes for the effective degradation of these contaminants. In this work a bench-scale photoelectrocatalytic reactor utilizing a UVA-LED array was designed and tested for the degradation of diclofenac as a model CEC. Reduced graphene oxide-titanium dioxide (rGO-TiO2) composite, prepared by the photocatalytic reduction of rGO on TiO2, was immobilised on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass and evaluated as a photoanode. The influence of UVA intensity and rGO:TiO2 ratio on the degradation rate was studied. Surface modification of the TiO2 with 1% rGO gave the highest photocurrent and best degradation rate of diclofenac, as compared to unmodified TiO2. However, following repeat cycles of photoelectrocatalytic treatment there was an observed drop in the photocurrent with rGO-TiO2 anodes and the rate of diclofenac degradation decreased. Raman and XPS analysis indicated the re-oxidation of the rGO. Attempts to regenerate the rGO in-situ by electrochemical reduction did not prove successful, suggesting that the site of photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of rGO was different to the reduction site targeted in the photocatalytic reduction for the formation of the rGO-TiO2 composites

Feasibility of Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation in the Treatment of Oxygen-Dependent COVID-19 Patients in Peru

Intensive care is expensive, and availability is limited. Low- and middle-income countries in particular have struggled to cope with the large influx of critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Noninvasive respiratory support devices delivering continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) require less resource and staff expertise compared with invasive mechanical ventilators and can be routinely used outside of intensive care units. This study assessed the use of the UCL-Ventura Wayrachi CPAP device in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Peru. A secondary analysis of data collected for a feasibility study commissioned by the Peruvian Ministry of Health was conducted. Data were collected from three hospitals, including patient demographics, clinical data, and outcomes. Forty-five patients were enrolled from July 16 to September 1, 2020. Eight patients (18%) were intolerant of the CPAP mask. Of the remainder, 18 (48.7%) improved and were discharged from hospital after 6 days. Eight (21.6%) died while on CPAP and 11 (29.7%) were eventually intubated, of whom two died. In total, 27 (60%) survived to hospital discharge. Participating physicians noted the device was easy to use and provided patient benefit, though voiced concerns about the strain on hospital oxygen supplies. In conclusion, the UCL Ventura Wayrachi CPAP device proved feasible in COVID-19 patients in Peru, and offered a bridging therapy for patients who required a ventilator when none were available

Distant Metastases From Childhood Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma:Clinical Course and Mutational Landscape

Context: Distant metastases (DM) from childhood differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) are uncommon and published studies are limited. Objective: This work aimed to describe the outcomes of patients with DM from childhood DTC and to evaluate the molecular landscape of these tumors. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary cancer center including patients with pediatric DTC (diagnosed at age Results: We identified 148 patients; 144 (97%) had papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and 104 (70%) were female. Median age at DTC diagnosis was 13.4 years (interquartile range [IQR], 9.9-15.9 years). Evaluable individuals received a median of 2 (IQR, 1-3) radioactive iodine (RAI) treatments at a median cumulative administered activity of 238.0 mCi (IQR, 147.5-351.0 mCi). The oncogenic driver was determined in 64 of 69 PTC samples: RET fusion (38/64; 59%), NTRK1/3 fusions (18/64; 28%), and the BRAF V600E mutation (8/64; 13%). At last evaluation, 93% had persistent disease. The median overall and disease-specific survival after DTC diagnosis were 50.7 and 52.8 years, respectively. Eight (5%) PTC patients died of disease after a median of 30.7 years (IQR, 20.6-37.6 years). Conclusion: Childhood DTC with DM persists in most patients despite multiple courses of RAI, but disease-specific death is uncommon, typically occurring decades after diagnosis. Fusion genes are highly prevalent in PTC, and all identified molecular alterations have appropriate targeted therapies. Future studies should focus on expanding genotype-phenotype correlations, determining how to integrate molecularly targeted therapy into treatment paradigms, and relying less on repeated courses of RAI to achieve cure in patients with DM from childhood DTC

Clinical utility of intralesional methotrexate to distinguish crateriform keratinocytic tumors before surgery

Clinical utility of intralesional methotrexate to distinguish crateriform keratinocytic tumors before surgeryDear Editors,Keratoacanthoma (KA) and cutaneous squamous cell carci-noma (CSCC) may adopt an identical crateriform morpho-logy. Nowadays, the debate about whether KA is a distinct entity, or a low-grade variant of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) still persists. Since CSCC is a more ag-gressive neoplasm, misdiagnosing crateriform lesions may have a negative impact on the patient's prognosis. Evaluating a partial biopsy is extremely challenging to confidently dis-tinguish KA from CSCC [1]. No distinctive gene expression profiles have been identified and no pathognomonic criteria to unequivocally differentiate between KA and CSCC exist [2]. Consequently, the surgical approach remains the gold standard in the management of crateriform tumors, especi-ally those arising on the face

Semiconducting Monolayer Materials as a Tunable Platform for Excitonic Solar Cells

The recent advent of two-dimensional monolayer materials with tunable optoelectronic properties and high carrier mobility offers renewed opportunities for efficient, ultra-thin excitonic solar cells alternative to those based on conjugated polymer and small molecule donors. Using first-principles density functional theory and many-body calculations, we demonstrate that monolayers of hexagonal BN and graphene (CBN) combined with commonly used acceptors such as PCBM fullerene or semiconducting carbon nanotubes can provide excitonic solar cells with tunable absorber gap, donor-acceptor interface band alignment, and power conversion efficiency, as well as novel device architectures. For the case of CBN-PCBM devices, we predict the limit of power conversion efficiencies to be in the 10 - 20% range depending on the CBN monolayer structure. Our results demonstrate the possibility of using monolayer materials in tunable, efficient, polymer-free thin-film solar cells in which unexplored exciton and carrier transport regimes are at play.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Hiperendemicidad de fasciolosis y factores de riesgo en niños de edad escolar del distrito de Orurillo, Puno

The aim of this study was to determine the association of fasciolosis in school-age children with intestinal parasites, food consumption and animal husbandry. The research was analytical, prospective, cross-sectional, and relational. In total, 295 serological and stool samples were obtained, and an epidemiological interview was carried out on children of both sexes, aged 3 to 19 years from 23 institutions of initial, primary and secondary education, with the informed consent of their parents. The serological diagnosis was made using the IgG immunoblot technique and the IgG ELISA test and the stool diagnosis was made with the rapid sedimentation technique modified by Lumbreras. Risk factors were obtained by epidemiological interview. The prevalence of fasciolosis was 11.2% (95% CI = 7.4-14.9; 33/295). Significant differences were found between educational institutions and communities of origin. Both in univariate and multivariate analyses determined that drinking well water and raising guinea pigs were associated with fasciolosis.El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la asociación de fasciolosis en niños de edad escolar con parásitos intestinales, consumo de alimentos y crianza de animales. La investigación fue de tipo analítico, prospectivo, transversal y de nivel relacional. Se obtuvieron 295 muestras serológicas y coprológicas y se realizó una entrevista epidemiológica a niños de ambos sexos, de 3 a 19 años de 23 instituciones de educación inicial, primaria y secundaria, con el consentimiento informado de sus progenitores. El diagnóstico serológico se realizó mediante la técnica de inmunoblot IgG y la prueba de ELISA IgG y el diagnóstico coprológico se realizó con la técnica de sedimentación rápida modificada por Lumbreras. Los factores de riesgo se obtuvieron mediante entrevista epidemiológica. La prevalencia de fasciolosis fue de 11.2% (IC95%=7.4-14.9; 33/295). Se encontró diferencias significativas entre instituciones educativas y comunidades de procedencia. Tanto en análisis univariado como el multivariado determinaron que beber agua de pozo y criar cuyes estuvieron asociados a fasciolosis

Evaluación inmunológica en niños con bacteriemia

Primer evento de bacteriemia puede ser la manifestación clínica de ciertas inmunodeficiencias primarias (IDPs), aunque también puede ocurrir en niños sanos. Actualmente no existe consenso en cuanto a la necesidad de realizar una valoración inmunológica en todos los niños que cursen su primer evento de bacteriemia.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Inflammatory cytokines and biofilm production sustain Staphylococcus aureus outgrowth and persistence: A pivotal interplay in the pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis

Individuals with Atopic dermatitis (AD) are highly susceptible to Staphylococcus aureus colonization. However, the mechanisms driving this process as well as the impact of S. aureus in AD pathogenesis are still incompletely understood. In this study, we analysed the role of biofilm in sustaining S. aureus chronic persistence and its impact on AD severity. Further we explored whether key inflammatory cytokines overexpressed in AD might provide a selective advantage to S. aureus. Results show that the strength of biofilm production by S. aureus correlated with the severity of the skin lesion, being significantly higher (P < 0.01) in patients with a more severe form of the disease as compared to those individuals with mild AD. Additionally, interleukin (IL)-β and interferon γ (IFN-γ), but not interleukin (IL)-6, induced a concentration-dependent increase of S. aureus growth. This effect was not observed with coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from the skin of AD patients. These findings indicate that inflammatory cytokines such as IL1-β and IFN-γ, can selectively promote S. aureus outgrowth, thus subverting the composition of the healthy skin microbiome. Moreover, biofilm production by S. aureus plays a relevant role in further supporting chronic colonization and disease severity, while providing an increased tolerance to antimicrobials