Effects of Steel Fibers (SF) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) on Recycled Aggregate Concrete

[EN] Recycled aggregate is a good option to be used in concrete production as a coarse aggregate that results in environmental benefits as well as sustainable development. However, recycled aggregate causes a reduction in the mechanical and durability performance of concrete. On the other hand, the removal of industrial waste would be considerably decreased if it could be incorporated into concrete production. One of these possibilities is the substitution of the cement by slag, which enhances the concrete poor properties of recycled aggregate concrete as well as provides a decrease in cement consumption, reducing carbon dioxide production, while resolving a waste management challenge. Furthermore, steel fiber was also added to enhance the tensile capacity of recycled aggregate concrete. The main goal of this study was to investigate the characteristics of concrete using ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) as a binding material on recycled aggregate fibers reinforced concrete (RAFRC). Mechanical performance was assessed through compressive strength and split tensile strength, while durability aspects were studied through water absorption, acid resistance, and dry shrinkage. The results detected from the different experiments depict that, at an optimum dose (40% RCA, 20%GGBS, and 2.0%), compressive and split tensile strength were 39% and 120% more than the reference concrete, respectively. Furthermore, acid resistance at the optimum dose was 36% more than the reference concrete. Furthermore, decreased water absorption and dry shrinkage cracks were observed with the substitution of GGBS into RAFRC.SIThe authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through a group research program under grant number RGP. 2/129/42 and Taif University Researchers Supporting Project grant number [TURSP-2020/324]

Novel Strains of Mice Deficient for the Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter: Insights on Transcriptional Regulation and Control of Locomotor Behavior

Defining the contribution of acetylcholine to specific behaviors has been challenging, mainly because of the difficulty in generating suitable animal models of cholinergic dysfunction. We have recently shown that, by targeting the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) gene, it is possible to generate genetically modified mice with cholinergic deficiency. Here we describe novel VAChT mutant lines. VAChT gene is embedded within the first intron of the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) gene, which provides a unique arrangement and regulation for these two genes. We generated a VAChT allele that is flanked by loxP sequences and carries the resistance cassette placed in a ChAT intronic region (FloxNeo allele). We show that mice with the FloxNeo allele exhibit differential VAChT expression in distinct neuronal populations. These mice show relatively intact VAChT expression in somatomotor cholinergic neurons, but pronounced decrease in other cholinergic neurons in the brain. VAChT mutant mice present preserved neuromuscular function, but altered brain cholinergic function and are hyperactive. Genetic removal of the resistance cassette rescues VAChT expression and the hyperactivity phenotype. These results suggest that release of ACh in the brain is normally required to “turn down” neuronal circuits controlling locomotion

Search for New Physics with Jets and Missing Transverse Momentum in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search for new physics is presented based on an event signature of at least three jets accompanied by large missing transverse momentum, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 inverse picobarns collected in proton--proton collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. No excess of events is observed above the expected standard model backgrounds, which are all estimated from the data. Exclusion limits are presented for the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model. Cross section limits are also presented using simplified models with new particles decaying to an undetected particle and one or two jets

Perfil epidemiológico dos fatores de risco para hipertensão e diabetes em idosos na região centro-oeste entre janeiro de 2003 e abril de 2013 / Epidemiological profile of risk factors for hypertension and diabetes in the elderly in the mid-western region between january 2003 and april 2013

O processo de envelhecimento populacional aumenta de forma exponencial e esse curso com os fatores de risco envolvendo a gênese das Doenças Crônicas Não Transmissíveis (DCNT), dentre elas destacam-se a hipertensão arterial sistêmica e diabetes mellitus, sendo esses grandes problemas de saúde pública do país: Foi realizado um estudo epidemiológico transversal e descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, sobre hipertensão e diabetes em idosos (maiores de 60 anos até 80 +) entre janeiro de 2003 e abril de 2013 na região Centro-Oeste, que está composta pelos seguintes estados: Goiás (GO), Mato Grosso (MT), Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) e o Distrito Federal (DF); por meio do Hipertensão e Diabetes (HIPERDIA) do Sistema Epidemiológicas e Morbidade no Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde do Brasil (DATASUS). A amostra colhida, a partir da população idosa, mostrou os coeficientes de prevalência de hipertensão com diabetes, segundo sexo e faixa etária, visto que é imprescindível salientar que entre todos os estados avaliados foi possível perceber que a maior prevalência no sexo feminino (64,32%) em detrimento do masculino (35,68%). Em relação à faixa etária, o perfil predominante foram os intervalos etários de 60 a 64 anos (31, 05%) e 65 a 69 anos (27,08%). Observou-se a seguinte disposição dos fatores de risco na população idosa da Região Centro-Oeste durante janeiro de 2003 a abril 2013: sedentarismo com 31.718 casos, que alcançou o maior número de notificações; sobrepeso com 30.055; tabagismo com 12.497; doença renal com 8.596; outras doenças coronarianas com 7.582; acidente vascular cerebral 7.170; e infarto agudo do miocárdio com 7.105, que obteve o menor número de casos. É imperioso que medidas de profilaxia sejam propostas com maior ênfase juntamente ao desenvolvimento de políticas públicas voltadas a essa temática em conjunto ao aperfeiçoamento das que já existem. As quais podem ser desenvolvidas mediante a implementação de ações voltadas a diligências e orientações de cunho educativo para evidenciar a importância da adesão ao tratamento e da manutenção de práticas que fortaleçam a preservação da qualidade de vida do grupo supramencionado

Final results from the PERUSE study of first-line pertuzumab plus trastuzumab plus a taxane for HER2-positive locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer, with a multivariable approach to guide prognostication

Background: The phase III CLinical Evaluation Of Pertuzumab And TRAstuzumab (CLEOPATRA) trial established the combination of pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel as standard first-line therapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive locally recurrent/metastatic breast cancer (LR/mBC). The multicentre single-arm PERtUzumab global SafEty (PERUSE) study assessed the safety and efficacy of pertuzumab and trastuzumab combined with investigator-selected taxane in this setting. Patients and methods: Eligible patients with inoperable HER2-positive LR/mBC and no prior systemic therapy for LR/mBC (except endocrine therapy) received docetaxel, paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel with trastuzumab and pertuzumab until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was safety. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Prespecified subgroup analyses included subgroups according to taxane, hormone receptor (HR) status and prior trastuzumab. Exploratory univariable analyses identified potential prognostic factors; those that remained significant in multivariable analysis were used to analyse PFS and OS in subgroups with all, some or none of these factors. Results: Of 1436 treated patients, 588 (41%) initially received paclitaxel and 918 (64%) had HR-positive disease. The most common grade 653 adverse events were neutropenia (10%, mainly with docetaxel) and diarrhoea (8%). At the final analysis (median follow-up: 5.7 years), median PFS was 20.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) 18.9-23.1] months overall and was similar irrespective of HR status or taxane. Median OS was 65.3 (95% CI 60.9-70.9) months overall. OS was similar regardless of taxane backbone but was more favourable in patients with HR-positive than HR-negative LR/mBC. In exploratory analyses, trastuzumab-pretreated patients with visceral disease had the shortest median PFS (13.1 months) and OS (46.3 months). Conclusions: Mature results from PERUSE show a safety and efficacy profile consistent with results from CLEOPATRA and median OS exceeding 5 years. Results suggest that paclitaxel is a valid alternative to docetaxel as backbone chemotherapy. Exploratory analyses suggest risk factors that could guide future trial design