Beton cu pulberi reactive armate cu fibre din oţel

Ultra High Strength and Performance Concrete development is a relatively new industry. The last 150 years have shown that despite of a constant increasing resistance for the concrete, the practical applications were often behind to these innovations in materials science. This appears to be due to increased costs as the resistance increases per unit volume and a caution restraint to use new materials in practical applications. This paper is intended to be as an encouragement to present a practical structural applications of Ultra High Performance Concrete (BUIP) or reactive powder concrete (BPR), first developed in Romania, by using locally available materials, including waste reusing and thereby making an ecological green concrete. This concrete has a viscous consistency but a slump flow similar to the self compacting concrete (SCC), and compressive strength values exceed 150 MPa (150 ÷ 200 MPa)

A D3-vitamin-szint és a betegség súlyossága közötti kapcsolat vizsgálata herediter angioödémában

Absztrakt: Bevezetés: Az elmúlt évtized során számos közlemény látott napvilágot a D3-vitamin szérumszintje és különböző, részben immunpatomechanizmusú kórképek előfordulási gyakorisága, aktivitása közötti összefüggések elemzéséről. Célkitűzés: Korrelációt kerestünk a C1-inhibitor deficientiájában kialakuló herediter angioödémában szenvedő betegeink angioödémás rohamainak száma, lokalizációja és a felhasznált C1-inhibitor-pótlás mennyisége, valamint D-vitamin-szintjük között. Módszer: Az Országos Angioödéma Referencia Központban 2013–2014-ben gondozott 175, C1-inhibitor-deficientia következtében kialakuló herediter angioödémában szenvedő beteg közül 118 beteg D3-vitamin-szintjét határoztuk meg a téli–tavaszi (111 fő) és a nyári–őszi időszakban (105 fő). A komplement laboratóriumi eredmények és klinikai adatok az Országos Angioödéma Regiszterből és a betegnaplókból származtak. Eredmények: Betegeink mintegy 59,5%-a a téli–tavaszi időszakban, 27,6%-a a nyári–őszi időszakban, 23,5%-a pedig mindkét szezonban a D3-vitamin-hiányos csoportba (D3-vitamin-szint <20 ng/ml) tartozott. A téli–tavaszi és nyári–őszi D3-vitamin-szintek között szignifikáns különbséget találtunk (p<0,0001). A két időszakban az angioödémás rohamok akut kezelésére felhasznált C1-inhibitor-koncentrátum-ampullák száma között szignifikáns különbséget észleltünk (p = 0,01). A D3-vitamin-szint, valamint az adott időperiódusban elszenvedett rohamszám és a felhasznált C1-inhibitor-koncentrátum-ampullák száma között korrelációt egyik szezonban sem találtunk. Következtetések: Bár eddigi eredményeink alapján a herediter angioödémás betegek D3-vitamin-szintje és az elszenvedett angioödémás rohamok gyakorisága, lokalizációja között összefüggést kimutatni nem lehetett, a téli–tavaszi időszakban mégis nagyobb igény mutatkozott a rohamok kezelésére (több ampulla fogyott). Mivel betegeink körében a vártnál is gyakoribb D3-vitamin-hiányt találtunk, ez mindenképpen vitaminpótlást indokol. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(25): 987–993. | Abstract: Introduction: In recent years, many papers analyzed the relationship between serum vitamin D3 level and the frequency and activity of various diseases at least partially attributed to immune mechanisms. Aim: We looked for correlations among the number and location of edematous episodes occurring in patients with hereditary angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) and the quantity of the C1-inhibitor used for supplementation as well as the vitamin D3 levels of patients. Method: We measured vitamin D3 levels in 118 of the 175 C1-INH-HAE patients of the National Angioedema Reference Center during the winter–spring (n = 111) and the summer–autumn periods (n = 105) in 2013–2014. Complement levels and clinical data were extracted from the National Angioedema Registry and from patient diaries. Results: The proportion of vitamin D3 deficient patients (serum level <20 ng/ml) was approximately 59.5% during winter–spring, 27.6% in summer–autumn, and 23.5% during both periods. There was a significant difference between vitamin D3 serum levels measured in the winter–spring or in the summer–autumn months (p<0.0001). The same applies to the number of the vials of C1-inhibitor concentrate administered as acute treatment for angioedema attacks (p = 0.01). In any season, vitamin D3 level did not correlate with the number of attacks experienced by the patients during the given period or of the vials of C1-inhibitor concentrate administered. Conclusions: We could not demonstrate a relationship between vitamin D3 level and the frequency or location of edematous episodes in HAE patients. The need for treatment (as reflected by the number of the vials administered) was higher in the winter–spring period. As vitamin D3 deficiency was more severe than expected in our patients, supplementation is clearly necessary. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(25): 987–993

Common Genetic Variants of the Human Steroid 21-Hydroxylase Gene (CYP21A2) Are Related to Differences in Circulating Hormone Levels

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA, PD100648 (AP)) Technology Innovation Fund, National Developmental Agency (KTIA-AIK-2012-12-1-0010). AP is the recipient of a “Lendület” grant from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Both Positive and Negative Selection Pressures Contribute to the Polymorphism Pattern of the Duplicated Human CYP21A2 Gene.

The human steroid 21-hydroxylase gene (CYP21A2) participates in cortisol and aldosterone biosynthesis, and resides together with its paralogous (duplicated) pseudogene in a multiallelic copy number variation (CNV), called RCCX CNV. Concerted evolution caused by non-allelic gene conversion has been described in great ape CYP21 genes, and the same conversion activity is responsible for a serious genetic disorder of CYP21A2, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). In the current study, 33 CYP21A2 haplotype variants encoding 6 protein variants were determined from a European population. CYP21A2 was shown to be one of the most diverse human genes (HHe=0.949), but the diversity of intron 2 was greater still. Contrary to previous findings, the evolution of intron 2 did not follow concerted evolution, although the remaining part of the gene did. Fixed sites (different fixed alleles of sites in human CYP21 paralogues) significantly accumulated in intron 2, indicating that the excess of fixed sites was connected to the lack of effective non-allelic conversion and concerted evolution. Furthermore, positive selection was presumably focused on intron 2, and possibly associated with the previous genetic features. However, the positive selection detected by several neutrality tests was discerned along the whole gene. In addition, the clear signature of negative selection was observed in the coding sequence. The maintenance of the CYP21 enzyme function is critical, and could lead to negative selection, whereas the presumed gene regulation altering steroid hormone levels via intron 2 might help fast adaptation, which broadly characterizes the genes of human CNVs responding to the environment

Organizarea şi finanţarea activităţii de cercetare într-o companie transnaţională. Studiu de caz

Globalization, defined as an international system based on: the integrationist trend, the interconnection between markets, nation-states and technologies to an unprecedented level, is founded on two key global players – international economic organizations and transnational corporations. At the beginning of XXI century, transnational companies are regarded as one of the biggest challenges for the current economic international order, because their decisions influences a large national economies. Constantly, during the last years Lafarge has been classified among "The Most Sustainable 100 Corporations in the world." Through its major research center, specialized in building materials, Lafarge places innovation on the top of its priorities, in order to ensure sustainable construction and architectural creativity

Experimental study regarding the influence of fibre to matrix compatibility on general performance of Fibre Engineered Cementitious Materials (FECM)

Fibre Engineered Cementitious Materials (FECM) represent composites with similar overall performance as Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC), namely developing strain hardening behaviour under loading, which generates the material capacity of high deformability. The pattern of multiple microcracks successively developed under increasing loading is proved to be the key of material self-consolidating potential and ability to support loads after the first crack occurrence. The matrix to fibre compatibility is considered to be one essential parameter controlling the multiple micro-cracking pattern (MC) and consequently, the strain hardening effect in the material. Factors like fibre type and reinforcement percent in the mixture represent sensitive variables, with major influence for matrix to fibre compatibility and overall performance of the composite. Cement based materials, whose compositional heterogeneity traditionally represents a lack in their regular usage, can be valorised and designed to produce the width controlled cracking typology, beneficial for material behaviour. This paper presents an experimental study on the fibre to matrix compatibility effect in the FECM design and producing process. Several types of dispersed reinforcing typologies for FECM development are experimentally tested and analysed. The results confirm the importance of matrix to fibre compatibility in enhancing superior material performance: physical, mechanical and even durability (Self-Healing potential evaluation)

The analysis of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with hereditary angioedema type I and type II

Abstract Due to the similarity between the pathomechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infections and hereditary angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE), a possibility emerged that C1-INH-HAE may worsen the course of the infection, or that the infection may influence the severity of angioedema (HAE) attacks in C1-INH-HAE patients. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life (QoL) of Hungarian C1-INH-HAE patients, and to survey the acute course of the infection, post COVID symptoms (PCS), vaccination coverage and the side effects of vaccines in this patient population. 93 patients completed our questionnaire between 1st July 2021 and 31st October 2021. In this same period and between March 2019 and March 2020, 63 patients completed the angioedema quality of life questionnaire (AE-QoL). Out of those patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the examined period (18/93 patients; 19%), 5% required hospitalization, 28% experienced HAE attacks in the acute phase of the infection, and 44% experienced PCS. A total number of 142 doses of vaccines were administered to the patients. Serious vaccine reactions did not occur in any case, 4 (5%) out of the 73 vaccinated patients experienced HAE attacks. No significant difference (p = 0.59) was found in the median of the AE-QoL total score, or in the number of HAE attacks prior and during the pandemic. Based on our study, HAE patients did not experience more serious SARS-CoV-2 infection, and it did not aggravate the course of HAE either. Changes in the QoL were not significant, and vaccines were safe in HAE patients

Novel duplication in the F12 gene in a patient with recurrent angioedema.

Edema formation is mediated by histamine or bradykinin release and may have several hereditary and acquired causes. In hereditary forms of bradykinin-mediated angioedemas, mutations in the genes encoding C1-inhibitor (SERPING1) as well as coagulation factor XII (F12) have been described. We present a novel F12 gene mutation, a duplication of 18 base pairs (c.892_909dup) in a 37-year-old woman with recurrent angioedema and normal C1-inhibitor level. A single episode of facial edema in the family of the patient showed co-segregation with the mutation. This duplication is causing the repeated presence of 6 amino acids (p.298-303) in the same region of factor XII, as those three mutations described previously in cases of hereditary angioedema with normal C1-INH function. These results may confirm the importance of the proline-rich region of factor XII protein in edema formation

Hypersensitivity reactions amongst Hungarian Patients with Hereditary Angioedema due to C1-Inhibitor Deficiency

Background: In hereditary angioedema (HAE) due to C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE), bradykinin-mediated submucosal and/or subcutaneous angioedema dominates the clinical picture. The deficiency of C1-inhibitor can lead to the over-activation of the complement system. Complement plays an important role in all types of hypersensitivity reactions. On the other hand, during the degranulation of mast cells, heparin is also released amongst other substances. Heparin can activate the plasma kinin-kallikrein system, leading to bradykinin generation. These observations suggest a possible connection between C1-INH-HAE and mast cell-mediated hypersensitivity reactions. Objective: To assess the occurrence of hypersensitivity reactions in the Hungarian C1-INH-HAE population. Methods: Patients filled out a questionnaire of 112 questions, either online or on paper. The questions were about hypersensitivity and C1-INH-HAE symptoms, the relation between these 2, general health, and demographic data. The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board of Semmelweis University, Budapest, and informed consent was obtained from the participants. Results: One hundred and six patients (64 female, 42 male, median age 46 years) responded, with 63.2% having hypersensitivity. Hypersensitivity was provoked by pollen in 25.5% of patients, by contact sensitivity in 22.6%, by food in 21.7%, by insect sting in 19.8%, by pet in 15.1%, by drug in 14.2%, by dust mite in 5.7%, and by mold in 1.9%. In 11 patients, hypersensitivity symptoms appeared after the diagnosis of C1-INH-HAE. Six hypersensitive patients experienced improvement in their symptoms; 42 remained the same, but none experienced worsening after the diagnosis of C1-INH-HAE. In 7.8% of the hypersensitive patients, a C1-INH-HAE attack worsened the hypersensitivity symptoms, while 15.7% of the hypersensitive patients experienced a C1-INH-HAE attack provoked by contact with the provoking factor. Conclusion: While 63.2% of our C1-INH-HAE patients have reported hypersensitivity symptoms, Eurostat's latest data puts the prevalence of self-reported allergies in Hungary at 19.3%. Since in our experience most Hungarian patients report hypersensitivity reactions as allergies, this may support a possible connection between the 2 diseases, but further molecular studies are needed