Study of a cement with low environmental impact from sulfoaluminate clinker and phosphogypsum

A possibilidade de utilizar resíduos industriais como matéria-prima de produtos para a construção civil vem a cada ano ganhando mais importância no aspecto ambiental e tem também criado novos desafios tecnológicos. Além de evitar a degradação das áreas onde os resíduos normalmente são depositados, a valorização dos subprodutos tem por efeito a redução do consumo de matérias-primas virgens. Este artigo descreve um estudo no qual o fosfogesso, gerado pelas indústrias de produção de ácido fosfórico, foi empregado na formulação de um cimento em substituição total à gipsita. Buscou-se formular um cimento com baixo impacto ambiental (BIA) composto de mínimas quantidades de clínquer e máximas de fosfogesso. O clínquer empregado foi o sulfoaluminoso, caracterizado por necessitar de maiores quantidades de sulfato de cálcio em relação ao cimento Portland. Seis composições foram estudadas, cujas quantidades de fosfogesso e clínquer variaram entre 70-95% e 5-30%, respectivamente. A performance do BIA foi avaliada quanto à resistência mecânica e ensaios de durabilidade em argamassa padrão (NF EN 196-1). As interações entre fosfogesso e clínquer foram investigadas através da difração aos raios X (DRX) e análise térmica diferencial (DTA). Na análise da argamassa padrão, com a proporção de 1:3 (cimento:areia), a formulação composta por 30% de clínquer e 70% de fosfogesso apresentou resistência mecânica superior a 20 MPa aos 28 dias.The possibility of using industrial residues as raw materials for construction products has increased its importance for the environment and has also created new technological challenges. This article describes a study in which phosphogypsum, a by product of the phosphoric acid manufacturing industry, has been used for producing cement as a replacement for gypsum. The aim was to develop a cement with low environmental impact, with minimal consumption of clinker and maximum use of phosphogypsum (calcium sulfate). The sulfoaluminate clinker was used, which requires larger quantities of calcium sulfate in relation to Portland cement. Six combinations of phosphogypsum and clinker were tested, ranging between 70%-95% and 30%-5%, respectively. The performance of the low environmental impact was assessed, in terms of mechanical resistance, and durability tests for the standard mortar. (NF EN 196-1). The interactions between phosphogypsum and clinker were investigated by using XRD and DTA techniques. In the analysis of the standard mortar, with a proportion of 1:3 (cement: sand), the proportion of 70% phosphogypsum and 30% clinker resulted in a compressive strength higher than 20 MPa after 28 days

TRAF3 Epigenetic Regulation Is Associated With Vascular Recurrence in Patients With Ischemic Stroke

Clopidogrel is one of the most used antiplatelet drugs in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, 16% to 50% of patients have a high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity and an increased risk of ischemic events. The pathogenesis of high on-treatment platelet reactivity in patients with stroke is only partially explained by genetic variations. This study aims to find differentially methylated sites across the genome associated with vascular recurrence in ischemic stroke patients treated with clopidogrel

Light-driven Pickering interfacial catalysis for the oxidation of alkenes at near-room temperature †

In this study, we have developed an emulsion system combining plasmonic Au-loaded amphiphilic silica nanoparticles (Au/SiO2–C3) and tri(dodecyltrimethylammonium) phosphotungstate ([C12]3[PW12O40]) nanoparticles acting as an on-site photoassisted heater/activator and a catalyst, respectively, at the water/oil interface. The system exhibits a 5-fold increase of activity compared to the thermal reaction for the near-room temperature oxidation of alkenes with H2O2. The nanoparticles show excellent recyclability and structural stability. This study opens an avenue to design multiphase photoreactors for oxidation reactions at mild temperature, with a potential energy saving of 74% compared to that of thermally heated reactors at isoconversion

Cyclic glyceryl sulfate: a simple and versatile bio-based synthon for the facile and convergent synthesis of novel surface-active agents

In the frame of biomass valorization, a novel and simple cyclic glyceryl sulfate was efficiently prepared in two steps from glycerol. It was shown to react efficiently with primary, secondary as well as tertiary amines to afford either the corresponding anionic or zwitterionic surface-active agents

Isometric force production parameters during normal and experimental low back pain conditions

BACKGROUND: The control of force and its between-trial variability are often taken as critical determinants of motor performance. Subjects performed isometric trunk flexion and extension forces without and with experiment pain to examine if pain yields changes in the control of trunk forces. The objective of this study is to determine if experimental low back pain modifies trunk isometric force production. METHODS: Ten control subjects participated in this study. They were required to exert 50 and 75% of their isometric maximal trunk flexion and extension torque. In a learning phase preceding the non painful and painful trials, visual and verbal feedbacks were provided. Then, subjects were asked to perform 10 trials without any feedback. Time to peak torque, time to peak torque variability, peak torque variability as well as constant and absolute error in peak torque were calculated. Time to peak and peak dF/dt were computed to determine if the first peak of dF/dt could predict the peak torque achieved. RESULTS: Absolute and constant errors were higher in the presence of a painful electrical stimulation. Furthermore, peak torque variability for the higher level of force was increased with in the presence of experimental pain. The linear regressions between peak dF/dt, time to peak dF/dt and peak torque were similar for both conditions. Experimental low back pain yielded increased absolute and constant errors as well as a greater peak torque variability for the higher levels of force. The control strategy, however, remained the same between the non painful and painful condition. Cutaneous pain affects some isometric force production parameters but modifications of motor control strategies are not implemented spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: It is hypothesized that adaptation of motor strategies to low back pain is implemented gradually over time. This would enable LBP patients to perform their daily tasks with presumably less pain and more accuracy

Optimising monitoring in the management of Crohn's disease: a physician's perspective.

Management of Crohn's disease has traditionally placed high value on subjective symptom assessment; however, it is increasingly appreciated that patient symptoms and objective parameters of inflammation can be disconnected. Therefore, strategies that objectively monitor inflammatory activity should be utilised throughout the disease course to optimise patient management. Initially, a thorough assessment of the severity, location and extent of disease is needed to ensure a correct diagnosis, identify any complications, help assess prognosis and select appropriate therapy. During follow-up, clinical decision-making should be driven by disease activity monitoring, with the aim of optimising treatment for tight disease control. However, few data exist to guide the choice of monitoring tools and the frequency of their use. Furthermore, adaption of monitoring strategies for symptomatic, asymptomatic and post-operative patients has not been well defined. The Annual excHangE on the ADvances in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD Ahead) 2011 educational programme, which included approximately 600 gastroenterologists from 36 countries, has developed practice recommendations for the optimal monitoring of Crohn's disease based on evidence and/or expert opinion. These recommendations address the need to incorporate different modalities of disease assessment (symptom and endoscopic assessment, measurement of biomarkers of inflammatory activity and cross-sectional imaging) into robust monitoring. Furthermore, the importance of measuring and recording parameters in a standardised fashion to enable longitudinal evaluation of disease activity is highlighted.Peer reviewe

Obstetric Outcomes in Women with Rheumatic Disease and COVID-19 in the Context of Vaccination Status

OBJECTIVE: To describe obstetric outcomes based on COVID-19 vaccination status, in women with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) who developed COVID-19 during pregnancy. METHODS: Data regarding pregnant women entered into the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance registry from 24 March 2020-25 February 2022 were analysed. Obstetric outcomes were stratified by number of COVID-19 vaccine doses received prior to COVID-19 infection in pregnancy. Descriptive differences between groups were tested using the chi -square or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: There were 73 pregnancies in 73 women with RMD and COVID-19. Overall, 24.7% (18) of pregnancies were ongoing, while of the 55 completed pregnancies 90.9% (50) of pregnancies resulted in livebirths. At the time of COVID-19 diagnosis, 60.3% (n = 44) of women were unvaccinated, 4.1% (n = 3) had received one vaccine dose while 35.6% (n = 26) had two or more doses. Although 83.6% (n = 61) of women required no treatment for COVID-19, 20.5% (n = 15) required hospital admission. COVID-19 resulted in delivery in 6.8% (n = 3) of unvaccinated women and 3.8% (n = 1) of fully vaccinated women. There was a greater number of preterm births (PTB) in unvaccinated women compared with fully vaccinated 29.5% (n = 13) vs 18.2%(n = 2). CONCLUSION: In this descriptive study, unvaccinated pregnant women with RMD and COVID-19 had a greater number of PTB compared with those fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, the need for COVID-19 pharmacological treatment was uncommon in pregnant women with RMD regardless of vaccination status. These results support active promotion of COVID-19 vaccination in women with RMD who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy

TOPAZ1, a Novel Germ Cell-Specific Expressed Gene Conserved during Evolution across Vertebrates

BACKGROUND: We had previously reported that the Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) approach was relevant for the isolation of new mammalian genes involved in oogenesis and early follicle development. Some of these transcripts might be potential new oocyte and granulosa cell markers. We have now characterized one of them, named TOPAZ1 for the Testis and Ovary-specific PAZ domain gene. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Sheep and mouse TOPAZ1 mRNA have 4,803 bp and 4,962 bp open reading frames (20 exons), respectively, and encode putative TOPAZ1 proteins containing 1,600 and 1653 amino acids. They possess PAZ and CCCH domains. In sheep, TOPAZ1 mRNA is preferentially expressed in females during fetal life with a peak during prophase I of meiosis, and in males during adulthood. In the mouse, Topaz1 is a germ cell-specific gene. TOPAZ1 protein is highly conserved in vertebrates and specifically expressed in mouse and sheep gonads. It is localized in the cytoplasm of germ cells from the sheep fetal ovary and mouse adult testis. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a novel PAZ-domain protein that is abundantly expressed in the gonads during germ cell meiosis. The expression pattern of TOPAZ1, and its high degree of conservation, suggests that it may play an important role in germ cell development. Further characterization of TOPAZ1 may elucidate the mechanisms involved in gametogenesis, and particularly in the RNA silencing process in the germ lin

Analysis of shared heritability in common disorders of the brain

ience, this issue p. eaap8757 Structured Abstract INTRODUCTION Brain disorders may exhibit shared symptoms and substantial epidemiological comorbidity, inciting debate about their etiologic overlap. However, detailed study of phenotypes with different ages of onset, severity, and presentation poses a considerable challenge. Recently developed heritability methods allow us to accurately measure correlation of genome-wide common variant risk between two phenotypes from pools of different individuals and assess how connected they, or at least their genetic risks, are on the genomic level. We used genome-wide association data for 265,218 patients and 784,643 control participants, as well as 17 phenotypes from a total of 1,191,588 individuals, to quantify the degree of overlap for genetic risk factors of 25 common brain disorders. RATIONALE Over the past century, the classification of brain disorders has evolved to reflect the medical and scientific communities' assessments of the presumed root causes of clinical phenomena such as behavioral change, loss of motor function, or alterations of consciousness. Directly observable phenomena (such as the presence of emboli, protein tangles, or unusual electrical activity patterns) generally define and separate neurological disorders from psychiatric disorders. Understanding the genetic underpinnings and categorical distinctions for brain disorders and related phenotypes may inform the search for their biological mechanisms. RESULTS Common variant risk for psychiatric disorders was shown to correlate significantly, especially among attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), and schizophrenia. By contrast, neurological disorders appear more distinct from one another and from the psychiatric disorders, except for migraine, which was significantly correlated to ADHD, MDD, and Tourette syndrome. We demonstrate that, in the general population, the personality trait neuroticism is significantly correlated with almost every psychiatric disorder and migraine. We also identify significant genetic sharing between disorders and early life cognitive measures (e.g., years of education and college attainment) in the general population, demonstrating positive correlation with several psychiatric disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa and bipolar disorder) and negative correlation with several neurological phenotypes (e.g., Alzheimer's disease and ischemic stroke), even though the latter are considered to result from specific processes that occur later in life. Extensive simulations were also performed to inform how statistical power, diagnostic misclassification, and phenotypic heterogeneity influence genetic correlations. CONCLUSION The high degree of genetic correlation among many of the psychiatric disorders adds further evidence that their current clinical boundaries do not reflect distinct underlying pathogenic processes, at least on the genetic level. This suggests a deeply interconnected nature for psychiatric disorders, in contrast to neurological disorders, and underscores the need to refine psychiatric diagnostics. Genetically informed analyses may provide important "scaffolding" to support such restructuring of psychiatric nosology, which likely requires incorporating many levels of information. By contrast, we find limited evidence for widespread common genetic risk sharing among neurological disorders or across neurological and psychiatric disorders. We show that both psychiatric and neurological disorders have robust correlations with cognitive and personality measures. Further study is needed to evaluate whether overlapping genetic contributions to psychiatric pathology may influence treatment choices. Ultimately, such developments may pave the way toward reduced heterogeneity and improved diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders