Inflammation: a way to understanding the evolution of portal hypertension

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Portal hypertension is a clinical syndrome that manifests as ascites, portosystemic encephalopathy and variceal hemorrhage, and these alterations often lead to death.</p> <p>Hypothesis</p> <p>Splanchnic and/or systemic responses to portal hypertension could have pathophysiological mechanisms similar to those involved in the post-traumatic inflammatory response.</p> <p>The splanchnic and systemic impairments produced throughout the evolution of experimental prehepatic portal hypertension could be considered to have an inflammatory origin. In portal vein ligated rats, portal hypertensive enteropathy, hepatic steatosis and portal hypertensive encephalopathy show phenotypes during their development that can be considered inflammatory, such as: ischemia-reperfusion (vasodilatory response), infiltration by inflammatory cells (mast cells) and bacteria (intestinal translocation of endotoxins and bacteria) and lastly, angiogenesis. Similar inflammatory phenotypes, worsened by chronic liver disease (with anti-oxidant and anti-enzymatic ability reduction) characterize the evolution of portal hypertension and its complications (hepatorenal syndrome, ascites and esophageal variceal hemorrhage) in humans.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Low-grade inflammation, related to prehepatic portal hypertension, switches to high-grade inflammation with the development of severe and life-threatening complications when associated with chronic liver disease.</p

Projections of Heat Waves Events in the Intra-Americas Region Using Multimodel Ensemble

Significant accelerated warming of the Sea Surface Temperature of 0.15°C per decade (1982–2012) was recently detected, which motivated the research for the present consequences and future projections on the heat index and heat waves in the intra-Americas region. Present records every six hours are retrieved from NCEP reanalysis (1948–2015) to calculate heat waves changes. Heat index intensification has been detected in the region since 1998 and driven by surface pressure changes, sinking air enhancement, and warm/weaker cold advection. This regional warmer atmosphere leads to heat waves intensification with changes in both frequency and maximum amplitude distribution. Future projections using a multimodel ensemble mean for five global circulation models were used to project heat waves in the future under two scenarios: RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Massive heat waves events were projected at the end of the 21st century, particularly in the RCP8.5 scenario. Consequently, the regional climate change in the current time and in the future will require special attention to mitigate the more intense and frequent heat waves impacts on human health, countries’ economies, and energy demands in the IAR

Design and optimisation of new formulations of Belite-Alite Calcium Sulfoaluminate (BACSA) eco-cements

Belite Calcium SulfoAluminate (BCSA) eco-cements were developed as OPC substitutes since in their production release 22% less CO2 than OPC. BCSA eco-cements contain belite as main phase (>50 wt%) and ye'elimite as secondary main phase (~30 wt%). However, these materials develop low mechanical strengths at intermediate hydration ages (3, 7 and 28 days). A solution to this problem may involve the design and preparation of clinker/cement with the highest percentage of coexisting alite and ye'elimite. These materials are known as Belite-Alite Calcium SulfoAluminate (BACSA) clinkers/cements. Their manufacture may produce 15% less CO2 than OPC. Alite is the main component of OPC and is responsible for early mechanical strengths. The reaction of alite and ye´elimite with water will develop cements with high mechanical strengths at early ages, while belite will contribute to later curing times. This work is focused on the design and optimisation of all the parameters evolved in the preparation of BACSA eco-clinkers that develop mechanical strengths comparable to those of OPC with a reduction in CO2 emissions of at least 15% when compared to OPC production. These parameters include the selection of the raw materials (lime, gypsum, kaolin and sand), milling conditions of the crude, clinkering temperature (from 1280 to 1300ºC) and holding time at every temperature, and final composition. The clinker with the targeted composition (belite ~ 60 wt%, alite ~ 13 wt% and ye'elimite ~ 10 wt%) was chosen to perform the scaling-up (2 kg). BACSA eco-clinkers were chemically and mineralogically characterised through X-ray fluorescence and laboratory X-ray powder diffraction (LXRPD), the latter in combination with the Rietveld methodology to obtain the full phase assemblage including Amorphous and Crystalline non-quantified, ACn, contents. Finally, the hydration of the selected BACSA cement paste (prepared with the scaled-up clinker and anhydrite) was studied mainly through rheological measurements (at very early hydration time) and LXRPD in combination with the Rietveld methodology and G-factor method. The compressive strengths were also measured at different hydration times and were compared with OPC.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech.Societ

Hydration study of Belite-Alite Calcium Sulfoaluminate (BACSA) cement blended with fly ash

The main objective of this work is to understand the effect of the addition of fly ash (0, 15 and 30 wt%) in the hydration of a BACSA cement paste (water/cement=0.4) prepared with 12 wt% of anhydrite. The pastes were characterized, at different hydration ages, through laboratory X-ray powder diffraction (LXRPD) (using an internal standard) combined with the Rietveld methodology and thermal analyses. Details about the phase developments including pozzolanic reactivity will be reported and discussed.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

In-situ Molibdenum X-ray powder diffraction study of the early hydration of cementitious systems on a humidity chamber

The durability of cement-based construction materials depends on the environmental conditions during their service life. A further factor is the microstructure of the cement bulk, established by formation of cement hydrates. The development of the phases and microstructure under given conditions is responsible of the high strength of cementitious materials. The investigation on the early hydration behavior of cements and cementing systems has been for a long time a very important area of research: understanding the chemical reactions that lead to hardening is fundamental for the prediction of performances and durability of the materials. The production of 1 ton of Ordinary Portland Cement, OPC, releases into the atmosphere ~0.97 tons of CO2. This implies that the overall CO2 emissions from the cement industry are 6% of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide. An alternative to reduce the CO2 footprint consists on the development of eco-cements composed by less calcite demanding phases, such as belite and ye'elimite. That is the case of Belite-Ye’elimite cements (BY). Since the reactivity of belite is not quick enough, these materials develop low mechanical strengths at intermediate hydration ages. A possible solution to this problem goes through the production of cements which jointly contain alite with the two previously mentioned phases, named as Belite-Alite-Ye’elimite (BAY) cements. The reaction of alite and ye'elimite with water will develop cements with high mechanical strengths at early ages, while belite will contribute to later values. The final goal is to understand the hydration mechanisms of a variety of cementing systems (OPC, BAY and pure phases) as a function of water content, superplasticizer additives and type and content of sulfate source. In order to do so, in-situ laboratory humidity chambers with Molybdenum X-ray Powder diffraction are employed. In the first 2h of hydration, reaction degree (α) of ye'elimite had been decreased for superplasticizer.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Clinkering and early age hydration characterization of Belite-Alite Calcium Sulfoaluminate (BACSA) cements

In this work, four BACSA clinkers with different compositions (belite ~ 70-55 wt %, alite ~ 10-15 wt % and ye’elimite ~ 10-15 wt %) were synthesized (at laboratory scale). Lime, gypsum, kaolin and sand were used as raw materials and clinkering temperatures from 1280 to 1300 ºC were studied. Every BACSA clinker was chemically and mineralogically characterized through X-ray fluorescence and laboratory X-ray powder diffraction (LXRPD), the latter in combination with the Rietveld methodology to obtain the full phase assemblage including amorphous contents. The clinker with the targeted composition (belite ~ wt 60 %, alite ~ 13 wt % and ye’elimite ~ 10 wt %) was chosen to perform the scaling-up (5 kg). To do so, the processing parameters (milling time and clinkering conditions) have been optimized. Finally, the hydration of the corresponding BACSA cement pastes (prepared with the scaled-up clinker and gypsum) was studied through rheological measurements (at very early hydration time), calorimetry and impedance spectroscopy (first 24 h), and LXRPD in combination with the Rietveld methodology and G-factor method, at 1 and 7 hydration days to determine degree of hydration.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Proinflammatory Liver and Antiinflammatory Intestinal Mediators Involved in Portal Hypertensive Rats

Proinflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, and NO) and antiinflammatory (IL-10, CO) levels were assayed in serum, liver, and small bowel in order to verify a hypothetic inflammatory etiopathogeny of portal hypertension that could be the cause of its evolutive heterogeneity. Male Wistar rats were divided into one control group (n = 11) and one group with a triple stenosing ligation of the portal vein (n = 23) after 28 days of evolution. In one subgroup of portal hypertensive rats, portal pressure, collateral venous circulation, mesenteric vasculopathy, and liver and spleen weights were determined. In the remaining rats with portal hypertension TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 were quantified in liver and ileum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NO synthase activity was studied in liver and ileum. CO and NO were measured in portal and systemic blood by spectrophotometry and Griess reaction, respectively. Portal hypertensive rats with mayor spleen weight show hepatomegaly and mayor development of collateral circulation. Ileum release of IL-10 (0.30 ± 0.12 versus 0.14 ± 0.02 pmol/mg protein; P < .01) is associated with a liver production of both proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α: 2 ± 0.21 versus 1.32 ± 0.60 pmol/mg protein; P < .05, IL-1β: 19.17 ± 2.87 versus 5.96 ± 1.84 pmol/mg protein; P = .005, and NO: 132.10 ± 34.72 versus 61.05 ± 8.30 nmol/mL; P = .005) and an antiinflammatory mediator (CO: 6.49 ± 2.99 versus 3.03 ± 1.59 pmol/mL; P = .005). In short-term prehepatic portal hypertension a gut-liver inflammatory loop, which could be fundamental in the regulation both of the portal pressure and of its complications, could be proposed

Background of the "Studio Glass Movement" sculpture from the blown glass artworks of 1800-1950

This work shows a historic-artistic analysis on the technological and cultural influences of the glass artworks of the 1800-1950 period on the so-called Studio Glass Movement. Blown glass artworks depend on both the state of the art of the glass technology and the experience and creative skills of the artist. During 1800-1950 blown glass artworks experienced an important boost due to the technical and scientific development of this material. The glass became the main character of Art Nouveau and Art Déco tendencies, and nowadays possesses a preferential position in both contemporary sculpture and decorative arts. Such glass artworks strongly contributed to the born and growth of the Studio Glass Movement, the contemporary tendency with higher sculptural impact. Technical and artistic properties of representative glass artworks from factories, workshops or schools from the countries where they were developed are described. Likewise, the contemporary glass sculpture characteristics are revealed showing their connection to traditional creation techniques and the glassmakers artistic experience transmission.</p

Valorización de Creditex S.A.A.

Creditex es una empresa nacional perteneciente al grupo Cervesur. Cuenta con más de 40 años de experiencia atendiendo al segmento textil, mediante la realización de actividades que van desde el hilado de algodón hasta la confección y comercialización de prendas de vestir. El propósito de la presente investigación es estimar el valor intrínseco de Creditex. Para ello, se ha utilizado la metodología del flujo de caja descontado, estos flujos se sustentan en los fundamentos financieros, la capacidad para generar excedentes y las expectativas de crecimiento en el largo plazo. El horizonte de proyección se extiende por quince años, después de los cuales se asume una tasa de crecimiento constante alineada a la inflación de largo plazo

Alite hydration mechanism in presence of ye’elimite related to BAY cements

One alternative to decrease CO2 emissions from ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) production consists on the development of a new kind of eco-cements composed by less calcite demanding phases. That is the case of Belite-Ye’elimite-Ferrite (BYF) cements, which have β-belite as a main phase and ye’elimite as a secondary phase. But the low reactivity of β-belite is well known, consequently these materials develop low mechanical strengths at early/intermediate hydration ages. A possible solution proposed to solve this problem consists on the production of cements which contain belite, alite and ye'elimite together, known as Belite-Alite-Ye’elimite (BAY) cements. Consequently, the reaction of alite and ye'elimite with water would develop cements with higher mechanical strengths at early ages, while β- belite will contribute to later ages. The main objective of this work is to better understand the hydration behavior of monoclinic alite in presence of ye’elimite (both stoichiometric and pseudo-cubic polymorphs), in order to be compared with a BAY eco-cement systems. The hydration of systems with selected alite/ye’elimite ratios were studied for the first 24 hours. The main techniques used for this study were in-situ synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction combined with Rietveld methodology and isothermal calorimetry.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. BIA17-82391-R Beca Colciencias 646—Doctorado en el exterior and Enlaza Mundos 2013 (Colombia