Portfolio of Bio-Based Façade Materials

This chapter presents a selection of biomaterials identified by industry and academia as superior for building façades. Time series of photographs demonstrating changes of material appearance during use phase are provided for each case. In addition, selected technical characteristic, durability, recyclability potential as well as costing estimates are provided for each biomaterial

Applications of Cytosorb in clinical practice

Introduction and objective. Cytososorb is haemadsorption device approved in the European Union in 2011 for cytokine adsorption. Recently, in 2018, new indications for the device use have been added, including bilirubin and myoglobin removal. This study aimed to present the results of studies pertaining to Cytosorb use in clinical practice. In subsequent sections of this review, indications for Cytosorb therapy and clinical relevance of presented evidence are listed. State of knowledge. In clinical practice, Cytosorb has been reported as one of potential supportive therapies in patients with septic shock. There is evidence of significant reduction of interleukin 6 and vasopressors when Cytosorb is implemented. However, the decreased mortality after Cytosorb has yet to be reported. Besides cytokine adsorption, Cytosorb also collects drugs, a property that can have a beneficial effect on acute drug poisoning (anticoagulants). However, Cytosorb lowers the plasma concentration of some antibiotics which might affect the outcome of patients in septic shock. The haemadsorption device has also been researched in cardiac patients, and some reports suggest a reduced need for vasopressors and blood transfusions when therapy is installed during surgery. Other indications for Cytosorb are also reported, especially the effectiveness in decreasing bilirubin serum concentrations as treatment or bridge therapy, without affecting the albumins. Cytosorb might also be the last resort treatment in acquired haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Conclusions. The evidence supporting the use of CytoSorb remains elusive. There is lack of large prospective studies which could provide definitive answers about the place of Cytosorb in clinical practice. There are no reports of safety and feasibility issues in all presented studies

Mapping the biotic degradation hazard of wood in Europe - Biophysical background, engineering applications, and climate change-induced prospects

Construction using timber has seen a resurgence in light of global climate mitigation policies. Wood is a renewable resource, and engineered wood products are proving to be competitive against concrete and steel while having several advantages. However, while the renewable nature of wood in construction is a beneficial property for climate mitigation policies, the process of biodegradation introduces a challenge for service life planning. A review of hazard mapping is presented while developing contemporary hazard maps, occurrence maps and projected hazard maps for 2050 using representative concentration pathways (RCP) 2.6 and 8.5. The risk of timber decay is expected to increase in most of Europe as the temperatures rise, with a decrease expected in dryer regions. Termites are likely to experience a range expansion as more areas become suitable, while human activity and an increase in extreme weather events like floods are expected to facilitate dispersion. Marine borer species already present a risk in most European coastal regions; however, the effect of changes in water temperatures are likely to shift the boundaries for individual borer species. Overall, warmer climates are expected to increase the metabolic activity of all of these organisms leading to a general reduction in service life

Global survey on durability variation – on the effect of the reference species

Climate change due to anthropogenic emissions is the largest environmental challenge of ourtime. Forest-based value chains play an important role in reducing the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere. Maximizing the use of wood to tackle climate change requires improved understanding of the service life of timber products. This information can best be obtained from field testing and while there is an abundance of field performance data from sites all over the world, most of the data are not available in a form that can be utilised for service life models. The IRG Durability Database aims to improve the usability of existing performance data and create added value for durability research and service life prediction. The present paper takes the first steps in comparing global field test performance data from the IRG Durability Database for non-durable reference species. Data were obtained from six species above ground and ground contact field tests from 36 sites around the world. For each dataset, decay rates and service life (where applicable) were calculated. Datasets were then grouped together based on test method and species. Decay rate was faster and more uniform in ground contact than above ground. Inground contact, beech decayed most rapidly, followed by Norway spruce and Scots pines apwood. All appeared to be suitable for use as reference species, however slow-grown spruce should be avoided. There were no statistically significant correlations between ground contact decay rate and the Scheffer Climate Index (SCI). In above ground tests, differences in decay ratewere largely related to differences in moisture dynamics. Species with the greatest absorption and retention of water decayed most rapidly. Test methods that absorbed and retained the most moisture (e.g. painted L-joints) resulted in more rapid decay. Above ground decay rate and SCI were significantly correlated in two data sets that had a wide range of SCI values. Correlations were not significant when only European test sites were included. Estimating decay rate from field testing results in highly variable data. Comparing data from global test sites is made more difficult by the absence of common field testing standards