Change of Fatigue and Mechanical Fracture Properties of a Cement Composite due to Partial Replacement of Aggregate by Red Ceramic Waste

Fine-grained cement-based composites used in civil engineering and construction industry are usually made of cement-based matrix and natural aggregate (such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, etc.). Red ceramic waste aggregate is considered as a perspective replacement of a part of natural aggregate in modern environmentally oriented building materials. Fine-grained cement composite with natural aggregate partially replaced by ceramic waste aggregate usually show different mechanical fracture characteristics from ordinary fine-grained concrete. The specimens were tested at six different ages. This was the reason for conducting the research programme. Altogether, 6 fine-grained cement mixtures with various proportions of natural and red ceramic waste aggregate were prepared. The aim of this paper is to present and compare mechanical fracture properties obtained from static and fatigue tests. Bulk density, flexural and compressive cube strength, fracture toughness and fatigue properties (S−N − Wöhler curve) were of special interest. All of these tests are important for a practical application of concrete with ceramic aggregate for structures. All the results were statistically analysed and they showed that the fatigue and mechanical fracture properties were improved or at least kept up with the increasing levels of red ceramic waste aggregate. Environmental impact of application in construction industry of composites in question is discussed

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and the risk of coronary artery disease in a Polish population with type 2 diabetes mellitus and with normal glucose metabolism

WSTĘP. Witamina D odgrywa ważną rolę w zachowaniu prawidłowej gospodarki wapniowo-fosforanowej. Istnieją także dowody, że może ona modyfikować czynniki ryzyka choroby niedokrwiennej serca (CAD, coronary artery disease). Geny związane ze szlakiem metabolizmu witaminy D są dobrymi kandydatami w badaniach genetycznych nad CAD. Jednym z nich jest gen receptora witaminy D (VDR, vitamin D receptor). Wykazano na przykład związek jednego z licznych polimorfizmów tego genu (BsmI) z CAD w populacji niemieckiej, szczególnie w grupie chorych na cukrzycę typu 2. CEL. Poszukiwanie związku polimorfizmów FokI, ApaI, BsmI i TaqI genu VDR z CAD w populacji polskiej w grupie osób niespokrewnionych z chorymi na cukrzycę typu 2 oraz w grupie osób bez cukrzycy. MATERIAŁ I METODY. Do badania włączono 521 osób: 292 chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 oraz 229 osób bez cukrzycy. Chorobę niedokrwienną serca rozpoznano w obu grupach na podstawie badania ankietowego oraz dokumentacji medycznej. U osób włączonych do analizy przeprowadzono uprzednio genotypowanie w zakresie częstych polimorfizmów FokI, ApaI, BsmI i TaqI w genie VDR. Allele zdefiniowano, stosując metodę zmiennej długości fragmentów restrykcyjnych (RFLP, restriction fragment lenght polymorphism). Ponieważ warianty polimorfizmów ApaI, BsmI i TaqI genu były w silnej nierównowadze sprzężeń (linkage disequilibrium), można było przypisać z dużym prawdopodobieństwem trzypunktowe haplotypy dla wszystkich osób biorących udział w badaniu. Różnice w dystrybucji badano za pomocą testu c2. WYNIKI. W grupie chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 rozpoznano CAD u 35,93%, podczas gdy w grupie osób bez cukrzycy zdiagnozowano CAD u 26,32%. Nie stwierdzono znamiennych różnic między częstością CAD wśród nosicieli poszczególnych genotypów 4 badanych markerów w obu grupach oraz w analizie łącznej. Zaobserwowano natomiast, że nosiciele kombinacji trzypunktowych haplotypów bAT/baT rzadziej chorowali na CAD niż nosiciele wszystkich pozostałych kombinacji: w grupie chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 - 25,58% vs. 37,75%; p = 0,125, w grupie bez cukrzycy - 14,29% vs. 27,86%; p = 0,126 oraz 21,13% vs. 33,33%; p = 0,03 w analizie łącznej. WNIOSKI. Wyniki przedstawionego badania sugerują, że polimorfizmy genu VDR mogą wpływać na ryzyko zachorowania na CAD w populacji polskiej.INTRODUCTION. Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium and phosphates metabolism. There is evidence that this steroid modifies the risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus genes that are involved in vitamin D metabolism are good candidates for CAD in genetic studies. One of those genes vitamin D receptor (VDR). For example, an association between one of many VDR polymorphisms (BsmI) and CAD was shown in a German population, particularly among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). AIM. To search for the association of FokI, ApaI, BsmI, and TaqI polymorphisms of the VDR gene with CAD in two Polish cohorts of unrelated individuals: with and without T2DM. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Overall, we included 521 individuals into this analysis: 292 patients with T2DM and 229 without T2DM. The diagnosis of CAD in both groups was based on a questionnaire and patient medical records. All individuals included into the analysis were previously genotyped for frequent VDR polymorphisms: FokI, ApaI, BsmI, and TaqI. Alleles were defined based on restriction fragment length polymorphism method (RFLP). Since variants of ApaI, BsmI, and TaqI polymorpshisms were in very strong linkage disequilibrium, three loci haplotypes could be assigned to phase-unknown individuals with high degree of confidence. Differences in distribution were assessed by c2 test. RESULTS. In the group of T2DM patients, the diagnosis of CAD was established in 35.93% individuals, while in the group without T2DM this number was 26.32%. There was no difference between the carriers of the different genotypes of the four examined markers with respect to the frequency of CAD diagnosis of each group both separately or when analyzed jointly. We observed, however, that the carriers of bAT/baT three point haplotype combinations were diagnosed with CAD less frequently than the carriers of all other haplotype combination: 25.58% vs. 37.75%; p = 0.125 in T2DM group, 14.29% vs. 27.86% in the group without T2DM; p = 0.126 and 21.13% vs. 33.33%; p = 0.03 in the joint analysis of both groups, respectively. CONCLUSION. The results of our study suggest that polymorphisms of the VDR gene may influence the risk of CAD in a Polish population

Mechanical fracture properties of concrete with lunar aggregate simulant

From the volumetric point of view, aggregate is the most important ingredient in any kind of concrete. It is impossible to use raw soil instead of aggregate to produce concrete. There are numerous reasons for not using soil for concrete production on Earth, and we should not use lunar soil for concrete production on the Moon for the same reasons. Nevertheless, almost all developed lunar concrete-like composites, such as sulphur or polymeric concretes, are based on raw lunar soil. In the research programme, cement composite based on lunar aggregate simulant was tested. The mechanical fracture properties of the composite were the key point of interest. It was proven that the tested lunar concrete is characterized by stable and uniform properties. The obtained results were compared with the properties of other ordinary cement composites

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and the risk of coronary artery disease in a Polish population with type 2 diabetes mellitus and with normal glucose metabolism

WSTĘP. Witamina D odgrywa ważną rolę w zachowaniu prawidłowej gospodarki wapniowo-fosforanowej. Istnieją także dowody, że może ona modyfikować czynniki ryzyka choroby niedokrwiennej serca (CAD, coronary artery disease). Geny związane ze szlakiem metabolizmu witaminy D są dobrymi kandydatami w badaniach genetycznych nad CAD. Jednym z nich jest gen receptora witaminy D (VDR, vitamin D receptor). Wykazano na przykład związek jednego z licznych polimorfizmów tego genu (BsmI) z CAD w populacji niemieckiej, szczególnie w grupie chorych na cukrzycę typu 2. CEL. Poszukiwanie związku polimorfizmów FokI, ApaI, BsmI i TaqI genu VDR z CAD w populacji polskiej w grupie osób niespokrewnionych z chorymi na cukrzycę typu 2 oraz w grupie osób bez cukrzycy. MATERIAŁ I METODY. Do badania włączono 521 osób: 292 chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 oraz 229 osób bez cukrzycy. Chorobę niedokrwienną serca rozpoznano w obu grupach na podstawie badania ankietowego oraz dokumentacji medycznej. U osób włączonych do analizy przeprowadzono uprzednio genotypowanie w zakresie częstych polimorfizmów FokI, ApaI, BsmI i TaqI w genie VDR. Allele zdefiniowano, stosując metodę zmiennej długości fragmentów restrykcyjnych (RFLP, restriction fragment lenght polymorphism). Ponieważ warianty polimorfizmów ApaI, BsmI i TaqI genu były w silnej nierównowadze sprzężeń (linkage disequilibrium), można było przypisać z dużym prawdopodobieństwem trzypunktowe haplotypy dla wszystkich osób biorących udział w badaniu. Różnice w dystrybucji badano za pomocą testu c2. WYNIKI. W grupie chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 rozpoznano CAD u 35,93%, podczas gdy w grupie osób bez cukrzycy zdiagnozowano CAD u 26,32%. Nie stwierdzono znamiennych różnic między częstością CAD wśród nosicieli poszczególnych genotypów 4 badanych markerów w obu grupach oraz w analizie łącznej. Zaobserwowano natomiast, że nosiciele kombinacji trzypunktowych haplotypów bAT/baT rzadziej chorowali na CAD niż nosiciele wszystkich pozostałych kombinacji: w grupie chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 — 25,58% vs. 37,75%; p = 0,125, w grupie bez cukrzycy — 14,29% vs. 27,86%; p = 0,126 oraz 21,13% vs. 33,33%; p = 0,03 w analizie łącznej. WNIOSKI. Wyniki przedstawionego badania sugerują, że polimorfizmy genu VDR mogą wpływać na ryzyko zachorowania na CAD w populacji polskiej.INTRODUCTION. Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium and phosphates metabolism. There is evidence that this steroid modifies the risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus genes that are involved in vitamin D metabolism are good candidates for CAD in genetic studies. One of those genes vitamin D receptor (VDR). For example, an association between one of many VDR polymorphisms (BsmI) and CAD was shown in a German population, particularly among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). AIM. To search for the association of FokI, ApaI, BsmI, and TaqI polymorphisms of the VDR gene with CAD in two Polish cohorts of unrelated individuals: with and without T2DM. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Overall, we included 521 individuals into this analysis: 292 patients with T2DM and 229 without T2DM. The diagnosis of CAD in both groups was based on a questionnaire and patient medical records. All individuals included into the analysis were previously genotyped for frequent VDR polymorphisms: FokI, ApaI, BsmI, and TaqI. Alleles were defined based on restriction fragment length polymorphism method (RFLP). Since variants of ApaI, BsmI, and TaqI polymorpshisms were in very strong linkage disequilibrium, three loci haplotypes could be assigned to phase-unknown individuals with high degree of confidence. Differences in distribution were assessed by c2 test. RESULTS. In the group of T2DM patients, the diagnosis of CAD was established in 35.93% individuals, while in the group without T2DM this number was 26.32%. There was no difference between the carriers of the different genotypes of the four examined markers with respect to the frequency of CAD diagnosis of each group both separately or when analyzed jointly. We observed, however, that the carriers of bAT/baT three point haplotype combinations were diagnosed with CAD less frequently than the carriers of all other haplotype combination: 25.58% vs. 37.75%; p = 0.125 in T2DM group, 14.29% vs. 27.86% in the group without T2DM; p = 0.126 and 21.13% vs. 33.33%; p = 0.03 in the joint analysis of both groups, respectively. CONCLUSION. The results of our study suggest that polymorphisms of the VDR gene may influence the risk of CAD in a Polish population

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Mechanical fracture properties of concrete with lunar aggregate simulant

From the volumetric point of view, aggregate is the most important ingredient in any kind of concrete. It is impossible to use raw soil instead of aggregate to produce concrete. There are numerous reasons for not using soil for concrete production on Earth, and we should not use lunar soil for concrete production on the Moon for the same reasons. Nevertheless, almost all developed lunar concrete-like composites, such as sulphur or polymeric concretes, are based on raw lunar soil. In the research programme, cement composite based on lunar aggregate simulant was tested. The mechanical fracture properties of the composite were the key point of interest. It was proven that the tested lunar concrete is characterized by stable and uniform properties. The obtained results were compared with the properties of other ordinary cement composites