Determination of the Biomass Content of End-of-Life Tyres

Studies have been conducted in France and Spain for (1) the validation of sampling methods to achieve representative samples of end‐of‐life tyre (ELT) materials and (2) the comparison and validation of test methods to quantify their biomass content. Both studies conclude that the 14C techniques are the most reliable techniques for determining the biomass content of end‐of‐life tyres. Indeed, thermogravimetry and pyrolysis‐GC/MS do not lead to results consistent with the theoretical content of biogenic materials present in tyres, and results in both cases differ considerably from the known natural rubber content of the reference samples studied using thermogravimetric analysis. Furthermore, in the two last techniques, natural isoprene cannot be distinguished from synthetic isoprene. Results obtained with radiocarbon analysis based on 14C contents could be used as reference values of the biomass content of the ELTs: in the ranges of 18–22% for passenger car tyres and 29–34% for truck tyres, in line with actual natural rubber and other components content. Additionally, the presence of textile fibres and stearic acid, which are known sources of biomass in the tyre, cannot be evaluated by thermogravimetry and pyrolysis‐GC/MS techniques

Comportamiento de un cemento portland resistente a los sulfatos frente al agua desionizada y a disoluciones de sulfato de sodio y de sulfato de magnesio

Not available[es] En este trabajo se estudia el comportamiento de un cemento portland industrial resistente a los sulfatos cuando los lechos granulados —fabricados con dicho cemento, una vez hidratado y conservado durante 7 y 28 días en una cámara húmeda a 21 ± 2 °C y con una humedad relativa superior al 90%— se someten a la acción del agua desionizada, de una disolución de sulfato de sodio y de otra disolución de sulfato de magnesio habiendo determinado: a. la evolución de los contenidos de los iones Ca (II) y SO4 (II) en los dos primeros casos, y además Mg (II), en el tercero, en las disoluciones que han atravesado los lechos de cemento, así como la del pH y de la conductividad, b. la variación del contenido de los iones mencionados en los compuestos correspondientes del cemento de los lechos, una vez sometidos a la acción de las disoluciones agresivas, así como las modificaciones estructurales experimentadas, y c. las características estructurales de la nueva fase sólida formada en las fracciones recogidas de la disolución de sulfato de magnesio, que han atravesado los lechos de cemento. En estos trabajos se ha puesto de manifiesto que la cantidad de Ca(OH)2 disuelta (extraída) tanto por el agua desionizada, como por la disolución de sulfato de sodio, disminuye exponencialmente a medida que aumenta el volumen de estas disoluciones, que han atravesado los lechos de cemento, alcanzando un valor asintótico; este fenómeno influye en el avance de las reacciones de hidratación y en la degradación de los compuestos del cemento. En el caso de la disolución de sulfato de magnesio, se produce un intercambio entre los iones Ca (II) del Ca(OH)2 del cemento hidratado y el Mg (II) de la disolución, el cual precipita como brucita en el lecho —llegando a colmatarlo en determinados casos— y en las fracciones de la disolución que han atravesado los lechos. La disolución del Ca(OH)2 se ve influenciada por la presencia de Mg (II). [fr] Comportement d'un ciment portland résistant aux sulfates face a l'eau deionisée et les solutions de sulfate de sodium et de sulfate de magnésium Dans ce travail on étudie le comportement d'un ciment portland industriel résistant aux sulfates lorsque les lits granulés, fabriqués avec ce ciment une fois hydraté et conservé en armoire humide a 21 ± 2 °C et à une hygrométrie supérieure à 90% pendant 7 et 28 jours, sont soumis à l'action de l'eau deionisée, d'une solution de sulfate de sodium et d'une solution de sulfate de magnésium, ayant déterminé: a. l´evolution de la teneur des ions Ca (II) et SO4 (II) dans les deux premiers solutions et, en plus, Mg (II) dans le troisième, qui ont traversé les lits de ciment, ainsi que celle de pH et de la conductivité, b. la variation de la teneur des ions mentionées des composés correspondants du ciment hydraté des lits, ainsi que les modifications structurelles expérimentées, et c. les característiques structurelles de la nouvelle phase solide qui est formée dans les fractions diverses recueillies de la solution de sulfate de magnésium, qui ont traversé les lits. Dans ces travaux, on a mis en relief que la quantité de Ca(OH)2 dissoute (extraite) aussi bien par l'eau deionisée que par la solution de sulfate de sodium diminue exponentiellement a mesure que le volume de ces solutions, qui ont traversé les lits augment, atteignant une valeur assymtotique; ce fait a une influence à l'avance des réactions d'hydratation et à la dégradation des composes du ciment. Dans le cas de la solution de sulfate de magnésium, un échange ionique se produit entre les ions Ca (II) du Ca(OH)2 du ciment hydraté et Mg (II) de la solution, le quel précipite comme brucite dans les lits —arrivant à le combler dans des cas déterminés— et dans les fractions de la solution qui ont traversé les lits. La solubilité du Ca(OH)2 est influencée par la presence de Mg (II) à la solution

Resistencia química del Hormigón. XXVIII. Contribución al estudio del sistema Cemento P-550-ARI hidratado-disolución de sulfato de sodio

In this work, which is the following of the others, the performance of a portland cement of a high initial resistance (P-550-ARI) —with a calculated content (Bogue) of 39,2 - 25,7 - 9,9 - 12,0 and 6,9% of C3S - C2S - C3A - C4AF and CaSO4, respectively— is studied when it is submitted to the action of an sodium sulfate solution [2,1 g/l of Na2S04 1,42 g/l of SO4 (II) 1,48 X 10-2 moles/litre of SO4 (II)] running across the beds of granulated cement, made with this hydrated cement cured during 7 or 28 days, determining: a) The evolution of the content on ions Ca (II) and SO4 (II) on the taken diverse fractions of sodium sulfate solution which have run across those beds, so as this of the pH and of the conductivity, b) the variation in the amount of these ions that are forming the correspondents compounds, in the hydrated cement from the beds that have been submitted before and after to the action of the sodium sulfate solution, and c) the structural modifications undergone by the crystalline compounds of the hydrated cement from the beds submitted to the action of the sodium sulfate solution.En el presente trabajo, continuación de otros, se estudia el comportamiento de un cemento portland de alta resistencia inicial (P-550-ARI) con unos contenidos calculados (Bogue) de C3S, C2S, C3A, C3AF y CaS04 del 39,2 - 25,7 - 9,9 - 12,0 y 6,9%, respectivamente, cuando se somete a la acción de una disolución de sulfato de sodio [2,1 g/l de Na2SO4 1,42 g/l de SO4 (II) 1,48 X 10-2 moles/litro de SO4 (ll)], que atraviesa sendos lechos granulados fabricados con dicho cemento hidratado y curado durante 7 y 28 días, determinando: a) la evolución del contenido de iones Ca (II) y SO4 (II) en las diversas fracciones recogidas de la disolución de sulfato de sodio, que han atravesado los lechos de cemento, así como la del pH y de la conductividad, b) la variación de las cantidades de dichos iones, que se encuentran formando los compuestos correspondientes, en el cemento hidratado de los lechos antes y después de someterlos a la acción de la disolución de sulfato de sodio, c) las modificaciones estructurales experimentadas por los compuestos cristalinos del cemento hidratado de los lechos sometidos a la acción de la disolución mencionada

Resistencia química del hormigón. XXVII. Contribución al estudio del sistema: cemento P-550-ARI hidratado-agua desionizada

In this work, which is the following of others, the performance of a portland cement of a high initial resistance (P-550-ARI) —with a calculated content (Bogue) of 39,2% of C3S, of 25,7% of C2S, of 9,9% of C3A, of 12,0% of C4AF and of 6,9% of CaSO4 — is studied when it is submitted to the action of deionized water running across the beds of granulated cement, made with this hydrated cement cured during 7 or 28 days, determining: a) the evolution of the content on ions Ca (II) and SO4 (II) on the taken diverse fractions of deionized water which have ran across those beds, so as this of the pH and of the conductivity, b) the variation in the amount of these ions that are forming the correspondent compounds, in the hydrated cement from the beds that have been submitted before and after to the action of the deionized water, and c) the structural modification undergone by the crystalline compounds of the hydrated cement from the beds submitted to the action of the deionized water.En el trabajo presente, continuación de otros, se estudia el comportamiento de un cemento portland de alta resistencia inicial (P-550-ARI) —con un contenido calculado (Bogue) del 39,2% de C3S, del 25,7% de C2S, del 9,9% de C3A del 12,0 de C4AF y del 6,9 % de CaS04— cuando se somete a la acción del agua desionizada que atraviesa los lechos de cemento granulados, fabricados con dicho cemento hidratado y curado durante 7 y 28 días, determinando: a) La evolución del contenido de los iones Ca (II) y SO4 (II) de las diversas fracciones recogidas de agua desionizada, que han atravesado los lechos mencionados, así como la del pH y de la conductividad, b) la variación de las cantidades de dichos iones, que se encuentran formando los compuestos correspondientes en el cemento hidratado de los lechos antes y después de someterlos a la acción del agua desionizada, y c) las modificaciones estructurales experimentadas por los compuestos cristalinos del cemento hidratado de los lechos sometidos a la acción del agua desionizada

Resistencia química del hormigón. XI.- Contribución al estudio del sistema: cemento P-450-Y hidratado-agua desionizada

Not availableEn el presente trabajo se estudia el comportamiento de un cemento portland industrial resistente al yeso (P-450-Y) con un contenido calculado (Bogue) nulo de C3A, del 10,8 % de C4AF y del 81,7 % de C3S + C2S, cuando se somete a la acción del agua desionizada (y de otras disoluciones agresivas; éstas serán objeto de otras publicaciones) que atraviesa un lecho granulado fabricado con dicho cemento una vez hidratado y curado a edades distintas, determinando: a) La evolución del contenido de los iones Ca (II) y SO4 (II) de las diversas fracciones recogidas del agua desionizada que ha atravesado el lecho de cemento, así como la del pH y de la conductividad. b) La variación del contenido de los iones mencionados, que se encuentran formando compuestos, en el cemento del lecho antes y después de ser sometido a la acción del agua desionizada. c) Las modificaciones estructurales experimentadas por los compuestos cristalinos del cemento hidratado del lecho, sometidos a la acción del agua desionizada

Characterization of multiple SPS knockout mutants reveals redundant functions of the four Arabidopsis sucrose phosphate synthase isoforms in plant viability, and strongly indicates that enhanced respiration and accelerated starch turnover can alleviate the blockage of sucrose biosynthesis

We characterized multiple knock-out mutants of the four Arabidopsis sucrose phosphate synthase (SPSA1, SPSA2, SPSB and SPSC) isoforms. Despite their reduced SPS activity, spsa1/spsa2, spsa1/spsb, spsa2/spsb, spsa2/spsc, spsb/spsc, spsa1/spsa2/spsb and spsa2/spsb/spsc mutants displayed wild type (WT) vegetative and reproductive morphology, and showed WT photosynthetic capacity and respiration. In contrast, growth of rosettes, flowers and siliques of the spsa1/spsc and spsa1/spsa2/spsc mutants was reduced compared with WT plants. Furthermore, these plants displayed a high dark respiration phenotype. spsa1/spsb/spsc and spsa1/spsa2/spsb/spsc seeds poorly germinated and produced aberrant and sterile plants. Leaves of all viable sps mutants, except spsa1/spsc and spsa1/spsa2/spsc, accumulated WT levels of nonstructural carbohydrates. spsa1/spsc leaves possessed high levels of metabolic intermediates and activities of enzymes of the glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways, and accumulated high levels of metabolic intermediates of the nocturnal starch-to-sucrose conversion process, even under continuous light conditions. Results presented in this work show that SPS is essential for plant viability, reveal redundant functions of the four SPS isoforms in processes that are important for plant growth and nonstructural carbohydrate metabolism, and strongly indicate that accelerated starch turnover and enhanced respiration can alleviate the blockage of sucrose biosynthesis in spsa1/spsc leaves.This work was partially supported by the Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (Spain) [grant numbers BIO2010-18239, BIO2013-49125-C2-1-P, BIO2008-02292 and BIO2011-28847-C02-02]. A.M.S-L. acknowledges a predoctoral fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. M.B. acknowledges a post-doctoral fellowship from the Public University of Navarra.Peer Reviewe

Maternal Body-Mass Index and Cord Blood Circulating Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells

Objective Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) are a subset of circulating endothelial progenitor cells that are particularly abundant in umbilical cord blood. We sought to determine whether ECFC abundance in cord blood is associated with maternal body-mass index (BMI) in nonpathologic pregnancies. Study design We measured the level of ECFCs in the cord blood of neonates (n = 27) born from non-obese healthy mothers with nonpathologic pregnancies and examined whether ECFC abundance correlated with maternal BMI. We also examined the effect of maternal BMI on ECFC phenotype and function using angiogenic and vasculogenic assays. Results We observed variation in ECFC abundance among subjects and found a positive correlation between prepregnancy maternal BMI and ECFC content (r = 0.51, P = .007), which was independent of other obstetric factors. Despite this variation, ECFC phenotype and functionality were deemed normal and highly similar between subjects with maternal BMI <25 kg/m2 and BMI between 25-30 kg/m2, including the ability to form vascular networks in vivo. Conclusions This study underlines the need to consider maternal BMI as a potential confounding factor for cord blood levels of ECFCs in future comparative studies between healthy and pathologic pregnancies.National Institutes of Health (R00EB009096)Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía, Sistema Andaluz de Salud (SAS111241)Instituto de Salud Carlos III FIS (PI10/02473

Palbociclib in combination with endocrine therapy versus capecitabine in hormonal receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor 2-negative, aromatase inhibitor-resistant metastatic breast cancer: a phase III randomised controlled trial—PEARL

Background: Palbociclib plus endocrine therapy (ET) is the standard treatment of hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, its efficacy has not been compared with that of chemotherapy in a phase III trial. Patients and methods: PEARL is a multicentre, phase III randomised study in which patients with aromatase inhibitor (AI)-resistant MBC were included in two consecutive cohorts. In cohort 1, patients were randomised 1 : 1 to palbociclib plus exemestane or capecitabine. On discovering new evidence about estrogen receptor-1 (ESR1) mutations inducing resistance to AIs, the trial was amended to include cohort 2, in which patients were randomised 1 : 1 between palbociclib plus fulvestrant and capecitabine. The stratification criteria were disease site, prior sensitivity to ET, prior chemotherapy for MBC, and country of origin. Co-primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) in cohort 2 and in wild-type ESR1 patients (cohort 1 + cohort 2). ESR1 hotspot mutations were analysed in baseline circulating tumour DNA. Results: From March 2014 to July 2018, 296 and 305 patients were included in cohort 1 and cohort 2, respectively. Palbociclib plus ET was not superior to capecitabine in both cohort 2 [median PFS: 7.5 versus 10.0 months; adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85-1.50] and wild-type ESR1 patients (median PFS: 8.0 versus 10.6 months; aHR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.87-1.41). The most frequent grade 3-4 toxicities with palbociclib plus exemestane, palbociclib plus fulvestrant and capecitabine, respectively, were neutropenia (57.4%, 55.7% and 5.5%), hand/foot syndrome (0%, 0% and 23.5%), and diarrhoea (1.3%, 1.3% and 7.6%). Palbociclib plus ET offered better quality of life (aHR for time to deterioration of global health status: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.53-0.85). Conclusions: There was no statistical superiority of palbociclib plus ET over capecitabine with respect to PFS in MBC patients resistant to AIs. Palbociclib plus ET showed a better safety profile and improved quality of life

Effectiveness and Safety of the Switch from Remicade® to CT-P13 in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

[Background and Aims] To evaluate the clinical outcomes in patients with IBD after switching from Remicade® to CT-P13 in comparison with patients who maintain Remicade®.[Methods] Patients under Remicade® who were in clinical remission with standard dosage at study entry were included. The ‘switch cohort’ [SC] comprised patients who made the switch from Remicade® to CT-P13, and the ‘non-switch’ cohort [NC] patients remained under Remicade®.[Results] A total of 476 patients were included: 199 [42%] in the SC and 277 [58%] in the NC. The median follow-up was 18 months in the SC and 23 months in the NC [p < 0.01]. Twenty-four out of 277 patients relapsed in the NC; the incidence of relapse was 5% per patient-year. The cumulative incidence of relapse was 2% at 6 months and 10% at 24 months in this group. Thirty-eight out of 199 patients relapsed in the SC; the incidence rate of relapse was 14% per patient-year. The cumulative incidence of relapse was 5% at 6 months and 28% at 24 months. In the multivariate analysis, the switch to CT-P13 was associated with a higher risk of relapse (HR = 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2–6). Thirteen percent of patients had adverse events in the NC, compared with 6% in the SC [p < 0.05].[Conclusions] Switching from Remicade® to CT-P13 might be associated with a higher risk of clinical relapse, although this fact was not supported in our study by an increase in objective markers of inflammation. The nocebo effect might have influenced this result. Switching from Remicade® to CT-P13 was safe.This research has been funded by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III [PI13/00041 and FI17/00143]

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Corrected Valvular Heart Disease: Hemodynamic Insights and Long-Term Survival.

Background The determinants and consequences of pulmonary hypertension after successfully corrected valvular heart disease remain poorly understood. We aim to clarify the hemodynamic bases and risk factors for mortality in patients with this condition. Methods and Results We analyzed long-term follow-up data of 222 patients with pulmonary hypertension and valvular heart disease successfully corrected at least 1 year before enrollment who had undergone comprehensive hemodynamic and imaging characterization as per the SIOVAC (Sildenafil for Improving Outcomes After Valvular Correction) clinical trial. Median (interquartile range) mean pulmonary pressure was 37 mm Hg (32-44 mm Hg) and pulmonary artery wedge pressure was 23 mm Hg (18-26 mm Hg). Most patients were classified either as having combined precapillary and postcapillary or isolated postcapillary pulmonary hypertension. After a median follow-up of 4.5 years, 91 deaths accounted for 4.21 higher-than-expected mortality in the age-matched population. Risk factors for mortality were male sex, older age, diabetes mellitus, World Health Organization functional class III and higher pulmonary vascular resistance-either measured by catheterization or approximated from ultrasound data. Higher pulmonary vascular resistance was related to diabetes mellitus and smaller residual aortic and mitral valve areas. In turn, the latter correlated with prosthetic nominal size. Six-month changes in the composite clinical score and in the 6-minute walk test distance were related to survival. Conclusions Persistent valvular heart disease-pulmonary hypertension is an ominous disease that is almost universally associated with elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure. Pulmonary vascular resistance is a major determinant of mortality in this condition and is related to diabetes mellitus and the residual effective area of the corrected valve. These findings have important implications for individualizing valve correction procedures. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00862043.This study was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain, the European Union–European Regional Development Fund (EC07/90772 and PI19/00649), and the Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV).S