SMART geopolymers, an ERA-MIN project

Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Spectroscopic and Spectrometric Methods Used for the Screening of Certain Herbal Food Supplements Suspected of Adulteration

Purpose: This study was carried out in order to find a reliable method for the fast detection of adulterated herbal food supplements with sexual enhancement claims. As some herbal products are advertised as "all natural", their "efficiency" is often increased by addition of active pharmaceutical ingredients such as PDE-5 inhibitors, which can be a real health threat for the consumer. Methodes: Adulterants, potentially present in 50 herbal food supplements with sexual improvement claims, were detected using 2 spectroscopic methods - Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared - known for reliability, reproductibility, and an easy sample preparation. GC-MS technique was used to confirm the potential adulterants spectra. Results: About 22% (11 out of 50 samples) of herbal food supplements with sexual enhancement claims analyzed by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods proved to be "enriched" with active pharmaceutical compounds such as: sildenafil and two of its analogues, tadalafil and phenolphthalein. The occurence of phenolphthalein could be the reason for the non-relevant results obtained by FTIR method in some samples. 91% of the adulterated herbal food supplements were originating from China. Conclusion: The results of this screening highlighted the necessity for an accurate analysis of all alleged herbal aphrodisiacs on the Romanian market. This is a first such a screening analysis carried out on herbal food supplements with sexual enhancement claims

Modeling the compressive strength of geopolymeric binders by gene expression programming-GEP

GEP has been employed in this work to model the compressive strength of different types of geopolymers through six different schemes. The differences between the models were in their linking functions, number of genes, chromosomes and head sizes. The curing time, Ca(OH)2 content, the amount of superplasticizer, NaOH concentration, mold type, aluminosilicate source and H2O/Na2O molar ratio were the seven input parameters considered in the construction of the models to evaluate the compressive strength of geopolymers. A total number of 399 input-target pairs were collected from the literature, randomly divided into 299 and 100 sets and were trained and tested, respectively. The best performance model had 6 genes, 14 head size, 40 chromosomes and multiplication as linking function. This was shown by the absolute fraction of variance, the absolute percentage error and the root mean square error. These were of 0.9556, 2.4601 and 3.4716 for training phase, respectively and 0.9483, 2.8456 and 3.7959 for testing phase, respectively. However, another model with 7 genes, 12 head size, 30 chromosomes and addition as linking function showed suitable results with the absolute fraction of variance, the absolute percentage error and the root mean square of 0.9547, 2.5665 and 3.4360 for training phase, respectively and 0.9466, 2.8020 and 3.8047 for testing phase, respectively. These models showed that gene expression programming has a strong potential for predicting the compressive strength of different types of geopolymers in the considered range

Near-zero-waste processing of low-grade, complex primary ores and secondary raw materials in Europe: technology development trends

With an increasing number of low-grade primary ores starting to be cog-effectively mined, we are at the verge of mining a myriad of low-grade primary and secondary mineral materials. At the same time, mining practices and mineral waste recycling are both evolving towards sustainable near-zero-waste processing of low-grade resources within a circular economy that requires a shift in business models, policies and improvements in process technologies. This review discusses the evolution towards low-grade primary ore and secondary raw material mining that will allow for sufficient supply of critical raw materials as well as base metals. Seven low-grade ores, including primary (Greek and Polish laterites) and secondary (fayalitic slags, jarosite and goethite sludges, zincrich waste treatment sludge and chromium-rich neutralisation sludge) raw materials are discussed as typical examples for Europe. In order to treat diverse and complex low-grade ores efficiently, the use of a new metallurgical systems toolbox is proposed, which is populated with existing and innovative unit operations: (i) mineral processing, (ii) metal extraction, (iii) metal recovery and (iv) matrix valorisation. Several promising novel techniques are under development for these four unit-operations. From an economical and environmental point of view, such processes must be fitted into new (circular) business models, whereby impacts and costs are divided over the entire value chain. Currently, low-grade secondary raw material processing is only economic and environmentally beneficial when the mineral residues can be valorised and landfill costs are avoided and/or incentives for waste processing can be taken into account

Herbal supplements in the print media: communicating benefits and risks

Background The rise in use of food supplements based on botanical ingredients (herbal supplements) is depicted as part of a trend empowering consumers to manage their day-to-day health needs, which presupposes access to clear and accurate information to make effective choices. Evidence regarding herbal supplement efficacy is extremely variable so recent regulations eliminating unsubstantiated claims about potential effects leave producers able to provide very little information about their products. Medical practitioners are rarely educated about herbal supplements and most users learn about them via word-of-mouth, allowing dangerous misconceptions to thrive, chief among them the assumption that natural products are inherently safe. Print media is prolific among the information channels still able to freely discuss herbal supplements. Method This study thematically analyses how 76 newspaper/magazine articles from the UK, Romania and Italy portray the potential risks and benefits of herbal supplements. Results Most articles referenced both risks and benefits and were factually accurate but often lacked context and impartiality. More telling was how the risks and benefits were framed in service of a chosen narrative, the paucity of authoritative information allowing journalists leeway to recontextualise herbal supplements in ways that serviced the goals and values of their specific publications and readerships. Conclusion Providing sufficient information to empower consumers should not be the responsibility of print media, instead an accessible source of objective information is required.</p

Recent progress in low-carbon binders

The development of low-carbon binders has been recognized as a means of reducing the carbon footprint of the Portland cement industry, in response to growing global concerns over CO2 emissions from the construction sector. This paper reviews recent progress in the three most attractive low-carbon binders: alkali-activated, carbonate, and belite-ye'elimite-based binders. Alkali-activated binders/materials were reviewed at the past two ICCC congresses, so this paper focuses on some key developments of alkali-activated binders/materials since the last keynote paper was published in 2015. Recent progress on carbonate and belite-ye'elimite-based binders are also reviewed and discussed, as they are attracting more and more attention as essential alternative low-carbon cementitious materials. These classes of binders have a clear role to play in providing a sustainable future for global construction, as part of the available toolkit of cements

Synchronic rhynopharyngeal and gingival carcinoma

We present a case of a 38-year-old male who presented recurrent otitis media, maxillary gingival ulceration and no lateral cervical lymph nodes. Admission signs and symptoms: right: mild conductive hearing loss, trigeminal V2 nerve anaesthesia, ear tinnitus, hypoglossal nerve paralysis, minor maxillary gingival ulceration, Claude Bernard Horner's syndrome. A non-homogenous mass of 4.5/5.3/5.6 cm from the level of the right rhinopharyngeal wall, extending in the right parapharyngeal space, invading the right middle cranial fossa was visible on cranial contrast enhanced CT scan. Contrast enhanced cranial MRI revealed a rhino- and parapharyngeal mass of 4.5/5.3/5.6 cm with intracerebral extension in the right cavernous sinus, right internal carotid artery engulfed by the tumor mass with partial compression. Lymph node masses of 0.7/1.2cm were also revealed.Rhinopharyngeal and gingival biopsy, right tympanotomy were performed.Routine histological technique was performed and subsequent immunohistochemical reactions for pan-cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and leucocytes common antigen were used, showing that malignant tumor cells had a syncytial pattern of growth in a background of small lymphocytes for the rhynopharyngeal biopsy. Cellular dysmorphias, well-differentiated stratified squamous epithelial cells with deep bulbous ridges and also parakeratin invaginations were visible on the gingival biopsy. The positivity of tumor cells for pan-cytokeratin established the final diagnosis of non-keratinizing undifferentiated carcinoma of the rhynopharinx and Keratins (10-16), MNP 2, 9; VEGF, KI67, P53 confirmed the verrucous cell carcinoma of the maxillary mucosa.The age of onset, the signs and symptoms and minimum lymph node involvement represent the particularities of this case.Der Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenkonflikt an

Differential clinical effects of chlorhexidine gels on patients undergoing orthodontic treatment

OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND This study aims to evaluate and compare the clinical effects on gingival inflammation and plaque control using 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate gel with 0.1% chlorhexidine digluconate gel in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty six patients aged between 20 and 30 years receiving fixed appliance orthodontic treatment in private practice, were selected for this study. Patients were split in two groups. The first group received a subgingival application of 10 ml 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate gel (Glucosite, Cerkamed). Subjects in the second group received a subgingival application of 10 ml 0.1% chlorhexidine digluconate gel (RxPerioflush, Dental Life Sciences). RESULTS The results of the present study seem to support the results of previous scientific studies where chlorhexidine gluconate was used in a similar population CONCLUSIONS Within the limits of this study, we showed that usage of chlorhexidine gels in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment reduce PI, GI and BOP and PD, but no significant difference was observed, except for the initial phase of the inflammatory process concerning the gingival tissue. REFERENCES 1. 1 Fiore JP, Ishikuwa So, Kim DM. Gingival inflamation. In: Newman MG, Takel HH, Klokkeuold PR. Carranza’s clinical periodontology, Missouri. Linda Duncan. 2006. p. 389-396. 2. Lindhe J. Textbook of clinical periodontology 2nd ed., Copenhagen: Munksgaard. 1989. p. 234- 236. 3. Zachrisson S, Zachrisson BU. Gingival condition associated with orthodontic treatment. Angle Orthod. 1972. p. 26–34

Microbiological aspects in periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus

Background and Aims. Scientists are constantly showing a high interest for the relationship between Periodontal Disease (PD) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM). PD, “the sixth complication” of DM is recognized to be a chronic gram-negative anaerobic infectious disease. This paper is aimed at reviewing and evaluating the correlations between PD and DM from a microbiological point of view. Treatment implications of PD’s management as an important component of DM care is reviewed in the light of microbiological current knowledge. Materials and Methods. Microbiological studies and clinical trials were selected from medical and dental journals, and studied thoroughly. Results. Plaque biofilm and prolonged hyperglycemia increase the risk of PD development in DM. These two features determine inflammatory reactions that end-up in tissue destruction and impaired healing responses. Few pathogens are considered highly prevalent periodontal pathogens, with destructive actions. Studies have shown that metabolic balance or lack of balance determines bacterial variations in diabetic patients with PD. Other results demonstrate the importance of microbial tests (especially PCR techniques) as indicators for healing or disease progression. Conclusions. There aren’t many studies assessing the relationship between PD and DM from microbiological points of view. In light of increasing evidence, larger interventional studies are neede