Light transmitting cement-based material (LTCM) as a green material for building

[EN] In recent years, light-transmitting cement-based materials (LTCM) have become important in the construction of green buildings because these reduce energy consumption for lighting. LTCMs were prepared by adding polymeric optical fibers (POFs) in a high strength self-compacting mortar (SCM). SCM was formulated from Portland cement, fine sand and water reducing admixture following the EFNARC criteria. LTCMs with a constant fiber content (5%) and three fiber diameter (0.75, 1 and 1.5 mm) were prepared by casting fresh SCM into a formwork designed ad hoc to keep the fibers fixed and aligned. Light transmitting performance of LTCM was tested by optical power measures. The effects of fiber diameter and distance between sample and detector on the optical power were evaluated. The compressive strength of hardened SCM reached a value of 69 MPa at an age of 28 days, while the LTCMs maintained sufficient strength for structural purposes. LTCMs are suitable to produce precast blocks and wall panels for application in building facades, signage and decorative art.This work was supported by the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT) under Grant PICT 2016 0445; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) Argentina. Special thanks to Ing. Juan Belmonte and Lic Andres Torres for their assistance in mechanical tests.Robles, A.; Arenas, GF.; Stefani, PM. (2020). Light transmitting cement-based material (LTCM) as a green material for building. Journal of Applied Research in Technology & Engineering. 1(1):9-14. https://doi.org/10.4995/jarte.2020.13832OJS9141

Reciclado de hormigón fresco mediante el uso de adición pelletizante

El retorno del hormigón fresco a la planta de elaboración es un problema económico y medioambiental. Aproximadamente el 2% de la producción de hormigón regresa a la planta y, en la mayoría de los casos, se elimina en gran medida como material de desecho. La producción de bloques, agregados triturados o la separación de sus componentes son algunas de las alternativas informadas para su reciclado. Recientemente se desarrolló una nueva tecnología basada en una adición en polvo de dos componentes que permite que el hormigón fresco se convierta fácilmente en un agregado artificial que puede reincorporarse a la producción de hormigón. En este trabajo se estudiaron las propiedades de los agregados pelletizados (AP) obtenidos a partir de dos formulaciones de hormigón con diferente tamaño máximo nominal de agregados naturales (AN). Asimismo, se evaluaron mezclas de hormigón que tuvieron diferentes niveles de reemplazo de AN por AP en su dosificación. En las formulaciones con sustitución parcial de AN por AP se observó una reducción de alrededor del 20% en la resistencia a la compresión respecto a la muestra control, incluso para porcentajes de sustitución muy elevados (60%). A pesar de la disminución, los hormigones basados en AP cumplen en todos los casos con los requisitos de resistencia y permiten revalorizar un residuo de la industria y cuidar el medio ambiente.Returned fresh mix concrete to the processing plant is an economic and environmental problem. About 2% of concrete production returns to the plant and, in most cases, is largely disposed of as waste material. The production of blocks, crushed aggregates or the separation of their main components are some of the alternatives reported for recycling. Recently, a new technology based on two-component powder additive has been developed, allowing the fresh returned concrete to be easily converted into an artificial aggregate, which can be incorporated into the production of concrete. In this paper, the properties of pelletized aggregates (AP) obtained from two concrete formulations with different maximum nominal natural aggregate size (AN) were studied. Also, concrete mixtures that had different levels of replacement of AN by AP in the formulation were evaluated. In the formulations with partial replacement of AN by AP, a 20% reduction in the compressive strength was observed compared to the control sample, even for very high percentages of substitution (60%). Despite the decrease, AP-based concretes comply in all cases with the resistance requirements and allow to revalue an industrial waste and take care of the environment.Fil: Schust, C.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Ramos, M.. Coarco S.A; ArgentinaFil: Stefani, Pablo Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentin

Reciclado de hormigón fresco mediante el uso de adición pelletizante

El retorno del hormigón fresco a la planta de elaboración es un problema económico y medioambiental. Aproximadamente el 2% de la producción de hormigón regresa a la planta y, en la mayoría de los casos, se elimina en gran medida como material de desecho. La producción de bloques, agregados triturados o la separación de sus componentes son algunas de las alternativas informadas para su reciclado. Recientemente se desarrolló una nueva tecnología basada en una adición en polvo de dos componentes que permite que el hormigón fresco se convierta fácilmente en un agregado artificial que puede reincorporarse a la producción de hormigón. En este trabajo se estudiaron las propiedades de los agregados pelletizados (AP) obtenidos a partir de dos formulaciones de hormigón con diferente tamaño máximo nominal de agregados naturales (AN). Asimismo, se evaluaron mezclas de hormigón que tuvieron diferentes niveles de reemplazo de AN por AP en su dosificación. En las formulaciones con sustitución parcial de AN por AP se observó una reducción de alrededor del 20% en la resistencia a la compresión respecto a la muestra control, incluso para porcentajes de sustitución muy elevados (60%). A pesar de la disminución, los hormigones basados en AP cumplen en todos los casos con los requisitos de resistencia y permiten revalorizar un residuo de la industria y cuidar el medio ambiente.Returned fresh mix concrete to the processing plant is an economic and environmental problem. About 2% of concrete production returns to the plant and, in most cases, is largely disposed of as waste material. The production of blocks, crushed aggregates or the separation of their main components are some of the alternatives reported for recycling. Recently, a new technology based on two-component powder additive has been developed, allowing the fresh returned concrete to be easily converted into an artificial aggregate, which can be incorporated into the production of concrete. In this paper, the properties of pelletized aggregates (AP) obtained from two concrete formulations with different maximum nominal natural aggregate size (AN) were studied. Also, concrete mixtures that had different levels of replacement of AN by AP in the formulation were evaluated. In the formulations with partial replacement of AN by AP, a 20% reduction in the compressive strength was observed compared to the control sample, even for very high percentages of substitution (60%). Despite the decrease, AP-based concretes comply in all cases with the resistance requirements and allow to revalue an industrial waste and take care of the environment.Fil: Schust, C.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Ramos, M.. Coarco S.A; ArgentinaFil: Stefani, Pablo Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentin

Multilocus variable number of tandem repeat analysis reveals multiple introductions in Spain of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. Pruni, the causal agent of bacterial spot disease of stone fruits and almond

Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni is the causal agent of the bacterial spot disease of stone fruits, almond and some ornamental Prunus species. In Spain it was first detected in 2002 and since then, several outbreaks have occurred in different regions affecting mainly Japanese plum, peach and almond, both in commercial orchards and nurseries. As the origin of the introduction(s) was unknown, we have assessed the genetic diversity of 239 X. arboricola pv. pruni strains collected from 11 Spanish provinces from 2002 to 2013 and 25 reference strains from international collections. We have developed an optimized multilocus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) scheme targeting 18 microsatellites and five minisatellites. A high discriminatory power was achieved since almost 50% of the Spanish strains were distinguishable, confirming the usefulness of this genotyping technique at small spatio-temporal scales. Spanish strains grouped in 18 genetic clusters (conservatively delineated so that each cluster contained haplotype networks linked by up to quadruple-locus variations). Furthermore, pairwise comparisons among populations from different provinces showed a strong genetic differentiation. Our results suggest multiple introductions of this pathogen in Spain and redistribution through contaminated nursery propagative plant material

AI is a viable alternative to high throughput screening: a 318-target study

: High throughput screening (HTS) is routinely used to identify bioactive small molecules. This requires physical compounds, which limits coverage of accessible chemical space. Computational approaches combined with vast on-demand chemical libraries can access far greater chemical space, provided that the predictive accuracy is sufficient to identify useful molecules. Through the largest and most diverse virtual HTS campaign reported to date, comprising 318 individual projects, we demonstrate that our AtomNet® convolutional neural network successfully finds novel hits across every major therapeutic area and protein class. We address historical limitations of computational screening by demonstrating success for target proteins without known binders, high-quality X-ray crystal structures, or manual cherry-picking of compounds. We show that the molecules selected by the AtomNet® model are novel drug-like scaffolds rather than minor modifications to known bioactive compounds. Our empirical results suggest that computational methods can substantially replace HTS as the first step of small-molecule drug discovery

Optimisation of Perioperative Cardiovascular Management to Improve Surgical Outcome II (OPTIMISE II) trial: study protocol for a multicentre international trial of cardiac output-guided fluid therapy with low-dose inotrope infusion compared with usual care in patients undergoing major elective gastrointestinal surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative morbidity and mortality in older patients with comorbidities undergoing gastrointestinal surgery are a major burden on healthcare systems. Infections after surgery are common in such patients, prolonging hospitalisation and reducing postoperative short-term and long-term survival. Optimal management of perioperative intravenous fluids and inotropic drugs may reduce infection rates and improve outcomes from surgery. Previous small trials of cardiac-output-guided haemodynamic therapy algorithms suggested a modest reduction in postoperative morbidity. A large definitive trial is needed to confirm or refute this and inform widespread clinical practice. METHODS: The Optimisation of Perioperative Cardiovascular Management to Improve Surgical Outcome II (OPTIMISE II) trial is a multicentre, international, parallel group, open, randomised controlled trial. 2502 high-risk patients undergoing major elective gastrointestinal surgery will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio using minimisation to minimally invasive cardiac output monitoring to guide protocolised administration of intravenous fluid combined with low-dose inotrope infusion, or usual care. The trial intervention will be carried out during and for 4 hours after surgery. The primary outcome is postoperative infection of Clavien-Dindo grade II or higher within 30 days of randomisation. Participants and those delivering the intervention will not be blinded to treatment allocation; however, outcome assessors will be blinded when feasible. Participant recruitment started in January 2017 and is scheduled to last 3 years, within 50 hospitals worldwide. ETHICS/DISSEMINATION: The OPTIMISE II trial has been approved by the UK National Research Ethics Service and has been approved by responsible ethics committees in all participating countries. The findings will be disseminated through publication in a widely accessible peer-reviewed scientific journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN39653756.The OPTIMISE II trial is supported by Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine, CA) and the UK National Institute for Health Research through RMP’s NIHR Professorship

A new class of glycomimetic drugs to prevent free fatty acid-induced endothelial dysfunction

Background: Carbohydrates play a major role in cell signaling in many biological processes. We have developed a set of glycomimetic drugs that mimic the structure of carbohydrates and represent a novel source of therapeutics for endothelial dysfunction, a key initiating factor in cardiovascular complications. Purpose: Our objective was to determine the protective effects of small molecule glycomimetics against free fatty acid­induced endothelial dysfunction, focusing on nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress pathways. Methods: Four glycomimetics were synthesized by the stepwise transformation of 2,5­dihydroxybenzoic acid to a range of 2,5­substituted benzoic acid derivatives, incorporating the key sulfate groups to mimic the interactions of heparan sulfate. Endothelial function was assessed using acetylcholine­induced, endotheliumdependent relaxation in mouse thoracic aortic rings using wire myography. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) behavior was evaluated in the presence or absence of the free fatty acid, palmitate, with or without glycomimetics (1µM). DAF­2 and H2DCF­DA assays were used to determine nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, respectively. Lipid peroxidation colorimetric and antioxidant enzyme activity assays were also carried out. RT­PCR and western blotting were utilized to measure Akt, eNOS, Nrf­2, NQO­1 and HO­1 expression. Results: Ex vivo endothelium­dependent relaxation was significantly improved by the glycomimetics under palmitate­induced oxidative stress. In vitro studies showed that the glycomimetics protected HUVECs against the palmitate­induced oxidative stress and enhanced NO production. We demonstrate that the protective effects of pre­incubation with glycomimetics occurred via upregulation of Akt/eNOS signaling, activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway, and suppression of ROS­induced lipid peroxidation. Conclusion: We have developed a novel set of small molecule glycomimetics that protect against free fatty acidinduced endothelial dysfunction and thus, represent a new category of therapeutic drugs to target endothelial damage, the first line of defense against cardiovascular disease

Ten golden rules for optimal antibiotic use in hospital settings: the WARNING call to action

Antibiotics are recognized widely for their benefits when used appropriately. However, they are often used inappropriately despite the importance of responsible use within good clinical practice. Effective antibiotic treatment is an essential component of universal healthcare, and it is a global responsibility to ensure appropriate use. Currently, pharmaceutical companies have little incentive to develop new antibiotics due to scientific, regulatory, and financial barriers, further emphasizing the importance of appropriate antibiotic use. To address this issue, the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery established an international multidisciplinary task force of 295 experts from 115 countries with different backgrounds. The task force developed a position statement called WARNING (Worldwide Antimicrobial Resistance National/International Network Group) aimed at raising awareness of antimicrobial resistance and improving antibiotic prescribing practices worldwide. The statement outlined is 10 axioms, or “golden rules,” for the appropriate use of antibiotics that all healthcare workers should consistently adhere in clinical practice