New method for carbon dioxide mineralization based on phosphogypsum and aluminium-rich industrial wastes resulting in valuable carbonated by-products

A new carbon mineralization method was designed based on a sequestration agent synthesised exclusively from industrial wastes. Phosphogypsum waste from the fertiliser industry was dissolved into caustic aqueous waste from the aluminium anodising industry. The resulting precipitate consisted of katoite (Ca3Al2(OH)12, a Si-free hydrogrossular solid solution end-member of the Al-containing hydrogarnet) and thenardite (Na2SO4); the latter easily removed by rinsing with water. The carbonation performance of this katoite-rich sequestration agent was evaluated using two different methods, by bubbling in aqueous media and by weathering. Both procedures yielded high carbonation efficiencies (80% and 100%, respectively), and resulted in a solid precipitate composed primarily of calcite (CaCO3) and aluminium hydroxide (Al(OH)3). Priority attention was given to the transfer of trace elements and radionuclides of the uranium series typically present in the phosphogypsum. Results confirmed that the traces were transferred to resulting final solid carbonate at concentrations similar to those present in the raw phosphogypsum. In conclusion, these carbonated minerals would trap substantial amounts of CO2 and produce final materials with similar civil engineering uses to those proposed for current phosphogypsum wastes. This work offers new methods for jointly managing specific industrial wastes oriented to more sustainable industrial processes and controlling CO2 emissionsPeer reviewe

A fatigue damage model for seismic response of RC structures

Numerous damage models have been developed in order to analyze seismic behavior. Among the different possibilities existing in the literature, it is very clear that models developed along the lines of continuum damage mechanics are more consistent with the definition of damage as a phenomenon with mechanical consequences because they include explicitly the coupling between damage and mechanical behavior. On the other hand, for seismic processes, phenomena such as low cycle fatigue may have a pronounced effect on the overall behavior of the frames and, therefore, its consideration turns out to be very important. However, most of existing models evaluate the damage only as a function of the maximum amplitude of cyclic deformation without considering the number of cycles. In this paper, a generalization of the simplified model proposed by Cipollina et al. [Cipollina A, López-Hinojosa A, Flórez-López J. Comput Struct 1995;54:1113–26] is made in order to include the low cycle fatigue. Such a model employs in its formulation irreversible thermodynamics and internal state variable theory

Lattice Distortions Around a Tl+ Impurity in NaI:Tl+ and CsI:Tl+ Scintillators. An Ab Initio Study Involving Large Active Clusters

Ab initio Perturbed Ion cluster-in-the-lattice calculations of the impurity centers NaI:Tl+ and CsI:Tl+ are pressented. We study several active clusters of increasing complexity and show that the lattice relaxation around the Tl+ impurity implies the concerted movement of several shells of neighbors. The results also reveal the importance of considering a set of ions that can respond to the geometrical displacements of the inner shells by adapting selfconsistently their wave functions. Comparison with other calculations involving comparatively small active clusters serves to assert the significance of our conclusions. Contact with experiment is made by calculating absorption energies. These are in excellent agreement with the experimental data for the most realistic active clusters considered.Comment: 7 pages plus 6 postscript figures, LaTeX. Submmited to Phys, Rev.

Insulinomatosis: una causa muy rara de tumor neuroendocrino pancreático

Los tumores neuroendocrinos pancreáticos representan del 2-10 % de todos los tumores del páncreas y aproximadamente el 7 % de todos los tumores neuroendocrinos. Estos se clasifican como funcionales o no funcionales según la presencia o ausencia de síndromes clínicos asociados con la hipersecreción hormonal. Los insulinomas son los tumores neuroendocrinos pancreáticos funcionales más frecuentes (45 % de los casos) y la causa más frecuente de hipoglucemia hiperinsulinémica endógena persistente en adultos. Además, el 10 % de los tumores neuroendocrinos pancreáticos se asocian con neoplasia endocrina múltiple tipo 1. La insulinomatosis es una entidad clínica distinta en la que existen múltiples insulinomas. Objetivos: exponer los casos reportados hasta el momento de insulinomatosis y describir las causas genéticas, las características clínicas, el tratamiento, y el pronóstico de la insulinomatosis. Métodos: se realizó una búsqueda sobre insulinomatosis y los factores que controlan la proliferación de las células ? en las bases de datos PubMed, Medline y Google Scholar hasta Julio 2020. Resultados: 108 casos con insulinomatosis se han reportado hasta la fecha, siendo recurrente y rara vez malignos. Múltiples protooncogenes y supresores de tumores controlan de forma local y sistémica el crecimiento de las células ?; sin embargo, solo la mutación de MafA en p.Ser64Phe ha sido asociada. Conclusión: la insulinomatosis se caracteriza por la aparición sincrónica y metacrónica de insulinomas. Tiene un fenotipo histológico, clínico y genético diferente a los tumores neuroendocrinos pancreáticos; la mutación MEN-1 es negativa; puede ser esporádica o hereditaria; y MafA podría ser una mutación conductora

Manual lymphatic drainage therapy in patients with breast cancer related lymphoedema

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lymphoedema is a common and troublesome condition that develops following breast cancer treatment. The aim of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage in the treatment of postmastectomy lymphoedema in order to reduce the volume of lymphoedema and evaluate the improvement of the concomitant symptomatology.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A randomized, controlled clinical trial in 58 women with post-mastectomy lymphoedema. The control group includes 29 patients with standard treatment (skin care, exercise and compression measures, bandages for one month and, subsequently, compression garnments). The experimental group includes 29 patients with standard treatment plus Manual Lymphatic Drainage. The therapy will be administered daily for four weeks and the patient's condition will be assessed one, three and six months after treatment.</p> <p>The primary outcome parameter is volume reduction of the affected arm after treatment, expressed as a percentage. Secondary outcome parameters include: duration of lymphoedema reduction and improvement of the concomitant symptomatology (degree of pain, sensation of swelling and functional limitation in the affected extremity, subjective feeling of being physically less atractive and less feminine, difficulty looking at oneself naked and dissatisfaction with the corporal image).</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The results of this study will provide information on the effectiveness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage and its impact on the quality of life and physical limitations of these patients.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials (NCT): <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01152099">NCT01152099</a></p

Ab Initio Calculation of the Lattice Distortions induced by Substitutional Ag- and Cu- Impurities in Alkali Halide Crystals

An ab initio study of the doping of alkali halide crystals (AX: A = Li, Na, K, Rb; X = F, Cl, Br, I) by ns2 anions (Ag- and Cu-) is presented. Large active clusters with 179 ions embedded in the surrounding crystalline lattice are considered in order to describe properly the lattice relaxation induced by the introduction of substitutional impurities. In all the cases considered, the lattice distortions imply the concerted movement of several shells of neighbors. The shell displacements are smaller for the smaller anion Cu-, as expected. The study of the family of rock-salt alkali halides (excepting CsF) allows us to extract trends that might be useful at a predictive level in the study of other impurity systems. Those trends are presented and discussed in terms of simple geometric arguments.Comment: LaTeX file. 8 pages, 3 EPS pictures. New version contains calculations of the energy of formation of the defects with model clusters of different size

Contribution of teaching in metacognitive processes and the resolution of mathematical problems

The present study evaluates the contribution of teaching from problem solving to metacognitive processes (Analysis, Planning, Local Monitoring and Global Monitoring) problem solving. The sample consisted of 41 second grade students from a public school in the department of Atlántico (Colombia). Observation was used as the main technique through video recordings of the classes, in addition the Teaching Practice Observation Format and a Semistructured Flexible Interview were used. The participants were selected by means of a nonprobabilistic sampling of intentional type. Regarding the results, the average scores in the metacognitive processes were examined, as well as their relationship at the bivariate level (Pearson's correlation) with the success in solving quantitative reasoning problems. Finally, the predictive variables of success were examined and 43.7% of the Local Monitoring variance was explained by practice at the Start of class and 39.4% of the Global Monitoring variance was explained by practice at Class Closing. . The results obtained in relation to the practice in the classroom are discussed and a series of final recommendations are suggested that contribute to the success in solving mathematical problems to make decisions directed towards the improvement of the curricular processes.El presente estudio evalúa la contribución de la enseñanza desde la resolución de problemas a los procesos Metacognitivos (Análisis, Planeación, Monitoreo Local y Monitoreo Global) de resolución de problemas. La muestra estuvo conformada por 41 estudiantes de segundo grado de un colegio público del departamento del Atlántico (Colombia). Se empleó la observación como técnica principal mediante videograbaciones de las clases, además se empleó el Formato de Observación de la Práctica Docente y se hizo una Entrevista Flexible Semiestructurada. Los participantes fueron seleccionados mediante un muestreo no probabilístico de tipo intencional. Respecto a los resultados, se examinaron las puntuaciones medias en los procesos Metacognitivos, así como su relación a nivel bivariado (correlación de Pearson) con el éxito en la resolución de problemas de razonamiento cuantitativo. Finalmente, se examinaron las variables predictoras del éxito y se comprobó el 43.7% de la varianza de Monitoreo Local fue explicada por la práctica al Inicio de clase y el 39.4% de la varianza de Monitoreo Global fue explicada por la práctica al Cierre de la Clase. Se discuten los resultados obtenidos en relación con la práctica en el aula y se sugiere una serie de recomendaciones finales que contribuyan al éxito en resolución de problemas matemáticos para tomar decisiones direccionadas hacia el mejoramiento de los procesos curriculares