Thermoregulating gypsums by using nanoencapsulated phase change material slurry

Thermoregulating composites were produced by using a thermoregulating slurry (NPCS) containing nanoencapsulated phase change material (NPCM) from poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) as shell and the commercial paraffin Rubitherm®RT27 as core material. These composites were synthesized by using the constitutive water of the slurry as setting water and changing the NPCM/Hemihydrate (NPCM/Hem) mass ratio within 0.0–0.41. It was found that nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed into the gypsum, and the gypsum crystal morphology was tuned by the addition of the slurry. Attending to the thermal properties, these materials can work either as insulating or thermal energy storage materials, decreasing the thermal conductivity up to ~ 50%, whereas the thermal energy storage (TES) capacity is enlarged in a ~ 140%, respect to the pure gypsum, when the maximum NPCM/Hem mass ratio was used. This composite had a latent heat of 30.2 J g−1 and a heat capacity of equivalent 3.5 J g−1 K−1. Composites from a NPCM/Hem mass ratio up to 0.15 satisfied European mechanical standard EN 13,279–1 for gypsum binders and gypsum plasters and all of them, presented a bulk density higher than 0.60 g cm−3. The addition of a 41% in mass of nanocapsules allowed to save 13.5 kWh m−3 and, reducing the CO2 emissions up to 3.4 kg of CO2 per operating cycle. The use of this new material would lead to significant energy and economic savings, as well as a considerable reduction in the emission of polluting gases into the atmosphere.Los compuestos termorreguladores se produjeron utilizando una suspensión termorreguladora (NPCS) que contenía material de cambio de fase nanoencapsulado (NPCM) de poli(estireno-co-divinilbenceno) como cubierta y la parafina comercial Rubitherm®RT27 como material central. Estos compuestos se sintetizaron usando el agua constitutiva de la suspensión como agua de fraguado y cambiando la relación de masa NPCM/Hemihidrato (NPCM/Hem) entre 0,0 y 0,41. Se encontró que las nanopartículas se dispersaron uniformemente en el yeso, y la morfología del cristal de yeso se ajustó mediante la adición de la suspensión. Atendiendo a las propiedades térmicas, estos materiales pueden funcionar como materiales aislantes o de almacenamiento de energía térmica, disminuyendo la conductividad térmica hasta ~ 50%, mientras que la capacidad de almacenamiento de energía térmica (TES) se amplía en un ~ 140%, respecto a la pura. yeso, cuando se utilizó la máxima relación de masa NPCM/Hem. Este material compuesto tenía un calor latente de 30,2 J g−1 y una capacidad calorífica equivalente a 3,5 J g−1 K−1. Los composites a partir de una relación másica NPCM/Hem hasta 0,15 cumplieron con la norma mecánica europea EN 13.279–1 para aglomerantes de yeso y revoques de yeso y todos ellos, presentaron una densidad aparente superior a 0,60 g cm−3. La adición de un 41% en masa de nanocápsulas permitió ahorrar 13,5 kWh m−3 y, reducir las emisiones de CO2 hasta 3,4 kg de CO2 por ciclo de operación. La utilización de este nuevo material supondría un importante ahorro energético y económico, así como una considerable reducción de la emisión de gases contaminantes a la atmósfera

Polystyrene nanoparticles slurry as an additive for developing insulating and waterproof gypsum composites

Lightweight gypsum composites with improved thermal and waterproof properties were produced by using a concentrated slurry containing polystyrene nanoparticles (NPS) as an additive. The NPS/Hemihydrate mass ratio was varied between 0.00 and 0.42. The density of the composites decreased with the increase of the NPS/Hemihydrate mass ratio, due to the change in the internal structure to a more lamellar one with crystals of larger size that grow also in a less compact distribution. This also caused an increase of the porosity (from 0.47 to 0.51) and a reduction in the thermal conductivity from 0.354 W m-1K−1 (NPS/Hem = 0) to 0.225 W m-1K−1 at 32 °C for the composite manufactured with the maximum NPS amount (NPS/Hem = 0.42). The thermal conductivity decrease allowed to reduce the final temperature at the steady state up to 2.5 °C compared with the unmodified gypsum, when they were exposed to a heat source at 45 °C. In addition, it was observed by SEM and TGA that the NPSs were distributed homogeneously throughout the gypsum composites blocks. Although the maximum compressive and flexural strengths decreased with the increase of NPS amount up to 76 and 61 %, respectively; all the synthesized lightweight gypsum blocks satisfied the European standard regulation EN 13279–1. The waterproof properties were measured by the contact angle, passing from 26.2° to 141.5 ° when changing from 0.0 NPS/Hem ratio to the maximum amount

Trajectories of alcohol consumption during life and the risk of developing breast cancer

Background Whether there are lifetime points of greater sensitivity to the deleterious effects of alcohol intake on the breasts remains inconclusive. Objective To compare the influence of distinctive trajectories of alcohol consumption throughout a woman's life on development of breast cancer (BC). Methods 1278 confirmed invasive BC cases and matched (by age and residence) controls from the Epi-GEICAM study (Spain) were used. The novel group-based trajectory modelling was used to identify different alcohol consumption trajectories throughout women's lifetime. Results Four alcohol trajectories were identified. The first comprised women (45%) with low alcohol consumption (= 15 g/day), never having a low alcohol consumption. Comparing with the first trajectory, the fourth doubled BC risk (OR 2.19; 95% CI 1.27, 3.77), followed by the third (OR 1.44; 0.96, 2.16) and ultimately by the second trajectory (OR 1.17; 0.86, 1.58). The magnitude of BC risk was greater in postmenopausal women, especially in those with underweight or normal weight. When alcohol consumption was independently examined at each life stage, >= 15 g/day of alcohol consumption in adolescence was strongly associated with BC risk followed by consumption in adulthood. Conclusions The greater the alcohol consumption accumulated throughout life, the greater the risk of BC, especially in postmenopausal women. Alcohol consumption during adolescence may particularly influence BC risk.This study was funded by the Fundacion Cientifica Asociacion Espanola Contra el Cancer (AECC) (Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association against Cancer 2006 & 2016) (Marina Pollan), Sociedad Espanola de Oncologia Medica (SEOM) (Spanish Society of Medical Oncology) (Miguel Martin), Scholarship 'Contrato de atraccion de talento' from Community of Madrid (Carolina Donat-Vargas), Fundacion Cerveza y Salud 2005 (Beer and Health Foundation 2005) (Miguel Martin) and Federacion de Asociaciones de Mujeres con Cancer de Mama (FECMA) (Spanish Federation of Associations of Women with Breast Cancer) (Miguel Martin, Marina Pollan)

Primary breast cancer and health related quality of life in Spanish women: The EpiGEICAM case-control study

This study evaluates the impact of breast cancer (BC) in health related quality of life (HRQL) and in psychological distress (PD) during the initial phases of the disease and looks for contributing factors. A multicentric case-control study, EpiGEICAM, was carried out. Incident BC cases and age- and residence- matched controls were included. Clinical, epidemiological, HRQL (SF-36) and PD information (GHQ-28) was collected. We used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate OR of low HRQL and of PD in cases compared to controls, and to identify factors associated with low HRQL and with PD. Among 896 BC cases and 890 control women, cases had poorer scores than both, the reference population and the control group, in all SF-36 scales. BC women with lower education, younger, active workers, never smokers, those with comorbidities, in stage IV and with surgical treatment had lower physical HRQL; factors associated with low mental HRQL were dissatisfaction with social support, being current smoker and having children. Cases had a fivefold increased odds of PD compared to controls. Managing comorbidities and trying to promote social support, especially in younger and less educated women, could improve well-being of BC patients

Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1-Alpha (HIF-1 Alpha) Is Induced during Reperfusion after Renal Ischemia and Is Critical for Proximal Tubule Cell Survival

Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) during renal transplantation delays allograft function. Identification of factors that mediate protection and/or epithelium recovery could help to improve graft outcome. We studied the expression, regulation and role of hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1 α), using in vitro and in vivo experimental models of I/R as well as human post-transplant renal biopsies. We found that HIF-1 α is stabilized in proximal tubule cells during ischemia and unexpectedly in late reperfusion, when oxygen tension is normal. Both inductions lead to gene expression in vitro and in vivo. In vitro interference of HIF-1 α promoted cell death and in vivo interference exacerbated tissue damage and renal dysfunction. In pos-transplant human biopsies, HIF-1 α was expressed only in proximal tubules which exhibited normal renal structure with a significant negative correlation with ATN grade. In summary, using experimental models and human biopsies, we identified a novel HIF-1 α induction during reperfusion with a potential critical role in renal transplant

Phase III Trial of Adjuvant Capecitabine After Standard Neo-/Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Early Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (GEICAM/2003-11_CIBOMA/2004-01)

Altres ajuts: Agustí Barnadas: Honoraria: Pfizer. Consulting or Advisory Role: Pfizer, Novartis, Eli Lilly. Speakers'Bureau: Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, Genomic Health International. Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Roche, Pfizer; Miguel A. Seguí: Consulting or Advisory Role: Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, Amgen, Eisai, Eli Lilly. Speakers' Bureau: Roche, Pfizer, Amgen. Research Funding: Roche (Inst), Novartis (Inst). Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, Amgen.Operable triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) have a higher risk of relapse than non-TNBCs with standard therapy. The GEICAM/2003-11_CIBOMA/2004-01 trial explored extended adjuvant capecitabine after completion of standard chemotherapy in patients with early TNBC. Eligible patients were those with operable, node-positive-or node negative with tumor 1 cm or greater-TNBC, with prior anthracycline- and/or taxane-containing chemotherapy. After central confirmation of TNBC status by immunohistochemistry, patients were randomly assigned to either capecitabine or observation. Stratification factors included institution, prior taxane-based therapy, involved axillary lymph nodes, and centrally determined phenotype (basal v nonbasal, according to cytokeratins 5/6 and/or epidermal growth factor receptor positivity by immunohistochemistry). The primary objective was to compare disease-free survival (DFS) between both arms. Eight hundred seventy-six patients were randomly assigned to capecitabine (n = 448) or observation (n = 428). Median age was 49 years, 55.9% were lymph node negative, 73.9% had a basal phenotype, and 67.5% received previous anthracyclines plus taxanes. Median length of follow-up was 7.3 years. DFS was not significantly prolonged with capecitabine versus observation [hazard ratio (HR), 0.82; 95% CI, 0.63 to 1.06; P =.136]. In a preplanned subgroup analysis, nonbasal patients seemed to derive benefit from the addition of capecitabine with a DFS HR of 0.53 versus 0.94 in those with basal phenotype (interaction test P =.0694) and an HR for overall survival of 0.42 versus 1.23 in basal phenotype (interaction test P =.0052). Tolerance of capecitabine was as expected, with 75.2% of patients completing the planned 8 cycles. This study failed to show a statistically significant increase in DFS by adding extended capecitabine to standard chemotherapy in patients with early TNBC. In a preplanned subset analysis, patients with nonbasal phenotype seemed to obtain benefit with capecitabine, although this will require additional validation

Anti-Spike antibodies 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine booster dose in patients on hemodialysis: the prospective SENCOVAC study

Background: Patients on hemodialysis are at high-risk for complications derived from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present analysis evaluated the impact of a booster vaccine dose and breakthrough severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections on humoral immunity 3 months after the booster dose. Methods: This is a multicentric and prospective study assessing immunoglobulin G anti-Spike antibodies 6 and 9 months after initial SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients on hemodialysis that had also received a booster dose before the 6-month assessment (early booster) or between the 6- and 9-month assessments (late booster). The impact of breakthrough infections, type of vaccine, time from the booster and clinical variables were assessed. Results: A total of 711 patients [67% male, median age (range) 67 (20-89) years] were included. Of these, 545 (77%) received an early booster and the rest a late booster. At 6 months, 64 (9%) patients had negative anti-Spike antibody titers (3% of early booster and 29% of late booster patients, P =. 001). At 9 months, 91% of patients with 6-month negative response had seroconverted and there were no differences in residual prevalence of negative humoral response between early and late booster patients (0.9% vs 0.6%, P =. 693). During follow-up, 35 patients (5%) developed breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibody titers at 9 months were independently associated with mRNA-1273 booster (P =. 001), lower time from booster (P =. 043) and past breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection (P <. 001). Conclusions: In hemodialysis patients, higher titers of anti-Spike antibodies at 9 months were associated with mRNA-1273 booster, lower time from booster and past breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infectionThe present project has been supported by Fresenius Medical Care, Diaverum, Vifor Pharma, Vircell, Fundación Renal Iñigo Álvarez de Toledo and ISCIII FEDER funds RICORS2040 (RD21/0005

Nuevos mecanismos didácticos y herramientas de formación y aprendizaje en torno al cómic

Depto. de Estudios Ingleses: Lingüística y LiteraturaDepto. de Estudios Románicos, Franceses, Italianos y TraducciónFac. de FilologíaFALSEsubmitte

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Avances en la institucionalización del compromiso ambiental en las universidades colombianas

La Red Colombiana de Formación Ambiental (RCFA) y la Red Ambiental de Universidades Sostenibles (RAUS), se unen para adelantar el III Foro Colombiano Universidades y Sostenibilidad, el cual tuvo lugar los días 6 y 7 de septiembre de 2018 en la Universidad Los Libertadores en la ciudad de Cartagena. Para la realización de este Foro, se contó con el apoyo institucional de la Fundación Universidad los Libertadores, Universidad Sergio Arboleda y Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales-UDCA. Este evento se realizó tres años después del II Foro Colombiano Universidades y sostenibilidad, el cual se llevó a cabo en Agosto del 2015 en la biblioteca Aduanilla de Paiba de la Universidad Distrital en Bogotá, y cinco años después del I Foro, llevado a cabo en Octubre de 2013, en el campus universitario de la Universidad de San Buenaventura, sede Medellín (Bello, Antioquia). El primer Foro en Colombia hizo parte de la serie de diez Foros Nacionales y un Foro Latinoamericano con el mismo título que se efectuaron durante todo el año 2013, coordinados por la Alianza de Redes Iberoamericanas de Universidades por la Sustentabilidad y el ambiente (Ariusca) y la Red de Formación Ambiental para América Latina y el Caribe (RFA-ALC) del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente (PNUMA) (Sáenz et al., 2013). Todos estos eventos hicieron parte de la agenda común de Ariusa y RFA-ALC, acordada para 2013 en el marco de su participación en la Alianza Mundial de Universidades sobre Ambiente y Sostenibilidad (Gupes), que promueve la Unidad de Educación y Formación Ambiental, de la sede central del PNUMA en Nairobi. De la misma manera, el II Foro Colombiano Universidades y Sostenibilidad se articula con la nueva serie de eventos equivalentes que se vienen realizando durante 2014 y 2015 en varios países de América Latina y el Caribe, como parte de la segunda Agenda GUPES (Sáenz et al., 2013)