Performance evaluation of nano-silica concrete

In this paper, the study of the influence of nano-silica (nano-SiO2) on the properties of the interface between CSH gel and cement particles and its effect on nano-mechanical properties of the products at the interface zone was examined. In this paper M50 grade SCC mixes were developed using 5% micro-silica and various percentages of 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% nano-SiO2. For 1.0% nano-SiO2 addition to M50 grade SCC mix, the compressive strength is maximum. Similarly concrete quality using non-destructive techniques, water absorbtion capacity and porosity are also assessed

Stress - strain behaviour of confined nano silica-based concrete

In the present study, the stress-stain behaviour of confined concrete made with nano-silica (nano-SiO2) were taken up. The stress-strain behaviour was studied for the M30 and M50 grades nano-silica (nano-SiO2) concrete mixes confined with steel rebars. The confinement was given in the form of steel hoops in the cylinders, 3 hoops (0.8%), 4 hoops (1.1%), 5 hoops (1.3%) and 6 hoops (1.6%). The addition of nano-silica (nano-SiO2) along with confinement of concrete with steel hoops enhanced the compressive strength, indicating further confinement effect in the concrete. It is observed that the addition of nano-silica (nano-SiO2) is helpful in lower confinements only. Beyond 1.1% confinement, doesn’t show any effect on compressive strengths. From the stress-strain behaviour of all types of concrete mixes, it is concluded that the ultimate load-carrying capacity and strains at peak stresses are more in nano-silica (nano-SiO2) concrete with steel hoops for mixes up to 1.1% confinement. The addition of nano-silica (nano-SiO2) to concrete has increased the ductility in both confined and unconfined state

Effect of particle size of colloidal nano-silica on the properties of the SCM based concrete

In the current study, effect of particle size of colloidal nano-silica on the properties of the SCM based concrete is studied. The nano-silica particle sizes adopted for the study are 30nm, 60nm and 90 nm. The M20 grade concrete system is made up of cement (C), fly ash (FA), micro-silica (mS) and nano-silica (nS). Compressive strength test at 60 days and pore structure analysis are carried out for C-FA-mS-nS system. The hydration of Portland cement is significantly influenced by the colloidal nanosilica (CNS) particle size. High doses of nS content boost the pozzolanic reaction and the creation of CSH and CASH gels, but they also have a negative impact on the strength development of the material by increasing microcracking due to the self-desiccation effect. The addition of nanosilica to concrete can significantly enhance its qualities after hardening because it ensures the pozzolanic reaction, the seeding effect, which both increase the degree of hydration, and the filling effect, which can fill the internal porosity defects. The cement-mS system's impermeability was greatly improved by the nS because it improved the microstructure, increased the complexity of the pore structure, and refined the pore structure

Anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy in postpartum women with neurological conditions

Abstract Objective Postpartum, patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have increased risk for disease activity. Anti‐CD20 IgG1 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are increasingly used as disease‐modifying therapies (DMTs). Patients may wish to both breastfeed and resume DMT postpartum. This study aimed to determine the transfer of anti‐CD20 IgG1 mAbs, ocrelizumab, and rituximab (OCR/RTX), into mature breastmilk and describe maternal and infant outcomes. Methods Fifty‐seven cis‐women receiving OCR/RTX after 59 pregnancies and their infants were enrolled and followed up to 12M postpartum or 90 days post‐infusion. Breastmilk was collected pre‐infusion and serially up to 90 days and assayed for mAb concentration. Medical records and patients' questionnaire responses were obtained to assess neurologic, breastfeeding, and infant development outcomes. Results The median average concentration of mAb in breastmilk was low (OCR: 0.08 μg/mL, range 0.05–0.4; RTX: 0.03 μg/mL, range 0.005–0.3). Concentration peaked 1–7 days post‐infusion in most (77%) and was nearly undetectable after 90 days. Median average relative infant dose was  0.05) infants; neither did the proportion with normal development (breastfed: 37/41, non‐breastfed: 11/13; p > 0.05). After postpartum infusion, two mothers experienced a clinical relapse. Interpretation These confirm minimal transfer of mAb into breastmilk. Anti‐CD20 mAb therapy stabilizes MS activity before conception to the postpartum period, and postpartum treatments appears to be safe and well‐tolerated for both mother and infant

Differential effects of anti-CD20 therapy on CD4 and CD8 T cells and implication of CD20-expressing CD8 T cells in MS disease activity

A small proportion of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients develop new disease activity soon after starting anti-CD20 therapy. This activity does not recur with further dosing, possibly reflecting deeper depletion of CD20-expressing cells with repeat infusions. We assessed cellular immune profiles and their association with transient disease activity following anti-CD20 initiation as a window into relapsing disease biology. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from independent discovery and validation cohorts of MS patients initiating ocrelizumab were assessed for phenotypic and functional profiles using multiparametric flow cytometry. Pretreatment CD20-expressing T cells, especially CD20dimCD8+ T cells with a highly inflammatory and central nervous system (CNS)-homing phenotype, were significantly inversely correlated with pretreatment MRI gadolinium-lesion counts, and also predictive of early disease activity observed after anti-CD20 initiation. Direct removal of pretreatment proinflammatory CD20dimCD8+ T cells had a greater contribution to treatment-associated changes in the CD8+ T cell pool than was the case for CD4+ T cells. Early disease activity following anti-CD20 initiation was not associated with reconstituting CD20dimCD8+ T cells, which were less proinflammatory compared with pretreatment. Similarly, this disease activity did not correlate with early reconstituting B cells, which were predominantly transitional CD19+CD24highCD38high with a more anti-inflammatory profile. We provide insights into the mode-of-action of anti-CD20 and highlight a potential role for CD20dimCD8+ T cells in MS relapse biology; their strong inverse correlation with both pretreatment and early posttreatment disease activity suggests that CD20-expressing CD8+ T cells leaving the circulation (possibly to the CNS) play a particularly early role in the immune cascades involved in relapse development

Efficient inverted polymer solar cells employing favourable molecular orientation

The improvement in the power conversion efficiency is a critical issue for polymer-based bulk-heterojunction solar cells (PSCs). Here, we show that high efficiencies of ~10% can be obtained by using a crystalline polymer, PNTz4T, in single-junction inverted cells with the thick active layer measuring ca. 300 nm. The improved performance is likely due to the large population of the polymer crystallites with the face-on orientation and the “favourable” distribution of edge-on and face-on crystallites along the film thickness, as revealed by in-depth studies of the blend films using grazing incidence wide angle X-ray diffraction, which results in the reduction of charge recombination and the efficient charge transport. These results underscore the great promise of PSCs, and raise hopes of achieving even higher efficiencies by materials development and control of molecular ordering