Development and Structural Performance Assessment of Low-Carbon Concrete Using Recycled Concrete Aggregates and Secondary Materials

This thesis investigates the structural performance of low carbon concrete (LCC) developed with various proportions of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) as sustainable material alternatives to conventional concrete materials. Extensive materials testing and analysis of existing literature found that RCA sources possess up to 21% lower bulk specific gravity (BSG) and over 200% higher water absorption values relative to natural aggregate sources. The effect of RCA within experimental within mixtures was governed by the aggregate and mortar strength properties and relied significantly on the strength class of the resultant mixture with compressive/tensile strength reductions up to 41% observed. Mixture design optimization of LCC mixtures was found to improve the alignment of actual and theoretical mixture free-water proportions and effectively improve the mechanical strength properties of LCC mixtures, with mechanical strength values up to 49.8 MPa achieved. Full-scale development and testing of 2-meter reinforced concrete beams subject to 4-point flexural testing found that LCC mixtures can achieve comparable and even superior flexural and serviceability properties (+3% higher) relative to conventional concrete mixtures, with 39 - 69% higher experimental values reported relative to CSA A23.3-14 factored strength empirical predictions. The cumulative findings from the thesis program confirmed that LCC mixtures could be utilized as a suitable concrete alternative within structural applications while also serving as a sustainable alternative

Seasonal patterns in butterfly abundance and species diversity in five characteristic habitats in Sites of Community Importance in Sicily (Italy)

Sicily (Italy) is one of the richest European regions in animal biodiversity. Butterflies offer good opportunities for studies on biodiversity , population and community ecology. Many species are strictly seasonal, preferring only a particular set of habitats. Five typical Mediterranean habitats: olive grove (conducted following organic farm management), mixed wood, ampelodesmos prairie (with dominance of Ampelodesmos mauritanicus), Mediterranean shrub and shrub at the coastal areas, were monitored for diversity and seasonal patterns in butterfly communities for 2 years. All habitats were inside protected areas indicated as Sites of Community Importance. Butterfly species richness was highest in ampelodesmos prairie and in olive grove. Pieris brassicae, Lasiommata megera, Maniola jurtina, Pararge aegeria have been reported in all habitats, although with different abundance whilst other species were observed only in one particular habitat. Melanargia pherusa, endemic species, and Hipparchia statil-inus, listed in the IUCN Red List, respectively as " Least Concern " and " Near Threatened " , were observed in the ampelodesmos prairie. The morphotype Coenonympha pamphilus f. lyllus was reported in olive grove and ampelodesmos prairie. The majority of species showed abundance peaks in June and July, however many species showed a longer flight period than reported in literature with detection of specimens until November or December. The analysis of the similarity of communities among habitats shows a similarity between ampelodesmos prairie and olive grove and between Mediterranean shrub and Mediterranean shrub at the coastal areas, while the butterfly community in mixed wood is substantially different. The results of several diversity indexes suggest that ampelodesmos prairie has an important ecological role, as it supports butterfly abundance and species diversity

Experiencias de utilización de TICs en la articulación de contenidos de Física y Matemática para primer año de Ingeniería

En el contexto de la educación actual basada en los aprendizajes significativos y, la utilización cada vez más masiva de las Nuevas Tecnologías de la Información y la comunicación (NTIC) es que se exige con mayor rigor su adaptación a las diversas disciplinas. Se trata de la implementación de una propuesta didáctica que, basada en el Movimiento Oscilatorio Armónico, integra diferentes herramientas TICs para modelar, describir, simular, resolver numéricamente y representar un fenómeno físico utilizando dos modelos matemáticos diferentes. En este trabajo se presenta la propuesta y se hace un análisis de opciones para su implementación en Física I de la carrera de Ingeniería de la Universidad Nacional de La Matanza.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Prediction of Metabolic Profiles from Transcriptomics Data in Human Cancer Cell Lines

The Metabolome and Transcriptome are mutually communicating within cancer cells, and this interplay is translated into the existence of quantifiable correlation structures between gene expression and metabolite abundance levels. Studying these correlations could provide a novel venue of understanding cancer and the discovery of novel biomarkers and pharmacological strategies, as well as laying the foundation for the prediction of metabolite quantities by leveraging information from the more widespread transcriptomics data. In the current paper, we investigate the correlation between gene expression and metabolite levels in the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia dataset, building a direct correlation network between the two molecular ensembles. We show that a metabolite/transcript correlation network can be used to predict metabolite levels in different samples and datasets, such as the NCI-60 cancer cell line dataset, both on a sample-by-sample basis and in differential contrasts. We also show that metabolite levels can be predicted in principle on any sample and dataset for which transcriptomics data are available, such as the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)

Experiencias de utilización de TICs en la articulación de contenidos de Física y Matemática para primer año de Ingeniería

En el contexto de la educación actual basada en los aprendizajes significativos y, la utilización cada vez más masiva de las Nuevas Tecnologías de la Información y la comunicación (NTIC) es que se exige con mayor rigor su adaptación a las diversas disciplinas. Se trata de la implementación de una propuesta didáctica que, basada en el Movimiento Oscilatorio Armónico, integra diferentes herramientas TICs para modelar, describir, simular, resolver numéricamente y representar un fenómeno físico utilizando dos modelos matemáticos diferentes. En este trabajo se presenta la propuesta y se hace un análisis de opciones para su implementación en Física I de la carrera de Ingeniería de la Universidad Nacional de La Matanza.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Deal or no deal: comparing individual, group and couple choices in a risky context. Evidence from the Italian tv show edition

This work building on well-established economics literature on TV game shows aims, in an innovative manner, to provide further noteworthy insights. We compare individual, group and couple choices in the risky choice context provided by the Italian version of the international TV show “Deal or no Deal”. After analyzing contestant’s behaviour during the standard edition episodes plus two special editions we calculate a risk index showing that couples (affianced couples) display a greater degree of risk aversion while no statically significant difference is present between individuals’ and groups’ actions. This paper could be a starting point for future research investigating the rationale behind such conduct to examine whether such pattern would also be observed in a context different from that of TV game shows (e.g. financial decisions)

The salience of Informed Risk: an experimental analysis

During the last decade, scholars and policy makers have increasingly concentrated on investors’ excessive risk taking. By conducting an online pair-wise lottery choice experiment, we assess for variations in the level of risk taken when altering the research frame. For instance, in our experimental treatments we affect subjects’ awareness about the risk-taking decision by displaying or not displaying (financial) risk warning messages with different intensity. We also carry out additional robustness checks searching for possible relations between risk aversion, cognitive ability and questionnaire- based risk aversion scores. Our results provide statical evidence for the efficacy of informative and very salient messages in mitigating risky decision, offering several policy implications. The intuitions, deriving from a 177-subject sample, could indeed provide useful insights for designing effective risk reduction policies and maybe be applicable not only to a financial market context but also by extension to other risk-taking activities, i.e., online betting and gambling

The Role of Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance in Volumetric Modulated Arc Radiation Therapy Planning for Prostate Cancer Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy: A Pilot Study

Background and Purpose: Volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy (RT) has become pivotal in the treatment of prostate cancer recurrence (RPC) to optimize dose distribution and minimize toxicity, thanks to the high-precision delineation of prostate bed contours and organs at risk (OARs) under multiparametric magnetic resonance (mpMRI) guidance. We aimed to assess the role of pre-treatment mpMRI in ensuring target volume coverage and normal tissue sparing. Material and Methods: Patients with post-prostatectomy RPC eligible for salvage RT were prospectively recruited to this pilot study. Image registration between planning CT scan and T2w pre-treatment mpMRI was performed. Two sets of volumes were outlined, and DWI images/ADC maps were used to facilitate precise gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation on morphological MRI scans. Two rival plans (mpMRI-based or not) were drawn up. Results: Ten patients with evidence of RPC after prostatectomy were eligible. Preliminary data showed lower mpMRI-based clinical target volumes than CT-based RT planning (p = 0.0003): median volume difference 17.5 cm3. There were no differences in the boost volume coverage nor the dose delivered to the femoral heads and penile bulb, but median rectal and bladder V70Gy was 4% less (p = 0.005 and p = 0.210, respectively) for mpMRI-based segmentation. Conclusions: mpMRI provides high-precision target delineation and improves the accuracy of RT planning for post-prostatectomy RPC, ensures better volume coverage with better OARs sparing and allows non-homogeneous dose distribution, with an aggressive dose escalation to the GTV. Randomized phase III trials and wider datasets are needed to fully assess the role of mpMRI in optimizing therapeutic strategies

TGS1 mediates 2,2,7-trimethyl guanosine capping of the human telomerase RNA to direct telomerase dependent telomere maintenance

Pathways that direct the selection of the telomerase-dependent or recombination-based, alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) maintenance pathway in cancer cells are poorly understood. Using human lung cancer cells and tumor organoids we show that formation of the 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG) cap structure at the human telomerase RNA 5′ end by the Trimethylguanosine Synthase 1 (TGS1) is central for recruiting telomerase to telomeres and engaging Cajal bodies in telomere maintenance. TGS1 depletion or inhibition by the natural nucleoside sinefungin impairs telomerase recruitment to telomeres leading to Exonuclease 1 mediated generation of telomere 3′ end protrusions that engage in RAD51-dependent, homology directed recombination and the activation of key features of the ALT pathway. This indicates a critical role for 2,2,7-TMG capping of the RNA component of human telomerase (hTR) in enforcing telomerase-dependent telomere maintenance to restrict the formation of telomeric substrates conductive to ALT. Our work introduces a targetable pathway of telomere maintenance that holds relevance for telomere-related diseases such as cancer and aging