The evolution of shrinkage strain of pet-mortar composite eco-materials

Concretes and mortars are subjected to several kinds of shrinkage strains which represent the volumic variations resulting from the cement hydration and are governed by various physical and chemical aspects. The use of polyethylene terephthalate PET plastic wastes which are available in quantity and within low cost in our country yields a very important economic and environmental impact in the construction industry. Thus, we are interested to investigate the effect of PET volumetric additive amounts for cement substituting and for the behavior of the total, drying and autogenous shrinkage. Comparison study of obtained experimental results with codale prediction models were performed according to Eurocode 2  (EC2) in order to analyze the evolution of shrinkage strain with PET-mortar  composite ages and for several rates of PET waste additions. According to obtained results, PET additions acts to reduce shrinkage strains of PET-mortar composites which promote the use of these modified mortar Eco-materials in the field of construction industry.Keywords: Composite Eco-materials; Cement substitution; Shrinkage strain; PET waste; EC2

Selection Criteria for Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) Treatment in Patients with Peritoneal Metastases.

The standard treatment protocol for PIPAC consists of three procedures. Completion of treatment has been shown to be prognostic of improved survival. The aim of this study was to identify predictors for completion of treatment. Retrospective multicentric cohort study of patients with peritoneal metastases undergoing PIPAC in three PIPAC expert centers. Per protocol (PP) treatment was defined as patients receiving ≥3 PIPACs and was compared to patients receiving <3. Overall, 183 patients had 517 PIPACs. The main reasons for stopping PIPAC were disease progression in 50% patients, bowel obstruction in 15%, patient's refusal to pursue in 10%, conversion to cytoreductive surgery in 7%, and medical reasons in 8%. Overall, 95 patients (52%) had PP treatment. The PP median OS was 17 vs. 7 months, p = 0.001. PP patients had r ascites (410 ± 100 mL vs. 960 ± 188 mL, p = 0.001), no prior history of bowel obstruction (12% vs. 24%, p = 0.028), and more bimodal treatment (39% vs. 13%, p < 0.001). After multiple regression, bimodal treatment was found as an independent predictive factor for completing PP (OR = 4.202, 95%CI [1.813, 10.630], p < 0.001), along with prior bowel obstruction (OR = 0.389, 95%CI [0.153, 0.920], p = 0.037). The absence of ascites and prior bowel obstruction can help to select patients suitable for PIPAC. Best results seem to be achieved when PIPAC is combined with systemic chemotherapy

Le patrimoine géologique et géomorphologique dans le contexte d’un Géoparc. Méthodologie d’inventaire et valorisation patrimoniale

La région Tadla-Azilal (Maroc) riche d’un patrimoine géologique et géomorphologique a été classée en Géoparc M’Goun par l’UNESCO en 2014. Ce patrimoine géologique et géomorphologique, complété par des sites de valeur écologique, archéologique, historique ou autres, est le témoin de l’histoire de la Terre et de la vie ainsi que de l’évolution des paysages (géotopes). Ce patrimoine naturel est associé aussi à un patrimoine culturel diversifié, matériel et immatériel Si ces paysages géomorphologiques et géologiques sont caractérisés par des valeurs géoécologiques intrinsèques, c’est aussi leur perception et représentation qui leur donne une valeur esthétique, mais aussi culturelle, religieuse, historique et économique. Les méthodes d’inventaire et d’évaluation de ce patrimoine s’appuient sur des critères de valeur des géotopes (5). Après sélection des aspects des paysages à identifier, connaitre et sauvegarder, on définit leur valeur intrinsèque et classe hiérarchiquement chaque élément. La valeur géoscientifique est la plus importante. Un paysage géomorphologique et géologique en recèle des traces liées à l’histoire géologique et paléogéographique, tectonique et géomorphologique à différents pas de temps. S’y ajoutent des valeurs additionnelles : Les valeurs écologique, esthétique ou scénique à travers sa « beauté » ou son caractère spectaculaire, symbolique conférant une valeur culturelle, religieuse et/ou historique (vestiges archéologiques…). Enfin, le géotope peut être une ressource économique avec l’activité touristique ou extractive. Ces méthodes développées en Europe doivent être adaptées aux contextes sociaux, économiques et culturels spécifiques marocain, ne serait-ce que parce que ce patrimoine est plus ou moins approprié par les acteurs de ces territoires et car sa valorisation géotouristique est prévue avec le Géoparc. Il s’agit aussi de rendre compte de l\u27importance des interactions entre ces acteurs et leur environnement, de leur perception de ce patrimoine, et de leur rôle dans l’évolution des paysages associés à ces structures géologiques et géomorphologiques et dans la construction social

Effect of Addition of PET in the Thermal Properties of Polymer-Mortar Composite Materials

The polymer-mortar composites are often used as low-cost promising materials for preventing or repairing various reinforced concrete structures. The Thermal behavior of the ¶building materials ¶is relevant to any use of concrete or composite, especially in relation to structures where it is desirable to have low thermal conductivity, dimensional stability, high specific heat and little or no decrease of stiffness upon heating. Although much work has been done on the effect of admixture and the mechanical properties of concrete or composite, relatively little work has been done on the thermal conductivity. So, Thermal conductivity (l), thermal resistance (R) and the surface coefficients of transmission (U) of polymer-mortar composites made up of mixtures of polyethylene terephthalate PET waste were measured. To determine the effect of the PET on the thermal conductivity of PET-mortar composites, PET was added as replacement for cement by decreasing the cement weights in the ratios of 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% by weight. The highest thermal conductivity of 1.45 W/mK was observed with the samples containing only plain cement. It decreased with the increase of PET as replacement for cement. The lowest value of thermal conductivity and the surface coefficient of transmission were obtained with the samples prepared with PET waste polymer at 7.5 % replacement of cement. The composites were also observed by DTA, MOP led to the positive identification of the products’. In this way, the results obtained highlight the beneficial effect of waste PET as thermal insulation in comparison with other insulation materials. In addition, the obtained PET-mortar composites would appear to be low-cost materials which would contribute to resolving some of the solid waste problems in addition to conserving energy

A Temporal -omic Study of Propionibacterium freudenreichii CIRM-BIA1T Adaptation Strategies in Conditions Mimicking Cheese Ripening in the Cold

Propionibacterium freudenreichii is used as a ripening culture in Swiss cheese manufacture. It grows when cheeses are ripened in a warm room (about 24°C). Cheeses with an acceptable eye formation level are transferred to a cold room (about 4°C), inducing a marked slowdown of propionic fermentation, but P. freudenreichii remains active in the cold. To investigate the P. freudenreichii strategies of adaptation and survival in the cold, we performed the first global gene expression profile for this species. The time-course transcriptomic response of P. freudenreichii CIRM-BIA1T strain was analyzed at five times of incubation, during growth at 30°C then for 9 days at 4°C, under conditions preventing nutrient starvation. Gene expression was also confirmed by RT-qPCR for 28 genes. In addition, proteomic experiments were carried out and the main metabolites were quantified. Microarray analysis revealed that 565 genes (25% of the protein-coding sequences of P. freudenreichii genome) were differentially expressed during transition from 30°C to 4°C (P<0.05 and |fold change|>1). At 4°C, a general slowing down was observed for genes implicated in the cell machinery. On the contrary, P. freudenreichii CIRM-BIA1T strain over-expressed genes involved in lactate, alanine and serine conversion to pyruvate, in gluconeogenesis, and in glycogen synthesis. Interestingly, the expression of different genes involved in the formation of important cheese flavor compounds, remained unchanged at 4°C. This could explain the contribution of P. freudenreichii to cheese ripening even in the cold. In conclusion, P. freudenreichii remains metabolically active at 4°C and induces pathways to maintain its long-term survival

Effects of salinity and drought on growth, ionic relations, compatible solutes and activation of antioxidant systems in oleander (Nerium oleander L.)

[EN] Nerium oleander is an ornamental species of high aesthetic value, grown in arid and semi- arid regions because of its drought tolerance, which is also considered as relatively resistant to salt; yet the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying oleander¿s stress toler- ance remain largely unknown. To investigate these mechanisms, one-year-old oleander seedlings were exposed to 15 and 30 days of treatment with increasing salt concentratio ns, up to 800 mM NaCl, and to complete withholding of irrigation; growth parameters and bio- chemical markers characteristic of conserved stress-response pathways were then deter- mined in stressed and control plants. Strong water deficit and salt stress both caused inhibition of growth, degradation of photosynthetic pigments, a slight (but statistically signifi- cant) increase in the leaf levels of specific osmolytes, and induction of oxidative stress¿as indicated by the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), a reliable oxidative stress marker ¿accompanied by increases in the levels of total phenolic compounds and antioxidant fla- vonoids and in the specific activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reduc- tase (GR). High salinity, in addition, induced accumulation of Na + and Cl - in roots and leaves and the activation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Apart from anatomical adaptations that protect oleander from leaf dehydration at moderate levels of stress, our results indicate that tolerance of this species to salinity and water deficit is based on the constitutive accumulation in leaves of high concentratio ns of soluble carbohydrates and, to a lesser extent, of glycine betaine, and in the activation of the aforementioned antiox- idant systems. Moreover, regarding specifically salt stress, mechanisms efficiently blocking transport of toxic ions from the roots to the aerial parts of the plant appear to contribute to a large extent to tolerance in Nerium oleanderThis work was financed by internal funds of the Polytechnic University of Valencia to Monica Boscaiu and Oscar Vicente. Dinesh Kumar’s stay in Valencia was financed by a NAMASTE fellowship from the European Union, and Mohamad Al Hassan was a recipient of an Erasmus Mundus pre-doctoral scholarship financed by the European Commission (Welcome Consortium).Kumar, D.; Al Hassan, M.; Naranjo Olivero, MA.; Agrawal, V.; Boscaiu, M.; Vicente, O. (2017). Effects of salinity and drought on growth, ionic relations, compatible solutes and activation of antioxidant systems in oleander (Nerium oleander L.). PLoS ONE. 12(9). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0185017Se018501712

Mesure et prédiction des chemins de drainage-humidification. Application à l’argile d’un noyau de barrage

Dans cet article, on présente les résultats d’essais de drainage humidification sous contrainte extérieure nulle, obtenus sur l’argile du noyau du barrage de Boughrara situé dans l’ouest algérien. L’argile remaniée est préparée initialement, soit sous forme de pâte à wi = 1,5 wL, soit est consolidée à 100 kPa. La méthode osmotique et la méthode de contrôle par phase vapeur ont été mises en œuvre pour imposer la succion dans le sol. Les résultats obtenus montrent que le matériau sous forme de pâte à wi = 1,5 wL et celui consolidé présente les mêmes caractéristiques en termes de teneur en eau et de succion de retrait, ainsi que de succion d’entrée d’air et de resaturation. Aussi, les résultats ont montré que la succion dans les sols non saturés joue le même rôle que la contrainte mécanique pour les sols saturés tant que la succion de désaturation n’est pas dépassée. La simulation des courbes de rétention par les relations empiriques de Van Genuchten (1980) et de Fredlund et Xing (1994), a monté l’aptitude des deux fonctions à reproduire qualitativement et quantitativement ces chemins, et ceci avec une différence de précision, selon le domaine de succion considérée

Durability of mortars modified by the effect of combining SPA polymers and supplementary cementitious materials

Nowadays, the major concern of professionals in the field of building materials is to improve the properties induced by the addition of different additives (polymers) and mineral additions (Supplementary Cement Materials SCMs) and to eventually adapt them to a particular application. This race towards performance has resulted in mortar formulations that are increasingly complex and rich in diversified additions. This is an industry-friendly practice since it generally yields a mortar modified by the combination of a polymer and SCMs, at low cost and low environmental impact, with an improved sustainability in the long term. In order to improve the durability of SCM-modified repair mortars, it seemed interesting to evaluate the influence of adding the styrene polyacrylic (SPA) Latex on the properties of these mortars when exposed to aggressive media such as acids. Composite mortars based on pozzolanic mineral additions, containing different levels of 0.5%, 1% and 2%w latex, were stored in acid solutions, for various periods of immersion. The analysis of the microstructure of these mortars, after exposure to acid attack, was carried out by FTIR spectroscopy. The results obtained allowed to demonstrate the beneficial effect of adding the SPA polymer and the pozzolanic additions to the modified materials and to show their improved resistance to acid attacks, such as HNO3 and H3PO4 solutions at 8%. The best durability properties of the mortars modified by the combination of the polymer and the additional cementitious materials observed in this study indicate a longer service life of the repaired structure when using this type of Latex-modified repair materials

Prediction models of mechanical properties for pet-mortar composite in sodium sulphateaggressive mediums

In this research, an investigation was carried out on the effect of sodium sulphate attack on the durability of composites produced with waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Experiments were accomplished on limestone sand and cement mortars where the blended Portland cement was partially replaced by various volume fractions of waste PET particles (6%, 12% and 17%). The test solutions used to supply the sulphate ions and cations were 5%sodium sulphate solution. Compressive strengths measured on specimens were used to assess the changes in the mechanical properties of PET-mortars exposed to sulphate attack at different ages, mainly the Young modulus of elasticity. Based on experimental compressive tests on PETMortar composite specimens and there densities, the evolution of Young modulus of elasticity has been analyzed in accordance with normative models given by (ACI-318) and (BS-8110) codes of practice. In addition, a comparative study has been carried out for corrosion resistance coefficients K of unmodified mortar to those modified with waste PET particles. It can be noticed that, for the composite immersed in a corrosive Na2SO4 solution, the corrosion resistance coefficients decrease with the increase of the immersion period. The corrosion sulphate resistance K based on Young modulus before and after immersion of PET-mortar composites is better than that of the control mortar. Therefore, for safety considerations of PET-mortar composites use, ACI 318 is recommended code for design and investigation works. Also, it can be concluded that adding waste PET by volume fractions (6%, 12% and 17%) to blend Portland cement renders this cement more resistant to the sodium sulphate aggressive medium. Therefore, composites materials based waste PET aare often presented as the materials of the future because of their potential for innovation and the advantages they offer. In fact, using waste PET as cement substitutes reduces the energy consumption. These modified mortars address problems related to environmental pollution by CO2 emissions, and are used to repair various reinforced concrete structures in sodium sulphate aggressive mediums