New waste‐based clinkers for the preparation of low‐energy cements. A step forward toward circular economy

This paper describes the use of industrial wastes arising from different production processes of the ceramic and marble industries as raw materials for the design and formulation of new cement clinkers with a high content of dicalcium silicate (Belite). The aim was to reintroduce these wastes in the industrial sector and take advantage of them for a greater environmental benefit, as indicated by the principles of the circular economy. Formulations containing 2.5, 5 and 10 wt% of chamotte and marble sludge, respectively, and a waste-free formulation have been designed to obtain clinkers with a content of dicalcium silicate higher than 60 wt%. The different blends have been studied up to a maximum temperature of 1390°C by Thermal Analysis. Other techniques such as XRD, XRF, Modified Bogue Equation, Quality Indexes (LSF, AM, SM) and Optical Microscopy have been used for the study and characterization of industrial wastes, the raw materials and the high belite-type cement dosages. The results indicate that this type of cements can be designed using different types of wastes and in this way reduce the environmental impacts caused by the extraction of raw materials and the deposition of the wastes in landfills, improving the circular economy of the construction industry

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells infiltrate the heart in acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects several million people in Latin America. Myocarditis, observed in the acute and chronic phases of the disease, is characterized by a mononuclear cell inflammatory infiltrate. We previously identified a myeloid cell population in the inflammatory heart infiltrate of infected mice that expressed arginase I. In this study, we purified CD11b(+) myeloid cells from the heart and analyzed their phenotype and function. Those CD11b(+) cells were ∼70% Ly6G(-)Ly6C(+) and 25% Ly6G(+)Ly6C(+). Moreover, purified CD11b(+)Ly6G(-) cells, but not Ly6G(+) cells, showed a predominant monocytic phenotype, expressed arginase I and inducible NO synthase, and suppressed anti-CD3/anti-CD28 Ab-induced T cell proliferation in vitro by an NO-dependent mechanism, activity that best defines myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Contrarily, CD11b(+)Ly6G(+) cells, but not CD11b(+)Ly6G(-) cells, expressed S100A8 and S100A9, proteins known to promote recruitment and differentiation of MDSCs. Together, our results suggest that inducible NO synthase/arginase I-expressing CD11b(+)Ly6G(-) myeloid cells in the hearts of T. cruzi-infected mice are MDSCs. Finally, we found plasma l-arginine depletion in the acute phase of infection that was coincident in time with the appearance of MDSCs, suggesting that in vivo arginase I could be contributing to l-arginine depletion and systemic immunosuppression. Notably, l-arginine supplementation decreased heart tissue parasite load, suggesting that sustained arginase expression through the acute infection is detrimental for the host. This is, to our knowledge, the first time that MDSCs have been found in the heart in the context of myocarditis and also in infection by T. cruzi.This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (SAF2007-61716 and SAF2005-02220); Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (PS09/00538); Red Tematica de Investigación en Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (RECAVA RD06/0014/1013); Red de Investigación de Centros de Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET RD06/0021/0016); European Union (HEALTH-FE-2008-22303, ChagasEpiNet); Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid (CC08-UAM/SAL-4440/08); Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo cooperation with Argentina (A/025417/09); and Fundación Ramón Areces. H.C. and N.A.G. were financed by Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, Instituto de salud Carlos III contracts. S.C. was a holder of a Formación de personal investigador fellowship. A.B. was funded by the Interuniversity Attraction Pole Program of the Belgian government.Peer reviewe