60 research outputs found
Recycled Glass as Aggregate for Architectural Mortars
Abstract The possibility of recycling mixed colour waste glass as it is for manufacturing decorative architectural mortars, has been investigated. In mortars, the 0â33â66â100% of calcareous gravel volume has been replaced with recycled glass cullets, with no other inorganic addition. To mitigate the possible alkaliâsilica reaction, mixes with a hydrophobic admixture were also compared. The obtained results show that the replacement of calcareous gravel with glass cullets of similar grain size distribution permits to reduce the dosage of the superplasticizer admixture to obtain the same workability of fresh mortar; it does not affect significantly the mechanical performances, the water vapour permeability and the capillary water absorption but it reduces significantly the drying shrinkage deformation. The used recycled glass is classified as no reactive in terms of alkaliâsilica reaction neither in water nor in NaOH solution following the parameters of the current normative, even in the absence of the hydrophobic admixture. The hydrophobic admixture further delays the expansion trigger but not the speed of its propagation
Valorisation of GRP Dust Waste in Fired Clay Bricks
In Europe, the total amount of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) waste is increasing. In order to valorise GRP dust (GRPd) waste and to reduce the consumption of nonrenewable resources in building materials, GRPd has been already investigated in cementitious materials where it gives even an improvement in some performances of the final products. Valorisation of GRPd waste in the production of bricks can be considered as a further alternative. In this paper, GRPd waste was substituted to the clay volume at 5% and 10% for the manufacturing of fired clay bricks. All specimens were subjected to a firing temperature of 850°C for 6 hours, then tested and compared in terms of porosity, compressive and flexural strengths, density, and water absorption. Despite a decrease in compressive strength up to 46% with 10% of GRPd substitution and an increase of water absorption from 14% to 29% with 5% and 10% of GRPd substitution, respectively, an increase in terms of lightness (about 10%), maximum flexural strength (up to 31%), and deflections at the maximum load (up to 130%) has been registered by specimens with 10% of GRPd substitution
LACERTI DI UN SISTEMA AGRARIO: LE CASCINE DELLA ÂŤPARTE PIANA DELLA CITTĂÂť DI TORINO TRA PERSISTENZA E PIANIFICAZIONE URBANISTICA
Nonostante lâavanzare costante dellâestensione della superficie urbanizzata che, sin dalla scelta di Torino come capitale sabauda, è contraddistinta da un sacrificio delle aree destinate ai coltivi a favore di quelle urbane, il sistema produttivo agrario della cosiddetta ÂŤparte pianaÂť, per distinguerla da quella ÂŤcollinareÂť, secondo la dizione invalsa nei piani regolatori sin dallâinizio del XX secolo (capitale quello del 1906-08), lascia vistose tracce della propria presenza e organizzazione. Ancora oggi, facendo i conti con i processi di rigenerazione urbana, la cittĂ scopre di avere lacerti consistenti non solo di singoli complessi rurali (talvolta annegati nella compatta rilettura di estese aree cittadine, ma in altri casi ben visibili ed emergenti in modo quasi incongruo in contesti peraltro ormai alieni), ma di un intero sistema. Una rete che comporta la presenza superstite di ÂŤvie vicinaliÂť,
come appaiono indicate nella cartografa storica, di bealere ossia canalizzazioni artificiali a scopo irriguo derivate dai principali corsi dâacqua che naturalmente caratterizzano lâarea, financo tracce di perimetrazioni di proprietĂ e di vecchi sistemi di demarcazione dei confini, dai cippi alle edicole votive. Se le singole emergenze sono abbastanza ben documentate, è proprio questo sistema territoriale sotteso che va evidenziato, assieme al suo rapporto â talvolta rafforzato, seppure magari in parte inconsapevolmente, piĂš sovente negato, sottaciuto e apertamente violato â con la pianificazione urbanistica; una programmazione costante, continua e sempre in qualche misura coerente con se stessa, che caratterizza una cittĂ non a caso, per suo ruolo di capitale, riconosciuta come âipernormataâ e connotata da una ingente espansione tra la seconda metĂ del XIX secolo e i primi anni ottanta del XX, per poi assistere invece a fenomeni di contrazione e ridisegno. Appoggiandosi alla cartografa storica, ai dati dâarchivio (in particolare quelli conservati presso lâArchivio Storico della CittĂ di Torino), ma anche alla lettura tipologica dei complessi agricoli, si cercherĂ di offrire una âvisione dâinsiemeâ, sistemica, del processo di perdita della caratterizzazione rurale della sezione piana della cittĂ , ricomponendo i lacerti â ancora oggi ben visibili â di un sistema che è stato determinante, con lunga continuitĂ , anche per i rapporti tra la capitale e il suo immediato orizzonte territoriale
Food insecurity trends in the Famine Early Warning Systems Network
[EN] Over last 30 years, periodic country analyses elaborated by FEWS NET
(Famine Early Warning Systems Network of the United States Agency for
International Development) enabled creation of a unique source of knowledge
comprising consistent reporting in over two dozen countries. This paper
proposes to systematically assess documentation from historical perspective to
provide comprehensive overview of food insecurity in FEWS NET covered
countries. We propose an integrated machine learning approach to
systematically analyse available documentation and generate knowledge. In
particular text mining algorithms have been implemented to analyse reports:
automated retrieval of high-quality information from text, by finding patterns
and trends through machine learning, statistics and linguistics. This enables
analysis of large amounts of unstructured text to derive insights. Results show
that there is a wide heterogeneity in what is relevant, and in what reports focus
on at the territorial level. Many country-level topics are persistent over time
with some interesting exception, as Guatemala, Malawi, Niger, and Somalia
with more instability. Overall, the evidence show that advances in machine
learning and Big Data research offer great potential for international
development agencies to leverage the vast information generated from reports
to gain new insights, providing analytics that can improve decision-making.Carneiro, B.; Perfetto, C.; Resce, G.; Ruscica, G.; Tucci, G. (2023). Food insecurity trends in the Famine Early Warning Systems Network. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 171-178. https://doi.org/10.4995/CARMA2023.2023.1643317117
Stainless and Galvanized Steel, Hydrophobic Admixture and Flexible Polymer-Cement Coating Compared in Increasing Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures
The use of stainless or galvanized steel reinforcements, a hydrophobic admixture or a flexible polymer-cement coating were compared as methods to improve the corrosion resistance of sound or cracked reinforced concrete specimens exposed to chloride rich solutions. The results show that in full immersion condition, negligible corrosion rates were detected in all cracked specimens, except those treated with the flexible polymer-cement mortar as preventive method against corrosion and the hydrophobic concrete specimens. High corrosion rates were measured in all cracked specimens exposed to wet-dry cycles, except for those reinforced with stainless steel, those treated with the flexible polymer-cement coating as restorative method against reinforcement corrosion and for hydrophobic concrete specimens reinforced with galvanized steel reinforcements
The critical raw materials issue between scarcity, supply risk, and unique properties
ABSTRACT:
This editorial reports on a thorough analysis of the abundance and scarcity distribution of chemical elements and the minerals they form in the Earth, Sun, and Universe in connection with their number of neutrons and binding energy per nucleon. On one hand, understanding the elementsâ formation and their specific properties related to their electronic and nucleonic structure may lead to understanding whether future solutions to replace certain elements or materials for specific technical applications are realistic. On the other hand, finding solutions to the critical availability of some of these elements is an urgent need. Even the analysis of the availability of scarce minerals from European Union sources leads to the suggestion that a wide-ranging approach is essential. These two fundamental assumptions represent also the logical approach that led the European Commission to ask for a multi-disciplinary effort from the scientific community to tackle the challenge of Critical Raw Materials. This editorial is also the story of one of the first fulcrum around which a wide network of material scientists gathered thanks to the support of the funding organization for research and innovation networks, COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Molecular characterization of a bladder pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in an adult patient
Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma (PRMS) is a rare but highly aggressive soft tissue tumor, accounting for 3% of soft tissue sarcomas. PRMS is the most frequent subtype of RMS in adulthood and it is mainly located in the large muscles of the extremities, particularly the lower limbs and the trunk, more rarely in other locations especially in the bladder. At our knowledge, only six cases of adult pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder have been reported in the literature. In this study, we report a case of PRMS of bladder with a very poor prognosis. In fact, the patient died a month after surgery. The tumor was characterized by poorly differentiated, medium-sized sometimes rhabdoid cells, mixed with large-sized and pleomorphic elements with evident anisonucleosis, and with large areas of necrosis. We used an extensive immunohistochemical panel to exclude other tumors much more frequently reported at this site. The positivity for myogenic markers such as actin, desmin, myogenin and MyoD1 allowed the correct diagnosis. Furthermore, since preliminary studies highlighted a series of specific molecular alterations in PMRS cell lines, we analyzed a panel of specific mutations and gene rearrangements by RT-PCR and FISH methods. We showed a copy gains of CCND1 and MALT genes in our samples, suggesting an accurate molecular characterization of PRMS to establish a better management of patients and new therapeutic opportunities
Innovative hydraulic lime-based finishes with unconventional aggregates and TiO2 for the improvement of indoor air quality
This paper reports a study on 8 unconventional hydraulic lime-based mortars able to improve indoor air quality by acting as passive systems. Mortars have been prepared with commercial sand or highly adsorbent materials as aggregates with/without TiO2 as photocatalytic agent, to test also the decomposition of airborne pollutants. Mechanical properties, hygrometric behavior, inhibition of growth of molds and depollution properties have been tested. Despite using porous materials (zeolite and activated carbon), in mortars with unconventional aggregates, compressive strength is higher than in sand-based ones, with a more than double higher water vapor permeability. Zeolite-based mortars have the highest moisture buffering capacity followed by silica gel- and activated carbon-based mortars (1.5â2 times higher than reference, respectively, because of the high porosity of unconventional aggregates). Sand-based mortars show optimum inhibitory capacity against fungal growth. Concerning unconventional aggregates, silica gel mortars have good inhibitory capacity, whereas zeolite and activated carbon give to mortars an optimum substrate for molds. Mortars with unconventional aggregates as silica gel remove more than 80% of tracer pollutant after 2âh of test, whereas zeolite-based mortars remove the 65% of it after 120âmin. TiO2 enhances depollution properties as photocatalytic oxidation agent when the mortar is close to saturation
Exploration of ligand binding modes towards the identification of compounds targeting HuR : a combined STD-NMR and Molecular Modelling approach
Post-transcriptional processes have been recognised as pivotal in the control of gene expression,
and impairments in RNA processing are reported in several pathologies (i.e., cancer and
neurodegeneration). Focusing on RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), the involvement of Embryonic Lethal
Abnormal Vision (ELAV) or Hu proteins and their complexes with target mRNAs in the aetiology of
various dysfunctions, has suggested the great potential of compounds able to interfere with the
complex stability as an innovative pharmacological strategy for the treatment of numerous diseases.
Here, we present a rational follow-up investigation of the interaction between ELAV isoform HuR
and structurally-related compounds (i.e., favonoids and coumarins), naturally decorated with
diferent functional groups, by means of STD-NMR and Molecular Modelling. Our results represent
the foundation for the development of potent and selective ligands able to interfere with ELAVâRNA
complexes
COX-2 expression positively correlates with PD-L1 expression in human melanoma cells.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors for the treatment of melanoma have prompted investigators to implement novel clinical trials which combine immunotherapy with different treatment modalities. Moreover is also important to investigate the mechanisms which regulate the dynamic expression of PD-L1 on tumor cells and PD-1 on T cells in order to identify predictive biomarkers of response. COX-2 is currently investigated as a major player of tumor progression in several type of malignancies including melanoma. In the present study we investigated the potential relationship between COX-2 and PD-L1 expression in melanoma.
METHODS:
Tumor samples obtained from primary melanoma lesions and not matched lymph node metastases were analyzed for both PD-L1 and COX-2 expression by IHC analysis. Status of BRAF and NRAS mutations was analyzed by sequencing and PCR. Co-localization of PD-L1 and COX-2 expression was analyzed by double fluorescence staining. Lastly the BRAFV600E A375 and NRASQ61R SK-MEL-2 melanoma cell lines were used to evaluate the effect of COX-2 inhibition by celecoxib on expression of PD-L1 in vitro.
RESULTS:
BRAFV600E/V600K and NRASQ61R/Q61L were detected in 57.8 and 8.9% of the metastatic lesions, and in 65.9 and 6.8% of the primary tumors, respectively. PD-L1 and COX-2 expression were heterogeneously expressed in both primary melanoma lesions and not matched lymph node metastases. A significantly lower number of PD-L1 negative lesions was found in primary tumors as compared to not matched metastatic lesions (P = 0.002). COX-2 expression significantly correlated with PD-L1 expression in both primary (P = 0.001) and not matched metastatic (P = 0.048) lesions. Furthermore, in melanoma tumors, cancer cells expressing a higher levels of COX-2 also co-expressed a higher level of PD-L1. Lastly, inhibition of COX-2 activity by celecoxib down-regulated the expression of PD-L1 in both BRAFV600E A375 and NRASQ61R SK-MEL-2 melanoma cell lines.
CONCLUSIONS:
COX-2 expression correlates with and modulates PD-L1 expression in melanoma cells. These findings have clinical relevance since they provide a rationale to implement novel clinical trials to test COX-2 inhibition as a potential treatment to prevent melanoma progression and immune evasion as well as to enhance the anti-tumor activity of PD-1/PD-L1 based immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma patients with or without BRAF/NRAS mutations
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