Durability of high belite cement as new technical solution for concrete

The study presents an investigation on the durability performance of concretes produced with an industrial scale high belite cement. This binder, thanks to the high amount of C-S-H gel and the lower C3S/C2S ratio, is characterized by high durability properties. Good resistance to freeze/thaw cycles, very low chloride migration and excellent resistance to sulfate attack were demonstrated. Theaccelerated carbonation test revealed that the belite cement, due to the high C2S phase amount, is able to increase its strength over time when exposed to high CO2 concentration. Durability and strength results were compared with those of CEM I, CEM II, and CEM III. In addition, a comparison of the performance of a self-compacting concrete produced with high belite cement and CEM I (as reference) is also presented. The results show that the self-compacting concrete with the high belite cement is able to reach sufficient strengths already after 1 day of hydration, with a low heat development and improved durability properties, compared to CEM I

Nanostructured delivery systems with improved leishmanicidal activity: a critical review

Natascia Bruni,1 Barbara Stella,2 Leonardo Giraudo,1 Carlo Della Pepa,2 Daniela Gastaldi,3 Franco Dosio2 1Candioli Pharmaceutical Institute Srl, Beinasco, Italy; 2Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; 3Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy Abstract: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne zoonotic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, which are responsible for numerous clinical manifestations, such as cutaneous, visceral, and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, depending on the site of infection for particular species. These complexities threaten 350 million people in 98 countries worldwide. Amastigotes living within macrophage phagolysosomes are the principal target of antileishmanial treatment, but these are not an easy target as drugs must overcome major structural barriers. Furthermore, limitations on current therapy are related to efficacy, toxicity, and cost, as well as the length of treatment, which can increase parasitic resistance. Nanotechnology has emerged as an attractive alternative as conventional drugs delivered by nanosized carriers have improved bioavailability and reduced toxicity, together with other characteristics that help to relieve the burden of this disease. The significance of using colloidal carriers loaded with active agents derives from the physiological uptake route of intravenous administered nanosystems (the phagocyte system). Nanosystems are thus able to promote a high drug concentration in intracellular mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS)-infected cells. Moreover, the versatility of nanometric drug delivery systems for the deliberate transport of a range of molecules plays a pivotal role in the design of therapeutic strategies against leishmaniasis. This review discusses studies on nanocarriers that have greatly contributed to improving the efficacy of antileishmaniasis drugs, presenting a critical review and some suggestions for improving drug delivery. Keywords: amphotericin B, drug delivery systems, drug targeting, human leishmaniasis, polymeric nanoparticl

Fingerprinting the Hydration Products of Hydraulic Binders Using Snapshots from Time-Resolved In Situ Multinuclear MAS NMR Spectroscopy

The very early hydration behavior of a hydraulic binder phase, ye'elimite, Ca4Al6O12SO4, in the absence and in the presence of calcium sulfate, has been investigated. A time-resolved in situ multin..

Characterization and Determination of Interesterification Markers (Triacylglycerol Regioisomers) in Confectionery Oils by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Interesterification is an industrial transformation process aiming to change the physico-chemical properties of vegetable oils by redistributing fatty acid position within the original constituent of the triglycerides. In the confectionery industry, controlling formation degree of positional isomers is important in order to obtain fats with the desired properties. Silver ion HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) is the analytical technique usually adopted to separate triglycerides (TAGs) having different unsaturation degrees. However, separation of TAG positional isomers is a challenge when the number of double bonds is the same and the only difference is in their position within the triglyceride molecule. The TAG positional isomers involved in the present work have a structural specificity that require a separation method tailored to the needs of confectionery industry. The aim of this work was to obtain a chromatographic resolution that might allow reliable qualitative and quantitative evaluation of TAG positional isomers within reasonably rapid retention times and robust in respect of repeatability and reproducibility. The resulting analytical procedure was applied both to confectionery raw materials and final products

Limestone calcined clay binders based on a Belite-rich cement

Portland-based Limestone Calcined Clay Cements, LC3, are receiving considerable attention because the CO2 footprint can be reduced up to 40 %. Here, we report a related family: Belite-rich-LC3. These blends are expected to have very good durability performances. Selected properties for two members are reported including calorimetric data and mechanical strength developments. The phase evolutions are studied by Rietveld analysis backed by the thermal behaviour. Their microstructures are studied by mercury intrusion porosimetry. The hydration rates of these blends have been boosted by C-S-H seeding which led to an increase of mechanical strengths. At 28 days, seeded mortars with cement replacement degrees of 30 and 45 wt% displayed 74 and 61 MPa of compressive strengths, respectively. Moreover, overall porosities and pore entry threshold values decreased in the admixture-containing binders.Financial support from PID2020-114650RB-I00 research grant from the Spanish Government, which is co funded by FEDER, is gratefully acknowledged. The contribution of Mr. Iván González-Fernández to some parts of the experimental section is gratefully acknowledged. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA

Detailed proteomic analysis on DM: insight into its hypoallergenicity.

Successful therapy in cow milk (CM) protein allergy rests upon completely eliminating CM proteins from the child's diet: it is thus necessary to provide a replacement food. Donkey milk (DM) has recently aroused scientific and clinical interest, above all among paediatric allergologists. A deeper knowledge of proteins in DM is necessary to evaluate the immunological and physiological properties of this natural substitute for cow's milk. The paper offers a detailed comparative analysis among the protein fractions of DM, CM and human milk, following an extensive proteomic study of the casein and whey proteins of DM performed by narrow pH range 2-DE. The detailed protein composition and structural features reported in this study provide insight into the molecular reasons for the hypoallergenicity of DM. Whole DM might constitute a valid substitute of CM in feeding children with CM protein allergy and it might also constitute the basis for formulas suitable for allergic subjects in the first year of life

Processing and hydration activation of limestone calcined clay belite rich cements.

Belite-rich limestone calcined clay cements, BR-LC3, could be an alternative for low carbon binders with potentially very good durability properties, given the high amount of C-S-H gel from the cement hydration with additional C-(A)-S-H from the pozzolanic reaction. Nevertheless, BR-LC3 phase hydration rates at early ages are slow and they must be enhanced, for instance by using C-S-H nucleation seeding admixtures. In this work, a BR-LC3 binder was prepared using a clinker-activated Belite-rich cement, BC (58 wt%), kaolinitic calcined clay (26 wt%), limestone (13 wt%) and gypsum (3 wt%). Pastes were prepared with a water-to-binder (w/b) ratio of 0.40 and superplasticizer. Mortars were prepared with the w/b=0.40 and having a target slump self-flow of 210±20 mm. Paste hydration characterization was carried out by thermal analysis, Rietveld quantitative phase analysis and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The compressive strengths of the mortars were also determined. Remarkable compressive strength improvements at 7 and 28 days are shown by using a C-S-H seeding admixture. The improvement of mechanical strengths is not related to belite phase hydration acceleration but mainly to lower porosity.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech