Moisture damage resistance of hot-mix asphalt made with paper industry wastes as filler

[Abstract:] Certain paper industry wastes display high recycling potential. In this investigation, the feasibility of using green liquor dregs and biomass fly ash from the paper industry as filler in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) for road pavement construction is analysed. Particularly, the moisture damage resistance (i.e., water sensitivity) of an AC 22 base B50/70 G has been studied using the Indirect Tensile Strength Test at the Marshall mix design optimum asphalt content. The most important filler properties have been determined to study water resistance: filler water content, grain size distribution using light scattering analysis techniques, morphology using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), chemical and mineralogical composition using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, detrimental fines content using the methylene blue test and the stiffening effect of the filler in the mastic by determining the ring and ball (R&B) softening temperature and the bitumen penetration grade. Additionally, the Rolling Bottle method and Boiling Water tests have been conducted to analyse the asphalt-aggregate bond. A control filler (i.e., commercial limestone filler) was used to compare the results. Also the mechanical properties (stiffness and resistance to the permanent deformation) of the mixtures were studied. As a result, it can be concluded that dregs have poor water resistance. Additionally, fly ash displayed inadequate water resistance for HMA

Searching for galactic sources in the Swift GRB catalog

Since the early 1990s Gamma Ray Bursts have been accepted to be of extra-galactic origin due to the isotropic distribution observed by BATSE and the redshifts observed via absorption line spectroscopy. Nevertheless, upon further examination at least one case turned out to be of galactic origin. This particular event presented a Fast Rise, Exponential Decay (FRED) structure which leads us to believe that other FRED sources might also be Galactic. This study was set out to estimate the most probable degree of contamination by galactic sources that certain samples of FREDs have. In order to quantify the degree of anisotropy the average dipolar and quadripolar moments of each sample of GRBs with respect to the galactic plane were calculated. This was then compared to the probability distribution of simulated samples comprised of a combination of isotropically generated sources and galactic sources. We observe that the dipolar and quadripolar moments of the selected subsamples of FREDs are found more than two standard deviations outside those of random isotropically generated samples.The most probable degree of contamination by galactic sources for the FRED GRBs of the Swift catalog detected until February 2011 that do not have a known redshift is about 21 out of 77 sources which is roughly equal to 27%. Furthermore we observe, that by removing from this sample those bursts that may have any type of indirect redshift indicator and multiple peaks gives the most probable contamination increases up to 34% (17 out of 49 sources). It is probable that a high degree of contamination by galactic sources occurs among the single peak FREDs observed by Swift.Comment: Published to A&A, 4 pages, 5 figures, this arXiv version includes appended table with all the bursts considered in this stud

Decays Z' -> \gamma\gamma\gamma{} and Z -> \gamma\gamma\gamma{} in the minimal 331 model

The possibility of a significant effect of exotic particles on the Z'->\gamma\gamma\gamma{} and Z->\gamma\gamma\gamma{} decays is investigated in the context of the minimal 331 model. This model, which is based in the SU_C(3)xSU_L(3)xU_X(1) gauge group, predicts the existence of many exotic charged particles that can significantly enhance the decay widths. It is found that the standard model prediction for the Z->\gamma\gamma\gamma{} decay remains essentially unchanged, as the new physics effects quickly decouples. On the other hand, it is found that the contributions of the new exotic quarks and gauge bosons predicted by this model lead to a branching fraction for the Z'->\gamma\gamma\gamma{} decay of about 10^(-6), which is about three orders of magnitude larger than that of the Z->\gamma\gamma\gamma{} decay.Comment: 20 pages and 20 figure

Isotope Labelling for Reaction Mechanism Analysis in DBD Plasma Processes

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasmas and plasma catalysis are becoming an alternative procedure to activate various gas phase reactions. A low-temperature and normal operating pressure are the main advantages of these processes, but a limited energy efficiency and little selectivity control hinder their practical implementation. In this work, we propose the use of isotope labelling to retrieve information about the intermediate reactions that may intervene during the DBD processes contributing to a decrease in their energy efficiency. The results are shown for the wet reforming reaction of methane, using D2O instead of H2O as reactant, and for the ammonia synthesis, using NH3/D2/N2 mixtures. In the two cases, it was found that a significant amount of outlet gas molecules, either reactants or products, have deuterium in their structure (e.g., HD for hydrogen, CDxHy for methane, or NDxHy for ammonia). From the analysis of the evolution of the labelled molecules as a function of power, useful information has been obtained about the exchange events of H by D atoms (or vice versa) between the plasma intermediate species. An evaluation of the number of these events revealed a significant progression with the plasma power, a tendency that is recognized to be detrimental for the energy efficiency of reactant to product transformation. The labelling technique is proposed as a useful approach for the analysis of plasma reaction mechanisms

Dual-target car-ts with on-and off-tumour activity may override immune suppression in solid cancers: A mathematical proof of concept

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell-based therapies have achieved substantial success against B-cell malignancies, which has led to a growing scientific and clinical interest in extending their use to solid cancers. However, results for solid tumours have been limited up to now, in part due to the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, which is able to inactivate CAR-T cell clones. In this paper we put forward a mathematical model describing the competition of CAR-T and tumour cells, taking into account their immunosuppressive capacity. Using the mathematical model, we show that the use of large numbers of CAR-T cells targetting the solid tumour antigens could overcome the immunosuppressive potential of cancer. To achieve such high levels of CAR-T cells we propose, and study computationally, the manufacture and injection of CAR-T cells targetting two antigens: CD19 and a tumour-associated antigen. We study in silico the resulting dynamics of the disease after the injection of this product and find that the expansion of the CAR-T cell population in the blood and lymphopoietic organs could lead to the massive production of an army of CAR-T cells targetting the solid tumour, and potentially overcoming its immune suppression capabilities. This strategy could benefit from the combination with PD-1 inhibitors and low tumour loads. Our computational results provide theoretical support for the treatment of different types of solid tumours using T cells engineered with combination treatments of dual CARs with on-and off-tumour activity and anti-PD-1 drugs after completion of classical cytoreductive treatmentsThis work has been funded by the James S. Mc. Donnell Foundation (USA) 21st Century Science Initiative in Mathematical and Complex Systems Approaches for Brain Cancer (Collaborative award 220020450), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain (grant number PID2019-110895RB-I00), and Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (grant number SBPLY/17/180501/000154). OLT is supported by a PhD Fellowship from the University of Castilla-La Mancha research pla

Moisture damage resistance of bituminous mixtures manufactured with waste biomass fly ashes form the paper industry as filler

Este póster foi presentado no congreso "8th EATA Asphalt Conference 2019", que foi organizado pola European Asphalt Technology Association e a Universidad de Granada, e que tivo lugar en Granada, entre o 3 e o 5 de xuño de 2019.[Abstract:] Biomass fly ashes (bioashes) are solid byproducts generated during the combustion of biomass. One of the main drawbacks of using biomass combustion as an energy source is the environmental management of the resulting bioashes. In this regard, some researchers have analysed the feasibility of using bioashes as filler for bituminous mixtures with encouraging results. Nevertheless, previous investigations concluded that the use of biomass waste fly ashes from the paper industry (BioFAPI) lead to bituminous mixtures with inadequate water resistance.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; ITC‐20133075Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; BIA2010‐17751Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; BES‐2011‐04437

Wireless connection of bioimpedance measurement circuits based-on AD5933: A state of the art

This contribution describes the state of the art in bioimpedance measurements through development boards to build portable devices that perform in-situ measurements and potential technological opportunities to separate the AD5933 integrated circuit from a PC. The presented research is based on prototypes developed with the aim of achieving portability with the AD5933 integrated circuit and it includes different wireless connection methods and a varied software design for the acquisition, visualization and storage of data obtained from biological systems. As a result, this work describes twenty articles that perform wireless connectivity using different microprocessors for different applications. These references seek to explore technological trends, deficiencies, and opportunities for future development projects in telemedicine.Fil: Dell'osa, Antonio Héctor. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego. Instituto de Desarrollo Economico E Innovacion; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Apátiga Pérez, D. S.. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados. Departamento de Investigaciones Educativas.; MéxicoFil: Suárez Pérez, K. I.. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados. Departamento de Investigaciones Educativas.; MéxicoFil: Ramírez Barrios, M.. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados. Departamento de Investigaciones Educativas.; México4th Latin American Conference on Bioimpedance 2021San Luis PotosíMéxicoSocieda Mexicana de Ingeniería Biomédic

Perspectives for implementing fisheries certification in developing countries

This paper discusses the future of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a market-based certification program, in developing countries and exposes the challenges and opportunities for fish producers. The MSC needs to attract the interest of more fishing enterprises from these regions to increase its global presence. Because most fisheries in developing countries cannot meet the MSC standards, or afford the certification process costs, it is suggested that there is a need for developing different levels within the MSC system and additional third-party assessing organizations. MSC certification may mean adoption of improvements in fisheries management and approving fishing regimes in developing countries. However, post-certification benefits may decrease as more fisheries become certified