Geopolymer/PEG Hybrid Materials Synthesis and Investigation of the Polymer Influence on Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior

Geopolymers are aluminosilicate inorganic polymers, obtained from the alkali activation of powders containing SiO2+Al2O3>80wt%, mainly proposed as environmentally friendly building materials. In this work, metakaolin-based geopolymers have been prepared and a water-soluble polymer, polyethylene glycol (PEG), has been added in different percentages to obtain organic-inorganic hybrid geopolymers. The influence of both the polymer amount and aging time on the structure and the mechanical behavior of the materials were investigated. FTIR spectroscopy allowed us to follow the evolution of the aluminosilicate framework during the geopolymerization process. This analysis revealed that PEG leads to a network which is rich in Al-O-Si bonds and forms H-bonds with the inorganic phase. SEM microscope showed that the two phases are interpenetrated on micrometric scales. Traction and bending tests have been carried out on appropriate samples to investigate the mechanical behavior of the obtained hybrids, showing that both PEG content and aging time affect the material behavior

Cs-Treat Absorber Testing for UKAEA Dounreay.

The performance of Cs-Treat as an absorber of Cs, Sr and co from the DFR waste stream(concentrated sodium and potassium nitrates solution) was examined using a solution pH of 7 - 8 and throughput of 2.5 bed volumes per hour.Available from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi

Absorber Testing for UKAEA Dounreay DFR4 Test.

The removal of Sr and Co from a simulated DFR waste stream was examined. Ten powdered absorber materials were tested in batch experiments. Ionsiv IE-911, NaTiO-PAN and HTO-PAN granular composite absorbers were tested in the column test.Available from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi

KNiFC-PAN and KCuFC-PAN Absorbers Testing for UKAEA Dounreay: PFR5 Column Test.

The removal of 137Cs and 57Co from a simulated PFR waste stream was examined in column experiment, using KNiFC-PAN and KCuFC-PAN composite absorbers.Available from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi

Retrospective Survey on the Prevalence and Outcome of Prior Autoimmune Disease in Patients with Aplastic Anemia Reported to the Registry of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Abstract BACKGROUND: Aplastic anemia (AA) is rarely described after a diagnosis of autoimmune disease (aID). AIMS: To assess the prevalence of prior aID in patients with AA recorded in the registry of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and to evaluate treatment and outcome. METHODS: 1,251 AA patients from 18 EBMT centers were assessed. RESULTS: Fifty patients (4%) were eligible: 22 males and 28 females with a median age of 46 years at the diagnosis of aID and of 51 years at the diagnosis of AA. Information on the treatment of AA was available in 49 patients: 38 received only immunosuppressive therapy (IST), 8 patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) - 6 as first-line therapy and 2 after failure of IST - whilst 3 patients had a spontaneous recovery. After a median follow-up of 3.19 years, 32 patients were alive, including 7 of the 8 patients who underwent HSCT. Only 6 of 32 patients who were alive at the last follow-up were receiving IST for AA. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases of AA following aID benefitted from IST or HSCT if a matched donor was available. Further prospective investigation is needed to assess the effects of IST on the outcome of underlying aID

Retrospective Survey on the Prevalence and Outcome of Prior Autoimmune Disease in Patients with Aplastic Anemia Reported to the Registry of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Abstract BACKGROUND: Aplastic anemia (AA) is rarely described after a diagnosis of autoimmune disease (aID). AIMS: To assess the prevalence of prior aID in patients with AA recorded in the registry of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and to evaluate treatment and outcome. METHODS: 1,251 AA patients from 18 EBMT centers were assessed. RESULTS: Fifty patients (4%) were eligible: 22 males and 28 females with a median age of 46 years at the diagnosis of aID and of 51 years at the diagnosis of AA. Information on the treatment of AA was available in 49 patients: 38 received only immunosuppressive therapy (IST), 8 patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) - 6 as first-line therapy and 2 after failure of IST - whilst 3 patients had a spontaneous recovery. After a median follow-up of 3.19 years, 32 patients were alive, including 7 of the 8 patients who underwent HSCT. Only 6 of 32 patients who were alive at the last follow-up were receiving IST for AA. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases of AA following aID benefitted from IST or HSCT if a matched donor was available. Further prospective investigation is needed to assess the effects of IST on the outcome of underlying aID