Search

This research evaluates the fracture behavior of concrete with reactive magnesium oxide (MgO). Replacing cement with MgO is an attractive option for the concrete industry, mainly due to sustainability benefits and reduction of shrinkage. Four different MgO’s from Australia, Canada, and Spain were used in the concrete mixes, as a partial substitute of cement, at 5%, 10%, and 20% (by weight). The fracture toughness (KI) intensity factor and the stress–strain softening parameters of the wedge split test were evaluated after 28 days. The experimental results showed that the replacement of cement with MgO reduced the fracture energy between 13% and 53%. Moreover, the fracture energy was found to be correlated with both compressive strength and modulus of elasticity. A well-defined relationship between these properties is important for an adequate prediction of the non-linear behavior of reinforced concrete structures made with partial replacement of cement with MgO.

A recent quest for more sustainable cement-based construction materials has triggered the pursuit of technically viable alternatives of cement, making reactive magnesium oxide (MgO) one of the least known top contenders to reduce this sector’s environmental impact since it participates in the cement’s hydration reactions and presents enhanced carbon capture ability during its life cycle. In this study, two different commercially available reactive MgO samples were evaluated as partial cement replacements (at 10%, 15%, and 20%, by weight) in the production of mortars. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, differential thermal analysis (DTA), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of cement, MgO samples, and resulting mortars were carried out. All specimens were evaluated in terms of their mechanical and durability-related performance (i.e., flexural and compressive strength, carbonation, water absorption by capillary action, and shrinkage). The main results suggest that, in spite of the decreased, albeit acceptable, performance with increasing incorporation of MgO as partial cement replacement, a significant decrease was observed in the shrinkage strain of cementitious materials.

The construction field has contributed to environmental degradation, producing a high amount of construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) and consuming large volumes of natural resources. In this context, recycled concrete (RC) has been recognised as a means to preserve natural resources and reduce space for waste storage. During the last decades, many researchers have developed works studying different recycled concrete properties. This review focuses on structural RC made with coarse recycled aggregate from concrete waste. The main objective is to provide a state of the art report on RC’s properties and an analysis on how to predict them taking into account relevant research works. Moreover, the study tries to collect and update RC findings, proposing equations to define RC’s performance, in terms of mechanical strength, modulus of elasticity, stress-strain, creep and shrinkage.

A statistical characterization of defects in 35 buildings and 98 wood floorings (softwood and hardwood floors, and laminated and engineered wood floors), their diagnostic methods and repair solutions is presented. An expert system for inspecting wood flooring, comprising the classification of defects, their most probable causes, diagnostic methods and repair techniques, was used. Results include age, affected area, severity and frequency of defects and their main causes, as well as appropriate diagnostic methods, preventive and curative repair solutions most prescribed and the most significant correlations. Scratches were detected in more than five sixths of the sample, highly associated with exterior mechanical actions, and with an inadequate finishing layer. Wearing of the finishing layer was detected in a quarter of the inspected floorings. Accordingly, the application of a suitable finishing layer and, alternatively, its replacement are the most prescribed repair techniques.

This paper presents an expert system to support the inspection and diagnosis of partition walls or wall coverings mounted using the Drywall (DW) construction method. This system includes a classification of anomalies in DW and their probable causes. This inspection system was used in a field work that included the observation of 121 DWs. This paper includes a statistical analysis of the anomalies observed during these inspections and their probable causes. The correlation between anomalies and causes in the sample is also thoroughly analyzed. Anomalies are also evaluated for area affected, size, repair urgency and aesthetic value of the affected area. The conclusions of the statistical analysis allowed the creation of an inventory of preventive measures to be implemented in the design, execution and use phases in order to lessen the magnitude or eradicate the occurrence of anomalies in DW. These measures could directly help improve the quality of construction.

The present article addresses tile joint defects in interior and exterior floors and walls. It begins with a classification of tile joint defects along with their likely causes, establishing a correlation matrix between the two sets of parameters. This is followed by the identification of the flaws found most frequently in this type of cladding, based on field data collected during 88 inspections of tile joint material. The statistical analysis of these data is shown in the form of charts representing the frequency of joint defects, their causes and the interrelationships between the two. The field work confirmed the high frequency of joint defects in all types of tiling. This conclusion underscores the need for proper joint design and maintenance planning (including periodic inspection and repair as appropriate) to guarantee the durability of this type of cladding.

Los modelos de predicción de la vida útil intentan extrapolar el comportamiento futuro de los elementos de construcción, anticipando el punto en el que se requiere la intervención. Cadenas de Markov se pueden usar para evaluar la condición futura de los elementos de construcción y se utilizan en este estudio para modelar la vida útil de revestimientos pétreos, a partir de las inspecciones visuales de edificios en servicio. La degradación de los revestimientos pétreos se califica en una escala discreta de cinco niveles, y se evalúa la probabilidad de transición de condiciones de degradación. Este estudio también permite comprender la influencia de las condiciones de exposición en la evolución de la degradación de los revestimientos.

La comunidad científica internacional ha dedicado mucha atención a la vasta área de conocimiento de la inspección, diagnóstico, mantenimiento y rehabilitación de edificios, que se puede utilizar en el desarrollo de sistemas de gestión de edificios integrados. En este artículo, se realiza un encuadramiento de los métodos de evaluación de patología en elementos no estructurales de los edificios, basado en los actuales, presentando algunos de los desafíos en esta área. También se presenta un modelo a implementar en sistemas integrados de gestión de un edificio, formando una línea conductora y una base consistente para un sistema que se ponga en su lugar.

RESUMEN Um dos principais problemas na reabilitação de estruturas de betão que estiveram sujeitas à acção de um fogo, é a determinação da espessura degradada do betão que necessita ser substituida, não havendo presentemente nenhuma técnica expedita para o realizar. Neste artigo apresenta-se um método de ensaio (Fire Behaviour Test - FBTEST), desenvolvido pelos autores, em que a espessura degradada de betão é quantificada recorrendo à medição das características de absorção de água e da tensão de rotura à tracção de discos obtidos a partir de carotes retiradas na estrutura danificada. Esta técnica tem vindo a ser aplicada com sucesso em peritagens de incêndios em estruturas de betão. Palabras Clave: Dano de fogo; concreto; estruturas; reabilitação; teste. ABSTRACT One of the major problems in the rehabilitation of concrete structures affected by fire is the quantification of the deteriorated layer of concrete that needs to be replaced. Presently there is no practical test to evaluate that deteriorated layer. In this paper a test method (Fire Behaviour Test – FBTEST) developed by the authors is presented allowing that evaluation by measuring the evolution, along the depth, of water absorption and tensile stress in discs obtained from disks from cores of the affected structure. This technique has been applied, with success, in several fire accidents in concrete structures. Keywords: Fire damage; concrete; structures; rehabilitation; test.

Objective: To translate, culturally adapt, and validate a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD-YBOCS). Methods: Ninety-three patients of both sexes seeking rhinoplasty were consecutively selected at the Plastic Surgery Outpatient Clinic of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil, between May 2012 and March 2013. The BDD-YBOCS was translated into Brazilian Portuguese. Thirty patients participated in the cultural adaptation of the scale. The final version was tested for reliability in 20 patients, and for construct validity in 43 patients (correlation of the BDD-YBOCS with the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination [BDDE]). Results: Total Cronbach’s alpha was 0.918. The BDD-YBOCS had excellent inter-rater (intra-class correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.934; p < 0.001) and intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.999; p < 0.001). Significant differences in BDD-YBOCS scores were found between patients with and without BDD symptoms (p < 0.001), and among patients with different levels of BDD severity (p < 0.001). A strong correlation (r = 0.781; p < 0.001) was observed between the BDDE and the BDD-YBOCS. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.851, suggesting a very good accuracy for discriminating between presence and absence of BDD symptoms. Conclusion: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the BDD-YBOCS is a reliable instrument, showing face, content and construct validity.

Capital social é discutido no âmbito do Consórcio Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Café. O objetivo é investigar a viabilidade de utilizar o capital social como instrumento para explicar o gradiente de recursos do consórcio de que os pesquisadores conseguem se apropriar para seus projetos de pesquisa. Foi desenvolvida e aplicada uma métrica de capital social para testar a existência de correlação entre volume de recursos captado e volume de capital social. A análise sociométrica de escolhas preferenciais dos pesquisadores e a quantificação da participação desses cientistas em projetos do consórcio permitiram o cômputo de uma grandeza - capital social - que poderia vir a explicar metade da variação da verba obtida pelos cientistas responsáveis por projetos de pesquisa na rede.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a mortalidade dos recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso em uma UTI neonatal conforme as variações do escore CRIB (Clinical Risk Index for Babies), do peso de nascimento e da idade gestacional em determinado período. MÉTODOS: O escore CRIB foi aplicado seqüencial e prospectivamente em todos os recém-nascidos com peso de nascimento 10 (79,4%). A curva ROC (Receiver Operator Characteristic) para os valores de CRIB, peso de nascimento e idade gestacional gerou áreas sob a curva de 0,88, 0,76 e 0,81, respectivamente. Na análise bivariada, o CRIB, peso e idade gestacional mostraram-se preditores de mortalidade, sendo o escore CRIB>4 o de melhor resultado com sensibilidade de 75,8%, especificidade de 86,7%, valor preditivo positivo de 63,3% e valor preditivo negativo de 92,2%. CONCLUSÕES: Os recém-nascidos com peso de nascimento 10 tiveram maiores taxas de mortalidade, sendo o escore CRIB>4 o que representou melhor poder preditivo quando comparado com peso ao nascer e idade gestacional.

Capital social é discutido no âmbito do Consórcio Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Café. O objetivo é investigar a viabilidade de utilizar o capital social como instrumento para explicar o gradiente de recursos do consórcio de que os pesquisadores conseguem se apropriar para seus projetos de pesquisa. Foi desenvolvida e aplicada uma métrica de capital social para testar a existência de correlação entre volume de recursos captado e volume de capital social. A análise sociométrica de escolhas preferenciais dos pesquisadores e a quantificação da participação desses cientistas em projetos do consórcio permitiram o cômputo de uma grandeza – capital social – que poderia vir a explicar metade da variação da verba obtida pelos cientistas responsáveis por projetos de pesquisa na rede.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a mortalidade dos recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso em uma UTI neonatal conforme as variações do escore CRIB (Clinical Risk Index for Babies), do peso de nascimento e da idade gestacional em determinado período. MÉTODOS: O escore CRIB foi aplicado seqüencial e prospectivamente em todos os recém-nascidos com peso de nascimento 10 (79,4%). A curva ROC (Receiver Operator Characteristic) para os valores de CRIB, peso de nascimento e idade gestacional gerou áreas sob a curva de 0,88, 0,76 e 0,81, respectivamente. Na análise bivariada, o CRIB, peso e idade gestacional mostraram-se preditores de mortalidade, sendo o escore CRIB>4 o de melhor resultado com sensibilidade de 75,8%, especificidade de 86,7%, valor preditivo positivo de 63,3% e valor preditivo negativo de 92,2%. CONCLUSÕES: Os recém-nascidos com peso de nascimento 10 tiveram maiores taxas de mortalidade, sendo o escore CRIB>4 o que representou melhor poder preditivo quando comparado com peso ao nascer e idade gestacional.

The effect of climate change on the durability of buildings and external components is considered a relevant subject that requires research efforts. This study intends to contribute to the body of knowledge in this field through a practical-based, innovative quantitative methodology. This methodology is created to model the degradation evolution of rendered façades and project it based on the influence of the climate change signal for individual variables, considering their gradual impact. A sample of 26 rendered façades in residential buildings in Lisbon has been subjected to recent on-site visual inspections, to evaluate each case study's degradation condition. Previous inspections had been performed more than a decade ago in the context of a background methodology. This research highlights the influence of (i) maximum temperatures (TX) on global mean triennial degradation rates (∆S w,mt ), for a period of 30 years (1990-2020), and (ii) TX projections on degradation evolution from the date of the recent inspections until the last triennium of the reference degradation projections period (ΔS wFR and ΔS wFRN ) (2020-2044). The correlation between TX and ΔS w,mt is significant, which indicates that the increase in maximum temperatures considerably explains the decrease in degradation rates from 1990 to 2020. The future global degradation of rendered façades based on TX scenarios is expected to (i) be lower than the one based on a historical observed trend and (ii) be the lowest when the temperature rise is the highest. Temperature warming, even though detrimental to some degradation phenomena, is expected to decelerate the overall degradation evolution of rendered façades in Portugal and possibly in analogous areas of the Mediterranean., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Liposomes functionalized with monoclonal antibodies offer targeted therapy for cancer, boasting advantages like sustained drug release, enhanced stability, passive accumulation in tumors, and interaction with overexpressed receptors on cancer cells. This study aimed to develop and characterize anti-EGFR immunoliposomes loaded with cabazitaxel and assess their properties against prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo. Using a Box-Behnken design, a formulation with soy phosphatidylcholine, 10% cholesterol, and a 1:20 drug-lipid ratio yielded nanometric particle size, low polydispersity and high drug encapsulation. Immunoliposomes were conjugated with cetuximab through DSPE-PEG-Maleimide lipid anchor. Characterization confirmed intact antibody structure and interaction with EGFR receptor following conjugation. Cabazitaxel was dispersed within the liposomes in the amorphous state, confirmed by solid-state analyses. In vitro release studies showed slower cabazitaxel release from immunoliposomes. Immunoliposomes had enhanced cabazitaxel cytotoxicity in EGFR-overexpressing DU145 cells without affecting non-tumor L929 cells. Cetuximab played an important role to improve cellular uptake in a time-dependent fashion in EGFR-overexpressing prostate cancer cells. In vivo, immunoliposomes led to significant tumor regression, improved survival, and reduced weight loss in xenograft mice. While cabazitaxel induced leukopenia, consistent with clinical findings, histological analysis revealed no evident toxicity. In conclusion, the immunoliposomes displayed suitable physicochemical properties for cabazitaxel delivery, exhibited cytotoxicity against EGFR-expressing prostate cancer cells, with high cell uptake, and induced significant tumor regression in vivo, with manageable systemic toxicity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The quality of meat, with a focus on compounds important for human health, is directly related to the rearing systems in which the animals are produced. The search for a balanced diet, with an emphasis on low cholesterol and adequate levels of vitamins, aligns with society's emphasis on healthy eating, directly correlated with the importance of the offer made by producers for the cattle's diet., Objective and Methodology: The objective was to verify the impact of different rearing systems, in the Eastern Amazon, during the rainy season, on the concentrations of vitamins (A, E) and cholesterol in the muscle ( Longissimus lumborum ) of crossbred Nelore cattle, castrated, aged between 24 and 36 months, and weighing between 410 and 628 kg. Twelve animals, from each of the three pasture rearing systems: native pasture in flooded areas of Monte Alegre; native pasture in a flooded area of Santa Cruz do Arari; and pasture cultivated on dry land in São Miguel do Guamá, all located in Pará, Brazil-were sampled in commercial slaughterhouses., Results: A notable influence was observed in the concentrations of β-carotene ( p  < 0.01), α-Tocopherol ( p  = 0.02), β-Tocopherol ( p  < 0.01) and the combined sum of β-Tocotrienol and γ-Tocopherol ( p  < 0.01), as well as δ-Tocopherol ( p  < 0.01) when contrasting extensive with intensive systems (confinement). However, there was a difference in the content of vitamins and cholesterol between the isolated extensive systems, or between the four rearing systems ( p  > 0.05). Extensive systems, mainly in Monte Alegre, demonstrated greater amounts of α-Tocopherol and δ-Tocopherol., Conclusion: On the other hand, the intensive system exhibited higher levels of other investigated compounds, clarifying the nutritional variations generated by different livestock rearing practices in the region. Therefore, the results obtained are innovative in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil, in addition to inspiring the development of new research to meet other demands in this field, and achieve additional results, such as determining which meat, coming from cattle in production systems in the country, presents the better compositional quality of vitamins and lipids., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 dos Santos Miranda Lobato, da Silva, de Carvalho Rodrigues, Silva, da Cruz, Ferreira, Costa, Cunha, Lourenço-Costa, Barbosa, Prates and de Brito Lourenço-Júnior.)

Fibroblast cycle synchronization in G 0 /G 1 is an essential step for nuclear reprogramming by cloning or induced cells to pluripotency. Considering the diversity among rodents and the ecological and scientific importance of these animals, we compared the contact inhibition, serum starvation, and 10 µM of roscovitine as methods of synchronization of red-rumped agouti fibroblasts. The effects of each protocol were evaluated on the percentage of cycle phase, morphology, viability, and apoptosis levels. The results showed that culturing the cells to serum starvation for 24 h (75.9%), 48 h (81.6%), 72 h (86.2%), 96 h (84.0%), and 120 h (83.7%) yielded a significantly higher percentage of cells arrested in the G 0 /G 1 (P < 0.05) phase than cells not subjected to any cell cycle synchronization method (31.4%). Also, this effect was not different between the times of 48 and 120 h (P > 0.05). A similar response was observed for cells cultured with roscovitine for 12 h (86.9%), 24 h (74.8%), and 48 h (81.7%), with a higher percentage of synchronized cells in G 0 /G 1 compared to cells not submitted to any synchronization treatment (52.2%). Nevertheless, this effect was best evidenced at 12 h (P < 0.05). Also, the contact inhibition for 24-120 h could not synchronize cells in G 0 /G 1 , with values ranging from 70.9 to 77.9% (P > 0.05). Moreover, no difference was observed for morphology, viability, and apoptosis levels in any synchronization method (P > 0.05). Therefore, serum starvation is as efficient as roscovitine on cycle synchronization in G 0 /G 1 of red-rumped agouti fibroblasts., (© 2024. The Society for In Vitro Biology.)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic put healthcare professionals, including residents (postgraduate trainees of health professions), under intense physical and psychological stress, hence at risk for mental disorders. We evaluated the prevalence of mental disorders among healthcare residents during the pandemic., Methods: From July to September 2020, residents in medicine and other healthcare specialties in Brazil were recruited. The participants completed electronic forms with validated questionnaires (DASS-21, PHQ-9, BRCS) to screen for depression, anxiety, and stress, and to evaluate resilience. Data on potential predisposing factors for mental disorders were also collected. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared, students t, correlation and logistic regression models were applied. The study received ethical approval, and all participants provided informed consent., Results: We included 1313 participants (51.3% medical; 48.7% nonmedical) from 135 Brazilian hospitals; mean (SD) age: 27.8 (4.4) years; 78.2% females; 59.3% white race. Of all participants, 51.3%, 53.4% and 52.6% presented symptoms consistent with depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively; 61.9% showed low resilience. Nonmedical residents exhibited higher anxiety compared to medical residents (DASS-21 anxiety score, mean difference: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.15-3.37; p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, having any pre-existent, nonpsychiatric chronic disease was associated with higher prevalence of symptoms indicative of depression (odds ratio, OR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.47-2.85, on DASS-21 | OR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.59-3.20, on PHQ-9), anxiety (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.51-2.83, on DASS-21), and stress (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.12-2.09, on DASS-21); other predisposing factors were identified; by contrast, high resilience (BRCS score) was protective against symptoms of depression (OR 0.82; 95% CI: 0.79-0.85, on DASS-21 | OR 0.85; 95% CI: 0.82-0.88, on PHQ-9), anxiety (OR 0.90; 95% CI: 0.87-0.93, on DASS-21), and stress (OR 0.88; 95% CI: 0.85-0.91, on DASS-21); p < 0.05 for all outcomes., Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of mental disorder symptoms among healthcare residents during COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Nonmedical residents exhibited higher levels of anxiety than medical ones. Some predisposing factors for depression, anxiety and stress among residents were identified., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This paper presents a literature review on the effects of accelerated carbonation on alkali-activated materials. It attempts to provide a greater understanding of the influence of CO 2 curing on the chemical and physical properties of various types of alkali-activated binders used in pastes, mortars, and concrete. Several aspects related to changes in chemistry and mineralogy have been carefully identified and discussed, including depth of CO 2 interaction, sequestration, reactions with calcium-based phases (e.g., calcium hydroxide and calcium silicate hydrates and calcium aluminosilicate hydrates), as well as other aspects related to the chemical composition of alkali-activated materials. Emphasis has also been given to physical alterations such as volumetric changes, density, porosity, and other microstructural properties caused by induced carbonation. Moreover, this paper reviews the influence of the accelerated carbonation curing method on the strength development of alkali-activated materials, which has been awarded little attention considering its potential. This curing technique was found to contribute to the strength development mainly through decalcification of the Ca phases existing in the alkali-activated precursor, leading to the formation of CaCO 3 , which leads to microstructural densification. Interestingly, this curing method seems to have much to offer in terms of mechanical performance, making it an attractive curing solution that can compensate for the loss in performance caused by less efficient alkali-activated binders replacing Portland cement. Optimising the application of such CO 2 -based curing methods for each of the potential alkali-activated binders is recommended for future studies for maximum microstructural improvement, and thus mechanical enhancement, to make some of the "low-performing binders" adequate Portland cement substitutes.

In the construction industry, cement is the most widely used material. So, to achieve greater sustainability in this industry, it is imperative to improve the sustainability of this material. One way to reduce the ecological footprint of cement is to replace it, even if partially, with other more sustainable materials that can act as binders. This paper analyses the mechanical properties of more sustainable mortars containing recycled cement (RC), fly ash (FA), and magnesium oxide (MgO). Different types of binary, ternary, and quaternary mortars were used: containing recycled cement (5% and 10%), fly ash (10% and 20%), and MgO (7.5% and 15%). An experimental campaign was carried out analysing air content, density, compressive and flexural strengths, modulus of elasticity, and ultrasonic pulse velocity. The ternary mortars showed decreases between 0.4% (M-5RC10FA) and 35.3% (M-10RC15Mg) in terms of compressive strength at 365 days (compared to RM), when the theoretically expected decrease (the sum of the decreases obtained with the individual incorporation of these materials) would be between 16.6% and 41.5%, respectively. The results obtained allow for concluding that the joint use of these materials in ternary mortars improves the mechanical capacity, relative to the individual incorporation of each material in binary mortars.

In this research, the durability performance of sustainable concrete with the incorporation of reactive magnesium oxide (MgO) and fly ash (FA) was evaluated. The partial replacement of cement with these two materials is an appealing solution for the construction sector due to sustainability benefits and shrinkage reduction. The incorporation of FA by partial replacement of cement was carried out at 0%, 15% and 30%. The incorporation of MgO in concrete was carried out at 0%, 5%, 10% and 20%. Two types of MgO were used, one from Australia and another of Spanish origin. These two materials were evaluated in terms of their individual incorporation, and then an evaluation was carried out when the two were simultaneously used. In terms of durability, performance losses between 3% and 95% were obtained in all tests (water absorption by capillarity and immersion, carbonation depth and resistance to chloride penetration). However, over time, the difference in performance relative to the reference concrete tends to decrease due to the slow hydration that characterizes these two alternative materials. It was found that, in most of the tests, no overlapping of the negative effects occurred. In other words, the simultaneous incorporation of MgO and FA caused performance losses lower than the sum of the losses of their individual incorporation.

Three industrial aluminosilicate wastes were studied as precursors to produce alkali-activated concrete: (i) electric arc furnace slag, (ii) municipal solid waste incineration bottom ashes, and (iii) waste glass rejects. These were characterized via X-ray diffraction and fluorescence, laser particle size distribution, thermogravimetric, and Fourier-transform infrared analyses. Distinctive combinations of anhydrous sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution were tried by varying the Na 2 O/binder ratio (8%, 10%, 12%, 14%) and SiO 2 /Na 2 O ratio (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5) to find the optimum solution for maximized mechanical performance. Specimens were produced and subjected to a three-step curing process: (1) 24 h thermal curing (70 °C), (2) followed by 21 days of dry curing in a climatic chamber (~21 °C, 65% RH), and (3) ending with a 7-day carbonation curing stage (5 ± 0.2% CO 2 ; 65 ± 10% RH). Compressive and flexural strength tests were performed, to ascertain the mix with the best mechanical performance. The precursors showed reasonable bonding capabilities, thus suggesting some reactivity when alkali-activated due to the presence of amorphous phases. Mixes with slag and glass showed compressive strengths of almost 40 MPa. Most mixes required a higher Na 2 O/binder ratio for maximized performance, even though, contrary to expectations, the opposite was observed for the SiO 2 /Na 2 O ratio.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and factors associated with the development of metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) after cervical cancer (CC)., Methods: This retrospective cohort of 3551 women with CC who underwent treatment at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute were included in the study. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were obtained from the Hospital Cancer Registry and from hospital records. A descriptive study of the population was carried out, using means and standard deviations or frequencies and percentages. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to identify annual incidence rates. Associations between the independent variables and the outcome (MSCC) were evaluated by a univariate analysis, applying crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) assuming 95% confidence intervals., Results: The MSCC incidence was of 1.5% (n = 51), associated to advanced staging (aOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.45-4.85, p = 0.001) and initial treatment with concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (aOR = 4.40, 95% CI: 1.74-11.13, p = 0.002)., Conclusions: Our findings revealed the incidence and factors associated with MSCC, indicating a subset of patients who may be potential targets for the prevention and early treatment of this condition, indicating unprecedented and relevant data for the Brazilian epidemiological scenario due to the high CC incidence rates., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Fly oil shale ash (FOSA) is a waste material known for its pozzolanic activity. This study intends to investigate the optimum thermal treatment conditions to use FOSA efficiently as a cement replacement material. FOSA samples were burned in an electric oven for 2, 4, and 6 h at temperatures ranging from 550 °C to 1000 °C with 150 °C intervals. A total of 333 specimens out of 37 different mixes were prepared and tested with cement replacement ratios between 10% and 30%. The investigated properties included the mineralogical characteristics, chemical elemental analysis, compressive strength, and strength activity index for mortar samples. The findings show that the content of SiO 2 + Al 2 O 3 + Fe 2 O 3 was less than 70% in all samples. The strength activity index of the raw FOSA at 56 days exceeded 75%. Among all specimens, the calcined samples for 2 h demonstrated the highest pozzolanic activity and compressive strength with a 75% strength activity index. The model developed by RSM is suitable for the interpretation of FOSA in the cementitious matrix with high degrees of correlation above 85%. The optimal compressive strength was achieved at a 30% replacement level, a temperature of 700 °C for 2 h, and after 56 days of curing.

Purpose: Although rare, brain metastases (BM) from cervical cancer (CC) are highly lethal. Adequate patient selection for specific treatments can improve survival rates in patients afflicted by this condition. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of CC patients who developed BM and overall survival-associated factors. Brain metastasis impact on the overall survival was assessed as a secondary objective., Methods: This assessment comprises a retrospective cohort study on 3394 women presenting CC diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2017 at a single referral center. Incident BM cases were included. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Kaplan-Meier curves were used for the survival analysis and a Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to explore the risk of death according to the analyzed independent variables., Results: A total of 48 incident BM cases were identified. The median time between CC diagnosis and BM development was 1.5 years. Headaches (29.2%), dizziness/altered balance (29.2%), vertigo (29.2%) and motor disturbances (25.0%) were the most common signs and symptoms at presentation. Median overall survival after BM diagnosis was of 1.6 months (95% CI 0.9-2.3) while in the group of women without BM it was 5.5 years (95% CI 4.9-6.1). Concerning the Cox multivariate analysis, presenting one extracerebral metastases site (HR 2.8; 95% CI 1.3-6.2; p = 0.009) and receiving supportive treatment (HR 13.7; 95% CI 3.1-60.5; p 0.001) were independently associated with the risk of death., Conclusion: The median survival of women with BM following CC was poor. Women without extracerebral metastases and undergoing multimodal treatment displayed better overall survival rates., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

This study is framed within the circular economy model through the valorisation of industrial by-products. This research shows the results of producing self-compacting mortars (SCMs) with electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) and other industrial by-products such as fly ash, conforming (FA) or not conforming (NcFA), from coal-fired power plants, or recovery filler (RF) from hot-mix asphalt plants. Three batches of SCMs, each with one industrial-by product (FA, NcFA, or RF), and three levels of EAFD ratio incorporation (0%, 10%, 20%), were tested. An extra batch with a greater amount of FA was manufactured. When the incorporation ratio of EAFD rose, the mechanical strength decreased, due to the presence of a calcium zinc hydroxide dihydrate phase; nevertheless, this decrease diminished over time. All SCM mixes, except the 40C 40FA 20 EAFD mix, were above 20 MPa at 28 days. All mixes named 70C and 40C reached 40 and 30 MPa, respectively, at 90 days. Mixes with EAFD showed less capillarity and no difference in water absorption by immersion with respect to mixes without EAFD after 91 days. The SCMs designed proved to be stable in terms of leaching of the heavy metals contained in EAFD, where all the hardened SCMs were classified as inert.

Meningeal lymphatic vessels (MLVs) were identified in the dorsal and caudobasal regions of the dura mater, where they ensure waste product elimination and immune surveillance of brain tissues. Whether MLVs exist in the anterior part of the murine and human skull and how they connect with the glymphatic system and extracranial lymphatics remained unclear. Here, we used light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) imaging of mouse whole-head preparations after OVA-A555 tracer injection into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and performed real-time vessel-wall (VW) magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI) after systemic injection of gadobutrol in patients with neurological pathologies. We observed a conserved three-dimensional anatomy of MLVs in mice and humans that aligned with dural venous sinuses but not with nasal CSF outflow, and we discovered an extended anterior MLV network around the cavernous sinus, with exit routes through the foramina of emissary veins. VW-MRI may provide a diagnostic tool for patients with CSF drainage defects and neurological diseases., (© 2022 Jacob et al.)

Context: The type 2 deiodinase and its Thr92Ala-DIO2 polymorphism have been linked to clinical outcomes in acute lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis., Objective: Our objectives were to evaluate were cumulative mortality during admission according to Thr92Ala-DIO2 polymorphism., Methods: Here we conducted an observational, longitudinal, and prospective cohort study to investigate a possible association between the Thr92Ala-DIO2 polymorphism and intrahospital mortality from COVID-19 in adult patients admitted between June and August 2020. Blood biochemistry, thyroid function tests, length of stay, comorbidities, complications, and severity scores were also studied according to Thr92Ala-DIO2 polymorphism., Results: In total, 220 consecutive patients (median age 62; 48-74 years) were stratified into 3 subgroups: Thr/Thr (n = 79), Thr/Ala (n = 119), and Ala/Ala (n = 23). While the overall mortality was 17.3%, the lethality was lower in Ala/Thr patients (12.6%) than in Thr/Thr patients (21.7%) or Ala/Ala patients (23%). The heterozygous genotype (Thr/Ala) was associated with a 47% reduced risk of intrahospital mortality whereas univariate and multivariate logistic regression adjusted for multiple covariates revealed a reduction that ranged from 51% to 66%. The association of the Thr/Ala genotype with better clinical outcomes was confirmed in a metanalysis of 5 studies, including the present one., Conclusion: Here we provide evidence for a protective role played by Thr92Ala-DIO2 heterozygosity in patients with COVID-19. This protective effect follows an inheritance model known as overdominance, in which the phenotype of the heterozygote lies outside the phenotypical range of both homozygous., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Due to environmental concerns, the search for sustainable construction solutions has been increasing over the years. This global concern is creating a trend in the use of recycled aggregates resulting from construction and demolition wastes from different sources. In addition to their physical and mechanical properties, it is important to analyse their ecotoxicological risk to determine whether their leachates might be an issue. To assess ecotoxicity, biological tests should be performed for different trophic levels. This type of test is expensive and needs a high level of expertise, which leads to a lack of studies on recycled aggregates including ecotoxicity analysis. This paper presents a set of predictive ecotoxicity results based on the published studies on recycled aggregates. These results are the outcome of applying an innovative methodology previously developed and validated by the authors aiming to foresee the ecotoxicological fate of building materials' constituents and products. The application of this methodology enables the classification of a recycled aggregate product as safe or unsafe in terms of ecotoxicity risk, while keeping biological testing to a minimum.

Prostate cancer is the second most common malignancy in men and the development of effective therapeutic strategies remains challenging when more advanced, androgen-independent or insensitive forms are involved. Accordingly, we have evaluated, using flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and image analysis, the anti-proliferative effects of (+)-2,3,9-trimethoxypterocarpan [(+)-PTC, 1] on relevant human prostate cancer cells as well as its capacity to control mitosis within them. In particular, the studies reported herein reveal that (+)-PTC exerts anti-proliferative activity against the PC-3 cell lines by regulating cell-cycle progression with mitosis being arrested in the prophase or prometaphase. Furthermore, it emerges that treatment of the target cells with this compound results in the formation of monopolar spindles, disorganized centrosomes and extensively disrupted γ-tubulin distributions while centriole replication remains unaffected. Such effects suggest (+)-PTC should be considered as a possible therapy for androgen-insensitive/independent prostate cancer., (© 2022 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

The density, colour and texture, plus mineral and chemical features of 18 ceramic-like CDW samples from the Abruzzo region (Central Italy) were characterised. The concretes, natural stones, tiles, roof-tiles, bricks and perforated bricks are either aphanitic to porphyric. Concretes and natural stones are grey to white and tend to be > 2.0 g/cm 3 ; the masonries are brown to reddish and close to < 2.0 g/cm 3 . Concrete and natural stone are rich or even exclusively made up of calcite, with high amounts of CaO (>40 wt%) and LOI (volatiles, CO 2  + H 2 O). The masonries are instead calcite-, CaO- (<25 wt%) and LOI-poor (<8 wt%) but enriched in SiO 2 (45 to 70 wt%) stabilised as quartz and/or cristobalite, with significant amount of Al 2 O 3 (12 to 20 wt%). S and Cl contents are similar among concrete, bricks and perforated bricks. The petrography of CDW concretes is similar among geographical areas with abundance of limestones used as aggregates. However, in limestone-poor areas CDW are SiO 2 - and Al 2 O 3 -rich, reflecting the prevalent use of masonry and/or silicate-rich construction materials, implying that each geographical area is characterised by peculiar CDW composition. Therefore, the knowledge of mesoscopic, physical and petrographic aspects has to be known for planning adequate sorting methods, promoting upcycling reusing applications. Some of the studied CDW samples are susceptible to release relative high Cr and As content., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Vitamin D-dependent type 1A rickets (VDDR-1A) is a rare autosomal recessive disease due to the inability to convert 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] to the active form 1.25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1.25(OH) 2 D] by the enzyme 25(OH)D-1α-hydroxylase leading to low or low-normal serum levels of [1.25(OH) 2 D]. We report two sisters with rickets in whom the diagnosis of VDDR-1A was a challenge. They had normal 1.25(OH)2D levels, which are unusual with this condition but may be explained by the identified genotype. Both have compound heterozygous for two, most likely, hypomorphic CYP27B1 alleles: the novel p.(Arg117Gly) variant, and p.(Ala129Thr), which are present in 0.43% of the African population. This report illustrates the variability of clinical, laboratory, and radiological presentation between two sisters with the same genotype, during phases of faster or slower growth. Genetic testing was crucial for establishing the diagnosis that optimized the management and genetic counseling., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

This paper concerns the recovery of construction and demolition waste as coarse recycled aggregates for concrete. Coarse recycled aggregates may be used as a partial or total replacement of natural aggregates, contributing to the circular economy and minimizing landfill disposals as well as the consumption of natural mineral resources. However, construction and demolition waste is a heterogeneous material with undefined quality and the processing of this waste into recycled aggregates needs to ensure that the recycled aggregates have suitable properties for concrete. This paper summarizes several aspects related to coarse recycled aggregates, specifically addressing: (i) the typical composition of construction and demolition waste; (ii) the influence of different types of constituents on the properties of recycled aggregates and recycled aggregate concrete; (iii) requirements for recycled aggregates to be used in concrete; and (iv) production methods of recycled aggregates. It is argued that coarse recycled aggregates are a suitable construction material with adequate quality, even when common equipment is used in their production and preliminary separation as a key operation for ensuring the quality of the aggregates is recommended.

The incorporation of recycled aggregates in concrete not only reduces the extraction of natural resources, but also decreases landfill disposal of construction and demolition waste. Hence, environmental impacts and costs are reduced, promoting the use of recycled aggregates and circular economy. However, the impacts of transport depend on the distance between facilities and longer distances may result in recycled aggregates being more costly and having larger environmental impact than natural aggregates. This paper discusses this topic, presents a review on the use of life cycle assessment methodology on natural and recycled aggregates for concrete, and applies this methodology in a real context pertaining the procurement of coarse aggregates to ready-mix concrete plants. A case study of two Portuguese regions, Coimbra and Lisbon, is presented. For each region, a quarry, a construction and demolition waste plant, and a ready-mix concrete plant are chosen and a comparative life cycle assessment is made. Different scenarios for the supply of natural and recycled aggregates are studied and the scenarios for recycled aggregates procurement include different hypotheses for the installation (construction and demolition waste plant or quarry) processing the construction and demolition waste into recycled aggregates. For this case study and both regions, it was found that the supply of recycled aggregates produced at the construction and demolition waste plant has lower environmental impact and cost than all other scenarios, including the provision of natural aggregates, except when it is assumed that the quarry is licensed and equipped for receiving unsorted construction and demolition waste and processing it into recycled aggregates. The paper shows that transport distance is a determining factor in the comparison of the impacts of the procurement of natural and recycled aggregates. Moreover, in the Portuguese context, the environmental impacts of the procurement of recycled aggregates may be smaller than those of natural aggregates, but cost may be larger for recycled aggregates, preventing that the most sustainable option is chosen.

Steel-concrete-steel (SCS) sandwich panels are manufactured with two thin high-strength steel plates and a moderately low-density and low-strength thick concrete core. In this study, 24 specimens were produced and tested. In these specimens, a new stud-bolt connector was used to regulate its shear behaviour in sandwich panels. The bolts' diameter, concrete core's thickness and bolts' spacing were the parameters under analysis. Furthermore, the concrete core was manufactured with normal-strength concrete and steel fibres concrete (SFC). Steel fibres were added at 1% by volume. In addition, the recycled coarse aggregate was used at 100% in terms of mass instead of natural coarse aggregate. Therefore, the ultimate bearing capability and slip of the sandwich panels were recorded, and the failure mode and ductility index of the specimens were evaluated. A new formula was also established to determine the shear strength of SCS panels with this kind of connectors. According to this study, increasing the diameter of the stud-bolts or using SFC in sandwich panels improve their shear strength and ductility ratio.

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

This paper contributes to the definition of design clauses for coarse recycled aggregate concrete. One of the main reasons for scepticism towards recycled aggregate concrete is the perceived notion that the heterogeneity of recycled aggregates may increase the uncertainty of the behaviour of concrete. Therefore, the paper uses structural reliability concepts to propose partial factors for recycled aggregate concrete's design for shear failure. The paper builds upon a previous publication by the authors, in which the model uncertainty of recycled aggregate concrete elements designed for shear, with and without shear reinforcement, was compared with that of natural aggregate concrete elements. In that paper, the statistics of the model uncertainty for recycled aggregate concrete shear design were indeed found to be less favourable than those of natural aggregate concrete. Therefore, a partial factor for recycled aggregate concrete design is needed to ensure safety. This paper presents partial factors calibrated with explicit reliability analyses for different cases of design concerning beams (in the case of shear design of elements with shear reinforcement) and slabs (for the design of elements without shear reinforcement). For full incorporation of coarse recycled concrete aggregates and the design of elements without shear reinforcement, the calibrated partial factor reduces the design value of shear resistance by 10% (design with EN1992) or 15% (design with prEN1992) in comparison to natural aggregate concrete's design. For the shear design of elements with shear reinforcement, the partial factor decreases resistance by 5% but a sensitivity analysis showed that the reduction might be, under pessimistic expectations, of up to 20%.

Spinal cord ischaemia is a rare condition in children in which imaging diagnosis can be difficult and treatment guidelines are not well established. We describe a case of a previously healthy 13-year-old girl admitted to the emergency department with an acute flaccid paralysis of the lower limbs, abdominal and dorsal pain, and bladder dysfunction. A few hours earlier, she had been playing on a swing with hyperextension and an arched back position. Spinal cord MRI was normal in the first hours, but ischaemic signs were described in a second examination performed some hours later. We discuss the extensive investigation for differential diagnosis and the management of this case., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The Brazilian Amazon has witnessed, in the last decades, an increase in the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) inventory, with interesting productivity results. As the Brazilian Amazon contains the main water buffalo population in the Americas, the aim of this work is to review its most relevant production systems and some peculiarities about meat and milk production in this territory. The opening section describes the Amazon Basin, the most common water buffalo breeds, a brief history of the local livestock farming beginning in 1644. Also, it presents how water buffaloes gradually replaced bovine herds, especially where the latter had a lower productive performance. The use of extensive or more intensified models is pointed out and the ecosystems in which buffaloes are raised are detailed since native or cultivated pastures can be used in floodplains or drylands. Buffalo raising is favored in the Amazon due to the climate, soil, genetic variability of forages, animal adaptability, and physical space. Thus, it is clear that buffaloes have a high potential for meat and milk production and are an alternative in the use of altered areas of the Amazon; and, in the recent past, the low profitability of buffalo farming in traditional production systems in the Amazon was the reason which made this activity economically unattractive. Most recent technologies as outdoor confinements and silvopastoral systems are pointed out as more suitable regarding land-use policies, and buffalo farming for meat and milk production fits perfectly in this context, with productivity and beneficial socioeconomic.

This paper intends to analyze the performance of mortars with reactive MgO, as a sustainable alternative to cement. Six different MgOs from Australia, Canada, and Spain were used in the production of mortars as partial substitutes for cement, namely 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% (by weight). MgOs with different levels of reactivity were used to analyze its influence on the performance of MgO mortars. In order to evaluate the mechanical performance of these mortars, compressive strength, flexural strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests were performed. Compressive strength tests showed that the use of 25% reactive MgO can cause a decrease of this property of between 28% and 49%. The use of reactive MgO affected the other mechanical properties less. This paper also intends to analyze the durability performance of mortars with reactive MgO. To that effect, water absorption by capillarity was assessed. In this research, the effect of using MgO on the shrinkage was also analyzed. It was found that shrinkage may decrease by more than a half in some cases.

Coir fiber is a by-product waste generated in large scale. Considering that most of these wastes do not have a proper disposal, several applications to coir fibers in engineering have been investigated in order to provide a suitable use, since coir fibers have interesting properties, namely high tensile strength, high elongation at break, low modulus of elasticity, and high abrasion resistance. Currently, coir fiber is widely used in concrete, roofing, boards and panels. Nonetheless, only a few studies are focused on the incorporation of coir fibers in rendering mortars. This work investigates the feasibility to incorporate coir fibers in rendering mortars with two different binders. A cement CEM II/B-L 32.5 N was used at 1:4 volumetric cement to aggregate ratio. Cement and air-lime CL80-S were used at a volumetric ratio of 1:1:6, with coir fibers were produced with 1.5 cm- and 3.0 cm-long fibers and added at 10% and 20% by total mortar volume. Physical and mechanical properties of the coir fiber-reinforced mortars were discussed. The addition of coir fibers reduced the workability of the mortars, requiring more water that affected the hardened properties of the mortars. The modulus of elasticity and the compressive strength of the mortars with coir fibers decreased with increase in fiber volume fraction and length. Coir fiber's incorporation improved the flexural strength and the fracture toughness of the mortars. The results emphasize that the cement-air-lime based mortars presented a better post-peak behavior than that of the cementitious mortars. These results indicate that the use of coir fibers in rendering mortars presents a potential technical and sustainable feasibility for reinforcement of cement and cement-air-lime mortars.

Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease which affects 8 million people in Latin America. The parasite possesses high capacity to evade host immune system and the available drugs to treat Chagas disease present low efficacy combined to serious side effects to patients. Therefore, the identification of alternative therapeutics is essential. Brazilian flora exhibits an immense diversity of metabolites with great potential to be developed into new drugs. We investigated the action of 2″,3″-dihydroochnaflavone a biflavonoid extracted from Luxemburgia nobilis Eichler ex Engl. (Ochnaceae) against T. cruzi (Y strain). Our experiments showed that this compound is effective against parasite epimastigote forms, presenting IC 50 value of (2.5 ± 0.1) μM after 96 h of treatment. Ultrastructure alterations were also detected in treated epimastigotes especially mitochondrial enlargement at the kinetoplast region. At the concentration of 30 μM, the compound killed (61.6 ± 3.37)% of the parasite in its amastigote form. In addition, at the same concentration, the compound killed all trypamastigotes growing within murine macrophages after 7-9 days of infection. Nonetheless, the biflavonoid concentrations were harmless to murine enriched population of lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages. These results indicate that 2″,3″- dihydroochnaflavone presents activity against T. cruzi., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aim: To evaluate the maxillary dentition effects of the extrusion arch for anterior open bite (AOB) correction in mixed dentition patients., Materials and Methods: Fourteen subjects with an initial mean age of 9.17 ± 1.03 years presenting with dentoalveolar AOB (mean - 1.28 ± 1.46 mm) and normal facial pattern (FMA = 25.76°) were treated with an extrusion arch. The mean treatment period was 7.79 ± 2.58 months. Lateral cephalograms and dental models were taken before (T0) and after the correction of AOB (T1). Data were analyzed using paired t test to evaluate differences between T0 and T1. For all tests, a significance level of P < .05 was used., Results: All patients achieved positive overbite at T1, with a mean increase of 3.07 mm. The maxillary incisors extruded 1.94 mm. Retroclination of the maxillary incisors (- 6.15°) and an increase in the interincisal angle (5.57°) were observed. There was a significant decrease in the distance between the incisal edge of the maxillary incisors and the molars (- 2.21 mm). There was significant mesial tipping of the maxillary molar (- 11.49°). Significant reductions of overjet (- 1.65 mm), arch perimeter (- 3.02 mm), and arch length (- 2.23 mm) were noted. The transverse maxillary intermolar distance did not change significantly., Conclusions: The use of a maxillary extrusion arch was effective in the treatment of AOB. Overbite increased due to incisor extrusion, as well as retroinclination and overjet reduction. However, side effects, such as mesial molar tipping and decreases in arch perimeter and length might occur.

The possibility of using recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste (CDW) in concrete is rather widely agreed upon when it comes to the use of coarse recycled aggregates. However, this is not the case when fine recycled aggregates (FRA) are considered, as it is deemed that these seriously impair the behaviour of concrete. Hence, this work presents a technical specification proposal for the use of FRA from CDW in concrete, to attempt to fill this gap in legislation. The specification is based on a wide collection of experimental results, from which it is shown that for low incorporation ratios (up to 25%), the properties of concrete with FRA from CDW are comparable to those of a reference concrete. The intended international scope of the specification is ensured by the fact that FRA from CDW are typified by composition (percentage of concrete, masonry, glass, etc.) rather than by geographical origin or construction type. It is shown that, after typifying the FRA and assuming, as per design, the acceptable percentage losses (relative to a reference concrete) of mechanical, durability-related and long-term physical properties, if the maximum incorporation ratios proposed of each type of FRA are used, the variation of properties remains within the limits established.