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A pesar de los grandes avances en la cardiología en el siglo XX y XXI, la insuficiencia cardiaca sigue suponiendo la principal causa de hospitalización en las personas ancianas y presentando un pronóstico ominoso. Además, a pesar de los múltiples estudios sobre nuevas dianas farmacológicas, apenas hemos avanzado en el campo del tratamiento, tal vez porque aún existen lagunas en su fisiopatología. No debemos olvidar que la insuficiencia cardiaca es un compendio de signos y síntomas que engloban múltiples órganos y sistemas. Mucho se está investigando sobre la relación entre riñón y corazón en forma de síndrome cardiorrenal. Algo cada vez más en boga es el papel del abdomen en la disfunción orgánica de la insuficiencia cardiaca. En ese sentido, el sistema venoso contiene el 70% del volumen sanguíneo, siendo almacenado en su mayor parte dentro de las vísceras abdominales. Un aumento del tono simpático supone aumento intenso del retorno venoso tan importante como para aumentar las presiones de llenado y justificar una descompensación cardiaca. La congestión sistémica determina un aumento en la presión intraabdominal que está correlacionada con la disfunción renal en la insuficiencia cardiaca avanzada. La hipoperfusión tisular intestinal supone microtraslocación bacteriana promoviendo el status proinflamatorio típico de este síndrome. La visión holística e integrada de la insuficiencia cardiaca puede suponer un avance tanto en la estratificación del riesgo como en las estrategias terapéuticas. Grandes pasos se están dando en este sentido con estudios sobre la ultrafiltración, paracentesis, diálisis peritoneal, suero hipertónico o fármacos adsorbentes del sodio.

In this work, the recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) friability during mixing was studied in order to better understand the evolution of this material during the mixing process and improve the recycled aggregate concrete mix-design. The influence of some important materials and process parameters was evaluated: initial abrasion resistance and initial moisture of the aggregates, mixer geometry, mixing time and mixing speed. To assess the mixing process effect on the recycled concrete aggregate friability, three different aspects were evaluated; the mass loss (mass of fraction inferior to 2.5 mm) the grading and the angularity evolutions with mixing time of an initially 10–14 mm aggregate. Tests were carried out in two types of laboratory concrete mixers, a planetary 30 l mixer from Skako and an intensive 5 l Erich mixer. The results revealed that in normal laboratory setting of the mixers configuration, the mass loss for natural aggregate (NA) is less than 1% of the coarse aggregate. This percentage reach 3% for good quality recycled concrete aggregate (MDE value of 21) and 5% for lower quality recycled concrete aggregate (MDE value of 27). The mass loss directly depends on the mixing parameters and the degradation of the recycled concrete aggregate drastically increased when the mixing speed was raised to 500 RPM. By analyzing the grading evolution during mixing, it was shown that both cleavage (creation of intermediate size particles) and attrition (creation of small particles) mechanisms influenced the aggregate degradation. However, the configuration of mixing significantly influenced the proportion of attrition and cleavage mechanisms. To complete this work, the angularity evolution showed that recycled concrete aggregate surface becomes smoother and the edges more rounded after mixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled powder (RP) is the primary by-product generated during the reclamation process of construction and demolition waste (CDW). There is existing literature on the use of RP as supplemental cementitious materials (SCMs) in cement-based materials, but a comprehensive evaluation on the characteristics of RP generated from concrete waste has been missing until now. This paper critically reviews the use of RP from concrete waste in cement-based materials, as concrete waste makes up a significant amount of CDW and other components have designated recycling methods. In this sense, this study conducted a critical analysis on the use of RP as an SCM, using detailed literature research. The technology used for producing RP is detailed along with its chemical, mineralogy, and microstructural characteristics. Fresh-state properties in cementitious matrices with RP are introduced with the view of mechanical grinding, thermal activation, carbonation, chemical treatment, biomineralization, mineral addition, nano activation, and carbonation. The review highlights the significant potential of utilizing RP in cement-based materials. Specifically, RP can be advantageously utilized in the production of value-added construction materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Wearable in-ear electroencephalographic (EEG) devices hold significant promise for integrating brain monitoring technologies into real-life applications. However, despite the introduction of various in-ear EEG systems, there remains a necessity for validating these technologies against goldstandard, clinical-grade devices. This study aims to evaluate the signal quality of a newly developed mobile in-ear EEG device compared to a standard scalp EEG system among healthy volunteers during wakefulness and sleep. Methods: The study evaluated an in-ear EEG device equipped with dry electrodes in a laboratory setting, recording a single bipolar EEG channel using a cross-ear electrode configuration. Thirty healthy participants were recorded simultaneously using the in-ear EEG device and a conventional EEG cap system with 64 wet electrodes. Based on two recording protocols, one during a resting state condition involving alternating eye opening and closure with a low degree of artifact contamination and another consisting of a daytime nap, several quality measures were used for a quantitative comparison including root mean square (RMS) analysis, artifact quantification, similarities of relative spectral power (RSP), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) based on alpha peak criteria, and cross-signal correlations of alpha activity during eyes-closed conditions and sleep activities. The statistical significance of our results was assessed through nonparametric permutation tests with False Discovery Rate (FDR) control. Results: During the resting state, in-ear and scalp EEG signals exhibited similar fluctuations, characterized by comparable RMS values. However, intermittent signal alterations were noticed in the in-ear recordings during nap sessions, attributed to movements of the head and facial muscles. Spectral analysis indicated similar patterns between in-ear and scalp EEG, showing prominent peaks in the alpha range (8-12 Hz) during rest and in the low-frequency range during naps (particularly in the theta range of 4-7 Hz). Analysis of alpha wave characteristics during eye closures revealed smaller alpha wave amplitudes and slightly lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values in the in-ear EEG compared to scalp EEG. In around 80% of cases, cross-correlation analysis between in-ear and scalp signals, using a contralateral bipolar montage of 64 scalp electrodes, revealed significant correlations with scalp EEG (p < 0.01), particularly evident in the FT11-FT12 and T7-T8 electrode derivations. Conclusion: Our findings support the feasibility of using in-ear EEG devices with dry-contact electrodes for brain activity monitoring, compared to a standard scalp EEG, notably for wakefulness and sleep uses. Although marginal signal degradation is associated with head and facial muscle contractions, the in-ear device offers promising applications for long-term EEG recordings, particularly in scenarios requiring enhanced comfort and user-friendliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of surfactants with liposomes eventually leads to the rupture of such structures and the solubilization of the phospholipid components. In this paper, solubilization is regarded as a decrease in light scattering of liposome suspensions. To this end, in accordance with the nomenclature, adopted by Lichtenberg, three parameters were considered as corresponding to the effective surfactant/lipid molar ratios (Re) at which light scattering starts to decrease, Re; reaches 50% of the original value, Re; and shows no further decrease, Re. These parameters corresponded to the Re at which the surfactant (i) saturated the liposomes, (ii) resulted in a 50% solubilization of vesicles and (iii) led to a total solubilization of liposomes. The surfactants tested were the nonionic surfactant octylphenol ethoxylated with 10 units of ethylene oxide or Triton X-100 (OP-10EO), two anionic surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium dodecyl ether sulfate, and an amphoteric surfactant dodecyl betaine (D-Bet). Unilamellar liposomes formed by egg phosphatidylcholine containing increasing amounts of phosphatidic acid were used. The Re parameters were the lowest for D-Bet, followed by OP-10EO, whereas the anionic surfactants always showed the highest values regardless of the electrical charge of the lipid bilayers. These parameters seem also to be inversely related to the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant, except for OP-10EO. Moreover, the CMC values of the surfactant/lipid systems at 0.5 mM lipid concentration corresponded in all cases to the surfactant concentration at which liposomes were saturated by surfactants. As a consequence, this ratio can be regarded as an interesting parameter associated with the mixed micelle formation in liposome solubilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effect of waste rock-wool dosage on the workability, mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, toughness and hydration products of PVA and steel fiber-reinforced mortars was investigated. The results showed that the fluidity of the mortar gradually decreased with the increase in the dosage of waste rock wool, with a maximum reduction of 10% at a dosage of 20%. The higher the dosage of waste rock wool, the greater the reduction in compressive strength. The effect of waste rock wool on strength reduction decreases with increasing age. When the dosage of waste rock wool was 10%, the 28 days of flexural and compressive strengths were reduced by 4.73% and 10.59%, respectively. As the dosage of waste rock wool increased, the flexural-to-compressive ratio increased, and at 20%, the maximum value of 28 days of flexural-to-compressive ratio was 0.210, which was increased by 28.05%. At a 5% dosage, the abraded volume was reduced from 500 mm3 to 376 mm3—a reduction of 24.8%. Waste rock wool only affects the hydration process and does not cause a change in the type of hydration products. It promotes the hydration of the cementitious material system at low dosages and exhibits an inhibitory effect at high dosages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the characterization of a binary mixture of construction and demolition waste (CDW) and bamboo leaf ash (BLAsh) calcined at 600 °C (novel mixture) and the study of its pozzolanic behavior. Different dosages in a pozzolan/Ca(OH)2 system were employed. The aim is the valorization of fine-fraction CDW that achieves a more reactive binary mixture and allows an adequate use of CDW as waste, as CDW is a material of limited use due to its low pozzolanic activity. The pozzolanic behavior of the mixture was analyzed using the conductometric method, which measures the electrical conductivity in the CDW + BLAsh/CH solution versus reaction time. With the application of a kinetic–diffusive mathematical model, the kinetic parameters of the pozzolanic reaction were quantified. This allowed a quantitative evaluation of the pozzolanic activity based on the values of these parameters. To validate these results, other experimental techniques were used: X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Also, mechanical compressive strength assays were carried out. The results show an increase in the pozzolanic activity of binary mixes of CDW + BLAsh for all the dosages used in comparison to the pozzolanic activity of CDW alone. The quantitative assessment (kinetic parameters) shows that the binary mixture CDW50 + BLAsh50 is the most reactive (reaction rate constant of 7.88 × 10−1 h−1) and is superior to the mixtures CDW60 + BLAsh40 and CDW70 + BLAs30. Compressive strength tests show higher strength values for the ternary mixes (OPC + CDW + BLAsh) compared to the binary mixes (OPC + CDW). In view of the results, the binary blend of pozzolans CDW + BLAsh is suitable for the manufacture of future low-carbon ternary cements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Language & Law / Revista de Llengua i Dret is the property of Revista de Llengua i Dret and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Administración Pública is the property of Centro de Estudios Politicos y Constitucionales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to develop sustainable concrete by recycling concrete aggregates from steel waste and construction waste (iron ore tailings (IOTs) and recycled coarse aggregates (RCAs)) to replace silica sand and natural coarse aggregates. In experimental testing, the compressive strength, peak strain, elastic modulus, energy dissipated under compression, and compressive stress–strain curve were analyzed. Microscopically, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry were employed to investigate the microstructural characteristics of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), and the results were compared with the ITZs of natural aggregate concrete and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). In addition, the pore structure of concrete was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance. The results revealed that an appropriate IOT content can improve the ITZ and compactness of RAC, as well as optimize the mechanical and deformation properties of RAC. However, due to the presence of a smaller number of microcracks on the surface of IOT particles, excessive IOTs could reduce the integrity of the matrix structure and weaken the strength of concrete. According to the research, replacing silica sand with 30% IOTs led to a reduction in the porosity and microcracking which resulted in a much denser microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the viability of high-strength Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) sourced from demolished structures containing high-strength concrete as a substitute for natural fine aggregates (NA) in cementitious mortar applications. Concrete specimens (40 × 40 × 160 mm) were prepared in a controlled environment with varying percentages of RCA replacing NA, ranging from 0% to 100% in 10% increments. The resulting RCA aggregates exhibited lower weight for sizes from 0.01 to 1 mm compared to NA, and for 1 to 3 mm sizes, RCA weights were 145% to 177% higher than SS aggregates. After curing for 28 days, flexural and compressive strength tests were conducted on the batches. The average compressive strength for the 0% RCA batch was 66.26 MPa, while the 50% RCA batch showed the closest average compressive strength at 63.10 MPa. Batches with varying RCA levels displayed compressive strengths between 49.52 and 58.18 MPa. The highest flexural strength was observed in the 0% RCA batch, with the closest result for a batch containing RCA being the 50% RCA batch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing global recognition of the need for environmental sustainability in mitigating the adverse impacts of cement production. Despite the implementation of various carbon dioxide (CO2) mitigation strategies in the cement industry, such as waste heat recovery, the use of alternative raw materials and alternative fuels, energy efficiency improvements, and carbon capture and storage, overall emissions have still increased due to the higher production levels. The resolution of this matter can be efficiently achieved by the substitution of traditional materials with an alternative material, such as calcined clay (CC), construction and demolition waste (CDW), which have a significant impact on various areas of sustainable development, including environmental, economic, and social considerations. The primary objectives of employing CDW in the Portland cement production are twofold: firstly, to mitigate the release of CO2 into the atmosphere, as it is a significant contributor to environmental pollution and climate change; and secondly, to optimize the utilization of waste materials, thereby addressing the challenges associated with their disposal. The purpose of this work is to present a thorough examination of the existing body of literature pertaining to the partial replacement of traditional raw materials by CDW and the partial replacement of Portland cement by CDW and to analyze the resulting impact on CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to examine the combined effect of ground recycled concrete cement (GRC) and thermo-activated recycled concrete cement (TARC) on properties of mortar. The physical, chemical and microstructural tests were conducted to characterize GRC and TARC before mortar mixtures were produced. The microscopic morphology of GRC and TARC revealed uneven edges and a rough surface that is slightly porous. The GRC and TARC powders were used to replace cement in the range of 0-50% at increments of 10% by volume. The fresh, mechanical, microstructure, and durability characteristics of mortar were tested for different proportion of GRC and TARC as partial replacement of cement. The usage of GRC and TARC decreases the workability of mortar marginally. However, the mechanical performance of the mortar mixtures showed an increasing trend when GRC and TARC share increases in the mixture. Predominantly, compressive strength, bulk density, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) have all been increased by as much as 20% cement replacement. Furthermore, the incorporation of GRC and TARC enhances the mortar's durability properties. The microstructure analysis reveals that 20% replacement (GT20) mix has superior structural compactness. In general, partially substitution of GRC and TARC by ordinary Portland cement improves several characteristics of mortar. This will help solve the most prevalent problems that concrete produces, including the high embedded carbon dioxide creation, the high resource usage, and the high waste generation after demolition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Boletín de Filología is the property of Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Filosofia y Humanidades and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to validate that laboratory-scale results could be commercially replicated when manufacturing marketable precast concrete. Construction and demolition waste (CDW) was separated into two (fine and coarse) recycled aggregates (RAs). Precast paver and kerb units were fabricated by partial or total substitution of natural aggregates (NAs) by RAs. The study involved the comprehensive characterisation of raw materials, including particle size distribution, mineral composition, and elemental composition. Paver blocks and kerbs manufactured with up to 50% RAs showed mechanical resistance (T = 3.7 ± 0.2 and B = 5.3 ± 0.6 MPa, respectively), water absorption between 5.3–5.7%, and abrasion resistance (approximately 20.2 mm), which met the standard requirements (UNE-EN 1340:2004 and UNE-EN 1338:2004). Furthermore, industrial-scale precast pavement units demonstrated strength and durability suitable for heavy traffic areas. A reduction of 13% in cement content could maintain the requirements with a partial RA substitution of 25%, offering economic and environmental benefits. Therefore, it is feasible at an industrial level to replace NAs with RAs, promoting durability and technological properties with a positive environmental impact and considerably reducing CO2 emissions by up to 65%. Overall, pavers with RAs manufactured at the laboratory scale met mechanical standards, and the kerb stones showed improvements in abrasion resistance. On an industrial scale, kerb stones and precast blocks with specific substitutions can meet strength, water absorption, and abrasion requirements, allowing a reduction in cement content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of innovative ideas and the latest technology have undoubtedly brought down telescope costs substantially. However, there are still ways to further reduce the cost of optical ground-based telescopes and make them affordable to much larger and wide spread astronomical communities. In this and subsequent papers we are presenting our studies carried out towards building affordable mid-size telescopes of 4.0-6.0m in size. In the present era, segmented mirror technology has become the first choice for building moderate to large-size telescopes. In any Segmented Mirror Telescope (SMT) the most important part is its primary mirror control system (M1CS). The conventional M1CS is based on edge sensors and actuators, but such a system introduces many design and implementation complexities. In this paper, we propose to make use of an Off-axis Alignment and Phasing System (OAPS), which is an active mirror kind of control system working in real time to maintain the figure of a segmented primary mirror without the use of edge-sensors. The alignment and phasing system which is an integral part of any segmented telescope can be used in the real time at the off-axis. Through extensive simulations we have explored the feasibility of using an OAPS for co-alignment, co-focusing as well as co-phasing of segmented mirror telescopes. From our simulations we find that the co-alignment and co-focusing of the segments can be achieved with a guide star as faint as 16-18 th magnitude. This implies that seeing limited performance for any segmented telescope can be easily accomplished without use of a complex edge sensor based control system. Whereas, to attain diffraction limited performance, mirror segments need to be co-phased with an accuracy of few tens of nanometers. In our simulations we have used a dispersed fringe sensor based phasing scheme, which can effectively work up to guide stars of 14 th magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deformation behavior of cast super duplex steel is studied in the temperature range 1100–1250°C and the strain rate range 0.1–10 s–1. Hot deformation is performed by uniaxial compression of cylindrical specimens on a Gleeble 3800 simulator of thermomechanical processes. The flow stresses are shown to decrease with increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate in accordance with a change in the Zener–Hollomon parameter of the temperature–rate deformation conditions. The shape of the flow curves indicates that hot deformation is accompanied by intense dynamic softening, as a result of which the flow stresses decrease or remain unchanged after reaching peak values. Under all hot deformation conditions, ferrite acquires a dynamically recrystallized structure. At the lowest deformation temperature (1100°C) and relatively high strain rates (1–10 s–1), the mechanism of austenite softening is dynamic recovery. A decrease in the strain rate or an increase in the deformation temperature causes partial dynamic recrystallization of austenite. Under similar deformation conditions, the plastic flow stress of the steel under study is significantly higher than that in standard duplex stainless steels. When analyzing the peak flow stresses, we determined the effective hot deformation activation energy (Q = 501.31 kJ/mol) required for calculating the Zener–Hollomon parameter. An expression for describing the peak flow stress is obtained in the form of a hyperbolic function of the Zener–Hollomon parameter. This expression describes the experimental data array with a high accuracy and can be used to estimate the required energy–force parameters of forging and rolling equipment. A comparative estimation of the hot ductility of the super duplex steel is performed by finding the strain corresponding to the appearance of the first macrocracks on the specimen surface. At a strain rate of 10 s–1 (which is characteristic of hot forging processes), the safest deformation temperature range of the steel is shown to be 1150–1250°C, in which austenite undergoes partial dynamic recrystallization reducing the risks of cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Feature extraction from 3D datasets is a current problem. Machine learning is an important tool for classification of complex 3D datasets. Machine learning classification techniques are widely used in various fields, such as text classification, pattern recognition, medical disease analysis, etc. The aim of this study is to apply the most popular classification and regression methods to determine the best classification and regression method based on the geodesics. Design/methodology/approach: The feature vector is determined by the unit normal vector and the unit principal vector at each point of the 3D surface along with the point coordinates themselves. Moreover, different examples are compared according to the classification methods in terms of accuracy and the regression algorithms in terms of R-squared value. Findings: Several surface examples are analyzed for the feature vector using classification (31 methods) and regression (23 methods) machine learning algorithms. In addition, two ensemble methods XGBoost and LightGBM are used for classification and regression. Also, the scores for each surface example are compared. Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study to analyze datasets based on geodesics using machine learning algorithms for classification and regression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new structural model is presented for the Permo‐Carboniferous Lorraine Basin (NE France), a major intramountain basin that developed during the latest stages of the Variscan orogeny (ca. 315–270 Ma). Digitalized well logs and reprocessed seismic data were used to decipher the kinematic evolution of this basin located along the Rhenohercynian orogenic suture zone. The basin was initiated during the late collision stage (Early to Middle Pennsylvanian) in a wedge‐top position upon the Saxothuringian retro‐wedge. The syn‐orogenic sequence is delimited to the north by the major SE‐verging Metz Thrust, which is part of the backthrust system that propagated during Middle Pennsylvanian (Late Westphalian). Seismic data provide evidence of negative tectonic inversion, allowing the formation of syn‐rift depocenters (Late Pennsylvanian‐Early Permian) above the former anticlines. Erosion of these anticlines results in a major unconformity marking the onset of post‐orogenic collapse. The late Early Permian shortening (Saalian phase) is suggested to reactivate former thrusts and normal faults, thus generating late uplift of the basin. The post‐orogenic phase is complex and diachronous at basin scale, and both compression and extension can be recorded in the same area over a short period (<10 Myr). The Late Carboniferous negative tectonic inversion along the Rhenohercynian suture zone is proposed to result from the lithospheric delamination of the Variscan orogenic roots. The associated upwelling of asthenospheric material is recorded by intense magmatic activity, and can be, in turn, considered as the main trigger for the subsequent thermal subsidence of the Mesozoic Paris Basin. Key Points: A new structural model of the Permo‐Carboniferous Lorraine Basin (NE France) is proposed based on 438 km of reprocessed seismic dataThis major intramountain basin developed during Early‐Middle Pennsylvanian times as a wedge‐top basin upon the Variscan Saxothuringian retro‐wedgeExtensional reactivation of thrusts controlled the development of syn‐rift depocenters above the former thrust‐related anticlines [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the redox behaviour of Rh in three‐way catalysts (TWC) using time‐resolved in situ diffuse reflectance UV‐vis spectroscopy in different modes with air‐to‐fuel ratio (A/F) step, A/F perturbation, and temperature ramping. When Rh/ZrO2−CeO2 (Rh/ZC) and Rh/ZrO2 (Rh/Z) containing fully oxidised Rh were treated at 400 °C under simulated TWC conditions with A/F stepping from 15.0 (fuel‐lean) to 14.1 (fuel‐rich), a steep increase in the metallic fraction (Rh0/Rh) and a simultaneous increase in Kubelka–Munk function (ΔKM) at λ=450 nm occurred near the stoichiometric point (A/F=14.6). Metallic Rh became abundant until A/F=14.1, where the largest ΔKM was attained. In the A/F perturbation mode, the Rh oxidation state fluctuated with repetitious switching of rich and lean gas feeds, but the ΔKM oscillation amplitude was lessened for Rh/ZC compared to Rh/Z because of the oxygen‐scavenging function of ZC. Furthermore, the changes in Rh oxidation state during TWC light‐off were analysed in the temperature‐ramping mode. Under rich conditions, Rh0/Rh and ΔKM increased after 200 °C, where the formation of Rh metal led to efficient conversions of CO and NO. However, metallic Rh did not appear during light‐off under the lean condition, where NO conversion was negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vertical structure of forest ecosystems influences and reflects ecosystem functioning. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) enables the rapid acquisition of 3D forest information and subsequent reconstruction of the vertical structure, which provides new support for acquiring forest vertical structure information. We focused on artificial forest sample plots in the north-central of Nanning, Guangxi, China as the research area. Forest sample point cloud data were obtained through TLS. By accurately capturing the gradient information of the forest vertical structure, a classification boundary was delineated. A complex forest vertical structure segmentation method was proposed based on the Forest-PointNet model. This method comprehensively utilized the spatial and shape features of the point cloud. The study accurately segmented four types of vertical structure features in the forest sample location cloud data: ground, bushes, trunks, and leaves. With optimal training, the average classification accuracy reaches 90.98%. The results indicated that segmentation errors are mainly concentrated at the branch intersections of the canopy. Our model demonstrates significant advantages, including effective segmentation of vertical structures, strong generalization ability, and feature extraction capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesion mimic mutants (LMMs) are advantageous materials for studying programmed cell death (PCD). Although some rice LMM genes have been cloned, the diversity of functions of these genes indicates that the mechanism of cell death regulation in LMMs needs further study. In this study, we identified a rice light-dependent leaf lesion mimic mutant 4 (llm4) that showed abnormal chloroplast structure, photoinhibition, reduced photosynthetic protein levels, massive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and PCD. Map-based cloning and complementation testing revealed that LLM4 encodes zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP), an enzyme involved in the xanthophyll cycle, which functions in plant photoprotection, ROS scavenging, and carotenoid and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. The ABA content was decreased, and the contents of 24 carotenoids differed between the llm4 mutant and the wild type (WT). The llm4 mutant showed reduced dormancy and greater sensitive to ABA than the WT. We concluded that the mutation of LLM4 resulted in the failure of xanthophyll cycle, in turn causing ROS accumulation. The excessive ROS accumulation damaged chloroplast structure and induced PCD, leading eventually to the formation of lesion mimics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart tourism can be thought of as a whole ecosystem of smart tourists, smart technologies, and smart businesses. There are more than 952 academic studies related to Smart Tourism in the Web of Science (WoS) database. Therefore, it would be useful to examine the conceptual structure and thematic development of Smart Tourism. This study is to analyze the field of smart tourism using scientific mapping methods. Bibliometric data of 489 articles were downloaded from the WoS. This paper first conducts a co-occurrence analysis using VosViewer to determine the prominent terms and connections between them. Then, a content analysis is performed using SciMat to gain a deeper understanding of the field and its evolution from 2013 to 2022 for Smart Tourism. In this context, strategic maps, thematic networks of topics, and an evolutionary map were obtained to understand the field better by using SciMAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the resource utilization of recycled concrete powder (RCP), this study aimed to investigate the effect of RCP admixture, curing age, and alkali excitation on the strength of RCP concrete. In addition, the pore structure characteristics of RCP concrete were analyzed in combination with low-field NMR. Furthermore, a gray predictive GM (1, 4) model was established to predict the mechanical properties of the concrete based on the pore structure parameters, especially the compressive and flexural tensile strengths. The results of the study indicate that the mechanical properties, namely compressive strength and flexural strength, of RCP concrete exhibit an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease with increasing RCP content at 3 d, 7 d, and 28 d curing ages. In particular, the concrete exhibits the highest mechanical properties when the RCP content reaches 10%. As the curing age increases, the RCP gradually achieves full hydration, resulting in further refinement of the concrete pores and a denser structure, which subsequently improves the mechanical properties. In addition, the strength growth rate of alkali-excited recycled concrete (ARC) showed a continuous increase, indicating that alkali excitation increasingly improved the mechanical properties of the concrete. Furthermore, the study accurately predicted the mechanical properties of RCP concrete by using GM (1, 4) prediction models for its compressive strength and flexural tensile strength using pore characteristic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dilemas Contemporáneos: Educación, Política y Valores is the property of Dilemas Contemporaneos: Educacion, Politica y Valores and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copper oxides species deposited on ceria rods, particles, and cubes were examined for low-temperature oxidation of CO. It was found that the shape of ceria altered the dispersion and chemical state of copper species considerably. CuOx monolayers and bilayers were formed on ceria rods and particles, while multilayers and faceted particles co-existed on ceria cubes. The formation of Cu+ species at the copper–ceria interface involved a significant charge transfer from copper oxides to the ceria surface via a strong electronic interaction, which was more pronounced on ceria rods. The concentrations of surface Cu+ and oxygen vacancies followed the order rods > particles > cubes, in line with their catalytic activity for CO oxidation at 343 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Dementia is the seventh leading cause of mortality, and a major source of disability and dependency in older individuals globally. Cognitive decline (and, to a lesser extent, normal ageing) are associated with sleep fragmentation and loss of slow‐wave sleep. Evidence suggests a bidirectional causal link between these losses. Phase‐locked auditory stimulation has emerged as a promising non‐invasive tool to enhance slow‐wave sleep, potentially ameliorating cognitive decline. In laboratory settings, auditory stimulation is usually supervised by trained experts. Different algorithms (simple amplitude thresholds, topographic correlation, sine‐wave fitting, phase‐locked loop, and phase vocoder) are used to precisely target auditory stimulation to a desired phase of the slow wave. While all algorithms work well in younger adults, the altered sleep physiology of older adults and particularly those with neurodegenerative disorders requires a tailored approach that can adapt to older adults' fragmented sleep and reduced amplitudes of slow waves. Moreover, older adults might require a continuous intervention that is not feasible in laboratory settings. Recently, several auditory stimulation‐capable portable devices ('Dreem®', 'SmartSleep®' and 'SleepLoop®') have been developed. We discuss these three devices regarding their potential as tools for science, and as clinical remote‐intervention tools to combat cognitive decline. Currently, SleepLoop® shows the most promise for scientific research in older adults due to high transparency and customizability but is not commercially available. Studies evaluating down‐stream effects on cognitive abilities, especially in patient populations, are required before a portable auditory stimulation device can be recommended as a clinical preventative remote‐intervention tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of silica fume as a partial replacement for Ordinary Portland Cement provides a wide variety of benefits, such as reduced pressure on natural resources, reduced CO2 footprint, and improved mechanical and durability properties. The formation of more stable crystallographic phases in the hardened cement paste can promote resistance to concrete attacks. However, using coarse silica fume may result in lower expenses and shorter workdays. In this work, coarse silica fume was used as a partial replacement of cement, by weight, at 3%, 5%, and 7%, and it was used as limestone filler at different particle sizes. The size of coarse silica fume used was 238 μm. The microstructural, compositional analysis, and crystalline phase content of mixed cements at different ages were evaluated. The addition of coarse silica fume and limestone promoted pore refinement of the composites and increased the calcium and silica content. The filling effect of fine limestone and coarse silica fume particles, as well as the formation of CSH gel, was found to be the main reason for the densified microstructure. The contributions of combined coarse silica fume and limestone improve the stability of CSH gels and pozzolanic reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, a modified numerical model was developed to simulate the water flow during a dam break with the mud layer transfer of different heights, consisting of three phases (water, air, and a phase for deposition). To carry out a numerical simulation of this process, a mathematical model based on the VOF (volume of fluid) method was modified, taking into account the movement of the water-free surface, which is carried out by the movement of water flow based on the Newtonian fluid model, and the movement of mud impurities is based on the non-Newtonian fluid model. Validation of the constructed model for the influence of three-dimensional features of the flow on morphological changes is carried out by a modified mathematical model and compared with the results of calculation for two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) models. The proposed method for modeling is applied on a real complex terrain, which was based on the Kargalinka – a river in Almaty and the Almaty region of Kazakhstan, the right tributary of the Kaskelen River. Simulation analysis is carried out for cases with different deposit heights. All results of the numerical simulation can be visually viewed using graphs and illustrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Analisi e Diritto is the property of Edizioni ETS s.r.l. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Tertiary‐Piedmont Basin (NW Italy) is an episutural basin that developed from the late Eocene on the Alps–Apennines tectonic junction. Several coeval geodynamic processes, including the loading and exhumation of the Western Alps, the outward migration of the Apennine accretionary wedge and the opening of the Liguro‐Provençal rift basin, controlled the basin evolution. We integrate fluid‐inclusion microthermometry, low‐temperature thermochronology and burial history with numerical modelling to constrain the palaeo‐geothermal gradients required and evaluate the mechanisms that governed the basin thermal history. Apatite fission‐track and (U‐Th‐Sm)/He analyses of the basal late Eocene turbidites show reset ages of ca. 25 and 20 Ma, respectively, which require temperatures to be >120°C. Homogenization temperatures up to ca. 130°C from fluid inclusion analyses from authigenic minerals confirm the thermochronometric data, supporting a significant post‐depositional heating in the lower sequence of the basin. Stratigraphic reconstructions and decompaction of the basin fill indicate that the maximum burial experienced by the basal strata at 25 Ma is 2.3 ± 0.1 km, which is not sufficient to reset the AFT thermochronometric system when applying a typical geothermal gradient (ca. 20–30°C/km). An elevated geothermal gradient of 45 ± 5°C/km is thus necessary to explain the thermochronometric dates and the elevated thermal signature at shallow depths. 2D numerical simulations indicate that such an elevated palaeo‐geothermal gradient can be best explained by mantle upwelling, consistent with crustal thinning caused by the inception of the Liguro‐Provençal rift basin and related outward migration of the Alpine and Apennine fronts during the Oligocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photo‐thermal catalytic CO2 hydrogenation is currently extensively studied as one of the most promising approaches for the conversion of CO2 into value‐added chemicals under mild conditions; however, achieving desirable conversion efficiency and target product selectivity remains challenging. Herein, the fabrication of Ir‐CoO/Al2O3 catalysts derived from Ir/CoAl LDH composites is reported for photo‐thermal CO2 methanation, which consist of Ir‐CoO ensembles as active centers that are evenly anchored on amorphous Al2O3 nanosheets. A CH4 production rate of 128.9 mmol gcat⁻1 h⁻1 is achieved at 250 °C under ambient pressure and visible light irradiation, outperforming most reported metal‐based catalysts. Mechanism studies based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations and numerical simulations reveal that the CoO nanoparticles function as photocatalysts to donate electrons for Ir nanoparticles and meanwhile act as "nanoheaters" to effectively elevate the local temperature around Ir active sites, thus promoting the adsorption, activation, and conversion of reactant molecules. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (in situ DRIFTS) demonstrates that illumination also efficiently boosts the conversion of formate intermediates. The mechanism of dual functions of photothermal semiconductors as photocatalysts for electron donation and as nano‐heaters for local temperature enhancement provides new insight in the exploration for efficient photo‐thermal catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) currently constitutes a waste stream with growing potential use as a secondary raw material in the manufacture of eco-cements that offer smaller carbon footprints and less clinker content than conventional cements. This study analyzes the physical and mechanical properties of two different cement types, ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement, and the synergy between them. These cements are manufactured with different types of CDW (fine fractions of concrete, glass and gypsum) and are intended for new technological applications in the construction sector. This paper addresses the chemical, physical, and mineralogical characterization of the starting materials, as well as the physical (water demand, setting time, soundness, water absorption by capillary action, heat of hydration, and microporosity) and mechanical behavior of the 11 cements selected, including the two reference cements (OPC and commercial CSA). From the analyses obtained, it should be noted that the addition of CDW to the cement matrix does not modify the amount of water by capillarity with respect to OPC cement, except for Labo CSA cement which increases by 15.7%, the calorimetric behavior of the mortars is different depending on the type of ternary and hybrid cement, and the mechanical resistance of the analysed mortars decreases. The results obtained show the favorable behavior of the ternary and hybrid cements made with this CDW. Despite the variations observed in the different types of cement, they all comply with the current standards applicable to commercial cements and open up a new opportunity to improve sustainability in the construction sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attributes of filler play a significant role in the overall performance of asphalt mixtures through their direct influences on asphalt mastic. Alkali-activated slag (AAS), which is currently in the beta stage of development, is a promising and innovative cementitious replacement material. However, mass production AAS for experimental use generates significant quantities of waste discharge. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of using AAS waste as a mineral filler in asphalt mastic. Properties of AAS waste were assessed and compared to limestone (LS) filler using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, laser particle size analysis, hydrophilic coefficient, mesoscopic void characteristic, and Rigden void tests. The penetration, softening point, Brookfield viscosity, and rheological properties of the asphalt mastic samples made, respectively, using AAS and LS fillers, were examined using complex modulus (G*), phase angle (δ), and rutting factor (G*/sinδ) results and two interaction indices (ΔG* and K–B–G*). Furthermore, models used to test relative viscosity (ηr) were applied to predict the complex viscosity (η*) of the samples. Results indicated that comparing to LS filler, AAS filler was shown to deliver superior compatibility to asphalt matrix, and the properties of the asphalt mastic containing AAS filler were superior to those of the asphalt mastic containing LS filler. Of particular note, the models used to predict relative viscosity demonstrated validity in predicting the complex viscosity of asphalt mastics. The results support using AAS filler as a replacement for LS filler in asphalt mastic. Further research should be conducted to maximize the potential benefits of using AAS filler in asphalt mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we evaluated the impedance of textile electrodes for electroencephalography measurements. We compared the commercially available standard dry silver/silver chloride dry electrodes, copper-based, and silver-based textile electrodes by measuring impedance on the skin. First, on dry skin, the impedance range of the electrodes was 93–350 kΩ at 0 min; after 60 min, the range was 20–56 kΩ. The commercial electrode showed the lowest impedance of 20 kΩ, and the silver-based textile electrode showed the highest impedance of 56 kΩ in dry skin conditions after 60 min. When tap water was applied as an electrolyte, the impedance range was 13–15 kΩ at 0 min; after 60 min, the range was 17–22 kΩ for all three types of electrodes. In this case, the copper-based textile electrode showed the lowest impedance of 17 kΩ and the commercial electrode showed the highest impedance of 22 kΩ after 60 min. When saline water was applied as an electrolyte, at 0 min, the impedance range was 8–11 kΩ; after 60 min, the range became 11–12 kΩ for all three types of electrodes. Thus, all electrodes showed similar results. It was concluded that the copper-based textile electrodes were more suitable than the silver-based textile electrodes and comparable to commercial electrodes regarding impedance in all three skin conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural fibers and powdered glasses can improve the mechanical properties of the concretes and increase the cracks resistance generated by tensile and concrete stresses. Thus, the aim of this paper is to evaluate the mechanical behavior of concrete with the addition of fibers of sugarcane bagasse and/or glass wool. Physical, chemical and morphological characterizations were performed. Sugarcane bagasse was chemically treated. Concretes were produced containing additions of ground glass wool and/or fibers of sugarcane bagasse cured in 28 days. The results of this research showed that the exclusive addition of glass wool (10%) in concrete contributed to higher values of compressive strength, flexion tensile and diametrical compression tensile, reaching 34.22 MPa, 6.65 MPa and 16.44 MPa, respectively. The ground glass wool contributed to the reduction in the concrete porosity (void index equal to 9.38%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid urban development, natural aggregate resources have become scarce and a large number of ageing buildings are being demolished, which has resulted in a significant reduction in natural resources and a large increase in construction waste. Therefore, the reuse of solid waste, including waste powder and recycled aggregate, has attracted more and more attention. Additionally, as a prominent way to alleviate the urban heat island effect and manage stormwater runoff, pervious concrete has been widely studied and applied. In this paper, the effects of waste powder (fly ash, volcanic powder and blast furnace slag) and recycled aggregate (recycled concrete aggregate and recycled brick aggregate) on the mechanical properties, water permeability, water filtration and durability of pervious concrete are summarized and introduced, and some prospects are put forward. From the literature review, it can be found that adding the appropriate amount of solid waste or applying proper treatment methods to solid waste will not bring negative effects; rather, it would even improve the performance attributes of pervious concrete. Therefore, the use of solid waste in pervious concrete has great potential for urban construction and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the microstructures and mechanical properties of X70 pipeline steels produced with varying Mo contents, accelerated cooling rate and intermediate slab blank thickness are systematically investigated. Results showed that the microstructures and mechanical properties of the X70 pipeline steels were strongly affected by Mo addition. The pearlite and proeutectoid ferrite formation is obviously inhibited in containing-Mo steel and the acicular ferrite (AF) is obtained in a wide range of cooling rates. With the increasing the cooling rates, the AF constituent amount increases. The grains can be refined by increasing the thickness of intermediate slab for enhancing the cumulative reduction rates, and meanwhile increase the number density of precipitates. It was proved by simulation and industrial trials that the low-alloy X70 pipeline steels can be produced increasing cooling rates and the thickness of intermediate slab without strength and toughness degradation which also reduce alloy cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is highly desired to achieve controllable product selectivity in CO2 hydrogenation. Herein, we report light‐induced switching of reaction pathways of CO2 hydrogenation towards CH3OH production over actomically dispersed Co decorated Pt@UiO‐66‐NH2. CO, being the main product in the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) pathway under thermocatalysis condition, is switched to CH3OH via the formate pathway with the assistance of light irradiation. Impressively, the space‐time yield of CH3OH in photo‐assisted thermocatalysis (1916.3 μmol gcat−1 h−1) is about 7.8 times higher than that without light at 240 °C and 1.5 MPa. Mechanism investigation indicates that upon light irradiation, excited UiO‐66‐NH2 can transfer electrons to Pt nanoparticles and Co sites, which can efficiently catalyze the critical elementary steps (i.e. CO2‐to‐*HCOO conversion), thus suppressing the RWGS pathway to achieve a high CH3OH selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the interaction of the higher-order personality trait of Neuroticism and the lower-order personality trait of Emotional Intelligence (trait EI) in the context of foreign language acquisition (FLA). A mediation model was applied to explore the pathway from Neuroticism via trait EI to self-rated L2 skills. The reported results show that the trait EI is not only a significant predictor of the self-reported L2 speaking proficiency, but also a mediator in the relationship between Neuroticism and self-rated L2 speaking proficiency. Consequently, trait EI could be regarded as an important variable in the FLA context because its positive impact on self-perceived L2 speaking skills might diminish the negative influence of Neuroticism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of fine and ultrafine recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) on road construction still lacks investigation. This study investigates the properties of fine and ultrafine RCA, further, the influence of the different proportions of ultrafine RCA on the long-term performance of the designed matrix. The fine and ultrafine RCA are thoroughly characterized. Simultaneously, the mechanical properties, shrinkage properties, and water penetration of the designed matrix are evaluated. The results indicate that RCA shows low density, high porosity, and high water absorption. Furthermore, elevated ultrafine RCA contents result in higher compressive strength of up to 43.14% at 90 days and higher resistance of water penetration of up to 50% at 28 days due to the refined microstructure. However, higher drying shrinkage is observed with higher ultrafine RCA, which is associated with the high water absorption of the ultrafine RCA. The understanding of the utilization of ultrafine RCA in the construction of road base courses has been explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, large amounts of construction and demolition waste (CDW) have been generated and accumulated throughout Europe, which is a challenge to manage and control nowadays. This work shows the results of a study carried out with samples of ceramic recycled aggregates (CRAs) and recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs) mixed with cement (C) in mortars. The main objective of this research is to demonstrate how, by adding CRAs and RCAs to a mixture of cement and natural aggregate (NA), it is possible to develop a high-strength mortar and achieve the best mixing ratio. To achieve these objectives, the characterization of the samples was initially carried out such as XRF, XRD and SEM. Next, tests were carried out on the products obtained, such as the consistency of the fresh mortar and the density of the specimens. Finally, a study of mechanical compressive strength was performed at 7, 28 and 200 days. The results show that although both CRAs and RCAs negatively affect the curing process of the specimens, it is possible to develop mortars with compressive strengths greater than 20 MPa. An obvious increase in mechanical compressive strengths was seen between 7 and 200 days of analysis. The results achieved in this research could be an important guide for the management of CDWs by local industries, thus favouring the development of the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]