Combined Corrosion Inhibitors and Mechanical Properties of Concrete Embedded Steel (AISI 316L) during Accelerated Saline Corrosion Test

The objective of this effort is to study the effect that the combination of fly ash (FA) with a liquid corrosion inhibitor has on the mechanical degradation of 316L rebars embedded in concrete specimens during salt fog testing for a period of four months, as well as the porosity of concrete. Partial replacement of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) by FA (0–25%) did not significantly affect the tensile properties of 316L except a small decrease in the elastic modulus and % elongation with FA increasing. Both FA and FA-liquid inhibitor combination resulted in significant reductions in the porosity of the reinforced concrete after 4 m of salt fog testing.

Convex Optimization for Distributed Acoustic Beamforming

<p>Beamforming filter optimization can be performed over a distributed wireless sensor network, but the output calculation remains either centralized or linked in time to the weights optimization. We propose a distributed method for calculating the beamformer output which is independent of the filter optimization. The new method trades a small decrease in signal to noise performance for a large decrease in transmission power. Background is given on distributed convex optimization and acoustic beamforming. The new model is described with analysis of its behaviour under independent noise. Simulation results demonstrate the desirable properties of the new model in comparison with centralized output computation.</p>

Convex Optimization for Distributed Acoustic Beamforming

<p>Beamforming filter optimization can be performed over a distributed wireless sensor network, but the output calculation remains either centralized or linked in time to the weights optimization. We propose a distributed method for calculating the beamformer output which is independent of the filter optimization. The new method trades a small decrease in signal to noise performance for a large decrease in transmission power. Background is given on distributed convex optimization and acoustic beamforming. The new model is described with analysis of its behaviour under independent noise. Simulation results demonstrate the desirable properties of the new model in comparison with centralized output computation.</p>

P157 EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS IN HERNIA FIELD

Aim The increase in the number of publications in the hernia field has been higher than the most of our areas of surgery. COVID-19 pandemics has affected many elective surgical procedures like hernia repairs. We assumed that the declines in case volumes might cause some falls in related publications, and searched the literature in order to find the number of herniology publications before and during the pandemic. Material and Methods A systematic PUBMED search was done for three consecutive decades “1991-2000”, “2001-2010” and “2011-2020” by using the key words “inguinal and hernia”, “umbilical and hernia”, “incisional and hernia”, “mesh and hernia”, “laparoscopic and hernia”, “robotic and hernia”, and “experimental and hernia”. Later, a comparison of years 2019 and 202o was done. Results Although increases were detected for all searches with the key words, the largest rise was seen in publications related to “robotic and hernia”. Some undulations were recorded during the years, but the number of publications showed obvious increases decade by decade. A very small decrease was found in the number of publications for “experimental and hernia” only, however all other searches presented increases during the first year of the pandemic, 2020 in comparison with 2019. Conclusions The increases in the number of publications in hernia field continued during the last decade. COVID-19 pandemic did not cause a decrease in these publications the first year. We assume that year 2021 can be a more correct criteria in order to observe the potentially negative effect of the pandemic.

Effects of Acute Heat and Cold Exposures at Rest or during Exercise on Subsequent Energy Intake: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the effect of acute heat/cold exposure on subsequent energy intake (EI) in adults. We searched the following sources for publications on this topic: PubMed, Ovid Medline, Science Direct and SPORTDiscus. The eligibility criteria for study selection were: randomized controlled trials performed in adults (169 men and 30 women; 20–52 years old) comparing EI at one or more meals taken ad libitum, during and/or after exposure to heat/cold and thermoneutral conditions. One of several exercise sessions could be realized before or during thermal exposures. Two of the thirteen studies included examined the effect of heat (one during exercise and one during exercise and at rest), eight investigated the effect of cold (six during exercise and two at rest), and three the effect of both heat and cold (two during exercise and one at rest). The meta-analysis revealed a small increase in EI in cold conditions (g = 0.44; p = 0.019) and a small decrease in hot conditions (g = −0.39, p = 0.022) for exposure during both rest and exercise. Exposures to heat and cold altered EI in opposite ways, with heat decreasing EI and cold increasing it. The effect of exercise remains unclear.

Exercise under Exposure to Air Pollution and Spirometry in Healthy Adults with and without Allergy

Ambient air pollution is a major environmental threat to human health. The acute effects of exposure to ambient air pollution during physical exercise may depend on allergy status. The aim of the study was to assess the acute respiratory responses to air pollution exposure during physical training in young adults with and without allergies. The studied group included 71 healthy young adults (n = 16 with allergy and n = 55 without allergy). Students completed two indoor physical training trials lasting 45–60 min: when air pollutants concentrations were high (exposure trial) and low (control trial). During each trial, we monitored outdoor and indoor environmental conditions. Participants performed spirometry at baseline and directly after the exercise. Exercise during exposure trials led to a small decrease in the percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ref). Only during the control trials did the FEV1/forced vital capacity quotient (FEV1/FVC) statistically significantly increase. Moreover, just in the allergy group, there were statistically significant negative correlations between post-exercise FEV1/FVC change and 3 h average outdoor particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 µm (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations (PM10: r = −0.54, p = 0.02, NO2: r = −0.60, p = 0.02). In young and healthy adults, sports training under exposure to high levels of ambient air pollutants leads to a small decrease in FEV1. The allergy might be a modifying factor in the respiratory responses to air pollution. Post-exercise decrease in FEV1/FVC was related to pre-exercise 3 h averages of PM10 and NO2 only in people with ever-diagnosed upper-respiratory allergy.

Does the amount of formal care affect informal care? Evidence among over-60s in France

This paper investigates the causal effect of the amount of formal care used on the informal care received by formal care users. We use an original instrument for formal care volume based on local disparities (NUTS 3 level, 96 units) in the price of formal care. Using the French CARE survey, we use a two-part model to assess the effect of formal care on the extensive and the intensive margin of informal care. An increase in the amount of formal care is found to be associated with a small decrease in the probability of using informal care. Heterogeneity tests show that this negative effect is mainly driven by help for daily activities provided by women. At the intensive margin, informal care is not significantly affected by the amount of formal care. Reforms increasing subsidies for formal care can thus be suspected to have a limited effect on informal care arrangements.

Abstract MP20: Optogenetic Control Of Pip2 To Assess Mechanisms Regulating The Epithelial Sodium Channel

The epithelial Na + channel (ENaC) plays a key role in Na + transport in epithelial linings to include the lung, colon and kidney. In the distal kidney tubules, ENaC regulates Na + reabsorption and blood volume. Thus, dysfunctions in signaling pathways regulating ENaC activity are linked to hypertension or hypotension. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 ) is a target of the G protein coupled receptor P2Y2 pathway, and is necessary for the proper function of ENaC. This nonvoltage-gated trimeric channel is comprised of α, β, and γ subunits. We recently described two intracellular PIP 2 binding sites on the N termini of β-, and γ-ENaC, with moderate μM affinity. Here, we report the functional effects on ENaC containing a combination of mutations to those PIP 2 binding sites, by controlled depletion of PIP 2 . We used a CIBN/CRY2-5-ptase optogenetic dimerization system to deplete PIP 2 levels in HEK293 cells transiently expressing wild type (wt) ENaC or the mutant ENaC constructs. A fluorescent Na + indicator, was used to monitor ENaC activity by tracking the relative intracellular Na + levels. Upon optogenetic-controlled depletion of PIP 2 , Na + levels decreased in cells expressing wt ENaC. Mutations to the PIP 2 sites of ENaC were expected to have no change in Na + levels upon PIP 2 depletion due to the disruption of PIP 2 binding. As a control, mutations to non-PIP 2 binding sites were included, and were expected to have decreased Na + levels similar to wt ENaC. Interestingly, mutation of each independent PIP 2 site resulted in only a small decrease of intracellular Na + , compared to wt ENaC. However, mutations throughout the entire N-terminus of β-ENaC, including the PIP 2 binding site, resulted in a significant increase of Na + upon PIP 2 depletion. We performed patch clamp electrophysiology and found that the ENaC recordings corresponded to the Na + fluctuations. These data suggest that the residues surrounding the PIP 2 binding sites play a significant role in the affinity of PIP 2 for ENaC. The role of these other domains in PIP 2 binding is still under investigation.

Tetramethylguanidine-functionalized melamine as a multifunctional organocatalyst for the expeditious synthesis of 1,2,4-triazoloquinazolinones

Novel nano-ordered 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine-functionalized melamine (Melamine@TMG) organocatalyst was prepared and adequately identified by various techniques including FTIR, EDX, XRD and SEM spectroscopic or microscopic methods as well as TGA and DTG analytical methods. The Melamine@TMG, as an effective multifunctional organocatalyst, was found to promote smoothly the three-component synthesis of 1,2,4-triazoloquinazolinone derivatives using cyclic dimedone, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and different benzaldehyde derivatives in EtOH at 40 °C. This practical method afforded the desired products in high to excellent yields (86–99%) and short reaction times (10–25 min). The main advantages of this new method are the use of heterogeneous multifunctional nanocatalyst, simple work-up procedure with no need for chromatographic purification, highly selective conversion of substrates and recyclability of the catalyst, which could be used in five consecutive runs with only a small decrease in its activity.

The Soundscape of the COVID-19 Lockdown: Barcelona Noise Monitoring Network Case Study

The lockdown social measures in Spain due to COVID-19 caused a significant decrease in urban noise levels, which was observed in most of the large cities. This paper presents an analysis of the noise levels in Barcelona, Spain, by means of an accurate analysis of the most relevant sensors deployed in the Barcelona Noise Monitoring Network. In this work, we present the LAeq levels in eight different locations from January 2020 to June 2020—from Superblocks to industrial zones—including and detailing all stages of the lockdown. Several comparisons were conducted with the monitoring data available from the former years (2019 and 2018—when available). The results of the analysis in Barcelona show a drastic LAeq reduction (−9 dBA), especially in nightlife areas of the city, moderate to high LAeq change (−7 dBA) in commercial and restaurants areas and a small decrease in LAeq (−5 dBA) in dense traffic areas.