Performance Evaluation of Plastic Concrete Modified with E-Waste Plastic as a Partial Replacement of Coarse Aggregate

Plastic electronic waste (E-waste) is constantly growing around the world owing to the rapid increase in industrialization, urbanization, and population. The current annual production rate of E-waste is 3–4% in the world and is expected to increase to 55 million tons per year by 2025. To reduce the detrimental impact on the environment and save natural resources, one of the best solutions is to incorporate waste plastic in the construction industry to produce green concrete. This study examines the use of manufactured plastic coarse aggregate (PCA) obtained from E-waste as a partial replacement of natural coarse aggregate (NCA) in concrete. Six types of concrete mix with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% substitution of NCA (by volume) with PCA are prepared and tested. This study investigates the effect of manufactured PCA on the fresh and hardened characteristics of concrete. The properties of recycled plastic aggregate concrete (RPAC) studied include workability, fresh density, dry density, compressive strength (CS), splitting tensile strength (STS), flexural strength (FS), sorptivity coefficient, abrasion resistance, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and alternate wetting and drying (W–D). The results indicate that the CS, STS, and FS of RPAC declined in the range of 9.9–52.7%, 7.8–47.5%, and 11–39.4%, respectively, for substitution ratios of 10–50%. However, the results also indicate that the incorporation of PCA (10–50%) improved the workability and durability characteristics of concrete. A significant decrement in the sorptivity coefficient, abrasion loss, and UPV value was observed with an increasing amount of PCA. Furthermore, RPAC containing different percentages of PCA revealed better results against alternate W–D cycles with respect to ordinary concrete.

AGEs and sRAGE Variations at Different Timepoints in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are affected by enhanced oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, and these factors may contribute to increase advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). In this study we quantified AGEs and soluble receptors for AGE (sRAGE) isoforms and evaluated the association between their variations and eGFR at baseline and after 12 months. We evaluated 64 patients. AGEs were quantified by fluorescence intensity using a fluorescence spectrophotometer, and sRAGE by ELISA. Median age was 81 years, male patients accounted for 70%, 63% were diabetic, and eGFR was 27 ± 10 mL/min/1.73 m2. At follow up, sRAGE isoforms underwent a significant decrement (1679 [1393;2038] vs. 1442 [1117;2102], p < 0.0001), while AGEs/sRAGE ratios were increased (1.77 ± 0.92 vs. 2.24 ± 1.34, p = 0.004). Although AGEs and AGEs/sRAGE ratios were inversely related with eGFR, their basal values as well their variations did not show a significant association with eGFR changes. In a cohort of patients with a stable clinical condition at 1 year follow-up, AGEs/sRAGE was associated with renal function. The lack of association with eGFR suggests that other factors can influence its increase. In conclusion, AGEs/sRAGE can be an additional risk factor for CKD progression over a longer time, but its role as a prognostic tool needs further investigation.

Sex differences in power decrement identified across the lifespan

Muscular power has been shown to be a significant predictor of physical function in older adults, but assessments of power have traditionally been performed in movements not specific to activities of daily living (ADLs). Recent research examined power in the context of ADL-specific movements, but it is unclear how ADL-specific lower-body power differs over lifespan in males and females. This investigation sought to describe ADL-specific power decline across the lifespan and analyze differences between the sexes. Adults (n = 557) aged 18-89 volunteered and were divided into age cohorts (18-30, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80-89 years). Participants performed a sit-to-stand (STS) task with as much velocity as possible while connected to a linear position transducer (LPT). The LPT calculated average and peak power. The average result of 5 individual STS trials was analyzed for each of the power variables. The first significant decrement in average STS power (p &lt; .01) was observed at an earlier age cohort in males than females (60-69 in males vs. 70-79 in females). The per decade magnitude of power decrement after age 60 was larger in males than females in both absolute magnitude and percent decrease (11.74 vs. 10.09% decrease per decade). As power and physical function are correlated, this may have implications for the rate and age of functional decline in males. Additionally, understanding the differences in ADL-specific power decline between males and females gives clinicians and health professionals valuable information for developing preventative fitness paradigms specific to members of a given sex.

Experimental Model for Studying the Prefrontal EEG Biomarkers in Correlation with Food Intake Behavior: Neurofeedback Platform

Background: This study aims to investigate the effects of visual neurofeedback stimulation on the brain activity in overweight cases. The neuroscience studies indicated the personal decision about eating under the impact of environmental factors such as (visually, smelling, tasting) is related to neural activity of the prefrontal lobe of the brain. Therefore, there were many attempts to modify the food intake behavior in overweight cases through the stimulation of the prefrontal cortex. However, the empirical viewing of EEG-neurofeedback experiments has not explicated the details about the effect of the EEG-NF, the specificity of positive treatment effects remains in a challenging scope.Methods: This study is a cue-exposure EEG-NF experiment to verify the hypothesis of effecting the EEG-NF on the electrical activity of PFC and modifying the general symptoms of food intake behavior in overweight cases. Twenty-four individuals were recruited as participants for this study. These participants were assigned randomly into two groups; the EX-Group (N=12) enrolled in 8 sessions of the EEG-NF experiment, and the C-Group (N=12) was listed in no EEG-NF sessions. The participants provided researchers with a self-report questionnaire relating to their observation of general symptoms of food intake behavior, and EEG signals recordings into the pre and posts stimulation phase. The power spectral density (PSD) method was applied for EEG parameters extraction.Results: The results of a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) explained that a significant variation in variables between the two groups after the EEG-NF experiment. The analysis of the quantitative variables indicated that the effect of EEG-NF experiment was a significant decrement in EEG power bands which significantly influenced changing the median of self-report questionnaire responses that is related to general symptoms of food intake behavior.Conclusions: This study provides preliminary support for the therapeutic potential of EEG-NF experiment that targets the prefrontal cortex, to influence neural processes underlying food intake behavior in overweight cases.

Role of intra-abdominal pressure monitoring in the management of patients with blunt injury abdomen

Background: Blunt injury abdomen is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in spite of improved recognition, diagnosis and management. The aim was to study the role of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) monitoring in the management of patients with blunt injury abdomen.Methods: Hospital based prospective observational study in 77 patients who presented to emergency medicine department with blunt injury abdomen for over a period of 22 months. Age ≥18 years, patients with acute blunt injury abdomen are included in study.Results: Our study population (77 patients) were a group of patients who presented with blunt injury to abdomen, out of which 66 were male (85.70%), 11 were female (14.30%). Most common age group involved in our study was 20-30 years, mean time of presentation to the hospital was 7.40 hours. SBP, DBP, SpO2 decreased significantly as IAP increases. P. R., R. R. increased significantly as IAP increases. U/O decreased significantly as IAP increases. Sr. Cr, B.U. increased significantly as IAP increases. Surgical abdominal decompression had helped in all operated patients to get statistically significant decrement of IAP during initial post-operative hours. 12 patients required ventilator support in surgically intervened group. Mean duration of hospital stay was 8.025 days. Mortality rate in our study was 3.9%.Conclusions: Before development of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), the potential candidates should be offered surgical decompression at proper time.

Treatment Efficacy with a Novel Hyaluronic Acid-Based Hydrogel for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Background: Prior trials investigating the treatment of symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) with hyaluronic-acid-derived products injections have provided optimistic results. The study was directed to assess the effectiveness of an innovative hyaluronic-acid-based hydrogel (Hymovis®) in the treatment of symptomatic knee OA. Methods: A prospective, single-center, clinical trial was performed. Thirty-five patients with degenerative knee OA were included. Inclusion criteria were: age between 45–80, radiographic Kellgren grade II or III osteoarthritis, minimum 35 mm score on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), pain for at least 6 months and agreement to participate in the study. Patients received two injections at a one-week interval. The evaluator assessed the patients using the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and VAS. Evaluation was performed before, at 2 and 6 months after the injections. Results: A significant improvement on the WOMAC Index pain subscale was observed at 6 months after the injection. At two months, pain subscale score decreased from 10.34 to 9.34. At six months, a significant decrement in pain parameters compared to baseline was observed (from 10.34 to 7.72; p = 0.0004). Median points on VAS significantly ameliorated after 6 months (from 74.2 to 57.3 cm; p < 0.0001). Regarding physical function, a statistically significant difference compared to baseline was observed at the end of the study (from 29.74 to 25.18; p = 0.0025). WOMAC Index stiffness component did not differ from baseline at any time during follow-up. Conclusions: Pain relief installed with a delayed on-set but had a prolonged duration. The novel hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel (Hymovis®) had effective results, particularly after six months post-injections and offers a therapeutic advancement in the treatment of moderate to severe osteoarthritis.

Adolescents with cancer on privacy: Fact-finding survey on the need for confidentiality and space

Background: Cancer diagnosis and related treatment can limit young patients’ privacy. Their need for private physical and psychological spaces can be impeded by limited freedom, e.g., sharing hospital rooms with others and exposing their body to their parents and doctors. Methods: We conducted a survey among young patients of our center to investigate how their perception of privacy changed after being diagnosed with cancer and their need for hospital dedicated physical spaces and time for patients to enjoy their privacy. A questionnaire with 16 items was developed by the staff involving psychologists and physicians. The relevance of changes before and after the cancer diagnosis was assessed by calculating two scores indicating the situation before and after diagnosis for each answer, as well as a delta score. Results: Between May and June 2020, the questionnaire was completed by 60 patients aged 16–24 years. The median delta scores describing the changes before and after diagnosis were −8 points for perception of privacy, indicating a significant decrement of the level of privacy perceived. A major issue was the constant presence of parents being perceived as intrusive. Concerning hospital dedicated physical spaces and time for patients to enjoy their privacy, respondents requested dedicated spaces (50% of patients) and opportunities to have private interviews with medical personnel (88%). Conclusions: Our study offers a snapshot of how young people with cancer perceive the impact of the disease and its treatment on their privacy with the restrictions imposed on their individual freedom. Patients’ personal needs must be taken into consideration to adopt appropriate measures and better organize wards.

Spermatotoxic Effects of Single-Walled and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on Male Mice

Carbon-based nanomaterials possess a remarkably high potential for biomedical applications due to their physical properties; however, their detrimental effects on reproduction are also concerned. Several reports indicate the toxicity of carbon nanotubes (CNT); nevertheless, their impact on intracellular organelles in the male reproductive organs has not been fully elucidated. Herein, we report on the reprotoxicity of single-walled (SWCNT) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCN) on several intracellular events and histological criteria in pubertal male BALB/c mice orally treated with 0, 10, and 50 mg/kg/day doses for 5 weeks. Biomarkers of oxidative stress and mitochondrial functionality, histopathological alterations, and epididymal sperm characteristics were determined. Oral administration of CNTs at 10 and 50 mg/kg evoked a significant decrement in weight coefficient, sperm viability and motility, hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test, sperm count, mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity, ATP content, total antioxidant capacity, and GSH/GSSH ratio in the testis and epididymal spermatozoa. On the other hand, percent abnormal sperm, testicular and sperm TBARS contents, protein carbonylation, ROS formation, oxidized glutathione level, and sperm mitochondrial depolarization were considerably increased. Significant histopathological and stereological alterations in the testis occurred in the groups challenged with CNTs. The current findings indicated that oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment might substantially impact CNTs-induced reproductive system injury and sperm toxicity. The results can also be used to establish environmental standards for CNT consumption by mammals, produce new chemicals for controlling the rodent populations, and develop therapeutic approaches against CNTs-associated reproductive anomalies in the males exposed daily to these nanoparticles.

COL1A1 polymorphism and neurological complications in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients and their associations with altered bone mineral density

Background Osteoporosis and neurological complications are consequences of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Collagen type I alpha 1 gene (COL1A1) polymorphism is associated with osteoporosis. This study aimed to detect the COL1A1 polymorphism and the neurological complications in ALL patients and their association with decreased lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMDLS). This study included 100 pediatric ALL patients and 100 controls. All participants were subjected to laboratory assessment and assessment of BMDLS at the start of the study and 3 years later. COLIA1 genotyping was done once for all participants. Results At the start of the study, there was a significant decrease in osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and BMDLS levels in the patients. G/T variants and “T” alleles were significantly more detected in the patients (34% and 35% respectively); also, significant differences were detected between patients with polymorphism (G/T and T/T) and those without polymorphism (G/G) regarding OC, ALP, and BMDLS. After 3 years, significant decrement in BMDLS, OC, and ALP was detected in the patients. Twenty-four patients had neurological complications and seven patients had bone fractures. Those patients had significant decrement in BMDLS, OC, and ALP levels. As regards COL1A1 gene polymorphism, the GT and TT variants were significantly detected in fractured patients, while there was no significant difference regarding GT and TT variants in the patients with neurological complications. T allele, neurological complications, high-risk stratification, and age were significantly associated with decreased BMDLS. T allele was the most significant risk factor. Conclusion COLIA1 gene polymorphism, decreased BMDLS, and neurological complications were significantly detected in pediatric ALL patients. COLIA1 gene polymorphism is a significant risk factor for decreased BMDLS in pediatric ALL patients. There is no significant relation between COLIA1 gene polymorphism and the development of neurologic complications.

The variance of lymphatic vascular invasion (LVI) diagnosis and its impact on overall survival(OS) independent of node stage in patients undergoing surgical resection on NSCLC.

e21060 Background: The criteria for diagnosis of lymphatic vascular invasion(LVI) have not been standardized. Our investigation uses the National Cancer Database(NCDB) to assess the impact of this factor on survival(OS) and whether there are differences in the diagnosis of LVI based upon institution type and regional location in patients undergoing definitive resection. Methods: The NCDB was queried from the years 2010-2014 to find a patient population who underwent (bi)lobectomy with at least ten lymph nodes examined. Multivariable analysis was used to find factors associated with diagnosis of LVI, and the impact of LVI on OS. Propensity score matching(PSM) was used to adjust for bias in diagnosing LVI while testing the impact of LVI on OS. Results: 18,057 patients were eligible for our study with a median follow-up of (36.1 months). LVI status was determined in 91.8%. 19.1% of surgical specimens were found to be LVI positive. 2,323 patients had positive nodes with 50.8% of specimens having LVI, while 14.0% of specimens with negative nodes had LVI. Academic medical centers(AC); Medical centers associated with populations > 1,000,000(1M); and Mid-Atlantic(MA) region had higher rates of LVI(all p values < 0.0001, AC 22.7% vs 16.5%, OR = 1.49; 1M 21.1% vs 16.8%, OR = 1.32; MA 27.6% vs 17.1%, OR = 1.85), and higher rates of LVI associated with positive nodes (all p values < 0.0001, AC 34.6% vs 7.9%, OR = 6.14; 1M 36.4% vs 7.7%, OR = 6.82; MA 31.0% vs 6.2%, OR = 6.76). LVI was most frequently diagnosed in the MA region and least frequently found in the Mountain location( 27.6% vs 12.2%, OR = 2.73). LVI was associated with a significant decrement in OS that was independent of institution type, regional population, and institution location. PSM demonstrated that LVI was associated with a decrement in OS to the same degree per each nodal stage(N0,N1,N2) (p < 0.0001, HRs = 1.21 N0, 1.26 N1, 1.18 N2). Conclusions: LVI diagnosis and its association with positive nodes varies based upon hospital location/type and population. LVI was associated with a decrement in OS that was independent of N-Stage. LVI must be standardized and considered as a prognostic factor for staging cancer patients.