Thermal Properties of Illite-Zeolite Mixtures up to 1100 °C

Illitic clays are the commonly used material in building ceramics. Zeolites are microporous, hydrated crystalline aluminosilicates, they are widely used due to their structure and absorption properties. In this study, illitic clay (Füzérradvány, Hungary) was mixed with natural zeolite (Nižný Hrabovec, Slovakia) with up to 50 wt.% of zeolite content. The samples were submitted to thermal analyses, such as differential thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, and dilatometry. In addition, the evolution of thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity in the heating stage of firing were measured and discussed. The amount of the physically bound water in the samples increased along with the amount of zeolite. The temperature of the illite dehydroxylation (peak temperature) was slightly shifted to lower temperatures, from 609 °C to 575 °C (for sample IZ50). On the other hand, the mass loss and the shrinkage of the samples significantly increased with the zeolite content in the samples. Sample IZ50 reached 10.8% shrinkage, while the sample prepared only from the illitic clay contracted by 5.8%. Nevertheless, the temperature of the beginning of the sintering (taken from the dilatometric curves) decreased from 1021 °C (for illitic clay) to 1005 °C (for IZ50). The thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity values decreased as the amount of zeolite increased in the samples, thus showing promising thermal insulating properties.     

Evaluation of 5‐Year Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Patients after Acute Myocardial Infarction Using Synchronization of 0.1‐Hz Rhythms in Cardiovascular System

Background: Synchronization between 0.1‐Hz rhythms in cardiovascular system is deteriorated at acute myocardial infarction (AMI) leading to a disruption of natural functional couplings within the system of autonomic regulation. Objective: This study evaluates the prognostic value of autonomic regulation indices for the 5‐year risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events in patients after AMI. Methods and Results: We studied 125 patients (53 [42%] female) after AMI aged between 30 and 83 years. The period of observation was 5 years with checkpoints at the first week after AMI and after each year after AMI. We compared the prognostic value of established clinical characteristics and degree S of synchronization between 0.1‐Hz rhythms in heart rate and microcirculation for evaluation of the 5‐year risk of mortality and recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) in patients after AMI. Acute heart failure Killip 2–4 at AMI and S < 20% at the first week after AMI were identified as the most important factors for evaluation of the risk of 5‐year mortality in patients after AMI (χ²= 14.2, P = 0.003). Sensitivity and specificity of low S (<20%) at the first week after AMI were 76% and 43%, respectively. For evaluation of the 5‐year risk of recurrent MI index S had no advantage over established clinical characteristics. Conclusion: The value of S below 20% in patients with AMI is a sensitive marker of high risk of mortality during the subsequent five years. It is characterized by better prognostic value than most of established clinical characteristics.     

Use of the Location-Based Social Networking Application GRINDR as a Recruitment Tool in Rectal Microbicide Development Research

Mobile phone social networking applications such as GRINDR are potential tools for recruitment of men who have sex with men (MSM) for HIV prevention research. Demographics and sexual risk behaviors of men recruited through GRINDR and through traditional media were compared. GRINDR participants were younger (mean age 31 vs. 42, p?<?0.0001), more White identified (44 vs. 30?%, p?<?0.01), and had more sex partners in the previous 14 days (1.88 vs. 1.10, p?<?0.05) than other recruits. Email responses were less successful for enrollment than phone calls (5 vs. 50?%). This approach resulted in successful recruitment of younger and more educated, White identified MSM.     

The prevalence and management of heart failure in Dutch nursing homes; design of a multi-centre cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Heart failure is likely to be particularly prevalent in the nursing home population, but reliable data about the prevalence of heart failure in nursing homes are lacking. Therefore the aims of this study are to investigate (a) the prevalence and management of heart failure in nursing home residents and (b) the relation between heart failure and care dependency as well as heart failure and quality of life in nursing home residents METHODS: Nursing home residents in the southern part of the Netherlands, aged over 65 years and receiving long-term somatic or psychogeriatric care will be included in the study. A panel of two cardiologists and a geriatrician will diagnose heart failure based on data collected from actual clinical examinations (including history, physical examination, ECG, cardiac markers and echocardiography), patient records and questionnaires. Care dependency will be measured using the Care Dependency Scale. To measure the quality of life of the participating residents, the Qualidem will be used for psychogeriatric residents and the SF-12 and VAS for somatic residents. CONCLUSION: The study will provide an insight into the actual prevalence and management of heart failure in nursing home residents as well as their quality of life and care dependency. Trial registration: Dutch trial register NTR2663.     

Acceptability of Potential Rectal Microbicide Delivery Systems for HIV Prevention: A Randomized Crossover Trial

We assessed the acceptability of three of over-the-counter products representative of potential rectal microbicide (RM) delivery systems. From 2009 to 2010, 117 HIV-uninfected males (79 %) and females (21 %) who engage in receptive anal intercourse participated in a 6-week randomized crossover acceptability trial. Participants received each of three products (enema, lubricant-filled applicator, suppository) every 2 weeks in a randomized sequence. CASI and T-ACASI scales assessed product acceptability via Likert responses. Factor analysis was used to identify underlying factors measured by each scale. Random effects models were fit to examine age and gender effects on product acceptability. Three underlying factors were identified: Satisfaction with Product Use, Sexual Pleasure, and Ease of Product Use. For acceptability, the applicator ranked highest; however, differences between product acceptability scores were greatest among females and younger participants. These findings indicate that RM delivery systems impact their acceptability and should be considered early in RM development to enhance potential use.     

Considerations on the EU definition of a nanomaterial: Science to support policy making

In recent years, an increasing number of applications and products containing or using nanomaterials have become available. This has raised concerns that some of these materials may introduce new risks for humans or the environment. A clear definition to discriminate nanomaterials from other materials is prerequisite to include provisions for nanomaterials in legislation. In October 2011 the European Commission published the ‘Recommendation on the definition of a nanomaterial’, primarily intended to provide unambiguous criteria to identify materials for which special regulatory provisions might apply, but also to promote consistency on the interpretation of the term ‘nanomaterial’. In this paper, the current status of various regulatory frameworks of the European Union with regard to nanomaterials is described, and major issues relevant for regulation of nanomaterials are discussed. This will contribute to better understanding the implications of the choices policy makers have to make in further regulation of nanomaterials. Potential issues that need to be addressed and areas of research in which science can contribute are indicated. These issues include awareness on situations in which nano-related risks may occur for materials that fall outside the definition, guidance and further development of measurement techniques, and dealing with changes during the life cycle.     

Profiling the Tox21 Chemical Collection for Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition

Background: Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a biomarker of organophosphorous and carbamate exposure in environmental and occupational human health, has been commonly used to identify potential safety liabilities. So far, many environmental chemicals, including drug candidates, food additives, and industrial chemicals, have not been thoroughly evaluated for their inhibitory effects on AChE activity. AChE inhibitors can have therapeutic applications (e.g., tacrine and donepezil) or neurotoxic consequences (e.g., insecticides and nerve agents).Objectives: The objective of the current study was to identify environmental chemicals that inhibit AChE activity using in vitro and in silico models.Methods: To identify AChE inhibitors rapidly and efficiently, we have screened the Toxicology in the 21st Century (Tox21) 10K compound library in a quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) platform by using the homogenous cell-based AChE inhibition assay and enzyme-based AChE inhibition assays (with or without microsomes). AChE inhibitors identified from the primary screening were further tested in monolayer or spheroid formed by SH-SY5Y and neural stem cell models. The inhibition and binding modes of these identified compounds were studied with time-dependent enzyme-based AChE inhibition assay and molecular docking, respectively.Results: A group of known AChE inhibitors, such as donepezil, ambenonium dichloride, and tacrine hydrochloride, as well as many previously unreported AChE inhibitors, such as chelerythrine chloride and cilostazol, were identified in this study. Many of these compounds, such as pyrazophos, phosalone, and triazophos, needed metabolic activation. This study identified both reversible (e.g., donepezil and tacrine) and irreversible inhibitors (e.g., chlorpyrifos and bromophos-ethyl). Molecular docking analyses were performed to explain the relative inhibitory potency of selected compounds.Conclusions: Our tiered qHTS approach allowed us to generate a robust and reliable data set to evaluate large sets of environmental compounds for their AChE inhibitory activity. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6993     

Nonagenarian Siblings and Their Offspring Display Lower Risk of Mortality and Morbidity than Sporadic Nonagenarians: The Leiden Longevity Study

OBJECTIVES: To compare the risk of mortality of nonagenarian siblings with that of sporadic nonagenarians (not selected on having a nonagenarian sibling) and to compare the prevalence of morbidity in their offspring with that of the offsprings' partners.
DESIGN: Longitudinal (mortality risk) and cross-sectional (disease prevalence).
SETTING: Nationwide sample.
PARTICIPANTS: The Leiden Longevity Study consists of 991 nonagenarian siblings derived from 420 Caucasian families, 1,365 of their offspring, and 621 of the offsprings' partners. In the Leiden 85-plus Study, 599 subjects aged 85 were included, of whom 275 attained the age of 90 (sporadic nonagenarians).
MEASUREMENTS: All nonagenarian siblings and sporadic nonagenarians were followed for mortality (with a mean±standard deviation follow-up time of 2.7±1.4 years and 3.0±1.5 years, respectively). Information on medical history and medication use was collected for offspring and their partners.
RESULTS: Nonagenarian siblings had a 41% lower risk of mortality ( P <.001) than sporadic nonagenarians. The offspring of nonagenarian siblings had a lower prevalence of myocardial infarction (2.4% vs 4.1%, P =.03), hypertension (23.0% vs 27.5%, P =.01), diabetes mellitus (4.4% vs 7.6%, P =.004), and use of cardiovascular medication (23.0% vs 28.9%, P =.003) than their partners.
CONCLUSION: The lower mortality rate of nonagenarian siblings and lower prevalence of morbidity in their middle-aged offspring reinforce the notion that resilience against disease and death have similar underlying biology that is determined by genetic or familial factors.