Valorization of quartz powder for drying shrinkage and carbonation resistance of alkali-activated slag cement.

Alkali-activated slag (AAS) cement is one type of alkali-activated binders free from Portland cement. The main problems of this type of cement are its high drying shrinkage and low carbonation resistance that hinder its wide use. In the current paper, the authors tried to suppress this high drying shrinkage and enhance the carbonation resistance of this type of binder by incorporating quartz powder (QP). For that reason, slag was partially replaced with QP at ratios of 10-30 wt%. The flowability of each mixture was measured using a hand-driven flow table. The initial reading of drying shrinkage was monitored after 24 h from casting and continued up to 90 days. After initial curing, some specimens were exposed to atmospheric natural carbonation for one year, whilst the remaining specimens were sealed and used as references. Different techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis and its derivative (TGA/DTG), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the results. The results showed that the incorporation of QP in the matrix increased the flowability and compressive strength, decreased the drying shrinkage, increased the carbonation resistance, and refined the microstructure.

Second Primary Neoplasms in Patients With Sebaceous Carcinoma of the Eyelid: A Population-based Study, 2000 to 2016.

PURPOSE: To investigate the risk of second primary neoplasms (SPNs) after primary sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid (SCE). METHODS: Data on patients diagnosed with primary SCE as their first malignancy were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 2000 to 2016. Observed-to-expected ratios of SPNs were calculated to estimate standardized incidence ratios (SIRs). Patients were compared with a reference population (RP) matched for age, gender, and race. RESULTS: Five hundred fifty-nine patients with primary SCE were identified, 16% of whom developed SPNs. SCE patients displayed a 61% increased risk of developing SPNs compared with the RP (p < 0.001). Overall, the risk of SPNs of the lungs (SIR = 1.82; p < 0.05), pancreas (SIR = 2.94; p < 0.05), salivary glands (SIR = 41.65; p < 0.001), and skin (SIR = 8.33; p < 0.05) was elevated. Only non-Hispanic Whites were at an increased risk (SIR = 1.51; p < 0.05). Patients 40-54 years old at the time of diagnosis were at the highest risk of developing SPNs compared with the RP (SIR = 3.15; p < 0.05). Women with SCE experienced an increased risk of breast cancer (SIR = 3.6; p < 0.05) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (SIR = 8.8; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: SCE patients are more likely to develop SPNs of the lungs, pancreas, salivary gland, and skin than the RP. Forty to fifty-four years old Caucasian patients are at the highest risk. Women are at an increased risk of developing breast malignancies and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clinicians should be cognizant of these risks when managing SCE patients.

Optimizing the Growth, Health, Reproductive Performance, and Gonadal Histology of Broodstock Fantail Goldfish (Carassius auratus, L.) by Dietary Cacao Bean Meal.

The potential effects of cacao bean meal, Theobroma cacao L., (CBM) on the growth, health status, blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant, immune status, physiological parameters, female reproductive performance, and gonadal histological features of fantail goldfish (Carassius auratus, L.) were evaluated using a complete randomized block design with sex as a block. The trial lasted for 60 days. A total of 54 healthy fantail goldfish (36 broodstock females and 18 broodstock males) were randomly allocated into three treatments with supplementation of three levels of cocoa powder 0, 5, and 10 g kg-1 diet, CBM0, CBM5, and CBM10, respectively, with the sex ratio being four females:two males per replicate. The body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of males were increased in the CBM10 treatment (p < 0.05). The CBM10 diet improved relative feed costs (p < 0.05). Females fed on the CBM10 diet had an increase in the serum level of total protein (p = 0.001). Females fed on a diet supplemented with CBM5 showed a decrease in the serum level of triglyceride compared to females fed on CBM0 and CBM10 diets (p = 0.03). CBM10 diet increased the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of fish compared to CBM0 and CBM5 diets (p = 0.004). Serum levels of testosterone and estradiol were significantly increased in males fed on the CBM10 diet. The female reproductive performance was improved by CBM supplementation (p < 0.05). Ovarian histology exhibited increased granulation and follicle numbers after dietary CBM supplementation compared to the control treatment. Therefore, cacao bean meal can be used as a feed supplement in the diets of fantail goldfish for improving the growth, health status, and female reproductive performance, economic efficiency, and gonadal histological structure.