An integrated recycling approach for GFRP pultrusion wastes: recycling and reuse assessment into new composite materials using Fuzzy Boolean Nets

In this study, efforts were made in order to put forward an integrated recycling approach for the thermoset based glass fibre reinforced polymer (GPRP) rejects derived from the pultrusion manufacturing industry. Both the recycling process and the development of a new cost-effective end-use application for the recyclates were considered. For this purpose, i) among the several available recycling techniques for thermoset based composite materials, the most suitable one for the envisaged application was selected (mechanical recycling); and ii) an experimental work was carried out in order to assess the added-value of the obtained recyclates as aggregates and reinforcement replacements into concrete-polymer composite materials. Potential recycling solution was assessed by mechanical behaviour of resultant GFRP waste modified concrete-polymer composites with regard to unmodified materials. In the mix design process of the new GFRP waste based composite material, the recyclate content and size grade, and the effect of the incorporation of an adhesion promoter were considered as material factors and systematically tested between reasonable ranges. The optimization process of the modified formulations was supported by the Fuzzy Boolean Nets methodology, which allowed finding the best balance between material parameters that maximizes both flexural and compressive strengths of final composite. Comparing to related end-use applications of GFRP wastes in cementitious based concrete materials, the proposed solution overcome some of the problems found, namely the possible incompatibilities arisen from alkalis-silica reaction and the decrease in the mechanical properties due to high water-cement ratio required to achieve the desirable workability. Obtained results were very promising towards a global cost-effective waste management solution for GFRP industrial wastes and end-of-life products that will lead to a more sustainable composite materials industry.

An experimental study on recycling and reuse of pultruded composite material wastes

Glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GFRP) have been considered inherently difficult to recycle due to both: cross-linked nature of thermoset resins, which cannot be remoulded, and complex composition of the composite itself. Presently, most of the GFRP waste is landfilled leading to negative environmental impacts and supplementary added costs. With an increasing awareness of environmental matters and the subsequent desire to save resources, recycling would convert an expensive waste disposal into a profitable reusable material. In this study, efforts were made in order to recycle grinded GFRP waste, proceeding from pultrusion production scrap, into new and sustainable composite materials. For this purpose, GFRP waste recyclates, were incorporated into polyester based mortars as fine aggregate and filler replacements at different load contents and particle size distributions. Potential recycling solution was assessed by mechanical behaviour of resultant GFRP waste modified polymer mortars. Results revealed that GFRP waste filled polymer mortars present improved flexural and compressive behavior over unmodified polyester based mortars, thus indicating the feasibility of the GFRP industrial waste reuse into concrete-polymer composite materials.

A biocomposite of collagen nanofibers and nanohydroxyapatite for bone regeneration

This work aims to design a synthetic construct that mimics the natural bone extracellular matrix through innovative approaches based on simultaneous type I collagen electrospinning and nanophased hydroxyapatite (nanoHA) electrospraying using non-denaturating conditions and non-toxic reagents. The morphological results, assessed using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM), showed a mesh of collagen nanofibers embedded with crystals of HA with fiber diameters within the nanometer range (30 nm), thus significantly lower than those reported in the literature, over 200 nm. The mechanical properties, assessed by nanoindentation using AFM, exhibited elastic moduli between 0.3 and 2 GPa. Fourier transformed infrared spectrometry confirmed the collagenous integrity as well as the presence of nanoHA in the composite. The network architecture allows cell access to both collagen nanofibers and HA crystals as in the natural bone environment. The inclusion of nanoHA agglomerates by electrospraying in type I collagen nanofibers improved the adhesion and metabolic activity of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. This new nanostructured collagen–nanoHA composite holds great potential for healing bone defects or as a functional membrane for guided bone tissue regeneration and in treating bone diseases.

A case study undertaken recycling & reuse of glass fiber reinforced thermoset polumer wastes of composite materials industry

Glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GFRP) have been considered inherently difficult to recycle due to both: crosslinked nature of thermoset resins, which cannot be remoulded, and complex composition of the composite itself. Presently, most of the GFRP waste is landfilled leading to negative environmental impacts and supplementary added costs. With an increasing awareness of environmental matters and the subsequent desire to save resources, recycling would convert an expensive waste disposal into a profitable reusable material. In this study, efforts were made in order to recycle grinded GFRP waste, proceeding from pultrusion production scrap, into new and sustainable composite materials. For this purpose, GFRP waste recyclates, were incorporated into polyester based mortars as fine aggregate and filler replacements at different load contents and particle size distributions. Potential recycling solution was assessed by mechanical behaviour of resultant GFRP waste modified polymer mortars. Results revealed that GFRP waste filled polymer mortars present improved flexural and compressive behaviour over unmodified polyester based mortars, thus indicating the feasibility of the GFRP industrial waste reuse into concrete-polymer composite materials.

Auditoria à gestão de resíduos industriais

A presente dissertação foi realizada em colaboração com o grupo empresarial Monteiro, Ribas, tendo como principal objectivo a realização de uma auditoria à gestão dos resíduos industriais produzidos pelas suas fábricas localizadas na Estrada da Circunvalação, no Porto. Para cumprir este objectivo, inicialmente foi efectuado um levantamento das obrigações legais relativas aos resíduos e foram procuradas práticas aconselhadas para a gestão interna. Para cada uma das fábricas, verificaram-se, quais os resíduos produzidos e analisaram-se os seus percursos, considerando as suas origens, os locais e modos de acondicionamento na origem, os modos de transporte interno, os locais e modos de armazenagem preliminar, e ainda, as quantidades produzidas, os transportadores, os operadores finais e as operações finais de gestão, sendo que estas quatro últimas informações são relativas ao ano 2013. De seguida procedeu-se à realização da auditoria nas diferentes unidades, verificando o cumprimento dos requisitos legais e das boas práticas em matéria de gestão de resíduos. As principais não conformidades detectadas, comuns às várias unidades fabris foram a inexistência de local/recipiente definido para acondicionamento de alguns resíduos, a falta ou insuficiente identificação de recipientes/zonas de acondicionamento, a inexistência de bacias de retenção para resíduos líquidos perigosos, o facto de no transporte interno apenas os resíduos perigosos serem cobertos e, os resíduos líquidos perigosos não serem transportados sobre bacias de retenção móveis nem com o material necessário para absorver derrames. Para cada resíduo e para cada unidade industrial foram propostas medidas correctivas e/ou de melhoria, quando aplicável. Relativamente à armazenagem preliminar, a principal inconformidade detectada foi o facto de todos os parques (quatro) possuírem resíduos perigosos no momento das auditorias, o que não é adequado. Foram propostas medidas correctivas e/ou de melhoria para cada parque. Como proposta global, tendo em conta factores económicos e de segurança, sugeriu-se que apenas o parque de resíduos perigosos possa armazenar este tipo de resíduos, pelo que os procedimentos de transporte interno devem ser melhorados, fazendo com que estes resíduos sejam transportados directamente para o parque de resíduos perigosos. Desta forma dois dos parques devem sofrer algumas remodelações, nomeadamente serem cobertos e fechados, ainda que não totalmente, e o parque de resíduos perigosos deve ser fechado, mantendo aberturas para ventilação, deve ser equipado com kit´s de contenção de derrames, fichas de segurança, procedimentos a realizar em caso de emergência, e ainda, devido ao facto do sistema de contenção de derrames ser pequeno face ao total de armazenamento, aconselha-se o uso de bacias de retenção para alguns dos recipientes de resíduos líquidos perigosos. Ao longo deste processo e em consequência da realização da auditoria, algumas situações consideradas não conformes foram sendo corrigidas. Também foram preparadas instruções de trabalho adequadas que serão posteriormente disponibilizadas. Foi ainda elaborada uma metodologia de avaliação de processos como base de trabalho para redução dos resíduos gerados. A etapa escolhida para a aplicação da mesma foi uma etapa auxiliar do processo produtivo da Monteiro, Ribas - Revestimentos, S.A - a limpeza de cubas com solventes, por forma a tentar minimizar os resíduos de solventes produzidos nesta operação. Uma vez que a fábrica já realiza a operação tendo em consideração medidas de prevenção e reutilização, a reciclagem é neste momento a única forma de tentar minimizar os resíduos de solventes. Foram então estudadas duas opções, nomeadamente a aquisição de um equipamento de regeneração de solventes e a contratação de uma operadora que proceda à regeneração dos resíduos de solventes e faça o retorno do solvente regenerado. A primeira opção poderá permitir uma redução de cerca de 95% na produção de resíduos de solventes e na aquisição de solvente puro, estimando-se uma poupança anual de cerca de **** €, com um período de recuperação do capital de cerca de 16 meses e a segunda pode conduzir a uma redução significativa na aquisição de solvente puro, cerca de 65%, e a uma poupança anual de cerca de **** €.

Size-Control Regulation during Regeneration

Functional regeneration of organs upon injury is a key process for animals survival. Contrary to humans, some vertebrates are remarkably competent in regenerating after acute organ or appendage lesions. This advantageous skill allows overcoming limitations in repair even in adult stages, when tissues are fully developed, via a process of epimorphic regeneration. One such organism is the zebrafish, which can regenerate several organs, namely its heart, retina, spinal cord and fins. (...)

Expression of SCG10 and stathmin proteins in the rat olfactory system during development and axonal regeneration.

The membrane-associated protein SCG10 is expressed specifically by neuronal cells. Recent experiments have suggested that it promotes neurite outgrowth by increasing microtubule dynamics in growth cones. SCG10 is related to the ubiquitous but neuron-enriched cytosolic protein stathmin. To better understand the role played by SCG10 and stathmin in vivo, we have analyzed the expression and localization of these proteins in both the olfactory epithelium and the olfactory bulb in developing and adult rats, as well as in adult bulbectomized rats. The olfactory epithelium is exceptional in that olfactory receptor neurons constantly regenerate and reinnervate the olfactory bulb throughout animal life-span. SCG10 and stathmin expression in the olfactory receptor neurons was found to be regulated during embryonic and postnatal development and to correlate with neuronal maturation. Whereas SCG10 expression was restricted to immature olfactory receptor neurons (GAP-43-positive, olfactory marker protein-negative), stathmin was also expressed by the basal cells. In the olfactory bulb of postnatal and adult rats, a moderate to strong SCG10 immunoreactivity was present in the olfactory nerve layer, whereas no labeling was detected in the glomerular layer. Olfactory glomeruli also showed no apparent immunoreactivity for several cytoskeletal proteins such as tubulin and microtubule-associated proteins. In unilaterally bulbectomized rats, SCG10 and stathmin were seen to be up-regulated in the regenerating olfactory epithelium at postsurgery stages corresponding to olfactory axon regeneration. Our data strongly suggest that, in vivo, both SCG10 and stathmin may play a role in axonal outgrowth during ontogenesis as well as during axonal regeneration.

Extracellular matrix components in peripheral nerve repair: how to affect neural cellular response and nerve regeneration?

Peripheral nerve injury is a serious problem affecting significantly patients' life. Autografts are the "gold standard" used to repair the injury gap, however, only 50% of patients fully recover from the trauma. Artificial conduits are a valid alternative to repairing peripheral nerve. They aim at confining the nerve environment throughout the regeneration process, and providing guidance to axon outgrowth. Biocompatible materials have been carefully designed to reduce inflammation and scar tissue formation, but modifications of the inner lumen are still required in order to optimise the scaffolds. Biomicking the native neural tissue with extracellular matrix fillers or coatings showed great promises in repairing longer gaps and extending cell survival. In addition, extracellular matrix molecules provide a platform to further bind growth factors that can be released in the system over time. Alternatively, conduit fillers can be used for cell transplantation at the injury site, reducing the lag time required for endogenous Schwann cells to proliferate and take part in the regeneration process. This review provides an overview on the importance of extracellular matrix molecules in peripheral nerve repair.

Small and long non-coding RNAs in cardiac homeostasis and regeneration

Cardiovascular diseases and in particular heart failure are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. Recently, the notion of promoting cardiac regeneration as a means to replace lost cardiomyocytes in the damaged heart has engendered considerable research interest. These studies envisage the utilization of both endogenous and exogenous cellular populations, which undergo highly specialized cell fate transitions to promote cardiomyocyte replenishment. Such transitions are under the control of regenerative gene regulatory networks, which are enacted by the integrated execution of specific transcriptional programs. In this context, it is emerging that the non-coding portion of the genome is dynamically transcribed generating thousands of regulatory small and long non-coding RNAs, which are central orchestrators of these networks. In this review, we discuss more particularly the biological roles of two classes of regulatory non-coding RNAs, i.e. microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, with a particular emphasis on their known and putative roles in cardiac homeostasis and regeneration. Indeed, manipulating non-coding RNA-mediated regulatory networks could provide keys to unlock the dormant potential of the mammalian heart to regenerate. This should ultimately improve the effectiveness of current regenerative strategies and discover new avenues for repair. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cardiomyocyte Biology: Cardiac Pathways of Differentiation, Metabolism and Contraction.

« Interruption du sommeil cabalistique, ou Le devoilement des tableaux de l'antiquité. — La Crisologie chimique, divisée en deux liyres, dans laquelle est monstré et manifesté ce qui a esté caché et voilé par l'antiquité, et dans laquelle toutes difficultés de l'art sont elucidées. — Du Genre de l'or et sa genealogie, avec l'anatomie de l'eau, la genealogie et regeneration du fils du soleil ».

Commençant par : « S'il est vray que le testament soit une atestation de l'esprit et de la volonté... » et finissant par : «... partant soyez content, et louez Dieu » .

The role of microRNAs and retinoid signaling during spinal cord regeneration in the adult newt.

The molecular events after spinal cord injury that lead to the establishment of a permissive environment and epimorphic regeneration remain unclear. Two molecular pathway regulators that may converge to create a spinal cord regeneration-permissive environment in the urodele are retinoic acid (RA) and microRNAs (miRNAs). Recent evidence suggests that RARβ-mediated signaling is necessary for tail and caudal spinal cord regeneration in the adult newt. MicroRNAs are attractive candidates as mediators of retinoid signaling during regeneration, as their pleiotropic effects are vital in situations where global changes in gene expression are required. Thus, the overall aim of this thesis was to determine if miRNAs are involved in tail and caudal spinal cord regeneration in the adult newt, and if they act as regulators and/or effectors of retinoid signaling during this process. I have demonstrated here, for the first time, that multiple miRNAs are dysregulated in response to spinal cord injury in the adult newt, as well as in response to inhibition of retinoid signaling. Two of these miRNAs, miR-133a and miR-1, appear to target RARβ2 transcripts both in vivo and in vitro. Inhibition of RA signaling via RARβ with a selective antagonist, LE135, alters the pattern of expression of these miRNAs, which leads to an inhibition of tail regeneration. These data are indicative of a negative feed back loop, albeit potentially an indirect one. I also aimed to examine which miRNAs are affected by inhibiting RA synthesis during regeneration, and provided a long list of miRNAs that are dysregulated. These data provide the foundation for future studies on the putative roles of these miRNAs, as well as their function in retinoid signaling. Overall, these studies provide the first evidence for a role for miRNAs as mediators of retinoid signaling during caudal spinal cord regeneration in any system.

ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR GENE EXPRESSION DURING PANCREATIC REGENERATION AND INSULIN SECRETION IN RATS –

In the present study, the changes in the brain EPI (Epinephrine), adrenergic receptors and the receptor gene expression were investigated during pancreatic regeneration and insulin secretion. The changes in the pancreatic islet EPI and adrenergic receptors were also studied in the pancreatectomised rats. The regulatory function of EPI in association with Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and glucose were investigated in rat islet cultures. In vitro studies were carried out using antagonists for adrenergic receptor subtypes to see their involvement in the islet DNA synthesis. The mechanism by which the peripheral EPI regulate insulin secretion was also investigated by studying the nuclear binding proteins in the pancreatic islets during pancreatic regeneration and diabetes. The study reveals that EPI can regulate the pancreatic islet cell proliferation by controlling the insulin synthesis and secretion. The brain adrenergic receptor gene expression and functional correlation regulate the pancreatic adrenergic receptors. The functional balance of α and β-adrenergic receptors controls the insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell proliferation, which will have immense clinical significance in the treatment of Diabetes mellitus.

Hypothalamic 5-HT functional regulation through 5-HTIA and 5-HT2c receptors during pancreatic regeneration

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Decreased 5-HT2C receptor binding in the cerebral cortex and brain stem during pancreatic regeneration in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of central 5-HT2C receptor binding in rat model of pancreatic regeneration using 60-70% pancreatectomy. The 5-HT and 5-HT2c receptor kinetics were studied in cerebral cortex and brain stem of sham operated, 72 h pancreatectomised and 7 days pancreatectomised rats. Scatchard analysis with [3H] mesulergine in cerebral cortex showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in maximal binding (B^,ax) without any change in Kd in 72 h pancreatectomised rats compared with sham. The decreased Bmax reversed to sham level by 7 days after pancreatectomy. In brain stem , Scatchard analysis showed a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in Bax with a significant increase (p < 0.01) in Kd. Competition analysis in brain stem showed a shift in affinity towards a low affinity. These parameters were reversed to sham level by 7 days after pancreatectomy. Thus the results suggest that 5-HT through the 5-HT2C receptor in the brain has a functional regulatory role in the pancreatic regeneration. (Mol Cell Biochem 272: 165-170, 2005)

Enhanced /3-adrenergic receptors in the brain and pancreas during pancreatic regeneration in weanling rats

Adrenergic stimulation has an inyortant role in the pancreatic It-cell proliferation and insulin secretion. In the present study. we have investigaled how sympathetic system mgulales the panrrealic n I rnerui nr ht an:ilyiing I'pinephi inn 1111 ), Norepinephrinc (NE) and /1-adrenergic receptor changes in the brain as (%eli is in the I swirls. Fill and NII showed a significant decrease in the brain regions, pancreas and plasma :rt 72Ius iller partial prurcrealectonty. We observed an increase in the circulating insulin levels at 72 hrs. Scatchard analysis using I CHI propranolol showed a significant increase in the number of loth the low affinity and high affinity t-adrenergic receplors in cerebral cortex and hypothalamus of partially pancreatectornised rats during peak DNA synthesis. The affinity of the receptors decrea,ed significantly in the low and high affinity receptors of cerebral cortex and the high affinity hypothalamic receptors. In file brain stein, low affinity receptors were increased significantly during regeneration whereas there was no change in the high affinity receptors. The pancreatic ff-adrenergic receptors were also up regulated at 72 firs after partial panerealectony. In vitro studies showed that /i-adrenergic receptors are positive regulators of islet cell proliferation and insulin secretion. Thus our results suggest that the t-adrenergic receptors are functionally enhanced during pancreatic regeneration, which in turn increases pancreatic ft-cell proliferation an(hilisulin secretion in wean hug rats.