Major financial problems, low mental well-being and reduced HIV/STI testing among sex workers in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeated cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: To determine associations between the banning of sex work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and work, financial problems, mental well-being and HIV/sexually transmittable infection (STI) testing among sex workers in the Netherlands.

Design: Two cross-sectional online surveys. The first survey covered two time-periods: pre-COVID-19 (1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019) and period 1 (15 March 2020 to 1 July 2020).

Possible molecular mechanisms underlying the development of atherosclerosis in cancer survivors.

Cancer survivors undergone treatment face an increased risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Recent studies have revealed that chemotherapy can drive senescent cancer cells to acquire a proliferative phenotype known as senescence-associated stemness (SAS). These SAS cells exhibit enhanced growth and resistance to cancer treatment, thereby contributing to disease progression.

Effect of Processed Volcanic Ash as Active Mineral Addition for Cement Manufacture.

In the last quarter of 2021, there was a very significant eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma, belonging to the Canary Islands, Spain. It generated a large amount of pyroclastic volcanic materials, which must be studied for their possible applicability. This work studies the properties and applicability of the lava and volcanic ash generated in this process.

Self-Compacting Recycled Concrete Using Biomass Bottom Ash.

In recent years, the use of self-compacting concrete has been a great advantage and garnered undoubted interest in construction. Due to the environmental impact caused by the consumption of natural aggregates in the manufacture of concrete, a more sustainable approach is needed. An approach for more sustainable construction is to use industrial waste such as bottom ash from the combustion of biomass as a replacement for natural aggregates.

Alkali-Activated Stainless Steel Slag as a Cementitious Material in the Manufacture of Self-Compacting Concrete.

This work develops the manufacture of self-compacting concrete (SCC) with 50% cement reduction. As an alternative binder to cement, the viability of using an alkali-activated combination of stainless steel slag (SSS) and fly ash (FA) has been demonstrated. SSS was processed applying three different treatments.

Use of Nanomaterials in the Stabilization of Expansive Soils into a Road Real-Scale Application.

Stabilization is a traditional strategy used to improve soils with the main objective of ensuring that this base is compliant with the technical specifications required for the subsequent development of different infrastructures. This study proposes the use of commercial nanomaterials, based on a solution of silicates, to improve the technical characteristics and bearing capacity of the expansive soil. A physical-chemical property study was carried out on the additive nanomaterial.

Complete Real-Scale Application of Recycled Aggregates in a Port Loading Platform in Huelva, Spain.

The application of recycled aggregates (RA) from construction and demolition waste and crushed concrete blocks is a very important challenge for the coming years from the environmental point of view, in order to reduce the exploitation of natural resources. In Spain, the use of these recycled materials in the construction of road bases and sub-bases is growing significantly. However, presently, there are few studies focused on the properties and behavior of RA in civil works such as road sections or seaport platforms.

Potential of Stainless Steel Slag Waste in Manufacturing Self-Compacting Concrete.

The volume of slags generated from the steel industry is a source of possible resources which is constantly increasing. Specifically, in the production of stainless steel, specific and singular slags with unique characteristics are obtained, which allows considering an approach aimed at their use in new recycling ways. This work shows the feasibility of using stainless steel slag as a substitute for limestone filler in the manufacture of self-compacting concrete.

Stabilization of expansive soils with biomass bottom ashes for an eco-efficient construction.

Green philosophy is gaining popularity worldwide. Recycling materials from building demolitions, reutilizing by-products from industrial facilities and exploring the potential uses of waste during a second life cycle are the objectives of this philosophy. In the present article, bottom ashes from electric power generation plants using biofuel combustion were evaluated to verify their potential use as expansive clay stabilizers.

Upscaling the pollutant emission from mixed recycled aggregates under compaction for civil applications.

In general terms, plant managers of sites producing construction wastes assess materials according to concise, legally recommended leaching tests that do not consider the compaction stage of the materials when they are applied on-site. Thus, the tests do not account for the real on-site physical conditions of the recycled aggregates used in civil works (e.g.