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This paper presents an experimental investigation on the compressive behavior of eco-friendly concrete containing glass waste (GW) and recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). In all mixtures, cement and water are stayed constant while fine and coarse aggregates were varied. The studied parameters are: utilizing fine recycled glass (FRG) instead of fine natural aggregate (FNA) at substitution levels of 0, 10, 25, 50 and 100 %, performing coarse recycled glass (CRG) instead of coarse natural aggregate (CNA) at replacement ratios of 0, 10, 20 and 40 %, conducting both CRG at constant ratio (20 %) as well as RCA at varied levels (0, 16, 40 and 80 %) and replacing CNA by RCA at varied levels (0, 16, 40 and 80 %). The experimental results showed that replacing 10, 25, 50 and 100 % of FNA by FRG declined the compressive strength of concrete by 12.8, 18.5, 24.5 and 49.8 %, respectively. Also, the compressive strength of concrete decreased by 18.5, 23.3, and 32.83 % when 10, 20, and 40 % of CNA were substituted by CRG, respectively. Additionally, the current study investigates the efficacy of machine learning (ML) techniques in evaluating the compressive strength of eco-friendly concrete containing GW and RCA separately. Four tree-based ensemble methods—decision trees, random forest, gradient boosted regression trees, and extreme gradient boosting—were trained and tested using 241 and 319 datasets to predict the compressive strength of eco-friendly concrete containing GW and RCA, respectively. The data employed in constructing the ML model were gathered from both the current experimental study and previous studies. The findings indicate that the XGBoost model demonstrates exceptional accuracy. The impact of each parameter on the predicted outcomes was discussed. • Eco-friendly concrete with GW and RCA investigated using cube compression tests • Replacing FNA with FRG reduced f cu by 13–50 % at varying replacement levels • Replacing CNA with CRG reduced f cu by 18.5–33 % at varying replacement levels • Increasing FRG/CRG replacement lowers concrete density; enhances fluidity greatly • XGBoost ML predicts eco-friendly concrete's compressive strength accurately [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Simulated warming caused a rapid loss of OC in mountainous grassland soils rich in OM. • SOC loss was associated with a disruption of large-macroaggregates. • Intensive grassland slightly offset OC losses and promoted SM formation. • Soil perturbation effects have to be differentiated from climate change effects. Mountainous grassland soils are considered one of the most unique biological hotspots, rich in organic carbon (OC). At the same time, they are exposed to great threats, as climate warming is more pronounced in mountainous regions than in lowland areas. In this study, we assessed the effect of simulated warming (+1K, +2K, and + 3 K) on OC stocks and soil structure in grassland soils of the Northern Limestone Alps in Germany by translocating plant-soil mesocosms from high- (1260 m a.s.l., Rendzic Phaeozem) and mid- (860 m a. s. l., Haplic Cambisol) to low-elevation (600 m a.s.l). Plant-soil mesocosms were exposed to both extensive and intensive grassland management practices. Four years after translocation, we observed a rapid decrease of topsoil SOC stocks under intensive (−1.0 t C ha yr−1) and extensive management (-2.2 t C ha yr−1), under the highest temperature increase. Intensive management with about 1 t C ha−1 yr−1 higher manure C return than extensive management (1.6 vs. 0.8 t C ha−1 yr−1 intensive and extensive, respectively) may explain the difference in SOC losses between different management treatments. Under both management practices, the loss of SOC was mainly associated with a decrease of large macroaggregates, at both management practices. In addition, different aggregate specific OC loss rates resulted in an altered distribution of OC among the aggregate size classes. Our study provides evidence that simulated climate change induced a rapid and substantial decline of SOC in mountainous, OC-rich grassland soils, which may be attributed to decreased physical OC protection within large macroaggregates. Optimized grassland management in form of increased application of organic fertilizers could only partially offset the SOC loss by improved formation of small macroaggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Epoxy sealer + β-TCP, and Epoxy sealer + NAC showed low cytotoxicity. • Addition of NAC improved the antimicrobial property against E. faecalis. • Incorporating β-TCP or NAC improves the adhesiveness and biocompatibility. This in vitro study was designed to evaluate the biocompatibility, adhesiveness, and antimicrobial activity of epoxy resin-based sealer associated with N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) or beta-tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles (β-TCP) as an experimental retro-filling material. Cytotoxicity was assessed using 2,3-Bis-(Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-Sulphophenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide (XTT) and Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays after exposing human periodontal ligament fibroblasts to extracts of the materials for 1, 3, or 7 days. For the adhesive resistance test, root canals (48 single-root teeth) were instrumented with Reciproc #40 files (VDW GmbH, Germany) and obturated. After 7 days, the apices were sectioned and a retrograde cavity prepared and filled with the experimental materials (Mineral trioxide aggregate, Epoxy sealer, Epoxy sealer + NAC, and Epoxy sealer + β-TCP). For the push-out test, one 2-mm thick slice was obtained from the apical third of each specimen. Antimicrobial activity was performed using agar diffusion method. Biofilms were grown in microplates and exposed to the extracts of retro-filled materials, followed by analysis of growth inhibition on agar plates. Epoxy sealer in association with β-TCP or NAC showed better bond strength while Mineral trioxide aggregate allowed for the lowest adhesion. Mineral trioxide aggregate, Epoxy sealer + β-TCP, and Epoxy sealer + NAC showed low cytotoxicity. Epoxy sealer was the most cytotoxic. In antimicrobial activity assays, all materials had no effect on Candida albicans. Addition of NAC improved the antimicrobial property of Epoxy sealer against Enterococcus faecalis compared to unmodified Epoxy sealer (P < 0.05). Incorporating β-TCP or NAC with Epoxy sealer could improve the adhesiveness and biocompatibility for better use in endodontic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Topsoil SOC stocks and soil structure recovered 26 years after topsoil removal. • Topsoil buried under the plough layer non-linearly lost 30–50% of SOC in 55 years. • Topsoil SOC recovery and stability of buried SOC was dependent on N fertilisation. Erosion of fertile topsoil means severe land degradation and yield loss. Here, we show that reformation of the fertile topsoil and crop yield increase is possible by good agricultural management within a few decades. Evidence relies on a unique long-term field experiment in NE Germany, where in 1964 the sandy soil (Luvisol) had been excavated to 52 cm and refilled with subsoil material of 52 cm thickness. Undisturbed trials served as controls, these were all combined with either no fertilisation, mineral fertilisation or a combined mineral and organic fertilisation. It took only 26 years until new topsoil had been formed. Its soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N stocks and the aggregate size distributions equalled that of the other treatments; SOC sequestration corresponded to 28 Mg SOC ha−1. The former topsoil buried below the plough layer lost 30–50 percent of its SOC during 5 decades in a non-linear manner. We conclude that our current agricultural tools can restore degraded arable land rather fast and contribute to climate change mitigation through a significant SOC sequestration as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A high proportion of patients with relapsed classical Hodgkin's lymphoma achieve a response with the antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin, and the drug is well tolerated. We modified the escalated BEACOPP regimen (eBEACOPP; bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) and implemented brentuximab vedotin with the aim to reduce toxic effects while maintaining the protocol's efficacy.Methods: We did an open-label, multicentre, randomised phase 2 study at 20 study sites in Germany. Adult patients (aged 18-60 years) with newly diagnosed, advanced, classical Hodgkin's lymphoma were randomly assigned (1:1) to treatment with six cycles of either BrECAPP (brentuximab vedotin 1·8 mg/kg on day 1, etoposide 200 mg/m2 on days 2-4, doxorubicin 35 mg/m2 on day 2, cyclophosphamide 1250 mg/m2 on day 2, procarbazine 100 mg/m2 on days 2-8, and prednisone 40 mg/m2 on days 2-15) or BrECADD (brentuximab vedotin 1·8 mg/kg on day 1, etoposide 150 mg/m2 on days 2-4, doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 on day 2, cyclophosphamide 1250 mg/m2 on day 2, dacarbazine 250 mg/m2 on days 3-4, and dexamethasone 40 mg on days 2-5). Randomisation was done centrally by stratified minimisation, with study site and sex as stratification factors. The co-primary endpoints were complete response to chemotherapy and complete remission at the end of treatment, which were assessed by intention to treat. Patients who were found not to meet inclusion criteria after randomisation or without restaging data after two cycles of study treatment were excluded from the primary endpoint analysis. All patients who started study treatment were assessable for safety. This report presents the final analysis at a median follow-up of 17 months (IQR 13·2-21·5). The preplanned 2-year follow-up analysis is yet to be reported. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01569204.Findings: Between Oct 26, 2012, and May 15, 2014, 104 patients were enrolled to the study (52 were assigned to each study arm). Two patients dropped out before the start of study treatment because of acute infection (n=1) and withdrawal of consent (n=1) and one patient was excluded because of intermediate-stage disease (all were assigned BrECAPP). 42 (86%, 95% CI 73-94) of 49 patients assigned BrECAPP achieved a complete response after chemotherapy and 46 (94%, 95% CI 83-99) had complete remission as their final treatment outcome. In the BrECADD group, 46 (88%, 95% CI 77-96) of 52 patients achieved both a complete response after chemotherapy and complete remission as their final treatment outcome. 58 serious adverse events were reported, 32 events in 21 of 50 patients who received BrECAPP and 26 events in 18 of 52 patients who received BrECADD. The most common grade 3-4 toxic effects were haematological adverse events (91 [89%] of 102 patients). Grade 3-4 organ toxic effects were reported in seven (17%) of 42 patients assigned BrECAPP and two (4%) of 46 allocated BrECADD. 16 (32%) of 50 patients assigned BrECAPP and 18 (35%) of 52 allocated BrECADD had grade 1-2 peripheral neuropathy, and one (2%) patient assigned BrECAPP developed grade 3 peripheral neuropathy; all but one case (allocated BrECAPP) resolved. No deaths were reported during the follow-up period.Interpretation: Both eBEACOPP variants met the co-primary efficacy endpoints. Particularly, the BrECADD regimen was associated with a more favourable toxicity profile and was, therefore, selected to challenge standard eBEACOPP for the treatment of advanced classical Hodgkin's lymphoma in the phase 3 HD21 study by the German Hodgkin Study Group (NCT02661503), which aims to further reduce treatment-related morbidity.Funding: Takeda Pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial sector of bottom ash (BA) treatment from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) in Germany is currently changing. In order to increase the recovery rates of metals or to achieve a higher quality of mineral aggregates derived from BA, new procedures have been either implemented to existing plants or completely new treatment plants have been built recently. Three treatment trains, which are designated as entire sequences of selected processing techniques of BA, are introduced and compared. One treatment train is mainly characterized by usage of a high speed rotation accelerator whereas another is operating completely without crushing. In the third treatment train the BA is processed wet directly after incineration. The consequences for recovered metal fractions and the constitution of remaining mineral aggregates are discussed in the context of legislative and economical frameworks. Today the recycling or disposal options of mineral residues still have a high influence on the configuration and the operation mode of the treatment trains of BA despite of the high value of recovered metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Black heavy mineral (HM) aggregates of metallic luster and composed of ilmenite and rutile were named “nigrine” (amount of rutile>ilmenite) and “antinigrine” (amount of ilmenite>rutile). They contain inclusions of, e.g., columbite-(Fe), pyrochlore group minerals, wolframite solid solution series (=s.s.s.), monazite, zircon, Fe oxides and sulfides as well as alteration minerals such as pseudorutile and Fe–Ti–Nb–Ta–Al–P compounds, whose precise chemical composition and mineralogical affiliation cannot be determined. These titaniferous HM aggregates are of widespread occurrence in gneisses and shear zones cutting through them as well as alluvial, fluvial and colluvial deposits at different distances from rare-element phosphate pegmatites within the crystalline basement in SE Germany. “Nigrine” and “antinigrine” may be subdivided into three types which formed at different periods relative to the Variscan tectonic disturbances and which show different qualities as markers for the origin and presence of Nb-bearing pegmatites along the western edge of the Bohemian Massif, SE Germany. Type A developed pre- to synkinematically within or near deep-seated shear zones which formed below 730°C as early as 321 to 329Ma. These HM aggregates are poor in Nb and impoverished in accessory minerals. The HM aggregates having developed in shear zones mark the “kitchen” where friction and heating contributed to the formation of felsic intrusive bodies, such as pegmatites and aplites. This type of Ti-bearing HM aggregates may be held as distal proximity indicator. Type B is early postkinematic and enriched in niobian rutile, rife with lots of inclusions, especially columbite-(Fe). It precipitated in the crystalline country rocks at temperatures around 600°C concomitant with the nearby rare-element pegmatites between 302 and 311Ma. It is the most proximal member of this group of HM aggregates. Type C “nigrine” is enriched in W and late postkinematic relative to the shearing processes in the crystalline basement. It formed around 470°C during the same period of time as type C. It does, however, not qualify as a marker for rare-element pegmatites, as it is unrelated to these felsic intrusives. During the late Neogene the Variscan basement was strongly uplifted and many pegmatites were stripped off their roof rocks. As a consequence of this, “nigrine” and “antinigrine” were released from their host rocks and became part of the terrigenous sediments laid down in the drainage systems which upstream cut into the crystalline basement and the pegmatites/aplites. Due to their high resistance to chemical weathering these titaniferous HM aggregates acted as “armored relics” for less resistant minerals such as columbite and pyrochlore. When these titaniferous HM aggregates got decomposed by attrition these mineral inclusions of lesser stability appear in the fluvial sediments further afield from their source than expected, considering the low stability to weathering of single crystals of columbite- and pyrochlore group minerals. “Antinigrine” and “nigrine” may be spotted in the HM suites of drainage systems around pegmatites at a distance of ≤10km with correlation coefficient of RNb–Ti =+0.42, while in the range 2–5km RNb–Ti increases to +0.77, in the range 1–2km RNb–Ti is +0.85 and around 1km from the rare-element pegmatite RNb–Ti stands at +0.92. “Nigrine” and “antinigrine” are no ideal mineral aggregates to form placer-type deposits of their own due to their variegated mineralogy, excluding some Ta-enriched subtypes in Colombia and Sierra Leone. The variable mineralogy detrimental to its use as a source of Ti, is the strong point as an exploration tool for rare-element pegmatites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Particle size analysis without pretreatment (NP) results in a coarser soil texture. • Clay and silt partly remain incorporated in preserved water-stable aggregates. • Textural changes correlate with organic carbon content, pH and exchangeable cations. • Calculated specific surface area can be useful to quantify the texture changes. • NP texture inclusion is recommended for future soil parameter estimation schemes. Soil texture, derived from the particle size distribution, is an essential soil parameter as it influences numerous soil properties. Most determination methods include a pretreatment that removes bonding agents like organic matter, chalk and/or iron oxides in order to guarantee full dispersion of the soil particles. Particle size analysis with no pretreatment of the samples causes shifts in the particle size distribution that lead to a coarser soil texture. Particle size analysis (sieve and sedimentation method) with pretreatment and with no pretreatment was performed on 93 top- and subsoil samples, subdivided into four sample groups from Germany (glacial and marine sediments) and one sample group from the Ukraine (loess). Particle size analysis with no pretreatment significantly reduced the clay content (by 54–89 % of the content after particle size analysis with pretreatment) and increased the silt content (by 13–36 % of the content after particle size analysis with pretreatment) and sand content (by 3–483 % of the content after particle size analysis with pretreatment) in all sample groups. The shifts in the particle size distribution were attributed to the preservation of water stable aggregates and correlated with soil organic carbon content, pH, and exchangeable cation composition. The specific surface area of the soil samples decreased significantly (by 38–65%) after particle size analysis with no pretreatment in all sample groups. The derivation of soil parameters from no pretreatment texture reduced the estimates of effective cation exchange capacity by 29–62 % and the estimates of not plant available water capacity by 18–54 % compared to the estimates from pretreatment texture. For soils with a high aggregation potential at the microscale, new pedotransfer functions for the derivation of soil parameters based on no pretreatment texture data should be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Apple replant disease is reflected in a huge in-field variability of tree growth. • Plants showing most stunted shoot growth revealed lowest δ 15N values in the rhizosphere. • Apple replant disease severity is correlated to a reduced micronutrient supply of Mn and Co for infected plants up to 100 cm shoot length. Orchards affected by apple replant disease may show a distinct in-field variability of the severity of apple replant disease (ARD) symptoms. As abiotic soil properties can affect pathogen survival but show considerable variability at the scale of a few meters, we hypothesized that the variability of abiotic soil properties may be used to explain parts of the in-field variability of ARD. We sampled soil and rhizosphere of 32 apple trees with different degree of ARD symptoms after two years of growth at the horticultural research station Heidgraben, Germany. The sandy soils correspond to Entic Podzols. Soil analyses comprised soil aggregate-size fractionations, the assessment of the stocks of nitrogen and essential macro- and micronutrients, as well as a tracing of stable δ 15N natural abundance both in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil. The results showed that there was indeed a huge in-field variability of tree growth, following a Gaussian distribution, but classified here in shoot heights of < 40, 40–80, 80–120, and >120 cm, respectively. An effect of soil aggregation on ARD or vice versa was not detected. Elevated tree growth, however, went along with a consumption of soil macronutrients (R2: = 0.3 – 0.8 for the n = 4 ARD classes; significant only for K on individual plant basis). Intriguingly, opposite correlations were observed for micronutrients, where reduced tree growth occurred at subsites short in micronutrient supply (R2 = 0.9 for Mn and Co, significant for Mn and Co for ARD infected plants up to 100 cm shoot length on individual plant basis). Moreover, the plants showing most stunted shoot growth revealed lowest δ 15N values in the rhizosphere, as typical for reduced N cycling. Our data therefore confirm that at least parts of the in-field variability of ARD severity is correlated to reduced micronutrient supply and N cycling, possibly via effects on habitat properties of pathogenic soil microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]