Chemical, Thermal and Mechanical Characterization of Licorice Root, Willow, Holm Oak, and Palm Leaf Waste Incorporated into Maleated Polypropylene (MAPP).

The effect of four lignocellulosic waste fillers on the thermal and mechanical properties of biocomposites was investigated. Powdered licorice root, palm leaf, holm oak and willow fillers were melt compounded with polypropylene at two different weight contents, i.e., 10 and 30, and then injection molded. A commercially available maleated coupling agent was used to improve the filler/matrix interfacial adhesion at 5 wt.%. Composites were subjected to chemical (FTIR-ATR), thermal (TGA, DSC, DMA) and mechanical (tensile, bending and Charpy impact) analyses coupled with a morphological investigation by scanning electron microscopy. Although similarities among the different formulations were noted, holm oak fillers provided the best combination of thermal and mechanical performance. In particular, at 30 wt.% content with coupling agent, this composite formulation displayed remarkable increases in tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, of 28% and 110%, 58% and 111%, compared to neat PP, respectively. The results imply that all these lignocellulosic waste fillers can be used successfully as raw materials for biocomposites, with properties comparable to those featured by other natural fillers.

Structural and Interfacial Characterization of a Sustainable Si/Hard Carbon Composite Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The effects of a biomass-derived hard carbon matrix and a sustainable cross-linked binder are investigated as electrode components for a silicon-based anode in lithium-ion half-cells, in order to reduce the capacity fade due to volume expansion and shrinkage upon cycling. Ex situ Raman spectroscopy and impedance spectroscopy are used to deeply investigate the structural and interfacial properties of the material within a single cycle and upon cycling. An effective buffering of the volume changes of the composite electrode is evidenced, even at a high Si content up to 30% in the formulation, resulting in the retention of structural and interfacial integrity. As a result, a high capacity performance and a very good rate capability are displayed even at high current densities, with a stable cycling behavior and low polarization effects.

Real-time assessment of temporomandibular joint using HASTE sequences: feasibility and comparison with standard static sequences.

OBJECTIVE: To test real-time MRI (rtMRI) using HASTE sequences in patients with suspected internal disk derangement (IDD) of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and to compare these sequences with standard static sequences. METHODS AND MATERIALS: 99 TMJ were studied with both standard sequences (fat-saturated proton density) and HASTE sequences with high temporal resolution. Image quality was assessed using a 4-point Likert scale. Two radiologists analysed both standard and rtMRI sequences separately, randomly and blinded (by a third operator) to patients' names in order to assess inter-observer repeatability. One of the radiologists performed the analysis twice for assessing intra-observer repeatability. The same radiologists evaluated randomly and blinded to the previous assessment both the sequences and decided in consensus which was the most credible. Qualitative scores were compared using Friedman's test while concordance between radiologists and sequences was evaluated using the concordance correlation coefficient. RESULTS: At image quality analysis, mean score was 3.41 for static MRI and 3.82 for rtMRI, with a statistically significant difference in favour of rtMRI (p < 0.0001). Inter-rater concordance between operator 1 (Op1) and operator 2 (Op2) with regard to the same sequence was high for both static and rtMRI sequences (0.824 and 0.888, respectively). Inter-rater variability of Op1 and Op2 between static and rtMRI sequences was lower (0.647 for Op1 and 0.633 for Op2). Among 71 discordances between sequences, 60 were judged in favour of rtMRI, while 11 were in favour of static MRI. CONCLUSION: rtMRI with HASTE sequences is a robust technique and provide additional information in assessing IDD compared to static sequences.

Adrenocortical Carcinoma and CT Assessment of Therapy Response: The Value of Combining Multiple Criteria.

We evaluated tumor response at Computed Tomography (CT) according to three radiologic criteria: RECIST 1.1, CHOI and tumor volume in 34 patients with metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) submitted to standard chemotherapy. These three criteria agreed in defining partial response, stable or progressive disease in 24 patients (70.5%). Partial response (PR) was observed in 29.4%, 29.4% and 41.2% of patients according to RECIST 1.1, CHOI and tumor volume, respectively. It was associated with a favorable prognosis, regardless of the criterion adopted. The concordance of all the 3 criteria in defining the disease response identified 8 patients (23.5%) which displayed a very good prognosis: median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) 14.9 and 37.7 months, respectively. Seven patients (20.6%) with PR assessed by one or two criteria, however, still had a better prognosis than non-responding patients, both in terms of PFS: median 12.3 versus 9.9 months and OS: 21 versus 12.2, respectively. In conclusions, the CT assessment of disease response of ACC patients to chemotherapy with 3 different criteria is feasible and allows the identification of a patient subset with a more favorable outcome. PR with at least one criterion can be useful to early identify patients that deserve continuing the therapy.