2 research outputs found
Transient hygro- and hydro-expansion of freely and restrained dried paper: the fiber-network coupling
The transient dimensional changes during \textit{hygro}-expansion and
\textit{hydro}-expansion of freely and restrained dried, softwood and hardwood
sheets and fibers is monitored, to unravel the governing micro-mechanisms
occurring during gradual water saturation. The response of individual fibers is
measured using a full-field global digital height correlation method, which has
been extended to monitor the transient \textit{hydro}-expansion of fibers from
dry to fully saturated. The \textit{hygro}- and \textit{hydro}-expansion is
larger for freely versus restrained dried and softwood versus hardwood
handsheets. The transient sheet-scale \textit{hydro}-expansion reveals a sudden
strain and moisture content step. It is postulated that the driving mechanism
is the moisture-induced softening of the so-called "dislocated regions" in the
fiber's cellulose micro-fibrils, unlocking further fiber swelling. The strain
step is negligible for restrained dried handsheets, which is attributed to the
"dislocated cellulose regions" being locked in their stretched configuration
during restrained drying, which is supported by the single fiber
\textit{hydro}-expansion measurements. Finally, an inter-fiber bond model is
exploited and adapted to predict the sheet-scale \textit{hygro}-expansion from
the fiber level characteristics. The model correctly predicts the qualitative
differences between freely versus restrained dried and softwood versus hardwood
handsheets, yet, its simplified geometry does not allow for more quantitative
predictions of the sheet-scale \textit{hydro}-expansion.Comment: 37 pages; 12 figures; 5 table
Venous and arterial thromboembolism after colorectal cancer in the Netherlands: incidence, predictors, and prognosis
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer type. CRC-patients are at increased risk of venous and arterial thromboembolism (TE), but the magnitude of the risks, their predictors and consequences are not exactly known.Objectives: We aimed to determine incidence, predictors and prognosis of TE after incident CRC in a large, unselected population. Methods: Using data from Statistics Netherlands and the Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization, all incident CRC-patients were identified between 2013 and 2018 plus a sample of 1:2 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Incidence rates and cumulative incidences for TE were estimated. Predictor variables for TE were explored by univariable Cox regression. The association between TE and all-cause mortality was evaluated by multivariable time-dependent Cox regression.Results: 68,238 incident CRC-patients were matched to 136,476 controls. CRC-patients had a 1-year cumulative venous TE (VTE) incidence of 1.93 % (95%CI 1.83-2.04), versus 0.24 % (95%CI 0.21-0.27) in controls (HR 8.85; 95%CI 7.83-9.99). For arterial TE (ATE), this was 2.74 % (95%CI 2.62-2.87) in CRC versus 1.88 % (95%CI 1.81-1.95) in controls (HR 1.57; 95%CI 1.47-1.66). Cancer stage, surgery, chemotherapy and asthma were predictors for VTE, whereas age, prior ATE and Parkinson's disease were predictors for ATE. CRC patients with TE had an increased risk of all-cause mortality (VTE HR; 3.68 (95%CI 3.30-4.10, ATE HR; 3.05 (95%CI 2.75-3.39)) compared with CRC-patients without TE.Conclusions: This Dutch nationwide cohort study adds detailed knowledge on the risk of VTE and ATE, their predictors and prognosis in CRC-patients. These findings may drive TE prophylactic management decisions.Clinical epidemiolog