Lymphectomy in the treatment of thyroid cancer in adults and children.

Thyroid carcinoma is thè most frequent endocrine malignancy in Italy and differs in naturai history according to histological type and age of patients. Lymph node metastases are more frequently seen in young patients with papillary carcinoma. However, many clinical series suggested that although thè incidence of lymph node invasion in high-risk patients (over-50s) is slightiy lower than in low-risk patients, thè locai recurrence rate is higher than in thè former. From thè results of our experience, confirmed by other authors, we retain total thyroidectomy with lymphectomy of thè centrai compartment as thè procedure of choice in thè treatment of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma in thè under-50s. In thè over-50s, functional bilateral lymphectomy improves survival and should be considered mandatory, just as for medullary carcinoma. On thè contrary, thè prognosis of anaplastic carcinoma is not improved by lymphectomy

The Influence of the Type of Lime on the Hygric Behaviour and Bio-Receptivity of Hemp Lime Composites Used for Rendering Applications in Sustainable New Construction and Repair Works

The benefits of using sustainable building materials are linked not only to the adoption of manufacturing processes that entail reduced pollution, CO2 emissions and energy consumption, but also to the onset of improved performance in the building. In particular, hemp-lime composite shows low shrinkage and high thermal and acoustic insulating properties. However, this material also shows a great ability to absorb water, an aspect that can turn out to be negative for the long-term durability of the building. For this reason, the hygric properties of hemp-based composites need to be studied to ensure the correct use of this material in construction and repair works. The water absorption, drying and transpirability of hemp composites made with aerial (in the form of dry powder and putty) and hydraulic limes were investigated here and related to the microbial growth induced by the water movements within the material. Results show that hemp-natural hydraulic lime mixes exhibit the highest transpirability and drying rate, the lowest water absorption by immersion and capillary uptake and the least intense microbial attack and chromatic change. A microscopical study of the hemp shives also related their great ability to absorb water to the near-irreversible swelling of their structure under dry-wet conditions.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° 326983 (NaturALiMe), and the Spanish project MAT-2012-34473 of the Ministerio de Ciencia y Competitividad. Author MB, owner of the CANNABRIC company, had some role in the design and preparation of mortar samples and in the preparation of this manuscript, but did not have any additional role in data collection and analysis

Properties of rice straw reinforced alkali activated cementitious composites

© 2020 The paper investigates the characteristics of rice straw reinforced alkali activated cementitious composites (AACC). The untreated and NaOH treated rice straw at the proportion of 1%, 2%, 3% by weight of binder was added to the mixes. Characteristics of rice straw have been studied by using SEM and XRD. Mechanical properties, water absorption, drying shrinkage and durability under wet/dry cycling have been investigated to evaluate the performance of the AACCs. SEM was also used to investigate the mechanism of deterioration of the AACC. The results show that rice straw has very significant positive effects on the performance of AACCs including increase in flexural and compressive strength, durability under wet/dry cycling, large reduction in drying shrinkage, and water absorption. In addition, alkali treatment is an effective method for enhancing bond between the rice straw and the matrix leading to improved performance of AACCs

Up-cycling of agave tequilana bagasse-fibres: A study on the effect of fibre-surface treatments on interfacial bonding and mechanical properties

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of upcycling fibre residues from the harvesting and production of tequila to green composites. Specifically, four different surface-modified natural fibres were assessed as raw material for green composite production. Before any surface treatment, the morphology and tensile properties of agave bagasse fibres from the tequila production batches were determined by optical and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and single fibre tensile test, respectively. Further to this, agave fibres were exposed by immersion to four surface treatments including alkali, acetylation, enzymatic and silane treatments, in order to improve their morphology and compatibility with polylactic acid (PLA). The effects of these treatments on fibres’ morphology, mechanical properties (i.e. Youngs modulus and ultimate tensile strength), interfacial shear strength (IFSS), and water absorption were assessed. Overall, surface treatments showed improvements in agave bagasse fibre properties with the best results for alkali treated fibres with an ultimate tensile strength of 119.10 ​MPa, Young modulus of 3.05 ​GPa, and an IFSS of up to ~60% higher (5.21 ​MPa) to that performed by untreated samples. These tests allowed to identify alkali treatment as the most suitable for agave bagasse fibres. These results shed light on the interfacial interaction between agave bagasse fibres and PLA and the potential to up-cycle these residue agave fibres to manufacture PLA-based green composites