Green Composites from Partially Bio-Based Poly(butylene succinate--adipate)-PBSA and Short Hemp Fibers with Itaconic Acid-Derived Compatibilizers and Plasticizers.

In this work, green composites have been developed and characterized using a bio-based polymeric matrix such as BioPBSA and the introduction of 30 wt.% short hemp fibers as a natural reinforcement to obtain materials with maximum environmental efficiency. In order to increase the interfacial adhesion between the matrix and the fiber to obtain better properties in the composites, a reactive extrusion process has been carried out.

Development and Characterization of High Environmentally Friendly Composites of Bio-Based Polyamide 1010 with Enhanced Fire Retardancy Properties by Expandable Graphite.

Bio-based polyamide 1010 was melt-compounded with different percentages (2.5 to 10.0 wt.

The Effect of Varying the Amount of Short Hemp Fibers on Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Wood-Plastic Composites from Biobased Polyethylene Processed by Injection Molding.

Biobased HDPE (bioHDPE) was melt-compounded with different percentages (2.5 to 40.0 wt.

Blood Hemoglobin Substantially Modulates the Impact of Gender, Morbid Obesity, and Hyperglycemia on COVID-19 Death Risk: A Multicenter Study in Italy and Spain.

Background: Hyperglycemia and obesity are associated with a worse prognosis in subjects with COVID-19 independently. Their interaction as well as the potential modulating effects of additional confounding factors is poorly known. Therefore, we aimed to identify and evaluate confounding factors affecting the prognostic value of obesity and hyperglycemia in relation to mortality and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to COVID-19.

Development and Characterization of Environmentally Friendly Wood Plastic Composites from Biobased Polyethylene and Short Natural Fibers Processed by Injection Moulding.

Environmentally friendly wood plastic composites (WPC) with biobased high density polyethylene (BioHDPE) as the polymer matrix and hemp, flax and jute short fibers as natural reinforcements, were melt-compounded using twin-screw extrusion and shaped into pieces by injection molding. Polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) was added at two parts per hundred resin to the WPC during the extrusion process in order to reduce the lack in compatibility between the lignocellulosic fibers and the non-polar polymer matrix. The results revealed a remarkable improvement of the mechanical properties with the combination of natural fibers, along with PE-g-MA, highly improved stiffness and mechanical properties of neat BioHDPE.

Upgrading Recycled Polypropylene from Textile Wastes in Wood Plastic Composites with Short Hemp Fiber.

This research reports the manufacturing and characterization of green composites made from recycled polypropylene obtained from the remnants of polypropylene non-woven fabrics used in the textile industry and further reinforced with short hemp fibers (SHFs). To improve the interaction of the reinforcing fibers with the recycled polymeric matrix, two types of compatibilizing agents (maleic anhydride grafted, PP-g-MA, and maleinized linseed oil, MLO) were added during melt-processing, the percentage of which had to remain constant concerning the amount of fiber loading to ensure complete reactivity. Standardized test specimens were obtained by injection molding.

Development and Characterization of Weft-Knitted Fabrics of Naturally Occurring Polymer Fibers for Sustainable and Functional Textiles.

This study focuses on the potential uses in textiles of fibers of soy protein (SP) and chitin, which are naturally occurring polymers that can be obtained from agricultural and food processing by-products and wastes. The as-received natural fibers were first subjected to a three-step manufacturing process to develop yarns that were, thereafter, converted into fabrics by weft knitting. Different characterizations in terms of physical properties and comfort parameters were carried out on the natural fibers and compared to waste derived fibers of coir and also conventional cotton and cotton-based fibers, which are widely used in the textile industry.

The Effect of Halloysite Nanotubes on the Fire Retardancy Properties of Partially Biobased Polyamide 610.

The main objective of the work reported here was the analysis and evaluation of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as natural flame retardancy filler in partially biobased polyamide 610 (PA610), with 63% of carbon from natural sources. HNTs are naturally occurring clays with a nanotube-like shape. PA610 compounds containing 10%, 20%, and 30% HNT were obtained in a twin-screw co-rotating extruder.

Microencapsulation of Copper(II) Sulfate in Ionically Cross-Linked Chitosan by Spray Drying for the Development of Irreversible Moisture Indicators in Paper Packaging.

Copper(II) sulfate-loaded chitosan microparticles were herein prepared using ionic cross-linking with sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) followed by spray drying. The microencapsulation process was optimal using an inlet temperature of 180 °C, a liquid flow-rate of 290 mL/h, an aspiration rate of 90%, and an atomizing gas flow-rate of 667 nL/h. Chitosan particles containing copper(II) sulfate of approximately 4 µm with a shrunken-type morphology were efficiently attained and, thereafter, fixated on a paper substrate either via cross-linking with STPP or using a chitosan hydrogel.

Is it time to use real-world data from primary care in Alzheimer's disease?

Background: The analysis of real-world data in clinical research is rising, but its use to study dementia subtypes has been hardly addressed. We hypothesized that real-world data might be a powerful tool to update AD epidemiology at a lower cost than face-to-face studies, to estimate the prevalence and incidence rates of AD in Catalonia (Southern Europe), and to assess the adequacy of real-world data routinely collected in primary care settings for epidemiological research on AD.

Methods: We obtained data from the System for the Development of Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP) database, which contains anonymized information of > 80% of the Catalan population.

How well can electronic health records from primary care identify Alzheimer's disease cases?

Background: Electronic health records (EHR) from primary care are emerging in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research, but their accuracy is a concern. We aimed to validate AD diagnoses from primary care using additional information provided by general practitioners (GPs), and a register of dementias.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective observational study obtained data from the System for the Development of Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP).

Epidemiology of dementia: prevalence and incidence estimates using validated electronic health records from primary care.

Purpose: Updated estimates of incidence and prevalence of dementia are crucial to ensure adequate public health policy. However, most of the epidemiological studies in the population in Spain were conducted before 2010. This study assessed the validity of dementia diagnoses recorded in electronic health records contained in a large primary-care database to determine if they could be used for research purposes.

Bulbar involvement in patients with antiganglioside antibodies against NeuNAc(alpha2-3)Gal.

Background: Reactivity against terminal NeuNAc(alpha2-3)Gal, common to several gangliosides such as GD1a, GT1b and GM3, has rarely been reported. The authors recently described a patient with a clinical picture of acute relapsing sensory ataxic neuropathy and bulbar involvement in whom they demonstrated concomitant reactivity against NeuNAc(alpha2-3)Gal and disialosyl epitopes. The authors suggested a correlation between NeuNAc(alpha2-3)Gal reactivity and bulbar involvement.

[Migraine with aura, right-to-left shunt and frequency of seizures].

Introduction: The high prevalence of patent foramen ovale in migraine with aura (MWA) seems to be well established; yet, the possible relation between the magnitude of the right-to-left shunt (RLS) and MWA is not so clear. As a hypothesis, if the RLS played a precipitating role, subjects with a larger degree of shunt might experience a higher number of seizures. We examine this possible relationship between the magnitude of the shunt and the incidence of seizures.

[Use of extra-hospital emergency systems in the treatment of acute stroke in the region of Murcia. Possible repercussions on the urgent care of stroke patients].

Aim: To examine the use of extra-hospital emergency systems in the urgent care of stroke patients in our region and their influence on the time required to reach hospital, the time needed to perform an urgent computerised axial tomography (CAT) scan and the delay in receiving attention from the specialist.

Patients And Methods: Samples were collected from 232 stroke patients out of the total number admitted to our hospitals. Data about the stroke were collected prospectively, and included the arrival time, the time required to perform the CAT scan and the time the specialist devoted to attending the patient.

[Clinical usefulness of transcranial Doppler in diagnosis of brain death].

Background And Objective: The use of transcranial doppler (TD) for the assessment of critical neurological patients and brain death (BD) is steadily growing. In this study we describe the daily clinical practice around BD diagnosis and compare the usefulness of TD, including advantages and shortcomings, with that of other tests.

Patients And Method: A series of 100 patients diagnosed of brain death is presented including the demographic and clinical data as well as the results of ancillary tests (CE).

[Descriptive study of behavioural disorders in mild cognitive impairment].

Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as an abnormality in cognitive function not provoking a noticeable disability in activities of daily living in the affected person. In a group of patients with MCI, we propose to observe and to quantify the presence of behavioral disorders, using the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI).

Patients And Methods: NPI is a known instrument in evaluation of this kind of disorders in patients with dementia, and it is a semi structured interview with a relevant informer or relative to the patient.