Mélanges de polymères à gouttes composites : application recyclage

RÉSUMÉ Cette étude aborde deux axes de recherche. Le premier traite du recyclage des mélanges de polymères et constitue le pilier principal de ce projet. Le deuxième axe effectue l’analyse de l’effet de la viscoélasticité et des forces interfaciales sur l’établissement du mouillage dans les systèmes ternaires HDPE/PP/PS et HDPE/PP/PC. Le recyclage des mélanges de plastiques de compositions différentes a été limité par le fait que les polymères forment des phases immiscibles démontrant une faible compatibilité et adhésion interfaciale. Pourtant, les produits de consommation impliquent de plus en plus de systèmes complexes (résines d’ingénierie, mélanges) et le procédé de séparation devient difficile et même parfois impossible. Le problème relié au recyclage des mélanges de polymères est principalement dû au fait de la présence de plusieurs interfaces, dont chacune est potentiellement une zone de fragilité mécanique. Ceci a pour effet de générer de faibles propriétés mécaniques. Chaque interface nécessite son agent interfacial et le coût global de compatibilisation d’un système multi composants peut devenir coûteux. Ici, un concept nouveau est employé où une ségrégation contrôlée des phases non recyclables est réalisée dans l’une des deux phases majeures : le polyéthylène de haute densité (HDPE) et le polypropylène (PP). En se basant sur un mélange co-continu HDPE/PP, un système à cinq phases constitué du HDPE, PP, PS, PMMA et PC est préparé. Des gouttes composites PS/PMMA/PC sont générées exclusivement dans la phase de PP lorsque l’interface HDPE/PP est compatibilisée. Cette approche réduit le problème d’un système présentant plusieurs interfaces à une seule interface dominante HDPE/PP qui peut être par la suite compatibilisée en employant un copolymère pratique. Les interfaces secondaires relèvent d’un rôle mineur dans la structure de goutte composite. La caractérisation par MEB combinée à l’emploi de recuits statiques permet de mettre clairement en évidence la microstructure du système. Le triplet PS/PMMA/PC forme des gouttes composites où le PS encapsule le PMMA qui enveloppe à son tour le polycarbonate. Ceci est un processus thermodynamique contrôlé par la théorie d’encapsulation et est apparemment indépendant de l’étape de mélange (mélangeur interne ou extrusion/injection). Puisque le système HDPE/PP correspond à la tension interfaciale minimale dans la littérature, cette approche est très robuste et serait applicable à un vaste spectre de résines. L’ordonnancement des phases est spontané lorsqu’un compatibilisant EPDM est utilisé en provoquant la ségrégation complète des gouttes composites PS/PMMA/PC dans la phase de polypropylène. De plus, les propriétés mécaniques de telles structures sont très bonnes en termes de module et de résistance à la traction. En employant les conditions de mélange adaptées lors de l’injection, un matériau ductile avec un bon allongement à la rupture peut être obtenu. Cette approche pourrait être d’une importance significative dans le milieu industriel du recyclage.----------ABSTRACT This study investigates two axis of research. The first one is about comingled plastic recycling and constitute the core of this project whereas a second and more fundamental work analyzes the effect of viscoelasticity and interfacial driven forces on ternary polymer blends wetting. The recycling of multiple plastics of different composition has been limited by the fact that plastics form immiscible phases with poor compatibility and interfacial adhesion. Due to the complexity of new plastic products which involve speciality resins and polymer blends, the separation process can be costly and recycling sometimes impossible. The problem of recycling co-mingled plastics is principally related to the problem of multiple interfaces in multicomponent immiscible polymer blends. Those interfaces present a locus for failure and hence very poor mechanical properties. Multiple interfaces require multiple interfacial modifiers and the cost becomes prohibitive. Here we study a new concept where controlled polymer segregation is used to locate multiple non-recyclable phases within one of two major phases: high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP). Starting from a co-continuous blend of HDPE and PP, a multiple 5 component system comprised of HDPE, PP, PS, PMMA and PC is prepared in which PS/PMMA/PC composite droplets are all exclusively located within PP when the HDPE/PP interface is compatibilized. This approach reduces the problem of multiple interfaces to one principal interface (HDPE/PP) which can be compatibilized. The other interfaces are relegated minor roles as parts of the composite droplet system. From SEM characterization and annealing procedures, it can be clearly seen from this work that the PS/PMMA/PC forms a hierarchical structure where PS encapsulates PMMA which in turn engulfs the PC. This is a thermodynamically driven process which is controlled by spreading theory and appears to be independent of the blending process (internal mixing-extrusion/injection). Since a compatibilized HDPE/PP system presents one of the lowest interfacial tensions in the immiscible polymer literature, this approach is highly robust and would be applicable to a wide range of plastics. The approach is highly robust since the system segregates and assembles spontaneously: the compatibilizer for the HDPE/PP interface drives specifically to that interface while the composite droplet comprised of all other polymeric moieties assembles in an ordered fashion exclusively within the PP phase. Moreover, the tensile mechanical properties of the structures prepared above demonstrate very good and even improved tensile strength and modulus. Using the appropriate processing conditions, ductile materials with good elongation at break can also be achieved. This approach could lead to promising industrial applications for mixed plastic waste

Growth hormone level at admission and its evolution during refeeding are predictive of short-term outcome in restrictive anorexia nervosa

International audienceThe growth hormone (GH)– insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis is dramatically altered in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether GH and IGF-1 could be predictors of outcome in patients with a restrictive form of AN. Blood levels of GH, IGF-1, adipocytokines, ghrelin, insulin, glucose, and sex and thyroid hormones were measured in eleven women inpa-tients with AN and in ten healthy women controls. Three stages were compared during refeeding: admission (T0), when BMI reached 16 kg/m 2 (T1) and at discharge when BMI reached 17·5 kg/m 2 (T2). Clinical status was assessed 6 months after discharge from hospital (T3), and remission was defined by the maintenance of a BMI $ 17·5 kg/

Etude expérimentale de la rupture ostéoporotique du col fémoral

L'ostéoporose est une maladie qui affaiblit la structure de l'os par la détérioration de l'architecture trabéculaire et par la diminution de l'épaisseur corticale et l'augmentation de sa porosité. Malgré le coût de santé public, son dépistage n'est pas systématique, et n'est basé que sur l'évaluation de la minéralisation d'un volume osseux à partir de sa projection plane. Aucune information directe sur la structure n'est donnée. Dans le but d'étudier la contribution de la structure osseuse dans la résistance de la partie proximale du fémur, un protocole expérimental simulant la phase d'appui monopodal de la marche, a été développé. Ces essais ont permis de mesurer l'effort à la rupture nécessaire pour provoquer des fractures au niveau du col fémoral semblables aux observations cliniques. Les résultats expérimentaux, serviront à développer un modèle numérique basé sur la théorie des poutres, pour étudier la contribution de l'enveloppe cortical et des faisceaux trabéculaires dans la résistance de la partie proximale du fémur

Nodular Fasciitis with Cortical Erosion of the Hand

Nodular fasciitis is a benign, reactive myofibroblastic tumor that is often mistaken for a sarcoma because of its histological appearance and rapid growth. Involvement of a finger is extremely rare. We report a case of nodular fasciitis of the thumb, accompanied by bone erosion. Magnetic resonance findings suggested the possibility of a malignancy, which could have led to misdiagnosis as a malignant soft tissue sarcoma. Instead, the lesion was treated by excisional biopsy, which confirmed nodular fasciitis. There has been no evidence of local recurrence at recent follow-up, 1 year after surgery. This case illustrates that, to avoid unnecessarily aggressive surgery, nodular fasciitis must be included in the differential diagnosis for any finger lesion that resembles a sarcoma, even if bone erosion is present

Unacylated Ghrelin is associated with the isolated low HDL-cholesterol obese phenotype independently of insulin resistance and CRP level

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Low plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) level is commonly present in obesity and represents an independent cardiovascular risk factor. However, obese patients are a very heterogeneous population and the factors and mechanisms that contribute to low HDL-c remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between plasma HDL-c levels and plasma hormonal profiles (insulin, adiponectin, resistin, leptin and ghrelin) in subsets of class II and III obese patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fasting plasma levels of glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, triglycerides, free fatty acids, apoproteins A-I, B-100, B-48, C-II, C-III, insulin, hs-CRP, adipocytokines (adiponectin, resistin, leptin), unacylated ghrelin, body composition (DXA) and resting energy expenditure were measured in three subsets of obese patients: 17 metabolically abnormal obese (MAO) with metabolic syndrome and the typical metabolic dyslipidaemia, 21 metabolically healthy obese (MHO) without metabolic syndrome and with a normal lipid profile, and 21 isolated low HDL-c obese patients (LHO) without metabolic syndrome, compared to 21 healthy lean control subjects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) increased gradually from MHO to LHO and from LHO to MAO patients (<it>p </it>< 0.05 between MHO and MAO and between LHO and MAO). In multiple regression analysis, serum unacylated ghrelin levels were only positively and independently associated with HDL-c levels in the LHO group (<it>p </it>= 0.032).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that, in class II and III obese patients with an isolated low HDL-c phenotype, unacylated ghrelin is positively associated with HDL-c level independently of insulin resistance and CRP levels, and may contribute to the highly prevalent low HDL-c level seen in obesity.</p

Image-guided injections for facet joint pain: evidence-based Delphi conjoined consensus paper from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology and European Society of Neuroradiology

Objectives To perform a Delphi-based consensus on published evidence on image-guided injections for facet joint pain (FJP) and provide clinical indications. Methods We report the results of an evidence-based Delphi consensus of 38 experts from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology and the European Society of Neuroradiology, who reviewed the published literature for evidence on image-guided injections for FJP. Experts drafted a list of statements and graded them according to the Oxford Centre for evidence-based medicine levels of evidence. Consensus was considered strong when ≥ 95% of experts agreed with the statement or broad when &gt; 80% but &lt; 95% agreed. The results of the consensus were used to write the paper. Results Twenty statements on image-guided FJP treatment have been drafted. Eighteen statements received strong consensus, while two received broad consensus. Three statements reached the highest level of evidence, all of them regarding the lumbar spine. All radiological methods are used for image-guided injections for FJP, and regardless of the radiological method used, all show good safety and efficacy. Facet joint injections and medial branch blocks are used in all spinal regions to treat FJP, and both show similar clinical outcomes. Advanced technological solutions have been studied in the field of lumbar FJP; however, the level of evidence for these is low. Conclusion Despite promising results reported by published papers on image-guided injections for FJP, there is still a lack of evidence on injection efficacy, appropriateness of imaging methods, and optimal medication

A prospective study of shoulder pain in primary care: Prevalence of imaged pathology and response to guided diagnostic blocks

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of imaged pathology in primary care has received little attention and the relevance of identified pathology to symptoms remains unclear. This paper reports the prevalence of imaged pathology and the association between pathology and response to diagnostic blocks into the subacromial bursa (SAB), acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) and glenohumeral joint (GHJ).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Consecutive patients with shoulder pain recruited from primary care underwent standardised x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound scan and diagnostic injections of local anaesthetic into the SAB and ACJ. Subjects who reported less than 80% reduction in pain following either of these injections were referred for a magnetic resonance arthrogram (MRA) and GHJ diagnostic block. Differences in proportions of positive and negative imaging findings in the anaesthetic response groups were assessed using Fishers test and odds ratios were calculated a for positive anaesthetic response (PAR) to diagnostic blocks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the 208 subjects recruited, the rotator cuff and SAB displayed the highest prevalence of pathology on both ultrasound (50% and 31% respectively) and MRA (65% and 76% respectively). The prevalence of PAR following SAB injection was 34% and ACJ injection 14%. Of the 59% reporting a negative anaesthetic response (NAR) for both of these injections, 16% demonstrated a PAR to GHJ injection. A full thickness tear of supraspinatus on ultrasound was associated with PAR to SAB injection (OR 5.02; <it>p </it>< 0.05). Ultrasound evidence of a biceps tendon sheath effusion (OR 8.0; <it>p </it>< 0.01) and an intact rotator cuff (OR 1.3; <it>p </it>< 0.05) were associated with PAR to GHJ injection. No imaging findings were strongly associated with PAR to ACJ injection (<it>p </it>≤ 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Rotator cuff and SAB pathology were the most common findings on ultrasound and MRA. Evidence of a full thickness supraspinatus tear was associated with symptoms arising from the subacromial region, and a biceps tendon sheath effusion and an intact rotator cuff were associated with an intra-articular GHJ pain source. When combined with clinical information, these results may help guide diagnostic decision making in primary care.</p

Les droits des personnes victimes d’esclavage domestique : état des lieux

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