Mechanical Properties and Tensile Model of Hemp-Fiber-Reinforced Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Composite.

The preparation of a high-strength biodegradable plastic has always been the focus of academia. Here, we prepared two biodegradable composites using silane coupling-agent-modified hemp fibers (Si-HF) and unmodified hemp fibers (HF) with butylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT), respectively. We compared the differences of Si-HF/PBAT and HF/PBAT in terms of micromorphology, density, mechanical properties, thermal stability and biodegradability. The Si-HF has better interface interaction between the hemp and the PBAT matrix than the HF, which makes Si-HF/PBAT have better tensile properties. Moreover, Si-HF/PBAT has stronger tensile strength and modulus than HF/PBAT. Our results also show that the two composites have good biodegradability. This study provides an important reference for the subsequent development and utilization of hemp fibers.

Clinical significance of 99mTc-MIBI breast imaging in the diagnosis of early breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To find an effective, sensitive, specific and noninvasive diagnostic method for cancer. METHODS: 109 masses from 102 patients with breast lesions smaller than 2 cm in diameter were divided into three groups to undergo 99mtechnetium-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) imaging. The results were compared with their pathology. Twenty cases without breast lesions were selected as a control group. Abnormal density of 99mTc-MIBI in the breast and a threshold level 10% higher than that in the counterpart of the healthy breast was regarded as positive. RESULTS: Of 32 breast cancers, positive imaging appeared in 25. Negative imaging was found in 31 of 38 benign breast lesions. Of 39 nonpalpable breast lesions, five cases were breast cancers and 34 cases benign. Positive MIBI imaging appeared in all of the breast cancers, while in the benign lesions, four were positive and 30 negative. No positive imaging was found in the control group. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 99mTc-MIBI were 88.4%, 89.2%, 88.0%, 75.0% and 95.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 99mTc-MIBI imaging had high sensitivity and accuracy in the diagnosis of breast cancer, as well as in the differentiation between benign and malignant breast lesions. It could provide reliable information in confirming the diagnosis in patients with clinically suspected breast cancer.