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International audience; In this study, the goal was to compatibilize flax natural fibers (which are inherently polar) with mostly dispersive polymers, while proposing a way to recover greenhouse gases or refrigerants such as CF4 or C2F5H. Such gases exhibit a high global warming potentials (GWPs) and their recovery at the end of their lifecycle is difficult. Therefore, these two representative problematic gases were used as plasma precursor to graft fluorine atoms onto the flax fiber surface. Chemical investigation (FT-IR, 19F NMR and XPS spectroscopies), demonstrates the covalent grafting of fluorine atoms at the fiber surface, that opens the route of tailoring the surface chemistry of flax fibers. These modifications induced a decrease of the fiber polarity, which allows the treated fibers to become perfectly compatible with mostly dispersive polymer. Moreover, both mechanical properties and fluorine release during fibers combustion were investigated and any negative impact was evidenced. Therefore, thanks to the plasma fluorination, the gap between the surface energies of the fibers and mostly dispersive polymer matrix was reduced improving the wettability of the fibers through an eco-friendly way. This phenomenon promising an improvement in the mechanical performance of eco-composites reinforced with these fluorinated fibers.

International audience; Because of their specific properties, vegetal fibers are increasingly used as sustainable polymer reinforcementsfor eco-composites. Nevertheless, their polar character hinders them from being used more frequently at in-dustrial scale due to their incompatibility with mostly dispersive polymers (the cheapest and most commonones). In this study, direct fluorination treatment was carried out to covalently graft fluorine atom at the outmostsurface of flax fibers. Such a grafting has been proved by FT-IR, 19F NMR and XPS spectroscopies, and thesecharacterizations allowed to understand chemical change due to the treatment. This chemical modificationinduced an augmentation of the dispersive character of flax fibers, by significantly lowering the polar componentof surface energy without significant change of the dispersive component. Young’s modulus was also maintained.Thereby, treated fibers become perfectly compatible with hydrophobic polymer, and an improvement in themechanical performance of the resulting composite is expected according to the literature.

International audience; The estimation of solid surface energy is generally obtained through the determination of liquid/solid contact angles. Many questions arise in the literature about the appropriate contact angle to use (dynamic, quasi-static or static, measured at a macro or a micro-scale). Theoretically, equilibrium contact angles should be inserted into equations to determine surface energy components. However, for powders or porous materials more issues arise, notably due to the imbibition of the liquid into the medium. An apparent contact angle can be obtained using wicking tests and the modified Washburn equation. Nonetheless, Washburn hypotheses are not always respected or no longer valid during wicking meaning that this procedure could not allow to determine contact angles. This study has the aim to propose a new simple method to determine the surface energy components of powders and porous media. An experimental protocol coupled to a modified Jurin law is proposed. This protocol was applied to lignin particles used as reinforcement in polylactic acid (PLA). Some treatments were performed on lignin to improve the adhesion with PLA and the modifications due to the treatments were characterized. Reliable surface energy and components of untreated and treated lignin were obtained revealing the efficiency of the proposed method.

International audience; This work is focused on the preparation and the optimization of a biobased intumescent fire-retardant system (IFR) which was applied to a biopolymer such as PLA. This aliphatic biopolyester is obtained from agricultural plants and is recyclable and compostable in specific conditions. However, it has a poor thermal stability [1] and is very sensitive to hydrolysis [2]. In order to respect fire security standards, an IFR was designed using ammonium polyphosphate (APP), a common fire retardant and lignin which is a biobased by-product of the paper industry. Lignin has a good thermal stability and the ability to retard fire in composite materials by promoting the formation of char in association with APP [3]. The aim of the study is the optimization of the IFR and the chemical modification of lignin in order to prevent a trans-esterification between PLA and lignin that may break the polyester macromolecule. The first part of the study shows that an optimized ratio between APP and lignin is situated around 17/3. At this ratio, the IFR is more efficient with a significant reduction of the heat release rate (HRR) and a good fire retardancy capability (Figure 1). In addition, an encapsulated APP was also tested with lignin. The encapsulant improved the flame retardancy of the biocomposite with an enhancement of the char promotion. Finally, the last part of the work was focused on the chemical modification of lignin with esterification or phosphorylation. Chemical treatments showed an improvement of the quality of the PLA/lignin adhesion, due to the modification of the surface properties of lignin. The incorporation of phosphorus with lignin favors the intumescent reaction and the char promotion directly on the lignin particle. As a conclusion, lignin in association with APP was found to be efficient as IFR component for PLA, and beneficial as reinforcement for this polymer, applying adequate treatments to improve lignin surface properties and then the compatibility with PLA.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an acute respiratory syndrome caused by a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread worldwide, significantly affecting the outcome of a highly vulnerable group such as cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of COVID-19 infection on outcome and oncologic treatment of cancer patients. Patient and methods: We retrospectively enrolled cancer patients with laboratory and/or radiologic confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, admitted to our center from February to April 2020. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the clinical data and univariate analyses were performed to investigate the impact of anticancer treatment modifications due to COVID-19 outbreak on the short-term overall survival (OS). Results: Among 61 patients enrolled, 49 (80%) were undergoing anticancer treatment and 41 (67%) had metastatic disease. Most patients were men; median age was 68 years. Median OS was 46.6 days (40% of deaths occurred within 20 days from COVID-19 diagnosis). Among 59 patients with available data on therapeutic course, 46 experienced consequences on their anticancer treatment schedule. Interruption or a starting failure of the oncologic therapy correlated with significant shorter OS. Anticancer treatment delays did not negatively affect the OS. Lymphocytopenia development after COVID was significantly associated with worst outcome. Conclusions: COVID-19 diagnosis in cancer patients may affect their short-term OS, especially in case of interruption/starting failure of cancer therapy. Maintaining/delaying cancer therapy seems not to influence the outcome in selected patients with recent COVID-19 diagnosis.

This work highlights the possibility of obtaining peculiar morphologies by adding fumed silica into 80/20 polylactic acid/polyamide11 (PLA/PA11) blends. Two kinds of fumed silica (A200 and trimethoxyoctylsilane modified R805 fumed silica) were dispersed (by twin-screw extrusion, TSE) at a weight amount of 5% in neat PLA, neat PA11 and a 80/20 PLA/PA11 blend. Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) was used to verify this 5 wt % amount. Oscillatory shear rheology tests were conducted on all the formulations: (1) on neat polymer nanocomposites (PLASi5, PLASiR5, PA11Si5, PA11SiR5), and (2) on polymer blend nanocomposites (PLA80Si5 and PLA80SiR5). Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) characterizations and laser granulometry were conducted. Microscopic analysis performed on polymer blend nanocomposites evidenced a localization of A200 silica in the PA11 dispersed phase and R805 silica at the PLA/PA11 interface. Frequency sweep tests on neat polymer nanocomposites revealed a pronounced gel-like behavior for PLASi5 and PA11SiR5, evidencing a high dispersion of A200 in PLA and R805 in PA11. A yield behavior was also evidenced for both PLA80Si5 and PLA80SiR5 blends. For the blend nanocomposites, PA11 dispersed phases were elongated in the presence of A200 silica and a quasi-co-continuous morphology was observed for PLA80Si5, whereas PLA80SiR5 exhibits bridges of silica nanoparticles between the PA11 dispersed phases.

Simple Summary The status of microsatellite instability (MSI-H) in gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC) patients eligible for radical surgery proved to be prognostic for an improved survival outcome and predictive for poor/no benefit from the combination of adjuvant/peri-operative chemotherapy. MSI-H tumors display a high sensitivity to immunotherapy and exploratory studies showed that a pre-operative treatment with immune-checkpoint inhibitors may achieve elevated rates of pathological complete responses. The ongoing proof-of-concept INFINITY study is aimed at investigating the role of the combo-immunotherapy durvalumab plus tremelimumab as a neoadjuvant or potentially definitive treatment (avoiding surgery in case of complete clinical response) for MSI-H resectable GC/GEJC patients. Abstract In resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC), the powerful positive prognostic effect and the potential predictive value for a lack of benefit from the combination of adjuvant/peri-operative chemotherapy for the MSI-high status was demonstrated. Given the high sensitivity of MSI-high tumors for immunotherapy, exploratory trials showed that combination immunotherapy induces a high rate of complete pathological response (pCR), potentially achieving cancer cure without surgery. INFINITY is an ongoing phase II, multicentre, single-arm, multi-cohort trial investigating the activity and safety of tremelimumab and durvalumab as neoadjuvant (Cohort 1) or potentially definitive (Cohort 2) treatment for MSI-high/dMMR/EBV-negative, resectable GC/GEJC. About 310 patients will be pre-screened, to enroll a total of 31 patients, 18 and 13 in Cohort 1 and 2, at 25 Italian Centres. The primary endpoint of Cohort 1 is rate of pCR (ypT0N0) and negative ctDNA after neoadjuvant immunotherapy, of Cohort 2 is 2-year complete response rate, defined as absence of macroscopic or microscopic residual disease (locally/regionally/distantly) at radiological examinations, tissue and liquid biopsy, during non-operative management without salvage gastrectomy. The ongoing INFINITY proof-of-concept study may provide evidence on immunotherapy and the potential omission of surgery in localized/locally advanced GC/GEJC patients selected for dMMR/MSI-high status eligible for radical resection.

International audience; This work is focused on the modification of the interphase zone in short flax fibres / polypropylene (PP) composites by a bio-inspired modification of fibres called “nanostructuration” that uses the adsorption of biomass by-products, i.e. cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and xyloglucan (XG), to create hierarchical flax fibres. The wettability and interfacial adhesion study reveals a strong decrease in the polar character of CNC modified flax fibres, hence increasing the work of adhesion with PP. Moreover, combining XG/CNC modified interphases with MAPP coupling agent enhances the ultimate mechanical properties of biocomposites with higher tensile strength and work of rupture, and modifies failure mechanisms as revealed by in situ micro-mechanical tensile SEM experiments. Bio-based hierarchical composites inspired by naturally occurring nanostructures open a new path for the development of sustainable composites with enhanced structural properties.

International audience; Interest in eco-composites incorporating elements from recycling is growing to reduce the carbon footprint of final products. Therefore, the characterisation surface properties of recycled fibres is of first importance. However, in order to maximise the service properties and facilitate their development, chemical surface treatments can be made in order to improve fibres compatibility with resins. For a better understanding of the behaviour of these new reinforcements during Liquid Composite Moulding processes (LCM), surface analysis and wetting properties are studied. However, this type of analysis, using the Owens and Wendt relation and based on tensiometric methods, requires special procedures, specifically for estimation of the contact angle. Based on two tensiometric methods, carbon and basalt fibres with different sizing are characterised in first approach, in order to be able to address recycled materials in further studies. The main contribution of this study is to evaluate the error in surface energy and its components determination associated to the measurement of an alleged equilibrium contact angle deriving from static or quasi-static data.

International audience; Wood-plastic composites were prepared by impregnating softwood and tropical hardwood by a radiation-curing resin containing phosphorus or chlorine groups as flame retardant. Microscopic observations revealed that the heterogeneous impregnation depends on the density but also on the wood species and sample orientation. Physical properties (hardness, stiffness, conductivity, water content) of the unmodified woods and their resin-impregnated counterparts were examined and correlated with their densities. The flame retardancy was investigated by cone calorimeter tests. Although the incorporation of the resin is detrimental to the flame retardancy, the addition of phosphorus or chlorine groups allows a decrease in flammability. Phosphorus-containing resins limit the smoke release in comparison to chlorine-containing resin. Finally, the denser wood-plastic composites exhibit improved mechanical properties without increasing the flammability in comparison with their unmodified wood counterparts.

International audience; In this work, various flame retardants (FR) and clays were added to polyamide 12 (PA12). The process-ability by Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), thermal behaviour and flame retardancy of these compounds were evaluated. The observations show an important impact on powder flowability of some formulations containing melamine cyanurate and melamine polyphosphate leading to difficulties during SLS process. The incorporation of FRs also leads to changes in melting and crystallization temperatures of polyamide as a function of the FR type. Furthermore, in order to evaluate the influence of the process on thermal properties of samples, a comparison between thermocompression (TC) and SLS techniques was performed for the formulations containing the flame retardants alone. The addition of flame retardants impacts the porosity of the SLS samples as a function of the FR type. For the additives which are able to melt during SLS process, a lower porosity was observed. Samples made by TC containing 30 wt% of ammonium polyphosphate, zinc diethylphosphinate and a pentaerythritol ester of methane phosphonic acid showed a better thermal stability and flame retardancy compared to the ones made by SLS, probably due to the porosity of the SLS samples and some degradation of the flame retardant by the laser beam. For the formulation containing only zinc borate, no difference was observed between TC and SLS. In order to evaluate possibly synergistic effects between flame retardants, binary and ternary formulations were prepared by SLS. On the whole, these formulations led to an improvement of flame retardancy compared to neat PA12. Moreover, XRD results showed the formation of borophosphates for binary and ternary formulations , indicating interactions between flame retardants. EDX results showed that at least 95% of the phosphorus remained in the residue for the formulations containing zinc borate, thus corroborating the results obtained by XRD. The partial substitution of zinc borate by kaolinite led to a further improvement of flame retardancy at the expense of a porosity increase in the samples.

International audience; Capillary wicking of liquids in natural fibrous reinforcements is a significant phenomenon in fibre-reinforced composites manufacturing through Liquid Composite Moulding (LCM) processes. Such phenomenon is however difficult to analyse due to heterogeneous, multiscale and variable fibrous medium during flow. Taking into account the fibre swelling, a modified Washburn’s model is proposed to predict the capillary rise of liquids in flax fibres. Particularly, swelling and wicking are studied at two different scales, i.e. elementary fibres and individual yarns. Swelling effects have been considered in the model and a modified Washburn’s theory has been developed. The proposed model satisfactory fits experimental results from capillary wicking tests, and hold for a 60% fibre volume fraction (Vf) of fabric on a relatively short duration while it fits well on a longer duration for lower Vf.

International audience; This work consists in an experimental investigation of forced dynamic wetting of molten polymers on cellulosic substrates and an estimation of models describing this dynamic. A previous work of Pucci et al. (2018) showed that for totally wetting liquids (as paraffin oils), temperature-induced variations in dynamic wetting are included into the capillary number (Ca) and then a master curve of dynamic contact angle (θ d) as a function of Ca can be obtained. The hydrodynamic theory (HDT) correctly describes the dynamic wetting for Ca > 2 · 10 −3. For lower Ca, a change in the dynamic wetting behavior was observed. Here, partially wetting liquids (polyethylene glycols, a.k.a. PEGs) at different molecular weight (Mn) were used at temperatures above their melting point to investigate the dynamic wetting behavior on cellulosic substrates for a large range of Ca. It was found that the dynamic curves of θ d vs. Ca depend on Mn. Moreover, the HDT correctly describes the experimental measurements for Ca > 2 · 10 −3. Below this threshold the dynamic contact angle decreases toward the static one. A linear correlation between parameters obtained fitting the HDT and the molecular weight of polymer was found. The prediction of dynamic wetting for low Ca (Ca < 2 · 10 −3) with the molecular kinetic theory (MKT) was also evaluated and discussed.

International audience; A comparison of the influence of sepiolite and lignin as potential synergists for fire retardant (FR) systems based on ammonium polyphosphate (APP) has been carried out in polyurethane elastomer and polylactide. Different ratios of kraft lignin and sepiolite were tested in combination with APP in both polymers. The thermal stability and the fire behavior of the corresponding composites were evaluated using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), a Pyrolysis Combustion Flow Calorimeter (PCFC) and Cone Calorimeter (CC). The mechanisms of flame retardancy imparted by APP and other components were investigated. Synergistic effects were highlighted but only for specific ratios between APP and sepiolite in polyurethane elastomer (PUE) and polylactide (PLA) on one hand, and between APP and lignin in PLA on the other hand. Sepiolite acts as char reinforcement but through the formation of new phosphorus compounds it is also able to form a protective layer. Conversely, only complementary effects on fire performance were noted for lignin in PUE due to a dramatic influence on thermal stability despite its action on char formation.

Although good progress was made by two international benchmark exercises on in-plane permeability, existing methods have not yet been standardized. This paper presents the results of a third benchmark exercise using in-plane permeability measurement, based on systems applying the radial unsaturated injection method. 19 participants using 20 systems characterized a non-crimp and a woven fabric at three different fiber volume contents, using a commercially available silicone oil as impregnating fluid. They followed a detailed characterization procedure and also completed a questionnaire on their set-up and analysis methods. Excluding outliers (2 of 20), the average coefficient of variation (c v ) between the participant´s results was 32% and 44% (non-crimp and woven fabric), while the average c v for individual participants was 8% and 12%, respectively. This indicates statistically significant variations between the measurement systems. Cavity deformation was identified as a major influence, besides fluid pressure/viscosity measurement, textile variations, and data analysis. Fil: May, D.. Institut Für Verbundwerkstoffe Gmbh; Alemania Fil: Aktas, A.. National Physical Laboratory; Reino Unido Fil: Advani, S.G.. University Of Delaware; Estados Unidos Fil: Berg, D. C.. Technische Universität Clausthal; Alemania Fil: Endruweit, A.. University of Nottingham; Estados Unidos. Science and Technology Facilities Council of Nottingham. Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; Reino Unido Fil: Fauster, E.. Montanuniversitat Leoben; Austria Fil: Lomov, S. V.. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; Bélgica Fil: Long, A.. University of Nottingham; Estados Unidos. Science and Technology Facilities Council of Nottingham. Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; Reino Unido Fil: Mitschang, P.. Institut Für Verbundwerkstoffe Gmbh; Alemania Fil: Abaimov, S.. Skolkovo Institute Of Science And Technology; Rusia Fil: Abliz, D.. Technische Universität Clausthal; Alemania Fil: Akhatov, I.. Skolkovo Institute Of Science And Technology; Rusia Fil: Ali, M. A.. Khalifa University Of Science And Technology; Emiratos Arabes Unidos Fil: Allen, T. D.. University of Auckland; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Bickerton, S.. University of Auckland; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Bodaghi, M.. Institute Of Science And Innovation In Mechanical And Industrial; Portugal Fil: Caglar, B.. Koç Üniversitesi; Turquía Fil: Caglar, H.. Koç Üniversitesi; Turquía Fil: Chiminelli, A.. Instituto Tecnologico de Aragon; España Fil: Correia, N.. Institute Of Science And Innovation In Mechanical And Industrial; Portugal Fil: Cosson, B.. Imt Lille Douai; Francia Fil: Danzi, M.. Eth Zürich; Suiza Fil: Dittmann, J.. Universität Stuttgart; Alemania Fil: Ermanni, P.. Eth Zürich; Suiza Fil: Francucci, Gaston Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentina Fil: George, A.. University Brigham Young; Estados Unidos Fil: Grishaev, V.. Skolkovo Institute Of Science And Technology; Rusia Fil: Hancioglu, M.. Koç Üniversitesi; Turquía Fil: Kabachi, M. A.. Eth Zürich; Suiza Fil: Kind, K.. Universitat Technical Zu Munich; Alemania Fil: Deléglise Lagardère, M.. Imt Lille Douai; Francia Fil: Laspalas, M.. Instituto Tecnologico de Aragon; España Fil: Lebedev, O. V.. Skolkovo Institute Of Science And Technology; Rusia Fil: Lizaranzu, M.. Instituto Tecnologico de Aragon; España Fil: Liotier, P. J.. Université de Lyon; Francia Fil: Middendorf, P.. Universität Stuttgart; Alemania Fil: Morán, J.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina Fil: Park, C. H.. Imt Lille Douai; Francia Fil: Pipes, R. B.. Purdue University; Estados Unidos Fil: Pucci, M. F.. Université de Montpellier; Austria Fil: Raynal, J.. Groupe Institut de Soudure; Francia Fil: Rodriguez, E. S.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina Fil: Schledjewski, R.. Montanuniversitat Leoben; Austria Fil: Schubnel, R.. Groupe Institut de Soudure; Francia Fil: Sharp, N.. Purdue University; Estados Unidos Fil: Sims, G.. National Physical Laboratory; Reino Unido Fil: Sozer, E. M.. Koç Üniversitesi; Turquía Fil: Sousa, P.. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; Bélgica Fil: Thomas, J.. Khalifa University Of Science And Technology; Emiratos Arabes Unidos Fil: Umer, R.. Khalifa University Of Science And Technology; Emiratos Arabes Unidos Fil: Wijaya, W.. University of Auckland; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Willenbacher, B.. Institut Für Verbundwerkstoffe Gmbh; Alemania Fil: Yong, A.. National Physical Laboratory; Reino Unido Fil: Zaremba, S.. Universitat Technical Zu Munich; Alemania Fil: Ziegmann, G.. Technische Universität Clausthal; Alemania

This study focused on the development of skin/core structures with flame-retarded poly (lactic acid) (PLA) compositions, by additive manufacturing. For this purpose, the technique of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) was chosen. Plate samples were also manufactured by injection moulding for comparison purpose. The nature of the flame retardants (FR), their contents and their distribution in the samples were varied. The fire behaviour was investigated by cone calorimeter tests. The microstructure was characterized and related to the fire performances of each flame-retarded PLA structure. The results showed a significant decrease of the time to ignition (TTI) of 3D printed samples compared to the injected ones, due to their higher porosity. However, for a given total FR content, concentrating FR close to the radiated surface proved to be a promising solution in order to optimize fire performance while preserving the mechanical properties of neat PLA.

International audience; Basalt fibres are claimed to show better high temperature resistance compared to glass fibres, suggesting better prospects to survive an end-of-life composite thermal recycling process while preserving an adequate reinforcing efficiency. It is well known that sizing agents affect impregnation of fibre reinforcements during composite manufacturing, which influences the overall mechanical behaviour of the resulting composites. However, with the exception of some studies about coupling agent effects on the adhesion between basalt fibres and matrix, no information are present in literature on the wetting characteristics of basalt fibres. The main contribution of this study is the analysis of the surface properties and wetting behaviour of basalt fibres with sizing optimised for both thermoset and thermoplastic matrices. Measurements of static contact angles were performed with a tensiometric procedure designed for singles fibres, in order to determine their surface energy and its components. Modifications of surface properties due to chemical treatments and high temperature exposure were also investigated and discussed.

We analysed the expression of microsatellite instability, p53, p21, vascular endothelial growth factor and thymidylate synthase (TS) in pretreatment biopsy specimens from 57 locally advanced rectal cancers. The aim of the study was to correlate the expression of these markers with pathological response. Nineteen patients were treated with preoperative concomitant radiotherapy (RT) and fluorouracil/oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy (RCT), while 38 had RT alone. Pathological complete remission (pCR) and microfoci residual tumour (micR) occurred more frequently in patients treated with RCT (P=0.002) and in N0 tumours (P=0.004). Among patients treated with RCT, high TS levels were associated with a higher response rate (pCR+micR; P=0.015). No such correlation was found in the RT group. The other molecular factors were of no predictive value. Multivariate analysis confirmed a significant interaction between nodal status and the probability of achieving a pathological response (P=0.023) and between TS expression and treatment, indicating that a high TS level is predictive of a higher pathological response in the RCT subset (P=0.007). This study shows that lymph node status is the most important predictive factor of tumour response to preoperative treatment. Thymidylate synthase expression assessed immunohistochemically from pretreatment tumour biopsies may be a useful predictive marker of rectal tumour response to preoperative RCT.

The purpose of this work is to study the resistance to low velocity impact of woven hemp/epoxy matrix composites and the influence of impact damage on their residual quasi-static tensile and cyclic fatigue strengths. Impact characteristic parameters were evaluated and critically compared to those found in the literature for other similar composites. Damage mechanisms were analysed by using AE monitoring and microscopic observations. An analytical model is used to predict the fatigue lifetime of impacted specimens. Moreover a damage scenario is proposed, reduced to two phases in post-impacted fatigue behaviour, instead of three phases for non impacted specimens. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinical data suggested that a regimen incorporating doxorubicin to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin may be more effective but probably quite toxic for advanced gastric cancer patients. With the aim to maintain efficacy while reducing toxicity, we compared the activity and safety of a combination of 5-FU, cisplatin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin with a combination of 5-FU, cisplatin and mitomycin-C.Seventy-eight patients were randomised to receive 5-FU (400 mg/m(2) bolus, 600 mg/m(2) 22 h continuous infusion day 1 and 2) and cisplatin (50 mg/m(2) day 1) every 2 weeks, combined either with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (20 mg/m(2) day 1 every two weeks) (arm A) or mitomycin-C (7 mg/m(2) every 6 weeks) (arm B).The overall response rate was 64.1% in arm A and 38.5% in arm B (P = 0.041). The median time to tumour progression and overall survival were 7.93 and 5.14 months (P = 0.04) and 12.1 and 8.3 months (P = 0.02) in arm A and B, respectively. Fourteen patients in arm A and 18 patients in arm B experienced a grade 3/4 toxic effect.A combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, cisplatin and 5-FU can be safely administered in gastric cancer patients with a promising efficacy profile.