bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maternal mortality in a maternity hospital in Turkey
Authors: Tuncer Rahime Akarin , Erkaya Salim , Sipahi Tevfik , Kutlar Irfan 
Published: November 2007

Background. To determine the leading causes of maternal mortality in a large maternity hospital and to define priorities regarding this subject throughout Turkey.Methods. Retrospective, institutional study among 100,531 live births between 1983 and 1992.Results. Seventeen maternal deaths took place in this institution. Thus, the overall maternal mortality ratio was 16.9 per 100,000. The leading causes of maternal mortality were hemorrhage in seven (41.2%) and pulmonary embolism in six (35.3%) patients. The majority of deaths were observed in the 25–29 and 30–34 age groups and in patients with parity more than two.Conclusion. The relatively low figure of 16.9/100,000 for maternal mortality may be seen as a promising health index. However, obstetric hemorrhage is still the leading cause of this series. Pregnant women less than 20 years old and greater than 35 years old, and grand multiparous women as well as women with hypertension and heart disease are at high mortality risk. The observation of such cases demands further efforts for improved obstetric care in the hospital and throughout Turkey.
Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy
Authors: Chen Chie‐Pein , Wang Kuo‐Gon , Su Tsung‐Hsien , Yang Yuh‐Cheng 
Published: November 2007

Background. Discuss the course of acute pancreatitis in pregnant patients and demonstrate that most attacks of pancreatitis in pregnancy are mild.Methods. This article is a retrospective case series study. Eight patients with acute pancreatitis during pregnancy were seen in referral‐based obstetric practice at our department in the last 5 years. Five of them had either gallstones or hyperlipidemia. Two patients had both gallstones and hyperlipidemia. One patient was lost to follow‐up at 33 weeks gestation. The others were followed at least one month post‐partum. Conservative treatment was instituted for pancreatitis and a fat‐restricted diet was instituted for hyperlipidemia.Results. There was no maternal mortality and only one fetal death. Acute pancreatitis occurred in both primipara and multipara patients. Preterm labor or preeclampsia may occur in pregnancy complicated by acute pancreatitis. Most patients experience relief from the pancreatitis soon after delivery. Two patients underwent cesarean section, one was due to fetal distress and the other was elective.Conclusions. Early diagnosis and treatment is of utmost importance. Gallstones and/or hyperlipidemia seems to have a specific link with acute pancreatitis in pregnancy. Although acute pancreatitis is a rare complication of pregnancy, we present evidence that both maternal and fetal mortality can be minimized if appropriately treated.
Evaluation and the learning curve of the first one hundred laparoscopic hysterectomies
Authors: Härkki‐Siren Päivi , Sjöberg Jari 
Published: November 2007

Background. We analyzed the first one hundred laparoscopic hysterectomies done by one senior gynecologist to study the learning curve and complications of this technique.Methods. One hundred laparoscopic hysterectomies done for uterine fibroid (64%), menorrhagia (20%), adenomyosis or endometriosis (10%), cervical dysplasia (3%) and endometrial cancer (3%) were studied.Results. No conversion to laparotomy was needed. The weight of the uterus ranged from 70 to 470 grams (mean 206 g) and the operating time ranged from 45 to 245 minutes (mean 109 min). The mean operating time was reduced from 180 to 75 minutes. The uterine weight and the weight of the patient had a positive correlation to operating time. The use of automatic staplers or clips did not reduce the operating time. Ten complications occurred: one perforation of the urinary bladder, five bleedings and four pelvic infections.Conclusion. The operating time was clearly shortened during the first one hundred laparoscopic hysterectomies. The rate of the complications did not fall similarly. Technical complications (bladder perforation and intraoperative bleeding) occurred in the beginning. Complications like infection and bleeding do not seem to disappear with experience. Laparoscopic hysterectomy appears to be as safe as abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy and the postoperative convalescence time is short. It is clearly an acceptable alternative to hysterectomy.
Book Review
Authors: Bergsjo Per 
Published: November 2007

O'Dowd MJ, Philipp EE. The History of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 710 pages, illustrated. New York, London: The Parthenon Publishing Group, 1994. Price: GBP 65.Waaldijk K. Step‐by‐step surgery of vasicovaginal fistulas. A full‐color atlas. 103 pages, figures. Edinburgh: Campion Press Limited, 1994. Price not stated.Mansel RE, ed. Advances in the study of benign breast disease. 280 pages, tables, figures. Parthenon Publishing 1994. Price £38.00.
Solid and Microcellular Polylactide-Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites
Authors: Pilla S. , Kramschuster A. , Gong S. , Chandra A. , Turng L.-S. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn this study, polylactide (PLA)-multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites were melt-compounded using a twin-screw extruder. Solid and microcellular tensile bar specimens were produced via conventional and microcellular injection molding, respectively. Various characterization techniques were applied to study the static and dynamic mechanical properties, degree of MWCNT dispersion, cell morphology, and crystallization behavior. The addition of a small amount of MWCNTs led to a decrease in the cell size and an increase in the cell density of the microcellular PLA specimens. A transmission electron microscopy analysis of the PLA-MWCNT specimens revealed a higher degree of MWCNT dispersion in the microcellular PLA-MWCNT composite compared with its solid counterpart, indicating that the microcellular injection molding process further dispersed the MWCNTs. For both solid and microcellular specimens, the addition of 1.5 wt% MWCNTs reduced the specific strength, specific toughness and strain-at-break while exerting less impact on the specific modulus. The storage modulus was not affected significantly with the addition of MWCNTs, but was found to be higher for the microcellular specimens compared with their solid counterparts. Finally, the crystallinity of PLA increased with the addition of MWCNTs.
Association between myeloid malignancies and acquired deficit in protein 4.1R: A retrospective analysis of six patients
Authors: Alanio‐Bréchot Cécile , Schischmanoff Pierre‐Olivier , Fénéant‐Thibault Madeleine , Cynober Thérèse , Tchernia Gil , Delaunay Jean , Garçon Loïc 
Published: November 2007

AbstractConstitutional deficit in the erythroid protein 4.1 (4.1R), a structural component of the erythrocyte membrane, is implicated in hereditary elliptocytosis. Acquired deficit in protein 4.1R have been rarely described in myelodysplastic syndromes. Here, we report a series of six patients presenting a myelodysplastic or a myeloproliferative disease in association with an elliptocytosis curve on osmotic gradient ektacytometry and a significant decrease in protein 4.1R level. We confirm that deficit in protein 4.1R is recurrent in myeloid malignancies and should be particularly investigated when deletion del (20q) is present, since we found this chromosomal abnormalityin four out of six patients. Am. J. Hematol., 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A familial case of achondrogenesis type II caused by a dominant COL2A1 mutation and “patchy” expression in the mosaic father
Authors: Forzano F. , Lituania M. , Viassolo A. , Superti‐Furga V. , Wildhardt G. , Zabel B. , Faravelli F. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAchondrogenesis type II (ACG2) is the most severe disorder that can be produced by dominant mutations in COL2A1. We report on four pregnancies of an apparently healthy, nonconsanguineous young couple. The father had scoliosis as a child, and has slight body disproportion with short trunk. The first child was born at 32 weeks and died neonatally. In the second pregnancy, short limbs and fetal hygroma were noted on ultrasound at 17 weeks' gestation. Similar findings were observed in the third fetus. Clinical, radiological, and histological evaluation of the fetuses after termination of the pregnancies showed findings consistent with ACG2. Molecular analysis of genomic DNA extracted from amniotic cells of the second and third fetuses revealed heterozygosity for a 10370G > T missense mutation (G346V) in the COL2A1 gene. This mutation was also found in the father, as a mosaic. The couple had a fourth pregnancy, and at 11 weeks fetal hydrops with a septated cystic hygroma were obvious. DNA from CVS demonstrated the same COL2A1 mutation. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multilayer coating by drawing a thin plastic fiber through a polymer solution
Authors: Oda Masaaki , Suga Shinichiro , Yoshii Hidefumi , Furuta Takeshi 
Published: November 2007

AbstractContinuous entrainment of a core fiber through the free surfaces of various polymer solutions was applied as a multilayer coating method of the fiber. This method, by use of polymer solutions of different refractive indices (RIs), will ultimately result in a graded‐index polymer optical fiber (GI‐POF) with an established radial RI distribution. The coating behavior of polymer solutions of different compositions of monomers and polymers was studied by means of a newly developed three‐stage coating equipment. Data correlation showed that the dimensionless coating thickness, e∞, was proportionally dependent on the square root of the capillary number, Ca0.5. The coating thickness could be controlled by changing the composition of the polymer solution. It was also found that the multilayer coating method was able to produce fibers with excellent circularity. Copyright © 2007 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel multimonomer‐grafted polypropylene preparation and application in polypropylene/poly(vinyl chloride) blends
Authors: Hou Lianlong , Zhao Min , Liu Hongzhi , Yang Guisheng 
Published: November 2007

AbstractA novel grafted polymer was prepared in one step through free‐radical melt grafting in a single‐screw extruder. It was shown that the addition of styrene (St) to the melt‐grafting system as a comonomer could significantly enhance the grafting degree of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto polypropylene (PP) and reduce the degradation of the PP matrix by means of Fourier transform infrared and melt flow rate testing, respectively. Then, the potential of using multimonomer‐grafted PP, which was designated PP‐g‐(St‐co‐MMA), as the compatibilizer in PP/poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) blends was also examined. In comparison with PP/PVC blends, the average size of the dispersed phase was greatly reduced in grafted polypropylene (gPP)/PVC blends because of the addition of the PP‐g‐(St‐co‐MMA) graft copolymer. The tensile strength of the gPP/PVC blends increased significantly, and the impact strength was unchanged from that of the pure PP/PVC blends. The results of differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy suggested that the compatibility of the PP/PVC blends was improved. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Preparation and conductivity of substituted germanic heteropoly acids polyethylene glycol hybrid materials
Authors: Zhao Shouli , Wu Qingyin , Huan Xuelu , Zhao Lichuan 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn this work, the polyethylene glycol (PEG) hybrid materials composited with substituted germanic heteropoly acids were prepared. Infrared (IR) spectra revealed that the Keggin structure characteristic of the GeM11VO405− anion were present in the hybrid materials. At room temperature (20°C), the conductivity of the products is 4.07 × 10−3 S cm−1 and 2.12 × 10−3 S cm−1, respectively. The results indicated that the conductivity of substituted germanic heteropoly acids PEG hybrid materials is higher than that of the corresponding pure substituted germanic heteropoly acids. According to the experimental results, we proposed a possible mechanism of the proton conduction of the hybrid materials. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Influence of compatibilizers on the rheological, mechanical, and morphological properties of epoxidized natural rubber/polypropylene thermoplastic vulcanizates
Authors: Thitithammawong A. , Noordermeer J. W. M. , Kaesaman A. , Nakason C. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn polymeric materials combining desirable properties, compatibility between constituent components of incompatible blends is necessary. The influence of two types of blend compatibilizers, a graft copolymer of maleic anhydride and polypropylene (PP) and phenolic‐modified PP, on the rheological, mechanical, and morphological properties of epoxidized natural rubber/PP thermoplastic vulcanizates was investigated at varied concentrations. All properties improved in a range of loading levels of compatibilizers at 0–7.5 wt % of PP. This was attributed to a chemical interaction between the different phases caused by the functionalized compatibilizers. Increasing chemical interaction between interfaces improved the interfacial tension and led to a microscale size of the dispersion. A decreasing trend in the properties was observed at compatibilizer levels higher than 7.5 wt % of PP because of segregation, which led to a third blend component dispersed in the PP matrix. The compatibilizers behaved as lubricants in the polymer melt flow. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Preparation of multinuclear microparticles using a polymerization in emulsion process
Authors: Salaün F. , Devaux E. , Bourbigot S. , Rumeau P. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractA new microencapsulation method, in which a paraffin medium and small sub‐micron spheres were encapsulated by an amino resin has been established. These multinuclear microparticles were made by polymerization in emulsion and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and interfacial tension measurements. This process is based on several emulsion mixings following Torza and Mason's approach, in which we combined the characteristics of a coacervation with a conventional interfacial reaction and an in situ polymerization followed by a water in oil in water emulsion. The inner phase of the microcapsules consisted of a mixture of paraffin and microspheres of poly(vinyl) alcohol/hydrated salt crosslinked by methylene diisocyanate. The encapsulation mechanism is based on the liquid/solid–liquid separation of methoxylolmelamines and will be described in this study to explain the surface morphology. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
The effect of matrix composition on the properties of cellulosic fibers–polyethylene composites
Authors: Katsoulotos G. , Tarantili P. A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe solution/precipitation method was used for the preparation of polyethylene (PE)/cellulosic fibers composites. Blends of modified linear low density PE [linear low density PE‐grafted maleic anhydride (LLDPE‐g‐MAH)] with low density PE (LDPE) were used as matrices for the aforementioned composites. Blends of LDPE with a copolymer of LDPE and acrylic acid (AA)/n‐butyl acrylate (n‐BA) [(AA/n‐BA)–LDPE] were also studied for the same purpose. The reinforcing effect of cellulosic fibers in terms of tensile strength is more enhanced when mixtures of the modified polar polymer with pure PE were used as matrices, as compared with that corresponding to matrices consisting of modified PE alone. Regarding the Izod impact strength, composites of LLDPE‐g‐MAH presented the best performance with an improvement of 135% in comparison with specimens consisting of LDPE matrix, whereas composites of (AA/n‐BA)‐LDPE matrix showed a modest improvement of their impact resistance. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Atomic force microscopy analysis of morphology of low density polyethylene influenced by Al nano‐ and microparticles
Authors: Huang Xingyi , Jiang Pingkai , Kim Chonung , Duan Jingkuan , Wang Genlin 
Published: November 2007

AbstractSpherulites are important morphological forms in semicrystalline polymers. Polarized optical microscope (POM) is a powerful tool for observing the spherulite morphology of semicrystalline polymers and their composites, but it can not resolve spherulites with average size smaller than 5 μm and also not be used to study the opaque nanocomposites film samples. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is an excellent tool for observing spherulites comparatively small in size and not restricted by the transparency of the samples. In this work, AFM was used to investigate the impact of Al nano‐ and microparticles on spherulitic textures, lamellar thickness, and thickness distribution of low density polyethylene (LDPE). It was found that the spherulitic texture was seriously disordered by the nanoparticles, and that the LDPE in nanocomposites was found only to have poorly developed spherulite structure. The incorporation of microparticles can facilitate the growth of the lamellae but decrease the size of the spherulites. Furthermore, the lamellar thickness and its distribution did not alter so much with the addition of nano‐ and microparticles. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WXRD) was used to determine the crystal structure of LDPE, and the results show that both Al nanoparticles and microparticles do not change the unit cell parameters. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Dopants dependent ion sensitivity of polypyrrole‐modified electrode: Case of pH sensing
Authors: Pandey P. C. , Singh G. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe polypyrrole (PPY)‐modified electrode made through electropolymerization of pyrrole monomer is found sensitive to different cations depending on the dopants present within microstructure of polymeric domain. When p‐toluenesulfonate (PTS) anion is doped, the modified electrode is sensitive to proton whereas, under similar conditions, in the presence of tetraphenylborate (TPB) anion, the same is sensitive to zinc ion. A comparative study on ion sensing behavior of PPY‐modified electrodes is reported in this communication. The electro‐polymerization of PTS‐doped PPY‐modified electrode, made under both potentiodynamic and potentiostatic conditions, are studied. The modified electrode is characterized by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry and compared with those recorded for TPB‐doped PPY‐modified electrode made under similar conditions. The results based on scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry suggested; (i) dependence of microstructure based on mode of electropolymerization; (ii) dopant‐dependant ion sensitivity of PPY‐modified electrode, (iii) variation in the redox behavior of the PPY‐modified electrode based on dopants and mode of electropolymerization. Typical results on pH sensing together stability of PPY‐based pH sensor are reported and compared with those recorded for polyaniline (PANI)‐based pH sensor. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Cyclic ureas as solvents for esterification of poly(vinyl alcohol) and vinyl acetate‐vinyl alcohol copolymers with acid chlorides
Authors: Fernández M. D. , Fernández M. J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractPoly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAL) and vinyl acetate‐vinyl alcohol copolymers (VAVAL) were esterified with 3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl chloride using the cycled urea N,N′‐dimethylpropyleneurea (1,3‐dimethyl‐3,4,5,6‐tetrahydro‐2(1H)‐pyrimidinone) (DMPU) as the solvent. Vinyl alcohol‐vinyl‐3,5‐dinitrobenzoate copolymers (VALVDNB) and vinyl acetate‐vinyl‐3,5‐dinitrobenzoate copolymers (VAVDNB) were obtained. High degrees of esterification were obtained when PVAL was esterified (86%). The degree of transformation was determined by 1H‐NMR as well as by chemical analysis, and the structure of the resulting polymers by means of IR spectroscopy and 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR. The microstructure of PVA, PVAL, VAVAL copolymers and VALVDNB copolymers were determined from 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR techniques. The sequence distributions for VAVAL copolymers prepared by base‐catalyzed transesterification of PVA were blocky, while the distributions were close to random for VALVDNB copolymers obtained by esterification of PVAL. Thermal properties were studied by DSC. The Tg values of VAVAL, VALVDNB, and VAVDNB copolymers as a function of copolymer compositions were determined. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Comparative study on the effect of manchurian ash and larch wood flour on mechanical property, morphology, and rheology of HDPE/wood flour composites
Authors: Li Bin , Jiang Hongli , Guo Lihua , Shi Hengchong 
Published: November 2007

AbstractEffects of wood flour species and polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride (MA‐PE) on mechanical properties and morphology and torque rheology of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/wood flour composites have been comparatively investigated. The results demonstrated that without compatbilizer, wood flour species exhibited little influence on mechanical properties. In the presence of MA‐PE, the mechanical properties were obviously increased. On the basis of the mechanical property data obtained from wood flour extracted by different methods, the extractant was an important factor affecting the mechanical properties. Manchurian ash and larch wood flours extracted by hot water presented almost the same mechanical properties, and larch wood flour was the most beneficial to enhance the mechanical properties. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the atomic force microscopy (AFM) further confirmed that interfacial adhesion and dispersion of manchurian ash wood flour in composites were effectively improved by MA‐PE. The torque results demonstrated that the chemical reactions of maleic anhydride groups on MA‐PE with hydroxyl on cellulose in wood flour probably took place due to the increase of the equilibrium torque and the appearance of the torque peak, and larch wood flour was more beneficial to prepare the composites containing the higher wood flour content. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Synthesis and aqueous solution behaviors of sodium sulfonate‐terminated dendritic poly(ester‐amine)
Authors: Xu Dong‐Mei , Zhao Zhong‐Ling , Wang Ai‐Feng , Zhang Ke‐Da , Zhu Xiu‐Lin 
Published: November 2007

AbstractSodium sulfonate‐terminated dendritic poly(ester‐amine) (SPEA) was synthesized by sulfonation of acrylic double bond‐terminated dendritic poly(ester‐amine) (APEA) with sodium hydrogen sulfite (NaHSO3) in mixture of diglycol and 2‐butanone under normal pressure. The structure of SPEA was characterized by IR, 1H‐NMR, and elemental analysis. SPEA was water‐soluble. 1.0–40.0% (mass) SPEA aqueous solutions appeared as dilatant fluid. When pH value varied from 1.5 to 12.0, the viscosity of 1–5% (mass) SPEA aqueous solutions changed very small, and the electric conductivity almost kept stable within pH 3.0–10.0. The relationship between the viscosity and the concentration of SPEA water solutions was similar to that of NaCl water solutions. The surface tension of SPEA water solutions was lower than that of polyethylene glycol 2000 water solutions with the same concentration. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008