bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A prospective study of thyroid nodular disease in children and adolescents in western Poland from 1996 to 2000 and the incidence of thyroid carcinoma relative to iodine deficiency and the Chernobyl disaster
Authors: Niedziela Marek , Korman Eugeniusz , Breborowicz Danuta , Trejster Ewa , Harasymczuk Jerzy , Warzywoda Malgorzata , Rolski Michal , Breborowicz Jan 
Published: December 2003

AbstractBackgroundIn Poland, where soil is deficient in iodine, supplementation of iodine was introduced in 1935, discontinued in 1980, and then re‐introduced in 1997. One of the effects of inadequate iodine intake, prior to 1997, was an increase in the prevalence of thyroid nodular disease (TND) in children. Chernobyl, located in the neighbouring country of Ukraine, suffered a catastrophic nuclear explosion in April 1986.ProcedureA total of 411 children with TND (an incidence of 7.53/100,000) were diagnosed and registered in western Poland between 1996 and 2000 and further evaluated as a population‐based study.ResultsBased on the patient's clinical status, ultrasound examination, scintiscan, laboratory tests, cytology and the family history, many of the patients qualified for surgery and, as a result, histopathologic data were obtained from 155 of the 411 patients operated on to date (37.7% of all TND). Thyroid carcinoma was detected in 37 of the operated children, i.e. 23.9% or 9.0% of all children with TND with a median incidence of 0.68/100,000. Papillary carcinoma was the predominant histologic type (26–70.3%) compared to follicular carcinoma (10–27.0%) and medullary carcinoma (1–2.7%). Retrospective analysis of the figures for the 23 years (1972–1995) showed that in that period a total of 23 thyroid carcinomas were registered. However, only 12 of these were detected in the 20‐year period between 1972 and 1991, none in the years 1992–1993 and, significantly, 11 from 1994 to 1995.ConclusionsThyroid carcinoma appears to be an ongoing and increasing problem in the children and adolescents of our region, and it is developing more intensively when compared, both to other parts of Poland and to previous statistics (2000 vs. 1985; P < 0.002). Iodine deficiency and radiation resulting from the Chernobyl disaster might be important risk factors in the development of thyroid carcinoma in the young population analysed in our region in the period since 1994. The high percentage of follicular carcinoma and follicular adenoma with an undetermined prognosis (19 out of 46) indicates that the long‐term iodine deficiency in our region may be more significant in the pathogenesis of malignant transformation than has previously been postulated. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2004;42:84–92. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immune responses to influenza immunization in children receiving maintenance chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Porter Christopher C. , Edwards Kathryn M. , Zhu Yuwei , Frangoul Haydar 
Published: December 2003

AbstractPurposeTo compare the immune responses to influenza vaccine in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receiving maintenance chemotherapy with those in healthy children.MethodsHemagglutinin‐inhibition (HAI) antibody titers were determined before and after influenza vaccination in children with ALL and healthy controls. Immune responses were measured as geometric mean titers (GMT) and 4‐fold rises in HAI titers.ResultsAlthough post‐immunization GMT were lower in children with ALL compared to healthy children for the H1N1 antigen (P < 0.001), the H3N2 antigen (P = 0.03), and for the influenza B antigen (P = 0.003), at least 60% of children with ALL had at least a 4‐fold rise in HAI titers to each of the influenza antigens.ConclusionsWhile the GMT after trivalent influenza immunization in children with ALL were significantly lower than those seen in healthy children, the majority of children with ALL had 4‐fold rises in HAI titers. Children receiving maintenance chemotherapy for ALL should receive yearly influenza vaccine. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An examination of outcome measures to assess functional mobility in childhood survivors of osteosarcoma
Authors: Marchese Victoria G. , Ogle Susan , Womer Richard B. , Dormans John , Ginsberg Jill P. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this study is to examine outcome measures that assess functional mobility in adolescent survivors of osteosarcoma. We will also identify relationships between functional mobility measurements and specific measure(s) of health‐related quality of life (HRQL).MethodsEighteen adolescent survivors of osteosarcoma at least 2 years from surgery at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) participated in this study. Functional mobility, endurance, perceived exertion, and locomotor efficiency is examined with the following measurement tools: timed up and go (TUG), timed up and down stairs (TUDS), 9‐min run‐walk, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and physiological cost index (PCI). The currently used evaluation of function from the American Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) is also administered. The Short Form 36 (SF‐36) measuring HRQL is used.ResultsMSTS scores did not correlate with quantitative functional outcome measures. MSTS scores did not correlate with the HRQL as measured by the SF‐36. In contrast, subjects with a higher rate of vitality on the SF‐36 walked with more efficiency, farther distance during the 9‐min run‐walk, and performed the TUDS and TUG with a faster speed.ConclusionsThe MSTS does not correlate with actual measures of function or with HRQL. These data demonstrate the need for a new measure to determine functional mobility in survivors of osteosarcoma. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hydrogen‐bonding interaction of an alternating maleic acid–vinyl acetate copolymer with poly(ethylene glycol), polyacrylamide and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide): a comparative study
Authors: Vasile C , Bumbu GG , Mylonas Y , Cojocaru I , Staikos G 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe hydrogen‐bonding interaction and interpolymer complex formation between an alternating maleic acid–vinyl acetate copolymer, (MAc‐alt‐VA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), polyacrylamide (PAM) or poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) in aqueous solution was potentiometrically and viscometrically investigated. MAc‐alt‐VA formed with PEG a strong hydrogen‐bonding interpolymer complex with a compact structure, and while its interaction with PAM seems to be very weak, if any, the complex formed with PNIPAM is even stronger than that with PEG. This indicates a very important contribution of hydrophobic interaction to the formation of such hydrogen‐bonding interpolymer complexes. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry
Thermal properties, structure and morphology of PEEK/thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer blends
Authors: Naffakh Mohammed , Gómez Marián A , Ellis Gary , Marco Carlos 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe dynamic crystallization and subsequent melting behaviour of poly(aryl ether ether ketone), PEEK, and its blends with a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer, Vectra®, have been studied using differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy and wide‐angle and small‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXS and SAXS) techniques in a wide compositional range. Differences in crystallization rates and crystallinities were related to the structural and morphological characteristics of the blends measured by simultaneous real‐time WAXS and SAXS experiments using synchrotron radiation and optical microscopy. The crystallization process of PEEK in the blends takes place in the presence of the nematic phase of Vectra and leads to the formation of two different crystalline families. The addition of Vectra reduces the crystallization rate of PEEK, depending on composition, and more perfect crystals are formed. An increase in the long period of PEEK during heating was generally observed in the blends at all cooling rates. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry
Preparation of a starch‐graft‐acrylamide/kaolinite superabsorbent composite and the influence of the hydrophilic group on its water absorbency
Authors: Wu Jihuai , Wei Yuelin , Lin Jianming , Lin Songbai 
Published: December 2003

AbstractA novel starch‐graft‐acrylamide/kaolinite superabsorbent composite with water absorbency 4000 times (g $\rm{g}_{\rm sample}^{-1})$) was synthesized by a graft copolymerization reaction among acrylamide, potato starch and kaolinite ultrafine powder, followed by saponification with NaOH. The influence of the hydrophilic group on water absorbency was investigated. It was found that the combined absorbent effect of —CONH2, —COONa and —COOH groups was superior to that of a single group, and the composite with the molar ratio of 8:6:3 for the —CONH2, —COONa and —COOH groups exhibits the highest water‐absorbent ability. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry
A statistical study of poly(ε‐caprolactone) crystallinity in poly(ε‐caprolactone)–silica sol–gel materials and their in vitro calcium phosphate‐forming ability
Authors: Eglin David , Ali Saad AM , Perry Carole C 
Published: December 2003

AbstractComposite poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)–silica materials for potential use in orthopaedic applications have been prepared by a sol–gel method using an experimental design approach to investigate the effect of synthesis variables, separately and together, on the physical form of the organic polymer. A combination of differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction and Fourier‐transform infrared methods were used to obtain information on the arrangement of the organic polymer in the hybrid material. As our studies investigated the effect of synthesis variables simultaneously, it was possible to establish that the increase of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)/PCL and HCl/TEOS molar ratios decreased the poly(ε‐caprolactone) crystallinity and provided for a better mixing of the two phases. At a mechanistic level it was possible to show that increase in catalyst content affected the condensation of silicon containing species. In vitro calcium phosphate‐forming ability tests using the static biomimetic method have been carried out on selected PCL–silica sol–gels. In vitro bioactivity was only observed for PCL–silica sol–gel composites with high silica content (30% weight). Changes in catalyst levels had a smaller but still significant effect. Calcium phosphate formation on largely non‐porous surfaces is proposed to occur via the formation of a silica sol–gel layer, and is influenced by the topography and the chemistry of the materials surface. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry
A study of the influence of controlled corona treatment on UHMWPE fibres in reinforced vinylester composites
Authors: Zheng Zhen , Tang Xiaozhen , Shi Meiwu , Zhou Guotai 
Published: December 2003

AbstractIn order to illuminate the mechanisms of corona discharge treatment on ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibre, the effects of corona treatment power and time are discussed in detail. The surface‐roughness and tensile‐failure characteristics of the polyethylene fibre were determined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The photos from the SEM showed that the size and number of the micro‐pits on the fibre surface increase with increase of corona power. The oxygen‐containing groups on the fibre surface could be detected by Fourier‐transform infrared attenuated total reflectance and also increased gradually with increase of corona power. The T‐peel strength of composites increased from the corona treatment, and then showed a maximum value at a corona treatment time about 0.1 s with increase of treatment time. However, the tensile strength of the fibre was reduced with increase of corona power and the failure mechanism obviously changed after the treatment. The ballistic impact energy absorption of UHMWPE fibre/vinylester composite was obtained after fragment simulating projectiles (FSP) impact tests. After 6‐kW corona treatment for 0.075 s, the impact energy absorbed by the laminate reached a maximum value. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry
Crystallization kinetics and morphology of binary phenolic/poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) blends
Authors: Kuo Shiao‐Wei , Chan Shih‐Chi , Chang Feng‐Chih 
Published: December 2003

AbstractFor the first time, quantitative analyses of the crystallization kinetics, surface free energy of chain folding, and morphology in phenolic/poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) binary blends have been studied. The spherulite growth rate and the overall crystallization rate depend on the crystallization temperature and PCL content in the blend. In addition, the crystallization and melting temperatures of the PCL phase decrease with an increase in the phenolic content. An Avrami analysis shows that the addition of phenolic to PCL results in a decrease in the overall crystallization rate of the PCL phase. The presence of an amorphous phenolic phase results in a reduction in the rate of the spherulite growth of PCL. The surface free energy of folding increases with increasing phenolic content, and the crystal thickness of a phenolic/PCL blend, according to small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), is greater than that of pure PCL because of the increase in the surface free energy of chain folding and the decrease in the degree of supercooling. The observed domain size of the crystalline/amorphous phase (5.9 nm) from SAXS is also consistent with that from solid‐state NMR (3–20 nm). All these results indicate that the crystallization ability of PCL decreases with increasing phenolic content in the blends. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 117–128, 2004
Thermal analysis of the double‐melting behavior of poly(L‐lactic acid)
Authors: Yasuniwa Munehisa , Tsubakihara Shinsuke , Sugimoto Youhei , Nakafuku Chitoshi 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe melting and crystallization behavior of poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA; weight‐average molecular weight = 3 × 105) was studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). DSC curves for PLLA samples were obtained at various cooling rates (CRs) from the melt (210 °C). The peak crystallization temperature and the exothermic heat of crystallization determined from the DSC curve decreased almost linearly with increasing log(CR). DSC melting curves for the melt‐crystallized samples were obtained at various heating rates (HRs). The double‐melting behavior was confirmed by the double endothermic peaks, a high‐temperature peak (H) and a low‐temperature peak (L), that appeared in the DSC curves at slow HRs for the samples prepared with a slow CR. Peak L increased with increasing HR, whereas peak H decreased. The peak melting temperatures of L and H [Tm(L) and Tm(H)] decreased linearly with log(HR). The appearance region of the double‐melting peaks (L and H) was illustrated in a CR–HR map. Peak L decreased with increasing CR, whereas peak H increased. Tm(L) and Tm(H) decreased almost linearly with log(CR). The characteristics of the crystallization and double‐melting behavior were explained by the slow rates of crystallization and recrystallization, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 25–32, 2004
Synthesis and isodimorphic cocrystallization behavior of poly(1,4‐cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate‐co‐1,4‐cyclohexylenedimethylene 2,6‐naphthalate) copolymers
Authors: Jeong Young Gyu , Jo Won Ho , Lee Sang Cheol 
Published: December 2003

AbstractA series of poly(1,4‐cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate‐co‐1,4‐cyclohexylenedimethylene 2,6‐naphthalate) [P(CT‐co‐CN)] copolymers were synthesized, and their cocrystallization behavior was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). Although the P(CT‐co‐CN) copolymers synthesized have statistical random distribution of CT and CN units, all the copolymers show clear melting and crystallization peaks in DSC thermograms over entire copolymer composition, and have an eutectic melting temperature in the plot of melting temperature versus copolymer composition. WAXD patterns of all the samples show sharp diffraction peaks, and are largely divided into two classes according to the copolymer composition, that is, PCT‐type and PCN‐type diffraction patterns. These facts lead us to conclude that P(CT‐co‐CN) copolymers show isodimorphic cocrystallization. The eutectic composition at which the crystal transition from PCT‐type to PCN‐type crystal occurs was estimated ca. 40 mol % CN content. When the defect Gibbs free energy was estimated by using the equilibrium inclusion model proposed by Wendling and Suter, the value (7.18 kJ/mol) in the case of incorporation of CT units in the PCN crystals were larger than the case (3.32 kJ/mol) of incorporation of CN units in the PCT crystals. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 177–187, 2004
Eight‐arm star polystyrene in methylcyclohexane: Cloud‐point curves, critical lines, and coexisting densities and viscosities
Authors: Alessi Michael L. , Bittner Katie C. , Greer Sandra C. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractWe measured the cloud‐point curves of eight‐arm star polystyrene (sPS) in methylcyclohexane (MCH) for polymer samples of three total molecular masses [weight‐average molecular weight (Mw) × 10−3= 77, 215, or 268]. We found a downward shift of 5–15 K in the critical temperature (Tc) of the star polymer solutions with respect to linear polystyrene (PS) solutions of the sameMw. The shift inTcbecame smaller asMwincreased. The critical volume fraction for eight‐arm sPS in MCH was equal within experimental uncertainty (10–40%) to that of linear PS in MCH. For sPS ofMw= 77,000 in MCH, we studied the mass density (ρ) as a function of temperature (T). As for linear polymers in solution, the difference in ρ between coexisting phases (Δρ) could be described overt= (Tc−T)/Tcfor 1.1 × 10−4<t< 4.7 × 10−3with the Ising value of the exponent β in the expression Δρ =Btβ. Both ρ(T) aboveTcand the average value of ρ belowTcwere linear functions of temperature; no singular corrections were observed. The measurements of the shear viscosity (η) nearTcfor sPS (Mw= 74,000) in MCH indicated a strong critical anomaly in η, but the data were not precise enough for a quantitative analysis. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 129–145, 2004
Relationship between Floc Short Range Structure and Sediment Compaction
Authors: Hermawan Mandalena , Bushell Graeme , Bickert Götz , Amal Rose 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThis paper studies the short and long‐range structure of silica aggregates using the small angle light scattering technique. Silica particles were made to aggregate by the addition of MgCl2, with and without continuous shear. Two different short‐range structures were observed for different aggregation conditions. The small angle light scattering reveals two different floc structures at different length scales, a very compact floc at short length scale and a loose floc at large length scale. The sediments of these flocs were studied by allowing them to settle under gravity and consolidate at different centrifugal forces. The results show that the floc short‐range structure is important in governing the compaction behaviour of sediment.
Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry in the study of polycondensation of Ti(OBun)4 in the presence of Si(OEt)4
Authors: Seraglia Roberta , Armelao Lidia , Cristoni Simone , Gross Silvia , Tondello Eugenio , Traldi Pietro 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe hydrolysis‐polycondensation behaviour of alcoholic solutions containing Si(OEt)4 and Ti(OBun)4, in different molar ratios (Si/Ti = 10–0.2), was analysed by laser desorption/ionisation (LDI) and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry. The solutions were prepared using operating conditions usually employed in the sol‐gel synthesis of SiO2‐TiO2 materials. In accord with the well‐known procedures for controlling the different chemical reactivities of the alkoxides, the pre‐hydrolysis of the slower reacting silicon ethoxide and the chelation by acetylacetone of the faster reacting titanium butoxide were performed before mass spectrometric analysis. While LDI‐MS did not provide evidence for the presence of mixed Si‐Ti species in samples obtained from these reactions, MALDI‐MS of samples diluted with chloroform and using 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) as matrix led to detection of various oligomers with different contents of Si and Ti atoms. The results suggest that the formation of Si‐Ti mixed oligomers seems to be the favoured process, especially for solutions in which one of the two components is diluted. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High accuracy method for the application of isotope dilution to gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis of gases
Authors: Milton Martin J. T. , Wang Jian 
Published: December 2003

AbstractA new isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) method for high‐accuracy quantitative analysis of gases has been developed and validated by the analysis of standard mixtures of carbon dioxide in nitrogen. The method does not require certified isotopic reference materials and does not require direct measurements of the highly enriched spike. The relative uncertainty of the method is shown to be 0.2%. © Crown copyright 2003. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Deviation inequality for monotonic Boolean functions with application to the number of k‐cycles in a random graph
Authors: Panchenko Dmitry 
Published: December 2003

AbstractUsing Talagrand's concentration inequality on the discrete cube {0, 1}m we show that given a real‐valued function Z(x) on {0, 1}m that satisfies certain monotonicity conditions one can control the deviations of Z(x) above its median by a local Lipschitz norm of Z at the point x. As one application, we obtain a deviation inequality for the number of k‐cycles in a random graph. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2004