bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study of propylene polymerization catalyzed by a spherical MgCl2‐supported Ziegler–Natta catalyst system: The effects of external donors
Authors: Ma Zhenli , Wang Li , Wang Wenqin , Feng Lianfang , Gu Xueping 
Published: December 2004

AbstractSpherical MgCl2‐supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts containing internal donors, such as diethyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, and di‐n‐octyl phthalate, have been prepared. The effects of external donors, phenyltrimethoxysilane, phenyltriethoxysilane, and diphenyldimethoxylsilane, on the propylene polymerization catalyzed by these catalysts were studied. The results indicate that the external donors not only led to an increase in the isotactic index, but also affected the morphology of resultant polymer particles. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 738–742, 2005
Synthesis and characterization of cellulose ethers/Eu(III)
Authors: Xiong Jian , Ye Jun 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe coordination complexes of the crystalline structure of cellulose ethers/Eu(III) with fluorescence emission, viz CMC/Eu(III), MC/Eu(III), and HEC/Eu(III), were synthesized and characterized. Results showed the emission spectra of Eu3+ ions in these coordination compounds, which originates from electric dipole transition. The main emission peak at 615 nm generated from 5D0→7F2 transition of Eu3+ ions. Their absorption and excitation spectra were different, because the effect of the high polarity of water and having both hydrogen bond donor and acceptor properties on the excited molecule is different from the effect on the ground state of the molecule. Our study demonstrated that the Degree of Substitute (DS) of CMC could influence the fluorescence intensity (FI) of CMC/Eu(III). The emission intensity of CMC/Eu(III) varies with the DS of CMC. For example, when the DS of CMC was 0.89, the FS (fluorescent spectra) of solid CMC/Eu(III) displayed three emission peaks Eu(III): the strongest emission peak at 615 nm (5D0→7F2 transition) and other two weaker peaks at 583 nm (5D0→7F1 transition) and at 652 nm (5D0→7F3 transition), respectively. The concentration of Eu(III) could also affect the FI of these coordination complexes. The FI of the coordination complexes peaked at 615 nm all reached maximum when Eu3+ concentration was at 5% (wt/wt). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 743–747, 2005
Toughening of polycarbonate: Effect of particle size and rubber phase contents of the core‐shell impact modifier
Authors: Cho Kilwon , Yang Jaeho , Yoon Soong , Hwang Minku , Nair Sobha V. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe toughening behavior of polycarbonate modified with core‐shell type particles was investigated. The alloys were found to exhibit maximum impact strength upon addition of a modifier with a poly(butyl acrylate) rubbery core of 0.25 μm diameter. The incorporation of particles with diameter greater than 0.25 μm resulted in decreased impact strength. The influence of rubber phase contents on toughness was also studied. It was observed that the alloys exhibited maximum impact strength upon addition of 4 wt % rubber phase. Further increase in the rubber phase content resulted in reduced impact strength. Fractography of the samples showed that, below 4 wt % rubber phase content, the fracture occurs mainly by internal crazing and, from 4 wt % onward, only by shear deformation. When the effect of dual particle size distribution was analyzed, it was found that there was only a moderate increase in toughness compared with alloys containing monosized particles. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 748–755, 2005
Greening the Swedish Defence Material Administration – a case study on the force of industry in environmental policy‐making
Authors: Sandström Johan 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThis paper discusses the greening of the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV). As the national procurer of defence materials, FMV respondents categorized their organization as lagging behind business organizations. Greening was, hence, perceived as a process particularly influenced by an industry‐driven institutionalization of greening and environmental policy‐making. Building on the tensions in greening a defence organization and, to some extent, in copycatting an industry approach, the paper discusses the force of industry as policy‐maker. In the conclusions, based on the case analysis, opportunities and threats in future environmental policy‐making are addressed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Democracy, markets and sustainable development: the European Union as an example
Authors: Söderbaum Peter 
Published: December 2004

AbstractDevelopment issues are discussed in specific ways in the European Union and in various local, regional and international arenas. For some actors, economic growth in GDP terms and international (or inter‐regional) competitiveness still appears as the main vision; others refer to sustainable development (SD) as their ideological orientation. However, SD is ambiguous and the interpretation of SD differs from ‘business as usual’ through ‘ecological modernization’ to more radical ideas of progress.If we wish to take SD seriously as a multidimensional and ethical development concept, then research efforts and debate have to include what can be described as ‘protected zones’ in the development dialogue. These refer to more fundamental issues about theory of science, paradigms in economics, ideological orientations and institutional arrangements that too often have been taken for granted rather than being openly discussed in terms of alternatives. It is believed that our possibilities of approaching an SD path will improve considerably if we systematically introduce the mentioned areas into our dialogue about the future. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Supplier integration into new product development: coordinating product, process and supply chain design
Authors: Petersen Kenneth J. , Handfield Robert B. , Ragatz Gary L. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIn many industries, firms are seeking to cut concept to customer development time, improve quality, reduce the cost of new products and facilitate the smooth launch of new products. Prior research has indicated that the integration of material suppliers into the new product development (NPD) cycle can provide substantial benefits towards achieving these goals. This involvement may range from simple consultation with suppliers on design ideas to making suppliers fully responsible for the design of components or systems they will supply. Moreover, suppliers may be involved at different stages of the new product development process. Early supplier involvement is a key coordinating process in supply chain design, product design and process design.Several important questions regarding supplier involvement in new product development remain unanswered. Specifically, we look at the issue of what managerial practices affect new product development team effectiveness when suppliers are to be involved. We also consider whether these factors differ depending on when the supplier is to be involved and what level of responsibility is to be given to the supplier. Finally, we examine whether supplier involvement in new product development can produce significant improvements in financial returns and/or product design performance. We test these proposed relationships using survey data collected from a group of global organizations and find support for the relationships based on the results of a multiple regression analysis.
An evaluation of heuristic methods for determining the best table mix in full‐service restaurants
Authors: Kimes Sheryl E. , Thompson Gary M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractLittle research has been done on the optimal mix of supply in service businesses that maximizes revenue. Our research context is the full‐service restaurant table mix problem. This problem, which is quite new to the literature, finds the optimal number of different size tables for a restaurant to maximize its value (revenue or contribution) generating potential. Specifically, we examine the effectiveness of eight heuristic techniques for the problem using two experiments. The first experiment uses data from a 240‐seat full‐service restaurant to evaluate all eight heuristics, while the second experiment investigates the performance of selected heuristics under a broader set of environmental factors. The results of our first experiment showed that the better of the simulated annealing heuristic variants yielded the optimal solution in seven of eight test problems, averaging within 0.1% of optimal. Our second experiment showed that the simplest of the models we investigated yielded solutions within 1% of the simulated annealing solution. Finally, we observed that altering the table mix on a daily basis increased performance by over 1% compared to maintaining the optimal weekly table mix.
Intrauterine infection may be a major cause of stillbirth in Sweden
Authors: Tolockiene Egle , Morsing Eva , Holst Elisabeth , Herbst Andreas , Ljungh Åsa , Svenningsen Nils , Hägerstrand Inga , Nyström Lennarth 
Published: December 2004

Aim of the study. To investigate intrauterine infection as a cause for unexplained stillbirth.Methods. Chorioamnionitis was studied in a material of stillbirths (117 subjects from the years 1985–1994) from a region in the south Sweden. Control material (126 alive and healthy newborns and with healthy mothers) was gathered from the same region.Results. Chorioamnionitis was a common diagnosis both with stillbirths and ‘healthy’ deliveries (82 and 68%, respectively). Extension of the inflammation to decidua basalis was seven times more common among stillbirths than among controls (odds ratio 7.2, confidence interval 2.8–21.9). The most common bacteria found at cultures were Escherichia coli, Coagulase negative staphylococcus, Enterococcus faecalis and group B Streptococcus. The risk for stillbirth was doubled if both inflammation and bacteria were present (odds ratio 2.3, confidence interval 0.92–5.8). Meconium discharge was more common among stillbirths than controls (odds ratio=4.7, confidence interval 1.7–14). There were no differences in any respect regarding macerated and non‐macerated stillbirths. Our findings are similar to the results from studies in developing countries except for the higher incidence of stillbirths in such countries.Conclusions. Thus, a large part of otherwise unexplained stillbirths might be due to ascending infections.
Medical abortion at 57 to 63 days’ gestation with a lower dose of mifepristone and gemeprost
Authors:   WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION TASK FORCE ON POST‐OVULATORY METHODS OF FERTILITY REGULATION (, )
Published: December 2004

Objective. To compare the abortifacient efficacy and side‐effects of 200 mg and 600 mg of mifepristone, followed by gemeprost 1 mg vaginally, at 57 to 63 days’ gestation.Design. Double‐blind, randomized controlled trial.Setting. Ten international centers.Subjects. Eight hundred and ninety‐six healthy women requesting medical abortion.Interventions. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a single oral dose of mifepristone of either 200 mg or 600 mg followed in 48 h by gemeprost 1 mg vaginally. The allocation sequence was concealed by using a central pharmacy, and double masking was maintained throughout the study.Main outcome measures. Complete abortion rate was the principal outcome measure. We also evaluated the incidence of side‐effects and time to abort.Results. The complete abortion rate with the lower dose of mifepristone was similar to that with the higher dose (92.4% vs. 91.7%). The relative risk of failure to achieve a complete abortion with the 200 mg dose compared to 600 mg dose was 0.9 (95% CI 0.6–1.4). The timing of the abortion and the incidence of side‐effects were comparable in both groups, with the exception of reported nausea at one‐week follow‐up which was reported more frequently by women in the higher‐dose group.Conclusions. The 200 mg dose of mifepristone is equally as effective as the 600 mg dose in the antiprogestogen‐prostaglandin regimen for pregnancy termination. With vaginal gemeprost, the abortifacient efficacy of the regimen remains high at 57–63 days’ gestation.
Are complications after an induced abortion associated with reproductive failures in a subsequent pregnancy?
Authors: Zhou Weijin , Olsen Jørn 
Published: December 2004

Background. We have previously shown that induced abortions result in a slightly increased risk of spontaneous abortion and preterm delivery in subsequent pregnancies. Danish records show that approximately 4% of women who undergo surgically induced abortions have complications related to the procedure. We examined whether it was women who had the short‐term complications that carried an excess risk of spontaneous abortion and preterm delivery in the subsequent pregnancy.Methods. Two cohorts of women who had had an induced abortion and a subsequent pregnancy were followed. The cohort with no reported complications comprised 12 972 women, and the cohort with complications 605 women.Results. The cohort with complications did not have more spontaneous abortions or preterm births. They did, however, have a higher risk of stillbirth, mainly seen in women whose induced abortion had been complicated by an infection.Conclusion. Most of the women who had had an induced abortion with reported complications did, however, carry a subsequent pregnancy to term with no more complications than other women of similar parity and age.
Induced abortion in the Nordic countries: special emphasis on young women
Authors: Knudsen Lisbeth B. , Gissler Mika , Bender Soley S. , Hedberg Clas , Ollendorff Ulla , Sundström Kajsa , Totlandsdal Kristina , Vilhjalmsdottir Sigridur 
Published: December 2004

Background. To analyze the trends in legally induced abortions among women younger than 30 years in the five Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, since the liberalized abortion laws came into force.Methods. Data stem from national registrations of vital events. Some have been published in the national vital statistics while others have been retrieved for this study. General and age‐specific abortion rates are used to analyze the trends. Further, an index has been calculated by dividing the age‐specific abortion rates by the Nordic average.Results. The analysis reveals an overall reduction in the general abortion rates in the Nordic countries, apart from Iceland. The rates have been highest in Denmark and Sweden and lowest in Finland since the early 1980s. In the mid‐1980s, the abortion rates increased among 15–19‐year‐old women in Sweden and among 20–24‐year‐old women in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, followed by a reduction. In Iceland the very low age‐specific abortion rates for all age groups under 30 years at the beginning of the study period increased and Iceland had the highest rate for 15–19‐year‐old women in the late‐1990s.Conclusions. The relatively low abortion rates in Finland demonstrate effective preventive efforts, although the recent increase challenges further studies on the relationship between abortion rates and counseling activities. The rise in abortion rates in Iceland indicate a need for improved sex education, contraceptive services and availability of contraceptive methods for young people.
Unexplained antepartum fetal death in Norway, 1985–97: diagnostic validation and some epidemiologic aspects
Authors: Rasmussen Svein , Albrechtsen Susanne , Irgens Lorentz M. , Dalaker Knut , Maartmann‐Moe Helga , Vlatkovic Ljiljana , Markestad Trond 
Published: December 2004

Objective.  To validate the diagnosis of an unexplained antepartum fetal death in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway against data obtained from hospital records, alone and combined with autopsy data. To compare epidemiologic characteristics of an unexplained fetal death based on cases recorded by the three data sources.Methods.  Data on unexplained fetal deaths in the Registry were compared with clinical and autopsy data from 108 457 singletons with a gestational age ≥ 28 weeks or a birthweight ≥ 1000 g delivered in 1985–97 at Haukeland Hospital in Bergen and Aker Hospital in Oslo.Results.  Compared with clinical data, the positive and negative predictive values of a Registry diagnosis of an unexplained fetal death were 88% and 86%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity were 76% and 93%, respectively. Compared with clinical and autopsy data combined, the positive and negative predictive values of a Registry diagnosis of an unexplained fetal death were 77% and 89%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity were 78% and 88%, respectively. High agreement was observed in comparisons between the data sources of risks according to various independent variables.Conclusions.  The validity of a diagnosis of an unexplained antepartum fetal death based on the Medical Birth Registry of Norway is sufficiently high to justify future large‐scale epidemiologic studies based on this database.
Effects of aging on generic SF‐36 quality of life measurements in Hong Kong Chinese women with urinary incontinence
Authors: Ho‐Yin Peter Leung , Man‐Wah Pang , Shing‐Kai Yip 
Published: December 2004

Background. To evaluate the relationship between aging, urodynamic diagnosis and generic quality of life measurement in Chinese women with urinary incontinence.Methods. A total of 170 women presented to a university teaching hospital with urinary incontinence were recruited. The women completed the medical outcome survey, short form‐36 (SF‐36), immediately before they had the urodynamic investigation. The women were classified into either (1) genuine stress incontinence (n = 94) or (2) detrusor instability (n = 76). The relationships between aging, the transformed subscale scores, the population standardized component summary scores of the SF‐36, and the two groups of women were studied using simultaneous multiple regression analysis.Results. There was no significant difference in the age distribution between the two groups of patients (median age: 47 vs. 48, p = 0.18). However, aging causes significant impairment in the physical functioning (p < 0.001), role physical (p = 0.002) and bodily pain (p = 0.047) domains as well as the physical component scale (p < 0.001) of generic SF‐36 quality of life measurements. There was no significant difference in the transformed subscale scores and the component summary scores with respect to different urodynamic diagnoses after adjustment for the effect of age.Conclusions. Aging causes significant deterioration on physical performance for Chinese women suffering from urinary incontinence. The generic SF‐36 questionnaire was unable to detect a significant difference in quality of life measurement between women suffering from genuine stress incontinence and detrusor instability.
Decreased serum leptin levels in women with uterine leiomyomas
Authors: Su Jinu‐Huang , Chung Yueh‐Fang , Chang Hsueh‐Ling , Yuan Shyng‐Shiou F. 
Published: December 2004

Objective. To analyze the possible involvement of leptin in uterine leiomyomas.Study design. Serum leptin levels, determined by radioimmunoassay, were compared in myomatic (n = 50) and the normal (n = 50) women.Results. A significant correlation was found between serum leptin levels and body mass index in both the myomatic women (r = 0.76, p < 0.001) and the normal women (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). Serum leptin levels in the myomatic women (9.3 ± 0.6 ng/mL) were significantly lower ( p < 0.001) than those in the normal women (13.6 ± 1.2 ng/mL). In addition, the ratios of serum leptin levels/body mass index in the myomatic women (0.38 ± 0.02) were significantly lower than those in the normal women (0.57 ± 0.04) ( p < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between the ratios of serum leptin levels/body mass index and body mass index (r = 0.59, p < 0.001) in the normal women, but not in the myomatic women (r = 0.27, p = 0.061).Conclusion. The lower plasma leptin levels observed in the women with myomas were independent of body mass index, and unlike the normal women there was no significant up‐regulation of leptin production in response to increased adiposity.
Hysteroscopy to detect Stage IA well‐differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium
Authors: Iha Tadashi , Shen Hong , Kanazawa Koji 
Published: December 2004

Background. Well‐differentiated Stage IA endometrial carcinoma may be managed conservatively with progestin treatment. However, even advanced imaging methods cannot overcome limitations in the correct determination of the absence of early microscopic myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma. Hysteroscopy has not yet been investigated as a tool for this purpose.Methods. Of 97 patients with well‐differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma, 87 whose tumors were clinically confined to the uterine corpus were enrolled for inclusion in this study. The preoperative hysteroscopic appearance was correlated with the histological findings of the hysterectomy specimen.Results. Post‐surgical FIGO stage was Stage IA in 36 cases, IB in 29, IC in 16, IIA in one, and Stage IIIA/C in five cases. Before surgery, the growth pattern of the disease was hysteroscopically diagnosed as pedunculated in 69.0% and sessile nodular in 31.0%. Surface ulceration was observed in 23.3% of the pedunculated tumors and in 74.1% of the sessile tumors ( p < 0.0001), and in 39.1% of all tumors. The incidence of absent myometrial invasion was significantly higher in the pedunculated tumors (56.3%) than in the sessile tumors (3.7%) ( p < 0.0001) and was higher in the nonulcerated tumors (64.2%) than in the ulcerated tumors (5.9%) ( p < 0.0001). When the statistical parameters were calculated in combination with the tumor growth pattern and the absence or presence of ulceration, the nonulcerated pedunculated growth pattern had a sensitivity of 92% and a positive predictive value of 72% for correct selection of Stage IA disease with no myometrial invasion.Conclusion. Well‐differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma was categorized by hysteroscopy into two growth patterns of pedunculated or sessile and with or without surface ulceration. This provided useful pretreatment diagnosis of Stage IA disease confined to the endometrium.
Involvement of the glycoproteic meshwork of cervical mucus in the mechanism of sperm orientation
Authors: Chrétien FranÇois C. 
Published: December 2004

Background. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the solid phase of the mucus hydrogel in facilitating the upward movement of spermatozoa during the menstrual cycle.Methods. A total of 171 sperm migration experiments using 47 selected ovulatory mucus samples were performedin vitroin tubes of various shape and diameter. Physical constraints applied to cervical mucus combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques permitted analysis of the mechanism of sperm orientation within cervical mucus submitted to capillary constraints simulating the various conditions of sperm orientationin vivo.Results. The results support the theory according to which spermatozoa entering the cervical canal are constrained to follow the oriented micellar lines of strain. Stretched ovulatory mucus exhibits noticeable prevalent orientation of most filaments aligned in a manner roughly parallel to the traction axis. By contrast, even after strong stretching applied to luteal‐type mucus and longer contact periods, the alignment of glycoproteic meshes was not sufficiently marked to allow spermatozoa to orient themselves and to move rapidly. The results are discussed as a function of the variations occurring in the three‐dimensional macromolecular arrangement of the glycoproteic framework subjected to flow constraints.Conclusions. The study confirms that there is a close relationship between the three‐dimensional arrangement of the mucus framework and the ability of spermatozoa to move rapidly in a given direction. The high resolution and three‐dimensional aspect of SEM micrographs support the correlation of sperm orientation with current data on rheologic properties of biologic hydrogels.