Novel Semi‐Fluorinated Poly(ether imide)s Derived From 4‐(p‐Aminophenoxy)‐3‐trifluoromethyl‐4′‐aminobiphenyl

An unsymmetrical diamine monomer 4‐(p‐aminophenoxy)‐3‐trifluoromethyl‐4′‐aminobiphenyl has been synthesized successfully. This monomer leads to the synthesis of different novel poly(ether imide)s when reacted with different dianhydrides like pyromellatic dianhydride (PMDA), benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA), 2,2‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane (6FDA), and oxy diphthalic anhydride (ODA). The poly(ether imide) prepared from this monomer on reaction with 6FDA is soluble in several organic solvents such as N‐methylpyrolidinone (NMP), dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), tetrahydrofuran (THF), and CHCl₃. The poly(ether imide)s prepared from BTDA and ODA are soluble in NMP, DMF, and DMAc but not in THF or CHCl₃, whereas the polymer prepared from PMDA is soluble only in NMP. The water uptake value for these poly(ether imide) films is very low (0.2–0.5%), and exhibited low dielectric constants (2.81 at 1 MHz). The polymers exhibited high thermal stability up to 532 °C in air for 5% weight loss, and high glass transition temperatures up to 288 °C. The polymer exhibited high tensile strength up to 135 MPa, modulus 3.2 GPa, and elongation at break up to 25%, depending on the exact polymer structure.

The structure of the poly(ether imide) synthesised from 4‐(p‐aminophenoxy)‐3‐trifluoromethyl‐4′‐aminobiphenyl and 2,2‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane. This polymer was soluble in many organic solvents.     

AIDS in obstetric practice

After a brief review of the AIDS virus, its transmission, and clinical aspects, the obstetric implications of HIV infections for a developing country like India are summarized. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is transmissible in utero with a 66% risk of infecting the fetus, and may cause intrauterine growth retardation or prematurity. HIV positive pregnant women may become immunosuppressed, so they should be offered pregnancy termination. A woman in labor infected with HIV should be managed like a woman with hepatitis B: intrauterine catheters, fetal scalp electrodes, and fetal blood sampling are contraindicated. Forceps and episiotomy should be used only if needed. Cesarean section to prevent intrapartum infection of the fetus is controversial. While breastfeeding is allowed, breast milk should not be donated to other infants. Nursing staff should be informed that HIV is much less transmissible than hepatitis.     

Phosphorus-Containing Fluoro-Sulfonated Polytriazole Membranes with High Proton Conductivity: Understanding Microstructural and Thermomechanical Behaviors as a Function of Degree of Sulfonation

The current article describes the design and synthesis of a new series of phosphorus-containing fluoro-sulfonated polytriazoles through click polymerization. The synthesized copolytriazoles (PTPFDSH-70 to 90) with different degrees of sulfonation (DS) from 70% to 90% are structurally interpreted by various spectroscopic techniques (¹H, ¹³C, and FTIR). The high molecular weight (weight average molecular weight as high as 77 500 g mol⁻¹ with polydispersity index of 2.29) polymers exhibits excellent mechanical (elongation at break up to 95%), thermal (10% decomposition temperature: 266–317 °C), and oxidative (>14.5 h) stability. The PTPFDSH-70 to 90 possess outstanding water-holding ability in hydrated conditions (swelling ratio [in-plane]: 6.2–7.3% at 80 °C). The microstructural alterations by their thermal relaxations and transitions with increasing DS in the polymers have been thoroughly investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis. The atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscope images of the PTPFDSH-70 to 90 polymer membranes demonstrated the phase segregated interconnected ionic cluster-like morphology between hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains. The PTPFDSH-90 (DEB:PFAZ:DSAZ = 100:10:90) polymer membrane displays the proton conductivity (176 and 190 ms cm⁻¹ at 80 and 90 °C, respectively) higher than Nafion117 under similar test conditions.     

Image alignment by integrated rotational and translational transformation matrix

Presents an algorithm to align 2D images with similar densitometric patterns in the spatial domain. It performs automatic identification of control points through local maxima in normalized image cross correlations computed through projections of an image function on 2D orthonormal bases over a predefined circular domain. The image is subsequently subjected to translational and rotational corrections through an integrated transformation matrix obtained by the least-squares minimization technique. The algorithm restricts the corrections required for alignment to rotation and translation only, and care is taken to see that the image does not go through scaling (isotropic or anisotropic) or nonlinear distortions. The least-squares method results in implicit equations in three variables, theta , h, upsilon , representing rotation, and translations along x and y axes. The present algorithm, on the other hand, is based on an approximation that results in a set of explicit equations that are easy to solve. The mathematical validity of this approximation is proved and the results obtained show that the algorithm performs well with similar biological (histological, autoradiographic, and tomographic) images. The algorithm is iterative, and its computer implementation is discussed.     

Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma of tympano-mastoid region

A rare case of Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma of the tympanomastoid region with paralysis of VIth and VIIth cranial nerve and development of ipsilateral loss of vision is reported. The case was first clinically diagnosed as a complicated case of C.S.O.M. with petrositis and facial palsy and was operated upon. Histopathological examination in the postoperative period proved it to be a case of Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma.     

Epidemiology of chronic suppurative otitis media and deafness in a rural area and developing an intervention strategy

Of 613 children evaluated in a village in Haryana 94 (15.3%) were observed to have chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Fifty eight (61.7%) children had hearing impairment. CSOM contributed to 71.6% of the hearing impaired (58/81). On analysis of association of CSOM with literacy and socio-economic status of mothers, and age, sex, and upper respiratory tract infections (URI) in children positive correlation was observed only with URIs (P<0.001). Literacy and socio-economic status of the mothers did not correlate significantly with knowledge about treatment seeking, and ear cleaning practices, probably due to the narrow range of incomes and literacy levels. An intervention program consisting of play, demonstrations, health charts and slogans, and aural cleaning and antibiotic drops was introduced.