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Background The prevalence and impact of fistulas are more common in developing countries with limited access to emergency obstetric care. As a result, women in these settings often experience adverse psychosocial factors. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of Congolese women who developed urogenital fistula following Cesarean sections (CS) to determine the characteristics associated with two etiologies: (1) prolonged obstructed labor; and (2) a complication of CS following obstructed labor. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study on abstracted data from all patients with urogenital fistula following CS who received care during a surgical campaign in a remote area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Descriptive analyses characterized patients with fistula related to obstructed labor versus CS. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models identified factors associated with obstetric fistula after cesarean delivery following obstructed labor. Variables were included in the logistic regression models based upon biological plausibility. Results Among 125 patients, urogenital fistula etiology was attributed to obstructed labor in 77 (62%) and complications following CS in 48 (38%). Women with a fistula, attributed to obstructed labor, developed the fistula at a younger age (p = .04) and had a lower parity (p = .02). Attempted delivery before arriving at the hospital was associated with an increased risk of obstetric fistula after cesarean delivery following obstructed labor (p Conclusion CS are commonly performed on women who arrive at the hospital following prolonged obstructed labor and fetal demise, and account for almost 40% of urogenital fistula. Obstetric providers should assess maternal status upon arrival to prevent unnecessary CS and identify women at risk of developing a fistula.

Objectives: Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a poorly diagnosed condition that produces chronic and painful symptoms that affect the sufferer’s quality of life. This article reports on the outcomes and trends of patients who received an intravesical cocktail injection of triamcinolone (steroid), gentamycin, and bupivacaine for symptom control in interstitial cystitis over a 5-year period. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 408 patients with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome who were treated with an intravesical cocktail injection (triamcinolone, gentamicin, and bupivacaine) over a 5-year period (Jan 2015 – Dec 2019). All patients had been diagnosed with IC/BPS and had received first-line treatment as per the American Urology Association IC/BPS Guidelines. The age of the patients, the number of treatments, and the duration between each treatment were analysed using Spearman’s rho analysis. Results: In our cohort of patients, 264 patients (64.7%) responded well to just one intravesical cocktail therapy, 93 patients (22.7%) required two treatments, and 51 patients (12.5%) required 3 or more treatments for their symptom control. The longest interval between treatment delivery was between the first and second dose, an average of 328.2 days. A trend of sequentially shorter intervals between injections was demonstrated in those patients who required more than one therapeutic injection. Conclusions: The majority of the cohort patients, 87.5%, responded well and found sufficient symptom relief from just one or two intravesical injections. However, patients who required repeated injections received them at progressively shorter intervals, signifying poor efficacy of symptom control in this subset of patients.

Raha Maroyi,1,2 Ajay Rane,3 Lynsey Hayward,4 Chasinga Baharanyi,2,5 Bwihangane Birindwa Ahadi,2 Denis Mukwege1,2 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, The Democratic Republic of Congo; 2Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA), Bukavu, The Democratic Republic of Congo; 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; 4Department of Urogynaecology, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand; 5Department of Pathology, Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, The Democratic Republic of CongoCorrespondence: Raha Maroyi, Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA), P.O. Box 3323, Bukavu, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Tel +243997254812, Email ken.raha01@gmail.comAbstract: We report an unusual case of female genital fistula secondary to a lobular capillary hemangioma. A 35-year-old Congolese woman presented with urinary incontinence associated with a vaginal “tearing” sensation during micturition. A suburethral vascular bud and vesico-vaginal fistula were observed on examination. Over 2 weeks, the fistula enlarged to involve the trigone and bladder neck, resulting in a semi-circumferential urethro-vesico-vaginal fistula. Histology revealed a lobular capillary hemangioma. During fistula repair, the edges with vascular clusters were freshened, the genital fistula was closed and the woman became continent of urine.Keywords: vesico-vaginal fistula, female genital fistula, lobular capillary hemangioma, etiology, surgical procedure

International audience; A Rubber Rubber blends Carbon black C Distribution D Transmission electron microscopy Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis A B S T R A C T Rubber-rubber blends [RRB's] of natural rubber [NR] and butadiene rubber [BR] filled with carbon black [CB] were compounded on a two-roll mixing mill. Partition of CB in RRB's is a challenging problem in the rubber industry. Therefore, the present study aims to quantify CB's partitioning in NR/BR RRB's at different blending ratios using relative damping height measurements from the dynamic mechanical analysis [DMA]. To support the findings from the DMA, structural and morphological analyses were carried out using solid state nuclear magnetic resonance [Solid State NMR] and transmission electron microscope [TEM] respectively. Constrained regions in neat (unfilled) NR/BR RRB's were analysed for the first time by dynamic mechanical analysis and this was ascribed to the entanglements between NR and BR chains at the interface. The tanδ max analysis confirmed the presence of 80% of CB partitioned towards BR phase in 70/30 NR/BR blends. For 50/50 NR/BR blends, 6.4% of CB is partitioned towards BR phase and 38% of CB was partitioned towards BR phase in 30/70 NR/BR blends. This indicated preferential migration of CB to one of the phases based on rubber blend composition. Solid State NMR studies were in agreement with DMA analysis. TEM images of CB filled rubber blends represent a near to homogenous state of dispersion, where in the identification of individual rubber phases becomes more difficult at the nanometre scale. The CB networking and its migration to the dispersed phase was evident from the TEM analysis.

International audience; In the present study rubber/rubber blends [RRB] of natural rubber [NR] and butadiene rubber [BR] with 50phr of carbon black [CB] in different blend ratios (70:30, 50:50, and 30:70) were prepared on a two-roll mill. Cure properties, density, morphology, and mechanical strength of CB filled NR/BR blends were analyzed. It was observed that the addition of CB improved the processing properties. A decrease in cure time in the presence of CB was observed. CB forms physical dense networks in filled RRB and increases the crosslink density as compared to the corresponding neat RRB. In addition to the improvement in processing properties, the addition of CB strengthens the interphase region within RRB thereby increasing the mechanical strength of the RRB. A correlation between the morphology driven CB partitioning within NR/BR blend would be informative to readers. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

Conventional polyurethanes, though exhibit excellent properties, involve use of isocyanates which in turn utilize hazardous and toxic phosgene. These isocyanates are also considerably toxic and moisture sensitive. Growing global awareness of the need to protect our environment and continually strive to ensure the health and well-being of those in the industry and consumers create the demand for environment-friendly products. The cyclic carbonate-amine reaction which results in hydroxyurethanes has been extensively studied over the last few years. This chemistry is now attracting research interest due to its potential application in the preparations of “green,” non-porous, moisture-insensitive isocyanate frees polyurethanes. The various application of NIPU includes in the field of coatings, composites, construction and biomedical etc., Moroccan Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 8, No 4 (2020): in progress will be publishing

Layered double hydroxides (abbreviated as LDHs) are one of the nanoordered layered compounds. The importance of layered compound is based on their ability to retain chemical species with electrical charges compatible to those of the layers. In this study we have reported the synthesis of nanosized layered double hydroxide (LDH) by co-precipitation method using two different surfactants as cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and octadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (ODTMA) having different critical micelle concentration (CMC) /chain length and its comparative results on calcined surface modified LDH (CS-LDH). The structure of surface modified layered double hydroxide (CS-LDH) synthesized is unique and has important advantages to the photocatalytic activity. LDH has significant number of application due to their structural, chemical properties etc., these compounds can be used as catalyst, adsorbents, anion exchanger. The photocatalytic activity of prepared surface modified CS-LDH was tested on degradation of the methylene blue (MB) dye in an aqueous solution. The surface characteristics of LDH and CS-LDH were examined using Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Visible spectrophotometer for Photocatalytic activity under visible light using MB dye. It was observed that highly exfoliated and basal spacing in CS-LDH-ODTMA which enhanced photocatalytic activity (Approx. 60% degradation) than that of comparison to CS-LDH-CTAB (Approx. 32% degradation).

Summary The usage of plastic materials in daily life has continuously increased over the last 30 years. The amount of plastic consumed per inhabitant in the industrialized countries has increased by a factor of 60 over this period, while the generation of plastic wastes has grown at a similar rate. Recycling of plastic materials is now an important field in the plastics industry, not just an activity born under environmental pressure. The recycling processes include industrial operations in which secondary materials are reprocessed and/or monomers recovered for further polymerization; such processes are termed secondary and tertiary recycling. At present, there are three main alternatives for the management of plastic wastes in addition to land filling: (i) mechanical recycling by melting and regranulation of the used plastics, (ii) feedstock recycling and (iii) energy recovery. Consequently, feedstock recycling appears as a potentially interesting approach, based on the conversion of plastic wastes into valuable chemicals useful as fuels or as raw materials for the chemical industry. The cleavage and degradation of the polymer chains may be promoted by temperature, chemical agents, catalysts, etc. The purpose of this work is to describe and review the different alternatives developed for the feedstock recycling of plastic wastes, with emphasis on both the scientific and technical aspects.

Summary Any material consisting of two or more components with different properties and distinct boundaries between their components can be referred to as a composite material. There are two groups of composites the first group comprises composites that are known as “filled materials”, the main feature of these materials is the existence of some basic or matrix material whose properties are improved by filling it with some particles and second group composites involves so called “reinforced materials”. The basic components of these materials are long and thin fibres possessing high strength and stiffness. Filler (particulate or thin fibers) is a solid material capable of changing the physical and chemical properties of materials by surface interaction or its lack thereof and by its own physical characteristics. High stiffness means that material exhibits low deformation under loading. Stiffness is an important property but it should be necessarily high. Ability of structure to have controlled deformation can be also important. Nano engineered polymeric materials are of great interest, rapidly growing new class of materials alternative to conventional filled polymers or polymer blends. Conventional clay plays the role of a loading agent or diluent without property enhancement or reinforcement and hence we have used nanoclay which imparts significant mechanical reinforcement and improved air permeability property for natural rubber based tube compound. Natural rubber/nanoclay along with other additives were mixed in a laboratory mixer for specified time and temperature, by determining rheological and curing properties rubber compounds were molded in to standard dimension sheets using a compression mold and molding machine thereafter specimens were prepared and characterized for hardness, modulus (100%, 200%), tensile strength, tension set, air permeability test and surface morphology.

InIncorporation and dispersion of particulate fillers are the two steps that are necessary to achieve optimum properties in a rubber compound, i.e. mechanical, thermal properties. The incorporation and dispersion of particulate fillers depend on their particle size, smaller particle size is difficult to incorporate but easier to disperse in a rubber matrix while large dimension particle size filler are easier to incorporate but difficult to disperse. Hence, in the current work we have studied different methods of incorporating nano particles in to the matrix of styrene butadiene rubber and further rubber nanocomposites obtained were characterized for curative properties using, remote, thereafter determined for structural elucidation by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal properties through thermal gravimetric analysis, Physio-mechanical as well as morphology determination via transmission electron microscopy. In current work we have compared melt blending and solution blending methods for preparation of styrene butadiene rubber Nano Aluminium Tri hydroxide composites.

Nanotechnology is a significant field of contemporary research dealing with design, synthesis, and manipulation of particle structures ranging from in the region of 1-100 nm. Nanoparticles (NPs) have broad choice of applications in areas such as fitness care, cosmetics, foodstuff and feed, environmental health, mechanics, optics, biomedical sciences, chemical industries, electronics, space industries, drug-gene delivery, energy science, optoelectronics, catalysis, single electron transistors, light emitters, nonlinear optical devices, and photo-electrochemical applications. Nano Biotechnology is a speedily mounting scientific field of producing and constructing devices, an important area of research in nano biotechnology is the synthesis of NPs with different chemical compositions, sizes and morphologies, and controlled dispersities. Silver nanoparticles (NPs) have been the subjects of researchers because of their unique properties (e.g., size and shape depending optical, antimicrobial, and electrical properties). A variety of preparation techniques have been reported for the synthesis of silver NPs; notable examples include, laser ablation, gamma irradiation, electron irradiation, chemical reduction, photochemical methods, microwave processing, and biological synthetic methods. This assessment presents a general idea of silver nanoparticle preparation. The aim of this analysis article is, therefore, to replicate on the existing state and potential prediction, especially the potentials and limitations of the above mentioned techniques for industries.

Nowadays, most of the commercially available resins are synthesized from petroleum based stocks. Besides exhibiting excellent properties, synthetic resins are coming under increasing restrictions due to tightening environmental exposure regulations, high depletion rates and exponential rising prices of petrochemical stocks etc. So, considering an increasing ecological and economical issue in the new generation coating industries, the maximum utilization of naturally available resources for polymer/resin synthesis can be an obvious option. These renewable resources can be utilized for number of polymerization reactions due to their reactive functionalities such as hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, unsaturation, reactive phenolic structures etc. Therefore, a wide variety of resins can be synthesized from renewable resources, some of them being, alkyd, polyesters, phenolic resins, epoxy resins, polyurethanes, acrylics, vinyl, etc. The present paper discussed the potential of naturally available resources as an environment friendly alternative for petroleum based raw materials as far as coating industries are concerned.

Nanofillers since many years have a high significance in various polymer based industries. Nanocoatings are coatings that are produced by usage of some component at nanoscale to obtain desired properties. Much research is being done to develop effective material combinations of polymer nanocomposites with tailored properties. Nanocomposite is a multiphase solid material where at least one of the phases should have dimensions of less than 100 nm. The properties of composites are largely dependent on the area of interface surface and the intensity of intermolecular interaction between the materials of the matrix and the filler. Nanoscale dispersion of filler or controlled nanostructures in the composite can introduce new physical properties and novel behaviors that are absent in the unfilled matrices. This paper reviews various types of fillers used for different applications in coatings such as anticorrosion resistant paints, ceramic coatings, super hydrophobic coatings, self-healing coatings, sol gel coatings, etc., Moroccan Journal of Chemistry, Vol 3, No 4 (2015)

The aim of this paper is to give overview about particleboards and its development.Particle boards are wood composite prepared from wood waste , stalks, wood shaving, etc and polymeric resin.Urea-Formaldehyde(UF) and Phenol Formaldehye (PF) being widely used resin for preparation of particle board.Here we discuss about different types wood and resin used for manufacture of particleboard.The effect of different woods and resin on properties like internal bond strength, thickness swelling, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity and water absorption.Various chemical additives used to modify the properties of particle board and also fire retardant property of particle board.World is leading towards sustainable development thus use of particle board can help us in achieving a small part of it., Moroccan Journal of Chemistry, Vol 3, No 4 (2015)

Molecular imprinting is an emerging technology which enables us to synthesize the materials with highly specific receptor sites towards the target molecules. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are a class of highly cross-linked polymer that can bind certain target compound with high specificity. Such techniques have been progressively employed in a wide scope of applications such as development of various analytical techniques such as solid-phase extraction (SPE), liquid chromatography, capillary electro chromatography, binding assays and biosensors, mostly in bio-analytical areas. The aim of this review paper is to give a fundamental description of the molecular imprinted polymer and to give the reader an insight into the main developments are discussed, Particular emphasis will be placed on their role as affinity materials in separation science. Discussing first general aspects in MIP history and preparation and then dealing with various application aspects.