Preparation of Cationic CMP and Softwood Long Fibers as Strength-Enhancing Additive to CMP Pulp
Compared to chemical pulp, mechanical and chemi-mechanical pulps (CMP) are limited in regards to the manufacturing of high quality paper. Chemical additives are an effective way to enhance the properties of paper; however, the effectiveness depends on the additive type and dosage. The utilization of cationized natural polymers has been shown to offer a promising solution. In this study, softwood long fiber (SLF) and CMP were cationized by 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl-trimethylammonium-chloride (CHPTAC), and the effects of cationization on the properties of CMP pulp were studied. Cationization was characterized by FTIR and the nitrogen content, and its effect on the CMP properties was evaluated through mechanical tests and fines retention. Cationization at low and moderate levels and in higher mixing rates improved the mechanical properties of CMP. Compared to cationized CMP, the addition of cationized SLF (CLF) improved the strength and fines retention properties. The CLF application to CMP at a CHPTAC dosage of 5% increased the tensile, burst, and tear strengths by 66.4%, 100%, and 3.6%, respectively. The cationized SLF increased the fines retention by 12.7%.
Preparation and application of cationized pulp fiber as a papermaking wet-end additive
Cationized pulp fibers (CPF) were prepared by the adsorption of a novel biodegradable cationic ester quaternary ammonium salt (31441) on bleached softwood kraft pulp fibers. The optimized conditions for the CPF preparation were: 4% of 31441 (based on oven-dry pulp), 80°C and 30 min. The CPF was characterized by FT-IR, SEM and XPS. Experimental results showed that the CPF improved the retention of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) filler significantly. With 0.9% CPF (based on oven-dry pulp), the retention of PCC increased from 57.53% to 72.21%. The physical properties of paper were also slightly improved. The tensile strength and burst strength of the paper with CPF were higher than those with CPAM. CPF addition had no effect on the stock drainage.
Psychosexual Consequences of Female Genital Mutilation and the Impact of Reconstructive Surgery: A Narrative Review
Abstract Purpose: We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the health consequences of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), with a particular focus on the psychosexual implications of this practice and the overall impact of reconstructive plastic surgery. Methods: A MEDLINE search through PubMed was performed to identify the best quality evidence published studies in English language on long-term health consequences of FGM/C. Results: Women with FGM/C are more likely to develop psychological disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, somatization, phobia, and low self-esteem, than those without FGM/C. Most studies showed impaired sexual function in women with FGM/C. In particular, women with FGM/C may be physiologically less capable of becoming sexually stimulated than uncut women. Reconstructive surgery could be beneficial, in terms of both enhanced sexual function and body image. However, prospective studies on the impact of reconstructive surgery are limited, and safety issues should be addressed. Conclusion: Although it is clear that FGM/C can cause devastating immediate and long-term health consequences for girls and women, high-quality data on these issues are limited. Psychosexual complications need to be further analyzed to provide evidence-based guidelines and to improve the health care of women and girls with FGM/C. The best treatment approach involves a multidisciplinary team to deal with the multifaceted FGM/C repercussions.