14,580 research outputs found

    Blood donor haematology parameters in two regions of Kenya

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    Objectives: To determine the status of blood donor haematology in two regional sites in Kenya and to assess the potential role of automated haematology in National blood bank process control. Design: A cross sectional descriptive study. Setting: Two regional blood banks - Nairobi and its environs (Blood Transfusion Services, Nairobi) and Western Region (National Blood Transfusion Services, Kisumu). Main outcome measures: Distribution, mean, median, and 95% percentile ranges of haemoglobin (Hb), red cell parameters (red cell count, haematocrit, MCV, MCH and MCHC), total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts, and platelet counts in the two donor populations. Results: A significant number of donations (16.5% in Kisumu and 3.4% in Nairobi) showed haemoglobin levels below the recommended National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) guideline of 42g/unit. Compared to Kisumu, Nairobi donors had significantly (p0.05). A low MCV (0.6 x 109) was more prominent in Kisumu donors (18.8% versus 8.5%). Platelet counts were also significantly lower in Kisumu donors, with the prevalence of thrombocytopenia

    Magnesium Citrate Powders from Waste Bitterns via Crystallization and Spray Drying

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    The pilot-scale production of two magnesium citrate products, using a waste bittern discharged from a salt work as the raw material, was conducted in this study. Magnesium citrate nonahydrate and anhydrous magnesium citrate were prepared via crystallization and spray drying techniques, respectively, and characterized for purity, crystalline structure, particle shape, particle size distribution, and other properties. The material and energy costs were estimated based on technical data obtained from the pilot trials in conjunction with specific energy consumption of equivalent industrial-scale equipment. The costs were used to evaluate and compare the economic feasibility of both processes on a commercial scale. Although the material and energy costs at US924andUS 924 and US 33-81 per tonne, respectively, required to make magnesium citrate nonahydrate are lower than for anhydrous magnesium citrate at US1256andUS 1256 and US 141 per tonne, respectively, the higher market price of anhydrous magnesium citrate at US5000pertonnecomparedtoUS 5000 per tonne compared to US 3000 per tonne for the hydrated form suggests production via spray drying is potentially the more profitable approach

    The Latest Evidence with Regards to Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery and Its Use Post 2020.

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    Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) was introduced with the hope of making cataract surgery safer and making the refractive result more predictable. It is only in the last four years that level 1 prospective randomised controlled trials (RCT) using current technology have been published. These, along with a meta-analysis of recent studies have shown that there seems to be little long-term visual benefit when using FLACS with monofocal lenses. The promised decrease in ultrasound energy required to remove a cataract has not been consistently demonstrated. There is level one evidence that the rate of posterior capsular rupture is less with FLACS using modern software. The round capsulotomy may be of increasing importance with the uptake of toric, multifocal and extended depth of focus lenses where a predictable capsulotomy size and precise placement of the lens becomes more important

    PSY41 PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOME (PRO) LABELING CLAIMS IN PAIN TREATMENT: OVERVIEW OF US AND EUROPEAN DRUG APPROVALS

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    A facile method for bright, colour-tunable light-emitting diodes based on Ga-doped ZnO nanorods

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    © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd. Bottom-up fabrication of nanowire-based devices is highly attractive for oxide photonic devices because of high light extraction efficiency; however, unsatisfactory electrical injection into ZnO and poor carrier transport properties of nanowires severely limit their practical applications. Here, we demonstrate that ZnO nanorods doped with Ga donors by in situ dopant incorporation during vapour-solid growth exhibit superior optoelectronic properties that exceed those currently synthesised by chemical vapour deposition, and accordingly can be electrically integrated into Si-based photonic devices. Significantly, the doping method was found to improve the nanorod quality by decreasing the concentration of point defects. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) fabricated from the Ga-doped ZnO nanorod/p-Si heterojunction display bright and colour-tunable electroluminescence (EL). These nanorod LEDs possess a dramatically enhanced performance and an order of magnitude higher EL compared with equivalent devices fabricated with undoped nanorods. These results point to an effective route for large-scale fabrication of conductive, single-crystalline ZnO nanorods for photonic and optoelectronic applications

    Acceleration-Based Running Intensities of Professional Rugby League Match-Play

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    Purpose: To quantify the energetic cost of running and acceleration efforts during rugby league competition to aid in prescription and monitoring of training. Methods: Global positioning system (GPS) data were collected from 37 professional rugby league players across 2 seasons. Peak values for relative distance, average acceleration/deceleration, and metabolic power (P<sub>met</sub>) were calculated for 10 different moving-average durations (1–10 min) for each position. A mixed-effects model was used to assess the effect of position for each duration, and individual comparisons were made using a magnitude-based-inference network. Results: There were almost certainly large differences in relative distance and P<sub>met</sub> between the 10-min window and all moving averages <5 min in duration (ES = 1.21–1.88). Fullbacks, halves, and hookers covered greater relative distances than outside backs, edge forwards, and middle forwards for moving averages lasting 2–10 min. Acceleration/deceleration demands were greatest in hookers and halves compared with fullbacks, middle forwards, and outside backs. P<sub>met</sub> was greatest in hookers, halves, and fullbacks compared with middle forwards and outside backs. Conclusions: Competition running intensities varied by both position and moving-average duration. Hookers exhibited the greatest P<sub>met</sub> of all positions, due to high involvement in both attack and defense. Fullbacks also reached high P<sub>met</sub>, possibly due to a greater absolute volume of running. This study provides coaches with match data that can be used for the prescription and monitoring of specific training drills
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