Bio-oil production from co-pyrolysis of rice husk and plastic waste

Bio-oil has been produced from the co-pyrolytic reaction of rice husk and 2 grades of plastic wastes (LDPE and PET). The effect of catalysis on the yield was considered while the physicochemical properties of the products were evaluated and a comparison drawn between the properties of the oil and that of the commercial grade diesel. FT-IR and GC-MS analysis were also used to characterize the samples. Furthermore, the performance of a DI diesel engine was evaluated using both grades of oil. Results showed an improved yield of the oil through catalysis. The heating value and cetane number of the pyrolysis oil closely compared with commercial-grade diesel. Chemical compound identification through the GC-MS analysis showed the bio-oil to comprise mainly of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. FT-IR analysis of the by-product bio-char upon comparison with FT-IR analysis of the rice husk biomass confirmed the chemical modification of the biomass after the pyrolysis process.  From the result of this work, co-pyrolysis of both feedstock gave rise to high grade oil whose properties compares favorably with the commercial grade diesel. This is therefore an interesting alternative to fossil fuel whereas the improved properties indicate that it could have a better performance than a single biomass in terms of fuel properties

Neonatal Bartter syndrome associated with ileal atresia and cystic fibrosis

A rare case of neonatal Bartter syndrome presenting with severe hyperkalemia is reported in a preterm child born to consanguineous parents. This child also had ileal atresia, and meconium plugs were found at laparotomy. The diagnosis of cystic fibrosis was subsequently made on genetic testing. Despite full intensive care management and surgical interventions, he died of respiratory failure after 70 days. This is the first reported case of such conglomeration of pathologies in a newborn child. Second, in highlighting this case we want clinicians to be aware that a subtype of neonatal Bartter syndrome can present with initial hyperkalemia so that an erroneous diagnosis of pseudohypoaldosteronism is not made when this is seen in combination with hyperkalemia and hyperrenin hyperaldosteronism

Routine versus clinically driven laboratory monitoring of HIV antiretroviral therapy in Africa (DART): a randomised non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) is often managed without routine laboratory monitoring in Africa; however, the effect of this approach is unknown. This trial investigated whether routine toxicity and efficacy monitoring of HIV-infected patients receiving ART had an important long-term effect on clinical outcomes in Africa. METHODS: In this open, non-inferiority trial in three centres in Uganda and one in Zimbabwe, 3321 symptomatic, ART-naive, HIV-infected adults with CD4 counts less than 200 cells per microL starting ART were randomly assigned to laboratory and clinical monitoring (LCM; n=1659) or clinically driven monitoring (CDM; n=1662) by a computer-generated list. Haematology, biochemistry, and CD4-cell counts were done every 12 weeks. In the LCM group, results were available to clinicians; in the CDM group, results (apart from CD4-cell count) could be requested if clinically indicated and grade 4 toxicities were available. Participants switched to second-line ART after new or recurrent WHO stage 4 events in both groups, or CD4 count less than 100 cells per microL (LCM only). Co-primary endpoints were new WHO stage 4 HIV events or death, and serious adverse events. Non-inferiority was defined as the upper 95% confidence limit for the hazard ratio (HR) for new WHO stage 4 events or death being no greater than 1.18. Analyses were by intention to treat. This study is registered, number ISRCTN13968779. FINDINGS: Two participants assigned to CDM and three to LCM were excluded from analyses. 5-year survival was 87% (95% CI 85-88) in the CDM group and 90% (88-91) in the LCM group, and 122 (7%) and 112 (7%) participants, respectively, were lost to follow-up over median 4.9 years' follow-up. 459 (28%) participants receiving CDM versus 356 (21%) LCM had a new WHO stage 4 event or died (6.94 [95% CI 6.33-7.60] vs 5.24 [4.72-5.81] per 100 person-years; absolute difference 1.70 per 100 person-years [0.87-2.54]; HR 1.31 [1.14-1.51]; p=0.0001). Differences in disease progression occurred from the third year on ART, whereas higher rates of switch to second-line treatment occurred in LCM from the second year. 283 (17%) participants receiving CDM versus 260 (16%) LCM had a new serious adverse event (HR 1.12 [0.94-1.32]; p=0.19), with anaemia the most common (76 vs 61 cases). INTERPRETATION: ART can be delivered safely without routine laboratory monitoring for toxic effects, but differences in disease progression suggest a role for monitoring of CD4-cell count from the second year of ART to guide the switch to second-line treatment. FUNDING: UK Medical Research Council, the UK Department for International Development, the Rockefeller Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, Gilead Sciences, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and Abbott Laboratories

Nurses' knowledge and practices regarding pain management in newborns

OBJETIVO Verificar el conocimiento y las prácticas de los enfermeros sobre el manejo del dolor de recién nacidos admitidos en Unidades de Tratamiento Intensivo Neonatal. MÉTODO Estudio descriptivo y transversal. Los datos fueron recolectados con 51 enfermeros, mediante un cuestionario adaptado que tiene el fin de evaluar el conocimiento y las prácticas acerca del manejo del dolor neonatal, en seis hospitales de Curitiba y Región Metropolitana. RESULTADOS Para la mayoría de los enfermeros (86,0%), los neonatos sienten dolor. Un total del 34,7% afirmaron nunca utilizar escalas de evaluación del dolor. El registro del manejo del dolor fue realizado por el 84,3% de los enfermeros. Las medidas farmacológicas realizadas fueron Paracetamol y Fentanilo (47,1%) y Morfina (17,6%); las no farmacológicas adoptadas fueron solución azucarada (68,6%), succión no nutritiva (58,8%) y posicionamiento (56,9%). CONCLUSIÓN Los enfermeros consideraron el dolor neonatal como un evento real; sin embargo, no realizaban evaluación o tratamiento del dolor en el recién nacido de modo sistematizado. Es necesario implantar estrategias de traducción del conocimiento a fin de perfeccionar el manejo del dolor de recién nacidos.OBJETIVO Verificar o conhecimento e as práticasdos enfermeiros sobreo manejo da dor de recém-nascidos admitidos em Unidades de Tratamento Intensivo Neonatal. MÉTODO Estudo descritivo e transversal. Os dados foram coletados com 51 enfermeiros, a partir de um questionário adaptado que visa avaliar o conhecimento e as práticas sobre o manejo da dor neonatal, em seis hospitais de Curitiba e Região Metropolitana. RESULTADOS Para a maioria dos enfermeiros(86,0%), os neonatos sentem dor. Um total de 34,7% afirmaramnunca utilizar escalas de avaliaçãoda dor. O registro do manejo da dor foi realizado por 84,3% dos enfermeiros. As medidas farmacológicas realizadas foram Paracetamol e Fentanil (47,1%) e Morfina (17,6%);as não farmacológicas adotadas foram solução adocicada (68,6%), sucção não nutritiva (58,8%) e posicionamento (56,9%). CONCLUSÃO Os enfermeiros consideraram a dor neonatal como um evento real, porém não realizavam avaliação ou tratamento da dor no recém-nascido de modosistematizado. É necessário implementarestratégias de tradução do conhecimento paraaprimorar o manejo da dor de recém-nascidos.OBJECTIVE To analyze nurses' knowledge and practices regarding pain management of newborns admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units. METHOD A descriptive and cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 51 nurses based on an adapted questionnaire aimed at evaluating knowledge and practices regarding the management of neonatal pain in six hospitals in Curitiba and its Metropolitan Region. RESULTS For most nurses (86.0%), neonates feel pain. A total of 34.7% of the nurses reported never using pain assessment scales. Pain management was recorded by 84.3% of the nurses. Administered pharmacological measures were Paracetamol and Fentanyl (47.1%) and Morphine (17.6%); while non-pharmacological measures adopted were sweetened solution (68.6%), non-nutritive sucking (58.8%) and positioning (56.9%). CONCLUSION Nurses considered neonatal pain a real event; however, they do not perform pain assessment or treatment of newborns in a systematized way.It is necessary to implement knowledge translation strategiesin order to improve pain management in newborns