Evaluation of the first pharmacist administered immunisations in Western Australia: a mixed methods study

Objectives This study evaluated the uptake of Western Australian (WA) pharmacist vaccination services, the profiles of consumers being vaccinated and the facilitators and challenges experienced by pharmacy staff in the preparation, implementation and delivery of services. Design Mixed-methods methodology with both quantitative and qualitative data through surveys, pharmacy computer records and immuniser pharmacist interviews. Setting Community pharmacies in WA that provided pharmacist vaccination services between March and October 2015. Participants Immuniser pharmacists from 86 pharmacies completed baseline surveys and 78 completed exit surveys; computer records from 57 pharmacies; 25 immuniser pharmacists were interviewed. Main outcome measures Pharmacy and immuniser pharmacist profiles; pharmacist vaccination services provided and consumer profiles who accessed services. Results 15,621 influenza vaccinations were administered by immuniser pharmacists at 76 WA community pharmacies between March and October 2015. There were no major adverse events, and <1% of consumers experienced minor events which were appropriately managed. Between 12% and 17% of consumers were eligible to receive free influenza vaccinations under the National Immunisation Program but chose to have it at a pharmacy. A high percentage of vaccinations was delivered in rural and regional areas indicating that provision of pharmacist vaccination services facilitated access for rural and remote consumers. Immuniser pharmacists reported feeling confident in providing vaccination services and were of the opinion that services should be expanded to other vaccinations. Pharmacists also reported significant professional satisfaction in providing the service. All participating pharmacies intended to continue providing influenza vaccinations in 2016. Conclusions This initial evaluation of WA pharmacist vaccination services showed that vaccine delivery was safe. Convenience and accessibility were important aspects in usage of services. There is scope to expand pharmacist vaccination services to other vaccines and younger children; however, government funding to pharmacists needs to be considered

Application of ground conductivity meter data for mapping of geological subsurface layers with the use of 1D inversion

This article presents the results obtained from geophysical measurements as a supplement to and refinement of geological information obtained from engineering geological studies for the newly constructed highways. The research was conducted using two geophysical methods: Ground Conductivity Meters (GCM) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT). The above measurements were made on three research fields located along the planned express road S-19 (Kraśnik-Janów Lubelski section). These areas were selected due to the large amount of available archival data and varied geological conditions. The publication focuses primarily on the presentation of the results obtained using the very fast and extremely efficient GCM method. By processing GCM data, using Laterally Constrained Inversion (LCI) and Spatially Constrained Inversion (SCI) algorithms, the values ofelectrical resistivity of the surveyed centers were derived. The results are presented in the form of cross-sections and maps of electrical resistivity from different depths, which were collated and compared with the results from another geophysical method, ERT. These examples show that the use of inversion has a significant impact on the refinement of geological boundaries between layers of different electrical resistivities. Thanks to the correlation of geophysical data with boreholes and engineering geological probes, detailed models of the geological structure of the analyzed areas were elaborated, which are necessary for the selection of appropriate solutions for the construction and modernization of road infrastructure

Analiza względnych wskaźników skrawalności płyt wiórowych spajanych termoplastami poużytkowymi

The paper presents original data concerning one aspect of the machinability of special, wood particle boards bonded with waste thermoplastics. The study focused on the measurement of drilling torque and thrust force. The classic ideaof machinability indexes was used. The experimental plastic particle boards (with a nominal density of 650 kg/m3) were made of industrial grade core-layer pine wood particles and three different waste thermoplastics: polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene. Three different proportions of plastic contents were used: 30,50 and 70%. The machinability of the boards was tested in relation to commercially--produced materials: standard medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and standard particle board (with nominal densities: 750 and 650 kg/m3, respectively). Data presented in the paper suggest that the machinability of wood particle boards bonded with waste thermoplastics, especially waste polyethylene, is particularly good, not only in relation to standard particle boards, but even in relation to standard MDF.Kompozyty drewnopochodne określane jako WPC (wood-plastic composites) zawierają zwykle cząstki drewna (w formie wiórów, włókien, mączki) spojone za pomocą najpopularniejszych termoplastów. Ogólnie wiadomo, że obrabialność takich kompozytów jest całkiem dobra, ale problemem jest brak jakichkolwiek danych ilościowych dotyczących ich wskaźników skrawalności. Wcześniejsze badania skrawalności WPC są całkowicie niewystarczające z tego punktu widzenia. Niniejszy artykuł prezentuje oryginalne dane na temat jednego z aspektów skrawalności specjalnych płyt wiórowych spajanych za pomocą termoplastów odpadowych. Badania koncentrowały się na pomiarze momentu obrotowego wiercenia i siły osiowej. Podczas interpretacji wyników wykorzystano klasyczną koncepcję wskaźników skrawalności względnej. Płyty eksperymentalne (o nominalnej gęstości 650 kg/m3) były wykonywane z przemysłowych, przeznaczanych na warstwę wewnętrzną, wiórów sosnowych oraz z trzech różnych termoplastów poużytkowych. Wykorzystywano przy tym trzy różne udziały procentowe tworzyw sztucznych: 30, 50 i 70%. W konsekwencji testowano skrawalność dziewięciu różnych wariantów płyt. Badano skrawalność tych płyt w odniesieniu do materiałów komercyjnych – standardowej płyty MDF oraz standardowej płyty wiórowej (o nominalnych gęstościach wynoszących odpowiednio: 750 i 650 kg/m3). Uzyskane dane eksperymentalne sugerują, że skrawalność płyt wiórowych spajanych termoplastami poużytkowym i (zwłaszcza polietylenem) jest naprawdę dobra nie tylko w odniesieniu do standardowych płyt wiórowych, ale nawet w odniesieniu do standardowej płyty MDF

Incorporating online teaching in an introductory pharmaceutical practice course: a study of student perceptions within an Australian University

Objectives: To examine student perceptions regarding online lectures and quizzes undertaken during a pharmaceutical practice course for first year undergraduate students enrolled in the Bachelor of Pharmacy course at an Australian University.Methods: The University uses a standard instrument to collect feedback from students regarding unit satisfaction. Data were collected for three different teaching modalities: traditional face-to-face, online and partially online. Results: Descriptive statistics support that, from a student's perspective, partial online delivery is the preferred teaching methodology for an introductory pharmaceutical practice unit. Conclusion: This study has served to highlight that while there are a few points of significant difference between traditional and online teaching and learning, a combination of the two provides a reasonable avenue for teaching exploration. This result has implications for teaching practice generally, and within the pharmacy discipline, specifically

Incorporating online teaching in an introductory pharmaceutical practice course: A study of student perceptions within an Australian University

Objectives: To examine student perceptions regarding online lectures and quizzes undertaken during a pharmaceutical practice course for first year undergraduate students enrolled in the Bachelor of Pharmacy course at an Australian University. Methods: The University uses a standard instrument to collect feedback from students regarding unit satisfaction. Data were collected for three different teaching modalities: traditional face-to-face, online and partially online. Results: Descriptive statistics support that, from a student's perspective, partial online delivery is the preferred teaching methodology for an introductory pharmaceutical practice unit. Conclusion: This study has served to highlight that while there are a few points of significant difference between traditional and online teaching andlearning, a combination of the two provides a reasonable avenue for teaching exploration. This result has implications for teaching practice generally, and within the pharmacy discipline, specifically

Industrial measuring lines for vibroacoustic signals when milling wood materials

Jedną z najbardziej istotnych tendencji w rozwoju technik wytwarzania jest automatyzacja produkcji. Nieodzowne staje się stosowanie układów automatycznego nadzoru stanu narzędzia i procesu skrawania. W literaturze naukowej opisano wiele różnych czujników, mierzących różne wielkości fizyczne. Opracowano także liczne, wyszukane metody obróbki i analizy sygnałów. Spośród nich jednakże tylko nieliczne znalazły zastosowanie przemysłowe. Celem przeprowadzonych badań było opanowanie metodyki rejestracji sygnałów drgań, emisji akustycznej i hałasu towarzyszących obróbce tworzyw drzewnych. W ramach przeprowadzonych badań podjęto próbę ustalenie miejsca optymalnej lokalizacji czujników na obrabiarce oraz dokonano analizy wstępnych wyników pomiarów pod kątem ich przydatności do oceny stanu narzędzia.Production automation is one of the most essential directions in the development of manufacturing techniques. It becomes prerequisite to use systems for automatic control of tool condition and machining process. Scientific literature contains descriptions of many different sensors, which measure various physical quantities. Moreover, many sophisticated methods for signal processing and analysis were developed. However, only few of them were applied in industrial scale. The purpose of completed tests was to study recording methods for vibration signal, acoustic emission and noise accompanying wood material working. In the scope of these tests, there were efforts made to determine optimal location for sensors fitted on the woodworking machine. Moreover, initial measurement results were analysed in order to find out whether they would be useful to assess tool condition. This scientific work was financed by KBN [State Committee for Scientific Research] in years 2003-2005 (Grant No. 3 P06L 025 24)

Stability studies of lincomycin hydrochloride in aqueous solution and intravenous infusion fluids

Petra Czarniak, Michael Boddy, Bruce Sunderland, Jeff D Hughes School of Pharmacy, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the chemical stability of Lincocin&reg; (lincomycin hydrochloride) in commonly used intravenous fluids at room temperature (25&deg;C), at accelerated-degradation temperatures and in selected buffer solutions.Materials and methods: The stability of Lincocin&reg; injection (containing lincomycin 600&nbsp;mg/2&nbsp;mL as the hydrochloride) stored at 25&deg;C&plusmn;0.1&deg;C in sodium lactate (Hartmann&rsquo;s), 0.9% sodium chloride, 5% glucose, and 10% glucose solutions was investigated over 31 days. Forced degradation of Lincocin&reg; in hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and hydrogen peroxide was performed at 60&deg;C. The effect of pH on the degradation rate of lincomycin hydrochloride stored at 80&deg;C was determined.Results: Lincomycin hydrochloride was found to maintain its shelf life at 25&deg;C in sodium lactate (Hartmann&rsquo;s) solution, 0.9% sodium chloride solution, 5% glucose solution, and 10% glucose solution, with less than 5% lincomycin degradation occurring in all intravenous solutions over a 31-day period. Lincomycin hydrochloride showed less rapid degradation at 60&deg;C in acid than in basic solution, but degraded rapidly in hydrogen peroxide. At all pH values tested, lincomycin followed first-order kinetics. It had the greatest stability near pH 4 when stored at 80&deg;C (calculated shelf life of 4.59 days), and was least stable at pH 2 (calculated shelf life of 0.38 days).Conclusion: Lincocin&reg; injection was chemically found to have a shelf life of at least 31 days at 25&deg;C when added to sodium lactate (Hartmann&rsquo;s) solution, 0.9% sodium chloride solution, 5% glucose solution, and 10% glucose solution. Solutions prepared at approximately pH 4 are likely to have optimum stability. Keywords: lincomycin, stability, pH, intravenous fluids, IV additive

Applicability analysis of the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method for the diagnosis of laterite cover thickness

The paper discusses the problem of determining the thickness of a laterite cover using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in a selected area of the Seram Island in Indonesia. Seram Island lies in the tropical zone between the Seram and Banda seas. The laterite covers are rich in nickel, cobalt, iron and other metals. Concentrations of these metals in the laterites are high enough to form economic deposits. A significant part of the report concerns the measurement technique (ERT method) in difficult climatic (high humidity and temperature) and topographic conditions (equatorial jungle with significant variations in elevation) and the methods of processing and interpretation of the acquired data. The problem seems very interesting, because geophysical prospecting is currently more and more often conducted in poorly accessible regions of the world. Additionally, there are no sufficient and commonly available publications that would allow us to get acquainted with local measurement problems by potential contractors of similar geophysical investigations. The primary result of the geophysical survey was to determine the electrical resistivity of bedrock and laterite. This was the basis for the development of sections of electrical resistive distribution for the ERT profiles, which enabled to estimate the depth to the crystalline basement and the laterite thickness. It also facilitated to produce a map of laterite thickness, which may be an important material to develop the concept of searching and mining of nickel and cobalt ore