Thesis (doctoral)--Rijksuniversiteit te Groningen.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:26:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:06:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 00435.pdf: 1366087 bytes, checksum: f75d8bd6ecdecbdce2cb5ebedb37155d (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IEA/D / Instituto de Energia Atomica - IEA

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:26:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:06:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 00435.pdf: 1366087 bytes, checksum: f75d8bd6ecdecbdce2cb5ebedb37155d (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IEA/D / Instituto de Energia Atomica - IEA

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin. School of Nursing, 1975. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record.

Background Point-of-care blood gas analysis is considered a standard of care in modern air ambulance operations by many professional organisations for clinical assessment and monitoring of patients. Instances where point-of-care blood gas analysis has identified clinically significant abnormalities which then led to clinical intervention are well documented and have been quantified previously in the air ambulance environment. However, results obtained from point-of-care blood gas analysis are not always required for patient care, nor do they always result in any clinical action on the part of the medical crew. Our question therefore related to the data for a Johannesburg based jet air ambulance service. Methods By means of retrospective case reviews over a one year period, we reviewed the overall frequency of utilisation of point-of-care blood gas analysis on patient transportations within a Johannesburg based jet air ambulance service. We established how often point-of-care blood gas analysis yielded abnormal findings, and how frequently abnormalities detected by point-of-care blood gas analysis resulted in clinical interventions. Results Point-of-care blood gas analysis was undertaken in 266 of 334 patients transported (79.6%). Abnormal findings were noted in 203 of the 338 blood gas analyses undertaken (60.1%). Patient age (p=0.001) and intubation status (p=0.01) were significant influences on number of analyses performed, while flight time was not significant (p=0.07). Clinical intervention followed in 65.5% of instances where abnormalities on blood gas analysis were noted and in 87.6% where clinical corrective intervention was assessed as being possible under prevailing conditions. Of all patients transported, some form of clinical intervention was undertaken following 39.3% of all blood gas analyses undertaken. This therapeutic yield evidenced is equivalent to 2.54 samples analysed per corrective clinical action evidenced. A costing analysis further revealed that this testing is relatively inexpensive per positive finding yielded and subsequent clinical actions. Conclusions Abnormalities detected and subsequent clinical intervention using point-of-care blood gas analysis in this patient population was significant with a clinical yield of 39.3%. Since the costs are also not very high this modality is rightfully considered a minimum standard of care in air ambulance operations. These findings also support the notion that such testing should be carried out routinely on all patients irrespective of clinician interpretation of indication or need

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin - Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-63).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:26:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:10:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 01100.pdf: 1036099 bytes, checksum: 8fac1856ca219e17d31e2829bcdfb97c (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:26:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:10:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 01100.pdf: 1036099 bytes, checksum: 8fac1856ca219e17d31e2829bcdfb97c (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

This thesis discusses the preliminary development of a microfluidic system for low concentration vapour analysis incorporating a novel analyte preconcentration method to extend vapour detection limits. The topicality of this subject is evidenced by the urgent requirement to detect vapours released by explosives or their manufacturing byproducts, allied to recent reports of gas phase detection of pathogen-related chemical markers. Commercially available, non-microfluidic, sensitive, delayed response, broadly specific, gasphase analysis methods have been developed recently. However microfluidic analysis offers the prospect of both the improved specificity of liquid phase analytical methods and increased sensitivity with fast response times. The necessary conditions to achieve a viable microfluidic vapour analysis system are discussed from collection, sampling, assay and measurement perspectives. Efficient, rapid, vapour collection into a liquid phase is predicated by large surface area to volume ratio phase-interfaces, as occur within microfluidic devices. Accordingly, research has focussed on stable, segmented gas and liquid microflows. The literature has concentrated on fixed structures and precise flow rate control to produce such segmented flow. In contrast, we have investigated pressure driven flow and small active valves in combination with precision patterned passive valves to provide deterministic control over flow and thus define gas and liquid segment sizes. This has allowed introduction of larger, precise gas volumes and hence gas/liquid ratios while still maintaining more stable flow patterns than those previously reported in the literature. Ethanol was employed as a completely soluble, volatile, ‘model’ analyte to assess collection efficiency. Research into detection focussed on a number of optical methods utilising either ‘wet’ or enzymatic chemistries. The Phase-to-Phase Extraction via a Chemical Reaction to give Lower Limits of Chemical Detection hypothesis (for the purpose of brevity this is shortened to ‘Chemical Amplification’ within this dissertation) was proposed. Thorough testing of the hypothesis using an enzyme catalysed reaction scheme has demonstrated its validity, and potential value if applied to ‘real world’ systems, particularly those for detecting low solubility analytes such as the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) or its byproduct 2,4- dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT).

Bio fuels are made from an extensive selection of fuels derived from biomass, including wood waste, agricultural wastes, and alcohol fuels. As a result of increased energy requirements, raised oil prices, and concern over greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, bio fuels are acquiring increased public and scientific attention. The ethanol industry is booming and during the past several years, there has been an increase in demand for fuel ethanol and use of its co-products. To increase potential revenues from ethanol processing and its utilization, extensive research is proceeding in this field. In Western Canada, wheat is the primary raw material used in the production of ethanol by fermentation and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are one of the major co-products produced during this process. At present, the DDGS are generally sold as animal feed stock but with some alteration they could be used in other useful areas.<p> Densification of biomass and use of it for fuel like wood pellets, hay briquettes, etc. have been studied for many years and have also been commercialized. In this thesis, pellets made from distillers dried grains have been investigated. DDGS were obtained from Noramera Bioenergy Corp. and Terra Grain Fuels Ltd. Before transforming them into pellets, they were characterized on the basis of physical and chemical properties. A California pilot-scale mill (with and without steam conditioning) was used for pelleting the distillers grains with solubles.<p> A full factorial design with two levels of moisture content (i.e., 14 and 15.5% (w.b.)), hammer mill screen size (i.e., 3.2 and 4.8 mm) and temperature (i.e., 90 and 100°C) was used to determine the effects of these three factors on the pellet properties made from Noramera Bioenergy Corp., without steam conditioning. Different levels of moisture content were used for the pellets made from Terra Grain Fuels Ltd. (i.e., 11.5 and 13.09% (w.b.)), with steam conditioning. The initial moisture contents of the DDGS were 12.5 and 13.75% (w.b.) from Noramera and Terra Grain, respectively. The moisture content of DDGS grinds ranged from 11.6 to 12.03% (w.b.) for the Noramera samples, and from 11.5 to 13.09% (w.b.) for Terra Grain DDGS. The moisture content decreased with a decrease in the hammer mill screen size.<p> The use of a smaller screen size achieved an increase in both the bulk and particle densities of the DDGS. The coefficient of internal friction was almost the same for both samples but cohesion was higher in Noramera samples (8.534 kPa). The DDGS obtained from Noramera Bioenergy Corp. contained dry matter (91.40%), crude fibre (4.98%), crude protein (37.41%), cellulose (10.75%), hemi-cellulose (21.04%), lignin (10.50%), starch (3.84%), fat (4.52%) and ash (5.16%); whereas the samples obtained from Terra Grain Fuels contained dry matter (87.69%), crude fibre (7.33%), crude protein (32.43%), cellulose (10.81%), hemi-cellulose (27.45%), lignin (4.37%), starch (4.18%), fat (6.37%) and ash (4.50%).<p> The combustion energy of the Noramera samples was 19.45 MJ/kg at a moisture content of 8.6% (w.b.) whereas the combustion energy of Terra Grain samples was 18.54 MJ/kg at 12.31% (w.b.) moisture content.<p> The durability of the pellets increased as the screen size decreased which is likely due to the fact that a smaller screen size produces more fine particles. This fill voids in the pellets and, hence, makes them more durable.<p> The length of the pellets produced from Noramera DDGS increased with a decrease in moisture content possibly because pellets formed at higher moisture content absorb less moisture. Therefore, the length does not increase as much. Lateral expansion occurred most with higher temperature and lower moisture content and with lower temperature and higher moisture content. The length to diameter ratio of the pellets followed the same trend as the change in pellet length. The length of the pellets produced from Terra Grain also increased with a decrease in moisture content. The lateral expansion increased with increase in screen size and moisture content and also, with decrease in moisture content and increase in temperature. The length to diameter ratio increased with decrease in screen size and moisture content, similar to the change in pellet length. The highest bulk density of Noramera pellets resulted from smaller screen size and lower moisture. The particle density increased with a decrease in screen size and an increase in moisture content. The highest bulk density of Terra Grain pellets occurred with an increase in temperature and decrease in moisture content. The highest particle density occurred with an increase in temperature and decrease in screen size.<p> The pellet hardness increased with a decrease in moisture content and screen size did not have any significant effect. The Terra Grain pellets were harder because they were subjected to steam conditioning. Steam conditioning helps to increase the hardness.<p> The pellet durability increased with a decrease in screen size and increase in moisture content. The steam conditioning also caused the higher durability in the Terra Grain pellets. In terms of moisture absorption, the only significant factor was moisture content. Pellets with lower moisture content absorbed more moisture.<p> The ash content values of pellets were higher in Noramera samples than in Terra Grain samples because of high moisture content in Noramera samples. The combustion energy of the Noramera pellets was higher than the Terra Grain pellets because of the high percentage of dry matter and lignin present in Noramera samples. The emission results for both the sample pellets were similar. When the DDGS pellets were compared to wood pellets, emission of nitrous oxide was lower for wood whereas, carbon dioxide was higher.