Search

Introduction: This article reports the content validation of a Critical Appraisal Tool designed to Review the quality of Analgesia Studies (CATRAS) involving subjects incapable of self-reporting pain and provide guidance as to the strengths and weakness of findings. The CATRAS quality items encompass 3 domains: level of evidence, methodological soundness, and grading of the pain assessment tool. Objectives: To validate a critical appraisal tool for reviewing analgesia studies involving subjects incapable of self-reporting pain. Methods: Content validation was achieved using Delphi methodology through panel consensus. A panel of 6 experts reviewed the CATRAS in 3 rounds and quantitatively rated the relevance of the instrument and each of its quality items to their respective domains. Results: Content validation was achieved for each item of the CATRAS and the tool as a whole. Item-level content validity index and kappa coefficient were at least greater than 0.83 and 0.81, respectively, for all items except for one item in domain 2 that was later removed. Scale-level content validity index was 97% (excellent content validity). Conclusions: This 67-item critical appraisal tool may enable critical and quantitative assessment of the quality of individual analgesia trials involving subjects incapable of self-reporting pain for use in systematic reviews and meta-analysis studies.

Objective: Analgesic regimes were compared in pregnant ewes after laparotomy by measuring thermal (TT) and mechanical (MT) nociceptive thresholds. Study design: Prospective randomised experimental study. Animals: Pregnant ewes at 121 days gestation underwent laparotomy as part of another research project. Methods: Thermal and mechanical thresholds were measured before, and 2, 6, 24 and 48 hours after surgery. Thermal stimuli were delivered to the lateral aspect of the metatarsus via a skin-mounted probe, and mechanical stimuli to the contralateral site via a pneumatically driven 1.5 mm diameter pin. Each test was performed five times, alternating thermal and mechanical stimuli, with ten minutes between thermal stimuli. At the end of surgery ewes received either: 75 μg hour-1 transdermal fentanyl patch (medial thigh) (group FP) (n = 8), or 3 μg kg-1hour-1 intra-peritoneal medetomidine via an osmotic pump (group IPM) (n = 8) inserted immediately prior to closure. Data were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis RS Test (p < 0.05). Once a significant effect was identified, pairwise comparisons were performed using paired Wilcoxon RS tests. To compensate for multiple hypotheses testing, p < 0.005 was considered significant. Results: Prior to surgery mean ± SD TT was 56.1 ± 5.0 °C (FP) and 55.6 ± 5.0 °C (IPM); MT was 5.3 ± 2.6 N (FP) and 8.0 ± 5.0 N (IPM). In FP there was no significant change in either TT or MT over time. In IPM there was no significant change in MT over time but TT increased at two hours to 59.2 ± 3.0 °C (p = 0.003). Skin temperature (ST) ranged from 33.0 to 34.7 °C and did not change over time. There were no significant differences between groups in TT, MT or ST. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Administration of intra-peritoneal medetomidine (3 μg kg-1hour-1) by an osmotic pump increases the thermal nociceptive threshold in the immediate post operative period in pregnant sheep, suggesting that this agent may have a role in providing post-operative anal

Two types of sodium carbonate powder produced by spray drying (SD) and dry neutralization (DN) were studied for their compaction properties using a uniaxial compression tester. A comparison was also made with Persil washing powder. Dry neutralized sodium carbonate showed greater resistance to compression and also produced a weaker compact when compressed to 100 kPa. Spray-dried sodium carbonate had an absence of fine particles but compacted easily. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that both types of powder were predominantly amorphous in nature. Moisture sorption measurements showed that both powders behaved in a similar way below 50% relative humidity (RH). However, dry neutralized sodium carbonate had a high moisture affinity above this RH. Particle structures were also examined using scanning electron microscopy, showing the heterogeneous interior of the spray-dried particles.

Two types of sodium carbonate powder produced by spray drying (SD) and dry neutralisation (DN) were studied for their compaction properties using a uniaxial compression tester. Dry neutralised sodium carbonate showed a greater resistance to compression and also produced a weaker compact when compressed to 100kPa. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed that both types of powder were predominantly amorphous in nature. Moisture sorption measurements showed that both powders behaved in a similar way below 50% RH. However, dry neutralised sodium carbonate had a high moisture affinity above this RH. On examining the particle structures using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the most likely explanation for the increased tendency of spray dried sodium carbonate to form strong compacts was the hollow particle structure.

Two types of sodium carbonate powder produced by spray drying (SD) and dry neutralization (DN) were studied for their compaction properties using a uniaxial compression tester. A comparison was also made with Persil washing powder. Dry neutralized sodium carbonate showed greater resistance to compression and also produced a weaker compact when compressed to 100 kPa. Spray-dried sodium carbonate had an absence of fine particles but compacted easily. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that both types of powder were predominantly amorphous in nature. Moisture sorption measurements showed that both powders behaved in a similar way below 50% relative humidity (RH). However, dry neutralized sodium carbonate had a high moisture affinity above this RH. Particle structures were also examined using scanning electron microscopy, showing the heterogeneous interior of the spray-dried particles.

Two types of sodium carbonate powder produced by spray drying (SD) and dry neutralisation (DN) were studied for their compaction properties using a uniaxial compression tester. Dry neutralised sodium carbonate showed a greater resistance to compression and also produced a weaker compact when compressed to 100kPa. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed that both types of powder were predominantly amorphous in nature. Moisture sorption measurements showed that both powders behaved in a similar way below 50% RH. However, dry neutralised sodium carbonate had a high moisture affinity above this RH. On examining the particle structures using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the most likely explanation for the increased tendency of spray dried sodium carbonate to form strong compacts was the hollow particle structure.

Two types of sodium carbonate powder produced by spray drying (SD) and dry neutralization (DN) were studied for their compaction properties using a uniaxial compression tester. A comparison was also made with Persil washing powder. Dry neutralized sodium carbonate showed greater resistance to compression and also produced a weaker compact when compressed to 100 kPa. Spray-dried sodium carbonate had an absence of fine particles but compacted easily. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that both types of powder were predominantly amorphous in nature. Moisture sorption measurements showed that both powders behaved in a similar way below 50% relative humidity (RH). However, dry neutralized sodium carbonate had a high moisture affinity above this RH. Particle structures were also examined using scanning electron microscopy, showing the heterogeneous interior of the spray-dried particles.

Two types of sodium carbonate powder produced by spray drying (SD) and dry neutralisation (DN) were studied for their compaction properties using a uniaxial compression tester. Dry neutralised sodium carbonate showed a greater resistance to compression and also produced a weaker compact when compressed to 100kPa. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed that both types of powder were predominantly amorphous in nature. Moisture sorption measurements showed that both powders behaved in a similar way below 50% RH. However, dry neutralised sodium carbonate had a high moisture affinity above this RH. On examining the particle structures using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the most likely explanation for the increased tendency of spray dried sodium carbonate to form strong compacts was the hollow particle structure.

Two types of sodium carbonate powder produced by spray drying (SD) and dry neutralization (DN) were studied for their compaction properties using a uniaxial compression tester. A comparison was also made with Persil washing powder. Dry neutralized sodium carbonate showed greater resistance to compression and also produced a weaker compact when compressed to 100 kPa. Spray-dried sodium carbonate had an absence of fine particles but compacted easily. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that both types of powder were predominantly amorphous in nature. Moisture sorption measurements showed that both powders behaved in a similar way below 50% relative humidity (RH). However, dry neutralized sodium carbonate had a high moisture affinity above this RH. Particle structures were also examined using scanning electron microscopy, showing the heterogeneous interior of the spray-dried particles.

Two types of sodium carbonate powder produced by spray drying (SD) and dry neutralisation (DN) were studied for their compaction properties using a uniaxial compression tester. Dry neutralised sodium carbonate showed a greater resistance to compression and also produced a weaker compact when compressed to 100kPa. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed that both types of powder were predominantly amorphous in nature. Moisture sorption measurements showed that both powders behaved in a similar way below 50% RH. However, dry neutralised sodium carbonate had a high moisture affinity above this RH. On examining the particle structures using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the most likely explanation for the increased tendency of spray dried sodium carbonate to form strong compacts was the hollow particle structure.

Two projects have shown the long-term benefit of using a Natural Gamma Coal Quality Monitor to measure the ash content of conveyed coal at a colliery on a continuous basis and of using a portable ash probe to give a quick measurement of the ash in small piles of coal. The monitor calculates ash content from simultaneous measurements of gamma ray emissions and the weight of the conveyed material. A seven-month evaluation at Gascoyne Wood, in the UK, showed that it can perform without bias and with high accuracy and precision. Field testing of the probe, which also measures natural gamma radiation, showed that good calibration can be achieved and ash content tested within a few minutes to an accuracy of better than 0.5% ash., Two projects have shown the long-term benefit of using a Natural Gamma Coal Quality Monitor to measure the ash content of conveyed coal at a colliery on a continuous basis and of using a portable ash probe to give a quick measurement of the ash in small piles of coal. The monitor calculates ash content from simultaneous measurements of gamma ray emissions and the weight of the conveyed material. A seven-month evaluation at Gascoyne Wood, in the UK, showed that it can perform without bias and with high accuracy and precision. Field testing of the probe, which also measures natural gamma radiation, showed that good calibration can be achieved and ash content tested within a few minutes to an accuracy of better than 0.5% ash.

The Ash Probe is a portable hand-held instrument which provides rapid and accurate measurement of the ash content of coal in piles, trucks or wagons. The technology is based on the natural gamma technique and makes use of the fact that the dirt associated with mined coal contains significantly higher concentrations of gamma-emitting radioactive material than the coal itself. Case studies are presented to show how sites operated before the use of the Ash Probe and the benefits gained after its introduction, and to illustrate the calibration techniques employed. Short-term performance tests at the Nam Mau mine in Vietnam showed the Ash Probe to provide results to within 0.55% of conventional samples, and longer-term tests at the Incarsa mine, Columbia, and the Stockton mine in the USA showed the Ash Probe to perform within 0.7% ash of conventional samples. The use of the Ash Probe at the Stockton mine has significantly reduced the variability of different products and also reduced sampling and analysis costs., The Ash Probe is a portable hand-held instrument which provides rapid and accurate measurement of the ash content of coal in piles, trucks or wagons. The technology is based on the natural gamma technique and makes use of the fact that the dirt associated with mined coal contains significantly higher concentrations of gamma-emitting radioactive material than the coal itself. Case studies are presented to show how sites operated before the use of the Ash Probe and the benefits gained after its introduction, and to illustrate the calibration techniques employed. Short-term performance tests at the Nam Mau mine in Vietnam showed the Ash Probe to provide results to within 0.55% of conventional samples, and longer-term tests at the Incarsa mine, Columbia, and the Stockton mine in the USA showed the Ash Probe to perform within 0.7% ash of conventional samples. The use of the Ash Probe at the Stockton mine has significantly reduced the variability of different products and also reduced sampling and analysis costs.

The work of British Coal to reduce the environmental impact of dirt from underground mining is discussed. In-seam drivages supported by roof bolts minimise dirt production as does the use of vertical steering on longwall faces. A solution to the problem of dirt disposal is the hydraulic transportation of dirt in the form of a semi-stable slurry. The system is used for the overland transportation of dirt to off-site disposal points and for disposal by underground stowing behind active coalfaces and in disused roadways., The work of British Coal to reduce the environmental impact of dirt from underground mining is discussed. In-seam drivages supported by roof bolts minimise dirt production as does the use of vertical steering on longwall faces. A solution to the problem of dirt disposal is the hydraulic transportation of dirt in the form of a semi-stable slurry. The system is used for the overland transportation of dirt to off-site disposal points and for disposal by underground stowing behind active coalfaces and in disused roadways.