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From gravimetric studies, hybrid nano-coatings, based on permanganate/fluo­ride/gly­cerol conversion coating solutions formed on aluminum alloy by immersion procedures developed rapidly at a rate which decreased with time of treatment and was about 16 mg in weight after a period of three minutes. The morphology of the coating during scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examinations revealed randomly shaped coating materials with mud cracking patterns, characteristics of dried out coatings derived from gel-like materials. Analyses of the coating using EDX attachment in the SEM showed that it was composed essentially of aluminum, oxygen and manganese compounds, probably hydrated. The corrosion resistance of the coating out-performed ‘bare’ aluminum alloy specimens exposed to natural environment and 1 M sodium chloride solution. The coating improved the paint adhesion characteristics of the substrate aluminum alloy.

This investigation on permanganate-based conversion coating describes a chromate-free coating and efforts at reducing the environmental foot prints of metal finishing industries. A golden coloured coating on aluminium specimen was obtained from the permanganate coating (PMC) bath with nominal pH of 7.9. Results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination showed that the conversion coatings are continuous, and the surfaces of the specimens treated in the coating bath are composed of irregularly shaped and mud-cracked coating materials. The coatings, as revealed from energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) analyses in the SEM are composed essentially of aluminium, oxygen and manganese compounds which are likely to be hydrated. Accelerated corrosion tests in near neutral 3.5% sodium chloride solution and natural exposure tests revealed that the replacement of chromate with permanganate improved paint adhesion and corrosion resistance on aluminium substrates. Furthermore, the results indicated that the corrosion resistance of the permanganate-based conversion coating matched those from the traditional chromate coating bath, but for the corrosion resistance, after application of a top coat of lacquer, the former was adjudged better than the later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:  The Leicester Royal Infirmary Emergency Department is one of the largest single-site Emergency Departments in the UK. We evaluated the department's management of bacterial meningitis. The current national guideline recommends that all patients presenting with suspected bacterial meningitis receive antibiotics within one hour., Methods: A survey of 100 clinicians (Consultants, Registrars, House Officers, and Advanced Clinical Practitioners) working in the Emergency Department was performed to determine the awareness of the guidelines and a retrospective examination of case notes for patients who presented at the Leicester Royal Infirmary Emergency Department with suspected meningitis was carried out between May 1, 2022, and May 1, 2023. A random sample of 30 patients was drawn from the department's database of 190 patients, identified through discharge coding summaries., Results: Nine (25%) of the prescribers knew of the guidelines for managing meningitis, and six (16.7%) had utilised the hospital guidelines. Thirty-three (91.7%) prescribers acknowledged the importance of administering steroids to patients suspected of having bacterial meningitis (excluding those displaying signs of meningococcal sepsis, such as a rash). However, only seven (23%) of patients received this treatment. Additionally, only one (3.3%) patient was documented as having received a dose within the first hour of presentation., Conclusion: The timely diagnosis and administration of appropriate antibiotic therapy are pivotal elements in managing bacterial meningitis. As a result, we designed a checklist to facilitate the effective management of meningitis within the department by increasing awareness of the guidelines and making the critical principles of suspected meningitis management more accessible., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Asemota et al.)