Optimization of primary sewage sludge and coal lignite by microwave-assisted pyrolysis for the production of bio-oil.

In the present study, the raw materials and produced bio-oil were characterized in terms of physical and chemical properties. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite was used to investigate the process parameter significance on bio-oil yield. The statistical significance is indicated by P-value of less than 0.05 at 95% confidence level. For raw material, coal lignite spectrum showed potential existence of phenols, alcohol and water linked to mineral water associated with the hydroxyl group found in stretching vibrations that are between 3200 and 3400 cm-1. The oxygen-containing groups such as C = O, C-O and aromatic skeletal lignin from lignocellulosic materials were observed on the coal lignite spectrum. Sewage sludge spectrum showed the presence of amide I, amide II, aliphatic methylene, lipids and fats. Si-O of clay minerals and silicates impurities were attributed by peaks 872 and 1031 cm-1 on the primary sewage sludge spectrum, respectively. The produced bio-oil results from Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were in agreement with Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results. Maximum bio-oil of 42 wt% was obtained under the following conditions : temperature, 550°C, heating rate, 180.3°C/min and particle size 425 µm.

Challenges in data quality: the influence of data quality assessments on data availability and completeness in a voluntary medical male circumcision programme in Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVES: To assess availability and completeness of data collected before and after a data quality audit (DQA) in voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) sites in Zimbabwe to determine the effect of this process on data quality. SETTING: 4 of 10 VMMC sites in Zimbabwe that received a DQA in February, 2015 selected by convenience sampling. PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective reviews of all client intake forms (CIFs) from November, 2014 and May, 2015. A total of 1400 CIFs were included from those 2 months across four sites. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Data availability was measured as the percentage of VMMC clients whose CIF was on file at each site. A data evaluation tool measured the completeness of 34 key CIF variables. A comparison of pre-DQA and post-DQA results was conducted using χ2 and t-tests. RESULTS: After the DQA, high record availability of over 98% was maintained by sites 3 and 4. For sites 1 and 2, record availability increased by 8.0% (p=0.001) and 9.7% (p=0.02), respectively. After the DQA, sites 1, 2 and 3 improved significantly in data completeness across 34 key indicators, increasing by 8.6% (p<0.001), 2.7% (p=0.003) and 3.8% (p<0.001), respectively. For site 4, CIF data completeness decreased by 1.7% (p<0.01) after the DQA. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that CIF data availability and completeness generally improved after the DQA. However, gaps in documentation of vital signs and adverse events signal areas for improvement. Additional emphasis on data completeness would help support high-quality programme implementation and availability of reliable data for decision-making.

Determinants, outcomes and costs of ceftriaxone v. amoxicillin-clavulanate in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia at Witbank Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Treatment is centred on antibiotics with ceftriaxone and amoxicillin-clavulanate being some of the most commonly prescribed agents. OBJECTIVE: To compare treatment outcomes and costs in patients receiving either of these two antibiotics at Witbank Hospital (WH). METHODS: A total of 200 randomly selected adult patient files (100 receiving ceftriaxone and 100 amoxicillin-clavulanate) recording a diagnosis of CAP were studied to determine the length of hospital stay, comorbid conditions and treatment outcomes. A descriptive and comparable analysis was performed. RESULTS: Male gender, higher CURB-65 scores and death were associated with the use of ceftriaxone. Severity of disease and previous antibiotic exposure influenced the duration of hospital admission. CONCLUSION: Gender and severity of disease (based on the CURB-65 score) were the determinants of antibiotic choice at WH. Male gender increased the likelihood of being treated with ceftriaxone, as did a CURB-65 score of > 2. There were no differences in the outcomes of CAP patients treated with ceftriaxone compared with those treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate. Irrespective of antibiotic used, gender and severity of disease influenced treatment outcomes. Male gender was associated with a higher mortality and longer hospital stay. The average duration of stay for both antibiotics was not significantly different. Thus, only level 1 and 2 costs need to be considered when comparing the two regimens. On this basis, ceftriaxone was cheaper than amoxicillin-clavulanate.