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Scale Trials (scale + trials)
Selected AbstractsRandomized controlled trials in schizophrenia: a critical perspective on the literatureACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2002S. Gilbody Objective:,The randomized trial provides an opportunity to minimize the inclusion of biases in the evaluation of interventions in psychiatry. Difficulties arise, however, when applying their results to `real world' clinical practice and decision-making. We, therefore, examined the real world applicability of schizophrenia trials. Method:,A narrative overview of the content and quality of the randomized trials relevant to the care of those with schizophrenia is provided. Results:,Complex, explanatory, under-powered randomized drug trials dominate evaluative research in schizophrenia. Conclusion:,Explanatory designs are a necessary but insufficient step in establishing the true worth of interventions in schizophrenia. Research from other spheres of mental health and wider health care suggest that pragmatic trials are feasible. This design allows large scale trials to be conducted which include patients which we would recognize from routine practice and which record outcomes which are of genuine interest to decision-makers. [source] IN-LINE CONSISTENCY MONITORING OF TOMATO BASED PRODUCTS USING VIBRATIONAL PROCESS VISCOMETRYJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 5 2001P. J. CULLEN A vibrational process viscometer was evaluated as an in-line consistency monitoring technique for tomato based products. This sensor was installed in both pilot and industry scale production processes. Accuracy of the sensor and its ability to distinguish between varying concentrations of non-Newtonian fluids was evaluated with flowrate and temperature closely controlled. The sensor was shown to have the least inherent variability when compared to off-line techniques. However it was found to be flowrate dependent for the tomato based products. Good correlations between the sensor and off-line techniques were developed for the pilot scale trials. Plant trials revealed a number of problems in developing such correlations under industrial process conditions, however the instrument proved capable of tracking out of specification sauce as determined by the off-line Brookfield viscometer. It was concluded that use of the sensor would result in increased measurement precision over the off-line instruments coupled with the benefits of in-line monitoring. [source] Co-composting of pharmaceutical wastes in soilLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001T.F. Guerin Aims:,Soils at a commercial facility had become contaminated with the pharmaceutical chemical residues, Probenecid and Methaqualone, and required remediation. Methods and Results:,Soil composting was investigated as an alternative to incineration for treatment. In laboratory trials, a factorial experimental design was used to evaluate organic matter amendment type and concentration, and incubation temperature. In pilot scale trials, Probenecid was reduced from 5100 mg kg,1 to < 10 mg kg,1 within 20 weeks in mesophilic treatments. An 8 tonne pilot scale treatment confirmed that thermophilic composting was effective under field conditions. In the full-scale treatment, 180 tonnes of soil were composted. Initial concentrations of the major contaminants in the full-scale compost treatment were 1160 mg kg,1 and 210 mg kg,1, for Probenecid and Methaqualone, respectively. Probenecid concentration reached the target level of 100 mg kg,1 in 6 weeks, and removal of Methaqualone to < 100 mg kg,1 was achieved after 14 weeks. Conclusions:,Co-composting was effective in reducing soil concentrations of Probenecid and Methaqualone residues to acceptable values. Significance and Impact of the Study:,Co-composting is a technology that has application in the remediation of pharmaceutical contaminants in soil. [source] Micro biochemical engineering to accelerate the design of industrial-scale downstream processes for biopharmaceutical proteinsBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 3 2008N.J. Titchener-Hooker Abstract The article examines how a small set of easily implemented micro biochemical engineering procedures combined with regime analysis and bioprocess models can be used to predict industrial scale performance of biopharmaceutical protein downstream processing. This approach has been worked on in many of our studies of individual operations over the last 10 years and allows preliminary evaluation to be conducted much earlier in the development pathway because of lower costs. It then permits the later large scale trials to be more highly focused. This means that the risk of delays during bioprocess development and of product launch are reduced. Here we draw the outcomes of this research together and illustrate its use in a set of typical operations; cell rupture, centrifugation, filtration, precipitation, expanded bed adsorption, chromatography and for common sources, E. coli, two yeasts and mammalian cells (GS-NSO). The general approach to establishing this method for other operations is summarized and new developments outlined. The technique is placed against the background of the scale-down methods that preceded it and complementary ones that are being examined in parallel. The article concludes with a discussion of the advantages and limitations of the micro biochemical engineering approach versus other methods. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;100: 473,487. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||