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Individual Differences And Strategies For Human Reasoning, Alison Bacon Jan 2003

Individual Differences And Strategies For Human Reasoning, Alison Bacon

School of Psychology Theses

Theories of human reasoning have tended to assume cognitive universality, i. e. that all individuals reason in basically the same way. However, some research (e. g. that of Ford. 1995) has found evidence of individual differences in the strategies people use for syllogistic reasoning. This thesis presents a series of experiments which aimed to identify individual differences in strategies for human reasoning and investigate their nature and aetiology. Experiment 1 successfully replicated and extended Ford (1995) and provided further evidence that most individuals prefer to reason with either verbal-propositional or visuo-spatial representations. Data from verbal and written protocols showed that …

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Developing Lecturer Practitioner Roles In Nursing Using Action Research, Graham Williamson Jan 2003

Developing Lecturer Practitioner Roles In Nursing Using Action Research, Graham Williamson

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

The lecturer practitioner role in nursing is widely seen as offering hope for the future of nurse education, by overcoming the 'theory-practice gap', and establishing and maintaining effective links at many different levels between education and practice. It is clear, however, that there are a number of issues of concern about the role. These can be summarised as: lack of role clarity about overcoming the theory-practice gap; varying conceptions of the role and unclear job descriptions; and role conflicts and overload, from the conflicting demands of service and education settings Despite current political support for strengthening the links between higher …

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Closed-Loop Controlled Total Intra Venous Anaesthesia, Chao Dong Jan 2003

Closed-Loop Controlled Total Intra Venous Anaesthesia, Chao Dong

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Anaesthesia is important for both surgery and intensive care and intravenous anaesthetics are widely used to provide rapid onset, stable maintenance, and rapid recovery compared with inhaled anaesthetics. The aim of the project on which this thesis is based was to investigate a reliable and safe methodology for delivering total intravenous anaesthesia using closed-loop control technology and bispectral analysis of human electroencephalogram (EEG) waveform. In comparison with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI), drug effect is measured during drug infusion in closed loop anaesthesia (CLAN). This may provide superior safety, better patient care, and better quality of anaesthesia whilst relieving the clinician …

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Wavelet-Based Multi-Carrier Code Division Multiple Access Systems, Ali Muayyadi Jan 2003

Wavelet-Based Multi-Carrier Code Division Multiple Access Systems, Ali Muayyadi

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

This thesis proposes a wavelet-based multicarrier CDMA system that uses wavelet basis instead of DFT basis to deal with the problem of inter-channel interference (ICI) and spectral bandwidth efficiency. The theoretical analysis shows that the proposed system has lower side lobe components and higher bandwidth efficiency. The simulation further shows that the wavelet-based multi-carrier CDMA system gives lower ICI and better BER performance than that using DFT basis under multipath fading channel. Moreover the proposed system is more robust against narrow band interference signal. This thesis exploits the wavelet correlation properties to perform timing synchronisation in multicarrier CDMA systems. This …

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Novel Techniques For Investigating The Permeation Properties Of Environmentally-Friendly Paper Coatings: The Influence Of Structural Anisotropy On Fluid Permeation In Porous Media, Paul Bodurtha Jan 2003

Novel Techniques For Investigating The Permeation Properties Of Environmentally-Friendly Paper Coatings: The Influence Of Structural Anisotropy On Fluid Permeation In Porous Media, Paul Bodurtha

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

In this study, we have investigated the effects of structural anisotropy of porous media on the permeation of fluids. The motivation for the work was an increased understanding of the permeation of inks into paper coatings, which often contain platey or needle-like particles, which have been aligned during the coating process. However, the findings are also relevant to other systems, such as the sub-terranean migration of fluids, including pollutants, within shale that contains particles of high aspect ratio. Mineral pigments, comprising mainly of calcium carbonate or clay, are often are applied to the surface of paper to improve optical and …

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Highly Branched Isoprenoid Alkenes From Diatoms: A Biosynthetic And Life Cycle Investigation, Guillaume Gabriel Masse Jan 2003

Highly Branched Isoprenoid Alkenes From Diatoms: A Biosynthetic And Life Cycle Investigation, Guillaume Gabriel Masse

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

In addition to the production of phytol (from chlorophylls) and sterols, a limited number of diatom species are capable of synthesising unusual C25 and C30 highly branched isoprenoid (HBl) alkenes. At the outset of the current investigation, the structures of most C25 and C30 HBIs had been identified. Some environmental factors had been shown to control their production, although a detailed understanding of these remained unclear. In addition, the biological functions of the chemicals remained unknown, and the reasons for their production by some species and not by others, was not understood. Investigations on the distributions of C25 and C30 …

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Uncertainty Contributions To Species Specific Isotope Dilution Analysis, Rob Clough Jan 2003

Uncertainty Contributions To Species Specific Isotope Dilution Analysis, Rob Clough

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Mercury speciation in solid sample matrices has been investigated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with multicollector sector field (MCSF) and quadrupole (Q) inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for species specific isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS). 199Hg enriched methylmercurychloride has been synthesised and recovered in the solid form for use as a spike material. The stability of methylmercury during the IDMS procedure was investigated using 199Hg and 13C labelled methylmercury isotopomers and ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. IntermoIecuJar exchange of the methylmercury halide counter ion was observed, the halide counter ion order of preference was l>Br>Cl. …

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Characterisation Of Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity In The Sea Anemone Aiptasia Pallida And An Evaluation Of Responses To Environmental Stress, Clare Emma Morrall Jan 2003

Characterisation Of Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity In The Sea Anemone Aiptasia Pallida And An Evaluation Of Responses To Environmental Stress, Clare Emma Morrall

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Studies were undertaken to investigate the presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS; E.C. 1.14.13.39) activity in number of cnidarian species from shallow marine subtropical environments. Enzyme activity was assayed by measuring the conversion of 3H L-arginine to 3H L-citrulline (the citrulline assay). This assay was shown to be sufficiently sensitive for studies of this nature but was not optimised for use with cnidarian preparations. As a result, confidence in the accuracy of the generated assay results is limited. NOS activity was nevertheless demonstrated in the sea anemone A. pallida, in the zooxanthellae associated with A. pallida, Symbiodinium spp. and in …

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The Oceanography And Modelling Of The Pontevedra Ria (Nw Spain), Andrew W. Dale Jan 2003

The Oceanography And Modelling Of The Pontevedra Ria (Nw Spain), Andrew W. Dale

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

A multidisciplinary study the oceanography of the Pontevedra Ria (NW Spain), including hydrography, biogeochemistiy and biogeochemical modelling, has been performed. The hydrographical variability of the Pontevedra Ria was dependent on freshwater inputs and upwelling of nutrient-rich East North Atlantic Central Water from the shelf. Intrusions of the Poleward Current were also detected during winter. A stratified box model approach predicted that upwelling water fluxes into the ria of 2-4x10³ m³ s-1, of which >30% rises to the surface waters inside the ria. Freshwater residence time varied from ~4-9 d in the central ria and 1-4 d in the internal ria. …

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Sediment Transport And Morphodynamics At An Estuary Mouth: A Study Using Coupled Remote Sensing And Numerical Modelling, Eduardo Siegle Jan 2003

Sediment Transport And Morphodynamics At An Estuary Mouth: A Study Using Coupled Remote Sensing And Numerical Modelling, Eduardo Siegle

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The balance of the physical processes that drive the morphodynamics of a complex inlet system is investigated in this work. For this purpose, an innovative technique using coupled video imaging and numerical modelling has been used to study the relative importance of the driving forces that control the sandbar dynamics at the Teignmouth inlet system. The sandbars that form the ebb tidal delta are highly dynamic, leading to a cyclic morphological behaviour. Application of the numerical model (MIKE21 HD, NSW, ST) served two separate functions. The hydrodynamic model has been used for the image processing and, combined with the sediment …

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Applications Of Complex Adaptive Systems Approaches To Coastal Systems, Ken Kingston Jan 2003

Applications Of Complex Adaptive Systems Approaches To Coastal Systems, Ken Kingston

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

This thesis investigatesth e application of complex adaptives ystemsa pproaches (e. g. Artificial Neural Networks and Evolutionary Computation) to the study of coastal hydrodynamica nd morphodynamicb ehaviour.T raditionally, nearshorem orphologicalc oastal systems tudiesh ave developeda n understandingo f thosep hysicalp rocesseso ccurringo n both short temporal, and small spatial scales with a large degree of success. The associated approachesa nd conceptsu sedt o study the coastals ystema t theses calesh ave Primarily been linear in nature.H owever,w hent hesea pproachetso studyingt he coastals ystema re extendedto investigating larger temporal and spatial scales,w hich are commensuratew ith the aims of coastal …

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Cross-Shore Sediment Transport Processes On Natural Beaches And Their Relation To Sand Bar Migration Patterns, Ismael De Jesus Marino Tapia Jan 2003

Cross-Shore Sediment Transport Processes On Natural Beaches And Their Relation To Sand Bar Migration Patterns, Ismael De Jesus Marino Tapia

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

During the last two decadess everalf ield studiesh ave shown a clear pattern in the cross-shores ediment transport processes on beaches. Outside the surf zone, the stronger onshore velocities under unbroken (Stokes-type) wave crests, produce a dominant onshore sediment transport. Inside the surf zone, strong offshore-directed mean currents (undertow) drive sediments offshore. It is of great interest for the scientific community to verify further the consistency of this pattern under different morphodynamic conditions, understand the underlying physics and quantify/parameterise this behaviour in order to improve the understanding of cross-shore sediment transport and simplify the modelling of beach profile change. The …

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Problems Facing Maerl Conservation In Brittany, J Grall, Jm Hall-Spencer Jan 2003

Problems Facing Maerl Conservation In Brittany, J Grall, Jm Hall-Spencer

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

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A Procedural Model For Integrating Physical And Cyberspaces In Architecture, Peter Anders Jan 2003

A Procedural Model For Integrating Physical And Cyberspaces In Architecture, Peter Anders

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

This dissertation articiilates opportunities offered by architectural computation, in particular the digital simulation of space known as virtual reality (VR) and its networked, social variant cyberspace. The thesis will argue that VR/cyberspace has exacerbated differences between architecture's materialist and idealist practices, widening the gap that separates them. In an effort to bridge this gap it presents a procedural model for how VR and cyberspace may be integrated within the practice and product of architecture. The dissertation presents important developments in architectural computation that disclose concepts and values that contrast with orthodox practice. Virtual reality and cyberspace, the foci of this …

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Principles Of Metadesign : Processes And Levels Of Co-Creation In The New Design Space, Elisa Giaccardi Jan 2003

Principles Of Metadesign : Processes And Levels Of Co-Creation In The New Design Space, Elisa Giaccardi

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

In the tight of the material and cultural conditions of the present world and within the context of current design theories, this research aims to provide an understanding of Metadesign as emerging design cutture, and to integrate and advance its conceptual framework and principles through a tra nsdisci pli nary dialogue with the aesthetics and practice of Net Art. By rejecting the notion of Metadesign as an established design approach and practice, the creation of an etymological hypothesis based on the meanings of the prefix "-meta" (behind, together, between) becomes possible. Following this historical and cultural path, the research describes …

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An Investigation Of T Cell Dysregulation In B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia, Sophie Grace Scrivener Jan 2003

An Investigation Of T Cell Dysregulation In B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia, Sophie Grace Scrivener

Other Faculty of Health Theses

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) is characterized by an accumulation of clonal malignant B cells within lymphoid tissue, the bone marrow and the peripheral blood. Whilst abnormalities of these B cells are the essential cause of this disease, the aim of this research project was to investigate whether the T cell compartment may play a role in the aetiology of this disease by evaluating the expression of key surface antigens involved in both activation of and interaction with B cells and other antigen presenting cells of the immune system. There were marked abnormalities in the expression of certain key activation …

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A Study Of The Molecular Genetics Of Renal Cell Carcinoma In Man, Martin Ollerenshaw Jan 2003

A Study Of The Molecular Genetics Of Renal Cell Carcinoma In Man, Martin Ollerenshaw

Other Faculty of Health Theses

The aim was to measure the expression levels of hypoxia inducible factor 1-α (HJF-lα), glucose transporter one (GLUT-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms 165 and 189 mRNA in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Patients with RCC underwent radical nephrectomy at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. Tumour as well as matched normal tissue from the kidney was harvested, snap frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen, and used to quantitate VEGF 165, VEGF 189, GLUT-1 and HJF-1α mRNA expression using ribonuclease protection assays, and quantified using a Phosphor-imager system. The VEGF 165 isoform was increased in the tumour tissue in comparison …

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The Role Of Acute Normovolaemic Haemodilution In Gastro-Intestinal Surgery, Grant Sanders Jan 2003

The Role Of Acute Normovolaemic Haemodilution In Gastro-Intestinal Surgery, Grant Sanders

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Background: Allogeneic transfusion confers a risk to the recipient and the recent introduction of leucocyte depleted blood has increased cost pressure on health resources. Colorectal surgery is a high blood usage field with 43% of all patients in our unit being transfused, over a three year period. Patient perceptions: Despite the risks associated with transfusion, a majority of patients are willing to have an allogeneic transfusion (85%) and think it is safe (89%), which may have implications in the uptake of alternatives available. The effect of bowel preparation Picolax bowel preparation causes significant dehydrating effects which may impair acute normovolaemic …

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Benefits Of Fermented Liquid Diets For Sows And Their Piglets, Vlasta Demeckova Jan 2003

Benefits Of Fermented Liquid Diets For Sows And Their Piglets, Vlasta Demeckova

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

A programme of study was undertaken to asses the antimicrobial and potential immunological properties of fermented liquid feed fed to sows in late gestation period. A liquid feed fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum fed to the pregnant sow in late gestation had the potential to beneficially modify the microflora the lactating sows introduces into the environment, which was consequently reflected in beneficial changes in the gut microflora of their litters. In addition, colostrum from sows fed FLF had a significantly greater mitogenic activity on both intestinal ce11s (79326 ± 3069 CPM) and blood lymphocytes (1903 ± 204 CPM) compared with colostrum …

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Diagonal And Off-Diagonal Magneto-Impedance In Ferromagnetic Microwires And Thin Films, Dmitriy Makhnovskiy Jan 2003

Diagonal And Off-Diagonal Magneto-Impedance In Ferromagnetic Microwires And Thin Films, Dmitriy Makhnovskiy

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

The discovery of the giant magneto-impedance (GMI) effect in 1994 had a strong impact on the development of micro magnetic sensors. In certain soft magnetic materials, such as composites of amorphous thin wires, the magneto-impedance change (MI ratio) is in the range of 50-100% in the MHz frequency band for external magnetic fields of few Oe. Special thin-film structures have been proposed to provide the MI effect in miniature elements. In the present work, the concept of the magneto-impedance matrix has been elaborated, which enables the explanation of variety of MI field characteristics in wires and films from the common …

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An Analysis Of The Role Of The Baltic States Ports In The Trans Siberian Railway Market, Anastasia Liliopoulou Jan 2003

An Analysis Of The Role Of The Baltic States Ports In The Trans Siberian Railway Market, Anastasia Liliopoulou

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

Almost all the people involved in the shipping industry have come in touch from time to time with what is known as container transit. Some of these people may be working in one way or another in this field, whilst others may be familiar with the meaning and the importance of container transit. This research aims to examine the potential of the Baltic States' ports as transit gateways for the Trans Siberian container market. This work is divided in two parts, the theoretical and the practical. The first part of the study provides a theoretical presentation of the construct under …

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Political Dealignment In Britain : The Local Evidence 1959-1979, Paul James Lambe Jan 2003

Political Dealignment In Britain : The Local Evidence 1959-1979, Paul James Lambe

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis challenges the dominant view that municipal elections tell us practically nothing about the preferences and attitudes of the voter to local issues and events, that municipal elections are no more than national referendums. It suggests that the influence of socio-economic environment and political context and indeed structural factors have hitherto been underestimated. It argues that municipal politics and voting behaviour impact upon parliamentary electoral behaviour and outcomes and thereby the politics of place impinge upon the national electoral level. The thesis employs a multi-disciplinary approach that combines the qualitative research methods of the historian and the quantitative statistical …

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The Materiality Of Text And Body In Painting And Darkroom Processes: An Investigation Through Practice, Deborah Robinson Jan 2003

The Materiality Of Text And Body In Painting And Darkroom Processes: An Investigation Through Practice, Deborah Robinson

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This research study ennploys practice-based strategies through which material processes might be opened to new meaning in relation to the feminine. The purpose of the written research component is to track the material processes constituting a significant part of the research findings. Beginning with historical research into artistic and critical responses to Helen Frankenthaler's painting, Mountains and Sea, I argue that unacknowledged male desire distorted and consequently marginalised reception of her work. I then work with the painting processes innovated by Frankenthaler and relate these to a range of feminist ideas relating to the corporeal, especially those with origins in …

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Britain In Europe : A Discourse-Theoretical Approach, Gavin Moorhead Jan 2003

Britain In Europe : A Discourse-Theoretical Approach, Gavin Moorhead

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

Previous research upon European integration has observed that Britain has an I awkward partnership' with the rest of the EU. However, these analyses have not addressed how this awkward relationship reflects a difference in political and governmental discourse between Britain and the other Continental European member states. This thesis will examine this divergence. To this end, it applies the discourse-theoretical approach developed by Ernesto Laclau, Chantal Mouffe, and Slavoj Zi2ek. By applying the discourse-theoretical concept of social antagonism, it will seek to explain why these discourses are different and opposed. Possible solutions to this conflict will then be identified and …

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Transmission & The Internet: The Contemporary Response Of A Traditional Musical Community, Griselda Sanderson Jan 2003

Transmission & The Internet: The Contemporary Response Of A Traditional Musical Community, Griselda Sanderson

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis is a study of the performance, interpretation and transmission practices of traditional instrumental musicians in Scotland and Ireland. Extensive original research was undertaken over a period of four years including a survey of current transmission practices amongst traditional musicians from Britain and Ireland. Both preservation and the study of change are vital elements in maintaining a flourishing oral culture. However, my focus is on definition. The study is an attempt to clarify the many contemporary and often conflicting expressions of musical experience that constitute part of the oral tradition in Scotland and Ireland. By examining the work of …

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Creating Emotionally Aware Performance Environments: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Inferred And Invisible Data Space, Richard Mark Povall Jan 2003

Creating Emotionally Aware Performance Environments: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Inferred And Invisible Data Space, Richard Mark Povall

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

The practical research undertaken for this thesis - the building of interactive and non-interactive environments for performance - posits a radical recasting of the performing body in physical and digital space. The choreographic and thematic context of the performance work has forced us', as makers, to ask questions about the nature of digital interactivity which in turn feeds the work theoretically, technically and thematically. A computer views (and attempts to interpret) motion information through a video camera, and, by way of a scripting language, converts that information into MIDI' data. As the research has developed, our company has been able …

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Not Art: An Action History Of British Underground Cinema, Duncan Reekie Jan 2003

Not Art: An Action History Of British Underground Cinema, Duncan Reekie

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

My thesis is both an oppositional history and a (re)definition of British Underground Cinema culture (1959 - 2(02). The historical significance of Underground Cinema has long been ideologically entangled in a mesh of academic typologies and ultra leftist rhetoric, abducting it from those directly involved. The intention of my work is to return definition to the 'object' of study, to write from within. This process involves viewing the history of modem British culture not as a vague monolithic and hierarchic spectrum but rather as a distinct historical conflict between the repressive legitimate Art culture of the bourgeoisie and the radical …

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An Interactive Visualisation System For Engineering Design Using Evolutionary Computing, Ian Stephen James Packham Jan 2003

An Interactive Visualisation System For Engineering Design Using Evolutionary Computing, Ian Stephen James Packham

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

This thesis describes a system designed to promote collaboration between the human and computer during engineering design tasks. Evolutionary algorithms (in particular the genetic algorithm) can find good solutions to engineering design problems in a small number of iterations, but a review of the interactive evolutionary computing literature reveals that users would benefit from understanding the design space and having the freedom to direct the search. The main objective of this research is to fulfil a dual requirement: the computer should generate data and analyse the design space to identify high performing regions in terms of the quality and robustness …

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Stability And Compatibility Of 5-Fluorouracil Infusions In The Braun Easypump, Gj Sewell, S Roberts Jan 2003

Stability And Compatibility Of 5-Fluorouracil Infusions In The Braun Easypump, Gj Sewell, S Roberts

School of Health Professions

No abstract provided.

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Stability Of Intravesical Epirubicin Infusion: A Sequential Temperature Study., Gj Sewell, Ae Rigby-Jones, Mj Priston Jan 2003

Stability Of Intravesical Epirubicin Infusion: A Sequential Temperature Study., Gj Sewell, Ae Rigby-Jones, Mj Priston

School of Health Professions

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the stability of epirubicin bladder instillation, prepared from two different epirubicin formulations, under refrigerated storage, transportation and clinical use conditions. METHOD: A sequential study design was used. Epirubicin instillation (1 mg/mL) in polypropylene syringes was sequential incubated for periods of 84 days at 8 degrees C followed by 2 h at 25 degrees C and 1 h at 37 degrees C, the latter two temperatures replicating transport and intravesical conditions, respectively. RESULTS: The instillation was both chemically and physically stable under those incubation conditions. The formulation of epirubicin used to prepare the instillation infusions did not affect …

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