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The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of low doses of caffeine (<3 mg/kg) on jumping performance using a meta-analysis.

The search for eligible studies was performed through six databases, with additional backward and forward citation tracking. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to compare the effects of caffeine vs placebo on jump height. The methodological quality of the included studies was appraised using the physiotherapy evidence database checklist.

Eight studies were included in the review. They were classified as good or excellent methodological quality. The pooled number of participants across all studies was 203. Four studies provided caffeine in relative doses, ranging from 1 to 2 mg/kg. Four studies provided caffeine supplementation in absolute doses of 80, 150 or 200 mg. The meta-analysis found that caffeine ingestion increased vertical jump height (Cohen’s d: 0.21; 95% confidence interval: 0.10, 0.31; p < 0.001; +3.5%).

The present meta-analysis found that caffeine doses of ∼1 to 2 mg/kg enhance jumping height. The effects observed herein are similar to those with higher caffeine doses, which is relevant as low caffeine doses produce minimal side effects. For most individuals, a caffeine dose of ∼1 to 2 mg/kg is equivalent to an amount of caffeine in an energy drink, one to two cups of coffee, one to two pieces of caffeinated chewing gum or several cups of green tea.

The use of pharmacological interventions in the treatment of forensic psychiatric patients constitutes an important part of the day‐to‐day practice of mental health professionals working in this important psychiatric sub‐speciality. It involves not just the prescription of specific drugs, but also the regular monitoring of their effects and possible side effects. Such monitoring involves the collaboration of professionals working in very different fields such as medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and pharmacy.

Although the technique of electron curing has been well developed, there are very few suitable coatings available.

This audit was conducted on acute psychiatric in‐patient wards with the aim of establishing if valproate prescribing in acute mania followed evidence‐based guidelines with particular emphasis on formulations used and whether accelerated valproate dosing was employed.

Case notes from 43 (42 percent male) patients admitted with mania and subsequently discharged on valproate were reviewed. Valproate formulation, weight measurement (necessary for dose‐calculation in accelerated dosing), initial valproate dose and increments, serum valproate monitoring and other prescribed psychotropic agents were noted.

Most (95 percent) patients received sodium valproate (epilim chrono/generic), the remaining received valproate semi‐sodium (depakote). All but one patient received antipsychotic medication in combination. Weight was recorded in only four (9 percent) patients. The mean valproate daily dose after the first week was 1,027 mg (sd=408). It took 29 (sd=42) days to reach the maximum daily dose (1,426 mg sd=467) from valproate initiation. Serum levels were monitored in 34 (79 percent) cases, but the mean period between valproate initiation to the first serum level test was 38 (sd=47) days. A significant positive correlation was found between days taken to reach maximum dose and hospital stay (Spearman's rho=0.41, n=43, p=0.006, two‐tailed).

Accelerated valproate dosing was not common practice, which may have resulted in suboptimal efficacy, probably leading to combination treatment.

This study highlights the need for adequate initial dosing and dose increments when treating manic patients and suggests current practice is not evidence‐based. Local prescribing policy and national guidelines' influence on practice are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examined the health effects of raw and cooked aqueous and methanol extracts of Vigna unguiculata on kidney function in Wistar rats.

Thirty-six Wistar rats (weighing 160 ± 10 g) were randomly assigned into nine (9) groups (n = 4). Group I (control): no extract. Groups II and III (aqueous extract of the cooked 350 mg/kg and 550 mg/kg). Groups IV and V (methanol extracts of cooked 350 mg/kg and 550 mg/kg). Groups VI and VII (methanol extracts of raw 350 mg/kg and 550 mg/kg). Groups VIII and IX (aqueous extract of raw 350 mg/kg and 550 mg/kg). After the seventh day of the trial, the rats were euthanized with chloroform, and blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis.

Results showed that the doses applied for cooked and raw V. unguiculata significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced kidney functions by increasing the body weight, glucose level, concentration of serum urea, creatinine, total protein, potassium and chloride in test groups compared with control. The packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentrations of raw aqueous extract at 550 mg/kg (36.5 ± 5.1; 12.3 ± 2.8) were significantly (p = 0.001) higher (29.8 ± 11.8; 10.3 ± 3.9) than the 350 mg/kg dose of the same extract, and cooked aqueous extract at 350 mg/kg dose was significantly (p = 0.001) higher (28.0 ± 10.1; 9.3 ± 3.4) than that of 550 mg/kg (25.8 ± 4.9; 8.8 ± 3.9) dose of the extracts.

The nutritional content of V. unguiculata potentially can augment the nutritional content of a diet and to a large extent, the regular consumers’ health. Essentially, V. unguiculata is composed of both macro and micronutrients capable of promoting normal kidney function.

Combination of a number of sensors with different response parameters into sensor arrays would enhance the overall performance of the radiation detection system. This paper presents a conceptual approach to the development of sensor arrays system with instantaneous dose and dose rate readout. A dynamic selection of multiple sensors with various sensitivity and accuracy range is implemented by applying pattern recognition (PR) analysis, which maximizes measurement accuracy. A number of relevant PR methods are discussed.

Thick films based on NiO, ZnO, In₂O₃, CeO₂, TiO₂, CuO and CdO are the key sensing elements in the proposed approach. Pure and carbon‐doped metal oxides were screen‐printed on Si wafers to form pn‐heterojunctions. All devices were exposed to a disc‐type 137 Cs source with an activity of 370 kBq. The values of radiation damage of pn‐junctions were estimated from changes in their current‐voltage characteristics.

Sensors showed an increase in the values of current with the increase in radiation dose up to certain levels, exceeding these levels results in unstable dosimetric characteristics.

The sensitivity of metal oxide films to γ‐radiation exposure depends on their composition and thickness. Mixing the oxides in different proportions and the addition of conducting particles, such as carbon, alters films susceptibility to radiation. In particular, sensors based on such films have dose response characteristics with certain level of sensitivity and working dose range, conditioned by particular sensing material properties and the device structure.

The radiological consequences on the population of a borax accident in 1994 in the Tammuz 2 nuclear reactor have been postulated. Dose equivalents resulting from the atmospheric release of radionuclides during the accident have been estimated for distances ranging from the exclusion zone to 100km from the reactor. Gamma submersion, beta submersion doses from the plume, inhalation doses and surface exposure doses have been estimated for various exposure times. Dose equivalents estimated for the site boundary for an exposure time of 24 hours were 1.42 − 10mSv. Accordingly, it seemed that the consequences of the accident on the population living around Tuwaitha site could only take the form of stochastic radiation, such as the induction of cancers, and heredity.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the dosimetric properties of N-(3-methoxypropyl) acrylamide (NMPA) polymer gel dosimeter using UV-vis spectrophotometry as a simple and low-cost method.

The gel samples have been irradiated to various doses using a medical linear accelerator with 6 MV beam energy. The optical density of un-irradiated and irradiated NMPA polymer gel dosimeters in terms of absorbance at 500 nm was investigated by UV-vis spectrophotometry.

The absorbance values of the gel samples were increased linearly with increasing dose in the dose range between 2 and 20 Gy. A remarkable improvement in the dose response was noticed after the addition of various concentrations of glycerol. The impact of dose rate, beam energy and the post-stability of the exposed gels was studied and found consistent with the previous study using nuclear magnetic resonance results (energy independent and dose rate independent, stable up to one week).

The results of the independent experimental spectrophotometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses indicate that the NMPA polymer gel dosimeter has good and consistent dosimetric features for radiotherapy dosimetry.

The ionizing radiation-induced polymerization of gel samples leads to a change in the absorbance of the irradiated gel samples. This study introduces the first characterization of NMPA gel dosimeter by means of UV-vis spectrophotometer.

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