Evaluation of two temperature storage conditions for full blood count samples from Lifeblood's donors.

Background And Objectives: Lifeblood completes full blood count samples for selected donors to assess their suitability for future donations. Removing the current practice for refrigerated (2-8°C) storage and aligning with room temperature (20-24°C) storage of other donor blood samples would produce significant efficiencies in blood donor centres. This study aimed to compare full blood count results under two temperature conditions.

The use of historical platelet counts from blood donors to program apheresis platelet donation: An Australian perspective.

Background: For Australian apheresis platelet donations, in-centre haematology analysers provided the platelet count used to program the platelet collection machines. When the haematology analysers were not functional, historical platelet counts from previous donations were used. This study aimed to confirm that the routine use of historical platelet counts for programming apheresis collection machines would maintain platelet yields within the donated units and that haematology analysers could be removed.

The production and characterisation of trichotoxin peptaibols, by Trichoderma asperellum.

Trichoderma spp. are regularly found as a constituent of the mycoflora of many soils and are noted for their antagonistic activity against bacteria and other fungi. This latter property is the basis for the widespread interest in their use in the biological control of soil-borne fungal plant pathogens.

Influence of surface shape on DNA binding of bimetallo helicates.

In order to probe the DNA-helicate interactions responsible for the DNA binding and remarkable changes of the DNA secondary structure induced by a tetracationic bi-metallo helicate [Fe(2)(L(1))(3)](4+) (L(1)=C(25)H(20)N(4)), we have designed and synthesised derivatives with hydrophobic methyl groups at different positions on the ligand backbone. Two dimetallo helicates [Fe(2)(L(i))(3)](4+) were prepared using ligands L(3) and L(5) with the methyl substituent on, respectively, the 3 and 5 positions of the pyridyl ring thus producing a wider or slightly longer tetracationic DNA binder. UV/visible absorbance, circular and linear dichroism spectroscopies have been used to characterize the interactions of the cylinders with DNA with the aim of investigating any sequence preference or selectivity upon binding.

Enantiomeric resolution of supramolecular helicates with different surface topographies.

The enantiomeric resolution of an extended range of di-metallo supramolecular triple-helical molecules are reported. The ligands for all complexes are symmetric with two units containing an aryl group linked via an imine bond to a pyridine. Alkyl substituents have been attached in different positions on the ligand backbone.