My little bimbo down on the Bamboo Isle

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/2196/thumbnail.jp

My mammy : the sun shines east--the sun shines west

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/2211/thumbnail.jp

My mammy : the sun shines east--the sun shines west

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/2210/thumbnail.jp

Oxygenic phototrophic biofilms for improved cathode performance in microbial fuel cells

The rate of oxygen reduction reaction in the cathodic chambers of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is a typical limiting aspect of its performance. Recently, research on biocathodes has gained more interest as it allows circumventing the utilisation of exogenous and unstable mediators at a lower cost. It is shown here that the growth of oxygenic phototrophs as a biofilm, increases the current output by two fold. This was possible by forcing the biofilm to grow onto the cathode, thus, producing the oxygen directly where it was consumed. This enhancement of the cathodic efficiency was stable for over 30. days. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

A versatile standard for bathochromic fluorescence based on intramolecular FRET.

A perylene and a terrylene tetracarboxylic bisimide dyad was prepared in which an efficient energy transfer from the former to the latter is observed. The absorption spectrum of this compound covers a broad range. Bathochromic fluorescence with a high quantum yield was obtained independent of excitation wavelengths (λ < 655 nm). The dyad can be recommended for the use of calibrating fluorescence spectrometers, as well as a fluorescence standard in the bathochromic region

Assessment and Implication of Prognostic Imbalance in Randomized Controlled Trials with a Binary Outcome – A Simulation Study

Chance imbalance in baseline prognosis of a randomized controlled trial can lead to over or underestimation of treatment effects, particularly in trials with small sample sizes. Our study aimed to (1) evaluate the probability of imbalance in a binary prognostic factor (PF) between two treatment arms, (2) investigate the impact of prognostic imbalance on the estimation of a treatment effect, and (3) examine the effect of sample size (n) in relation to the first two objectives.We simulated data from parallel-group trials evaluating a binary outcome by varying the risk of the outcome, effect of the treatment, power and prevalence of the PF, and n. Logistic regression models with and without adjustment for the PF were compared in terms of bias, standard error, coverage of confidence interval and statistical power.For a PF with a prevalence of 0.5, the probability of a difference in the frequency of the PF≥5% reaches 0.42 with 125/arm. Ignoring a strong PF (relative risk = 5) leads to underestimating the strength of a moderate treatment effect, and the underestimate is independent of n when n is >50/arm. Adjusting for such PF increases statistical power. If the PF is weak (RR = 2), adjustment makes little difference in statistical inference. Conditional on a 5% imbalance of a powerful PF, adjustment reduces the likelihood of large bias. If an absolute measure of imbalance ≥5% is deemed important, including 1000 patients/arm provides sufficient protection against such an imbalance. Two thousand patients/arm may provide an adequate control against large random deviations in treatment effect estimation in the presence of a powerful PF.The probability of prognostic imbalance in small trials can be substantial. Covariate adjustment improves estimation accuracy and statistical power, and hence should be performed when strong PFs are observed

Using knowledge brokers to facilitate the uptake of pediatric measurement tools into clinical practice: a before-after intervention study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of measurement tools is an essential part of good evidence-based practice; however, physiotherapists (PTs) are not always confident when selecting, administering, and interpreting these tools. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a multifaceted knowledge translation intervention, using PTs as knowledge brokers (KBs) to facilitate the use in clinical practice of four evidence-based measurement tools designed to evaluate and understand motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The KB model evaluated in this study was designed to overcome many of the barriers to research transfer identified in the literature.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A mixed methods before-after study design was used to evaluate the impact of a six-month KB intervention by 25 KBs on 122 practicing PTs' self-reported knowledge and use of the measurement tools in 28 children's rehabilitation organizations in two regions of Canada. The model was that of PT KBs situated in clinical sites supported by a network of KBs and the research team through a broker to the KBs. Modest financial remuneration to the organizations for the KB time (two hours/week for six months), ongoing resource materials, and personal and intranet support was provided to the KBs. Survey data were collected by questionnaire prior to, immediately following the intervention (six months), and at 12 and 18 months. A mixed effects multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the impact of the intervention over time and by region. The impact of organizational factors was also explored.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>PTs' self-reported knowledge of all four measurement tools increased significantly over the six-month intervention, and reported use of three of the four measurement tools also increased. Changes were sustained 12 months later. Organizational culture for research and supervisor expectations were significantly associated with uptake of only one of the four measurement tools.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>KBs positively influenced PTs' self-reported knowledge and self-reported use of the targeted measurement tools. Further research is warranted to investigate whether this is a feasible, cost-effective model that could be used more broadly in a rehabilitation setting to facilitate the uptake of other measurement tools or evidence-based intervention approaches.</p

Reliability and clinical correlates of the Astrand-Rhyming sub-maximal exercise test in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder

Cardiovascular fitness is reduced in people with schizophrenia and is related to an increased morbidity and mortality. There is mounting interest in the accurate measurement of cardiovascular fitness in schizophrenia, yet existing measures used in the general population have not been tested on validity and reliability in this high-risk group. Therefore, we examined the reproducibility and feasibility of the Astrand-Rhyming sub-maximal exercise test in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Secondary aims were to assess minimal detectable changes, practice effects and the presence of clinical symptoms that are associated with cardio-respiratory fitness (expressed as estimated oxygen uptake). From 47 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder two trials of the Astrand-Rhyming test, administered within three days, were analysed. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the estimated oxygen uptake between the two tests was 0.92 (95% confidence interval: 0.85 to 0.95). The minimal detectable change was 6.5 mlO2/min/kg. No practice effect could be detected. A backward regression analysis demonstrated that illness duration, negative symptoms and level of physical activity explained 63.0% of the variance in estimated oxygen uptake. The current study demonstrates that the Astrand-Rhyming test can be recommended for evaluating the aerobic fitness in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder

Structural equation and log-linear modeling: a comparison of methods in the analysis of a study on caregivers' health

BACKGROUND: In this paper we compare the results in an analysis of determinants of caregivers' health derived from two approaches, a structural equation model and a log-linear model, using the same data set. METHODS: The data were collected from a cross-sectional population-based sample of 468 families in Ontario, Canada who had a child with cerebral palsy (CP). The self-completed questionnaires and the home-based interviews used in this study included scales reflecting socio-economic status, child and caregiver characteristics, and the physical and psychological well-being of the caregivers. Both analytic models were used to evaluate the relationships between child behaviour, caregiving demands, coping factors, and the well-being of primary caregivers of children with CP. RESULTS: The results were compared, together with an assessment of the positive and negative aspects of each approach, including their practical and conceptual implications. CONCLUSION: No important differences were found in the substantive conclusions of the two analyses. The broad confirmation of the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) results by the Log-linear Modeling (LLM) provided some reassurance that the SEM had been adequately specified, and that it broadly fitted the data

Star forming dwarf galaxies

Star forming dwarf galaxies (SFDGs) have a high gas content and low metallicities, reminiscent of the basic entities in hierarchical galaxy formation scenarios. In the young universe they probably also played a major role in the cosmic reionization. Their abundant presence in the local volume and their youthful character make them ideal objects for detailed studies of the initial stellar mass function (IMF), fundamental star formation processes and its feedback to the interstellar medium. Occasionally we witness SFDGs involved in extreme starbursts, giving rise to strongly elevated production of super star clusters and global superwinds, mechanisms yet to be explored in more detail. SFDGs is the initial state of all dwarf galaxies and the relation to the environment provides us with a key to how different types of dwarf galaxies are emerging. In this review we will put the emphasis on the exotic starburst phase, as it seems less important for present day galaxy evolution but perhaps fundamental in the initial phase of galaxy formation.Comment: To appear in JENAM Symposium "Dwarf Galaxies: Keys to Galaxy Formation and Evolution", P. Papaderos, G. Hensler, S. Recchi (eds.). Lisbon, September 2010, Springer Verlag, in pres