Wastewater and Mixed Microbial Consortia: a metastudy analysis of Optimal Microbial Fuel Cell configuration

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) are an area of increasing research for use as an alternative energy source, due to their ability to produce electricity while simultaneously treating organic waste. This meta-study determines the optimal MFC configuration for electricity production, through consideration of the biocatalyst and substrate used. This study focuses primarily on comparing the use of mixed microbial consortia to pure strains of biocatalyst, and the use of waste water in contrast to simple substrates such as; acetate, glucose, and lactate. The use of algae as a substrate, and as a biocatalyst, is also investigated. In this study, only single and dual chamber MFCs are compared, and power density standardised to anode surface area (mW/m2) is used as a metric to facilitate the comparison of different experimental setups. This meta-study shows that dual chamber MFCs, using simple substrates, when catalysed by mixed culture biocatalysts, produce greater power densities, than algae, and complex substrates, with average power densities of 280, 70 and 30 (mW/m2) observed respectively. In single chamber MFC configurations, mixed culture biocatalysts have been observed to yield approximately double the power output of pure culture biocatalysts

Comparison of Use of the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program and Patient Characteristics Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This cross-sectional study compares the number of encounters at the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program, patient characteristics, and mental health diagnoses before vs during the COVID-19 pandemic

OreSat: A Student Team-Based Approach to an Inexpensive, Open, and Modular (1-3U) CubeSat Bus

Most educational CubeSat projects have the same dilemma: not enough money to buy capable COTS hardware, and not enough internal experience (even with teams of students) to build reliable, and inexpensive systems in-house. We present a middle road to the “COTS vs DIY” conundrum: the OreSat bus. OreSat is a fully open source 1U – 3U CubeSat system meant to be built, modified, and flown by student teams. It’s specifically designed to be put together by resource-constrained student teams with “gaps” in their interdisciplinary breadth, as most teams have. OreSat has everything you would expect from a CubeSat system: a 1 – 3U structure, multi-band deployable antenna, solar array, battery pack, on-board computer, radio system, star tracker, reaction wheels, magnetorquers, and SDR GPS receiver. OreSat is built around a high density card-cage system with roughly a 40% higher packing density than the commonly used PC/104-plus stack. Each system is a “card” based on inexpensive 2 and 4 layer PCBs that interface to a common backplane that is capable of carrying CAN, Ethernet, RF, and power. As each CubeSat is unique, the backplane is made bespoke for each mission with 30% of backplane connections available for customization. Student teams can take the existing OreSat systems and build them as is, or modify them for their missions. The OreSat bus is scheduled for first flight in late 2021 (OreSat0, a 1U technology demonstrator), and will be fully deployed in late 2022 as the 2U “OreSat” mission, accepted into the 2017 NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI)

Neurocognitive, genetic and environmental risk factors of learning disorders in children

Our research has already uncovered a range of behavioural and neural factors that can differentiate between children whose development is impaired and those whose development is progressing typically. Intriguingly, our recent findings have also suggested that multiple learning disorders are often present in children with general cognitive difficulties like autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. However, a common feature of research in this area is that of a ‘distinct syndrome’ approach, only studying childhood disabilities separately.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanprojectsummaries/1013/thumbnail.jp

Formation of sinuous ridges by inversion of river-channel belts in Utah, USA, with implications for Mars

Sinuous ridges are important landforms on the surface of Mars that show promise for quantifying ancient martian surface hydrology. Morphological similarity of these ridges to river channels in planform led to a hypothesis that ridges are topographically inverted river channels, or “inverted channels”, formed due to an erosion-resistant channel-filling material that preserved a snapshot of the channel geometry in inverted relief due to differential erosion. An alternative deposit-inversion hypothesis proposes that ridges represent exhumed river-channel belts, with geometries that reflect the lateral migration and vertical aggradation of rivers over significant geologic time, rather than the original channel geometry. To investigate these hypotheses we studied sinuous ridges within the Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation near Green River, Utah, USA. Ridges in Utah extend for hundreds of meters, are up to 120 m wide, and stand up to 39 m above the surrounding plain. Ridges are capped by sandstone bodies 3–10 m thick that contain dune- and bar-scale inclined stratification, which we interpret as eroded remnants of channel belts that record the migration and aggradation of single-thread, sand-bedded rivers, rather than channel fills that can preserve the original channel geometry. Caprocks overlie mudstones and thinner sandstone beds that are interpreted as floodplain deposits, and in cases additional channel-belt sandstones are present lower in the ridge stratigraphy. Apparent networks from branching ridges typically represent discrete sandstone bodies that cross at different stratigraphic levels rather than a coeval river network. Ridge-forming sandstone bodies also have been narrowed during exhumation by cliff retreat and bisected by fluvial erosion. Using a large compilation of channel-belt geometries on Earth and our measurements of ridges in Utah, we propose that caprock thickness is the most reliable indicator of paleo-channel geometry, and can be used to reconstruct river depth and discharge. In contrast, channel lateral migration and caprock erosion during exhumation make ridge breadth an uncertain proxy for channel width. An example in Aeolis Dorsa, Mars, illustrates that river discharge estimates based solely on caprock width may differ significantly from estimates based on caprock thickness. Overall, our study suggests that sinuous ridges are not inverted channel fills, but rather reflect exhumation of a thick stratigraphic package of stacked channel belts and overbank deposits formed from depositional rivers over significant geologic time

Thermoforming Dual Heater System

A vacuum thermoforming machine works by heating a clamped polymer sheet and then engaging the tooling to form the desired shape when the plastic is at the proper temperature. The current vacuum thermoforming machine in the Trine University Plastics Lab possesses a single top‐side heater. With the current setup, thicker materials will be scorched on the material’s top side and while the bottom side is not heated enough. In order for thicker materials to be used by the machine and heated effectively, a second bottom‐side heater is needed. Since an off the shelf solution is not feasible, the second heater must be designed and fabricated. Before fabrication of the secondary thermoforming heater, several analyses were conducted to ensure that the heater would function within the necessary operating parameters. Using thermal simulation software, the designed heater enclosure box was tested to ensure that the correct thermal flow was provided as needed. Material properties were then applied to the CAD files and finite element analysis software was used to ensure that the new heating enclosure and track system would be structurally sound. Although variations of the heating enclosure setup were taken into account as part of these analyses, the results favored mirroring the existing heater layout with some adjustments. Instead of sixteen individual horizontal coils like in the top heater, three coils with three bends each were used. Testing showed that the same watt density could be achieved with only three coils using this design. The new heater was also made thinner in order to allow for more space for the mold. The heater tray was insulated in order to protect the mold which rests underneath and also for safety purposes. By providing Trine University with a second heater, the group hopes to expand the capabilities and learning possibilities that the plastics lab provide

Latarjet Surgery Leads to Decreased Rates of Subjective Instability Compared to Bankart Repair with Concomitant Remplissage

Background: Predictive factors for performing remplissage concomitantly with arthroscopic Bankart repair include the presence of humeral or glenoid defects \u3e11% and/or revision surgery. International and societal consensus statements support these findings, as surgeons recommend the Latarjet procedure for patients with significant glenoid bone loss (\u3e15-20%) while remplissage is recommended for patients with off-track or engaging Hill-Sachs lesions without significant glenoid bone loss. While several studies have compared outcomes between Latarjet surgery and remplissage, these studies have only evaluated patients with engaging Hill-Sachs lesions, not consecutive patient cohorts indicated for each surgery. Purpose: To compare rates of recurrent instability, re-operation, revision, and return to play (RTP), as well as patient-reported outcomes including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon Score (ASES), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and Oxford Shoulder Instability Score (OSI) between Latarjet surgery and arthroscopic labral repair plus remplissage surgery (Remplissage) patients

Multi-site Integrated Optical Addressing of Trapped Ions

One of the most effective ways to advance the performance of quantum computers and quantum sensors is to increase the number of qubits or quantum resources used by the system. A major technical challenge that must be solved to realize this goal for trapped-ion systems is scaling the delivery of optical signals to many individual ions. In this paper we demonstrate an approach employing waveguides and multi-mode interferometer splitters to optically address multiple $^{171}\textrm{Yb}^+$ ions in a surface trap by delivering all wavelengths required for full qubit control. Measurements of hyperfine spectroscopy and Rabi flopping were performed on the E2 clock transition, using integrated waveguides for delivering the light needed for Doppler cooling, state preparation, coherent operations, and detection. We describe the use of splitters to address multiple ions using a single optical input per wavelength and use them to demonstrate simultaneous Rabi flopping on two different transitions occurring at distinct trap sites. This work represents an important step towards the realization of scalable integrated photonics for atomic clocks and trapped-ion quantum information systems.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures (+2 supplementary figures

The effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of cytisine versus varenicline for smoking cessation in an Australian population: a study protocol for a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial

Smoking cessation medications are effective but often underutilised because of costs and side effects. Cytisine is a plant-based smoking cessation medication with over 50 years of use in Central and Eastern Europe. While cytisine has been found to be well-tolerated and more effective than nicotine replacement therapy, direct comparison with varenicline have not been conducted. This study evaluates the effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of cytisine compared with varenicline.Two arm, parallel group, randomised, non-inferiority trial, with allocation concealment and blinded outcome assessment.Australian population-based study.Adult daily smokers (N=1266) interested in quitting will be recruited through advertisements and Quitline telephone-based cessation support services.Eligible participants will be randomised (1:1 ratio) to receive either cytisine capsules (25-day supply) or varenicline tablets (12-week supply), prescribed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended dosing regimen. The medication will be mailed to each participant's nominated residential address. All participants will also be offered standard Quitline behavioural support (up to six 10-12 minute sessions).Assessments will be undertaken by telephone at baseline, 4- and 7-months post-randomisation. Participants will also be contacted twice (two and four weeks post-randomisation) to ascertain adverse events, treatment adherence and smoking status. The primary outcome will be self-reported 6-month continuous abstinence from smoking, verified by carbon monoxide at 7-month follow-up. We will also evaluate the relative safety and cost-effectiveness of cytisine compared with varenicline. Secondary outcomes will include self-reported continuous and 7-day point prevalence abstinence and cigarette consumption at each follow-up interview.If cytisine is as effective as varenicline, its lower cost and natural plant-based composition may make it an acceptable and affordable smoking cessation medication that could save millions of lives worldwide