Multicomponent transport of alcohols in an anion exchange membrane measured by in-situ ATR FTIR spectroscopy

Multicomponent transport through membranes is encountered in many applications, including photoelectrochemical CO reduction devices that convert CO into alcohols. We report the use of in-situ ATR FTIR spectroscopy to quantify the permeability of Selemion AMV, a commonly used anion exchange membrane, to mixtures of alcohols. An in-situ ATR FTIR spectrophotometer probe inserted into a standard diffusion cell enabled straightforward measurement of membrane permeability in multicomponent transport experiments without the need to periodically remove aliquots from the diffusion cell. The solubilities of alcohols in Selemion AMV were measured using a standard sorption/desorption technique. The solution-diffusion model was used to calculate alcohol diffusivities in Selemion AMV from measured permeabilities and solubilities. The relative contributions of alcohol solubility and diffusivity to overall permeability are discussed, and changes in permeability, solubility, and diffusivity with changing composition in binary and ternary alcohol mixtures are described. 2

Surface functionalisation of nanodiamonds for human neural stem cell adhesion and proliferation.

Biological systems interact with nanostructured materials on a sub-cellular level. These interactions may govern cell behaviour and the precise control of a nanomaterial's structure and surface chemistry allow for a high degree of tunability to be achieved. Cells are surrounded by an extra-cellular matrix with nano-topographical properties. Diamond based materials, and specifically nanostructured diamond has attracted much attention due to its extreme electrical and mechanical properties, chemical inertness and biocompatibility. Here the interaction of nanodiamond monolayers with human Neural Stem Cells (hNSCs) has been investigated. The effect of altering surface functionalisation of nanodiamonds on hNSC adhesion and proliferation has shown that confluent cellular attachment occurs on oxygen terminated nanodiamonds (O-NDs), but not on hydrogen terminated nanodiamonds (H-NDs). Analysis of H and O-NDs by Atomic Force Microscopy, contact angle measurements and protein adsorption suggests that differences in topography, wettability, surface charge and protein adsorption of these surfaces may underlie the difference in cellular adhesion of hNSCs reported here

Interprofessional Education: A Curricular Gap Analysis

The goal of Interprofessional education (IPE) is to create a new health care workforce that is prepared to function as a deliberative culturally competent team, providing patient centered care that optimizes health and quality of life for individuals with multiple chronic conditions. The purpose of an IPE curricular gap analysis is to determine if IPE and key concepts related to chronic disease self-management are integrated into course descriptions, objectives, didactic, activities and evaluated. The baseline results can be an effective tool to initiate an institutional cultural change promoting curricular revision. Key concept terminology, interprofessional, chronic disease self-management, motivational interviewing, and culture and diversity were reviewed in graduate syllabi from the Colleges of Nursing, Medicine, and Allied Health Sciences. The terms were tallied in course content areas (course descriptions, objectives, content didactic, learning activities, and evaluation). Exemplary syllabi included 4 out of the 5 key concept terms listed above. Courses with key concepts in 3 out of 5 content areas were defined as meeting minimum expectations. A total of 457 courses were reviewed across the three graduate colleges. Ten exemplary courses were found with key term concepts threaded throughout the syllabi: 4 with motivational interviewing (MI), 3 with culture and diversity (C&D) and 3 with interprofessional (IP) concepts. Eighteen courses met minimum expectations: 7 courses with MI, 6 with IP and 5 with C&D. The other key concept, chronic disease self-management (CDSM) was notably lacking in all courses from all colleges. A curricular gap analysis is an effective tool to initiate an institutional cultural change to include IPE and related concepts. It can create awareness and commitment from administration, deans, faculty, and students. Champions can be identified from each college, spearheading action plans for changes in syllabi, there by promoting curricular revision in key content areas. Objectives: 1. Discuss the common definition of interprofessional education, chronic disease self-management, motivational interviewing, culture and diversity. 2. Identify a method to examine one’s own curriculum for a gap in IPE. 3. Discuss the use of a curricular gap analysis to create awareness, commitment to facilitate cultural and curricular change within a University

Efficient Mixing at low Reynolds numbers using polymer additives

Mixing in fluids is a rapidly developing field of fluid mechanics \cite{Sreen,Shr,War}, being an important industrial and environmental problem. The mixing of liquids at low Reynolds numbers is usually quite weak in simple flows, and it requires special devices to be efficient. Recently, the problem of mixing was solved analytically for a simple case of random flow, known as the Batchelor regime \cite{Bat,Kraich,Fal,Sig,Fouxon}. Here we demonstrate experimentally that very viscous liquids at low Reynolds number, $Re$. Here we show that very viscous liquids containing a small amount of high molecular weight polymers can be mixed quite efficiently at very low Reynolds numbers, for a simple flow in a curved channel. A polymer concentration of only 0.001% suffices. The presence of the polymers leads to an elastic instability \cite{LMS} and to irregular flow \cite{Ours}, with velocity spectra corresponding to the Batchelor regime \cite{Bat,Kraich,Fal,Sig,Fouxon}. Our detailed observations of the mixing in this regime enable us to confirm sevearl important theoretical predictions: the probability distributions of the concentration exhibit exponential tails \cite{Fal,Fouxon}, moments of the distribution decay exponentially along the flow \cite{Fouxon}, and the spatial correlation function of concentration decays logarithmically.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

An Interprofessional, Tailored Behavioral Intervention for Sleep Problems in Autism: Use of Sensory Data to Inform Intervention

Purpose: The purpose of this poster is to demonstrate how Sensory Profile data informed occupational therapy sleep interventions for two participants as part of an Interprofessional Tailored Behavioral Intervention study

Spinal anesthesia: should everyone receive a urinary catheter?: a randomized, prospective study of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this randomized prospective study was to determine whether a urinary catheter is necessary for all patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia were randomized to treatment with or without insertion of an indwelling urinary catheter. All patients received spinal anesthesia with 15 to 30 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine. The catheter group was subjected to a standard postoperative protocol, with removal of the indwelling catheter within forty-eight hours postoperatively. The experimental group was monitored for urinary retention and, if necessary, had straight catheterization up to two times prior to the placement of an indwelling catheter. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were included in the study. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the prevalence of urinary retention, the prevalence of urinary tract infection, or the length of stay. Nine patients in the no-catheter group and three patients in the catheter group (following removal of the catheter) required straight catheterization because of urinary retention. Three patients in the catheter group and no patient in the no-catheter group had development of urinary tract infection. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia appear to be at low risk for urinary retention. Thus, a routine indwelling catheter is not required for such patients

Alcohol Production as an Adaptive Livelihood Strategy for Women Farmers in Tanzania and Its Potential for Unintended Consequences on Women's Reproductive Health.

Although women occupy a central position in agriculture in many developing countries, they face numerous constraints to achieving their full potential including unequal access to assets and limited decision-making authority. We explore the intersection of agricultural livelihoods, food and economic security, and women's sexual and reproductive health in Iringa Region, Tanzania. Our goal was to understand whether the benefits of supporting women in the agricultural sector might also extend to more distal outcomes, including sexual and reproductive health. Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to guide data collection, we conducted 13 focus group discussions (FGD) with female (n = 11) and male farmers (n = 2) and 20 in-depth interviews with agricultural extension officers (n = 10) and village agro-dealers (n = 10). Despite providing the majority of agricultural labor, women have limited control over land and earned income and have little bargaining power. In response to these constraints, women adopt adaptive livelihood strategies, such as alcohol production, that allow them to retain control over income and support their households. However, women's central role in alcohol production, in concert with the ubiquitous nature of alcohol consumption, places them at risk by enhancing their vulnerability to unsafe or transactional sex. This represents a dangerous confluence of risk for female farmers, in which alcohol plays an important role in income generation and also facilitates high-risk sexual behavior. Alcohol production and consumption has the potential to both directly and indirectly place women at risk for undesirable sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Group formation, better access to finance, and engaging with agricultural extension officers were identified as potential interventions for supporting women farmers and challenging harmful gender norms. In addition, joint, multi-sectoral approaches from health and agriculture and alternative income-generating strategies for women might better address the complexities of achieving safe and sustainable livelihoods for women in this context

Which activities threaten independent living of elderly when becoming problematic : inspiration for meaningful service robot functionality

Purpose: In light of the increasing elderly population and the growing demand for home care, the potential of robot support is given increasing attention. In this paper, an inventory of activities was made that threaten independent living of elderly when becoming problematic. Results will guide the further development of an existing service robot, the Care-O-bot®. Method: A systematic literature search of PubMed was performed, focused on the risk factors for institutionalization. Additionally, focus group sessions were conducted in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and France. In these focus group sessions, problematic activities threatening the independence of elderly people were discussed. Three separate target groups were included in the focus group sessions: (1) elderly persons (n = 41), (2) formal caregivers (n = 40) and (3) informal caregivers (n = 32). Results: Activities within the International Classification of Functioning domains mobility, self-care, and interpersonal interaction and relationships were found to be the most problematic. Conclusions: A distinct set of daily activities was identified that may threaten independent living, but no single activity could be selected as the main activity causing a loss of independence as it is often a combination of problematic activities that is person-specific. Supporting the problematic activities need not involve a robotic solution Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/17483107.2013.840861Peer reviewe