Measuring Biomethane Potential of Food Scrap Waste Anaerobically Co-Digested with Waste-Activated Sludge Using Respirometry.

The use of respirometry to study the biokinetics of microbiota treating wastewater or digesting wastewater sludges has become more prevalent over the last few decades. The use of respirometry to examine the biokinetics of anaerobic microbiota co-digesting organic waste streams such as wastewater sludge and food scrap is an area of active research. To date, no visualized protocol has been published on the topic.

Hospital resource use and costs among abdominal aortic aneurysm repair patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. As a result, many of these patients are monitored postoperatively in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, little is known about resource utilization and costs associated with ICU admission in this population.

Medical emergency teams at The Ottawa Hospital: the first two years.

Purpose: Medical emergency teams (MET) merge earlier-than-conventional treatment of worrisome vital signs with a skilled resuscitation response team, and may possibly reduce cardiac arrests, postoperative complications, and hospital mortality.

Methods: At the two sites of The Ottawa Hospital, MET was introduced in January 2005. We reviewed call diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes from MET activity, and examined outcomes [cardiac arrests, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and readmissions] from Health Records and the ICU database.

The influence of training with heavy rugby balls on selected spin pass variables in youth rugby union players.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of training with heavy rugby balls on selected spin pass variables in youth rugby union players. Pre-training, 14 participants performed rapid spin passes (using right and left hands) at a wall-mounted target, from 7-m and 10-m distances. Horizontal (linear) and spin (longitudinal angular) velocities of the passes were recorded using a 25Hz video camera.

In-use efficacy of a chlorhexidine in alcohol surgical rub: a comparative study.

Background: Although full surgical scrubs are performed prior to each case on an operating list, optimum regimens for hand cleaning have yet to be determined, and in-use efficacy evaluations are very limited.

Methods: A crossover study was undertaken comparing a chlorhexidine in detergent/alcohol regimen with povidine-iodine detergent scrub, within an orthopaedic operating environment. Depending on the skin asepsis regimen used, five surgical team members scrubbed or rubbed prior to each case for a complete operating list.

Current attitudes to total hip replacement in younger patients: a comparison of two nations.

Introduction: Orthopaedic surgeons performing total hip replacements (THR) today are faced with a vast array of options. Inspired by a recent UK study, we wanted to determine the current trend in prosthesis choice, fixation and bearing surfaces used in 'young' Australian patients, and to compare this trend to the UK.

Methods: A questionnaire identical to that used in the UK study was posted to all current members of the Australian Orthopaedic Association and returned questionnaires were directly compared to the UK results on a percentage-of-responses basis.