Effect of the Caregivers-to-Caregivers Training Programme on informed caregivers of persons with mental disorders: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Many people with mental disorders are cared for by informed caregivers, but they usually have limited care-related training and lack caregiving capacity and support networks. In order to provide professional training and social support for informed caregivers, we designed the Caregivers-to-Caregivers Training Programme (C2C) and performed a pilot study to assess its effect. METHODS: Caregivers of persons with mental disorders who participated in the C2C were asked to participate in a quasi-experimental study to assess their knowledge and skills development, self-care ability, trainer engagement, and training content. A total of 800 participants completed self-designed evaluation questionnaires and two open-ended questions to gather suggestions and feedback. Assessments were carried out at pretest (baseline), post-test, and at 2-month follow-up. Results were analyzed using one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pairwise comparison method. RESULTS: At post-test, 667 assessments were considered valid and 515 were deemed valid at 2-month follow-up. One-way repeated-measures ANOVA showed that the main effect of the scores on knowledge and skills development and self-care ability from baseline to 2-month follow-up was significant (p < .001). Results of pairwise comparison method showed that the scores on each item of knowledge and skills development and self-care ability at post-test and at 2-month follow up were higher than those at baseline (p < .001). The scores on items of trainer engagement and training content were all above average (4/5). The open-ended questions resulted in 678 comments indicating that participants gained significant support from other caregivers and healthcare professionals in the alliance and wanted more and continuously updated material. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that C2C effectively improved the development of caregivers' knowledge, skills, and their self-care ability. Available social support for caregivers was better than average, including professional support and peer support.

[Influence of substrate COD on methane production in single-chambered microbial electrolysis cell].

The chemical oxygen demand (COD) of substrate can affect the microbial activity of both anode and cathode biofilm in the single-chamber methanogenic microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). In order to investigate the effect of COD on the performance of MEC, a single chamber MEC was constructed with biocathode. With the change of initial concentration of COD (700, 1 000 and 1 350 mg x L(-1)), the methane production rate, COD removal and energy efficiency in the MEC were examined under different applied voltages. The results showed that the methane production rate and COD removal increased with the increasing COD. With the applied voltage changing from 0.3 to 0.7 V, the methane production rate increased at the COD of 700 mg x L(-1), while it increased at first and then decreased at the COD of 1000 mg x L(-1) and 1350 mg x L(-1). A similar trend was observed for the COD removal. The cathode potential reached the minimum (- 0.694 ± 0.001) V as the applied voltage was 0.5 V, which therefore facilitated the growth of methanogenic bacteria and improved the methane production rate and energy efficiency of the MEC. The maximum energy income was 0.44 kJ ± 0.09 kJ (1450 kJ x m(-3)) in the MEC, which was obtained at the initial COD of 1000 mg x L(-1) and the applied voltage of 0.5 V. Methanogenic MECs could be used for the treatment of wastewaters containing low organic concentrations to achieve positive energy production, which might provide a new method to recover energy from low-strength domestic wastewater.

[A rapid method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide concentration].

The present paper reported a spectrophotometry for the determination of hydrogen peroxide concentration. It is based on the reaction between ceric sulfate and hydrogen peroxide in an acidic medium, in which orange tetravalent cerium is converted to colorless trivalent cerium that causeds the change in absorbance. According to the quantitative relationship between ceric sulfate and hydrogen peroxide, the hydrogen peroxide concentration can be calculated. The selected conditions were as follows: detection wavelength of 480 nm, H2SO4 concentration of 0.5 mol x L(-1), and reaction time of 3.0 min. The results showed that the method has an excellent measurement precision (RSD = 0.31%) and accuracy (RSD < or = 0.91%) for the quantification of hydrogen peroxide. The present method is simple and rapid, with high detection sensitivity and low cost. It is suitable for use in rapid industrial analyses.

[Characterization of biocatalysed sulfate reduction in a cathode of microbial electrolysis system].

In order to improve H2 utilization efficiency and to reduce energy consumption during the hydrogenotrophic sulfate reduction process, a two-chambered microbial electrolysis system (MES) with a biocathode was constructed. The performance of MES in terms of sulfate removal and the electron utilization was studied. With an applied voltage of 0.8 V, biocathode removed about 109.8 mg x L(-1) of SO4(2-) from the wastewater within 36 h of operation, and average reductive rate reached 73.2 mg x (L x d)(-1). The highest current density obtained from the MES was 50-60 A x m(-3). The total coulomb efficiency achieved in a cycle was (43.3 +/- 10.7)%, and around 90% of the effective electrons were used by the cathode bacteria for SO4(2-) reduction. During the operation of MES, the major products of SO4(2-) bio-reduction are sulfide and hydrogen sulfide. With an applied voltage of 0.4 V, both the SO4(2-) removal rate and electron output decreased compared with that of 0.8 V; however, the electric charge efficiency obtained by the MES increased and reached 70% when 0.4 V was applied. Meanwhile, ignorable H2 gas was detected at the end of the cycle, indicating bacteria might directly use cathode as the electron donor thus enhanced energy efficiency. The bacteria could use cathode of the MES as electron donor to reduce SO4(2-) effectively, which may provide a new method to lower energy consumption of the hydrogenotrophic sulfate reduction process, making advanced treatment for sulfate containing wastewater more affordable for practical applications.

[Rapid determination of silicon content in black liquor of straw fibrous material].

The present paper reports a novel method for the determination of silicon content in straw fibrous material black liquor based on alpha-Si--Mo heteropoly acid spectrophotometry. The selected conditions were as follows: detection wavelength 360 nm, pH 4.0, and reaction time 10 min. It was found that the acidic soluble lignin in the sample liquor was the major interference species in the silicon content determination. The interference of acidic soluble lignin can be eliminated by hydrogen peroxide-nitric acid digestion method. The present method is not only simple, rapid, stable and less interferential, but also of good measurement precision and accuracy, with the relative standard deviations of 0.9%, and recoveries of 99.0%-102%. It is suitable for use in high silicon content of black liquor routine rapid analyses.

Determination of degree of substitution in succinic anhydride modified cellulose by headspace gas chromatography.

This paper reports on a headspace gas chromatographic method (HS-GC) for rapid determination of degree of substitution in succinic anhydride (SA) modified celluloses. The method is based on the reaction between the carboxyl groups in SA modified cellulose and bicarbonate solution in a closed headspace sample vial. The CO(2) released from the reaction was measured by HS-GC. The completion of the reaction was achieved within 25 min at 80 °C when a small sample size (<20 mg) was used. The relative standard deviation (RSD) measurement of precision was less than 4.1%, and the results were within 8.0% of those obtained with the traditional titration for determining the degree of substitution. The present method is simple, practical, automated, and suitable for use in anhydride modified cellulose research.

[Rapid method for determination of furfural and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural in pre-extraction stream of biomass using UV spectroscopy].

The present paper reports a rapid method for the determination of furfural (F) and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) in pre-extraction liquors of lignocellulosic biomass based on UV spectroscopy. In a concentrated acetic acid medium, F and HMF have an isosbestic point at 276 nm. It was found that the acidic soluble lignin in the pre-extraction sample is the major interference species in the F and HMF spectroscopic quantification However, only acidic soluble lignins have the absorption at the wavelengths above 325 nm. Based on the absorption of the acidic soluble lignins at 325 nm, their absorptions at either F or HMF absorbed wavelengths can be determined. Thus, with a simple triple-wavelength technique, both F and HMF in the pre-extraction liquors of lignocellulosic biomass can be quantified based on the spectroscopic measurement at the isosbestic point wavelength (276 nm), maximum absorption wavelength of F (272 nm) and the acid soluble lignin absorbed wavelength (325 nm). The present method does not require the hazardous organic compounds (such as phenolic compounds etc.) acting as a color reagent in the experiment. It is not only simple and rapid, but also has a good measurement precision and accuracy, with the relative standard deviations of 3.02% and 2.72%, and recoveries of 95%-107% and 96%-101%, respectively, in the F and HMF quantification. The present method is suitable for use in the research on pre-extraction hemicellulose of the lignocellulosic biomass in bio-refinery area in order to achieve a high selective sugar conversion.

[Analysis of stress on craniofacial skeleton sutures under protraction with three-dimensional finite element method].

PURPOSE: To investigate the biomechanical changes of craniofacial skeleton sutures protraction on the craniofacial complex at different angles. METHODS: A three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) was developed from CT scan images by the technologies of three-dimensional reconstruction, image processing and meshing. The protraction force was applied to labial surface of the maxillary canine respectively from the angle of -40 degrees, 0 degrees or 40 degrees with occlusal plane. Biomechanical changes on different sutures was investigated by means of finite element analysis. RESULTS: The stress on different sutures exhibited to be the least when protraction force was applied at the angle of -40 degrees with occlusal plane. Meanwhile, stress of frontozygomatic sutures was less than that of other sutures at the same condition. The stress of different points on craniofacial skeleton sutures was not the same in the same condition. Changes of the angles of protraction especially affected the stress of the frontomaxillary- nasalofrontal suture and nasalomaxillary suture. CONCLUSIONS: The stress of all the craniofacial skeleton sutures is the least when protraction applied from the angle of -40 degrees with occlusal plane. Moreover, the stress of different points on craniofacial skeleton sutures is not the same in the same condition.

Novel preparation and characterization of cellulose microparticles functionalized in ionic liquids.

Ionic liquid (IL)-reconstituted acrylic acid (AA)-functionalized cellulose microparticles were successfully prepared by a water-in-oil suspension technique preliminary modification with AA in homogeneous condition. Cellulose was fully dissolved in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) IL, and subsequently was grafted homogeneously with AA and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (N,N'-MBA) initiated with ammonium persulfate. The grafted cellulose was spheroidized using white silicone oil as the dispersion medium and Span 80 as a dispersant and then reconstituted from [Bmim]Cl. Reaction conditions were optimized to obtain microparticles with both the highest possible grafting efficiency and most uniform bead sizes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and an optical microscope were employed to provide structural information for the functionalized IL-reconstituted cellulose microparticles. These microparticles were shown to behave as good sorbents for Cu(II), Ni(II), Fe(III) ions.

Simultaneous anaerobic-aerobic biodegradation of halogenated phenolic compound under oxygen-limited conditions.

The successful application of co-immobilized aerobic-anaerobic biomass under limited aeration in wastewater treatment systems would eliminate the problems associated with the intermediates mono-chlorophenol (MCP) and di-chlorophenol(DCP) accumulations. With low initial pentachlorophenol (PCP) concentration, all PCP could be completely removed under oxygen-limited strict anaerobic conditions, and the removal efficiencies with different initial headspace oxygen percentage (IHOP) were not obviously different from each other. While at high initial PCP concentration, under strictly anaerobic conditions PCP and their intermediates were clearly higher than that under other conditions, and produced obvious accumulation, the highest PCP reduction was achieved by the system receiving 30 IHOP, oxygen-limited system also exhibited lower residual TOC concentration and lower concentration of metabolic intermediates MCP and DCP. These results suggested that under strictly anaerobic condition the reductive dechlorination of low chlorinated compounds became rate limiting in the reductive dechlorination pathway, less chlorinated compounds be more amenable to aerobic degradation, and the aerobes of outer layers could function under limited oxygen. The co-immobilized aerobic-anaerobic biomass for methanogenesis under limited-aeration for chlorophenol degradation might be an attractive and efficient alternative for the sequential anaerobic/aerobic system to achieve mineralization of a broad range of recalcitrance highly chlorinated organics and low final TOC concentrations.

Coupled anaerobic/aerobic biodegradation of 2,4,6 trichlorophenol.

Degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) with co-immobilizing anaerobic granular sludge and isolated aerobic bacterial species was studied in coupled anaerobic/aerobic integrated reactors. The synergism of aerobes and anaerobes within co-immobilized granule might facilitate degrading the TCP and exchange of anaerobic metabolites 4-CP, which promoted system organic removal efficiency and recovered from organic shock-loads more quickly. The biomass specific activities experiment further confirmed that strict anaerobes be not affected over the course of this experiment by the presence of an oxic environment, aerobic activity predominated in the outer co-immobilized granule layers, while the interior was characterized by anaerobic activity. The co-immobilized granule could thus enable both aerobic and anaerobic microbes function in the same reactor and thereby integrate the oxidative and reductive catabolism.