Retrospective Review of Student Research Projects in a Canadian Master of Science in Physical Therapy Programme and the Perceived Impact on Advisors' Research Capacity, Education, Clinical Practice, Knowledge Translation, and Health Policy.

Purpose: This study's aim was to characterize the nature of students' research conducted for a Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MScPT) degree programme at a Canadian university and evaluate the lead advisors' perspectives of its impact on their research capacity, education, clinical practice, knowledge translation, and health policy. Methods: We conducted a quantitative, cross-sectional, retrospective review of research reports from 2003 to 2014 to characterize the MScPT students' research and a quantitative, cross-sectional e-survey of lead research advisors to evaluate the impact of this research. Results: Data were abstracted from reports of 201 research projects completed between 2003 and 2014. Projects were conducted primarily in university-affiliated hospitals (41.6%) or the university's physical therapy department (41.1%), and the majority (52.5%) had a clinical focus. Of the 95 lead advisors of 201 projects, 59 advisors (response rate 62.1%) of 119 projects completed the survey questionnaire. The respondents most frequently identified clinical practice (45.1%) and advisors' research capacity (31.4%) as areas positively affected by the students' research. Conclusions: The MScPT students' research projects facilitate the conduct of extensive research internally and across affiliated hospitals. This research appears to advance not only clinical practice but also the ability of lead advisors to undertake research.

Objectif : caractériser la nature des recherches des étudiants réalisées dans le cadre d'un programme de maîtrise ès sciences en physiothérapie dans une université canadienne et évaluer le point de vue du superviseur quant aux conséquences sur la capacité de ses recherches, l'éducation, la pratique clinique, l'application du savoir et les politiques en matière de santé. Méthodologie : les auteurs ont réalisé une analyse quantitative, transversale et rétrospective des rapports de recherche entre 2003 et 2014 afin de caractériser les recherches des étudiants à la maîtrise en physiothérapie et ont effectué un sondage quantitatif et transversal en ligne auprès des superviseurs afin d'évaluer les conséquences de ces recherches. Résultats : les chercheurs ont extrait les données des rapports de 201 projets de recherche terminés entre 2003 et 2014. Ces projets avaient surtout été menés dans des hôpitaux universitaires (41,6 %) ou au département de physiothérapie de l'université (41,1 %), et la majorité (52,5 %) était d'ordre clinique. Sur les 95 superviseurs des 201 projets, 59 superviseurs (taux de réponse de 62,1 %) de 119 projets ont rempli le sondage. Selon les répondants, la pratique clinique (45,1 %) et la capacité de recherche des superviseurs (31,4 %) étaient les secteurs qui avaient le plus profité des recherches des étudiants. Conclusions : les projets de recherche des étudiants à la maîtrise en physiothérapie facilitent la tenue de recherches poussées à l'interne et entre hôpitaux affiliés. Ces recherches semblent non seulement faire progresser la pratique clinique, mais également la capacité des superviseurs à faire de la recherche.

Facilitators and barriers to occupational health and safety in small and medium-sized enterprises: a descriptive exploratory study in Ontario, Canada.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this particular study was to test a newly created instrument in describing the facilitators and barriers to occupational health and safety in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to identify the occupational health and safety culture of SMEs in public and private sectors in Ontario. RESULTS: A total of 153 questionnaires were completed. The majority of respondents were female (84%) with a mean age of 49.8 years (SD 10.6). Seventy-four percent were supervisors. Seventy percent of respondents were from the private sector while 30% derived from the public sector including healthcare, community services, and non-profit organizations. Further, conducting regular external safety inspections of the workplace was found to be statistically associated with a safe work environment 2.88 95% CI [1.57, 5.27]. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies and training opportunities that focus on how to adapt occupational health and safety legislation to the nature and diversity of SMEs are recommended. Furthermore, employers may use such information to improve safety in their SMEs, while researchers can hopefully use such evidence to develop interventions that are applicable to meeting the occupational health and safety needs of SMEs.

Drosophila melanogaster males increase the number of sperm in their ejaculate when perceiving rival males.

It is common for females from many species to mate with multiple males within one reproductive cycle. As a result, sperm from different males come into contact in the female reproductive organs, where they compete for ova fertilization. This sperm competition appears to drive the ejaculation of a greater number of sperm than required to fertilize the ova. Both models and experimental observations indicate that males adjust the number of sperm in their ejaculate to the presence of rival males. Here, we show that Drosophila melanogaster males increase sperm allocation immediately after perceiving the presence of other males, but not females. Consistent with previous reports, we show that males use both auditory and olfactory modalities to determine the identity of potential rivals in their environment and we further show that these modalities are required for males to modulate sperm allocation. Our results support the sperm competition risk assessment theory, which predicts that males increase sperm allocation while perceiving the immediate risk of sperm competition, and reconcile previous observations in D. melanogaster that were at odds with this model.

Carotenoid based bio-compatible labels for third harmonic generation microscopy.

The use of carotenoids as biologically friendly labels for third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy is demonstrated. Carotenoid containing liposomes are used to label cell structures via liposome cell fusion. The THG microscopy labels, called harmonophores, were characterized by measuring the third-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ((3))) of carotenoids: violaxanthin, neoxanthin, lutein, ß-carotene, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. The THG ratio method was used, which is based on measuring the THG intensity from two interfaces using a nonlinear optical microscope. The second hyperpolarizability values of carotenoids were extracted from χ((3)) measurements taking into account the refractive index at fundamental and third harmonic wavelengths. The length dependence of the second hyperpolarizability of conjugated polyenes from 9 to 13 double bonds with varying oxygen functional groups was investigated. It appears that the presence of epoxides can have a higher influence than an additional conjugated double bond. Furthermore, labelling of both Drosophila Schneider 2 cells and Drosophila melanogaster larvae myocytes with ß-carotene was achieved. This study demonstrates that THG enhancement by carotenoids can be used for nontoxic in vivo labelling of subcellular structures for third harmonic generation microscopy.