InAs/InAsSb Type-II Strained-Layer Superlattice Infrared Photodetectors.

The InAs/InAsSb (Gallium-free) type-II strained-layer superlattice (T2SLS) has emerged in the last decade as a viable infrared detector material with a continuously adjustable band gap capable of accommodating detector cutoff wavelengths ranging from 4 to 15 µm and beyond. When coupled with the unipolar barrier infrared detector architecture, the InAs/InAsSb T2SLS mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) focal plane array (FPA) has demonstrated a significantly higher operating temperature than InSb FPA, a major incumbent technology. In this brief review paper, we describe the emergence of the InAs/InAsSb T2SLS infrared photodetector technology, point out its advantages and disadvantages, and survey its recent development.

Potential Dangers of Nursing Overtime in Critical Care.

Around the world, registered nurses are working increasing amounts of overtime. This is particularly true in critical care environments, which experience unpredictable fluctuations in patient volume and acuity combined with a need for greater numbers of specialized nurses. Although it is commonplace, little consensus exists surrounding the effects of overtime on nursing sick time and patient outcomes.

Critical Care Nurses' Reasons for Working or Not Working Overtime.

Background: Around the world, registered nurses are working increasing amounts of overtime. This is particularly true in critical care environments, which experience unpredictable fluctuations in patient volume and acuity, combined with a need for more specialized nurses.

Objective: To explore critical care nurses' reasons for working or not working overtime.

Subcritical water extraction of amino acids from Mars analog soils.

For decades, the Martian regolith has stymied robotic mission efforts to catalog the organic molecules present. Perchlorate salts, found widely throughout Mars, are the main culprit as they breakdown and react with organics liberated from the regolith during pyrolysis, the primary extraction technique attempted to date on Mars. This work further develops subcritical water extraction (SCWE) as a technique for extraction of amino acids on future missions.

A microfluidic sub-critical water extraction instrument.

This article discusses a microfluidic subcritical water extraction (SCWE) chip for autonomous extraction of amino acids from astrobiologically interesting samples. The microfluidic instrument is composed of three major components. These include a mixing chamber where the soil sample is mixed and agitated with the solvent (water), a subcritical water extraction chamber where the sample is sealed with a freeze valve at the chip inlet after a vapor bubble is injected into the inlet channels to ensure the pressure in the chip is in equilibrium with the vapor pressure and the slurry is then heated to ≤200 °C in the SCWE chamber, and a filter or settling chamber where the slurry is pumped to after extraction.

An exploration of experts' perceptions on the use of interprofessional education to support collaborative practice in the care of community-living older adults.

Globally, as older adults are living longer and with more chronic conditions, there is a need to support their ability to age optimally in their homes and communities. Community-based interprofessional teams working closely with these older adults, their families, and informal caregivers will be instrumental in achieving this goal. Interprofessional education (IPE) is the means through which these teams can develop expertise in collaboratively working together with older adults.

Critical care nurses' perceptions of the outcomes of working overtime in Canada.

Background: Nursing overtime is being integrated into the normal landscape of practice to ensure optimal staffing levels and addresses variations in patient volume and acuity. This is particularly true in critical care where fluctuations in either are difficult to predict.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to explore critical care nurses' perceptions of the outcomes of working overtime.

Integrative review: an evaluation of the methods used to explore the relationship between overtime and patient outcomes.

Aims: To analyse, critically, methods employed to explore the relationship between nursing overtime and patient outcomes to strengthen future research.

Background: Nursing overtime hours have been increasing in the Western world since the 1980's; however, research detailing its implications for patient outcomes has not kept pace. Studies exploring the relationship between nursing overtime and patient outcomes have produced conflicting results and are deficient in number and rigour.

A concept analysis of nursing overtime.

Aim: To report a concept analysis of nursing overtime.

Background: Economic constraints have resulted in hospital restructuring with the aim of reducing costs. These processes often target nurse staffing (the largest organizational expense) by increasing usage of alternative staffing strategies including overtime hours.

A concept analysis of oral hygiene care in dependent older adults.

Aim: To report a concept analysis of oral hygiene care.

Background: Oral hygiene care, as it is provided to older patients in hospital and long-term care settings by nurses and their delegates, has the potential to contribute to the oral health of patients while preventing aspiration pneumonia as well as periodontitis, which itself has been associated with several systemic diseases. However, the state of oral cleanliness in such patients tends to be poor and despite the existence of guidelines, nursing care practices may be inadequate and not reflective of recent advances in knowledge.

Employment goals, expectations, and migration intentions of nursing graduates in a Canadian border city: a mixed methods study.

Background: Internationally, nurse migration in border cities has received little attention. Nurses who graduate from nursing programs in Canadian border communities have the option of working in Canada or the United States. They are able to cross the international border each day as commuter migrants returning to their home country after work.

Effective retention strategies for midcareer critical care nurses: a Q-method study.

Background: Midcareer nurses continue to be overlooked in the current nursing shortage that is amplified in intensive care units (ICUs) requiring greater numbers of specialized nurses.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to discover what midcareer critical care nurses perceive would be effective retention strategies.

Methods: As a combination of both qualitative and quantitative approaches, Q methodology was used to allow for the development of innovative strategies as well as to provide an understanding of a population of viewpoints and preferences that can guide retention efforts.

Case study methodology in nurse migration research: an integrative review.

The migration of nurses combined with a global nursing shortage affects the supply of nurses and access to health services in many countries. The purpose of this article was to conduct an integrative review of case study methodology (CSM) in nurse migration research. Findings identify where studies using CSM have been conducted, by whom, and the themes explored.

Migration: a concept analysis from a nursing perspective.

Aim:   This article is a report of a concept analysis of nurse migration.

Background:   International migration is increasing and nurse migrants are active participants in this movement. Migration is a complex term and can be examined from a range of perspectives.

The effects of organizational flexibility on nurse utilization and vacancy statistics in Ontario hospitals.

Social and economic changes in industrial societies during the past quarter-century encouraged organizations to develop greater flexibility in their employment systems in order to adapt to organizational restructuring and labour market shifts (Kallenberg 2003). During the 1990s this trend became evident in healthcare organizations. Before healthcare restructuring, employment in the acute hospital sector was more stable, with higher levels of full-time staff.

Celecoxib and NS-398 enhance photodynamic therapy by increasing in vitro apoptosis and decreasing in vivo inflammatory and angiogenic factors.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) elicits both apoptotic and necrotic responses within treated tumors and produces microvascular injury leading to inflammation and hypoxia. PDT also induces expression of angiogenic and survival molecules including vascular endothelial growth factor, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and matrix metalloproteinases. Adjunctive administration of inhibitors to these molecules improves PDT responsiveness.

The effect of cardiopulmonary bypass and inspired oxygen concentration on left ventricular contrast opacification with optison, a second-generation ultrasound contrast agent.

Objective: To investigate the influence of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and fraction of inspired oxygen (F(I)O(2)) on the contrast effect of Optison, a second-generation ultrasound contrast agent, in humans during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Design: Prospective, observational, repeated-measures design.

Setting: A single university hospital.