Active search signatures in a free-viewing task exploiting concurrent EEG and eye movements recordings.

Tasks we often perform in our everyday lives, such as reading or looking for a friend in the crowd, are seemingly straightforward but they actually require the orchestrated activity of several cognitive processes. Free-viewing visual search requires a plan to move our gaze on the different items, identifying them, and deciding on whether to continue with the search. Little is known about the electrophysiological signatures of these processes in free-viewing because there are technical challenges associated with eye movement artefacts.

Novel achromatic single reflection quarter-wave retarder: design and measurement.

In this work, we present an achromatic quarter-wave retarder whose design is based upon the reflection properties of an isotropic-anisotropic interface. In theory, it is possible to obtain a π/2 phase shift by means of a total internal reflection at an isotropic-isotropic interface. However, in order to achieve such a phase shift, it is necessary to use a medium with a particularly high refractive index.

Rhabdomyolysis: advances in diagnosis and treatment.

Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by a breakdown of skeletal muscle and the release of the intracellular contents into the circulatory system. There are many possible causes, including crush injury, excessive muscular activity, medications, infections, and varied metabolic, connective tissue, rheumatologic, and endocrine disorders. It is vital that emergency clinicians consider the diagnosis when patients present with circumstances known to be high-risk for rhabdomyolysis, including intoxication, prolonged immobilization, and/or altered mentation.

Evaluation of education in palliative care: determining the effects on nurses' knowledge and attitudes.

Our study was an evaluation of a pilot course in palliative nursing care designed to improve practising nurses' knowledge regarding cancer pain management and attitudes toward care of the dying patient. The course involved 12 weeks (36 hours) of systematic classroom instruction for registered nurses, and a one-day observational experience on a designated palliative care unit. A total of 16 nurses participated in the study.