Synergistic Effect of CdSe Quantum Dot Sensitization and Nitrogen Doping of TiO₂ Nanostructures for Photoelectrochemical Solar Hydrogen Generation

We report the synthesis and photoelectrochemical (PEC) studies of TiO2 nanoparticles and nanowires simultaneously doped with nitrogen and sensitized with CdSe quantum dots (QDs). These novel nanocomposite structures have been applied successfully as photoanodes for PEC hydrogen generation using Na2S and Na2SO3 as sacrificial reagents. We observe significant enhanced photoresponse in these nanocomposites compared to N-doped TiO2 or CdSe QD sensitized TiO2. The enhancement is attributed to the synergistic effect of CdSe sensitization and N-doping that facilitate hole transfer/transport from CdSe to TiO2 through oxygen vacancy states (Vo) mediated by N-doping. The results demonstrate the importance of designing and manipulating the energy band alignment in composite nanomaterials for fundamentally improving charge separation and transport and thereby PEC properties

Preparation and Photoelectrochemical Properties of CdSe/TiO₂ Hybrid Mesoporous Structures

We report on the design and synthesis of a novel CdSe/TiO₂ hybrid mesoporous structure and its implementation as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) application. The CdSe/TiO₂ hybrid mesoporous structure was produced by assembling CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and TiO₂ nanocrystals into CdSe/TiO₂ hybrid colloidal spheres, followed by calcination to remove the capping ligands between CdSe and TiO₂. Compared to the system involving CdSe QDs directly linked to TiO₂ through molecular linkers, this CdSe/TiO₂ hybrid mesoporous structure affords the advantage of better interfacial coupling between CdSe and TiO₂ due to closer contact. As a result, the CdSe/TiO₂ hybrid mesoporous structure exhibits significantly improved photoresponse as a photoanode, as demonstrated successfully in comparative PEC studies. This study illustrates the importance of fundamental structural control in influencing PEC properties of hybrid assembled nanostructures

Mulsant_Supplementary_Materials - Economic Burden of Depression and Associated Resource Use in Manitoba, Canada

Mulsant_Supplementary_Materials for Economic Burden of Depression and Associated Resource Use in Manitoba, Canada by Julie-Anne Tanner, Jennifer Hensel, Paige E. Davies, Lisa C. Brown, Bryan M. Dechairo and Benoit H. Mulsant in The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry</p

Acute psychiatric care: approaches to increasing the range of services and improving access and quality of care

Acute services for mental health crises are very important to service users and their supporters, and consume a substantial share of mental health resources in many countries. However, acute care is often unpopular and sometimes coercive, and the evidence on which models are best for patient experience and outcomes remains surprisingly limited, in part reflecting challenges in conducting studies with people in crisis. Evidence on best ap­proaches to initial assessment and immediate management is particularly lacking, but some innovative models involving extended assessment, brief interventions, and diversifying settings and strategies for providing support are potentially helpful. Acute wards continue to be central in the intensive treatment phase following a crisis, but new approaches need to be developed, evaluated and implemented to reducing coercion, addressing trauma, diversifying treatments and the inpatient workforce, and making decision-making and care collaborative. Intensive home treatment services, acute day units, and community crisis services have supporting evidence in diverting some service users from hospital admission: a greater understanding of how best to implement them in a wide range of contexts and what works best for which service users would be valuable. Approaches to crisis management in the voluntary sector are more flexible and informal: such services have potential to complement and provide valuable learning for statutory sector services, especially for groups who tend to be underserved or disengaged. Such approaches often involve staff with personal experience of mental health crises, who have important potential roles in improving quality of acute care across sectors. Large gaps exist in many low- and middle-income countries, fuelled by poor access to quality mental health care. Responses need to build on a foundation of existing community responses and contextually relevant evidence. The necessity of moving outside formal systems in low-resource settings may lead to wider learning from locally embedded strategies

Acute psychiatric care: approaches to increasing the range of services and improving access and quality of care

Acute services for mental health crises are very important to service users and their supporters, and consume a substantial share of mental health resources in many countries. However, acute care is often unpopular and sometimes coercive, and the evidence on which models are best for patient experience and outcomes remains surprisingly limited, in part reflecting challenges in conducting studies with people in crisis. Evidence on best ap­proaches to initial assessment and immediate management is particularly lacking, but some innovative models involving extended assessment, brief interventions, and diversifying settings and strategies for providing support are potentially helpful. Acute wards continue to be central in the intensive treatment phase following a crisis, but new approaches need to be developed, evaluated and implemented to reducing coercion, addressing trauma, diversifying treatments and the inpatient workforce, and making decision-making and care collaborative. Intensive home treatment services, acute day units, and community crisis services have supporting evidence in diverting some service users from hospital admission: a greater understanding of how best to implement them in a wide range of contexts and what works best for which service users would be valuable. Approaches to crisis management in the voluntary sector are more flexible and informal: such services have potential to complement and provide valuable learning for statutory sector services, especially for groups who tend to be underserved or disengaged. Such approaches often involve staff with personal experience of mental health crises, who have important potential roles in improving quality of acute care across sectors. Large gaps exist in many low- and middle-income countries, fuelled by poor access to quality mental health care. Responses need to build on a foundation of existing community responses and contextually relevant evidence. The necessity of moving outside formal systems in low-resource settings may lead to wider learning from locally embedded strategies