A novel two-section tunable discrete mode Fabry-PÉrot laser exhibiting nanosecond wavelength switching

A novel widely tunable laser diode is proposed and demonstrated. Mode selection occurs by etching perturbing slots into the laser ridge. A two-section device is realized with different slot patterns in each section allowing Vernier tuning. The laser operates at 1.3 mum and achieves a maximum output power of 10 mW. A discontinuous tuning range of 30 nm was achieved with a side mode suppression greater than 30 dB. Wavelength switching times of approximately 1.5 ns between a number of wavelength channels separated by 7 nm have been demonstrated

Mid-Infrared InP-Based Discrete Mode Laser Diodes

Low cost, compact and robust single mode semiconductor laser diodes emitting at λ ∼ 1.6–2.1 μm are highly desirable as light sources for trace gas spectroscopy and an increasing number of other applications, such as, high data-rate communications over hollow core photonic crystal fibre, noninvasive optical blood glucose monitoring. Indium phosphide based light sources provide a solid and flexible base for mid-infrared semiconductor diode lasers. This chapter provides an overview of the current state of the art in discrete mode InGaAs/InP long-wavelength quantum-well lasers emitting in the 1.6–2.1 μm wavelength range. The discrete mode laser is essentially a regrowth free modified ridge waveguide Fabry-Pérot laser whose optical spectrum has a single wavelength mode. High-performance and cost-effective mid-infrared DM laser diode sources are well suited to a wide range of sensor applications. The current state of the art will also be outlined in this chapter

Innovative methods of community engagement: towards a low carbon climate resilient future

The proceedings of the Innovative Methods of Community Engagement: Toward a Low Carbon, Climate Resilient Future workshop have been developed by the Imagining2050 team in UCC and the Secretariat to the National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA). The NDCA also funded the workshop running costs. The proceedings offer a set of recommendations and insights into leveraging different community engagement approaches and methodologies in the area of climate action. They draw from interdisciplinary knowledge and experiences of researchers for identifying, mobilizing and mediating communities. The work presented below derives from a workshop held in the Environmental Research Institute in UCC on the 17th January 2019. These proceedings are complementary to an earlier workshop also funded by the NDCA and run by MaREI in UCC, titled ‘How do we Engage Communities in Climate Action? – Practical Learnings from the Coal Face’. The earlier workshop looked more closely at community development groups and other non-statutory organizations doing work in the area of climate change

Obesity in adults: a 2022 adapted clinical practice guideline for Ireland

This Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the management of obesity in adults in Ireland, adapted from the Canadian CPG, defines obesity as a complex chronic disease characterised by excess or dysfunctional adiposity that impairs health. The guideline reflects substantial advances in the understanding of the determinants, pathophysiology, assessment, and treatment of obesity. It shifts the focus of obesity management toward improving patient-centred health outcomes, functional outcomes, and social and economic participation, rather than weight loss alone. It gives recommendations for care that are underpinned by evidence-based principles of chronic disease management; validate patients' lived experiences; move beyond simplistic approaches of "eat less, move more" and address the root drivers of obesity. People living with obesity face substantial bias and stigma, which contribute to increased morbidity and mortality independent of body weight. Education is needed for all healthcare professionals in Ireland to address the gap in skills, increase knowledge of evidence-based practice, and eliminate bias and stigma in healthcare settings. We call for people living with obesity in Ireland to have access to evidence-informed care, including medical, medical nutrition therapy, physical activity and physical rehabilitation interventions, psychological interventions, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery. This can be best achieved by resourcing and fully implementing the Model of Care for the Management of Adult Overweight and Obesity. To address health inequalities, we also call for the inclusion of obesity in the Structured Chronic Disease Management Programme and for pharmacotherapy reimbursement, to ensure equal access to treatment based on health-need rather than ability to pay

An experimental investigation of tunable laser diodes based on multiple etched slots

THESIS 9428Widely tunable semiconductor lasers will play a critical part in future technologies. Tunable lasers are rapidly replacing fixed wavelength lasers in dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical communications. The performance specifications of tunable lasers are the same as fixed wavelength specifications plus additional specifications that include: wavelength tuning range; wavelength switching speed; and minimum wavelength spacing. Tunable laser diodes (TLD) have been used in optical networks for some time now starting with devices with small wavelength coverage and moving towards full band coverage

Strategies to increase demand for maternal health services in resource-limited settings: challenges to be addressed

Background: Universal health access will not be achieved unless women are cared for in their own communities and are empowered to take decisions about their own health in a supportive environment. This will only be achieved by community-based demand side interventions for maternal health access. In this review article, we highlight three common strategies to increase demand-side barriers to maternal healthcare access and identify the main challenges that still need to be addressed for these strategies to be effective. Discussion: Common demand side strategies can be grouped into three categories:(i) Financial incentives/subsidies; (ii) Enhancing patient transfer, and; (iii) Community involvement. The main challenges in assessing the effectiveness or efficacy of these interventions or strategies are the lack of quality evidence on their outcome and impact and interventions not integrated into existing health or community systems. However, what is highlighted in this review and overlooked in most of the published literature on this topic is the lack of knowledge about the context in which these strategies are to be implemented. Summary: We suggest three challenges that need to be addressed to create a supportive environment in which these demand-side strategies can effectively improve access to maternal health services. These include: addressing decision-making norms, engaging in intergenerational dialogue, and designing contextually appropriate communication strategies

The importance of health literacy in the development of "Self Care" cards for community pharmacies in Ireland

Objectives: "Self Care" cards play a significant role in delivering health education via community pharmacies in Australia and New Zealand. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether such an initiative could have a similar impact in an Irish context. The secondary objective was to understand the importance of health literacy to this initiative. Methods: Ten cards were developed for the Irish healthcare setting and trialed as a proof of concept study. The pilot study ran in ten community pharmacies in the greater Cork area for a six-month period. Using a mixed methods approach (Questionnaires & focus group) staff and patient reactions to the initiative were obtained. Concurrent to the pilot study, readability scores of cards (Flesch-Kincaid, Fry, SMOG methods) and the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) health literacy screening tool was administered to a sample of patients. Results: 88.7% of patient respondents (n=53) liked the concept of the "Self Care" cards and 83% of respondents agreed that the use of the card was beneficial to their understanding of their ailment. Focus groups with Pharmacy staff highlighted the importance of appropriate training for the future development of this initiative. An emerging theme from designing the cards was health literacy. The pilot "Self Care" cards were pitched at too high a literacy level for the general Irish public to understand as determined by readability score methods. It was found that 19.1% of a sample population (n=199) was deemed to have low health literacy skills. Conclusion: The "Self Care" initiative has the potential to be Pharmacy´s contribution to health education in Ireland. The initiative needs to be cognizant of the health literacy framework that equates the skills of individuals to the demands placed upon them.Objetivos: Las tarjetas "Auto Cuidado" [Self Care] juegan un papel significativo en la provisión de educación sanitaria a través de las farmacias comunitarias en Australia y Nueva Zelanda. El objetivo primario de este estudio fue evaluar si una iniciativa similar podría tener impacto en el contexto irlandés. El objetivo secundario fue entender la importancia de la literacía en salud para esta iniciativa. Métodos: Se desarrollaron 10 tarjetas para el entorno sanitario irlandés y se ensayaron con un estudio de prueba de concepto. El estudio piloto corrió en 10 farmacias comunitarias en el gran Cork durante seis meses. Se obtuvieron las reacciones del personal y pacientes hacia la iniciativa con el uso de métodos mixtos (cuestionarios y grupos focales). Simultáneamente al estudio piloto, se calcularon las puntuaciones de legibilidad de las tarjetas (métodos de Flesch-Kincaid, Fry, SMOG) y se administró a una muestra de pacientes el instrumento de rastreo de literacía en salud Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM). Resultados: Al 88,7% de los pacientes (n=53) les gustó el concepto de tarjetas "Auto Cuidado" y el 83% de los respondentes aceptó que el uso de la tarjeta era beneficioso para la comprensión de su enfermedad. Los grupos focales con personal de la farmacia resaltaron la importancia del entrenamiento adecuado para el futuro desarrollo de esta iniciativa. Un tema emergente del desarrollo de las tarjetas fue la literacía en salud. Las tarjetas piloto "Auto Cuidado" tenían inclinación hacia un nivel demasiado elevado de literacía para que el público general irlandés las entendiese, como se determinó por los métodos de legibilidad. Se vio que el 19,1% de la muestra (n=199) estaba considerada como de bajas habilidades en literacía de la salud. Concusión: La iniciativa "Auto Cuidado" [Self Care] tiene la posibilidad de ser una contribución de la farmacia a la educación sanitaria en Irlanda. La iniciativa necesita ser consciente del marco de literacía en salud que conecta las habilidades de los individuos a las demandas que se les solicitan

Strategies to increase demand for maternal health services in resource-limited settings: challenges to be addressed

Background: Universal health access will not be achieved unless women are cared for in their own communities and are empowered to take decisions about their own health in a supportive environment. This will only be achieved by community-based demand side interventions for maternal health access. In this review article, we highlight three common strategies to increase demand-side barriers to maternal healthcare access and identify the main challenges that still need to be addressed for these strategies to be effective. Discussion: Common demand side strategies can be grouped into three categories:(i) Financial incentives/subsidies; (ii) Enhancing patient transfer, and; (iii) Community involvement. The main challenges in assessing the effectiveness or efficacy of these interventions or strategies are the lack of quality evidence on their outcome and impact and interventions not integrated into existing health or community systems. However, what is highlighted in this review and overlooked in most of the published literature on this topic is the lack of knowledge about the context in which these strategies are to be implemented. Summary: We suggest three challenges that need to be addressed to create a supportive environment in which these demand-side strategies can effectively improve access to maternal health services. These include: addressing decision-making norms, engaging in intergenerational dialogue, and designing contextually appropriate communication strategies

Strategies to increase demand for maternal health services in resource-limited settings: challenges to be addressed

Background: Universal health access will not be achieved unless women are cared for in their own communities and are empowered to take decisions about their own health in a supportive environment. This will only be achieved by community-based demand side interventions for maternal health access. In this review article, we highlight three common strategies to increase demand-side barriers to maternal healthcare access and identify the main challenges that still need to be addressed for these strategies to be effective. Discussion: Common demand side strategies can be grouped into three categories:(i) Financial incentives/subsidies; (ii) Enhancing patient transfer, and; (iii) Community involvement. The main challenges in assessing the effectiveness or efficacy of these interventions or strategies are the lack of quality evidence on their outcome and impact and interventions not integrated into existing health or community systems. However, what is highlighted in this review and overlooked in most of the published literature on this topic is the lack of knowledge about the context in which these strategies are to be implemented. Summary: We suggest three challenges that need to be addressed to create a supportive environment in which these demand-side strategies can effectively improve access to maternal health services. These include: addressing decision-making norms, engaging in intergenerational dialogue, and designing contextually appropriate communication strategies