Self-assembly of tripodal squaraines: cation-assisted expression of molecular chirality and change from spherical to helical morphology

Let's do the twist: Tripodal squaraines self-assemble from acetonitrile to form hollow spheres, the complexation of which with Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> or Mg<SUP>2+</SUP> results in extended networks. An analogous chiral dye exhibits a bisignate CD couplet and a helical morphology upon Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> binding (see figure). Thus, the molecular chirality of a functional dye is expressed through specific cation binding and manifested in the form of supramolecular helicity

Optical, electrical and structural studies of nickel-cobalt oxide nanoparticles

489-496Nanoparticles of nickel-cobalt oxide are prepared by chemical co-precipitation method. The particle size is determined from X-ray diffraction studies and TEM image. The surface morphology is revealed by SEM image. The effect of sintering on the particle size is analyzed. The FTIR studies have been used to confirm the formation of metal oxide. The characteristic stretching and bending frequencies of the sample is analyzed. The absorption spectra of the material in the UV-Vis–NIR range are recorded. An absorption band is observed to occur at 350 nm and another one around 650 nm. From the analysis of absorption spectra, the nickel-cobalt oxide (sintered at 500°C, 700°C and 900°C) are found to have direct band gaps ranging from 1.827 to 1.61 eV. Electrons are highly localized in nanoparticles and interaction between these localized states give rise to the observed band gap. The effect of temperature and frequency on the dielectric behaviour and ac electrical conductivity have been studied for nanosized samples of nickel cobalt spinel oxide prepared by chemical co-precipitation method. The dielectric permittivity of nanosized nickel cobalt spinel oxide sample is evaluated from the observed capacitance values in the frequency range 100 kHz-5 MHz and in the temperature range of 300-403 K. It is seen that with decreasing frequency, the dielectric constant increases much more obviously than that of conventional materials. As the temperature increases more and more dipoles are oriented resulting in an increase in the values of dipole moment. Space charge polarization and rotation direction polarization play a crucial role in the dielectric behaviour of this nanosized material. Further from the permittivity studies ac conductivity is evaluated

Nurse’s experience working 12-hour shift in a tertiary level hospital in Qatar: a mixed method study

Abstract Background The use of 12-h shifts for nursing staff has become common in many healthcare settings, including tertiary hospitals, due to its potential benefits such as reduced handover time and increased continuity of care. However, there is limited research on the experiences of nurses working 12-h shifts, particularly in the context of Qatar, where the healthcare system and nursing workforce may have unique characteristics and challenges. This study aimed to explore the experiences of nurses working 12-h shifts in a tertiary hospital in Qatar, including their perceptions of physical health, fatigue, stress, job satisfaction, service quality, and patient safety. Methods A mixed method study design was applied consisting of a survey and semi-structured interviews. Data was collected from 350 nurses through an online survey and from 11 nurses through semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed using Shapiro–Wilk test and the difference between demographic variables and scores were examined using Whitney U test and Kruskal- Wallis test. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative interviews. Results The results from quantitative study revealed nurses perception in working 12-h shift has negative impact in their wellbeing, satisfaction as well as patient care outcomes. Thematic analysis revealed real stress and burnout and experienced an enormous amount of pressure going for work. Conclusions Our study provides an understanding of the nurse’s experience working 12-h shift in a tertiary level hospital in Qatar. A mixed method approach informed us that, nurses are not satisfied with the 12-h shift and interviews revealed high level of stress and burnout among nurses resulting in job dissatisfaction and negative health concerns. Nurses also reported that it is challenging to stay productive and focused throughout their new shift pattern