Study of Fermi level movement during CdCl2 treatment of CdTe thin films using Ultra-violet Photoemission Spectroscopy

The CdCl2 treatment used in the development of high efficiency CdTe solar cells is an essential processing step but remains fully unexplored. What really happens during this treatment is not yet fully understood. The changes in doping concentrations during this processing step are a key parameter to investigate. Determination of the position of the Fermi level is a good method to explore these changes and therefore photoelectrochemical cell method and ultra-violet photoemission spectroscopy method have been used to investigate these trends. Four different CdTe layers prepared by electroplating have been used for this investigation. The overall observations indicate the settling down of the FL in the upper half of the bandgap after CdCl2 treatment

Musculoskeletal injuries among operating room nurses: results from a multicenter survey in Rome, Italy

Aim: Chronic disorders of the musculoskeletal system, particularly low back pain (LBP), are increasing and represent a social and economic problem of growing importance, especially if correlated with working conditions. Health care workers are at higher risk of developing LBP during work shifts in the hospital. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of LBP among operating room nurses and to investigate the risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries in the operating room. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study that included operating room nurses from nine hospitals. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, working activity and psychological attitude of nurses was collected using an anonymous self-administered structured questionnaire. We evaluated the association of frequency, localization and intensity of LBP (FLI) with qualitative variables, making use of univariate analysis, chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the variables that affected the FLI. The covariates included in the model were the variables that had a p 35 years vs. age <35 (OR = 2.68; 95% CI = 1.17–6.18) and diurnal work shift vs. diurnal/ nocturnal (OR = 4.00; 95% CI = 1.72–9.0) represent risk factors associated with FLI, while physical activity is a protective factor (OR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.20–1.08). Conclusion: The data suggest that it is important to promote new programs of prevention based on professional training and physical activity among nurses and to improve the organization of work shifts in the hospital

Life values as predictors of pain, disability and sick leave among Swedish registered nurses: a longitudinal study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prospective studies on high-risk populations, such as subgroups of health care staff, are limited, especially prospective studies among staff not on sick-leave. This paper is a report of a longitudinal study conducted to describe and compare the importance and consistency of life domains among registered nurses (RNs) working in a Swedish hospital and evaluate a model based on the consistency of valued life domains for prediction of pain, disability and sick leave.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Importance and consistency ratings of life values, in 9 domains, were collected during 2003 and 2006 from 196 RNs using the Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ). Logistic regression analyses were used for prediction of pain, disability and sick leave at the three-year follow-up. The predictors family relations, marriage couples/intimate relations, parenting, friends/social life, work, education, leisure time, psychological well-being, and physical self-care were used at baseline.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>RNs rated life values regarding parenting as most important and with the highest consistency both at baseline and at follow-up. No significant differences were found between RNs' ratings of importance and consistency over the three-year period, except for friends/social relations that revealed a significant decrease in importance at follow-up. The explanatory models for pain, disability and sick leave significantly predicted pain and disability at follow-up. The odds of having pain were significantly increased by one consistency rating (psychological well-being), while the odds were significantly decreased by physical self-care. In the model predicting disability, consistency in psychological well-being and education significantly increased the odds of being disabled, while consistency in physical self-care significantly decreased the odds.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results suggest that there might be a link between intra-individual factors reflecting different aspects of appraised life values and musculoskeletal pain (MSP).</p

High frequency of McKenzie's posturalsyndrome in young population of non-care seeking individuals.

Objectives: The role of postural loads as a risk factor for back pain and musculoskeletal symptoms is unclear. McKenzie proposed in his classification of mechanical syndromes a postural syndrome, in which people only develop symptoms from sustained loading, which is relieved by a change in position and has no effect on movement or function. Because of the low level disability with postural syndrome, it was suggested that few seek healthcare for this problem. Methods: This study used a two-stage process first to give a questionnaire to 100 students and staff from a university to determine who appeared to have postural syndrome, and then applied a physical examination to those who consented. Results: One hundred and thirty-eight were approached, of who 100 completed questionnaires and 66% appeared to have postural syndrome. Of the 66 who appeared to have postural syndrome, 37 consented to have a physical examination. Of the 37, 31 met the criteria for postural syndrome, with postural syndrome being significantly associated with pain on sustained loading and pain abolition on posture correction. Most postural syndrome was in the lumbar spine and associated with sitting, but other sites and causes were also noted. Discussion: This study lends credibility to McKenzie’s postural syndrome, but also suggests this as a possible precursor for future more disabling or painful problems. Postural syndrome may not feature in those seeking professional healthcare, but is clearly highly prevalent in a young population

Biomechanical Evaluation Of Nursing Tasks In A Hospital Setting

A field study was conducted to investigate spinal kinematics and loading in the nursing profession using objective and subjective measurements of selected nursing tasks observed in a hospital setting. Spinal loading was estimated using trunk motion dynamics measured by the lumbar motion monitor (LMM) and lower back compressive and shear forces were estimated using the three-dimensional (3D) Static Strength Prediction Program. Subjective measures included the rate of perceived physical effort and the perceived risk of low back pain. A multiple logistic regression model, reported in the literature for predicting low back injury based on defined risk groups, was tested. The study results concluded that the major risk factors for low back injury in nurses were the weight of patients handled, trunk moment, and trunk axial rotation. The activities that required long time exposure to awkward postures were perceived by nurses as a high physical effort. This study also concluded that self-reported perceived exertion could be used as a tool to identify nursing activities with a high risk of low-back injury