Millimeter-Wave Diode-Grid Frequency Doubler

Monolithic diode grid were fabricated on 2-cm^2 gallium-arsenide wafers in a proof-of-principle test of a quasi-optical varactor millimeter-wave frequency multiplier array concept. An equivalent circuit model based on a transmission-line analysis of plane wave illumination was applied to predict the array performance. The doubler experiments were performed under far-field illumination conditions. A second-harmonic conversion efficiency of 9.5% and output powers of 0.5 W were achieved at 66 GHz when the diode grid was pumped with a pulsed source at 33 GHz. This grid had 760 Schottky-barrier varactor diodes. The average series resistance was 27 Ω, the minimum capacitance was 18 fF at a reverse breakdown voltage of -3 V. The measurements indicate that the diode grid is a feasible device for generating watt-level powers at millimeter frequencies and that substantial improvement is possible by improving the diode breakdown voltage

Induction Mapping of the 3D-Modulated Spin Texture of Skyrmions in Thin Helimagnets

Envisaged applications of skyrmions in magnetic memory and logic devices crucially depend on the stability and mobility of these topologically non-trivial magnetic textures in thin films. We present for the first time quantitative maps of the magnetic induction that provide evidence for a 3D modulation of the skyrmionic spin texture. The projected in-plane magnetic induction maps as determined from in-line and off-axis electron holography carry the clear signature of Bloch skyrmions. However, the magnitude of this induction is much smaller than the values expected for homogeneous Bloch skyrmions that extend throughout the thickness of the film. This finding can only be understood, if the underlying spin textures are modulated along the out-of-plane z direction. The projection of (the in-plane magnetic induction of) helices is further found to exhibit thickness-dependent lateral shifts, which show that this z modulation is accompanied by an (in-plane) modulation along the x and y directions

Nurse managers’ perceptions of care environment supporting older people’s ability to function in nursing homes

Aim: To describe nurse managers' perceptions of the care environment in nursing homes and how the residents' ability to function may be improved. Background: The care environment, considered under physical, social and symbolic dimensions, can be used to maintain and enhance the residents' ability to function. Methods: An exploratory, descriptive qualitative research design based on focus groups (n = 4) was used. Fourteen nurse managers from six nursing homes in Southern Finland participated during 2014. Data were analysed using content analysis. Results: The physical environment enables self-management, by facilitating a cosy, home-like and aesthetically pleasing environment and by the design of internal structures and assistive devices. The social environment was described as enabling by providing both private and communal spaces, encouraging personal privacy and self-determination whilst supporting communal interaction and involvement. The symbolic environment was described as supporting a personal culture, care culture development and connecting the components of care perspectives in the community including nursing principles, recognizing and accepting variation in approaches to care. Conclusions: Development in the care environment requires more innovative approaches especially in the social and symbolic dimensions. Implications for nursing management: The results provide a framework for nurse managers for analysing and developing the care environment supporting residents' ability to function. </p

Factors contributing to the promotion of moral competence in nursing

Ethics is a foundational competency in healthcare inherent in everyday nursing practice. Therefore, the promotion of qualified nurses’ and nursing students’ moral competence is essential to ensure ethically high-quality and sustainable healthcare. The aim of this integrative literature review is to identify the factors contributing to the promotion of qualified nurses’ and nursing students’ moral competence. The review has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023386947) and reported according to the PRISMA guideline. Focusing on qualified nurses’ and nursing students’ moral competence, a literature search was undertaken in January 2023 in six scientific databases: CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, PubMed Medline, Scopus and Web of Science. Empirical studies written in English without time limitation were eligible for inclusion. A total of 29 full texts were retrieved and included out of 5233 citations. Quality appraisal was employed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists and the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Research about the factors contributing to the promotion of qualified nurses’ and nursing students’ moral competence is limited and mainly explored using descriptive research designs. The contributing factors were identified as comprising two main categories: (1) human factors, consisting of four categories: individual, social, managerial and professional factors, and ten sub-categories; and (2) structural factors, consisting of four categories: educational, environmental, organisational and societal factors, and eight sub-categories. This review provides knowledge about the factors contributing to the promotion of qualified nurses’ and nursing students’ moral competence for the use of researchers, nurse educators, managers, organisations and policymakers. More research about the contributing factors is needed using complex intervention, implementation and multiple methods designs to ensure ethically sustainable healthcare

Foot and ankle disorders in nurses exposed to prolonged standing environments: a scoping review

Background: Prolonged standing environments constitute an occupational risk factor for nurses, particularly for developing foot and ankle disorders. The definitions and potential relationship to hours spent walking or standing are poorly understood. This scoping review aimed to synthesize the main disorders found on nurses’ ankles and feet, their prevalence, the influence of hours spent walking or standing, and gender differences. Methods: This review followed a previously published protocol. Primary and secondary studies were retrieved from relevant databases from December 2020 to March 2021. Potential articles were collated to Mendeley, and two independent reviewers assessed the title and abstracts. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were included. Two researchers retrieved and reviewed the full text of these studies independently. A predetermined extraction tool was used to retrieve relevant data, summarized in a tabular and narrative format. Findings: The most common disorder was pain, followed by numbness, burning feet, bunions, structural deformities, and calluses. Prevalence differed among studies, depending on settings and specific local policies. Discussion: Various foot and ankle disorders and related variables have been found, with clear gaps that may be addressed in the future. Conclusion/Applications to Practice:: Few studies have focused on nurses’ foot and ankle disorders. Mapping signs and symptoms may contribute to the future development of preventive interventions for nurses’ workplaces.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Foot Disorders in Nursing Standing Environments: A Scoping Review Protocol

Musculoskeletal disorders can be significantly disabling, particularly those related to work, when the underlying mechanisms and clinical variables are not well known and understood. Nurses usually remain in standing positions or walk for long periods, thus increasing the risk for the development of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly on the foot, such as plantar fasciitis or edema. This type of disorders is a major cause of sickness, absence from work, and also dropout ratios among nursing students, which contributes to the shortage of nursing professionals. This review will address foot disorders that arise from prolonged standing in nursing professionals and describe the main clinical parameters characterizing them, with exclusions for other health professions or disorders with other identified causes. English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish published studies from 1970 to the current year will be considered. The review will follow the JBI methodology, mainly though the PCC mnemonic, and the reporting guidelines for Scoping Reviews. The search will include main databases and relevant scientific repositories. Two independent reviewers will analyze the titles, abstracts, and full texts. A tool developed by the research team will aid in the data collection

Longer wings for faster springs – wing length relates tospring phenology in a long-distanc e migrant across its range

In migratory birds, morphological adaptations for efficient migratory flight often oppose morphological adaptations for efficient behavior during resident periods. This includes adaptations in wing shape for either flying long distances or foraging in the vegetation and in climate-driven variation of body size. In addition, the timing of migratory flights and particularly the timely arrival at local breeding sites is crucial because fitness prospects depend on site-specific phenology. Thus, adaptations for efficient long-distance flights might be also related to conditions at destination areas. For an obligatory long-distance migrant, the common nightingale, we verified that wing length as the aerodynamically important trait, but not structural body size increased from the western to the eastern parts of the species range. In contrast with expectation from aerodynamic theory, however, wing length did not increase with increasing migration distances. Instead, wing length was associated with the phenology at breeding destinations, namely the speed of local spring green-up. We argue that longer wings are beneficial for adjusting migration speed to local conditions for birds breeding in habitats with fast spring green-up and thus short optimal arrival periods. We suggest that the speed of spring green-up at breeding sites is a fundamental variable determining the timing of migration that fine tune phenotypes in migrants across their range

Effects of ATX-MS-1467 immunotherapy over 16 weeks in relapsing multiple sclerosis

Objective: To assess safety, tolerability and efficacy of the antigen-specific immunotherapy ATX-MS-1467 in participants with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) using different treatment protocols to induce tolerance. Methods: Two open-label trials in adult participants with RMS. Study 1 was a multicentre Phase 1b safety evaluation comparing intradermal (i.d., Cohort 1) with subcutaneous (Cohort 2) administration in 43 participants. Both cohorts received ATX-MS-1467 dosed at 25, 50, 100, 400, and 800 μg at 14-day intervals over 8 weeks, followed by 8 weeks with 4 additional 800 μg doses at 14-day intervals and 32 weeks off study medication. Study 2 was a Phase 2a, multicentre, single-arm, trial enrolling 37 participants. ATX-MS-1467 was titrated from 50 µg i.d. on Day 1 to 200 µg on Day 15 and 800 µg on Day 29 followed by biweekly administration of 800 μg for 16 weeks and 16 weeks off study medication. Efficacy was evaluated on MRI parameters and clinical variables. Safety end points included treatment-emergent adverse events and injection-site reactions. Results: In Study 1 there was a significant decrease in new/persisting T1 GdE lesions in Cohort 1 from baseline to Week 16, returning to baseline values at week 48. In Study 2, the number of T1 GdE lesions were significantly reduced on treatment and remained reduced at study completion. Safety results were unremarkable in both studies. Conclusion: Relatively slow ATX-MS-1467 titration and a longer full-dose i.d. treatment period is associated with reduction in GdE lesions and a sustained effect post-treatment. Further trials of ATX-MS-1467 are warranted. Classification of Evidence: This work provides Class IV evidence that for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, slow ATX-MS-1467 titration and a longer full-dose i.d. treatment period is associated with reduction in GdE lesions

Polynomial super-gl(n) algebras

We introduce a class of finite dimensional nonlinear superalgebras $L = L_{\bar{0}} + L_{\bar{1}}$ providing gradings of $L_{\bar{0}} = gl(n) \simeq sl(n) + gl(1)$. Odd generators close by anticommutation on polynomials (of degree $>1$) in the $gl(n)$ generators. Specifically, we investigate `type I' super-$gl(n)$ algebras, having odd generators transforming in a single irreducible representation of $gl(n)$ together with its contragredient. Admissible structure constants are discussed in terms of available $gl(n)$ couplings, and various special cases and candidate superalgebras are identified and exemplified via concrete oscillator constructions. For the case of the $n$-dimensional defining representation, with odd generators $Q_{a}, \bar{Q}{}^{b}$, and even generators ${E^{a}}_{b}$, $a,b = 1,...,n$, a three parameter family of quadratic super-$gl(n)$ algebras (deformations of $sl(n/1)$) is defined. In general, additional covariant Serre-type conditions are imposed, in order that the Jacobi identities be fulfilled. For these quadratic super-$gl(n)$ algebras, the construction of Kac modules, and conditions for atypicality, are briefly considered. Applications in quantum field theory, including Hamiltonian lattice QCD and space-time supersymmetry, are discussed.Comment: 31 pages, LaTeX, including minor corrections to equation (3) and reference [60