Size and polydispersity trends found in gold nanoparticles synthesized by laser ablation in liquids.

In this work, the effect of laser fluence on Au nanoparticles synthesized via laser ablation in liquids is studied for 1064 nm irradiation with 25 ps pulses. Particle size and polydispersity is found to display a negative trend with fluences up to ∼14 J cm(-2). Erratic size tendencies are observed at low fluences, i.e. slightly above the ablation threshold. This overall behavior is reconciled with recent computational studies and to fluctuations in ablation due to surface morphology. The effectiveness of the commonly used surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is shown to diminish at higher fluence due to pyrolysis. In addition, shadowgraph imaging of the cavitation bubble is shown as a useful technique for determining the ablation threshold. Our findings are in good agreement with threshold values determined by traditional methods and are comparable to computational values, when differences in pulse duration are taken into account.

Implementation of the RN first assistant role.

The RN first assistant (RNFA) program at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, Va, began as a dream in which RNs could expand their role within a cost-effective, hospital-based implementation of the RNFA role. Our dream included a career development path for perioperative nurses who had few other career options within the surgical arena. This article describes how the dream came true.