Novel achromatic single reflection quarter-wave retarder: design and measurement.

In this work, we present an achromatic quarter-wave retarder whose design is based upon the reflection properties of an isotropic-anisotropic interface. In theory, it is possible to obtain a π/2 phase shift by means of a total internal reflection at an isotropic-isotropic interface. However, in order to achieve such a phase shift, it is necessary to use a medium with a particularly high refractive index. We have previously shown that these phase shifts can be achieved by means of a total internal reflection in an isotropic-uniaxial interface, which allows the use of smaller refractive index media. By means of this property, we designed, built, and characterized a novel quarter-wave retarder that makes it possible to obtain circularly polarized light from a linear polarization state. We developed some guidelines that allowed us to obtain a device of competitive performance, low cost, and manageable manufacture.

A struggle for equality: resistance to commissioning of male nurses in the Canadian military, 1952-1967.

Historical research was conducted to explore and describe the forces of resistance that prevented male registered nurses from being employed and conferred officer status in the Nursing Division of the Canadian military. Prior to 1967, only female nurses were permitted to join the Nursing Division. A 25-year struggle by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), its Male Nurses Committee (MNC), and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) was required to change this discriminatory policy. The struggle for equality on behalf of Canadian male nurses was successfully resolved because of the united stand taken by the MNC, the RNAO, and the CNA. The study also demonstrates the need to move beyond matriarchal history perspectives in nursing to more completely understand the evolution of the profession in Canada.

Interactive video teaching using a home microcomputer.

This paper describes the use of a home microcomputer to produce a highly versatile yet relatively inexpensive interactive video system. The program has been designed to introduce medical students to the examination of the mentally ill patient, but the technique is ideally suited to demonstrate examination and treatment techniques in all medical specialties.

Direct assessment of social behaviour from videotape recordings.

A number of frequency and duration measures, and also general ratings, were made to assess specified aspects of interpersonal behaviour. These were taken from videotape recordings of interviews, or informal conversations, involving psychiatric patients. The frequency and duration measures were found to have high inter-rater reliability. Pearsonian correlations were in the range of 0-88--0-99. The general ratings were less reliable (0-42--0-86). The patients were divided into two groups. The first were patients whose major difficulties were interpersonal problems. The second contained patients with other psychiatric problems. Comparisons between these groups revealed a number of significant differences in the behavioural frequency and duration measures. Significant differences were also found in the general ratings, but there were disagreements between the two raters which made the interpretation of these differences difficult. When, within the interpersonal problem group, informal conversations were compared with formal interviews, it was found that subjects spent longer looking at the other person during the conversation. No other differences were evident. The implications of the results for social skills research are discussed.