Highly stable multi-anchored magnetic nanoparticles for optical imaging within biofilms.

Magnetic nanoparticles are the next tool in medical diagnoses and treatment in many different biomedical applications, including magnetic hyperthermia as alternative treatment for cancer and bacterial infections, as well as the disruption of biofilms. The colloidal stability of the magnetic nanoparticles in a biological environment is crucial for efficient delivery. A surface that can be easily modifiable can also improve the delivery and imaging properties of the magnetic nanoparticle by adding targeting and imaging moieties, providing a platform for additional modification. The strategy presented in this work includes multiple nitroDOPA anchors for robust binding to the surface tied to the same polymer backbone as multiple poly(ethylene oxide) chains for steric stability. This approach provides biocompatibility and enhanced stability in fetal bovine serum (FBS) and phosphate buffer saline (PBS). As a proof of concept, these polymer-particles complexes were then modified with a near infrared dye and utilized in characterizing the integration of magnetic nanoparticles in biofilms. The work presented in this manuscript describes the synthesis and characterization of a nontoxic platform for the labeling of near IR-dyes for bioimaging.

Community-based case management effectiveness in populations that abuse substances.

BACKGROUND: The number of persons who are substance abusing has been increasing globally. A majority of them remain in their communities, untreated. Empirical studies have shown some positive impacts of case management on substance abuse. However, studies that systematically synthesize the effectiveness of community-based case management with populations that abuse substances are limited. AIM: To review evidence of the impact of case management in improving treatment of substance abuse among adults in community settings. METHODS: The Cochrane processes guided this systematic review. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Ovid and the Web of Science were searched to retrieve primary studies published from 2000 to 2013. All randomized controlled trials were considered for review. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed. RESULTS: The initial unfiltered search identified 506 references. A total of seven randomized controlled trials were selected for review. Findings show that, compared with clinical case management and usual care, community-based case management services significantly improved clients' ability to abstain from drug use, reduced social problems, supported unmet service needs and improved satisfaction. Studies also showed reduced use of healthcare services, but results were mixed. CONCLUSIONS: There is an evidence base for practicing case management among adults who are substance abusing. In general, studies concluded that case management is an active and assertive method of care coordination for formal substance abuse treatment. Further research is needed to assess case management's cost-effectiveness and the impact of dosage on client outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY: Because of the complexity of population health management across settings and over long time frames, evidence-based strategies are required to achieve health improvements. Because it provides continuous and timely care, healthcare leaders and policymakers should consider community-based case management as an important strategy for coordinating the care in populations that are substance abusing.

Mean field theory of electron spin resonance g-factors in ß-YbAlB4.

We present a mean-field theory of the conduction electron spin resonance g-factors in ß-YbAlB4. The temperature-dependent shift in the g-factors is attributed to an isotropic exchange interaction between the spin of the conduction electrons and the spin of the Yb(3+) ion. In the mean field approximation, the difference between the parallel and perpendicular g-factors is proportional to the difference between the parallel and perpendicular susceptibilities. Using experimental values for the susceptibilities, and fitting the data at 4.2 K, we predict the temperature dependence of the g-shifts at higher temperatures.

Exchange narrowing of the phonon contribution to the electron spin resonance line width in exchange-coupled magnetic insulators.

In this paper we extend earlier calculations of the phonon contribution to the electron spin resonance line width at high temperatures in exchange-coupled magnetic insulators. We show that the one-phonon contribution is exchange-narrowed, similar to the static anisotropy contribution. The effect of the exchange narrowing is to limit contributing phonons to those modes whose energies are less than a cutoff, γ(max), that is proportional to the exchange interaction. Linear-T behavior in the line width occurs when kBT is greater than γ(max).

An integrative review of nurse-led community-based case management effectiveness.

BACKGROUND: Accountable, continuous and patient-centred care in community-based settings is increasingly needed to reduce fragmented care, especially to reduce patient readmission rates. Case management has been proven effective in reducing healthcare costs and in increasing continuity of care, but its effectiveness in community-based settings is not clear. AIM: The aim of this integrative review is to examine the effectiveness of community-based case management programmes in improving patient outcomes. METHODS: An integrative review of articles from PubMed, CINAHL and PsycInfo databases was undertaken to synthesize and analyse research about community-based case management and its outcomes. Studies looking for patient outcomes and empirical studies published since 2000 were included. A total 18 articles were retrieved from 2000 to 2013. RESULTS: Most of the included studies were conducted in the USA, but international studies with quantitative approaches were reviewed (n = 6). The review revealed that community-based case management significantly reduced hospital access outcomes, especially readmissions and increased cost effectiveness, patient clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. LIMITATIONS: This study did not isolate studies of patients with diseases or demographic characteristics in common, resulting in large variations in disease and demographic factors. CONCLUSION: There is a base of evidence that community-based case management is effective. Because it provides quality, patient-centred care, case management should be used for major care coordination. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: The benefits of community-based case management need to be announced to healthcare leaders and policymakers.

Impurity modes in Frenkel exciton systems with dipolar interactions and cubic symmetry.

We introduce a continuum model for impurity modes of Frenkel excitons in fully occupied face-centered and body-centered cubic lattices with dipole-dipole interactions and parallel moments. In the absence of impurities, the model reproduces the small-k behavior found in numerical calculations of dipolar lattice sums. The exciton densities of states near the upper and lower band edges are calculated and compared with the corresponding results for a random array of dipoles. The Green function obtained with the continuum model, together with a spherical approximation to the Brillouin zone, is used to determine the conditions for the formation of a localized exciton mode associated with a shift in the transition energy of a single chromophore. The dependence of the local mode energy on the magnitude of the shift is ascertained. The formation of impurity bands at high concentrations of perturbed sites is investigated using the coherent potential approximation. The contribution of the impurity bands to the optical absorption is calculated in the coherent potential approximation. The locations of the optical absorption peaks of the dipolar system are shown to depend on the direction of propagation of the light relative to the dipolar axis, a property that is maintained in the presence of short-range interactions.

Electron spin resonance in YbRh2Si2: local-moment, unlike-spin and quasiparticle descriptions.

Electron spin resonance (ESR) in the Kondo lattice compound YbRh(2)Si(2) has stimulated discussion as to whether the low-field resonance outside the Fermi liquid regime in this material is more appropriately characterized as a local-moment phenomenon or one that requires a Landau quasiparticle interpretation. In earlier work, we outlined a collective mode approach to the ESR that involves only the local 4f moments. In this paper, we extend the collective mode approach to a situation where there are two subsystems of unlike spins: the pseudospins of the ground multiplet of the Yb ions and the spins of the itinerant conduction electrons. We assume a weakly anisotropic exchange interaction between the two subsystems. With suitable approximations our expression for the g-factor also reproduces that found in recent unlike-spin quasiparticle calculations. It is pointed out that the success of the local-moment approach in describing the resonance is due to the fact that the susceptibility of the Yb subsystem dominates that of the conduction electrons with the consequence that the relative shift in the resonance frequency predicted by the unlike-spin models (and absent in the local-moment models) is ≪ 1. The connection with theoretical studies of a two-component model with like spins is also discussed.

Localized states in 1D Frenkel exciton systems: a comparison between infinite-range and nearest-neighbor transfer for normal and inverted bands.

We investigate localized states in one-dimensional Frenkel exciton systems that are created by a shift in the optical transition frequency of a single chromophore. In this paper, we focus on localized states lying below the exciton band that can act as exciton traps. A comparison is made between systems with infinite-range (r(-n), n = 2, 3, ...) transfer and those with nearest-neighbor (n = infinity) transfer. A distinction is also made between normal bands (minimum exciton energy at k = 0) and inverted bands (minimum energy at k = pi). The position of the localized state relative to the bottom of the band is calculated as a function of the shift in the single-chromophore transition frequency. The nature of the localized state is displayed in calculations of the participation ratio and the effective oscillator strength. Similarities and differences in localized states between normal and inverted band systems and between infinite-range and nearest-neighbor transfer are analyzed.

The effects of anisotropy and Yb-Yb interactions on the low-field electron spin resonance in Yb(2)Rh(2)Si(2) and YbIr(2)Si(2).

The effect of anisotropy on the low-field electron spin resonance in the Kondo lattice compounds YbRh(2)Si(2) and YbIr(2)Si(2) is assessed. It is shown that the g-shift in YbRh(2)Si(2) is a consequence of the anisotropy in the Yb-Yb interactions as mirrored in the molecular field parameters characterizing the resonant susceptibility. It is also pointed out that the large residual linewidth for YbIr(2)Si(2) results from the modification of the Korringa contribution that occurs when the Curie susceptibility of the isolated ion is replaced by the resonant susceptibility with an experimentally determined molecular field parameter.

Chain conformations and photoluminescence of poly(di-n-octylfluorene).

The diverse steady-state spectroscopic properties of poly(di-n-octylfluorene) are addressed from a molecular-level perspective. Modeling of representative oligomers support the experimental observation of at least three distinguishable classes of conformational isomers with differing chain torsion angles. One class appears to be populated by a single compact structural isomer, and this conforms to the so-called beta phase. A rigorous Franck-Condon analysis of the photoluminescence in conjunction with Frenkel-type exciton band structure calculations is performed. These results accurately reproduce all major spectral features of the photoabsorption and those of singlet exciton emission.

Dose of case management interventions.

Case management programs need to be evaluated for outcomes achievement and efficient use of resources. As a provider intervention, case management is interactional and situational. Little is known about how to measure the actual dose delivered in order to assess quality and manage outcomes. Case management is interdisciplinary, has identifiable dimensions, and serves as a practical example of conceptualizing and measuring the dosage of a provider's intervention. The basic elements of the dosage of an intervention are amount, frequency, duration, and breadth. A three-dimensional model illustrates dosage of case management.

Evaluating nursing administration instruments.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and evaluate available measures that can be used to examine the effects of management innovations in five important areas: autonomy, conflict, job satisfaction, leadership, and organizational climate. BACKGROUND: Management interventions target the context in which care is delivered and through which evidence for practice diffuses. These innovations need to be evaluated for their effects on desired outcomes. However, busy nurses may not have the time to locate, evaluate, and select instruments to measure expected nursing administration outcomes without research-based guidance. Multiple and complex important contextual variables need psychometrically sound and easy-to-use measurement instruments identified for use in both practice and research. METHOD: An expert focus group consensus methodology was used in this evaluation research to review available instruments in the five areas and evaluate which of these instruments are psychometrically sound and easy to use in the practice setting. RESULTS: The result is a portfolio of measures, clustered by concept and displayed on a spreadsheet. Retrieval information is provided. The portfolio includes the expert consensus judgment as well as useful descriptive information. CONCLUSIONS: The research reported here identifies psychometrically sound and easy-to-use instruments for measuring five key variables to be included in a portfolio. The results of this study can be used as a beginning for saving time in instrument selection and as an aid for determining the best instrument for measuring outcomes from a clinical or management intervention.

Telephone management in substance abuse treatment.

The purpose of this article is to describe the results of a clinical trial in which telephonic case management was evaluated as a supplement to substance abuse treatment. An interactive voice response system (IVR) was developed by the research team for use in the case management of randomly assigned participants in a clinical trial research project. The features of the software program facilitated a double caseload for the case manager as well as real-time data capture. At intake, no significant differences were found between participants in the telecommunication condition and the general project. Thus, the effectiveness of random assignment was supported. An IVR was useful for case management services, was less costly, and showed acceptability to clients. A reduction in time expenditure by using telecommunication occurred within three activity areas. Telecommunication facilitated client interaction and the use of case management, and it reduced provider time expenditure. As an alternative strategy, telecommunication case management can enhance cost effectiveness improvements.

The diversity of case management models.

Case management is experiencing rapid growth and evolutionary transition. This article explores the diversity and richness of case management models found in practice. Interdisciplinary communication in case management programs can be facilitated by an awareness of discipline-specific definitions and models. A categorization of models is described as a device to stimulate multidisciplinary case management collaboration.

Telephone nursing interventions in ambulatory care.

Telephone nursing practice is becoming a major nursing activity in ambulatory care settings, yet little is known about the type and extent of nursing interventions that occur during telephone interactions. A pilot study was conducted in two sites to see whether nursing diagnoses and interventions could be captured and related to nursing care during telephone consultation. This initial pilot demonstrated that nurses have an appropriate role in telephone interactions and that standardized nursing language can be used in telephone nursing to document nursing care despite the many challenges in its use in the field.

Photoemission spectroscopy of the high-temperature superconductivity gap.

Superconductivity is related to the presence of a narrow forbidden gap in the spectrum of the possible energies for the electrons in the material. These "superconductivity gaps" have traditionally been studied with tunneling and infrared absorption experiments. A third, powerful technique has been made possible by the discovery of hightransition temperature materials: the direct observation of the gap in photoemission spectra. The data analysis requires a careful reconsideration of the standard Einstein-Fermi model of the photoelectric effect. The conclusions are surprisingly simple and offer an alternate way to measure superconductivity gaps. This approach can also be used to study the directional properties of the gap, phenomena related to the coherence length, and possible departures from Fermi-liquid behavior.