Nanoantenna arrays combining enhancement and beam control for fluorescence-based sensing applications.

This paper presents measured fluorescence enhancement results for ∼250×250 element aluminum nanoantenna arrays fabricated using electron beam lithography. The arrays have been designed to use diffractive coupling to enhance and control the direction of fluorescent emission. Highly directional emission is obtained at the designed angles with beam widths simulated to be in the range of 4-6°. Angle-resolved spectroscopy measurements of dye-coated nanoantenna arrays were in good agreement with finite difference time domain modeling. Critically, these results were obtained for near UV wavelengths (∼360 nm), which is relevant to a number of biosensing applications.

Ordinary care in extraordinary times.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has accounted for more than 25 000 cases in Ireland with approximately 28% of the clusters in nursing homes as of June 2020. The older population is the most vulnerable to serious complications from this illness and over 90% of deaths due to COVID-19 to date have been in patients over the age of 65. Continuing to provide routine care within nursing homes in these challenging times is an essential part of ensuring that presentations to hospitals for non-essential reasons are minimized. In this article, we describe a project being undertaken by a rural Psychiatry of Old Age Service in the northwest of Ireland. We aim to provide ordinary care in extraordinary times by using mobile tablets within the nursing homes and long-stay facilities in our region for remote video consultations during the COVID-19 crisis.

Monolithically multi-color lasing from an InGaN microdisk on a Si substrate.

An optically pumped multi-color laser has been achieved using an InGaN/GaN based micro-disk with an undercut structure on a silicon substrate. The micro-disk laser has been fabricated by means of a combination of a cost-effective microsphere lithography technique and subsequent dry/wet etching processes. The microdisk laser is approximately 1 µm in diameter. The structure was designed in such a way that the vertical components of the whispering gallery (WG) modes formed can be effectively suppressed. Consequently, three clean lasing peaks at 442 nm, 493 nm and 522 nm have been achieved at room temperature by simply using a continuous-wave diode laser as an optical pumping source. Time-resolved micro photoluminescence (PL) measurements have been performed in order to further confirm the lasing by investigating the excitonic recombination dynamics of these lasing peaks. A three dimensional finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) simulation has been used for the structure design.

Understand me; believe in me; accept me as I am: perceptions of psychiatry of later life service.

Context The emergence of mental health services for older people is a relatively recent development in Ireland. Therefore, it is important to determine strengths and limitations of this modern-day care service. A starting point is to enquire from those who have been in receipt of their service and/or their respective carers. Aim This study aims to identify and describe the perceptions and experiences of past service users (SUs) and their carers, while in receipt of services from an acute mental health day hospital for Psychiatry of Later Life and to explore their needs/supports. METHODS: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive design was employed. Purposive sampling achieved a sample of 13 SUs and six carers. Inclusion criteria set were that the SU had a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder; had the capacity to make an informed consent and communicate verbally and the SU was discharged from the service between January and July 2011. Finally, carers of SUs in receipt of the service during this time were also included. Data were subjected to thematic, field analysis. Findings 'Person centredness' emerged as an overarching theme. Six inter-related subthemes revealing how SUs and carers viewed their care emerged from the interviews: 'therapeutic engagement'; 'preservation of self-integrity'; 'collaborative care'; 'integrated care'; 'social gains'; and 'the relationship between the expectation, subsequent engagement and the perceived outcome of care'. CONCLUSIONS: Findings concluded that high levels of care exist within this service. Strengths lie in the development of a therapeutic relationship, preservation of self-integrity, social gains and robust elements of person-centred holistic, integrated and collaborative care Recommendations support the enhancement of a cohesive planned approach to admission, discharge/transition (integrated pathway).

Prevalence and predictors of carer burden and depression in carers of patients referred to an old age psychiatric service.

BACKGROUND: Too little is currently known about the prevalence of and risk factors for depression and carer strain among informal carers of community-dwelling elderly mentally ill. This study seeks to assess the prevalence of depression, using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), the degree of carer burden/strain, and their risk factors among the primary informal carers of patients referred to our community-based old age psychiatry service. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used, with the subjects comprising 100 primary informal carers of patients who live at home and were referred to our service. The main carer measures were the GDS-15 and an adapted version of Gilleard's Strain Scale. Patients were assessed the Clifton Assessment Procedure for the Elderly-Survey version, the GDS-15 and the Mini-mental State Examination. RESULTS: Depression was found in 21% of the carers (a score of 5 or more on the GDS-15). The more problem behaviors identified and the greater the functional impairment of the patient, the higher the strain score deciles and the more likely the carer was to be depressed. Spouses were associated with lower carer strain scores. Patient diagnoses did not affect carer depression or carer strain. CONCLUSION: We found high levels of depression in the primary carers of community-dwelling patients attending an old age psychiatric service. The patients' behavior and their cognitive and functional ability conferred greater risk of carer depression or strain than their diagnosis. These risk factors may help identify carers at risk of strain and depression.