In 3D topological insulators achieving a genuine bulk-insulating state is an important research topic. Recently, the material system (Bi,Sb)2(Te,Se)3 (BSTS) has been proposed as a topological ...insulator with high resistivity and a low carrier concentration (Ren et al 2011 Phys. Rev. B 84 165311). Here we present a study to further refine the bulk-insulating properties of BSTS. We have synthesized BSTS single crystals with compositions around x = 0.5 and y = 1.3. Resistance and Hall effect measurements show high resistivity and record low bulk carrier density for the composition Bi Sb Te Se . The analysis of the resistance measured for crystals with different thicknesses within a parallel resistor model shows that the surface contribution to the electrical transport amounts to 97% when the sample thickness is reduced to 1 m. The magnetoconductance of exfoliated BSTS nanoflakes shows 2D weak antilocalization with as expected for transport dominated by topological surface states.
ObjectiveTo compare facility-level influenza vaccination rates in long-term care (LTC) homes from four countries and to identify factors associated with influenza vaccination among residents.Design ...and settingRetrospective cross-sectional study of individuals residing in LTC homes in New Brunswick (Canada), New Zealand, Switzerland, and the Netherlands between 2017 and 2020.ParticipantsLTC home residents assessed with interRAI assessment system instruments as part of routine practice in New Brunswick (n=7006) and New Zealand (n=34 518), and national pilot studies in Switzerland (n=2760) and the Netherlands (n=1508). End-of-life residents were excluded from all country cohorts.OutcomesInfluenza vaccination within the past year.ResultsInfluenza vaccination rates among LTC home residents were highest in New Brunswick (84.9%) and lowest in Switzerland (63.5%). For all jurisdictions where facility-level data were available, substantial interfacility variance was observed. There was approximately a fourfold difference in the coefficient of variation for facility-level vaccination rates with the highest in Switzerland at 37.8 and lowest in New Brunswick at 9.7. Resident-level factors associated with vaccine receipt included older age, severe cognitive impairment, medical instability, health conditions affecting a greater number of organ systems and social engagement. Residents who displayed aggressive behaviours and smoke tobacco were less likely to be vaccinated.ConclusionThere are opportunities to increase influenza vaccine uptake at both overall country and individual facility levels. Enhanced vaccine administration monitoring programmes in LTC homes that leverage interRAI assessment systems should be widely adopted.
Resilience incorporates the presence of a positive response to some type of stressor. To properly explore resilience, it is important to systematically identify relevant stressors. We aimed to ...identify (combinations of) stressors with the strongest relationship with observer-reported and self-reported mood outcomes in older residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in The Netherlands.
We included 4,499 older (≥60) residents of 40 LTCFs who participated in the Dutch InterRAI-LTCF cohort between 2005 and 2018. The association of possible stressors (single stressors, number of stressors, and combinations of two stressors) in this population with observer-reported (Depression Rating Scale) and self-reported mood outcomes was analyzed using multilevel tobit models and logistic regressions.
Major life stressor "experiences that (threatened to) disrupt(ed) a person's daily routine and imposed some degree of readjustment" and conflict with other care recipients and/or staff were most strongly associated with both mood outcomes. Furthermore, conflict was a particularly prevalent stressor (24%). Falls, fractures, and hospital visits were more weakly or not associated at all. Overall, the associations were similar for the mood outcomes based on observer-report and self-report, although there were some differences. Multiple stressors were more strongly associated with both mood outcomes than one stressor.
Major life stressor and conflict emerged as important stressors for resilience research within the psychological domain in LTCF residents. Further (longitudinal) research is necessary to determine the directionality and relevance of the strong association of conflict with mood for LTCF practice.
Research incorporating resilience, a concept featuring a positive outcome despite some type of stressor, has the potential to identify possibilities for promotion of the well-being of older people. ...This study aims to gain insight into the value and potential applications of resilience in both research and care practice from the perspective of researchers and care professionals. Specifically, the value of two scientific approaches, the
(i.e., based on
definition of a stressor and outcome) and dynamical systems approaches (i.e., based on mathematically modeled patterns in the real-time response to perturbations), was explored.
Focus groups were performed to explore the thoughts of academic researchers from different disciplines in the fields of aging and care and care professionals on the application of the concept of resilience, including the
and dynamical systems approaches. Analysis of these focus groups was based on the framework method.
Five focus groups were held with a total of nine researchers from different disciplines (e.g., epidemiology, sociology) and 15 older adult care professionals from different professions (e.g., elderly care physician, physiotherapist). The participants described resilience as a concept with value for both aging research and care through its positive connotation and comprehensiveness. Continued research was thought to play an important role in clearing up some of the existing ambiguity surrounding resilience. The importance of resilience in the context of both high- and low-intensity stressors was underscored. The
and dynamical systems approaches were considered to have their specific advantages and disadvantages on both conceptual and feasibility levels. Therefore, the use of both approaches, side by side and in combination, was suggested.
This qualitative exploration among researchers and care professionals confirms that the concept of resilience, including the
and dynamical systems approaches, is valuable. However, more work is necessary before can be delivered on the potential of resilience in aging research and older adult care practice. Greater conceptual and operational clarity can be achieved through more qualitative studies on the concept that take the perspective of older people into account and through empirical studies that work with both approaches simultaneously and/or in combination.
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