Gold nanostructures consisting of nanoblocks separated by a few nanometer‐wide gaps were fabricated, and found to exhibit strong photoluminescence due to enhancement of the optical near‐field localized in the nanogaps. The fabricated structures demonstrate a nanostructured metallic material capable of efficient photoluminescence, whose efficiency can be adjusted by tailoring the nanogap width.

BackgroundPlanning a public health initiative is both a science and an art. Public health practitioners work in a complex, often time-constrained environment, where formal research literature can be unavailable or uncertain. Consequently, public health practitioners often draw upon other forms of knowledge.MethodsThrough use of one-on-one interviews and focus groups, we aimed to gain a better understanding of how tacit knowledge is used to inform program initiatives in public health. This study was designed as a narrative inquiry, which is based on the assumption that we make sense of the world by telling stories. Four public health units were purposively selected for maximum variation, based on geography and academic affiliation.ResultsAnalysis revealed different ways in which tacit knowledge was used to plan the public health program or initiative, including discovering the opportunity, bringing a team together, and working out program details (such as partnering, funding).ConclusionsThe findings of this study demonstrate that tacit knowledge is drawn upon, and embedded within, various stages of the process of program planning in public health. The results will be useful in guiding the development of future knowledge translation strategies for public health organizations and decision makers.

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Objective: To summarize a resource document that explains the concept and components of continuing professional development (CPD) for pharmacists, describes some of the drivers behind the reevaluation of current systems of continuing pharmacy education (CE), defines relevant terms, and outlines some experiences with CPD in selected countries that have already adopted the model. Summary: CPD is an approach to lifelong learning being discussed as a potential model for pharmacists in the United States. CPD does not replace CE, but quality-assured CE is an essential component of CPD. Evidence is mounting, however, that traditional methods of CE do not adequately meet the lifelong learning and professional development needs of health care professionals (HCPs) and are not always successful in affecting practice behavior and improving patient outcomes. The Institute of Medicine has concluded that the education and training of HCPs are in need of major overhaul. CPD, which is based on sound principles and adopts educational strategies that have been shown to be effective, potentially offers a quality improvement to the current systems for pharmacist CE. Conclusion: Interest in and support for the concept of CPD is growing. Case studies of successful implementation in the United States and other countries now exist. Further discussion on the implications of widespread implementation for pharmacists in the United States is needed.

Objective. To determine whether a structured educational intervention would support pharmacists' utilization of a continuing professional development (CPD) model compared to pharmacist control subjects. Methods. A prospective, randomized, observational case-control study of CPD was conducted in which pharmacists participated in several educational interventions, and study and control groups completed prestudy and poststudy survey instruments. Results. Survey data from 57 pharmacists (n 5 28 study, n 5 29 control) were analyzed and significant outcomes from the CPD stages of reflect, plan, act, evaluate, and record were found between matched study subjects and study and control group comparisons. Conclusions. With appropriate training and support, pharmacists can utilize a CPD approach to their lifelong learning and professional development.