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We investigate the geometric deposition of compound semiconductors through shallow shadow masks as a means to obtain 3D nanostructures in situ. A high spatial resolution in the order of 10 nm and good material quality are achieved by epitaxy with directed molecular beams through stationary masks. Based on our study of growth dynamics new processes were tailored for the deposition of compound semiconductors. These expand the degrees of freedom of directional shadow growth. We would like to give an overview of this alternative technology, and present late results from experiments with an optimised molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) set-up. Projective techniques are demonstrated with sample structures. We discuss their respective potential and limitations. An outlook shows the perspective of further increase of the complexity of feasible structures by increasing the complexity of the masks (3D nanostructured).

Isotopic fractionation of cationic species during diffusive transport provides a novel means of constraining the style and timing of metamorphic transformations. Here we document a major (∼1‰) decrease in the Mg isotopic composition of the reaction front of an exhumed contact between rocks of subducted crust and serpentinite in the Syros melange zone. This isotopic perturbation extends over a notable length scale (∼1 m), implicating diffusion of Mg through an intergranular fluid network over a period of ∼100 kyr. These novel observations confirm models of diffusion-controlled growth of reaction zones formed between rocks of contrasting compositions, such as found at the slab–mantle interface in subduction zones. The results also demonstrate that diffusive processes can result in exotic stable isotope compositions of major elements with implications for mantle xenoliths and complex intrusions.

In this paper we present results from the molecular simulation of water adsorption in slit-shaped activated carbon pores. We calculate adsorption isotherms by grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation, Henry's constants by Monte Carlo integration, and vapor-liquid equilibrium data by the gauge-cell Monte Carlo method, to investigate the chemical heterogeneity of activated carbon adsorbents. Several types of polar oxygen-containing sites are placed on the surface of the carbon with different densities and local distributions, in order to determine the individual effects of each of these factors on the adsorption of water. Our results confirm the role of surface sites in the enhancement of water adsorption, Furthermore, we show that the local distribution of these sites has a strong effect on low-pressure adsorption, while the overall site density affects mainly the vapor-liquid phase transition. The type of oxygen-containing group is shown not to be of critical importance, since more complex groups can effectively be represented by simpler sites. This study forms the basis for the development of a model for activated carbon that is able to represent the chemical heterogeneity of this type of material.

We investigate molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) regrowth through shadow masks developed from AlGaAs/GaAs layers on GaAs [001] substrates. Adjusting the directions of the molecular beams relative to the masks results in in situ lateral structuring. This enables us to modify doping and composition within one layer, to shift it laterally, and even to split it or to reduce its width relative to the mask's aperture. The resolution of this selective area epitaxy (SAE) technique is restricted by half shadows and surface diffusion. With diaphragms and thin masks it is possible to decrease half shadows to a few nanometers. However, diffusion mainly is a material parameter. We have investigated III–V and II–VI semiconductors. In the latter case it is extremely dependent on the crystal orientation. Along [1−10] diffusion lengths are very short. This is in agreement with ab initio calculations in our group. Thus lateral structuring with a resolution of a few nanometers is achieved. We discuss the degrees of freedom, which arise from different chamber geometries and mask concepts. With simple striped masks complex structures such as stacked three colour detectors or selective contacts to embedded 2DEGs can be realised. Three novel mask concepts will be presented. Deeply underetched masks serve as elastic substrates for misfit layers over the critical thickness without plastic relaxation. Second, as an analogy to cleaved edge overgrowth, we use masks developed from AlGaAs/GaAs superlattices. Finally interconnected structures with lateral periodicity of a few micrometers have been realised with grid masks.

We discuss the possibilities of MBE regrowth through shadow masks for semiconductor technology. II–VI and III–V compound semiconductors have been deposited into fixed shadow masks developed from AlGaAs/GaAs layers on GaAs [0 0 1] substrates. Adjusting the directions of the molecular beams relative to the masks enables in situ lateral structuring by layer offset. As another growth mode we utilize an effect based on zero sticking of atoms that cannot reach their compound partner. Thus, growth is mainly restricted to the overlap of the molecular beams. In small mask dimensions the partial shadows shrink and self-assembling effects play a major role. Smooth [1 1 1] facets are observed in most cases, but dependent on material and mask orientation [1 1 4], vertical [1 1 0] or even not any facets form. ZnSe-based compound semiconductors are well suited for nanostructuring (sub- 100 nm resolution) as diffusion lengths along [1 −1 0] reveal to be very small. Therefore stripes oriented in [1 1 0] direction show steep edges, which may serve for secondary shadowing the molecular beams. We demonstrate this technique with a complex sample structures. Its basic idea is to use shadow growth for the realization of selective contacts on nominally overgrown layers. Two different in situ contacts have been deposited in order to selectively contact individual parts of the structure.

We have built a fast signal-processing and readout application-specific integrated circuit (PPrAsic) for the preprocessor system of the ATLAS level-1 calorimeter trigger. Our novel ASIC design environment incorporates algorithm development with digital hardware synthesis and verification. The purely digital ASIC was designed in Verilog hardware description language and embedded in a system-wide analog and digital simulation of implemented algorithms. We present here our design environment and experience gained from the design process.

An injector geometry is considered for fuel delivery in a high-enthalpy, high-Mach-number airflow typical of that found in hypersonic propulsion systems such as the scramjet and shock-induced combustion ramjet or shcramjet. It is thought to embody the characteristics of both conventional ramp and low-angle wall injection techniques. The objective is to investigate the turbulent hypervelocity fuel/air mixing characteristics of the considered injector geometry, with particular emphasis on the effect of the convective Mach number and global equivalence ratio on its mixing efficiency. The analysis of the three-dimensional hypervelocity mixing flow is based on the Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes equations closed by the Wilcox kω turbulence model for a multispecies gas. A Roe scheme turned second-order accurate through a symmetric total-variation-diminishing limiter is used for the spatial discretization while approximate factorization is used to iterate in pseudotime

Thin pseudomorphic ZnSe films can be grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs(001) up to a layer thickness of about 100 nm. Above this critical thickness the topmost layers relax by forming large mosaic-domains which are tilted by 0.2° with respect to the macroscopic surface. This is evidenced by satellites arising in discrete directions close to the fundamental diffraction spots in high resolution low energy electron diffraction (SPA-LEED). Energy dependent SPA-LEED measurements were performed to characterize the satellites and identify their origin. High resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) experiments indicate that this mosaicity is restricted to a near-surface region and does not penetrate deeply into the bulk of the ZnSe film.

Since 2003, Karolinska University Hospitals have performed totally intracorporeal robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) in carefully selected patients. As our technique has evolved, the proportion of patients undergoing RARC has progressively increased. Whilst open radical cystectomy remains the gold standard, several high-volume centres have now demonstrated that RARC is both feasible and safe. RARC comprises three stages: radical cystectomy, extended lymph node dissection and urinary diversion. The majority of centres in the United States currently perform RARC utilizing an extracorporeal approach for the urinary diversion stage, perceiving this to be a more accessible option with a reduced risk of complications. We assess the evidence for this perception, reviewing the literature and reporting the functional outcomes and complication rates for a totally intracorporeal RARC approach. We also describe our technique for both intracorporeal orthotopic neobladder and intracorporeal ileal conduit, identifying the potential hazard steps and the 'tips and tricks' to optimize outcomes.

Kimberlite volcanism involves the emplacement of olivine-rich volcaniclastic deposits into volcanic vents or pipes. Kimberlite deposits are typically pervasively serpentinised as a result of the reaction of olivine and water within a temperature range of 130–400 °C or less. We present a model for the influx of ground water into hot kimberlite deposits coupled with progressive cooling and serpentisation. Large-pressure gradients cause influx and heating of water within the pipe with horizontal convergent flow in the host rock and along pipe margins, and upward flow within the pipe centre. Complete serpentisation is predicted for wide ranges of permeability of the host rocks and kimberlite deposits. For typical pipe dimensions, cooling times are centuries to a few millennia. Excess volume of serpentine results in filling of pore spaces, eventually inhibiting fluid flow. Fresh olivine is preserved in lithofacies with initial low porosity, and at the base of the pipe where deeper-level host rocks have low permeability, and the pipe is narrower leading to faster cooling. These predictions are consistent with fresh olivine and serpentine distribution in the Diavik A418 kimberlite pipe, (NWT, Canada) and with features of kimberlites of the Yakutian province in Russia affected by influx of ground water brines. Fast reactions and increases in the volume of solid products compared to the reactants result in self-sealing and low water–rock ratios (estimated at

Ca3ZrSi2O9 (baghdadite) has become a major research focus within the biomaterial community due to its remarkable in-vitro and in-vivo bioactivity. Although baghdadite seems to exhibit interesting biological properties, as yet there has been no data published concerning its mechanical properties. This lack of knowledge hinders targeting this novel bioactive material towards potential applications. In this study we prepare dense Ca3ZrSi2O9 bulk ceramics for the first time, allowing the evaluation of its mechanical properties including hardness, bending strength, Young׳s modulus, and fracture toughness. The preparation of baghdadite has been accomplished by a direct solid-state synthesis in combination with conventional sintering at 1350-1450°C for 3h. Our results show that samples sintered at 1400°C exhibit the best mechanical properties, resulting in a bending strength, fracture toughness, and hardness of 98±16MPa, 1.3±0.1MPam(0.5), and 7.9±0.2GPa. With a comparable mechanical strength to hydroxyapatite, but with an increased fracture toughness by 30% and hardness by 13% baghdadite is highly suitable for potential applications in non-load bearing areas (e.g. coatings or filler materials).

We report on a process that enables the removal of II-VI semiconductor epilayers from their GaAs growth substrate and their subsequent transfer to arbitrary host environments. The technique combines mechanical lapping and layer selective chemical wet etching and is generally applicable to any II-VI layer stack. We demonstrate the non-invasiveness of the method by transferring an all-II-VI magnetic resonant tunneling diode. High resolution X-ray diffraction proves that the crystal integrity of the heterostructure is preserved. Transport characterization confirms that the functionality of the device is maintained and even improved, which is ascribed to completely elastic strain relaxation of the tunnel barrier layer.

Resume Objectif de l’etude. – La curietherapie par l’iode 125, traitement conservateur du melanome choroidien, est une technique de realisation aisee grâce aux caracteristiques physiques du radioelement et a l’utilisation d’un logiciel de dosimetrie optimisee. Notre etude avait pour objectif de definir les modalites therapeutiques optimales pour obtenir le controle local. Patients et methodes. – Soixante dix-huit patients atteints de melanomes choroidiens ont ete traites par iode 125 entre 1990 et 1998 et prospectivement suivis. Une dose de l’ordre de 100 Gy a ete delivree au pole superieur de la tumeur. La duree minimale de la surveillance minimal etait de 17 mois et la duree moyenne de 67 mois. Resultats. – Le taux de controle local etait de 88 %, au prix d’une baisse de l’acuite visuelle dans 76 % des cas. La retinopathie radique en etait la principale etiologie et etait directement liee a la proximite de la macula. Neuf patients ont souffert de metastases hepatiques ou osseuses et sept en sont decedes. Cinq patients ont ete enuclees et quatre ont beneficie d’une protontherapie de rattrapage en raison d’un non-controle local. Conclusion. – Une dose de 100 Gy au pole superieur de la tumeur semble assure un bon taux de controle local au prix de complications lorsque la tumeur est proche de la macula et du nerf optique. L’apport de l’optimisation de la dosimetrie sur les resultats locaux devra etre evalue avec un plus grand recul.

Useful U–Pb isotopic data may be obtained from sphene (or titanite, CaTiSiO 5 ) because: (1) it is a widespread accessory mineral, (2) it can incorporate uranium in its structure, and (3) it has a high closure temperature. In igneous rocks, sphene is most abundant in relatively oxidized rocks, such as metaluminous rocks of intermediate composition. These rocks have the high Ca/Al ratios wherein sphene is stabilized relative to ilmenite+quartz or ilmenite+anorthite. In metamorphic rocks, sphene is stable to the highest temperatures in mafic and calc-silicate rocks. It is found mostly in greenschist, blueschist, and amphibolite facies, although in calcic rocks its stability may extend into granulite facies. Recent studies show that the closure temperature for sphene lies at the upper limit of amphibolite facies. Because sphene reacts readily during metamorphism, U–Pb sphene ages are likely to yield the age of metamorphic crystallization, rather than resetting by simple diffusion. For this reason, metamorphic sphene may yield complex U–Pb systematics that contain information on the whole metamorphic history of the rock. Sphene from igneous rocks and orthogneisses has initial U contents ranging from 10 to over 100 ppm and ratios of initial U to common Pb ranging from 10 to 1000, ratios that may potentially yield high precision U–Pb ages. Sphene in marbles, calc-silicates, and metagraywackes has a similar range in composition to that from igneous rocks, but sphene from metabasites may have initial U contents of less than 1 ppm and ratios of initial U to common Pb lower than 1, making them unsuitable for geochronology. These low-U sphenes are most commonly found in weakly metamorphosed metabasites. Strategies to extract age information from sphene with moderate initial U/common Pb ratios include estimation of common Pb isotopic composition of sphene from coexisting low-U phases, use of U–Pb and Pb–Pb isochron plots, and step-wise leaching methods to improve 206 Pb/ 204 Pb spread. By correlating sphene compositions to metamorphic or hydrothermal reactions, age determinations on sphene can be used to directly date metamorphism, deformation, and hydrothermal alteration.

We present a novel method to grow sharply defined self-organized nanostructures into UHV-compatible Al 50 Ga 50 As-GaAs shadow masks. The lateral control of epitaxial growth is achieved by self-organized as well as the masks’geometry. We show that we obtain prism-shaped wire structures with triangular cross sections. These wires exhibit well-defined (1 1 1) side faces due to the effect to self-organized growth. Furthermore, we demonstrate the achievement of lateral carrier confinement with this technique.

Objective: This retrospective study evaluates probability of survival and mode of recurrence in patients with a microscopically positive bronchial resection margin following resection for primary bronchogenic carcinoma, as well as influence of radiotherapy on survival. Methods: From January 1986 to July 1997, 40 patients had a microscopically positive bronchial resection margin following a macroscopically complete resection (17 lobectomies, three bilobectomies, four sleeve-lobectomies, and 16 pneumonectomies). Tissue diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma in 32 patients, adenocarcinoma in four, adenosquamous carcinoma in two and neuroendocrine carcinoma in two. Lymph node status was N0 in 14 patients, N1 in 10, and N2 in 16. The bronchial margin contained carcinoma in situ in 20 patients, invasive mucosal carcinoma in five, and peribronchial infiltration in 15. All patients except the three most recent underwent adjuvant radiation therapy. Results: At the conclusion of the study (January 31st, 1999), 30 patients had died: two with post-operative complications, 17 with progressive disease, ten without relation to cancer, and one under undefined circumstances. Six of 10 unrelated deaths were interpreted as respiratory complications of radiotherapy. Recurrent disease appeared in 24 patients (60%). Nineteen had progression of initial disease (47.5%): metastatic spread in 12 (30%), isolated local recurrence in four (10%), and combined local recurrence and metastases in three (7.5%). Five patients developed metachronous cancer, with bronchial location in four (10%) and laryngeal in one (2.5%). 5-year survival (Kaplan‐Meier) in 20 patients with carcinoma in situ was 38:7 ^ 13:7% (median 31 months), but rose to 55:0 ^ 16:6% when excluding seven deaths not related to cancer (five of whom were secondary to radiotherapy) (x 2 a 3:080; Pa 0:0792). Survival in 13 patients classified N0 was 51:3 ^ 16:3% (median 61 months), and 71:1 ^ 18:0% following exclusion of unrelated deaths (x 2 a 3:939; Pa 0:0472). Adverse prognosis of peribronchial infiltration was correlated to a positive N status (13 N2 and 2 N1), 5-year survival being 20:0 ^ 10:3% (median: 18 months). Conclusions: Prognosis of peribronchial infiltration is similar to N2 disease. In situ carcinoma does not influence survival per se. Local control of disease is probably in part due to radiotherapy. However, the high prevalence of unrelated late deaths suggests an adverse impact of radiotherapy on survival. q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the association of cigarette smoking with high-grade carotid artery stenosis in patients with ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks. METHODS: Prospectively collected data from 404 patients with focal brain ischemia were used for a cross-sectional study estimating the association between cigarette smoking and high-grade carotid artery stenosis (diagnosed by Doppler-ultrasound and defined as a luminal narrowing of > or = 70%). Cerebral ischemia patients with normal sonographic findings served as a comparison group. Multivariate logistic regression models were used for statistical tests to determine the association between smoking and high-grade carotid stenosis. Age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and co-existing heart disease (myocardial infarction, angina, heart failure) were considered potential confounders. RESULTS: High-grade carotid stenoses were found in 25% (n = 101) of the patients; 39% (n = 156) were classified as smokers. Smoking (odds ratio 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2 to 5.8), hypercholesterolemia (odds ratio 1.8; CI 1.1 to 2.8) and preexisting heart disease (odds ratio 1.7; CI 1.1 to 2.7) were significantly associated with carotid stenosis > or = 70%. The impact of smoking augmented with increasing degree of stenosis (odds ratio for stenoses > or = 80%: 4.3, CI 2.3 to 7.7), whereas the association with hypercholesterolemia, and co-existing heart disease decreased in strength for stenoses greater than 80%. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were not found to be significantly with high-grade carotid artery stenoses. CONCLUSION: Smoking is an independent determinant of severe carotid artery stenosis in patients with focal cerebral ischemia.

+ spinel = sapphirine. This produced coarse-grained coronas of sequence sapphirine around the corundum and spinel. The earliest assemblage at Hakurutale was orthopyroxene + sillimanite + sapphirine. Garnet growth occurred via the reactions orthopyroxene + sillimanite + sapphirine = garnet and orthopyroxene + sillimanite = garnet + quartz. Locally, garnet was partially destroyed by a INTRODUCTION variety of corona-forming continuous reactions. The most important Rocks of highly aluminous and magnesian bulk comare garnet = orthopyroxene + sillimanite + sapphirine and position commonly record a part of the P‐T path close garnet + sillimanite = sapphirine + cordierite (both localities) to peak temperatures (e.g. Hensen, 1987), where the and, at Hakurutale, garnet + quartz = orthopyroxene + sense of the P‐T path—clockwise or counter-clockwise— sillimanite, garnet + sillimanite + quartz = cordierite and may be determined. These rocks generally contain a garnet + quartz = orthopyroxene + cordierite. In places, subset of the minerals garnet (Gar), orthopyroxene (Opx), orthopyroxene + sillimanite + quartz reacted to form cordierite, cordierite (Crd), Al-spinel (Sp) and sapphirine (Spr), in and orthopyroxene + sillimanite reacted to form cordierite + combination with sillimanite (Sil), corundum (Cor) or sapphirine coronas. At Hakurutale, inclusion textures indicate that quartz (Qz). They have been increasingly used in the sapphirine was present in the earliest recorded assemblages (prograde), last few years to deduce parts of the P‐T paths witnessed but also formed later as various corona-forming reactions occurred. by granulite-facies terranes (e.g. Droop & BucherNurminen, 1984; Droop, 1989; Bertrand et al., 1992

This contribution reports about the first in situ lateral structured II–VI semiconductors grown with molecular beam epitaxy into Al 50 Ga 50 As–GaAs shadow masks. The lateral control is achieved by tilting the sample manipulator with respect to the molecular beam emanated by the effusion cells. Thus wire structures can be grown whose width depends on the angle of flux incidence and the shadow mask geometry. It is shown that lateral carrier confinement can be achieved with this technique.

Book Review: A Pictorial Guide to Metamorphic Rocks in the Field. By Kurt Hollocher (2014) CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 326 pages, ISBN: 9781138026308, print $42.46, eBook $34.97. I will begin by stating that I like this book. The book is really all about recognizing and interpreting textures of metamorphic rocks and it succeeds with abundant high-quality outcrop photographs, photomicrographs, and illustrations. I am sure this book will be a helpful supplement for many students of geology, regardless of whether they practice in the field or behind the eyepiece of the petrographic microscope. The textures illustrated in the book include those that form from the deformation and recrystallization that accompanies metamorphism and relict features from sedimentary or magmatic protoliths. The variation of natural metamorphic textures is enormous, so no book will be able to illustrate them all, but this book shows the most common as well as a few more exotic textural examples. The book has 25 chapters that are organized into three parts: (1) Metamorphic rock types—13 chapters; (2) Metamorphic features—8 chapters; and (3) Relict pre-metamorphic features—3 chapters. There is also a reference list and a glossary of terms at the end of the book. Chapter 1 is set apart from the three parts of the book and is …

This paper presents high-resolution x-ray diffraction measurements of shadow masks. Shadow masks are used for in situ growing of one- and zero-dimensional semiconductor heterostructures. The masks are produced by selective etching of AlxGa1-xAs-GaAs heterostructures. The lateral dimension of these structures is in the range 10-300 µm; the thickness of the constituting layer varies between 1 and 10 µm. Structures with linear and crossgrid patterns have been measured. The reciprocal space maps of the initial structures show a distortion of the whole sample by the strain of the AlxGa1-xAs layer. After processing, this strain is reduced by an elastic relaxation of the parallel lattice constant. The three-dimensional masks lead to complicated intensity distributions in reciprocal space. The different contributions to the reciprocal space maps are identified by measuring symmetrical and asymmetrical reflections of specially designed structures. This knowledge is useful for the interpretation of the reciprocal space maps of other three dimensional samples, such as semiconductor devices.

We propose a new method to obtain well defined nanostructures in situ during MBE growth. The method is based on the MBE growth over UHV compatible shadow edges. These edges define a geometrical shadow region which can be modified by tilting the sample with respect to the direction of the molecular beams, so that layers with different lateral extension can be combined to form a buried junction of two quantum wells in the form a wire with lateral confinement. We show for ZnSe quantum wells in ZnMgSSe that the formation of facets at the shadow edge favours the formation of geometrically well defined structures, and quantum well junctions as narrow as 150 nm have been realized. The wires emit pronounced blue cathodoluminescence at room temperature, proving that even for simple structures the confinement of carriers in the resulting wire is on the order of kT at room temperature.

The high-spin states of 147Tb have been studied with regard to their spins. The data were obtained by in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy using the reaction 120Sn(31P,4n)147Tb at 152 MeV performed at the Osiris spectrometer in Berlin. We obtained multipole mixing ratios for 60 transitions, and level spins up to 67/2ħ are introduced.

Resume Objectif de l'etude Analyse retrospective des resultats de la radiotherapie de l'adenocarcinome non metastatique de la prostate a l'exclusion des complications. Patients et methodes Les 610 cas de stade T1-T2 repertories ont ete traites par irradiation externe dans 19 instituts, entre janvier 1983 et janvier 1988. Le recul moyen etait de 10,4 ans, la moyenne d'âge au debut du traitement de 68,5 ans. Resultats Un controle local a 10 ans a ete obtenu pour 86 % des cancers classes T1-T2 (81,4 % dans le cas des T2). Le taux de rechute metastatique etait a 5 et 10 ans respectivement de 25,3 et 30 % (29 et 38,1 % pour les T2). A 10 ans, 62,4 % des tumeurs de stade T1-T2 n'avaient pas recidive; par ailleurs, le taux de survie globale etait de 45,8 % et celui de survie specifique de 70,5 %; 29,9 % des patients etaient vivants sans signe de recidive. Il y avait une correlation entre le stade (TNM), le grade, le statut ganglionnaire pelvien, le controle tumoral local, la presence d'une obstruction ureterale, et la survie. L'irradiation pelvienne, la dose, l'etalement, le traitement hormonal neoadjuvant et la resection transuretrale n'avaient pas d'influence sur le pronostic. Conclusion Il n'y a pas de difference entre les deux etudes francaises (1975–1982 et 1983–1988) sur le plan du recrutement et du pronostic. Les resultats releves dans la litterature sont voisins des notres. Cette etude souligne l'importance des facteurs de pronostic inherents a la tumeur et au malade.

Hintergrund: Die Mehrzahl der Patienten mit zerebralen Durchblutungsstorungen weist echo- und/oder elektrokardiographische Veranderungen – sog. kardiale Emboliequellen – auf, deren kausalgenetische Rolle oft ungeklart ist. Hypothese: Kardiale Emboliequellen finden sich signifikant haufiger bei embolischen Hirninfarktmustern als bei lakunaren/mikroangiopathischen Lasionen. Methoden: Aus einem prospektiven zerebralen Ischamieregister wurden diejenigen Falle analysiert, die computertomographisch belegte frische Territorialinfarkte (n=106) oder – als Vergleichsgruppe – lakunare/mikroangiopathische Lasionen (n=85) aufwiesen. Die Assoziation kardialer Emboliequellen mit Territorialinfarkten wurde mit Hilfe univariater Tests und einem logistischen Regressionsmodell gepruft. Als kardiale Emboliequellen wurden Vorhofflimmern, linkskardiale Thromben, Klappenvegetationen und andere echokardiographische Befunde wie Wandbewegungsstorungen, Vitien, linksatriale Vergroserung, offenes Foramen ovale, Vorhofseptumaneurysma, Mitralklappenprolaps und Atherothrombose der Aorta ascendens definiert. Ergebnisse: Vorhofflimmern war signifikant mit Territorialinfarkten assoziiert (odds ratio 2,2; 95% Konfidenzintervall 1,01–4,8). Dieser Effekt war unabhangig von zusatzlich bestehenden Herzerkrankungen, anderen kardialen Veranderungen, gleichzeitig bestehenden Stenosen der Arteria carotis und dem Patientenalter. Fur linkskardiale Thromben zeigte sich – vermutlich aufgrund der insgesamt kleinen Fallzahl – nur ein nichtsignifikanter Trend einer Assoziation mit Territorialinfarkten (odds ratio 3,0; 95% Konfidenzintervall 0,7–12,3). Fur keinen der anderen untersuchten kardialen Faktoren lies sich eine relevante grosere Haufigkeit bei Territorialinfarkten erkennen. Schlusfolgerungen: Vorhofflimmern und linkskardiale Thromben zeigen eine Assoziation mit territorialen Hirninfarkten. Andere sogenannte kardiale Emboliequellen – mit Ausnahme der hier nicht untersuchten Faktoren wie mechanische Herzklappen und bakterielle Endokarditiden – lassen keine fur den klinischen Alltag relevante Assoziation mit embolischen Hirninfarktmustern erkennen.

ZnSe p-i-n-type photodiodes were grown on GaAs substrates using molecular beam epitaxy technique. ZnCl 2 was used for n-doping and plasma-excited N 2 for p-doping. The p-side contact consists of 200 nm Au in situ deposited on a 20 nm highly doped ZnTe layer on top of the p-doped ZnSe forming a well-defined Schottky barrier, as can be confirmed by current - voltage measurements together with an electrical model of the diode. Reverse-bias photocurrent was measured as a function of wavelength. The spectral responsivity is about 30 mA (WeV) at the band edge which corresponds to a quantum efficiency of roughly 8%. Calculations of the spectral response were performed using a modified model originally designed on Si solar cells and reflectivity data determined by ellipsometry. The comparison of the model with measurements indicates that the photocurrent is dominated by the drift current generated within the space-charge region.

ZnTeZn(S,Te) short-period superlattices have been grown on (0 0 1) GaAs-substrates with very good structural quality. The growth conditions were found to be quite reproducible, leading to a series of samples with periods between 12 and 29 A. Characterisation of the samples with high-resolution X-ray diffraction confirmed the high structural quality of the structures, showing that all samples are pseudomorphically grown. The relaxation behaviour is strongly influenced by the ZnTe-well width with two critical ZnTe-thicknesses observable.

Background The GeparQuinto study showed that adding bevacizumab to 24 weeks of anthracycline–taxane–based neoadjuvant chemotherapy increases pathological complete response (pCR) rates overall and specifically in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). No difference in pCR rate was observed for adding everolimus to paclitaxel in nonearly responding patients. Here, we present disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) analyses. Patients and methods Patients (n = 1948) with HER2-negative tumors of a median tumor size of 4 cm were randomly assigned to neoadjuvant treatment with epirubicin/cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel (EC-T) with or without eight infusions of bevacizumab every 3 weeks before surgery. Patients without clinical response to EC ± Bevacizumab were randomized to 12 weekly cycles paclitaxel with or without everolimus 5 mg/day. To detect a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.75 (α = 0.05, β = 0.8) 379 events had to be observed in the bevacizumab arms. Results With a median follow-up of 3.8 years, 3-year DFS was 80.8% and 3-year OS was 89.7%. Outcome was not different for patients receiving bevacizumab (HR 1.03; P = 0.784 for DFS and HR 0.974; P = 0.842 for OS) compared with patients receiving chemotherapy alone. Patients with TNBC similarly showed no improvement in DFS (HR = 0.99; P = 0.941) and OS (HR = 1.02; P = 0.891) when treated with bevacizumab. No other predefined subgroup (HR+/HER2-; locally advanced (cT4 or cN3) or not; cT1–3 or cT4; pCR or not) showed a significant benefit. No difference in DFS (HR 0.997; P = 0.987) and OS (HR 1.11; P = 0.658) was observed for nonearly responding patients receiving paclitaxel with or without everolimus overall as well as in subgroups. Conclusions Long-term results, in opposite to the results of pCR, do not support the neoadjuvant use of bevacizumab in addition to an anthracycline–taxane-based chemotherapy or everolimus in addition to paclitaxel for nonearly responding patients. Clinical trial number NCT 00567554, www.clinicaltrials.gov .

Cummingtonite from central Massachusetts, which has experienced pervasive exsolution of hornblende, contains numerous hornblende precipitates (lamellae and discs) ranging in thickness from 2.5 mm to 4 nm that represent multiple generations of exsolution. The smallest precipitates were investigated using transmission electron microscopy and analytical electron microscopy to characterize the coherent cummingtonite-hornblende solvus at low temperature. In contrast to older (coarser) generations of exsolution lamellae, which are 0.5‐2.5 mm in width, planar, and extend across entire grains, the youngest generation consists of nanometer-scale discs (4‐80 nm thick and 10‐1000 nm long) that represent exsolution at approximately 300 8C (Klein et al. 1996). Quantitative energy-dispersive X-ray analyses were obtained from discs as small as 20 nm in thickness, providing compositional data for coherent exsolution of hornblende at ;300 8C. Surprisingly, these tiny discs have a lower Ca content and a higher Al content than the coarser, higher temperature lamellae. These compositions appear to lie well within miscibility gaps of the equilibrium and coherent solvi for cummingtonite-hornblende (in terms of Ca ↔ Fe 21 exchange) at low temperatures, and may represent a more tschermakitic hornblende coexisting with cummingtonite with excess Al relative to Ca. The composition of the cummingtonite host between nanometer-scale discs is very low in both Ca and Al relative to bulk cummingtonite analyses that were obtained from electron microprobe analyses of 1‐2 mm areas. Compositional profiles across host areas were measured to help interpret the unexpected chemistries of the nanometer-scale discs. A profile across the precipitate-free zone between a coarse hornblende lamella and a group of nanometer-scale hornblende discs shows downward concavity for Ca and Al, as expected for incomplete diffusion between the precipitation zone and the pre-existing hornblende lamellae. A profile measured between two nanometer-scale discs shows downward concavity for Al and nearly constant to slight upward concavity for the Ca content, suggesting incomplete Al diffusion before completion of the exsolution process, but a near-equilibrium state for Ca. However, the Ca profile could also represent incomplete diffusion, if the hornblende discs had started coarsening at the expense of other (shrinking) discs by means of the Gibbs-Thomson (capillary) effect. The observed profiles suggest that, relative to Al, Ca was the faster diffusing element when the exsolution and coarsening processes stopped.

C-Raf is a an essential member of the growth factor-ras pathway and a target for intervention strategies aimed at blocking cell proliferative responses. Excessive smooth muscle proliferation is considered one cause of the arterial closure in restenosis. Because of the similarity to the human cardiovascular system, a useful current animal model of the disease is a baboon model. As a foundation for animal studies employing antisense oligonucleotides, efforts were made to characterize the molecular and cellular biology of the baboon system. The nucleotide sequence of baboon c-raf cDNA was determined. Antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides specific to the 3'-UTR of c-raf mRNA from human and baboon were compared using primary baboon smooth muscle cells in culture. A particular human antisense oligonucleotide, referred to as ISIS 5132, was different by only 2 of 20 bases from the baboon sequence. The corresponding baboon antisense oligonucleotide ISIS 12959, however, was markedly more effective to inhibit c-raf mRNA, protein production, and DNA synthesis, and the results attest to the species specificity of the approach. After antisense treatment, c-raf mRNA levels dropped rapidly, whereas protein levels decreased with a half-life of roughly 24-48 hours, consistent with the antiproliferative effects. The data are discussed with regard to the profile of protein-protein interactions made by C-Raf and with the view that the baboon system closely parallels the human one at the signal transduction level. As this work progressed, a baboon cDNA homolog of a human c-raf-2 pseudogene was isolated, sequenced, and shown to be transcribed into mRNA.

The energy gap of zinc-blende epitaxial layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy has been determined over a wide range of composition using optical transmission and reflection and an empirical formula for the energy gap at room temperature is also given. In addition in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry was used in order to determine the temperature dependence of the energy gap between room temperature and the growth temperature of alloys with compositions x, y as used in cladding layers and waveguides for blue - green light-emitting devices.

The following report explains the moisture-related concerns for High R-value wall assemblies and discusses past Building America research work that informs this study. Hygrothermal simulations were prepared for several common approaches to High R-value wall construction in six cities (Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, St. Louis, Chicago, and International Falls) representing a range of climate zones (2, 3, 4C, 4, 5A, and 7, respectively). The simulations are informed by experience gained from past research in this area and validated by field measurement and forensic experience. The modeling program was developed to assess the moisture durability of the wall assemblies based on three primary sources of moisture: construction moisture, air leakage condensation, and bulk water leakage. The peak annual moisture content of the wood based exterior sheathing was used to comparatively analyze the response to the moisture loads for each of the walls in each given city. Walls which experienced sheathing moisture contents between 20% and 28% were identified as risky, whereas those exceeding 28% were identified as very high risk. All of the wall assemblies perform well under idealized conditions. However, only the walls with exterior insulation, or cavity insulation which provides a hygrothermal function similar to exterior insulation, perform adequately when exposed to moisture loads. Walls with only cavity insulation are particularly susceptible to air leakage condensation. None of the walls performed well when a precipitation based bulk water leak was introduced to the backside of the sheathing, emphasizing the importance of proper flashing details.

This study analyzed the current approaches for rectal cancer treatment in elderly patients.We retrospectively studied 240 rectal cancer patients who had undergone radiotherapy from 2000 to 2008. The ages of the patients ranged from 65 and 75 years (group A, n = 127) and older than 75 years (group B, n = 113). The distribution of the Charlson comorbidity index was similar between the two groups, but the ECOG performance status (PS) differed between the groups (66 % of the patients of group A were PS 0, and 40 % were PS 0 in group B (p 0.0001)). The tumor stages were comparable between groups.The median age of the patients was 74.3 years (range 65-90.6). Treatment was discussed during a multidisciplinary cancer team meeting before treatment for 55 % of the cases in group A and 73 % of the cases in group B (p 0.001), and treatment proposals were in accordance with guidelines in 96 % of the cases in group A and 76 % of the cases in group B (p 0.001). Group B patients received slightly less concurrent chemotherapy (35 vs. 30 % for group A; p = 0.54), more hypofractionated radiotherapy (41 vs. 54 % for group A; p = 0.064), less surgery (92 vs. 80 % for group A; p = 0.014), and less adjuvant chemotherapy (34 vs. 10 % for group A; p 0.001). Finally, 80 % of the patients in group A and 60 % of the patients in group B received treatment in accordance with guidelines (p = 0.007) and in the logistic regression model. Non-metastatic patients who were aged below 75 years were predicted for conformal management (HR = 0.323; 95 % CI = 0.152-0.684) irrespective of their performance status, comorbidity, or disease stage.Treatment proposals and administered therapy differed according to age.

Cancer is fundamentally a disease with failure in regulation in tissue growth and the risk of developing cancer increases with age. The armamentarium in treating cancer is mainly threefold: surgical resection of the tumor, radiation therapy and cytotoxic drugs. For blad‐ der cancer, results from contemporary radical cystectomy series with pelvic lymph node dis‐ section for T2-4 NX M0 transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) provides accurate pathologic staging of the primary tumor and lymph nodes, and due to increasing expertise with the dif‐ ferent types of urinary diversions durable preservation of quality of life. However, the 5year survival rate for all patients with pT2 tumors is approximately 50 – 80%, and for those with negative lymph nodes 64 – 86% (Stein, Lieskovsky et al. 2001) (Shariat, Karakiewicz et al. 2006) (Hautmann, de Petriconi et al.). In contrast, the 5-year survival rates for locally ad‐ vanced cancers, pT3 and pT4, in contemporary cystectomy series range from 22 – 58%. The presence of pathologically proven lymph node metastases at radical cystectomy is associat‐ ed with a poor outcome with a 5-year survival of 30%.

Background Although open radical cystectomy (ORC) remains the gold standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) continues to gain wider acceptance. In this article, we focus on the steps of RARC, describing our approach, which has been developed over the past 10 yr. Totally intracorporeal RARC aims to offer the benefits of a complete minimally invasive approach while replicating the oncologic outcomes of open surgery. Objective We report our outcomes of a totally intracorporeal RARC procedure, describing step by step our technique and highlighting the variations on this standard template of nerve-sparing and female organ–preserving approaches in men and women. Design, setting, and participants Between December 2003 and October 2012, a total of 113 patients (94 male and 19 female) underwent totally intracorporeal RARC. Surgical procedure We performed RARC, extended pelvic lymph node dissection, and a totally intracorporeal urinary diversion (UD) in all patients. In the accompanying video, we focus on the standard template for RARC, also describing nerve-sparing and female organ–preserving approaches. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Complications and oncologic outcomes are reported, including overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results and limitations RARC with intracorporeal UD was performed in 113 patients. Mean age was 64 yr (range: 37–84). Forty-three patients underwent intracorporeal ileal conduit, and 70 had intracorporeal neobladder. On surgical pathology, 48% of patients had ≤pT1 disease, 27% had pT2 disease, 13% had pT3 disease, and 12% had pT4 disease. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 21 (range: 0–57). Twenty percent of patients had lymph node–positive disease. Positive surgical margins occurred in six cases (5.3%). Median follow-up was 25 mo (range: 3–107). We recorded a total of 70 early complications (0–30 d) in 54 patients (47.8%), with 37 patients (32.7%) having Clavien grade ≥3. Thirty-six late complications (>30 d) were recorded in 30 patients (26.5%), with 20 patients (17.7%) having Clavien grade ≥3. One patient (0.9%) died within 90 days of operation from pulmonary embolism. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, CSS was 81% at 3 yr and 67% at 5 yr. Conclusions Our structured approach to RARC has enabled us to develop this complex service while maintaining patient outcomes and complication rates comparable with ORC series. Our results demonstrate acceptable oncologic outcomes and encouraging long-term CSS rates.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is considered the standard approach for T3-4 M0 rectal cancer; however, the optimal dose remains undefined for the elderly. We performed a retrospective analysis to compare conventional (C) and hypofractionated (HF) schedules in elderly patients. We compared survival rates, local control and morbidity. Methods: From 2000 to 2008, 177 patients older than 65 years with T3-4 M0 rectal cancer received preoperative radiotherapy according to either a conventional protocol (45 to 50.4 Gy in 1.8-2 Gy daily fractions) or a hypofractionated (39 Gy in 3 Gy daily fractions) protocol. Fifty-five patients in the conventional group and none of the patients in the hypofractionated group received concomitant chemotherapy. Both groups were equivalent in terms of their characteristics. The median follow-up was 36 months. Results: The occurrence of early grade 3-4 radiation toxicity was equivalent between the 2 groups (7%). Surgery was performed in 98% of the patients in the HF group versus 92% in the conventional ( p =0.08). The delay between radiotherapy and surgery was 22 days in the HF group versus 45 days in the conventional group ( p =0.0021). The downstaging rates were 39% in HF group and 45% in the C group ( p =0.53). For lower rectum tumors, the conservative surgery rates were 43% in the HF group and 35% in the C group, ( p =0.52). The postoperative death rates at 30 days were equal between the two groups (3%). The 5-year local control rates was 87.3% in group C and 91.7% in group HF ( p =0.5). Based on a Kaplan-Meier analysis, the 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 88%, 67% and 45%, respectively, in the C group and 84%, 60% and 39%, respectively, in the HF group ( p =0.28). In a multivariate analysis, the prognostic factors for overall survival were a Charlson index < 2 ( p =0.0034 HR=0.3), pT stage ≤2 ( p =0.0042 HR=0.16), pN0 stage ( p =0.0072 HR=0.388), and downstaging ( p =0.0498 HR=0.651). Radiation schedule and concomitant chemotherapy had no impact. Conclusion: In this series, the local control rates and the overall survival results are equivalent for patients treated with HP and C radiation schedules. As hypofractionated radiotherapy is more convenient for elderly patients and has equivalent morbidity, additional prospective studies with this population could be of great interest.

Epitaxial layers of the topological insulator Bi2Se3 have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy on laterally lattice-matched InP(111)B substrates. High resolution X-ray diffraction shows a significant improvement of Bi2Se3 crystal quality compared to layers deposited on other substrates. The measured full width at half maximum of the rocking curve is Delta omega=13 arcsec, and the (omega-2theta) scans exhibit clear layer thickness fringes. Atomic force microscope images show triangular twin domains with sizes increasing with layer thickness. The structural quality of the domains is confirmed on the microscopic level by transmission electron microscopy., 4 pages, 4 figures

Exsolved pairs of hornblende and cummingtonite from two localities in southern New England, U.S.A., have been studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to measure the crystallographic orientation of the exsolution lamellae. Both the cummingtonite and the hornblende show multiple generations or stages of exsolution. Electron microprobe analyses gave compositions of the pre-exsolved (averages) and the coarsest exsolved amphiboles. In amphiboles, two orientations of lamellae are usually present and nearly parallel to {lOa} and {lOT}of the host. The observed lamellar orientations are consistent with orientations predicted by the optimal phase-boundary (OPB) theory and are a function of small differences in a, C,and {3of the host and exsolved amphiboles (~a = ahost - alamella, ~{3 = {3host - {3lamella, and ~c = Chost - Clamella)' Because these lattice parameters vary with T and composition, the precise orientations of the lamellae are controlled by these variables. The widths of determined exsolution lamellae varied from microscopic (micrometer size) to submicroscopic (nanometer size). The TEM images show, in some cases, multiple generations of lamellae with lamellar orientations near {lOT} differing up to 4.1°, whereas orientations near {lOa} differed up to 4°. For two pairs of coexisting amphiboles, the T dependence of the lattice parameters from 25 to 600 °C was measured using a Guinier camera. The OPB calculations indicate that for all the samples the different lamellar generations formed between about 780 and 300 °C (:t80 °C, on the basis of maximum errors of the lattice-parameter determinations). Lamellae of the same generation all showed nearly the same width. Exsolution temperatures could not be derived from the "100" lamellae because relatively small variations in ~c, which controls exact orientation of the "100" lamellae, could not be measured accurately enough.

Tin granites that host greisens have been extensively studied, but surprisingly little work has been carried out on the properties of the fluids during greisen formation. In the Triberg Granite Complex, southwestern Germany, it has been possible to reconstruct part of the chemical and physical evolution of these greisen-forming fluids.This granite complex contains an area of about 30 km 2 with cassiterite-bearing greisen assemblages and beryl-bearing pegmatites that have been locally affected by the greisen-forming fluids. The cassiterite occurs in narrow veins and in miarolitic cavities and is disseminated in parts of the granite. In places, beryl-bearing pegmatites, which are hosted by the same granite unit and texturally predate the greisen, interacted with the greisen-forming fluids. Production of secondary beryl, albite, phenakite, bertrandite, and kaolinite is associated with the replacement of the primary beryl in the pegmatites.The systematic variation of mineral assemblages in different parts of the leucogranitic part of the Triberg Granite Complex indicated temperature and chemical gradients in the fluids. Calculations of mineral stabilities and fluid inclusion studies on cassiterite and beryl support the existence of the gradients that were inferred from the field observations. Estimated pressure and salinity were nearly constant: pressure was estimated to be 1,500 bars and the measured salinity was 4 to 5 wt percent NaCl equiv. From the interior to the margin of the study area, the temperature decreased from 550 degrees to about 250 degrees C and the concentration of hydrofluoric acid (HF) in the fluid decreased from 0.06 to 0.002 moles/l.The best explanation of the greisen formation is a model that postulates a source of the mineralizing fluids in the center of the mineralized area. These fluids may have been released from a fluid trap in a cupolalike structure and may have penetrated radially outward into the cooled granite where they formed the greisen assemblages, affected beryllium pegmatites, and caused thermal and chemical gradients.

A 71-year-old female patient with a status following multiple conjunctival excisions, histopathologically confirmed conjunctival melanoma (CMM) and also multiple therapy with mitomycin C presented with progressive conjunctival pigmentation. Treatment was carried out with local interferon α2b administration four or five times daily for several months. The lesion showed regression and lost pigmentation without any side effects.

The spread of pelvic tumors to loco-regional lymph nodes is an important means of tumor dissemination. Nodal metastases have therapeutic implications for prognosis and management. Pelvic tumors usually metastasize first to regional lymph nodes, which are specific groups of nodes for each type of tumor, and are classified according to the TNM system as N-stage disease (Sobin et al., TNM classification of malignant tumors, 2009). If a pelvic tumor metastasizes to a lymph node outside of the defined regional nodes, this is considered M-stage disease, which may in turn affect the patient’s treatment options and prognosis. Thus, exact knowledge of the regional pelvic lymph node spread of each tumor located within the small pelvis is essential for diagnostic purposes, surgical treatment options, tumor staging and follow-up strategies. A key element in assessing each patient is the correct and precise anatomical description of pelvic nodal metastases to facilitate proper staging and treatment. In the present overview, pelvic lymph node anatomy and nomenclature are reviewed with schematic illustrations.