Comprehensive comparison of various techniques for the analysis of elemental distributions in thin films.

The present work shows results on elemental distribution analyses in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films for solar cells performed by use of wavelength-dispersive and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) in a scanning electron microscope, EDX in a transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron, angle-dependent soft X-ray emission, secondary ion-mass (SIMS), time-of-flight SIMS, sputtered neutral mass, glow-discharge optical emission and glow-discharge mass, Auger electron, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, by use of scanning Auger electron microscopy, Raman depth profiling, and Raman mapping, as well as by use of elastic recoil detection analysis, grazing-incidence X-ray and electron backscatter diffraction, and grazing-incidence X-ray fluorescence analysis. The Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films used for the present comparison were produced during the same identical deposition run and exhibit thicknesses of about 2 µm. The analysis techniques were compared with respect to their spatial and depth resolutions, measuring speeds, availabilities, and detection limits.

Size-dependent detachment-limited decay kinetics of two-dimensional TiN islands on TiN(111).

In situ high-temperature (T(a)=1050-1250 K) scanning tunneling microscopy was used to determine the coarsening and decay kinetics of two-dimensional TiN adatom and vacancy islands on atomically smooth TiN(111) terraces. We report the first observation of an abrupt decrease in decay rates, irrespective of T(a), of adatom islands with areas less than a critical value of 1600 A(2). However, no decay rate transition was observed for vacancy islands. We attribute the size-dependent island decay behavior, which is consistent with detachment-limited kinetics, to anisotropic attachment and detachment barriers.

Atypical presentation of plantar fasciitis secondary to soft-tissue mass infiltration.

This article describes a patient with plantar fascial pain who presented to the office of one of the authors. Physical examination and the patient's description of the history of symptoms revealed classic signs and symptoms of plantar fasciitis. The patient was treated with numerous conservative modalities, including ultrasound, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, trigger-point injections, over-the-counter orthoses, and stretching exercises. When the pain was not relieved by these conservative measures, magnetic resonance imaging of the area was performed. Visualization of the insertional area of the plantar fascia revealed a mass inferior to, as well as infiltrated into, the plantar fascia. Surgical excision of the lesion resulted in complete elimination of the patient's pain.

Bilateral intraosseous cystic formation in the talus: a complication of subtalar arthroeresis.

Intraosseous cystic formation in the talus is a complication of subtalar joint arthroereisis which has not been previously reported. The authors present a case whereby STA-peg implants were utilized to correct a bilateral flatfoot deformity in an adolescent girl. The surgical procedure was successful in treating the structural deformity of the foot; however, the formation of talar cysts occurred. A review of the literature and the treatment of this previously undescribed complication is presented.

The use of bone grafts in the management of nonunions.

Nonunions can be frustrating complication for the lower extremity surgeon. The cessation of bone healing requires an understanding of its etiology before it may be treated appropriately. This article will review nonunions and, in the context of this special issue, discuss the role of bone grafts in their treatment.

Intraoperative irradiation: a pilot study combining external beam photons with "boost" dose intraoperative electrons.

Intraoperative "boost" dose electron beam therapy given in combination with 4500--5000 rad (45--50 Gray) external beam irradiation has been demonstrated as a practical therapeutic modality at the MGH. This procedure has been employed thus far in 58 patients; the results in the initial 36 are analyzed in detail in this paper. Thirty-four of the 36 patients had locally advanced lesions--unresectable, recurrent, or residual disease. Results achieved to date are in full agreement with our expectations: high radiation doses have been delivered to the primary intra-abdominal and pelvic tumors, excluding the sensitive structures from irradiation. This has been accomplished by a truly multidisciplinary effort comprising surgery, anesthesiology, OR nursing, administration, engineers, physicists, therapy technologists, and radiation therapists. Although follow-up is not yet sufficient to judge ultimate efficacy, acute and chronic severe morbidity is low and local control is good. There is justified enthusiasm for continuing the procedure.

The role of surgery on ambulatory patients in one teaching hospital.

The development of a program of one-day surgery for ambulatory patients in one hospital was stimulated by overloaded operating room facilities and a long waiting list of patients for hospital admission. This concept has received enthusiastic reception by the surgical staff and the number of operations has increased to over 7,500 per year. All of the surgical specialty services use the surgical day care unit, although the number of cases suitable for ambulatory surgical treatment varies greatly on the various services. There have been no deaths and about 1% of patients have been admitted to the hospital from the surgical day care unit for a variety of reasons that are summarized.