Highly ordered vertical GaAs nanowire arrays with dry etching and their optical properties.

We report fabrication methods, including metal masks and dry etching, and demonstrate highly ordered vertical gallium arsenide nanowire arrays. The etching process created high aspect ratio, vertical nanowires with insignificant undercutting from the mask, allowing us to vary the diameter from 30 nm to 400 nm with a pitch from 250 nm to 1100 nm and length up to 2.2 µm. A diameter to pitch ratio of ∼68% was achieved. We also measured the reflectance from the nanowire arrays and show experimentally diameter-dependent strong absorption peaks resulting from resonant optical mode excitations within these nanowires. The reflectance curves match very well with simulations. The work done here paves the way towards achieving high efficiency solar cells and tunable photodetectors using III-V nanowires.

The natural history of ceramic-on-ceramic prosthetic hip squeak and its impact on patients.

BACKGROUND: Ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been scrutinised for a high incidence of post-operative squeak. The psychological and social consequences, and subsequent request for revision surgery are not well documented. METHODS: Seventy consecutive primary CoC THA operated on by a single surgeon at a single institution were enroled and followed for an average 7.1 years. Information was obtained from routine post-operative review, medical records, mailed questionnaire and periodic phone interview. RESULTS: Of 70 THA, 69 were available for follow-up. Seventeen (24.6 %) reported at least one instance of squeak, occurring on average 34.2 months post-operatively. Five (7.5 %) recalled being warned preoperatively of squeak as a potential complication. Six reported infrequent squeak and 11 frequent squeak. Ten were concerned, reporting embarrassment, harassment and anxiety regarding the longevity of their THA. One patient was planning revision surgery. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates the highest published prevalence of squeaking CoC THA and highlights the importance of warning patients of this potential complication.

Innovations in Practice: Effectiveness of specialist adolescent outreach service for at-risk adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes are reported for an assertive outreach team for adolescents that combines flexible service delivery (e.g. outreach) and broad-ranging interventions. METHOD: A retrospective evaluation over a 2-year period from 30 June 2006 to 30 June 2008 examined rates of hospitalisation, engagement with education and scores on the Child Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). RESULTS: The sample showed statistically significant decreases in hospitalisation rates (from 47% to 17%) and increases in engagement with education (full-time attendance from 23% to 56%). There was a mean increase of 7.4 points on the CGAS. CONCLUSION: An intensive, flexible and broad-ranging approach can be applied to adolescents who display at-risk behaviours and/or have high risk factors for poor long-term outcome.

Carcinoid tumour associated with enterovirus infection.

Enteroviruses commonly infect the gastrointestinal tract, and replication of enteroviruses has been well documented in the Peyer patches of the small bowel. Chronic enterovirus infection has been found in the stomach and terminal ileum of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. The authors report the unexpected finding of enterovirus VP1 protein, by immunoperoxidase staining, in carcinoid tumours found in one patient with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and another patient with chronic lower quadrant abdominal pain, and suggest a possible association between enteroviruses and tumorigenesis.

Varicella-zoster virus reactivation during acute enterovirus infection is associated with CD8 lymphocytopenia.

The trigger or triggers for reactivation of varicella-zoster virus have not been well defined in the medical literature. We investigated the role of enterovirus infections in triggering herpes zoster in five patients and correlated the reactivation with transient CD8 T lymphocyte depletion during the acute enterovirus infection.

The Adolescent Intensive Management Team: an intensive outreach mental health service for high-risk adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to describe the Adolescent Intensive Management (AIM) team at the Austin Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), a unique model of intensive outreach service with high-risk and difficult-to-engage adolescents, and describe the profile of clients referred to it. METHOD: This study used a retrospective review of clients' data, collected through file audit, over a 12-month period. RESULTS: The result of the study showed that a 100% retention rate of adolescents with complex social, emotional and mental health needs is possible in a flexible and multi-system approach to service provision. CONCLUSION: Clients referred to the CAMHS' AIM team displayed a pattern of multiple risk factors and comorbidities. Low caseload of 8-10 clients per clinician allowed flexibility and a level of intensity to make any necessary changes in service provision to better suit the client's needs. The majority of clients showed improvement in functioning following intervention by the team.