Twinning superlattices in indium phosphide nanowires

Here, we show that we control the crystal structure of indium phosphide (InP) nanowires by impurity dopants. We have found that zinc decreases the activation barrier for 2D nucleation growth of zinc-blende InP and therefore promotes the InP nanowires to crystallise in the zinc blende, instead of the commonly found wurtzite crystal structure. More importantly, we demonstrate that we can, by controlling the crystal structure, induce twinning superlattices with long-range order in InP nanowires. We can tune the spacing of the superlattices by the wire diameter and the zinc concentration and present a model based on the cross-sectional shape of the zinc-blende InP nanowires to quantitatively explain the formation of the periodic twinning.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure

A comprehensive overview of radioguided surgery using gamma detection probe technology

The concept of radioguided surgery, which was first developed some 60 years ago, involves the use of a radiation detection probe system for the intraoperative detection of radionuclides. The use of gamma detection probe technology in radioguided surgery has tremendously expanded and has evolved into what is now considered an established discipline within the practice of surgery, revolutionizing the surgical management of many malignancies, including breast cancer, melanoma, and colorectal cancer, as well as the surgical management of parathyroid disease. The impact of radioguided surgery on the surgical management of cancer patients includes providing vital and real-time information to the surgeon regarding the location and extent of disease, as well as regarding the assessment of surgical resection margins. Additionally, it has allowed the surgeon to minimize the surgical invasiveness of many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, while still maintaining maximum benefit to the cancer patient. In the current review, we have attempted to comprehensively evaluate the history, technical aspects, and clinical applications of radioguided surgery using gamma detection probe technology

Dilated fixed pupils and respiratory failure: a rare clinical course of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome

Background Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a neuromuscular junction disorder and the clinical triad consists of proximal muscle weakness, autonomic symptoms and reduced tendon reflexes. Sluggish pupillary reflexes are common but dilated fixed pupils are rare.Case presentation We report a patient with a rare clinical course of LEMS. The patient was hospitalised due to progressive dyspnoea. She was ambulant and independent of oxygen at hospitalisation. The following day she suffered an in-hospital cardiac arrest based on hypoxia due to sputum stasis. The neurology department was consulted since the patient did not trigger on the ventilator after cessation of sedation. On neurological examination, the patient had dilated and fixed pupils, severe muscle weakness and areflexia, but a normal consciousness. Finally, she was diagnosed with LEMS. In this case report, the clinical course and diagnostic workup including anti-VGCC antibody testing, imaging and the results of electrophysiological studies are discussed. We also emphasise the importance of malignancy screening since the conventional chest CT was negative for lung carcinoma, but PET-CT raised a high suspicion for small-cell lung carcinoma.Conclusions A rare course of LEMS, with early respiratory failure and wide, fixed pupils. Regarding repetitive nerve stimulation, it is important to stimulate long enough to see the incremental response. Furthermore, this study illustrated the importance of malignancy screening with PET-CT when there is a high suspicion of small-cell lung carcinoma with negative conventional CT