8 research outputs found
Controlled Growth, Patterning and Placement of Carbon Nanotube Thin Films
Controlled growth, patterning and placement of carbon nanotube (CNT) thin
films for electronic applications are demonstrated. The density of CNT films is
controlled by optimizing the feed gas composition as well as the concentration
of growth catalyst in a chemical vapor deposition process. Densities of CNTs
ranging from 0.02 CNTs/{\mu}m^2 to 1.29 CNTs/{\mu}m^2 are obtained. The
resulting pristine CNT thin films are then successfully patterned using either
pre-growth or post-growth techniques. By developing a layered photoresist
process that is compatible with ferric nitrate catalyst, significant
improvements over popular pre-growth patterning methods are obtained.
Limitations of traditional post-growth patterning methods are circumvented by
selective transfer printing of CNTs with either thermoplastic or metallic
stamps. Resulting as-grown patterns of CNT thin films have edge roughness (< 1
{\mu}m) and resolution (< 5 {\mu}m) comparable to standard photolithography.
Bottom gate CNT thin film devices are fabricated with field-effect mobilities
up to 20 cm^2/Vs and on/off ratios of the order of 10^3. The patterning and
transfer printing methods discussed here have a potential to be generalized to
include other nanomaterials in new device configurations
Economic, clinical and social impact of simple limbal epithelial transplantation for limbal stem cell deficiency
Aims To report the global uptake of simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) and compare the economic, clinical and social outcomes of SLET with those of cultured limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET).
Methods A comprehensive literature review and an online survey of eye surgeons were conducted to understand the efficacy and current uptake of SLET surgery. A de novo economic model was developed to estimate the cost savings with SLET compared with CLET. Our economic analysis is conducted from an Indian perspective, as this is where the technique originated. A scenario analysis using the UK cost data and a user-friendly Excel model is included to allow users to input the costs from their setting to estimate the cost savings with using SLET compared with using CLET
Results The anatomical success with SLET in adults (72.6% (range 62%–80%)) was the same as CLET (70.4% (range 68%–80.9%)). For children, the outcome for SLET (77.8% (range 73%–83%)) was better than with CLET (44.5% (range 43%–45%)). In response to our informal questionnaire, 99 surgeons reported to have performed SLET on 1174 patients in total. They appreciated that SLET negates the requirement for costly tissue engineering facilities. Results of economic analysis suggested that SLET provided an estimated cost-savings of US6673.10 for children. In broad terms, the cost of SLET is approximately 10% of the cost of CLET for adults and 8% for children.
Conclusion SLET offers a more accessible and financially attractive alternative to CLET to treat limbal stem cell deficiency
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Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome: a rare multisystem affliction
About 200 cases of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) have been reported in the literature. The disorder affects both sexes equally and the occurrence is mostly sporadic except for a few reports of cases with autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Herein we report an 11-year-old girl with progressive BRBNS and onset at 5 years of age
Recommended from our members
Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome: a rare multisystem affliction
About 200 cases of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) have been reported in the literature. The disorder affects both sexes equally and the occurrence is mostly sporadic except for a few reports of cases with autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Herein we report an 11-year-old girl with progressive BRBNS and onset at 5 years of age