One-step growth of thin film SnS with large grains using MOCVD.

Thin film tin sulphide (SnS) films were produced with grain sizes greater than 1 µm using a one-step metal organic chemical vapour deposition process. Tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) was used as the substrate, having a similar work function to molybdenum typically used as the back contact, but with potential use of its transparency for bifacial illumination. Tetraethyltin and ditertiarybutylsulphide were used as precursors with process temperatures 430-470 °C to promote film growth with large grains. The film stoichiometry was controlled by varying the precursor partial pressure ratios and characterised with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to optimise the SnS composition. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy were used to determine the phases that were present in the film and revealed that small amounts of ottemannite Sn2S3 was present when SnS was deposited on to the ITO using optimised growth parameters. Interaction at the SnS/ITO interface to form Sn2S3 was deduced to have resulted for all growth conditions.

Designing and delivering an epilepsy course for GPs to help meet their educational needs.

BACKGROUND: With the recent publication of comprehensive evidence based guidelines and the inclusion of epilepsy in the new GMS contract in the UK the importance of epilepsy to primary care has become clear. There seem to be many deficiencies in GP service provision for epilepsy including a lack of structured review and poor information provision for patients. Therefore, it is likely that further education on epilepsy management is essential. AIM: To ascertain what GPs wish to learn about epilepsy and their preferences as to which methods should be used to achieve this. To use this information to design and then deliver an epilepsy teaching programme for GPs. DESIGN OF STUDY: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Primary care, Lothian region, Scotland. METHODS: A questionnaire was designed and delivered to 50 GPs to obtain information related to the aims of the study. These results were used to aid the design of an epilepsy teaching day for GPs. This course was then delivered in West Lothian, Scotland. RESULTS: GPs seemed to prefer weekday, half-day teaching using multidisciplinary lectures and case studies. Drug treatment, referral guidelines and diagnosis were considered the most important topics and the teaching programme received mainly positive feedback from participants. CONCLUSION: It would appear that a short course on epilepsy management, when designed with the preferences of participating GPs in mind, can be readily delivered and well received.

Antifungal synergism. A proposed dosage for corneal storage medium.

Fungal infections from eye bank-preserved corneas have led us to search for antifungal agents that will eliminate yeast and mold in McCarey-Kaufman (MK) medium and concurrently be nontoxic. Amphotericin B, natamycin, nystatin, and clotrimazole were tested in synergistic combinations in vitro against nine yeast and six mold specimens. For average yeast and mold concentrations of 3.4 X 10(4) and 1.36 X 10(4) colony-forming units (CFUs)/mL at 5 degrees C, and 3.36 X 10(4) and 2.3 X 10(3) CFUs/mL at 37 degrees C, respectively, a synergistic combination of all four drugs at one twelfth the minimal fungicidal concentrations proved fungicidal. This synergistic combination did not alter donor human corneal morphology under specular microscopy, nor did it inhibit rabbit corneal endothelial cell division preserved and propagated in antifungal supplemented MK medium. The synergistic drug mixture did prove to be fungicidal when the endothelial cells were challenged with fungal inoculum.

Recurrent granular corneal dystrophy.

Four full-thickness corneal buttons and tissue from one lamellar keratoplasty, derived from four patients with granular corneal dystrophy recurring in previously transplanted corneas, were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. Fibrous tissue without vascularization was present between the epithelium and Bowman's membrane and contained deposits characteristic of granular dystrophy in both light and electron microscopy. The recurrence of dystrophy in the normal donor cornea is the result of infiltration of the grafted cornea by host invasion. The donor stroma is spared.

Temporal changes in posterior capsulotomy dimensions following neodymium:YAG laser discission.

We prospectively evaluated 20 eyes of 19 consecutive patients to determine the nature of temporal changes in posterior capsulotomy size, shape, and contour six weeks following neodymium:YAG laser posterior capsular disruption. Mean capsulotomy area increased by 32% (range 0 to 134%, P less than .05, Student t-test), although mean capsulotomy perimeter did not change appreciably. Capsular enlargement tended toward sphericity over time, with smoothing of edge contour from capsular tag retraction. Remodeling of opening size, shape, and contour was most likely to occur with preoperative evidence of capsular traction, and highly irregular capsulotomy borders immediately post-discission.

Candida albicans transmission by penetrating keratoplasty.

Transmission by microbial infection from donor to host during penetrating keratoplasty is of continuing concern to corneal transplant surgeons. Eye banks routinely use antibiotic and/or antiseptic solutions to pretreat donor eyes used for transplantation, but specific antifungal agents are not given. We report a case of Candida albicans endophthalmitis that occurred after using a donor eye found to have Candida positive cultures.

Aprotinin treatment of pseudomonal corneal infection.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces proteolytic enzymes capable of causing severe corneal degradation. In this study we tested aprotinin, a broad-spectrum protease inhibitor, on rabbit corneas infected with P. aeruginosa to determine whether any benefit could be derived. Corneas treated with aprotinin and tobramycin topically and subconjunctivally were not clinically better than corneas treated with tobramycin alone.

The federal response to drug abuse: 1976-1980.

Drug use remains a prominent aspect of the American environment. Consequently, this analysis was undertaken to examine the current as well as the projected role of the federal government in drug abuse. Based on an examination of federal expenditures between the years of 1976 and 1980, the intelligence, corrections, interdictions, federal prosecutions, and compliance categories have increased their proportions of the budget, but not enough to compensate for inflation. Based on the foregoing, there is a continuing desire for states to increase their operational responsibilities; however, a well-structured mechanism for evaluation in law enforcement efforts is lacking. Even so, it appears that the level of concern accorded by the federal government to psychoactive substance use is progressively decreasing.

An outbreak of monensin poisoning in adult turkeys.

Monensin, fed in excess of 200 ppm caused mortality in Triple 5 and Triple 6 turkeys aged 25 weeks old and over. Mortality commenced three to four days after administering feed containing monensin and ceased three to five days after it was removed. This concentration of drug did not have any detectable adverse effects on Triple 5 turkeys fed from day old, four weeks old, or 11 weeks old for periods of two weeks.