Islands as nanometric probes of strain distribution in heterogeneous surfaces.

Many of the surface phenomena are driven by elastic energy and elastic interactions. Despite the fact that there are many microscopic techniques with nm and atomic resolution, an established technique to study the distribution of strain on the surface is still lacking. We present a study on the Gd(0001)/W(110) system, in which undulations in the Gd layer are detected by STM. This creates a heterogeneous surface with reduced strains, due to relaxation, on the crests of the waved surface and elevated strains in the troughs. An additional part of the strain is released through Stransky-Krastanov growth of Gd islands. Utilizing a strain-relief model, we show that the island size and shape reflect the strain variations on the surface. Strain maps were calculated, using the island as nanoprobes, with good correlation to the surface topography.

Follicular B-cell pseudolymphoma.

A 60-year-old woman presented with a 3-week history of a pruritic papulo-nodular eruption on the face and trunk after a bee sting. Histological examination showed a predominantly lymphocytic infiltrate with follicular centres and tingible body macrophages. Immunohistochemically, positive staining for both kappa and lambda light chains was noted. The eruption settled with oral antihistamine and topical corticosteroid. These findings support the diagnosis of follicular B-cell pseudolymphoma.

Solitary glomus tumour.

A 42-year-old woman developed a purplish, tender nodule on her wrist of 6 months duration. Histological examination showed a well-circumscribed lesion situated in the dermis and subcutis characterized by numerous, dilated thin-walled vascular spaces surrounded by sheets of glomus cells. The histological findings are characteristic of the diagnosis of an uncommon type of glomus tumour, known as glomangioma.

Longitudinal melanonychia associated with hydroxyurea therapy in a patient with essential thrombocytosis.

Occurrence of skin lesions during long-term therapy with hydroxyurea are well described, but there have been only a few case reports of longitudinal melanonychia associated with hydroxyurea treatment. We report herein longitudinal melanonychia associated with hydroxyurea therapy in a subject with essential thrombocytosis. The prolonged time lapse (1 year) between initiation of hydroxyurea therapy and the onset of the longitudinal melanonychia should be noted.

Neurobehaviour of school age children born to diabetic mothers.

AIM: To study the neurobehavioural effects that diabetes during pregnancy might have on children by school age. METHODS: The neurobehavioural function of 57 school age children born to 48, well controlled diabetic mothers was compared with 57 control children matched for age, birth order, and parental socioeconomic status, using several cognitive, behavioural, sensory and motor neurological tests. RESULTS: The IQ scores of the index group children were similar to those of control children (117.7 +/- 13.4 vs 118.5 +/- 10.1). There were no differences between the groups in various sensory motor functions. However, the index group children performed less well than the controls on indices of fine and gross motor functions, as observed on the Bruininks-Oseretzky test of motor proficiency. The scores of children born to diabetic mothers were higher than controls on the Touwen and Prechtl neurological examination. They also performed worse in the Pollack tapper test which is designed to detect minor neurological deficits, inattention, and hyperactivity. The index children had higher scores on the Conners abbreviated parent-teacher questionnaire which measures hyperactivity and inattention. There was a negative correlation between the performance of the index group children on various neurodevelopmental and behavioural tests and the severity of hyperglycaemia, as assessed by blood glycosylated haemoglobin and acetonuria. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes during pregnancy adversely affects some fine neurological functions in children at school age, but not their cognitive scores. These effects are not correlated with the degree of glycaemic control.

Infant welfare in inter-war Oxford.

State provision of welfare increased in the 1930s in Great Britain, especially the welfare of mothers and babies. The national picture hid many local nuances and practices concerned with the implementation of policies. Using Oxford and Oxfordshire as a case study, this paper examines the ways in which local authorities chose to interpret national policies and to insist on a mixture of personal responsibility, public philanthropy and professional involvement.