Gate induced quantum wires in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures by cleaved edge deposition.

Electric conductors with dimensions reduced to the nanometer scale are the prerequisite of the quantum devices upon which the future advanced electronics is expected to be based. In the past, the fabrication of one-dimensional (1D) wires has been a particular challenge because they have to be defect-free over their whole length, which can be several tens µm. Excellent 1D wires have been produced by cleaving semiconductors (GaAs, AlGaAs) in ultra high vacuum and overgrowing the pristine edge surface by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE)1,2. Unfortunately, this cleaved edge overgrowth (CEO) technique did not find wide-spread use because it requires a series of elaborate steps that are difficult to accomplish. In this Letter, we present a greatly simplified variation of this technique where the cleaving takes place in ambient air and the MBE overgrowth is replaced by a standard deposition process. Wires produced by this cleaved edge deposition (CED) technique have properties that are as least as good as the traditional CEO ones. Due to its simplicity, the CED technique offers a generally accessible way to produce 1D devices.

Dietary status of trained female cyclists.

Dietary status was evaluated in eight highly trained female cyclists. Each cyclist kept a 3-day weighed food record. Diets were analyzed for nutrient content using a computerized software package. Blood was also obtained and evaluated for hemoglobin, hematocrit, and albumin. For an athletic group, the cyclists' diets were found to be low in energy (85% RDA) and carbohydrate (4.4 gm/kg body weight per day). Mean daily dietary intakes were well below the RDAs for folacin (76% RDA), magnesium (81%), iron (59%), and zinc (48%). In addition, more than one-third of the cyclists failed to consume 67% of the RDA for the following micronutrients: pyridoxine, folacin, cobalamin, vitamin E, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Hemoglobin (135 gm/L), hematocrit (0.39), and albumin (45 gm/L) values were all normal, although most hemoglobin values were in the lower 50% of normal range. Foods such as meats, poultry, fish, beans, peas, and nuts were low or absent from the diets of most athletes. Dietary quality in this group of female cyclists could have been greatly improved with the addition of more of those foods. These athletes could benefit from nutrition education and diet counseling.

Parathyroid adenoma associated with a branchial cleft cyst.

An unusual case of parathyroid adenoma is presented. This adenoma presented as a rapidly expanding neck mass in a normocalcemic patient. It was located far laterally in the neck, in association with the internal jugular vein and with a branchial cleft cyst. This case provides an unusual presentation of parathyroid adenoma. It also provides an elegant demonstration of developmental anatomy as well as the mechanism of parathyroid ectopia in the lateral aspect of the neck.

Skin temperature recording with phosphors: toxicity studies on animals.

In a previous communication in this journal, a method was described for converting invisible thermal patterns of the human skin into a detailed visible picture. At that time, the question of possible toxicity of the thermographic phosphor was raised. Toxicity studies conducted on laboratory animals indicate that the probability of toxic side reactions resulting from the use of zinc-cadmium sulfide phosphor spray is very low.