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In 2012, immigrants constitute 63% of new cases of heterosexually transmitted HIV among individuals born outside Ireland. Current strategies to encourage testing can be ineffective if immigrants perceive them as culturally insensitive. We obtained qualitative data to explore challenges to voluntary HIV-testing for immigrants in Ireland. Content analysis was undertaken to identify and describe pertinent themes. Widespread beliefs that HIV is primarily a disease of African immigrants were identified as challenges that constrain access to testing and care. The organization and location of testing services, attitude of health workers, and beliefs regarding mandatory HIV-testing for immigrants seeking access to welfare benefits were also identified. Immigrants in Ireland encounter a variety of structural, cultural and personal constraints to HIV testing. Opportunities exist in the Irish Health system to increase testing among immigrants through greater acknowledgement of cultural sensitivities of immigrant groups.

Raman spectroscopy offers the potential for the identification of illegal narcotics in seconds by inelastic scattering of light from molecular vibrations. In this study cocaine, heroin, and MDMA were analyzed using near-IR (785 nm excitation) micro-Raman spectroscopy. Narcotics were dispersed in solid dilutants of different concentrations by weight. The dilutants investigated were foodstuffs (flour, baby milk formula), sugars (glucose, lactose, maltose, mannitol), and inorganic materials (Talc powder, NaHCO3, MgSO4·7H2O). In most cases it was possible to detect the presence of drugs at levels down to ∼10% by weight. The detection sensitivity of the Raman technique was found to be dependent on a number of factors such as the scattering cross-sections of drug and dilutant, fluorescence of matrix or drug, complexity of dilutant Raman spectrum, and spectrometer resolution. Raman spectra from a series of 20 mixtures of cocaine and glucose (0–100% by weight cocaine) were collected and analyzed using multivariate analysis methods. An accurate prediction model was generated using a Partial Least Squares (PLS) algorithm that can predict the concentration of cocaine in solid glucose from a single Raman spectrum with a root mean standard error of prediction of 2.3%.

Near-infrared (785 nm) excitation was used to obtain Raman spectra from a series of 33 solid mixtures containing cocaine, caffeine and glucose (9.8-80.6% by weight cocaine), which were then analysed using chemometric methods. Principal component analysis of the data was employed to ascertain what factors influenced the spectral variation across the concentration range. It was found that 98% of the spectral variation was accounted for by three principal components. Analysis of the score and loadings plots for these components showed that the samples can be clearly classified on the basis of cocaine concentration. Discrimination on the basis of caffeine and glucose concentrations was also possible. Quantitative calibration models were generated using partial least-squares algorithms which predicted the concentration of cocaine in the solid mixtures containing caffeine and glucose from the Raman spectrum with a root mean standard error of prediction (RMSEP) of 4.1%. Caffeine and glucose concentrations were estimated with RMSEPs of 5.2 and 6.6%, respectively. These measurements demonstrate the feasibility of using near-IR Raman spectroscopy for rapid quantitative characterization of illegal narcotics.

The extreme cooling rates in material processing can be achieved in a number of current and emerging femtosecond laser techniques capable of highly localized energy deposition. The mechanisms of rapid solidification of a nanoscale region of a metal film transiently melted by a localized photoexcitation are investigated in a large-scale atomistic simulation. The small size of the melted region, steep temperature gradients, and fast two-dimensional electron heat conduction result in the cooling rate exceeding 10 13 K / s and create conditions for deep undercooling of the melt. The velocity of the liquid/crystal interface rises up to the maximum value of ϳ80 m / s during the initial stage of the cooling process and stays approximately constant as the temperature of the melted region continues to decrease. When the temperature drops down to the level of ϳ0.6T m , a massive homogeneous nucleation of the crystal phase inside the undercooled liquid region takes place and prevents the undercooled liquid from reaching the glass transition temperature. The prediction of the nanocrystalline structure of the surface features generated in laser nanoprocessing has implications for practical applications of nanostructured surfaces and calls for experimental verification of the computational results.

Wound bed assessment is largely reliant on subjective interpretation without recourse to objective tools or biomarkers. The identification of a point of care, reliable biomarker would enhance assessment and ultimately clinical decision making. Two potentially emerging wound biomarkers exist: surface pH and surface temperature. To date, knowledge of their use has been predominantly in wound prevention, in vitro studies and single time measurements. Our objective was to determine surface pH, size, and surface temperature in noninfected, neuropathic foot ulcers at baseline and at 12 weeks. 50 patients (68% [n = 34] had diabetes) participated. Mean baseline pH of wounds was 6.95 (SD 1.01); temperature 30.91 °C (SD 3.00); and size 0.82 cm (SD 0.61). After 12 weeks, 26% (n = 13) were lost to follow-up, 50% (n = 25) had healed. Of the remaining patients, mean pH was 6.72 (SD 0.54); temperature 30.88 °C (SD 2.97), and size 0.13 cm (SD 0.13). We have provided baseline values for pH and temperature of noninfected, neuropathic diabetic, and nondiabetic foot ulceration. Further studies in a larger cohort are warranted to determine if temperature and or pH are indicative of a healing or nonhealing state.

Following implantation, neuroelectrode functionality is susceptible to deterioration via reactive host cell response and glial scar-induced encapsulation. Within the neuroengineering community, there is a consensus that the induction of selective adhesion and regulated cellular interaction at the tissue-electrode interface can significantly enhance device interfacing and functionality in vivo. In particular, topographical modification holds promise for the development of functionalized neural interfaces to mediate initial cell adhesion and the subsequent evolution of gliosis, minimizing the onset of a proinflammatory glial phenotype, to provide long-term stability. Herein, a low-temperature microimprint-lithography technique for the development of micro-topographically functionalized neuroelectrode interfaces in electrodeposited poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):p-toluene sulfonate (PEDOT:PTS) is described and assessed in vitro. Platinum (Pt) microelectrodes are subjected to electrodeposition of a PEDOT:PTS microcoating, which is subsequently topographically functionalized with an ordered array of micropits, inducing a significant reduction in electrode electrical impedance and an increase in charge storage capacity. Furthermore, topographically functionalized electrodes reduce the adhesion of reactive astrocytes in vitro, evident from morphological changes in cell area, focal adhesion formation, and the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokine factors. This study contributes to the understanding of gliosis in complex primary mixed cell cultures, and describes the role of micro-topographically modified neural interfaces in the development of stable microelectrode interfaces.