A new process for nanoscale fabrication of ordered monolayer films of conjugated organic molecules is presented. The process makes it possible to grow sexithiophene monolayers (T6) at precise locations on a silicon substrate with a high degree of order while preserving the orientation of growth. The process is based on the integration of local oxidation nanolithography of the substrate and template growth of the molecular thin film. The former is used to fabricate silicon oxide arrays of parallel lines of 30−50 nm in width and several microns in length. Template growth arises from the interplay between kinetic growth parameters and preferential interactions with the patterned surface. The result is a monolayer film of organic molecules that conformally mimicks the features of the fabricated motives. This approach could be used to connect molecular domains of well-defined size between metallic electrodes.New approaches for the fabrication of planar devices based on materials by design are critical for the development of organic electronics. 1-6 Assembling devices by self-organization of functional elements that take the proper position and shape and establish connections with the other components is a major aim of nanotechnologies. The advantage of this approach is two-fold. On one hand, the possibility to implement additive manufacturing, 1 viz. the usage of the optimum amount of material needed for the performance of the device; and on the other hand, the capability of tailoring the relevant properties of those devices such as charge mobility, spin coherence length, charge separation or radiative relaxation by controlling the lateral size of the active material to a few tens of nanometers. 7-9 Since the length scales of transport phenomena in conjugated materials are in the nanometer range, optimizing the organization at the nanometer scale would lead to an enhancement of the transport properties.Currently there is not an established fabrication approach for conjugated materials that allows to preset the position, size, and shape of domains. Consolidated thin film growth techniques in organic electronics, such as spin casting and organic molecular beam deposition (OMBD) lack the control of lateral size of the domains, due to random nucleation on one hand, and coalescence of uncorrelated domains on the other hand. 10 In this letter we report a new process for the fabrication of molecularly ordered nanostructures made of sexithienyl (T6) on a silicon oxide template. The method yields monolayer stripes or wires, whose width ranges from few tens up to a few hundred nanometers. These low-dimensional structures are grown at predetermined positions on the substrate, their shape and size being controlled by a template fabricated on the substrate. The molecules on the template maintain their orientation with their long axis normal to the substrate, viz. the same orientation as those forming islands outside the template.The process is based on the integration of local oxidation nanolithography of the substrate and templat...

Scanning tunneling microscopy ͑STM͒ is a powerful technique to map the distribution of the density of electronics states of conductive surfaces with angstrom ͑Å͒ resolution. STM requires sharp conductive tips in order to operate in ambient conditions, which are stable with respect to oxidation. We describe a procedure to obtain high quality tips from wires of different materials such as Co and Ni. We discuss in detail the electrochemical process employed in the fabrication of the tips and assess the shape of the tips by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy ͑SEM͒. These tips yield high-resolution STM images even after a few weeks of exposure to air.

Patient satisfaction is linked to the amount of time spent with the physician. At the same time, long waiting times in hospitals are a major source of patient dissatisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine whether advance approval of outpatient chemotherapy (CT) via phone call can optimize healthcare delivery without compromising patient satisfaction with care. Between 2013 and 2016, 343 patients with breast/gynecological cancer scheduled to undergo CT on day 8 and/or day 15 of the CT cycle were enrolled in a before–after study conducted in a French comprehensive cancer center. In the control group, 168 patients received a face-to-face consultation with an oncologist on the day of CT for approval of the upcoming CT session. In the intervention group, 175 patients received a phone call from a healthcare provider the day before CT, where assessment of toxicity from the previous CT session was recorded and submitted to an oncologist for approval of the upcoming CT session. At the end of the 6th CT cycle, patient satisfaction was evaluated using EORTC IN-PATSAT32. A total of 233 questionnaires were analyzed (response rate: 77.7%). Satisfaction with care was similar between the two groups. No differences in perceived health status were observed, but self-reported time in hospital was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p = 0.007). Advance approval of outpatient CT via phone call is feasible and particularly relevant in the current context of immunotherapy development.

6588 Background: Patients’ satisfaction is known to be closely linked to the time spent with the physician. However, longer waiting times may be a source of dissatisfaction as well as organizational dysfunctions of the outpatient unit. Is a validation of chemotherapy by phone call instead of a medical consultation with a senior physician before chemotherapy (CT) is feasible without compromising patients’ satisfaction and quality of life? Methods: Pts with OMS < 1, able to respond to phone call, < 76 years, receiving day 8 and or d15 of CT were included. We enrolled 343 pts in a before/after study between 2013 and 2016. In the “before” step (control arm), 168 pts had a systematic physician consultation the same day before CT administration. In the intervention arm 175 pts received a phone call by a junior physician the day preceding CT administration. A specific questionnaire for CT -related toxicity of the previous cycle was recorded and CT was validated or not by physician. The day after, pts received prepared CT without appointment with the oncologist and delay in administration for already prepared CT. At the end of CT protocol, socio demographics, patients’ satisfaction (In-PatSat32) and health status (EQ-5D) questionnaires were completed by patients. Results: Questionnaires were completed by 83% and 74% in before and after step respectively, 241 questionnaires were analyzed. Satisfaction with care showed similar In-PatSat32 scores between arms, for satisfaction with: physician, nurse, organization and services. No differences of perceived health status and toxicity were observed between both groups, but patients’ time spent in hospital was lower in the intervention group versus the control group, (p = 0.007). Conclusions: An alternative care pathway implementing phone calls before CT administration if feasible without compromising pts’ satisfaction, quality of life and toxicity. We believe that saving time of pts, physicians and pharmacists is a way to optimize the model of care in outpatient unit, particularly in the immunotherapy area with more pts received intra venous treatment, probably for a long time.