Graphene, an atomically thin carbon sheet, possesses differentiating optical and electrical properties that have led to worldwide exploration into its utility for applications ranging from quantum computing and sensing to optical devices. Regardless of application, sculpting the quantity and distribution of charge within graphene provides a path to enhanced performance. Here, this sculpting is accomplished by draping graphene over a topographically patterned substrate. Draping graphene over a “bumpy” substrate induces patterned strain. It also creates a distribution of touchpoints between graphene and the underlying substrate. Since mechanical strain affects the charge density in graphene as does its contact with another material, the cumulative effect of each induces patterned charge within the 2D material. Practically, this is shown by transferring monolayer graphene onto a silicon wafer, the face of which has been etched to produce pillars in a square lattice spaced at 1 μm. Strain and carrier concentration were then imaged by analyzing changes in the peak positions of graphene’s Raman spectrum, as shown in the figure. Linear “strain stripes” were observed that run in one direction relative to the pillars. Carrier concentration varied only somewhat in response to these strain stripes. It was instead more strongly impacted by “spots’” correlated with contact of the graphene with the patterned substrate. Irrespective of cause, these results affirm that topographic patterning of graphene provides a path to spatially controlling charge, thereby opening alternative pathways for designing devices based upon this material. Research advisor Thomas Beechem writes: “Spatially patterning charge in graphene and other two-dimensional materials creates an entire palette to design optical and electronic devices having functionality not available in normal ‘thick’ materials. Dylan and Jenna’s work explores a path of inducing this patterned charge by laying them over bumpy surfaces.” (a) Silicon was etched to create pillars over which the 2D-solid graphene was draped. By placing graphene over the patterned substrate, the (b) strain and (c) carrier concentration could be spatially varied, although not in a (d) one-to-one fashion as evidenced by overlaying the results. In (d), red hues correspond to the silicon Raman intensity, while the blue and green correspond to the graphene strain and carrier concentration.

Background: While significant racial inequities in health outcomes exist in the United States, these inequities may also exist in healthcare processes, including the Emergency Department (ED). Additionally, gender has emerged in assessing racial healthcare disparity research. This study seeks to determine the association between race and the number and type of ED consultations given to patients presenting at a safety-net, academic hospital, which includes a level-one trauma center. Method: Retrospective data was collected on the first 2000 patients who arrived at the ED from 1/1/2015-1/7/ 2015, with 532 patients being excluded. Of the eligible patients, 77% (74.6% adults and 80.7% pediatric patients) were black and 23% (25.4% adults and 19.3% pediatric patients) were white. Results: White and black adult patients receive similar numbers of ED consultations and remained after gender stratification. White pediatric males have a 91% higher incidence of receiving an ED consultation in comparison to their white counterparts. No difference was found between black and white adult patients when assessing the risk of receiving consultations. White adult females have a 260% higher risk of receiving both types of consultations than their black counterparts. Black and white pediatric patients had the same risk of receiving consultations, however, white pediatric males have a 194% higher risk of receiving a specialty consultation as compared to their white counterparts. Discussion: Future work should focus on both healthcare practice improvements, as well as explanatory and preventive research practices. Healthcare practice improvements can encompass development of appropriate racial bias trainings and institutionalization of conversations about race in medicine. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVE:To determine whether racial disparities occurred among specialty and allied health inpatient consultations for patients admitted to adult hospital services at an academic hospital.METHODS:A retrospective data analysis of the first 2000 patients, ages 18 years or older, admitted to an academic hospital.RESULTS:No regression model demonstrated any statistically significant relation between race and type of inpatient consultation received. No statistically significant difference in the number of inpatient consultations was found.CONCLUSIONS:Processes within the healthcare setting studied did not contribute to racial differences in consultation services. Our findings suggest that implicit racial bias may not be a factor when ordering consultations, but the findings are more likely affected by more appropriate factors such as the patient's age, length of stay, and complexity/severity of illness score.