Improved efficiency in solution processed green phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes using a double layer emitting structure fabricated by a stamp transfer printing process

A high efficiency soluble green phosphorescent organic light-emitting diode (PHOLED) was developed using a double layer emitting structure fabricated by a stamp transfer printing process. One green emitting layer with a hole transport type host material was coated on a hole transport layer and the other green emitting layer with an electron transport type host material was stamp transfer printed on the green emitting layer. The efficiency of solution processed green PHOLEDs was more than quadrupled using the double layer emitting structure fabricated by the stamp transfer printing method.     

Real-Time Monitoring of Shrimp Spoilage Using On-Package Sticker Sensor Based on Natural Dye of Curcumin

The development of a curcumin-based sensor for the detection of volatile amines (specifically known as total volatile basic nitrogen, TVBN) is described. Curcumin [(1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5dione] is the major yellow pigment extracted from turmeric, a commonly used spice, derived from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa. Curcumin was immobilized onto bacterial cellulose membrane via the absorption method. Thus, the sensing materials are edible and suitable for food applications. The curcumin/bacterial cellulose membrane as the TVBN sensor worked based on pH increase as the basic spoilage volatile amines produced gradually in the package headspace, and subsequently, the color of the sensor will change from yellow to orange, then to reddish orange for spoilage indication, which is easily visible to the naked eye. The curcumin membrane is a highly sensitive material toward acid–base reactions. Color changes, as a result of its interactions with increasing pH (as a result of increasing TVBN), were monitored directly with visual inspection and the color quantitatively measured with color analysis via Photoshop software. Furthermore, the membrane response was found to correlate with bacterial growth patterns in shrimp samples. Finally, the curcumin/bacterial cellulose membrane was successfully used as a sticker sensor for real-time monitoring of shrimp spoilage in ambient and chiller conditions.     

Partial EBG Structure with DeCap for Ultra‐wideband Suppression of Simultaneous Switching Noise in a High‐Speed System

To supply a power distribution network with stable power in a high‐speed mixed mode system, simultaneous switching noise caused at the multilayer PCB and package structures needs to be sufficiently suppressed. The uniplanar compact electromagnetic bandgap (UC‐EBG) structure is well known as a promising solution to suppress the power noise and isolate noise‐sensitive analog/RF circuits from a noisy digital circuit. However, a typical UC‐EBG structure has several severe problems, such as a limitation in the stop band's lower cutoff frequency and signal quality degradation. To make up for the defects of a conventional EBG structure, a partially located EBG structure with decoupling capacitors is proposed in this paper as a means of both suppressing the power noise propagation and minimizing the effects of the perforated reference plane on the signal quality. The proposed structure is validated and investigated through simulation and measurement in both frequency and time domains.     

Fabrication of porous titanium scaffolds with high compressive strength using camphene-based freeze casting

We herein report the fabrication of highly porous titanium (Ti) scaffolds with unusually high compressive strength by freezing a titanium hydride (TiH₂)/camphene slurries at 42 °C. As the freezing time was increased from 1 to 7 days, the pore size obtained was increased significantly from 143 to 271 μm due to the continual overgrowth of camphene dendrites. However, interestingly, the formation of the micro-pores inside the Ti walls was suppressed at longer freezing time. This resulted in a significant increase in compressive strength up to 110 ± 17 MPa with a porosity of 64%. It is believed that this unusually high compressive strength with large interconnected pores makes this material suitable for applications as load-bearing parts.     

Gamma radiation sensitivity of Enterobacter sakazakii in dehydrated powdered infant formula

The observed Enterobacter sakazakii D10-values for tryptic soy broth and dehydrated powdered infant formula were 0.27 +/- 0.05 and 0.76 +/- 0.08 kGy, respectively. A decrease of approximately 3 log in the dehydrated powdered infant formula was obtained by irradiation with 3.0 kGy or rehydration with hot water at 80 degrees C. No recoverable bacteria were found in the powdered infant formula irradiated at 5.0 kGy and stored, either before or after rehydration. A radiation dose of up to 5.0 kGy had no marked effect on the sensory properties of the dehydrated powdered infant formula after rehydration and heating. Gamma radiation could potentially be used to inactivate E. sakazakii in dehydrated powdered infant formula; however, nutritional studies need to be conducted before the use of radiation can be recommended.     

Changes in the antigenic and immunoglobulin E-binding properties of hen's egg albumin with the combination of heat and gamma irradiation treatment

This study was carried out to evaluate the changes in the allergenic and antigenic properties of hen's egg albumin (ovalbumin [OVA]) with the combination of heat and gamma irradiation treatment. OVA solution samples were treated by (i) heating (sample 1), (ii) irradiation after heating (sample 2), and (iii) heating after irradiation (sample 3). Samples were isothermally heated and irradiated at the absorption dose of 10 kGy. Competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were performed with blood serum to test the ability of treated OVA to bind to immunoglobulin E (IgE) and mouse murine monoclonal antibody (IgG). OVA's ability to bind to mouse IgG changed upon heating at 75 degrees C, and its ability to bind to egg-allergic IgE changed upon heating at 80 degrees C. The ELISAs showed that egg-allergic IgE did not recognize OVA very well when heated at > or = 80 degrees C, while mouse IgG retained better activity under these conditions. Egg-allergic IgE binding was low both for OVA samples treated by heating and for samples treated by irradiation followed by heating. These results show that allergies induced by OVA could be effectively reduced by the combination of heat and gamma irradiation treatment.     

Porous titanium (Ti) scaffolds by freezing TiH2/camphene slurries

Porous titanium (Ti) scaffolds with interconnected pores were fabricated by freezing titanium hydride (TiH₂)/camphene slurries at 33 °C for 24 h, followed by freeze-drying and subsequent heat-treatment at 1300 °C for 2 h in vacuum. All of the fabricated samples revealed highly porous structures having large pores up to 100 μm in size surrounded by Ti metal walls without any secondary phases. When the initial TiH₂ content was increased from 15 to 25 vol.%, the porosity was decreased from 63 to 49%, while the compressive strength was significantly improved from 81 to 253 MPa.     

Resonator size effects on the TFBAR ladder filter performance

Thin-film bulk acoustic resonators with different resonator sizes are simulated and measured. Their effects on ladder filter performance are also presented. Aluminum nitride and platinum are used as piezoelectric material and electrodes, respectively. As the shunt resonator size increases, out-of-band rejection performance has been improved. The 3/2 stage filters that have twice or three times larger resonators reveal 6 dB and 11 dB out-of-band rejection improvements, respectively.     

Usefulness of CT in patients with intestinal obstruction who have undergone abdominal surgery for malignancy

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of CT in determining the causes of intestinal obstruction in patients who have undergone abdominal surgery for malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the CT scans of 55 patients with benign (n = 26) or malignant (n = 29) intestinal obstruction that developed after abdominal surgery for malignancy. After calculating the diagnostic accuracy of interpretations by three radiologists, we compared CT findings for benign and malignant intestinal obstructions with respect to peritoneal involvement patterns and other ancillary findings. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the diagnostic performance of CT in revealing causes of obstruction. RESULTS: Diagnostic accuracies of the three radiologists were 67%, 75%, and 78%. CT findings indicating malignant obstruction were a mass at the site of obstruction or prior surgery, lymphadenopathy, or an abrupt transition zone and irregular bowel wall thickening at obstructed sites (p < .05). Conversely, the chance for benign obstruction increased when CT revealed mesenteric vascular changes, a large amount of ascites, or a smooth transition zone and smooth bowel wall thickening at the obstructed site (p < .05). With multivariate logistic regression analysis using two variables (a mass at the site of obstruction or prior surgery and lymphadenopathy), we calculated the overall accuracy of CT as 84% (46/55 patients). CONCLUSION: CT is useful in differentiating benign from malignant intestinal obstructions in patients who have undergone abdominal surgery for malignancy. However, CT has limitations in patients not having a demonstrable peritoneal mass.