Deep Learning Model for Cosmetic Gel Classification Based on a Short-Time Fourier Transform and Spectrogram.

Cosmetics and topical medications, such as gels, foams, creams, and lotions, are viscoelastic substances that are applied to the skin or mucous membranes. The human perception of these materials is complex and involves multiple sensory modalities. Traditional panel-based sensory evaluations have limitations due to individual differences in sensory receptors and factors such as age, race, and gender. Therefore, this study proposes a deep-learning-based method for systematically analyzing and effectively identifying the physical properties of cosmetic gels. Time-series friction signals generated by rubbing the gels were measured. These signals were preprocessed through short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and continuous wavelet transform (CWT), respectively, and the frequency factors that change over time were distinguished and analyzed. The deep learning model employed a ResNet-based convolution neural network (CNN) structure with optimization achieved through a learning rate scheduler. The optimized STFT-based 2D CNN model outperforms the CWT-based 2D and 1D CNN models. The optimized STFT-based 2D CNN model also demonstrated robustness and reliability through k-fold cross-validation. This study suggests the potential for an innovative approach to replace traditional expert panel evaluations and objectively assess the user experience of cosmetics.

Characterization of Ionic Transport in Li2O-(Mn:Fe)2O3-P2O5 Glasses for Li Batteries.

We present a systematic study of the lithium-ion transport upon the mixed manganese-iron oxide phosphate glasses 3Li2O-xMn2O3-(2-x)Fe2O3-3P2O5(LMxF2−xPO; 0≤ x ≤2.0) proposed for the use in a cathode for lithium secondary batteries. The glasses have been fabricated using a solid reaction process. The electrical characteristics of the glass samples have been characterized by electrical impedance in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 30 MHz and temperature from 30 °C to 240 °C. Differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction were used to determine the thermal and structural properties. It has been observed that the dc conductivity decreases, but the activation energies of dc and ac and the glass-forming ability increase with the increasing Mn2O3 content in LMxF2−xPO glasses. The process of the ionic conduction and the relaxation in LMxF2−xPO glasses are determined by using power−law, Cole−Cole, and modulus methods. The Li+ ions migrate via the conduction pathway of the non-bridging oxygen formed by the depolymerization of the mixed iron−manganese−phosphate network structure. The mixed iron−manganese content in the LMxF2−xPO glasses constructs the sites with different depths of the potential well, leading to low ionic conductivity.

Dual-Functional Self-Attachable and Stretchable Interface for Universal Three-Dimensional Modular Electronics.

Stretchable electronics have become essential for custom-built electronics, self-assembling robotics, and wearable devices. Although many stretchable electronics contain integrated systems, they still limit bulky connection systems. We introduce a new dual-functioned self-attachable and stretchable interface (SASI), allowing a direct and instant interconnection between rigid and soft electronics. The SASI consists of a sticky and stretchable substrate and surface-embedded serpentine conductors with the single-sided polyimide fabricated using the embedded transfer process. The adhesion property of the SASI is controlled by the mixed elastomer ratio. The resulting sticky and conductive SASI can instantly adhere to a metal surface and create conductive paths. The SASI serpentine conductors exhibit high stretchability (∼290%) and provide self-attachable, re-attachable, and low-resistant electrical contacts (0.85 ohms in 0.25 mm2) between interfaces without pressure, heat, or extra solder. In addition, three-dimensional curved and modular electronics can be formed with the SASI by compiling functional blocks. SASI provides a novel strategy for assembling functional chips or modules for stretchable electronics, opening a path to onboard integrated electronics that are customizable by users for real-world stretchable electronics.

Insight into Electrical and Dielectric Relaxation of Doped Tellurite Lithium-Silicate Glasses with Regard to Ionic Charge Carrier Number Density Estimation.

We investigate the role of tellurite on a lithium-silicate glass 0.1 TeO2 -0.90.1 TeO2 -0.9 (Li2O-2SiO2) (LSTO) system proposed for the use in solid electrolyte for lithium ion batteries. The measurements of electrical impedance are performed in the frequency 100 Hz-30 MHz and temperature from 50 to 150 °C. The electrical conductivity of LSTO glass increases compared with that of Li2O-2SiO2 (LSO) glass due to an increase in the number of Li+ ions. The ionic hopping and relaxation processes in disordered solids are generally explained using Cole-Cole, power law and modulus representations. The power law conductivity analysis, which is driven by the modified Rayleigh equation, presents the estimation of the number of ionic charge carriers explicitly. The estimation counts for direct contribution of about a 14% increase in direct current conductivity in the case of TeO2 doping. The relaxation process by modulus analysis confirms that the cations are trapped strongly in the potential wells. Both the direct current and alternating current activation energies (0.62-0.67 eV) for conduction in the LSO glass are the same as those in the LSTO glass.

Formation kinetics of Sr0.25Ba0.75Nb2O6 and Li2B4O7 crystals from 0.25SrO-0.75BaO-Nb2O5-Li2O-2B2O3 glass.

We have investigated the transition kinetics of Sr0.25Ba0.75Nb2O6 (SBN) and Li2B4O7 (LBO) crystals from 0.25SrO-0.75BaO-Nb2O5-Li2O-2B2O3 (SBNLBO) glass under isothermal and non-isothermal processes. With increasing temperature, there are two consecutive steps of crystallization of SBN and LBO from the glass. The Johnson-Mehl-Avrami function indicates that the crystallization mechanism of SBN belongs to an increasing nucleation rate with diffusion-controlled growth. The crystallite size of SBN ranges from 40 to 140 nm but it is confined to within 30-45 nm for LBO during the whole crystallization process. The relationship between the nano size and strain of SBN based on the Williamson-Hall method, and the change of activation energies of SBN and LBO crystallization analyzed by using the isoconversional model are discussed. A comparison of phonon modes between as-quenched glass and fully transformed crystals clearly shows that the low dimensional vibration modes in the structurally disordered glass change to highly dimensional network units with the formation of crystals.

Effects of carbon concentration on high-hardness plasma-polymer-fluorocarbon film deposited by mid-range frequency sputtering.

We propose a method for fabricating high-hardness plasma-polymer-fluorocarbon (PPFC) thin films with controllable optical and surface properties via manipulation of the target composition design and sputtering power density. The carbon/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite polymeric material targets with the low electrical resistance were prepared by press-molding using a mechanically mixed powder of PTFE, carbon nanotubes, and graphite. The composite targets showed electrical sheet resistances of 0.1-100 Ω/sq. PPFC thin films were deposited by mid-range frequency (MF) sputtering at power densities within 0.62~4.92 W/cm2. The maximum surface hardness of the PPFC thin film was 4.75 GPa, which was 21.6 times higher than that of fluorocarbon thin film sputtered from PTFE under the same conditions. With the increase of the carbon concentration in the target, the carbon cross-linking density of the PPFC thin film increased but the fluorine concentration decreased. The concentration of fluorine in the PPFC thin films grew with increasing sputtering power density. The MF sputtered carbon-rich PPFC thin films are controllable with physical properties of optical transmittance, surface hardness and surface water repellency which could be applied as protective layers for transparent flexible devices.

Flexible Polymer/Metal/Polymer and Polymer/Metal/Inorganic Trilayer Transparent Conducting Thin Film Heaters with Highly Hydrophobic Surface.

Polymer/metal/polymer and polymer/metal/inorganic trilayer-structured transparent electrodes with fluorocarbon plasma polymer thin film heaters have been proposed. The polymer/metal/polymer and polymer/metal/inorganic transparent conducting thin films fabricated on a large-area flexible polymer substrate using a continuous roll-to-roll sputtering process show excellent electrical properties and visible-light transmittance. They also exhibit water-repelling surfaces to prevent wetting and to remove contamination. In addition, the adoption of a fluorocarbon/metal/fluorocarbon film permits an outer bending radius as small as 3 mm. These films have a sheet resistance of less than 5 Ω sq-1, sufficient to drive light-emitting diode circuits. The thin film heater with the fluorocarbon/Ag/SiNx structure exhibits excellent heating characteristics, with a temperature reaching 180 °C under the driving voltage of 13 V. Therefore, the proposed polymer/metal/polymer and polymer/metal/inorganic transparent conducting electrodes using polymer thin films can be applied in flexible and rollable displays as well as automobile window heaters and other devices.

Fluorocarbon Thin Films Fabricated using Carbon Nanotube/Polytetrafluoroethylene Composite Polymer Targets via Mid-Frequency Sputtering.

Carbon nanotube/polytetrafluoroethylene composite polymer targets are proposed for use in the fabrication of fluorocarbon thin films using the mid-frequency sputtering process. Fluorocarbon thin films deposited using carbon nanotube/polytetrafluoroethylene composite targets exhibit an amorphous phase with a smooth surface and show a high water contact angle, optical transmittance, and surface hardness. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies reveal that as the carbon nanotube concentration increased in the composite target, a carbon cross-linked structure was formed, which enhanced the film hardness and the modulus of the fluorocarbon thin film. Large-area fluorocarbon thin films with a substrate width of 700 mm were successfully fabricated by a pilot-scale roll-to-roll sputtering system using a carbon nanotube/polytetrafluoroethylene composite target.

Electrical and mechanical properties as a processing condition in polyvinylchloride multi walled carbon nanotube composites.

We investigated the electrical conductivity (sigma) and mechanical property of polyvinylchloride/carbon nanotube composites as a function of the CNT content and processing time during a solid-state process of high speed vibration mixing (HSVM) and high energy ball milling (HEBM). Both processes were suggested to avoid high temperatures, solvents, chemical modification of carbon nanotubes. In this study, the percolation threshold (phi(c)) for electrical conduction is about 1 wt% CNT with a sigma value of 0.21 S/m, and the electrical conductivity is higher value than that reported by other researchers from melt mixing process or obtained from the other solid-state processes. We found that the dispersion of CNTs and morphology change from CNT breaking are closely related to sigma. Especially, a large morphology change in the CNTs was occurred at the specific processing time, and a significant decrease in the electrical conductivity of polyvinylchloride/carbon nanotube composite occurred in this condition. A meaningful increase of electrical properties and mechanical property is observed in the sample with about 1-2 wt% CNT contents sintered at 200 degrees C after the milling for 20 min by HEBM process. Our study indicates the proper process condition required to improve sigma of PVC/CNT composites.

Bioreactor engineering using disposable technology for enhanced production of hCTLA4Ig in transgenic rice cell cultures.

Two kinds of disposable bioreactors, air-lift disposable bioreactors (ADB) and wave disposable bioreactors (WDB) were compared with stirred-tank reactors (5-L STR). These bioreactors were successfully applied to transgenic rice cell cultures for the production of recombinant human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4-immunoglobulin (hCTLA4Ig). In both systems, a fed-batch culture method was used to produce hCTLA4Ig efficiently by feeding concentrated amino acids and production levels were enhanced when dissolved oxygen (DO) level was regulated at 30% using pure oxygen sparging. Agitation and aeration rate during cultivation in ADB and WDB were determined by the same mixing time. The results in both disposable bioreactors showed similar values in maximum cell density (11.9 gDCW/L and 12.6 gDCW/L), doubling time (4.8- and 5.0-day), and maximum hCTLA4Ig concentration (43.7 and 43.3 mg/L). Relatively higher cell viability was sustained in the ADB whereas hCTLA4Ig productivity was 1.2-fold higher than that in WDB. The productivity was improved by increasing aeration rate (0.2 vvm). Overall, our experiments demonstrate pneumatically driven disposable bioreactors are applicable for the production of recombinant proteins in plant cell cultures. These results will be useful for development and scale-up studies of disposable bioreactor systems for transgenic plant cell cultures.

Biotin-functionalized semiconducting polymer in an organic field effect transistor and application as a biosensor.

This report presents biotin-functionalized semiconducting polymers that are based on fluorene and bithiophene co-polymers (F8T2). Also presented is the application of these polymers to an organic thin film transistor used as a biosensor. The side chains of fluorene were partially biotinylated after the esterification of the biotin with corresponding alcohol-groups at the side chain in F8T2. Their properties as an organic semiconductor were tested using an organic thin film transistor (OTFT) and were found to show typical p-type semiconductor curves. The functionality of this biosensor in the sensing of biologically active molecules such as avidin in comparison with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was established through a selective decrease in the conductivity of the transistor, as measured with a device that was developed by the authors. Changes to the optical properties of this polymer were also measured through the change in the color of the UV-fluorescence before and after a reaction with avidin or BSA.

Effect of curing temperature on nano-silver paste ink for organic thin-film transistors.

Silver (Ag) metal electrode having 20 microm channel length was printed by reverse offset printing (ROP) using nano-silver paste ink for the source/drain of organic thin-film transistors (OTFT). Specific resistance and surface roughness of printed Ag electrodes with increasing curing temperature were investigated, and surface morphology and grain growth mechanism were systematically verified using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) in order to obtain an optimized ROP Ag electrode. The Ag electrode was applied to fabricate top-gate/bottom-contact poly(3-hexylthiophene) OTFT devices, which showed reproducible OTFT characteristics such as the field-effect mobility, threshold voltage, and an on/off-current ratio of -10(-3) cm2/Vs, 0.36 V, and -10(2), respectively.

Organic thin film transistor using a photo-curable organic/inorganic hybrid material as a gate dielectric.

A polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane derivative (POSS-OXT) containing photo-curable 4-membered cyclic oxetane functional groups was used as a gate dielectric of organic field effect transistor. The POSS-OXT was cross-linked and completely solidified by UV irradiation in the presence of a selected photo acid generator, and pinhole free uniform thin film was obtained. We fabricated a metal/insulator/metal device of Au/POSS-OXT (300 nm)/Au with area of 0.7 mm2 and the measured leakage current and capacitance of the device to evaluate the insulating properties of the POSS-OXT thin film. The maximum current was about 0.25 nA when 40 V was applied to the device. The observed values of the capacitance per unit area and dissipation factor were 11.4 nF/cm2 and 0.025, respectively. We fabricated an organic thin film transistor with pentacene as the active semiconductor and the photo-cross-linked POSS-OXT as an insulator. A field effect carrier mobility of 0.03 cm2/VN s was obtained with the device.