Advancements in Flexible Nanogenerators: Polyvinylidene Fluoride-Based Nanofiber Utilizing Electrospinning.

With the gradual miniaturization of electronic devices and the increasing interest in wearable devices, flexible microelectronics is being actively studied. Owing to the limitations of existing battery systems corresponding to miniaturization, there is a need for flexible alternative power sources. Accordingly, energy harvesting from surrounding environmental systems using fluorinated polymers with piezoelectric properties has received significant attention. Among them, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and PVDF co-polymers have been researched as representative organo-piezoelectric materials because of their excellent piezoelectric properties, mechanical flexibility, thermal stability, and light weight. Electrospinning is an effective method for fabricating nanofibrous meshes with superior surface-to-volume ratios from polymer solutions. During electrospinning, the polymer solution is subjected to mechanical stretching and in situ poling, corresponding to an external strong electric field. Consequently, the fraction of the piezoelectric ß-phase in PVDF can be improved by the electrospinning process, and enhanced harvesting output can be realized. An overview of electrospun piezoelectric fibrous meshes composed of PVDF or PVDF co-polymers to be utilized is presented, and the recent progress in enhancement methods for harvesting output, such as fiber alignment, doping with various nanofillers, and coaxial fibers, is discussed. Additionally, other applications of these meshes as sensors are reviewed.

Clinical outcomes of patients with unilateral internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint following arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy.

BACKGROUND: The management of internal derangement (ID) of the TMJ is challenging because of multiple etiologic factors and varying degrees of severity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with unilateral ID treated with arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy during a 6-month period. METHODS: A total of 105 patients (87 females, 18 males) with unilateral ID were included in this study. Patients were divided into unilateral anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDwR) and unilateral anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR). Patients with ADDwoR were subdivided according to the erosive bone changes. Objective parameters on mandibular movement and subjective parameters on pain were obtained and assessed. Their clinical outcomes before and after arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy were compared with the chi-square, Fisher's exact test, paired t-test, or Wilcoxon singed-rank test. RESULTS: All objective parameters of unilateral ID patients significantly increased at the 6-month follow-up. The differences in mean visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were statistically significant in all subjective variables (p < 0.01). In joints with ADDwoR, preoperative maximal mouth opening, and maximal protrusive movement in both groups, with erosive and non-erosive changes were significantly increased after 6 months (p < 0.01). However, right and left maximal lateral movement increased after treatment in both groups but without significant differences. All VAS pain scores on jaw movement and palpation of associated muscles showed a significant decrease regardless of erosive changes. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of arthrocentesis and subsequent stabilization splint therapy was shown to be highly effective in pain reduction and improvement of mandibular movements in both unilateral ADDwR and ADDwoR, as well as in cases with both erosive and non-erosive bony changes associated with unilateral ADDwoR.

Shifting perspectives: From "Epilepsy" to "Cerebroelectric Disorder".

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy has long been associated with stigma and misconceptions. In response, the Korean Epilepsy Society initiated the Epilepsy Renaming project in 2008 to replace the stigmatizing term with a neutral and scientifically grounded name, "cerebroelectric disorder". This study explores the impact of changing terminology on the public discourse surrounding epilepsy. METHODS: Online news articles from distinct time periods (2001-2003, 2011-2014, 2017-2018, and 2020-2022) were analyzed using text data analysis techniques, including Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modeling, frequency analysis, and sentiment analysis. The inclusion of data from 2017 to 2018 allowed for an examination of discourse trends independent of the COVID-19 pandemic's influence. Correlation of words in each period was visualized via network maps. Migraine was set as control term to highlight changes in perception devoid of significant stigma intervention efforts. RESULTS: The analysis revealed a significant shift in terminology preference, with cerebroelectric disorder gradually replacing epilepsy in news articles. The discourse surrounding epilepsy evolved over time from focusing on healthcare and economic aspects to patient-centered discussions, emphasizing the daily lives of individuals with epilepsy. This shift towards more empathetic and less stigmatized language was contrasted against the discourse on migraine, highlighting the specific impact of the terminological change on epilepsy's perception. CONCLUSION: The adoption of the neutral term "cerebroelectric disorder" in South Korea has influenced the discourse surrounding epilepsy, leading to more patient-centered discussions and a reduction in stigma. This study highlights the importance of terminology in shaping public perceptions of diseases and suggests that changing terminology can positively impact the understanding and destigmatization of epilepsy.

Surgical management of severe cherubism persisting into early adulthood: a case report and literature review

Cherubism is a rare fibro-osseous condition characterized by bilateral expansion of the mandible and maxilla. Due to its rarity, treatment guidelines for cherubism have not been clearly established. Observation without surgical intervention is typically recommended, as cherubism often regresses spontaneously after puberty. However, a surgical intervention may be necessary if aggressive lesions lead to severe complications. In this report, we present a case involving surgical management of cherubism that did not spontaneously regress until early adulthood. An 18-year-old man was diagnosed with cherubism, presenting characteristic upward-looking eyes and a swollen face. He strongly desired surgical management. Gross contouring of the mandible was performed using an osteotome. Subsequently, delicate contouring was performed by bone burring and curettage. The remaining multiple locular bony defects were filled with demineralized bone matrix. No major complications, including infection and hematoma, occurred during the 8-month follow-up period. The facial contour remained stable without the aggravation of cherubism. The patient was satisfied with the cosmetic results. Considering that cherubism is a rare disease globally, with few reported cases in Korea, and that treatment guidelines are not clearly established, we anticipate that the results of this case will contribute to the development of future protocols for treating cherubism.

In vivo safety and biodistribution profile of Klotho-enhanced human urine-derived stem cells for clinical application.

BACKGROUND: Urine-derived stem cells (UDSCs) can be easily isolated from urine and possess excellent stem cell characteristics, making them a promising source for cell therapeutics. Due to their kidney origin specificity, UDSCs are considered a superior therapeutic alternative for kidney diseases compared to other stem cells. To enhance the therapeutic potential of UDSCs, we developed a culture method that effectively boosts the expression of Klotho, a kidney-protective therapeutic factor. We also optimized the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) system to ensure stable and large-scale production of clinical-grade UDSCs from patient urine. In this study, we evaluated the in vivo safety and distribution of Klotho-enhanced UDSCs after intravenous administration in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations. METHODS: Mortality and general symptoms were continuously monitored throughout the entire examination period. We evaluated the potential toxicity of UDSCs according to the administration dosage and frequency using clinical pathological and histopathological analyses. We quantitatively assessed the in vivo distribution and retention period of UDSCs in major organs after single and repeated administration using human Alu-based qPCR analysis. We also conducted long-term monitoring for 26 weeks to assess the potential tumorigenicity. RESULTS: Klotho-enhanced UDSCs exhibited excellent homing potential, and recovered Klotho expression in injured renal tissue. Toxicologically harmful effects were not observed in all mice after a single administration of UDSCs. It was also verified that repeated administration of UDSCs did not induce significant toxicological or immunological adverse effects in all mice. Single and repeated administrated UDSCs persisted in the blood and major organs for approximately 3 days and cleared in most organs, except the lungs, within 2 weeks. UDSCs that remained in the lungs were cleared out in approximately 4-5 weeks. There were no significant differences according to the variation of sex and administration frequency. The tumors were found in the intravenous administration group but they were confirmed to be non-human origin. Based on these results, it was clarified that UDSCs have no tumorigenic potential. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that Klotho-enhanced UDSCs can be manufactured as cell therapeutics through an optimized GMP procedure, and they can be safely administered without causing toxicity and tumorigenicity.

Correction of postoperative temporal hollowing using a combination of thread-lift and autologous fat graft: a case report

Postoperative temporal hollowing is a complication that can occur after craniectomy or cranioplasty. It is caused by the disinsertion or displacement of the temporalis muscle and atrophy of the superficial temporal fat pad. We introduce a case of temporal hollowing correction using polydioxanone thread-lifting and fat grafts. A 28-year-old man presented with right temporal hollowing and asymmetric bulging of the zygomatic region. The patient wanted an aesthetically favorable correction with a short recovery period, without using a permanent implant. We performed a two-stage procedure. In the first stage, 21 mL of centrifuged fat was obtained, of which 7 mL was injected into the temporal region. A month later, another 4 mL of the stored fat was injected, and thread-lifting was performed through the temporal region after identifying the deep temporal fascia. Four threads were inserted, pulled toward the entry point, and tied. The anchoring of the thread-lifted tissue remained stable, and the volume of grafted fat was well preserved at the 4-month follow-up. The patient was satisfied with the cosmetic results. In this case, temporal hollowing was effectively managed with fat grafting and thread lifting. We recommend this method as an option for reconstruction of temporal hollowing with a short recovery period and high patient satisfaction.

Efficacy of a long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser in acute scar redness

Background@#The initial redness of the scar on a postoperative suture site is a natural phenomenon that fades over time. However, with a long period of redness, patients complain about cosmetic discomfort, and the possibility of pigmentation changes is induced. We investigated the use of a long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser as a noninvasive treatment for improving the redness of these scars. @*Methods@#A retrospective chart review was conducted on 36 patients who underwent excision of a nevus on the face. Fourteen patients received laser treatment and another 22 patients used only scar management ointment. Patients were followed up 1 week after the sutures were removed. The photographic images taken at the time of suture removal and 2 months later were reviewed. The evaluation was performed on a 7-point scale by adding the Japan Scar Workshop (JSW) scar scale’s redness and erythema scores. @*Results@#The average initial JSW scar scale score of the treatment group was 4.6, and that of the nontreatment group was 4.2. When the re-evaluation was performed 2 months later, the score of the treatment group decreased to 2.2 and that of the nontreatment group decreased to 3.1. The difference in the JSW scar scale between the treatment group and the nontreatment group according to laser performance was statistically significant (P=0.03). @*Conclusions@#The treatment method with a long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser that is less invasive and has a quick effect can be a good alternative for improving this initial scar redness.

Simultaneous diagnosis and resection of orofacial rhabdomyosarcoma with frozen section biopsy: a case report

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, accounting for 4.5% of all cases of cancer in childhood. Although the head and neck are the most common sites of rhabdomyosarcoma, oral lesions are relatively rare and account for only 10% to 12% of head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma cases. This is a case report of a girl aged 2 years and 1 month who initially presented with an upper lip mass that invaded the oral mucosa, oral skin, and nostril skin, causing narrowing of the airway. Through our case, we show that rapidly growing small round cell malignancies, especially rhabdomyosarcoma, can be effectively diagnosed and treated at the same time using primary resection with intraoperative frozen section biopsy and that the time spent waiting for the results of preoperative biopsy can be saved in this way, particularly when the patient’s symptoms are intensifying rapidly and require immediate operation.

Micro-injection Molded Droplet Generation System for Digital PCR Application.

Sensitive, effective, and quantitative analysis of infectious pathogens is an important task for the prevention of human health threats. Herein, we present an advanced approach to producing gene-encapsulated microdroplets for quantitative analysis using a micropatterned metal mold and injection molding technique with an automatically operated system. An injection molded microdroplet generation device was successfully fabricated with a minimum channel width of 30 µm and optimized to produce 100 µm diameter droplets. The optimized microchannel design and flow rate also enable the production of stable numbers of microdroplets (~ 16,000 droplets). To verify the applicability of our device and system to droplet-based digital PCR analysis, Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 was selected as a model bacterial pathogen, and the stx2 gene was amplified in the microdroplets. The generated microdroplets exhibit both chemical and mechanical stability, and our results are similar to those obtained by a commercially available method. Accordingly, the usefulness of the microdroplet generative device and system is confirmed as a simple, fast, and reliable tool for the quantitative molecular analysis of infectious diseases.

High prevalence of stress and suicidal ideation in women with temporomandibular disorder: A population-based cross-sectional survey.

Objective: To investigate the association between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and psychological factors according to gender in a large representative sample.Methods: Participants provided demographic, socio-economic, and behavioral information and responded to questionnaires assessing mental health status regarding perceived stress, mood disturbance, suicidal ideation, and diagnosis of depression. The association between TMD and its risk factors by gender and the association between psychological factors and TMD were statistically analyzed.Results: In men, perceived stress was highly associated with TMD. However, in women, not only perceived stress but suicidal ideation showed significantly high rates of TMD. The suicidal ideation was significantly associated with TMD in women after controlling confounders.Discussion: Current results provide evidence that TMD is associated with stress in both genders and with suicidal ideation, especially in women. This study has important implications for intense screening and evaluation of suicidal ideation among patients with TMD according to gender.

Expression of osteogenic markers after administration of selective estrogen receptor modulators during implant placement in the osteoporotic rat maxilla.

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of raloxifene during bone formation around the dental implant in the ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic rat maxilla. METHODS: Fifty-four female 10-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (n = 18 each); sham-operated (control), ovariectomized (OVX), and ovariectomized and raloxifene-administered (RAL). Eight weeks after ovariectomy, both upper first molars were extracted, and implants were placed 4 weeks post-extraction. The RAL group was given 1 mg/kg of raloxifene per day while the other groups received a vehicle. Six rats in each group were sacrificed at days 4, 7, and 14 and submitted for quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining, for evaluation of osteogenic genes expressions. RESULTS: The alkaline phosphatase expression was upregulated in the RAL group compared to the OVX group at day 4. The osteocalcin expression was significantly higher between the RAL group and the OVX group at day 7. Immunohistochemical staining revealed increased expression during the initial bone-forming process and indicated more active bone formation in the RAL group than in the OVX group. CONCLUSION: Raloxifene administration enhanced the osteogenic genes and proteins expression in the bone around the implant. Further studies are required to establish the long-term clinical effects of raloxifene administration.

Tumor immune microenvironment lncRNAs.

Long non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) (lncRNAs) are key players in tumorigenesis and immune responses. The nature of their cell type-specific gene expression and other functional evidence support the idea that lncRNAs have distinct cellular functions in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). To date, the majority of lncRNA studies have heavily relied on bulk RNA-sequencing data in which various cell types contribute to an averaged signal, limiting the discovery of cell type-specific lncRNA functions. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a potential solution for tackling this limitation despite the lack of annotations for low abundance yet cell type-specific lncRNAs. Hence, updated annotations and further understanding of the cellular expression of lncRNAs will be necessary for characterizing cell type-specific functions of lncRNA genes in the TIME. In this review, we discuss lncRNAs that are specifically expressed in tumor and immune cells, summarize the regulatory functions of the lncRNAs at the cell type level and highlight how a scRNA-seq approach can help to study the cell type-specific functions of TIME lncRNAs.

Microdialysis on Ex Vivo Porcine Ear Skin Can Validly Study Dermal Penetration including the Fraction of Transfollicular Penetration-Demonstrated on Caffeine Nanocrystals.

Common ex vivo methods for penetration investigations often fail to monitor transfollicular penetration appropriately. In the present investigation, the validity of dermal microdialysis on the ex vivo porcine ear skin to investigate penetration kinetics, including transfollicular penetration, was studied. In setup A, a caffeine nanocrystal formulation was compared to a non-particular caffeine gel formulation. In setup B, two caffeine nanocrystal formulations of different sizes (200 nm, 700 nm) were compared to each other. Microdialysis samples were collected for 46 h. After sampling, the skin layers were separated, homogenized, and caffeine was quantified in all samples. In setup A the area under the curve (AUC) after crystal gel formulation application was 12 times higher than after non-particular formulation application. Setup B showed an increased AUC of 42% in the microdialysis data when the 700 nm caffeine crystals were applied compared to the 200 nm crystals. The microdialysis data was supported by the separation, homogenization and extraction data. Microdialysis performed on ex vivo porcine ear skin is a novel experimental setup. It is of high interest for further investigations since it is able to also capture the impact of follicular and transfollicular penetration kinetics as no other ex vivo setup can.

TGFß1-Induced Transglutaminase-2 Triggers Catabolic Response in Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes by Modulating MMP-13.

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFß1) plays an essential role in maintaining cartilage homeostasis. TGFß1 is known to upregulate anabolic processes in articular cartilage, but the role of TGFß1 in chondrocyte catabolism remains unclear. Thus, we examined whether TGFß1 increases catabolic processes in the osteoarthritic joint via transglutaminase 2 (TG2). In this study, we investigated whether interplay between TGFß1 and TG2 mediates chondrocyte catabolism and cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis. METHODS: To investigate the role of TGFß1 and TG2 in osteoarthritis, we performed immunostaining to measure the levels of TGFß1 and TG2 in 6 human non-osteoarthritic and 16 osteoarthritic joints. We conducted quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis to investigate the relationship between TGFß1 and TG2 in chondrocytes and determined whether TG2 regulates the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, type II, and type X collagen. We also examined the extent of cartilage degradation after performing anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) and destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery in TG2 knock-out mice. RESULTS: We confirmed the overexpression of TGFß1 and TG2 in human osteoarthritic cartilage compared with non-osteoarthritic cartilage. TGFß1 treatment significantly increased the expression of TG2 via p38 and ERK activation. TGFß1-induced TG2 also elevated the level of MMP-13 and type X collagen via NF-κB activation in chondrocytes. Cartilage damage after ACLT and DMM surgery was less severe in TG2 knock-out mice compared with wild-type mice. CONCLUSION: TGFß1 modulated catabolic processes in chondrocytes in a TG2-dependent manner. TGFß1-induced TG2 might be the therapeutic target for treating cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis.

A Study on Carbon Capture and Storage and Its Feasibility in Energy-Environment Technologies.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has the potential to play an important role in managing global warming in the near future. Herein, we define the entire energy cycle from energy production to utilization considering energy-environment technologies and describe the technical classification and brief technical principles of CCS technology. In addition, we evaluate data from actual scenarios and costs of various indicators established from diverse reports published by reliable institutes on various energy-environment technologies. Finally, the economic feasibility of CCS is determined compared with that of fossil fuel power plants and renewable energy generation in terms of carbon credit for global trading. This techno-economic analysis and systematic review lays the groundwork for comprehensive research toward understanding energy-environment technologies by establishing scenarios in terms of cost and data analysis that can provide an objective approach.

Enhancement of peri-implant bone formation via parathyroid hormone administration in a rat model at risk for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

PURPOSE: Dental implant-associated medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw has been frequently reported in patients administered bisphosphonates (BPs) to prevent osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on peri-implant bone in the maxillae of ovariectomized rats systemically administered BPs. METHODS: Thirty 8-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. The OVX-ZP group included ovariectomized rats administered 60 µg/kg of zoledronate once a week for 6 weeks and 30 µg/kg PTH after implant installation. The OVX-Z group included ovariectomized rats administered 60 µg/kg of zoledronate once a week for 6 weeks and saline after implant installation, and the control group included rats that underwent a sham operation and were then administered saline. Rats were sacrificed 4 weeks after implant placement for histomorphometric and micro-computed tomography (CT) analyses. RESULTS: The average bone area percentage was greater in the OVX-ZP group than in the OVX-Z group (53.4%±4.0% vs. 28.9%±9.5%, P=0.01). The bone-to-implant contact ratio was 50.8%±1.4% in the OVX-ZP group and 16.9%±2.4% in the OVX-Z group (P=0.012). The average bone volume ratio as shown on micro-CT was 31.3%±19.8% in the OVX-ZP group and 19.4%±9.3% in the OVX-Z group (P=0.045). The OVX-ZP and OVX-Z groups displayed similar trabecular thickness (0.06±0.004 mm vs. 0.06±0.002 mm) (P>0.05) and trabecular separation (0.21±0.02 mm vs. 0.29±0.13 mm) (P>0.05). However, the number of trabeculae in the OVX-ZP group was significantly higher than that in the OVX-Z group (4.3±1.33/mm3 vs. 2.2±0.19/mm3) (P=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings indicate that intermittently-administered PTH can promote peri-implant bone formation and suggest that PTH administration may aid in effective treatment for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw after dental implantation.

Effect of Raloxifene on Bone Formation Around Implants in the Osteoporotic Rat Maxilla: Histomorphometric and Microcomputed Tomographic Analysis.

PURPOSE: Raloxifene, an antiresorptive drug, prevents bone loss and promotes bone formation by secondary anabolic action. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of raloxifene on the osseointegration of implants in the rat model of the osteoporotic maxilla. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Sprague-Dawley female rats aged 10 weeks were randomly assigned to the following groups: (1) raloxifene (RAL) group (n = 10), (2) ovariectomized (OVX) group (n = 10), and (3) control group (sham-operated, n = 10). Both ovaries were removed to induce osteoporosis, and the maxillary right molar was extracted. After 4 weeks, an implant was placed on the same edentulous area. Raloxifene 1 mg/kg/day was administered to the experimental animals in the RAL group, while those in the ovariectomized group and sham-operated group were given the same amount. All experimental animals were sacrificed at 4 weeks after implants were placed. Histomorphometric measurements of the bone area ratio (BA, %) and bone-to-implant contact ratio (BIC, %) around the implant were performed. Three-dimensional (3D) microcomputed tomographic (micro-CT) analysis of peri-implant bone microarchitecture was also performed and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: In the histomorphometric analysis, the BA ratio of the implant in the RAL group was higher than that in the OVX group (53.3% ± 7.2% vs 38.2% ± 11.7%, P = .024). BIC around the implant in the RAL group did not show a statistical difference compared with that in the OVX group (42.7% ± 15.0% vs 34.5% ± 16.2%, P > .05). In microstructural analysis, the RAL group showed a significant increase of trabecular thickness compared with the OVX group (0.09 ± 0.02 mm vs 0.06 ± 0.01 mm, P = .013). However, raloxifene did not show convincing differences between the groups in other micro-CT parameters (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The results show that raloxifene administration demonstrated enhanced new peri-implant bone formation in the osteoporotic rat maxilla. Further research is needed to reveal the effect of raloxifene on the clinical outcome of patients with poor bone quality who undergo dental implant treatment.

Effect of Contact Plug Deposition Conditions on Junction Leakage and Contact Resistance in Multilevel CMOS Logic Interconnection Device.

Here, we developed the optimal conditions in terms of physical and electrical characteristics of the barrier and tungsten (W) deposition process of a contact module, which is the segment connecting the device and the multi-layer metallization (MLM) metal line in the development of 100 nm-class logic devices. To confirm its applicability to the logic contact of barrier and W films, a contact hole was formed, first to check the bottom coverage and the filling status of each film, then to check the electrical resistance and leakage characteristics to analyze the optimal conditions. At an aspect ratio of 3.89:1, ionized metal plasma (IMP) Ti had a bottom coverage of 40.9% and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) titanium nitride (TiN) of 76.2%, confirming that it was possible to apply the process to 100 nm logic contacts. W filling was confirmed, and a salicide etching rate (using Radio Frequency (RF) etch) of 13-18 Å/s at a 3.53:1 aspect ratio was applied. The etching rate on the thermal oxide plate was 9 Å/s. As the RF etch amount increased from 50-100 Å, the P active resistance increased by 0.5-1 Ω. The resistance also increased as the amount of IMP Ti deposition increased to 300 Å. A measurement of the borderless contact junction leakage current indicated that the current in the P + N well increased by more than an order of magnitude when IMP Ti 250 Å or more was deposited. The contact resistance value was 0.5 Ω. An AC bias improved the IMP Ti deposition rate by 10% in bottom coverage, but there was no significant difference in contact resistance. In the case of applying IMP TiN, the overall contact resistance decreased to 2 Ω compared to CVD TiN, but the distribution characteristics were poor. The best results were obtained under the conditions of RF etch 50 Å, IMP Ti 200 Å, and CVD TiN 2 × 50 Å.

Glucose Sensing Materials Based on Carbon Nanotubes for Electrochemical Sensing.

There is an urgent need for in situ methods for detecting environmental pollution quickly and accurately. With the development of nanotechnology, a huge potential has been created for the design of highly sensitive sensors with low energy consumption and low costs. If a composite material constructed with carbon nanotubes is used as an electrode in contact with a contaminant, this material undergoes an oxidation-reduction reaction with the contaminant that allows the electrode to function as an electrochemical sensor. This study involved the application of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and modified working electrodes constructed with multi-walled carbon nanotube composites (Ag- and ZnO-multi-walled carbon nanotubes) as electrochemical sensors. These electrodes have good response speed and sensitivity at low concentrations, and they are reusable. To lower the price of these sensors, our goal was to maximize their sensitivity by using the low-cost multiwalled carbon nanotubes in conjunction with silver electroless plating of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes and multi-walled carbon nanotube composites.