Single-crystal poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanowires with ultrahigh conductivity.

We developed single-crystal poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiopene) (PEDOT) nanowires with ultrahigh conductivity using liquid-bridge-mediated nanotransfer printing with vapor phase polymerization. The single-crystal PEDOT nanowires are formed from 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomers that are self-assembled and crystallized during vapor phase polymerization process within nanoscale channels of a mold having FeCl3 catalysts. These PEDOT nanowires, aligned according to the pattern in the mold, are then directly transferred to specific positions on a substrate to generate a nanowire array by a direct printing process. The PEDOT nanowires have closely packed single-crystalline structures with orthorhombic lattice units. The conductivity of the single-crystal PEDOT nanowires is an average of 7619 S/cm with the highest up to 8797 S/cm which remarkably exceeds literature values of PEDOT nanostructures/thin films. Such distinct conductivity enhancement of single-crystal PEDOT nanowires can be attributed to improved carrier mobility in PEDOT nanowires. To demonstrate usefulness of single-crystal PEDOT nanowires, we fabricated an organic nanowire field-effect transistor array contacting the ultrahigh conductive PEDOT nanowires as metal electrodes.

Predictive factors of impaired quality of life in Korean patients with inactive inflammatory bowel disease: association with functional gastrointestinal disorders and mood disorders.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory disorder of the intestine and has a great effect on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Some patients in remission are known to show functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) and mood disorders (MDs), which may also negatively impact HRQOL. The aim of this study was to evaluate predictors of impaired HRQOL in inactive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. METHODS: Patients presenting a long-standing remission during the previous year completed questionnaires of EuroQol, Rome III criteria for FGID, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Survey. Demographic data including age, sex, employment status, education, smoking, and location of residence were also collected. RESULTS: Among the 513 patients with IBD, 226 (Crohn's disease 107 and ulcerative colitis 119, age 39.01±15.63, male 141) defined in remission were enrolled. Overall, 147 (65.0%) had at least 1 FGID with irritable bowel syndrome being the most common disorder (36.3%). Anxiety and depression were identified in 27.4% and 33.6%, respectively. Participants with FGID or MD had a significantly lower HRQOL status than those without disorders (P<0.01). Among various demographic and clinical variables, aged 40 or older [odds ratio (OR), 2.342; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.195-4.590; P=0.01], irritable bowel syndrome (OR, 3.932; 95% CI, 1.937-7.982; P<0.01), and anxiety (OR, 2.423; 95% CI, 1.067-5.502; P=0.03) were significant independent predictors of impaired HRQOL in inactive IBD patients. CONCLUSIONS: FGID and MD are common in Korean quiescent IBD patients. Appropriate management should be administered according to age of patients and presence of concomitant FGID and MD to improve patients' HRQOL.

One-step fabrication of nanowire-grid polarizers using liquid-bridge-mediated nanotransfer molding.

Ag nanowire-grid polarizers (NWGPs) were prepared by a one-step fabrication method, called liquid-bridge-mediated nanotransfer molding (LB-nTM). LB-nTM is a new direct nano-patterning method based on the direct transfer of various materials from a mold to a substrate via liquid layer. We fabricated NWGPs with Ag nanowire arrays (81 nm parallel lines and 119 nm spaces) on 2.5 in. transparent substrates by LB-nTM using an Ag nanoparticle solution. The maximum and minimum transmittances of the Ag NWGP at 800 nm were 80% and 10%, respectively.

An empirical comparative study on biological age estimation algorithms with an application of Work Ability Index (WAI).

In this study, we described the characteristics of five different biological age (BA) estimation algorithms, including (i) multiple linear regression, (ii) principal component analysis, and somewhat unique methods developed by (iii) Hochschild, (iv) Klemera and Doubal, and (v) a variant of Klemera and Doubal's method. The objective of this study is to find the most appropriate method of BA estimation by examining the association between Work Ability Index (WAI) and the differences of each algorithm's estimates from chronological age (CA). The WAI was found to be a measure that reflects an individual's current health status rather than the deterioration caused by a serious dependency with the age. Experiments were conducted on 200 Korean male participants using a BA estimation system developed principally under the concept of non-invasive, simple to operate and human function-based. Using the empirical data, BA estimation as well as various analyses including correlation analysis and discriminant function analysis was performed. As a result, it had been confirmed by the empirical data that Klemera and Doubal's method with uncorrelated variables from principal component analysis produces relatively reliable and acceptable BA estimates.

Light stamping lithography: microcontact printing without inks.

We report a new patterning method, called light-stamping lithography (LSL), that uses UV-induced adhesion of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). LSL is based on the direct transfer of the contact surface of the PDMS stamp to a substrate via a UV (254 nm)-induced surface bonding between the stamp and the substrate. This procedure can be adopted in automated printing machines that generate patterns with a wide range of feature sizes on diverse substrates. To demonstrate its usefulness, the LSL method was applied to prepare several PDMS patterns on a variety of substrates. The PDMS patterns were then used as templates for selective deposition of TiO2 thin film using atomic layer deposition as well as resists for selective wet etching.

Two-Dimensional Automatic Control Modeling of a Posture Control System.

A posture control model has been developed on the basis of the 2-dimensional feedback control theory. Human postural characteristics were investigated in 5 healthy participants. Tests were performed with eyes open and eyes closed. After 5 s of quiet standing, each participant was unexpectedly pulled forward by 30 mm at his pelvis height and then released. Postural sway was measured over 20 s at a rate of 100 per second. Transfer functions to represent the posture control characteristic were identified by the least squares' method. These showed good results of the model's fitness, predictability, and stability. The response of the eyes-closed condition to perturbation is more oscillatory than that of the eyes-open condition. It seems that the model identified could be applicable to ergonomics, sports, or clinical situations.