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We investigated potential nosocomial aerosol transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) with droplet precautions. During aerosol generating procedures, SFTSV was be transmitted from person to person through aerosols. Thus, airborne precautions should be added to standard precautions to avoid direct contact and droplet transmission.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of enhanced environmental cleaning (two times per day) compared with conventional cleaning on the acquisition of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in a highly endemic intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: The intervention consisted of alternating environmental cleaning and conventional cleaning every 3 months during the study period from July 2018 to June 2019. CRAB acquisition was assessed using incidence and prevalence rates, and colonization pressure. Results: The incidence rates of CRAB with and without enhanced cleaning were 16.3 and 13.9 cases per 1000 population, respectively; and the prevalence rates were 66.9 and 61.7 cases per 1000 population, respectively. Colonization pressure was 53.3% with enhanced cleaning and 51.3% without enhanced cleaning. No association was found between enhanced environmental cleaning and the incidence (P=0.156), prevalence (P=0.888) and colonization pressure (P=0.825) of CRAB acquisition. The ventilator utilization ratio increased the colonization pressure of CRAB acquisition (P=0.010, β coefficient=0.37). The proportion of new nurses with

Few studies have focused on clinical courses or viral loads in young asymptomatic or mild patients with COVID-19 infection. We sought to better understand the clinical course and association between viral load and prevalence of pneumonia in young COVID-19 patients with asymptomatic or mild disease severity. In this retrospective study, 106 COVID-19 young patients with asymptomatic or mild disease severity were analyzed for clinical characteristics, clinical course, prevalence of radiologically proven pneumonia and viral load. The cut-off value of viral load for presence of pneumonia was also investigated. The mean age was 28.0±9.3 years. Eleven patients (10.4%) experienced viral remission within one week of diagnosis, but one (0.9%) transferred to the hospital due to aggravation of pneumonia. Patients with pneumonia had significantly higher viral load than those without, and the cut-off value of the Ct value for presence of pneumonia were 31.38. The patients with pneumonia had significantly slower recovery times than those without. Diarrhea was significantly more common in patients with pneumonia than patients without pneumonia. In conclusion, most young asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients showed stable clinical course. There were significant differences in viral load and recovery times between patients with and without pneumonia.

Next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices require a high-quality channel layer. Graphene is a good candidate because of its high carrier mobility and unique ambipolar transport characteristics. However, the on/off ratio and photoresponsivity of graphene are typically low. Transition metal dichalcogenides (e.g., MoSe2) are semiconductors with high photoresponsivity but lower mobility than that of graphene. Here, we propose a graphene/MoSe2 barristor with a high-k ion-gel gate dielectric. It shows a high on/off ratio (3.3 × 104) and ambipolar behavior that is controlled by an external bias. The barristor exhibits very high external quantum efficiency (EQE, 66.3%) and photoresponsivity (285.0 mA/W). We demonstrate that an electric field applied to the gate electrode substantially modulates the photocurrent of the barristor, resulting in a high gate tuning ratio (1.50 μA/V). Therefore, this barristor shows potential for use as an ambipolar transistor with a high on/off ratio and a gate-tunable photodetector with a high EQE and responsivity. An approach that enhances control over charge carrier movement in graphene-based transistors may be useful in applications such as bendable circuits and light sensors. The difference in current flow when a transistor turns from on to off plays a critical role in determining device performance. Bae Ho Park from Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea, and colleagues report that stacking graphene on top of another two-dimensional (2D) film of molybdenum selenide can lead to larger on/off current ratios than conventional graphene transistors. Optical and electrical characterizations revealed that the interface between the 2D films created a potential barrier that blocked current flow in the device’s off state without compromising graphene’s mechanical flexibility. Using an external voltage to modulate current flow through the barrier region also allowed the stacked device to serve as a high-efficiency photodetector. we report a field-effect device with a graphene/MoSe2 channel layer and high-k ion-gel gate dielectric. The device shows a high carrier mobility (~247 cm2/V ∙ s), a high on/off ratio (3.3 × 104), and ambipolar behavior that are controlled by an applied gate voltage. The strong gating effect of the device results in higher external quantum efficiency (EQE) (66.3%), photoresponsivity (285.0 mA/W), and gate-tuning ratio (1.50 μA/V) compared to pristine devices. Therefore, our graphene/MoSe2 barristor device can be a suitable candidate for use in ambipolar transistors and gate-tunable broad-area photodetectors.

Background Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction has been reported as characteristic symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study evaluated olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in mild COVID-19 patients using validated assessment methods. Methods A prospective surveillance study was conducted for mild COVID-19 patients who were isolated at the Gyeonggi International Living and Treatment Support Center (LTSC), Korea. Olfactory function was assessed using the Korean version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD) and Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test (CC-SIT). Gustatory function was assessed using an 11-point Likert scale and 6-n-propylthiouracil, phenylthiocarbamide, and control strips. All patients underwent nasal and oral cavity endoscopic examination. Results Of the 62 patients at the LTSC, 15 patients (24.2%) complained of olfactory or gustatory dysfunction on admission. Four of 10 patients who underwent functional evaluation did not have general symptoms and 2 were asymptomatic. The mean short version of QOD-negative statements and QOD-visual analogue scale scores were 13 ± 6 and 4.7 ± 3.6, respectively. The mean CC-SIT score was 8 ± 2. No patients showed anatomical abnormalities associated with olfactory dysfunction on endoscopic examination. The mean Likert scale score for function was 8 ± 2, and there were no abnormal lesions in the oral cavity of any patient. Conclusions The prevalence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction was 24.2% in mild COVID-19 patients. All patients had hyposmia due to sensorineural olfactory dysfunction, which was confirmed using validated olfactory and gustatory evaluation methods and endoscopic examination. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction may be characteristic indicators of mild COVID-19., Graphical Abstract

SummaryBackgroundAngiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) have anti-inflammatory effects. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses the membrane protein angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is increased by ARB/ACEI treatment, as a cell entry receptor. Therefore, the use of ARBs/ACEIs for COVID-19 remains controversial.MethodsA retrospective case-control study was conducted using COVID-19 patients previously diagnosed with hypertension before COVID-19 onset. The primary outcome was severe infection or all-cause mortality. Cases included ARB/ACEI use for ≥30 days during the 6 months before COVID-19 onset. Primary controls included antihypertensive use other than ARBs/ACEIs (narrow control); secondary controls included all other hypertension patients (broad control). We investigated ARB/ACEI association with outcomes in general and by subgroups (age, sex, and presence of diabetes) using logistic regression models with propensity score matching.FindingsOf 234427 suspected COVID-19 patients we screened, 1585 hypertension patients were analyzed. In the 892 cases, 428 narrow controls, and 693 broad controls, severe infection or death occurred in 8·6%, 22·2%, and 16·7%, respectively. ARB/ACEI use was associated with a reduced risk of severe infection or death relative to the narrow control group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0·43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0·28 – 0·65) and broad control group (aOR 0·49, 95% CI 0·33 – 0·71). The association was smaller for newly diagnosed hypertension patients (aOR 0·11, 95% CI 0·03 – 0·42 compared to narrow control group). ARB/ACEI protective effects against severe infection or death were significantly observed in male and diabetic patients.InterpretationARB/ACEI use was associated with a lower risk of severe infection or mortality compared to other antihypertensives or ARB/ACEI nonuse.FundingNoneResearch in contextEvidence before this studyAnimal studies reported that ACE2 attenuates lung injury and provides a protective effect against severe pneumonia. Additionally, retrospective studies found that ARBs/ACEIs may have beneficial effects on ARDS patient survival. Previous observational studies have reported no potential harmful association of either ARBs or ACEIs with COVID-19 outcomes.Added value of this studyBy analyzing nationwide claims data in South Korea, we found that previous use of ARB/ACEI was associated with improved outcomes in COVID-19 compared with either nonuse or use of a different class of antihypertensive drugs. The risk of severe infection or death was consistently about 55% lower in those treated with ARB/ACEIs than those who were not exposed to ARB/ACEIs. The protective effect of ARB/ACEI was remained significantly among the male subgroup and patients with diabetes. This association was also observed among COVID-19 patients with newly diagnosed hypertension.Implications of all the available evidenceThese results provide supporting evidence for the continued use of ARBs/ACEIs among patients with COVID-19. Moreover, for newly diagnosed hypertension patients, initiation of ARB/ACEI use may not adversely affect COVID-19 prognosis. Given the poor prognosis of COVID-19 patients with hypertension and lack of curable strategy, these findings may have considerable clinical implications in prevention of poor outcome in patients with hypertension.

Since sepsis was first defined, sepsis management has remained challenging. To improve mortality rates for sepsis and septic shock, an accurate diagnosis and prompt administration of appropriate antibiotics are essential. The goals of antimicrobial stewardship are to achieve optimal clinical outcomes and to ensure cost-effectiveness and minimal unintended consequences, such as toxic effects and development of resistant pathogens. A combination of inadequate diagnostic criteria for sepsis and time pressure to provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy remains an obstacle for antimicrobial stewardship. Efforts such as selection of appropriate empirical antibiotics and de-escalation or determination of whether or not to stop antibiotics may help to improve a patient's clinical prognosis as well as the successful implementation of antimicrobial stewardship.

Background: Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction have been reported as characteristic symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study evaluated olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in mild COVID-19 patients using validated assessment methods. Methods: A prospective surveillance study was conducted for mild COVID-19 patients who were isolated at the Gyeonggi International Living and Treatment Support Center (LTSC), Korea. Olfactory function was assessed using the Korean version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD) and Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test (CC-SIT). Gustatory function was assessed using an 11-point Likert scale and 6-n-propylthiouracil, phenylthiocarbamide, and control strips. All patients underwent nasal and oral cavity endoscopic examination. Findings: Of the 62 patients at the LTSC, 15 patients (24.2%) complained of olfactory or gustatory deterioration on admission. Four of 10 patients who underwent functional evaluation did not have general symptoms and 2 patients were asymptomatic. The mean sQOD-NS and QOD-VAS scores were 13 ± 6 and 4.7 ± 3.6, respectively. The mean CC-SIT score was 8 ± 2. No patients showed anatomical abnormalities associated with olfactory dysfunction on endoscopic examination. The mean Likert scale score for function was 8 ± 2, and there were no abnormal lesions in the oral cavity of any patient. Interpretation: The prevalence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction was 24.2% in mild COVID-19 patients. All patients had hyposmia due to sensorineural olfactory deterioration, which was confirmed using validated olfactory and gustatory evaluation methods and endoscopic examination. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction may be characteristic indicators of mild COVID-19. Funding Statement: No funding. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: This study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Korea University Ansan Hospital (2020AS0122).

After publication of the original article [1], we were notified that an author’s name has been incorrectly spelled. Soon You Kwon’s correct full name is Soon Young Kwon.

Combustible gases, such as CH4 and CO, directly or indirectly affect the human body. Thus, leakage detection of combustible gases is essential for various industrial sites and daily life. Many types of gas sensors are used to identify these combustible gases, but since gas sensors generally have low selectivity among gases, coupling issues often arise which adversely affect gas detection accuracy. To solve this problem, we built a decoupling algorithm with different gas sensors using a machine learning algorithm. Commercially available semiconductor sensors were employed to detect CH4 and CO, and then support vector machine (SVM) applied as a supervised learning algorithm for gas classification. We also introduced a pairing plot scheme to more effectively classify gas type. The proposed model classified CH4 and CO gases 100% correctly at all levels above the minimum concentration the gas sensors could detect. Consequently, SVM with pairing plot is a memory efficient and promising method for more accurate gas classification.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a causative agent of foodborne zoonosis that usually causes self-limiting pseudoappendicitis. Y. pseudotuberculosis infection also causes systemic spread or extraintestinal manifestations in patients with predisposing conditions. Here, we present a case of acute hepatitis with Y. pseudotuberculosis bacteremia in a 30-year-old man. He was previously healthy without significant medical history other than obesity and current smoking. At the time of admission, he presented with high fever accompanied by chills, jaundice, abdominal pain, and watery diarrhea. Laboratory studies revealed leukocytosis and elevated liver function parameters. A stool culture showed no causative pathogens. Empiric antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone and metronidazole was administered. Y. pseudotuberculosis was later isolated from the initial blood culture performed on the day of admission using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Antibiotic treatment was continued based on the susceptibility testing results from MALDI-TOF MS and VITEk®2, as well as clinical and laboratory improvements. The patient was discharged on the tenth day of admission and remained healthy with no recurrence during the 12-month follow-up. Here, we review the literature on the systemic infection caused by Y. pseudotuberculosis, including extraintestinal manifestations. This case highlights that Y. pseudotuberculosis may be considered a differential causative organism in patients with acute colitis and hepatitis.

The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (SEPSIS-3) task force assessed the latest pathophy-siological parameters associated with sepsis and septic shock and defined sepsis as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. This SEPSIS-3 definition may be applied using relevant clinical and biological criteria in-cluding changes in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and serum lactate levels. The new definition does not include cri-teria for systemic inflammatory response syndrome or the concept of `severe sepsis.` The SEPSIS-3 definition aims to devise more precise descriptions of sepsis and to improve clinical care. However, there are important questions relating to the clinical applica-tion of the new definition. We review the main characteristics and limitations of previous definitions and discuss some of the poten-tial controversies raised by the new framework. (Korean J Med 2017;92:342-348)

Lead-free (100 − x)BiFeO3–xBaTiO3 (BFBTx, x = 0, 30, 33, 40 and 50) piezoelectric thin films were deposited on platinized silicon substrates by using a pulsed laser deposition method. The BFBTx thin films has a single-phase perovskite structure with (111) preferred orientations. Atomic force microscopy images showed the dense morphology, and large piezoresponses were observed in the piezoelectric force microscope measurements. The best local piezoelectric coefficient, value of 259 pm V−1, was observed in the BFBT40 thin film. This result is one of the best values in lead-free piezoelectric thin films with a simple geometry. The BFBT40 piezoelectric thin film can be considered as a strong candidate to replace lead-based piezoelectric thin films for piezoelectric-based microelectromechanical systems.

Background Even after the introduction of the Sepsis-3 definition, there is still debate on the ideal antibiotic administration time in patients with sepsis. This study was performed to evaluate the association between the timing of antibiotic administration and mortality in sepsis patients who visited the emergency room. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted on patients who were diagnosed as sepsis with Sepsis-3 definition among patients who visited the emergency department (ED) of Korea University Ansan Hospital from September 2017 to January 2019. The timing of antibiotic administration was defined as the time in hours from ED arrival until the first antibiotic administration. Cox logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between time to antibiotics and 7-, 14-, and 28-day mortality. Results During the study period, a total of 251 patients were enrolled with a 7-, 14-, and 28-day mortality of 16.7%, 36.3%, and 57.4%, respectively. The median time to antibiotic administration was 247 minutes (interquartile range 72 – 202 minutes). The mean age was 72 ± 15 years old and 122 patients (48.6%) were female. The most common site of infection was respiratory infection. The timing of antibiotic administration were not associated with 7-, 14-, and 28-day mortality. Female (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.06 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21 – 3.53]; P value = 0.008), SOFA score (aHR 1.17 [95% CI 1.05 - 1.31]; P = 0.005), and initial lactate level (aHR 1.13 [95% CI 1.05 - 1.22]; P = 0.001) increased the risk of 7-day mortality. Female (aHR 2.07 [95% CI 1.48 – 2.89]; P ≤ 0.001), Charlson comorbidity index (aHR 1.12 [95% CI 1.02 - 1.24]; P = 0.025), and initial lactate level (aHR 1.19 [95% CI 1.02 - 1.16]; P = 0.011) increased the risk of 14-day mortality. Female (aHR 1.95 [95% CI 1.50 – 2.54]; P = 0.001) increased the risk of 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis. Conclusion The timing of antibiotic administration did not increase the risk of mortality in the treatment of sepsis patients who visited ED. Rather, the SOFA score, lactate, female, and comorbidity increased the mortality associated with sepsis. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Selectively activated inorganic synaptic devices, showing a high on/off ratio, ultrasmall dimensions, low power consumption, and short programming time, are required to emulate the functions of high-capacity and energy-efficient reconfigurable human neural systems combining information storage and processing (Li et al. Sci. Rep. 2014, 4, 4096). Here, we demonstrate that such a synaptic device is realized using a Ag/PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 (PZT)/La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSMO) ferroelectric tunnel junction (FTJ) with ultrathin PZT (thickness of ∼4 nm). Ag ion migration through the very thin FTJ enables a large on/off ratio (107) and low energy consumption (potentiation energy consumption = ∼22 aJ and depression energy consumption = ∼2.5 pJ). In addition, the simple alignment of the downward polarization in PZT selectively activates the synaptic plasticity of the FTJ and the transition from short-term plasticity to long-term potentiation.

Background Fosfomycin is one of the antibiotics that may be a candidate for the next-generation antimicrobial agents againt multidrug-resistant bacteria. To date, it is known that the resistance rate is not high for Escherichia coli. However, it is necessary to update the fosfomycin resistance rates in E. coli according to the studies that extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli strains are highly resistance to fosfomycin. We evaluated the resistance rate of fosfomycin, the resistant mechanism of fosfomycin in E. coli, and the activity of fosfomycin against susceptible and resistant strains of E. coli. Methods A total of 283 clinical isolates was collected from patients with Escherichia coli species during the period of January 2018 to June 2018, in three tertiary hospitals of Republic of Korea. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed in all E. coli isolates using the broth microdilution method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of the Oxford scheme was conducted to determine the genotypes of E. coli isolated. Fosfomycin genes were investigated for all fosfomycin-resistant E. coli strains. Results The overall resistance rate to fosfomycin was 10.2%, compared with 53.4%, 46.3%, 41.3%, 31.1%, 10.6%, 2.5%, and 2.1% for ciprofloxacin, cefixime, cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, colistin, ertapenem, and amikacin, respectively. The 29 fosfomycin-resistant isolates did not show a clonal pattern on the phylogenetic tree. MurA and glp genes were identified in all strains. FosA3 were identified in two strains and uhp gene were identified in 4 strains. In time-kill curve studies, fosfomycin was more bactericidal than cefixime against all sensitive E. coli strain. Morever, fosfomycin was more bactericidal than piperacillin/tazobactam against ESBL-producing E. coli strain. Conclusion The resistant rate of fosfomycin to E. coli is still low. Fosfomycin was active against E. coli including ESBL producing strains. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on titanium dioxide () have been extensively studied because of their promising low-cost alternatives to conventional semiconductor based solar cells. DSSCs consist of molecular dye at the interface between a liquid electrolyte and a mesoporous wide-bandgap semiconductor oxide. Most efforts for high conversion efficiencies have focused on dye and liquid electrolytes. However, interface engineering between dye and electrode is also important to reduce recombination and improve efficiency. In this work, for interface engineering, we deposited semiconducting ferroelectric with bandgap of 2.8 eV on nanoparticles and nanotubes. Photovoltaic properties of DSSCs were characterized as a function of thickness of . We showed that ferroelectric -coated electrodes enable to increase overall efficiency of DSSCs, which was associated with efficient electron transport due to internal electric field originating from electric polarization. It was suggested that engineering the dye- interface using ferroelectric materials as inorganic modifiers can be key parameter for enhanced photovoltaic performance of the cell.

Highly nonlinear bistable current-voltage (I–V) characteristics are necessary in order to realize high density resistive random access memory (ReRAM) devices that are compatible with cross-point stack structures. Up to now, such I–V characteristics have been achieved by introducing complex device structures consisting of selection elements (selectors) and memory elements which are connected in series. In this study, we report bipolar resistive switching (RS) behaviours of nano-crystalline BiFeO3 (BFO) nano-islands grown on Nb-doped SrTiO3 substrates, with large ON/OFF ratio of 4,420. In addition, the BFO nano-islands exhibit asymmetric I–V characteristics with high nonlinearity factor of 1,100 in a low resistance state. Such selector-free RS behaviours are enabled by the mosaic structures and pinned downward ferroelectric polarization in the BFO nano-islands. The high resistance ratio and nonlinearity factor suggest that our BFO nano-islands can be extended to an N × N array of N = 3,740 corresponding to ~107 bits. Therefore, our BFO nano-island showing both high resistance ratio and nonlinearity factor offers a simple and promising building block of high density ReRAM.

Purpose To report the results of a new technique for intraocular lens scleral fixation of temporary haptic externalization and four-point fixation for enhanced stability. Methods Two 10–0 polypropylene strands were fixed at two points 2 mm apart on each haptic of a conventional three-piece intraocular lens, using our previously reported method of temporary haptic externalization after injector implantation. Postoperative refractive outcome and stability were evaluated. Results Although the intraocular lens was fixed at a total of four points, no intraoperative difficulties were observed during the process. Patients showed successful fixation of the intraocular lens postoperatively. The fixed intraocular lens showed good centering and minimal tilting. When compared to the two-point fixation technique, postoperative astigmatism was significantly smaller in the four-point fixation group (1.80 ± 0.84 vs. 1.00 ± 0.0.50, p = 0.033). Lens-induced astigmatism calculated from subtraction of corneal astigmatism from total astigmatism was also significantly smaller in the four-point fixation group (2.23 ± 0.98 vs.1.17 ± 0.0.70, p = 0.043). No postoperative complications were identified during a mean follow-up period of 14.8 months (range, 10 to 19 months). Conclusions By fixing the intraocular lens at two points on each side of the haptics, this method minimizes the tilting of the intraocular lens and thus decreases postoperative lens-induced astigmatism. Also, the possibility of intraocular lens dislocation in the long term might be decreased by this two-point fixation technique.

High-quality channel layer is required for next-generation flexible electronic devices. Graphene is a good candidate due to its high carrier mobility and unique ambipolar transport characteristics but typically shows a low on/off ratio caused by gapless band structure. Popularly investigated organic semiconductors, such as pentacene, suffer from poor carrier mobility. Here, we propose a graphene/pentacene channel layer with high-k ion-gel gate dielectric. The graphene/pentacene device shows both high on/off ratio and carrier mobility as well as excellent mechanical flexibility. Most importantly, it reveals ambipolar behaviors and related negative differential resistance, which are controlled by external bias. Therefore, our graphene/pentacene barristor with ion-gel gate dielectric can offer various flexible device applications with high performances.

A 5.78 GHz micro strip antenna has been developed for use in Wireless LAN (WLAN) systems. It has a composite sandwich construction, and uses composite laminates and Nomex honeycomb. This is the surface-antenna-structure (SAS) concept, applied to load-bearing structural surfaces. The design originated from a composite sandwich structure and a multi-layer micro strip antenna. Design, fabrication and validation of structural/electrical performances all took place. To verify structural rigidity, the bucking behavior was calculated from a theoretical model, and was compared with experimental results. Electrical measurements of the fabricated antenna array were in good agreement with design specifications. The SAS concept can be extended into a guide for manufacturers of structural body panels as well as antenna designers, promising innovative future communication technology.

Two types of conformal load-bearing antenna structures (CLAS) were designed with microwave composite laminates and Nomex honeycomb cores to secure both the structural rigidity and a good electrical performance. One was a 4 × 8 array for the synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) system and the other was a 5 × 2 array for the wireless local-area network (LAN) system. The design was based on a wide bandwidth, high polarization purity, low losses, and high structural rigidity. The design, fabrication, and structural/electrical performances of the antenna structures were studied. Their flexural behavior was examined by three-point bending, impact, and buckling tests. The electrical measurements were in a good agreement with simulation results. The complex antenna structures obtained have good flexural characteristics. The design of this antenna structure is extended to give a useful guide for sandwich panel manufacturers as well as antenna designers.

We report the impact of intrinsic defects in epitaxial BiFeO3 films on charge conduction and resistive switching of Pt/BiFeO3/SrRuO3 capacitors, although the BiFeO3 films show very similar ferroelectric domain types probed by piezoresponse force microscopy. Capacitors with p-type Bi-deficient and n-type Bi-rich BiFeO3 films exhibit switchable diode and conventional bipolar resistive switching behaviors, respectively. Both the capacitors show good retention properties with a high ON/OFF ratio of >100 in Bi-deficient films and that of >1000 in Bi-rich films. The present investigation advances considerably understanding of interface control through defect engineering of BiFeO3 thin films for non-volatile memory application.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of six Yukatan minipig brains was performed. The animals were placed in stereotaxic conditions currently used in experiments. To allow for correctpositioning of the animal in the MRI instrument, landmarks were previously traced on the snout of the pig. To avoid movements, animal were anesthetized. The animals were placed in a prone position in a Siemens Magnetom Avanto 1.5 System with a head coil. Axial T2-weighted and sagittal T1-weighted MRI images were obtained from each pig. Afterwards, the brains of the pigs were fixed and cut into axial sections. Histologic and MR images were compared. The usefulness of this technique is discussed.

By confining columnar grains of textured oxide film using anodized aluminum oxide template, we could obtain a grain-boundary-free (GB-free) cuprous oxide (Cu(2)O) nanowire arrays with a narrow diameter distribution and a high density under the same electrochemical deposition condition. A two-terminal device fabricated using an individual GB-free nanowire and Au/Cr electrodes exhibits bipolar resistive switching contrary to the unipolar one of a textured film, and Schottky-like conduction. On the other hand, a nanowire device with Pt electrodes reveals non-switching behavior and Ohmic conduction. Thus, we can propose that the bipolar switching of a nanowire device with Au/Cr electrodes may result from the modulation of Schottky barrier at the interface by migration of oxygen vacancies while the unipolar one of a textured film may be defined as the bulky filamentary switching along the GBs in the GB-embedded texture films.