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BackgroundAlthough we are living in an era of transparency, medical documents are often still difficult to access. Blockchain technology allows records to be both immutable and transparent. ObjectiveUsing blockchain technology, the aim of this study was to develop a medical document monitoring system that informs patients of changes to their medical documents. We then examined whether patients can effectively verify the monitoring of their primary care clinical medical records in a system based on blockchain technology. MethodsWe enrolled participants who visited two primary care clinics in Korea. Three substudies were performed: (1) a survey of the recognition of blockchain medical records changes and the digital literacy of participants; (2) an observational study on participants using the blockchain-based mobile alert app; and (3) a usability survey study. The participants’ medical documents were profiled with HL7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources, hashed, and transacted to the blockchain. The app checked the changes in the documents by querying the blockchain. ResultsA total of 70 participants were enrolled in this study. Considering their recognition of changes to their medical records, participants tended to not allow these changes. Participants also generally expressed a desire for a medical record monitoring system. Concerning digital literacy, most questions were answered with “good,” indicating fair digital literacy. In the second survey, only 44 participants—those who logged into the app more than once and used the app for more than 28 days—were included in the analysis to determine whether they exhibited usage patterns. The app was accessed a mean of 5.1 (SD 2.6) times for 33.6 (SD 10.0) days. The mean System Usability Scale score was 63.21 (SD 25.06), which indicated satisfactory usability. ConclusionsPatients showed great interest in a blockchain-based system to monitor changes in their medical records. The blockchain system is useful for informing patients of changes in their records via the app without uploading the medical record itself to the network. This ensures the transparency of medical records as well as patient empowerment.

Biocompatible field-effect-transistor-based biosensors have drawn attention for the development of next-generation human-friendly electronics. High-performance electronic devices must achieve low-voltage operation, long-term operational stability, and biocompatibility. Herein, we propose an electrolyte-gated thin-film transistor made of large-area solution-processed indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) semiconductors capable of directly interacting with live cells at physiological conditions. The fabricated transistors exhibit good electrical performance operating under sub-0.5 V conditions with high on-/off-current ratios (>107) and transconductance (>1.0 mS) over an extended operational lifetime. Furthermore, we verified the biocompatibility of the IGZO surface to various types of mammalian cells in terms of cell viability, proliferation, morphology, and drug responsiveness. Finally, the prolonged stable operation of electrolyte-gated transistor devices directly integrated with live cells provides the proof-of-concept for solution-processed metal oxide material-based direct cellular interfaces.

How would consumers respond to mobile ads in spatially and temporally bounded captive environments? We theorize that consumers who are forced to wait are likely to perceive an abundance of time and ultimately become more responsive to mobile ads. To test our theory, we conducted three studies following a multimethod approach. In Study 1, a large-scale field study (n = 66,473), we found a relationship between captivity and receptiveness to mobile ads in transit. In Study 2, a lab experiment, we extended our findings by revealing that time perception mediated the relationship between captivity and intention to click on mobile ads. Last, in Study 3, we tested boredom and individual propensities to use time efficiently as underlying mediating and moderating conditions for captivity's effect. Overall, the results have implications for advertising practitioners and researchers examining context-based mobile targeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaAs thin‐film solar cells have high efficiency, reliability, and operational stability, making them a promising solution for self‐powered skin‐conformal biosensors. However, inherent device thickness limits suitability for such applications, making them uncomfortable and unreliable in flexural environments. Therefore, reducing the flexural rigidity becomes crucial for integration with skin‐compatible electronic devices. Herein, this study demonstrated a novel one‐step surface modification bonding methodology, allowing a streamlined transfer process of ultra‐thin (2.3 µm thick) GaAs solar cells on flexible polymer substrates. This reproducible technique enables strong bonding between dissimilar materials (GaAs‐polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS) without high external pressures and temperatures. The fabricated solar cell showed exceptional performance with an open‐circuit voltage of 1.018 V, short‐circuit current density of 20.641 mA cm−2, fill factor of 79.83%, and power conversion efficiency of 16.77%. To prove the concept, the solar cell is integrated with a skin‐compatible organic electrochemical transistor (OECT). Competitive electrical outputs of GaAs solar cells enabled high current levels of OECT under subtle light intensities lower than 50 mW cm−2, which demonstrates a self‐powered electrocardiogram sensor with low noise (signal‐to‐noise ratio of 32.68 dB). Overall, this study presents a promising solution for the development of free‐form and comfortable device structures that can continuously power wearable devices and biosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal‐semiconductor interfaces are crucial components of optoelectronic and electrical devices, the performance of which hinges on intricate dynamics involving charge transport and mechanical interaction at the interface. Nevertheless, structural changes upon photoexcitation and subsequent carrier transportation at the interface, which crucially impact hot carrier stability and lifetime, remain elusive. To address this long‐standing problem, they investigated the electron dynamics and resulting structural changes at the Au/TiO2 interface using ultrafast electron diffraction (UED). The analysis of the UED data reveals that interlayer electron transfer from metal to semiconductor generates a strong coupling between the two layers, offering a new way for ultrafast heat transfer through the interface and leading to a coherent structural vibration that plays a critical role in propagating mechanical stress. These findings provide insights into the relationship between electron transfer and interfacial mechanical and thermal properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While existing research on the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) has primarily focused on human influencers, the literature on virtual influencers (also known as digital humans or AI influencers) remains limited. To address this research gap, this study investigates the factors influencing consumer attitudes toward ads promoted by virtual influencers. Extending the ELM framework, we examine perceived expertise and attractiveness as antecedents, and explore consumer online‐to‐offline dynamics as consequences. Using a multigroup structural equation model, the study compares high‐ and low‐involvement product ads by analyzing questionnaires (n = 406). A novelty lies in our findings that, contrary to existing ELM research, perceived attractiveness significantly influences attitudes toward the ads across both high‐ and low‐involvement levels. We attribute this result to a shift of consumer attention towards virtual influencers, driven by their attention‐grabbing aesthetic appeals. Our study extends the ELM framework and contributes to the literature on digital marketing, advertising, and human‐computer interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the promise of organic field effect transistor-based non-destructive readout devices and circuit development, the challenges in bias stress-induced charge trapping for stable operation still persist. This study introduces optically programmable organic field-effect transistors based on metal nanoparticles' plasmonic effects. Noble metal nanoparticles vacuum-deposited on an organic semiconductor layer not only enhance photon absorption and photocarrier generation but also function as charge trapping centers, thereby, modulating charge retention characteristics. According to the proposed mechanism on optical programming, we expect that the proposed device architecture may contribute to development of advanced information technology devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]