Dark Current Reduction of P3HT-Based Organic Photodiode Using a Ytterbium Fluoride Buffer Layer in Electron Transport

Photodiodes are widely used to convert lights into electrical signals. The conventional silicon (Si) based photodiodes boast high photoelectric conversion efficiency and detectivity. However, in general, inorganic-based photodiodes have low visible wavelength sensitivity due to their infrared wavelength absorption. Recently, electrical conducting polymer-based photodiodes have received significant attention due to their flexibility, low cost of production and high sensitivity of visible wavelength ranges. In the present work, we fabricated an organic photodiode (OPD) consisting of ITO/ NiOx/ P3HT:PC60BM/ YbF3/ Al. In the OPD, a yitterbium fluoride (YbF3) buffer layer was used as the electron transport layer. The OPD was analyzed for its optical-electrical measurements, including J-V characteristics, detectivity and dynamic characteristics. We have investigated the physical effects of the YbF3 buffer layer on the performance of OPD such as its carrier extraction, leakage current and ohmic characteristics

On the high strain rate behavior of 63-37 Sn-Pb eutectic solders with temperature effects

This study presents experimental results performed on samples of Eutectic solder material (63 wt. % Sn 37 wt. % Pb) loaded at high strain rates and elevated temperatures. The tests were performed at high strain rates using Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB). The strain rates were in the range of 400 s-1to 1300 s-1. Heating unit was added to conventional SHPB to vary sample' s initial temperature conditions. Tests were conducted at three initial temperatures, i.e. room temperature, 60 °C and 120 °C for compressive mode. The effects of temperature on the behavior of material were compared. Transient temperature changes during dynamic loading conditions are calculated by an analytical approach using measured stress-strain data for plastic work. Test results were fitted into the Johnson-Cook model (JC model). In addition, dynamic tests were performed in tension mode using Split Hopkinson Tensile Bar (SHTB) at room temperature

Determinants of Japanese direct investments in selected BIMP-EAGA countries

This paper uses panel data analysis to identify how Japanese multinational corporations (MNCs) allocate their investments in the selected BIMP-EAGA countries (i.e. Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines). The paper hypothesizes that the following six elements would influence the inflow of Japanese Direct Investments (JDI) into the area: country?s market size, growth rate of market size, per capita income, trade deficit, inflation rates and political condition. The main findings from the panel data analysis are that there is a significant relationship between Japanese direct investments and political condition in the recipient countries. The inflows of Japanese investment tend to decrease as the political risk increases. It means that Japanese MNCs tend to allocate more investments into the countries with better political condition

Effect of germinated brown rice extracts on pancreatic lipase, adipogenesis and lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Background: This study investigated anti-obesity effects of seven different solvent (n-hexane, toluene, dicholoromethane, ethyl acetate, absolute methanol, 80% methanol and deionized water) extracts of germinated brown rice (GBR) on pancreatic lipase activity, adipogenesis and lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods: GBR were extracted separately by employing different solvents with ultrasound-assisted. Pancreatic lipase activity was determined spectrophotometrically by measuring the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate (p-NPB) to p-nitrophenol at 405 nm. Adipogenesis and lipolysis were assayed in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes by using Oil Red O staining and glycerol release measurement. Results: GBR extract using hexane showed the highest inhibitory effect (13.58 ± 0.860%) at concentration of 200 μg/ml followed by hexane extract at 100 μg/ml (9.98 ± 1.048%) while ethyl acetate extract showed the lowest (2.62 ± 0.677%) at concentration of 200 μg/ml on pancreatic lipase activity. Water extract at 300 μg/ml showed 61.55 ± 3.824% of Oil Red O staining material (OROSM), a marker of adipogenesis. It significantly decrease (p < 0.05) lipid accumulation than control (OROSM = 100%), follow by ethyl acetate extract at 300 μg/ml (OROSM = 65.17 ± 3.131%). All the GBR extracts induced lipolysis with 1.22-1.83 fold of greater glycerol release than control. Conclusions: GBR extracts especially the least polar and intermediate polar solvent extracts exhibited inhibitory effect on pancreatic lipase, decrease fat accumulation by adipocyte differentiation inhibition, and stimulate lipolysis on adipocytes. Therefore, GBR could be furthered study and developed as a functional food in helping the treatment and/or prevention of obesity

Cluster-randomized, crossover trial of head positioning in acute stroke

The role of supine positioning after acute stroke in improving cerebral blood flow and the countervailing risk of aspiration pneumonia have led to variation in head positioning in clinical practice. We wanted to determine whether outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke could be improved by positioning the patient to be lying flat (i.e., fully supine with the back horizontal and the face upwards) during treatment to increase cerebral perfusion. METHODS In a pragmatic, cluster-randomized, crossover trial conducted in nine countries, we assigned 11,093 patients with acute stroke (85% of the strokes were ischemic) to receive care in either a lying-flat position or a sitting-up position with the head elevated to at least 30 degrees, according to the randomization assignment of the hospital to which they were admitted; the designated position was initiated soon after hospital admission and was maintained for 24 hours. The primary outcome was degree of disability at 90 days, as assessed with the use of the modified Rankin scale (scores range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater disability and a score of 6 indicating death). RESULTS The median interval between the onset of stroke symptoms and the initiation of the assigned position was 14 hours (interquartile range, 5 to 35). Patients in the lying-flat group were less likely than patients in the sitting-up group to maintain the position for 24 hours (87% vs. 95%, P\u3c0.001). In a proportional-odds model, there was no significant shift in the distribution of 90-day disability outcomes on the global modified Rankin scale between patients in the lying-flat group and patients in the sitting-up group (unadjusted odds ratio for a difference in the distribution of scores on the modified Rankin scale in the lying-flat group, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.92 to 1.10; P = 0.84). Mortality within 90 days was 7.3% among the patients in the lying-flat group and 7.4% among the patients in the sitting-up group (P = 0.83). There were no significant betweengroup differences in the rates of serious adverse events, including pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS Disability outcomes after acute stroke did not differ significantly between patients assigned to a lying-flat position for 24 hours and patients assigned to a sitting-up position with the head elevated to at least 30 degrees for 24 hours

The Influence of Economic and Cultural Factors on Social Cleavage in U.S. Presidential Elections from 1980 to 2008

I examine the relationship between social structural factors and political behavior by applying the concept of social cleavage in American society. Lipset and Rokkan (1967) developed the concept of social cleavage to explain the influence of social structure on political behavior in the 1960s. They suggest that social cleavage emerged in Western Europe in the 1920s and persisted until the 1960s. Some scholars claim that the influence of social group membership is not as influential in predicting voting behavior in elections as it was in the 1960s, while other scholars argue that social cleavages are still important in explaining individuals’ choices in elections. Additionally, many scholars believe that issue-based factors reduce the influence of social structure on voting behavior. I first analyze the voting trend of classes, religious groups, and regions, and their magnitude of cleavage since 1980. Second, I examine the influence of economic and cultural factors on Presidential voting. Third, I estimate the relative size of the effects of economic and cultural factors on Presidential voting. Fourth, I demonstrate the influence of economic and economic factors on social cleavages. The findings show that social group membership and geographical residence are significant factors in Presidential elections between 1980 and 2008. Political cleavage based on religious group membership is the greatest. Voters also have more distinctive political preferences based on micro-regional residence compared to macro-regional residence. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that economic and cultural factors are significantly associated with Presidential elections between 1984 and 2008, and that the magnitude of social cleavage changed when economic and cultural variables were included