Room temperature processed high mobility W-doped InO electrodes coated via in-line arc plasma ion plating for flexible OLEDs and quantum dots LEDs.

We fabricated W-doped InO (IWO) films at room temperature on a flexible PET substrate using an in-line arc plasma ion plating system for application as flexible transparent conducting electrodes (FTCEs) in flexible organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and quantum dots light emitting diodes (QDLEDs). Due to the high-energy flux of the sublimated ions generated from the plasma region, the IWO films showed a well-developed crystalline structure with a low sheet resistance of 36.39 Ohm/square and an optical transmittance of 94.

Reliability of the intelligent stretching device for ankle stiffness measurements in healthy individuals.

Background: A number of devices have been developed to measure joint stiffness. This study investigated the reliability of the Intelligent (Intel) stretch device to measure bilateral ankle joint stiffness during passive range of motion (ROM).

Methods: The reliability of the device was investigated based on torque and angle by establishing the consistency of measurements between examiners on different testing days.

Kinematic analyses of trunk stability in one leg standing for individuals with recurrent low back pain.

This prospective study examined normalized stability differences based on dominance side and visual feedback. Subjects with low back pain (LBP) (n=26; 9 men, 17 women) and without LBP (n=28; 11 men, 17 women) participated in this study. All subjects were asked to maintain single leg standing balance with the contralateral hip flexed 90° for 25s.

Dielectrophoretic technique for measurement of chemical and biological interactions.

We present a novel dielectrophoretic technique that can be used to characterize molecular interactions inside a microfluidic device. Our approach allows functionalized beads which are initially at rest on a functionalized surface to be pulled away from the surface by the dielectrophoretic force acting on the beads. As a result, the interaction between the molecules on the surface and the beads can be quantitatively examined.

Hydrophilic electrospun polyurethane nanofiber matrices for hMSC culture in a microfluidic cell chip.

Mimicking cellular microenvironments by MEMS technology is one of the emerging research areas. Integrated biomimetic systems with nanofiber polymer networks and microfluidic chips were fabricated and cellular behaviors were observed by changing surface characteristics of nanofibers and flow rates of microchannels. Modification of polyurethane nanofiber surfaces were achieved by grafting acrylic acid with plasma treatment and these nanofiber matrices were employed in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) based microfluidic chip.

Photopolymerized check valve and its integration into a pneumatic pumping system for biocompatible sample delivery.

In this paper, we present a simple check valve whose operation mimics that of venous valves. Our check valve has a mono-leaflet and is constructed via an in situ fabrication method inside the PDMS platform. For the smooth operation of the valve's leaflet, the elasticity and the shape of the leaflet and the lubrication between the leaflet and the channel surface are important.

Soft material-based microculture system having air permeable cover sheet for the protoplast culture of Nicotiana tabacum.

In plant cell culture, the delivery of nutrition and gas (mainly oxygen) to the cells is the most important factor for viability. In this paper, we propose a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microculture system that is designed to have good aeration. PDMS is known to have excellent air permeability, and through the experimental method, we investigated the relation between the degree of air delivery and the thickness of the PDMS sheet covering the culture chamber.

Hydrodynamic fabrication of polymeric barcoded strips as components for parallel bio-analysis and programmable microactuation.

In this paper, we report a novel technique for the manufacture of polymeric barcoded strips having diverse characteristics such as biocatalyst-based sensing and pH-responsive actuation. The fabrication involves the use of both a microfluidic platform and in-situ photopolymerization. It is expected that this method, which is a very simple, cost-effective, and environment-friendly means for mass production, will facilitate the stable immobilization of diverse biological substances such as enzymes, DNA, and antigens.