The mobility in top- and bottom-contact thin-film transistors (TFTs) based on 2,2-bianthryl (2A) was improved. The mobility of the top-contact 2A-TFT was improved from 0.25 to 1.0
cm
2/Vs by ...octyltrichlorosilane (OTS) treatment of the SiO
2 gate-insulator surface. Large grains and clear step structures corresponding to the molecular length of 2A were observed in the AFM image of a 2A film deposited on the OTS-treated SiO
2. The bottom-contact 2A-TFT with typical source–drain (S–D) electrodes of Cr/Au showed a non-linear rise in the output characteristics due to the large injection barrier between the work function of Au and the HOMO level of 2A. The non-linear rise in the output characteristics was successfully improved by employing MoO
x
as the carrier injection layer for the S–D electrodes. Consequently, the mobility of the bottom-contact 2A-TFT with a MoO
x
/Au electrode was improved to 1.0
cm
2/Vs, which is comparable to that in the top-contact 2A-TFT.
The growth of perfluoropentacene (PFP) and pentacene (PEN) ultrathin films on Ag(111) has been investigated using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. To understand the influence that ...perfluorination of the parent molecule has on its resultant packing structure, the results are compared against each other in the framework of morphological differences. Perfluorination leads to a different packing structure in the first monolayer. We observed only one closely packed arrangement with periodic dislocation lines for PFP molecules, while for PEN molecules, there are two coexisting arrangements in the first monolayer. Monolayers of each molecule are commensurate with the underlying substrate with long axes of both molecules aligned in the 11̅0 direction along the silver surface. The disparity in arrangements is attributed to the difference in peripheral atoms of the two molecules. Additional photoemission spectroscopy studies reveal that PFP physisorbs on Ag (111).
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are genetically, pathologically and clinically-related progressive neurodegenerative diseases. Thus far, several SQSTM1 ...variations have been identified in patients with ALS and FTD. However, it remains unclear how SQSTM1 variations lead to neurodegeneration. To address this issue, we investigated the effects of ectopic expression of SQSTM1 variants, which were originally identified in Japanese and Chinese sporadic ALS patients, on the cellular viability, their intracellular distributions and the autophagic activity in cultured cells. Expression of SQSTM1 variants in PC12 cells exerted no observable effects on viabilities under both normal and oxidative-stressed conditions. Further, although expression of SQSTM1 variants in PC12 cells and Sqstm1-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts resulted in the formation of numerous granular SQSTM1-positive structures, called SQSTM1-bodies, their intracellular distributions were indistinguishable from those of wild-type SQSTM1. Nonetheless, quantitative colocalization analysis of SQSTM1-bodies with MAP1LC3 demonstrated that among ALS-linked SQSTM1 variants, L341V variant showed the significantly lower level of colocalization. However, there were no consistent effects on the autophagic activities among the variants examined. These results suggest that although some ALS-linked SQSTM1 variations have a discernible effect on the intracellular distribution of SQSTM1-bodies, the impacts of other variations on the cellular homeostasis are rather limited at least under transiently-expressed conditions.
•Ectopic expression of ALS-linked SQSTM1 variants does not affect cell viability.•Ectopic expression of SQSTM1 in cells results in formation of SQSTM1-body.•Ectopic expression of SQSTM1 in cells has marginal impacts on the autophagic activity.•SQSTM1L341V variant exhibits impaired association with LC3 in cultured cells.
Puncturing of the internal jugular vein (IJV) after placement of a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is difficult. Overlapping of the right internal jugular vein (IJV) and common carotid artery (CCA) after ...placement of an LMA-Classic (Laryngeal Mask Company, Henley-on-Thames, United Kingdom) was investigated using an ultrasound scanner. A study was conducted to determine the optimal puncture site in the case of puncturing the right IJV after LMA-Classic placement.
The subjects in this study consisted of 114 patients (60 men and 54 women) scheduled to undergo LMA-Classic placement (size 4 for men and size 3 for women). Overlapping between the IJV and CCA was investigated at three points (high, middle, and low points) on the right side of the neck after LMA-Classic placement. A test puncture was also made at the right low (supraclavicular) point after LMA-Classic placement.
(1) The degree of overlapping of the right IJV and CCA after LMA-Classic placement was clearly greater than before LMA placement. (2) With the exception of some measurements, there were many cases in which the right IJV and CCA were completely overlapping after LMA-Classic placement. Furthermore, the CCA was not observed in the vicinity of the right IJV at the right low point. (3) There were no complications (including pneumothorax and accidental arterial puncture) during supraclavicular IJV puncture after LMA-Classic placement.
After placement of the LMA-Classic, overlapping of the IJV and CCA increased at the high and middle puncture points of the IJV; however, at the lower puncture point, the position of the vessels remained unaffected. Therefore, during IJV puncture at high or middle points, ultrasound guidance is advisable to avoid CCA puncture.
Amorphous n‐type semiconductors with high electron affinity and mobility have been obtained from perfluorinated oligo(9,9‐dimethylfluorene)s, which have been synthesized from octafluorofluorene, up ...to the tetramer (see figure).
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