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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between hypertension knowledge, attitude, and preventive activities of 20-30 years prehypertension adults. Methods: The subjects for this study were 178 prehypertension adults in J city. The data were collected using the questionnaires for knowledge, attitude and preventive activities. The data analysis was done by descriptive statistics, independent t-test and multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean of hypertension knowledge was 10.99 out of 18, attitude was 4.28 out of 5, and prevention activities was 5.32 out of 7. The influencing factors for hypertension preventive activities were attitude, perceived health status, marrital status and gender which accounted for 82.6% of the total variance. Conclusions: Hypertension attitude was identified as a variable that affects hypertension preventive activities. For preventing hypertension, national campaign and health education program in each prehypertension early adults need to be built.

Vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ) as strong correlated oxide has been intensively studied due to the unique properties accompanied by metal-insulator transition (MIT) near room temperature. Their extrinsic electrical and optical transformations on MIT have been greatly attracted in many potential applications. In this study, we propose to apply an intrinsic electrical property of VO 2 in metallic phase as doping agent of chemiresistive sensor. Self-doped nanocoulmnar vanadium oxides (SNVO) thin films are simply fabricated by glancing angle deposition without any template and chemical additives. The nanocolumnar VO 2 thin films were deposited by e-beam evaporator, and then the SNVO with residual VO 2 in V 2 O 5 nanocolums were synthesized by an air atmosphere annealing, which are composed of dominant oxidized V 2 O 5 which plays a sensing role on the surface and the residual VO 2 with self-doping effect inside nanocolumns. Especially at low temperature (150 °C), SNVO sensor shows an ultra-high performance (R gas /R air > 100) to NO 2 (5 ppm) gas. It is supposed that the residual VO 2 which shows metallic properties above Mott transition temperature (∼67 °C) acts as an intrinsic electron donor by pseudo-free electron, which helps adsorption of oxygen ions on the surface and extends the depletion region of few nanometers of narrow necks between nanocolumns.

Al2O3-coated Li(Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2)O2 cathode materials were prepared by simple surface modification in water media through a sol-gel process with a dispersant. The crystallinity and surface morphology of the samples were characterized through X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy observation. The Li(Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2)O2 cathode material was of a polycrystalline hexagonal structure and agglomerated with particles of approximately 0.3 to 0.8 μm in diameter. The nanosized Al2O3 particles of low concentration (0.06–0.12 wt %) were uniformly coated on the surface of Li(Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2)O2. Measurement of electrochemical properties showed that Li(Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2)O2 coated with Al2O3 of 0.08 wt % had a high initial discharge capacity of 206.9 mAh/g at a rate of 0.05 C over 3.0–4.5 V and high capacity retention of 94.5% at 0.5 C after 30 cycles (cf. uncoated sample: 206.1 mAh/g and 90.8%, respectively). The rate capability of this material was also improved, i.e., it showed a high discharge capacity of 166.3 mAh/g after 5 cycles at a rate of 2 C, whereas the uncoated sample showed 155.8 mAh/g under the same experimental conditions.

As highly sensitive H2S gas sensors, Au- and Ag-catalyzed SnO2 thin films with morphology-controlled nanostructures were fabricated by using e-beam evaporation in combination with the glancing angle deposition (GAD) technique. After annealing at 500 °C for 40 h, the sensors showed a polycrystalline phase with a porous, tilted columnar nanostructure. The gas sensitivities (S = Rgas/Rair) of Au and Ag-catalyzed SnO2 sensors fabricated by the GAD process were 0.009 and 0.015, respectively, under 5 ppm H2S at 300 °C, and the 90% response time was approximately 5 s. These sensors showed excellent sensitivities compared with the SnO2 thin film sensors that were deposited normally (glancing angle = 0°, S = 0.48).

Two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the complex oxide interfaces have brought about considerable interest for the application of the next-generation multifunctional oxide electronics due to the exotic properties that do not exist in the bulk. In this study, we report the integration of 2DEG into the nonvolatile resistance switching cell as a bottom electrode, where the metal-insulator transition of 2DEG by an external field serves to significantly reduce the OFF-state leakage current while enhancing the on/off ratio. Using the Pt/Ta2O5-y/Ta2O5-x/SrTiO3 heterostructure as a model system, we demonstrate the nonvolatile resistance switching memory cell with a large on/off ratio (10(6)) and a low leakage current at the OFF state (∼10(-13) A). Beyond exploring nonvolatile memory, our work also provides an excellent framework for exploring the fundamental understanding of novel physics in which electronic and ionic processes are coupled in the complex heterostructures.

For various additives doped- critical temperature sensors using the nature of semiconductor to metal transition, the crystallinity, microstructure, and temperature vs. resistance characteristics were systematically investigated. As a starting material of sensor, vanadium pentoxide () powders were used, and CaO, SrO, , , and PbO dopants were used, respectively. The powders with dopants were mixed with a vehicle to form paste. This paste was silk screen-printed on substrates and then -based thick films were heat-treated at for 2 hours in gas atmosphere for the reduction to . From X-ray diffraction analysis, phases for pure , and CaO and SrO-doped thick films were confirmed and their grain sizes were 0.57 to . The on/off resistance ratio of the sensor in phase transition temperature range was and that of the 0.5 wt.% CaO-doped sensor was . The presented critical temperature sensors could be commercialized for fire-protection and control systems.

We present gas sensing performance based on 22 sensor array with four different elements (TiO2, SnO2, WO3 and In2O3 thin films) fabricated by rf sputter. Each thin film was deposited onto the selected SiO2/Si substrate with Pt interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) of 5 m spacing which were fabricated on a SiO2/Si substrate using photolithography and dry etching. For 5 ppm NO2 and 50 ppm CO, each thin film sensor has a different response to offers the distinguishable response pattern for different gas molecules. Compared with the conventional micro-fabrication technology, 22 sensor array with such remarkable response pattern will be open a new foundation for monolithic integration of high-performance chemoresistive sensors with simplicity in fabrication, low cost, high reliablity, and multi- functional smart sensors for environmental monitoring.

0.5 wt.% Pd-catalyzed SnO2 thin-film gas sensors with microstructures controlled on a nanometer scale were fabricated by an e-beam evaporator using the glancing angle deposition (GAD) method. After annealing at 500 degrees C for 1 h, the sensors produced were polycrystalline with a nanoporous, tilted columnar microstructure. The gas-sensing properties of these SnO2 sensors were measured in the concentration range of 1 to 5 ppm NO2 at 250 degrees C and of 10 to 50 ppm C2H5OH at 400 degrees C, respectively. The sensors fabricated by e-beam evaporation in combination with the GAD method showed much higher sensitivities than normally prepared sensors and exhibited rapid response times. The gas sensitivity (S = R(gas)/R(air)) of the SnO2 sensor using the GAD method was 43.4 for 5 ppm NO2 and 0.08 for 10 ppm C2H5OH, respectively. These sensors showed excellent sensitivities compared to the normal thin film sensors (S = 2 for 5 ppm NO2 and 0.92 for 10 ppm C2H5OH). We consider that the nanostructured sensors produced using the GAD process could be used to detect various gases emitted by automobiles and industrial installations.

The aim is to determine the appropriate cutoff values of waist circumference (WC) for an increased risk of the metabolic syndrome in the Korean elderly population. We analyzed the WC cutoff values of four groups divided according to sex and age with a total of 2,224 elderly participants aged 65 years old and above from the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey using the receiver operating characteristic curve and multiple logistic regression. The WC cutoff values associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome were 89.6 cm for men and 90.5 cm for women for those who were 65 to 74 years old, and 89.9 cm for men and 87.9 cm for women for those who were 75 years old or older. WC cutoff points for estimating metabolic risk are similar in elderly men and women. Age-specific optimal WC cutoff points should be considered especially for elderly women in screening for metabolic syndrome.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Job Satisfaction of Care Helpers. Method: Subjects included 306 Care Helpers. working at geriatric care facilities; these data were collected from May 4 to May 15, 2012. The SPSS WIN 12.0 program was used for statistical analysis of collected data, including actual number, percentage, average, standard deviation, t-test, one way ANOVA, and Cronbach alpha coefficient. Results: 1. The average Job satisfaction was 3.76 and the average of each job satisfaction was the task (3.83), co-worker (2.23), and job turn over (2.25). 2. The satisfaction of the job itself, depending on back ground, had a significantly effect on age, protective person for a day, duty pattern, contract pattern, and motive. 3. The job satisfaction of human relationships, depending on their back ground, had a significant effect on degree, care-giving experience, duty place, protective person for a day, duty pattern, contract pattern, and duty motive. 4. The Job satisfaction of job turn over, depending on back ground had an. effect on job satisfaction statistically: age, degree, duty place, protective person for a day, duty pattern, and motive. Conclusion: These results found showed to contribute to job satisfaction of care helpers.

In this study, accurate nanostructures with various aspect ratios are created on several types of material. This work is highly applicable to the energy, optical, and nano-bio fields, for example. A silicon (Si) nano-mold is preserved using the method described, and target nanostructures are replicated reversibly and unlimitedly to or from various hard and soft materials. It is also verified that various materials can be applied to the substrates. The results confirm that the target nanostructures are successfully created in precise straight line structures and circle structures with various aspect ratios, including extremely high aspect ratios of 1:18. It is suggested that the optimal replicating and demolding process of nanostructures with high aspect ratios, which are the most problematic, could be controlled by means of the surface energy between the functional materials. Relevant numerical and analytical studies are also performed. It is possible to expand the applicability of the nanostructured mold by adopting various backing materials, including rounded substrates. The scope of the applications is extended further by transferring the nanostructures between different species of materials including metallic materials as well as identical species.

The purpose of this study is to validate that change of impact by the Early Extension in during a golf driver swing. 13 golf players who were diagnosed with symptoms of Early Extension participated in a proactive corrective training programs that took place 3 times a week for a 4 month period. Data was collected by recording 5 pre and 5 post training driver swings and analyzing the data to calculate the change in velocity and its effect in the shot used the TRACK MAN. After the training, the changes of early extension were -0.21 cm in backswing section E2(take away), -0.64 cm in E3(halfway backswing), and -0.94 cm in E4(backswing top). The downswing section changes were -1.34 cm in event E5(halfway downswing), -1.74 cm in E6(impact). Impact force increased and thus club speed increased by 6.32 km/h, ball speed increased by 10.94 km/h, max height decreased by -6.22 m, carry increased by 10.85 m, carry side(left deviation) decreased by 4.84 m, flight time by increased by 0.4 sec, and total length increased by 17.96 m while landing angle decreased by -7.74 deg.

Most portable mobile devices employ rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. This lithium-ion battery usually suffers from the possibility of explosion due to heat generation from surrounding atmosphere or internal deficiency during charging or at overuse. To solve these problems, most rechargeable batteries have a built-in protection circuit module (PCM). The resistance of a properly processed critical temperature sensor (CTS) is changed dramatically at a critical temperature of around , which can replace some bi-metal, NTC, or PTC sensors embedded in PCM. Such CTS consumes a very small current at the level of natural discharge. Experimental results showed that this CTS could be applied to a PCM as the PCM could protect the battery while keeping its power consumption at minimum.

The effect of as a sintering additive on the microstructure and the piezoelectric property of yPb-(1-y)Pb (, PSN-PZT) for a hypersonic sound speaker (HSS) application was investigated. The samples were sintered at for 2 h. The crystal structure and surface morphology of the samples were examined using XRD and FE-SEM, respectively. Study on the influence of additives on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties indicated that the -added PSN-PZT system had a high piezoelectric properties. The optimized results of ${\varepsilon}_r

Thick-film CO2 sensors were fabricated using a sodium super ionic conductor (NASICON: Na1+xZr2SixP3-xO12) with a series of Li2CO3-BaCO3 auxiliary phases. The powder of a precursor of NASICON with high purity was synthesized by a sol-gel process. Using the NASICON paste, an electrolyte was prepared on the alumina substrate through screen printing and then sintered at 1000°C for 5 hours. The resulted NASICON thick film was characterized by XRD and FESEM. Within a wide range of CO2 volume ratio concentration from 1,000 to 10,000 ppm, the output of the sensor showed a good electromotive force (EMF) response that was very close to the theoretical value. The sensor attached with a binary carbonate auxiliary phase Li2CO3-BaCO3 (1:2) showed fairly good CO2 sensing properties at 470°C.

The effect of as a sintering additive on the microstructures and the piezoelectric properties, especially mechanical quality factor, of 0.05 Pb-0.95 Pb (PSN-PZT) piezoelectric ceramics was investigated. The samples were sintered at for 2 h. The crystal structure and surface morphology of the sample were examined using XRD and FE-SEM, respectively. A study on the influence of additives on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties showed that the -added PSN-PZT system exhibited a high mechanical quality factor and well-situated piezoelectric properties. The optimized results of (319 pC/N), (55 %), and (751.24) were obtained at 0.2 wt% added PSN-PZT piezoelectrics.

Perovskites with nominal compositions Ln 0.8 Sr 0.2 CoO 3-δ (Ln=Gd, Nd, Pr, Sm, or Yb) were fabricated as cathode materials using a solid-state reaction method for low-temperature operating Solid-Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs). X-ray diffraction analysis and microstructure observation for the sintered samples were performed. The ac complex impedance was measured in the temperature range of 600-900℃ in air and fitted with a Solartron ZView program. The crystal structure, microstructure, electrical conductivity, and polarization resistance of Ln 0.8 Sr 0.2 CoO 3-δ were characterized systematically.

Potentiometric CO2 sensors were fabricated using a NASICON (Na 1+x Zr 2 Si x P 3-x O 12 ) thick film and auxiliary layers. The powder of a precursor of NASICON with high purity was synthesized using the sol-gel method. Using the NASICON paste, an electrolyte was prepared on the alumina substrate through screen printing and then sintered at 1000°C for 4 h. In the present study, as new auxiliary phases, a series of Na 2 CO 3 -CaCO 3 system was deposited on the Pt sensing electrode. The electromotive force (EMF) values were found to be linearly dependent on the logarithm of the CO2 concentration in the range of 1000-10000 ppm. The device to which Na 2 CO 3 -CaCO 3 (1:2) was attached showed good sensing properties at low temperatures.

Potentiometric sensors were fabricated using a NASICON (, 1.8 for 4 h. A series of auxiliary phases were deposited on the Pt sensing electrode. The electromotive force (emf) values were linearly dependent on the logarithm of concentration in the range between 1,000 and 10,000 ppm. The device attached with (1:2 in mol.%) showed good sensing properties in the low temperatures.

Nano-grained indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films catalyzed 0.5 wt.% Pd were deposited on the alumina substrate at ambient temperature or 300 °C by using an rf magnetron sputtering system and then annealed at 650 °C for 1 or 4 h in air. The crystallinity and microstructure of the annealed films were analyzed. The effects of their microstructure (nano-grain) and ITO composition on H 2 gas-sensing properties were systematically investigated. As the results of XRD and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) analysis, polycrystalline thin films with 10–35 nm in grain size were obtained. The ITO (In 2 O 3 :SnO 2 = 20:80) sensors showed high H 2 sensitivity, R gas / R air = 0.008 at 1000 ppm.

La/sub 0.8/Sr/sub 0.2/Ga/sub 0.8/Mg/sub 0.2/O/sub 3-δ/-based solid electrolytes in which Mg site was partially substituted by Fe, Co or Ni (0.05, 0.1, 0.15 at.％) were fabricated by conventional solid-state reaction and their sintered densities were above 94％ of theoretical density. X-ray diffraction analysis and microstructure observation for the sintered specimens were performed. The ac complex impedance were measured at 400。C to l000。C in air and fitted with a Solatron ZView program. The electrical conductivity of La/sub 0.8/Sr/sub 0.2/Ga/sub 0.8/Mg/sub 0.2/O/sub 3-δ/-based solid electrolytes substituted by Fe, Co or Ni was higher than that of pure La/sub 0.8/Sr/sub 0.2/Ga/sub 0.8/Mg/sub 0.2/O/sub 3-δ/. The electrical conductivity of La/sub 0.8/Sr/sub 0.2/Ga/sub 0.8/Mg/sub 0.05/Ni/sub 0.15/O/sub 3-δ/ electrolyte was 3.4×10/sup -2/ Scm/sup -1/ at 800。C and the highest value of the whole electrolytes.

The nano-grained Pd or Pt-doped thin films were deposited on the alumina substrate at ambient temperature or by using an R.F. magnetron sputtering system and then annealed at for 1 hour or 4 hours in air. The crystallinity and microstructure of the annealed films were analyzed. A grain size of the thin films was 30 nm to 50 nm. As a result of gas sensitivity measurements to an alcohol vapor of , the 2 wt.% Pt-doped thin-film sensor deposited at and annealed at for 4 hours showed the highest sensitivity.

스크린 인쇄법 및 PZT sol 처리의 복합공정을 적용하여 30 ㎛ 두께의 PMW-PZT 후막을 Pt/TiO₂/SiN x /Si 기판위에 제작하였다. 그 결과 PZT sol 처리 횟수가 증가함에 따라 후막의 소결 밀도가 증가하고 전기적, 압전 특성의 증진되는 것을 관찰 할 수 있었다. 800℃에서 소결한 10회 sol 처리한 PMW-PZT 후막은 745의 유전상수 및 155 pC/N의 d 33 값을 나타내었다.

The effect of an epoxy resin coating on the electrochemical performance of Li-ion batteries is investigated. Mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB), which constitute a promising carbon anode material for rechargeable Li-ion batteries is used as a starting carbon material. The surface coating of the MCMB is carried out by refluxing in a dilute H 2 SO 4 solution and mixing in the epoxy resin-dissolved tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution. After heat treatment at 1000–1300 °C, the resin coating layer on the MCMB is converted to an amorphous phase which is identified by means of a high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and a electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) analyses. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of MCMB is increased by the formation of the amorphous epoxy resin coating layer. The electrochemical performance of the MCMB, such as the charge–discharge capacity and cycleability, is enhanced by the surface modification through epoxy resin coating. The reasons for the improvement of electrochemical performance are discussed in terms of the results from HRTEM observation, EELS analysis, and cyclicvoltammetry

A new gas-sensitive capacitor utilizing Pt–WO 3 –Si 3 N 4 –SiO 2 –Si–Al MIS structure has been explored. The incorporation of Pt as the catalytic gate and WO 3 as the gas adsorptive oxide with the silicon MIS capacitor enhances the detection of NO 2 at a relatively low temperature. Device performance in terms of sensitivity is presented. A new detection model based on a change in concentration of ions at Pt–WO 3 interface is proposed for the sensing mechanism. Detection mechanism for NO 2 is attributed to the chemisorption at extrinsic surface states on the adsorptive oxide surface in a form of negatively charged nitrogen dioxide ions. The model is confirmed by the reaction kinetic analysis at the interface.

In order to apply WO3 thin films to the NOx gas sensor, WO3 thin films (3000 A) were fabricated by using dc reactive sputtering method on alumina substrate and assembled as a unit of an NOx gas sensor by adopting a patterned heater on the back side of substrate. The deposition temperatures of WO3 thin film were changed from 200°C to 500°C, and then post-annealed for the crystallization for 4 h at 600°C. There were no WO3 phases at the substrate temperature of 200°C, but the crystalline phases of WO3 thin film were appeared with the increase of substrate temperature from 200°C to 500°C. The post-annealing of as-deposited WO3 thin films at 600°C resulted in the enhancements of crystallinity, but it was observed that the quality of the final phases severely depends on the initial formation of phase during deposition. From the SEM images, crack free morphologies were found, which was different from the room temperature growth films. The sensitivity (Rgas/Rair) of as-deposited thin films was ranged from 4 to 10 for the 5 ppm NO test gas at the measuring temperature of 200°C. However, after post-annealing process at the temperature of 600°C, the sensitivities were increased around the values of 70–180 at the same test condition. These results show the WO3 thin films need to be processed at least at the temperature of 600°C for the well-improved sensitivity against NOx gas. It was also observed that the recovery rate of a sensing signal after measuring sensitivity was faster in the in-situ sputtered films than in the evaporated films or room temperature sputtered films.

The spinel Li(Mn1−δTiδ)2O4 electrode materials were synthesized by solid state reaction. The crystal structure by a Rietveld method and electrical properties by an impedance analyzer is characterized in the present study. The Mn3O4 second phase was shown in all samples. The titanium dissolved in Mn 16d-site, and the lattice constants increased and the electrical conductivity decreased with increasing titanium content. From the impedance analysis, the contribution of grain, grain boundary, and electrode was identified. Finally, the charge and discharge test was performed.

We performed an in-depth electrochemical study on the ion-blocking electrochemical cells Pt/Li1/2(LnxLa1/2−x)TiO3/Pt (Ln=Nd, Gd) over a wide frequency, impedance magnitude, and temperature range, and proposed an equivalent circuit which is original in its low frequency interpretation. The electrical properties of the bulk and the grain boundary were analyzed closely in relation to the crystallography and the characteristic microstructure of the system.

0.5 wt.% Pd-catalyzed SnO2 thin-film gas sensors with microstructures controlled on a nanometer scale were fabricated by an e-beam evaporator using the glancing angle deposition (GAD) method. After annealing at 500 degrees C for 1 h, the sensors produced were polycrystalline with a nanoporous, tilted columnar microstructure. The gas-sensing properties of these SnO2 sensors were measured in the concentration range of 1 to 5 ppm NO2 at 250 degrees C and of 10 to 50 ppm C2H5OH at 400 degrees C, respectively. The sensors fabricated by e-beam evaporation in combination with the GAD method showed much higher sensitivities than normally prepared sensors and exhibited rapid response times. The gas sensitivity (S = R(gas)/R(air)) of the SnO2 sensor using the GAD method was 43.4 for 5 ppm NO2 and 0.08 for 10 ppm C2H5OH, respectively. These sensors showed excellent sensitivities compared to the normal thin film sensors (S = 2 for 5 ppm NO2 and 0.92 for 10 ppm C2H5OH). We consider that the nanostructured sensors produced using the GAD process could be used to detect various gases emitted by automobiles and industrial installations.

SnO 2−x gas sensors have been fabricated by thermal oxidation of Sn thin films. Sn thin films approximately 15 000A˚thick for commercial applications are deposited on a polished alumina substrate by using a high-vacuum resistance-heating evaporator. These films are oxidized at 500°C in various oxygen partial pressures in order to control the x value in SnO 2−x . The surface morphology and quantitative compositional analysis of SnO 2−x thin films as functions of oxygen partial pressures are systematically investigated by SEM, RBS and XPS. Gas sensitivities and response times of Pd-doped SnO 2−x thin films to H 2 , CO, C 3 H 8 and i-C 4 H 10 gases are measured at 300°C. The relationship between gas sensitivities and the x values in SnO 2−x thin films is discussed.

Purpose: This study was designed to construct a model which explains drug misuse behaviors in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: The design of this research is a cross-sectional study using structure equation modeling. The hypothetical model consisted of two types of variables: the exogenous variables of health status, cognitive ability, and negative emotion, and the endogenous variables of number of drugs, and drug misuse behaviors. The data collection was conducted from September 2 to September 21, 2013 through self-report questionnaires. Participants were 320 community-dwelling adults over the age of 65 living in J city. Data were analyzed with SPSS 21.0 program and Amos 18.0 program. Results: The results of the model fitness analysis were satisfied. The predictor variables for the hypothetical model explained 62.3% of variance regarding drug misuse behaviors. Drug misuse behaviors were directly affected by health status, cognitive ability, negative emotion and number of drugs and indirectly affected by health status, and negative emotion through number of drugs. Conclusion: These findings indicate factors that should be used in developing effective nursing interventions for safe and proper drug use and the prevention of drug misuse behaviors in community-dwelling older adults.

The transport properties of the NiOPd composites have been investigated by ac electrical conductivity measurements at various temperatures between 700°C and 1200°C in pure oxygen, air and purified argon atmosphere. The electrical conductivity of the composites at first decreases to 2.3 vol% PdNiO composition and then increases as a function of the volume fraction of Pd due to the decrease of the potential barrier in the space charge regions. The frequency dependance and the effects of the second phase in these composites have been characterized with impedance spectroscopy. In the complex resistivity plots of the 2.3 vol% Pd-dispersed NiO composite, the low-frequency semicircle decreases compared to that of undoped, polycrystalline NiO and it is proposed that the potential barrier in the space charge layer generated at the interface between Pd second phase and NiO matrix influences the bulk resistivity.

Thin films of the Au, Au/Cr, Au/Ni/Cr, and Au/Pd/Cr systems were deposited on alumina substrates at ambient temperature and 250 °C in a high‐vacuum resistance heated evaporator, and annealed at 300, 450, and 600 °C for 1 h in air, respectively. The gold films with a Cr adhesive layer exhibited improved adhesion of the films to the substrate. Pull‐off tests demonstrated that the adhesion of the Au/Cr films deposited at ambient temperature more than doubled after annealing at 600 °C. The surface morphology of the gold films was observed using scanning electron microscopy. The sheet resistance of each layer was also investigated using a four‐point probe method. Finally, the sensing characteristics as exemplified by observed resistance changes during exposure of the films to a gas were measured at room temperature for hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The sensitivity of the Au/Cr system for H2S is the highest of the four systems. As a result of the Auger‐electron spectroscopy analysis, the Au/Ni/Cr and Au/Pd/Cr systems...

The air pollution caused by exhaust gases from automobiles has become a critical issue. In some regions, fossil fuel combustion is a problem as well. The principal gases that cause air pollution from automobiles are nitrogen oxides, NOx (NO and NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). Because NOx gases with sulfur oxides (SOx) emitted from coal fired plants cause acid rain and global warming and produce ozone (O3) that leads to serious metropolitan smog from photochemical reaction, they must be detected and reduced [1-5]. In addition, as greater amounts of oil organic compounds are currently being produced by applied construction materials and households, the number of people who develop various symptoms after moving into a new apartment (e.g., tickle, vertigo, headache, skin trouble) is increasing [6,7]. The principal gases that cause this phenomenon (called “sick-building syndrome”) are formaldehyde (HCHO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) [8]. Especially, formaldehyde is the most dangerous among indoor pollutants as it could harm all kinds of organisms. Considering these, the allowed concentration of formaldehyde in the Netherlands and Germany is only 0.1 ppm [9,10]. Therefore, gas sensors with excellent reactivity and stability are needed. The first decade of the 21st century has been labeled by some as the “Sensor Decade.” A sensor is a device that converts a physical phenomenon into an electrical signal. As such, sensors represent part of the interface between the physical world and the world of electrical devices, such as computers. In recent years, sensors have received people’s attention as one of the important devices in electronic systems and enormous capability for information processing has been developed within the electronics industry. Of all sensors, gas sensors and light sensors have been most actively studied [11-13]. The final goal of gas sensor development is to establish the array technology of multifunctional gas sensors that can monitor air pollution with low cost, and is to fabricate the electronic nose using this technology. Gas sensors are defined as a device that can substitute for human olfaction, and there are many researches being conducted to monitor air pollution by using these gas sensors. Gas sensors can be classified into semiconductor-type, solid electrolyte-type, electrochemicaltype and catalytic combustion-type. Among these, the semiconductor-type gas sensor, the most well-known, is operated by changing its conductivity when it is exposed to gas. The semiconductor-type gas sensor has the advantages of rapid reactivity, efficiency, and gas selectivity when suitable additives are applied to it [14,15]. Sensors made of inorganic materials are the most commonly used, especially ceramics. One reason is that many sensors are used in very severe conditions such as high temperature, reactive or corrosive atmosphere and high humidity, and ceramics are most reliable materials in these conditions. Another reason may be that the microstructure of ceramics can be controlled by process

We investigated the electronic structures of the perovskite-type $4d$ transition-metal oxides $\mathrm{Sr}M{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ $(M=\mathrm{Zr},$ Mo, Ru, and Rh) using their optical conductivity spectra $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\omega}).$ The interband transitions in $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ are assigned, and some important electronic structure parameters, such as charge-transfer energy ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{pd}},$ and crystal-field splitting $10Dq,$ are estimated. It is observed that ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{pd}}$ and $10Dq$ decrease systematically with increasing the atomic number of the $4d$ transition metal. Compared with the case of $3d$ oxides, the magnitudes of ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{pd}}$ and $10Dq$ are larger. These behaviors can be explained by the more extended nature of the orbitals in the $4d$ oxides.

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the effects of foot reflexology on arthralgia, ankylosis, depression and sleep in community-dwelling elderly women with osteoarthritis. Methods: The research adopted a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants were 47 elderly women: 22 in the experimental group and 25 in the control group. The experimental group received foot reflexology twice a week for 4 weeks. The results were analyzed using x 2 -test, t-test, and ANCOVA with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: The results showed that foot reflexology was statistically significantly effective in reducing arthralgia, ankylosis, and depression and in improving the quality of sleep as evidenced by differences between two groups. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that foot reflexology is an effective nursing intervention in reducing arthralgia, ankylosis, and depression, and improving the quality of sleep. Therefore, it is necessary to develop foot reflexology as an independent nursing intervention for elderly women with osteoarthritis in community.