Effect of surface tension and drying time on inkjet-printed PEDOT:PSS for ITO-free OLED devices

Abstract Highly conductive PEDOT:PSS is one of the most promising materials for indium tin oxide (ITO) substitution in printed electronics. Here, we report the development and optimisation of two PEDOT:PSS ink formulations for the fabrication of inkjet-printed transparent conductive layers. Starting from aqueous commercial solutions, co-solvents and a non-ionic surfactant were employed to modify the surface tension, improve the wetting capability of the ink, and obtain uniform and homogeneous thin films. In particular, the quantities of ethanol and surfactant were systematically adjusted to determine the optimal conditions for inkjet printing. The results demonstrate that a surface tension value between 28 and 40 mN/m and approximately 40 vol.% of a low-boiling-point co-solvent are fundamental to ensure the proper wetting of the glass substrate and a quick-drying process that confers uniformity to the printed thin film. The printed PEDOT:PSS thin films show good morphological, optical, and electrical properties that are similar to those observed for the corresponding spin-coated layers. The organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) fabricated with the inkjet-printed PEDOT:PSS electrodes showed a maximum quantum efficiency of 5.5% and maximum current efficiency of 15 cd/A, which is comparable to spin-coated reference devices. These results demonstrate the great potential of polymeric electrodes for the fabrication of high-efficiency printed OLED devices that are compatible with flexible and stretchable substrates

Software libero per lo sviluppo in Africa orientale

Free Software for development in East Africa  Since 1999 Istituto Oikos (Italian NGO) in partnership with Oikos East Africa (Tanzanian NGO) are carrying out integrated development projects in collaboration with local Government Authorities at Regional, District, and Village level. With the aim to ensure sustainability to the interventions addressed to strengthen the governance capacities and the use of IT technologies in the rural areas, the projects have promoted the use of Free Software tools such as Ubuntu and Debian Linux as OS; Qgis and GRASS as G.I.S.; SQLite/Spatialite and PostgreSQL/PostGIS as Spatial-enabled DBRMS, OpenOffice as productivity suite

Software libero per lo sviluppo in Africa orientale

Free Software for development in East Africa  Since 1999 Istituto Oikos (Italian NGO) in partnership with Oikos East Africa (Tanzanian NGO) are carrying out integrated development projects in collaboration with local Government Authorities at Regional, District, and Village level. With the aim to ensure sustainability to the interventions addressed to strengthen the governance capacities and the use of IT technologies in the rural areas, the projects have promoted the use of Free Software tools such as Ubuntu and Debian Linux as OS; Qgis and GRASS as G.I.S.; SQLite/Spatialite and PostgreSQL/PostGIS as Spatial-enabled DBRMS, OpenOffice as productivity suite

Individualizing duration of antibiotic therapy in community-acquired pneumonia

International experts suggest tailoring antibiotic duration in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) according to patients' characteristics. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of an individualized approach to antibiotic duration based on time in which CAP patients reach clinical stability during hospitalization. In a multicenter, non-inferiority, randomized, controlled trial hospitalized adult patients with CAP reaching clinical stability within 5 days after hospitalization were randomized to a standard vs. individualized antibiotic duration. In the Individualized group, antibiotics were discontinued 48\ua0h after the patient reached clinical stability, with at least five days of total antibiotic treatment. Early failure within 30 days was the primary composite outcome. 135 patients were randomized to the Standard group and 125 to the Individualized group. The trial was interrupted by the safety committee because of an apparent inferiority of the Individualized group over the Standard treatment: 14 (11.2%) patients in the Individualized group experienced early failure vs. 10 (7.4%) patients in the Standard group, p\ua0=\ua00.200, at the intention-to-treat analysis. 30-day mortality rate was four-time higher in the Individualized group than the Standard group. Shortening antibiotic duration according to patients' characteristics still remains an open question

Individualizing duration of antibiotic therapy in community-acquired pneumonia

International experts suggest tailoring antibiotic duration in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) according to patients' characteristics. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of an individualized approach to antibiotic duration based on time in which CAP patients reach clinical stability during hospitalization. In a multicenter, non-inferiority, randomized, controlled trial hospitalized adult patients with CAP reaching clinical stability within 5 days after hospitalization were randomized to a standard vs. individualized antibiotic duration. In the Individualized group, antibiotics were discontinued 48 h after the patient reached clinical stability, with at least five days of total antibiotic treatment. Early failure within 30 days was the primary composite outcome. 135 patients were randomized to the Standard group and 125 to the Individualized group. The trial was interrupted by the safety committee because of an apparent inferiority of the Individualized group over the Standard treatment: 14 (11.2%) patients in the Individualized group experienced early failure vs. 10 (7.4%) patients in the Standard group, p = 0.200, at the intention-to-treat analysis. 30-day mortality rate was four-time higher in the Individualized group than the Standard group. Shortening antibiotic duration according to patients' characteristics still remains an open question.</p