The importance of grain boundaries for the time-dependent mobility degradation in organic thin-film transistors

The relationships between organic semiconductor morphology and device stability of organic field-effect transistors (FETs) are very complex and not yet fully understood. Especially For obtaining high-performance, air-stable n-channel FETs, gaining a deep insight into possible degradation mechanisms can help improve their air stability. Here, we investigate the performance and stability of organic n-channel FETs based on solution-grown single-crystalline ribbons of the conjugated semiconductor bis(1H, 1H-perfluorobutyl)-dicyano-perylene tetracarboxylic diimide (C3F7CH2- PTCDI-(CN)(2)). The FETs show an electron mobility of 0.25 cm(2)/(V S) in air and an on/off ratio up to 1 x 10(7). Their mobility does not significantly change when devices are stored in air for more than 5 weeks. This excellent air stability stands in contrast to FETs based on thin evaporated polycrystalline films of the same compound that degrade by more than an order of magnitude during the same 5 week period. We attribute this striking difference in air stability to the grain boundaries in the polycrystalline films and discuss different possible degradation mechanisms

Sexual health at 5 years after diagnosis of head and neck cancer

International audiencePurpose: Sexual health (SH) is an emerging concern in the assessment of quality of life in patients surviving head and neck cancer (HNC). Using data from the French National Prospective VICAN Survey, this study aimed to assess SH deterioration five years after HNC diagnosis and related factors.Methods: Using univariate and multivariate analyses were performed in the 241 HNC survivors. We studied the factors associated between the sexuality and intimate life of these patients with demographic and medical data from the national epidemiological survey VICAN 5.Results: Sexuality and body image were altered in 78.8% for men and 79.2% for women. This alteration in sexual quality of life affects both men and women. Dissatisfaction with the frequency of sexual intercourse was associated with being treated with radiotherapy (p=0.024), as well as decrease of sexual desire in patients treated with chemotherapy (p=0.044). Fatigue (p=0.002), impaired physical health (p=0.049), and high disease stage (p=0.001) remained significantly associated, after multivariate analysis, with decreased sexual desire. Among these 3 factors negatively influencing sexual quality of life, two are treatable with appropriate management.Conclusion: Five years after the diagnosis of HNC, a decrease in sexuality and body image are frequent and significantly impact the quality of life of survivors. These observations imply an adaptation of the management of the professionals involved

Preconceptional immune biomarkers in assisted reproduction: G-CSF in the follicular fluid -Interleukin-18, -15 and TWEAK in the endometrium

International audienc

Blood flow distribution in sorbent beds: analysis of a new sorbent device for hemoperfusion

A new polymer-based sorbent cartridge has been recently developed for enhancing middle molecule removal during hemodialysis. The cartridge (Betasorb(R), Renaltech, New York, USA) has been designed to be placed in series with the dialyzer in the blood circuit. It is therefore important to evaluate the distribution of flow into the blood compartment of the device in order to assess if the surface of the sorbent is utilized to the best for this purpose, a special imaging technique was utilized. Cartridges were analyzed during a simulated in vitro circulation at 250 and 350 ml/min of blood flow and 25% and 40% hematocrit. Cartridges were placed in vertical position and a cross longitudinal section 1 cm thick was analyzed in sequence by a helical scanner. Dye was injected into the arterial inlet and the progressive distribution was evaluated by sequential densitometrical measures carried out automatically by the machine. The sequential images analyzed by the scanner demonstrated excellent distribution of the flow in the blood compartment with minimal difference between the central and the peripheral regions of the compartment. In particular the following flow velocity pattern could be observed under the different experimental conditions tested [GRAPHICS] We may conclude that the cartridge design is adequate and no channelling effects could be detected in the blood compartment. The flow distribution is slightly affected by changes in flow rate and hematocrit showing an optimal utilization of the available surface for molecule adsorption