Indium-doped ZnO thin films were deposited by sol-gel spin-coating method with various In content. The effects of In content on the structural and optical properties of the indium-doped ZnO thin films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV-visible spectroscopy. The particle-like surface morphology and the crystallinity of the indium-doped ZnO thin films were affected by change in the In content, especially at the In content of 3 at.%. The values of direct band gap were decreased with increase in the In content. The width of localized states in the optical band gap of the indium-doped ZnO thin films were changed with In content and the Urbach energy (E U ) was changed inversely with optical band gap of the indium-doped ZnO thin films.

A heavily Si-doped GaN/polymer hybrid structure with p-type poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene):beta-1,3--glucan (PEDOT nanoparticle) interface layer has been fabricated. The Si-doped GaN thin film with carrier concentration of 1 × 10 19 cm −3 was grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. The PEDOT nanoparticle with various sizes ranging from 60 to 120 nm was synthesized via a miniemulsion polymerization process. The electrical conductivity of the PEDOT nanoparticle is less than 1.2 S/cm. The current-voltage (I-V ) characteristic of the hybrid structure shows diode-like behavior. The I-V characteristic was examined in the framework of the thermionic emission model. The ideality factor of the structure without PEDOT nanoparticle interface layer is 12.9. However, the ideality factor of the hybrid structure with PEDOT nanoparticle interface layer is obtained as 1.9. The value of ideality factor is dramatically decreased by inserting the PEDOT nanoparticle interface layer.

ZnO nanorods were grown by using the hydrothermal method on p-type Si (100) substrates with nanofibrous ZnO seed layers. Before the ZnO nanorods growth, nanofibrous ZnO seed layers were spin-coated onto the Si substrates. The structural and optical properties of ZnO nanorods were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence. The fibrous ZnO nanorods is possible due to the surface morphology of the nanofibrous ZnO seed layers. To investigate annealing effects of the ZnO nanorods, the post-annealing process was carried out at various temperatures ranging from 300 to 700• C under argon conditions. The structural and optical properties of the ZnO nanorods were also affected by the post-annealing treatment.

BackgroundAlthough a number of studies have reported that hyperuricemia and gout are independent risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), little is known about the relationship between hyperuricemia or gout and arterial stiffness.ObjectivesThis study sought to compare carotid arterial stiffness in gout patients and healthy controls, and evaluate the predictive factors for arterial stiffness in male patients with gout using carotid ultrasonography.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 69 male gout patients and 64 male healthy controls without any known CVD were prospectively analyzed. Carotid artery stiffness index β (β-index) and the intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured as surrogate markers of preclinical atherosclerosis. We also measured serum uric acid, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lipid profiles, and renal function. Adjusted comparison of the β-index and cIMT in both groups and their associations with clinical parameters were investigated.ResultsThe gout group showed higher ESR, Cr, prevalence of HT and DM than the control group (p<0.05). However, HDL was higher in the control group (p<0.05). β-index and cIMT were higher in the gout group, but only β-index showed a statistically significant difference (11.12 ± 5.19 vs 8.68 ± 3.67, p=0.002). Multiple regression analyses showed that duration of gout was significantly associated with increased β-index and cIMT in the gout group (Table 1).ConclusionsPatients with gout had increased carotid arterial stiffness, which was significantly related to gout duration rather than serum uric acid level or status of inflammation.ReferencesRichette P, Perez-Ruiz F, Doherty M, Jansen TL, Nuki G, Pascual E, Punzi L, So AK, Bardin T. (2014) Improving cardiovascular and renal outcomes in gout: what should we target? Nat Rev Rheumatol. 10(11):654–61.Perez-Ruiz F, Becker MA. (2015) Inflammation: a possible mechanism for a causative role of hyperuricemia/gout in cardiovascular disease. Curr Med Res Opin. 31 Suppl 2:9–14.Disclosure of InterestNone declared

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