Highly Strained Polymeric Monolayer Stacked for Wafer-Scale and Transferable Nanodielectrics.

As the keystones of molecular electronics, high-quality nanodielectric layers are challenging to assemble due to the strictest criteria for their reliability and uniformity over a large area. Here, we report a strained poly(4-vinylphenol) monolayer, ready to be stacked to form defect-free wafer-scale nanodielectrics. The thickness of the nanodielectrics can be precisely adjusted in integral multiples of the 1.

Bryophytes adapt to open-pit coal mine environments by changing their functional traits in response to heavy metal-induced soil environmental changes.

Plants have unique adaptability to heavy metal pollution. However, the adaptation strategies of bryophytes are still unclear. In order to better understand the response of bryophytes to different heavy metal and the adaptation mechanisms of different species to heavy metal pollution, we studied soil physicochemical properties, distribution of heavy metal elements, ecological risk assessment and the community structure, functional characteristics of bryophytes in large open-pit coal mines in Inner Mongolia.

Supramolecular Electronics: Monolayer Assembly of Nonamphiphilic Molecules via Water Surface-Assisted Molecular Deposition.

Utilizing softly confined self-assembly at the water surface represents a promising approach for the fabrication of two-dimensional molecular monolayers (2D MMs), which have predominantly been concentrated on amphiphilic organic compounds before. Herein, we introduce a straightforward method termed "water surface-assisted molecular deposition (WSAMD)" to organize nonamphiphilic molecules into dense monolayers with high reproducibility. To underscore the versatility and merit of this methodology in the field of supramolecular electronics, we have successfully fabricated a range of defect-free, uniform semiconducting polymer monolayers, featuring a thickness reflective of molecular architectures.

Wearable Mechatronic Ultrasound-integrated AR Navigation System for Lumbar Puncture Guidance.

As one of the most commonly performed spinal interventions in routine clinical practice, lumbar punctures are usually done with only hand palpation and trial-and-error. Failures can prolong procedure time and introduce complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leaks and headaches. Therefore, an effective needle insertion guidance method is desired.

Real-time intraoperative surgical guidance system in the da Vinci surgical robot based on transrectal ultrasound/photoacoustic imaging with photoacoustic markers: an demonstration.

This paper introduces the first integrated real-time intraoperative surgical guidance system, in which an endoscope camera of da Vinci surgical robot and a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) transducer are co-registered using photoacoustic markers that are detected in both fluorescence (FL) and photoacoustic (PA) imaging. The co-registered system enables the TRUS transducer to track the laser spot illuminated by a pulsed-laser-diode attached to the surgical instrument, providing both FL and PA images of the surgical region-of-interest (ROI). As a result, the generated photoacoustic marker is visualized and localized in the da Vinci endoscopic FL images, and the corresponding tracking can be conducted by rotating the TRUS transducer to display the PA image of the marker.

A Flexible, High-Voltage (>100 V) Generating Device Based on Zebra-Like Asymmetrical Photovoltaic Cascade.

The mutual conversion between light and electricity lies at the heart of optoelectronic and photonic applications. Maximization of the photoelectric conversion is a long-term goal that can be pursued via the fabrication of devices with ad-hoc architectures. In this framework, it is of utter importance to harvest and transform light irradiation into high electric potential in specific area for driving functional dielectrics that respond to pure electric field.

AutoInFocus, a new paradigm for ultrasound-guided spine intervention: a multi-platform validation study.

Purpose: Ultrasound-guided spine interventions often suffer from the insufficient visualization of key anatomical structures due to the complex shapes of the self-shadowing vertebrae. Therefore, we propose an ultrasound imaging paradigm, AutoInFocus (automatic insonification optimization with controlled ultrasound), to improve the key structure visibility.

Methods: A phased-array probe is used in conjunction with a motion platform to image a controlled workspace, and the resulting images from multiple insonification angles are combined to reveal the target anatomy.

Construction of Laterally Asymmetric Heterojunctions with Sub-Micrometer Resolution by Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Polythiophene Nanofibers.

Polymeric semiconductors are crucial candidates for the construction of next-generation flexible and printable electronic devices. By virtue of the successful preparation of monodispersed colloidal solution in orthogonal solvent, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanofibers are developed into versatile building blocks for nanoelectronics and their compatibilities are verified with photolithographic lift-off technology. Then, the joint efforts from both the bottom-up hierarchical self-assembly and top-down self-alignment technology have led to the realization of lateral asymmetric heterojunctions with resolution better than 1 µm.

Wafer-Scale and Full-Coverage Two-Dimensional Molecular Monolayers Strained by Solvent Surface Tension Balance.

Inspired by the outstanding properties discovered in two-dimensional materials, the bottom-up generation of molecular monolayers is becoming again extremely popular as a route to develop novel functional materials and devices with tailored characteristics and minimal materials consumption. However, achieving a full-coverage over a large-area still represents a grand challenge. Here we report a molecular self-assembly protocol at the water surface in which the monolayers are strained by a novel solvent surface tension balance (SSTB) instead of a physical film balance as in the conventional Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method.

Kalman filter-based EM-optical sensor fusion for needle deflection estimation.

Purpose: In many clinical procedures such as cryoablation that involves needle insertion, accurate placement of the needle's tip at the desired target is the major issue for optimizing the treatment and minimizing damage to the neighboring anatomy. However, due to the interaction force between the needle and tissue, considerable error in intraoperative tracking of the needle tip can be observed as needle deflects.

Methods: In this paper, measurements data from an optical sensor at the needle base and a magnetic resonance (MR) gradient field-driven electromagnetic (EM) sensor placed 10 cm from the needle tip are used within a model-integrated Kalman filter-based sensor fusion scheme.

Real-time probe tracking using EM-optical sensor for MRI-guided cryoablation.

Background: A method of real-time, accurate probe tracking at the entrance of the MRI bore is developed, which, fused with pre-procedural MR images, will enable clinicians to perform cryoablation efficiently in a large workspace with image guidance.

Methods: Electromagnetic (EM) tracking coupled with optical tracking is used to track the probe. EM tracking is achieved with an MRI-safe EM sensor working under the scanner's magnetic field to compensate the line-of-sight issue of optical tracking.

Accommodative responses under different stimulus conditions.

Purpose: The method and the sequence of accommodative stimuli are two factors affecting the steady-state accommodative response. This study investigated the possible effects of these two factors on the accommodative stimulus response curves (ASRCs) and compared three indexes to evaluate ASRC in the different stimulus conditions.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the difference in the accommodative stimulus response curves under six stimulus conditions.

BDNF and NT-3 expression by using glucocorticoid-induced bicistronic expression vector pGC-BDNF-IRES-NT3 protects apoptotic cells in a cellular injury model.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe traumatic disease in the central nervous system with high incidence and high morbidity. Recent study demonstrated that cell transplantation therapy may improve local microenvironment of the injury site and promote nerve regeneration to restore spinal cord functions. In this study, we constructed a glucocorticoid-induced bicistronic eukaryotic expression vector pGC-BDNF-IRES-NT3 by using molecular cloning techniques and examined the protective effect of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expressed by this vector in a rat spinal cord injury (SCI) model.

A comparative study of the preventive effects of mitomycin C and chitosan on intraarticular adhesion after knee surgery in rabbits.

We sought to compare the preventive effects of mitomycin-C(MMC) and chitosan on intraarticular adhesion after knee surgery in rabbits. For this purpose, 48 New-Zealand rabbits were randomly and equally divided into MMC, chitosan, and control groups. Approximately 10 × 10 mm(2) of the cortical bone was removed from both sides of left femoral condyle and the cancellous bone underneath was exposed.

The effects of spherical aberration on static accommodative responses in emmetropes and myopes.

Purpose: To compare the effects of spherical aberration (SA) on accommodative responses between emmetropes (EMs), stable myopes (SMs), and progressing myopes (PMs).

Methods: The accommodative responses (AR) induced by negative lenses from 0 to -5 D in 1 D steps were measured with a Complete Ophthalmic Analysis System (COAS) for 10 emmetropes (EMs), 13 stable myopes (SMs), and 9 progressing myopes (PMs). Three types of AR were calculated from wavefront aberration data based on ocular foci within a paraxial area, natural pupil area, and a 3.

The effect of mitomycin C in reducing intraarticular adhesion after knee surgery in rabbits.

Mitomycin C (MMC) is known to inhibit fibroblast proliferation through suppressing DNA dependent RNA synthesis. Based on this knowledge, we illustrated the effect of MMC on inhibiting fibroblast collagen synthesis and reducing intraarticular fibrous adhesion in a rabbit model. Forty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups.

Objective depth-of-focus is different from subjective depth-of-focus and correlated with accommodative microfluctuations.

In this study, we investigated whether the objective depth-of-focus (DOF) is different from the subjective DOF and whether it correlates to accommodative microfluctuations (AMF). The objective DOF and subjective DOF at 1.5 D accommodative stimulus (AS) level were compared in the same group of subjects.

Visual field does not affect steady-state accommodative response and near-work induced transient myopia.

To investigate whether or not peripheral retinal defocus contributes to the refractive development of myopia by influencing the overall accommodative function. The steady-state accommodative stimulus response curve (ASRC) and the near-work induced transient myopia (NITM) after a near visual task were compared between different visual field conditions in emmetropes (EMMs), stable myopes (SMs) and progressing myopes (PMs). Results showed that visual field had no effect on the ASRC and NITM but PMs exhibited greater NITM than EMMs and SMs.

Optimal dioptric value of near addition lenses intended to slow myopic progression.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal power value of near addition lenses, which would create the least error in accommodative and vergence responses.

Methods: We evaluated accommodative response, phoria, and fixation disparity when the subject viewed through various addition lenses at three working distances for 30 young adults (11 emmetropic, 17 myopic, and 2 hyperopic). Accommodative response was determined with a Canon R-1 infrared optometer under binocular viewing conditions, phoria was determined by the alternating cover test with prism neutralization, and fixation disparity was measured with a Sheedy disparometer.

Changes in accommodative and vergence responses when viewing through near addition lenses.

It has been proposed that near addition lenses reduce the lag of accommodation and may slow myopia progression. In this study, we investigated the differences in accommodative response and near phoria in subjects with and without near addition lenses. Fourteen subjects (7 emmetropic and 7 myopic) participated in the study.

Myopic progression and dark focus variation in optometric students during the first academic year.

Background: The aim of this research was to investigate the change in refractive error (RE) of optometric students during their first academic year and whether these changes relate to changes in their dark focus (DF).

Method: The RE and DF of 64 students were measured objectively every three months during the first academic year, a total of four times, using a Canon R-1 infrared optometer. Thirty-five of the 64 students had an additional RE and DF measurement three weeks immediately after their Summer vacation.

The adaptive effect of narrowing the interocular separation on the AC/A ratio.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the response AC/A ratio could be altered when the subject's interpupillary distance (IPD) was optically halved. We measured the changes in the AC/A ratio for 10 subjects after using the optical device for 30 min. Accommodative response was measured using a Canon R-1 optometer, and vergence response was measured with an ASL 210 Eye Movement Monitor.

[The establishment and evaluation of the subjective measuring instrument for tonic accommodation].

An instrument for subjective measurement of tonic accommodation has been established based on the Badal system and Scheiner principle. The results of tonic accommodation between subjective measurement and objective measurement have no significant difference. Its establishment is important for the measurement of accommodation parameter in the myopia research center.

Accommodation and vergence require effort-to-see.

Purpose: Accommodation and vergence both appear to be influenced by multiple nonsensory factors. "Effort-to-see" is one of these factors. This study was designed to assess the extent to which effort-to-see affects accommodation and vergence.