Dual-Mode Stretchable Emitter with Programmable Emissivity and Air Permeability.

Materials with anisotropic emission characteristics have attracted considerable attention for thermal management. Although many dual-mode emitters have been developed for this purpose in the form of textiles, multilayer films, and photonic structures, multiple functionalities are essential for their versatile applications. Herein, a highly stretchable dual-mode emitter with programmable emissivity and air permeability is presented.

High-speed reflectance confocal microscopy using speckle modulation.

We developed a spectrally-encoded, line reflectance confocal microscope (RCM) that uses a rotating diffuser to rapidly modulate the illumination speckle pattern. The speckle modulation approach reduced speckle noise while imaging with a spatially coherent light source needed for high imaging speed and cellular resolution. The speckle-modulation RCM device achieved lateral and axial resolutions of 1.

Automated analysis of scattering-based light sheet microscopy images of anal squamous intraepithelial lesions.

We developed an algorithm for automatically analyzing scattering-based light sheet microscopy (sLSM) images of anal squamous intraepithelial lesions. We developed a method for automatically segmenting sLSM images for nuclei and calculating seven features: nuclear intensity, intensity slope as a function of depth, nuclear-to-nuclear distance, nuclear-to-cytoplasm ratio, cell density, nuclear area, and proportion of pixels corresponding to nuclei. 187 images from 80 anal biopsies were used for feature analysis and classifier development.

Scattering-Based Light-Sheet Microscopy Imaging of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Squamous Lesions of the Anal Canal: A Proof-of-Principle Study.

Demand for anal cancer screening is expected to rise following the recent publication of the Anal Cancer-HSIL Outcomes Research trial, which showed that treatment of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions significantly reduces the rate of progression to anal cancer. While screening for human papillomavirus-associated squamous lesions in the cervix is well established and effective, this is less true for other sites in the lower anogenital tract. Current anal cancer screening and prevention rely on high-resolution anoscopy with biopsies.

Laser Dynamic Control of the Thermal Emissivity of a Planar Cavity Structure Based on a Phase-Change Material.

Tailoring the thermal emission of a material in the long-wave infrared (IR) range of 8-13 μm is crucial for many IR-adaptive applications, including personal thermal management, IR camouflage, and radiative cooling. Although various materials and surface structures have been proposed for these purposes, space-selective and dynamic control of their emissivity is challenging. In this study, we present a planar surface cavity structure consisting of a GeSbTe (GST) film on top of a thin metal reflector to modulate its emissivity by using an ultraviolet laser beam.

Handheld cross-polarised microscope for imaging individual pigmented cells in human skin in vivo.

We present the development of a simple, handheld cross-polarised microscope (CPM) and demonstration of imaging individual pigmented cells in human skin in vivo. In the CPM device, the cross-polarised detection approach is used to reduce the specular reflection from the skin surface and preferentially detect multiply-scattered light. The multiply-scattered light works as back illumination from within the tissue towards the skin surface, and superficial pigment such as intraepidermal melanin absorbs some spectral bands of the multiply-scattered light and cast coloured shadows.

Titanium oxide nanomaterials as an electron-selective contact in silicon solar cells for photovoltaic devices.

To obtain high conversion efficiency, various carrier-selective contact structures are being applied to the silicon solar cell, and many related studies are being conducted. We conducted research on TiO to create an electron-selective contact structure that does not require a high-temperature process. Titanium metal was deposited using a thermal evaporator, and an additional oxidation process was conducted to form titanium oxide.

Multispectral Imaging with a Planar Cavity-Type Metasurface for Optical Security.

Multispectral imaging refers to capturing images in different wavelength ranges across the electromagnetic spectrum. Despite the potential impact of multispectral imaging, its widespread use has been limited by the poor spectral selectivity of naturally occurring materials beyond the visible range. In this study, we present a multilayered planar cavity structure to simultaneously record mutually independent visible and infrared (IR) images on solid surfaces.

Investigation of different wavelengths for scattering-based light sheet microscopy.

Scattering-based light sheet microscopy (sLSM) is a microscopy technique that can visualize cellular morphologic details based on the scattering signal. While sLSM was previously shown to image animal tissues at a cellular resolution, the wavelength used was chosen based on other microscopy technologies rather than through a comparison of the sLSM imaging performance between different wavelengths. In this paper, we report the development of a multi-wavelength sLSM setup that facilitates the investigation of different wavelengths for sLSM imaging.

Low-cost, chromatic confocal endomicroscope for cellular imaging .

We have developed a low-cost, chromatic confocal endomicroscope (CCE) that can image a cross-section of the tissue at cellular resolution. In CCE, a custom miniature objective lens was used to focus different wavelengths into different tissue depths. Therefore, each tissue depth was encoded with the wavelength.

Imaging the dynamics and microstructure of fibrin clot polymerization in cardiac surgical patients using spectrally encoded confocal microscopy.

During cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), altered hemostatic balance may disrupt fibrin assembly, predisposing patients to perioperative hemorrhage. We investigated the utility of a novel device termed spectrally-encoded confocal microscopy (SECM) for assessing fibrin clot polymerization following heparin and protamine administration in CPB patients. SECM is a novel, high-speed optical approach to visualize and quantify fibrin clot formation in three dimensions with high spatial resolution (1.

Deep Learning-Based Denoising in High-Speed Portable Reflectance Confocal Microscopy.

Background And Objective: Portable confocal microscopy (PCM) is a low-cost reflectance confocal microscopy technique that can visualize cellular details of human skin in vivo. When PCM images are acquired with a short exposure time to reduce motion blur and enable real-time 3D imaging, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is decreased significantly, which poses challenges in reliably analyzing cellular features. In this paper, we evaluated deep learning (DL)-based approach for reducing noise in PCM images acquired with a short exposure time.

Scattering-Based Light-Sheet Microscopy for Rapid Cellular Imaging of Fresh Tissue.

Background And Objectives: Light-sheet microscopy (LSM) is a novel imaging technology that has been used for imaging fluorescence contrast in basic life science research. In this paper, we have developed a scattering-based LSM (sLSM) for rapidly imaging the cellular morphology of fresh tissues without any exogenous fluorescent dyes.

Study Design/materials And Methods: In the sLSM device, a thin light sheet with the central wavelength of 834 nm was incident on the tissue obliquely, 45° relative to the tissue surface.

Novel Diagnostics for Kaposi Sarcoma and Other Skin Diseases in Resource-Limited Settings.

In resource-limited settings, point-of-care diagnostic devices have the potential to reduce diagnostic delays and improve epidemiologic surveillance of dermatologic conditions. We outline novel-point-of care diagnostics that have recently been developed for dermatologic conditions that primarily affect patients living in resource-limited settings, namely, Kaposi sarcoma, cutaneous leishmaniasis, leprosy, Buruli ulcer, yaws, onchocerciasis, and lymphatic filariasis. All of the technologies described in this article are prototypes, and some have undergone field testing.

Speckle-free, near-infrared portable confocal microscope.

We have developed a portable confocal microscope (PCM) that uses an inexpensive near-infrared LED as the light source. Use of the spatially incoherent light source significantly reduced the speckle contrast. The PCM device was manufactured at the material cost of approximately 5000 and weighed only 1 kg.

Correction: Role of polysilicon in poly-Si/SiO passivating contacts for high-efficiency silicon solar cells.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C9RA03560E.].

Perovskites fabricated on textured silicon surfaces for tandem solar cells.

The silicon surface texture significantly affects the current density and efficiency of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. However, only a few studies have explored fabricating perovskite on textured silicon and the effect of texture on perovskite films because of the limitations of solution processes. Here we produce conformal perovskite on textured silicon with a dry two-step conversion process that incorporates lead oxide sputtering and direct contact with methyl ammonium iodide.

Smartphone epifluorescence microscopy for cellular imaging of fresh tissue in low-resource settings.

Disease diagnosis in low-resource settings can be challenging due to the lack of equipment and trained personnel required for histologic analysis. In this paper, we have developed a smartphone-based epifluorescence microscope (SeFM) for imaging fresh tissues at sub-cellular resolution. SeFM provides similar resolution and field of view (FOV) as those used during histologic analysis.

Low-cost, high-speed near infrared reflectance confocal microscope.

We have developed a low-cost, near-infrared (NIR) reflectance confocal microscope (RCM) to overcome challenges in the imaging depth and speed found in our previously-reported smartphone confocal microscope. In the new NIR RCM device, we have used 840 nm superluminescent LED (sLED) to increase the tissue imaging depth and speed. A new confocal detection optics has been developed to maintain high lateral resolution even when a relatively large slit width was used.