Enhancing the Ground Truth Disparity by MAP Estimation for Developing a Neural-Net Based Stereoscopic Camera.

This paper presents a novel method to enhance ground truth disparity maps generated by Semi-Global Matching (SGM) using Maximum a Posteriori (MAP) estimation. SGM, while not producing visually appealing outputs like neural networks, offers high disparity accuracy in valid regions and avoids the generalization issues often encountered with neural network-based disparity estimation. However, SGM struggles with occlusions and textureless areas, leading to invalid disparity values.

The development of anti-freezing and anti-evaporating conductive organohydrogel for flexible strain-sensing electronic devices.

The hydrogels got hot attention from the researchers due to their excellent flexibility, mechanical properties, conductivity, and response to external stimuli, however, their applications are hampered due to a lack of water retention properties and anti-freezing ability. In this study, the organohydrogel was designed from the two solvents system (DMSO and water) in which acrylamide (Amm) and acrylic acid (AA) work as monomers and Arabic gum (AG) works as biopolymers. The functional groups, surface morphology, mechanical properties, rheological properties, anti-freezing properties, and strain-sensing properties of the fabricated organohydrogel were studied.

Triple-Camera Rectification for Depth Estimation Sensor.

In this study, we propose a novel rectification method for three cameras using a single image for depth estimation. Stereo rectification serves as a fundamental preprocessing step for disparity estimation in stereoscopic cameras. However, off-the-shelf depth cameras often include an additional RGB camera for creating 3D point clouds.

Harmonic errors of a 9.4 T all-REBCO NMR magnet affected by screening current and geometric inconsistency of coated conductors.

REBa Cu O (REBCO, RE = rare earth)-coated conductor is a competitive option in terms of current-carrying capacity and high-stress durability in developing high-field magnets for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) research. Meanwhile, a technical challenge in utilizing a stand-alone REBCO NMR magnet is an unexpected difference in the field uniformity between the designed and measured values after being constructed and charged, i.e.

Dually-crosslinked ionic conductive hydrogels reinforced through biopolymer gellan gum for flexible sensors to monitor human activities.

Human-machine interactions, monitoring of health equipment, and gentle robots all depend considerably on flexible strain sensors. However, making strain sensors have better mechanical behavior and an extensive sensing range remains an urgent difficulty. In this study, poly acrylamide-co-butyl acrylate with gellan gum (poly(AAm-co-BA)@GG) hydrophobic association networks and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions are used to fabricate dual cross-linked hydrogels for wearable resistive-type strain sensors.

Multi-role conductive hydrogels for flexible transducers regulated by MOFs for monitoring human activities and electronic skin functions.

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have garnered significant attention in the development of stretchable and wearable conductive hydrogels for flexible transducers. However, MOFs used in hydrogel networks have been hampered by low mechanical performance and poor dispersibility in aqueous solutions, which affect the performance of hydrogels, including low toughness, limited self-recovery, short working ranges, low conductivity, and prolonged response-recovery times. To address these shortcomings, a novel approach was adopted in which micelle co-polymerization was used for the synthesis of Zn-MOF-based hydrogels with exceptional stretchability, robust toughness, anti-fatigue properties, and commendable conductivity.

Preparation and characterization of hybrid polypyrrole nanoparticles as a conducting polymer with controllable size.

Hybrid polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles were prepared using a low-temperature oxidative polymerization process in an acidic solution with polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a template and amine source. The results showed that the nanoparticles have an amorphous structure in the X-ray diffractogram and exhibited good dispersibility in water, uniform size, and a specific conductivity ranging from 0.1 to 6.

Effects of Carbon Black on Mechanical Properties and Oil Resistance of Liquid Silicone Rubber.

Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) garners attention across a diverse range of industries owing to its commendable fluidity and heat resistance. Nonetheless, its mechanical strength and oil resistance fall short compared to other rubbers, necessitating enhancement through the incorporation of a suitable filler. This research focuses on reinforcing LSR using carbon black (CB) particles as a filler, evaluating the mechanical properties and oil resistance of neat LSR, and LSR containing up to 3 wt% of CB filler.

Direct Observation of Quadrupolar Strain Fields forming a Shear Band in Metallic Glasses.

For decades, scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) techniques have been employed to analyze shear bands in metallic glasses and understand their formation in order to improve the mechanical properties of metallic glasses. However, due to a lack of direct information in reciprocal space, conventional S/TEM cannot characterize the local strain and atomic structure of amorphous materials, which are key to describe the deformation of glasses. For this work, 4-dimensional-STEM (4D-STEM) is applied to map and directly correlate the local strain and the atomic structure at the nanometer scale in deformed metallic glasses.

Literature review on the interdisciplinary biomarkers of multi-target and multi-time herbal medicine therapy to modulate peripheral systems in cognitive impairment.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. The approved drug for AD has certain limitations such as a short period of cognitive improvement effect; moreover, the development of drug for AD therapeutic single target for Aβ clearance in brain ended in failure. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of AD using a multi-target strategy according to the modulation of the peripheral system, which is not only limited to the brain, is needed.

Cellulose nanocrystals boosted hydrophobic association in dual network polymer hydrogels as advanced flexible strain sensor for human motion detection.

Conductive hydrogels attract the attention of researchers worldwide, especially in the field of flexible sensors like strain and pressure. These flexible materials have potential applications in the field of electronic skin, soft robotics, energy storage, and human motion detection. However, its practical application is limited due to low stretchability, high hysteresis energy, low conductivity, long-range strain sensitivity, and high response time.

Development of high-energy non-aqueous lithium-sulfur batteries via redox-active interlayer strategy.

Lithium-sulfur batteries have theoretical specific energy higher than state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries. However, from a practical perspective, these batteries exhibit poor cycle life and low energy content owing to the polysulfides shuttling during cycling. To tackle these issues, researchers proposed the use of redox-inactive protective layers between the sulfur-containing cathode and lithium metal anode.

A comparison of conventional and advanced electroanalytical methods to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus: A concise review.

Respiratory viruses are a serious threat to human wellbeing that can cause pandemic disease. As a result, it is critical to identify virus in a timely, sensitive, and precise manner. The present novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) disease outbreak has increased these concerns.

Intuitive endoscopic robot master device with image orientation correction.

Background: The camera of an endoscope is fixed to the device, and the image rotates together with the endoscope. This can lead to visual confusion for the user and incorrect image reading. The problem also occurs with endoscopic robots.

2D PdTe Thin-Film-Coated Current Collectors for Long-Cycling Anode-Free Rechargeable Batteries.

The practical implementation of anode-free batteries is limited by factors such as lithium dendrite growth and low cycling Coulombic efficiency (CE). In this study, the improvement in the electrochemical performance of anode-free rechargeable lithium batteries bearing a Cu current collector (CC) coated with PdTe thin films is reported. The optimized thickness and sputtering heating conditions of the PdTe layer are 15 nm and 473.

Parkinson's Disease Subtyping Using Clinical Features and Biomarkers: Literature Review and Preliminary Study of Subtype Clustering.

The second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder, Parkinson's disease (PD), is characterized by a broad spectrum of symptoms that are associated with its progression. Several studies have attempted to classify PD according to its clinical manifestations and establish objective biomarkers for early diagnosis and for predicting the prognosis of the disease. Recent comprehensive research on the classification of PD using clinical phenotypes has included factors such as dominance, severity, and prognosis of motor and non-motor symptoms and biomarkers.

Hybrid Model-Based Simulation Analysis on the Effects of Social Distancing Policy of the COVID-19 Epidemic.

This study utilizes modeling and simulation to analyze coronavirus (COVID-19) infection trends depending on government policies. Two modeling requirements are considered for infection simulation: (1) the implementation of social distancing policies and (2) the representation of population movements. To this end, we propose an extended infection model to combine analytical models with discrete event-based simulation models in a hybrid form.

Effects of flexible reamer on the femoral tunnel characteristics in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

To compare the femoral tunnel characteristics using a rigid versus flexible reamer during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. It was hypothesized that the employment of a flexible reamer along with femoral tunnel would exhibit longer tunnel length and more acute femoral graft tunnel angle compared to the case of a rigid reamer.The study population included 28 patients who underwent anatomical single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using transportal technique and were able to take postoperative computed tomography (CT) evaluation.

Creating a Femoral Tunnel Aperture at the Anteromedial Footprint Versus the Central Footprint in ACL Reconstruction: Comparison of Contact Stress Patterns.

Background: It remains unclear whether an anteromedial (AM) footprint or a central footprint anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft exhibits less contact stress with the femoral tunnel aperture. This contact stress can generate graft attrition forces, which can lead to potential graft failure.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare the difference in contact stress patterns of the graft around a femoral tunnel that is created at the anatomic AM footprint versus the central footprint.

Preparation and Electrochemical Analysis of Ni-Based Metal Organic Frameworks Containing Binary Ligands for Capacitor Electrodes.

As one of the energy storage systems, supercapacitors have quite long charge-discharge cycle life. Among many kinds of electrode materials, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have unique properties such as high specific surface areas and large pore volume as supercapacitor electrode materials. Nickel-MOFs consist of binary ligand such as 1,3,5-Trimesic acid (H₃BTC) and terephthalic acid (TPA) were used as working electrode materials in three electrode cell for capacitor system.

Feasibility of the Epiduroscopy Simulator as a Training Tool: A Pilot Study.

Epiduroscopy is a type of spinal intervention that visualizes the epidural space through the sacral hiatus using a fiberoptic scope. However, it is technically difficult to perform compared to conventional interventions and susceptible to complications. Surgery simulator has been shown to be a promising modality for medical education.

Facile Tailoring of Contact Layer Characteristics of the Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Portable Imprinting Device.

Renewable energy harvesting technologies have been actively studied in recent years for replacing rapidly depleting energies, such as coal and oil energy. Among these technologies, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which is operated by contact-electrification, is attracting close attention due to its high accessibility, light weight, high shape adaptability, and broad applications. The characteristics of the contact layer, where contact electrification phenomenon occurs, should be tailored to enhance the electrical output performance of TENG.

Graft bending angle of the reconstructed posterior cruciate ligament gradually decreases as knee flexion increases.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the change in the graft bending angles at the femoral and tibial tunnel aperture in single-bundle posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction. It was hypothesized that different knee flexion and different tunnel directions may affect changes of the femoral and tibial graft bending angle.

Methods: The right knees of 12 male subjects were scanned with a high-resolution computed tomography scanner at 4 different knee flexion angles (0°, 45°, 90° and 135°).

Tannic acid-mediated rapid layer-by-layer deposited non-leaching silver nanoparticles hybridized cellulose membranes for point-of-use water disinfection.

Gravity driven water filtration is a commonly used process of removing microorganism from the contaminated water. However, the existing strategies involve prolonged synthesis and toxic reducing agent for immobilization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on cellulose membranes that are not suitable for routine handling. We have developed a non-toxic and environmentally benign method using TA mediated silver salt layer-by-layer (LbL) in-situ reduction method.