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Optics Letters May 2024We propose a novel, to our knowledge, approach to address the limitations of traditional pancake lenses for virtual reality headsets, such as low image contrast and poor...
We propose a novel, to our knowledge, approach to address the limitations of traditional pancake lenses for virtual reality headsets, such as low image contrast and poor performance when eyes rotate. The design leverages the foveated nature of human vision, achieving a superior modulation transfer function in the foveal area to enhance optical performance significantly. Furthermore, the pancake lens design is presented that considers the rotation of the user's pupil position, maintaining optimal image quality even when the user's eye rotates. The proposed method presents the parameters and optimization of a novel pancake lens that utilizes the characteristics of the human visual system and accounts for the rotation of the pupil position of the user, leading to improvements in image quality and user experience. The lens design and image simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
PubMed: 38748113
DOI: 10.1364/OL.523675 -
Chemphyschem : a European Journal of... May 2024A time-dependent method has been developed to solve the standard response equation for the calculation of dynamic molecular property densities, endowed with the...
A time-dependent method has been developed to solve the standard response equation for the calculation of dynamic molecular property densities, endowed with the characteristic of being origin-invariant, entirely in the atomic orbital basis at both HF and DFT level of theory. The method has been tuned in particular for the calculation of origin-independent electric dipole polarizability density and specific rotation power density. Some demonstrations are given for the hexabenzocoronene molecule and the Tröger base.
PubMed: 38747090
DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202400203 -
Nature Communications May 2024This study introduces mechanically induced phenomena such as standing, leaning, stacking, and interlocking behaviors in naturally twisted optical waveguiding...
This study introduces mechanically induced phenomena such as standing, leaning, stacking, and interlocking behaviors in naturally twisted optical waveguiding microcrystals on a substrate. The microscale twisted crystal self-assembled from 2,4-dibromo-6-(((2-bromo-5-fluorophenyl)imino)methyl)phenol is flexible and emits orange fluorescence. Mechanistic analysis reveals the strain generated by the intergrowing orientationally mismatched nanocrystallites is responsible for the twisted crystal growth. The crystal's mechanical flexibility in the perpendicular direction to (001) and (010) planes can be attributed to intermolecular Br···Br, F···Br, and π···π stacking interactions. Through a systematic process involving step-by-step bending and subsequent optical waveguiding experiments at each bent position, a linear relationship between optical loss and mechanical strain is established. Additionally, the vertical standing and leaning of these crystals at different angles on a flat surface and the vertical stacking of multiple crystals reveal the three-dimensional aspects of organic crystal waveguides, introducing light trajectories in a 3D space. Furthermore, the integration of two axially interlocked twisted crystals enables the coupling of polarization rotation along their long axis. These crystal dynamics expand the horizons of crystal behavior and have the potential to revolutionize various applications, rendering these crystals invaluable in the realm of crystal-related science and technology.
PubMed: 38740755
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47924-y -
Microsystems & Nanoengineering 2024We present an azimuthal-rotation-controlled dynamic nanoinscribing (ARC-DNI) process for continuous and scalable fabrication of asymmetric nanograting structures with...
We present an azimuthal-rotation-controlled dynamic nanoinscribing (ARC-DNI) process for continuous and scalable fabrication of asymmetric nanograting structures with tunable periods and shape profiles. A sliced edge of a nanograting mold, which typically has a rectangular grating profile, slides over a polymeric substrate to induce its burr-free plastic deformation into a linear nanopattern. During this continuous nanoinscribing process, the "azimuthal angle," that is, the angle between the moving direction of the polymeric substrate and the mold's grating line orientation, can be controlled to tailor the period, geometrical shape, and profile of the inscribed nanopatterns. By modulating the azimuthal angle, along with other important ARC-DNI parameters such as temperature, force, and inscribing speed, we demonstrate that the mold-opening profile and temperature- and time-dependent viscoelastic polymer reflow can be controlled to fabricate asymmetric, blazed, and slanted nanogratings that have diverse geometrical profiles such as trapezoidal, triangular, and parallelogrammatic. Finally, period- and profile-tunable ARC-DNI can be utilized for the practical fabrication of diverse optical devices, as is exemplified by asymmetric diffractive optical elements in this study.
PubMed: 38736716
DOI: 10.1038/s41378-024-00687-4 -
Talanta Aug 2024Fatty liver disease affects at least 25 percent of the population worldwide and is a severe metabolic syndrome. Viscosity is closely related to fatty liver disease, so...
Fatty liver disease affects at least 25 percent of the population worldwide and is a severe metabolic syndrome. Viscosity is closely related to fatty liver disease, so it is urgent to develop an effective tool for monitoring viscosity. Herein, a NIR fluorescent probe called MBC-V is developed for imaging viscosity, consisting of dimethylaniline and malonitrile-benzopyran. MBC-V is non-fluorescent in low viscosity solutions due to intramolecular rotation. In high viscosity solution, the intramolecular rotation of MBC-V is suppressed and the fluorescence is triggered. MBC-V has long emission wavelength at 720 nm and large Stokes shift about 160 nm. Moreover, MBC-V can detect changes in cell viscosity in fatty liver cells, and can image the therapeutic effects of drug in fatty liver cells. By taking advantage of NIR emission, MBC-V can be used as an imaging tool for fatty liver disease and a way to evaluate the therapeutic effect of drug for fatty liver disease.
Topics: Fluorescent Dyes; Animals; Viscosity; Mice; Fatty Liver; Aniline Compounds; Optical Imaging; Humans; Benzopyrans; Nitriles
PubMed: 38733935
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126227 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024Investigation of chiroptical polymers in the solution phase is paramount for designing supramolecular architectures for photonic or biomedical devices. This work is...
Investigation of chiroptical polymers in the solution phase is paramount for designing supramolecular architectures for photonic or biomedical devices. This work is devoted to the case study of poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) optical activity in several solvents: benzonitrile, carbon disulfide, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and -dioxane. To attain information on the interactions in these systems, rheological testing was undertaken, showing distinct variations of the rheological parameters as a function of the solvent type. These aspects are also reflected in the refractive index dispersive behavior, from which linear and non-linear optical properties are extracted. To determine the circular birefringence and specific rotation of the PPO solutions, the alternative method of the channeled spectra was employed. The spectral data were correlated with the molecular modeling of the PPO structural unit in the selected solvents. Density functional theory (DFT) computational data indicated that the torsional potential energy-related to the O1-C2-C3-O4 dihedral angle from the polymer repeating unit-was hindered in solvation environments characterized by high polarity and the ability to interact via hydrogen bonding. This was in agreement with the optical characterization of the samples, which indicated a lower circular birefringence and specific rotation for the solutions of PPO in ethyl acetate and -dioxane. Also, the shape of optical rotatory dispersion curves was slightly modified for PPO in these solvents compared with the other ones.
Topics: Solvents; Propylene Glycols; Polypropylenes; Polymers; Models, Molecular; Rotation; Hydrogen Bonding; Rheology
PubMed: 38731902
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094682 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Abnormal viscosity is closely related to the occurrence of many diseases, such as cancer. Therefore, real-time detection of changes in viscosity in living cells is of...
Abnormal viscosity is closely related to the occurrence of many diseases, such as cancer. Therefore, real-time detection of changes in viscosity in living cells is of great importance. Fluorescent molecular rotors play a critical role in detecting changes in cellular viscosity. Developing red emission viscosity probes with large Stokes shifts and high sensitivity and specificity remains an urgent and important topic. Herein, a novel viscosity-sensitive fluorescent probe (TCF-VIS1) with a large stokes shift and red emission was prepared based on the 2-dicyanomethylene-3-cyano-4,5,5-trimethyl-2,5-dihydrofuran (TCF) skeleton. Due to intramolecular rotation, the probe itself does not fluorescence at low viscosity. With the increase in viscosity, the rotation of TCF-VIS1 is limited, and its fluorescence is obviously enhanced. The probe has the advantages of simple preparation, large Stokes shift, good sensitivity and selectivity, and low cytotoxicity, which make it successfully used for viscosity detection in living cells. Moreover, TCF-VIS1 showed its potential for cancer diagnosis at the cell level and in tumor-bearing mice by detecting viscosity. Therefore, the probe is expected to enrich strategies for the detection of viscosity in biological systems and offer a potential tool for cancer diagnosis.
Topics: Animals; Fluorescent Dyes; Viscosity; Mice; Humans; Cell Line, Tumor; Neoplasms; Optical Imaging
PubMed: 38731485
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29091993 -
Journal of the American Chemical Society May 2024Despite the fascinating developments in design and synthesis of artificial molecular machines operating at the nanoscales, translating molecular motion along multiple...
Despite the fascinating developments in design and synthesis of artificial molecular machines operating at the nanoscales, translating molecular motion along multiple length scales and inducing mechanical motion of a three-dimensional macroscopic entity remains an important challenge. The key to addressing this amplification of motion relies on the effective organization of molecular machines in a well-defined environment. By taking advantage of long-range orientational order and hierarchical structures of liquid crystals and unidirectional rotation of light-driven molecular motors, we report here photoresponsive biomimetic functions of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) by the repetitive unidirectional rotation of molecular motors using 3D printing. Molecular motors were built in the main chain of liquid crystals oligomers to serve as photoactuators. The oligomers were then used as the ink, and liquid crystal elastomers with different morphologies were printed. The obtained LCEs are able to conduct multiple types of motions including bending, helical coiling, closing of petals, and flipping of wings of a butterfly upon UV illumination, which paves the way for future design of responsive materials with enhanced complex actuating functions.
PubMed: 38728606
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c01642 -
Natural Product Research May 2024Two new phenylpropanoids, ainsbons A and B ( and ), along with a known analogue coniferyl diisovalerate () were isolated from the whole plant of . Their structures were...
Two new phenylpropanoids, ainsbons A and B ( and ), along with a known analogue coniferyl diisovalerate () were isolated from the whole plant of . Their structures were elucidated by analysis of NMR spectroscopic data and HRESIMS, and the absolute configuration of was established by the optical rotation calculations. Compounds - were evaluated for their effects on LPS-induced nitric oxide production, and and showed inhibitory activities with IC values of 43.43 and 7.57 M, respectively.
PubMed: 38726924
DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2351540 -
Scientific Reports May 2024The field of integrated photonics has advanced rapidly due to wafer-scale fabrication, with integrated-photonics platforms and fabrication processes being demonstrated...
The field of integrated photonics has advanced rapidly due to wafer-scale fabrication, with integrated-photonics platforms and fabrication processes being demonstrated at both infrared and visible wavelengths. However, these demonstrations have primarily focused on fabrication processes on silicon substrates that result in rigid photonic wafers and chips, which limit the potential application spaces. There are many application areas that would benefit from mechanically-flexible integrated-photonics wafers, such as wearable healthcare monitors and pliable displays. Although there have been demonstrations of mechanically-flexible photonics fabrication, they have been limited to fabrication processes on the individual device or chip scale, which limits scalability. In this paper, we propose, develop, and experimentally characterize the first 300-mm wafer-scale platform and fabrication process that results in mechanically-flexible photonic wafers and chips. First, we develop and describe the 300-mm wafer-scale CMOS-compatible flexible platform and fabrication process. Next, we experimentally demonstrate key optical functionality at visible wavelengths, including chip coupling, waveguide routing, and passive devices. Then, we perform a bend-durability study to characterize the mechanical flexibility of the photonic chips, demonstrating bending a single chip 2000 times down to a bend diameter of 0.5 inch with no degradation in the optical performance. Finally, we experimentally characterize polarization-rotation effects induced by bending the flexible photonic chips. This work will enable the field of integrated photonics to advance into new application areas that require flexible photonic chips.
PubMed: 38724580
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61055-w