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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 -
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 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2024Highly myopic optic nerve head (ONH) abnormalities encompass a series of complications resulting from the stretching of papillary and peripapillary structures during... (Review)
Review
Highly myopic optic nerve head (ONH) abnormalities encompass a series of complications resulting from the stretching of papillary and peripapillary structures during significant axial elongation. The morphological changes in the ONH typically initiate with disk tilting or rotation, progressing to PHOMS and PPA. Tissue defects in each layer manifest as focal lamina cribrosa defects (FLDs), peripapillary intrachoroidal cavitations (PICCs), and acquired pits of the optic nerve (APON). Anterior vitreous/vascular traction and posterior scleral protrusion may lead to prelaminar schisis as well as paravascular cysts and holes, which can potentially develop into retinoschisis. Traditional color fundus photography (CFP) is often insufficient for visualizing most of these lesions, yet their description and quantification benefit significantly from the advancements in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA), complemented by fundus autofluorescence (FAF), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and three-dimensional imaging. The effective diagnosis and classification of ONH abnormalities heavily rely on a comprehensive understanding of their multimodal imaging features, as outlined in this review. These findings provide valuable insights into optic neuropathy in high myopia, establishing a solid foundation for future endeavors in disease monitoring and treatment guidance.
PubMed: 38715686
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1366593 -
ACS Nano May 2024Circular polarization-resolved Raman scattering methods include Raman optical activity (ROA) and its derivative─surface-enhanced Raman optical activity (SEROA). These... (Review)
Review
Circular polarization-resolved Raman scattering methods include Raman optical activity (ROA) and its derivative─surface-enhanced Raman optical activity (SEROA). These spectroscopic modalities are rapidly developing due to their high information content, stand-off capabilities, and rapid development of Raman-active chiral nanostructures. These methods enable a direct readout of the vibrational energy levels of chiral molecules, crystals, and nanostructured materials, making it possible to study complex interactions and the dynamic interfaces between them. They were shown to be particularly valuable for nano- and biotechnological fields encompassing complex particles with nanoscale chirality that combine strong scattering and intense polarization rotation. This perspective dives into recent advancements in ROA and SEROA, their distinction from surface-enhanced Raman scattering, and the potential of these information-rich label-free spectroscopies for the detection of chiral biomolecules.
PubMed: 38709673
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c13228 -
Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2024To evaluate postoperative outcomes after implantation of toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) made of high-water-content hydrophobic acrylic material in Japanese patients...
Implantation of Hydrophobic Acrylic Toric Intraocular Lens with High-Water Contents Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Biometer Integrated with a Surgical Guiding System.
PURPOSE
To evaluate postoperative outcomes after implantation of toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) made of high-water-content hydrophobic acrylic material in Japanese patients using a swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) biometer integrated with a surgical guiding system.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
In this prospective observational study, toric IOL models CNW0T3 to CNW0T9 (Alcon) were implanted in 33 eyes of 33 patients and followed-up for one month. Powers and toric models were determined using an SS-OCT biometer ARGOS Ver 1.5 (Alcon), and the IOLs were aligned using surgical guidance. Differences between planned and actual axis positions at the end of the surgery (misalignment) and rotations from the end of surgery to one month postoperatively were measured. Additionally, postoperative uncorrected visual acuity, refraction, and residual astigmatism were evaluated.
RESULTS
Mean and median misalignments were 2.3° (standard deviation [SD]: 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-2.9) and 2°, and those of postoperative rotation were 2.4° (SD: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.5-3.4) and 2°, respectively. Mean postoperative refraction was 0.06 D (SD: 0.62). Prediction errors within ±0.5 and ±1.0 D were 69.7% and 93.9%, respectively. Mean residual astigmatisms were 0.19 D (SD: 0.41), and mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.00 logMAR (SD: 0.11), and 64% of the eyes scored 20/20 or better.
CONCLUSION
Implantation of high-water-content hydrophobic acrylic toric IOLs using SS-OCT biometry integrated with a surgical guiding system effectively corrected corneal astigmatism with accurate IOL alignment in Japanese patients.
PubMed: 38686014
DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S456609 -
Quantum Science and Technology Jul 2024We realise an intrinsic optically pumped magnetic gradiometer based on non-linear magneto-optical rotation. We show that our sensor can reach a gradiometric sensitivity...
We realise an intrinsic optically pumped magnetic gradiometer based on non-linear magneto-optical rotation. We show that our sensor can reach a gradiometric sensitivity of 18 fT and can reject common mode homogeneous magnetic field noise with up to 30 dB attenuation. We demonstrate that our magnetic field gradiometer is sufficiently sensitive and resilient to be employed in biomagnetic applications. In particular, we are able to record the auditory evoked response of the human brain, and to perform real-time magnetocardiography in the presence of external magnetic field disturbances. Our gradiometer provides complementary capabilities in human biomagnetic sensing to optically pumped magnetometers, and opens new avenues in the detection of human biomagnetism.
PubMed: 38680502
DOI: 10.1088/2058-9565/ad3d81 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024This paper explores and revisits in detail the formation and characterization of sugar-based aminonitriles, whose ultimate origin can be traced to the interaction of...
This paper explores and revisits in detail the formation and characterization of sugar-based aminonitriles, whose ultimate origin can be traced to the interaction of biomolecules with cyanide. Although the synthesis and spectroscopic data of 2-amino-aldononitriles were reported long ago, there are both contradictory and confusing results among the published data. We have now addressed this concern through an exhaustive structural elucidation of acylated 2-amino- and 2-alkyl(aryl)amino-2-deoxyaldonitriles using mass spectrometry and FT-IR, FT-Raman, and NMR spectroscopies. Several structures could be unambiguously determined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which allowed us to correct other misassignments. Moreover, this study unveils how steric and electronic effects influence the acylation outcome of the amino, (alkyl, aryl)amino, or acetamido group at C-2. The chirality at the latter, which was assigned tentatively through optical rotation correlation, and hence the preferential threo stereochemistry generated during the cyanohydrin synthesis of 2-amino-2-deoxy aldononitriles have now been established with confidence.
PubMed: 38675616
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29081796 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Single-layer transition-metal dichalcogenides provide an unique intrinsic entanglement between the spin/valley/orbital degrees of freedom and the polarization of...
Single-layer transition-metal dichalcogenides provide an unique intrinsic entanglement between the spin/valley/orbital degrees of freedom and the polarization of scattered photons. This scenario gives rise to the well-assessed optical dichroism observed by using both steady and time-resolved probes. In this paper, we provide compact analytical modeling of the onset of a finite Faraday/Kerr optical rotation upon shining with circularly polarized light. We identify different optical features displaying optical rotation at different characteristic energies, and we describe in an analytical framework the time-dependence of their intensities as a consequence of the main spin-conserving and spin-flip processes.
PubMed: 38668201
DOI: 10.3390/nano14080707 -
Nature Communications Apr 2024Mode-division multiplexing (MDM) in optical fibers enables multichannel capabilities for various applications, including data transmission, quantum networks, imaging,...
Mode-division multiplexing (MDM) in optical fibers enables multichannel capabilities for various applications, including data transmission, quantum networks, imaging, and sensing. However, high-dimensional optical fiber systems, usually necessity bulk-optics approaches for launching different orthogonal fiber modes into the optical fiber, and multiple-input multiple-output digital electronic signal processing at the receiver to undo the arbitrary mode scrambling introduced by coupling and transmission in a multi-mode fiber. Here we show that a high-dimensional optical fiber communication system can be implemented by a reconfigurable integrated photonic processor, featuring kernels of multichannel mode multiplexing transmitter and all-optical descrambling receiver. Effective mode management can be achieved through the configuration of the integrated optical mesh. Inter-chip MDM optical communications involving six spatial- and polarization modes was realized, despite the presence of unknown mode mixing and polarization rotation in the circular-core optical fiber. The proposed photonic integration approach holds promising prospects for future space-division multiplexing applications.
PubMed: 38664412
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47907-z -
Frontiers in Bioengineering and... 2024Crystalline lens overshooting refers to a situation in which the lens momentarily shifts too much from its typical location immediately after stopping the rotational...
Crystalline lens overshooting refers to a situation in which the lens momentarily shifts too much from its typical location immediately after stopping the rotational movement of the eye globe. This movement can be observed using an optical technique called Purkinje imaging. In this work, an experimental setup was designed to reproduce this effect using a fresh porcine eye. The sample was rotated 90° around its centroid using a high-velocity rotation stage, and the Purkinje image sequences were recorded, allowing us to quantify the overshooting effect. The numerical part of the study consisted of developing a computational model of the eye, based on the finite element method, that allowed us to understand the biomechanical behavior of the different tissues in this dynamic scenario. A 2D fluid-structure interaction model of the porcine eye globe, considering both the solid parts and humors, was created to reproduce the experimental outcomes. Outputs of the simulation were analyzed using an optical simulation software package to assess whether the mechanical model behaves optically like the real eye. The simulation predicted the experimental results by carefully adjusting the mechanical properties of the zonular fibers and the damping factor. This study effectively demonstrates the importance of characterizing the dynamic mechanical properties of the eye tissues to properly comprehend and predict the overshooting effect.
PubMed: 38655391
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1348774