Flexible Electromagnetic Sensor with Inkjet-Printed Silver Nanoparticles on PET Substrate for Chemical and Biomedical Applications.

For this article, a low-cost, compact, and flexible inkjet-printed electromagnetic sensor was investigated for its chemical and biomedical applications. The investigated sensor design was used to estimate variations in the concentration of chemicals (ethanol and methanol) and biochemicals (hydrocortisone-a chemical derivative of cortisol, a biomarker of stress and cardiovascular effects). The proposed design's sensitivity was further improved by carefully choosing the frequency range (0.5-4 GHz), so that the analyzed samples showed approximately linear variations in their dielectric properties. The dielectric properties were measured using a vector network analyzer (VNA) and an Agilent 85070E Dielectric Probe Kit. The sensor design had a resonant frequency at 2.2 GHz when investigated without samples, and a consistent shift in resonant frequency was observed, with variation in the concentrations of the investigated chemicals. The sensitivity of the designed sensor is decent and is comparable to its non-flexible counterparts. Furthermore, the simulation and measured results were in agreement and were comparable to similar investigated sensor prototypes based on non-flexible Rogers substrates (Rogers RO4003C) and Rogers Droid/RT 5880), demonstrating true potential for chemical, biomedical applications, and healthcare.

Comparison of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy localization and CT-guided percutaneous localization in resection of lung nodules: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety between electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB) and computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous localization before resection of pulmonary nodules. METHODS: Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched from January 1, 2000 to April 30, 2022, for relevant studies. Two reviewers conducted the search, selection, and extraction of data from eligible studies. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The primary outcome was the localization success rate, and the secondary outcomes were the pneumothorax incidence and localization time. The meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.4. The protocol for the meta-analysis was registered on PROSPERO (Registration number: CRD42022345972). RESULTS: Five cohort studies comprising 441 patients (ENB group: 185, CT group: 256) were analyzed. Compared with the CT-guided group, the ENB-guided group was associated with lower pneumothorax incidence (relative ratio = 0.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.04-0.65, P = .01). No significant differences were found in location success rates (relative ratio = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.98-1.05, P = .38) and localization time (mean difference = 0.99, 95% CI: -5.73 to 7.71, P = .77) between the ENB group and CT group. CONCLUSION: Both ENB and CT-guided are valuable technologies in localizing lung nodules before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery based on current investigations. ENB achieved a lower pneumothorax rate than the CT-guided group. In our opinion, there is no perfect method, and decision-making should be given the actual circumstances of each institute. Future prospective studies in the form of a randomized trial are needed to confirm their clinical value.

Temporal Coordination of Articulatory Gestures in Nonnative Onset Clusters: Evidence From American English Speakers Using Electromagnetic Articulography.

PURPOSE: Research in cross-language speech production indicates that, although the production of nonnative consonant clusters is often difficult, speakers of American English can produce some nonnative clusters (e.g., /fn/) with high accuracy. This ease of production for select nonnative clusters may occur due to similarity of phonetic structure with native clusters (e.g., nonnative /fn/ and native /sm/ are both fricative-nasal sequences). The current study tested this hypothesis by examining the extent of transfer of articulatory coordination from phonetically similar native onset clusters (i.e., /fl/, /sm/) to nonnative /fn/ clusters. METHOD: Using electromagnetic articulography, lip, tongue, and jaw movements were recorded in nine participants during the production of 22 nonwords (eight tokens per nonword) containing the native and nonnative clusters in different carrier phrases. We examined the temporal lags between each consonantal gesture in a cluster and the flanking vowel gesture, which were compared to the matched singleton conditions. RESULTS: Analyses revealed that, as in native speech, when the syllable onset became more complex (i.e., CV ➔ CCV [C as consonant, V as vowel]), there was an increase in lag (less temporal overlap) between the leftmost consonantal gesture and the vocalic gesture, whereas there was a decrease in lag (more temporal overlap) between the rightmost consonant and the vocalic gesture (i.e., C-center timing). However, the segmental makeup of the cluster and type of carrier phrase used were also found to influence this change in temporal organization, raising new questions for future research. CONCLUSIONS: By and large, the findings are in agreement with the idea that the temporal coordination of articulator movements may be transferred from native clusters to phonetically similar nonnative clusters. However, kinematic measures of a broader range of nonnative clusters in different contexts are needed to fully explore this position.

Optimal configurations of an electromagnetic tracking system for 3D ultrasound imaging of pediatric hips - A phantom study.

Tracking the position and orientation of a two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound scanner to reconstruct a 3D volume is common, and its accuracy is important. In this study, a specific miniaturized electromagnetic (EM) tracking system was selected and integrated with a 2D ultrasound scanner, which was aimed to capture hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum configuration, including the distance between the EM source and sensor, to provide maximum accuracy. The scanning volume was aimed to be 320 mm × 320 mm × 76 mm. The accuracy of the EM tracking was evaluated by comparing its tracking with those from a motion capture camera system. A static experiment showed that a warm-up time of 20 min was needed. The EM system provided the highest precision of 0.07 mm and 0.01° when the distance between the EM source and sensor was 0.65 m. Within the testing volume, the maximum position and rotational errors were 2.31 mm and 1.48°, respectively. The maximum error of measuring hip displacement on the 3D hip phantom study was 4 %. Based on the test results, the tested EM system was suitable for 3D ultrasound imaging of pediatric hips to assess hip displacement when optimal configuration was used.

Assessment of integrated electromagnetic tracking for dwell position monitoring in a clinical HDR brachytherapy setting for prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Electromagnetic Tracking (EMT) technology has been integrated in a prototype high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) afterloading device. Its potential for dwell position (DP) monitoring has earlier been demonstrated in prostate phantoms. However, its performance for prostate BT in the clinical setting remains to be assessed. AIM: Assess the reliability and value of EMT measurements in transrectal ultrasound-based (TRUS-based) and computed tomography-based (CT-based) prostate HDR-BT. METHODS: EMT measurements were conducted on 20 patients undergoing dual-fraction prostate HDR-BT monotherapy. In each treatment fraction an individual TRUS-based or CT-based treatment plan was generated. The measurements were compared to DPs of manually reconstructed needles in those TRUS-based or CT-based treatment plans. An internal reference sensor was also placed in one needle to assess internal movement levels and its potential for movement correction. RESULTS: For TRUS-based treatments, median Euclidean distances (ED) of 1.00 mm were observed between EMT measurements and manual DP determination. Reference sensor movement was minimal at a median of 0.18 mm. For DPs measured in the CT-room and treatment room, median EDs of 1.60 mm and 2.24 mm compared to CT-based DP determination respectively were observed, indicating the system's ability to detect changes in implant geometry over time and after patient repositioning. Median reference sensor movement of 0.97 mm was observed. Implementing reference sensor-based movement correction led to a significant but small decrease in ED for CT-based treatments. CONCLUSION: EMT is suitable for TRUS-based prostate HDR-BT quality assurance and error detection. While EMT can identify changes in implant geometry in CT-based prostate HDR-BT treatments, it showed lower accuracy in this setting.

Polyvinyl alcohol /chitosan biomimetic hydrogel enhanced by MXene for excellent electromagnetic shielding and pressure sensing.

Traditional electromagnetic shielding materials are difficult to realize practical applications due to excessive fillers, poor mechanical properties, and difficulty in preservation, etc. Hydrogel is a biomaterial with good biocompatibility and sustainability, which not only can overcome the aforementioned issues, but its biomimetic hierarchical porous structure also enables multifunctional applications. In this paper, a honeycomb-like unidirectional porous wall structured hydrogel is prepared by a simple freeze-thaw cycle and salting out method. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) form a double cross-linked network (DN) enhanced by MXene, resulting in excellent mechanical and flexibility. Due to the synergistic effects of MXene, water, Fe3O4, abundant interfaces and micrometer porous wall structure, the electromagnetic shielding performance is enhanced. EMI SE increases by 30.7 dB as the MXene concentration increases from 0 to 1.5 wt%, and EMI SE increases from 7.9 to 66.7 dB as the water content increases from 0 to 76 %. Besides this, we encapsulate the hydrogel into a simple sensor, the signal response is rapid, the response /recovery time is 50/100 ms respectively, and it exhibits good sensitivity (0.0187 kPa-1). Different signals are generated based on variations in pressure, which holds significant importance for the development of wearable flexible sensors and information encoding.

Ultrathin and highly flexible layered silver nanowires/carboxymethyl cellulose nanofiber nanocomposite films for electromagnetic interference shielding.

Lightweight, flexible, efficient and easy-to-manufacture electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are in urgent demand in the communications industry, artificial intelligence and wearable electronics. Based on the large size difference between one-dimensional carboxymethyl cellulose nanofibers (CMC) and large-diameter silver nanowires (AgNWs), layered AgNWs/CMC nanocomposite films with large effective thickness, and high conductivity were first prepared by a simple one-step vacuum filtration self-assembly technique. The unique layered structure of the AgNWs/CMC nanocomposite film significantly enhances the conductive pathways within the film, endowing it excellent EMI shielding performance. The results show that the conductivity of the ultra-thin film with a thickness of 20 µm is 3.72 × 106 S/m, and the EMI SE in the X-band is 87.7 dB, which can effectively shield electromagnetic signals in mobile communications. Furthermore, the AgNWs/CMCs nanocomposite films exhibit excellent thermal management performance, which can be heated to 100-180 °C within 10 s at a low voltage of 1.5 V. In particular, this nanocomposite film with a new layered structure provides a noval preparation idea for future EMI shielding materials and wearable heating devices.

Vessel-based CTA-image to spatial anatomy registration using tracked catheter position data: preclinical evaluation of in vivo accuracy.

Electromagnetic tracking of endovascular instruments has the potential to substantially decrease radiation exposure of patients and personnel. In this study, we evaluated the in vivo accuracy of a vessel-based method to register preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) images to physical coordinates using an electromagnetically tracked guidewire. Centerlines of the aortoiliac arteries were extracted from preoperative CTA acquired from five swine. Intravascular positions were obtained from an electromagnetically tracked guidewire. An iterative-closest-point algorithm registered the position data to the preoperative image centerlines. To evaluate the registration accuracy, a guidewire was placed inside the superior mesenteric, left and right renal arteries under fluoroscopic guidance. Position data was acquired with electromagnetic tracking as the guidewire was pulled into the aorta. The resulting measured positions were compared to the corresponding ostia manually identified in the CTA images after applying the registration. The three-dimensional (3D) Euclidean distances were calculated between each corresponding ostial point, and the root mean square (RMS) was calculated for each registration. The median 3D RMS for all registrations was 4.82 mm, with an interquartile range of 3.53-6.14 mm. A vessel-based registration of CTA images to vascular anatomy is possible with acceptable accuracy and encourages further clinical testing. RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This study shows that the centerline algorithm can be used to register preoperative CTA images to vascular anatomy, with the potential to further reduce ionizing radiation exposure during vascular procedures. KEY POINTS: Preoperative images can be used to guide the procedure without ionizing intraoperative imaging. Preoperative imaging can be the only imaging modality used for guidance of vascular procedures. No need to use external fiducial markers to register/match images and spatial anatomy. Acceptable accuracy can be achieved for navigation in a preclinical setting.

Intelligent electromagnetic navigation system for robot-assisted intraoral osteotomy in mandibular tumor resection: a model experiment.

Background: Mandibular tumor surgery necessitates precise osteotomies based on tumor boundaries; however, conventional osteotomies often lack accuracy in predicting osteotomy positions and planes, potentially leading to excessive resection of normal bone tissues or residual tumors, thus compromising postoperative quality of life and clinical outcomes. Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) augmented with artificial intelligence (AI) offers precise localization capabilities, aiding surgeons in achieving accurate osteotomy positioning. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a robotic magnetic navigation system for positioning and osteotomy in an intraoral surgical trial of a mandibular tumor model. Methods: Patient computed tomography (CT) imaging data of mandibular chin and body tumors were utilized to create 3D printed models, serving as study subjects for mandibular tumor resection. Ten pairs of models were printed for the experimental and control groups. The experimental group (EG) underwent osteotomy using a robot-assisted surgical navigation system, performing osteotomy under robotic navigation following alignment based on preoperative design. The control group (CG) underwent traditional surgery, estimating osteotomy position empirically according to preoperative design. Postoperative CT scans were conducted on both models, and actual postoperative results were compared to preoperative design. Osteotomy accuracy was evaluated by positional and angular errors between preoperatively designed and actual osteotomy planes. Results: For ten randomly selected spots on the left and right sides, respectively, the EG group had mean distance errors of 0.338 mm and 0.941 mm. These values were obtained from the EG group. In the EG group, on the left side, the mean angular errors were 14.741 degrees, while on the right side, they were 13.021 degrees. For the 10 randomly selected spots on the left and right sides, respectively, the CG had mean distance errors of 1.776 mm and 2.320 mm. This is in contrast to the results obtained by the EG. It was determined that the left side had a mean angle error of 16.841 degrees, while the right side had an error of 18.416 degrees in the CG group. The above results indicated significantly lower point errors of bilateral osteotomy planes in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of electromagnetic navigation robot-assisted intraoral osteotomy for mandibular tumors and suggests that this approach can enhance the precision of clinical surgery.

[Research on Electromagnetic Compatibility Immunity Testing Methods for Proton Therapy System].

The proton therapy system has significant clinical advantages over traditional tumor radiation treatment equipment and is also far more complex in terms of system architecture. However, due to the large size and complexity of these devices, electromagnetic compatibility testing faces considerable challenges. To address these challenges, this paper studies the electromagnetic characteristics and working principles of various components in the proton therapy system, combines them with corresponding standard requirements, and delves into the difficulties and testing methods of electromagnetic compatibility immunity detection through actual repeated tests. Furthermore, the paper proposes testing key points for beam quality tests and provides references for the selection of emission sources and distance settings in radio frequency electromagnetic field radiation immunity testing. The paper also supplements and improves the descriptions of alternative methods in the standards and offers solutions and testing suggestions for issues such as the excessive thickness of cables in the proton therapy system and the lack of suitable fixtures in conducted anti-interference tests. The provision of these solutions offers more effective references for related staff during testing, helps address difficulties encountered in practical operations, and thus more effectively ensures the safety and effectiveness of proton therapy systems.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Issues in 400-MHz-Band Wireless Medical Telemetry Systems and Their Management Using Simplified Methods for Safe Operation.

Wireless medical telemetry systems (WMTSs) are typical radio communication-based medical devices that monitor various biological parameters, such as electrocardiograms and respiration rates. In Japan, the assigned frequency band for WMTSs is 400 MHz. However, the issues accounting for poor reception in WMTS constitute major concerns. In this study, we analyzed the effects of electromagnetic interferences (EMIs) caused by other radio communication systems, the intermodulation (IM) effect, and noises generated from electrical devices on WMTS and discussed their management. The 400-MHz frequency band is also shared by other radio communication systems. We showed the instantaneous and impulsive voltages generated from the location-detection system for wandering patients and their potential to exhibit EMI effects on WMTS. Further, we presented the IM effect significantly reduces reception in WMTS. Additionally, the electromagnetic noises generated from electrical devices, such as light-emitting diode lamps and security cameras, can exceed the 400 MHz frequency band as these devices employ the switched-mode power supply and/or central processing unit and radiate wideband emissions. Moreover, we proposed and evaluated simple and facile methods using a simplified spectrum analysis function installed in the WMTS receiver and software-defined radio for evaluating the electromagnetic environment.

An alternative bronchoscopic transparenchymal nodule access by "invisible tunnel" technique under electromagnetic navigation without the transbronchial access tool.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL) is still challenging. We describe a novel method for sampling PPL without bronchial signs by creating invisible tunnel under electromagnetic navigation without the transbronchial access tool (TABT). METHODS: During electromagnetic navigation, we adjust the angle of the edge extended working channel catheter based on the real-time position of the lesion in relation to the locating guide rather than preset route. A biopsy brush or biopsy forceps is used to punch a hole in the bronchial wall. A locating guide is then re-inserted to real-time navigate through the lung parenchyma to the lesion. Safety and feasibility of this method was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients who underwent electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy were retrieved. The mean size of the lesion is 23.1 mm. The mean operative time of all patients was 12.4 min. Ten of the patients did not have a direct airway to the lesion, thus creating an invisible tunnel. For them, the length of the tunnel from the bronchial wall POE to the lesion was 11-30 mm, with a mean length of 16.9 mm and a mean operation time of 14.1 min. Adequate samples were obtained from 32 patients (100%), and the diagnostic yield was 87.5% (28/32). Diagnostic yield of with create the invisible tunnel TBAT was 90% (9/10), and one patient undergone pneumothorax after operation. CONCLUSIONS: This method is feasible and safe as a novel approach sampling pulmonary lesions without bronchial signs, and it further improves current tunnel technique.

Oxhide gelatin-regulated aramid nanofiber/liquid metal films with sandwiched structure for electromagnetic interference shielding.

Liquid metal (LM) based electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with high conductivity and continuous deformation capacity are important needs for meeting modern advanced electronic equipment. However, an independent free-standing film with LM is difficult to achieve due to its unique fluidity properties. Here, a simple alternating filtration film-forming method was utilized to orderly construct a sandwiched EMI shielding film with LM stabilized by bio-based oxhide gelatin (gel) as the intermediate conductive layer, and two films of aramid nanofibers/oxhide gel (ANF/gel) as the external insulating protective layers. This design not only prevents LM from being exposed to environmental conditions, but also reduces the risk of chemical corrosion in practical applications. Under optimal LM addition conditions, the sandwiched film (0.3-3 L) exhibited better EMI shielding performance of 50.4 dB in the X-band than the blended film (0.7 dB), as well as excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength of 65.8 MPa, strain 8.6 %). More importantly, the sandwiched film still maintained reliable EMI shielding performance after being experienced largely physical deformation. This study provides a new solution for preparing LM-based EMI shielding composites, and is expected to arouse pursuit of high EMI shielding effects of bio-based gel while also paying attention to their safety.

Electromagnetic porous lignocellulosic matrix composites: A green electromagnetic shielding material with high absorption efficient electromagnetic interference.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials play a vital role in human society, especially in light of the rapid development of electronic communication equipment. Therefore, it is urgent to develop green, high-efficiency EMI shielding materials. Wood, as a renewable raw material, possesses significant structural advantages in studying EMI materials due to its unique 3D pore structure. Herein, we report magnetoelectric lignocellulosic matrix composites derived from the delignified wood for efficient EMI shielding. The composite was fabricated by in-situ polymerization of PEDOT conductive coating and magnetic Fe3O4 in delignified wood. The conductive 3D pore structure of Fe3O4/PEDOT@wood could effectively cause dielectric loss and multiple internal reflections. Combined with the magnetic loss of Fe3O4, the material exhibited excellent EMI shielding effectiveness (SE), which could be attributed to the synergistic effect of dielectric and magnetic losses. The Fe3O4/PEDOT@wood showed excellent conductivity (103 S/m), good magnetism (26.7 emu/g), the EMI SE up to 59.8 dB, and high SEA/SET ratios of∼84.2 % to 95.7 % at 2 mm in X -band. Moreover, the material exhibited a high compressive strength and tensile strength of 100.8 MPa and 18.1 MPa, respectively. Therefore, this work provided a reference for the preparation of high-efficiency EMI shielding materials.

Modeling and Analysis of Environmental Electromagnetic Interference in Multiple-Channel Neural Recording Systems for High Common-Mode Interference Rejection Performance.

Environmental electromagnetic interference (EMI) has always been a major interference source for multiple-channel neural recording systems, and little theoretical work has been attempted to address it. In this paper, equivalent circuit models are proposed to model both electromagnetic interference sources and neural signals in such systems, and analysis has been performed to generate the design guidelines for neural probes and the subsequent recording circuit towards higher common-mode interference (CMI) rejection performance while maintaining the recorded neural action potential (AP) signal quality. In vivo animal experiments with a configurable 32-channel neural recording system are carried out to validate the proposed models and design guidelines. The results show the power spectral density (PSD) of environmental 50 Hz EMI interference is reduced by three orders from 4.43 × 10-3 V2/Hz to 4.04 × 10-6 V2/Hz without affecting the recorded AP signal quality in an unshielded experiment environment.

Novel application of two- and four-lobed noise-canceling passive integrated transponder antennas for tracking fish in areas of high ambient electromagnetic interference.

Passive integrated transponder (PIT) technology is a leading tool for tracking fish in freshwater systems. PIT is highly applicable for assessing fish passage at anthropogenic infrastructure (e.g., dams and floodgates); however, there are often complications in operating PIT antennas near these structures due to the ambient electromagnetic interference of metal and power-supply equipment. We designed a PIT antenna that is resistant to the effects of ambient electromagnetic interference (AEMI). This design uses lobes with balanced polarity within the antenna to neutralize AEMI within the vicinity of the antenna. This novel PIT antenna provides a more effective and cost-efficient option for researchers tracking fish in environments with high AEMI.

First-in-human use of a new robotic electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopic platform with integrated Tool-in-Lesion Tomosynthesis (TiLT) technology for peripheral pulmonary lesions: The FRONTIER study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: As the presentation of pulmonary nodules increases, the importance of a safe and accurate method of sampling peripheral pulmonary nodules is highlighted. First-generation robotic bronchoscopy has successfully assisted navigation and improved peripheral reach during bronchoscopy. Integrating tool-in-lesion tomosynthesis (TiLT) may further improve yield. METHODS: We performed a first-in-human clinical trial of a new robotic electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy system with integrated digital tomosynthesis technology (Galaxy System, Noah Medical). Patients with moderate-risk peripheral pulmonary nodules were enrolled in the study. Robotic bronchoscopy was performed using electromagnetic navigation with TiLT-assisted lesion guidance. Non-specific results were followed up until either a clear diagnosis was achieved or repeat radiology at 6 months demonstrated stability. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (19 nodules) were enrolled. The average lesion size was 20 mm, and the average distance from the pleura was 11.6 mm. The target was successfully reached in 100% of nodules, and the biopsy tool was visualized inside the target lesion in all cases. A confirmed specific diagnosis was achieved in 17 nodules, 13 of which were malignant. In one patient, radiological monitoring confirmed a true non-malignant result. This translates to a yield of 89.5% (strict) to 94.7% (intermediate). Complications included one pneumothorax requiring observation only and another requiring an overnight chest drain. There was one case of severe pneumonia following the procedure. CONCLUSION: In this first-in-human study, second-generation robotic bronchoscopy using electromagnetic navigation combined with integrated digital tomosynthesis was feasible with an acceptable safety profile and demonstrated a high diagnostic yield for small peripheral lung nodules.

Deformation investigation of electromagnetic diaphragm pump rubber diaphragm.

A diaphragm pump is a type of volumetric pump that has excellent sealing performance. An electromagnetic diaphragm pump is a kind of widely adopted diaphragm pump that has a simple structure, low power loss, and high cost performance. However, the calculation method of deformation for the electromagnetic diaphragm pump rubber diaphragm is presently lacking. Herein, a calculating method of deformation for the electromagnetic diaphragm pump rubber diaphragm is proposed. By establishing and analyzing a deformation model of the electromagnetic diaphragm pump rubber diaphragm, a theoretical relationship between the deformation of the electromagnetic diaphragm pump rubber diaphragm, the size of the electromagnetic diaphragm pump rubber diaphragm and the pressure of fluid is determined. The experimental results indicate that the biggest difference between the tested axial deformation and the calculated axial deformation of the electromagnetic diaphragm pump rubber diaphragm is 0.04 mm and the calculation results show agreement with the experimental results.

Discovery of electromagnetic polarization in Asian rice wine deterioration process and its applications.

Rice wine, known as yellow wine in China and Japan, possesses considerable nutritional value and holds significant global influence. This study addresses the challenge of preserving rice wine, which is prone to rancidity due to its low alcohol content. Conventional storage techniques employing pottery jars often result in substantial spoilage losses. Through rigorous investigation, this research identifies a polarization phenomenon exhibited by degraded rice wine when subjected to high-frequency microwaves(>60GHz), presenting a pioneering method for detecting spoilage, even within sealed containers. Employing a multi-channel microwave radar apparatus, the study delves into the susceptibility of rice wine to electromagnetic waves across various frequencies, uncovering pronounced polarization traits in deteriorated samples within the E-band microwave spectrum. Furthermore, lab-controlled simulations elucidate a direct correlation between physicochemical alterations and high-frequency Radar Cross Section (RCS) signals during the wine's deterioration process. A novel six-membered Hydrated Cluster hypothesis is proposed, offering insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. Additionally, dielectric property assessments conducted using vector network analyzers (VNA) reveal noteworthy enhancements in the dielectric constant of deteriorated rice wine, particularly within the high-frequency domain, thereby augmenting detectability. These findings carry implications for refining rice wine preservation techniques and contribute to the advancement of non-destructive testing technologies, enabling the detection of rice wine deterioration or indications thereof, even within sealed vessels.

Miniaturized electromagnetic tracking enables efficient ultrasound-navigated needle insertions.

Ultrasound (US) has gained popularity as a guidance modality for percutaneous needle insertions because it is widely available and non-ionizing. However, coordinating scanning and needle insertion still requires significant experience. Current assistance solutions utilize optical or electromagnetic tracking (EMT) technology directly integrated into the US device or probe. This results in specialized devices or introduces additional hardware, limiting the ergonomics of both the scanning and insertion process. We developed the first ultrasound (US) navigation solution designed to be used as a non-permanent accessory for existing US devices while maintaining the ergonomics during the scanning process. A miniaturized EMT source is reversibly attached to the US probe, temporarily creating a combined modality that provides real-time anatomical imaging and instrument tracking at the same time. Studies performed with 11 clinical operators show that the proposed navigation solution can guide needle insertions with a targeting accuracy of about 5 mm, which is comparable to existing approaches and unaffected by repeated attachment and detachment of the miniaturized tracking solution. The assistance proved particularly helpful for non-expert users and needle insertions performed outside of the US plane. The small size and reversible attachability of the proposed navigation solution promises streamlined integration into the clinical workflow and widespread access to US navigated punctures.