Characterization of 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Through Anisotropic Exciton Behaviors.

This study reports the first attempt to characterize the quality, defects, and strain of as-grown monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC)-based 2D materials through exciton anisotropy. A standard ellipsometric parameter (Ψ) to observe anisotropic exciton behavior in monolayer 2D materials is used. According to the strong exciton effect from phonon-electron coupling processes, the change in the exciton in the Van Hove singularity is sensitive to lattice distortions such as defects and strain. In comparison with Raman spectroscopy, the variations in exciton anisotropy in Ψ are more sensitive for detecting slight changes in the quality and strain of monolayer TMDC films. Moreover, the optical power requirement for TMDC characterization through exciton anisotropy in Ψ is ≈10-5 mW cm-2, which is significantly less than that of Raman spectroscopy (≈106 mW cm-2). The standard deviation of the signals varies with strain (defects) in Raman spectra and exciton anisotropies in Ψ are 0.700 (0.795) and 0.033 (0.073), indicating that exciton anisotropy is more sensitive to slight changes in the quality of monolayer TMDC films.

Transumbilical Silicone Implants Breast Augmentation (TUSBA).

Transumbilical breast augmentation with pre-filled silicone implants has been performed previously, but technical challenges remain to accommodate more implant options and dissection planes. We aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of transumbilical breast augmentation using various types of pre-filled silicone implants (TUSBA), and its applicability for subglandular, subfascial, dual-plane implantation. In the early stage, TUSBA was primarily performed using endoscope-assisted blunt dissection, and later converted to full endoscopy dissection to achieve better results. Endoscope was used to confirm the pocket and check bleeding for both groups. For endoscope-assisted group, surgical techniques were modified from conventional TUBA. In full endoscopy TUSBA, the entire dissection process was performed under endoscopic monitoring. Preliminary data of patients undergoing TUSBA from June 2016 to April 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Breast implants with smooth, textured or nanotextured surface properties and round or anatomical shapes were used, with sizes up to 500 mL. Seventy-four patients with mean age 36.4 years (range: 21-55 years) were enrolled in this study. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 4 years and 6 months (mean: 15.6 months). No excessive postoperative pain in breast or abdomen was reported. Surgery outcomes were aesthetically pleasing in both groups. In the endoscope-assisted group, 3 (4.6%) required major revisional procedures. No revision was required in the full endoscopy group. TUSBA with various types of silicone implants is feasible, and accommodable to all dissection planes. Full endoscopy technique is helpful in reducing the higher complication rate.

Optical Inspection of 2D Materials: From Mechanical Exfoliation to Wafer-Scale Growth and Beyond.

Optical inspection is a rapid and non-destructive method for characterizing the properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials. With the aid of optical inspection, in situ and scalable monitoring of the properties of 2D materials can be implemented industrially to advance the development and progress of 2D material-based devices toward mass production. This review discusses the optical inspection techniques that are available to characterize various 2D materials, including graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), group-III monochalcogenides, black phosphorus (BP), and group-IV monochalcogenides. First, the authors provide an introduction to these 2D materials and the processes commonly used for their fabrication. Then they review several of the important structural properties of 2D materials, and discuss how to characterize them using appropriate optical inspection tools. The authors also describe the challenges and opportunities faced when applying optical inspection to recently developed 2D materials, from mechanically exfoliated to wafer-scale-grown 2D materials. Most importantly, the authors summarize the techniques available for largely and precisely enhancing the optical signals from 2D materials. This comprehensive review of the current status and perspective of future trends for optical inspection of the structural properties of 2D materials will facilitate the development of next-generation 2D material-based devices.

[Reliability and Validity Testing of the Taiwanese Inpatient Nursing Care Satisfaction Scale: A Pilot-Study].

BACKGROUND: Inpatient nursing care satisfaction is an important indicator of medical care quality. However, no reliable and validated tool is currently available in Taiwan to measure the satisfaction of inpatients with nursing care. PURPOSE: This pilot study developed a reliable and validated scale for measuring inpatient nursing care satisfaction in Taiwan. METHODS: First phase: literature review and expert focus group discussion constructs the content of the questionnaire to be used to assess inpatient nursing care satisfaction. Second phase: experts were requested to validate questionnaire content. Third phase: convenience sampling was used to recruit 766 inpatients from 6 hospitals to complete the validated questionnaire. The data collected from the questionnaire were analyzed using item analysis, construct validity, and internal consistency. The results of analysis were used to determine the reliability and validity of the developed scale. RESULTS: The 20-item Taiwanese inpatient nursing care satisfaction scale was developed, with a CVI (content validity index) of expert validity of .97, item discrimination CR (critical ratio) of 28.61-50.25 (p < .001), and item-total correlation of .68-.84 (p < .001). Two factors, including "professional knowledge & skill" and "environmental control" were extracted by exploratory factor analysis after the deletion of 5 items, with item factor loadings ranging from .61 to .84. The factors explained 71.40% of total variance. The internal consistency of the two categories of Cronbach's α was .94-.97 coefficient and the overall internal consistency coefficient was .97. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study confirms the validity of the developed Taiwanese inpatient nursing care satisfaction scale and suggests that this instrument is reliable for measuring the satisfaction of inpatients with nursing care in Taiwan.