Automatic Quantification of Anterior Lamina Cribrosa Structures in Optical Coherence Tomography Using a Two-Stage CNN Framework.

In this study, we propose a new intelligent system to automatically quantify the morphological parameters of the lamina cribrosa (LC) of the optical coherence tomography (OCT), including depth, curve depth, and curve index from OCT images. The proposed system consisted of a two-stage deep learning (DL) model, which was composed of the detection and the segmentation models as well as a quantification process with a post-processing scheme. The models were used to solve the class imbalance problem and obtain Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) as well as anterior LC information. The detection model was implemented by using YOLOv3 to acquire the BMO and LC position information. The Attention U-Net segmentation model is used to compute accurate locations of the BMO and LC curve information. In addition, post-processing is applied using polynomial regression to attain the anterior LC curve boundary information. Finally, the numerical values of morphological parameters are quantified from BMO and LC curve information using an image processing algorithm. The average precision values in the detection performances of BMO and LC information were 99.92% and 99.18%, respectively, which is very accurate. A highly correlated performance of R2 = 0.96 between the predicted and ground-truth values was obtained, which was very close to 1 and satisfied the quantification results. The proposed system was performed accurately by fully automatic quantification of BMO and LC morphological parameters using a DL model.

Improvement of Heat Resistance of Fluorosilicone Rubber Employing Vinyl-Functionalized POSS as a Chemical Crosslinking Agent.

Fluorosilicone rubber (F-LSR) is a promising material that can be applied in various cutting-edge industries. However, the slightly lower thermal resistance of F-LSR compared with that of conventional PDMS is difficult to overcome by applying nonreactive conventional fillers that readily agglomerate owing to their incompatible structure. Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane with vinyl groups (POSS-V) is a suitable material that may satisfy this requirement. Herein, F-LSR-POSS was prepared using POSS-V as a chemical crosslinking agent chemically bonded with F-LSR through hydrosilylation. All F-LSR-POSSs were successfully prepared and most of the POSS-Vs were uniformly dispersed in the F-LSR-POSSs, as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The mechanical strength and crosslinking density of the F-LSR-POSSs were determined using a universal testing machine (UTM) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), respectively. Finally, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements confirmed that the low-temperature thermal properties were maintained, and the heat resistance was significantly improved compared with conventional F-LSR. Eventually, the poor heat resistance of the F-LSR was overcome with three-dimensional high-density crosslinking by introducing POSS-V as a chemical crosslinking agent, thereby expanding the potential fluorosilicone applications.

Spin-Orbit Torque Switching in an All-Van der Waals Heterostructure.

Current-induced control of magnetization in ferromagnets using spin-orbit torque (SOT) has drawn attention as a new mechanism for fast and energy efficient magnetic memory devices. Energy-efficient spintronic devices require a spin-current source with a large SOT efficiency (ξ) and electrical conductivity (σ), and an efficient spin injection across a transparent interface. Herein, single crystals of the van der Waals (vdW) topological semimetal WTe2  and vdW ferromagnet Fe3 GeTe2 are used to satisfy the requirements in their all-vdW-heterostructure with an atomically sharp interface. The results exhibit values of ξ ≈ 4.6 and σ ≈ 2.25 × 105  Ω-1 m-1 for WTe2 . Moreover, the significantly reduced switching current density of 3.90 × 106 A cm-2 at 150 K is obtained, which is an order of magnitude smaller than those of conventional heavy-metal/ferromagnet thin films. These findings highlight that engineering vdW-type topological materials and magnets offers a promising route to energy-efficient magnetization control in SOT-based spintronics.

Deep-ultraviolet electroluminescence and photocurrent generation in graphene/hBN/graphene heterostructures.

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a van der Waals semiconductor with a wide bandgap of ~ 5.96 eV. Despite the indirect bandgap characteristics of hBN, charge carriers excited by high energy electrons or photons efficiently emit luminescence at deep-ultraviolet (DUV) frequencies via strong electron-phonon interaction, suggesting potential DUV light emitting device applications. However, electroluminescence from hBN has not been demonstrated at DUV frequencies so far. In this study, we report DUV electroluminescence and photocurrent generation in graphene/hBN/graphene heterostructures at room temperature. Tunneling carrier injection from graphene electrodes into the band edges of hBN enables prominent electroluminescence at DUV frequencies. On the other hand, under DUV laser illumination and external bias voltage, graphene electrodes efficiently collect photo-excited carriers in hBN, which generates high photocurrent. Laser excitation micro-spectroscopy shows that the radiative recombination and photocarrier excitation processes in the heterostructures mainly originate from the pristine structure and the stacking faults in hBN. Our work provides a pathway toward efficient DUV light emitting and detection devices based on hBN.

Growth and Bioactive Compound Content of Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schmidt ex Miquel Grown under Different CO2 Concentrations and Light Intensities.

This study aims to determine the effect of different CO2 concentrations and light intensities on the growth, photosynthetic rate, and bioactive compound content of Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schmidt ex Miquel in a closed-type plant production system (CPPS). The plants were transplanted into a deep floating technique system with recycling nutrient solution (EC 1.0 dS·m-1 and pH 6.5) and cultured for 96 days under a temperature of 20 ± 1 °C, a photoperiod of 12/12 h (light/dark), and RGB LEDs (red:green:blue = 7:1:2) in a CPPS. The experimental treatments were set to 500 or 1500 µmol∙mol-1 CO2 concentrations in combination with one of the three light intensities: 100, 200, or 300 µmol∙m-2∙s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). The petiole length of G. littoralis was the longest in the 500 µmol∙mol-1 CO2 concentration with the 100 µmol∙m-2∙s-1 PPFD. The fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) of shoots and roots were the heaviest in the 300 µmol∙m-2∙s-1 PPFD regardless of the CO2 concentration. Higher CO2 concentrations and light intensities produced the greatest photosynthetic rates. However, the SPAD value was not significantly different between the treatments. Higher light intensities produced greater content per biomass of chlorogenic acid and total saponin, although the concentration per DW or FW was not significantly different between treatments. The first and second harvest yields were the greatest in the 300 µmol∙m-2∙s-1 PPFD, regardless of the CO2 concentration. These results show that the 300 µmol∙m-2∙s-1 PPFD enhanced the growth, photosynthetic rate, and bioactive compound accumulation of G. littoralis, regardless of the CO2 concentration in a CPPS.

Using Light Quality for Growth Control of Cucumber Seedlings in Closed-Type Plant Production System.

During seedling production, growth control of seedlings is an important problem because the overgrowth of seedlings causes a decrease of seedling quality and has disadvantages after transplanting. In this study, we aim to evaluate the possibility of replacing chemical plant growth regulators using light quality in a closed-type plant production system (CPPS) for cucumber seedling production. We used various light treatments, such as monochromatic or combined red (R) and blue (B), and combined R and B with UV-A or Far-red (Fr) light, to compare with a chemical plant growth regulator conventionally using in nursery farms. The combined R and B treatment decreased stem elongation and increased dry matter and compactness. UV-A treatment increased compactness but did not significantly affect the stem elongation or dry matter. Fr increased stem elongation and stem diameter and decreased compactness and dry matter. In leaf growth, combined R and B treatments and UV-A treatments increased leaf area, specific leaf weight, and SPAD value, and decreased leaf shape index. Fr treatments increased leaf area and leaf shape index and decreased specific leaf weight (SLW) and SPAD values. Cucumber seedlings have many different morphological changes, and R5B5 light quality was more effective in growth control due to higher compactness than chemical plant growth regulators. Also, R5B5 light quality has increased seedling quality, such as dry matter and SLW compared with fluorescent lamps. Thus, the use of light quality is a possible alternative to a chemical plant growth regulator.

Growth Characteristics of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara Seedlings as Affected by Growing Medium.

Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara is a highly valued medicinal plant that is used to treat or prevent bronchitis, cough, cancer, and obesity. However, there has been no study on the production of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara seedlings in a closed-type plant production system (CPPS). This study was conducted to examine the growth characteristics of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara seedlings as affected by different growing media. The seeds were sown on a 128-cell plug tray filled with urethane sponges (US), LC grow foam (LC), rockwool (RW), or terra-plugs (TP). The seedlings were cultured for a duration of 54 days under temperature 25 ± 1°C, a photoperiod of 12/12 h (light/dark), and light intensity of 180 µmol·m-2·s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density provided by RB LEDs (red:blue = 8:2) in a closed-type plant production system (CPPS). The germination rate of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara was significantly highest in the TP. Also, seedling shoot growth indicators of plant height, leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves, fresh weight (FW), and dry weight (DW) of the shoot, and leaf area were markedly the greatest in the TP and the lowest in the US. The SPAD (soil-plant analysis development) value was higher in the TP and US than in the LC or RW. In addition, the seedling root growth characteristics of total root length, root surface area, root volume, and number of root tips were significantly greatest in the TP. Moreover, the maximum root diameter, FW and DW of roots were the greatest in the TP. In conclusion, the results suggest that TP are viable for the growth development of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara seedlings.