Optimal Exposure Research Articles

Morphometric study of the chorioretinal complex of laboratory animals in an experiment with electrocoagulation of the retina via transvitreal access

Retinal detachment occurs primarily as a result of diabetes, high myopia, and eye injuries. Restoration of the anatomical integrity of the detached retina is performed urgently using methods that allow fixing the displaced layers of the retina in their usual place – cryo-, laser-, and electropexy methods. There is no consensus on which of these methods is better. Our study is devoted to electropexy, namely high-frequency electrocoagulation, and describes an experiment on modeling the restoration of the anatomical integrity of a detached retina on lab rabbits of the chinchilla breed using an instrument of original design – a monopolar coagulator with a 25 G tip. 33 rabbits (66 eyes) were divided into four groups: the control group (6 animals) and 3 groups (9 animals each), which were operated using an electric current with a frequency of 66 kHz, a current of 0.1 A, and voltages of 10–12 V (I group), 12–14 V (II group) and 14–16 V (III group) and transvitreal access. All rabbits were subjected to euthanasia: rabbits of the control group (intact) – at the beginning of the experiment, operated rabbits (I–III groups) – 30 days after the operation. Eyes were enucleated, tissues of chorioretinal structures were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and studied under light microscopy with measurement of retinal thickness using the software "ImageFocusAlpha" (Netherlands) version 1.3.7. The results of morphological and morphometric studies were compared with the results of our other experiment conducted earlier with similar conditions of impact on chorioretinal structures, but with suprachoroidal access. The research and comparison showed that both with suprachoroidal and transvitreal accesses, with a current frequency of 66 kHz and a current strength of 0.1 A, the optimal exposure voltage is 10–12 V, and the best approach is the suprachoroidal access. Keywords: vitreoretinal surgery, retinal detachment, retinal thickness.

Impact of ultraviolet radiation on cardiovascular and metabolic disorders: The role of nitric oxide and vitamin D.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has both harmful and beneficial effects on human skin and health. It causes skin damage, aging, and cancer; however, it is also a primary source of vitamin D. Additionally, UV radiation can impact energy metabolism and has protective effects on several cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in mice and humans. However, the mechanisms of UV protection against these diseases have not been clearly identified. This review summarizes the systemic effects of UV radiation on hypertension and several metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice, and we also consider the mechanisms of action of the related regulators nitric oxide (NO) and vitamin D. UV exposure can lower blood pressure and prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders, such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, primarily through mechanisms that depend on UV-induced NO. UV radiation may also effectively delay the onset of type 1 diabetes through mechanisms that rely on UV-induced vitamin D. UV-induced NO and vitamin D play roles in preventing and slowing the progression of NAFLD. UV exposure is a promising nonpharmacological intervention for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. NO and vitamin D may play a crucial role in mediating these effects. However, further investigations are required to elucidate the exact mechanisms and determine the optimal dosage and exposure duration of UV radiation.

3D Printing of LuAG:Ce transparent ceramics for laser-driven lighting

The fabrication of transparent ceramics with freely designed geometries via 3D printing represents a paradigm shift in molding processes. The application of luminescent transparent ceramics (LTCs) in high-power laser-driven solid-state lighting has been significantly limited by traditional molding methods. Herein, dense cerium activated lutetium aluminum garnet (LuAG:Ce) transparent ceramics with good light transmittance (∼40%) and complex structures were successfully fabricated using a digital light processing 3D printing method assisted by vacuum sintering. We developed an ink with a high solid content (∼50 vol%) and good shear thinning property, and the optimal dye content (0.002 wt%) and exposure dose (80 mJ cm−2) to achieve 50 μm high-resolution printing were determined. A superhemispherical ceramic device with a convex curvature radius (R) of 11 mm, a concave curvature radius (r) of 10 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm was printed and sintered, which exhibited excellent laser-driven lighting properties and a high laser fluence threshold (19.22 W mm−2) owing to the special structure of surface guide grooves formed by 3D printing. Optical components prepared using 3D-printed LuAG:Ce LTCs with excellent physical and chemical properties have promising applications in next-generation high-power laser-driven solid-state lighting devices.

Targeted dosing of anti-thymocyte globulin in adult unmanipulated haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: A single-arm, phase 2 trial.

Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is widely used in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to prevent severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft failure. However, overexposure to ATG may increase cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation, non-relapse mortality, and disease recurrence. To investigate the optimal dosing of ATG, we established a targeted dosing strategy based on ATG concentration monitoring for haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (haplo-PBSCT). The aim of this phase 2 trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the ATG-targeted dosing strategy in adult unmanipulated haplo-PBSCT. ATG was administered for 4 days (-5 days to -2 days) during conditioning. The ATG doses on -3 days and -2 days were adjusted by our dosing strategy to achieve the optimal ATG exposure. The primary endpoint was CMV reactivation on +180 days. Between December 2020 and January 2022, 66 haplo-PBSCT patients were enrolled and 63 of them were evaluable with a median follow-up of 632 days. The cumulative incidence of CMV reactivation was 36.7% and that of EBV was 58.7%. The 1-year disease-free survival was 82.5%, overall survival was 92.1%, and CD4+ T-cell reconstruction on +100 days was 76.8%. The most common severe regimen-associated toxicities (> grade 3) were infections (51.5%) and gastrointestinal toxicity (25.5%). A total of 102 haplo-PBSCT patients who received the conventional fixed ATG dose (cumulative 10 mg/kg) comprised historical control. The outcomes in historical control were inferior to those of phase 2 trial cohort (CMV reactivation: 70.8%, p < .001; EBV reactivation: 76.0%, p = .024; CD4 + T-cell reconstruction: 54.1%, p = .040). In conclusion, ATG-targeted dosing strategy reduced CMV/EBV reactivation and improved survival without increasing GVHD after haplo-PBSCT. These advantages may be associated with accelerated immune reconstitution.

Association between busulfan exposure and survival in patients undergoing a CD34+ selected stem cell transplantation.

Busulfan is an alkylating drug routinely used in conditioning regimens for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). A myeloablative conditioning regimen, including busulfan, is commonly used in patients undergoing T-cell depletion (TCD) and allo-HCT, but data on optimal busulfan pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure in this setting are limited. Between 2012 and 2019, busulfan PK was performed to target an area under the curve exposure between 55 and 66mg× h/L over 3days using a noncompartmental analysis model. We retrospectively re-estimated busulfan exposure following the published population PK (popPK) model (2021) and correlated it with outcomes. To define optimal exposure, univariable models were performed with P splines, wherein hazard ratio (HR) plots were drawn, and thresholds were found graphically as the points at which the confidence interval crossed 1. Cox proportional hazard and competing risk models were used for analyses. 176 patients were included, with a median age of 59 years (range, 2-71). Using the popPK model, the median cumulative busulfan exposure was 63.4mg× h/L (range, 46.3-90.7). The optimal threshold was at the upper limit of the lowest quartile (59.5mg× h/L). 5-year overall survival (OS) with busulfan exposure ≥59.5 vs <59.5mg× h/L was 67% (95%CI, 59-76) vs 40% (95%CI, 53-68), respectively (P= .02), and this association remained in a multivariate analyses (HR, 0.5; 95%CI, 0.29; 0.88; P= .02). In patients undergoing TCD allo-HCT, busulfan exposure is significantly associated with OS. The use of a published popPK model to optimize exposure may significantly improve the OS.

Evaluation of the endoscopic revision of dacryocystorhinostomy failure cases: a cohort study.

The dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) procedure is linked to a high success rate; however, cases of tearing recurrence are not rare and should be managed efficiently. Thus, evaluating cases of DCR failure allows highlighting the factors significantly impacting the results in order to realize better controlled primary surgeries. Twenty-eight patients were operated in our Otolaryngology Department for endoscopic revision of DCR failure between January 2019 and June 2022. Their clinical presentation, postoperative evolution, and findings of the primary and revision surgeries were assessed until the actual follow-up. The first surgery was based on an external approach in 17 patients and the bicanalicular silicone tube intubation was kept for a mean of 4.25 months. The recurrence delay varied from 0.5 to 9 months. Revision surgery revealed synechia in 10 patients, a completely closed DCR ostium in 22 patients (78.57%) by mucosal scarring and granulation, and lacrimal sac fibrosis in 16 patients (57.14%). A significant correlation was found between maintenance of the silicone intubation tube greater than or equal to 3 months and lacrimal sac fibrosis (P=0.016<0.05). Thus, better controlled primary surgeries with optimal exposure, wild marsupialisation of the lacrimal sac and no longer systematic bicanalicular intubation which should be dedicated to difficult anatomies and canalicular affections should guarantee better functional results.

Adaptive optimal exposure selection based on time cost function for 3D reconstruction of high dynamic range surfaces

High dynamic range surfaces are prone to overexposure and underexposure in the camera imaging process, which poses a challenging issue for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. Capturing multiple images of high dynamic range surfaces at different exposure times is widely used for 3D reconstruction, and the exposure sequence can significantly affect reconstruction performance. However, most existing methods select the exposure sequence based on the overall performance of the image or groups of image pixels, without considering individual pixels in the image. To circumvent the problem, this paper presents the adaptive optimal exposure sequence selection based on time cost function for the 3D reconstruction of high dynamic range surfaces. Different from existing methods that use the overall performance, the acceptable exposure time range for each pixel in the image is determined independently. Furthermore, the time cost function is established to evaluate the priority of each exposure time and used to select the optimal exposure sequence iteratively. Experimental results verify both the reconstruction performance and suitability of the proposed method.

Drug-drug interactions between propofol and ART drugs: Inhibiting neuronal activity by affecting glucose metabolism.

The use of two or more drugs carries the potential risk of drug-drug interactions (DDIs), which may result in adverse reactions. Some human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients who receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) may require general anesthesia with propofol (PRL) before undergoing surgical treatment. Both PRL and ART drugs may lead to neuronal dysfunction, which can be accompanied by energy metabolism disorders. Neurons take in glucose mainly through glucose transporter 3 (Glut3) which is specifically expressed on the cell membranes of neurons. However, to date, no study has examined whether the DDIs of PRL and ART drugs interfere with glucose metabolism and Glut3 expression in neurons. An in vitro model was constructed using the primary cultures of neurons. PRL and ART drugs (EFV, AZT, and 3TC), were added at different concentrations (low, medium, and high). The neurons were exposed to the drugs for 1, 4, 8, and 12 h. The optimal drug concentration and exposure time were selected. The cellular survival rate, glucose concentration, electrophysiology, and the expression of Glut3 were detected. There were no significant changes in the cellular survival rates of the neurons that were exposed to both PRL and ART drugs at low concentrations for 1 h. However, the survival rates of the neurons decreased significantly as the drug concentrations and durations increased. The glucose concentration of the neurons that were exposed to both PRL and the ART drugs was significantly decreased. The glucose concentration of the neurons was not affected by any individual drug. The amplitude of the action potential and the expression of Glut3 were decreased in the neurons that were exposed to both PRL and ART drugs. The main adverse reactions induced by the DDIs between PRL and the ART drugs were decreased glucose metabolism and neuronal damage, which were caused by inhibiting the expression of Glut3. More importantly, we found that decreases in glucose metabolism predated neuronal damage.

Precision Surgery for Orbital Cavernous Hemangiomas: The Role of Three-Dimensional Printing in Individualized Resection-An Educational Experience.

Orbital cavernous hemangiomas are the most common primary orbital tumors in adults, providing challenges for optimal surgical approach planning within an anatomically complex area with close proximity to vital neurovascular structures. The authors present an individualized lateral mini-orbitozygomatic approach for the resection of an orbital cavernous haemangioma based on a preoperative 3-dimensional-printed model. This individualized approach enabled the surgeons to achieve optimal exposure while maintaining safety during the resection of the lesion, but also to respect the patient's physiognomy and hairline. In addition, the model was used for patient informed consent, helping the patient understand the procedure. Although adding additional effort to preoperative planning, 3-dimensional model-based approaches can offer great benefits when it comes to customizing surgical approaches, especially for anatomically challenging resections.

A simple transseptal approach versus the conventional left atrial approach for mitral valve procedures: a retrospective study.

Having good exposure to the mitral apparatus during mitral valve replacement is a vital decision every cardiac surgeon must take. This study was conducted to compare the simple transseptal approach and the conventional left atrial approach for mitral valve procedures, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the simple transseptal approach during open heart mitral valve procedures, as the conventional left atrial approach may not provide optimal exposure, especially in unfavorable anatomical and operative situations. This is a retrospective study. It has been conducted on 140 patients who were diagnosed with heart diseases that required mitral valve replacement. Surgeries were performed in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department. Mitral procedure was done through median sternotomy incision under general anesthesia on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine with cold antegrade cardioplegia. Demographic data, preoperative diagnosis, intraoperative findings, hospital stay, complications, and mortality were documented and revised. One hundred and forty patients were enrolled in this study with a median age of 39years, and no significant differences as regards the baseline demographic data as age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). A total of 68 patients underwent mitral valve replacement through the simple transseptal approach and 72 patients through the conventional left atrial approach. Both studied groups had insignificant differences as regards bypass time, re-operation rate, postoperative complications, hospital stay, and mortality. The simple transseptal approach through the midpoint of the fossa ovalis could be a safe and even favorable alternative to the traditional left atriotomy approach in certain difficult operative situations during mitral valve replacement surgery.

Camera calibration approach using polarized light based on high-frequency component variance weighted entropy for pose measurement

Abstract The camera’s intrinsic parameters calibration directly affects monocular pose measurement accuracy. To improve the calibration accuracy of the camera’s intrinsic parameters, the polarizing device is used to eliminate the high-brightness areas in the images collected for camera calibration. However, an unsuitable polarizing angle will reduce the image’s contrast. This causes the texture information of the image to be lost or makes the extracted feature change in the direction of grayscale value decline, ultimately affecting the feature extraction. Aiming at this issue, this paper proposed a camera calibration approach using polarized light based on high-frequency component variance weighted entropy (HVE). We determined the suitable polarizing angle according to the two-dimensional homography matrix describing the mapping between the target plane and normalized imaging plane for each calibration location. Under the suitable polarizing angle, we determined the optimal exposure time according to the HVE. The images collected under suitable polarizing angles and the optimal exposure time were used to finish the camera calibration. The suitable polarizing angles and optimal exposure time can ensure the image’s contrast and texture information. The experimental findings demonstrate that our approach can increase the camera calibration accuracy and thus pose measurement accuracy. In the −45° to +45° range, the average pose measurement error is less than 0.05° and lowered by 0.08° (62%) compared to that performed using the intrinsic parameters calibrated with the images collected under no polarizing device. In the 0–20 mm range, the average pose measurement error is less than 0.028 mm and lowered by 0.05 mm (64%) compared to that performed using the intrinsic parameters calibrated with the images collected under no polarizing device.

Identifying an optimal fludarabine exposure for improved outcomes after axi-cel therapy for aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

AbstractFludarabine is one of the most common agents given for lymphodepletion before CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells, but its optimal therapeutic intensity is unknown. Using data from a multicenter consortium, we estimated fludarabine exposure (area under the curve [AUC]) using a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model in 199 adult patients with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas who received commercial axicabtagene ciloleucel (Axi-cel). We evaluated the association of estimated fludarabine AUC with key outcomes, aiming to find an AUC that optimized efficacy and tolerability. We identified low (<18 mg × hour/L [mgh/L]), optimal (18-20 mgh/L), and high (>20 mgh/L) AUC groups for analyses; the 6-month cumulative incidences of relapse/progression of disease (relapse/POD) by AUC groups were 54% (45%-62%), 28% (15%-44%), and 30% (14%-47%), respectively; and the 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 39% (31%-48%), 66% (52%-84%), and 46% (30%-70%) and the overall survival (OS) rates were 58% (50%-67%), 77% (64%-92%), and 66% (50%-87%), respectively. In multivariable analyses compared with low AUC, an optimal AUC was associated with the highest PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.52; 0.3-0.91; P = .02) and lowest risk of relapse/POD (HR, 0.46; 0.25-0.84; P = .01) without an increased risk of any-grade cytokine release syndrome (HR, 1.1; 0.7-1.6; P = .8) or and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) (HR, 1.36; 0.83-2.3; P = .2). A high AUC was associated with the greatest risk of any-grade ICANS (HR, 1.9; 1.1-3.2; P = .02). Although the main cause of death in all groups was relapse/POD, nonrelapse-related deaths, including 3 deaths from ICANS, were more frequent in the high AUC group. These findings suggest that PK–directed fludarabine dosing to achieve an optimal AUC may result in improved outcomes for patients receiving axi-cel.

Camera Attributes Control for Visual Odometry With Motion Blur Awareness

The practical application of visual odometry (VO) is challenging under High Dynamic Range (HDR) environments which has a significant impact on the quality of feature point tracking. There are two key attributes that affect the image quality of a camera, namely exposure time and gain. The goal of camera attributes control research is to design algorithms that can actively adjust camera acquisition attributes to obtain clear, information-rich images. We propose an efficient and stable camera attributes control method with distinct image quality metrics and a linear convergence search algorithm. Specifically, we propose to use the weighted sum of image gradient and entropy to represent the image quality. Its first order derivative is also computed for a line search algorithm to determine the optimal camera exposure. Then, the algorithm estimates scene change speed by optical flow and finds out the maximum exposure time without motion blur. Ultimately, the maximum exposure time and optimal camera exposure are used to determine the camera properties including exposure time and gain. Additionally, the proposed method speeds up the convergence of the algorithm with the help of simulated image generation which enables nearly optimal attributes to be obtained directly from an overexposed or underexposed image. To validate the proposed approach, we test it in challenging HDR environments with fast motion and compare it with built-in automatic exposure. It will be open source for the benefit of the community.

High dynamic reflection surface 3D reconstruction with sharing phase demodulation mechanism and multi-indicators guided phase domain fusion.

Accurate and complete 3D measurement of complex high dynamic range (HDR) surfaces has been challenging for structured light projection technique. The behavior of spraying a layer of diffuse reflection material, which will inevitably incur additional thickness. Existing methods based on additional facilities will increase the cost of hardware system. The algorithms-based methods are cost-effective and nondestructive, but they generally require redundant patterns for image fusion and model training, which fail to be suitable for practicing automated 3D measurement for complex HDR surfaces. In this paper, a HDR surface 3D reconstruction method based on sharing demodulation phase unwrapping mechanism and multi-indicators guided phase fusion strategy is proposed. The division of the exposure interval is optimized via the image entropy to generate an optimal exposure sequence. The combination of temporal-spatial binary (TSB) encoding fringe patterns with time-integration strategy and the variable exposure mode of digital mirror device (DMD)-based projector with a minimum projection exposure time of 233μs enables the proposed approach to broadly adapt complex HDR surfaces. We propose an efficient phase analysis solution called sharing mechanism that wrapped phase sequences from captured different intensity fringe images are unwrapped through sharing the same group of misaligned Gray code (MGC) decoding result. Finally, a phase sequences fusion model guided by multi-indicators, including exposure quality, phase gradient smoothness and pixel effectiveness, is established to obtain an optimum phase map for final 3D reconstruction. Comparative experiments indicate that the proposed method can completely restore the 3D topography of HDR surfaces with the images reduction of at least 65% and the measurement integrity is maintained at over 98% while preserving the measurement accuracy and excluding the outliers.

Advancing Photodynamic Therapy Efficiency on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells through Silica Nanoparticles-Safranin Encapsulation: In-Vitro Evaluation

Efficient drug delivery to target tissue is a major challenge in many cancer treatment modalities. Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have been identified as an ideal drug carrier due to their unique properties. In Photodynamic therapy (PDT), one of the key challenges in utilizing photosensitizers (PS) lies in effectively delivering the PS to the targeted tissue. Using Silica nanoparticles encapsulation will effectively prevent the leakage of entrapped PS from the particles, protects against reduction by the retinal endothelial system, and reduces PS toxicity. In this study, Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) were used as carriers for Safranin (SF) as a photosensitizer agent to treat MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro. The SiNPs nanoparticles were synthesized, and their size and shape were measured using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Cytotoxicity was evaluated for different concentrations of encapsulated and naked SF. The optimal concentrations and exposure times required to eliminate the MCF-7 under light (Intensity ~110 mW/cm2, red laser) were determined. The results indicated that encapsulated SF by SiNPs exhibited higher efficacy than naked SF with a +50% concentration efficacy and +78% exposure time efficacy. This confirmed the superior ability of encapsulated SF to eliminate MCF-7 cells compared to naked SF. The use of synthesized silica nanoparticles loaded with SF improved photodynamic therapy by increasing the bioavailability of SF in the target cells. Our results demonstrate that SiNP encapsulation significantly improves the efficacy of SF in eliminating MCF-7 cells compared to bare SF. This study underscores the potential of SiNPs as a drug delivery system for photodynamic therapy and could pave the way for developing more effective cancer treatments.

X-photon laser direct write 3D nanolithography

ABSTRACT Multiphoton photopolymerisation (MPP), also known as 3D nanoprinting, was studied using a wavelength-tunable femtosecond laser. The possibility of using any colour of the spectrum from 500 to 1200 nm with a fixed pulse width of 100 fs revealed an interplay of photophysical mechanisms more delicate than just two-photon photopolymerisation. An effective order of absorption, i.e. the X-photon absorption, as well as optimal exposure conditions were assessed for photosensitised and pure SZ2080 pre-polymer. The tunability of wavelength greatly influenced the dynamic fabrication window (DFW), optimised conditions resulting in a 10-fold increase. Furthermore, a non-trivial energy deposition by X-photon absorption was noted with an onset of a strong lateral size increase at longer wavelengths and can be understood as due to reaching epsilon-near-zero conditions. Such a control over the voxel aspect ratio and, consequently, the photopolymerised volume, may boost 3D nanoprinting efficiency. Overall, the results reveal wavelength being an important degree of freedom to tailor the MPP process and, if optimised, benefiting broad applications in areas of micro-optics, nanophotonic devices, metamaterials and tissue engineering.

Optimization of Indirect CAP Exposure as an Effective Osteosarcoma Cells Treatment with Cytotoxic Effects

Over the past decade, cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has undergone extensive research as a promising therapeutic approach in oncology, with different treatment methods and exposure configurations being investigated and resulting in various biological effects, most of them after long exposure or treatment durations. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of a custom-made CAP generation source to produce plasma-activated medium (PAM) with cytotoxic effects and subsequently to establish the optimal exposure and treatment parameters. The exposure’s electrical parameters, as well as pH and NO2− content of PAM were analyzed. The cytotoxic potential and optimal parameters of the treatment were established by evaluating the viability of human osteosarcoma cells (HOS cell line) and human osteoblasts (HOB cell line) treated with PAM under different conditions. Our results showed that indirect treatment with CAP presents selective dose-dependent cytotoxic effects, while the cell viability decrease was not found to be correlated with the PAM acidification due to CAP exposure. The Griess assay revealed very high and long-term stable concentrations of NO2− in PAM. Overall, this study presents a simple and faster method of producing PAM treatment with cytotoxic effects on HOS cells, by using a custom-built CAP source.

An Anode-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Half-Cell Fabricated by Hybrid 3D Inkjet Printing and Laser Treatment

A NiO-10YSZ/10YSZ half-cell for anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) was fabricated using 3D inkjet printing and layer-by-layer laser treatment of printing compositions followed by thermal sintering by a co-firing method. The optimal granulometric composition and rheological characteristics of the printing compositions to fabricate the NiO-10YSZ (60:40 wt.%) anode support, NiO-10YSZ (40:60 wt.%) anode functional layer (AFL), and 10YSZ electrolyte were determined. Effects of the pore former and laser post-treatment on the morphology of the as-prepared anodes for the manufacture of SOFC anode supports were studied, and the optimum laser exposure for hybrid 3D printing was determined. A mechanism of influence of the exposure of laser post-treatment on the morphology of the NiO-10YSZ anode supports has been proposed. The mass content of 10YSZ and the number of layers were shown to affect the surface microstructure and the thickness of the thin-film electrolytes deposited on the surface of the anode supports. The hybrid inkjet 3D printing offers great opportunities as it allows a one-pot procedure to fabricate a NiO-10YSZ/10YSZ SOFC half-cell for SOFC anode supports.

Automatic exposure control method for 3D shape measurement of specular surface based on digital fringe projection

Digital fringe projection (DFP) is widely applied in three-dimensional (3D) shape measurements. However, its performance is severely disturbed while measuring complex surfaces with an extensive range of reflectivity. In this paper, to enhance the underexposed regions and reduce the saturated regions, an automatic and effective method is proposed for the multi-exposure determination of the DFP system. During the whole process, only one unsaturated image must be captured preliminarily, which could establish an adaptive strategy based on the intensity value distribution function. Raw absolute phase maps captured with different exposure times are synthesized at the pixel level for phase retrieval and 3D reconstruction. To evaluate the effectiveness of our method, a high dynamic range method and a global optimal exposure method are introduced for comparison. Verification experiments demonstrate that our method performs better for the 3D reconstruction results of complex surfaces with a large reflectivity range.

Expression of the Hepatitis C Virus core-NS3 Fusion Protein on the Surface of Bacterial Ghosts: Prospects for Vaccine Production.

Antigen presentation using bacterial surface display systems, on one hand, has the benefits of bacterial carriers, including low-cost production and ease of manipulation. On the other hand, the bacteria can help in stimulating the immune system as an adjuvant. For example, using bacterial surface display technology, we developed a hepatitis C virus (HCV) multiple antigens displaying bacteria's surface and then turned it into a bacterial ghost. The HCV core and NS3 proteins' conserved epitopes were cloned into the AIDA gene plasmid as an auto transporter. The recombinant plasmid was then transformed into Escherichia coli (E. coli) Bl21 (DE3). Recombinant bacteria were then turned into a bacterial ghost, an empty cell envelope. Whole-cell ELISA, flow cytometry, and Western blot techniques were used for monitoring the expression of proteins on the surface of bacteria. A fusion protein of HCV core-NS3-AIDA was successfully expressed on the E. coli Bl21 (DE3) surface and confirmed by western blotting, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and flow cytometry detection techniques. The presence of HCV antigens on non-pathogen bacteria surfaces holds promise for developing safe and cost-benefit-accessible vaccines with optimal intrinsic adjuvant effects and exposure of heterologous antigens to the immune system.