Single Plane Research Articles

Live Cell Imaging of Yeast Golgi Dynamics.

Fluorescence imaging of live cells allows for theobservation of dynamic processes inside cells in real time. Here we describe a strategy to image clathrin-coated vesicle dynamics in a single focal plane at the trans-Golgi network of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This method can be readily adapted for live cell imaging of adiverseset of dynamic processes within cells.

Senses in Visual Arts as a Prism for Philosophy and Through the Prism of Philosophy

The aim of this paper is to show how a sensory approach to visual arts can be relevant for philosophy and how this prism, once brought to philosophy, can give insights on art in return. I will try to demonstrate that the difference between modernity’s two main schools of thought (namely, materialism and idealism) can be understood – thanks to the model of painting as an allegory of the world – as an exclusive preference for one sense: touch for materialism and sight for idealism. Much as the two schools differ, both consider the painting (or the world) a finite picture, whose elements can be juxtaposed in a single homogeneous plane of knowledge devoid of any opacity. This leads to separate both vision and the mind from the body and from the world. As a result, sight and touch end up dissociated. That is why, to challenge this modern paradigm and renew with a holistic relationship to the world and to ourselves, philosophers and artists propose a shift towards a synaesthetic approach to painting. Such an approach will uncover a modality of being where the body, the subject, and the world, as well as sight and touch, can be reunited. Thus, I will show that Merleau-Ponty’s ontology of the flesh – that echoes through the paintings of artists who attempt to break free from the frame and engage the observer with all his senses and being, such as Racławice Panorama, Malevich, El Lissitzky, Cézanne or the Navajos’ sand paintings – can offer, thanks to a synaesthetic approach, both a new framework for philosophy and a new understanding of visual arts.

Manipulation of Longitudinally Inhomogeneous Polarization States Empowered by All‐Silicon Metasurfaces

AbstractPolarization plays a key role in fundamental science, and manipulating the evolutionary trends of longitudinal polarization states can provide new implements for light–matter interaction. However, existing 3D optical devices can only manipulate the polarization conversion in a single transverse plane. Recently, methods to control polarization by cascading bulky optical systems are miniaturized using metasurfaces. Nevertheless, it is quite challenging to generate focused beams with vectorial properties for metasurfaces carrying inhomogeneous polarization profiles. Here, a single‐layer all‐silicon metasurface operating in the terahertz (THz) band is demonstrated to address all those aforementioned challenges in one go, and pencil‐like beams with inhomogeneous polarization profiles can be imparted along the propagation direction. The introduction of a latitudinal polarization control factor representing the initial phase difference enables near‐even manipulation of the evolutionary trend of the longitudinal polarization state according to the extended focal depth. By manipulating the topological charges within two orthogonal circularly polarized channels to accomplish coherent superposition, a focused vortex beam with vectorial properties can be generated in desired planes. Two functional demonstrations based on this approach are established experimentally, offering promising opportunities for structured light on meta‐optics.

Orientation control strategies and adaptation to a visuomotor perturbation in rotational hand movements.

Computational approaches to biological motor control are used to discover the building blocks of human motor behaviour. Models explaining features of human hand movements have been studied thoroughly, yet only a few studies attempted to explain the control of the orientation of the hand; instead, they mainly focus on the control of hand translation, predominantly in a single plane. In this study, we present a new methodology to study the way humans control the orientation of their hands in three dimensions and demonstrate it in two sequential experiments. We developed a quaternion-based score that quantifies the geodicity of rotational hand movements and evaluated it experimentally. In the first experiment, participants performed a simple orientation-matching task with a robotic manipulator. We found that rotations are generally performed by following a geodesic in the quaternion hypersphere, which suggests that, similarly to translation, the orientation of the hand is centrally controlled, possibly by optimizing geometrical properties of the hand's rotation. This result established a baseline for the study of human response to perturbed visual feedback of the orientation of the hand. In the second experiment, we developed a novel visuomotor rotation task in which the rotation is applied on the hand's rotation, and studied the adaptation of participants to this rotation, and the transfer of the adaptation to a different initial orientation. We observed partial adaptation to the rotation. The patterns of the transfer of the adaptation to a different initial orientation were consistent with the representation of the orientation in extrinsic coordinates. The methodology that we developed allows for studying the control of a rigid body without reducing the dimensionality of the task. The results of the two experiments open questions for future studies regarding the mechanisms underlying the central control of hand orientation. These results can be of benefit for many applications that involve fine manipulation of rigid bodies, such as teleoperation and neurorehabilitation.

Clinical study on the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with single plane screw percutaneous internal fixation.

The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical effect of single plane screw percutaneous internal fixation in the treatment of simple thoracolumbar fractures. The subjects of this study were 84 patients with simple thoracolumbar fractures treated in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2020. The patients were grouped by different treatment methods (42 cases in each group). The single plane group was treated by percutaneous single plane screw internal fixation and the universal group was treated with percutaneous universal screw. The surgery completion status and the incidence of complications were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) of the two groups were recorded before the surgery, 3 days after the surgery, and 7 days after the surgery. The anterior edge height ratio of the fractured vertebra and the kyphotic Cobb angle were marked before the surgery, immediately after the operation, and at the last follow-up. Difference between groups in surgery time, blood loss and hospital stay was not statistically significant (p>0.05); the single plane group had a substantially lower incidence of complications than the universal group (p<0.05). At the last follow-up, the single plane group had greatly higher anterior edge height ratio of the injured vertebra than the universal group, while kyphotic Cobb angle was greatly higher in the universal group (p<0.05). Both single plane screw and universal screw percutaneous internal fixation were feasible for the treatment of simple thoracolumbar fractures, but single plane screw showed better vertebral height recovery and kyphosis correction effect, which could reduce postoperative correction loss.

Directional growth of quasi-2D Cu2O monocrystals on rGO membranes in aqueous environments.

The preparation technology of unconventional low-dimensional Cu2O monocrystals, which exhibit specific crystal planes and present significantly unique interfacial and physicochemical properties, is attracting increasing attention and interest. Herein, by integrating a high-temperature oxidation process under vacuum and a pure-water incubation process under ambient conditions, we propose the self-assembled growth and synthesis of quasi-two-dimensional Cu2O monocrystals on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) membranes. The prepared Cu2O crystals have a single (110) crystal plane, regular rectangular morphology, and potentially well conductivity. Experimental and theoretical results suggest that this assembly is attributed to the pre-nucleation clusters aggregation and directional attachment of Cu and O on the rGO membranes in aqueous environment and cation-π interactions between the (110) crystal plane of Cu2O and rGO surface. Our findings offer a potential avenue for the discovery and design of advanced low-dimensional single-crystal materials with specific interfacial properties in a pure aqueous environment.

Grouping behavior in a Triassic marine apex predator

Marine tetrapods occupy important roles in modern marine ecosystems and often gather in large aggregations driven by patchy prey distribution,1,2 social or reproductive behaviors,3,4 or oceanographic factors.5 Here, we show that similar grouping behaviors evolved in an early marine tetrapod lineage, documented by dozens of specimens of the giant ichthyosaur Shonisaurus in the Luning Formation in West Union Canyon, Nevada, USA.6,7 A concentration of at least seven skeletons closely preserved on a single bedding plane received the bulk of previous attention. However, many more specimens are preserved across ∼106 square meters and ∼200 stratigraphic meters of outcrop representing an estimated >105-6 years. Unlike other marine-tetrapod-rich deposits, this assemblage is essentially monotaxic; other vertebrate fossils are exceptionally scarce. Large individuals are disproportionately abundant, with the exception of multiple neonatal or embryonic specimens, indicating an unusual demographic composition apparently lacking intermediate-sized juveniles or subadults. Combined with geological evidence, our data suggest that dense aggregations of Shonisaurus inhabited this moderately deep, low-diversity, tropical marine environment for millennia during the latest Carnian Stage of the Late Triassic Period (237-227 Ma). Thus, philopatric grouping behavior in marine tetrapods, potentially linked to reproductive activity, has an antiquity of at least 230 million years.

Mechanical Performance Analysis of Cable-Girder Anchorage Zone Structure Based on Hybrid Element Method

The finite element model of a partially cable-stayed bridge with a central single cable plane corrugated steel web composite box girder is established by the hybrid element method combined with the solid finite element model and spatial grid model, and the mechanical properties of cable-girder anchorage zone structure under cable forces are calculated and analyzed in this paper. The refined model of the steel anchor box structure was established, and the stress distribution of each component of the steel anchor box under cable force was calculated and analyzed. By calculating the resultant force of the cable direction in the junction area of each component, the ratio of the cable force transmitted by each component of the steel anchor box is obtained. The results show that the stress distribution of each component of the steel anchor box is uniform under the action of cable force, and the stress level of the shear plate and the steel guide beam is higher. It is an important component to transfer the cable force and should be the focus and research object in the cable beam anchorage structure.

Failure strength and fracture characteristics of rock with discontinuity under indirect tension

Large-scale discontinuities can significantly affect the mechanical properties of rock masses. However, the tensile behavior of rock discontinuities is often less investigated. To study the statistical characteristics of failure strength and fracture characteristics of rock discontinuities, Brazilian disc tests were conducted on limestone specimens with a single natural discontinuity at different load-discontinuity angles ( β ). In this study, β = 0 ° and β = 90 ° correspond to the discontinuity parallel and perpendicular to loading direction, respectively. The results show that Brazilian failure strength (BFS) can reasonably represent the tensile strength of rock with discontinuities, by comparing the BFS and tensile stress in the disc center at peak force. The two-parameter Weibull distribution can capture the statistical BFS characteristics of rock discontinuities parallel to loading direction ( β = 0 ° ) and at different load-discontinuity angles ( β ≠ 0 ° ). All specimens with discontinuity at different load-discontinuity angles show more plastic deformational behaviour than intact rock specimen. With increasing β , the mean BFS of limestone with discontinuity increases before reaching a plateau at β = 45 ° . The single plane of weakness theory best explains the BFS of fractured limestone with β . Only a specific segment of pre-existing rock discontinuity could affect the fracture process. When β = 0 ° , interfacial cracks and alternative cracks formed. When β ≠ 0 ° , mixed failure mode with shear and tensile failure occurred, particularly when β = 30 ° and β = 60 ° . The findings can contribute to better understanding the failure and fracture characteristics of rock with discontinuities, particularly the interaction of pre-existing discontinuities with stress-induced fracturing.

Single Plane Illumination Microscopy for Microfluidic Device Imaging

Three-dimensional imaging of live processes at a cellular level is a challenging task. It requires high-speed acquisition capabilities, low phototoxicity, and low mechanical disturbances. Three-dimensional imaging in microfluidic devices poses additional challenges as a deep penetration of the light source is required, along with a stationary setting, so the flows are not perturbed. Different types of fluorescence microscopy techniques have been used to address these limitations; particularly, confocal microscopy and light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM). This manuscript proposes a novel architecture of a type of LSFM, single-plane illumination microscopy (SPIM). This custom-made microscope includes two mirror galvanometers to scan the sample vertically and reduce shadowing artifacts while avoiding unnecessary movement. In addition, two electro-tunable lenses fine-tune the focus position and reduce the scattering caused by the microfluidic devices. The microscope has been fully set up and characterized, achieving a resolution of 1.50 μm in the x-y plane and 7.93 μm in the z-direction. The proposed architecture has risen to the challenges posed when imaging microfluidic devices and live processes, as it can successfully acquire 3D volumetric images together with time-lapse recordings, and it is thus a suitable microscopic technique for live tracking miniaturized tissue and disease models.

Explicit Analytic Solutions for the Subsurface Stress Field in Single Plane Contacts of Elastically Similar Truncated Cylinders or Wedges

As has been pointed out recently, a possible solution strategy to the wear–fatigue dilemma in fretting, operating on the level of contact mechanics and profile geometries, can be the introduction of “soft” sharp edges to the contact profiles, for example, by truncating an originally smooth profile. In that regard, analysis of possible mechanical failure of a structure, due to the contact interaction, requires the knowledge of the full subsurface stress state resulting from the contact loading. In the present manuscript, a closed-form exact solution for the subsurface stress state is given for the frictional contact of elastically similar truncated cylinders or wedges, within the framework of the half-plane approximation and a local-global Amontons–Coulomb friction law. Moreover, a fast and robust semi-analytical method, based on the appropriate superposition of solutions for parabolic contact, is proposed for the determination of the subsurface stress fields in frictional plane contacts with more complex profile geometries, and compared with the exact solution. Based on the analytical solution, periodic tangential loading of a truncated cylinder is considered in detail, and important scalar characteristics of the stress state, like the von-Mises equivalent stress, maximum shear stress, and the largest principal stress, are determined. Positive (i.e., tensile) principal stresses only exist in the vicinity of the contact edge, away from the pressure singularity at the edge of the profile, and away from the maxima of the von-Mises equivalent stress, or the maximum shear stress. Therefore, the fretting contact should not be prone to fatigue crack initiation.

Planar Panels and Planar Supporting Beams in Architectural Structures

In this article, we investigate geometric properties and modeling capabilities of quad meshes with planar faces whose mesh polylines enjoy the additional property of being contained in a single plane. This planarity is a major benefit in architectural design and building construction: If a structural element is contained in a plane, it can be manufactured on the ground without scaffolding and put into place as a whole. Further, the plane it is contained in serves as part of a so-called support structure. We discuss design of meshes under the requirement that one half of mesh polylines are planar (“P meshes”), and we also investigate the geometry and design of meshes where all polylines enjoy this property (“PP meshes”). We work in the space of planes and with appropriate transformations of that space. We also incorporate further properties relevant for architectural design, such as near-rectangular panels and repetitive nodes. We provide geometric insights, give explicit constructions, and show an approach to geometric modeling of both P meshes and PP meshes, in particular, the case of nearly rectangular panels.

A New Method for Finding the Shape of the Main Cable in the Special Cable Plane

The main cable and suspender of the spatial special-shaped suspension bridge are in the state of spatial stress; the structural stress is more complex than that of the parallel cable plane and finding the shape of the main cable of the spatial special-shaped cable plane is more difficult. In order to solve the problem of finding the shape of the main cable of the special-shaped suspension bridge, a new calculation model and algorithm of the main cable are proposed in this paper. The new calculation model adds constraints on the transverse bridge direction coordinates of the midspan on the basis of the original calculation model. The new calculation model can timely correct the calculation errors in all directions of the control node during the main cable shape finding process and improve the calculation accuracy. The new algorithm is a hybrid algorithm. The algorithm first uses the modified quantum genetic algorithm to solve and calculate the cable end force close to the real value, and then uses the cable end force obtained by the modified quantum genetic algorithm as the initial value to iterate through the modified least squares method. In this paper, a single cable plane curved suspension bridge is taken as the research background, and the differences of different calculation models in the shape-finding calculation of the main cable of the spatial special-shaped cable plane are compared. The results show that the proposed model is more stable in the calculation process, and the proposed algorithm has high accuracy and strong adaptability.

Interface Superconductivity in a Dirac Semimetal NiTe2.

We experimentally investigated charge transport through a single planar junction between a NiTe2 Dirac semimetal and a normal gold lead. At milli-Kelvin temperatures, we observe non-Ohmic dV/dI(V) behavior resembling Andreev reflection at a superconductor-normal metal interface, while NiTe2 bulk remains non-superconducting. The conclusion on superconductivity is also supported by the suppression of the effect by temperature and magnetic field. In analogy with the known results for Cd3As2 Dirac semimetal, we connect this behavior with interfacial superconductivity due to the flat-band formation at the Au-NiTe2 interface. Since the flat-band and topological surface states are closely connected, the claim on the flat-band-induced superconductivity is also supported by the Josephson current through the topological surface states on the pristine NiTe2 surface. We demonstrate the pronounced Josephson diode effect, which results from the momentum shift of the topological surface states of NiTe2 under an in-plane magnetic field.

Cultivation and Imaging of S. latissima Embryo Monolayered Cell Sheets Inside Microfluidic Devices.

The culturing and investigation of individual marine specimens in lab environments is crucial to further our understanding of this highly complex ecosystem. However, the obtained results and their relevance are often limited by a lack of suitable experimental setups enabling controlled specimen growth in a natural environment while allowing for precise monitoring and in-depth observations. In this work, we explore the viability of a microfluidic device for the investigation of the growth of the alga Saccharina latissima to enable high-resolution imaging by confining the samples, which usually grow in 3D, to a single 2D plane. We evaluate the specimen's health based on various factors such as its growth rate, cell shape, and major developmental steps with regard to the device's operating parameters and flow conditions before demonstrating its compatibility with state-of-the-art microscopy imaging technologies such as the skeletonisation of the specimen through calcofluor white-based vital staining of its cell contours as well as the immunolocalisation of the specimen's cell wall. Furthermore, by making use of the on-chip characterisation capabilities, we investigate the influence of altered environmental illuminations on the embryonic development using blue and red light. Finally, live tracking of fluorescent microspheres deposited on the surface of the embryo permits the quantitative characterisation of growth at various locations of the organism.

Theme and Variation: Structuring Thrombus Formation from Jugular/Arterial Puncture Wounds to Occlusive Clots in a Mouse Model

Hemostasis in veins and arteries has been assumed to be different processes, e.g., white vs. red clots. We took the unbiased experimental approaches of 3D EM across full clot volumes and high-resolution heat mapping of platelet activation state to probe for commonalities and variations using controlled mouse models. Remarkably, the thrombi formed, 5 min post-puncture, in the jugular vein and femoral artery showed considerable consistency in organization. There were vaulted cavities within the puncture wound and apparent extravascular capping of the puncture hole to produce bleeding cessation. Notable differences in the venous thrombi were a greater activation of platelets lining the surfaces of the vaulted columns, an outcome that we attribute to lowr flow rates resulting in the longer retention of activating signals, and in the "hanging drop” nature of the arterial thrombi anchored to the extrema with an outward, extravascular bulge of the thrombus. We attribute these variations to arterial vessel wall properties and higher flow rates. At 20 min post-puncture, the intravascular crown of the venous wound thrombi was enriched in loosely adherent platelets in a low activation state. Similarly, the outer portion of the intravascular arterial thrombus was rich in low activation platelets including obviously discoid platelets. Strikingly, the arterial thrombus was subject to rebleeding and ate 20 min displayed fractured extravascular features indicative of an unstable clot. The puncture wound thrombi form in the relatively small volume of the immediate wound site. In contrast, occlusive clots fill the cylindrical volume of the vessel. To us, the overall structure of the wound thrombi suggested a predictive hypothesis for induced occlusive clotting. We propose that 1) the exposed intima lining the arterial vessel wall provides a cylindrical substratum for the generation of a tightly adherent platelet layer anchoring the forming clot and 2) the central volume of the clot resembles the intravascular crown of the puncture wound thrombus. Hence, the prediction of a central volume of the occlusive clot consisting of loosely adherent to discoid shaped platelets. That was result found for FeCl3 induced femoral clots by wide area-TEM (WA-TEM) i.e., a central volume rich in discoid shaped platelet and few red blood cells were trapped in the tightly adherent rim of the clot.. Using sequential block face SEM, we have begun to image and volume render carotid clots by sequential block face SEM. Analysis of 5,000 sequential images from the downstream half of the carotid clot, showed that the structure gradually tapered in a conical manner and contains few red blood cells. We propose that there are indeed organizational themes shared by the puncture wound thrombus in venous or arterial settings and the occlusive clot in which vascular damage is restricted to the endothelial cell layer. Work was supported by NIH grants (BS) R01 HL155519 and P20 HL146373 (Joel Bennett, principal investigator), R35 HL150118 (SWW) and by intramural NIBIB research program (RDL). An occlusive FeCl3 clot in the carotid artery of a C57BL/6 mouse imaged by sequential block face SEM over a length of 1.2 millimeters.A. cross section of the clot 200 microns in from the mid-occlusion starting point for sectioning. B. Zoom of A) to illustrate the low level of trapped red blood cells within the clot. C. cross section of the clot 900 microns in from the starting point showing how the clot has now tapered down and fills a minor portion of the artery. D. Rendering of 1.2 millimeters of the clot (blue), vessel wall (green) and in gray a single plane image. Flow was from left to right. Note that the clot progressively tapers to a point in the downstream direction.Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

High Sensitivity Planar Hall Effect Magnetic Field Gradiometer for Measurements in Millimeter Scale Environments.

We report a specially designed magnetic field gradiometer based on a single elliptical planar Hall effect (PHE) sensor, which allows measuring magnetic field at nine different positions in a 4 mm length scale. The gradiometer detects magnetic field gradients with equivalent gradient magnetic noises of ∼958, ∼192, ∼51, and ∼26 nT/m√ Hz (pT/mm√Hz) at 0.1, 1, 10, and 50 Hz, respectively. The performance of the gradiometer is tested in ambient conditions by measuring the field gradient induced by electric currents driven in a long straight wire. This gradiometer is expected to be highly useful for the measurement of magnetic field gradients in confined areas for its small footprint, low noise, scalability, simple design, and low costs.

Intravoxel Incoherent Motion MRI and PET in Locally Advanced Cervical Carcinoma Undergoing Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) CT or MRI and FDG PET have been used to evaluate the impact of tumor perfusion and metabolism on the course and effectiveness of concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) for cervical cancer. Combining perfusion and metabolic measures allows better identification of radioresistant sub-volumes: however, use of contrast and additional dose are barriers to frequent dual perfusion-metabolic imaging. Here, we investigated a contrast-free, non-ionizing alternative to DCE: intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI which provides both perfusion and diffusion measurements. Our objective was to evaluate changes of PET and IVIM parameters in cervical cancer patients before and during CCRT and to correlate these parameters and their changes with tumor volume response during CCRT. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> Pre- and on-treatment IVIM scans were performed on 15 cervical cancer patients undergoing definitive chemoradiation (median [range] age: 66 [29 to 85]; FIGO: 1 IB1, 1 IIA, 3 IIB, 1 IIIB, 1 IIIC, 5 IIIC1, 2 IIIC2, 1 IVA; hist: 11 squamous cell carcinoma, 3 endocervical adenocarcinoma, 1 large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma), of whom 14 also underwent pre-treatment PET scans. The on-treatment MRI occurred generally during the last week or shortly after completing EBRT. Diffusion weighted images (DWIs) were acquired at 3T scanners using a free-breathing single shot spin echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence. IVIM MRI maps were generated by Bayesian fitting of a two-compartment IVIM model to the DWIs. Three-dimensional co-registered maps of PET standardized uptake value (SUV) and IVIM diffusion coefficient (D), perfusion fraction (f), and pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*) were generated. Summary statistics (mean +/- standard deviation) for these and other imaging parameters were calculated pre- and on-treatment. Univariate analysis was performed to determine relationships between relative change in gross tumor volume (ΔGTV) and pre-treatment imaging measurements. <h3>Results</h3> In tumors, pre- versus on-treatment values significantly changed for the following parameters: ΔGTV (66.8 +/- 43.2 vs. 32.0+/-23.0 ml, p<.001) and D (0.00109 +/- 0.00023 vs. 0.00120 +/- 0.00026 mm²/s, p=.02). The perfusion fraction f increased and D* decreased, but not significantly (f: 0.127 +/- 0.022 vs. 0.154 +/- 0.057 %, p=.07, D*: 0.0137 +/- 0.0035 vs. 0.0133 +/- 0.0039 mm²/s, p=.6). Pre-treatment SUV_max (r=.76, p=.002) and SUV_mean (r=.70, p=.007) were positively related with ΔGTV, while pre-treatment f, D*, and D were negatively but not significantly related with ΔGTV (r=-.44, p=.1; D*: r=-.14, p=.6; D: r=-.12, p=.7). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Both perfusion fraction and diffusion coefficient IVIM increased in locally advanced cervical carcinoma patients undergoing CCRT – reflecting changes in the tumor microenvironment during treatment. These weak relationships observed here suggest a potential complementary role and motivating the combined use of these modalities for tumor characterization.

Friday, June 17, 20224:00 PM - 5:00 PM MSPP01 Presentation Time: 4:00 PM: A Feasibility Study on Utilizing Cadaveric Models at a Network of Brachytherapy Research and Training Centers to Encourage Development and Widespread Use of Novel Robotic Bladder Cancer Brachytherapy Techniques

<h3>Purpose</h3> This feasibility study outlines a proof-of-concept model – the Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education (MITIE) – for the use of cadaveric models at research centers to encourage development and training of novel robotic brachytherapy techniques, thereby expediting the incorporation of brachytherapy into the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). <h3>Materials and Methods</h3> Catheter insertion sites were marked on a male cadaver, and the da Vinci Surgical System(R) (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) was docked. A modified catheter-needle system was assembled since pre-assembled bladder-specific catheter-needle systems are not compatible with all brachytherapy afterloaders. Closed-end catheters were inserted into 17-gauge curved needles. The first catheter was placed into the right lateral hypogastric abdominal wall, through the bladder dome wall, and out the opposing side. A single plane implant was completed with 1 cm spacing with the two other catheters (Figure 1a). Catheters were secured with nylon retaining buttons (Figure 1b). A CT simulation scan confirmed placement and a plan was developed for simulated brachytherapy delivery (Figure 1c). <h3>Results</h3> Cadaveric models enable physicians to develop new brachytherapy procedures in a controlled and simulated surgical environment without affecting operative time. Physicians can gain familiarity with the procedure and practice alterations to surgical equipment, including the catheter-needle system, which may prevent complications peri- and postoperatively. The proof-of-concept trial in MITIE shows how research and training centers can serve as incubators for the development of brachytherapy techniques. With a network of these centers, experts across the country can collaborate to test new techniques on cadaveric models and accelerate developments in bladder brachytherapy. This network would provide training opportunities for physicians, especially residents, which can familiarize physicians with brachytherapy techniques, promoting their use and providing clinical data to support these techniques as a new standard of care. Currently, institutes like MITIE are limited in number, necessitating travel and coordination of attending and resident physicians' schedules. Although an expanded network of these institutes would alleviate this issue, these training centers are associated with high operating costs, including the acquisition costs and high turnover rate required of cadaveric training models. Therefore, cost may impede scalability and must be considered alongside the benefits of establishing a widespread network of research and training programs for brachytherapy. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Robotic brachytherapy is a rarely utilized, minimally invasive treatment modality for MIBC. Innovation-focused facilities with cadaveric models can provide simulated surgical environments for the research, development, and training of robotic brachytherapy techniques and applicators, accelerating the acceptance of brachytherapy as the standard of care for MIBC.

Superfast and large-depth-range sinusoidal fringe generation for multi-dimensional information sensing

Among many multi-dimensional information sensing methods such as structured-light and single-pixel imaging technologies, sinusoidal fringe generation is general and crucial. Current methods of sinusoidal fringe generation force concessions in either the speed or the depth range. To mitigate this trade-off, we have simultaneously achieved both speed breakthrough and depth range enhancement by improving both the optical projection system and binary coding algorithm based on an off-the-shelf projector. Specifically, we propose a multifocal projection system and oblique projection method, which essentially eliminates the existence of a single focal plane in the conventional axisymmetric system and utilizes its anisotropy characteristics to achieve a superior filtering effect. Furthermore, the optimal pulse width modulation technique is introduced to modulate the square binary pattern for eliminating specific harmonics. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed method, for the first time, simultaneously achieved superfast (9524 frames per second) and large-depth-range (560 mm, about three times that of the conventional method) sinusoidal fringe generation with consistently high accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method in multi-dimensional information sensing such as 3D, 4D, and [ x , y , z , t ; s (strain)].