Target Angle Research Articles

Smartphone-based navigation system enables low-volume surgeons to perform accurate acetabular cup placement: A single-center retrospective study

PurposeUsing navigation systems during total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been reported to be useful for preventing acetabular cup malpositioning. However, only few studies have reported on the application of navigation systems to THA at low-volume hospitals owing to cost and usage complexity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether smartphone-based portable navigation using augmented reality technology would enable low-volume surgeons to perform acetabular cup placement more accurately than with the conventional manual technique. MethodsWe retrospectively compared acetabular cup placement between the navigation (n ​= ​28) and conventional (n ​= ​24) groups. The acetabular cup inclination and anteversion angles were measured using computed tomography (CT)-based planning software. Furthermore, the absolute difference between the postoperative and target angles was compared between the groups. ResultsThe absolute difference between the postoperative and target angles of cup inclination was 2.6° ​± ​2.3° in the navigation group and 5.6° ​± ​5.2° in the conventional group (p ​< ​0.01). Additionally, the cup anteversion was 3.2° ​± ​3.0° in the navigation group and 9.4° ​± ​7.1° in the conventional group (p ​< ​0.01). ConclusionsUsing a smartphone-based portable navigation system could allow for appropriate cup placement even by low-volume surgeons.

Registration in the supine position improve the accuracy of cup placement in total hip arthroplasty using a portable navigation system

Portable navigation systems have been developed for use in total hip arthroplasty (THA) in recent years. Although intraoperative registration in the lateral decubitus position or the supine position is need to create the three-dimensional coordinate system, it is not clear which position is appropriate. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of cup placement in primary THA in the lateral decubitus position using an image-free handheld navigation device with registration in the lateral decubitus or the supine position, and clarify which position is appropriate. This retrospective study included 129 consecutive cementless THAs performed using an image-free handheld navigation device in the lateral decubitus position. Registration in the first 68 hips was performed in the lateral decubitus position and the last 61 hips was performed in the supine position. Postoperative cup radiographic inclination and radiographic anteversion were assessed, and the accuracy was compared between the two groups. The mean absolute errors of the postoperative measured inclination and anteversion from the target angles were 3.9° ± 2.2° and 4.8° ± 3.5° in the lateral group and 2.9° ± 2.7° and 3.2° ± 2.7° in the supine group (p < 0.05). The percentage of cups inside Lewinnek’s safe zone was 94% in the lateral group and 95% in the supine group (ns). The mean absolute values of navigation error in inclination and anteversion were 3.1° ± 2.1° and 4.2° ± 2.8° in the lateral group and 2.3° ± 2.0° and 3.1° ± 2.4° in the supine group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05). Registration in the supine position improved the accuracy of cup insertion compared with the lateral decubitus position in THA using an image-free handheld navigation device in the lateral decubitus position.

A Novel Cooling Design for an Agonistic–Antagonistic SMA Tendon-Driven Actuator

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit a unique property that undergoes deformation in response to temperature variation. This characteristic can be utilized via the application of a filiform SMA wire to tendon-driven robotic actuators for biomimetic joint movements. However, due to the inefficiencies in heat dissipation, conventional SMA tendon-driven actuators are characterized by their lower relaxation speeds than other actuators. This paper proposes a novel cooling design for an SMA tendon-driven actuator using thin-fin heat sinks based on a multi-layer wrapped SMA tendon design. In addition, the electric circuit and the controller are refined. Prototype devices are constructed to validate the performance of SMA-based actuators under PID control. The results indicate that the proposed design exceeds previous models in terms of relaxation performance by up to 5.8 times while also being able to stabilize at a target angle within 0.5 s under control.

A portable reflected-sunlight spectrometer for CO2 and CH4

Abstract. Mapping the greenhouse gases (GHGs) carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) above source regions such as urban areas can deliver insights into the distribution and dynamics of local emission patterns. Here, we present the prototype development and an initial performance evaluation of a portable spectrometer that allows for measuring CO2 and CH4 concentrations integrated along a long (&gt;10 km) horizontal path component through the atmospheric boundary layer above a target region. To this end, the spectrometer is positioned at an elevated site from which it points downward at reflection targets in the region, collecting the reflected sunlight at shallow viewing angles. The path-integrated CO2 and CH4 concentrations are inferred from the absorption fingerprint in the shortwave–infrared (SWIR) spectral range. While mimicking the concept of the stationary California Laboratory for Atmospheric Remote Sensing – Fourier Transform Spectrometer (CLARS-FTS) in Los Angeles, our portable setup requires minimal infrastructure and is straightforward to duplicate and to operate in various locations. For performance evaluation, we deployed the instrument, termed EM27/SCA, side by side with the CLARS-FTS at the Mt. Wilson Observatory (1670 m a.s.l.) above Los Angeles for a 1-month period in April/May 2022. We determined the relative precision of the retrieved slant column densities (SCDs) for urban reflection targets to be 0.36 %–0.55 % for O2, CO2 and CH4, where O2 is relevant for light path estimation. For the partial vertical column (VCD) below instrument level, which is the quantity carrying emission information, the propagated precision errors amount to 0.75 %–2 % for the three gases depending on the distance to the reflection target and solar zenith angle. The comparison to simultaneous CLARS-FTS measurements shows good consistency, but the observed diurnal patterns highlight the need to take light scattering into account to enable detection of emission patterns.

High-Precision DOA Estimation Based on Synthetic Aperture and Sparse Reconstruction.

The direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation is predominantly influenced by the antenna's aperture size. However, space constraints on flight platforms often necessitate the use of antennas with smaller apertures and fewer array elements. This inevitably imposes limitations on the DOA estimation's resolution and degrees of freedom. To address these precision constraints, we introduce an accurate DOA estimation method based on spatial synthetic aperture model. This method adopts a two-stage strategy to ensure both efficiency and precision in DOA estimation. Initially, the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) reconstruction algorithm processes the original aperture data, providing a rough estimate of target angles that guides the aircraft's flight direction. Subsequently, the early estimations merge with the aircraft's motion space samples, forming equivalent spatially synthesized array samples. The refined angle estimation then employs the OMP-RELAX algorithm. Moreover, with the off-grid issue in mind, we devise an estimation method integrating Bayesian parameter estimation with dictionary sequence refinement. The proposed technique harnesses the spatial synthetic aperture for pinpoint estimation, effectively addressing the challenges of atomic orthogonality and angular off-grid on estimation accuracy. Importantly, the efficiency of deploying sparse reconstruction for angle estimation is bolstered by our phased strategy, eliminating the necessity for fine grid analysis across the entire observation scene. Moreover, the poor estimation accuracy caused by coherent source targets and angular-flickering targets is improved by sparse reconstruction. Through simulation and experiment, we affirm the proposed method's efficacy in angle estimation. The results indicate that target angle estimation errors are limited to within 1°. Furthermore, we assess the impact of variables such as target state, heading angle, spatial sampling points, and target distance on the estimation accuracy of our method, showcasing its resilience and adaptability.

A Simple and Versatile Concept to Improve Dynamic Range and Enable Target Angle Adaptability in Radar Target Simulators

A Simple and Versatile Concept to Improve Dynamic Range and Enable Target Angle Adaptability in Radar Target Simulators

Increased accuracy in component positioning using an image-less robotic arm system in primary total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective study.

Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RTKA) and navigated total knee arthroplasty (NTKA) have shown improved knee alignment and reduced radiographic outliers. Recent studies have proven that conventional mechanical alignment may not be the optimal goal for every patient. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of the planned implant positioning of a novel image-less robotic technique with an established navigated technique (NTKA). The study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data that compared the implant positioning and lower-limb alignment of 86 image-less RTKA with 86 image-less NTKA. Radiographic analysis was performed to evaluate the lower-limb overall alignment, femoral and tibial components positioning in the coronal and sagittal planes. Outliers were evaluated with a cutoff of ± 3°. No difference was noted between the two groups for radiographic outliers within ± 3° from neutral (p = 0.098). The mean hip-knee-ankle angle deviation from target was 1.3° in the RTKA group compared to 1.9° in the NTKA (p < 0.001). Femoral sagittal deviation (femoral component flexion) was smaller in the RTKA group (0.9° vs 1.9°; p < 0.001). Similarly, tibial coronal deviation (0.8° vs 1.5°; p < 0.001) and tibial sagittal deviation (tibial slope) were smaller in the RTKA group compared to the NTKA group (0.9° vs 1.7°; p < 0.001). The RTKA group reported a substantial and significant reduced error from the planned target angles for both tibial and femoral components. No difference in terms of radiographic outliers was noted between navigation and robotic assistance.

Eye of the Carpenter: How Well do Orthopaedic Surgeons Estimate Angular Measurements in Derotational Osteotomies?

Femoral derotational osteotomies are used by orthopaedic surgeons to decrease version in a variety of pathologies. Intraoperatively, the goal of the surgery is to decrease the rotation of the femur to within physiological range. Surgeons generally visually estimate the angle of correction based on bone markers at the rotating cylindrical portion of the femur. This study sought first to assess the accuracy and inter-rater reliability of surgeons with respect to angle creation, and then to implement a training intervention. A rotational femur model was constructed and tested among surgeons and nonsurgeons. Surgeons were then randomized into an experimental and control cohort with training on the model as the intervention. Subjects were asked to create target angles of 15, 30, 45, and 60 degrees using only Kirschner wires and then only bone marks for reference. Independent and paired t -tests were performed to determine variability between cohorts. The mean angle creation error and range of the surgeon cohort were significantly lower than those of the nonsurgeon cohort. Within the nonsurgeon cohort, the mean angle creation error and range of the wire modality were significantly lower than that of the mark modality. The mean angle creation error and range of the trained cohort were significantly lower than the untrained cohort. The considerable inter-subject range within the surgeon cohort highlights a need for the reinforcement of basic geometric principles within orthopaedic instruction. This model allows for immediate, accurate feedback on angle creation, and training appears to be both time and cost-effective. The physiological range allows for a level of variability between surgical outcomes without consequence. However, the more than 20 degree range determined by this study does not fall within those bounds and should be addressed. Moving forward, rotational estimation as a surgical skill should increase in prominence within orthopaedic instruction to maximize future joint health, and additional emphasis should be placed on fundamental spatial orientation during training.

Composite control of anti-drone platform for stable tracking under disturbance.

First, focused on the complex problem that a U-shaped tracking frame is unreachable to obtain the pointing angles of an unmanned aerial vehicle target, a novel coordinate transformation method is proposed in this paper. The fixed transformation relationship between the intermediate links is deduced by establishing a unified coordinate system, simplifying the algorithm conversion process, and saving computing resources and time. Furthermore, the accuracy of the proposed method has been verified in both aspects of theory and experiment. Then, in order to achieve smooth motion performance between target pointing strategy and stable tracking strategy, a mode switching method based on hysteresis intervals is developed. Compared with the traditional single-point threshold method, the switching method overcomes the high frequency jitter problem. The experimental results validate the consistency between practical effects and theoretical expectations. Finally, to improve the disturbance rejection performance of the platform, a composite control method integrating the information from the gyroscope and circular grating is proposed. The corresponding control scheme and the compensation principle are conceived and explained. The experimental results show the anti-interference performance of the proposed composite control method is five times that of the closed-loop method based on the gyroscope speed signal and two times that of the disturbance observer control method.

Multiobservation-Based Closely Spaced Extended Target Angle Estimation Method

Multiobservation-Based Closely Spaced Extended Target Angle Estimation Method

DOA Estimation of Multiple Coherent Targets Using Weight Vector Orthogonal Decomposition in TDM-MIMO HF-Radar

In recent years, MIMO high-frequency surface wave radar (MIMO-HFSWR) plays an increasingly important role in sea surveillance because of its wide-area surveillance capabilities. In signal processing, the coherent targets with the same distance and speed can only be distinguished in the angle dimension. However, HF radar’s angular resolution is poor because of the restrictions of the aperture, which causes aliasing of targets on the range–angle (RA) spectrum. Traditional super-resolution algorithms, such as MUSIC, are also inapplicable because of the targets’ coherence. Therefore, the spatial smoothing algorithm is usually used to realize the decoherence of echo at the cost of array aperture. The loss of array aperture makes the algorithm fail when there are too many targets in the echo. Aiming at this problem, this paper proposes an iterative calculation method (iterative calculation via weight vector orthogonal decomposition, IC-WORD) to estimate the angle of multiple coherent targets. Through the verification of simulation, it is proved that IC-WORD has better performance than the traditional spatial smoothing algorithm. More specifically, IC-WORD can correct spectral peak shift, improve angle measurement accuracy, and still operate stably under the condition of multiple coherent targets. This paper also uses the measured data from one of the most advanced HFSWR stations in China to validate the algorithm, which makes the paper have strong practical significance.

Survey of Surgical Management in Intermittent Exotropia

Purpose: To obtain an overview of the surgical practices for the management of intermittent exotropia among experienced surgeons.Methods: We conducted a survey of members of the Korean Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, who had experience of &gt; 15 years in strabismus surgery, via e-mail. Surgical methods for basic-type intermittent exotropia, angle of deviation for determining the surgical dose, reasons for surgical dose adjustment, and the postoperative target angle of deviation were analyzed.Results: Bilateral lateral rectus recession was preferred over unilateral recession and resection for basic-type intermittent exotropia with or without a dominant eye. The preoperative maximum angle of deviation was preferred for determining the surgical dose by 56% of the participants. Two-thirds of the participants preferred to reduce the surgical dose in specific circumstances, lateral incomitancy being the most common reason. In case of true divergence excess-type intermittent exotropia, 47.7% of the participants reduced the surgical dose. The most preferred target angle of deviation at 1 day postoperatively was 11-15 prism diopter esodeviation, as reported by 40% of the participants.Conclusions: Although experienced surgeons had different surgical preferences for intermittent exotropia, a general trend was found. This survey may be a useful reference for beginners in strabismus surgery.

Target Tracking from Weak Acoustic Signals in an Underwater Environment Using a Deep Segmentation Network

In submarine warfare systems, passive SONAR is commonly used to detect enemy targets while concealing one’s own submarine. The bearing information of a target obtained from passive SONAR can be accumulated over time and visually represented as a two-dimensional image known as a BTR image. Accurate measurement of bearing–time information is crucial in obtaining precise information on enemy targets. However, due to various underwater environmental noises, signal reception rates are low, which makes it challenging to detect the directional angle of enemy targets from noisy BTR images. In this paper, we propose a deep-learning-based segmentation network for BTR images to improve the accuracy of enemy detection in underwater environments. Specifically, we utilized the spatial convolutional layer to effectively extract target objects. Additionally, we propose novel loss functions for network training to resolve a strong class imbalance problem observed in BTR images. In addition, due to the difficulty of obtaining actual target bearing data as military information, we created a synthesized BTR dataset that simulates various underwater scenarios. We conducted comprehensive experiments and related discussions using our synthesized BTR dataset, which demonstrate that the proposed network provides superior target segmentation performance compared to state-of-the-art methods.

Design Optimization of an Ethanol Heavy-Duty Engine Using Design of Experiments and Bayesian Optimization

Abstract Diesel-fueled engines still hold a large market share in the medium and heavy-duty transportation sector. However, the increase in fossil fuel prices and the strict emission regulations are leading engine manufacturers to seek cleaner alternatives without a compromise in performance. Alcohol-based fuels, such as ethanol, offer a promising alternative to diesel fuel in meeting regulatory demands. Ethanol provides cleaner combustion and lower levels of soot due to its chemical properties, in particular its lower level of carbon content. In addition, the stoichiometric operating conditions of alcohol fueled engines enable the mitigation of NOx emissions in aftertreatment stage. With the promise of retrofitting diesel engines to run on ethanol to reduce emissions, the thermal efficiency of these engines remains the primary optimization target. In order to find the optimal ethanol-fueled engine design that maximizes the thermal efficiency, a large design space needs to be investigated using engineering tools. In this study, previous research by the authors on optimizing the design of a single-cylinder ethanol-fueled engine was extended to explore the design space for a heavy-duty multicylinder engine configuration. A heavy-duty engine setup with multiple operating conditions at different engine speeds and loads was considered. A design optimization analysis was performed to identify the potential designs that maximize the indicated thermal efficiency in an ethanol-fueled compression ignition engine. First, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the engine was validated using experimental data for four drive cycle points. Using a design of experiments (DoE) approach and a parameterized piston bowl geometry, the model was then exercised to explore the relationship among geometric features of the piston bowl and spray targeting angle and indicated thermal efficiency across all tested operating conditions. After evaluating 165 candidate designs, a piston bowl geometry was identified that yielded an increase between 1.3% and 2.2% points in indicated thermal efficiency for all tested conditions, while satisfying the operational design constraints for peak pressure and maximum pressure rise rate. The increased performance was attributed to enhance mixing that led to the formation of a more homogeneous distribution of in-cylinder temperature and equivalence ratio, higher combustion temperatures, and shorter combustion duration. Finally, a Bayesian optimization (BOpt) analysis was employed to find the optimal piston bowl geometry with a fixed spray injector angle for one of the operating conditions. Using BOpt, a piston candidate was identified that resulted in a 1.9% point increase in thermal efficiency from the baseline design, yet only required 65% of the design samples investigated using the DoE approach.

Integrated Sensing and Communication for RIS-Assisted Backscatter Systems

To facilitate the development of Internet of Things (IoT) services, future networks are expected to simultaneously provide sensing functionality and support low-power communications. In this paper, we investigate the system sum rate maximization problem in an integrated sensing and RIS backscatter communication system, where the base station (BS) simultaneously detects backscattered signals from multiple IoT devices and senses targets based on the echo signals. We formulate a joint transmit beamforming, RIS phase shifts and receive beamforming design problem under the Cramér-Rao bound (CRB) constraint for target angle estimation. To solve the non-convex problem, we then propose a fractional programming based alternating optimization algorithm. In particular, the fractional programming technique is firstly employed to transform the formulated problem into a more tractable form, and the exact penalty method and manifold optimization are then utilized to address the CRB constraint and constant-modulus constraint, respectively. Numerical results have shown that the proposed design significantly improves the system sum rate and illustrate the trade-off between the communication and sensing performance.

Known-group validity of passive knee joint position sense: a comparison between individuals with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and healthy controls

BackgroundKnee joint position sense (JPS) might be negatively affected after injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Recent systematic reviews suggest further investigation of psychometric properties, including validity, of knee JPS tests following ACL reconstruction (ACLR). This study investigated the known-group validity by comparing knee JPS errors between individuals who underwent unilateral ACLR and healthy controls.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 36 men, including 19 after ACLR (ACLR group) and 17 healthy controls (control group). In both groups, the absolute error (AE), constant error (CE) and variable error (VE) of passive knee JPS were calculated in the flexion and extension directions, for two target angles (30° and 60° flexion) per direction. Discriminative validity was evaluated by comparing JPS errors between the operated and non-operated knees in the ACLR group. Known-group validity was evaluated by comparing JPS errors between the operated knees in the ACLR group and the asymptomatic non-dominant knees of healthy controls.ResultsMean AE, CE and VE for all tests were 4.1°, − 2.3° and 3.6° for the operated knees in the ACLR group, 5.5°, − 2.6° and 3.3° for the non-operated knees in the ACLR group and 4.6°, − 2.6° and 3.3° for the non-dominant knees in the control group, respectively, regardless of the test direction and target angle. The operated knees in the ACLR group did not show significantly greater JPS errors compared to the contralateral knees in the ACLR group and to the non-dominant knees in the control group (p ≥ 0.05). On the other hand, the non-operated knees showed significantly greater AE for the 0°–60° flexion test (p = 0.025) and CE for the 0°–30° flexion test (p = 0.024) than the operated knees in the ACLR group. JPS errors did not significantly differ in the operated knees in the ACLR group based on the direction of movement and the target angle. However, the errors were significantly higher when the knee was moved through a greater range compared to that of a lesser range between the starting and target angles.ConclusionThe ACLR knees did not show greater passive JPS errors than the contralateral or control knees. The direction of movement and target angle did not influence the JPS acuity after ACLR. However, higher JPS errors were evident when the knee was moved through a greater range compared to a lesser range of motion. Further studies investigating the psychometric properties of standardized JPS tests following ACLR are warranted.

The effects of remnant-preserving anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on proprioception: A prospective comparative study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction performed by preserving remnant tissue on proprioception and to assess the effects it has on isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength, as well as on range of motion and functional scores. A prospective study was conducted with 44 patients who underwent either anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with remnant preservation (study group, n=22) or with remnant excision (control group, n=22) with the use of a 4-strand hamstring allograft. The mean follow-up time was 20.2 ± 1.4 months after surgery. Using an isokinetic dynamometer, proprioception was evaluated with passive joint position perception at 150, 450, and 600, and quadriceps femoris, and hamstring muscle strength were evaluated at speeds of 900, 1800, and 2400 per second. Range of motion was measured using a goniometer. Functional outcomes were assessed using International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee evaluation score and Lysholm knee scoring questionnaires. It was only at 15° of knee flexion that there was a statistically significant difference in proprioception; the median of the difference in the amount of deviation from the target angle between the healthy knee and the operated side was 1.7 (range, 0.7-20.7) in those with remnant preserved, and 2.7 (range, 1-26) in those with remnant excised (P=.016). At 2400/s speed, the mean quadriceps femoris strength was 77.2 ± 24.3 Nm in those with remnant preserved and 67.6 ± 24.2 Nm in those with remnant excised. (P=.048) There was no difference between the 2 groups in terms of range of motion, International Knee Documentation Committee, and Lysholm knee scoring. (P > .05) Conclusion: The present study has demonstrated that better proprioception and higher quadriceps femoris muscle strength can be obtained by remnant-preserving anatomical single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a hamstring autograft. Level II, Therapeutic study.

A Computationally Efficient Estimator for the Target Angle, Delay, and Doppler Parameters in Passive Radar

The azimuth, elevation, time delay (TD), and Doppler shift (DS) of the target echo signal are important parameters for target localization in passive radar. In this paper, for the problem of joint estimation of target azimuth, elevation, TD, and DS parameters in passive radar, a computationally efficient estimator is proposed based on segmented coherent integration and uniform circular array (UCA) interferometer direction finding. First, according to the parameters of the target motion and illuminators of opportunity, the reference and surveillance signals are divided into segments, with fast time within a segment and slow time across the segments; then, matching filtering along the fast time and fast Fourier transform (FFT) along the slow time are performed to accumulate the target echo energy to the same delay-Doppler cell; finally, the UCA interferometer two-dimensional direction finding is performed at the delay-Doppler cell where the target echo is located, to achieve the target azimuth and elevation estimate. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has low computational complexity, high real-time processing capability, and can achieve efficient and real-time estimation of the azimuth, elevation, TD, and DS parameters of weak target echoes in passive radar.

Comparison of visual performance between bifocal and extended-depth-of-focus intraocular lenses.

We compared the visual performance of a bifocal intraocular lens (IOL) (ZMB00) and an extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) IOL (ZXR00V) by evaluating postoperative parameters at 10 weeks after the last surgery in cataract patients who underwent bilateral ZMB00 or ZXR00V implantation between 2011 and 2020. The right and left lenses were implanted within 3 months of each other. The study enrolled 1536 eyes of 768 patients; the ZMB00 group comprised 1326 eyes of 663 patients (age: 67.0 ± 7.8 years; female/male, 518/145), and the ZXR00V group comprised 210 eyes of 105 patients (age: 67.8 ± 6.9 years; female/male, 39/66). A linear mixed-effects model using data for both eyes, with strict adjustments for sex, age, subjective refraction spherical equivalent, subjective refraction cylinder, corneal astigmatism, axial length, corneal higher-order aberrations and pupil diameter, ensured statistical validity. Uncorrected near visual acuity, corrected near visual acuity, and near spectacle independence were significantly better in the ZMB00 group (p<0.00068, Wald test) than in the ZXR00V group. Contrast sensitivity (visual angle of the test target: 4.0°/2.5°/1.6°/1.0°/0.7°) and contrast sensitivity with glare (4.0°/2.5°/1.6°/1.0°/0.7°) were significantly better in the ZXR00V group (p<0.00068, Wald test) than in the ZMB00 group. Uncorrected intermediate visual acuity, contrast sensitivity with glare (6.3°), and 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) scores for General Vision were slightly but significantly better in the ZXR00V group than in the ZMB00 group (p<0.05, Wald test). At high-performance levels, the two IOL groups had different characteristics regarding various visual performance parameters.

A molybdenum nanostructured-film target for tunable x-ray sources: surface-structure controllable preparing and radiation intensity selecting

Tunable x-ray sources have attracted interest due to providing selective focal spots and radiation intensities for different specific uses. Surface-structure of the anode target has a non-negligible impact on the radiation intensity of x-ray sources. The metal molybdenum (Mo) Lα characteristic x-ray exhibits great potential in solving key scientific problems of material analysis. However, there is still a lack of research on how to flexibly use Mo structure targets to meet the application requirements of different x-ray radiation devices. The reliable preparation of Mo targets with suitable surface-structure is also a significant challenge, particularly for those nanostructured-film targets that cannot be machined. In this study, we successfully prepared a series of self-assembled Mo nanostructured-films with controllable surface structures as a class of reflection-type x-ray sources’ anode target. The structure-activity relationship between the Mo surface nanostructures and the radiating Lα x-ray performance at different anode target angles was studied in a reflecting device layout. Mo nanostructures with smoother surface typically show better radiation performance at small inclination angles (0° to 30°), while the Mo films with a large number of nanoparticles and rough surface exhibit advantages at large inclination angles (60° to 80°). The results provide a feasible scheme for the future application of multi-functional tunable x-ray sources.