Narrow Results

We report the generation and detection of bipolar organic electroluminescence of porphyrin molecules from a nanoscale junction in an ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Clear molecular fluorescence from porphyrin molecules near metal substrates has been realized through highly localized electrical excitation of molecules in proximity to a sharp tip apex. The molecular origin of the luminescence, arising from the highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO–LUMO) radiative transitions of neutral molecules, is clearly established by the observed well-defined vibrationally resolved fluorescence spectra that match perfectly with conventional photoluminescence data from molecular thin films. The molecules fluoresce at low onset voltages for both bias polarities, presenting an example of bipolar organic electroluminescence at the nanoscale. Such bipolar operation suggests a double-barrier model for electron transport, with hot electron injection into unoccupied states of molecules in both polarities. The optical behavior of molecules in the tunnel junction is also found sensitive to the electronic properties of molecules and energy level alignment at the interface. These results offer new information to the optoelectronic behavior of molecules in a nanoscopic environment and may open up new routes to the development of single-molecule science and molecular scale electronics.

AUSTRALIA — Australian Scientist Awarded $1M for Gene Therapy Research.

AUSTRALIA — $900,000 Multiphoton Microscope Unveiled at Sydney's Centenary Institute.

AUSTRALIA — Australian Stem Cell Scientist on Target to Prevent Age-related Loss of Brain Function.

CHINA — Chinese Scientists Complete Successful Greenhouse Breeding of a Medicinal Herb.

CHINA — China Aoxing Pharmaceutical Designated as Key Manufacturer of Cancer Pain Drug, Tilidine.

CHINA — Chinese Neuropsychologist Makes Novel Progress in Studies of Schizophrenia.

JAPAN — Vetter Receives Japanese Certificates of Accreditation of Foreign Manufacturer.

INDIA — Heart Problems to Take Epidemic Form in India.

INDIA — Scientists Discover the Most Important Candidate Genes for Pancreatic Stone Formation.

INDIA — India and Canada to Collaborate on Pharma Opportunities.

INDIA — Tata Drug Development Center Opens in Bangalore.

NEW ZEALAND — A Squid Gel Commands Global Attention.

SINGAPORE — Singapore's National Cancer Center Launches Its First Satellite Clinic.

SINGAPORE — Lien Foundation to Develop Electronic Healthcare System.

TAIWAN — STUT Study Reveals Mushroom Good for Ovarian Cysts.

More than just images: Imaging Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy.

Sharpening Our Focus: The Microscope.

Measure Up with Agilent.

Controversial in West – Credible in East?

Experts at World Congress of Internal Medicines Reinforce Importance of BETADINE^® in Disease Prevention, Infection Control and Oral Mucositis Treatment.

First Dengue Vaccination Program in the Americas Starts in Paraná State of Brazil.

Agilent Technologies Array CGH Platform Assures Quality of Cancer Cell Lines Used in Biomedical Research.

ARTES and Burnet Institute Join Forces to Develop Novel Hepatitis C Vaccine.

Cardiac Imaging Reveals the Association Between Increased Prevalence of Coronary Issues Among Men with HIV and Higher Indications of Cardiac Inflammation.

NCCS Awards Contract for Proton Beam Therapy System to Hitachi Asia Ltd.

Hitachi is Selected by National Cancer Centre Singapore for Southeast Asia’s First Proton Beam Therapy System.

FEI Introduces New Talos S/TEM for Life and Materials Sciences.

Systematic Review of 58 Publications of Real-World Use of GARDASIL^® Presented at AOGIN Congress.

An oxygen concentration imaging system inside a single living cell, based on the phosphorescence lifetime, under a microscope was developed. A fluorescence microscope equipped with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser (532 nm) and a CCD camera equipped with a gated imaging intensifier was used. When the cell was incubated with the phosphorescent compound, platinum tetra-(carboxyphenyl)-porphyrin (PtTCPP) was incorporated and localized in the cell. As the phosphorescence intensity depends not only on the concentration of a quencher such as oxygen but also on the concentration of phosphorescent molecules, the oxygen concentration was measured by the phosphorescence lifetime. To measure the oxygen concentration image, the time dependence of the phosphorescence intensity was observed under a microscope. The phosphorescence intensity decay obeyed first order kinetics and the oxygen concentration imaging in the single cell was obtained by the lifetime of a single exponential decay curve.

We present a patient with Pacinian corpuscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia in the hand and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition. A 46-year-old woman presented with radiating pain of the left middle finger. A strong Tinel-like sign was elicited between the index and middle fingers. The patient frequently used mobile phone, with the corner of the phone consistently applying pressure on the palm. The surgery was carried out under the microscope and two enlarged cystic lesions under the epineurium were found in the proper digital nerve. Histologic examination revealed hypertrophied Pacinian corpuscle with normal structure. Postoperatively, her symptoms gradually improved. Preoperative diagnosis of this disease is very difficult. Hand surgeons should keep this disease in mind preoperatively. In our case, we would not have been able to identify multiple hypertrophic Pacinian corpuscles without the microscope. An operating microscope is recommended in a surgery of this nature.

Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic)

Background: Conventional microscopes and exoscopes currently play pivotal roles in the microsurgery or training for male infertility. However, they are expensive and unaffordable in low-resource settings, which limits training or application of advanced methods.

Objectives: To introduce a new, low-cost exoscope system and to determine whether it is an effective frugal innovation.

Methods: Using animal models, we evaluated a new frugal exoscope system named DKTA in experimental microsurgery of vas deferens repair. Five experts in male infertility surgery undertook an anonymous survey to elucidate their experience with DKTA system use. Three crucial criteria (i.e., substantial cost reduction, concentration on core functionalities, and optimized performance level) were evaluated to determine whether the DKTA is effective as frugal innovation. The survey used a 5-point Likert scale of responses to eight statements investigating surgical, ergonomic, and educational aspects.

Results: The DKTA system, including an optical microscope and ultra-high-definition (UHD) camera (4K), was an exoscope placed between 20 and 40 cm from the surgical field. It was held in position with a camera support arm on casters and connected to a 65-in. smart TV. DKTA system met the three crucial criteria of frugal innovation. Five male infertility microsurgeons reported positive evaluations based on modal scores of the DKTA system when performing experimental vasovasostomy.

Conclusions: DKTA system, a frugal innovation, has a valuable contribution to the training program and performance of male infertility microsurgery in low-resource settings.