Robots that can move, feel, and respond like organisms will bring revolutionary impact to today's technologies. Soft robots with organism‐like adaptive bodies have shown great potential in vast ...robot–human and robot–environment applications. Developing skin‐like sensory devices allows them to naturally sense and interact with environment. Also, it would be better if the capabilities to feel can be active, like real skin. However, challenges in the complicated structures, incompatible moduli, poor stretchability and sensitivity, large driving voltage, and power dissipation hinder applicability of conventional technologies. Here, various actively perceivable and responsive soft robots are enabled by self‐powered active triboelectric robotic skins (tribo‐skins) that simultaneously possess excellent stretchability and excellent sensitivity in the low‐pressure regime. The tribo‐skins can actively sense proximity, contact, and pressure to external stimuli via self‐generating electricity. The driving energy comes from a natural triboelectrification effect involving the cooperation of contact electrification and electrostatic induction. The perfect integration of the tribo‐skins and soft actuators enables soft robots to perform various actively sensing and interactive tasks including actively perceiving their muscle motions, working states, textile's dampness, and even subtle human physiological signals. Moreover, the self‐generating signals can drive optoelectronic devices for visual communication and be processed for diverse sophisticated uses.
Actively perceiving and responsive soft robots that can use the triboelectric effect and self‐generating electricity to sense and respond to stimuli are demonstrated. They are enabled by self‐powered and highly stretchable triboelectric proximity‐ and pressure‐sensing skins. After homogeneous integration, these soft robots can actively perceive their body‐motions, working states, environment stimuli, baby diaper conditions, and even human pulses by self‐generating electricity.
Future wearable technologies and personal electronics may benefit from e‐textiles that simultaneously possess high elasticity and multiple capabilities such as energy harvesting and sensing. Here, ...the first elastic multifunctional fiber that can scavenge mechanical energy from body motion and electromagnetic energy from surrounding electrical appliances is presented. In addition to converting multiple sources of waste energy into electricity, the fibers can also serve as self‐powered tactile and biomechanical sensors. The fibers consist of hollow elastomeric fibers filled with liquid metal. The fibers harvest energy by the combination of triboelectricity (160 V m−1, 5 µA m−1, and ≈360 µW m−1) and induced electrification of the liquid metal (±8 V m−1 (60 Hz), ±1.4 µA m−1, and ≈8 µW m−1). The fibers are characterized and their utility for powering electronics and sensing biomechanical information is demonstrated. These fibers are further demonstrated as completely soft and stretchable components for human–machine interfaces, including keypads and wireless music controllers.
Inherently stretchable (>650%) and elastic multifunctional liquid‐metal fibers that can scavenge biomechanical and electromagnetic energy are developed as wearable power providers and self‐powered sensors. These findings optimally unify mechanical freedom and the capability of collecting multiple forms of ambient energy and self‐powered sensing in a single fiber, opening new doors for wearable/stretchable energy and sensing technologies.
Power and electronic components that are self‐healable, deformable, transparent, and self‐powered are highly desirable for next‐generation energy/electronic/robotic applications. Here, an ...energy‐harvesting triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that combines the above features is demonstrated, which can serve not only as a power source but also as self‐powered electronic skin. This is the first time that both of the triboelectric‐charged layer and electrode of the TENG are intrinsically and autonomously self‐healable at ambient conditions. Additionally, comparing with previous partially healable TENGs, its fast healing time (30 min, 100% efficiency at 900% strain), high transparency (88.6%), and inherent superstretchability (>900%) are much more favorable. It consists of a metal‐coordinated polymer as the triboelectrically charged layer and hydrogen‐bonded ionic gel as the electrode. Even after 500 cutting‐and‐healing cycles or under extreme 900%‐strain, the TENG retains its functionality. The generated electricity can be used directly or stored to power commercial electronics. The TENG is further used as self‐powered tactile‐sensing skin in diverse human–machine interfaces including smart glass, an epidermal controller, and phone panel. This TENG with merits including fast ambient‐condition self‐healing, high transparency, intrinsic stretchability, and energy‐extraction and actively‐sensing abilities, can meet wide application needs ranging from deformable/portable/transparent electronics, smart interfaces, to artificial skins.
The first entirely, intrinsically, and autonomously self‐healable, highly transparent, and superstretchable triboelectric nanogenerator is developed for not only energy sources but also self‐powered electronic skins. This unprecedented triboelectric nanogenerator with energy‐extracting and activity‐sensing abilities is timely and able to usher vast emerging fields including flexible/self‐powered electronics, smart interfaces, and prosthetic and robotic skins.
Developing nimble, shape‐adaptable, conformable, and widely implementable energy harvesters with the capability to scavenge multiple renewable and ambient energy sources is highly demanded for ...distributed, remote, and wearable energy uses to meet the needs of internet of things. Here, the first single waterproof and fabric‐based multifunctional triboelectric nanogenerator (WPF‐MTENG) is presented, which can produce electricity from both natural tiny impacts (rain and wind) and body movements, and can not only serve as a flexible, adaptive, wearable, and universal energy collector but also act as a self‐powered, active, fabric‐based sensor. The working principle comes from a conjunction of contact triboelectrification and electrostatic induction during contact/separation of internal soft fabrics. The structural/material designs of the WPF‐MTENG are systematically studied to optimize its performance, and its outputs under different conditions of rain, wind, and various body movements are comprehensively investigated. Its applicability is practically demonstrated in various objects and working situations to gather ambient energy. Lastly, a WPF‐MTENG‐based keypad as self‐powered human–system interfaces is demonstrated on a garment for remotely controlling a music‐player system. This multifunctional WPF‐MTENG, which is as flexible as clothes, not only presents a promising step toward democratic collections of alternative energy but also provides a new vision for wearable technologies.
The first waterproof fabric‐based multifunctional triboelectric nanogenerator that can produce electricity from natural tiny impacts (rains and winds) and body movements is presented. It can not only serve as a flexible, adaptive, wearable, and universal energy collector but also act as a self‐powered fabric‐based interface. This multifunctional yet nimble nanogenerator can provide new vision for decentralized, remote, and wearable energy technologies.
Electronics based on layered indium selenide (InSe) channels exhibit promising carrier mobility and switching characteristics. Here, an InSe tribotronic transistor (denoted as w/In InSe T‐FET) ...obtained through the vertical combination of an In‐doped InSe transistor and triboelectric nanogenerator is demonstrated. The w/In InSe T‐FET can be operated by adjusting the distance between two triboelectrification layers, which generates a negative electrostatic potential that serves as a gate voltage to tune the charge carrier transport behavior of the InSe channel. Benefiting from the surface charging doping of the In layer, the w/In InSe T‐FET exhibits high reliability and sensitivity with a large on/off current modulation of 106 under a low drain–source voltage of 0.1 V and external frictional force. To demonstrate its function as a power‐saving tactile sensor, the w/In InSe T‐FET is used to sense “INSE” in Morse code and power on a light‐emitting diode. This work reveals the promise of 2D material–based tribotronics for use in nanosensors with low power consumption as well as in intelligent systems.
A highly tactile‐sensitive (106 signal modulation) tribotronic transistor with a low operating voltage (0.1 V) and low power consumption is developed. The tribotronic transistor consists of the vertical combination of an In‐doped InSe transistor and triboelectric nanogenerator. This work demonstrates the promise of 2D material–based tribotronics for use in sensors and intelligent systems with low power consumption.
Objectives
Granular myringitis (GM) is a troublesome disease with a high incidence of recurrence and relapse. CO2 laser vaporisation and trichloroacetic acid (TAA) have been applied in treating ...several otological diseases, both with favourable therapeutic efficacy. However, long‐term therapeutic efficacy of both CO2 laser vaporisation and TAA cauterisation against GM has not yet been evaluated. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of CO2 laser vaporisation and TAA cauterisation in GM management.
Study Design
Prospective and randomised study.
Participants
A total of 88 GM patients who failed therapy with boric acid, alcohol and glycerin ear drop otic solution between July 2009 and January 2018 were included. Participants were randomly assigned to receive CO2 laser vaporisation (n = 39) or TAA cauterisation (n = 49).
Main Outcome Measures
Main outcomes were treatment success, complications after 4 months of treatment, and recurrence within 4–12 months after treatment.
Results
The success rate was significantly higher in the CO2 group than in the TAA group (94.9% vs. 77.6%, p = .023). After 4 months of treatment, the GM recurrence rate was comparable between the two groups (13.5% vs. 18.4%, p = .562). The CO2 laser group had one case of perforation and one case of severe vertigo, whereas one participant in the TAA cauterisation group experienced hearing loss.
Conclusion
Both TAA cauterisation and CO2 laser vaporisation are safe and effective treatments for GM. The success rate of CO2 laser vaporisation for treating GM is higher than that of TAA cauterisation. Recurrence rates are comparable within 1 year.
Maximizing resource recycling and finding renewable energy sources are important for a sustainable environment considering the development and consumption of electronic products with the advancement ...of the internet of things and artificial intelligence technologies. Herein, an economic and environment-friendly triboelectric nanogenerator derived from the discarded coffee ground waste (CG-TENG) is developed to serve as a light-weight and shape-adaptive energy source and self-powered sensitive sensor (CG-TENG sensor). The coffee ground, embedded into the silicone rubber elastomer, is first used as the metal-free electrode feedstock to minimize waste generation. Based on the triboelectrification and electrostatic induction, the shape-adaptive CG-TENG, as wearable power, is capable of harvesting surrounding energy from human motions and extreme deformations, exhibiting excellent stretchability and mechanical durability. The generated electricity can be stored in the conductive coffee ground-derived capacitors to drive portable electronics, which is beneficial for building completely green power systems using coffee waste. Furthermore, the self-powered CG-TENG sensor with optimized structure endows its ultra-high sensitivity for sensing human physiological signals, monitoring motions, emulating gestures, as well as for developing smart tactile epidermal controller and intelligent vending coaster, paving the way for building large-scale energy-efficient artificial sensors and eco-environmental wearable electronics towards humanoid robotics and human-machine interfaces.
This coffee ground-derived TENG with advantages such as low-cost, environmental friendliness, as well as excellent stretchability, deformability, and durability, is effective both in mechanical energy harvesting and self-sufficient pressure sensing including motion monitoring, emulation, and acting as smart human-machine interface. These results provide a promising paradigm for developing eco-environmental wearable equipment and intelligent user interface systems. Display omitted
•The typical biomass of coffee ground is employed as the conducting electrode, for the first time, to develop metal-free and environmental-friendly TENG.•The coffee ground-based TENG enables to harvest various mechanical energy under extreme deformations, demonstrating its outstanding advantages in high stretchability, durability, and environmental friendliness.•The harvested energy can be stored in a coffee ground-based supercapacitor to drive portable electronic devices, indicating its promising uses in low-cost wearable power sources.•Such the coffee waste-derived TENG e-skin sensor sensitively perform the real-time physiological signals detection, motion monitoring/emulation, as well as sensitive human-interactive functions, providing a new vista for the development of economic and environmentally friendly wearable electronics.
Human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been one of the most common oral cancers owing to high percentage of betel nuts chewers, smokers, and alcohol consumption. With current treatment ...strategies in OSCC, more than half patients relapse and develop distant metastases with poor prognosis. To overcome the incident, OSCC poses a challenge in current therapies and treatments. Naringenin, a natural flavonoid, has been noted for antitumor effects on various types of cancers; however, the effects of naringenin on OSCC remain bias. In this study, naringenin demonstrated the potential multifunction in human OSCC cells not only leading to cell apoptosis, but also alternating the general function of autophagy, serving as pro‐survival mechanism by inducing the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling through intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In the process of programmed cell death, naringenin induced apoptotic signaling through caspase‐cascade, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ER stress by aberrance of Ca2+ release. In contrast, under the presence of naringenin, the pro‐survival has been altered into pro‐death to activate the caspases‐mediated apoptosis achieving cell death. The cross‐function of apoptosis and autophagy has demonstrated the effect of naringenin‐induced intracellular ROS activity in OSCC cells. Therefore, this study found that the effect of naringenin induces intracellular ROS to trigger programmed cell death and ER stress through the mechanisms of apoptosis and autophagy in human oral squamous carcinoma.
Practical applications
This study revealed that naringenin debilitated the OSCC cell viability via the intracellular ROS production, ER stress, and autophagy, leading to cell apoptosis. Based on these studies and findings, naringenin provided an antitumor effect as a novel natural compound to improve the current therapies in OSCC.
The signaling pathways for naringenin induced apoptosis and autophagy in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells
Tympanoplasty was conventionally performed using a microscope for decades. However, since the endoscope began to be used in middle ear surgery in the 1970s, endoscopic tympanoplasty has gained ...increasing attention. The main objective of this study was to compare endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty with and without ossiculoplasty, demonstrating the potential advantages, disadvantages, and outcomes of each. This retrospective study included 126 patients with chronic otitis media who received tympanoplasty from 2013 to 2015 in our hospital. The clinical follow-up continued for at least 3 months postoperatively. Otoscopy and audiometry were conducted before and after the procedure. The different variables affecting surgical outcomes were thoroughly documented in each case. A total of 126 patients (131 ears) were included in this retrospective study. Moreover, 74 and 57 ears underwent endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty, respectively. The overall endoscopic tympanoplasty graft uptake rate was 97.7% (128/131). The operation time was significantly shorter in the endoscopic group statistically. A paired
t
test was used to compare pre- and postoperative audiometry results and showed significant differences between the endoscopic and microscopic groups. However, no statistically significant difference was observed in audiometry improvement between the two groups. No major complications were observed in any of the patients. Our study demonstrated that endoscopic tympanoplasty can be feasibly applied in middle ear surgery. The success rate, audiometry improvement, and complication rate are comparable between endoscopic tympanoplasty and conventional microscopic tympanoplasty. Moreover, the endoscopic group had smaller operation wounds and lower medical expenditures.
Background: Microscopic stapedotomy is very successful and has long history, but it still has some constraints. Thus, otoendoscopy is increasingly popular nowadays.
Aims/Objectives: The retrospective ...review study was to investigate the role of endoscopic laser stapedotomy in treating patients with otosclerosis.
Materials and methods: Seventeen patients who received endoscopic laser stapedotomy from April 2014 to July 2017 were enrolled and compared to 13 patients who had microscopic stapedotomy from February 2009 to March 2012. The anatomical structures, operative time, and postoperative hearing outcomes were assessed in two groups. Relation between external acoustic canal and operative time was also analyzed.
Results: Using an endoscope, the operative field was clear, with easily identified anatomy, without need to sacrifice bony structures. The operative time was significantly longer in the endoscopic group in 2014 and decreased in the following years. There was no significant difference of hearing improvements between the two groups. There was a weak correlation between the width of the external auditory canal and the operative time.
Conclusions and significance: Fully endoscopic stapes surgery is a feasible and safe surgical technique and results in satisfactory hearing outcomes. However, surgeons take longer to master the technique and to achieve shorter endoscopic operative times.
PDF
