Analysis of influence factors of free cataract surgery in suburban district of one city in middle China

AIM:To investigate the reasons of the barriers to free cataract surgery in suburban area of one city in middle China. <p>METHODS: From 2008 to 2009, in Sight Rehabilitation Programme of Cataract in suburban district of one city in middle China, all visually significant cataract patients screened were questioned about why he/she did not accept free cataract surgery. The answers were recorded and analyzed. <p>RESULTS: Of 892 screened patients, only 387 patients(43.39%)wanted a free cataract surgery at first. At last 490 patients(54.93%)accepted free surgery. The main reasons for patients who did not accept free surgery include: be afraid of surgery and wanting other treatments(193, 21.64%), thinking the eyesight was enough for daily life(148, 16.59%), worrying about that the result would not be good as those paid for surgery(147, 16.48%), and other reasons(17, 1.91%).<p>CONCLUSION: The reasons of the barriers to free cataract surgery include patients' ignorance, surgery outcome of patients around, and working mode of designated surgical hospital

Effects of glutamate on distortion–product otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem responses in guinea pigs

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate changes in evoked potentials and structure of the guinea pig cochleae during whole cochlear perfusion with glutamate.MethodsCM, CAP, DPOAE, and ABR were recorded as indicators of cochlear functions during whole cochlear perfusion. The morphology of the cochlea was studied via transmission electron microscopy.ResultsThere were no significant changes in DPOAE amplitude before and after glutamate perfusion. CM I/O function remained nonlinear during perfusion. ABR latencies were delayed following glutamate perfusion. The average CAP threshold was elevated 35 dB SPL following glutamate perfusion.. The OHCs appeared normal, but the IHCs and afferent dendrites showed cytoplasmic blebs after glutamate perfusion.ConclusionsWhile being a primary amino acid neurotransmitter at the synapses between hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons, excessive glutamate is neurotoxic and can destroy IHCs and spiral ganglion neurons. The technique used in this study can also be used to build an animal model of auditory neuropathy

Non-volatile memory based on PZT/FeGa thin film memtranstor

The PZT/FeGa thin film memtranstor was prepared and the modulation of the magnetoelectric coefficient by external magnetic and electric fields was studied. The magnetoelectric coefficient of the PZT/FeGa memtranstor can be reversed by flipping the direction of magnetization of FeGa or ferroelectric polarization of PZT. Notably, the sign of the magnetoelectric coefficient can be switched repeatedly by reversing ferroelectric polarization of PZT when the external magnetic field remains constant. Moreover, the binary switching behavior can still be maintained under zero DC bias magnetic field. When the polarization direction remains stable, the magnetoelectric coefficient also does not change. This means that the magnetoelectric coefficient of PZT/FeGa is non-volatile. Furthermore, the retention and endurance characteristics of the PZT/FeGa thin film memtranstor have been investigated. These findings demonstrate the potential of the PZT/FeGa thin film memtranstor for non-volatile memory applications.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Revealing the pulse-induced electroplasticity by decoupling electron wind force

Micro/nano electromechanical systems and nanodevices often suffer from degradation under electrical pulse. However, the origin of pulse-induced degradation remains an open question. Herein, we investigate the defect dynamics in Au nanocrystals under pulse conditions. By decoupling the electron wind force via a properly-designed in situ TEM electropulsing experiment, we reveal a non-directional migration of Σ3{112} incoherent twin boundary upon electropulsing, in contrast to the expected directional migration under electron wind force. Quantitative analyses demonstrate that such exceptional incoherent twin boundary migration is governed by the electron-dislocation interaction that enhances the atom vibration at dislocation cores, rather than driven by the electron wind force in classic model. Our observations provide valuable insights into the origin of electroplasticity in metallic materials at the atomic level, which are of scientific and technological significances to understanding the electromigration and resultant electrical damage/failure inmicro/ nano-electronic devices