The significant difference of <i>CR</i> between TD_I and HC during holding.

<p>The force contribution ratios of each digit during the holding task in HC and TD_I. A higher CR of the index finger and lower CR of the ring and middle fingers were noticed in TD_I. Significant differences (p<0.05) in CR with regard to specific digits between HC and TD groups are indicated by the following symbols: α means the index finger and γ means the ring finger.</p

The significant difference of applied RF between TD_I and HC during holding.

<p>The <i>RF</i> of each digit at all events and the averaged <i>RF</i> during second phase of the holding task by HC (<i>upper</i>) and TD_I (<i>lower</i>). Larger forces of the index finger were found at H_e2 and H_e3 and during second phase for TD_I when compared to those for HC. Significant differences are indicated by * (<i>p</i><0.05).</p

Basic data of each TD group sorted by involved digit.

<p>Basic data of each TD group sorted by involved digit.</p

The cylindrical simulator and functional tasks.

<p>(A) Diagram of the cylindrical simulator, showing five force/torque transducers, the accelerometer and their local coordinate systems. Based on the obtained acceleration data, thus four movement events in the (B) holding and (C) drinking tasks were determined.</p

Correlation coefficients between the radial (Fr) of the thumb and each of the fingers during holding and drinking tasks by HC and each TD group.

<p>Numbers in <b>bold</b> indicate statistical significance (<i>p</i><0.05). T, I, M, R and L mean thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger.</p

The significant difference of applied RF between TD_I and HC during drinking.

<p>The <i>RF</i> of each digit at all events and the averaged <i>RF</i> during second phase of the drinking task by HC (<i>upper</i>) and TD_T (<i>lower</i>). Lower forces for the little finger were found at D_e2 and D_e3 and during second phase for TD_T than those for HC. Significant differences are indicated by * (<i>p</i><0.05).</p

The determination of four movement events in each task.

<p>The events were found by the specific turning points of acceleration (A) along Z_a axis during the holding task including H_e1 (the first turning point of the first positive peak of acceleration), H_e2 (the first point of the sustained plateau which follows a negative peak), H_e3 (the turning point at the end of plateau which is followed by a negative peak) and H_e4 (the final peak), and (B) along Y_a axis by determining the four turning points (D_e1, D_e2, D_e3 and D_e4) of on trapezoid-shaped profile. Three phases were then defined in between sequential events in each task.</p

The significant difference of <i>CR</i> between TD_I and HC during drinking.

<p>The force contribution ratios of each digit during the holding task in HC, TD_T and TD_M. A higher <i>CR</i> of the index finger and lower <i>CR</i> of the middle and little fingers were noticed in TD_I and TD_M. Significant differences (<i>p</i><0.05) in <i>CR</i> with regard to specific digits between HC and TD groups are indicated by the following symbols: α means the index finger, β means the middle finger and δ means the little finger.</p

Photoluminescence of MEH-PPV Brushes, Pancakes, and Free Molecules in Solutions and Dry States

Photoluminescence (PL) of a conjugated polymer MEH-PPV, poly­[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyl)­oxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene], grafted on a silicon wafer with controlled tether spacing was studied to reveal the effects of molecular conformation, chain packing, and mechanical stress. In the solvent-swollen state, the PL of the densely grafted polymer (denoted “brushes”) was blue-shifted substantially relative to the lightly grafted (denoted “pancakes”) and free polymers. As solvent evaporated, while for the brushes the changes in PL were insignificant, the PL spectra of the pancakes underwent large blue shifts and exhibited significant efficiency enhancements up to ∼175-fold. The solvent evaporation effects were attributed to molecular deformations resulting from coil contraction on the substrate, which gave rise to conjugation-disruptive kinks (blue shift) and segmental stretching (PL enhancement) in the dried molecules. Moreover, heterojunctional quenching was found significantly suppressed by the mechanical stresses. Similar behavior was observed in dried free single molecules. These results unveil the fundamental role of mechanical stresses, not only indirectly through their influence on molecular conformations, but directly via alterations of the excitonic behavior