A kind of novel pillar (used to support a windshield) has been designed to replace the conventional ones used in all sorts of vehicles. The prominent advantage of such a pillar is that it appears invisible so that the blind spots caused by A, B, C and D pillars will be diminished to a large extent or even eliminated completely. Therefore, the driver’s view is enlarged considerably. An intrinsic...

Pillar[5]arenes are [1(5)]paracyclophane derivatives consisting of 1,4-disubstituted hydroquinones linked by methylene bridges in the 2,5-positions. The first report of these novel macrocycles was in 2008, when 1,4-dimethoxypillar[5]arene was prepared in 22% yield, and subsequent improvements in synthetic methods have allowed the number of derivatives to expand significantly. In addition to D(5...

A new water-soluble thermoresponsive pillar[6]arene with triethylene oxide groups was synthesized. The pillar[6]arene showed lower critical solution temperature behavior in aqueous solution. Its clouding point was photoreversibly switched based on a photoresponsive host-guest system. The trans form of an azobenzene guest formed a stable 1:1 complex with the pillar[6]arene. Complexation increase...

Unlike HPLC, there has been sparse advancement in the stationary phases used for planar chromatography. Nevertheless, modernization of planar chromatography platforms can further highlight the technique's ability to separate multiple samples simultaneously, utilize orthogonal separation formats, image (detect) separations without rigorous temporal demands, and its overall simplicity. This paper...

Cell migration processes are controlled by sensitive interaction with external cues such as topographic structures of the cell’s environment. Here, we present systematically controlled assays to investigate the specific effects of spatial density and local geometry of topographic structure on amoeboid migration of Dictyostelium discoideum cells. This is realized by well-controlled fabrication o...

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) remains a challenge for hand surgeons. Carpal tunnel release (CTR) using nasal instruments has the advantages of both endoscopy and open surgery. In this study we aimed to explore the effectiveness of CTR using nasal instruments in Chinese patients.We present a case series of 49 cases of idiopathic CTS treated with the mini-incision technique using nasa...

road traffic injuries as a man-made calamity impose great burden on poor people and needs to be addressed through social justice and end of poverty. pointing out that around 186,300 children under the age of 18 are killed every year, and much more are injured, urgent need to work on road safety measures will be revealed. although preventing road traffic crashes from occurring should be the main...

Experiments by several groups during the past decade have shown that a molten polymer nanofilm subject to a large transverse thermal gradient undergoes spontaneous formation of periodic nanopillar arrays. The prevailing explanation is that coherent reflections of acoustic phonons within the film cause a periodic modulation of the radiation pressure which enhances pillar growth. By exploring a d...

A new structure of 1.55-μm pillar cavity is proposed. Consisting of InP-air-aperture and InGaAsP layers, this cavity can be fabricated by using a monolithic process, which was difficult for previous 1.55-μm pillar cavities. Owing to the air apertures and tapered distributed Bragg reflectors, such a pillar cavity with nanometer-scaled diameters can give a quality factor of 104-105 at 1.55 μm. Ca...

During the last two decades, many countries around the world with unfunded social security system have experienced an ageing problem. Some have opted for a compulsory private saving scheme. New Zealand, on the other hand, maintains a unique two-pillar system: universal pension as a public pillar and voluntary savings as a private pillar. This paper provides a summary of findings from the litera...