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Violet light (VL), 360–400 nm wavelength, is contained in the sunlight and is an effective element for myopia suppression. This study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of novel eyeglasses that emit VL from the frames. This is a double-masked, randomized, pilot clinical trial conducted in a clinic in Japan. Forty-three children with myopia were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups, wearing VL-emitting eyeglass frames (VLf) that emitted VL of 310 μW/cm2 (VLf group, n = 22) or pseudo-placebo eyeglass frames with a minimal emission of VL (

Background/aimsWe developed a novel technology consisting of violet light (VL)-emitting glasses and defined the combination of VL irradiation and riboflavin treatment as KeraVio. Our goal was to evaluate the clinical results of KeraVio in patients with progressive corneal ectasia.MethodsEyes were exposed to VL (375 nm, irradiance 310 μW/cm2)-emitting glasses for 3 hours daily for 6 months, and a riboflavin solution was administered onto the corneal epithelium six times during each 3-hour VL irradiation. The primary end point was a change in the maximum keratometry (Kmax) value over 6 months compared with that over the 1 year before baseline.ResultsThe efficacy of KeraVio was evaluated in 20 eyes with severe progression, and its safety was evaluated in all 40 eyes. The mean changes in Kmax over the 1 year before baseline and during the 6-month observation period were 6.03±3.41 dioptres (D) and −0.81±3.34 D, respectively (p=0.002). At 6 months, the Kmax value decreased by more than 2 D in 4 eyes (20%), remained within 2 D in 13 eyes (65%), and increased by 2 D or more in 3 eyes (15%). The corneal stromal demarcation line was identified in 16 eyes (80%), and its depth was 206.3±54.9 μm at 1 month. No significant decrease in endothelial cell density, lenticular opacity or transient corneal haze was noted.ConclusionBased on our 6-month results, daily treatment of progressive corneal ectasia with KeraVio can halt disease progression without any safety concerns.Clinical trial registration numberjRCTs032180217.

Photobiological neuromodulation and its clinical application has been investigated in recent years. The response of the gamma-oscillation to human visual stimuli is known to be both burst and resonant in nature, and the coupling between alpha and gamma oscillations may play a functional role in visual processing. To date, there is no study that examined the effects of gamma-frequency violet light (VL) stimulation on human electroencephalography (EEG). In this study, we investigated the neurophysiological changes induced by light stimulation using EEG. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the specific effects of 40 Hz gamma-frequency VL stimulation on EEG activity by comparing the effects of white light (WL) with the same condition. Twenty healthy participants (10 females: 37.5 ± 14.3 years, 10 males: 38.0 ± 13.3 years) participated in this study and the following results were observed. First, when compared with the power spectrum density (PSD) of baseline EEG, 40 Hz-WL induced significant increase of PSD in theta band. Second, compared the PSDs between EEG with 40 Hz-VL and EEG with 40 Hz-WL, 40 Hz-VL induced significantly lower enhancement in delta and theta bands than 40 Hz-WL. Third, when focused on the occipital area, negative peak of VEP with 40 Hz-VL was smaller than that of 40 Hz-WL. Fourth, 40 Hz-VL induced an increase of alpha-gamma coupling during the VEP at the F5 electrode site as well as post-EEG at the C4 electrode site, compared with baseline EEG. Thus, the present study suggested that 40 Hz-VL stimulation may induce unique photobiological neuromodulations on human EEG activity.

IMPORTANCE: Given the estimates of increasing prevalence of myopia, especially in Asia, it is important to determine the current prevalence of myopia among populations of schoolchildren in Japan. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current prevalence rate of myopia and the association between environmental factors and myopia in Japanese schoolchildren. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study assessed 1478 participants, including 726 elementary school students and 752 junior high school students, at 2 schools in Tokyo, Japan, who underwent eye examinations from April 1 to May 31, 2017, that included measurement of the refractive errors by autorefractometry with noncycloplegic refraction and ocular biometric factors. After excluding those who had been treated with atropine or orthokeratology (n = 11), had a history of eye disease (n = 2), had no parental consent (n = 41), and were absent (n = 8), 1416 schoolchildren were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the prevalence of myopia and high myopia. Secondary outcomes were environmental factors that were associated with myopia. RESULTS: A total of 1416 schoolchildren (mean [SD] age, 10.8 [2.7] years; 792 [55.9%] male) were studied. The prevalence rates of myopia (spherical equivalent ≤−0.5 diopters [D]) were 76.5% (95% CI, 73.4%-79.7%) among the elementary school students and 94.9% (95% CI, 93.3%-96.5%) among the junior high school students. The prevalence rates of high myopia (spherical equivalent ≤−6.0 D) were 4.0% (95% CI, 2.5%-5.4%) among the elementary school students and 11.3% (95% CI, 8.8%-13.7%) among the junior high school students. The prevalence rates of high myopia classified based on axial length of 26.0 mm or longer were 1.2% (95% CI, 0.4%-2.0%) among elementary school students and 15.2% (95% CI, 12.5%-17.8%) among junior high school students. Multiple regression analysis showed that higher-order aberrations and dry eye disease were associated with refractive error in elementary school students (spherical aberration: β = 6.152; 95% CI, 3.161-9.143; P

Purpose This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of a novel humidifying eyeglass-shaped device—ultrasonic moisture glasses—on dry eye signs and symptoms. Methods A total of 18 subjects with dry eye symptoms underwent a crossover test. A water cartridge was set on each temple of the eyeglass-shaped device. All subjects randomly wore the device twice in different settings, each for 10 minutes. Subjects wore the glasses once with the cartridges filled with water (the intervention group), and once with the cartridges empty (the control group). The order was randomized. We evaluated tear film break-up time (TBUT) and fluorescein staining score just before, immediately after, and 10 minutes after wearing the device. We also assessed functional visual acuity (FVA), blink frequency, and visual analog scale (VAS) score just before and immediately after wearing the device. Results TBUT, blink frequency, and VAS improved in the intervention group (all P < 0.001) and exhibited significant differences between the intervention and control groups. Conclusions Wearing the ultrasonic moisture glasses for 10 minutes improved tear stability and decreased dry eye symptoms in this cohort of subjects. Translational Relevance These findings show that the ultrasonic moisture glasses are an effective device for improving dry eye signs and symptoms.

We have developed an optical detector module for use in deep underwater experiments that will search for high-energy neutrinos from cosmic rays and astronomical sources. This module is sensitive to single photons, is operable under high pressure, functions automatically and is remotely controlled. The optical module is based on a 15 in. diameter photomultiplier tube (PMT), with control and read-out electronics mounted inside a 17 in. diameter glass pressure housing. The photomultiplier output signal is converted into two optical pulses by the electronics, one giving the hit time and time-over-threshold of the PMT output pulse and the other giving the charge-integrated PMT signal. Information on the arrival time and intensity of light can be extracted from these pulses. The time jitter of the optical modules is ∼6 and ∼2 ns at FWHM for one photoelectron and ∼100 photoelectrons, respectively. The unit requires 10 W power delivered at 48 V DC on a line with superposed bidirectional control signals. Fast output is uni-directional on a multi-mode fiber optic link to a remote time digitizer. The module has been successfully tested and calibrated in the laboratory, and several have briefly operated in the deep ocean.

We have tried to exploit a time-controlled drug release system, a colon delivery capsule made of ethylcellulose (EC). Our colon delivery capsule is consisting of four parts, capsule body, cap, swellable substance and drug container. The cap, body and drug container were made of EC, which was water-insoluble polymer. At the bottom of the body, four micropores were made. The cap has different thickness and as adhered to the capsule body with concentrated EC solution. The drug release mechanism from the capsule was as follows. AL first, as the gastrointestinal fluid penetrates through these micropores, the swellable substance such as low substituted hydroxypropylcellulose(L-HPC) swells gradually. When the cap cannot endure the swelling pressure, the cap disintegrates and the drug in the container is released from the capsule. This release time of the drug from the capsule, namely the lag-time, is utilized for the delivery of drug to the colon. The lag-time was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo experiments using fluorescein as a model drug. In the case of an in vitro experiment, changing the cap thickness could control the release time of the drug. A good correlationship was obtained between the EC cap thickness and the release time of the drug. In the in vivo experiment, we administered these kinds of capsules having different cap thickness were administered to fasted beagle dogs. As an index of the release time of the drug from the capsule, the peak time(Tmax) at which plasma fluorescein level reached to its maximum level was determined. There was a good correlationship between the mean Tmax and the cap thickness. Therefore, we may state that this time-controlled release capsule will be useful for the colon delivery of drugs.

The format of this dissertation is as follows. In the remainder of Chapter 1, brief introductions and reviews are given to the topics of frustration, heavy fermions and spinels including the precedent work of LiV{sub 2}O{sub 4}. In Chapter 2, as a general overview of this work the important publication in Physical Review Letters by the author of this dissertation and collaborators regarding the discovery of the heavy fermion behavior in LiV{sub 2}O{sub 4} is introduced [removed for separate processing]. The preparation methods employed by the author for nine LiV{sub 2}O{sub 4} and two Li{sub 1+x}Ti{sub 2{minus}x}O{sub 4} (x = 0 and 1/3) polycrystalline samples are introduced in Chapter 3. The subsequent structural characterization of the LiV{sub 2}O{sub 4} and Li{sub 1+x}Ti{sub 2{minus}x}O{sub 4} samples was done by the author using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), x-ray diffraction measurements and their structural refinements by the Rietveld analysis. The results of the characterization are detailed in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4 magnetization measurements carried out by the author are detailed. In Chapter 5, after briefly discussing the resistivity measurement results including the single-crystal work by Rogers et al., for the purpose of clear characterization of LiV{sub 2}O{sub 4} it is of great importance to introduce in the following chapters the experiments and subsequent data analyses done by his collaborators. Heat capacity measurements (Chapter 6) were carried out and analyzed by Dr. C.A. Swenson, and modeled theoretically by Dr. D.C. Johnston. In Chapter 7 a thermal expansion study using neutron diffraction by Dr. O. Chmaissem et al. and capacitance dilatometry measurements by Dr. C.A. Swenson are introduced. The data analyses for the thermal expansion study were mainly done by Dr. O. Chmaissem (for neutron diffraction) and Dr. C.A. Swendon (for dilatometry), with assistances by Dr. J.D. Jorgensen, Dr. D.C. Johnston, and S. Kondo the author of this dissertation. Chapter 8 describes nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements and analyses by Dr. A.V. Mahajan, R. Sala, E. Lee and Dr. F. Borsa. In the final chapter, a summary and discussion are given.

We investigated the concentration properties of GaInN-based solar cells using different window electrodes. A significant difference was observed between the concentrating properties of the window electrode structures. It was clearly found that indium tin oxide (ITO) is suitable as an electrode. The short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage, fill factor, and energy conversion efficiency of nitride-based solar cells fabricated using an ITO electrode were 7.1×102 mA/cm2, 2.2 V, 79%, and 4.0%, respectively, under an air mass filter of 1.5G at 300 suns and at room temperature.

We investigated the correlation between the device performance and defects, such as V-shaped pits and threading dislocations, in GaInN-based solar cells. To realize high-performance GaInN-based solar cells with a high open-circuit voltage and fill factor, it is essential to realize a low pit density of less than 107 cm-2. In this study, we were unable to observe clear evidence of any effect of the threading dislocation density in the GaN underlying layer.

Graphitic nanofibers (named “nanografibers”), which have a structure similar to that of multiwall carbon nanotubes but an extremely narrow (or practically absent) hollow channel, were produced by an electric arc discharge in hydrogen gas. Field emission from nanografibers was investigated using a field emission microscope with a probe hole. Nanografibers exhibited a lower onset voltage and higher current density in comparison with ordinary multiwall nanotubes prepared in helium gas. The emission characteristics are argued to originate from the morphology and structure of the nanografibers.