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We demonstrate self-aligned and high-performance liquid crystal (LC) systems doped with 1-dimensional (1D) chain-like clusters of CuInS(2) (CIS)-ZnS core-shell quantum dots (QDs). By changing the cell fabrication method of the LC-QD composites, we can selectively control the orientation of the LC molecules between the homogeneous and homeotropic states without conventional LC alignment layers. The homeotropic alignment of LCs was achieved by random dropcasting and the homogeneous alignment was performed using a capillary injection of LC-QDs due to the random or linear diffusion of QD clusters into ITO defects. The electrically compensated bend (ECB)- and vertically aligned (VA) mode LC displays (LCDs) containing our LC-QD composite both showed superior electro-optic (EO) properties. A 37.1% reduction in the threshold voltage (V(th)) and a 36.6% decrease in the response time were observed for ECB mode LCDs, and a 47.0% reduction in the V(th) and a 38.3% decrease in the response time were observed for VA mode LCDs, meaning that the proposed LC-QD composites have a great potential for the production of advanced flexible LCDs.

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ObjectiveBilateral cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (CSdAVF) is very rare, even in Asian countries. The research intended to present clinical and radiologic outcomes of treating such fistulas through endovascular embolization.Materials and MethodsData was obtained from 220 consecutive patients, with CSdAVF, who were treated from January 2004 to December 2015. Bilateral CSdAVF was identified in 17 patients (7.7%). The clinical and radiologic outcomes of the fistulas were assessed with an emphasis on the technical aspects of treatment.ResultsAt the time of treatment, 7 and 10 patients presented with bilateral and unilateral symptoms, respectively. In the former cases, 4 patients had progressed from unilateral to bilateral symptoms. Bilateral fistulas were treated with a single-stage transvenous embolization (TVE) in 15 patients, via bilateral inferior petrosal sinuses (IPS) (n = 9) and unilateral IPS (n = 6). In the other 2 patients with one-sided dominance of shunting, only dominant fistula was treated. Two untreated lesions were found on follow-up to have spontaneously resolved after treatment of the dominant contralateral fistula. Of the 34 CSdAVF lesions, complete occlusion was achieved in 32 lesions after TVE. Seven patients (41.2%) developed worsening of cranial nerve palsy after TVE. During the follow-up period, 4 patients obtained complete recovery, whereas the other 3 remained with deficits.ConclusionWith adjustments of endovascular procedures to accommodate distinct anatomical configurations, endovascular treatment for bilateral CSdAVF can achieve excellent angiographic occlusion results. However, aggravation of symptoms after TVE may occur frequently in bilateral CSdAVF. In the patients with one-sided dominance of shunt, treatment of only dominant fistula might be an alternative option.

It is well known that doping nanoparticles (NPs) in liquid crystals (LCs) can easily change the physical and electro-optical properties of LC mixture. In this paper, we demonstrate homogeneous, aligned nematic LC (N-LC) system dispersed in iron oxide (Fe2O3) NPs. The prepared Fe2O3 NPs have an average particle size of 50 nm. By changing the doping concentration of Fe2O3 NPs, we observed the characteristics of LC systems. Electrooptical (EO) characteristics included faster rising and falling times (2.14 ms and 10.24 ms, respectively) and lower driving voltage (1.45 V) compared with a pure N-LC cell. We demonstrated these results via the relationship between dielectric con- stant and LC device properties. The results were verified by software simulation based on general physical properties. Moreover, we observed that LC system with Fe2O3 NPs could be accomplished without capacitance hysteresis by capturing charged impurities. Superior performance of LC cell with Fe2O3 NPs indicates that the proposed LC system have strong potential for use in the production of advanced LC displays.