The promise of new architectures and more cost-effective miniaturization has prompted interest in molecular and biomolecular electronics. Bioelectronics offers valuable near-term potential, because evolution and natural selection have optimized many biological molecules to perform tasks that are required for device applications. The light-transducing protein bacteriorhodopsin provides not only an efficient photonic material, but also a versatile template for device creation and optimization via both chemical modification and genetic engineering. We examine here the use of this protein as the active component in holographic associative memories as well as branched-photocycle three-dimensional optical memories. The associative memory is based on a Fourier transform optical loop and utilizes the real-time holographic properties of the protein thin films. The three-dimensional memory utilizes an unusual branching reaction that creates a long-lived photoproduct. By using a sequential multiphoton process, parallel write, read, and erase processes can be carried out without disturbing data outside of the doubly irradiated volume elements. The methods and procedures of prototyping these bioelectronic devices are discussed. We also examine current efforts to optimize the protein memory medium by using chemical and genetic methods.

The sensitivity and linearity are critical parameters that can preserve the high pressure‐resolution across a wide range and simplify the signal processing process of flexible tactile sensors. Although extensive micro‐structured dielectrics have been explored to improve the sensitivity of capacitive sensors, the attenuation of sensitivity with increasing pressure is yet to be fully resolved. Herein, a novel dielectric layer based on the gradient micro‐dome architecture (GDA) is presented to simultaneously realize the high sensitivity and ultrabroad linearity range of capacitive sensors. The gradient micro‐dome pixels with rationally collocated amount and height can effectively regulate the contact area and hence enable the linear variation in effective dielectric constant of the GDA dielectric layer under varying pressures. With systematical optimization, the sensor exhibits the high sensitivity of 0.065 kPa−1 in an ultrabroad linearity range up to 1700 kPa, which is first reported. Based on the excellent sensitivity and linearity, the high pressure‐resolution can be preserved across the full scale of pressure spectrum. Therefore, potential applications such as all‐round physiological signal detection in diverse scenarios, control instruction transmission with combinatorial force inputs, and convenient Morse code communication with non‐overlapping capacitance signals are successfully demonstrated through a single sensor device.

The preparation and photochemical properties of dried deionized blue membrane (dIbR600; lambdamax approximately 600 nm, epsilon approximately 54, 760 cm-1 M-1, f approximately 1.1) in polyvinyl alcohol films are studied. Reversible photoconversion from dIbR600 to the pink membrane (dIbR485; lambdamax approximately 485 nm) is shown to occur in these films under conditions of strong 647-nm laser irradiation. The pink membrane analog, dIbR485, has a molar extinction coefficient of approximately 39,000 cm-1 M-1 (f approximately 1.2). The ratio of pink --> blue and blue --> pink quantum efficiencies is 33 +/- 5. We observe an additional blue-shifted species (dIbR455, lambdamax approximately 455 nm) with a very low oscillator strength (f approximately 0.6, epsilon approximately 26,000 cm-1 M-1). This species is the product of fast thermal decay of dIbR485. Molecular modeling indicates that charge/charge and charge/dipole interactions introduced by the protonation of ASP85 are responsible for lowering the excited-state all-trans --> 9-cis barrier to approximately 6 kcal mol-1 while increasing the corresponding all-trans --> 13-cis barrier to approximately 4 kcal mol-1. Photochemical formation of both 9-cis and 13-cis photoproducts are now competitive, as is observed experimentally. We suggest that dIbR455 may be a 9-cis, 10-s-distorted species that partially divides the chromophore into two localized conjugated segments with a concomitant blue shift and decreased oscillator strength of the lambdamax absorption band.

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In this treatment planning study, the potential benefits of a rotating shield brachytherapy (RSBT) technique based on a partially-shielded electronic brachytherapy source were assessed for treating cervical cancer. Conventional intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT), intracavitary plus supplementary interstitial (IS+ICBT), and RSBT treatment plans for azimuthal emission angles of 180° (RSBT-180) and 45° (RSBT-45) were generated for five patients. For each patient, high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2) (α/β = 10 Gy) was escalated until bladder, rectum, or sigmoid colon tolerance EQD2 values were reached. External beam radiotherapy dose (1.8 Gy × 25) was accounted for, and brachytherapy was assumed to have been delivered in 5 fractions. IS+ICBT provided a greater HR-CTV D90 (minimum EQD2 to the hottest 90%) than ICBT. D90 was greater for RSBT-45 than IS+ICBT for all five patients, and greater for RSBT-180 than IS+ICBT for two patients. When the RSBT-45/180 plan with the lowest HR-CTV D90 that was greater than the D90 the ICBT or IS+ICBT plan was selected, the average (range) of D90 increases for RSBT over ICBT and IS+ICBT were 16.2 (6.3-27.2)and 8.5 (0.03-20.16) Gy, respectively. The average (range) treatment time increase per fraction of RSBT was 34.56 (3.68-70.41) min over ICBT and 34.59 (3.57-70.13) min over IS+ICBT. RSBT can increase D90 over ICBT and IS+ICBT without compromising organ-at-risk sparing. The D90 and treatment time improvements from RSBT depend on the patient and shield emission angle.