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Acoustic metamaterials based on out‐of‐plane actuation can flexibly reconfigure arrayed unit cells on demand, to shape sound fields for applications such as beam formation or holography. However, implementing active reconfiguration on the millimeter‐scale is challenging, due to the lack of suitable actuation methods. Besides electronic complexity, current methods suffer from limited actuation range (sub‐millimeter), and discrete steps inhibit smooth sound modulation. Here, a novel fluid‐driven approach for continuous out‐of‐plane actuation is presented. A three dimensionally (3D)‐printed fluidic chip is integrated with an elastomeric membrane, and selective inflation of membrane sections actuates acoustic reflector unit cells according to their shape and position. The compact device enables displacements >5 mm without coupling mechanisms or external power. It is experimentally demonstrate single‐channel and multi‐channel prototypes, including an ultrasonic metasurface built for controllable acoustic focusing at five different locations. The fluidic chips are monolithically printed via digital light processing without internal support material, and the membranes are fabricated by accessible and cost‐effective spacer‐based fabrication. The methods are reproducible and eliminate complex processes (e.g., adhesion of layers) commonly associated with multi‐layered micro/milli fluidic devices. The outlined approaches and concepts in this work can be applied beyond the field of metamaterials, such as for visual displays, or tactile devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For more than a century, segmented displays, such as the seven‐segment display, have been a popular and cost‐effective option. They can display various commonly used characters by controlling a few custom‐shaped binary light emitters. Herein, the acoustic equivalent of segmented displays, which uses heterogeneous sound modulators to generate a limited set of acoustic holographic images, is introduced. Designing segmented acoustic displays is more challenging than optical ones due to the complex relationship between emitted sound and generated holographic images. To address this challenge, a design methodology based on unsupervised learning techniques is proposed. The approach balances the cost of acoustic displays and the quality of the images they generate, resulting in segmented displays that outperform existing general‐purpose ones when generating a finite set of acoustic images. Using simulations and physical fabrication of metamaterial‐based acoustic displays, it is proven that the approach can create segmented acoustic displays that produce high‐quality images at a lower cost. Additionally, the methodology is applied to multifrequency acoustic displays and its scalability is assessed as the number of images increases. The cost reduction through segmentation presented herein is expected to democratize sound manipulators for acoustic displays and other applications like acoustic levitation and noise cancellation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐quality acousto‐holographic patterns and images, integral to applications like 3D displays, acoustophoresis, and midair haptics, require precise distribution of ultrasound waves to achieve. Essential tools for this task are spatial sound modulators (SSMs), which control constituent elements to enable dynamic distribution of sound pressure. However, current ultrasonic SSMs face limitations due to high costs and the intricate actuation of numerous small, closely spaced units. This study introduces "segmented SSMs," novel devices that combine traditional acoustic metasurface pixel units into custom‐shaped segmented elements. These segmented SSMs reduce actuation costs and complexity while retaining pressure distribution quality. This approach includes a custom phase agglomeration algorithm (PAA), that offers a hierarchy of potential segmentation solutions for user selection. An SSM fabrication method is detailed using off‐the‐shelf 3D printers and bespoke control electronics, completing an end‐to‐end methodology from conception to realization. This approach is validated with two prototype SSM devices that focus sound waves and levitate polystyrene beads using dynamic segmented elements. Further enhancements to the technique are explored through hybrid SSM devices with both static and dynamic elements. The pipeline facilitates efficient SSM construction across diverse applications and invites the inception of future devices with varying sizes, uses, and actuation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional energy sources are continuously depleting, and the world is actively seeking new green and efficient energy solutions. Enormous amounts of acoustic energy are dissipated daily, but the low intensity and limited efficiency of current harvesting techniques are preventing its adoption as a ubiquitous method of power generation. Herein, a strategic solution to increase acoustic energy harvesting efficiency using a specially designed metamaterial is implemented. A scalable transmissive labyrinthine acoustic metamaterial (LAM) is designed, developed, and employed to maximize ultrasound (40 kHz) capture over its large surface area (>27 k mm2), which is focused onto a piezoelectric film (78.6 mm2), thus magnifying incident sound pressure by 13.6 times. Three different piezoelectric films – two commercial and one lab‐made nanocomposite film are tested with LAM in the acoustic energy harvesting system. An extraordinary voltage gain of 157–173% and a maximum power gain of 272% using the LAM compared to the case without the LAM are achieved. Multipoint focusing using holographic techniques, showcasing acoustic patterning to allow on‐demand simultaneous harvesting in separate locations, is demonstrated. Our versatile approach for high‐intensity acoustic energy harvesting opens future opportunities to exploit sound energy as a resource to contribute toward global sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise control of ultrasonic acoustic waves with frequencies f ≳ 20 kHz is useful in a range of applications from ultrasonic scanners to nondestructive testing and consumer haptic devices. A spatial sound modulator (SSM) is the acoustic analogy to the spatial light modulator (SLM) in optics and is highly sought after by acoustics researchers. A spatial sound modulator is constrained by very distinct practical conditions. Namely, it must be a reconfigurable device which modulates sound arbitrarily from a decoupled source. Here a reflective phase modulating device is realized, whose local units can be tuned to imprint a phase signature to an incoming wave. It is manually reconfigurable and consists of 1024 rigidly ended square waveguides with sliding bottom surfaces to provide variable phase delays. Experiments demonstrate the ability of this device to focus ultrasonic waves in air at different points in space, generate accurate pressure landscapes, and perform multiplane holography. Moreover, thanks to the subwavelength nature of the unit cells, this device outperforms state‐of‐the‐art phased‐array transducers of the same size in the quality and energy distribution of generated acoustic holographic images. These results pave the way for the construction of electronically controlled reflective SSMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vorinostat (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid), a potent, oral histone deacetylase inhibitor, has demonstrated clinical activity in non-Japanese patients with various hematological and solid tumors. We sought to determine the maximum tolerated dose and a recommended phase II dose for 18 Japanese patients with solid tumors (median age, 58 years; range, 25–72 years) who failed standard therapy. Patients received vorinostat for 14 days followed by a 7-day rest. The initial dose was 100 mg twice daily escalating by 100 mg twice daily. Once-daily dosing was tested at 400 and 500 mg. A maximum tolerated dose could not be identified. Dose-limiting toxicities (thrombocytopenia, anorexia, and fatigue) were observed in two of six patients receiving 200 mg twice daily and in one of six patients receiving 500 mg once daily. In the 100–500 mg dose range, vorinostat area under the concentration–time curve increased in proportion to dose with a pharmacokinetic profile similar to that established in non-Japanese patients. Vorinostat doses of 200 mg twice daily or 500 mg once daily for 14 days followed by a 7-day rest were well tolerated and are candidate doses for phase II trials, although a maximum tolerated dose for vorinostat was not reached. ( Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 1728–1734) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which aimed to determine whether and where bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is disrupted during the adenoma-carcinoma sequence of colorectal cancer (CRC) formation. A tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry of BMP receptors and signal transduction elements in adenomas and CRC specimens were used to elucidate the role of BMP signalling in CRC carcinogenesis. The results of the study showed that the loss of BMP signalling correlates with progression of adenomas to cancer occurs during cancer progression.