Optical Signals (optical + signal)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Comparison of Intrinsic Optical Signals Associated with Low Mg2+, and 4-Aminopyridine,Induced Seizure-Like Events Reveals Characteristic Features in Adult Rat Limbic System

EPILEPSIA, Issue 6 2000
Katharina Buchheim
Summary: Purpose: To analyze the intrinsic optical signal change associated with seizure-like events in two frequently used in vitro models,the low-Mg2+ and the 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) models,and to monitor regions of onset and spread patterns of these discharges by using imaging of intrinsic optical signals (IOS). Methods: Combined hippocampal,entorhinal,cortex slices of adult rats were exposed to two different treatments: lowering extracellular Mg2+ concentrations or application of 100 ,M 4-AP. The electrographic features of the discharges were monitored using extracellular microelectrodes. Optical imaging was achieved by infrared transillumination of the slice and analysis of changes in light transmission using a subtraction approach. The electrographic features were compared with the optical changes. Regions of onset and spread patterns were analyzed in relevant anatomic regions of the slice. Results: Both lowering extracellular Mg2+ concentrations and application of 4-AP induced seizure-like events. The relative duration of the intrinsic optical signal change associated with seizure-like events in the low-Mg2+ model was significantly longer compared with that seen with those occurring in the 4-AP model, although duration of field potentials did not differ significantly in the two models. Seizure-like events of the low-Mg2+ model originated predominantly in the entorhinal cortex, with subsequent propagation toward the subiculum and neocortical structures. In contrast, no consistent region of onset or spread patterns were seen in the 4-AP model, indicating that the seizure initiation is not confined to a particular region in this model. Conclusions: We conclude that different forms of spontaneous epileptiform activity are associated with characteristic optical signal changes and that optical imaging represents an excellent method to assess regions of seizure onset and spread patterns. [source]


Extraction of Stimulus-Selective Intrinsic Optical Signals From the Cat Visual Cortex

IEEJ TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2009
Midori Nagai Non-member
Abstract Optical imaging based on intrinsic optical signals has been widely utilized in studies on the functional organization of various areas of the brain. Because of the small size of the optical signals and the large amount of background noise that is present, it is critical to be able to separate the stimulus-driven optical change from the background. In this study, we propose a novel method and apply it to the analysis of the orientation preference structure in cat area 17. The three criteria used to determine the activation included the amplitude of the optical change in the optical intensity, the statistical significance level of the change, and the temporal relationship between the optical change and the visual stimulation. In the activated region extracted by the new method, 82.4 ± 8.2% of the cells were electrophysiologically responsive to the stimuli that evoked the optical change. This was significantly higher than the 46.4 ± 7.1% value obtained when the activation region was extracted by the most widely used method, i.e. a differential map between two complementary stimuli, such as orthogonal orientations. Our newly proposed method provides a robust and an effective way to reduce manual operations used in the signal extraction process. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source]


Effects of urethane anaesthesia on sensory processing in the rat barrel cortex revealed by combined optical imaging and electrophysiology

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 5 2010
Ian M. Devonshire
Abstract The spatiotemporal dynamics of neuronal assemblies evoked by sensory stimuli have not yet been fully characterised, especially the extent to which they are modulated by prevailing brain states. In order to examine this issue, we induced different levels of anaesthesia, distinguished by specific electroencephalographic indices, and compared somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) with voltage-sensitive dye imaging (VSDI) responses in the rat barrel cortex evoked by whisker deflection. At deeper levels of anaesthesia, all responses were reduced in amplitude but, surprisingly, only VSDI responses exhibited prolonged activation resulting in a delayed return to baseline. Further analysis of the optical signal demonstrated that the reduction in response amplitude was constant across the area of activation, resulting in a global down-scaling of the population response. The manner in which the optical signal relates to the various neuronal generators that produce the SEP signal is also discussed. These data provide information regarding the impact of anaesthetic agents on the brain, and show the value of combining spatial analyses from neuroimaging approaches with more traditional electrophysiological techniques. [source]


Nordic rattle: the hoarse vocalization and the inflatable laryngeal air sac of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 2 2007
Roland Frey
Abstract Laryngeal air sacs have evolved convergently in diverse mammalian lineages including insectivores, bats, rodents, pinnipeds, ungulates and primates, but their precise function has remained elusive. Among cervids, the vocal tract of reindeer has evolved an unpaired inflatable ventrorostral laryngeal air sac. This air sac is not present at birth but emerges during ontogenetic development. It protrudes from the laryngeal vestibulum via a short duct between the epiglottis and the thyroid cartilage. In the female the growth of the air sac stops at the age of 2,3 years, whereas in males it continues to grow up to the age of about 6 years, leading to a pronounced sexual dimorphism of the air sac. In adult females it is of moderate size (about 100 cm3), whereas in adult males it is large (3000,4000 cm3) and becomes asymmetric extending either to the left or to the right side of the neck. In both adult females and males the ventral air sac walls touch the integument. In the adult male the air sac is laterally covered by the mandibular portion of the sternocephalic muscle and the skin. Both sexes of reindeer have a double stylohyoid muscle and a thyroepiglottic muscle. Possibly these muscles assist in inflation of the air sac. Head-and-neck specimens were subjected to macroscopic anatomical dissection, computer tomographic analysis and skeletonization. In addition, isolated larynges were studied for comparison. Acoustic recordings were made during an autumn round-up of semi-domestic reindeer in Finland and in a small zoo herd. Male reindeer adopt a specific posture when emitting their serial hoarse rutting calls. Head and neck are kept low and the throat region is extended. In the ventral neck region, roughly corresponding to the position of the large air sac, there is a mane of longer hairs. Neck swelling and mane spreading during vocalization may act as an optical signal to other males and females. The air sac, as a side branch of the vocal tract, can be considered as an additional acoustic filter. Individual acoustic recognition may have been the primary function in the evolution of a size-variable air sac, and this function is retained in mother,young communication. In males sexual selection seems to have favoured a considerable size increase of the air sac and a switch to call series instead of single calls. Vocalization became restricted to the rutting period serving the attraction of females. We propose two possibilities for the acoustic function of the air sac in vocalization that do not exclude each other. The first assumes a coupling between air sac and the environment, resulting in an acoustic output that is a combination of the vocal tract resonance frequencies emitted via mouth and nostrils and the resonance frequencies of the air sac transmitted via the neck skin. The second assumes a weak coupling so that resonance frequencies of the air sac are lost to surrounding tissues by dissipation. In this case the resonance frequencies of the air sac solely influence the signal that is further filtered by the remaining vocal tract. According to our results one acoustic effect of the air sac in adult reindeer might be to mask formants of the vocal tract proper. In other cervid species, however, formants of rutting calls convey essential information on the quality of the sender, related to its potential reproductive success, to conspecifics. Further studies are required to solve this inconsistency. [source]


Near-field mapping of surface refractive-index distributions

LASER PHYSICS LETTERS, Issue 9 2005
I.P. Radko
Abstract Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) in reflection is employed for high-resolution mapping of surface refractive-index distributions. Two different single-mode optical fibers with step-index profiles are characterized using a reflection SNOM setup, in which cross-polarized detection is employed to increase the contrast in optical images and, thereby, the method sensitivity. The SNOM images exhibit a clear ring-shaped structure associated with the fiber step-index profile, indicating that surface refractive-index variations being smaller than 10,2 can be detected. It is found that the quantitative interpretation of SNOM images requires accurate characterization of a fiber tip used, because the detected optical signal is a result of interference between the optical fields reflected by the sample surface and by the fiber tip itself. The possibilities and limitations of this experimental technique are discussed. (© 2005 by Astro, Ltd. Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA) [source]


Color-Oscillating Photonic Crystal Hydrogel

MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 20 2009
Entao Tian
Abstract In this work, a color-oscillating system is first developed by combining the intrinsic peristaltic motion of a Landolt pH-oscillator with the structure color of a well-designed pH-sensitive photonic crystal hydrogel. As a result, the pH oscillation reaction procedure could be distinctly monitored by the distinct change of structure color/optic signal. The oscillation rhythm of the pH well coincides with that of the stopband/structure color. The oscillation detail of each cycle can also be clearly monitored by color change. This work would be of great significance for the promising applications of real-time monitoring of the microactuator by optical signal or structure color. [source]


16×16 Mirror type optical switch with integrated fiber alignment and steady switching state

MICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 12 2008
Qinghua H. Chen
Abstract This paper reports a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) 16×16 free space optical switch based on high-reflectivity mirrors. The mirror monolithically integrated with the fiber grooves can enlarge its rotation angles up to 90°, and keep this as a steady state to steer the optical signal. The reflectivity of the mirror is measured to be 93.1 , 96.3%. The smallest fiber-mirror-fiber insertion loss is 2.1 dB by utilizing optiFocusTM collimating lensed fibers. Moreover, only about ±0.01 dB oscillating amplitude of insertion loss is provoked after the device is tested for 15 min for 5 , 90 Hz in the vertical vibration amplitude of 3 mm. In addition, excellent antifatigue performance of the mirror, which can endure more than 109 cycles of actuation, has been proven. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 3012,3016, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23879 [source]


Evaluation of the spatial distribution of birefringence in an optical-fiber link

MICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 2 2004
K. Perlicki
Abstract We present a simple method of the calculation of spatial distribution of birefringence in an optical-fiber link. This method is based on an analysis of the properties of the backscattered optical signal. The analytical results are compared with the numerical results, and excellent agreement is obtained. We demonstrate that the spatial-birefringence distribution may be obtained from the calculation of the roundtrip Muller matrices derived from only two power-evolution traces, corresponding to two different angles of the polarizer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 42: 147,149, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20234 [source]


Optical imaging of medullary ventral respiratory network during eupnea and gasping In situ

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 11 2006
Jeffrey T. Potts
Abstract In severe hypoxia, respiratory rhythm is shifted from an eupneic, ramp-like motor pattern to gasping characterized by a decrementing pattern of phrenic motor activity. However, it is not known whether hypoxia reconfigures the spatiotemporal organization of the central respiratory rhythm generator. Using the in situ arterially perfused juvenile rat preparation, we investigated whether the shift from eupnea to gasping was associated with a reconfiguration of the spatiotemporal pattern of respiratory neuronal activity in the ventral medullary respiratory network. Optical images of medullary respiratory network activity were obtained from male rats (4,6 weeks of age). Part of the medullary network was stained with a voltage-sensitive dye (di-2 ANEPEQ) centred both within, and adjacent to, the pre-Bötzinger complex (Pre-BötC). During eupnea, optical signals initially increased prior to the onset of phrenic activity and progressively intensified during the inspiratory phase peaking at the end of inspiration. During early expiration, fluorescence was also detected and slowly declined throughout this phase. In contrast, hypoxia shifted the respiratory motor pattern from eupnea to gasping and optical signals were restricted to inspiration only. Areas active during gasping showed fluorescence that was more intensive and covered a larger region of the rostral ventrolateral medulla compared to eupnea. Regions exhibiting peak inspiratory fluorescence did not coincide spatially during eupnea and gasping. Moreover, there was a recruitment of additional medullary regions during gasping that were not active during eupnea. These results provide novel evidence that the shift in respiratory motor pattern from eupnea to gasping appears to be associated with a reconfiguration of the central respiratory rhythm generator characterized by changes in its spatiotemporal organization. [source]


Fluorescence Modulation in Polymer Bilayers Containing Fluorescent and Photochromic Dopants,

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 5 2005
M. Tomasulo
Abstract We have identified viable operating principles for the modulation of optical signals under the influence of optical stimulations. They are based on the overlap between the emission bands of a fluorescent compound and the absorption bands of one of the two forms of a bistable photochromic switch. Under these conditions, the photoinduced interconversion of the two states of the photochrome modulates efficiently the emission intensity of the fluorophore. We have implemented this mechanism for intermolecular fluorescence modulation with multilayer structures. They consist of two quartz plates sandwiching two overlapping polymer layers. One of the polymers is doped with a fluorescent benzofurazan. The other contains a photochromic spiropyran. The multilayer assembly is operated with two light sources. One of them is centered at the excitation wavelength of the fluorophore, where neither of the two states of the photochrome absorbs. The other light source is switched between ultraviolet and visible wavelengths to induce the interconversion between the two states of the photochrome. The light emitted by the fluorescent component has to propagate through the photochromic layer before reaching a detector. It can do so efficiently for only one of the two states of the photochrome. It follows that a measurement of the light intensity reaching the detector can read the state of the photochromic switch, which in turn is written and erased with optical stimulations. Thus, our strategy for all-optical processing can be used to store and retrieve binary digits, as well as to implement optical inversion, with the aid of engineered molecule-based components. [source]


Extraction of Stimulus-Selective Intrinsic Optical Signals From the Cat Visual Cortex

IEEJ TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2009
Midori Nagai Non-member
Abstract Optical imaging based on intrinsic optical signals has been widely utilized in studies on the functional organization of various areas of the brain. Because of the small size of the optical signals and the large amount of background noise that is present, it is critical to be able to separate the stimulus-driven optical change from the background. In this study, we propose a novel method and apply it to the analysis of the orientation preference structure in cat area 17. The three criteria used to determine the activation included the amplitude of the optical change in the optical intensity, the statistical significance level of the change, and the temporal relationship between the optical change and the visual stimulation. In the activated region extracted by the new method, 82.4 ± 8.2% of the cells were electrophysiologically responsive to the stimuli that evoked the optical change. This was significantly higher than the 46.4 ± 7.1% value obtained when the activation region was extracted by the most widely used method, i.e. a differential map between two complementary stimuli, such as orthogonal orientations. Our newly proposed method provides a robust and an effective way to reduce manual operations used in the signal extraction process. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source]


Photonic Ionic Liquids Polymer for Naked-Eye Detection of Anions,

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 21 2008
Xiaobin Hu
A new concept for anion detection in a handy, rapid, and sensitive way is described based on the combination of the unique properties of both ILs and photonic crystals. By simple counteranion exchanging of the pendant IL units, the 3D highly ordered IL porous structure can directly sense different anions and easily convert the anion detection events into readable optical signals with color changes. [source]


Heterogeneity of Ventricular Fibrillation Dominant Frequency During Global Ischemia in Isolated Rabbit Hearts

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2007
Ch.B. , JANE CALDWELL M.B.
Introduction: Ventricular fibrillation (VF) studies show that ECG-dominant frequency (DF) decreases as ischemia develops. This study investigates the contribution of the principle ischemic metabolic components to this decline. Methods and Results: Rabbit hearts were Langendorff-perfused at 40 mL/min with Tyrode's solution and loaded with RH237. Epicardial optical action potentials were recorded with a photodiode array (256 sites, 15 × 15 mm). After 60 seconds of VF (induced by burst pacing), global ischemia was produced by low flow (6 mL/min), or the solution changed to impose hypoxia (95% N2/5% CO2), low pHo (6.7, 80% O2/20% CO2), or raised [K+]o (8 mM). DF of the optical signals was determined at each site. Conduction velocity (CV), action potential duration (APD90), effective refractory period (ERP), activation threshold, dV/dtmax, and membrane potential were measured in separate experiments during ventricular pacing. During VF, ischemia decreased DF in the left ventricle (LV) (to [58 ± 6]%, P < 0.001), but not the right (RV) ([93 ± 5]%). Raised [K+]o reproduced this DF pattern (LV: [67 ± 12]%, P < 0.001; RV: [95 ± 9]%). LV DF remained elevated in hypoxia or low pHo. During ventricular pacing, ischemia decreased CV in LV but not RV. Raised [K+]o did not change CV in either ventricle. Ischemia and raised [K+]o shortened APD90 without altering ERP. LV activation threshold increased in both ischemia and raised [K+]o and was associated with diastolic depolarization and decreased dV/dtmax. Conclusions: These results suggest that during VF, decreased ECG DF in global ischemia is largely due to elevated [K+]o affecting the activation thresholds in the LV rather than RV. [source]


Mapping of Epicardial Activation in a Rabbit Model of Chronic Myocardial Infarction:

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2007
Endocardial, Epicardial Pacing, Response to Atrial
Introduction: This study examines the consequences of a large transmural apical infarct on the epicardial electrical activity in isolated rabbit hearts. Methods and Results: Hearts were isolated 8 weeks after coronary artery ligation. Membrane voltage from the epicardial surface of the left ventricle (LV) including the infarct was monitored using the voltage sensitive dye RH237. Optical action potentials were detected from the epicardial surface of the infarct; the signal amplitude was ,20% of those in the noninfarcted zone (NZ). Epicardial activation mapping of the LV free wall showed that during right atrial (RA) pacing, the activation sequence was not significantly different between infarcted and sham-operated groups. However, direct stimulation of the epicardium in the NZ revealed an area of slow conduction velocity (CV ,5 cm/s,1, ,10% of normal values) at the margin of the infarct zone (IZ). Within the IZ, CV was ,50% of normal. A prominent endocardial rim of myocardium in the infarct was not the source of epicardial optical signals because chemical ablation of the endocardium did not affect the epicardial activation pattern. Concluson: Therefore, remnant groups of myocytes in the mid-wall and epicardium of the infarct scar support normal electrical activation during RA pacing. Areas of delayed conduction emerge only on epicardial stimulation. [source]


Development of an Optrode for Intramural Multisite Optical Recordings of Vm in the Heart

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 11 2003
JONATHAN L. BYARS M.S.
Introduction: Optical mapping of transmembrane potential (Vm) is an important tool in the investigation of impulse propagation in the heart. It provides valuable information about spatiotemporal changes of Vm that cannot be obtained by other techniques, but it presently is limited to measurements from the heart surfaces. Therefore, the goal of this work was to develop a technique for intramural multisite optical measurements of Vm using fiberoptic technology. Methods and Results: An optrode, a bundle of thin optical fibers, was developed for measuring intramural optical signals at multiple sites in the heart. The optrode consisted of seven fibers with diameter of 225 ,m arranged in a hexagonal pattern that were used to deliver excitation light to the myocardium, to collect the emitted fluorescence, and to project the light onto a 16 × 16 array of photodiode detectors. Rabbit hearts were stained with the Vm -sensitive dye RH-237. Fluorescence was excited using a 100-W Hg lamp. Intramural action potentials were recorded at multiple sites separated by 2 mm inside the left ventricle. Signal-to-noise (RMS) ratio was 21.2 ± 12 (n = 7) without averaging or ratiometry and with negligible cross-talk (<1.9%) between the neighboring photodiodes. The size of the recording area for an individual fiber was estimated at approximately 0.8 mm. Conclusion: These data demonstrate feasibility of multisite transmural measurements of Vm without signal averaging and ratiometry. This technique might become useful in studies of transmural impulse conduction during arrhythmias and defibrillation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 14, pp. 1196-1202, November 2003) [source]


A dual continuous- and burst-mode clock recovery module utilizing fiber dispersion

MICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 8 2010
Minhui Yan
Abstract A clock recovery module suitable for both burst- and continuous-mode optical receiver utilizing fiber dispersion is experimentally demonstrated for the first time. The module utilizes the nonlinear characteristics of the received nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) optical signals experiencing the fiber dispersion and the photo-detection to extract the clock information. Experiments demonstrated its functionality in both operation modes up to 9 Gbps. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 1747,1750, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.25347 [source]


Direct optical-to-microwave domain conversion

MICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 2 2006
M. Haridim
Abstract A novel method for direct conversion of optical signals into microwave signals is proposed. This method is based on the optical controlling of microwave devices. The feasibility of the proposed method is experimentally proved for a microstrip line implemented on Si substrate. We present experimental results for conversion of on-off keying (OOK) optical signals to binary amplitude-shift keying (ASK) microwave signals. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 320,322, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21337 [source]


2126: Retinal and cortical functions in adult mice lacking cannabinoid receptors

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010
C CASANOVA
Purpose Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) has been localized in the adult retina of rodents. It is expressed in cones, horizontal, bipolar, some amacrine and ganglion cells. The expression of the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) mRNA in the retina of adult rats was also reported. The goal of the present study was to investigate the functional roles of CB1R and CB2R in the retina by comparing retinal electrophysiological responses and cortical optical signals in normal and genetically modified mice. Methods Experiments were conducted on four different groups of C57BL/6 mice: CB1R wild type (WT), CB1R knockout (KO), CB2R WT and KO. Scotopic electroretinograms (ERG) luminance-response functions and photopic ERGs were recorded. In a subset of CB1 groups, intrinsic signals acquired by optical brain imaging were used to determine spatial frequency, contrast sensitivity and retinotopic maps in the visual cortex. Results The CB1R KO retina showed a stronger photopic response. No differences were observed for scotopic responses. For the CB2R groups, the scotopic b-wave response was stronger in the KO mice. No differences could be seen between visual cortices maps with respect to SF and contrast sensitivity. Retinotopic maps differed only along the azimuth. Significant differences were observed between hemodynamic response functions. Conclusion These results indicate that CB receptors can play a regulatory effect on the neurovascular coupling at the retinal and cortical levels and on the functional organization of the mice visual cortex along the azimuth Axis.(NSERC) [source]


A [3]Rotaxane with Three Stable States That Responds to Multiple-Inputs and Displays Dual Fluorescence Addresses

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 20 2005
Da-Hui Qu
Abstract A [3]rotaxane molecular shuttle containing two ,-cyclodextrin (,-CD) macrocycles, an azobenzene unit, a stilbene unit, and two different fluorescent naphthalimide units has been investigated. The azobenzene unit and the stilbene unit can be E/Z -photoisomerized separately by light excited at different wavelengths. Irradiation at 380 nm resulted in the photoisomerization of the azobenzene unit, leading to the formation of one stable state of the [3]rotaxane (Z1- NNAS-2CD); irradiation at 313 nm resulted in the photoisomerization of the stilbene unit, leading to the formation of another stable state of the [3]rotaxane (Z2- NNAS-2CD). The reversible conversion of the Z1 and Z2 isomers back to the E isomer by irradiation at 450 nm and 280 nm, respectively, is accompanied by recovery of the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the [3]rotaxane. The E isomer and the two Z isomers have been characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy and by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The light stimuli can induce shuttling motions of the two ,-CD macrocycles on the molecular thread; concomitantly, the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the [3]rotaxane change in a regular way. When the ,-CD macrocycle stays close to the fluorescent moiety, the fluorescence of the moiety become stronger due to the rigidity of the ,-CD ring. As the photoisomerization processes are fully reversible, the photo-induced shuttling motions of the ,-CD rings can be repeated, accompanied by dual reversible fluorescence signal outputs. The potential application of such light-induced mechanical motions at the molecular level could provide some insight into the workings of a molecular machine with entirely optical signals, and could provide a cheap, convenient interface for communication between micro- and macroworlds. [source]