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Published
, Published online: 06 February 2025,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2025.008
In photonic crystal slab (PCS) structures, the bound states in the continuum (BICs) and circularly polarised states (dubbed C-points) are critical topological polarisation singularities in momentum space that have garnered significant attention owing to their novel topological and optical properties. In this study, we engineered a novel PCS imager featuring two C-points with opposite chirality through symmetry breaking, resulting in maximal asymmetric transmission responses characterised by near-unity circular dichroism (CD) values. By harnessing the chiral selectivity of the C-points, a high-CD PCS imager can provide two sets of optical transfer functions (OTFs) to facilitate both edge detection and bright-field imaging. Notably, one set of OTFs was finely tuned to a Lorentzian line shape to achieve perfect edge detection. We developed a multifunctional imaging system by integrating a PCS imager into a traditional optical system. Both theoretical and experimental demonstrations confirmed that this system provides bright-field and edge-enhanced images with micrometer-scale resolution. Furthermore, these two independent functions can be easily switched by altering the circular polarisation state of the light source.
Published
, Published online: 17 January 2025,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2025.001
In this study, a ray tracing model based on the law of reflection in vector form was developed to obtain the design parameters of multipass cells (MPC) with dense spot patterns. Four MPCs with distinct patterns were obtained using an established mathematical model. An MPC with a four-concentric-circle pattern exhibited the longest optical path length (OPL) of approximately 38 m and an optimal ratio of optical path length to volume (RLV) of 13.8 cm-2. A light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES)-based methane (CH4) sensor was constructed for the first time using the developed optimal MPC and Raman fiber amplifier (RFA). A novel trapezoidal-tip quartz tuning fork (QTF) was used as the detector to further improve the sensing performance. The CH4-LITES sensor exhibited an excellent linear response to optical power and CH4 concentration. The minimum detection limit (MDL) of the CH4-LITES sensor reached 322 ppb when the output optical power of the RFA was 350 mW. The Allan deviation of the system indicated that the MDL decreased to 59.5 ppb when the average time was increased to 100 s.
Published
, Published online: 07 March 2024,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2024.005
Metasurfaces are one of the most promising devices to break through the limitations of bulky optical components. By offering a new method of light manipulation based on the light-matter interaction in subwavelength nanostructures, metasurfaces enable the efficient manipulation of the amplitude, phase, polarization, and frequency of light and derive a series of possibilities for important applications. However, one key challenge for the realization of applications for meta-devices is how to fabricate large-scale, uniform nanostructures with high resolution. In this review, we review the state-of-the-art nanofabrication techniques compatible with the manufacture of meta-devices. Maskless lithography, masked lithography, and other nanofabrication techniques are highlighted in detail. We also delve into the constraints and limitations of the current fabrication methods while providing some insights on solutions to overcome these challenges for advanced nanophotonic applications.
Published
, Published online: 06 March 2024,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2024.003
One of the challenges in the field of multi-photon 3D laser printing lies in further increasing the print speed in terms of voxels/s. Here, we present a setup based on a 7 × 7 focus array (rather than 3 × 3 in our previous work) and using a focus velocity of about 1 m/s (rather than 0.5 m/s in our previous work) at the diffraction limit (40×/NA1.4 microscope objective lens). Combined, this advance leads to a ten times increased print speed of about 108 voxels/s. We demonstrate polymer printing of a chiral metamaterial containing more than 1.7 × 1012 voxels as well as millions of printed microparticles for potential pharmaceutical applications. The critical high-quality micro-optical components of the setup, namely a diffractive optical element generating the 7 × 7 beamlets and a 7 × 7 lens array, are manufactured by using a commercial two-photon grayscale 3D laser printer.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 24 January 2026,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.020
[PDF](2)
Optical phase imaging is a powerful tool widely used in bioimaging, material characterization, pathology, and nanomanufacturing. Yet, it faces a persistent challenge: the inherent contradiction between resolution and field of view (FOV) in conventional microscope-based systems. To address this limitation, we propose Lateral Line-Scan Computational Phase Imaging (L2-CPI), a novel computational phase imaging architecture that enables consecutive phase imaging of moving samples. Our experiments with both transparent and opaque samples demonstrate that L2-CPI achieves an equivalent FOV of D × L, where D is the camera sensor edge length and L is the motorized stage travel range. This implies that the equivalent FOV of L2-CPI in a single measurement can be arbitrarily large, provided the stage travel range L is arbitrarily long. Our work breaks the long-term contradiction between resolution and FOV, establishing a new paradigm for ultra-large-FOV phase imaging in dynamic mode without sacrificing optical resolution. This advancement holds significant potential for applications in bioimaging, material characterization, biosensing, nanometrology, and semiconductor inspection.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 24 January 2026,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.021
[PDF](0)
Metrology is a prerequisite for all advanced fabrication methods. For precision optical systems, optical surfaces require form accuracies down to nanometer level - accross areas with lateral dimensions measuring centimeters to decimeters, or even larger for astronomical instrumentation. This poses a challenge specifically for aspheric and freeform surfaces that scientists have tackled ever since the fabrication technologies allow the production of these, from an optics designer point of view, superior surfaces. In this work, we discuss several state of the art metrology approaches with a focus on calibration. Specifically, we restrict ourselves to interferometric areal methods that have the potential to acquire a dense 2D surface deviation map within a short data acquisition time of less than a minute.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 22 January 2026,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.027
[PDF](80)
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is widely used for trace detection and compositional analysis of biochemical samples. Constructing multidimensionally ordered hotspots with high densities and intensities is crucial for achieving superior SERS substrate performance. Here, we propose a multilevel SERS substrate based on curvature and structural optimisation strategies. We fabricated microlenses with various curvatures via modification and etching using a temporally-shaped femtosecond laser. These lenses were decorated with wrinkles and Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) via sequential pre-strain application and chemical deposition. Experimental and simulation results demonstrated that the coupling of the wide-field electric field induced by the microlens with the localised plasmonic hot spots on the AgNPs and wrinkles enhanced the localised surface electric field. Curvature-optimised microlenses can increase the wide-field electric fields. The fabricated SERS substrates achieved a low minimum detection limit of 10-11 M and an enhancement factor of approximately 1.22 × 107. These substrates can be employed to detect thiram fungicide on crops using two different methods (in situ detection and solution-assisted detection), demonstrating potential for operating efficiently under different usage conditions.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 21 January 2026,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.025
[PDF](140)
Binder jetting (BJ) additive manufacturing demonstrates significant potential in the fabrication of silicon carbide composites (Si/SiC) mirrors with arbitrary structures. However, the insufficient performance of BJ-prepared Si/SiC, primarily due to high residual silicon (Si) content, limits its application. Here, graphite addition method was proposed to reduce the residual Si content through dual mechanisms. Performance enhancement mechanisms were revealed that graphite, as the self-lubricating phase, improves the flowability of raw powders, which facilitates to reduce the content and size of residual Si. Additionally, β-SiC was formed by the reaction of residual Si and carbon during reactive melt infiltration (RMI) process. The results show that the density of Si/SiC was increased by 5.99% and the residual Si content was decreased by 18.18%. Notably, the flexural strength, elastic modulus and thermal conductivity reached 268.37 MPa, 329.93 GPa and 127.01 W/(m·K), respectively. The dimensional deviations throughout the entire process were -0.11% in length, -0.49% in width, and +0.28% in height. Finally, high-performance Si/SiC mirrors with complex structure were fabricated. Furthermore, the shape accuracy and surface roughness of the Si/SiC mirror were 12.05 nm RMS and 0.772 nm RMS. Therefore, this work manifested the feasibility of graphite addition method for the performance enhancement of BJ additive manufacturing optical Si/SiC mirrors.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 16 January 2026,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.026
[PDF](156)
We propose a high-precision assembly technique for realizing high-resolution nano- to microscale displays using a trapped-assembly approach that integrates a doctor-blade-based ink-delivery system with dielectrophoresis (DEP)-induced assembly. Octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were coated onto the pixel-defined layer (PDL) to promote ink trapping and confine fin-LEDs within individual pixels during assembly. Key process parameters—including the viscosity and dielectric properties of the ink solvent, speed and number of blade passes, blade-to-substrate gap, and applied DEP voltage and frequency—were systematically optimised, as these parameters affect solvent confinement of the solvent and fin-LED assembly behavior. Under optimised conditions, achieved through precise control of solvent polarity, DEP force and torque, and doctor-blading parameters, all 400 pixels were successfully assembled. Statistical analysis revealed that 90% of the pixels contained 12-20 fin-LEDs, with an average of 16.3 fin-LEDs per pixel and a standard deviation of 3.5. The overlap ratio was limited to 8%, and 92% of the fin-LEDs were accurately assembled, of which 95% established contact with the p-GaN surface. Electroluminescent devices fabricated using the assembled fin-LEDs exhibited bright and uniform emission across the entire pixel array, confirming their excellent assembly quality and high electrical reliability. The DEP-based trapped-assembly method provides a reliable and scalable strategy for the practical integration of nano- to microscale LEDs in next-generation high-resolution display technologies.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 12 January 2026,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.024
[PDF](228)
The demand for compact, high-performance optical components has driven the development of increasingly sophisticated and miniaturized optical elements, often requiring complex and costly fabrication methods. In this study, we propose a cost-effective and accessible methodology for the fabrication of lenses and free-form optics using a commercially available stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer. A systematic characterisation of six transparent photopolymer resins was conducted in terms of their spectroscopic, optical, and morphological properties, i.e., surface and dimensional properties. The evaluation encompassed parameters such as transmittance, autofluorescence, refractive index, and surface roughness. A straightforward yet resilient printing and post-treatment protocol was formulated, facilitating the fabrication of optical components with over 80% transmittance, minimal intrinsic fluorescence, and surface quality that is compatible with exacting optical applications. The fabricated components demonstrated excellent dimensional fidelity to digital designs and high reproducibility. To demonstrate the versatility of this approach, aspherical, miniaturized, and free-form lenses were designed and integrated into three fluorogenic sensing systems, including oil (strip based) and chlorine (microfluidic based) detection platforms, as well as a smartphone-based SARS-CoV-2 biosensor. The integration of customized 3D-printed optics has been demonstrated to enhance signal collection and readout performance, thereby highlighting the potential of this approach to democratize the rapid prototyping and deployment of miniaturized optical systems. This work represents a significant advancement in the field of additive manufacturing, particularly in relation to the development of functional photonic devices. Furthermore, it opens new prospects for sensor applications in biosensing, microfluidics, imaging, and integrated optics.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 26 December 2025,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.013
[PDF](900)
The rapid evolution of high-end technologies, such as satellite internet, extreme ultraviolet lithography, and inertial confinement fusion, demands the manufacturing of optical elements with low cost, rapid manufacturing, and superior performance. Existing sub-aperture polishing paradigms rely on a stable tool influence function (TIF) and control material removal by convolving the dwell time along the path. However, controlling only dwell time creates an inherent trade-off between removal efficiency and fabrication accuracy, introducing mid-spatial-frequency errors. This paper proposes an innovative manufacturing paradigm based on the immersion depth and scanning speed dynamic co-variation (IDSS-DC) model, establishing an adjustable mechanism for the TIF. A novel dual-degree-of-freedom coordinated control paradigm in optical fabrication is developed, enabling the simultaneous optimization of efficiency and accuracy. The influence of immersion depth on removal efficiency is derived, facilitating spatiotemporal control of the TIF in shape contour and removal efficiency, allowing simultaneous optimization of multi-spatial-frequency errors within a single pass. A pointwise curvature-adaptive compensation method for aspheric surfaces is also proposed. Additionally, a scanning strategy with constant in-row and variable between-row speeds, along with a dwell time solution method using constant-variable speed dual-mode (CVSDM) driven by actively controllable spatiotemporally variable TIF (ACSV TIF), reduces additional removal layers and accelerates convergence. Combining magnetorheological finishing, simulations and experiments shows the IDSS-DC method surpasses the traditional paradigm achieving nearly 10% accuracy improvements and more than 30% reduction in processing time. The research results demonstrate efficient and stable convergence of low- and mid-spatial-frequency errors, offering an innovative manufacturing paradigm that attains nanometer-level precision while significantly enhancing efficiency.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 11 December 2025,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.009
[PDF](1470)
Autofocus is essential for high-throughput real-time scanning in microscopic imaging. Traditional methods rely on complex hardware or iterative hill-climbing algorithms. Recent learning-based approaches exhibited remarkable efficacy in one-shot settings, circumventing the need for hardware modifications or iterative mechanical lens adjustments. However, in this study, we highlight a significant challenge wherein the richness of the image content can significantly affect autofocus performance. When the image content is sparse, previous autofocus methods, whether traditional climbing hill or learning-based, tend to fail. To address this limitation, we propose a content-importance-based solution, termed "SparseFocus", featuring a novel two-stage pipeline. The first stage assesses the importance of the regions within the image, whereas the second stage calculates the defocus distance from the selected important regions. This approach can handle autofocus issues across all levels of content sparsity (dense, sparse, or extremely sparse). To validate our approach and benefit the research community, we acquire a large-scale dataset comprising millions of labelled, defocused images encompassing dense, sparse, and extremely sparse scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate that SparseFocus surpasses existing methods, effectively handling all levels of content sparsity. Moreover, we develop an advanced one-shot autofocus-enhanced whole-slide imaging system (osa-WSI) based on SparseFocus, coupled with an efficient image-stitching protocol for large-scale imaging and online motion path planning. The system demonstrates strong performance in real-world applications. All codes and datasets will be released upon publication.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 10 December 2025,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.007
[PDF](316)
Nanobubbles are typical nanodefects commonly existing in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides, especially after their transfer from growth substrate to target substrates. These nanobubbles, though tiny, may significantly alter the local electric, optoelectronic, thermal, or mechanical properties of 2D materials and therefore are rather detrimental to the constructed devices. However, there is no post-processing method so far that can effectively eliminate nanobubbles in 2D materials after their fabrication and transfer, which has been a major obstacle in the development of 2D material based devices. Here, we propose a principle, called laser optothermal nanobomb (LOTB), that can effectively flatten nanobubbles in 2D materials through a dynamic process of optothermally induced phase transition and stress-pulling effect in nanobubbles. Operation of LOTB on monolayer molybdenum disulfide (1L-MoS2) films shows that the surface roughness can be reduced by more than 70% on a time scale of ~50 ms, without damage to the intrinsic property of 1L-MoS2 as validated by micro-nano photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, a dual-beam cascaded LOTB and a multi-shot LOTB strategies are proposed to increase the flattened area and processing effect, showing the potential of LOTB for fast nanodefect repairing in the mass production of van der Waals materials and devices.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 10 December 2025,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.008
[PDF](337)
Additive manufacturing of glass with submicron resolution remains challenging due to the intrinsic hardness, brittleness, and weak light absorption of most glasses. Here, we demonstrate the laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) of substoichiometric solid-state silicon oxide (SiOₓ, x < 2) films for precise glass-on-glass printing. Using single-pulse 248 nm UV excimer laser irradiation and a custom-designed compression system, we achieve submicron donor–receiver gaps, enabling clean and crack-free transfer onto transparent substrates such as fused silica and borosilicate glass (BK7). In particular, the direct printing of SiOₓ onto fused silica substrates presents considerable challenges due to their high surface hardness and sensitivity to thermal stress. These factors often lead to poor adhesion and fragmentation of the transferred layers in conventional LIFT setups. We overcome these issues by implementing near-zero gap conditions and optimizing the laser fluence relative to the film thickness, enabling stable, residue-free transfer of SiOₓ onto fused silica. Systematic analysis reveals a strong dependence of transfer quality on both layer thickness and laser fluence, identifying a critical minimum thickness (~200 nm) and a narrow optimum fluence window. Furthermore, we use this approach to fabricate high-quality binary phase masks (BPMs) directly on glass, which exhibit well-defined π phase shifts and efficient diffraction under HeNe laser illumination. Post-deposition thermal oxidation transforms the transferred SiOₓ into fully transparent SiO2, making the structures suitable for UV optical applications. The resulting components demonstrate excellent mechanical robustness and resistance to standard cleaning procedures. This work establishes a solid-state pathway for fabricating functional glass-based micro-optical elements via LIFT.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 02 December 2025,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.006
[PDF](1594)
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a well-established technique for ophthalmic diagnostics that is now expanding into non-ophthalmological applications, such as dermatology, oncology, and dentistry. OCT signals contain numerous microstructure-sensitive features, including attenuation, speckle statistics, and optical phase. To facilitate the development of feature applications for various tasks and their integration into emerging use cases, we developed a no-code multimodal OCT-integrated online platform for scientific research. This is the first no-code OCT multimodal platform designed to support scientific research aimed at developing various custom-tuned applications, such as disease classification, tumour margin isolation, and severity prediction. This paper describes the capabilities of the developed online platform. Specifically, this platform allows users to produce realistic digital phantoms of OCT datasets for tuning and benchmarking signal processing approaches, as well as to perform advanced processing of OCT scans to extract feature maps. Several variants of multimodal OCT signal processing have been implemented, including optical attenuation, speckle contrast, depolarisation ratio, strain, and elastographic imaging. We demonstrated the application of this platform for downstream cancer diagnostics using real data from human brain tissue, skin, endometrial tissue, and murine tumour models.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 29 November 2025,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.004
[PDF](616)
The active manipulation of electromagnetic waves through electrical tuning of nanomaterials is a key advantage for modern technology. We employed the tunable optical response of ionic-liquid-gated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films to address a major challenge in terahertz (THz) optics – the limited range of materials with suitable optical properties. In this study, we demonstrated a high-performance THz intensity modulator combined with a focusing Fresnel zone plate (FZP) integrated in electro-chemical cell. We introduce a new approach for designing and fabricating the FZP, based on pre-measured dielectric properties of SWCNT films under applied voltage. The superior shielding effectiveness (up to 8\begin{document}$ \times10^{8} $\end{document} \begin{document}$ \mathrm{dB} $\end{document} \begin{document}$ \mathrm{cm^{2}} $\end{document} \begin{document}$ \mathrm{g^{-1}} $\end{document}
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 07 November 2025,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.003
[PDF](1188)
Abstract. The efficient and robust joining of transparent metal-dissimilar materials remains a significant challenge in high-performance system integration. A primary barrier is the inherently rough surfaces of metals, which hinder reliable bonding with transparent materials, largely due to the limited understanding of the underlying welding mechanisms. In this study, we demonstrate ultrafast laser joining between sapphire and metal substrates with surface roughness (Sa) up to 2 μm, achieving a maximum shear strength of 11.73 MPa. High-speed imaging techniques were employed to conduct the first systematic investigation of coupled absorption dynamics at heterogeneous interfaces. The plasma ejection observed during welding indicated that the molten metal actively confined the interfacial region, transforming the initial free space into a confined space. This transition facilitates the formation of an optical contact condition, significantly improving the joint strength. To further explore the potential of pulse shaping in controlling interfacial behaviour, the effects of temporal shaping (Burst mode) on laser energy deposition, joint strength, and interfacial morphology were examined. Consistent joint quality was achieved across a range of burst parameters, with shear strengths ranging from 9 to 13 MPa. Fractographic analysis indicated that the fracture was predominantly governed by the internal stress within the sapphire, thereby limiting further improvements in joint strength. The revelation of the ultrafast laser welding mechanism for non-optical contact dissimilar materials, along with the exploration of temporal shaping for enhancing welding performance, offers theoretical insights and technical guidance for the development of high-performance heterogeneous material joining.
Accepted
, Accepted article preview online: 03 November 2025,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.001
[PDF](5178)
Precision aspherical lenses are in high demand for a wide range of industrial and consumer products. While plastic lenses have gained popularity for low cost and flexibility, glass remains the superior material for high-end optics for its exceptional optical properties. Glass molding is a modern manufacturing technique that offers both high precision and affordability. This review, aimed at both academic and industrial communities, provides a brief history of this technology followed by a detailed discussion of the fundamental physics and modeling involved in the molding process. The review also includes a brief discussion of optical design and forming equipment but focuses on the molding process. In addition to conventional methods, we also cover special molding techniques like rapid heating and wafer-level glass molding, as well as the molding of chalcogenide glass lenses. By examining key developments in material modeling, mold fabrication, heat transfer and process optimization, this review aims to support ongoing advancements for next-generation precision optical manufacturing processes.
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Published
, Published online: 12 January 2026,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.002
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising strategy for treating solid tumours due to its spatially controlled, light-triggered cytotoxicity. Although recent advances in optical technologies have improved light delivery, PDT efficacy remains limited by insufficient drug accumulation in tumours, largely due to the complexity of the tumour microenvironment. To address this challenge, a macrophage-mediated delivery platform was developed using layer-by-layer (LbL) microcapsules loaded with second-generation photosensitizers: photoditazine (PD) and aluminum tetrasulfophthalocyanine chloride (PS). Both photosensitizers exhibited low dark toxicity and high phototoxicity, enabling their safe transport by carrier cells. The photosensitizers were efficiently encapsulated into LbL microcapsules (6.2 ± 0.5 μm) with different shell compositions. Significant differences were observed between macrophage types: RAW 264.7 macrophages predominantly retained capsules on the cell surface, whereas primary peritoneal macrophages (PMs) internalised capsules within 3 h and retained them for up to 6 d without degradation. Among the tested formulations, polyarginine/dextran sulfate ((PArg/DS)4) capsules loaded with PD demonstrated the highest uptake efficiency and supported macrophage migration into tumour spheroids. In vivo experiments using a CT-26 colon cancer model confirmed the therapeutic potential of this platform, while highlighting the need for further optimisation for large tumours. This study provides new insights into cell-mediated delivery systems and underscores their potential to enhance PDT outcomes beyond current limitations.
News & Views
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Published
, Published online: 20 January 2026,
doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.010
Multidimensional light-field control is opening new frontiers in photonics. Recent breakthroughs in metasurface design and the integration of Dammann optimisation with spin-decoupled phase modulation enable the simultaneous manipulation of phase, amplitude, polarisation, and orbital angular momentum to project information into three-dimensional space. This paradigm shift towards full-parameter control in stereoscopic volumes is promising for revolutionising applications from high-capacity optical communications to secure encryption and parallel computing, marking a significant advancement in integrated photonic systems.
ISSN 2689-9620 EISSN 2831-4093
Indexed by:
- ESCI (IF 10.6)
- DOAJ
- Scopus
- Google Scholar
- CNKI
- CSCD
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2023, 4(2): 143-167. doi: 10.37188/lam.2023.011
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2023, 4(4): 519-542. doi: 10.37188/lam.2023.031
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2022, 3(3): 572-600. doi: 10.37188/lam.2022.035
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2021, 2(1): 59-83. doi: 10.37188/lam.2021.005
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2021, 2(3): 350-369. doi: 10.37188/lam.2021.024
