Emission engineering in microdisk lasers via direct integration of meta-micromirrors.

Despite their excellent performance and versatility, the efficient integration of small lasers with other optical devices has long been hindered by their broad emission divergence. In this study, we introduce a novel approach for emission engineering in microdisk lasers, significantly enhancing their vertical emission output by directly integrating specially designed reflective metalenses, referred to as "meta-micromirrors". A 5 μm-diameter microdisk laser is precisely positioned at an 8 μm focal distance on a 30 × 30 μm meta-micromirror featuring a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.

Ultra-Low Threshold Resonance Switching by Terahertz Field Enhancement-Induced Nanobridge.

Ongoing efforts spanning decades aim to enhance the efficiency of optical devices, highlighting the need for a pioneering approach in the development of next-generation components over a broad range of electromagnetic wave spectra. The nonlinear transport of photoexcited carriers in semiconductors at low photon energies is crucial to advancements in semiconductor technology, communication, sensing, and various other fields. In this study, ultra-low threshold resonance mode switching by strong nonlinear carrier transport beyond the semi-classical Boltzmann transport regime using terahertz (THz) electromagnetic waves are demonstrated, whose energy is thousands of times smaller than the bandgap.

Effects of Rhythm Step Training on Foot and Lower Limb Balance in Children and Adolescents with Flat Feet: A Radiographic Analysis.

Owing to the recent reports regarding the efficacy of rhythm step training (RST) in lower limb muscle development and motor skill enhancement, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of RST on foot and lower limb balance in children and adolescents diagnosed with flat feet using radiographic analysis. A total of 160 children and adolescents diagnosed with flat feet from a hospital in Seoul were randomly assigned to the general flat feet training (GFFT) ( = 80) or RST ( = 80) group. Patients in both groups exercised for 50 min once a week for 12 weeks.

Minimal-gain-printed silicon nanolaser.

While there have been notable advancements in Si-based optical integration, achieving compact and efficient continuous-wave (CW) III-V semiconductor nanolasers on Si at room temperature remains a substantial challenge. This study presents an innovative approach: the on-demand minimal-gain-printed Si nanolaser. By using a carefully designed minimal III-V optical gain structure and a precise on-demand gain-printing technique, we achieve lasing operation with superior spectral stability under pulsed conditions and observe a strong signature of CW operation at room temperature.

Indistinguishable photons from an artificial atom in silicon photonics.

Silicon is the ideal material for building electronic and photonic circuits at scale. Integrated photonic quantum technologies in silicon offer a promising path to scaling by leveraging advanced semiconductor manufacturing and integration capabilities. However, the lack of deterministic quantum light sources and strong photon-photon interactions in silicon poses a challenge to scalability.

Challenges and Recent Analytical Advances in Micro/Nanoplastic Detection.

Despite growing ecological concerns, studies on microplastics and nanoplastics are still in their initial stages owing to technical hurdles in analytical techniques, especially for nanoplastics. We provide an overview of the general attributes of micro/nanoplastics in natural environments and analytical techniques commonly used for their analysis. After demonstrating the analytical challenges associated with the identification of nanoplastics due to their distinctive characteristics, we discuss recent technological advancements for detecting nanoplastics.

Ultrahigh Nonlinear Responses from MXene Plasmons in the Short-Wave Infrared Range.

Surface plasmons in 2D materials such as graphene exhibit exceptional field confinement. However, the low electron density of majority of 2D materials, which are semiconductors or semimetals, has limited their plasmons to mid-wave or long-wave infrared regime. This study demonstrates that a 2D TiCT MXene with high electron density can not only support strong plasmon confinement with an acoustic plasmon mode in the short-wave infrared region, but also provide ultrahigh nonlinear responses.

Exercise before pregnancy exerts protective effect on prenatal stress-induced impairment of memory, neurogenesis, and mitochondrial function in offspring.

Stress during pregnancy has a negative effect on the fetus. However, maternal exercise has a positive effect on the cognitive function of the fetus and alleviates the negative effects of stress. This study aimed to demonstrate whether exercise before pregnancy has a protective effect on prenatal stress-induced impairment of memory, neurogenesis and mitochondrial function in mice offspring.

Enhancing Post-Surgical Rehabilitation Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability: Impact of Subtalar Joint Axis Balance Exercises Following Arthroscopic Modified Broström Operation.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of subtalar joint axis-based balance exercises on the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) thickness, ankle strength, and ankle stability after an arthroscopic modified Broström operation (AMBO) for chronic ankle instability (CAI). The study included 47 patients diagnosed with CAI who underwent AMBO and were randomly divided into three groups: control ( = 11), general balance exercise ( = 17), and subtalar joint axis balance exercise ( = 19), regardless of the affected area. Participants in the exercise rehabilitation group performed exercises for 60 min twice a week for six weeks, starting six weeks after AMBO.

The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species, Inflammation, and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response in the Finasteride Protective Effect against Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.

Purpose: Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a common age-related chronic condition. Its pathogenesis involves androgen imbalance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. This study aims to assess the protective effect of finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, against testosterone propionate (TP)-induced BPH in rats and explore its potential mechanism of action.

Multilayer all-polymer metasurface stacked on optical fiber via sequential micro-punching process.

Metasurface technology is revolutionizing the field of optics and pursuing expanded functions via technical developments, such as the integration of multiple metasurfaces with optical fibers. Despite several attempts to realize metasurface-on-fiber platforms, negligible fiber-facet areas pose a serious obstacle to efficient and precise fabrication. Herein, we demonstrate a novel sequential micro-punching process that enables rapid and precise stacking of multiple polymer metasurfaces on the end face of a single-mode optical fiber.

A Multicenter, Open-Label, Observational Study Evaluating the Quality of Life After Using a Hydrophilic-Coated Catheter (SpeediCath) With Self-Intermittent Catheterization.

Purpose: We evaluated the change in patient quality of life after the use of a hydrophilic-coated catheter (SpeediCath) in adults requiring intermittent catheterization (IC).

Methods: This was a multicenter, open-label, observational study using the Patient Perception of Intermittent Catheterization (PPIC) questionnaire and the Intermittent Self-Catheterization questionnaire (ISC-Q) and safety at 12 and 24 weeks in adult patients who had already used other type of catheters prior to switching to SpeediCath or in patients undergoing self-IC for the first time for any reason.

Results: Among a total of 360 subjects, 215 (59.

High-efficiency SOI-based metalenses at telecommunication wavelengths.

We demonstrated silicon-on-insulator (SOI)-based high-efficiency metalenses at telecommunication wavelengths that are integrable with a standard 220 nm-thick silicon photonic chip. A negative electron-beam resist (ma-N) was placed on top of the Si nanodisk, providing vertical symmetry to realize high efficiency. A metasurface with a Si/ma-N disk array was numerically investigated to design a metalens that showed that a Si/ma-N metalens could focus the incident beam six times stronger than a Si metalens without ma-N.

Robotic-assisted simple prostatectomy after prostatic arterial embolization for large benign prostate hyperplasia: Initial experience.

Background And Objective: We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) after prostatic arterial embolization (PAE) in large benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Material And Methods: This retrospective study included 11 cases of PAE and subsequent RASP, performed on 11 patients with BPH from March 2018 to September 2020. Clinical information on the patients was collected before surgery and 3 months after surgery.

The Prevalence of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Overactive Bladder in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Study.

Purpose: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) affect over half of the adults' population worldwide, with an increasing prevalence among the older age groups. Therefore, with the increasing elderly population, LUTS is an important disease, highlighting the need for accurate data on its prevalence. This present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of LUTS in South Korea.

Spatio-spectral decomposition of complex eigenmodes in subwavelength nanostructures through transmission matrix analysis.

Exploiting multiple near-field optical eigenmodes is an effective means of designing, engineering, and extending the functionalities of optical devices. However, the near-field optical eigenmodes of subwavelength plasmonic nanostructures are often highly multiplexed in both spectral and spatial distributions, making it extremely difficult to extract individual eigenmodes. We propose a novel mode analysis method that can resolve individual eigenmodes of subwavelength nanostructures, which are superimposed in conventional methods.

Can exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation increase physical activity in patients who have undergone total thoracoscopic ablation?

Evidence of the effect of exercise therapy in patients who have undergone total thoracoscopic ablation is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of eight weeks exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on cardiopulmonary fitness and adherence to exercise in patients who underwent total thoracoscopic ablation and followed a regimen of exercise therapy. Twenty-four patients were involved in the study and were divided into two groups.

Treadmill Exercise Ameliorates Short-term Memory Impairment by Suppressing Hippocampal Neuroinflammation in Poloxamer-407-Induced Hyperlipidemia Rats.

Purpose: Poloxamer-407 (P-407) is used to induce hyperlipidemia. Exercise is effective in improving arteriosclerosis and cognitive impairment. In this research, the effect of treadmill running on short-term memory in the P-407-treated hyperlipidemia rats was studied focusing on neuroinflammation.

Interventional benefit of Pilates using Oov and mat on middle-aged women with lower urinary tract symptoms: emphasis on abdominal muscle thickness and muscular function.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have been considered as clinically prevalent symptom in women, and can be ameliorated by the change of abdominal muscles and pelvic floor muscle (PFM). This study investigated the efficacy of Pilates program using Oov and mat on the change of abdominal muscle thickness, PFM function, and LUTS clinical score. 53 women experiencing LUTS were randomly assigned to Oov Pilates exercise group (OPEG) (n=20), mat Pilates exercise group (MPEG) (n= 16), and symptomatic control group (SCG) (n=17), respectively, and two groups using Oov and mat participated in 8-week Pilates program.

Reduction of Electrochemically Exfoliated Graphene Films for High-Performance Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

Two-dimensional graphene is of great interest for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding owing to its inherent electrical conductivity, lightweight, and excellent mechanical flexibility even at minor thicknesses. However, the complex synthesis and quality-control difficulties limit its application. In this study, we demonstrate that electrochemically exfoliated graphene (EEG) with post-reduction treatment is a promising candidate for lightweight EMI shielding materials.

Extreme field confinement in zigzag plasmonic crystals.

We propose extreme field confinement in a zigzag plasmonic crystal that can produce a wide plasmonic bandgap near the visible frequency range. By applying a periodic zigzag structure to a metal-insulator-metal plasmonic waveguide, the lowest three plasmonic crystal bands are flattened, creating a high-quality broadband plasmonic mirror over a wavelength range of 526-909 nm. Utilizing zigzag plasmonic crystals in a three-dimensional tapered metal-insulator-metal plasmonic cavity, extreme field confinement with a modal volume of less than 0.