Resonant mode calculation method for extremely large-scale optical ring resonators.

To analyze the resonant modes of optical devices such as optical gyro-sensors and semiconductor lasers, Maxwell's equations need to be solved. Widely used numerical methods are the finite element method (FEM) and the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. However, when optical systems are significantly larger than the operating wavelength, applying these methods becomes practically infeasible due to the exponential increase in computational resources and simulation time.

Measurement of vibrating modes for a shell resonator by using dual-interferometers.

A shell resonator shaped as a half-toroidal has several vibration modes including wine-glass mode. Coriolis force induces the precession of certain vibrating modes, such as wine-glass vibration under a rotation. Therefore, shell resonators can be used to measure the rotations or rotation rates.

ECM Architecture-Mediated Regulation of β-Cell Differentiation from hESCs via Hippo-Independent YAP Activation.

Changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) influence stem cell fate. When hESCs were differentiated on a thin layer of Matrigel coated onto PDMS (Matrigel_), they exhibited a substantial increase in focal adhesion and focal adhesion-associated proteins compared with those cultured on Matrigel coated onto TCPS (Matrigel_), resulting in YAP/TEF1 activation and ultimately promoting the transcriptional activities of pancreatic endoderm (PE)-associated genes. Interestingly, YAP activation in PE cells was mediated through integrin α3-FAK-CDC42-PP1A signaling rather than the typical Hippo signaling pathway.

Fibrous Matrix Architecture-Dependent Activation of Fibroblasts with a Cancer-Associated Fibroblast-like Phenotype.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the most prevalent cell types within the tumor microenvironment (TME). While several physicochemical cues from the TME, including growth factors, cytokines, and ECM specificity, have been identified as essential factors for CAF activation, the precise mechanism of how the ECM architecture regulates CAF initiation remains elusive. Using a gelatin-based electrospun fiber mesh, we examined the effect of matrix fiber density on CAF activation induced by MCF-7 conditioned media (CM).

Retracted Rotator Cuff Repairs Heal With Disorganized Fibrogenesis Without Affecting Biomechanical Properties: A Comparative Animal Model Study.

Purpose: To determine the differences in the scar tissue formation during the healing of the repaired retracted cuff tear from that of the nonretracted tear.

Methods: Eighteen right rabbit shoulders received a 1-cm transverse cuff incision over the footprint to simulate "nonretracted cuff tears" before the transosseous repairs (group A). A 1-cm tendinous portion was excised from 18 left shoulders to create defects to simulate "retracted cuff tears" before repairing the defects (group B).

Physical analysis reveals distinct responses of human bronchial epithelial cells to guanidine and isothiazolinone biocides.

Changes in the physical state of the cells can serve as important indicators of stress responses because they are closely linked with the changes in the pathophysiological functions of the cells. Physical traits can be conveniently assessed by analyzing the morphological features and the stresses at the cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesions in both single-cell and monolayer model systems in 2D. In this study, we investigated the mechano-stress responses of human bronchial epithelial cells, BEAS-2B, to two functionally distinct groups of biocides identified during the humidifier disinfectant accident, namely, guanidine (PHMG) and isothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT).

Incidence of Cutibacterium acnes from shoulder arthroplasties in Asians: ethnic differences should be considered.

Background: Most studies on Cutibacterium acnes in shoulder surgery have been conducted in the Western population, and studies on Asians are rare. We evaluated the incidence and risk factors of C acnes in shoulder arthroplasty in Asians.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 154 patients between January 2017 and May 2019 who underwent shoulder arthroplasty.

Neurologic deficit after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: correlation with distalization.

Background: Neurologic problems after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) have been reported, but there are a lack of studies regarding which nerve(s) are damaged and the outcomes for the patients who had neurologic complications after RTSA. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and outcomes of neurologic deficit after RTSA and to evaluate the correlation between nonanatomic rearrangement of the shoulder joint and neurologic complications after RTSA. We hypothesized that the neurologic deficit was associated with excessive distalization or lateralization of the humerus after RTSA.

Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Association With Metabolic Disease in Korean Orthopedic Patients.

Vitamin D is considered essential for bone and muscle health, and some studies have demonstrated the positive effects of vitamin D on metabolic diseases and cancer. Nevertheless, a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been reported in various populations, regardless of country or race. However, no studies regarding the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Korean orthopedic patients currently exist.

Angular emission characteristics of quantum cascade spiral microlasers.

We perform ray and wave simulations of passive and active spiral-shaped optical microcavities, comparing our results to experimental data obtained with mid-infrared quantum cascade spiral microlasers. Focusing on the angular emission characteristics, we find that both ray and wave simulations are consistent with the experimental data, showing richly-featured, multidirectional far-field emission patterns in the case of uniform pumping and TM-polarized light. Active cavity simulations using the Schr odinger-Bloch model indicate that selective pumping of the quantum cascade spiral microlasers near the resonator boundary will yield unidirectional laser emission.

Designing and understanding directional emission from spiral microlasers.

The availability of microlasers with highly directional far-field characteristics is crucial for future applications. To this end we study the far-field emission of active microcavities with a spiral shape using the Schrödinger-Bloch model. We find that they can provide directional emission under the conditions of (i) pumping along the resonator boundary and (ii) for specific resonator geometries.

Quasiscarred resonances in a spiral-shaped microcavity.

We study resonance patterns of a spiral-shaped dielectric microcavity with chaotic ray dynamics. Many resonance patterns of this microcavity, with refractive indices n=2 and 3, exhibit strong localization of simple geometric shape, and we call them quasiscarred resonances in the sense that there is, unlike conventional scarring, no underlying periodic orbits. It is shown that the formation of a quasiscarred pattern can be understood in terms of ray dynamical probability distributions and wave properties like uncertainty and interference.

Generalized phase synchronization in unidirectionally coupled chaotic oscillators.

We investigate phase synchronization between two identical or detuned response oscillators coupled to a slightly different drive oscillator. Our result is that phase synchronization can occur between response oscillators when they are driven by correlated (but not identical) inputs from the drive oscillator. We call this phenomenon generalized phase synchronization and clarify its characteristics using Lyapunov exponents and phase difference plots.