Allergic rhinitis phenotypes with distinct transcriptome profiles in children: A birth cohort.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) phenotypes in childhood are unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine AR phenotypes and investigate their natural course and clinical and transcriptomic characteristics. METHODS: Latent class trajectory analysis was used for phenotyping AR in 1050 children from birth through 12 years using a birth cohort study. Blood transcriptome analyses were performed to define the underlying mechanisms of each phenotype. RESULTS: Five AR phenotypes were identified: early onset (n = 88, 8.4%), intermediate transient (n = 110, 10.5%), late onset (n = 209, 19.9%), very late onset (n=187, 17.8%), and never/infrequent (n = 456, 43.4%). Children with early-onset AR were associated with higher AR severity and sensitizations to foods at age 1 year and inhalants at age 3 years and asthma symptoms, but not with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Children with late-onset AR phenotype associated with sensitizations to various foods at age 1 year but not from age 3 years, and to inhalants from age 7 years and with asthma with BHR. Children with very late-onset AR phenotype associated with sensitizations to foods throughout preschool age and to inhalants at ages 7 and 9 years and with asthma with BHR. Transcriptome analysis showed that early-onset AR was associated with viral/bacterial infection-related defense response, whereas late-onset AR was associated with T cell-related immune response. CONCLUSIONS: Early-onset AR phenotype was associated with sensitization to foods and inhalants at an early age and asthma symptoms, but not with BHR, whereas very late- and late-onset AR phenotypes were positively associated with sensitization to inhalants and asthma with BHR. Transcriptomic analyses indicated that early- and late-onset AR phenotypes had distinct underlying mechanisms related to AR as well.

Novel air-liquid interface culture model to investigate stiffness-dependent behaviors of alveolar epithelial cells.

Pulmonary alveoli are functional units in gas exchange in the lung, and their dysfunctions in lung diseases such as interstitial pneumonia are accompanied by fibrotic changes in structure, elevating the stiffness of extracellular matrix components. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that such changes in alveoli stiffness induce functional alteration of epithelial cell functions, exacerbating lung diseases. For this, we have developed a novel method of culturing alveolar epithelial cells on polyacrylamide gel with different elastic modulus at an air-liquid interface. It was demonstrated that A549 cells on soft gels, mimicking the modulus of a healthy lung, upregulated mRNA expression and protein synthesis of surfactant protein C (SFTPC). By contrast, the cells on stiff gels, mimicking the modulus of the fibrotic lung, exhibited upregulation of SFTPC gene expression but not at the protein level. Cell morphology, as well as cell nucleus volume, were also different between the two types of gels.

Stable Zinc Electrode Reaction Enabled by Combined Cationic and Anionic Electrolyte Additives for Non-Flow Aqueous Zn─Br2 Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-bromine batteries hold immense promise for large-scale energy storage systems due to their inherent safety and high energy density. However, achieving a reliable zinc metal electrode reaction is challenging because zinc metal in the aqueous electrolyte inevitably leads to dendrite growth and related side reactions, resulting in rapid capacity fading. Here, it is reported that combined cationic and anionic additives in the electrolytes using CeCl3 can simultaneously address the multiple chronic issues of the zinc metal electrode. Trivalent Ce3+ forms an electrostatic shielding layer to prevent Zn2+ from concentrating at zinc metal protrusions, while the high electron-donating nature of Cl- mitigates H2O decomposition on the zinc metal surface by reducing the interaction between Zn2+ and H2O. These combined cationic and anionic effects significantly enhance the reversibility of the zinc metal reaction, allowing the non-flow aqueous Zn─Br2 full-cell to reliably cycle with exceptionally high capacity (>400 mAh after 5000 cycles) even in a large-scale battery configuration of 15 × 15 cm2.

Deep learning model for classifying shoulder pain rehabilitation exercises using IMU sensor.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence is being used for rehabilitation, including monitoring exercise compliance through sensor technology. AI classification of shoulder exercise wearing an IMU sensor has only been reported in normal (i.e. painless) subjects. To prove the feasibility of monitoring exercise compliance, we aimed to classify 11 types of shoulder rehabilitation exercises using an AI (artificial intelligence) algorithm in patients with shoulder pain. We had the patients wear an IMU-based sensor, collected data during exercise, and determined the accuracy of exercise classification. METHODS: Data were collected from 58 patients (27 males, 31 females, age range 37-82 years) diagnosed with shoulder diseases such as adhesive capsulitis and rotator cuff disease. 11 types of shoulder pain rehabilitation exercise programs were developed and repeated each exercise ten times per session while wearing an IMU sensor. The study applied the Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) and the SoftMax as the activation function for hidden layers, the output layer. RESULTS: The acquired data was used to train a DNN model using the multilayer perceptron algorithm. The trained model was used to classify 11 types of shoulder pain rehabilitation exercises. The training accuracy was 0.975 and the test accuracy was 0.925. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that IMU sensor data can effectively classify shoulder pain rehabilitation exercises, providing more appropriate feedback for patients. The model can be utilized to establish a system for remotely monitoring patients' exercise performance. The use of deep learning in patient monitoring and rehabilitation has significant potential to bring innovative changes to healthcare service delivery.

Effects of governmental support on clinical nurse educators in South Korea: A repeated cross-sectional study.

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of the Clinical Nurse Educator Support Project and offer valuable insights for supporting nursing education. BACKGROUND: Allocating clinical nursing educators is crucial for supporting novice nurses' transition into the clinical setting and improving their performance. INTRODUCTION: In 2019, the Ministry of Health and Welfare in South Korea implemented the Clinical Nurse Educator Support Project, which involves governmental financial support for the employment of clinical nurse educators. METHODS: This study employed a repeated cross-sectional design to assess the project outcomes. Following the framework of the Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model, secondary data from annual self-program evaluation reports were analyzed to assess program satisfaction, clinical adaptation, and turnover rates of novice nurses. The "Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist" guided the reporting of the study. RESULTS: The project played a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of nursing education. Novice nurses' program satisfaction and clinical adaptation consistently remained high or exhibited an increase. The project led to a decrease in turnover rate among novice nurses, while the coronavirus 2019 pandemic resulted in increased turnover rates due to limited clinical practice opportunities for nursing students. CONCLUSION: Government support for clinical nurse educators has positively impacted the institutionalization of nursing education. The pressing need is to prioritize not only the enhancement of nursing education quality and the improvement of nurses' working conditions but also the development of healthcare policies and programs to effectively respond to unforeseen challenges and crises. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY: Government and healthcare institutions must collaborate to strengthen clinical education, crucial for novice nurses' clinical adaptation. Prioritizing the improvement of nursing education quality and nurses' working conditions is essential. Continuous research and evaluation of the Clinical Nurse Educator Support Project is imperative to assess its impact and make necessary adjustments.

Nitric-Oxide-Modulatory Materials for Biomedical Applications.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous signaling molecule that participates in various physiological and biological pathways associated with vasodilation, immune response, and cell apoptosis. Interestingly, NO has versatile and distinct functions in vivo depending on its concentration and the duration of exposure; it aids cellular proliferation at nanomolar concentrations but causes cellular death at micromolar concentrations. Therefore, achieving the precise and on-demand modulation of microenvironmental NO concentrations has become a major research target in biomedical fields. To this end, many studies have investigated feasible means for developing functional moieties that can either exogenously donate or selectively scavenge NO. However, these advances are limited by poor stability and a lack of target specificity, which represent two significant obstacles regarding the spatiotemporal adjustment of NO in vivo. Our group has addressed this issue by contributing to the development of next-generation NO-modulatory materials over the past decade. Over this period, we utilized various polymeric, inorganic, and hybrid systems to enhance the bioavailability of traditional NO donors or scavengers in an attempt to maximize their clinical usage while also minimizing their unwanted side effects. In this Account, strategies regarding the rational design of NO-modulatory materials are first summarized and discussed, depending on their specific purposes. These strategies include chemical approaches for encapsulating traditional NO donors inside specific vehicles; this prevents spontaneous NO release and allows said donors to be exposed on-demand, under a certain stimulus. The current status of these approaches and the recent contributions of other groups are also comprehensively discussed here to ensure an objective understanding of the topic. Moreover, in this paper, we discuss strategies for the selective depletion of NO from local inflammatory sites, where the overproduction of NO is problematic. Finally, the major challenges for current NO-modulatory systems are discussed, and requirements are outlined that need to be tackled to achieve their future therapeutic development. Starting from this current, relatively early stage of development, we propose that, through continuous efforts to surmount existing challenges, it will be possible in the future to achieve clinical translations regarding NO-modulatory systems. This Account provides insightful guidelines regarding the rational design of NO-modulatory systems for various biomedical applications. Moreover, it can facilitate the achievement of previously unattainable goals while revolutionizing future therapeutics.

Identifying facilitators of and barriers to the adoption of dynamic consent in digital health ecosystems: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Conventional consent practices face ethical challenges in continuously evolving digital health environments due to their static, one-time nature. Dynamic consent offers a promising solution, providing adaptability and flexibility to address these ethical concerns. However, due to the immaturity of the concept and accompanying technology, dynamic consent has not yet been widely used in practice. This study aims to identify the facilitators of and barriers to adopting dynamic consent in real-world scenarios. METHODS: This scoping review, conducted in December 2022, adhered to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, focusing on dynamic consent within the health domain. A comprehensive search across Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus yielded 22 selected articles based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: The facilitators for the adoption of dynamic consent in digital health ecosystems were the provision of multiple consent modalities, personalized alternatives, continuous communication, and the dissemination of up-to-date information. Nevertheless, several barriers, such as consent fatigue, the digital divide, complexities in system implementation, and privacy and security concerns, needed to be addressed. This study also investigated current technological advancements and suggested considerations for further research aimed at resolving the remaining challenges surrounding dynamic consent. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic consent emerges as an ethically advantageous method for digital health ecosystems, driven by its adaptability and support for continuous, two-way communication between data subjects and consumers. Ethical implementation in real-world settings requires the development of a robust technical framework capable of accommodating the diverse needs of stakeholders, thereby ensuring ethical integrity and data privacy in the evolving digital health landscape.

Inhibitory Effects of Loganin on Adipogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo.

Obesity is characterized by the excessive accumulation of mature adipocytes that store surplus energy in the form of lipids. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of loganin on adipogenesis in mouse preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells and primary cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in vitro and in mice with ovariectomy (OVX)- and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in vivo. For an in vitro study, loganin was co-incubated during adipogenesis in both 3T3-L1 cells and ADSCs, lipid droplets were evaluated by oil red O staining, and adipogenesis-related factors were assessed by qRT-PCR. For in vivo studies, mouse models of OVX- and HFD-induced obesity were orally administered with loganin, body weight was measured, and hepatic steatosis and development of excessive fat were evaluated by histological analysis. Loganin treatment reduced adipocyte differentiation by accumulating lipid droplets through the downregulation of adipogenesis-related factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (Pparg), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (Cebpa), perilipin 2 (Plin2), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), and sterol regulatory element binding transcription protein 1 (Srebp1). Loganin administration prevented weight gain in mouse models of obesity induced by OVX and HFD. Further, loganin inhibited metabolic abnormalities, such as hepatic steatosis and adipocyte enlargement, and increased the serum levels of leptin and insulin in both OVX- and HFD-induced obesity models. These results suggest that loganin is a potential candidate for preventing and treating obesity.

Effectiveness of a critical reflection competency program for clinical nurse educators: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Critical reflection is an effective learning strategy that enhances clinical nurses' reflective practice and professionalism. Therefore, training programs for nurse educators should be implemented so that critical reflection can be applied to nursing education. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a critical reflection competency program for clinical nurse educators on improving critical thinking disposition, nursing reflection competency, and teaching efficacy. METHODS: A pilot study was conducted using a pre- and post-test control-group design. Participants were clinical nurse educators recruited using a convenience sampling method. The program was conducted once a week for 90 min, with a total of four sessions. The effectiveness of the developed program was verified by analyzing pre- and post-test results of 26 participants in the intervention group and 27 participants in the control group, respectively. The chi-square test, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and analysis of covariance with age as a covariate were conducted. RESULTS: The critical thinking disposition and teaching efficacy of the intervention group improved after the program, and the differences between the control and intervention groups were statistically significant (F = 14.751, p < 0.001; F = 11.047, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the change in nursing reflection competency between the two groups (F = 2.674, p = 0.108). CONCLUSION: The critical reflection competency program was effective in improving the critical thinking disposition and teaching efficacy of nurse educators. Therefore, it is necessary to implement the developed program for nurse educators to effectively utilize critical reflection in nursing education.

Effect of chemically induced osteogenesis supplements on multicellular behavior of osteocytic spheroids.

Understanding in multicellular behaviors in three-dimensional (3D) culture models such as organoids is important to help us better comprehend the mechanisms of the morphogenesis and functions of diverse organs in vivo cellular environment. In this study, we elucidated the multicellular behaviors of the osteocytic spheroids in response to the chemically induced osteogenesis supplements (OS). Particularly, we conducted 1) size change measurement, 2) fusion experiment, and 3) collagen embedding experiment of spheroids, in response to the OS. We found out that the OS alters the multicellular behaviors of the spheroid by greater reduction in the size change measurement and slowing down the speed of fusion experiment and collagen embedding experiment of the spheroids. We also highlighted that the driving force of these changes was the tight actin filaments generated on the surface of the spheroids. Hence, the results altogether indicate that the spheroid model exerted the different multicellular behaviors against the differentiation capability. This study will contribute to understanding the multicellular behaviors of the 3D culture model reconstructed by the cells with greater cell-cell interaction force.

Spheroid culture for chondrocytes triggers the initial stage of endochondral ossification.

Endochondral ossification is the process of bone formation derived from growing cartilage duringskeletal development. In previous studies, we provoked the osteocyte differentiation of osteoblast precursor cells under a three-dimensional (3D) culture model. To recapitulate the endochondral ossification, the present study utilized the self-organized scaffold-free spheroid model reconstructed by pre-chondrocyte cells. Within 2-day cultivation in the absence of the chemically induced chondrogenesis supplements, the chondrocyte marker was greatly expressed in the inner region of the spheroid, whereas the hypertrophic chondrocyte marker was strongly detected in the surface region of the spheroid. Notably, we found out that the gene expression levels of osteocyte markers were also greatly upregulated compared to the conventional 2D monolayer. Moreover, after long-term cultivation for 28 days, it induced morphological changes in the spheroid, such as cellular hypertrophy and death. In this study, in order to recapitulate the initial stage of the endochondral ossification, we highlighted the potentials of the 3D culture method to drive the hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation of the pre-chondrocyte cells.

Host-microbial interactions between PTGR2 and Bifidobacterium in the early life gut of atopic dermatitis children.

BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota dysbiosis is linked to the development and responses of the immune system and can play an important role in the onset of allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD). This study investigated the association between host genetics and the gut microbiota in AD. METHODS: A global gene expression profiling of the gut epithelial colonocytes, genetic variations analysis, and the gut microbial composition analysis were performed. RESULTS: This study identified the upregulation of PTGR2 (p = .028), a gene involved in prostaglandin catalysis and inflammatory responses, as a potential risk factor for AD. In subsequent fine mapping analysis using 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PTGR2 in 864 Korean subjects (420 AD patients and 444 unaffected controls), several SNPs and haplotypes showed significant associations with AD and its SCORing AD (SCORAD) values (p = .002). To investigate host-microbial interactions, further gut microbiota data and genotypes were obtained from an independent cohort of 176 subjects (91 AD patients and 85 controls). From correlation analysis, a significantly negative association between SNP and Bifidobacterium abundance was observed in AD patients (p = .005). In additional observations of PTGR2-associated downstream molecules, NRF2 (p = .004) and several antioxidant genes (GSTT1, GCLC, GPX1; p < .05) showed significantly reduced expression in AD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our current findings suggest that the interaction between PTGR2 dysregulated expression and a Bifidobacterium abundance affects a higher risk of AD and a more severe onset.

Asian-specific 3'UTR variant in CDKN2B associated with risk of pituitary adenoma.

BACKGROUND: Previous genomewide association studies (GWASs), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2 A (CDKN2A), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2B (CDKN2B), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2B antisense RNA1 (CDKN2B-AS1) were reported as risk loci for glioma, a subgroup of the brain tumor. To further characterize this association with the risk of brain tumors in a Korean population, we performed a fine-mapping association study of CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and CDKN2B-AS1. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 17 SNPs were selected and genotyped in 1,439 subjects which were comprised of 959 patients (pituitary adenoma 335; glioma 324; meningioma 300) and 480 population controls (PCs). We discovered that a 3'untranslated region (3'UTR) variant, rs181031884 of CDKN2B (Asian-specific variant), had significant association with the risk of pituitary adenoma (PA) (Odds ratio = 0.58, P = 0.00003). Also, rs181031884 appeared as an independent causal variant among the significant variants in CDKN2A and CDKN2B, and showed dose-dependent effects on PA. CONCLUSIONS: Although further studies are needed to verify the impact of this variant on PA susceptibility, our results may help to understand CDKN2B polymorphism and the risk of PA.

Bioresorbable silicon electronic sensors for the brain.

Many procedures in modern clinical medicine rely on the use of electronic implants in treating conditions that range from acute coronary events to traumatic injury. However, standard permanent electronic hardware acts as a nidus for infection: bacteria form biofilms along percutaneous wires, or seed haematogenously, with the potential to migrate within the body and to provoke immune-mediated pathological tissue reactions. The associated surgical retrieval procedures, meanwhile, subject patients to the distress associated with re-operation and expose them to additional complications. Here, we report materials, device architectures, integration strategies, and in vivo demonstrations in rats of implantable, multifunctional silicon sensors for the brain, for which all of the constituent materials naturally resorb via hydrolysis and/or metabolic action, eliminating the need for extraction. Continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure and temperature illustrates functionality essential to the treatment of traumatic brain injury; the measurement performance of our resorbable devices compares favourably with that of non-resorbable clinical standards. In our experiments, insulated percutaneous wires connect to an externally mounted, miniaturized wireless potentiostat for data transmission. In a separate set-up, we connect a sensor to an implanted (but only partially resorbable) data-communication system, proving the principle that there is no need for any percutaneous wiring. The devices can be adapted to sense fluid flow, motion, pH or thermal characteristics, in formats that are compatible with the body's abdomen and extremities, as well as the deep brain, suggesting that the sensors might meet many needs in clinical medicine.

Factors affecting academic burnout of nursing students according to clinical practice experience.

BACKGROUND: Academic burnout has a negative effect on learning outcomes of nursing students. Factors affecting academic burnout may differ depending on whether or not they have experience in clinical practice and identifying these differences would be necessary to seek for strategies to lower academic burnout of nursing students. This study aimed to determine the effects of stress, depression, and anxiety on academic burnout according to the clinical practice experience of nursing students. METHODS: Data were collected from 171 female nursing students in South Korea. Self-report questionnaires from 83 participants without clinical practice experience and 88 with clinical practice experience were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ2-tests, analysis of variance, t-test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Academic burnout was positively correlated to stress (r = .52, p < .001), anxiety (r = .50, p < .001) and depression (r = .44, p < .001). In those students with no clinical practice experience, anxiety and depression explained for academic burnout by 44%, and those students with clinical practice experience, stress and major satisfaction explained for 33% of academic burnout. CONCLUSIONS: Universities and clinical institutions should establish a cooperative system to reduce stress, depression and anxiety and increase major satisfaction.

Effects of Loganin on Bone Formation and Resorption In Vitro and In Vivo.

Osteoporosis is a disease caused by impaired bone remodeling that is especially prevalent in elderly and postmenopausal women. Although numerous chemical agents have been developed to prevent osteoporosis, arguments remain regarding their side effects. Here, we demonstrated the effects of loganin, a single bioactive compound isolated from Cornus officinalis, on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation in vitro and on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis in mice in vivo. Loganin treatment increased the differentiation of mouse preosteoblast cells into osteoblasts and suppressed osteoclast differentiation in primary monocytes by regulating the mRNA expression levels of differentiation markers. Similar results were obtained in an osteoblast-osteoclast co-culture system, which showed that loganin enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and reduced TRAP activity. In in vivo experiments, the oral administration of loganin prevented the OVX-induced loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and microstructure in mice and improved bone parameters. In addition, loganin significantly increased the serum OPG/RANKL ratio and promoted osteogenic activity during bone remodeling. Our findings suggest that loganin could be used as an alternative treatment to protect against osteoporosis.

Inhibitory Effect of Ulmus davidiana and Cornus officinalis Extracts on Osteoporotic Bone Loss In Vitro and In Vivo.

Background and Objectives: Traditional herbal medicines are becoming more popular as a complementary medication as they have the advantages of being mostly harmless and safe, causing fewer side-effects than conventional medications. Here, we demonstrate the inhibitory effects of the combination of Ulmus davidiana (UD) and Cornus officinalis (CO) extracts on osteoporotic bone loss. Materials and Methods: This study presented osteogenic effects in primary cultured osteoblasts, pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell lines, and osteoclastogenic effects in osteoclasts derived from bone marrow monocytes, and finally, protective effects on bone loss in an ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporotic animal model. Results: A significant increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was observed following treatment with UD and CO mixtures (8:2, 7:3, and 5:5 ratios) and individual UD and CO extracts, with the highest ALP activity being detected for the treatment with UD and CO extracts at a 5:5 ratio. An optimal ratio of UD and CO (UC) extract promoted osteoblast differentiation in both pre-osteoblastic cells and primary osteoblasts by increasing osteoblastic markers such as Alpl, Runx2, and Bglap. However, treatment with the UC extract inhibited osteoclast differentiation with a decreased expression of osteoclastogenesis-related genes, including Ctsk, Acp5, Mmp9, and Nfatc1. In addition, UC treatment prevented osteoporotic bone loss in OVX mice and improved impaired skeletal structure parameters. Conclusions: This study suggests that combined UD and CO extracts may be a beneficial traditional medicine for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Light absorption enhancement in ultrathin perovskite solar cells using light scattering of high-index dielectric nanospheres.

Arrays of high-index dielectric nanoparticles supporting both electrical and magnetic resonances have gained increasing attention for their excellent light-trapping (LT) effects, thus greatly improving the performance of ultrathin solar cells. This work explores front-located, high-index dielectric subwavelength nanosphere arrays as an efficient and broadband LT structure patterned on top of an ultrathin perovskite solar cell (PSC) for a greatly enhanced absorption. Combined strong light scattering and anti-reflection properties achieved by optimized geometrical parameters of the LT structure lead to a broadband absorption enhancement in the ultrathin thickness of a photoactive layer (100 nm) yielding the short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 18.7 mA/cm2, which is 31.7% higher than that of a planar counterpart. Moreover, effects of the LT structure on far-field radiation patterns, scattering cross-sections, multipoles' contributions, and asymmetry parameters along with the incidence angle and polarization dependence are investigated. The present strategy could be applied to diverse applications, such as other ultrathin or semitransparent solar cells, absorbers and photodetectors.

Backward Phase-Matched Second-Harmonic Generation from Stacked Metasurfaces.

We demonstrate phase-matched second-harmonic generation (SHG) from three-dimensional metamaterials consisting of stacked metasurfaces. To achieve phase matching, we utilize a novel mechanism based on phase engineering of the metasurfaces at the interacting wavelengths, facilitating phase-matched SHG in the unconventional backward direction. Stacking up to five metasurfaces,we obtain a phase-matched SHG signal, which scales superlinearly with the number of layers. Our results motivate further investigations to achieve higher conversion efficiencies also with more complex wave fronts.

Near-Field Communication in Biomedical Applications.

Near-field communication (NFC) is a low-power wireless communication technology used in contemporary daily life. This technology contributes not only to user identification and payment methods, but also to various biomedical fields such as healthcare and disease monitoring. This paper focuses on biomedical applications among the diverse applications of NFC. It addresses the benefits of combining traditional and new sensors (temperature, pressure, electrophysiology, blood flow, sweat, etc.) with NFC technology. Specifically, this report describes how NFC technology, which is simply applied in everyday life, can be combined with sensors to present vision and opportunities to modern people.