Simulation of optical radiation force distribution in interference patterns and necessary conditions for chiral structure formation on dielectrics.

A chiral structure is formed by the optical radiation force induced by a circularly polarized light that has spin angular momentum; chiral structures are expected to be used for light control devices and molecular chirality discrimination devices. In this paper, we clarify the relationship between the differences in the distributions of the optical radiation force and the possibility of formation of chiral structures. We first simulate the optical radiation force distribution in the case of a Gaussian beam that successfully forms a chiral structure. Given a vector [Formula: see text] with a centre of the light spot [Formula: see text] and polar coordinates [Formula: see text], and an optical radiation force vector [Formula: see text] at [Formula: see text], the angle [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] must be constant with respect to the declination angle [Formula: see text] for a chiral structure to form. These conditions are fulfilled in the case of a 6-beam interference pattern, but not in the case of a 4-beam interference pattern, which is consistent with the result that no chiral structure is formed in the latter case. The equations derived for simulation of optical radiation force distribution can be used for any optical intensity distribution, and will be of great help in the research of any dielectrics deformation.

Comparison of speech perception lists used to evaluate Japanese single syllable hearing.

OBJECTIVE: In Japan, the 57S and 67S single syllable lists have been used to test speech perception in cochlear implant (CI) users. However, due to advances in implants and processors, these lists have become too simple for CI users. In 2019, the Japan Otological Society created a new list, referred to as the iCI2004. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of these lists. METHODS: The Japanese single syllable speech perception tests, iCI2004, 57S, and 67S, were administered to 70 patients with CI users. The effects of single syllable characteristics on the test scores were examined. The type and number of single syllables used in each list were different. Therefore, we compared the scores for normal lists, shared single syllables, and non-shared single syllables. RESULTS: The average test results were 52% for iCI2004, 64% for 57S, and 77% for 67S; 67S performed the best, followed by 57S and iCI2004. The test results were significantly different. In a comparison of shared single syllables, the average scores were 58% for iCI2004 and 63% for 57S (45 pieces). A comparison of iCI2004 and 67S (17 pieces) showed that the average scores were 63% for iCI2004 and 75% for 67S. A comparison of 57S and 67S (20 pieces) showed that the average score for 57S was 70% and the average scored for 67S was 77%. No significant differences were detected under all conditions. Based on these results, the type of single syllable adopted affected the result. CONCLUSION: The data gives no clear indication that the selection of the word table or presentation of sound pressure affects listening to sound for CI users in Japan. Based on the type and number of single syllables used, iCI2004 seems appropriate for evaluation of hearing in patients using CI.

Congenital Deficiency of Conventional Dendritic Cells Promotes the Development of Atopic Dermatitis-Like Inflammation.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common pruritic inflammatory skin disease characterized by impaired epidermal barrier function and dysregulation of Thelper-2 (TH2)-biased immune responses. While the lineage of conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) are implicated to play decisive roles in T-cell immune responses, their requirement for the development of AD remains elusive. Here, we describe the impact of the constitutive loss of cDCs on the progression of AD-like inflammation by using binary transgenic (Tg) mice that constitutively lacked CD11chi cDCs. Unexpectedly, the congenital deficiency of cDCs not only exacerbates the pathogenesis of AD-like inflammation but also elicits immune abnormalities with the increased composition and function of granulocytes and group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) as well as B cells possibly mediated through the breakdown of the Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L)-mediated homeostatic feedback loop. Furthermore, the constitutive loss of cDCs accelerates skin colonization of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), that associated with disease flare. Thus, cDCs maintains immune homeostasis to prevent the occurrence of immune abnormalities to maintain the functional skin barrier for mitigating AD flare.

Laser-Induced Transfer of Noble Metal Nanodots with Femtosecond Laser-Interference Processing.

Noble metal nanodots have been applied to plasmonic devices, catalysts, and highly sensitive detection in bioinstruments. We have been studying the fabrications of them through a laser-induced dot transfer (LIDT) technique, a type of laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT), in which nanodots several hundred nm in diameter are produced via a solid-liquid-solid (SLS) mechanism. In the previous study, an interference laser processing technique was applied to LIDT, and aligned Au nanodots were successfully deposited onto an acceptor substrate in a single shot of femtosecond laser irradiation. In the present experiment, Pt thin film was applied to this technique, and the deposited nanodots were measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and compared with the Au nanodots. A typical nanodot had a roundness fr=0.98 and circularity fcirc=0.90. Compared to the previous experiment using Au thin film, the size distribution was more diffuse, and it was difficult to see the periodic alignment of the nanodots in the parameter range of this experiment. This method is promising as a method for producing large quantities of Pt particles with diameters of several hundred nm.

Essential role of submandibular lymph node dendritic cells in protective sublingual immunotherapy against murine allergy.

While sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is known as an allergen-specific treatment for type-1 allergies, how it controls allergic pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we show the prerequisite role of conventional dendritic cells in submandibular lymph nodes (ManLNs) in the effectiveness of SLIT for the treatment of allergic disorders in mice. Deficiency of conventional dendritic cells or CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells abrogates the protective effect of SLIT against allergic disorders. Furthermore, sublingual antigenic application primarily induces antigen-specific CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells in draining ManLNs, in which it is severely impaired in the absence of cDCs. In ManLNs, migratory CD11b+ cDCs are superior to other conventional dendritic cell subsets for the generation of antigen-specific CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells, which is reflected by their dominancy in the tolerogenic features to favor this program. Thus, ManLNs are privileged sites in triggering mucosal tolerance mediating protect effect of SLIT on allergic disorders that requires a tolerogenesis of migratory CD11b+ conventional dendritic cells.

Author Correction: Pivotal role of CD103 in the development of psoriasiform dermatitis.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Pivotal role of CD103 in the development of psoriasiform dermatitis.

The integrin αE known as CD103 binds integrin ß7 to form the complete heterodimeric integrin molecule αEß7. CD103 is mainly expressed by lymphocytes within epithelial tissues of intestine, lung, and skin as well as subsets of mucosal and dermal conventional dendritic cells (cDCs). CD103 has been originally implicated in the attachment of lymphocytes to epithelium in the gut and skin through the interaction with E-cadherin expressed on intestinal epithelial cells, keratinocytes, and Langerhans cells (LCs). However, an impact of CD103 on the cutaneous immune responses and the development of inflammatory skin diseases remains elusive. Here, we report that CD103 regulates the development of psoriasiform dermatitis through the control of the function of cDCs. Deficiency in CD103 exacerbates psoriasiform dermatitis, accompanied by excessive epidermal hyperplasia and infiltration of inflammatory leukocytes. Furthermore, deficiency in CD103 not only accelerates the production of proinflammatory cytokines in psoriatic lesions but also promotes the generation of lymphocytes producing interleukin (IL)-17 in the skin-draining peripheral lymph nodes (PLNs). Under the deficiency in CD103, cDCs localized in PLNs enhance cytokine production following activation. Thus, our findings reveal a pivotal role for CD103 in the control of the function of cDCs to regulate cutaneous inflammation in psoriasiform dermatitis.

Pivotal role of the carbohydrate recognition domain in self-interaction of CLEC4A to elicit the ITIM-mediated inhibitory function in murine conventional dendritic cells in vitro.

C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) with a characteristic carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) in the extracellular portion, mediate crucial cellular functions upon recognition of glycosylated pathogens and self-glycoproteins. CLEC4A is the only classical CLR that possesses an intracellular immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM), which possibly transduces negative signals. However, how CLEC4A exerts cellular inhibition remains unclear. Here, we report that the self-interaction of CLEC4A through the CRD is required for the ITIM-mediated suppressive function in conventional dendritic cells (cDCs). Human type 2 cDCs (cDC2) and monocytes display a higher expression of CLEC4A than cDC1 and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) as well as B cells. The extracellular portion of CLEC4A specifically binds to a murine cDC cell line expressing CLEC4A, while its extracellular portion lacking the N-glycosylation site or the EPS motif within the CRD reduces their association. Furthermore, the deletion of the EPS motif within the CRD or ITIM in CLEC4A almost completely impairs its suppressive effect on the activation of the murine cDC cell line, whereas the absence of the N-glycosylation site within the CRD exhibits partial inhibition on their activation. On the other hand, antagonistic monoclonal antibody (mAb) to CLEC4A, which inhibits the self-interaction of CLEC4A and its downstream signaling in murine transfectants, enhances the activation of monocytes and monocyte-derived immature DCs upon stimulation with a Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligand. Thus, our findings suggest a pivotal role of the CRD in self-interaction of CLEC4A to elicit the ITIM-mediated inhibitory signal for the control of the function of cDCs.

Fast pulse train control using filled-aperture coherent beam combining for high-average-power laser systems.

This study demonstrates fast pulse train switching using a coherent polarization beam combiner with a phase difference detection (PDD) algorithm. Based on the highly stable feedback control obtained with the PDD algorithm, stable burst-mode extraction with an arbitrary duty cycle was achieved with a contrast ratio of 800:1 for a third-harmonic light (347 nm) of a 5 MHz pulsed Yb-doped fiber laser. The proposed method can be effectively used for high-speed switching in high-average-power pulsed laser systems.

Utilization of the high spatial-frequency component in adaptive beam shaping by using a virtual diagonal phase grating.

A square flattop beam is a fundamental shape that is in high demand in various applications, such as ultra-high-power lasers, uniform surface processing and medical engineering. In this experiment, a new and simple scheme of the adaptive beam shaping system to generate a square flattop shape with high uniformity and edge steepness using virtual diagonal phase grating encoded on a spatial-light modulator and a 4f system is proposed. The grating vector kg is non-parallel to the normal vectors kx and ky of the objective beam profile to be extracted; thus, the residual and extracted components hit separately on the Fourier plane of the 4f system. Consequently, using a spatial-frequency filter passing components parallel to kx and ky, the residual components are blocked by the filter without loss of the high spatial-frequency domain of the extracted component. When the width of the filter was 1.0 mm, the edge of the shaped beam increased in height within 20 µm, which is less than 20% of that obtained with conventional vertical phase grating.

Stable ultra-broadband gain spectrum with wide-angle non-collinear optical parametric amplification.

Comparing with the non-collinear optical parametric amplification (NOPA), the gain bandwidth could be significantly enhanced by the wide-angle NOPA (WNOPA), i.e., with a divergent signal (WNOPA-S) or pump (WNOPA-P). In a uniaxial crystal, the spectral symmetry/asymmetry of WNOPA is introduced. In WNOPA-S, the ultra-broadband gain spectrum can be obtained in two phase-matching directions at both sides of the pump, however, the output is heavily angularly dispersed. In WNOPA-P, although the gain bandwidth enhancement is only achieved in one phase-matching direction, i.e., on the opposite side of the crystal axis, it is free of angular dispersion. The stabilities of the gain spectrum in NOPA and in WNOPA-P are experimentally compared and theoretically analyzed. Compared with NOPA, WNOPA-P supports an even broader and more stable gain spectrum, and compared with WNOPA-S, WNOPA-P is angular-dispersion-free. The conversation efficiency of WNOPA-P is the same as NOPA. We suppose WNOPA-P is ideally suitable for the amplification of stable ultra-broadband few-cycle pulse lasers.

Parallel fabrication of spiral surface structures by interference pattern of circularly polarized beams.

Mass migration of photo-isomeric azo-polymers occurs according to the light intensity gradient, and the morphological surface structure can be fabricated by the artificial distribution of light by applying the interference properties of coherent laser light. Recently, the optical radiation force has played an important role in the morphology for dielectric targets, and chiral structures have been fabricated according to the spirally gathering force distribution that arises due to the electric susceptibility. On the contrary, interference laser processing has been applied to process the surface or interior of the material, and nano- or micro-structures in the lattice have been fabricated in a single exposure to the interference pattern. The unit structures are mostly axisymmetric nanowhiskers, nanodrops and nanobumps, among others. In this experiment, interference laser processing of an azo-polymer dielectric target using a circularly polarised continuous-wave (CW) laser was examined, and a spiral structure was successfully fabricated. From the viewpoint of laser processing method, an optical spiral radiation force was introduced in interference laser processing for the first time.

Magnetized fast isochoric laser heating for efficient creation of ultra-high-energy-density states.

Fast isochoric heating of a pre-compressed plasma core with a high-intensity short-pulse laser is an attractive and alternative approach to create ultra-high-energy-density states like those found in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) ignition sparks. Laser-produced relativistic electron beam (REB) deposits a part of kinetic energy in the core, and then the heated region becomes the hot spark to trigger the ignition. However, due to the inherent large angular spread of the produced REB, only a small portion of the REB collides with the core. Here, we demonstrate a factor-of-two enhancement of laser-to-core energy coupling with the magnetized fast isochoric heating. The method employs a magnetic field of hundreds of Tesla that is applied to the transport region from the REB generation zone to the core which results in guiding the REB along the magnetic field lines to the core. This scheme may provide more efficient energy coupling compared to the conventional ICF scheme.

PCSEL pumped coupling optics free Yb:YAG/Cr:YAG microchip laser.

The passively Q-switched operation of a cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG/Cr:YAG microchip laser was demonstrated with end pumping by a photonic crystal surface emitting laser (PCSEL). This laser generated 70 µJ/1.7 ns/3.2 kHz pulses with near diffraction limited beam quality (M2=1.1) at 1029.4 nm. There were no coupling optics between the microchip laser crystal and PCSEL, which made the system simple and compact.

Pivotal Role of IL-22 Binding Protein in the Epithelial Autoregulation of Interleukin-22 Signaling in the Control of Skin Inflammation.

Disruption of skin homeostasis can lead to inflammatory cutaneous diseases resulting from the dysregulated interplay between epithelial keratinocytes and immune cells. Interleukin (IL)-22 signaling through membrane-bound IL-22 receptor 1 (IL-22R1) is crucial to maintain cutaneous epithelial integrity, and its malfunction mediates deleterious skin inflammation. While IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP) binds IL-22 to suppress IL-22 signaling, how IL-22BP controls epithelial functionality to prevent skin inflammation remains unclear. Here, we describe the pivotal role of IL-22BP in mediating epithelial autoregulation of IL-22 signaling for the control of cutaneous pathogenesis. Unlike prominent expression of IL-22BP in dendritic cells in lymphoid tissues, epidermal keratinocytes predominantly expressed IL-22BP in the skin in the steady state, whereas its expression decreased during the development of psoriatic inflammation. Deficiency in IL-22BP aggravates psoriasiform dermatitis, accompanied by abnormal hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and excessive cutaneous inflammation as well as enhanced dermal infiltration of granulocytes and γδT cells. Furthermore, IL-22BP abrogates the functional alternations of keratinocytes upon stimulation with IL-22. On the other hand, treatment with IL-22BP alleviates the severity of cutaneous pathology and inflammation in psoriatic mice. Thus, the fine-tuning of IL-22 signaling through autocrine IL-22BP production in keratinocytes is instrumental in the maintenance of skin homeostasis.

Local Melting of Gold Thin Films by Femtosecond Laser-Interference Processing to Generate Nanoparticles on a Source Target.

Shape- and size-controlled metallic nanoparticles are very important due to their wide applicability. Such particles have been fabricated by chemosynthesis, chemical-vapor deposition, and laser processing. Pulsed-laser deposition and laser-induced dot transfer use ejections of molten layers and solid-liquid-solid processes to fabricate nanoparticles with a radius of some tens to hundreds of nm. In these processes, the nanoparticles are collected on an acceptor substrate. In the present experiment, we used laser-interference processing of gold thin films, which deposited nanoparticles directly on the source thin film with a yield ratio. A typical nanoparticle had roundness fr=0.99 and circularity fcirc=0.869, and the radius was controllable between 69 and 188 nm. The smallest radius was 82 nm on average, and the smallest standard deviation was 3 nm. The simplicity, high yield, and ideal features of the nanoparticles produced by this method will broaden the range of applications of nanoparticles in fields such as plasmonics.

Single-shot real-time detection technique for pulse-front tilt and curvature of femtosecond pulsed beams with multiple-slit spatiotemporal interferometry.

Spatiotemporal coupling (STC) of femtosecond pulsed beams could significantly reduce the focal-spot intensity of ultra-intense lasers. We theoretically present a very simple method for single-shot real-time detecting pulse-front tilt, curvature, or tilt and curvature (PFT, PFC or PFT&PFC) by using multiple-slit spatiotemporal interferometry (MSTI). An unknown input pulsed beam is spatially cut by a high-density multiple-slit and changed into a series of spatially separated sub-pulses. By only measuring the spatial distribution of the interference pattern in the far-field, PFT, PFC, or PFT&PFC can be detected. Comparing with recent methods, no reference pulses or beams, no temporal or spatial scanning, and no temporal or spectral measurement is required. The single-shot and spatial-only measurement will greatly simplify the real-time detection of PFT and PFC.

Simulating ultra-intense femtosecond lasers in the 3-dimensional space-time domain.

Femtosecond petawatt (fs-PW) lasers, with femtosecond pulses and sub-meter-sized beams, could be easily distorted by spatiotemporal coupling (STC). In 2016, a femtosecond terawatt pulsed beam was experimentally reconstructed in the 3-dimensional (3D) space-time domain for the first time, and showing STC induced distortions. Referring to recently developed laser techniques, traditional first-order STCs can be controlled and then removed. However, the complex STC induced by wavefront errors in a meter-sized grating compressor, where the spatial and spectral coordinates of beams and pulses are coupled, would introduce a non-negligible and complicated distortion. Herein, we theoretically simulated this complex STC in the 3D space-time/spectrum domain and presented its evolution with various factors, which opens a new perspective to analyze CPA lasers in the 3D domain.

Critical role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in induction of oral tolerance.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to dietary constituents through the mucosal surface of the gastrointestinal tract generates oral tolerance that prevents deleterious T cell-mediated immunity. Although oral tolerance is an active process that involves emergence of CD4+ forkhead box p3 (Foxp3)+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs) for suppression of effector T (Teff) cells, how antigen-presenting cells initiate this process remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), which are known as unconventional antigen-presenting cells, in establishment of oral tolerance. METHODS: GALT-associated pDCs in wild-type mice were examined for their ability to induce differentiation of CD4+ Teff cells and CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells in vitro. Wild-type and pDC-ablated mice were fed oral antigen to compare their intestinal generation of CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells and induction of oral tolerance to protect against Teff cell-mediated allergic inflammation. RESULTS: GALT-associated pDCs preferentially generate CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells rather than CD4+ Teff cells, and such generation requires an autocrine loop of TGF-ß for its robust production. A deficiency of pDCs abrogates antigen-specific de novo generation of CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells occurring in GALT after antigenic feeding. Furthermore, the absence of pDCs impairs development of oral tolerance, which ameliorates the progression of delayed-type hypersensitivity and systemic anaphylaxis, as well as allergic asthma, accompanied by an enhanced antigen-specific CD4+ Teff cell response and antibody production. CONCLUSION: pDCs are required for establishing oral tolerance to prevent undesirable allergic responses, and they might serve a key role in maintaining gastrointestinal immune homeostasis.