On the column curvature curves

Column curvature curves are used to solve general inelastic beam-column problems in a manner similar to the use of column deflection curves. Curvature curves are obtained analytically from differential equations while rotation and reflection are computed by numerical integration of curvature. Complete elastic-plastic responses of beam-columns are investigated

Photonic-Crystal-Fiber-Coupled, Hand-Held, Polarization-Resolved Second-Harmonic-Generation Microscope for In Vivo Visualization of Dermal Collagen Fibers in Human Skin

Second-harmonic-generation (SHG) microscopy is a powerful tool for in vivo monitoring of collagen fibers in human skin. Furthermore, polarization-resolved SHG microscopy can provide additional insights regarding the direction of collagen fibers, i.e., collagen fiber orientation. However, their practical use in the dermatological field is still limited due to the bulky and complicated setup. In this paper, we constructed a photonic-crystal-fiber-coupled, hand-held polarization-resolved SHG microscope for in vivo monitoring of collagen fibers in human skin. Fiber delivery of ultrashort pulse light was achieved without significant change of the linear polarization by a large-mode-area photonic-crystal-fiber whereas the SHG microscopy setup was enclosed into a hand-held probe head. The combination of PCF with the hand-held probe head largely enhances the flexibility of measurement sites in the human skin

Stem cells in dentistry – Part I: Stem cell sources

AbstractStem cells can self-renew and produce different cell types, thus providing new strategies to regenerate missing tissues and treat diseases. In the field of dentistry, adult mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have been identified in several oral and maxillofacial tissues, which suggests that the oral tissues are a rich source of stem cells, and oral stem and mucosal cells are expected to provide an ideal source for genetically reprogrammed cells such as induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Furthermore, oral tissues are expected to be not only a source but also a therapeutic target for stem cells, as stem cell and tissue engineering therapies in dentistry continue to attract increasing clinical interest. Part I of this review outlines various types of intra- and extra-oral tissue-derived stem cells with regard to clinical availability and applications in dentistry. Additionally, appropriate sources of stem cells for regenerative dentistry are discussed with regard to differentiation capacity, accessibility and possible immunomodulatory properties