Angularly Cascaded Long-Period Fiber Grating for Curvature and Temperature Detection.

A high-sensitivity curvature sensor with dual-parameter measurement ability based on angularly cascaded long-period fiber grating (AC-LPFG) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated, which consists of two titled LPFGs (TLPFGs) with different tilt angles and the same grating period. AC-LPFG was fabricated by using a deep ultraviolet laser and an amplitude-mask in our laboratory. The experimental results show that simultaneous measurement of curvature and temperature can be achieved by monitoring the wavelengths of two resonant peaks for different TLPFGs.

Design of an ultra-broadband optical filter based on a local micro-structured long period fiber grating near PMTP.

This paper presents a local micro-structured long period fiber grating (LMS-LPFG) ultra-broadband optical filter based on the wide bandwidth near the phase-matching turning point (PMTP). The structure of LMS-LPFG is obtained by dividing a LPFG into two parts of equal length and reducing the cladding radius of the second LPFG. At this time, the LMS-LPFG can be regarded as a cascade of two equal-length LPFGs with different resonance wavelengths.

Rational design and improvement of the dimerization-disrupting peptide selectivity between ROCK-I and ROCK-II kinase isoforms in cerebrovascular diseases.

Human rho-associated coiled-coil forming kinases (ROCKs) ROCK-I and ROCK-II have been documented as attractive therapeutic targets for cerebrovascular diseases. Although ROCK-I and ROCK-II share a high degree of structural conservation and are both present in classic rho/ROCK signaling pathway, their downstream substrates and pathological functions may be quite different. Selective targeting of the two kinase isoforms with traditional small-molecule inhibitors is a great challenge due to their surprisingly high homology in kinase domain (~90%) and the full identity in kinase active site (100%).

Design of a narrow-bandwidth refractive index sensor based on a cascaded few-mode long-period fiber grating.

This work presents a design of a cascaded few-mode long-period fiber grating (FM-CLPFG) refractive index sensor with a narrow bandwidth that is based on the feature of narrow-bandwidth loss peak of few-mode long-period fiber grating (FM-LPFG) and that further reduces the loss-peak bandwidth of a single FM-LPFG by cascading. On the basis of the coupled-mode theory of FM-LPFG, the mutual interference between the loss peaks of each mode is reduced, and the loss-peak coupling intensity is ensured by selecting the appropriate grating period and grating length. Furthermore, the influence of the cascaded fiber length and the number of cascaded grating segments on the loss-peak bandwidth are analyzed.

Association of serum lipids with clinical outcome in acute ischaemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Serum lipid levels have been investigated as prognostic markers in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. However, these results remain inconsistent. This study aimed at assessing the association between serum lipid and clinical outcomes in acute ischaemic stroke.

The Short-term Prognostic Value of the Triglyceride-to-high-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

The triglyceride (TG)-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (TG/HDL-C) is a simple approach to predicting unfavorable outcomes in cardiovascular disease. The influence of TG/HDL-C on acute ischemic stroke remains elusive. The purpose of this study was to investigate the precise effect of TG/HDL-C on 3-month mortality after acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Smart design of a long-period fiber grating refractive index sensor based on dual-peak resonance near the phase-matching turning point.

This paper presents a smart design way for the long-period fiber grating (LPFG) refractive index sensor, which is based on high sensitivity of LPFG near phase-matching turning point (PMTP) to the surrounding refractive index (SRI). On the basis of the coupled mode theory of LPFG, cladding etching and film coating have opposite effects on the shift of the dual peaks. Therefore, an LPFG can be controlled by the cladding etching and film coating successively, until it operates near PMTP.

β-arrestin2 functions as a key regulator in the sympathetic-triggered immunodepression after stroke.

Background: Stroke-induced immunodeficiency syndrome (SIDS) is regarded as a protective mechanism for secondary inflammatory injury as well as a contributor to infection complications. Although stroke-induced hyperactivation of the sympathetic system is proved to facilitate SIDS, the involved endogenous factors and pathways are largely elusive. In this study, we aim to investigate the function of beta-arrestin-2 (ARRB2) in the sympathetic-mediated SIDS.

Follicular Stimulating Hormone Accelerates Atherogenesis by Increasing Endothelial VCAM-1 Expression.

Postmenopausal atherosclerosis (AS) has for decades been attributed to estrogen deficiency. Although the follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) levels rise sharply in parallel, the direct effect of FSH on AS has never been investigated. In this study, we explored the possible role of FSH in the development of AS.

17β-Estradiol Enhances Vascular Endothelial Ets-1/miR-126-3p Expression: The Possible Mechanism for Attenuation of Atherosclerosis.

Context: Endothelial microRNA 126 (miR-126) attenuates the development of atherosclerosis (AS). However, there is no evidence showing the role of miR-126 in estrogen's antiatherogenic effects.

Objective: We hypothesized that 17β-estradiol (E2) modulates miR-126 expression and thus may improve endothelial function and retard AS development.

[The Study of Characteristics of Cladding-Reduced Coated Long-Period Fiber Grating Based on Mode Transition and Dual Peak Resonance].

Based on coupled-mode theory, the mode transition of the high-order cladding modes in a coated long-period tiber grating (LPFG) has been studied firstly; the mode transition region and non-mode transition region of high-order cladding modes are divided. The response characteristic of cladding mode effective index with increasing the overlay thickness is analyzed; the shift of resonant wavelength in the mode transition region will be larger than that in the non-mode transition region. Further, the changes of the resonant wavelength of some high-order cladding modes with grating period are investigated when the cladding radius are different, the shift between two resonant wavelengths of dual peak in the mode transition region is bigger than that in non-mode transition region when the cladding radius are uniform.

Post-reconstitution Stability of Telavancin with Commonly Used Diluents and Intravenous Infusion Solutions.

Objective: The post-reconstitution chemical stability and microbial challenge hold time of nonpreserved telavancin for injection was determined using common reconstitution diluents and intravenous (IV) infusion solutions stored at room temperature with light (ambient) or at 2°C to 8°C without light (refrigeration).

Methods: Telavancin was reconstituted with 5% dextrose, 0.9% normal saline, or sterile water (15 mg/mL).

Stability of Reconstituted Telavancin Drug Product in Frozen Intravenous Bags.

Background And Objective: Intravenous (IV) infusions of telavancin for injection are generally administered in-hospital, but in some circumstances they may be administered in an outpatient environment. In that setting, antibiotics may be premixed and frozen. This study determined the chemical stability of nonpreserved telavancin in various commonly used reconstitution diluents stored in IV bags (polyvinyl chloride [PVC] and PVC-free) at -20°C (-4°F) without light.

Temperature and bending simultaneous sensing properties of cascaded long- and short-period gratings.

Based on the coupled-mode theory, temperature and bending sensing properties of cascaded long-and short-period grating (CLBG) are analyzed by using the transfer matrix method. Two resonance peaks are produced in the reflection spectrum of CLBG when the resonance wavelengths of the two gratings are approximately equal. The two resonance peaks shift along the longer wavelength as temperature increases, and the peak reflectivity at the longer wavelength decreases monotonically at the same time.

Treatment of depression using sleep electroencephalogram modulated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Background: As a treatment of depression, the efficacy of conventional repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is limited, and symptoms recurrence is easy to occur after the treatment. This study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of sleep electroencephalogram modulated repetitive rTMS (SEM-rTMS) in the treatment of depression.

Methods: After 7 days without psychoactive medication, 164 patients with clinically defined depression were randomly divided into 3 groups: SEM-rTMS group (n = 57), conventional rTMS (C-rTMS, n = 55) group and sham-rTMS group (n = 52).

Characterization and resolution of reversed phase HPLC chromatography failure attributed to sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin in a pharmaceutical sample preparation.

A reversed phase HPLC method developed for a drug product formulation using hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) was rendered ineffective for analyzing a similar formulation containing sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin (SBECD). The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and the majority of its impurities became more strongly retained, eluting as an incoherent conglomerate of peaks. Furthermore, this phenomenon was reproduced in subsequent injections of the API reference standard.

Optical fiber long-period grating with solgel coating for gas sensor.

The novel long-period fiber grating (LPFG) film sensor is composed of the long-period grating coated with solgel-derived sensitive films. The characteristics of the transmissivity of the LPFG film sensor are studied. By analyzing the relation among the sensitivity Sn, the thin film optical parameters, and the fiber grating parameters, the optimal design parameters of the LPFG film sensor are obtained.