Preoptic Inputs and Mechanisms that Regulate Maternal Responsiveness

The preoptic area is a well-established centre for the control of maternal behaviour. An intact medial preoptic area (mPOA) is required for maternal responsiveness because lesion of the area abolishes maternal behaviours. Although hormonal changes in the peripartum period contribute to the initiation of maternal responsiveness, inputs from pups are required for its maintenance. Neurones are activated in different parts of the mPOA in response to pup exposure. In the present review, we summarise the potential inputs to the mPOA of rodent dams from the litter that can activate mPOA neurones. The roles of potential indirect effects through increased prolactin levels, as well as neuronal inputs to the preoptic area, are described. Recent results on the pathway mediating the effects of suckling to the mPOA suggest that neurones containing the neuropeptide tuberoinfundibular peptide of 39 residues in the posterior thalamus are candidates for conveying the suckling information to the mPOA. Although the molecular mechanism through which these inputs alter mPOA neurones to support the maintenance of maternal responding is not yet known, altered gene expression is a likely candidate. Here, we summarise gene expression changes in the mPOA that have been linked to maternal behaviour and explore the idea that chromatin remodelling during mother-infant interactions mediates the long-term alterations in gene expression that sustain maternal responding

Characterization of silicon nanowire by use of full-vectorial finite element method.

We have carried out a rigorous H-field-based full-vectorial modal analysis and used it to characterize, more accurately, the abrupt dielectric discontinuity of a high index contrast optical waveguide. The full-vectorial H and E fields and the Poynting vector profiles are described in detail. It has been shown through this work that the mode profile of a circular silicon nanowire is not circular and also contains a strong axial field component. The single-mode operation, vector field profiles, modal hybridness, modal ellipticity, and group velocity dispersion of this silicon nanowire are also presented

High power 405 nm diode laser fiber-coupled single-mode system with high long-term stability

Fiber-coupled 405 nm diode laser systems are rarely used with fiber output powers higher than 50 mW. A quick degradation of fiber-coupled high power modules with wavelengths in the lower range of the visible spectrum is known for several years. Meanwhile, the typical power of single-mode diode lasers around 400 nm is in the order of 100 to 300 mW, leading to single-mode fiber core power densities in the 1 MW/cm² range. This is three magnitudes of order below the known threshold for optical damage. Our profound investigations on the influence of 405 nm laser light irradiation of single-mode fibers found the growth of periodic surface structures in the form of ripples responsible for the power loss. The ripples are found on the proximal and distal fiber end surfaces, negatively impacting power transmission and beam quality, respectively. Important parameters in the generation of the surface structures are power density, surface roughness and polarization direction. A fiber-coupled high-power 405 nm diode laser system with a high long-term stability will be introduced and described

Research progress on coal mine laser methane sensor

This paper discusses the research progress of low-power technology of laser methane sensors for coal mine. On the basis of environment of coal mines, such as ultra-long-distance transmission and high stability, a series of studies have been carried out. The preliminary results have been achieved in the research of low power consumption, temperature and pressure compensation and reliability design. The technology is applied to various products in coal mines, and achieves high stability and high reliability in products such as laser methane sensor, laser methane detection alarm device, wireless laser methane detection alarm device, and optic fiber multichannel laser methane sensor. Experimental testing and analysis of the characteristics of laser methane sensors, combined with the actual application

Multi-parameter monitoring of electrical machines using integrated fibre Bragg gratings

In this paper a sensor system for multi-parameter electrical machine condition monitoring is reported. The proposed FBG-based system allows for the simultaneous monitoring of machine vibration, rotor speed and position, torque, spinning direction, temperature distribution along the stator windings and on the rotor surface as well as the stator wave frequency. This all-optical sensing solution reduces the component count of conventional sensor systems, i.e., all 48 sensing elements are contained within the machine operated by a single sensing interrogation unit. In this work, the sensing system has been successfully integrated into and tested on a permanent magnet motor prototype

Comprehensive monitoring of electrical machine parameters using an integrated fibre Bragg grating-based sensor system

In this paper a multi-parameter, multi-sensor system for comprehensive electrical machine condition monitoring has been developed and the results of an evaluation reported. The FBG-based system developed allows for the simultaneous monitoring of key parameters including machine vibration, rotor speed and position, torque, spin direction, temperature distribution along the stator windings and on the rotor surface as well as the stator wave frequency. This all-optical sensing solution has been designed to be compatible with being fitted in the tight confines of an electric motor and uses the optical nature of the measurement and the insulating nature of the sensor material to avoid problems of electrical interference. The system reduces the component count over conventional sensor systems, i.e., all sensing elements are contained within the machine and operated by a single sensing interrogation unit, thereby reducing cost and allowing for a convenient interface for the user. The design of the system is presented, as are results on the testing and evaluation of the device the sensing system has been successfully integrated into and tested on a permanent magnet motor prototype

Application and research of wireless laser methane sensor in drainage pipeline monitoring

Laser methane sensor has been widely promoted and successfully applied in coal mines as a new and effective technology building on the approach of laser-based absorption detection. Compared with the traditional catalytic methane sensor, the laser methane sensor discussed offers the important advantages of a long calibration period, high detection precision, the absence of zero drift and low power consumption, all of which are significant advantages for use in coal mining applications. By compensating for the temperature and pressure of the gases present, the accuracy of the methane sensor is evident across a wide range of temperatures and pressures, making it suitable for gas detection, including methane, in pipelines as well. The wireless laser approach which is incorporated into the methane sensor allows wireless transmission and data uploading to a cloud server through NB-IoT. This tackles the problem in gas pipeline monitoring of the length of many pipelines and thus the wide distribution of the sensors, avoiding complicated wiring and thus high associated cost. Further, remote data management can then be achieved, all of which greatly improves the flexibility and security of the management of the pipeline and the data generated

Simultaneous Measurement of Strain and Temperature Using a Single Emission Line

In this study, we present and demonstrate a novel sensor system for simultaneous measurement of strain and temperature through a unique combination of a long period grating and a fiber laser based on a fiber Bragg grating. In order to achieve this, a new erbium-doped fiber laser structure is created, showing an optical signal-to-noise ratio of 55 dB and a peak power measured on the optical spectrum analyzer between -5 and 0 dBm. The strain and the temperature information can be obtained by using a unique emission line through monitoring both the fiber laser wavelength shift and the change of the power level, both of which showing a clear linear behavior

Retrospective case note review of chronic spontaneous urticaria outcomes and adverse effects in patients treated with omalizumab or ciclosporin in UK secondary care.

BACKGROUND: Omalizumab is approved in the UK as add-on treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in patients with inadequate response to H1-antihistamines. Ciclosporin is an established but unlicensed 3rd line option for CSU. Two parallel retrospective observational studies were conducted to describe outcomes of treatment and adverse events with omalizumab or ciclosporin for CSU treatment. METHODS: Data from UK specialist centres prescribing omalizumab (five centres) or ciclosporin (three centres) in CSU patients were collected from hospital records by clinical staff and pooled for analysis. RESULTS: Forty-six patients prescribed omalizumab and 72 patients prescribed ciclosporin were included. Twenty-two (48%) omalizumab-treated patients had paired Urticaria Activity Scores (UAS7), showing a 25.4 point improvement during treatment (P < 0.0001). Paired Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was available in 28 (61%) omalizumab-treated and 17 (24%) ciclosporin-treated patients. At least a 75% improvement in DLQI score was observed in 79% of omalizumab-treated and 41% of ciclosporin-treated patients, and 65% of omalizumab-treated patients had complete resolution of their quality-of-life impairment (DLQI 0-1) versus 21% of ciclosporin-treated patients. Clinician comments reported symptom clearance in 15/36 (42%) omalizumab-treated and 10/60 (17%) ciclosporin-treated patients. Proportions of patients with adverse events were similar but those for omalizumab resembled CSU symptoms, making causality assignment difficult, whereas those for ciclosporin were consistent with its known adverse effect profile. CONCLUSIONS: Validated patient-reported measures of disease severity and quality of life should be used routinely in CSU management. Based on clinician comments and DLQI scores, symptoms and quality of life showed a greater improvement in the omalizumab-treated cohort than in the ciclosporin-treated cohort