High-sensitivity Fiber Bragg grating temperature sensor at high temperature

A method of making full use of the durable strain which fiber Bragg grating (FBG) can undertake is presented, which hugely improves the sensitivities of FBG temperature sensors at high temperature. When a sensor is manufactured at room temperature, its FBG should be given a pre-relaxing length according to the temperature it is asked to measure; once the temperature rise to the asked one, its FBG starts to be stretched and it starts to work with high sensitivity. The relationship between the pre-relaxing length and the working temperature is analyzed. In experiments, when the pre-relaxing lengths are 0.2mm、0.5mm、0.6mm, the working temperatures rise 25℃、50℃、61℃, respectively, and the sensitivities are almost the same (675pm/℃). The facts that the experimental results agree well with the theoretical analyses verify this method’s validity

Reproducing Kernel Method for Singular Fourth Order Four-Point Boundary Value Problems

Abstract. This paper investigates the analytical approximate solutions of singular fourth order four-point boundary value problems using reproducing kernel method (RKM). The solution obtained by using the method takes the form of a convergent series with easily computable components. However, the RKM can not be used directly to solve singular fourth order four-point boundary value problems (BVPs), since there is no method of obtaining reproducing kernel (RK) satisfying four-point boundary conditions. The aim of this paper is to fill this gap. A method for obtaining RK satisfying four-point boundary conditions is proposed so that RKM can be used to solve singular fourth order four-point BVPs. Results of numerical examples demonstrate that the method is quite accurate and efficient for singular fourth order four-point BVPs

Comparison of the safety and efficacy of propofol and dexmedetomidine as sedatives when used as a modified topical formulation

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of propofol and dexmedetomidine as sedatives in patients with anticipated difficult airways, used as a modified topical preparation.Methods: A total of 432 patients were enrolled in this study. They were classified as ASA I and ASA II. The patients were equally divided into group A (propofol group) and group B (dexmedetomidine group). A modified Awake Fiberoptic Intubation (AFOI) was carried out for these patients, followed by airway assessment and evaluation of clinical outcome based on intubation scores, adverse events, and postoperative data.Results: Patients in both groups had successful intubation at the first attempt. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The SARI scores which characterized the overall score for tracheal intubation were 4.6 and 4.2 for groups A and B, respectively. With respect to rescue infusion and consciousness, 11 patients (5.09 %) in group A required rescue, as against 5 patients (2.31 %) in group B. Seven (7) patients (3.24 %) in group A (propofol group) had severe airway obstruction, while only 4 patients (1.85) in group B had the same adverse reaction. Patients in group B had more satisfactory and favourable outcomes than those in group A who were treated with modified AFOI.Conclusion: The use of dexmedetomidine based on modified topical anaesthesia is safe and comfortable in terms of patient convenience and difficult airway management. Thus, dexmedetomidine is a safe, feasible and effective method for managing difficult airway when applied using the modified AFOI

Conjugated linoleic acid attenuates neuropathic pain induced by sciatic nerve in mice

Purpose: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been suggested to be necessary for human health, but there is limited research regarding its effect on neuropathic pain (NP). Here, we aim to investigate the potential effect of CLA administration on NP development and nerve recovery. Methods: Forty mice were divided into four equal groups randomly. The mice in control group underwent a sham operation to achieve a unilateral sciatic nerve cut. Other groups were subjected to partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) surgery followed by 4 weeks of CLA treatment. Behavioral tests were performed shortly before mice were sacrificed. Blood, sciatic nerve and spinal cord tissues were collected after sacrifice. Electron microscopy was performed to determine myelin thickness and calculate myelin thickness/axon diameter ratio. Results: Mice that received daily oral CLA treatment for 4 weeks after PSNL surgery showed less mechanical and thermal allodynia than mice in PSNL surgery alone group. Behavioral tests showed that CLA treatment was associated with marked increases in both nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and force of gastrocnemius contraction. In addition, CLA reduced the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), sciatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and activating transcription factor-3 (ATF-3) expression. CLA also restored mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity which was decreased in the sciatic nerves and spinal cords of the PSNL surgery group. Regeneration of myelins and axons in nerve fibers in CLA group was faster and more complete than that in the vehicle group. Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that CLA effectively attenuates NP and significantly inhibits neuro-inflammation and oxidative stress. This treatment improves sciatic nerve form and function after injury, suggesting that it can attenuate NP

Nrf2 deletion causes “benign” simple steatosis to develop into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice fed a high-fat diet

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease begins with the aberrant accumulation of triglyceride in the liver. Its spectrum includes the earliest stage of hepatic simple steatosis (SS), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Generally, hepatic SS is often self-limited; however 10%-30% of patients with hepatic SS progress to NASH. The cause(s) of the transition from SS to NASH are unclear. We aimed to test the contribution of nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) on the progression of “benign” SS to NASH in mice fed a high fat diet. In doing so, we discovered the influence of fatty acid in that progression. METHOD: The involvement of Nrf2 in defending against the development of NASH was studied in an experimental model induced by a high-fat diet. Wild-type and Nrf2-null mice were fed the diet. Their specimens were analyzed for pathology as well as for fatty acid content and ratios. RESULT: In feeding the high-fat diet to the Wild-type and the Nrf2-null mice, the Wild-type mice increased hepatic fat deposition without inflammation or fibrosis (i.e., simple steatosis), while the Nrf2-null mice had significantly more hepatic steatosis and substantial inflammation, (i.e., nonalcoholic steatohepatitis). In addition, as a result of the high-fat diet, SFA (C20: 0, C22: 0) and MUFA (C18: 1, C20: 1) content in Nrf2-null mice were significantly higher than in Wild-type mice. In the Nrf2-null mice the PUFA/TFA ratio decreased; conversely, the MUFA/TFA ratio increased. CONCLUSION: The deletion of Nrf2 causes “benign” SS to develop into NASH in mice fed with a high-fat diet, through prompt fatty acid accumulation and disruption of hepatic fatty acid composition in the liver