A compact temperature-insensitive optical fiber twist sensor based on multi-phase-shifted helical long period fiber grating has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated in this paper. A ...multi-phase-shifted helical long period fiber grating is fabricated with a multi-period rotation technology. A π/2 and a 3π/2 phase shift is introduced in the helical long period fiber grating by changing the period. The helical pitch can be effectively changed with a different twist rate, which is measured by calculating the wavelength difference between two phase shift peaks. Although the wavelength of the phase shift peak also shifts with a change of the temperature, the wavelength difference between two phase shift peaks is constant due to two fixed phase shifts in the helical long period fiber grating, which is extremely insensitive to temperature change for the multi-phase-shifted helical long period fiber grating. The experimental results show that a sensitivity of up to 1.959 nm/(rad/m) is achieved.
Many people assume that it is challenging to maintain the intimacy of a long‐distance (LD) relationship. However, recent research suggests that LD romantic relationships are of equal or even more ...trust and satisfaction than their geographically close (GC) counterparts. The present diary study tested an intimacy‐enhancing process, in which LD couples (a) engage in more adaptive self‐disclosures and (b) form more idealized relationship perceptions than do GC couples in the pursuit of intimacy across various interpersonal media. The results demonstrate the effects of behavioral adaptation and idealization on intimacy, and suggest that the two effects vary depending on the cue multiplicity, synchronicity, and mobility of the communication medium employed. Implications for understanding LD relating and mix‐mode relating are discussed.
In this work, the influence of surface effects, including residual surface stress, surface elasticity and surface piezoelectricity, on the vibrational and buckling behaviors of piezoelectric ...nanobeams is investigated by using the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. The surface effects are incorporated by applying the surface piezoelectricity model and the generalized Young-Laplace equations. The results demonstrate that surface effects play a significant role in predicting these behaviors. It is found that the influence of the residual surface stress and the surface piezoelectricity on the resonant frequencies and the critical electric potential for buckling is more prominent than the surface elasticity. The nanobeam boundary conditions are also found to influence the surface effects on these parameters. This study also shows that the resonant frequencies can be tuned by adjusting the applied electrical load. The present study is envisaged to provide useful insights for the design and applications of piezoelectric-beam-based nanodevices.
Ubiquitously distributed in different plant species, plant lectins are highly diverse carbohydrate‐binding proteins of non‐immune origin. They have interesting pharmacological activities and ...currently are of great interest to thousands of people working on biomedical research in cancer‐related problems. It has been widely accepted that plant lectins affect both apoptosis and autophagy by modulating representative signalling pathways involved in Bcl‐2 family, caspase family, p53, PI3K/Akt, ERK, BNIP3, Ras‐Raf and ATG families, in cancer. Plant lectins may have a role as potential new anti‐tumour agents in cancer drug discovery. Thus, here we summarize these findings on pathway‐ involved plant lectins, to provide a comprehensive perspective for further elucidating their potential role as novel anti‐cancer drugs, with respect to both apoptosis and autophagy in cancer pathogenesis, and future therapy.
This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of GZ389988A, a tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) inhibitor, in subjects with painful knee osteoarthritis (OA).
In this single center, double-blind, ...placebo-controlled and randomized trial, 104 subjects with moderate-to-severe knee OA pain were enrolled to receive a single intra-articular (IA) injection of either GZ389988A or placebo. Efficacy measures were assessed over 12 weeks and included walking pain (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index WOMAC A1), overall knee pain, WOMAC A, B, C and total score, Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), OMERACT-OARSI responder rate and rescue medication use. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored up to 24 weeks.
The primary efficacy endpoint was met with a between-group difference of −7.49 (VAS 0–100) on WOMAC A1 changes over 4 weeks (P < 0.05 favoring GZ389988A). The secondary outcome on WOMAC A1 changes over 12 weeks had a between-group difference of −6.78 (P = 0.064). Among weekly assessments, statistically significant greater improvement in the GZ389988A group was observed in WOMAC A1, overall knee pain and/or WOMAC A at weeks 2–5. Although not statistically significant, improvements over placebo on pain and WOMAC C persisted over 12 weeks. Greater AE incidence was observed in the GZ389988A group including transient and self-limited injection joint inflammatory reactions with a spike of acetaminophen intake within the first week post-injection.
IA injection of TrkA inhibitor GZ389988A in knee OA subjects reduced pain with a numerically functional gain and an acceptable safety profile. (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02845271).
Summary An inverse relationship between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis has been debated over years. The microstructure of the femoral heads from postmenopausal osteoarthritic and osteoporotic women ...was evaluated with micro-CT. Significant differences were observed in microstructural parameters between them. Different microstructure might relate to the opposite bone defects in osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Introduction This study was undertaken to verify the inverse relationship between osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP) by comparing the structural and mechanical indices. Methods Femoral head specimens were obtained from 17 postmenopausal women (OA, n = 8; OP, n = 9) during hip surgery. The microstructural parameters were measured with micro-CT. Mechanical test was performed after bone cube scanning. Results Significant difference in bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and trabecular thickness was noted between OA and OP groups. Structure model index decreased in OA, and increased in OP. The higher apparent density (AD) and lower material density (MD) were also shown in OA. Different from OP, positive correlation were noted between connectivity density and mechanical indices in OA. In OA group, BV/TV was associated with Young's modulus and AD, while trabecular number was the only parameter that correlated with MD. However, in OP group, only BV/TV correlated with yield strength, AD, and MD. Conclusions We observed the difference in microstructure between postmenopausal women with OA and OP, which might relate to the opposite bone defects in OA and OP. BV/TV might play an important role in mechanical properties of the subchondral bone in either OA or OP.
Recent achievements in the construction of surfaces with special wettabilities, such as superhydrophobicity, superhydrophilicity, superoleophobicity, superoleophilicity, superamphiphilicity, ...superamphiphobicity, superhydrophobicity/superoleophilicity, and reversible switching between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity, are presented. Particular attention is paid to superhydrophobic surfaces created via various methods and surfaces with reversible superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity that are driven by various kinds of external stimuli. The control of the surface micro‐/nanostructure and the chemical composition is critical for these special properties. These surfaces with controllable wettability are of great importance for both fundamental research and practical applications.
Learning from Nature gives us inspiration for constructing functional surfaces with special wettability through the control of surface micro‐/nanostructure and chemical composition. In this Review, recent achievements in the construction of surfaces with superhydrophobicity, superhydrophilicity, superoleophobicity, and superoleophilicity, and their combinations, as well as switching properties between these states, are presented (see figure).
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