Stable generation of cylindrical vector beams with an all-fiber laser using polarization-maintaining and ring-core fibers.

An all-fiber laser using polarization-maintaining and ring-core fibers that are capable of automatically generating stable TE01 and TM01 modes is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. Two vector-mode coupling long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) fabricated by a high-frequency CO2 laser are used in the fiber laser to realize efficient coupling between HE11 mode and TE01/TM01 mode. The polarization dependence of the LPFGs is simulated using the coupled-mode theory and verified by experiments. A ring-core fiber is employed to support the stable propagation of TE01 and TM01 modes. By carefully aligning the polarization direction of the input light, the mode coupling ratios of both LPFGs exceed 15 dB. The mode purities of TE01 and TM01 modes are 92.4% and 97.3%, respectively. Owing to the all-polarization-maintaining structure, the laser output is highly stable under environmental disturbance. This laser can be used as a stable cylindrical vector beam source for a wide range of applications, including surface plasmon excitation, optical tweezers, high-resolution metrology and so on.

Evaluation of the implementation and effect of the healthcare cloud information platform for diabetes self-management: A case study in Shanghai.

With the high prevalence of diabetes, its long-term treatment, and many complications, there is a need for a new diabetes self-management model in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the implementation and effect of a new diabetes self-management model, known as the healthcare cloud information platform, in Shanghai, China. The implementation of the new model was evaluated in terms of the equipment coverage in community health service centres and the services provided. The effect was assessed according to the treatment rate and control rate from 2012 to 2017. Their correlations with the self-management rate were analysed using Spearman's test. It was found that the Shanghai healthcare cloud information platform had covered a total of 237 community health service centres in all of the 16 administrative districts, equipping them with 2489 health stations, by 2017. An average of 8966 people uploaded data to the healthcare cloud information platform every day, with the accumulated service up to 12 043 508 person-times and an average daily increase of 13 227.9. The treatment rate of diabetes patients in Shanghai increased from 42.9% in 2012 to 78.0% in 2017, and the control rate increased to 72% in 2017, compared with 63% in 2012. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the treatment rate, control rate, and self-management rate. The findings indicate that it is feasible to implement the new healthcare cloud information platform for diabetes self-management and that it is effective.

Efficacy of acupuncture on repair of glial scars in rats with traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the underlying mechanism of acupuncture on nerve repair by investigating its effect on the differentiation of glial cells and the repair of glial scars. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to three groups: normal group, model group, and acupuncture group. Acupuncture was applied at Renzhong (GV26), Baihui (GV20), Fengfu (GV16), Yamen (GV15) and Hegu (LI4) within 12 h after TBI modeling with a frequency of one session per day for 4 weeks. Neurobehavioral assessment, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunofluorescence detection, and magnetic resonance imaging scanning were performed on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 after modeling of traumatic brain injury (TBI). RESULTS: Acupuncture promoted the proliferation of glial cells and glial scars at an early stage but inhibited the proliferation of glial cells and glial scars at a late stage. Morphological observations and immunofluorescence histochemistry showed that the morphology of the perilesional cortex in the acupuncture group was improved and the number of neurons was increased when compared with the model group. The lesion size of ipsilateral brain parenchyma in the acupuncture group was smaller than in the model group on days 7, 14, and 28 ( < 0.05) after TBI modeling. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture might have a bidirectional regulatory effect on glial scar repair after TBI by promoting the proliferation of glial cells and glial scars to limit the injured area and relieve nerve injury during the early stages, and by inhibiting glial scar hyperplasia to benefit the regeneration and repair of neurons and axons and promote neurological function recovery during the later stages.

Effects of plasma from acute-on-chronic liver failure patients on immortalized human hepatocytes in vitro.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The efficiency of bioartificial liver or cell transplantation for the treatment of liver failure may potentially be diminished by toxic agents accumulated in the patients blood. We investigated the effects of plasma from patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure on the structure and function of immortalized human hepatocytes (HepLL) in vitro. METHODOLOGY: Plasma was pooled from 8 patients with acute or chronic liver failure. We utilized Transmission Electron Microscopy to observe the ultrastructure of HepLL cells and the activity of proliferation was examined by MTT assay. The percentage of apoptosis cells was measured through Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit. The capacity for detoxification was analyzed using an ammonia elimination assay. RESULTS: HepLL cells continue to proliferate, even when exposed to plasma derived from patients with 100% liver failure. No significant apoptosis was measured within 48h. The capacity for ammonia elimination was not statistically decreased until 36h incubation with liver failure plasma. CONCLUSIONS: Although the toxic effects of plasma from acute-on-chronic liver failure patients should not be ignored, HepLL cells can maintain their function, when exposed to AoCLF plasma, for at least 24h and could be used as a suitable cell source for a bioartificial liver support system.