Period measurement of a periodic structure by using a heterodyne grating interferometer.

This paper proposes an alternative method for grating period measurement based on heterodyne grating interferometry. The optical configurations for measuring the period of reflection/transmission gratings were demonstrated, and four commercially available gratings were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Based on the phase-lock technique, the grating period could be obtained immediately through the phase wrapped/unwrapped process. Under precise measurement conditions, the grating period measurement error of the proposed method was better than 1 nm, and the grating period difference between product specifications was less than 1%. In addition, the measurement results of the proposed method also exhibited high similarity with optical microscopy measurements.

GLP-1 mimetics as a potential therapy for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is characterized by liver steatosis, inflammation, hepatocellular injury and different degrees of fibrosis. The pathogenesis of NASH is complex and multifactorial, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been implicated as major risk factors. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is one of the most successful drug targets of T2DM and obesity, and its peptidic ligands have been proposed as potential therapeutic agents for NASH. In this article we provide an overview of the pathophysiology and management of NASH, with a special focus on the pharmacological effects and possible mechanisms of GLP-1 mimetics in treating NAFLD/NASH, including dual and triple agonists at GLP-1R, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor or glucagon receptor.

Design and fabrication of a downlight luminaire with a dual frusto-conical reflector.

A design method and corresponding fabrication procedures are proposed for a dual frusto-conical reflector of a downlight luminaire. The profile of the dual frusto-conical reflector consists of two flat-slant reflective surfaces with slightly different slopes. The optimum dual frusto-conical reflector can be obtained with the proposed design method. The finished product of the dual frusto-conical reflector is fabricated by a 3D printer and followed by surface polishing and reflection paint spraying. The measurement results show that luminaires exhibited 70% optimum illuminance confined within an illumination area of 1.8m2, and the optimum illumination intensity is at 252 lux. The optimum efficiency of the proposed luminaire can reach 158 lm/W for normal-white light-emitting diode (LED) and 119 lm/W for warm-white LED, respectively.

[An association study of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphism in bipolar disorders].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphism and bipolar disorder. METHODS: Single nucleotide polymorphisms rs6265 and rs11030101 in BDNF gene were detected and compared between 228 patients with bipolar disorder and 361 healthy controls. RESULTS: The genotypes, alleles and combinative genotype of BDNF gene single nucleotide polymorphism rs6265 and rs11030101 did not show significant differences between two groups. There were also no significant differences in genotypes and combinative genotypes between diagnostic subtypes, genders and on-set age of bipolar disorder and controls. CONCLUSION: This study did not found that BDNF gene single nucleotide polymorphism rs6265 and rs11030101 are associated with bipolar disorders.