Absolute distance meter without dead zone based on free-running dual femtosecond lasers.

Absolute distance measurements based on femtosecond lasers have been extensively studied for precision metrology and advanced manufacturing, with the advantages of traceability, high speed, and nanometer precision. However, in previous studies, the dual femtosecond laser ranging system showed limitations such as system complexity, lower integration, dead zone problems in single optical path detection, and high requirements for laser coherence. It is challenging to achieve a high degree of integration and large-scale continuous measurements using femtosecond lasers, ineluctably limiting practical applications in engineering fields. Here, based on the free-running dual femtosecond lasers and the nonlinear asynchronous optical sampling method, we design a highly integrated absolute distance meter. In particular, the dead zone problem is solved by the polarization multiplexing technique, and the digital control system and signal processing system are completed by the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The absolute distance meter enables rapid, continuous, and accurate measurements over a considerable range without dead zones, which paves a promising way for the integration, instrumentation, and industrial applications of femtosecond laser ranging systems.

Triple line-scan camera measurement for efficient and accurate narrow-space 3-D scanning with motion estimation.

Vision-based three-dimensional (3-D) shape measurement plays a crucial role in the inspection of vehicles and trains in the field of transportation. Consequently, the demand for more comprehensive narrow-space inspection has become an inevitable necessity and presents a great challenge to conventional vision methods. We propose the following efficient and accurate narrow-space 3-D scanning method based on triple line-scan cameras. First, the structure of coplanar dual line-scan cameras with a narrow reflector is proposed, making it easy for the optical path to enter a narrow space and obtain 3-D shape information. Efficient in-motion measurement with a large field of view is thereby achieved without the worries that often accompany narrow-space constraints. Secondly, an additional line-scan camera is attached to the coplanar dual cameras and creates a time-space constraint in point cloud stitching direction through the triple line-scan camera structure. With an efficient algorithm template including matching and motion estimation, accurate point cloud stitching is ensured. Lastly, point cloud texture mapping and light source optimization are realized. Our experimental results prove that the method realizes low-distortion in-motion reconstruction in narrow space despite motion variation.

Painful diabetic neuropathy: The role of ion channels.

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a common chronic complication of diabetes that causes neuropathic pain and negatively affects the quality of life. The management of PDN is far from satisfactory. At present, interventions are primarily focused on symptomatic treatment. Ion channel disorders are a major cause of PDN, and a complete understanding of their roles and mechanisms may provide better options for the clinical treatment of PDN. Therefore, this review summarizes the important role of ion channels in PDN and the current drug development targeting these ion channels.

Polysomnographic findings of myotonic dystrophy type 1/type 2: evidence from case-control studies.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study explores polysomnographic and multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) differences between myotonic dystrophy type 1/type 2 (DM1/DM2) patients and controls. METHODS: An electronic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, All EBM databases, and Web of Science from inception to Aug 2023. RESULTS: Meta-analyses revealed significant reductions in sleep efficiency, N2 percentage, mean SpO2, and MSLT measured mean sleep latency, and increases in N3 sleep, wake time after sleep onset, apnea hypopnea index, and periodic limb movement index in DM1 patients compared with controls. However, any differences of polysomnographic sleep change between DM2 patients and controls could not be established due to limited available studies. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple significant polysomnographic abnormalities are present in DM1. More case-control studies evaluating polysomnographic changes in DM2 compared with controls are needed.

Multi-target automatic positioning based on angle and distance parallel measurement.

Precisely and efficiently measuring three-dimensional coordinates of key points on large-scale components in the manufacturing process of aircraft and ships is critically essential. This study presents a multi-target automatic positioning method based on rapid angle and distance measurement in parallel. The measurement processes for angles and distances are decoupled and, when executed simultaneously, aims to enhance the measurement efficiency and automation compared with conventional metrology systems. A cooperative target is devised to realize the rotary-laser scanning angle measurement and absolute distance measurement in parallel. The method of multi-target rough positioning based on rotary-laser scanning and then the precise coordinate measurement method introducing absolute distance constraint are detailed. Especially for the distance measurement, we propose a method to determine the internal zero length and compensate for the distance error caused by mirror offset. A real-site experiment is implemented to verify the method's feasibility and demonstrate that the 3D coordinate measurement accuracy is better than 0.17 mm compared with laser tracker.

Controllable Stress Increases Rapid Eye Movement Sleep in Rats: Regulation by the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala.

BACKGROUND: Training with inescapable shock (IS; uncontrollable stressor) is followed by significant decreases in rapid eye movement sleep (REM). However, controllability is important in the effects of stress. We examined the effects of escapable shock (ES; controllable stressor) on sleep and whether the central nucleus of the amygdala (CNA) plays a role in regulating these effects. METHODS: Six Wistar rats implanted with a cannula located in CNA underwent two days of ES training (20 shock presentations; 0.5 mA; 5.0 s maximum duration; 1.0 min interstimulus interval). Five days later, they were re-exposed to the shock context. RESULTS: Following shock training, REM was significantly increased in both light and dark periods. Non-REM (NREM) and total sleep (TS) duration were decreased during the light period. Similar effects on REM and NREM were observed following re-exposure to the training context alone. Microinjections of saline into CNA immediately following ES also produced similar increases in REM, whereas microinjections of muscimol (MUS; GABAA (γ-aminobutyric acid) antagonist) subsequent to ES blocked the increases in REM. CONCLUSIONS: These data, along with previous work with ES and IS, demonstrate that stressor controllability is important in determining how stress impacts sleep. Moreover, the results of the microinjection study indicate that the effects of ES on REM are regulated through the CNA.

Sleep in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of polysomnographic findings.

BACKGROUND: This study explores the polysomnographic differences between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and healthy controls. METHODS: An electronic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, All EBM databases, Web of Science, and CNKI from inception to Oct 2022. RESULTS: Meta-analyses revealed significant reductions in sleep efficiency, total sleep time, N2%, slow wave sleep percentage, minimum SpO2, and mean SpO2, and increases in wake time after sleep onset and N1%, sleep latency, rapid eye movement sleep latency, time spent with SpO2 < 90%, oxygen desaturation index, and apnea hypopnea index in ALS patients compared with controls. Sensitivity analyses showed that some heterogeneity was explained by excluding patients taking medications impacting sleep, whether studies employed an adaptation night, and the use of different PSG scoring rules. CONCLUSIONS: Significant polysomnographic abnormalities are present in ALS. Our findings underscore the need for a comprehensive PSG assessment of sleep changes in ALS patients. When performing PSG examinations in ALS, whether the patients are taking medication impacting sleep and the scoring system used should be considered.

Prolonged exposure of neonatal mice to sevoflurane leads to hyper-ramification in microglia, reduced contacts between microglia and synapses, and defects in adult behavior.

Background: Prolonged exposure to general anesthetics during development is known to cause neurobehavioral abnormalities, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved are unclear. Microglia are the resident immune cells in the central nervous system and play essential roles in normal brain development. Materials and methods: In the study, postnatal day 7 (P7) C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to two groups. In the sevoflurane (SEVO), mice were exposed to 2.5% sevoflurane for 4 h. In the control group, mice were exposed to carrier gas (30% O2/70% N2) for 4 h. Fixed brain slices from P14 to P21 mice were immunolabeled for ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA-1) to visualize microglia. The morphological analysis of microglia in the somatosensory cortex was performed using ImageJ and Imaris software. Serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) was performed to assess the ultrastructure of the microglia and the contacts between microglia and synapse in P14 and P21 mice. The confocal imaging of brain slices was performed to assess microglia surveillance in resting and activated states in P14 and P21 mice. Behavioral tests were used to assess the effect of microglia depletion and repopulation on neurobehavioral abnormalities caused by sevoflurane exposure. Results: The prolonged exposure of neonatal mice to sevoflurane induced microglia hyper-ramification with an increase in total branch length, arborization area, and branch complexity 14 days after exposure. Prolonged neonatal sevoflurane exposure reduced contacts between microglia and synapses, without affecting the surveillance of microglia in the resting state or responding to laser-induced focal brain injury. These neonatal changes in microglia were associated with anxiety-like behaviors in adult mice. Furthermore, microglial depletion before sevoflurane exposure and subsequent repopulation in the neonatal brain mitigated anxiety-like behaviors caused by sevoflurane exposure. Conclusion: Our experiments indicate that general anesthetics may harm the developing brain, and microglia may be an essential target of general anesthetic-related developmental neurotoxicity.

Modeling integrated stress, sleep, fear and neuroimmune responses: Relevance for understanding trauma and stress-related disorders.

Sleep and stress have complex interactions that are implicated in both physical diseases and psychiatric disorders. These interactions can be modulated by learning and memory, and involve additional interactions with the neuroimmune system. In this paper, we propose that stressful challenges induce integrated responses across multiple systems that can vary depending on situational variables in which the initial stress was experienced, and with the ability of the individual to cope with stress- and fear-inducing challenges. Differences in coping may involve differences in resilience and vulnerability and/or whether the stressful context allows adaptive learning and responses. We provide data demonstrating both common (corticosterone, SIH and fear behaviors) and distinguishing (sleep and neuroimmune) responses that are associated with an individual's ability to respond and relative resilience and vulnerability. We discuss neurocircuitry regulating integrated stress, sleep, neuroimmune and fear responses, and show that responses can be modulated at the neural level. Finally, we discuss factors that need to be considered in models of integrated stress responses and their relevance for understanding stress-related disorders in humans.

In-motion 3D reconstruction of high dynamic range surfaces.

Efficient and refined three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of industrial parts has become an urgent need in the field of advanced manufacturing, and it's a great challenge when facing in-motion and online inspection requirements of high dynamic range (HDR) surfaces that have large reflectivity variations. This paper proposes a method using RGB line-scan cameras to realize in-motion multiple-shot 3D shape measurements with RGB channel fusion to increase the measurement dynamic range. First, multi-channel one-dimensional background-normalized Fourier transform profilometry (MC-1DBNFTP) is proposed as an effective in-motion HDR method. Second, for HDR surfaces with strongly overexposed areas, we propose a solution that obtains 6 results of different dynamic ranges for fusion with only 5 projected patterns, which further extends the measurement dynamic range while ensuring the small projection period. Third, we develop a fusion method based on reliability evaluation, which is more reliable than the existing methods in fringe projection systems. In addition, colored textures can be mapped to the reconstructed surfaces. Experimental results prove that the proposed method realizes accurate and reliable in-motion 3D reconstruction of HDR surfaces.

Sleep in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of polysomnographic findings.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the polysomnographically measured sleep differences between patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy control patients. METHODS: An electronic literature search was conducted in EMBASE, MEDLINE, all EBM databases, CINAHL, and PsycINFO from inception to March 2022. A random-effects model was applied to explore the pooled effect sizes of polysomnographic differences between patients with MS and control patients. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were identified for meta-analysis. The meta-analyses revealed significant reductions in stage N2 sleep and sleep efficiency and increases in wake time after sleep onset, the periodic limb movement index, and the periodic limb movement arousal index in patients with MS compared with control patients. Meta-regression analyses showed that some of the heterogeneity was explained by age and daytime sleepiness of patients with MS. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that polysomnographic abnormalities are present in MS. Our findings also underscore the need for a comprehensive polysomnographic assessment of sleep changes in patients with MS. Furthermore, the effects of age and daytime sleepiness in patients with MS on sleep changes should also be carefully considered and closely monitored in the management of MS. CITATION: Zhang Y, Ren R, Yang L, et al. Sleep in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of polysomnographic findings. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(2):253-265.

Sleep fragmentation during rapid eye movement sleep and hypertension in obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: Sleep fragmentation determined by repetitive arousals from sleep in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with hypertension. We aimed to quantify the independent association of arousals during rapid eye movement (REM)/non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep with prevalent hypertension. METHODS: We included adults with 4 h of total sleep time and at least 30 min of REM sleep obtained from overnight in-laboratory polysomnography. Logistic regression models were fitted to explore the association between arousals during REM/NREM sleep and prevalent hypertension. All models controlled for OSA metrics and arousals during NREM/REM sleep, either by statistical adjustment or by stratification. RESULTS: The sample comprised of 11 643 patients, of which 10 055 were OSA patients. Fully adjusted models demonstrated significant dose-relationships between arousal index during REM sleep (AI-REM) and prevalent hypertension (P trend = 0.002). The higher relative odds of prevalent hypertension were most evident with AI-REM > 40 events/h. In OSA patients with arousal index during NREM sleep (AI-NREM) <15 events/h, every10-unit increase in the AI-REM was associated with 18% higher odds of hypertension (odds ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.27) in OSA. On the contrary, AI-NREM was not a significant predictor of hypertension in any of the models. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that arousals during REM sleep are associated with prevalent hypertension. This is clinically relevant because treatment of OSA is often limited to the first half of the sleep period leaving most of sleep fragmentation during REM sleep untreated.

Patterns of polysomnography parameters in 27 neuropsychiatric diseases: an umbrella review.

BACKGROUND: We provide an umbrella review of the reported polysomnographic changes in patients with neuropsychiatric diseases compared with healthy controls. METHODS: An electronic literature search was conducted in EMBASE, MEDLINE, All EBM databases, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Meta-analyses of case-control studies investigating the polysomnographic changes in patients with neuropsychiatric diseases were included. For each meta-analysis, we estimated the summary effect size using random effects models, the 95% confidence interval, and the 95% prediction interval. We also estimated between-study heterogeneity, evidence of excess significance bias, and evidence of small-study effects. The levels of evidence of polysomnographic changes in neuropsychiatric diseases were ranked as follows: not significant, weak, suggestive, highly suggestive, or convincing. RESULTS: We identified 27 articles, including 465 case-control studies in 27 neuropsychiatric diseases. The levels of evidence of polysomnographic changes in neuropsychiatric diseases were highly suggestive for increased sleep latency and decreased sleep efficiency (SE) in major depressive disorder (MDD), increased N1 percentage, and decreased N2 percentage, SL and REML in narcolepsy, and decreased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep percentage in Parkinson's disease (PD). The suggestive evidence decreased REM latency in MDD, decreased total sleep time and SE in PD, and decreased SE in posttraumatic stress disorder and in narcolepsy. CONCLUSIONS: The credibility of evidence for sleep characteristics in 27 neuropsychiatric diseases varied across polysomnographic variables and diseases. When considering the patterns of altered PSG variables, no two diseases had the same pattern of alterations, suggesting that specific sleep profiles might be important dimensions for defining distinct neuropsychiatric disorders.

In-motion continuous point cloud measurement based on bundle adjustment fused with motion information of triple line-scan images.

The point cloud continuous measurements in some in-motion circumstances, such as quality inspection of products on assembly lines or rail traffic, have been requiring higher measurement speed, accuracy, and point cloud density. With the advantages of high acquisition rates and ultrahigh resolution, line-scan cameras have been developing gradually for dynamic measurements. However, because of non-coplanar installation and unidimensional images, the measurement based on line-scan cameras is affected by movement. In this article, a dynamic scanning point cloud measurement based on triple line-scan images is present. The point cloud optimization is based on bundle adjustment fused with motion information. The epipolar constraint of line-scan images in dynamic conditions is researched for matching. The effect of motion on matching error is analyzed. A triple line-scan cameras experimental setup validates the proposed method.

Tandem pore domain acid-sensitive K channel 3 (TASK-3) regulates visual sensitivity in healthy and aging retina.

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) not only collect but also integrate visual signals and send them from the retina to the brain. The mechanisms underlying the RGC integration of synaptic activity within retinal circuits have not been fully explored. Here, we identified a pronounced expression of tandem pore domain acid-sensitive potassium channel 3 (TASK-3), a two-pore domain potassium channel (K2P), in RGCs. By using a specific antagonist and TASK-3 knockout mice, we found that TASK-3 regulates the intrinsic excitability and the light sensitivity of RGCs by sensing neuronal activity-dependent extracellular acidification. In vivo, the blockade or loss of TASK-3 dampened pupillary light reflex, visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity. Furthermore, overexpressing TASK-3 specifically in RGCs using an adeno-associated virus approach restored the visual function of TASK-3 knockout mice and aged mice where the expression and function of TASK-3 were reduced. Thus, our results provide evidence that implicates a critical role of K2P in visual processing in the retina.

Comparative efficacy and acceptability of psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies, and their combination for the treatment of adult insomnia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

This study aims to explore the comparative efficacy and acceptability of psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies, and their combinations for insomnia. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) examining the comparative efficacy in which a psychotherapy and a pharmacotherapy for insomnia were directly compared with each other, or in which a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy was compared with either alone. The analysis included data from 23 RCTs. In 18 of 23 studies, cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) was the psychotherapy. At post-treatment, CBT-I showed higher subjective sleep efficiency (SE), and lower subjective wake time after sleep onset (WASO) and insomnia severity index (ISI) score. Compared with CBT-I plus pharmacotherapy, pharmacotherapy showed lower subjective SE, and higher subjective sleep latency (SL), PSG measured SL, subjective WASO, and ISI score. Overall, the findings derived from post-treatment data suggested that CBT-I is more beneficial in treating insomnia compared with pharmacotherapy. CBT-I combined with pharmacotherapy is beneficial in improving some sleep parameters (i.e., subjective SE, SL, WASO, and PSG measured SL) compared with pharmacotherapy alone. Daily clinical decisions should consider these findings on the relative efficacy of the principal approaches to insomnia treatment.

Integrated metabolomics revealed the fibromyalgia-alleviation effect of Mo2C nanozyme through regulated homeostasis of oxidative stress and energy metabolism.

Fibromyalgia (FM), the most common cause of chronic musculoskeletal pain in the general public, lacks advanced therapeutic methodology and detailed bioinformation. However, acting as a newly developed and important transition metal carbide or carbonitride, the Mo2C nanozyme has provided a novel iatrotechnique with excellent bioactivity in a cell/animal model, which also exhibits potential prospects for future clinical applications. In addition, high-content and high-throughput integrated metabolomics (including aqueous metabolomics, lipidomics, and desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging) also specializes in qualitative and quantitative analysis of metabolic shifts at the molecular level. In this work, the FM-alleviation effect of Mo2C nanozyme was investigated through integrated metabolomics in a mouse model. An advanced platform combining gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and bioinformatics was utilized to study the variation in the mouse metabolome and lipidome. The results revealed that Mo2C treatment could effectively enhance energy metabolism-related biological events impaired by FM, leading to homeostasis of oxidative stress and energy metabolism toward the control levels. During this process, Mo2C facilitated the elimination of ROS in plasma and cells and the rehabilitation of mice from oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. It was believed that such an integrated metabolomics study on the FM-alleviation effect of Mo2C nanozyme could provide another excellent alternative to traditional Mo2C-based research with numerous pieces of bioinformation, further supporting research area innovation, material modification, and clinical application.

Polysomnographic features of idiopathic restless legs syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 sleep parameters and 23 leg movement parameters.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the polysomnographically measured sleep and leg movement differences between idiopathic restless legs syndrome (RLS) patients and healthy controls. METHODS: An electronic literature search was conducted in EMBASE, MEDLINE, all EBM databases, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Only observational case-control studies were included in the meta-analysis. The differences in 13 sleep parameters and 23 leg movement parameters between RLS patients and healthy controls were explored. RESULTS: Thirty-eight studies were identified for systematic review, 31 of which were used for meta-analysis. Meta-analyses revealed significant reductions in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, stage N2 and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep percentages, and increases in wake time after sleep onset, stage shifts per hour, stage N1 percentage, REM latency, arousal index, and apnea-hypopnea index. Some leg movement parameters, such as periodic limb movement during sleep (PLMS) index, PLMS sequence duration, number of PLMS sequence, and periodicity index, were higher in RLS patients compared with healthy controls. Further, our meta-analysis revealed a higher PLMS index during non-REM sleep compared with that during REM sleep. CONCLUSIONS: RLS patients manifest a lightening of sleep, increased sleep fragmentation, and greater sleep-related breathing disruption and limb movements during sleep relative to healthy normal individuals. The distributions of PLMS during a night's sleep may provide more information to clarify the specific characteristics of leg movements in RLS. PLMS in RLS are concentrated in non-REM sleep. The periodicity index may be a more sensitive and specific marker of RLS than the PLMS index. CITATION: Zhang H, Zhang Y, Ren R, et al. Polysomnographic features of idiopathic restless legs syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 sleep parameters and 23 leg movement parameters. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(11):2561-2575.

Efficacy and acceptability of psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions for trauma-related nightmares: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

This network meta-analysis compares the efficacy and acceptability of all published psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions for trauma-related nightmares (TRN) in adults. The analysis included data from 29 randomized clinical trials involving 14 psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions and involved 2214 trauma survivors. Prazosin and image rehearsal therapy (IRT) were found to be the two effective interventions for TRN. Other interventions such as risperidone, paroxetine, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), CBT-I+IRT, prolonged exposure (PE), and IRT+PE, did not show significantly greater efficacy compared with control conditions. The rates of all-cause discontinuations were comparable among majority of the interventions and did not show significant differences compared with control conditions. Prazosin and IRT should be considered as the initial choice of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions for TRN. The efficacy of other pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions remains to be demonstrated. Future guidelines and daily clinical decision making on the choice of interventions for TRN should consider these findings.