A novel strategy for producing high-performance continuous regenerated fibers with wool-like structure

We proposed a novel approach to prepare high-performance continuous regenerated keratin fibers with wool-like structure by using the cortical cells and linear keratin from wool waste as reinforcement and adhesive,respectively.The spindle-shaped cortical cells were taken from wool waste based on the different responses of cortical cells and mesenchyme in wool to the treatments of H_(2)O_(2) oxidation and ultrasonication.The linear keratin was yielded through dissolving wool waste in the green solution consisting of starch derived dithiothreitol and protein denaturant sodium dodecyl sulfate.The recycled keratin fibers were produced by wet-spinning of the mixture solution comprising of cortical cells,linear keratin and toughener poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate,and crosslinked by glutaraldehyde and 4,4′-methylenebis-(phenyl isocyanate).The cortical cells were aligned along the regenerated fibers axis and retained quite a fewα-helical crystals of the intermediate filaments,benefitting improvement of mechanical properties.Consequently,the valuable chemical compositions and hierarchical microstructures of wool were largely inherited.Their mechanical properties,thermal stability,dyeing property,moisture absorption capability,and antistatic resistance resembled those of wool.The regenerated fibers contained 93.3 wt.%components of wool,and the amount of synthetic chemicals in the regenerated fibers was controlled to as low as 6.7 wt.%.

Regenerated fiber Bragg grating for fiber laser sensing at high temperatures

Thermally regenerated low-reflectivity fiber Bragg gratings（RFBGs）, as one mirror of a resonant cavity, have been introduced as linear-cavity fiber lasers combining with fiber saturable absorbers. The output of lasing presents an optical signal-to-noise ratio of 50 dB and temperature sensitivity coefficient of 15.36 pm∕℃ for the heating process and 15.46 pm∕℃ for the cooling process. The lasing wavelength variation and power fluctuation at 700℃ are less than 0.02 nm and 0.21 dB, respectively. The RFBG-based fiber laser sensing has displayed good linearity for both the temperature rising and cooling processes, and favorable stability at high temperatures.

Thermal characteristics of Fabry–Perot cavity based on regenerated fiber Bragg gratings

The Letter reports the thermal stability and strain response of Fabry–Perot(FP) cavity under different high temperatures. The FP cavity was made by thermal regeneration of two identical cascaded fiber Bragg gratings(FBGs). It is demonstrated that the FP cavity is capable of measuring temperatures from 300℃ to 900℃ with a temperature sensitivity of 15.97 pm/℃. The elongation of the fiber was observed through the drifted Bragg wavelength at 700℃ or above when weight was loaded. The elongation was further inferred by the slight change in the interference spectra of the FP cavity at 900℃.

Effects of Coagulation Conditions on Tensile Properties of Regenerated Cellulose Fibers

The effects of coagulation conditions on tensile properties of the regenerated cellulose fibers prepared by wet-spinning from NaOH/thiourea/urea(8∶6.5∶8 by weight)aqueous solvent were investigated by tensile tester,X-ray diffraction(XRD),and scanning electron microscope(SEM).The results show that the tensile properties of the as-spun fibers change with the coagualtion concentration,temperature,and time.When the spinning solution is coagulated in 10% H2SO4/12.5% Na2SO4 aqueous solution,the as-spun fibers have a typical structure of cellulose II,a circular cross-section,and homogeneous morphological structure.

Comparison between the Direct Dyeing Kinetics of Bamboo and Conventional Viscose Fibers

Two direct dyes were applied to conventional viscose(CV)and bamboo viscose(BV)fibers,which were prepared from bamboo cellulose pulps,and the dyeing kinetics of two fibers were compared.Three kinetic equations,namely Chrastil,Cegarra-Puente,and Vickerstaff,were used to fit the experimental dyeing rate points,showing that the best result was obtained by the Chrastil equation.BV fibers displayed slightly higher dyeing rates and dye adsorption values at initial stages,but a bit lower dye adsorption values at equilibrium than CV fibers.Furthermore,the dyeing of BV fibers exhibited lower activation energies and higher dyeing rate constants than that of CV fibers,and therefore showed slightly lower dependence on temperature.

Study on the Structure and Properties of Polynosic Fiber Treated by Alkali

The regenerated cellulose fibers, made from wood pulp, have excellent physical properties like cotton fiber. Especially polynosic fibers can be mercerized by alkali, but conventional Viscose fiber can not be treated or mercerized by alkali. The paper studies on behavior of polynosic fibers treated by alkali, including physical properties, such as weight loss, tensile strength and elongation, and fiber structures properties. In this paper, on the basis of study on polynosic fibers treated by alkali, the conclusions were drawn as following. Firstly, polynosic fiber is good at alkali resistance. Secondly, the changes of fiber structure and physical properties begin declining at 5 wt% NaOH concentration and reverse changes take place at 10 wt%.

Planning for selective amygdalohippocampectomy involving less neuronal fiber damage based on brain connectivity using tractography

Temporal lobe resection is an important treatment option for epilepsy that involves removal of potentially essential brain regions. Selective amygdalohippocampectomy is a widely performed temporal lobe surgery. We suggest starting the incision for selective amygdalohippocampectomy at the inferior temporal gyrus based on diffusion magnetic resonance imaging（MRI） tractography. Diffusion MRI data from 20 normal participants were obtained from Parkinson＇s Progression Markers Initiative（PPMI） database（www.ppmi-info.org）. A tractography algorithm was applied to extract neuronal fiber information for the temporal lobe, hippocampus, and amygdala. Fiber information was analyzed in terms of the number of fibers and betweenness centrality. Distances between starting incisions and surgical target regions were also considered to explore the length of the surgical path. Middle temporal and superior temporal gyrus regions have higher connectivity values than the inferior temporal gyrus and thus are not good candidates for starting the incision. The distances between inferior temporal gyrus and surgical target regions were shorter than those between middle temporal gyrus and target regions. Thus, the inferior temporal gyrus is a good candidate for starting the incision. Starting the incision from the inferior temporal gyrus would spare the important（in terms of betweenness centrality values） middle region and shorten the distance to the target regions of the hippocampus and amygdala.

亚麻/牛奶蛋白纤维混纺纱工艺研究

介绍了牛奶蛋白质纤维和亚麻纤维的特点,分析了牛奶纤维和亚麻纤维的性能,以及纤维性能对纺纱工艺和成纱质量的影响,探讨了提高牛奶再生蛋白质纤维/亚麻混纺纱质量的措施。

Macular thickness as a predictor of loss of visual sensitivity in ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy

Ethambutol is a common cause of drug-related optic neuropathy.Prediction of the onset of ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy and consequent drug withdrawal may be an effective method to stop visual loss.Previous studies have shown that structural injury to the optic nerve occurred earlier than the damage to visual function.Therefore,we decided to detect structural biomarkers marking visual field loss in early stage ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy.The thickness of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer,macular thickness and visual sensitivity loss would be observed in 11 ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy patients（22 eyes） using optical coherence tomography.Twenty-four healthy age-and sex-matched participants（48 eyes） were used as controls.Results demonstrated that the temporal peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and average macular thickness were thinner in patients with ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy compared with healthy controls.The average macular thickness was strongly positively correlated with central visual sensitivity loss（r2=0.878,P=0.000）.These findings suggest that optical coherence tomography can be used to efficiently screen patients.Macular thickness loss could be a potential factor for predicting the onset of ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy.

A novel bioactive nerve conduit for the repair of peripheral nerve injury

The use of a nerve conduit provides an opportunity to regulate cytokines, growth factors and neurotrophins in peripheral nerve regeneration and avoid autograft defects. We constructed a poly-D-L-lactide（PDLLA）-based nerve conduit that was modified using poly{（lactic acid）-co-[（glycolic acid）-alt-（L-lysine）]} and β-tricalcium phosphate. The effectiveness of this bioactive PDLLA-based nerve conduit was compared to that of PDLLA-only conduit in the nerve regeneration following a 10-mm sciatic nerve injury in rats. We observed the nerve morphology in the early period of regeneration, 35 days post injury, using hematoxylin-eosin and methylene blue staining. Compared with the PDLLA conduit, the nerve fibers in the PDLLA-based bioactive nerve conduit were thicker and more regular in size. Muscle fibers in the soleus muscle had greater diameters in the PDLLA bioactive group than in the PDLLA only group. The PDLLA-based bioactive nerve conduit is a promising strategy for repair after sciatic nerve injury.

A new computational approach for modeling diffusion tractography in the brain

Computational models provide additional tools for studying the brain,however,many techniques are currently disconnected from each other.There is a need for new computational approaches that span the range of physics operating in the brain.In this review paper,we offer some new perspectives on how the embedded element method can fill this gap and has the potential to connect a myriad of modeling genre.The embedded element method is a mesh superposition technique used within finite element analysis.This method allows for the incorporation of axonal fiber tracts to be explicitly represented.Here,we explore the use of the approach beyond its original goal of predicting axonal strain in brain injury.We explore the potential application of the embedded element method in areas of electrophysiology,neurodegeneration,neuropharmacology and mechanobiology.We conclude that this method has the potential to provide us with an integrated computational framework that can assist in developing improved diagnostic tools and regeneration technologies.

Regeneration of nNOS-containing nerve fibers in rat corpus cavernosum

Objective To investigate the effect of cavernous nerve injury on the nNOS containing nerve fibers in corpus cavernosum Methods Thirty three male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operated controls (n=5) underwent pelvic exploration without transection of the cavernous nerve; unilateral injury group (n=14) had their cavernous nerve cut on one side; and bilateral injury group (n=14) underwent neurotomy on both sides Corpora cavernosa were harvested at the 3rd week and 6th month after surgery nNOS positive nerve fibers were examined with streptavidin peroxidase immunohistochemistry techniques (SP method) Results After bilateral ablation, the nNOS positive nerve fibers were significantly decreased at the 3rd week (17±4) and remained so at the 6th month (16±4) For the unilateral injury group, the nNOS positive nerve fibers were similarly decreased on the side of the neurotomy at the 3rd week (18±6), but by the 6th month, the number increased significantly (61±9) and approximated the level on the contralateral side (81±13) Conclusion Following unilateral cavernous nerve ablation in rats, nNOS containing nerve fibers regenerate 6 months after surgery This regeneration process does not occur in animals with bilateral cavernous nerve injury, suggesting that during radical pelvic surgery, the cavernous nerve has to be preserved at least on one side in order to maintain the capacity for penile erection