The sciatic functional index（SFI） is a popular parameter for peripheral nerve evaluation that relies on footprints obtained with ink and paper. Drawbacks include smearing artefacts and a lack of dynamic information ...The sciatic functional index（SFI） is a popular parameter for peripheral nerve evaluation that relies on footprints obtained with ink and paper. Drawbacks include smearing artefacts and a lack of dynamic information during measurement. Modern applications use digitized systems that can deliver results with less analytical effort and fewer mice. However, the systems are expensive（€40,000）. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability and precision of a self-made, low-cost infrared system for evaluating SFI in mice. Mice were subjected to unilateral sciatic nerve crush injury（crush group; n = 7） and sham operation（sham group; n = 4）. They were evaluated on the day before surgery, the 2nd, 4th and 6th days after injury, and then every day up to the 23rd day after injury. We compared two SFI evaluation methods, i.e., conventional inkand-paper SFI（C-SFI） and our infrared system（I-SFI）. Our apparatus visualized footprints with totally internally reflected infrared light（950 nm） and a camera that can only detect this wavelength. Additionally we performed an analysis with the ladder beam walking test（LBWT） as a reference test. I-SFI assessment reduced the standard deviation by about 33 percent, from 11.6 to 7.8, and cut the variance around the baseline to 21 percent. The system thus requires fewer measurement repetitions and fewer animals, and cuts the cost of keeping the animals. The apparatus cost €321 to build. Our results show that the process of obtaining the SFI can be made more precise via digitization with a self-made, low-cost infrared system.展开更多
The macro-bending induced optical fiber cladding modes frustrated total internal reflection effect is used to realize the liquid level probe with a simple structure of single macro-bend polymer optical fiber loop. The...The macro-bending induced optical fiber cladding modes frustrated total internal reflection effect is used to realize the liquid level probe with a simple structure of single macro-bend polymer optical fiber loop. The test results show that the extinction ratio reaches 1.06dB. ＂First bath＂ phenomenon is not obvious （about 0.8%）. The robustness of the sensor is better, and the ability of anti-pollution is stronger compared with the conventional sensors. The process of making this sensing probe is extremely easy, and the cost is very low.展开更多
文摘The sciatic functional index（SFI） is a popular parameter for peripheral nerve evaluation that relies on footprints obtained with ink and paper. Drawbacks include smearing artefacts and a lack of dynamic information during measurement. Modern applications use digitized systems that can deliver results with less analytical effort and fewer mice. However, the systems are expensive（€40,000）. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability and precision of a self-made, low-cost infrared system for evaluating SFI in mice. Mice were subjected to unilateral sciatic nerve crush injury（crush group; n = 7） and sham operation（sham group; n = 4）. They were evaluated on the day before surgery, the 2nd, 4th and 6th days after injury, and then every day up to the 23rd day after injury. We compared two SFI evaluation methods, i.e., conventional inkand-paper SFI（C-SFI） and our infrared system（I-SFI）. Our apparatus visualized footprints with totally internally reflected infrared light（950 nm） and a camera that can only detect this wavelength. Additionally we performed an analysis with the ladder beam walking test（LBWT） as a reference test. I-SFI assessment reduced the standard deviation by about 33 percent, from 11.6 to 7.8, and cut the variance around the baseline to 21 percent. The system thus requires fewer measurement repetitions and fewer animals, and cuts the cost of keeping the animals. The apparatus cost €321 to build. Our results show that the process of obtaining the SFI can be made more precise via digitization with a self-made, low-cost infrared system.
基金This work was supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China （Grant No. 2012CB723404） and the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 51275491 and No. 61275166）.
文摘The macro-bending induced optical fiber cladding modes frustrated total internal reflection effect is used to realize the liquid level probe with a simple structure of single macro-bend polymer optical fiber loop. The test results show that the extinction ratio reaches 1.06dB. ＂First bath＂ phenomenon is not obvious （about 0.8%）. The robustness of the sensor is better, and the ability of anti-pollution is stronger compared with the conventional sensors. The process of making this sensing probe is extremely easy, and the cost is very low.
