Large Fiber Research Articles

SFNet: Stellar Feature Network with CWT for Stellar Spectra Recognition

Stellar spectral classification is crucial in astronomical data analysis. However, existing studies are often limited by the uneven distribution of stellar samples, posing challenges in practical applications. Even when balancing stellar categories and their numbers, there is room for improvement in classification accuracy. This study introduces a Continuous Wavelet Transform using the Super Morlet wavelet to convert stellar spectra into wavelet images. A novel neural network, the Stellar Feature Network, is proposed for classifying these images. Stellar spectra from Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope DR9, encompassing five equal categories (B, A, F, G, K), were used. Comparative experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods and network, achieving significant improvements in classification accuracy.

The biliary atresia susceptibility gene, EFEMP1, regulates extrahepatic bile duct elastic fiber formation and mechanics

IntroductionEGF-Containing Fibulin Extracellular Matrix Protein 1 (EFEMP1, also called fibulin-3) is an extracellular matrix protein linked in a genome-wide association study to biliary atresia, a fibrotic disease of the neonatal extrahepatic bile duct. Fibulin-3 is deposited in most tissues and Efemp1 null mice have decreased elastic fibers in visceral fascia; however, fibulin-3 does not have a role in the development of large elastic fibers and its overall function in the extrahepatic bile ducts remains unclear. MethodsWe used staining and histology to define the amount and organization of key extracellular matrix components in the extrahepatic bile ducts. We also repurposed pressure myography, a technique heretofore applied to the vasculature, to determine the contribution of elastin and fibulin-3 to extrahepatic bile duct mechanics. We examined extrahepatic bile duct structure and mechanics in three models: neonatal vs. adult rat ducts (n=6 each), elastase-treated adult rat ducts (n=6-7 each), and Efemp1+/- vs. wild type mouse ducts (n=6 each). ResultsWe demonstrated that fibulin-3 is expressed in the submucosa of both neonatal and adult mouse, rat and human extrahepatic bile ducts and that, in adult Efemp1+/- mouse ducts, elastin organization into fibers is decreased by approximately half. Pressure myography showed that Efemp1+/- ducts have altered mechanics compared to control ducts, with Efemp1+/- ducts displaying significant stretch compared to controls (p=0.0376); these changes in stretch are similar to those observed in elastase-treated compared to normal ducts (p<0.0001) and in neonatal ducts compared to adult ducts (p< 0.0001). ConclusionFibulin-3 has an important role in the formation of elastic fibers and the mechanical properties of the extrahepatic bile duct. This provides functional relevance for the biliary atresia susceptibility gene EFEMP1. Impact and ImplicationsThe gene EFEMP1 was found via a genome wide association study to be a susceptibility gene for the neonatal disease biliary atresia. EFEMP1 encodes the protein fibulin-3, which regulates elastic fiber organization in the extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD), the major site of disease in biliary atresia. We showed that neonatal EHBDs as well as mice heterozygous for Efemp1 have decreased numbers of elastic fibers, and that this alters EHBD mechanics. This work is important for understanding the mechanism of biliary atresia, in particular susceptibility to obstruction.

Developing a Deep Learning network “MSCP-Net” to generate stalk anatomical traits related with crop lodging and yield in maize

Plant stem is essential for the delivery of resources and has a great impact on plant lodging resistance and yield. However, how to accurately and efficiently extract structural information from crop stems is a big headache. In this study, we first established a Maize Stalk Cross-section Phenotype (MSCP) dataset containing anatomical information of 990 images from hand-cut transections of stalks. Then, to large-scale measure the stalk anatomy features, we developed a Maize Stalk Cross-section Phenotyping Network (MSCP-Net) which integrated a convolutional neural network and the methods of instance segmentation and key point detection. A total of 14 stalk anatomical parameters (traits) can be automatically produced with high mAP@.5 (0.907) for the parameter “vascular bundles segmentation” and high DICE (0.864) for the parameter “functional zones segmentation”. The cross-validation with the MSCP dataset indicated the good performance of MSCP-Net in predicting anatomical traits. On this basis, the correlation analysis across 14 anatomical traits and 12 agronomic importance traits in 110 maize inbred-lines was conducted and revealed that the stalk related traits (stem cross-section, large vascular bundles, fiber contents, and aerial roots) are key indicators for lodging resistance and grain yield of maize. In addition, the maize inbred-lines were classified into two groups, and the higher value of group II compared with group I in breeding hybrid varieties was discussed. The results demonstrated that the MSCP-Net is expected to be a useful tool to rapidly obtain stem anatomical traits which are agronomic important in maize genetic improvement.

Large Fiber Array Spectroscopic Telescope: Optical Design for a Scalable Unit Telescope

The Large Fiber Array Spectroscopic Telescope (LFAST) concept involves the utilization of 2640 individual, 0.76 m “unit telescopes” to collect light from a target object. Through optical fibers, the lights from all telescope foci are directed to a high-resolution spectrograph, with fibers subtending a 1.47 arcsec diameter on the sky. The total light-collecting area of all telescopes combined is 1200 m2. Given the telescope’s application for spectroscopy of seeing-limited images, the need for coherence is eliminated. The primary goal of the LFAST prototype is to demonstrate a telescope design that can be rapidly and cost-effectively replicated to achieve a 1200 m2 collecting area and match the capabilities of extremely large telescopes (ELTs) presently under construction. Engineering, manufacturing, and design challenges unique to LFAST differ significantly from those encountered in traditional ELTs. Considering that the unit telescope is to be replicated thousands of times, reducing the manufacturing cost per telescope is essential. The aim of the described design is to achieve this goal, with strong considerations for manufacturability, alignment, few moving parts, and high yield. Experience from the first prototype unit telescope built in 2022 will be leveraged to build the first 20-unit tracking module in 2024, with a collecting area of a 3.4-m-diameter mirror. The design is minimalistic and features commercial tolerances, thereby ensuring cost-effectiveness in manufacturing, assembly, and alignment processes. Moreover, the telescope is designed to operate at angles as low as 70° from the zenith by laterally translating a single lens to correct for atmospheric dispersion. We present a combined average of over 80% encircled energy across 2640 Monte Carlo trials. Simulations were conducted using commercially specified tolerances and capabilities to model the overall performance of the array.

Modified mode I fracture toughness calculation method for composite laminate with large scale fiber bridging

Experimental investigation and theoretical analysis have been carried out in this study to assess the application limitation of the current ASTM D5528 method for Mode I fracture toughness calculation of composite laminate with fiber bridging. It is revealed that additional toughening effect introduced by the fiber bridging is not fully considered in the current method and consequently there are uncertainties associated with the fracture toughness calculated by the current ASTM method. Based on the same principle used in the development of the original ASTM method, a modified method is proposed to extend the applicability of the current method. The modified method is verified with mechanisms based cohesive zone modelling and numerical simulations of the Mode I delamination double cantilever beam tests. The significant improvement of the prediction results compared with experimental results by the modified method over the current method demonstrated its applicability for Mode I delamination fracture toughness calculation of composite laminates with large scale fiber bridging.

Impact of organic compound-based stimulated Raman scattering in large mode area photonic crystal fiber

Impact of organic compound-based stimulated Raman scattering in large mode area photonic crystal fiber

Tear neuropeptide Y as a non-invasive marker of peripheral microvascular complications in type 1 diabetes

AimsTo investigate tear neuropeptide Y (NPY) and substance P concentrations in individuals with type 1 diabetes, comparing those with and without both diabetic retinopathy (DR) and peripheral neuropathy. MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 41 participants with type 1 diabetes and none to moderate DR, and 22 healthy controls. Assessments included clinical ocular surface parameters, quantification of corneal nerve attributes (based on in vivo confocal microscopy imaging), DR grading, and evaluation for small and large fibre neuropathy. Concentrations of NPY and substance P in tear samples were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultsMean (± standard deviation) tear NPY concentrations in participants with type 1 diabetes and length-dependent small fibre neuropathy (SFN) was lower than in controls (10.84 ± 4.10 ng/mL vs 14.72 ± 3.12 ng/mL; p=0.004), but not significantly different from type 1 diabetes participants without SFN (13.39 ± 4.66 ng/mL; p=0.11). Tear NPY levels were lower in individuals with type 1 diabetes and mild/moderate non-proliferative DR (10.44 ± 3.46 ng/mL) compared to none/minimal DR (13.79 ± 4.76 ng/mL; p=0.0005) and controls. In separate linear regression models, both the presence of SFN (β = −0.75, p=0.02) and the presence of mild/moderate DR (β = −0.84, p=0.009) were significantly associated with tear NPY levels relative to controls, after adjusting for participant age, sex, and dry eye disease. There were no inter-group differences for tear substance P concentrations. ConclusionsTear NPY has potential utility as an indicator of peripheral microvascular complications associated with type 1 diabetes.

Multi-scale modeling of fog harvesting using thin-fiber grids – Towards new design rubrics

Fog collectors with fibers thinner than 1 mm harvest fog droplets more effectively at a low airflow velocity around 1 m s-1 than thicker fibers. However, existing models and design rubrics are restricted to thick fibers at higher velocity. This paper reports a multi-scale numerical model for fog harvesting at airflow velocity of 1 m s-1 using thin-fiber grids with different fiber spacing and diameter. The numerical model can simulate fog harvesting at two extreme length scales that are comparable to collector scale at the large end and fiber scale at the small end. The results confirm two new and important effects of fiber grid geometries on water collection efficiency, which are not included in existing theories and design rubrics. First, dense thin-fiber grids negatively influence the collection efficiency because of wall effect caused by viscous boundary layers. Second, the sparse thin-fiber grids can benefit from isolated clogging waterdrops and maintain relatively high efficiency when clogging blocks multiple grid openings. The two identified effects are then included to develop a new performance map for fog collectors, thereby shaping new design rubrics for fog harvesting. This work extends the existing theories of fog harvesting and sheds light on the design of novel fog collectors.

Short-period post-common envelope binaries with Balmer emission from SDSS and LAMOST based on ZTF photometric data

ABSTRACT We present here 55 short-period post-common envelope binaries (PCEBs) containing a hot white dwarf (WD) and a low-mass main sequence (MS). Based on the photometric data from Zwicky Transient Facility survey data Release 19 (ZTF DR19), the light curves are analysed for about 200 WDMS binaries with emission line(s) identified from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) or the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) spectra, in which 55 WDMS binaries are found to exhibit variability in their luminosities with a short period and are thus short-period binaries (i.e. PCEBs). In addition, it is found that the orbital periods of these PCEBs locate in a range from 2.2643 to 81.1526 h. However, only six short-period PCEBs are newly discovered and the orbital periods of 19 PCEBs are improved in this work. Meanwhile, it is found that three objects are newly discovered eclipsing PCEBs, and a object (i.e. SDSS J1541) might be the short-period PCEB with a late M-type star or a brown dwarf companion based on the analysis of its spectral energy distribution. At last, the mechanism(s) being responsible for the emission features in the spectra of these PCEBs are discussed, the emission features arising in their optical spectra might be caused by the stellar activity or an irradiated component owing to a hot WD companion because most of them contain a WD with an effective temperature higher than $\sim$10 000 K.

Metabolic responses of the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis after exposure to microplastics of different shapes and sizes

Microplastics (MP) are ubiquitous pollutants with diverse shapes, sizes, and characteristics that pose critical risks to marine organisms and the environment. In this study, we used the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as a marine benthic organism model to investigate the metabolic consequences of exposure to different polyethylene terephthalate MP sizes and shapes: round (27–32 μm), small fibers (200–400 μm), large fibers (3000 μm), small fragments (20 μm), medium fragments (45–75 μm), and large fragments (>150 μm). After exposure to high concentrations (100 mg L−1) of MP for 14 days, round and small fiber-type MP were highly accumulated in mussels. Metabolomic analysis revealed that exposure to round and small fiber-type MP induced significant changes in 150 metabolites. Partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) showed that the round and small fiber MP treatment groups displayed similar cluster patterns that differed from those of the control group. In addition, only 22 annotated metabolites related to histidine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation/biosynthesis and vitamin B6 and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis were significantly affected by round or small fiber-type MP. Among the histidine metabolites, round and small fiber-type MP upregulated the levels of L-histidine, L-glutamate, carnosine, imidazole-4-acetaldehyde, 4-imidazolone-5-propanoate, and methylimidazole acetaldehyde and downregulated methylimidazole acetic acid and N-formimino-L-glutamate. These results suggest novel insights into the potential pathways through which MP of specific sizes and shapes affect metabolic processes in mussels.

Roadmap on specialty optical fibers

Abstract Optical fibers, long an enabling technology for telecommunications, are proving to play a central role in a growing number of modern applications, starting from high speed broad band internet to medical surgery and entering across the entire spectrum of scientific, military, industrial and commercial applications. Specialty optical fibers either special waveguide structure or novel material composition becomes heart of all fiber based advanced photonics devices and components. This rapidly evolving field calls on the expertise and skills of a broad set of different disciplines: materials science, ceramic engineering, optics, electrical engineering, physics, polymer chemistry, and several others. This roadmap on specialty optical fibers addresses different technologies and application areas. It is constituted by fourteen contributions authored by world-leading experts, providing insight into the current state-of-the-art and the challenges their respective fields face. Some articles address the area of multimode fibers, including the nonlinear effects occurring in them. Several other articles are dedicated to doped, plastic, and soft-glass fibers. Large mode area fibers, hollow-core fibers, and nanostructured fibers are also described in different sections. The use of some of such fibers for optical amplification and to realize several kinds of optical sources - including lasers, single photon sources and supercontinuum sources - is described in some other sections. Different approaches to satisfy applications at visible, infrared and THz spectra regions are also discussed. Throughout the roadmap there is an attempt to foresee and to suggest future directions in this particularly dynamic area of optical fiber technology.&amp;#xD;

Photometric and Spectroscopic Study of Ten Low Mass Ratio Contact Binary Systems: Orbital Stability, O’Connell Effect and Infrared Calcium Line Filling

Low mass ratio contact binary systems are more likely to have unstable orbits and potentially merge. In addition, such systems exhibit characteristics such as starspots and high energy emissions (UV) suggestive of chromospheric and magnetic activity. Light curve modeling of ten contact binary systems is reported. All were found to be of extreme low mass ratio ranging from 0.122 to 0.24 and three were found to be potentially unstable and possible merger candidates. Filling of the infrared calcium absorption lines is a marker of increased chromospheric activity. We use the available Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope spectra along with matched standard spectra (broadened for rotation) to measure the excess filling of the central core depression flux of the two main infrared calcium absorption lines λ8542 and λ8662. We find that all reported contact binaries have excess filling of the core flux in the infrared calcium lines. Three of the systems reported were also observed by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer mission and we find that all three have features of excess ultraviolet emissions further adding evidence for increased chromospheric activity in low mass ratio contact binaries. Analysis of both orbital stability and absorption line filling is dependent on the determination of geometric and absolute parameters from light curve modeling. Not an insignificant number of contact binary light curves exhibit the O’Connell effect, usually attributed to starspots. We discuss the inclusion of starspots in light curve solutions and how they influence the geometric and absolute parameters.

OO Leo: An Active Contact Binary with Possible Solar-like Differential Rotation

With Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) high-precision photometry and Large Sky Area Multi-object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope medium-resolution spectra, we present the first light and radial velocity curve analyses for the eclipsing binary OO Leo. The simultaneous solution suggests that OO Leo is a W-subtype contact binary with a relatively low mass ratio (1/q = 0.173) and a moderate degree of contact (f = 28.1%). The asymmetry and continuous changes observed in the TESS light curve were properly modeled by one retrograde cool spot on its secondary surface. A detailed investigation of the Hα line also confirmed that the secondary star had a high level of magnetic activity. The retrograde longitudinal motion of the spot can be explained by a solar-like differential rotation in the secondary component. The orbital period investigation revealed that OO Leo is undergoing a secular decrease and a cyclic variation in its orbital period. The secular decrease may be mainly caused by mass transfer from the more massive secondary star to the less massive primary star. The cyclic period variation can be explained by the light–time effect of an invisible third body or the cyclic magnetic activity of the secondary star. The long-lived spot migration in the longitudinal direction makes OO Leo an excellent target for investigating the differential rotations of contact binaries.

Longitudinal evaluation of polyneuropathy in Parkinson’s disease

BackgroundIncreasing evidence indicates a higher prevalence of polyneuropathy (PNP) in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the involvement of large fiber neuropathy in PD still remains poorly understood. Given the lack of longitudinal data, we investigated the course of PNP associated with PD.MethodsIn total, 41 PD patients underwent comprehensive clinical evaluation including motor and non-motor assessments as well as nerve conduction studies at baseline and at 2 years of follow-up. The definition of PNP was based on electrophysiological standard criteria. Common causes of PNP were excluded.ResultsAt baseline, PNP was diagnosed in 65.85% of PD patients via electroneurography. Patients with PNP presented with higher age (p = 0.019) and PD motor symptom severity (UPDRS III; p < 0.001). Over the course of 2 years, PNP deteriorated in 21.95% of cases, and 26.83% remained without PNP. Deterioration of nerve amplitude was most prevalent in the median sensory nerve affecting 57.58% of all PD cases with an overall reduction of median sensory nerve amplitude of 45.0%. With regard to PD phenotype, PNP progression was observed in 33.33% of the tremor dominant and 23.81% of the postural instability/gait difficulties subtype. Decrease of sural nerve amplitude correlated with lower quality of life (PDQ-39, p = 0.037) and worse cognitive status at baseline (MoCA, p = 0.042).ConclusionThe study confirms the high PNP rate in PD, and demonstrates a significant electrophysiological progression also involving nerves of the upper extremities. Longitudinal studies with larger cohorts are urgently needed and should elucidate the link between PD and PNP with the underlying pathomechanisms.

Durability test study of laminated specimens for large glass fiber protective structures in seawater

The mechanical properties of glass fiber composite structures prepared by vacuum forming manufacturing process are influenced by various factors and have a certain degree of dispersion, resulting in unclear durability characteristics when applied in corrosive seawater engineering. Firstly, a variety of resin materials for underwater protective structures are tested for seawater degradation, and excellent resins that can still ensure the structural load-bearing capacity and stability after immersion are selected. Secondly, based on relevant standards and specifications, the article conducted seawater immersion aging tests at room temperature and accelerated seawater immersion aging tests at 60°C on glass fiber specimens of 430 epoxy bisphenol vinyl resin and 1967 polycyclic pentadiene resin. Finally, the degradation characteristics of strength, modulus, and impact toughness of the specimens were obtained through a series of mechanical property tests, such as bending, compression, shear and impact, under different aging time periods in room temperature and 60°C seawaters, respectively. The article summarizes the differences in the durability and mechanical properties degradation of large glass fiber protective structures with different resins during seawater immersion.

Discovery of an Extremely r-process-enhanced Thin-disk Star with [Eu/H] = +0.78

Highly r-process-enhanced (RPE) stars are rare and usually metal poor ([Fe/H] < −1.0), and they mainly populate the Milky Way halo and dwarf galaxies. This study presents the discovery of a relatively bright (V = 12.72), highly RPE (r-II) star ([Eu/Fe] = +1.32, [Ba/Eu] = −0.95), LAMOST J020623.21+494127.9. This star was selected from the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope medium-resolution (R ∼ 7500) spectroscopic survey; follow-up high-resolution (R ∼ 25,000) observations were conducted with the High Optical Resolution Spectrograph installed on the Gran Telescopio Canarias. The stellar parameters (T eff = 4130 K, logg = 1.52, [Fe/H] = −0.54, ξ = 1.80 km s−1) have been inferred taking into account nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium effects. The abundances of [Ce/Fe], [Pr/Fe], and [Nd/Fe] are +0.19, +0.65, and +0.64, respectively, relatively low compared to the Solar r-process pattern normalized to Eu. This star has a high metallicity ([Fe/H] = −0.54) compared to most other highly RPE stars and has the highest measured abundance ratio of Eu to H ([Eu/H] = +0.78). It is classified as a thin-disk star based on its kinematics and does not appear to belong to any known stream or dwarf galaxy.

Remission of corneal and peripheral neuropathy after bariatric surgery in people with diabetes

PurposeDiabetic peripheral neuropathy can be detected using non-invasive in vivo confocal microscopy of the cornea (IVCM) and such abnormalities may precede the development of clinical neuropathy. The current study aimed to assess any progression or remission of corneal and peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing bariatric surgery. MethodsPeople with known type 2 diabetes for at least five years and listed for bariatric surgery were recruited. Participants were assessed before, and 12, 26, and 52 weeks following bariatric surgery. IVCM and corneal sensitivity measurements were performed. A modified total neuropathy score (mTNS) was obtained from neuropathy questionnaire, clinical assessment and biothesiometry. ResultsTwenty-nine participants (M:F, 11:18) with mean BMI of 44.7 ± 6.4 kg/m2, and 11 ± 7.6 years duration of diabetes, were assessed. Corneal sub-basal nerve fibre length (CNFL), displayed an increase from a baseline mean of 12.20 ± 1.00 to 17.48 ± 0.92 mm/mm2 at 52 weeks (p < 0.0001). Corneal sensitivity threshold displayed a decrease over time, thus corneal sensitivity improved, falling from a mean of 1.11 ±0 .15 to 0.62 ± 0.11 (mBAR) (p < 0.0001). Clinical neuropathy scores demonstrated significant improvements from baseline, displaying a decrease in average mTNS score from 3.29 ± 0.68 to 0.76 ± 0.30 (p < 0.0001). A significant inverse relationship was shown between CNFL and sensitivity (β coefficient = −0.047, p < 0.001), and CNFL and mTNS (β coefficient = −0.178, p < 0.001). ConclusionBariatric surgery led to an improvement in metabolic control of diabetes and weight loss, along with improvement in corneal nerve microstructure, corneal sensitivity, and neuropathic symptoms, suggesting a reversal of both small and large fibre neuropathy.

Does sex matter in the cheetah? Insights into the skeletal muscle of the fastest land animal.

The cheetah is considered the fastest land animal, but studies on their skeletal muscle properties are scarce. Vastus lateralis biopsies, obtained from male and female cheetahs as well as humans, were analysed and compared for fibre type and size, and metabolism. Overall, cheetah muscle had predominantly type IIX fibres, which was confirmed by the myosin heavy chain isoform content (mean±s.d. type I: 17±8%, type IIA: 21±6%, type IIX: 62±12%), whereas human muscle contained predominantly type I and IIA fibres (type I: 49±14%, type IIA: 43±8%, type IIX: 7±7%). Cheetahs had smaller fibres than humans, with larger fibres in the males compared with their female counterparts. Citrate synthase (16±6 versus 28±7 µmolmin-1g-1 protein, P<0.05) and 3-hydroxyacyl co-enzyme A dehydrogenase (30±11 versus 47±15 µmolmin-1g-1 protein, P<0.05) activities were lower in cheetahs than in humans, whereas lactate dehydrogenase activity was 6 times higher in cheetahs (2159±827 versus 382±161 µmolmin-1g-1 protein, P<0.001). The activities of creatine kinase (4765±1828 versus 6485±1298, P<0.05 µmolmin-1g-1 protein) and phosphorylase (111±29 versus 216±92 µmolmin-1g-1 protein) were higher in humans, irrespective of the higher type IIX fibres in cheetahs. Superoxide dismutase and catalase, markers of antioxidant capacity, were higher in humans, but overall antioxidant capacity was higher in cheetahs. To conclude, fibre type, fibre size and metabolism differ between cheetahs and humans, with limited differences between the sexes.

Assessment of neuropathy subtypes in type 1 diabetes

IntroductionDiabetic polyneuropathy (DPN), a common complication of diabetes, can manifest as small, large, or mixed fiber neuropathy (SFN, LFN, and MFN, respectively), depending on the type of fibers involved. Despite...

Intermittent cyclic stretch of engineered ligaments drives hierarchical collagen fiber maturation in a dose- and organizational-dependent manner

Hierarchical collagen fibers are the primary source of strength in tendons and ligaments; however, these fibers largely do not regenerate after injury or with repair, resulting in limited treatment options. We previously developed a static culture system that guides ACL fibroblasts to produce native-sized fibers and early fascicles by 6 weeks. These constructs are promising ligament replacements, but further maturation is needed. Mechanical cues are critical for development in vivo and in engineered tissues; however, the effect on larger fiber and fascicle formation is largely unknown. Our objective was to investigate whether intermittent cyclic stretch, mimicking rapid muscle activity, drives further maturation in our system to create stronger engineered replacements and to explore whether cyclic loading has differential effects on cells at different degrees of collagen organization to better inform engineered tissue maturation protocols. Constructs were loaded with an established intermittent cyclic loading regime at 5 or 10 % strain for up to 6 weeks and compared to static controls. Cyclic loading drove cells to increase hierarchical collagen organization, collagen crimp, and tissue tensile properties, ultimately producing constructs that matched or exceeded immature ACL properties. Further, the effect of loading on cells varied depending on degree of organization. Specifically, 10 % load drove early improvements in tensile properties and composition, while 5 % load was more beneficial later in culture, suggesting a shift in mechanotransduction. This study provides new insight into how cyclic loading affects cell-driven hierarchical fiber formation and maturation, which will help to develop better rehabilitation protocols and engineer stronger replacements. Statement of significanceCollagen fibers are the primary source of strength and function in tendons and ligaments throughout the body. These fibers have limited regenerate after injury, with repair, and in engineered replacements, reducing treatment options. Cyclic load has been shown to improve fibril level alignment, but its effect at the larger fiber and fascicle length-scale is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate intermittent cyclic loading increases cell-driven hierarchical fiber formation and tissue mechanics, producing engineered replacements with similar organization and mechanics as immature ACLs. This study provides new insight into how cyclic loading affects cell-driven fiber maturation. A better understanding of how mechanical cues regulate fiber formation will help to develop better engineered replacements and rehabilitation protocols to drive repair after injury.