Sensitive Measurement Research Articles

Psychometric Properties and Cultural Adaptation of the Persian Version of the Family Functioning Questionnaire in Rehabilitation (FFQR) in Parents of Children with Disabilities

Background: Children with special needs require extensive medical and rehabilitative interventions, which pose significant challenges for their families. The Family Functioning Questionnaire in Rehabilitation (FFQR) assesses family performance in this context. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the reliability, validity, and cultural adaptation of the Persian version of the FFQR among Iranian parents of children with special needs. Methods: This methodological study rigorously evaluated face and content validity, criterion validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity. Participants included 250 parents of children aged 3 to 18 with special needs, recruited from rehabilitation facilities in Tehran province. Results: The translation process, along with assessments of face and content validity, led to adjustments in questionnaire items. The Persian version of the FFQR demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.946) and high test-retest reliability (correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.94). However, criterion validity with the Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale-developmental disability was not established. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original factor structure of the FFQR, affirming its cross-cultural applicability. Model fit indices indicated reasonable fit, although the chi-square test suggested an imperfect fit (χ² = 2409.03, df = 1074, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The Persian FFQR proved to be a reliable and culturally relevant tool for assessing family functioning in the rehabilitation of Iranian children with special needs. These findings highlight the importance of employing culturally sensitive measurement tools in research and clinical applications.

A critique of measurement of defective insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity as a precision approach to gestational diabetes.

Precision medicine approaches to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have categorised patients according to disease pathophysiology (insulin resistance, insulin insufficiency or both), and demonstrated associations with clinical outcomes. We aimed to assess whether using enhanced processing to determine indices of insulin secretion and sensitivity is analytically robust, reproducible in a different population, and useful diagnostically and prognostically in clinical practice. A total of 1308 pregnant women with one or more risk factors for GDM who underwent a 75 g OGTT at one of nine hospital sites were recruited to this observational study. Specimens were collected for determination of glucose levels using standard and enhanced procedures, HbA1c and insulin analysis. GDM diagnosis and management followed National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. We categorised women into pathophysiological subtypes: insulin-resistant GDM (HOMA2-S < 25th centile of the population with normal glucose tolerance [NGT]), insulin-insufficient GDM (HOMA2-B < 25th centile), both or neither. We assessed associations with pregnancy outcomes using logistic regression. Using enhanced specimen handling, 1027/1308 (78.5%) women had NGT, with 281/1308 (21.5%) being classified as having GDM. Of this group, 135/281 (48.0%) had insulin-resistant GDM, 73/281 (26.0%) had insulin-insufficient GDM and 2/281 (0.7%) had both insulin-resistant and insulin-insufficient GDM. Unexpectedly, 71 patients (25.3%) had GDM with both HOMA2-S and HOMA2-B ≥25th centile (GDM-neither). This novel subgroup appeared to be relatively insulin-sensitive in the fasting state but developed marked post-load hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia, suggesting an isolated postprandial defect in insulin sensitivity that was not captured by HOMA2-B or HOMA2-S. Women within most GDM subgroups had comparable pregnancy outcomes to those of normoglycaemic women, and HOMA2-B and HOMA2-S were weak predictors of pregnancy outcomes. Maternal BMI predicted a similar number of outcomes to HOMA2-S, suggesting that there was no additional predictive value in adding HOMA2-S. Similar findings were obtained when using different indices and standard specimen handling techniques. Precision categorisation of GDM using HOMA2-S and HOMA2-B does not provide useful diagnostic or prognostic information, but did distinguish a novel subgroup of patients with GDM, characterised by an isolated postprandial defect in insulin sensitivity.

Fast Demodulated White-Light Interferometry-Based Measurement and Theoretical Verification of Mechanical Sensitivity of MEMS Biomimetic Microphone With Fiber-Optic Fabry-Pérot Interferometer

Fast Demodulated White-Light Interferometry-Based Measurement and Theoretical Verification of Mechanical Sensitivity of MEMS Biomimetic Microphone With Fiber-Optic Fabry-Pérot Interferometer

Direct electronical readout of surface plasmon resonance biosensor enabled by on-fiber Graphene/PMMA photodetector

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) optical fiber sensors are appealing for biomolecular detection due to their inherent characteristics such as flexibility, real-time performance, and high sensitivity. Concurrently, incorporating SPR sensors into wearable devices has emerged as a significant strategy. However, the majority of traditional SPR optical fiber sensors utilize spectrometers for optical readout, which leads to a relatively bulky overall size of the sensing system. Herein, we present the first optical fiber device capable of conducting sensitive SPR measurements and providing direct electronical readout. This has been achieved by integrating a hyperbolic-metamaterial SPR (HMM-SPR) sensor with an on-fiber graphene/PMMA photodetector (oFGPD). The HMM, composed of three pairs of Au/ZrO2, has been employed to develop highly sensitive SPR sensors. The oFGPD, which was constructed by transferring a single layer of graphene onto a tapered fiber region and subsequently covering it with a PMMA protecting film, achieved a high responsivity of 3.42 × 106 A W−1 (at 14.07 pW) and a rapid response time of approximately 90 ms at 1550 nm. More significantly, we have incorporated an SPR sensor based on a side-polished fiber (SPF) into the oFGPD, enabling an electronical readout technique for environmental refractive index (RI) SPR signals in a broad potential spectral range, from visible to near-infrared, all within a more compact device. This integration has been successfully validated in the detection of urea and glucose concentrations in artificial perspiration. This approach provides a novel direction for SPR sensor detection and establishes a solid foundation for their application in wearable technology.

Alterations in corneal sensitivity according to age and gender in healthy population in Turkey

ABSTRACT Clinical relevance Knowing the changes in corneal sensitivity according to age and gender is important for the correct evaluation of pathologies. Background The aim of this work was to analyse variability of corneal sensitivity according to age and gender in the healthy population in Turkey. Methods Healthy volunteers between the ages of 20 and 84, who applied to outpatient clinic due to routine examination, were included. Exclusion criteria were any ocular diseases other than refractive error, any systemic disease, contact lens use, chronic ocular and systemic drug use, and previous ocular surgery. Central and 4 quadrants (superior, inferior, nasal, temporal) corneal sensitivity measurements were performed with a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer (Luneau Ophthalmology, France). The patients were divided into 5 groups according to their ages (Group 1:20-29, Group 2:30-39, Group 3:40-49, Group 4:50-59, Group 5 ≥ 60). The data were evaluated in terms of groups and gender. Results The right eyes of 324 volunteers were included. The mean age was 44.31 ± 15.65 (20–84) and the female/male ratio was 165/159. The mean central, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal sensitivities were 50.15 ± 9.7,48.62 ± 10.3,48.59 ± 10.3,47.73 ± 10.2,47.71 ± 10.3 mm, respectively. Sensitivities in all quadrants decreased significantly depending on age (p = 0.001 for all, central, superior, inferior, nasal and temporal correlation coefficients,r = −0.783, −0.791, −0.789, −0.760, −0.775, respectively). The decrease accelerated in Group 4 and 5. Gender-related changes were detected as significant in central and temporal quadrants (p = 0.038, p = 0.019). When sensitivity according to gender was evaluated within each decade, significant difference was detected in Group 2 and 4 (p < 0.05). Conclusion Corneal sensitivity decreases with age, most significantly in 5th and 6th decades. Sensitivity differs between genders in central and temporal quadrants. Geographic location, gender, and ethnicity may affect sensitivity values. The present study defines normal values in aTurkish population and may guide the evaluation of pathologies that impair corneal sensitivity.

Investigating Lorentz invariance violation effects on CP violation and mass hierarchy sensitivity at DUNE

One of the current goals of neutrino experiments is to precisely determine standard unknown oscillation parameters such as the leptonic CP phase and mass hierarchy. Lorentz invariance violation represents a potential physics factor that could influence the experiment’s ability to achieve these precise determinations. This study investigates the influence of Lorentz invariance violation on oscillation dynamics, particularly through nonisotropic CPT-violating (aeμX, aeτX, aμτX) and CPT-conserving (ceμXY, ceτXY, cμτXY) parameters within the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. We analyze the impact of these parameters on the mass hierarchy (MH) and Dirac CP phase sensitivity measurements. Our findings indicate that while MH sensitivity remains relatively unaffected, only the presence of cμτXY significantly deteriorates MH sensitivity, albeit remaining above the 5σ threshold. Additionally, we observe a substantial compromise in CP sensitivity due to the ceμXY and ceτXY parameters. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Simultaneous sensing of axial strain and temperature based on a sensitivity-selectable all-fiber Lyot-like filter

In this paper, an all-fiber Lyot-like filter with tunable free spectral range (FSR) and selectable sensitivity is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for simultaneous sensing of axial strain and temperature. Compared to the traditional fiber-based Lyot filter, the Lyot-like filter has an additional single-mode fiber (SMF) based polarization controller (PC), which is placed between two sections of polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF). In our experiment, the tunable FSR is achieved by adjusting the PC at a special angle, and a small FSR value of 6.58 nm and a large FSR value of 18.49 nm are obtained, respectively. Moreover, the experimental results show that the small FSR has low axial strain and temperature sensitivity, while that of the large FSR is high. By detecting the wavelength shifts of the filter spectra dip points, the simultaneous sensing of axial strain and temperature can be realized easily using a dual-parameter matrix. The proposed Lyot-like filter has the advantages of tunable FSR, selectable sensitivity, and simultaneous measurement of temperature and axial strain, which shows potential sensing applications in aerospace, chemical production, and bridge condition monitoring.

The psychometric properties of instruments measuring ethical sensitivity in nursing: a systematic review.

Recognizing and appropriately responding to ethical considerations is a crucial element of ethical nursing practice. To mitigate instances of ethical incongruity in healthcare and to promote nurses' comprehension of their professional ethical responsibilities, it is imperative for researchers to accurately evaluate ethical sensitivity. Conducting a systematic review of the available instruments would enable practitioners to determine the most suitable instrument for implementation in the field of nursing. This review aims to systematically assess the measurement properties of instruments used to measure ethical sensitivity in nursing. A systematic literature search was conducted in July 2022 in the following electronic databases: Scopus, CINAHL, APAPsycINFO, Embase, Web of Science, and PubMed. Two reviewers independently screened and assessed the studies in accordance with the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. The updated criteria for good measurement properties are used to rate the result of measurement properties, and the modified Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to grade the quality of the summarized evidence. This review encompasses a total of 29 studies that describe 11 different instruments. Neither cross-cultural validity nor responsiveness was examined in any of the included studies. Whereas the majority of the instruments were conducted with at least some type of validity assessment, nearly all of the reliability results rated were indeterminate. Two instruments were recommended, the Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire for Nursing Students (ESQ-NS) and the Ethical Awareness Scale for nurses in intensive care units. It is recommended that new self-administration instruments for special nursing settings be developed in accordance with the item response theory (IRT)/Rasch model. The selection of ethical sensitivity measurement instruments in nursing, and further research on the development, psychometric, and cross-cultural adaptation of these instruments, could be conducted in accordance with the findings and suggestions of this systematic review. • This review was conducted to assess 11 instruments that were used to measure ethical sensitivity in nursing in 29 studies. • The Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire for Nursing Students (ESQ-NS) and the Ethical Awareness Scale for nurses in intensive care units can be recommended, but further reliability and cross-cultural validity testing are needed. • The IRT/Rasch model is also recommended to measure ethical sensitivity in nursing. • The potential limitation of utilizing the COSMIN checklist for assessing methodological quality is worth considering. • Test-retest was considered inappropriate; thus, the reliability testing of ethical sensitivity measurement instruments still needs to be explored.

Highly sensitive liquid level and temperature sensors based on all-fiber intermodal interferometers

Abstract Fiber optic-based precise measurements of liquid level and temperature are crucial for remote controlling in pharmaceutics, chemistry, and bromatology. Thus, it is essential to monitor liquid level and temperature simultaneously. In this paper, we propose all-fiber intermodal interferometers for highly sensitive liquid level and temperature measurements. We fabricated two different structures of single mode fiber-no core fiber-single mode fiber (SMF-NCF-SMF). One of them was used to measure the liquid level when the liquid soaked the NCF, and the other one was further coated with PDMS thermal-optic material and utilized to detect temperature. The measurement sensitivity of liquid level was 580 pm/mm within the range of 0-20 mm, while that of temperature was 1 nm/°C within the range of 28-51°C. A matrix was finally obtained by demodulating the measurements of liquid level and temperature. The proposed liquid level and temperature sensors, exhibiting the merits of high sensitivity, easy fabrication, and low cost, could be a candidate for precise and remote monitoring of liquid levels.

Optimized detection modality for radio-frequency sensing with a double-resonance alignment magnetometer

In this work, we present a comprehensive and comparative analysis of two detection modalities, i.e., polarization rotation and absorption measurement of light, for a double-resonance alignment magnetometer (DRAM). We derive algebraic expressions for magnetometry signals based on the description of multipole moments. Experiments are carried out using a room-temperature paraffin-coated cesium-vapor cell and measuring either the polarization rotation or absorption of the transmitted laser light. A detailed experimental analysis of the resonance spectra is performed to validate the theoretical findings for various input parameters. The results signify the use of a single isotropic relaxation rate, thus simplifying the data analysis for optimization of the DRAM. The sensitivity measurements are performed and reveal that the polarization-rotation detection mode yields larger signals and better sensitivity than absorption measurement of light. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Intrusion event recognition method for distributed fibre optic sensing systems based on Siamese networks

ABSTRACT Due to its high sensitivity and wide measurement range, the distributed optical fibre sensing system has been widely used in long-distance infrastructure monitoring, where it detects vibration signals caused by external events and provides effective early warnings. Given the complexity and diversity of external intrusion events, traditional closed-set classification methods cannot effectively exclude unknown signals. Open-set recognition methods, on the other hand, involve complex model designs, requiring boundary Algorithms and often the inclusion of information related to unknown classes. In this paper, we combine a Siamese network with a residual network to recognise events in the distributed optical fibre sensing system. Through experiments, by comparing the similarity with data in the database, we not only ensure very high accuracy in closed-set classification but also effectively exclude unknown class signals. Experimental results show that our method successfully rejects unknown class data with a 92% success rate, while maintaining closed-set classification accuracy at an average of 99%. Our approach demonstrates excellent performance.

Computational Model-Assisted Development of a Nonenzymatic Fluorescent Glucose-Sensing Assay.

Deep-red fluorescence was implemented in this fully injectable, nonenzymatic glucose biosensor design to allow for better light penetration through the skin, particularly for darker skin tones. In this work, a novel method was developed to synthesize Cy5.5 labeled mannose conjugates (Cy5.5-mannobiose, Cy5.5-mannotriose, and Cy5.5-mannotetraose) to act as the fluorescent competing ligand in a competitive binding assay with the protein Concanavalin A acting as the recognition molecule. Using fluorescence anisotropy (FA) data, a computational model was developed to determine optimal concentration ratios of the assay components to allow for sensitive glucose measurements within the physiological range. The model was experimentally validated by measuring the glucose response via FA of the three Cy5.5-labeled mannose conjugates synthesized with Cy5.5-mannotetraose demonstrating the most sensitive response to glucose across the physiological range. The developed method may be broadly applied to a vast range of commercially available fluorescent dyes and opens up opportunities for glucose measurements using nonenzymatic assays.

Interband cascade laser absorption sensor for sensitive measurement of hydrogen chloride in smoke-laden gases using wavelength modulation spectroscopy

A tunable interband cascade laser sensor, based on wavelength modulation absorption spectroscopy near 3.73 µm, was developed to measure hydrogen chloride gas concentration in smoke-laden environments associated with the overhaul stages of firefighting. Wavelength selection near 2678cm−1 targets the P(0,9) transition within the fundamental vibrational band of HCl, chosen for its absorption strength and isolation from CO2, H2O, and CH4, as well as proximity to absorption features of other toxicant gases of interest in firefighting applications. Both scanned-wavelength direct absorption with a Voigt lineshape-fitting routine and a wavelength modulation spectroscopy absorption method are employed to recover species concentration. The laser sensor is paired with a compact commercial off-the-shelf 1 m multipass optical gas cell modified to use polished Alloy 20 steel mirrors for increased corrosion resistance against humid and acidic gases, and it is tested by sampling effluent gases from pyrolyzing and burning solid samples of polyvinyl chloride under a radiant heating apparatus in a laboratory fume hood. The wavelength modulation spectroscopy method is demonstrated to enable measurement at the near-ppm-level within a compact form-factor and to provide insights into the thermochemical pyrolysis processes that lead to the formation of hydrogen chloride when polyvinyl chloride is exposed to radiant heating.

Polarization modulated spectroscopic ellipsometry-based surface plasmon resonance biosensor for E. coli K12 detection

In this work, we report on the application of the polarization modulated spectroscopic ellipsometry-based surface plasmon resonance method for sensitive detection of microorganisms in Kretschmann configuration. So far, rotating analyzer and single wavelength polarization modulation methods have widely been investigated for phase sensitive surface plasmon resonance measurement. In this study, a much simpler optical setup relying on fast electro-optic phase modulator crystals is introduced for bacteria detection. A beta barium borate crystal connected to a function generator is adapted for generating phase shifts in the millisecond regime to extract the ellipsometric angles (Ψ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\Psi$$\\end{document} and Δ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\Delta$$\\end{document}) under the surface plasmon resonance condition. For detection, the gold surface was functionalized with anti-Escherichia coli antibodies, and E. coli K12 was attached to them. We show that polarization modulated spectroscopic ellipsometry achieves a refractive index resolution in the order of 10-5\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$10^{-5}$$\\end{document} RIU, and a limit of detection of 102\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$10^{2}$$\\end{document} CFU/mL for E. coli K12 which is compatible with other surface plasmon resonance based phase sensitive methods with more complex detection concepts. As a follow-up step, an optical model can be developed to enhance this biosensor’s performance, and applications for sorting and detecting other biological targets will be investigated.

Self-mixing thinly sliced ruby laser for laser Doppler velocimetry with high optical sensitivity

In self-mixing laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV), the motion of a moving target is observed by using intensity-modulated laser light detected by a simple photodetector. Here, the self-mixing laser output modulation takes place, reflecting the pronounced effective loss modulation index, which is proportional to the fluorescence-to-photon lifetime ratio. The fluorescence lifetime of a ruby laser is extremely long, so if a ruby crystal can be used as a laser light source for a self-mixing LDV system, high-sensitivity LDV measurements can be performed with it. We describe a method for velocimetry of moving targets using self-mixing LDV in which a CW oscillating ruby laser is the light source. The oscillation mechanism of the thin-slice ruby laser with a large fluorescence-to-photon lifetime ratio, which is suitable for LDV measurements, is clarified and the results of highly sensitive LDV measurements are presented, featuring nonlinear dynamics observed associated with the self-mixing velocimetry experiment. The measurement accuracy is clarified by measuring the rotating disc with various conditions using self-mixing LDV.

The MeerKAT view on Galactic supernova remnants

The integrated radio spectrum of supernova remnants (SNRs) and the spatial variation of the spectral indices across these extended sources are powerful tools for studying the shocks and particle acceleration processes occurring in different SNR regions. Characterization of these processes requires sensitive flux density measurements and high-resolution images, which are not always available due to observing difficulties. We want to show the potentiality of the high-resolution SARAO MeerKAT legacy Galactic Plane Survey (SMGPS) images regarding the morphological and spectral characterization of 29 known galactic SNRs. We used the SMGPS data at $1.284$ GHz coupled with data from the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky Murchison Widefield Array (GLEAM) survey ($0.072-0.231$ GHz) to characterize the integrated spectrum of each source and search for spatial spectral variation through analysis of sensitive spectral index maps. We were able to redefine the exact morphology of four SNRs (G024.7-00.6, G051.4+00.7, G348.7+0.3, and G351.9+00.1), distinguishing them from unrelated sources or identifying new emission regions associated with them and never observed before. In many other cases, we identified in the SMGPS images several overlaid with the remnants, and we were able to estimate their spectral contribution through inspection of the spatial variation of the spectral indices across the remnants. The integrated spectral indices show a more uniform distribution with respect to what is obtained by considering the values reported in the literature. We show that new sensitive and high-resolution data are crucial to firmly constraining both the integrated and spatially resolved spectrum of SNRs, especially for the less studied objects of the southern hemisphere. The comparison of our SMGPS-GLEAM spectral index maps with IR, molecular, and gamma -ray images allowed us to investigate the nature of the peculiar remnant regions.

Kinetic inductance current sensor for visible to near-infrared wavelength transition-edge sensor readout

Single-photon detectors based on the superconducting transition-edge sensor are used in a number of visible to near-infrared applications, particularly for photon-number-resolving measurements in quantum information science. To be practical for large-scale spectroscopic imaging or photonic quantum computing applications, the size of visible to near-infrared transition-edge sensor arrays and their associated readouts must be increased from a few pixels to many thousands. In this manuscript, we introduce the kinetic inductance current sensor, a scalable readout technology that exploits the nonlinear kinetic inductance in a superconducting resonator to make sensitive current measurements. Kinetic inductance current sensors can replace superconducting quantum interference devices for many applications because of their ability to measure fast, high slew-rate signals, their compatibility with standard microwave frequency-division multiplexing techniques, and their relatively simple fabrication. Here, we demonstrate the readout of a visible to near-infrared transition-edge sensor using a kinetic inductance current sensor with 3.7 MHz of bandwidth. We measure a readout noise of 1.4pA/Hz\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$1.4\\,{{{\\rm{pA}}}}/\\sqrt{{{{\\rm{Hz}}}}}$$\\end{document}, considerably below the detector noise at frequencies of interest, and an energy resolution of (0.137 ± 0.001) eV at 0.8 eV, comparable to resolutions observed with non-multiplexed superconducting quantum interference device readouts.

Nonreciprocal mechanical entanglement in a spinning optomechanical system

Abstract Quantum entanglement between distant massive mechanical oscillators is an important resource in sensitive measurements and quantum information processing. We achieve the nonreciprocal mechanical entanglement in a compound optomechanical device consisting of two mechanical oscillators and a spinning whispering-gallery mode (WGM) optical microresonator. It is found that obvious nonreciprocal mechanical entanglement emerges in this system in the presence of the Sagnac effect which is induced by the rotation of the WGM resonator, and the nonreciprocal region can be controlled by tuning the angular velocity of the rotation. The nonreciprocity originates from the breaking of the time-reversal symmetry of this multimode system due to the presence of the Sagnac effect. The optomechanical coupling and the mechanical interaction provide cooling channels for the first and second mechanical oscillators, respectively. Two mechanical oscillators can be cooled simultaneously. The simultaneous cooling and the mechanical coupling of two mechanical oscillators ensure the generation of mechanical entanglement. Furthermore, an optimal mechanical entanglement can be achieved when the moderate optical frequency detuning and the driving power are chosen. The thermal noise of the mechanical environment has a negative effect on mechanical entanglement. Our scheme provides promising opportunities for research of quantum information processing based on phonons and sensitive measurements.

A novel multiplexed immunoassay for surface-exposed proteins in plasma extracellular vesicles.

Small membranous extracellular vesicles (EV) incorporate proteins and nucleic acids from the parent cell. Proteins exposed on EV surface are dictated by cellular origin and biogenesis pathway. To better understand the EV origin and function, it is important to develop methods that reveal surface protein composition of heterogeneous EV populations in culture supernatants and in biofluids. Tetraspanins CD9, CD63, and CD81 are common and abundant EV markers. However, their relative enrichment (profile) on EVs of specific cellular origins is not fully elucidated. We introduce LuminEV, a novel version of the Luminex assay for the multiplexed analysis of EV surface proteins. Optimized LuminEV reagents enable direct, specific, and sensitive measurements of EV markers in biofluids and in culture supernatants, bypassing EV isolation step. LuminEV assay for CD9, CD63, and CD81 was validated by comparing simplex and multiplex measurements, establishing linearity, spike-in recovery, inter- and intra-assay precision, and reproducibility between operators. LuminEV measurements of CD9, CD63, and CD81 in conditioned media from 15 cell lines revealed strong variations between cell types and showed high sensitivity, which enabled EV detection without prior concentration. Using tetraspanin levels as a readout, we noted suppression and induction of EV release from the cultured cells by GW6869 and monensin. Measurement of EV CD9, CD63, and CD81 in blood plasma from 70 disease-free donors showed respective abundance of 72, 16, and 12%. CD63 displayed weak, albeit significant, negative correlation with age and was slightly lower in female samples. The assay was then used to detect cell type-specific EV surface markers, including CD235a (erythrocytes), GAP43 (neurons), and CD68 (macrophages), and to detect differences in tetraspanin profiles between healthy and diseased donors. In summary, LuminEV offers robust and sensitive approach for multiplexed assessment of EV surface proteins, to facilitate the research into EV biology, biomarker, and therapeutic applications.

Passive wireless RFID strain sensor for directional-independent structural deformation monitoring

The advancement of Radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensor technology presents a novel approach to monitoring the health of structures. However, the traditional RFID antenna sensor encounters issues with limited sensitivity and strain measurement capabilities in a single direction. In this investigation, we propose, model, analyze, and test an enhanced wireless and passive RFID strain sensor that offers improved sensitivity to strains and quantifiable measurements in orthogonal directions. Theoretical analysis based on multiphysics elastodynamics and electromagnetics illustrating the resonant response and distribution of current field density between two sets of orthogonally installed sensors under applied stress. Our findings reveal that the RFID strain sensor exhibits characteristics to electromagnetically induced transparency like (EIT-like) effect, enabling independent and intensified measurement of strains both horizontally and vertically. Experimental data demonstrates a linear correlation between the shift in resonant frequency of the sensor antenna and transverse strains as well as longitudinal strains, with sensitivity coefficients measuring −1.76 kHz με−1 for transverse strain and 2.17 kHz με−1 for longitudinal strain respectively. Consequently, by accurately analyzing variations in resonant frequency it becomes possible to deduce both magnitude and direction of strains on the antenna effectively laying groundwork for future engineering applications.