High-Throughput Nonlinear Optical Microscopy

High-resolution microscopy methods based on different nonlinear optical (NLO) contrast mechanisms are finding numerous applications in biology and medicine. While the basic implementations of these microscopy methods are relatively mature, an important direction of continuing technological innovation lies in improving the throughput of these systems. Throughput improvement is expected to be important for studying fast kinetic processes, for enabling clinical diagnosis and treatment, and for extending the field of image informatics. This review will provide an overview of the fundamental limitations on NLO microscopy throughput. We will further cover several important classes of high-throughput NLO microscope designs with discussions on their strengths and weaknesses and their key biomedical applications. Finally, this review will close with a perspective of potential future technological improvements in this field.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (9P41EB015871-26A1)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (R01-EX017656)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (5 R01 NS051320)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (4R44EB012415-02)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (CBET-0939511)Singapore-MIT AllianceSkolkovo Institute of Science and TechnologySingapore. National Research Foundation (Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology)Wellcome Trust (London, England) (Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Postdoctoral Fellowship 093831/Z/10/Z

Potential of Retrofitting Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems Using an Integrated Geographical Information System Remote Sensing Based Approach

Flooding is a major problem in urban areas worldwide. Methodologies that can rapidly assess the scale and identify the reasons causing these flooding events at minimal cost are urgently required. This study has used the City of Kingston-upon-Hull to evaluate the capability of an integrated remote sensing and geographical information system based approach to provide the critical information on the spatial extent of flooding and flood water volumes and overcome the limitations in current monitoring based on ground-based visual mapping and household flooding surveys. Airborne and Terrestrial LiDAR datasets were combined with digital aerial photography, flood assessment surveys, and maps of housing, infrastructure and the sewer network. The integration of these datasets provided an enhanced understanding of the sources and pathways of the flood water runoff, accurate quantification of the water volumes associated with each flooding event and the identification of the optimum locations and size of potential retrofit Sustainable Urban Drainage systems.n/

Estudio de un producto auxiliar no iónico como alternativa al electrolito en la tintura de la lana

Il s’agit d’une étude sur l’application d’un nouveau produit auxiliaire de type non ionique, proposé pour remplacer l’électrolyte dans la teinture de la laine. En outre, à partir des études menées par les auteurs sur des applications enzymatiques dans la teinture de la laine, ils ont essayé d’établir les effets synergiques qui résulteraient éventuellement de l’utilisation d’une enzyme avec le nouveau produit auxiliaire de type non ionique. Ils ont ensuite comparé les résultats d’absorption de colorant, les différences de couleur sur les articles teints et certaines solidités entre les teintures à basse température effectuées selon un système conventionnel comme l’électrolyte et les teintures où l’électrolyte est remplacée par le nouveau produit non ionique, une enzyme ou les deux en même temps. Ils ont aussi déterminé certains paramètres écologiques (DQO, DBO, pH et conductivité) dans les bains résiduels des différentes teintures étudiées.El presente trabajo es un estudio de aplicación de un nuevo producto auxiliar de tipo no iónico que se propone como sustituto del electrolito en la tintura de la lana. Además, tomando como base los estudios llevados a cabo por los autores sobre aplicaciones enzimáticas en la tintura de lana, se intentan establecer los posibles efectos sinérgicos al utilizar un enzima junto con el nuevo producto auxiliar de tipo no iónico. Se comparan los resultados de absorción de colorante, diferencias de color en los artículos teñidos, así como algunas solideces entre: tinturas a baja temperatura efectuadas según un sistema convencional con electrolito y tinturas en las que se sustituye el electrolito por el nuevo auxiliar no iónico, por un enzima o por ambos simultáneamente. También se han determinado algunos parámetros ecológicos (DQO, DBO, pH y conductividad) en los baños residuales de las diferentes tinturas estudiadas.This paper is an application study of a new auxiliary product non-ionic type, proposed as an electrolyte substitutive in wool dyeing. This paper intends to establish the possible synergetic effects on using an enzyme together with the new non-ionic auxiliary product. Results of dye absorption, colour differences in the dyed samples, and some colour fastness are compared between a conventional dyeing system with electrolyte and dyeing systems in which the electrolyte is substituted by the new non-ionic auxiliary, by an enzyme or by both simultaneously. Some ecological parameters (COD, BOD, pH and conductivity) have been determined in the residual baths of the different dyeings examined

Predictors of growth kinetics and outcomes in small renal masses (SRM ≤4 cm in size):Tayside Active Surveillance Cohort (TASC) Study

Objective: To determine outcomes of small renal masses (≤4 cm) on active surveillance and explore factors which can influence their growth.Patients and Methods: Two hundred twenty six patients between January 2007 and December 2014 were analysed using cross-linked methodology of healthcare data and independent review. Cancer specific and non-specific survival were the primary outcomes. Growth kinetics, factors influencing growth and need for interventions were secondary outcomes.Results: 101 (64.4%) solid and 4 (5.9%) cystic SRMs showed growth. 43 (19.02%) of SRMs required treatment interventions. Seven patients (7/158; 4.4%) died due to renal cancer at a median follow-up of 21.7 (SD 10.6, min 6-42) months, all in solid category. Independent review of serial radiological imaging of these seven cases showed two patients had subtle metastatic disease at the initial presentation, and 5 of the 7 did not adhere to recommended imaging regime. 33 (33/158; 20.8%) died due to other causes including non-renal cancers (14/158; 8.8%). Multivariate analyses showed that lower eGFR at baseline, co-morbidities and tumour location were independently associated with growth in size.Conclusions: A higher cancer-specific mortality was seen in the present study compared to the reported literature. Independent critical review of imaging of cases with poor outcome underscored the importance of adherence to a robust protocol including follow up. Comorbid conditions had a significant impact on growth and overall survival of patients with SRMs.</p

Preliminary Observations on the Effects In Vivo and In Vitro of Low Dose Laser on the Epithelia of the Bladder, Trachea and Tongue of the Mouse

The effects of low dose CW laser were studied by in vivo and in vitro systems. The experimental tissues that were used included bladders, tracheas and tongues as experimental tissues. Buddings (round surface projections) from the transitional epithelium of bladder were frequently observed 3 days after laser treatment in both in vivo and in vitro systems. The trachea and tongue were less affected. In both the in vivo and in vitro systems, some epithelial cells of the trachea showed decreased microvilli and cilia 3 days after treatment whereas the epithelial cells of the tongue revealed no response to laser treatment in both systems. Low dose laser, however, appeared to promote the rate of healing of experimental tongue ulcer: healing was about 1 day earlier in the laser treated than non-treated animals and vessel infiltration and epithelialization were detected earlier in the treated

Wide-field two-photon microscopy with temporal focusing and HiLo background rejection

Scanningless depth-resolved microscopy is achieved through spatial-temporal focusing and has been demonstrated previously. The advantage of this method is that a large area may be imaged without scanning resulting in higher throughput of the imaging system. Because it is a widefield technique, the optical sectioning effect is considerably poorer than with conventional spatial focusing two-photon microscopy. Here we propose wide-field two-photon microscopy based on spatio-temporal focusing and employing background rejection based on the HiLo microscope principle. We demonstrate the effects of applying HiLo microscopy to widefield temporally focused two-photon microscopy

Responses of Astrocytes in Culture After Low Dose Laser Irradiation

The effect of Helium-Neon low dose laser on astrocytes was investigated in cultures of isolated astrocytes from albino neonatal rats. The laser appeared to inhibit the growth of astrocytes as exemplified by the smaller sizes of the cells and the decreased leucine uptake in each cell after treatment. Temporary decrease in the number of mitoses was also observed, but this trend was reversed soon after. Electron microscopic studies revealed an increase in buddings from cell bodies and processes (branches) after irradiation