Hybrid Fourier domain modelocked laser utilizing a fiber optical parametric amplifier and an erbium doped fiber amplifier

To our knowledge, we report the first Fourier domain modelocked laser (FDML) constructed using optical parameter amplifier (OPA) in conjunction with an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA), centered at ~1556nm. We utilized a onepump OPA and a C-band EDFA in a series configuration with a polygon-grating wavelength filter to generate a hybrid FDML spectrum. Results demonstrate a substantially higher output power, better spectral shape and significantly more stable bandwidth than individual configurations. We believe this technique has the potential to enable several amplifiers to complement individual deficiencies resulting in improved spectral shapes and power generation for imaging applications such as optical coherence tomography (OCT). © 2010 Copyright SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering.published_or_final_versionThe Fiber Lasers VII: Technology, Systems, and Applications, San Francisco, CA., 25 January 2010. In Proceedings of SPIE, 2010, v. 7580, p. 1-7, article no. 75802

Enhanced depth resolution in optical scanning holography using a configurable pupil

The optical scanning holography (OSH) technique can capture all the three-dimensional volume information of an object in a hologram via a single raster scan. The digital hologram can then be processed to reconstruct individual sectional images of the object. In this paper, we present a scheme to reconstruct sectional images in OSH with enhanced depth resolution, where a spatial light modulator (SLM) is adopted as a configurable point pupil. By switching the SLM between two states, different Fresnel zone plates (FZPs) are generated based on the same optical system. With extra information provided by different FZPs, a depth resolution at 0.7 μm can be achieved.published_or_final_versio

Speckle Reduction of Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography Based on Contourlet Shrinkage

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APPL1 regulates insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells

Oral PresentationINTRODUCTION: Pancreatic beta cell dysfunction, characterised by defective glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, is a major contributor to the progression of type 2 diabetes. APPL1 has been suggested as an insulin-sensitising molecule in various insulin-responsive tissues. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether APPL1 regulates beta cell functions using genetically engineered mouse mod…published_or_final_versio

Ubiquitination is indispensible for the insulin-sensitising activity of the adaptor protein APPL1

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Speed-dependent resolution analysis of ultrafast laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy

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High-speed spectroscopic OCT around 1550 nm based on dual-band swept laser source

We report a 45 kHz spectroscopic OCT system based on a swept laser source utilizing two wavelength bands. The source is generated by single-band swept laser input and a fiber optical parametric amplifier. The time-multiplexing architecture reduces the complexity of the coupling and detecting configuration in comparison with the previous dual-band swept-source setup. This high-speed spectroscopic OCT combines the advantages of the speed of the swept laser and contrast enhancement, in comparison with the time or spectral-domain spectroscopic OCT system. In the experiment, spectroscopic OCT imaging around 1550 nm is achieved for the first time. The difference in images at 1500 nm and 1600 nm clearly shows different back scattering and penetration properties which can be used for tissue classification and water content measurement.published_or_final_versio

Power enhanced and fast swept source for phase conjugate optical coherence tomography

FTuY - Coherence Tomography: Paper FTuY1We have developed a wavelength-swept source based on fiber parametric amplification and Fourier domain mode locking with increased power and speed to take full advantage of 2x resolution enhancement and dispersion cancellation of phase-conjugate OCT.postprintFrontiers in Optics 2010 / Laser Science XXVI (FiO/LS 2010), Rochester, N.Y., 24 October 2010. In Optics InfoBase, 201

Chromatic-dispersion-free transmission using time-reversal optical parametric amplifier

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MDM2 inhibitor nutlin-3a impairs glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion in mice

Oral PresentationINTRODUCTION: Mdm2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, regulates the tumour suppressor p53 by enhancing its proteasomemediated degradation through the protein-protein interaction. A small molecule Nutlin-3a has been shown to disrupt the interaction between p53 and MDM2, thereby up-regulating expression of p53 in cancer cells. Therefore, this small molecular represents a promising therapeutic agent for cancer. However, the effect of nutlin-3a on glucose homeostasis has never been explored so far. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether nutlin-3a affects glucose metabolism using both in-…published_or_final_versio