111 research outputs found
Effect of nanoparticle morphologies on signal strength in photoacoustic sensing
Spherical gold nanoparticles with a plasmonic extinction peak at 532 nm and two sizes of star shaped gold nanoparticles with plasmonic extinction peaks at 532 nm and 600 nm were synthesised and introduced into tissue phantoms as exogenous absorbers. The photoacoustic signals generated from the three different nanoparticle morphologies embedded in tissue the phantoms is compared. The effect of nanoparticle concentration on the generated photoacoustic signal strength was also investigated for the spherical nanoparticles. At an excitation laser wavelength of 532 nm, the spherical gold nanoparticles were shown to produce the greatest photoacoustic response
Panoramic optical and near-infrared SETI instrument: prototype design and testing
The Pulsed All-sky Near-infrared Optical Search for ExtraTerrestrial
Intelligence (PANOSETI) is an instrument program that aims to search for fast
transient signals (nano-second to seconds) of artificial or astrophysical
origin. The PANOSETI instrument objective is to sample the entire observable
sky during all observable time at optical and near-infrared wavelengths over
300 - 1650 nm. The PANOSETI instrument is designed with a number of modular
telescope units using Fresnel lenses (0.5m) arranged on two geodesic
domes in order to maximize sky coverage. We present the prototype design
and tests of these modular Fresnel telescope units. This consists of the design
of mechanical components such as the lens mounting and module frame. One of the
most important goals of the modules is to maintain the characteristics of the
Fresnel lens under a variety of operating conditions. We discuss how we account
for a range of operating temperatures, humidity, and module orientations in our
design in order to minimize undesirable changes to our focal length or angular
resolution.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl
Distributed sensing of strain in synthetic fiber rope and cable constructions using optical fiber sensors
Distributed optical fibre sensing in synthetic fibre ropes and cables
Distributed strain measurements on synthetic fibre ropes as used in marine applications are reported. The ropes incorporate single mode fibre-optic sensors for strain measurement. A Brillouin-amplification-based distributed strain measuring system has been utilised to interrogate the fibre sensors incorporated into a parallel yarn aramid rope. Initial results are presented to conclusively demonstrate the technical feasibility of the approach
Optical fiber sensing of strain in synthetic fiber tension members: recent results
Strain measurements on synthetic fibre rope constructions ofthe type used in marine applications are reported. The ropes are of a novel construction by virtue of incorporation of fibre-optic sensors for strain measurement. Two instrumentation approaches -a Brillouin strain measuring system and a RF sub-carrier strain measuring system -have been utilised to interrogate the fibre sensors
DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN Nocardia spp. AND Mycobacterium spp.: CRITICAL ASPECTS FOR BACTERIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS
Phenotypic Overlap between MMP-13 and the Plasminogen Activation System during Wound Healing in Mice
BACKGROUND: Proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix is a crucial step in the healing of incisional skin wounds. Thus, healing of skin wounds is delayed by either plasminogen-deficiency or by treatment with the broad-spectrum metalloproteinase (MP) inhibitor Galardin alone, while the two perturbations combined completely prevent wound healing. Both urokinase-type plasminogen activator and several matrix metallo proteinases (MMPs), such as MMP-3, -9 and -13, are expressed in the leading-edge keratinocytes of skin wounds, which may account for this phenotypic overlap between these classes of proteases. METHODOLOGY: To further test that hypothesis we generated Mmp13;Plau and Mmp13;Plg double-deficient mice in a cross between Mmp13- and Plau-deficient mice as well as Mmp13- and Plg-deficient mice. These mice were examined for normal physiology in a large cohort study and in a well-characterized skin wound healing model, in which we made incisional 20 mm-long full-thickness skin wounds. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: While mice that are deficient in Mmp13 have a mean healing time indistinguishable to wild-type mice, wound healing in both Plau- and Plg-deficient mice is significantly delayed. Histological analysis of healed wounds revealed a significant increase in keratin 10/14 immunoreactive layers of kerationcytes in the skin surface in Mmp13;Plau double-deficient mice. Furthermore, we observe, by immunohistological analysis, an aberrant angiogenic pattern during wound healing induced by Plau-deficiency, which has not previously been described. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a phenotypic overlap, defined as an additional delay in wound healing in the double-deficient mice compared to the individual single-deficient mice, between MMP-13 and the plasminogen activation system in the process of wound healing, but not during gestation and in postnatal development. Thus, a dual targeting of uPA and MMP-13 might be a possible future strategy in designing therapies aimed at tissue repair or other pathological processes, such as cancer invasion, where proteolytic degradation is a hallmark
Light-sheet microscopy beam path miniaturisation using optical MEMS
Light-sheet microscopy (LSM) as 3D fluorescence imaging tool has shown impressive growth over the last decade, specifically with open-source and application tailored systems in mind. By structuring the fluorescence excitation light to only illuminate a thin sheet of the sample in the active focal plane of an orthogonal imaging path, low light doses and fast 3D imaging can be achieved. In this work, we present digital control of the light-sheet creation, positioning and imaging using Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) micromirrors and the use of their inherent miniaturisation potential
Characterisation of a double tilted fiber Bragg grating using an electrowetting platform
We report a method of characterization and modification of the optical transmission properties of a double tilted Bragg grating structure by using a micro droplet translated on an electrowetting-on-dielectric platform. The droplet makes contact with the fiber cladding in the zone between the two gratings in the fiber. The change in optical transmission spectrum with droplet position was experimentally measured, and results are presented and discussed
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