Three-dimensional bi-functional refractive index and fluorescence microscopy (BRIEF).

Fluorescence microscopy is a powerful tool for imaging biological samples with molecular specificity. In contrast, phase microscopy provides label-free measurement of the sample's refractive index (RI), which is an intrinsic optical property that quantitatively relates to cell morphology, mass, and stiffness. Conventional imaging techniques measure either the labeled fluorescence (functional) information the label-free RI (structural) information, though it may be valuable to have both.

Ion complexation waves emerge at the curved interfaces of layered minerals.

Visualizing hydrated interfaces is of widespread interest across the physical sciences and is a particularly acute need for layered minerals, whose properties are governed by the structure of the electric double layer (EDL) where mineral and solution meet. Here, we show that cryo electron microscopy and tomography enable direct imaging of the EDL at montmorillonite interfaces in monovalent electrolytes with ångstrom resolution over micron length scales. A learning-based multiple-scattering reconstruction method for cryo electron tomography reveals ions bound asymmetrically on opposite sides of curved, exfoliated layers.

Self-calibrated 3D differential phase contrast microscopy with optimized illumination.

3D phase imaging recovers an object's volumetric refractive index from intensity and/or holographic measurements. Partially coherent methods, such as illumination-based differential phase contrast (DPC), are particularly simple to implement in a commercial brightfield microscope. 3D DPC acquires images at multiple focus positions and with different illumination source patterns in order to reconstruct 3D refractive index.

Nondestructive, high-resolution, chemically specific 3D nanostructure characterization using phase-sensitive EUV imaging reflectometry.

Next-generation nano- and quantum devices have increasingly complex 3D structure. As the dimensions of these devices shrink to the nanoscale, their performance is often governed by interface quality or precise chemical or dopant composition. Here, we present the first phase-sensitive extreme ultraviolet imaging reflectometer.

A multiple scattering algorithm for three dimensional phase contrast atomic electron tomography.

Electron tomography is used in both materials science and structural biology to image features well below the optical resolution limit. Here, we present a new method for high-resolution 3D transmission electron microscopy (TEM) which approximately reconstructs the electrostatic potential of a sample at atomic resolution in all three dimensions. We use phase contrast images captured through-focus and at varying tilt angles, along with an implicit phase retrieval algorithm that accounts for dynamical and strong scattering, providing more accurate results with much lower electron doses than current atomic electron tomography methods.

High-resolution 3D refractive index microscopy of multiple-scattering samples from intensity images.

Optical diffraction tomography (ODT) reconstructs a sample's volumetric refractive index (RI) to create high-contrast, quantitative 3D visualizations of biological samples. However, standard implementations of ODT use interferometric systems, and so are sensitive to phase instabilities, complex mechanical design, and coherent noise. Furthermore, their reconstruction framework is typically limited to weakly scattering samples, and thus excludes a whole class of multiple-scattering samples.

Corneal epithelial homeostasis following daily and overnight contact lens wear.

This report reviews and integrates our recent clinical and laboratory findings of the effects of daily (DW)/overnight (EW) contact lens wear on corneal epithelial homeostasis. In a prospective, double-masked human clinical study, three lens types (high and hyper Dk/t soft; hyper Dk/t RGP) were used to assess the effects of daily and overnight lens wear on corneal epithelial thickness, cell surface size, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) binding to exfoliated epithelial cells and exfoliation rates. Concomitantly, we studied in a rabbit model, the effects of overnight lens wear on corneal epithelial surface cell viability (live/dead assay, TUNEL-labeling, Annexin-V staining, Bcl-2 expression), basal cell proliferation and migration patterns.

Uveal melanoma expression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors and susceptibility to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Purpose: The study had two purposes: to examine the expression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors on uveal melanoma cells and metastases arising from uveal melanoma and to determine the susceptibility of uveal melanoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Methods: Nine human uveal melanoma cell lines and three cell lines derived from uveal melanoma metastases were examined for TRAIL receptor expression by flow cytometry. In vitro apoptosis assays were performed to determine the relative susceptibility of uveal melanoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Effects of eyelid closure and disposable and silicone hydrogel extended contact lens wear on rabbit corneal epithelial proliferation.

Purpose: To examine the rabbit corneal epithelial cell proliferation rate after extended wear of disposable or silicone hydrogel contact lenses or prolonged eyelid closure.

Methods: One randomly chosen eye of 40 New Zealand White rabbits was assigned to silicone hydrogel contact lens wear (n = 15, SH), disposable hydrogel contact lens wear (n = 6, DH), eyelid suturing (n = 15, SUT), or no intervention (n = 4). Contralateral eyes served as the control.

Recovery time of corneal epithelial proliferation in the rabbit following rigid gas-permeable extended contact-lens wear.

Purpose: To determine recovery time needed for the corneal epithelium to return to a normal proliferation rate following 24-hour rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lens wear.

Methods: An RGP lens (Dk/t = 10) was fitted at 9:00 am on one randomly chosen eye of each rabbit (N = 16) and removed 24 hours later while the other eye served as a control. Following contact lens removal, the rabbits were injected at four different time intervals (1,2, 4, and 7 days) with 5-bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) at 9:00 am to label dividing corneal epithelial cells.

Effects of daily and overnight wear of a novel hyper oxygen-transmissible soft contact lens on bacterial binding and corneal epithelium: a 13-month clinical trial.

Objective: To test prospectively a new biologic rationale for an advanced hyper oxygen-transmissible lens (HOTL) providing prospects for safer daily (DW) or extended (EW) contact lens wear.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-masked, single-center, 13-month clinical trial.

Participants: One hundred sixty-eight patients completed the DW study (1 month): control lens (n = 70); HOTL (n = 98).

Annexin V binding to rabbit corneal epithelial cells following overnight contact lens wear or eyelid closure.

Purpose: To determine the effects of open or closed eye and overnight contact lens wear on rabbit corneal epithelial surface cell death, detected by annexin V binding to cell surface phosphatidylserine and propidium iodide (PI) double-labeling.

Method: New Zealand white rabbits (n = 42) weighing 2.5 to 3.

Effect of eyelid closure and overnight contact lens wear on viability of surface epithelial cells in rabbit cornea.

Purpose: To determine the effects of open, closed eye, and overnight contact lens wear on homeostatic epithelial surface cell death in the rabbit cornea.

Methods: One eye of each rabbit was either closed by eyelid suture or fitted with one of the following test contact lenses: (1) low Dk/t rigid gas permeable (RGP) lens, (2) hyper Dk/t RGP lens, (3) hyper Dk/t soft lens. The other eye served as a control.

Adaptive effects of 30-night wear of hyper-O(2) transmissible contact lenses on bacterial binding and corneal epithelium: a 1-year clinical trial.

Objective: To determine effects of lens type and oxygen transmissibility on human corneal epithelium during extended wear (EW).

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-masked, single-center, parallel treatment groups, 1-year clinical trial.

Participants: One hundred seventy-eight patients completed the study: (1) high-O(2) soft lens (6-night [N] EW) (n = 27); (2) hyper-O(2) soft lens (6N-EW, n = 33) or (30N-EW, n = 66); and (3) hyper-O(2) rigid gas-permeable lens (RGP) (30N-EW, n = 52).