Portable single-shot lens-free tomographic microscope for imaging dynamic specimens.

We present a portable single-shot lens-free tomographic microscope, based on spatial multiplexing in-line digital holography, for three-dimensional (3D) imaging of dynamic specimens. The simplified system is realized by only a laser diodes array, a rectangular aperture, and a CMOS image sensor with a global shutter, which enables the recording of all the complex fields of a dynamic specimen from different illumination angles without any scanning mechanism by a multiplexing hologram, in a single camera exposure. Using our proposed data processing method, high-quality 3D tomograms, with a lateral resolution of 3.

Single-exposure multi-wavelength optical diffraction tomography based on space-angle dual multiplexing holography.

We present a space-angle dual multiplexing holographic recording system for realizing single-exposure multi-wavelength optical diffraction tomographic (ODT) imaging. This system is achieved by combining the principle of single-exposure multi-wavelength holographic imaging technique based on angle-division multiplexing with the principle of single-exposure ODT imaging technique based on microlens array multi-angle illuminations and space-division multiplexing. Compared with the existing multi-wavelength ODT imaging methods, it enables the holographic recording of all the diffraction tomography information of a measured specimen at multiple illumination wavelengths in a single camera exposure without any scan mechanism.

The dysfunction of CD8 T cells triggered by endometriotic stromal cells promotes the immune survival of endometriosis.

Endometriosis is defined as an oestrogen-dependent and inflammatory gynaecological disease of which the pathogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the cellular heterogeneity and reveal the effect of CD8 T cells on the progress of endometriosis. Three ovarian endometriosis patients were collected, and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) progressed and delineated the cellular landscape of endometriosis containing five cell clusters.

Lipoxin A4 depresses inflammation and promotes autophagy via AhR/mTOR/AKT pathway to suppress endometriosis.

Background: Endometriosis is a benign gynecological disease with the feature of estrogen dependence and inflammation. The function of autophagy and the correlation with inflammation were not yet revealed.

Methods: Autophagosomes were detected by transmission electron microscopy.

Simple system for realizing single-shot ultrafast sequential imaging based on spatial multiplexing in-line holography.

We present a simple system for realizing single-shot ultrafast sequential imaging based on spatial multiplexing in-line holography. In this system, we propose to combine a specially designed mini-reflector delay-line array with digital in-line holography. The former including a group of adjustable mini-reflectors can easily generate an array of probe sub-pulses that can be controlled independently in the propagation direction and time delays.

Cylindrical wave-based off-axis digital holography with long field of view.

We present a new, to the best of our knowledge, type of off-axis digital holographic imaging method with a long field of view (FOV). In the method, the pre-magnification recording geometry is realized by a cylindrical lens (CL) or cylindrical beam instead of a conventional objective or spherical beam in traditional off-axis digital holography (DH). At the same time, the reference beam is replaced by a divergent cylindrical beam.

Polarization holographic microscope slide for birefringence imaging of anisotropic samples in microfluidics.

Birefringence is an important optical property of anisotropic materials arising from anisotropies of tissue microstructures. Birefringence parameters have been found to be important to understand optical anisotropic architecture of many materials and polarization imaging has been applied in many researches in the field of biology and medicine. Here, we propose a scheme to miniaturize a double-channel polarization holographic interferometer optics to create a polarization holographic microscope slide (P-HMS) suitable for integrating with microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LoC) systems.

Establishment and characterization of immortalized human eutopic endometrial stromal cells.

Problem: The application of primary eutopic endometrial cells from endometriosis patients in research is restricted for short life span, dedifferentiation of hormone responsiveness.

Method Of Study: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)-induced immortalized cells (iheESCs) were infected by lentivirus. mRNA level was examined by qRT-PCR, and protein expression was quantified by Western blot.

Single-shot ultrafast sequential holographic imaging with high temporal resolution and a large field of view.

A compact system for single-shot sequential holographic imaging (SSSHI) with high temporal resolution and a large field of view is proposed. In this system, a specially designed sequence pulse train generator with a group of diffractive gratings inserted is adopted to simultaneously generate the probe pulse train and the reference pulse train required for recording a single-shot spatial frequency division multiplexing hologram. The system successfully overcomes the walk-off effect of the ultrashort pulse laser in SSSHI and, hence, effectively avoids the influence of the short coherence of ultrashort pulses on the spatial resolution (or field of view) of SSSHI; the complexity of the system and the difficulty in the precise synchronous alignment of the probe and the reference pulses also can be greatly reduced.

Single-shot quantitative birefringence microscopy for imaging birefringence parameters.

A method for realizing 2D single-shot measurements of birefringence parameters (including both retardation and optic axis orientation) of anisotropic materials using a simple recording setup and an efficient processing algorithm is proposed. The recording setup can be built simply by inserting a circular polarizer and a polarization beam splitter, respectively, in the object path and reference path of a conventional off-axis holographic imaging system, with no need for other adjustments. An algorithm for quantitatively retrieving the birefringence parameters from one single-shot hologram is proposed and demonstrated, in which a new quantity describing the birefringence, called complex birefringence parameter, is introduced, and a set of formulas used to extract the birefringence parameters is derived.

A 2.5 mW/ch, 50 Mcps, 10-Analog Channel, Adaptively Biased Read-Out Front-End IC With Low Intrinsic Timing Resolution for Single-Photon Time-of-Flight PET Applications With Time-Dependent Noise Analysis in 90 nm CMOS.

This paper presents a 10-channel time-of-flight application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for positron emission tomography in a 90 nm standard CMOS process. To overcome variations in channel-to-channel timing resolution caused by mismatch and process variations, adaptive biases and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) are utilized. The main contributions of this work are as follows.

A low-power bio-potential acquisition system with flexible PDMS dry electrodes for portable ubiquitous healthcare applications.

This work describes a bio-potential acquisition system for portable ubiquitous healthcare applications using flexible polydimethylsiloxane dry electrodes (FPDEs) and a low-power recording circuit. This novel FPDE used Au as the skin contact layer, which was made using a CO2 laser and replica method technology. The FPDE was revised from a commercial bio-potential electrode with a conductive snap using dry electrodes rather than wet electrodes that proposed reliable and robust attachment for the purpose of measurement, and attaching velcro made it wearable on the forearm for bio-potential applications.

An efficient micro control unit with a reconfigurable filter design for wireless body sensor networks (WBSNs).

In this paper, a low-cost, low-power and high performance micro control unit (MCU) core is proposed for wireless body sensor networks (WBSNs). It consists of an asynchronous interface, a register bank, a reconfigurable filter, a slop-feature forecast, a lossless data encoder, an error correct coding (ECC) encoder, a UART interface, a power management (PWM), and a multi-sensor controller. To improve the system performance and expansion abilities, the asynchronous interface is added for handling signal exchanges between different clock domains.

An asynchronous multi-sensor micro control unit for wireless body sensor networks (WBSNs).

In this work, an asynchronous multi-sensor micro control unit (MCU) core is proposed for wireless body sensor networks (WBSNs). It consists of asynchronous interfaces, a power management unit, a multi-sensor controller, a data encoder (DE), and an error correct coder (ECC). To improve the system performance and expansion abilities, the asynchronous interface is created for handshaking different clock domains between ADC and RF with MCU.

Co-delivery of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor siRNA and doxorubicin by multifunctional polymeric micelle for tumor growth suppression.

Nonviral gene carriers composed of biodegradable polymers or lipids have been considered as a safer alternative for gene carriers over viral vectors. We have developed multifunctional nanomicelles for both drug and gene delivery application. Polyethylenimine (PEI) was modified by grafting stearic acid (SA) and further formulated to polymeric micelles (PEI-SA) with positive surface charge for gene delivery evaluation.

Polymeric micelles comprising stearic acid-grafted polyethyleneimine as nonviral gene carriers.

Non-viral vectors composed of biodegradable polymers or lipids have been considered as a safer alternative for gene carriers over viral vectors. Among some of the cationic polymers, polyethyleneimine (PEI) possess high pH-buffering capacity that can provide protection to nucleotides from acidic degradation and promotes endosomal and lysosomal release. However, it has been reported that cytotoxicity of PEI depends on the molecular weight of the polymer.

Cell uptake and intracellular visualization using quantum dots or nuclear localization signal-modified quantum dots with gold nanoparticles as quenchers.

Understanding and controlling the interactions between nanoscale objects and living cells is of great importance for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications. Quantum dots (QDs) have remarkable optical characteristics, such as uniquely feature bright, photostable, tunable and narrow fluorescence emissions, as well as broad absorption spectra. Here we report a platform of using quantum dots to investigate the cell uptake and the interactions between nanoscale objects and cells.

Intracellular trafficking, metabolism and toxicity of current gene carriers.

Gene delivery remains to be a very challenging field to efficiently transport the therapeutic gene and to modulate proteins with the desired function at the target site. The physiochemical and biological barriers are the major hurdles that need to be considered, particularly when administered systematically, in order to optimize the therapeutic efficacy. Numerous modifications have been extensively investigated aiming to provide protection from the plasma degradation, enhancement of transfection, target specificity, and most importantly, minimizing the side effects such as cellular toxicity and immune response.

A power-efficient bio-potential acquisition device with DS-MDE sensors for long-term healthcare monitoring applications.

This work describes a power-efficient bio-potential acquisition device for long-term healthcare applications that is implemented using novel microelectromechanical dry electrodes (MDE) and a low power bio-potential processing chip. Using micromachining technology, an attempt is also made to enhance the sensing reliability and stability by fabricating a diamond-shaped MDE (DS-MDE) that has a satisfactory self-stability capability and superior electric conductivity when attached onto skin without any extra skin tissue injury technology. To acquire differential bio-potentials such as ECG signals, the proposed processing chip fabricated in a standard CMOS process has a high common mode rejection ratio (C.

Wide dynamic range CMOS potentiostat for amperometric chemical sensor.

Presented is a single-ended potentiostat topology with a new interface connection between sensor electrodes and potentiostat circuit to avoid deviation of cell voltage and linearly convert the cell current into voltage signal. Additionally, due to the increased harmonic distortion quantity when detecting low-level sensor current, the performance of potentiostat linearity which causes the detectable current and dynamic range to be limited is relatively decreased. Thus, to alleviate these irregularities, a fully-differential potentiostat is designed with a wide output voltage swing compared to single-ended potentiostat.

Involvement of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in the pathogenesis of hydrosalpinx induced by Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Background: Genital Chlamydia (C) trachomatis infection has been recognized as the single most common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease leading to severe tubal damage, ectopic pregnancy, infertility and hydrosalpinx. However, the mechanism underlying the formation of hydrosalpinx induced by C. trachomatis infection remains largely unknown.

Involvement of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in infection-induced edema.

Abnormal fluid accumulation in tissues, including the life-threatening cerebral and pulmonary edema, is a severe consequence of bacteria infection. Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis is an obligate intracellular gram-negative human pathogen responsible for a spectrum of diseases, causing tissue fluid accumulation and edema in various organs.

Wireless thermal sensor network with adaptive low power design.

There is an increasing need to develop flexible, reconfigurable, and intelligent low power wireless sensor network (WSN) system for healthcare applications. Technical advancements in micro-sensors, MEMS devices, low power electronics, and radio frequency circuits have enabled the design and development of such highly integrated system. In this paper, we present our proposed wireless thermal sensor network system, which is separated into control and data paths.

248 nm photolysis of CH2Br2 by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy: Br2 molecular elimination at room temperature.

Following photodissociation of CH2Br2 at 248 nm, Br2 molecular elimination is detected by using a tunable laser beam, as crossed perpendicular to the photolyzing laser beam in a ring-down cell, probing the Br2 fragment in the B 3Piou+ -X 1Sigmag+ transition. The nascent vibrational population is obtained, yielding a population ratio of Br2(v = 1)Br2(v = 0) to be 0.7 +/- 0.