Skull optical clearing window for imaging of the mouse cortex at synaptic resolution.

Imaging cells and microvasculature in the living brain is crucial to understanding an array of neurobiological phenomena. Here, we introduce a skull optical clearing window for imaging cortical structures at synaptic resolution. Combined with two-photon microscopy, this technique allowed us to repeatedly image neurons, microglia and microvasculature of mice.

Erratum: Author Correction: Skull optical clearing window for in vivo imaging of the mouse cortex at synaptic resolution.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/lsa.2017.

[Effect of wound to growth of larva of host to Ophiocordyceps sinensis during artificial breeding].

To clear the effect of the wound to the growth of the larva of the host to the Ophiocordyceps sinensis, the wounds of same severity at the same position were made artificially to the larva and which were artificial fed at the same environment and condition. The results indicated that, over the winter, the survival rate of the wounded of the infection larva was lower than that of the healthy larva, but the weight had no significant difference between the wounded and the healthy larva. The survival rate of the wounded of the no infection larva was lower than that of the healthy larva, but except with black skin, the wounded larva with offwhite and dusty red had no influence on the variety of the weight.

Special method to prepare quantum dot probes with reduced cytotoxicity and increased optical property.

Quantum dots (QDs) are widely used in the life sciences because of their novel physicochemical properties. However, the cytotoxity of these nonoparticles have attracted great attention recently because this has not been well resolved. Four probes were synthesized by chemical coupling and protein denaturation with CdSeZnS, CdTe QDs, and transferrin.

[Micro-CT system based on the flat panel detector for small animal imaging].

A high resolution Micro-CT system for small animal imaging is introduced in this paper. Micro-focus X-ray tube with focal diameter of 100 microm and flat panel detector with imaging area of 13cm x 13cm are adopted in this system. The data acquired in rotation scanning is reconstructed with cone beam algorithm.

High-sensitivity quantum dot-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer bioanalysis by capillary electrophoresis.

Here a new method for high-sensitivity quantum dot (QD)-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) bioanalysis was developed. In this method, capillary electrophoresis (CE) with fluorescence detection was applied. The FRET system consisted of water-soluble 532-nm emitting CdTe QDs donor and 632-nm emitting CdSe/ZnS QDs acceptor which were covalently conjugated with mouse IgG and goat anti-mouse IgG, respectively.

The interface behavior of hemoglobin at carbon nanotube and the detection for H(2)O(2).

Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin (Hb) is observed at carbon nanotube (CNT) interface. The adsorbing Hb can transfer electron directly at CNT interface compared with common carbon material. The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant k of Hb can be calculated as 0.

Anodic oxidation of hydrazine at carbon nanotube powder microelectrode and its detection.

Carbon nanotube powder microelectrodes (CNTPMEs) were used to study the anodic oxidation of hydrazine at Carbon nanotube (CNT)-the novel carbon material. It was found that the electrochemical behaviours were greatly improved at CNTs, indicating that the anodic oxidation could be catalyzed at CNTs. The kinetics parameters of this process were calculated, the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant k was 0.

Study on molecular interactions between proteins on live cell membranes using quantum dot-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Mouse anti-human CD71 monoclonal antibody (anti-CD71) was conjugated with red quantum dots (QDs; 5.3 nm, emission wavelength lambda(em) = 614 nm) and used to label HeLa cells successfully. Then green QD-labeled goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG; the size of the green QDs was 2.

Bioconjugate recognition molecules to quantum dots as tumor probes.

Transferrin and mouse anti-human CD71 monoclonal antibody were respectively conjugated covalently to the core/shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydrocylsulfo-succinimide (Sulfo-NHS). The conjugation worked well and the bioactivities of these macromolecules still remained, which was verified by column filtration, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and circular dichroism spectrometry. Thus, these two kinds of quantum dot conjugates were used to recognize the tumor cells involved.

Acetylene-substituted two-photon absorbing molecules with rigid elongated pi-conjugation: synthesis, spectroscopic properties and two-photon fluorescence cell imaging applications.

Two asymmetrical molecules with substituted acetylene as central rigid elongated conjugation are reported as potential chromophores for two-photon microscopic imaging. These molecules consist of a typical D-pi-A structure, have different donors (D), the same pi-conjugated center (pi) and the same acceptor (A). Structural characterization and spectroscopic properties, including single-photon (linear) absorption, quantum yields, single-photon fluorescence, and two-photon absorption spectra, were studied in solvents with different polarity.

Optimization of the methods for introduction of amine groups onto the silica nanoparticle surface.

The luminescent silica nanoparticle has attracted the researchers' concentration in bioanalysis recently. Its extensive application is based on the immobilization of various biomolecules such as deoxyribonucleic acid, antibody, and so forth onto the surface. By comparing different introduction methods of amine groups, it was confirmed that the "two-step" route is more preferable by adding tetraethyl orthosilicate and 3-aminopropyl-(triethoxyl)silane in sequence, to attain ideal amine-modified silica nanoparticles.

Quantum dot optical encoded polystyrene beads for DNA detection.

A novel multiplex analysis technology based on quantum dot (QD) optical encoded beads was studied. Carboxyl functionalized polystyrene beads, about 100 microm in size, were precisely encoded by the various ratios of two types of QDs whose emission wavelengths are 576 and 628 nm, respectively. Then the different encoded beads were covalently immobilized with different probes in the existing of sulfo-NHS and 1-[3-(Dimethylamino) propyl]-3-ethylcarbodiimide methiodide, and the probe density could reach to 3.

[Progress in tissue optical imaging].

In this review, we introduce the basic principle and technology progress of tissue optical imaging from both diffuse optical imaging and coherence domain imaging, which include the continuous-wave imaging, time-resolved optical tomography, diffuse photon density waves tomography, ultrasound-modulated optical tomography, optical coherence tomography and laser speckle imaging. Applications of optical imaging in brain activity and tissue function are also discussed.

Comparisons of graph-structure clustering methods for gene expression data.

Although many numerical clustering algorithms have been applied to gene expression data analysis, the essential step is still biological interpretation by manual inspection. The correlation between genetic co-regulation and affiliation to a common biological process is what biologists expect. Here, we introduce some clustering algorithms that are based on graph structure constituted by biological knowledge.

Operon prediction based on SVM.

The operon is a specific functional organization of genes found in bacterial genomes. Most genes within operons share common features. The support vector machine (SVM) approach is here used to predict operons at the genomic level.

Preparation of silica encapsulated quantum dot encoded beads for multiplex assay and its properties.

Novel -COOH modified polystyrene beads were prepared by sulfonation grafting, and the surface area and pore volume are greatly improved in comparison with the swelling-treated beads. The optimization coating time is 4 h, and the corresponding -COOH content is approximately 2.1 mmol/g.

KDE Bioscience: platform for bioinformatics analysis workflows.

Bioinformatics is a dynamic research area in which a large number of algorithms and programs have been developed rapidly and independently without much consideration so far of the need for standardization. The lack of such common standards combined with unfriendly interfaces make it difficult for biologists to learn how to use these tools and to translate the data formats from one to another. Consequently, the construction of an integrative bioinformatics platform to facilitate biologists' research is an urgent and challenging task.

[Relationship between respiration exchange ratio and muscle oxygen content measured by near-infrared spectroscopy].

Objective: To study the relationship between respiration exchange ratio (RER) and tissue oxygen content in human skeletal muscle.

Method: Using a portable tissue oximeter based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), the relative changes of skeletal muscle oxygen content were measured non-invasively and in vivo when healthy volunteers were performing an incremental intensity running protocol. The results were compared with heart rate (HR), VO2, VCO2, and RER.

[Blood oxygen and lactate concentrations in skeletal muscles during exercise].

Objective: To study the relationship between blood lactate and blood oxygenation in human skeletal muscle.

Method: Using a portable tissue oximeter based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), concentration of HbO2, blood lactate and blood volume were measured non-invasively and continuously when the subjects were doing incremental exercise on a bicycle ergometer.

Result: As the intensity of exercise was increased, blood lactate concentration, blood volume in tissue increased, while concentration of HbO2 decreased.

High-order photobleaching of green fluorescent protein inside live cells in two-photon excitation microscopy.

Combination of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy (TPE) has been used increasingly to study dynamic biochemical events within living cells, sometimes even in vivo. However, the high photon flux required in TPE may lead to higher-order photobleaching within the focal volume, which would introduce misinterpretation about the fine biochemical events. Here we first studied the high-order photobleaching rate of GFP inside live cells by measuring the dependence of the photobleaching rate on the excitation power.