Correlative multiscale 3D imaging of mouse primary and metastatic tumors by sequential light sheet and confocal fluorescence microscopy.

Three-dimensional (3D) optical microscopy, combined with advanced tissue clearing, permits interrogation of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in large volumetric tumors for preclinical cancer research. Light sheet (also known as ultramicroscopy) and confocal fluorescence microscopy are often used to achieve macroscopic and microscopic 3D images of optically cleared tumor tissues, respectively. Although each technique offers distinct fields of view (FOVs) and spatial resolution, the combination of these two optical microscopy techniques to obtain correlative multiscale 3D images from the same tumor tissues has not yet been explored.

Increased Multiplexity in Optical Tissue Clearing-Based Three-Dimensional Immunofluorescence Microscopy of the Tumor Microenvironment by Light-Emitting Diode Photobleaching.

Optical tissue clearing and three-dimensional (3D) immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy is transforming imaging of the complex tumor microenvironment (TME). However, current 3D IF microscopy has restricted multiplexity; only 3 or 4 cellular and noncellular TME components can be localized in cleared tumor tissue. Here we report a light-emitting diode (LED) photobleaching method and its application for 3D multiplexed optical mapping of the TME.

Increased multiplexity in optical tissue clearing-based 3D immunofluorescence microscopy of the tumor microenvironment by LED photobleaching.

Optical tissue clearing and three-dimensional (3D) immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy have been transforming imaging of the complex tumor microenvironment (TME). However, current 3D IF microscopy has restricted multiplexity; only three or four cellular and non-cellular TME components can be localized in a cleared tumor tissue. Here we report a LED photobleaching method and its application for 3D multiplexed optical mapping of the TME.

Temporal variation of the relationships between rice yield and climate variables since 1925.

Background: Long-term time-series datasets of crop yield and climate variables are necessary to study the temporal variation of climate effects on crops. The aim of this study was to broadly assess assessment of the effects of climate on rice, and the associated temporal variations of the effects during the long-term period.

Methods: We conducted field experiments in Taiwan from 1925 to 2019 to collect and analyze rice yield data and evaluate the impacts of changes in average temperature, diurnal temperature range (DTR), rainfall, and sunshine duration on rice yield during cool and warm cropping seasons.

Effect of climate change-induced water-deficit stress on long-term rice yield.

The water requirements of crops should be investigated to improve the efficiency of water use in irrigated agriculture. The main objective of the study was to assess the effects of water deficit stress on rice yields throughout the major cropping seasons. We analyzed rice yield data from field experiments in Taiwan over the period 1925-2019 to evaluate the effects of water-deficit stress on the yield of 12 rice cultivars.

Multiresolution 3D Optical Mapping of Immune Cell Infiltrates in Mouse Asthmatic Lung.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease driven by various infiltrating immune cell types into the lung. Optical microscopy has been used to study immune infiltrates in asthmatic lungs. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) identifies the phenotypes and locations of individual immune cells in lung tissue sections by employing high-magnification objectives and multiplex immunofluorescence staining.

CXCR Macrophage Facilitates the Resolution of Allergic Lung Inflammation via Interacting CCL26.

The resolution of inflammation is an active process coordinated by mediators and immune cells to restore tissue homeostasis. However, the mechanisms for resolving eosinophilic allergic lung inflammation triggered by inhaled allergens have not been fully elucidated. Our objectives were to investigate the cellular mechanism of tissue-resident macrophages involved in the resolution process of eosinophilic lung inflammation.

Controlling the lodging risk of rice based on a plant height dynamic model.

Background: Rice is a key global food crop. Rice lodging causes a reduction in plant height and crop yield, and rice is prone to lodging in the late growth stage because of panicle initiation. We used two water irrigation modes and four fertilizer application intervals to investigate the relationship between lodging and various cultivation conditions over 2 years.

Intracellular Delivery by Shape Anisotropic Magnetic Particle-Induced Cell Membrane Cuts.

Introducing functional macromolecules into a variety of living cells is challenging but important for biology research and cell-based therapies. We report a novel cell delivery platform based on rotating shape anisotropic magnetic particles (SAMPs), which make very small cuts on cell membranes for macromolecule delivery with high efficiency and high survivability. SAMP delivery is performed by placing commercially available nickel powder onto cells grown in standard cell culture dishes.

Direct Nuclear Delivery of DNA by Photothermal Nanoblade.

We demonstrate direct nuclear delivery of DNA into live mammalian cells using the photothermal nanoblade. Pulsed laser-triggered cavitation bubbles on a titanium-coated micropipette tip punctured both cellular plasma and nuclear membranes, which was followed by pressure-controlled delivery of DNA into the nucleus. High-level and efficient plasmid expression in different cell types with maintained cell viability was achieved.

Massively parallel delivery of large cargo into mammalian cells with light pulses.

We report a high-throughput platform for delivering large cargo elements into 100,000 cells in 1 min. Our biophotonic laser-assisted surgery tool (BLAST) generates an array of microcavitation bubbles that explode in response to laser pulsing, forming pores in adjacent cell membranes through which cargo is gently driven by pressurized flow. The platform delivers large items including bacteria, enzymes, antibodies and nanoparticles into diverse cell types with high efficiency and cell viability.

Microfluidic integrated optoelectronic tweezers for single-cell preparation and analysis.

We report a novel microfluidic integrated optoelectronic tweezers (OET) platform for single-cell sample preparation and analysis. Integration of OET and microfluidics is achieved by embedding single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) electrodes into multilayer PDMS structures. This integrated platform allows users to selectively pick up individual cells from a population with light beams based on their optical signatures such as size, shape, and fluorescence, and transport them into isolated chambers using light induced dielectrophoretic forces.

Electrical impedance monitoring of photothermal porated mammalian cells.

To transfer large cargo into mammalian cells, we recently provided a new approach called a photothermal nanoblade. Micron-sized membrane pores generated by the nanoblade are surprisingly well repaired with little cell death, suggesting rapid membrane-resealing dynamics. Here, we report the resealing time of photothermal porated mammalian cell plasma membranes using an electrical impedance sensor.

Canna indica L. attenuates high-glucose- and lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory mediators in monocyte/macrophage.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Canna indica L. (CI) has been widely used as a folklore medicine in tropical and subtropical areas with beneficial effects in numerous diseases, including infection, rheumatism, hepatitis, and it has also been identified as an antioxidant.

Materials And Methods: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Canna indica CI ethanolic extract (CIE) on productions of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.

Shear stress modulates macrophage-induced urokinase plasminogen activator expression in human chondrocytes.

Introduction: Synovial macrophages, which can release proinflammatory factors, are responsible for the upregulation of cartilage-breakdown proteases and play critical roles in cartilage degradation during the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). In addition, shear stress exerts multifunctional effects on chondrocytes by inducing the synthesis of catabolic or anabolic genes. However, the interplay of macrophages, chondrocytes, and shear stress during the regulation of cartilage function remains poorly understood.

Antibacterial nanostructured composite films for biomedical applications: microstructural characteristics, biocompatibility, and antibacterial mechanisms.

Hydrogenated Cu-incorporated diamond-like carbon (a-C:H/Cu) films were prepared in the present study using a radio-frequency plasma magnetron sputtering system at various CH4/Ar gas ratios. The a-C:H/Cu films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nano-indentation and a contact angle goniometer. The antibacterial properties and cell cytotoxicity of a-C:H/Cu films were evaluated as per JIS Z2801:2010 and ISO 10993-5 specifications, respectively.

Difference in the regulation of IL-8 expression induced by uropathogenic E. coli between two kinds of urinary tract epithelial cells.

Bacterial adherence to epithelial cells is a key virulence trait of pathogenic bacteria. The type 1 fimbriae and the P-fimbriae of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) have both been described to be important for the establishment of urinary tract infections (UTI). To explore the interactions between the host and bacterium responsible for the different environments of UPEC invasion, we examined the effect of pH and osmolarity on UPEC strain J96 fimbrial expression, and subsequent J96-induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression in different uroepithelial cells.

A gold-nanoparticle-enhanced immune sensor based on fiber optic interferometry.

A method using gold nanoparticles (GNPs) to enhance fiber optic interferometry (GNPFOI) for immune-sensing is reported in this paper. It is suggested that an enlarged index mismatch and an elongated optical path by GNPs conjugated on recognition proteins will contribute most to signal enhancement in the interference fringe shift. Theoretical and experimental results show that the interference fringe shift is linearly related to both the amount and size of the GNPs binding on the sensor surface.