Biologically inspired microlens array camera for high-speed and high-sensitivity imaging.

Nocturnal and crepuscular fast-eyed insects often exploit multiple optical channels and temporal summation for fast and low-light imaging. Here, we report high-speed and high-sensitive microlens array camera (HS-MAC), inspired by multiple optical channels and temporal summation for insect vision. HS-MAC features cross-talk-free offset microlens arrays on a single rolling shutter CMOS image sensor and performs high-speed and high-sensitivity imaging by using channel fragmentation, temporal summation, and compressive frame reconstruction.

Improved surrogate eggshell incubation system for assisted reproductive technologies such as cloning, genome modification, and de-extinction efforts.

A germinal disc located on the egg yolk surface drives genetic modification. Windowed and surrogate eggshell incubation methods have been developed, but these exhibit limited abilities to generate transgenic chickens. In the present study, we investigated the frequency of observing the germinal disc according to the preincubation positioning direction and time and found that it depended on those conditions, but only a few chicks (2.

Freestanding Oxide Membranes for Epitaxial Ferroelectric Heterojunctions.

Since facile routes to fabricate freestanding oxide membranes were previously established, tremendous efforts have been made to further improve their crystallinity, and fascinating physical properties have been also reported in heterointegrated freestanding membranes. Here, we demonstrate our synthetic recipe to manufacture highly crystalline perovskite SrRuO freestanding membranes using new infinite-layer perovskite SrCuO sacrificial layers. To accomplish this, SrRuO/SrCuO bilayer thin films are epitaxially grown on SrTiO (001) substrates, and the topmost SrRuO layer is chemically exfoliated by etching the SrCuO template layer.

Controlling Spin-Orbit Coupling to Tailor Type-II Dirac Bands.

NiTe, a type-II Dirac semimetal with a strongly tilted Dirac band, has been explored extensively to understand its intriguing topological properties. Here, using density functional theory calculations, we report that the strength of the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in NiTe can be tuned by Se substitution. This results in negative shifts of the bulk Dirac point (BDP) while preserving the type-II Dirac band.

Research Note: Embryonic viability by weight difference between donor and surrogate eggs in a surrogate eggshell incubation system.

A surrogate eggshell incubation system is a well-defined method to apply to avian genetic modification. In this study, we tried to investigate whether the egg weight differences between donor and surrogate eggs have an effect on donor viability. The groups were divided by egg weight differences between the donor and surrogate eggs into 4 in each system.

Development and in vitro evaluation of recombinant chicken promoters to efficiently drive transgene expression in chicken oviduct cells.

Virus injection into EGK-X embryos is a well-defined approach in avian transgenesis. This system uses a chicken ovalbumin gene promoter to induce transgene expression in the chicken oviduct. Although a reconstructed chicken ovalbumin promoter that links an ovalbumin promoter and estrogen-responsive enhancer element (ERE) is useful, a large viral vector containing the ovalbumin promoter and a target gene restricts viral packaging capacity and produces low-titer virus particles.

Ultrathin arrayed camera for high-contrast near-infrared imaging.

We report an ultrathin arrayed camera (UAC) for high-contrast near infrared (NIR) imaging by using microlens arrays with a multilayered light absorber. The UAC consists of a multilayered composite light absorber, inverted microlenses, gap-alumina spacers and a planar CMOS image sensor. The multilayered light absorber was fabricated through lift-off and repeated photolithography processes.

Isolation and characterization of cultured chicken oviduct epithelial cells and in vitro validation of constructed ovalbumin promoter in these cells.

Objective: Transgenic hens hold a great promise to produce various valuable proteins. Through virus transduction into stage X embryo, the transgene expression under the control of constructed chicken ovalbumin promoters has been successfully achieved. However, a validation system that can evaluate differently developed ovalbumin promoters in in vitro, remains to be developed.

Inclusion of Lactobacillus salivarius strain revealed a positive effect on improving growth performance, fecal microbiota and immunological responses in chicken.

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that when administered in an appropriate amount, provide health benefits to the host. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the oral administration of Lactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius) on growth performance, immunological responses, fecal microbial flora and intestinal mucosal morphology in chickens.

Administration of L. salivarius expressing 3D8 scFv as a feed additive improved the growth performance, immune homeostasis, and gut microbiota of chickens.

Probiotics have been defined as live microorganisms that are administered in an appropriate amount to provide health benefits to the host animal. In this study, we investigated the effect of L. salivarius DJ-sa-01 secreting the 3D8 single-chain variable fragment (3D8 scFv) on the growth performance, cytokine secretion, and intestinal microbial flora of chickens.

Foot Plantar Pressure Measurement System Using Highly Sensitive Crack-Based Sensor.

Measuring the foot plantar pressure has the potential to be an important tool in many areas such as enhancing sports performance, diagnosing diseases, and rehabilitation. In general, the plantar pressure sensor should have robustness, durability, and high repeatability, as it should measure the pressure due to body weight. Here, we present a novel insole foot plantar pressure sensor using a highly sensitive crack-based strain sensor.