Energy compensated synthetic aperture focusing technique for photoacoustic microscopy

We report an adaptive energy-compensated synthetic aperture focusing technique (eC-SAFT) for improving the imaging performance of photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) in terms of depth of field (DOF), spatial resolution (both axial and lateral), and SNR. In addition to coherency and time-delay (in conventional SAFT), our beamforming-based reconstruction algorithm takes into account acoustic energy loss—a primary physical parameter in acoustic wave propagation—following Beer-Lambert's law. Experimental validation studies were performed in tissue-mimicking (Agar) phantoms, complex leaf veins, and chicken breast tissues. Results demonstrate that our proposed eC-SAFT+CF outperforms conventional SAFT+CF to improve axial resolution (up to $\sim 5\%$), lateral resolution (up to $\sim 5\%$), SNR (up to $\sim 6\%$) and CR (up to $\sim 8\%$).     

Improvements in the determination of radionuclide distribution in the analysis of irradiated samples using double-differentiation method

The spatial response of an 8x4 block detector made up of 5.6-mm-wide, 12.9-mm-high, 30-mm-thick individual detector crystals to a collimated line source of 511 keV annihilation photons was examined. The response of each crystal showed a spread around the average positioning values and distributions from adjacent crystals overlapped as the collimated source scanned the individual detectors. This leads to possible errors in the event assignment. The implementation of double differentiation or the second derivative method was proposed for the removal of scattered photons so as to reduce the overlap and, hence, avoid mispositioning. This method is a mathematical solution implemented when analysing the results. A curve in a spatial spectrum could be considered to be a function f(x), wherex is the position. When double differentiation of f(x) is carried out, then the normalized curve d²f(x) appears with some reduction in the wings. It was shown that a reduction of the scattering contribution in the tails without overestimating the contribution of scattered events could be achieved by implementing a double-differentiation process.     

Development of a rapid and reliable analytical method for screening poloxamer 188 for use in cell culture process

Poloxamer P188 is a common nonionic surfactant additive used in cell culture media as a cellular protectant from the hydrodynamic forces and shear stress during bioprocessing. Presence of a hydrophobic high molecular weight impurity contaminant has been shown to compromise its protective properties and lead to batch failure. In this work we present, a reliable, sensitive, and rapid analytical method to detect and quantify the contaminant impurity in poloxamer 188. This method replaces a laborious and time-consuming functional test in the form of a shake flask assay. The method is based upon reversed-phase liquid chromatography with charged aerosol detection, simple mobile phase compositions, and a three-step gradient. The method was optimized to resolve the impurity from the main P188 fraction in less than 10 min. Analytical method qualification and functional test comparison demonstrate equivalent or better high throughput impurity screening performance. Attempts to identify the impurity and establish suitable method positive control standards are also discussed.     

Osmoregulated trehalose-derived oligosaccharides in Sinorhizobium meliloti

Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil bacterium accumulating glutamate, N-acetylglutaminyl glutamine amide and trehalose in hyperosmolarity. Besides these compatible solutes, we highlighted several compounds in S. meliloti Rm1021 wild-type strain. The purification and the structural characterization based on liquid chromatography evaporative light scattering detector, electrospray ionization high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques showed they were four linear oligosaccharides composed of 3, 4, 5 and 6 glucose units all linked by α-(1 → 2) linkages except a terminal α-(1 ↔ 1) linkage. These oligosaccharides were cytoplasmic and were observed in several wild-type strains suggesting they were common features in S. meliloti strains grown in hyperosmolarity.     

1975—2018年南四湖流域景观生态风险时空变化及其驱动因素研究

研究区域的景观生态风险变化趋势及其驱动因素,可以更加科学地保护和开发流域生态系统。以南四湖流域1975—2018年9期土地利用数据为基础,借助ArcGIS 10.2和Fragstats 4.2等软件计算景观生态指数,并构建景观生态风险评估模型,通过空间自相关性分析,探究南四湖流域自改革开放40年来生态风险的时空变化,并用地理探测器定量研究驱动因子的贡献量。研究结果表明:流域最大斑块指数不断减小,景观破碎化加剧,且与景观生态风险指数呈正相关;而平均分维数、香浓多样性和香浓均匀度与生态风险指数呈负相关。在空间上,生态风险指数具有较强集聚性,东部草地和林地区域主要是高值区,湖区北部以及西部耕地和建设用地则主要是低值区;总体上,研究区大部分为低风险和较低风险区,且生态风险平均值不断降低;地理探测器分析表明,海拔和人为干扰度因子贡献量在35%以上,对生态风险有显著的解释力。据此,以后应减少人类行为对南四湖流域生态系统的干预,降低流域的景观生态风险,实现经济、社会和生态的可持续发展。     

A Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopic imaging investigation into an animal model exhibiting glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant human brain tumour for which no cure is available at present. Numerous clinical studies as well as animal experiments are under way with the goal being to understand tumour biology and develop potential therapeutic approaches. C6 cell glioma in the adult rat is a frequently used and well accepted animal model for the malignant human glial tumour. By combining standard analytical methods such as histology and immunohistochemistry with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopic imaging and multivariate statistical approaches, we are developing a novel approach to tumour diagnosis which allows us to obtain information about the structure and composition of tumour tissues that could not be obtained easily with either method alone. We have used a “Stingray” FTIR imaging spectrometer to analyse and compare the compositions of coronal brain tissue sections of a tumour-bearing animal and those from a healthy animal. We have found that the tumour tissue has a characteristic chemical signature, which distinguishes it from tumour-free brain tissue. The physical-chemical differences, determined by image and spectral comparison are consistent with changes in total protein absorbance, phosphodiester absorbance and physical dispersive artefacts. The results indicate that FTIR imaging analysis could become a valuable analytic method in brain tumour research and possibly in the diagnosis of human brain tumours.     

Identification of disulfide-containing peptides in endocrine tissue extracts by HPLC-electrochemical detection and mass spectrometry

A new procedure to selectively identify disulfide-containing peptides in extracts of biological tissues is described. Disulfide-containing peptides are detected by their UV absorbance and electrochemical (EC) activity after chromatographic separation, and subsequently identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS). This combination of fractionation by HPLC and selective detection is attractive because it is rapid, highly specific for disulfide-containing peptides, and applicable to all disulfide-containing peptides that may be present in complex biological mixtures. Useful procedures for applying the method are demonstrated with tissue extracts from bovine pituitary and catfish pancreas. In addition to finding the expected disulfide-containing peptides, evidence for two forms of catfish insulin are presented. The merits of this and other methods used to detect peptides in similar tissue extracts are discussed.