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BackgroundThe coordination and the directional order of ciliary metachronal waves are the major factors that determine the effectiveness of mucociliary clearance (MCC). Even though metachronal waves play an essential part in immune response, clinical diagnostic tools and imaging techniques that can reliably and efficiently capture their spatial distribution and function are currently limited.MethodsWe present label-free high-speed visualization of ciliary metachronal wave propagations in freshly-excised tracheal explants using a spectrally-encoded interferometric microscope over a two-dimensional (2D) plane of 0.5 mm × 0.5 mm at an acquisition rate of 50 frame-per-second. Furthermore, phase-resolved enhanced dynamic (PHRED) analysis of time-series doppler images was performed, where spatial-temporal characteristics of cilia metachronal wave motions are revealed through frequency component analysis and spatial filtering.ResultsThe PHRED analysis of phase-resolved Doppler (PRD) images offers a capability to distinguish the propagation direction of metachronal waves, and quantitatively assess amplitude and dominant frequency of cilia beating at each spatial location. Compared to the raw PRD images, the phase-resolved dynamic wavefront imaging (PRDWI) method showed the direction and coordination of collective cilia movement more distinctively.ConclusionsThe PRDWI technique can have broad application prospects for the diagnosis of human respiratory diseases and evaluation of the curative effect of treatments and open new perspectives in biomedical sciences.

PurposeThe Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) was designed for semi-quantitative assessment of early ischemic changes on non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We evaluated two automated ASPECTS software in comparison with reference standard.MethodsNCCT of 276 AIS patients were retrospectively reviewed (March 2018–June 2020). A three-radiologist consensus for ASPECTS was used as reference standard. Imaging data from both baseline and follow-up were evaluated for reference standard. Automated ASPECTS were calculated from baseline NCCT with 1-mm and 5-mm slice thickness, respectively. Agreement between automated ASPECTS and reference standard was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Correlation of automated ASPECTS with baseline stroke severity (NIHSS) and follow-up ASPECTS were evaluated using Spearman correlation analysis.ResultsIn score-based analysis, automated ASPECTS calculated from 5-mm slice thickness images agreed well with reference standard (software A: ICC = 0.77; software B: ICC = 0.65). Bland–Altman analysis revealed that the mean differences between automated ASPECTS and reference standard were ≤ 0.6. In region-based analysis, automated ASPECTS derived from 5-mm slice thickness images by software A showed higher sensitivity (0.60 vs. 0.54), lower specificity (0.91 vs. 0.94), and higher AUC (0.76 vs. 0.74) than those using 1-mm slice thickness images (p p ConclusionAutomated ASPECTS showed good reliability and 5 mm was the optimal slice thickness.

Based on the new discovery of two of Kang Youwei’s writings composed in Canada in 1899, this article expands the historical research concerning his Confucian religious thoughts and movement within ...

To clarify the influence of HIV on the intestinal flora and the interrelationship with CD4 T cells, the present study collected stool specimens from 33 HIV patients and 28 healthy subjects to compare the differences in the intestinal flora and CD4 T cells in a 16S rDNA-sequencing approach. ELISA was used to detect the expressions of interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Meanwhile, correlation analysis with the different bacterial populations in each group was carried out. The results revealed that Alpha diversity indices of the intestinal flora of HIV patients were markedly lower than that of the healthy group (p

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Subglottic stenosis (SGS) is a challenging disease to diagnose in neonates. Long-range optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical imaging modality that has been described to image the subglottis in intubated neonates. A major challenge associated with OCT imaging is the lack of an automated method for image analysis and micrometry of large volumes of data that are acquired with each airway scan (1 to 2Gb). We developed a tissue segmentation algorithm that identifies, measures, and conducts image analysis on tissue layers within the mucosa and submucosa and compared these automated tissue measurements with manual tracings. We noted small but statistically significant differences in thickness measurements of the mucosa and submucosa layers in the larynx (p

Numerous techniques have been demonstrated for effective generation of orbital angular momentum-carrying radiation, but intracavity generation of continuously tunable pulses in the femtosecond regime remains challenging. Even if such a creation was realized, the generated pulses, like all pulses in reality, are complex and transitory objects that can only be comprehensively characterized via multidimensional spaces. An integrated lasing system that generates pulses while simultaneously quantifies them can achieve adaptive pulse tailoring. Here, we report a femtosecond pulse scope that unifies vector vortex mode-locked lasing and vectorial quantification. With intracavity-controlled Pancharatnam-Berry phase modulation, continuous and ergodic generation of spirally polarized states along a broadband higher-order Poincare sphere was realized. By intrinsically coupling a two-dimensional polarization-sensitive time-scanning interferometer to the laser, multidimensional spatiotemporal features of the pulse were further visualized. The proposed methodology paves the way for design optimization of ultrafast optics by integrating complex femtosecond pulse generation and structural customization, facilitating its applications in optical physics research and laser-based manufacturing., Comment: 36 pages, 32 figures

© 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Background/ObjectivesWhile upper airway obstruction is a common problem in the pediatric population, the first-line treatment, adenotonsillectomy, fails in up to 20% of patients. The decision to proceed to surgery is often made without quantitative anatomic guidance. We evaluated the use of a novel technique, long-range optical coherence tomography (LR-OCT), to image the upper airway of children under general anesthesia immediately before and after tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy. We investigated the feasibility of LR-OCT to identify both normal anatomy and sites of airway narrowing and to quantitatively compare airway lumen size in the oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal regions pre- and post-operatively. Methods46 children were imaged intraoperatively with a custom-designed LR-OCT system, both before and after adenotonsillectomy. These axial LR-OCT images were both rendered into 3D airway models for qualitative analysis and manually segmented for quantitative comparison of cross-sectional area. ResultsLR-OCT images demonstrated normal anatomic structures (base of tongue, epiglottis) as well as regions of airway narrowing. Volumetric rendering of pre- and post-operative images clearly showed regions of airway collapse and post-surgical improvement in airway patency. Quantitative analysis of cross-sectional images showed an average change of 70.52mm2 (standard deviation 47.87mm2) in the oropharynx after tonsillectomy and 105.58mm2 (standard deviation 60.62mm2) in the nasopharynx after adenoidectomy. ConclusionsLR-OCT is an emerging technology that rapidly generates 3D images of the pediatric upper airway in a feasible manner. This is the first step toward development of an office-based system to image awake pediatric subjects and thus better identify loci of airway obstruction prior to surgery.

Background and Objectives Port-wine stain (PWS) is a congenital, progressive vascular malformation of the dermis. The use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the characterization of blood vessels in PWS skin has been demonstrated by several groups. In the past few years, advances in OCT technology have greatly increased imaging speed. Sophisticated numerical algorithms have improved the sensitivity of Doppler OCT dramatically. These improvements have enabled the noninvasive, high-resolution, three-dimensional functional imaging of PWS skin. Here, we demonstrate high-resolution, three-dimensional, microvasculature imaging of PWS and normal skin using Doppler OCT technique. Study Design/Materials and Methods The OCT system uses a swept source laser which has a central wavelength of 1,310 nm, an A-line rate of 50 kHz and a total average power of 16 mW. The system uses a handheld imaging probe and has an axial resolution of 9.3 μm in air and a lateral resolution of approximately 15 μm. Images were acquired from PWS subjects at the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic. Microvasculature of the PWS skin and normal skin were obtained from the PWS subject. Results High-resolution, three-dimensional microvasculature of PWS and normal skin were obtained. Many enlarged PWS vessels are detected in the dermis down to 1.0 mm below the PWS skin surface. In one subject, the blood vessel diameters range from 40 to 90 μm at the epidermal-dermal junction and increase up to 300-500 μm at deeper regions 700-1,000 μm below skin surface. The blood vessels close to the epidermal-dermal junction are more uniform, in terms of diameter. The more tortuous and dilated PWS blood vessels are located at deeper regions 600-1,000 μm below the skin surface. In another subject example, the PWS skin blood vessels are dilated at very superficial layers at a depth less than 500 μm below the skin surface. The PWS skin vessel diameters range from 60 to 650 μm, with most vessels having a diameter of around 200 μm. Conclusions OCT can be used to quantitatively image in vivo skin micro-vasculature. Analysis of the PWS and normal skin blood vessels were performed and the results can provide quantitative information to optimize laser treatment on an individual patient basis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The variable frequency power supply has been widely applied in industry, and its operating frequency and load capacity are required differently in different applications, so it must be developed repeatedly. This paper presents a new design scheme for variable frequency power supply with parallel configuration function which uses Digital Signal Processor (DSP) and Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) to improve the control system. The physical connection, synchronization, soft-start, fault detection and alarm method of the master-slave mode are introduced. The results of simulation show that waveforms of output voltage and current is perfect in the parallel power supply, and this illustrates that multiple low variable frequency power supplies can build a high power supply with master-slave control method.