Indigenous Development of an Imaging Flow Cytometer for Clinical and Biological Applications

Flow cytometry is a benchmark technique used for basic research and clinical diagnosis of various diseases. Despite being a high-throughput technique, it fails in capturing the morphology of cells being analyzed. Imaging flow cytometry is a combination of flow-cytometry and digital microscopy, which offers advantages of both the techniques. In this paper, we report on the development of an indigenous Imaging Flow Cytometer, realized with the combination of Optics, Microfluidics, and High-speed imaging. A custom-made bright-field transmission microscope is used to capture images of cells flowing across the microfluidic device. High-throughput morphological analysis on suspension of yeast cells is presented.

Development of an automated ultrasonic spray pyrolysis system and the growth of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films

An automated ultrasonic spray pyrolysis system is fabricated for the growth of thin films. The system is equipped with x-y movement and enables film deposition in different patterns and spray rates. Cu-2(Zn,Sn)S-4 (CZTS) films are deposited using this setup. The substrate temperature (T-s) is varied from 240 to 490 degrees C. Kesterite CZTS phase is observed in all the films together with binary phases. The films prepared at T-s <340 degrees C showed SnxSy phase and those at T-s >340 degrees C showed Cu2S phase. Sulfur incorporation is maximum (40%) at 440 degrees C and the films showed better morphology. The Cu and S concentrations are varied to remove binary phases. Depth wise elemental analysis confirmed the existence of single phase CZTS. p-Type CZTS films of resistivity in the range of 10(2)-10(3) Omega cm are obtained. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

FUZZY SOLID SETS FOR MATHEMATICAL MORPHOLOGY AND OPTICAL IMPLEMENTATION

Fuzzy sets in the subject space are transformed to fuzzy solid sets in an increased object space on the basis of the development of the local umbra concept. Further, a counting transform is defined for reconstructing the fuzzy sets from the fuzzy solid sets, and the dilation and erosion operators in mathematical morphology are redefined in the fuzzy solid-set space. The algebraic structures of fuzzy solid sets can lead not only to fuzzy logic but also to arithmetic operations. Thus a fuzzy solid-set image algebra of two image transforms and five set operators is defined that can formulate binary and gray-scale morphological image-processing functions consisting of dilation, erosion, intersection, union, complement, addition, subtraction, and reflection in a unified form. A cellular set-logic array architecture is suggested for executing this image algebra. The optical implementation of the architecture, based on area coding of gray-scale values, is demonstrated. (C) 1995 Optical Society of America

Laser-induced damage morphology of high-reflective optical coatings

Two different kinds of 1064 nm high-reflective (HR) coatings, with and without SiO2 protective layer, were prepared by electron beam evaporation. Three-dimensional damage morphology, caused by a Nd:YAG pulsed laser, was investigated for these HR coatings. Development of laser-induced damage on HR coatings was revealed by both temperature field calculation and discrete meso-element simulation. Theoretical results met experimental very well. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Larval development of estuary perch (Macquaria colonorum) and Australian bass (M. novemaculeata) (Perciformes: Percichthyidae), and comments on their life history

Morphological development of the larvae and small juveniles of estuary perch (Macquaria colonorum) (17 specimens, 4.8−13.5 mm body length) and Australian bass (M. novemaculeata) (38 specimens, 3.3−14.1 mm) (Family Percichthyidae) is described from channel-net and beach-seine collections of both species, and from reared larvae of M. novemaculeata. The larvae of both are characterized by having 24−25 myomeres, a large triangular gut (54−67% of BL) in postflexion larvae, small spines on the preopercle and interopercle, a smooth supraocular ridge, a small to moderate gap between the anus and the origin of the anal fin, and distinctive pigment patterns. The two species can be distinguished most easily by the different distribution of their melanophores. The adults spawn in estuaries and larvae are presumed to remain in estuaries before migrating to adult freshwater habitat. However, larvae of both species were collected as they entered a central New South Wales estuary from the ocean on flood tides; such transport may have consequences for the dispersal of larvae among estuaries. Larval morphology and published genetic evidence supports a reconsideration of the generic arrangement of the four species currently placed in the genus Macquaria.

Larval development of a mangrove crab (Perisesarma bidens De Haan) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Sesarminae)

Larval development of Perisesarma bidens (De Haan) was investigated in laboratory conditions. Morphology of all larval stages and 1st crab stage was described and illustrated in detail, and compared with other species of sesarmid crabs. The zoeae morphological features of P. bidens are almost similar to other species of Sesarma in lacking a pair of lateral spines on carapace.

Development of a universal stress sensor for graphene and carbon fibres

Carbon fibres are a significant volume fraction of modern structural airframes. Embedded into polymer matrices, they provide significant strength and stiffness gains by unit weight compared with competing structural materials. Here we use the Raman G peak to assess the response of carbon fibres to the application of strain, with reference to the response of graphene itself. Our data highlight the predominance of the in-plane graphene properties in all graphitic structures examined. A universal master plot relating the G peak strain sensitivity to tensile modulus of all types of carbon fibres, as well as graphene, is presented. We derive a universal value of - average - phonon shift rate with axial stress of around -5ω0 -1 (cm -1 Mpa-1), where ω0 is the G peak position at zero stress for both graphene and carbon fibre with annular morphology. The use of this for stress measurements in a variety of applications is discussed. © 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

Studies on the egg quality of Penaeus monodon Fabricius based on morphology and hatching rates

Eggs of P. monodon are classified into 5 different types on the basis of morphological criteria and hatching rates: A sub(1) eggs, which undergo normal development with 58% hatching rate; A sub(2) eggs, which show delayed and/or abnormal development with 32% hatching rate; B eggs, which are unfertilized and characterized by irregular cytoplasmic formation; C eggs, which are unfertilized and show no change in appearance; and D eggs, which are unfertilized and show extensive bacterial presence. The establishment of a highly linear relationship between percent A sub(1) eggs and hatching rate provides a useful tool to aid the hatchery technician in determining which spawnings to reject outright and which to rear through the larval and post-larval stages.

Development of cell culture from caudal fin and heart of Tor tor (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Tor mahseer (Tor tor), possess high commercial and recreational value as they are potential game as well as food fish of India. Two cell culture systems were developed from fin and heart of T. tor (Hamilton-Buchanan). The explants excised aseptically from fingerling of T. tor were cultured in Leibovitz-15 (L-15) medium with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Radiation of cells started after 72 hours and 48 hours of explant attachment from caudal fin and heart respectively. Confluent monolayer of cells with heterogeneous morphology around fin explants was observed after 7-10 days, where as a homogenous confluent layer of fibroblastic cells from heart explant was observed after 12-13 days. The establishment of cell culture systems from different organs and tissues of commercial important species would facilitates in vitro research.

Control of material transport through pulse shape manipulation-a development toward designer pulses

The variety of laser systems available to industrial laser users is growing and the choice of the correct laser for a material target application is often based on an empirical assessment. Industrial master oscillator power amplifier systems with tuneable temporal pulse shapes have now entered the market, providing enormous pulse parameter flexibility in an already crowded parameter space. In this paper, an approach is developed to design interaction parameters based on observations of material responses. Energy and material transport mechanisms are studied using pulsed digital holography, post process analysis techniques and finite-difference modelling to understand the key response mechanisms for a variety of temporal pulse envelopes incident on a silicon (1/1/1) substrate. The temporal envelope is shown to be the primary control parameter of the source term that determines the subsequent material response and the resulting surface morphology. A double peak energy-bridged temporal pulse shape designed through direct application of holographic imaging data is shown to substantially improve surface quality. © 2014 IEEE.

Effects of solar UV radiation on morphology and photosynthesis of filamentous cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis

To study the impact of solar UV radiation (UVR) (280 to 400 nm) on the filamentous cyanobacterium Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis, we examined the morphological changes and photosynthetic performance using an indoor-grown strain (which had not been exposed to sunlight for decades) and an outdoor-grown strain (which had been grown under sunlight for decades) while they were cultured with three solar radiation treatments: PAB (photosynthetically active radiation [PAR] plus UVR; 280 to 700 nm), PA (PAR plus UV-A; 320 to 700 nm), and P (PAR only; 400 to 700 nm). Solar UVR broke the spiral filaments of A. platensis exposed to full solar radiation in short-term low-cell-density cultures. This breakage was observed after 2 h for the indoor strain but after 4 to 6 h for the outdoor strain. Filament breakage also occurred in the cultures exposed to PAR alone; however, the extent of breakage was less than that observed for filaments exposed to full solar radiation. The spiral filaments broke and compressed when high-cell-density cultures were exposed to full solar radiation during long-term experiments. When UV-B was screened off, the filaments initially broke, but they elongated and became loosely arranged later (i.e., there were fewer spirals per unit of filament length). When UVR was filtered out, the spiral structure hardly broke or became looser. Photosynthetic 0, evolution in the presence of UVR was significantly suppressed in the indoor strain compared to the outdoor strain. UVR-induced inhibition increased with exposure time, and it was significantly lower in the outdoor strain. The concentration of UV-absorbing compounds was low in both strains, and there was no significant change in the amount regardless of the radiation treatment, suggesting that these compounds were not effectively used as protection against solar UVR. Self-shading, on the other hand, produced by compression of the spirals over adaptive time scales, seems to play an important role in protecting this species against deleterious UVR. Our findings suggest that the increase in UV-B irradiance due to ozone depletion not only might affect photosynthesis but also might alter the morphological development of filamentous cyanobacteria during acclimation or over adaptive time scales.

Effects of oriented substrates on cell morphology, the cell cycle, and the cytoskeleton in Ros 17/2.8 cells

Absence of gravity or microgravity influences the cellular functions of bone forming osteoblasts. The underlying mechanism, however, of cellular sensing and responding to the gravity vector is poorly understood. This work quantified the impact of vector-directional gravity on the biological responses of Ros 17/2.8 cells grown on upward-, downward- or edge-on-oriented substrates. Cell morphology and nuclear translocation, cell proliferation and the cell cycle, and cytoskeletal reorganization were found to vary significantly in the three orientations. All of the responses were duration-dependent. These results provide a new insight into understanding how osteoblasts respond to static vector-directional gravity.

Fruit anatomy,seed germination and seedling development in the Japanese seagrass phyllospadix

Phyllospadix iwatensis Makino and phyllospadix japonicus Makino have similar frunt morphology and anatomy.The rhomboid fruit of Japanese phyllospadix is dark brown in colour and is characterized by two arms bearing stiff inflected bristles which can act as an anchoring system. The fruit covering consists of a thin cuticular seed coat and pericarp remains mainly fibrous endocarp. In the groove region of the fruit.the cuticular seed coat and endocarp are replaced by nucellus cells with wall in growths and crushed pigment strands with lignified walls.these tissues appera to control the transfer of nutrients to developing seed.the seed is oval with a small embryo and a large hypocotyl. the embryo is straight and simple,with the plumule containing three leaf primordia and a pair of root primordia surrounded by a cotyledon.the hypocotyl has large vontral lobe containing central provascular tissue and two small dorsal lobes.the hypocotyl contains starch.lipid and protein.and acts as a nutrient store.the seed of P.iwatensis has a dormancy period of 2-6 weeks and germination eventually reaches-65%.but is not synchronized.during germination the leaves emerge first.and then after at least three young leaves have formed and abseised.the roots emerge,usually?6 months after the commencement of germination.Utilizaton of the nutrient reserves is initially from the perihpery of the hypocotyl and then progressively towards its centre.

Crystallization kinetics and morphology of nylon 1212

The isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization processes of nylon 1212 were investigated by polarized optical microscopy. The crystal growth rates of nylon 1212 measured in isothermal conditions at temperatures ranged from 182 to 132 degreesC are well comparable with those measured by non-isothermal procedures (cooling rates ranged from 0.5 to 11 degreesC/min). The kinetic data were examined with the Hoffman-Lauritzen nucleation theory on the basis of the obtained values of the thermodynamic parameters of nylon 1212. The classical regime I --> II and regime II --> III transitions occur at the temperatures of 179 and 159 degreesC, respectively. The crystal growth parameters were calculated with (100) plane assumed to be the growth plane. The regime I --> II --> III transition is accompanied by a morphological transition from elliptical-shaped structure to banded spherulite and then non-banded spherulite. The development of morphology during isothermal and non-isothermal processes shows a good agreement.

Study on crystalline morphology of poly(L-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymer

Crystallization behavior, structural development and morphology evolution in a series of diblock copolymers Of poly(L-lactide)-blockpoly(ethylene glycol) (PLLA-b-PEG) were investigated via differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, polarized optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In these copolymers, both blocks are crystallizable and biocompatible. It was interesting that these PLLA-b-PEG diblock copolymers could form spherulites with banded textures, which was undercooling dependent. Single crystals with an abundance of screw dislocations were also observed via AFM. Such results indicated that these ringed spherulites and single crystals were formed during the crystallization of the PLLA blocks.