Microscopy Research and Technique最新文献

Primula denticulata (Primulaceae) has long been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases. Around the globe, it is used to cure different diseases such as bronchitis, enhanced bronchial output, making phlegm less thick, asthma, joint discomfort, fever, diarrhea, sleeplessness, urinary infections, wound healing, eye illnesses, and dysuria. The study's findings provide several pharmacognostic benchmarks that support the maintenance of P. denticulata 's purity, safety, and effectiveness. Light and scanning electron microscopes (SEM and LM) were used to investigate several plant sections, and cross-sectional images yielded several useful botanical features. During the macroscopic evaluation procedure, the form, color, size, odor, and surface characteristics of the plant parts were evaluated. The pharmacognostic standardization parameters (ash values, loss on drying, swelling index, hemolytic index, and foaming index) were determined in accordance with the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization. When the heavy metal content was examined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS), it was discovered that both heavy metals and trace elements were found within allowable bounds. Qualitative phytochemical tests were performed on plant extracts to determine their contents, including alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, tannins, carbohydrates, lipids, and protein. Preliminary phytochemical testing indicates the major classes of phytoconstituents that are found in the plant. The quantitative and qualitative microscopic characteristics help to set criteria for planting pharmacopeia. Several pharmacognostic parameters, alike size, shape, and structure of various plant constituents described in connection with physicochemical and phytochemical examination, could be assessed with significant advantage for future research.

Illumination uniformity is essential for quantitative analysis in fluorescence microscopy. However, fewer images or sparse intensity information can compromise correction quality of retrospective methods, whereas traditional prospective methods necessitate recalibration whenever imaging conditions change. In this paper, we theoretically for the first time analyze the impact of non-uniform illumination on quantitative fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), which is also demonstrated experimentally. We proposed an illumination correction method based on fluorescent microscope slides, termed Systematic Uniform Fluorescence Image Correction (SUFIC). And we evaluated SUFIC using the images of fluorescent microspheres, Argo-HM slide, and live cells expressing FRET construct. After SUFIC correction, the field uniformity of the “field of rings” image in Argo-HM slide increased from 27.45% to 65.30%. The signal-to-background ratios of the FRET three-channel images increased by 12.3%, 7.9%, and 20.9%. Compared to the CIDRE and BaSiC methods, which require 100 input images for prospective correction, SUFIC requires only three reference images at minimum. In summary, SUFIC is a highly efficient prospective illumination correction method for quantitative microscopic imaging.

The microstructure and degradation behavior of a low-alloyed Mg–1.2Y–Zn–0.3Zr alloy were investigated for potential implant applications by permanent mold casting and hot extrusion. The phase composition and microstructure were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Degradation properties were investigated by using loss-weight tests and electrochemical measurements. The results show that the W-phase (Mg₃Zn₃Y₂) exhibited segregation at the grain boundaries. Dynamic recrystallization significantly refined the alloy's grain structure. After hot extrusion, the average grain size was 2.96 μm, with tensile strength, elongation, and degradation rate values of 255 MPa, 27%, and 3.78 mm y⁻¹, respectively, which implies that the enhanced mechanical and degradation properties are attributed to grain refinement and grain boundary segregation strengthening. This may provide a promising solution for implant material development.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have unique physicochemical characteristics that render them very appropriate for various biomedical applications. AgNPs were synthesized in a study by an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method where an aqueous extract of Artemisia lerchiana was used as a bioreducing and stabilizing agent. To characterize the synthesized nanoparticles, a conjunction of analytical methods was employed, such as UV–Visible spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The UV–Vis spectrum indicated the formation of nanoparticles with a typical surface plasmon resonance peak situated at 480 nm. TEM examination showed mostly spherical-shaped nanoparticles with a size of 4–19 nm. FTIR spectra showed the presence of functional biomolecules that reduced silver ions and gave AgNPs stability. This green synthesis method highlights the possibility of using plant-based nanoparticle synthesis in biomedical, environmental, and industrial fields.

Wilms tumor (WT) is the most prevalent renal malignancy in children. Determining its histopathological classification is critical for prognosis and postoperative treatment options. The histopathological classification of WT is based on the area percentages of its primary components, making accurate segmentation of these components essential for classification outcomes. However, due to the complexity of WT components and the high resolution of whole slide images (WSIs), achieving precise pathological diagnosis presents quiet challenges. Hence, we propose a new SGA-U-Net for the segmentation of WT components. To improve the model's focus on fine-grained features within the WT components, a hybrid attention module is designed for the up-sampling layer of the traditional U-Net. We also applied the model to assess the histopathological classification of WT, validating the feasibility of the model for clinical application. The segmentation results indicate that our model achieved a Dice of 0.95, 0.91, and 0.88 for the WT-blastema, WT-epithelium, and WT-stroma, respectively. The proposed model provides an automated solution for the histopathological classification of WT to assist pathologists in clinical diagnosis.

During an ongoing survey of indigenous fungi in Pakistan, we found Calocybe erminea and Macrocybe indica comb. nov. have been identified at the species level using light, scanning electron microscopy, and molecular phylogenetic analysis based on rDNA-internal transcribed spacer sequences. This study marks the first report of the genus Calocybe in Pakistan. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis has led to the reidentification of Calocybe indica as Macrocybe indica, providing new insights into the taxonomy and distribution of these fungal species in the region.

The rapid advancements in smartphone camera features and accessibility have garnered significant attention for smartphone-based imaging systems in recent years. However, due to variations in dimensions and camera positions across different phones, they often suffer from compatibility issues. In the present work, these issues have been addressed by using a Raspberry Pi single-board computer (SBC) as the platform for the development of a multimodal microscopic system. The proposed imaging system can be remotely accessed and controlled via Wi-Fi from a computer, tablet, or smartphone, thus offering greater flexibility compared to smartphone-based imaging systems. The system offers four imaging modalities: bright-field (BF), dark-field (DF), oblique illumination (OI), and differential phase contrast (DPC), all on a single platform without requiring any additional optical components. Developed at an affordable cost of ~$122 using 3D printing and readily available components, the system achieves a noteworthy optical resolution of 1.64 μm, comparable to a laboratory microscope with a ×10 objective. Its imaging capabilities have been validated against a research-grade microscope, demonstrating its potential as a reliable and cost-effective tool for sectors in need of accessible microscopy solutions.