scholarly journals Biomedical Applications of Translational Optical Imaging: From Molecules to Humans

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (21) ◽  
pp. 6651
Author(s):  
Daniel L. Farkas

Light is a powerful investigational tool in biomedicine, at all levels of structural organization. Its multitude of features (intensity, wavelength, polarization, interference, coherence, timing, non-linear absorption, and even interactions with itself) able to create contrast, and thus images that detail the makeup and functioning of the living state can and should be combined for maximum effect, especially if one seeks simultaneously high spatiotemporal resolution and discrimination ability within a living organism. The resulting high relevance should be directed towards a better understanding, detection of abnormalities, and ultimately cogent, precise, and effective intervention. The new optical methods and their combinations needed to address modern surgery in the operating room of the future, and major diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration are reviewed here, with emphasis on our own work and highlighting selected applications focusing on quantitation, early detection, treatment assessment, and clinical relevance, and more generally matching the quality of the optical detection approach to the complexity of the disease. This should provide guidance for future advanced theranostics, emphasizing a tighter coupling—spatially and temporally—between detection, diagnosis, and treatment, in the hope that technologic sophistication such as that of a Mars rover can be translationally deployed in the clinic, for saving and improving lives.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 228-228
Author(s):  
Pao-feng Tsai ◽  
Thomas Jakobs ◽  
Reid Landes

Abstract Levels of Assistance (LoA) is an effective caregiving intervention for maintaining activity of daily living (ADL) independence. It is a structured, almost prescriptive, approach to encourage completing ADLs as independently as an elder’s capabilities permit. With appropriate prompts and assistance during dressing, elders can overcome disability, express retained competencies, and experience success. Simultaneously, caregivers learn to view their functions as maintaining the quality of life of able elders, and they receive reinforcement from elders who are more confident and happier. This study is a continuation of a previous project that created and tested a computer application training program for LoA in nursing homes. We refined the app to include grooming LoA and tested on 10 certified nursing assistant (CNA)/resident dyads at a local nursing home. The pilot results showed, although we did not see consistent improvement in CNA’s dressing LoA, we achieved 10% to 30% improvement in grooming LoA. This indicates that the dressing assistance training is able to transfer to grooming LoA. With only an average of one-hour app training, this improvement is cost effective as compared to training provided by care professionals. Future studies should consider incorporating a culture change strategy to improve CNAs’ intention for assisting elders. In addition, the training program should be offered in the initial hire to achieve maximum effect.


2021 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihye Seong ◽  
Michael Z. Lin

Optobiochemical control of protein activities allows the investigation of protein functions in living cells with high spatiotemporal resolution. Over the last two decades, numerous natural photosensory domains have been characterized and synthetic domains engineered and assembled into photoregulatory systems to control protein function with light.Here, we review the field of optobiochemistry, categorizing photosensory domains by chromophore, describing photoregulatory systems by mechanism of action, and discussing protein classes frequently investigated using optical methods. We also present examples of how spatial or temporal control of proteins in living cells has provided new insights not possible with traditional biochemical or cell biological techniques. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biochemistry, Volume 90 is June 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Aam Gunawan

Maggot black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is a protein source of feed which is highly favored by poultry, especially ducks and chickens. However, it is feared that the provision of live maggot in ducks will affect the organoleptic quality of the egg, especially its taste and aroma. Therefore this study aims to determine the organoleptic quality of duck eggs fed Hermetia illucens maggot feeds in a living state. The study used 120 alabio ducks which were placed in a postal cage. The design used was a completely randomized design, each treatment using six replications. Each replication is taken egg sample to be tested panelists. The panelists used were 67 panelists who were somewhat trained. The data obtained were analyzed of variance and Duncan's multiple range test. The treatments that were tried consisted of P1: low protein rations without live maggot, P2: low protein rations with live maggot administration 40 g/bird/day, P3: high protein rations without live maggot administration, and P4: high protein rations with live maggot administration 40g/bird/day. The results showed that the treatment affected the texture, flavor, and aroma of boiled eggs. Ducks fed with high protein ration coupled with the provision of live maggot 40 g/bird/day produce softer textures, tastes quite good, and aroma more fishy. Keywords: Maggot, duck eggs, organoleptics


Author(s):  
Alan Kelly

Proteins are, in my view, the most impressive molecules in food. They influence the texture, crunch, chew, flow, color, flavor, and nutritional quality of food. Not only that, but they can radically change their properties and how they behave depending on the environment and, critically for food, in response to processes like heating. Even when broken down into smaller components they are important, for example giving cheese many of its critical flavor notes. Indeed, I would argue that perhaps the most fundamental phenomenon we encounter in cooking or processing food is the denaturation of proteins, as will be explained shortly. Beyond food, the value of proteins and their properties is widespread across biology. Many of the most significant molecules in our body and that of any living organism (including plants and animals) are proteins. These include those that make hair and skin what they are, as well as the hemoglobin that transports oxygen around the body in our blood. Proteins are built from amino acids, a family of 20 closely related small molecules, which all have in chemical terms the same two ends (chemically speaking, an amino end and an acidic end, hence the name) but differ in the middle. This bit in the middle varies from amino acid to amino acid, from simple (a hydrogen atom in the case of glycine, the simplest amino acid) to much more complex structures. Amino acids can link up very neatly, as the amino end of one can form a bond (called a peptide bond) with the acid end of another, and so forth, so that chains of amino acids are formed that, when big enough (more than a few dozen amino acids), we call proteins. Our bodies produce thousands of proteins for different functions, and the instructions for which amino acids combine to make which proteins are essentially what the genetic code encrypted in our DNA specifies. We hear a lot about our genes encoding the secrets of life, but what that code spells is basically P-R-O-T-E-I-N. Yes, these are very important molecules!


Author(s):  
Kalpana ◽  
Rifat Azam ◽  
Nazia Parveen ◽  
Dig Vijay Singh ◽  
Zaffar Azam

Biomedical wastes (BMWs) are generated by the treatment of living organism as well as during research activities. With the increase of population in developing countries, generation of BMWs is increasing, but with inappropriate disposal management technologies. BMWs pose threats to the humans and also degrade the quality of environment. Handling of the BMWs by inexperienced and untrained staff increases the risk of accumulation of waste at the source as well as increases the chances of the spread of the dreadful diseases. The implementation of BMWs regulations is inadequate and unsatisfactory in developing countries: a major concern. Safe and reliable methods for management of BMWs are of utmost importance. The proper management of BMWs can be helpful in maintaining the overall quality of the environment. In order to get good results, the need is to increase the involvement of the ecofriendly techniques as well as increase awareness among the citizens, staff, and the workers directly involved in the management of the BMWs.


2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 244
Author(s):  
A. I. Pen’kovskiĭ ◽  
V. F. Nikolaev ◽  
N. S. Borovkova
Keyword(s):  

2016 ◽  
Vol 862 ◽  
pp. 324-333
Author(s):  
Radomír Mendřický

The article presents the research of use of modern 3D measurement contact-less methods for quality inspection in automotive industry production. Experience with measuring parts and functional assemblies of complex shape and advantages of the optical methods of digitization are shown on a practical example of analysis of dimensional stability of car decorative strip plastic mouldings. The goal is to demonstrate that the modern methods of dimensional analysis of 3D products can significantly participate in optimization of the manufacturing process and ensuring higher quality of the products.Contact-less 3D systems, so called 3D scanners, were used for the measuring purposes. With their help, the tested sample were digitized in high resolution, and he obtained models of real parts underwent a thorough inspection of precision of shape and dimensions. The attention was directed primarily at the problematic spots – deviation of the strip ends when compared to the nominal CAD model. The analysis was performed using various alignment to the CAD model, thus contributing to finding context with respect to mounting points on the vehicle rails. Concurrently, an influence of galvanic plating on the accuracy of the product was studied.


2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Sujak ◽  
Siemowit Muszyñski ◽  
Magdalena Kachel-Jakubowska

Abstract The objective of the presented work was to examine the optical properties of selected bio-fuel waste. Three independent optical methods: UV-Vis spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and chromametric measurements were applied to establish the possible quality control test for the obtained substances. The following by-products were tested: distilled glycerine, technical glycerine and matter organic non glycerine fraction from rapeseed oil bio-fuel production. The results show that analysis of UV-Vis spectra can give rapid information about the purity of distilled glycerine, while no direct information can be obtained concerning the concentration and kind of impurities. Transmission mode is more useful as compared to absorption, concerning the detection abilities of average UV-Vis spectrometers. Infrared spectroscopy can be used as a complementary method for determining impurities/admixtures in samples. Measurements of chroma give the quickest data to compare the colour of biofuel by-products obtained by different producers. The condition is, however, that the products are received through the same or similar chemical processes. The other important factor is application of well defined measuring background. All the discussed analyses are quick, cheap and non-destructive, and can help to compare the quality of products.


Author(s):  
E. Iu. Aleksandrovskaia ◽  
A. V. Sindireva ◽  
V. V. Ieronova

Selenium plays an important antioxidant role in a living organism. At the same time, we often observe a deficit of selenium in natural environmental locations. Therefore, it is of great importance to elaborate and assess methods for the most efficient and environmentally safe intake of the necessary amount of this element in the human body with the consumption of vegetable food, among others. In this respect, the techniques of enriching plants with this microelement are promising. These techniques include additional introduction of selenium compounds into the soil and non-root intake. Our research consisted of an environmental assessment of the effect of selenium on biometric parameters, crop yield, and quality of spring wheat plants. Aziiev soft spring wheat, selenium microelement, meadow chernozemic soil were the objects of our study. It was determined that Se has a predominantly stimulating effect on the growth and development of wheat plants and their crop yield. A direct correlation between an increase in the applied doses of selenium and an increase in its content in wheat grain was identified. The results of our study can be applied for the development of appropriate methods for the use of selenium-containing micro fertilizers in certain environmental conditions.


Author(s):  
Rekha Sharma

In the Veda’s natural elements play a pivot role but the international ship of creation was always within the context of its relationship with the creator. The Vedic sages believed that everything in this world stems from divine knowledge (the world) which was first revealed to the group of seers, who then passed this knowledge to successive generations of Vedic seers. The Gala-hypothesis postulates that planet earth is a living organism that adjusts and regulates itself like any other organism, and that for 3.5 billion years, microbes, plant and animals have co-evolved with the environment as one globally integrated super organism. In much the same vein, Deep ecology believes in the essential ecological equality of all species man and mouse, elephant and earthworm. In an interconnected indivisible ecosystem each part is as crucial as the next. The Vedas have categorically explains the role of nature, principle of food, life, intellect, and immortality. Earth, constellations and their roles are also defined in the Vedas. For sun and moon are celestial god air, water and sky, are aerial gods. Earth, river and fire are the terrestrial god. The universe is composed of five elements earth, sky, water, wind and fire. Vedic science urges people to pursue the path of ethical and sustainable economy, which coincides with the philosophy of ecological economics for sustainable development. The conventional economics always favours maximizing the material wealth so that individual will have a better quality of life. In the Vedic tradition, it is clearly stated that the life of each species is meant for well-being of all other species all of the 8,40,000 species on the planet live for each other except for one.


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