Furthering Precision in Sentinel Node Navigational Surgery for Oral Cancer: a Novel Triple Targeting System

To describe an innovative sentinel lymph node (SLN) guidance approach using a radionuclide tracer, 3D augmented reality-guided imaging, and near infrared (NIR) fluorescence over-lay imaging with hand-held probes to optimize accuracy, efficiency, and precise navigation for sentinel node (SN) localization in head and neck cancer. In a cT1N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, pre-operative radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy was performed with a sentinel node-specific radiolabeled tracer. Intraoperatively, a 3D hand-held augmented reality (AR) scanning SPECT probe assessed concordance of the SN with pre-operative SPECT-CT images. The real-time optical video was linked to the SPECT-CT images for added precision. Final guidance to the SN was performed using ICG fluorescence imaging. Dynamic and SPECT-CT showed bilateral lymphatic drainage from the tumor. The 3D hand-held AR SPECT probe SN localization was concordant with pre-operative imaging. The optical video successfully demonstrated the lymphatic drainage in real-time through a unique overlay fluorescence image. The ICG localized to the same nodes identified by both the SPECT-CT and hand-held SPECT images. The use of dual radiation and fluorescence tracers improved SN detection, especially for SN close to the injection site. The hand-held probes allowed the surgeon to dissect continuously, without needing to change tools. The combination of augmented reality, nuclear medicine, and over-lay fluorescence imaging allowed greater accuracy for matching the preoperative imaging with intraoperative identification and precisely guiding the dissection. This method uniquely permitted the surgeon to efficiently dissect the SN with accurate visualization and optimal precision.     

Application of Genetic Algorithm (GA) Assisted Partial Least Square (PLS) Analysis on Trilinear and Non-trilinear Fluorescence Data Sets to Quantify the Fluorophores in Multifluorophoric Mixtures: Improving Quantification Accuracy of Fluorimetric Estimations of Dilute Aqueous Mixtures

Excitation-emission matrix fluorescence (EEMF) and total synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (TSFS) are the 2 fluorescence techniques that are commonly used for the analysis of multifluorophoric mixtures. These 2 fluorescence techniques are conceptually different and provide certain advantages over each other. The manual analysis of such highly correlated large volume of EEMF and TSFS towards developing a calibration model is difficult. Partial least square (PLS) analysis can analyze the large volume of EEMF and TSFS data sets by finding important factors that maximize the correlation between the spectral and concentration information for each fluorophore. However, often the application of PLS analysis on entire data sets does not provide a robust calibration model and requires application of suitable pre-processing step. The present work evaluates the application of genetic algorithm (GA) analysis prior to PLS analysis on EEMF and TSFS data sets towards improving the precision and accuracy of the calibration model. The GA algorithm essentially combines the advantages provided by stochastic methods with those provided by deterministic approaches and can find the set of EEMF and TSFS variables that perfectly correlate well with the concentration of each of the fluorophores present in the multifluorophoric mixtures. The utility of the GA assisted PLS analysis is successfully validated using (i) EEMF data sets acquired for dilute aqueous mixture of four biomolecules and (ii) TSFS data sets acquired for dilute aqueous mixtures of four carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) mixtures. In the present work, it is shown that by using the GA it is possible to significantly improve the accuracy and precision of the PLS calibration model developed for both EEMF and TSFS data set. Hence, GA must be considered as a useful pre-processing technique while developing an EEMF and TSFS calibration model.     

A Quninolylthiazole Derivatives as an ICT-Based Fluorescent Probe of Hg(II) and its Application in Ratiometric Imaging in Live HeLa Cells

As a structural analogue of pyridylthiazole, 2-(2-benzothiazoyl)-phenylethynylquinoline (QBT) was designed as a fluorescent probe for Hg(II) based on an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. The compound was synthesized in three steps starting from 6-bromo-2-methylquinoline, with moderate yield. Corresponding studies on the optical properties of QBT indicate that changes in the fluorescence ratio of QBT in response to Hg(II) could be quantified based on dual-emission changes. More specifically, the emission spectrum of QBT before and after interactions with Hg(II) exhibited a remarkable red shift of about 120 nm, which is rarely reported in ICT-based fluorescent sensors. Finally, QBT was applied in the two-channel imaging of Hg(II) in live HeLa cells.     

A Colorimetric and Fluorescent Indicator for Hg<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Detection Based on Cinnamamide Group-Containing Rhodamine Derivative

A colorimetric and fluorescent indicator based on cinnamamide group-containing rhodamine derivative was synthesized for the detection of Hg²⁺. The rhodamine B and cinnamamide were connected via ethylenediamine as a bridging molecule through a condensation reaction to obtain a colorimetric and fluorescent indicator for the detection of Hg²⁺ in H₂O-EtOH (4:1, v/v). The indicator was excellent in the selectivity of Hg²⁺ and was almost unaffected by other common ions such as Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cr³⁺. The Hg²⁺-containing aqueous solution turned from colorless to red within 7 min after the addition of the indicator, and had an absorption peak at 564 nm in UV-vis, which implies a significant colorimetric phenomenon. Their characteristic peaks varied with the Hg²⁺ content, and they reached a linear relationship at low concentrations. The binding stoichiometry proved to be 1:1. The lowest detection limit was 4.1?×?10^?7 mol/L, ranging from acidic to neutral.     

Synthesis and Studies of Fluorescein Based Derivatives for their Optical Properties,Urease Inhibition and Molecular Docking

Herein, we design and synthesized new fluorescein based derivatives by insitu formation of fluorescein ester and further treated with corresponding hydrazide and amine to yield respective compounds i.e. FB1, FB2, FB3 and FB4. The spectral purity and characterization was done by using IR, NMR and Mass spectroscopies. The synthesized derivatives were examined for their photophysical properties by using variety of organic solvents and results were discussed in details. The structural diversity of synthesized compounds motivate us to evaluate these compounds for urease inhibition. The compound FB3 (IC₅₀?=?0.0456 μM) shows 100 fold more active against Jack bean urease than standard drug thiourea (IC₅₀?=?4.7455 μM). Other synthesized compounds showed potent activity. Free radical percentage scavenging assay further supported the capacity of compounds to urease inhibition. While, molecular docking simulations helps to examine the molecular interactions of active compounds FB1, FB2, FB3 and FB4 within the binding site of urease enzyme.     

Monitoring the Instant Creation of a New Fluorescent Signal for Evaluation of DNA Conformation Based on Intercalation Complex

Here we report the monitoring the instant creation of a new fluorescent signal (FS) aroused from a positively charged water-soluble fluorogenic probe, ethidium bromide (EtBr) in the presence of a radical initiator, ammonium persulfate (APS) and an accelerator, tetraethylmetilendiamine (TEMED) for evaluation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) conformation. The results revealed that the occurred FS (λ_ex?=?430 nm; λ_max?=?525 nm) is a reduced form of EtBr (λ_ex?=?480 nm; λ_max?=?617 nm) and it is completely distinct from hydroethidine (λ_ex?=?350 nm; λ_max?=?430 nm), which is two-electron reduced form of EtBr. It was noticed that EtBr was reduced to a new FS during the polymerization of N, N dimethyacrylamide (DMAA) too, at 25 °C in the presence of APS and TEMED or at 55 °C with only APS, and the rate of formation of FS was increased upon treatment time. The effect of nanoclays such as Laponite XLG® and Laponite XLS®, which provide a protective environment for DNA in nature, were also investigated through the reduction process of EtBr in the absence and presence of a water soluble monomer DMAA. We demonstrated that DNA conformation might be evaluated by monitoring FS effectuated during the reduction of EtBr in the presence of nanoclays having positively and negatively charged surfaces. Protective property of DNA against the formation of reduced product was elucidated by carrying out the polymerization at 55 °C. The results revealed that the monitoring of formation of FS in the presence of radical initiator could lead to elucidate the conformation of DNA upon formation of intercalator complex.     

Inhomogeneous Double Optical Gating of High-Intensity Isolated Attosecond Pulse Generation in Crossed Metal Nanostructures

We propose and investigate an effective method for obtaining high-energy and high-intensity isolated attosecond pulses (IAPs) using the inhomogeneous double optical gating (DOG) technology in specifically designed metal nanostructures. First, using the homogeneous mid-infrared DOG technology modulated by a linearly near-infrared field, we obtain a harmonic yield of 2.5 orders of magnitudes higher than that from the single polarization gating (PG) technology. Further, introducing the crossed metal nanostructures along the driven and gating components, we can extend not only the harmonic cutoff but also enhance the harmonic yield attributed to the plasmonic field enhancement near the vicinity of metal nanostructures. As a result, we find a single harmonic plateau with smaller modulations. The supercontinuum is not very sensitive to the pulse duration of the near-infrared field, and the harmonic yields can be further enhanced with increase in the pulse intensity of the near-infrared field, showing a 108 eV supercontinuum with an intensity enhancement of 4 orders of magnitudes. Finally, by superposing the selected harmonics from the inhomogeneous DOG scheme, we obtain a 33 as SAP with an intensity increase of 4 orders of magnitudes.     

Quantum Discord for Information Transmission Using Coherent States

We suggest theoretically the possibility to transmit information through a decohering quantum channel employing Glauber’s coherent states. In fact, we study the dynamics of quantum correlations of two-mode entangled bipartite coherent states in the presence of the amplitude damping effect. In addition, we examine the quantum correlations based on quantum discord, which is a powerful key source in quantum information processing.     

Using Laser Measuring and SFM Algorithm for Fast 3D Reconstruction of Objects

Effective measurement of the reflective or transparent surface of an object has always been a disadvantage in laser scanning modeling. We propose a fast and complete three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction method for small static objects using laser scanning and the structure from motion (SFM) algorithm. Meanwhile, a complete reconstruction workflow is designed and a multi-angle 3d reconstruction system is set up. To generate the complete point cloud model of the object, the SFM algorithm is used to reconstruct the surface part of the object, the data for which cannot be obtained by the laser measuring instrument. The experimental results show that this method not only improves the speed, accuracy, integrity, and visual effect of 3D reconstruction of small objects, but also extends the scope of 3D reconstruction of laser measurement.     

On the Small Mass Limit of Quantum Brownian Motion with Inhomogeneous Damping and Diffusion

We study the small mass limit (or: the Smoluchowski–Kramers limit) of a class of quantum Brownian motions with inhomogeneous damping and diffusion. For Ohmic bath spectral density with a Lorentz–Drude cutoff, we derive the Heisenberg–Langevin equations for the particle’s observables using a quantum stochastic calculus approach. We set the mass of the particle to equal \(m = m_{0} \epsilon \), the reduced Planck constant to equal \(\hbar = \epsilon \) and the cutoff frequency to equal \(\varLambda = E_{\varLambda }/\epsilon \), where \(m_0\) and \(E_{\varLambda }\) are positive constants, so that the particle’s de Broglie wavelength and the largest energy scale of the bath are fixed as \(\epsilon \rightarrow 0\). We study the limit as \(\epsilon \rightarrow 0\) of the rescaled model and derive a limiting equation for the (slow) particle’s position variable. We find that the limiting equation contains several drift correction terms, the quantum noise-induced drifts, including terms of purely quantum nature, with no classical counterparts.