Deep-learning based photon-efficient 3D and reflectivity imaging with a 64 × 64 single-photon avalanche detector array.

A single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is a high sensitivity detector that can work under weak echo signal conditions (≤1 photon per pixel). The measured digital signals can be used to invert the range and reflectivity images of the target with photon-efficient imaging reconstruction algorithm. However, the existing photon-efficient imaging reconstruction algorithms are susceptible to noise, which leads to poor quality of the reconstructed range and reflectivity images of target. In this paper, a non-local sparse attention encoder (NLSA-Encoder) neural network is proposed to extract the 3D information to reconstruct both the range and reflectivity images of target. The proposed network model can effectively reduce the influence of noise in feature extraction and maintain the capability of long-range correlation feature extraction. In addition, the network is optimized for reconstruction speed to achieve faster reconstruction without performance degradation, compared with other existing deep learning photon-efficient imaging reconstruction methods. The imaging performance is verified through numerical simulation, near-field indoor and far-field outdoor experiments with a 64 × 64 SPAD array. The experimental results show that the proposed network model can achieve better results in terms of the reconstruction quality of range and reflectivity images, as well as reconstruction speed.

Smart enzyme catalysts capable of self-separation by sensing the reaction extent.

A smart biocatalyst should dissolve homogeneously for catalysis and recover spontaneously at the end of the reaction. In this study, we present a strategy for preparing self-precipitating enzyme catalysts by exploiting reaction-induced pH decreases, which connect the reaction extent to the catalyst aggregation state. Using poly(methacrylic acid)-functionalized gold nanoparticles as carriers, we construct smart catalysts with three model systems, including the glucose oxidase (GOx)-catalase (CAT) cascade, the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)-glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) cascade, and a combination of two lipases. All smart catalysts can self-separate with a nearly 100% recovery efficiency when a certain conversion threshold is reached. The threshold can be adjusted depending on the reaction demand and buffer capacity. By monitoring the optical signals caused by the dissolution/precipitation of smart catalysts, we propose a prototypic automation system that may enable unsupervised batch/fed-batch bioprocessing.

L-Borneol 7-O-[ß-D-Apiofuranosyl-(1→6)]-ß-D-Glucopyranoside Alleviates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats and Hypoxic/Reoxygenated Injured Myocardial Cells via Regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway.

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). L-Borneol 7-O-[ß-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (LBAG), extracted from the Radix Ophiopogonis, is the main bioactive component that may be exerting cardiovascular protection in AMI. The purpose was to examine the effects of LBAG on myocardial I/R injury (MIRI) in rats and H9c2 cells treated with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). MIRI was induced through the combination of ischemia with reperfusion for 30 min and 24 h, respectively. LBAG was administered 7 days before vascular ligation. Myocardial function was detected by an electrocardiograph, histological, TTC, and TUNEL staining analyses. The influences of LBAG on the content concentration of cardiac enzymes in the serum were measured by ELISA. Moreover, H9c2 cells were exposed to LBAG or combined with AKT inhibitor (perifosine) and then exposed to H/R for simulating the cardiac injury process. Afterward, cell viability, LDH, CD-KM release, apoptosis, and autophagy were evaluated by CCK-8 and ELISA assays, flow cytometry, TUNEL, and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Additionally, the proteins of apoptosis, autophagy, and PI3K/mTOR pathway were determined by western blotting. In I/R rats, LBAG pretreatment significantly ameliorated cardiac function, as illustrated by reducing the infarct size, myocardial autophagy, and apoptosis levels. In H/R-induced H9c2 cells, LBAG pretreatment significantly decreased cell apoptosis, LC3 II/I, and Beclin 1 levels, elevated the Bcl-2 levels, attenuated LDH, and CD-KM production. Moreover, LBAG pretreatment markedly increased the PI3K/mTOR pathway activation, and the protective influences of LBAG were partly abolished with the AKT inhibitor perifosine treatment. These findings demonstrated the protective functions of LBAG on I/R by regulating apoptosis and autophagy in vitro and in vivo by activating the PI3K/mTOR pathway.