Assessing nest-building behavior of mice using a 3D depth camera.

We developed a novel method to evaluate the nest-building behavior of mice using an inexpensive depth camera. The depth camera clearly captured nest-building behavior. Using three-dimensional information from the depth camera, we obtained objective features for assessing nest-building behavior, including "volume," "radius," and "mean height". The "volume" represents the change in volume of the nesting material, a pressed cotton square that a mouse shreds and untangles in order to build its nest. During the nest-building process, the total volume of cotton fragments is increased. The "radius" refers to the radius of the circle enclosing the fragments of cotton. It describes the extent of nesting material dispersion. The "radius" averaged approximately 60mm when a nest was built. The "mean height" represents the change in the mean height of objects. If the nest walls were high, the "mean height" was also high. These features provided us with useful information for assessment of nest-building behavior, similar to conventional methods for the assessment of nest building. However, using the novel method, we found that JF1 mice built nests with higher walls than B6 mice, and B6 mice built nests faster than JF1 mice. Thus, our novel method can evaluate the differences in nest-building behavior that cannot be detected or quantified by conventional methods. In future studies, we will evaluate nest-building behaviors of genetically modified, as well as several inbred, strains of mice, with several nesting materials.

Automation, bar coding bring patient account management down to size.

By combining bar code scanning technology with computer-assisted record retrieval technology, St. Vincent Hospital and Healthcare Center in Indianapolis, Ind., has automated its patient financial records management operation. In the process, the hospital has not only streamlined its account management process, but has also reduced labor and storage costs and improved access to patient information.

[Electrophotographic microfilming for archiving roentgenograms and electroroentgenograms]. / Elektrofotograficheskoe mikrofil'mirovanie dlia arkhivirovaniia rentgeno- i élektrorentgenogramm.

A method of electrophotographic microfilming was proposed for keeping radiograms and electroradiograms in archives. Some experimental studies on microfilming positive and negative electroradiograms of phantom materials and various body tissues were carried out using the Soviet AE-1524 camera. An attempt was made to set up a scientific archive of electroradiograms and radiograms on electrographic microreels. Obvious advantages of the method of electrographic microfilming in setting up compact and convenient archives of X-ray images were shown.

Time-lapse microcinematography of the effect of thiazolidine carboxylic acid (thioproline) upon tissue cultures.

This work deals with the effect of thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (thioproline) upon several in vitro established human cell lines. Times-lapse microcinematography is used to study the action of thioproline on HeLa cells, employing high doses during a short time, and continuous exposure to medium and small doses. The effect of thioproline in mixed cultures of HeLa cells and human lymphoblasts is described. Special attention is paid to the observed cell cycle phase specificity, and to the phenomenon described as reverse transformation that has been associated to the drug. Marked differences is the sensitivity to thioproline are observed for the different types of in vitro established cell lines. The effect is always produced during the G1 and S phases of the cell cycle. Cell changes are produced only after contacting with one another, and the biochemical reactions which are proper of cell contact inhibition of growth and/or genotypic reverse transformation were never observed, so that the mechanism of action of the drug has to be revised. From a morphodynamic point of view, thioproline is an interesting drug because it produces peculiar effects which differ markedly from those produced by the other cancer chemotherapy agents. Thioproline could prove to be useful for cancer chemotherapy if used in combination with other drugs, knowing that it is a low activity phase specific antineoplastic drug and not a drug producing reverse transformation.

Microcinematographic analysis of the motility of human spermatozoa incubated with caffeine.

The effects of incubation with caffeine at final concentration of 0.5 and 5.0 mM for 30 min at ambient temperature were examined in three normal semen samples and three from asthenozoospermic men. A 50 frames/s microcinematographic analysis of the sperm motility was performed and two characteristic parameters of the trajectories, the progression velocity (Vp) and the amplitude of lateral head displacement (Ah), were measured. At the lower concentration (0.5 mM) no significant effects on the overall mean values (i.e. for all spermatozoa analyzed over the 6 samples) of Vp Ah were found. However, at 5.0 mM a significant reduction in the overall mean Vp was noted. The individual responses were variable between the 6 samples, but only in two of the asthenozoospermic samples and one normal ejaculate were the slow-swimming (less than 20 micrometer/s) spermatozoa accelerated by caffeine treatment. In other samples a reduction in the velocity of faster-swimming spermatozoa was observed. It would seem preferable to reserve caffeine treatment only for severe cases of asthenozoospermia where the distribution of sperm velocities of skewed towards low values.

In vitro motility of cells from human epidermoid carcinomas. A study by phase-contrast and reflection-contrast cinematography.

The motile behavior of six cell lines derived from human squamous carcinomas (two from the larynx, four from the tongue) was studied by cinematography under phase- and reflection-contrast illumination. The recorded cell activities consist in spreading, stationary and translocation motility, and aggregate formation. Within this common pattern, quantitative modifications ("sub-pattern") are stable properties of the individual cells lines. Such modifications are particularly evident with regard to the dynamic texture of the aggregates which ranges from loose, netlike structures to compact islands with smooth borders. Accordingly, the intensity of cell traffic within and around the aggregates varies considerably. It is discussed to what extent the in vitro motility of the carcinoma cell populations reflects their behavior in the organism and thus the significance of cell movements for invasion.

[Method of microphotoexposure]. / K metodike mikrofotoeksponirovaniia.

It is suggested that a photoexposure meter "Photon-1" (TU-4-72) be used for the determination of exposure in microphotography. The photoelement of the apparatus is overlaid on the eyepiece of the photo device. The regulator of the apparatus is set in a position corresponding to the film sensitivity. The exposure meter shows exposure time in seconds.

The evolution of a functional real-time laboratory records retrieval and archival system.

The vast flood of information resulting from medical record keeping in a clinical laboratory must be cataloged and archived. To deal with this problem we designed an approach employing automated report generation by a laboratory computer, data base management of patient laboratory results, and automated microform generation via computer output microform (COM). This paper documents the steps that led to the system we are currently employing. The system described maintains the availability of current patient laboratory data, creates a microform archive and an on-line index, and serves as the data base for research inquiries. In addition, we have experienced a cost savings over manual procedures and now possess the capability of expansion without the costly addition of personnel.