Computed tomography-based spectral imaging for fluorescence microscopy.

The computed tomography imaging spectrometer (CTIS) is a non-scanning instrument capable of simultaneously acquiring full spectral information (450-750 nm) from every position element within its field of view (75 microm x 75 microm). The current spatial and spectral sampling intervals of the spectrometer are 1.0 microm and 10 nm, respectively. This level of resolution is adequate to resolve signal responses from multiple fluorescence probes located within individual cells or different locations within the same cell. Spectral imaging results are presented from the CTIS combined with a commercial inverted fluorescence microscope. Results demonstrate the capability of the CTIS to monitor the spatiotemporal evolution of pH in rat insulinoma cells loaded with SNARF-1. The ability to analyze full spectral information for two-dimensional (x, y) images allows precise evaluation of heterogeneous physiological responses within cell populations. Due to low signal levels, integration times up to 2 s were required. However, reasonable modifications to the instrument design will provide higher system transmission efficiency with increased temporal and spatial resolution. Specifically, a custom optical design including the use of a larger format detector array is under development for a second-generation system.

High-speed spectral imager for imaging transient fluorescence phenomena.

We describe fluorescence spectral imaging results with the microscope computed-tomography imaging spectrometer (muCTIS). This imaging spectrometer is capable of recording spatial and spectral data simultaneously. Consequently, muCTIS can be used to image dynamic phenomena. The results presented consist of proof-of-concept imaging results with static targets composed of 6-mum fluorescing microspheres. Image data were collected with integration times of 16 ms, comparable with video-frame-rate integration times. Conversion of raw data acquired by the muCTIS to spatial and spectral data requires postprocessing. The emission spectra were sampled at 10-nm intervals between 420 and 710 nm. The smallest spatial sampling interval presented is 1.7 mum.

Morbilliviral disease in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) from the Gulf of Mexico.

A free-living adult female Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) found dead near Panama City, Florida (USA), had necrotizing and ulcerative tracheitis, suppurative and hemorrhagic pneumonia, and necrotizing myocarditis; fungal hyphae were present in these lesions. Additionally, lungs had multifocal proliferative interstitial pneumonia with occasional syncytial cells. Some syncytial cells and type II pneumocytes contained eosinophilic intranuclear or intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, or both. Based on an immunoperoxidase technique, there was morbilliviral antigen within cytoplasm and nuclei of type II pneumocytes and syncytial cells: antigen also occurred in trachea, skin, liver, stomach, intestine, and uterus. Based on pathologic and immunocytochemical findings, the dolphin had morbillivirus-induced disease. This is the first report of morbilliviral disease in a marine mammal from the Gulf of Mexico.

Self-esteem in alcoholics and nonalcoholics.

Alcoholics scored lower on a test of self-esteem than did nonalcoholics, Alcoholics with lower self-esteem were found to be more willing to seek treatment than those with higher self-esteem.