Provided is a biological specimen holder for positioning multiple specimens for imaging by a light-sheet microscope. The specimen holder allows developing plant embryos, small intact animals, or organs to be imaged in the light-sheet microscope in a single setting. The specimen holders significantly improve the imaging conditions with respect to the standard glass capillary system. Also provided is a semi-automatic image processing pipeline that quantifies cell divisions of plants imaged with both the glass capillary and the novel chambers. Plants imaged using the specimen holder undergo cell divisions for a period at least 16 times longer than those imaged with a glass capillary system and allow increased sample throughput and the option of incorporating light emitting diode (LED) lights to generate a light-controlled environment are also advantages.

A hoof shoe or hoof shoe insert for a hoofed animal. An object is to relieve the pressure on the foot of a hoofed animal, in particular of a horse, on a hard ground surface. This may be achieved by a foamed plastics cushion which is arranged between the hoof of the animal and the ground surface and which is composed of a closed-cell plastics foam having a thermoplastic or elastomeric matrix with a density of between 100 and 400 all and which, at 50% compression, has a compressive stress of 150-280 kPa.

A hoof shoe or hoof shoe insert for a hoofed animal. An object is to relieve the pressure on the foot of a hoofed animal, in particular of a horse, on a hard ground surface. This may be achieved by a foamed plastics cushion which is arranged between the hoof of the animal and the ground surface and which is composed of a closed-cell plastics foam having a thermoplastic or elastomeric matrix with a density of between 100 and 400 all and which, at 50% compression, has a compressive stress of 150-280 kPa.

Provided herein are methods for processing and/or detecting a sample. A method can comprise providing a barrier between a first region and a second region, wherein the first region comprises the sample, wherein the barrier maintains the first region at a first atmosphere that is different than a second atmosphere of the second region, wherein a portion of the barrier comprises a fluid in coherent motion; and using a detector at least partially contained in the first region to detect one or more signals from the sample while the first region is maintained at the first atmosphere that is different than the second atmosphere of the second region. The portion of the barrier comprising fluid may have a pressure lower than the first atmosphere, the second atmosphere, or both.

A microscope for computational microscopic layer separation may include an imaging device that includes a lens and an image sensor, an illumination system for illuminating a sample, and an actuator to adjust an axial position of a focal plane with respect to the sample. The microscope may also include a processor operatively coupled to the imaging device and the illumination system. The processor may be configured to measure, using the image sensor and the illumination system, optical aberrations of the imaging device at the axial position, and determine whether to adjust the focal plane with respect to the sample in response to the one or more optical aberrations. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

A microscope for computational microscopic layer separation may include an imaging device that includes a lens and an image sensor, an illumination system for illuminating a sample, and an actuator to adjust an axial position of a focal plane with respect to the sample. The microscope may also include a processor operatively coupled to the imaging device and the illumination system. The processor may be configured to measure, using the image sensor and the illumination system, optical aberrations of the imaging device at the axial position, and determine whether to adjust the focal plane with respect to the sample in response to the one or more optical aberrations. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

A calibration standard for determining an intensity decay related to an evanescent field generated close to the interface between a sample to be tested and a substrate on which the sample is to be deposited, preparation and analysis methods and use thereof.

An apparatus includes a bottom panel with a transparent region and ceramic sidewalls affixed to the bottom panel to form a container. Electrodes are disposed on the outer surface of the sidewalls at positions selected so that when a sample is positioned in the container, applying a voltage between the electrodes induces an electric field through the sample. Electrical conductors provide contact with the electrodes. All the components are sized and shaped to facilitate positioning of the container on the stage of an inverted microscope so that when the sample is positioned in the container, light emanating from a light source is free to travel along an optical path that passes through the sample, through the transparent region, and into the objective of the inverted microscope. The electrodes and conductors are positioned with respect to the transparent region so as not to interfere with the optical path.

An apparatus includes a bottom panel with a transparent region and ceramic sidewalls affixed to the bottom panel to form a container. Electrodes are disposed on the outer surface of the sidewalls at positions selected so that when a sample is positioned in the container, applying a voltage between the electrodes induces an electric field through the sample. Electrical conductors provide contact with the electrodes. All the components are sized and shaped to facilitate positioning of the container on the stage of an inverted microscope so that when the sample is positioned in the container, light emanating from a light source is free to travel along an optical path that passes through the sample, through the transparent region, and into the objective of the inverted microscope. The electrodes and conductors are positioned with respect to the transparent region so as not to interfere with the optical path.

A mobile phone-based dark field microscope (MDFM) apparatus suitable for quantifying nanoparticle signals is provided. The MDFM apparatus includes an electrically operated light source, a dark-field condenser, a slide housing configured to receive an analytical slide, and an adapter housing configured to receive an objective lens and receive a portable electronic communication device. The slide housing positions the analytical slide between the objective lens and the dark-field condenser. The adapter housing registers the objective lens with a camera lens of the portable electronic communication device. A method for performing a biological quantitative study using the dark-field microscope apparatus is further provided.