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Accurate interpretation of third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy images in terms of sample optical properties and microstructure is generally hampered by the presence of excitation field distortions resulting from sample heterogeneity. Numerical methods that account for these artifacts need to be established. In this work, we experimentally and numerically analyze the THG contrast obtained from stretched hollow glass pipettes embedded in different liquids. We also characterize the nonlinear optical properties of 2,2[Formula: see text]-thiodiethanol (TDE), a water-soluble index-matching medium. We find that index discontinuity not only changes the level and modulation amplitude of polarization-resolved THG signals, but can even change the polarization direction producing maximum THG near interfaces. We then show that a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) modeling strategy can accurately account for contrast observed in optically heterogeneous samples, whereas reference Fourier-based numerical approaches are accurate only in the absence of index mismatch. This work opens perspectives for interpreting THG microscopy images of tubular objects and other geometries., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Solar ultraviolet longwave UVA1 exposure of human skin has short-term consequences at cellular and molecular level, leading at long-term to photoaging. Following exposure, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated, inducing oxidative stress that might impair cellular metabolic activity. However, the dynamic of UVA1 impact on cellular metabolism remains unknown because of lacking adequate live imaging techniques. Here we assess the UVA1-induced metabolic stress response in reconstructed human skin with multicolor two-photon fluorescence lifetime microscopy (FLIM). Simultaneous imaging of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(P)H) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) by wavelength mixing allows quantifying cellular metabolism in function of NAD(P) + /NAD(P)H and FAD/FADH 2 redox ratios. After UVA1 exposure, we observe an increase of fraction of bound NAD(P)H and decrease of fraction of bound FAD indicating a metabolic switch from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation or oxidative stress possibly correlated to ROS generation. NAD(P)H and FAD biomarkers have unique temporal dynamic and sensitivity to skin cell types and UVA1 dose. While the FAD biomarker is UVA1 dose-dependent in keratinocytes, the NAD(P)H biomarker shows no dose dependence in keratinocytes, but is directly affected after exposure in fibroblasts, thus reflecting different skin cells sensitivities to oxidative stress. Finally, we show that a sunscreen including a UVA1 filter prevents UVA1 metabolic stress response from occurring., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Wave breaking is an important process for energy dissipation in the open ocean and coastal seas. It drives beach morphodynamics, controls air-sea interactions, determines when ship and offshore structure operations can occur safely, and influences on the retrieval of ocean properties from satellites. Still, wave breaking lacks a proper physical understanding mainly due to scarce observational field data. Consequently, new methods and data are required to improve our current understanding of this process. In this paper we present a novel machine learning method to detect active wave breaking, that is, waves that are actively generating visible bubble entrainment in video imagery data. The present method is based on classical machine learning and deep learning techniques and is made freely available to the community alongside this publication. The results indicate that our best performing model had a balanced classification accuracy score of [Formula: see text] 90% when classifying active wave breaking in the test dataset. An example of a direct application of the method includes a statistical description of geometrical and kinematic properties of breaking waves. We expect that the present method and the associated dataset will be crucial for future research related to wave breaking in several areas of research, which include but are not limited to: improving operational forecast models, developing risk assessment and coastal management tools, and refining the retrieval of remotely sensed ocean properties.

Two-photon imaging of endogenous fluorescence can provide physiological and metabolic information from intact tissues. However, simultaneous imaging of multiple intrinsic fluorophores, such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(phosphate) (NAD(P)H), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and retinoids in living systems is generally hampered by sequential multi-wavelength excitation resulting in motion artifacts. Here, we report on efficient and simultaneous multicolor two-photon excitation of endogenous fluorophores with absorption spectra spanning the 750-1040 nm range, using wavelength mixing. By using two synchronized pulse trains at 760 and 1041 nm, an additional equivalent two-photon excitation wavelength at 879 nm is generated, and achieves simultaneous excitation of blue, green and red intrinsic fluorophores. This method permits an efficient simultaneous imaging of the metabolic coenzymes NADH and FAD to be implemented with perfect image co-registration, overcoming the difficulties associated with differences in absorption spectra and disparity in concentration. We demonstrate ratiometric redox imaging free of motion artifacts and simultaneous two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) of NADH and FAD in living tissues. The lifetime gradients of NADH and FAD associated with different cellular metabolic and differentiation states in reconstructed human skin and in the germline of live C. Elegans are thus simultaneously measured. Finally, we present multicolor imaging of endogenous fluorophores and second harmonic generation (SHG) signals during the early stages of Zebrafish embryo development, evidencing fluorescence spectral changes associated with development.

There is a lack of fast and high resolution methods to measure metabolic activity of single cells in their native environment. Here we develop a straightforward, non-invasive and sensitive method to measure metabolic phenotype of single cells in a live tissue. By using NADH as optical biomarker and the phasor approach to Fluorescence Lifetime microscopy (FLIM) we identify cellular metabolic fingerprints related to different rates of oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. For the first time we measure a three dimensional metabolic gradient in the small intestine (SI) epithelia that appears tightly associated with epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation and the Wnt gradient. The highest free/bound NADH ratios are measured at the base of the crypt within the highly proliferative stem cells, indicating high levels of glycolysis. For the first time mouse small intestinal stem cells in intact live crypts are identified within the tissue by their metabolic fingerprint.