British Columbia Institute of Technology

About: British Columbia Institute of Technology is a education organization based out in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Smart grid & Belief revision. The organization has 458 authors who have published 785 publications receiving 16140 citations.

Image-based phenotyping of disaggregated cells using deep learning

Abstract: The ability to phenotype cells is fundamentally important in biological research and medicine. Current methods rely primarily on fluorescence labeling of specific markers. However, there are many situations where this approach is unavailable or undesirable. Machine learning has been used for image cytometry but has been limited by cell agglomeration and it is currently unclear if this approach can reliably phenotype cells that are difficult to distinguish by the human eye. Here, we show disaggregated single cells can be phenotyped with a high degree of accuracy using low-resolution bright-field and non-specific fluorescence images of the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cytoskeleton. Specifically, we trained a convolutional neural network using automatically segmented images of cells from eight standard cancer cell-lines. These cells could be identified with an average F1-score of 95.3%, tested using separately acquired images. Our results demonstrate the potential to develop an "electronic eye" to phenotype cells directly from microscopy images.

Optimization and single-laboratory validation of a method for the determination of flavonolignans in milk thistle seeds by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

Abstract: Seeds of milk thistle, Silybum marianum (L) Gaertn, are used for treatment and prevention of liver disorders and were identified as a high priority ingredient requiring a validated analytical method An AOAC International expert panel reviewed existing methods and made recommendations concerning method optimization prior to validation A series of extraction and separation studies were undertaken on the selected method for determining flavonolignans from milk thistle seeds and finished products to address the review panel recommendations Once optimized, a single-laboratory validation study was conducted The method was assessed for repeatability, accuracy, selectivity, LOD, LOQ, analyte stability, and linearity Flavonolignan content ranged from 140 to 5286 % in raw materials and dry finished products and ranged from 3616 to 15707 μg/mL in liquid tinctures Repeatability for the individual flavonolignans in raw materials and finished products ranged from 103 to 988 % RSDr, with HorRat values between 021 and 155 Calibration curves for all flavonolignan concentrations had correlation coefficients of >998 % The LODs for the flavonolignans ranged from 020 to 048 μg/mL at 288 nm Based on the results of this single-laboratory validation, this method is suitable for the quantitation of the six major flavonolignans in milk thistle raw materials and finished products, as well as multicomponent products containing dandelion, schizandra berry, and artichoke extracts It is recommended that this method be adopted as First Action Official Method status by AOAC International

Hypolipidemic and cardioprotective benefits of a novel fireberry hawthorn fruit extract in the JCR:LA-cp rodent model of dyslipidemia and cardiac dysfunction.

Abstract: Hawthorn is a widely used herbal alternative medicine for the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases. However, the attributed health benefits, purported to be due to the presence of phenolic compounds, may depend on both the specific species and plant part. Studies to date investigating effects of hawthorn on heart disease(s) have used well-described European and/or Asian species, while little is known regarding the bioactivity of species native to North America. Six weeks of supplementation of both fireberry hawthorn berry (native Crataegus chrysocarpa) and English hawthorn leaf (C. monogyna, naturalized in North America) in the JCR:LA-cp rat, resulted in a significant reduction in heart weight, fasting LDL-C and improved heart function (p < 0.05). Fasting triglyceride and myocardial fibrosis were also reduced, but only by the berry extract. We demonstrate that both of the Canadian-sourced hawthorn extracts (introduced leaf and native berry) have cardioprotective benefits, likely via increased availability of nitric oxide.