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1. Flat mount preparation for whole-mount fluorescent imaging of zebrafish embryos

   https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.060048  

   Frommelt, Joseph; Liu, Emily; Bhaidani, Afraz; Hu, Bo; Gao, Yuanyuan; Ye, Ding; Lin, Fang (July 2023, Biology Open)

   ABSTRACT The zebrafish is a widely used model organism for biomedical research due to its ease of maintenance, external fertilization of embryos, rapid embryonic development, and availability of established genetic tools. One notable advantage of using zebrafish is the transparency of the embryos, which enables high-resolution imaging of specific cells, tissues, and structures through the use of transgenic and knock-in lines. However, as the embryo develops, multiple layers of tissue wrap around the lipid-enriched yolk, which can create a challenge to image tissues located deep within the embryo. While various methods are available, such as two-photon imaging, cryosectioning, vibratome sectioning, and micro-surgery, each of these has limitations. In this study, we present a novel deyolking method that allows for high-quality imaging of tissues that are obscured by other tissues and the yolk. Embryos are lightly fixed in 1% PFA to remove the yolk without damaging embryonic tissues and are then refixed in 4% PFA and mounted on custom-made bridged slides. This method offers a simple way to prepare imaging samples that can be subjected to further preparation, such as immunostaining. Furthermore, the bridged slides described in this study can be used for imaging tissue and organ preparations from various model organisms. 

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2. BICEP array cryostat and mount design

   https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312829  

   Crumrine, Michael; Ade, P.A.R.; Ahmed, Zeeshan; Aikin, Randol; Alexander, Kate D.; Barkats, Denis; Benton, Steve J.; Bischoff, Colin; Bock, James J.; Bowens-Rubin, Rachel; et al (July 2018, SPIE)
3. Soft Retraction Device and Internal Camera Mount for Everting Vine Robots

   William E. Heap, Nicholas D. (January 2021, Proceedings of the IEEERSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems)

   null (Ed.)

   Soft, tip-extending, pneumatic “vine robots” that grow via eversion are well suited for navigating cluttered environments. Two key mechanisms that add to the robot’s functionality are a tip-mounted retraction device that allows the growth process to be reversed, and a tip-mounted camera that enables vision. However, previous designs used rigid, relatively heavy electromechanical retraction devices and external camera mounts, which reduce some advantages of these robots. These designs prevent the robot from squeezing through tight gaps, make it challenging to lift the robot tip against gravity, and require the robot to drag components against the environment. To address these limitations, we present a soft, pneumatically driven retraction device and an internal camera mount that are both lightweight and smaller than the diameter of the robot. The retraction device is composed of a soft, extending pneumatic actuator and a pair of soft clamping actuators that work together in an inch-worming motion. The camera mount sits inside the robot body and is kept at the tip of the robot by two low-friction interlocking components. We present characterizations of our retraction device and demonstrations that the robot can grow and retract through turns, tight gaps, and sticky environments while transmitting live video from the tip. Our designs advance the ability of everting vine robots to navigate difficult terrain while collecting data. 

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4. Cavefish mount a rapid and sustained regenerative response following skeletal muscle injury

   https://doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.486  

   Olsen, Luke; Hassan, Huzaifa; Xia, Fanning; Keaton, Sarah; Rohner, Nicolas (January 2023, Zoological Research)
5. A Tip Mount for Transporting Sensors and Tools using Soft Growing Robots

   https://doi.org/10.1109/IROS45743.2020.9340950  

   Jeong, Sang-Goo; Coad, Margaret M.; Blumenschein, Laura H.; Luo, Ming; Mehmood, Usman; Kim, Ji Hun; Okamura, Allison M.; Ryu, Jee-Hwan (October 2020, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS))

   null (Ed.)

   Pneumatically operated soft growing robots that extend via tip eversion are well-suited for navigation in confined spaces. Adding the ability to interact with the environment using sensors and tools attached to the robot tip would greatly enhance the usefulness of these robots for exploration in the field. However, because the material at the tip of the robot body continually changes as the robot grows and retracts, it is challenging to keep sensors and tools attached to the robot tip during actuation and environment interaction. In this paper, we analyze previous designs for mounting to the tip of soft growing robots, and we present a novel device that successfully remains attached to the robot tip while providing a mounting point for sensors and tools. Our tip mount incorporates and builds on our previous work on a device to retract the robot without undesired buckling of its body. Using our tip mount, we demonstrate two new soft growing robot capabilities: (1) pulling on the environment while retracting, and (2) retrieving and delivering objects. Finally, we discuss the limitations of our design and opportunities for improvement in future soft growing robot tip mounts. 

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