During lateral root (LR) development, morphological alteration of the developing single LR primordium occurs continuously. Precise observation of this continuous alteration is important for understanding the mechanism involved in single LR development. Recently, we reported that very long-chain fatty acids are important signalling molecules that regulate LR development. In the study, we developed an efficient method to quantify the transition of single LR developmental stages using time-lapse imaging followed by a deep neural network (DNN) analysis. In this ‘insight’ paper, we discuss our DNN method and the importance of time-lapse imaging in studies on plant development. Integrating DNN analysis and imaging is a powerful technique for the quantification of the timing of the transition of organ morphology; it can become an important method to elucidate spatiotemporal molecular mechanisms in plant development.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether, in consecutive intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles, embryonic development in an incubator with a time-lapse imaging (TLI) system is better than the previous one obtained in a benchtop incubator (G-185) with similar cultivation characteristics. The study was of a retrospective within-subject design, in which each cycle served as its own control. Data were obtained via the chart review of patients undergoing ICSI in a private university-affiliated in vitro fertilization (IVF) centre who fulfilled the following criteria: second ICSI attempt in which embryos were cultured in a TLI incubator system (TLI group, n = 71), preceded by a first ICSI attempt in which embryos were cultured in a benchtop incubator (Control group, n = 71). Embryonic development up to the fifth day of development, oocyte utilization rate (OUR; transferred embryos plus frozen embryos per total number of retrieved oocytes) and embryo utilization rate (EUR; transferred embryos plus frozen embryos per normally fertilized oocyte) were compared between the groups. There were significant differences in the day 2 non-cleavage rate, day 5 embryo rate, blastocyst development rate, frozen blastocyst rate, OUR, and EUR, in favour of the TLI group. Embryonic development, frozen blastocyst rate, OUR and EUR in the second ICSI cycle were significantly improved when the culture was performed in the EmbryoScope, compared with those rates obtained with culture in a G-185 in the first ICSI cycle of the same patients. The results may also lead to higher cumulative pregnancy outcomes following embryo thawing and transfer.

Using the KIDScoreTM D3 (KID3) scoring system, day 3 embryos observed by time-lapse imaging (TLI) were scored to explore the predictive value of the KID scoring system on the developmental potential of embryos. The kinetic parameters of 477 normal fertilized embryos from 77 patients who underwent TLI in our hospital from January 2019 to June 2020 were evaluated by KID3, and the embryos were divided into five groups according to the scores for retrospective analysis of blastocyst formation. Additionally, the high-quality blastocyst formation rate, pregnancy rate and early abortion rate were analyzed via KID3 and traditional morphological assessments, and comparisons of differences among different ages were also performed. In the KID3 estimate, the blastocyst or high-quality blastocyst formation rate in the score 5 group was markedly higher than that in the score 1–4 groups. Blastocyst or high-quality blastocyst formation rates in the A group (the results of two evaluation tools indicated they were excellent embryos) and the B group (KID3: excellent embryos, traditional evaluation: not excellent embryos) were evidently increased in comparison with the C or D group (KID3: not excellent embryos, traditional evaluation: excellent embryo or not, respectively). Furthermore, the percentages of score 5 embryos, blastocyst and high-quality blastocyst formation rates for patients ≥ 35 years old were markedly decreased compared with those for patients < 34 years old, while the trends of nondiploid cleavage, multinucleation and asymmetric division were the opposite. Collectively, the KID3 scoring system may be a promising predictive tool for screening embryos with better developmental potential.

Astronauts who spend significant time in space may experience intracranial hypertension (pressure inside the skull), which often does not normalize upon return to Earth. This type of intracranial pressure can cause vision problems, headaches, glaucoma, and other serious health problems, making it a significant obstacle to long-duration space exploration missions. NASA is hoping that a better understanding of how central nervous system stem cells divide in microgravity will help lead to ways to protect astronauts from problems with intracranial pressure and to design adequate preventive measures. These studies examine cell growth and division of neural stem cells that experienced microgravity on the International Space Station and were returned to normal gravity prior to live-cell imaging studies to determine cell changes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro biocompatibility of two dental composites (namely A and B) with similar chemical composition used for direct restoration using three-dimensional confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) time-lapse imaging. Time-lapse imaging was performed on cultured human HGF-1 fibroblast-like cells after staining using Live/Dead®. Image analysis showed a higher mortality rate in the presence of composite A than composite B. The viability rate decreased in a time-dependent manner during the 5 h of exposure. Morphological alterations were associated with toxic effects; cells were enlarged and more rounded in the presence of composite A as shown by F-actin and cell nuclei staining. Resazurin assay was used to confirm the active potential of composites in cell metabolism; results showed severe cytotoxic effects in the presence of both no light-curing composites after 24 h of direct contact. However, extracts of polymerized composites induced a moderate decrease in cell metabolism after the same incubation period. Composite B was significantly better tolerated than composite A at all investigated end points and all time points. The finding confirmed that the used CLSM method was sufficiently sensitive to differentiate the biocompatibility behavior of two composites based on similar methacrylate monomers.