Development of an efficient protein phosphatase-based colorimetric test for okadaic acid detection

Okadaic acid (OA), responsible for gastrointestinal problems, inhibits protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Therefore, the inhibition exerted by the toxin on PP2A could be used to detect the presence of OA in aqueous solution and in shellfish sample.In this work, two commercial PP2As (from ZEU Immunotec and Millipore) and one produced by molecular engineering (from GTP Technology) were tested. Enzymes were used in solution and also immobilized within a polymeric gel. In solution, best performances were obtained using PP2A purchased from ZEU Immunotec (Spain). OA was detected in aqueous solution in concentration as low as 0.0124 μg L⁻¹ using the enzyme from ZEU Immunotec whereas the detection limits were 0.47 μg L⁻¹ and 0.123 μg L⁻¹ with PP2As from Millipore and GTP Technology, respectively. Considering that the immobilization step contributes to stabilize the PP2A activity, enzymes were entrapped within a photopolymer and an agarose gel. These different polymeric matrices were optimized, tested and compared. Agarose gel seems to be a good alternative to the photopolymer largely used in our group. For instance, the IC₅₀ value obtained with the test based on PP2A from ZEU Immunotec immobilized within an agarose gel was 1.98 μg L⁻¹. This value was 1.8-fold lower than those obtained with the photopolymer test using the same enzyme. The proposed test is sensitive, fast and does not require expensive equipment. To evaluate the efficiency of the assay, PP inhibition tests based on PP2A from ZEU Immunotec in solution or immobilized within a gel were used for OA detection in contaminated shellfish.     

Line tension action on 2D networks of gold nanoparticles obtained by the Bubble Deposition Method

The self-assembling properties of surfactant black films are used to obtain sizeable, dense islands of nanoparticles. Using the "Bubble Deposition Method" (BDM) these films are transferred onto solid substrates. The organisation within the islands evolves when the films are allowed to equilibrate before deposition. The results on model gold particles are discussed in terms of line tension.     

Spectroscopy of Dibenzorubicene: Experimental Data for a Search in Interstellar Spectra

We report on the characterization of dibenzo[cde,opq]rubicene (C₃₀H₁₄). The molecule was studied in solution at room temperature with absorption spectroscopy in the visible (vis) and ultraviolet (UV) wavelength ranges, and with emission spectroscopy. The infrared (IR), visible, ultraviolet, and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) absorption spectra of a thin film were measured also at room temperature. In addition, the UV/vis absorption spectrum was measured at cryogenic temperatures using the matrix isolation spectroscopy technique. The interpretation of spectra was supported by theoretical calculations based on semiempirical and ab initio models, as well as on density functional theory. Finally, the results of the laboratory study were compared with interstellar spectra.     

Theoretical and experimental studies of CH3X-Y2 rotational line shapes for atmospheric spectra modelling: application to room-temperature CH3Cl-O2

The case of symmetric tops CH(3)X (X = Br, Cl, F, …) perturbed by non-polar diatoms Y(2) (Y = N(2), O(2), …) is analysed from the viewpoint of theoretical collisional broadening of their rotational lines observed in atmospheric spectra. A semi-classical approach involving an exponential representation of the scattering operator and exact trajectories governed by the isotropic potential is presented. For the first time the active molecule is strictly treated as a symmetric top and the atom-atom interactions are included in the intermolecular potential model. It is shown for the CH(3)Cl-O(2) system that these interactions contribute significantly to the line width for all values of the rotational quantum numbers J and K. Additional testing of modifications required in the semi-classical formalism for a correct application of the cumulant expansion is performed and it is shown that the use of the cumulant average on the rotational states of the perturbing molecule leads to entirely negligible effects for the not very strongly interacting CH(3)Cl-O(2) system. In order to check the theoretical predictions and to extend the scarce experimental data available in the literature to higher values of the rotational quantum numbers, new measurements of room-temperature O(2)-broadened CH(3)Cl rotational lines are carried out by a photomixing continuous-wave terahertz spectrometer. The experimental line widths extracted with a Voigt profile model demonstrate an excellent agreement with theoretical results up to very high J-values (J = 31, 37, 40, 45, 50).     

High sensitive matrix-free mass spectrometry analysis of peptides using silicon nanowires-based digital microfluidic device

We present for the first time an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) microfluidic system coupled to a surface-assisted laser desorption-ionization (SALDI) silicon nanowire-based interface for mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of small biomolecules. Here, the transfer of analytes has been achieved on specific locations on the SALDI interface followed by their subsequent mass spectrometry analysis without the use of an organic matrix. To achieve this purpose, a device comprising a digital microfluidic system and a patterned superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic silicon nanowire interface was developed. The digital microfluidic system serves for the displacement of the droplets containing analytes, via an electrowetting actuation, inside the superhydrophilic patterns. The nanostructured silicon interface acts as an inorganic target for matrix-free laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry analysis of the dried analytes. The proposed device can be easily used to realize several basic operations of a Lab-on-Chip such as analyte displacement and rinsing prior to MS analysis. We have demonstrated that the analysis of low molecular weight compounds (700 m/z) can be achieved with a very high sensitivity (down to 10 fmol μL(-1)).     

Refractive-index and density matching in concentrated particle suspensions: a review

Optical measurement techniques such as particle image velocimetry (PIV) and laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) are now routinely used in experimental fluid mechanics to investigate pure fluids or dilute suspensions. For highly concentrated particle suspensions, material turbidity has long been a substantial impediment to these techniques, which explains why they have been scarcely used so far. A renewed interest has emerged with the development of specific methods combining the use of iso-index suspensions and imaging techniques. This review paper gives a broad overview of recent advances in visualization techniques suited to concentrated particle suspensions. In particular, we show how classic methods such as PIV, LDV, particle tracking velocimetry, and laser induced fluorescence can be adapted to deal with concentrated particle suspensions.     

Criterion for identification of ferroelectric domains in TGS crystals from AFM images

Criteria for identification of actual (dynamic) domains and morphologically similar domain “memory” regions are proposed based on the study of various types of contrast of topographic atomic-force microscopy images of lenslike regions on the polar surface of TGS crystals. Inaccuracy in identification may result in further errors in estimating the parameters of the domain structure. The images of ferroelectric domains in the spreading-resistance mode that indicate directly the presence of conductive properties of the domain walls have been obtained for the first time.     

硫氰酸铵树脂相分光光度法同时测定天然水中微量铁和钴

研究了在Ｔｗｅｅｎ－８０存在的酸性介质中，Ｆｅ（Ⅲ）和Ｃｏ（Ⅱ）与ＳＣＮ＾－形成稳定的有色络阴离子与阴树脂交换吸附，有色络合物富集显色于树脂组上，进行树脂组分光光度集显色于树脂相上，进行树脂相分光光度法同时测定铁和钴的实验条件，Ｆｅ（Ⅲ）和Ｃｏ（Ⅱ）树脂具有色络合物最大吸收波长λｍａｘ分别为４９０ｎｍ和６３０ｎｍ，摩尔吸光系数，ε为２．４×１０＾５Ｌ．ｍｏｌ＾－１．ｃｍ＾－１和２．１×１０＾５Ｌ．     

Anomalous isotopic effect in multibubble sonoluminescence of aqueous solutions of terbium chloride

An anomalously low isotope effect has been discovered in 20-kHz sonoluminescence of terbium chloride solutions in H₂O-D₂O mixtures. The intensity of luminescence in the characteristic 488-and 545-nm lines of the Tb³⁺ ion, which are observed against the solvent continuum (230–700 nm), increases with the content of D₂O to a maximum value of 4.0 ± 0.4, whereas the isotope effect in photoluminescence of the same solutions reaches 10 ± 1.0. The result is explained using the model of nonexponential decay of sonoluminescence of Tb³⁺ ions. These ions, which are formed in an excited state in cavitation bubbles, first undergo radiative and radiationless deactivation in the gas phase. However, some excited ions enter the solution bulk, because the excitation lifetime is longer than the average bubble lifetime. At the first stage, the isotope effect is small, because the density of the gas phase is low and quenching by solvent molecules is weak. At the second stage, the isotope effect coincides with the effect in usual photoluminescence in the solution. The total decrease in the effect in sonoluminescence depends on the weight of the “gas” stage of deactivation of excited Tb³⁺ ions.     

Inexistence de structures affines sur les fibrés de Seifert

Sans résumé

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