Synthesis and antibody conjugation of magnetic nanoparticles with improved specific power absorption rates for alternating magnetic field cancer therapy

Bionized nanoferrite (BNF) particles with high specific power absorption rates were synthesized in the size range of 20–100 nm by high-pressure homogenization for targeted cancer therapy with alternating magnetic fields. Several strategies were used to conjugate antibodies to the BNF particles. These strategies were compared using an immunoassay to find optimal conditions to reach a high immunoreactivity of the final antibody–particle conjugate.     

Correction of counting losses of the preloaded fil ter pulse processor

By adapting noise filtering to individual pulse intervals, the Preloaded Filter (PLF) pulse processor (1) combines high resolution with optimum throughput efficiency. As a consequence, its output pulse interval distribution contains strong non-random components which render conventional ADC dead-time correction an impossibility. Quantitative correction of dead-time and pileup losses of the PLF processor may be achieved, however, with the Virtual Pulse Generator (2), together with a new, distribution-independent method of measuring ADC losses which is based on a pulse counting technique.     

Absolute solvation free energy of Li+ and Na+ ions in dimethyl sulfoxide solution: a theoretical ab initio and cluster-continuum model study

The solvation of the lithium and sodium ions in dimethyl sulfoxide solution was theoretically investigated using ab initio calculations coupled with the hybrid cluster-continuum model, a quasichemical theory of solvation. We have investigated clusters of ions with up to five dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) molecules, and the bulk solvent was described by a dielectric continuum model. Our results show that the lithium and sodium ions have four and five DMSO molecules into the first coordination shell, and the calculated solvation free energies are -135.5 and -108.6 kcal mol(-1), respectively. These data suggest a solvation free energy value of -273.2 kcal mol(-1) for the proton in dimethyl sulfoxide solution, a value that is more negative than the present uncertain experimental value. This and previous studies on the solvation of ions in water solution indicate that the tetraphenylarsonium tetraphenylborate assumption is flawed and the absolute value of the free energy of transfer of ions from water to DMSO solution is higher than the present experimental values.     

Ionic Organic Film Sensor for Determination of Phenolic Compounds

This paper describes the development of a new sensor based on an ionic organic film. The amphiphilic molecule, 4‐[(4‐decyloxyphenyl)‐ethynyl]‐1‐methylpyridinium iodide (10PyI), which has liquid‐crystalline properties, was synthesized and applied in the construction of a GCE/10PyI sensor. Analytical parameters for caffeic acid, repeatability (4.8 %), reproducibility (2.8 %), linearity (two ranges: 9.9×10^?7 to 3.8×10^?5 mol L^?1 and 4.7×10^?5 to 9.9×10^?5 mol L^?1) and detection limits (9.0×10^?7 mol L^?1 and 8.7×10^?6 mol L^?1), were determined. The method was successfully applied in the determination of total phenolic compounds (TPC) in mate herb extracts.     

Atomic structure of Cu{0 0 1}c(2 × 2)-Cl

A LEED intensity analysis of Cu{0 0 1}c(2 × 2)-Cl has given an excellent fit of theory to experiment with Cl in the fourfold symmetrical hollows in a simple overlayer structure with a Cu-Cl bond length of 2.38 Å. This structure is consistent with an analysis of angle-resolved photoemission measurements made in the same experiments and published elsewhere. These results help confirm the LEED analysis of the analogous system Ag{0 0 1}c(2 × 2)-Cl which gave the same structure, but had been rejected by an independent photoemission analysis.     

Study of the neutron quantum states in the gravity field

We have studied neutron quantum states in the potential well formed by the earths gravitational field and a horizontal mirror. The estimated characteristic sizes of the neutron wave functions in the two lowest quantum states correspond to expectations with an experimental accuracy. A position-sensitive neutron detector with an extra-high spatial resolution of m was developed and tested for this particular experiment, to be used to measure the spatial density distribution in a standing neutron wave above a mirror for a set of some of the lowest quantum states. The present experiment can be used to set an upper limit for an additional short-range fundamental force. We studied methodological uncertainties as well as the feasibility of improving further the accuracy of this experiment.Received: 31 July 2004, Published online: 7 March 2005PACS: 03.65, 28.20 Correspondence to: V. Nesvizhevsky     

Potential allergenicity of novel proteins in murine models

Bioengineered crops represent an important advancement for farmers who want to avoid losses caused by insect infestations or adverse environmental conditions. However, the use of modern biotechnology has raised questions regarding the safety of bioengineered foods because of the potential allergenicity of proteins expressed by the newly introduced genes. Standard approaches for safety assessment of these foods are still evolving. Animal models have been suggested as a tool that could help evaluate the potential allergenicity of such compounds. Several investigators are developing animal models to evaluate novel proteins, but none of these have yet been validated. This article reviews the published murine models, rat and mouse in particular, and the different methods used to evaluate parameters related to allergy. It also addresses the factors involved in the development of a model. Finally, it raises some questions that should be considered by the international community so that financial and intellectual efforts can be addressed in a unified manner.     

Buried interfaces studied by photoelectron diffraction

Angle- and energy-scanned photoelectron diffraction data can be used to investigate structures below surfaces. The modulations in photoelectron intensity result from diffraction of the emitted electron wave at neighbor atoms. In the past, scanned-energy photoelectron diffraction had been mainly used to determine the adsorption site of molecules at surfaces. Recent data show, however, that the technique can also be employed to obtain information about the upper substrate layer(s). At low kinetic energies, backward scattering is strong and in scanned-angle photoelectron diffraction the recorded patterns result from backward- and multiple-scattering effects. For a structural analysis, the intensity modulations have to be compared with the results for simulations performed for model clusters. As an example, recent angle-scanned photoelectron diffraction patterns recorded for the technologically important silicon oxide/silicon interface were compared with simulations. At the Si(001) surface orientation, the interface is extended over a few layers, whereas at the Si(111) surface orientation the transition is rather abrupt and occurs within one or two layers. Received: 9 September 2002 / Accepted: 2 October 2002 / Published online: 5 February 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-231/755-3657, E-mail: carsten.westphal@physik.uni-dortmund.de