High relaxivity supramolecular adducts between human-liver fatty-acid-binding protein and amphiphilic Gd(III) complexes: structural basis for the design of intracellular targeting MRI probes

Gadolinium complexes linked to an apolar fragment are known to be efficiently internalized into various cell types, including hepatocytes. Two lipid-functionalized gadolinium chelates have been investigated for the targeting of the human liver fatty acid binding protein (hL-FABP) as a means of increasing the sensitivity and specificity of intracellular-directed MRI probes. hL-FABP, the most abundant cytosolic lipid binding protein in hepatocytes, displays the ability to interact with multiple ligands involved in lipid signaling and is believed to be an obligate carrier to escort lipidic drugs across the cell. The interaction modes of a fatty acid and a bile acid based gadolinium complex with hL-FABP have been characterized by relaxometric and NMR experiments in solution with close-to-physiological protein concentrations. We have introduced the analysis of paramagnetic-induced protein NMR signal intensity changes as a quantitative tool for the determination of binding stoichiometry and of precise metal-ion-center positioning in protein-ligand supramolecular adducts. A few additional NMR-derived restraints were then sufficient to locate the ligand molecules in the protein binding sites by using a rapid data-driven docking method. Relaxometric and (13)C NMR competition experiments with oleate and the gadolinium complexes revealed the formation of heterotypic adducts, which indicates that the amphiphilic compounds may co-exist in the protein cavity with physiological ligands. The differences in adduct formation between fatty acid and bile acid based complexes provide the basis for an improved molecular design of intracellular targeted probes.     

Beyond laparoscopy: 3-T magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of posterior cul-de-sac obliteration

Objectives

Endometriosis is the ectopic localization of endometrial glands. Symptoms include a wide variety of chronic pelvic pain. Ovarian endometriosis represents the most frequent site of implantation followed by the Douglas pouch which is undepicted unless peritoneal fluid is present. Pelvic exams may be reported as normal in 40% of evaluations, although multiple nodularities are located in this region. Nowadays, laparoscopy represents the standard technique for endometriosis evaluation. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the best noninvasive technique for the evaluation of pelvic lesions. According to the importance of a precise preoperative diagnosis of deep infiltrative endometriosis involving the Douglas pouch, we evaluated feasibility of a 3-T system in the evaluation of this particular region.

Methods

We enrolled 19 women coming with either ultrasound or anamnestic suspicion of endometriosis. Pelvic MRI examination was performed on the 3-T system. We applied a standard exam protocol including pulse sequences [single-shot fast spin echo (FSE)] and high-resolution T2W and T1W FSE sequences with and without FS.

Results

MRI diagnosed posterior cul-de-sac obliteration in 15/19 patients. MRI findings were compared with laparoscopy, thus obtaining the following statistical values: mean sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value, respectively, of 93%, 75%, 93% and 75%. Moreover, we calculated an interobserver agreement k value of 0.72 with a substantial degree of agreement between two radiologists of a sensitivity value of 93% and specificity value of 75%.

Conclusions

Precise preoperative mapping of posterior cul-de-sac region is essential for a preoperative planning. In our work, the 3-T MRI was shown to be excellent in the evaluation of posterior cul-de-sac obliteration associated to an optimal evaluation of the uterosacral ligaments due to the higher contrast spatial resolution.     

Micro-X-Ray Fluorescence and the Old Masters Non-destructive in situ characterisation of the varnish of historical Low Countries stringed musical instruments

In recent years, a growing attention has been addressed to the study of the varnish from early musical instruments. The surfaces of nine historical Low Countries stringed musical instruments from the collection of the “Musical Instruments Museum” in Brussels were non-destructively analysed by in situ micro-X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy in dispersive mode. It was found that the main pigments dispersed in the varnish were iron- and manganese-based earths. The presence of a chromium-based pigment in one of the analysed instruments makes it appreciably different from the others. Other findings were discussed and compared with previously published results. The collection of such information plays a relevant role in the recovery of the applied formulations that is an interesting issue for conservators, luthiers and art historians.     

Assessment of misorientation in metallic and semiconducting nanowires using precession electron diffraction

Precession electron diffraction (PED) allows for diffraction pattern collection under quasi-kinematical conditions. The combination of PED with fast electron diffraction acquisition and pattern matching software techniques is used for the high magnification ultra-fast mapping of variable crystal orientations and phases, similarly to what is achieved with the Electron Backscattered Diffraction technique in Scanning Electron Microscopes at lower magnifications and longer acquisition times. Here we report, for the first time, the application of this PED-based orientation mapping technique to both metallic and semiconducting nanowires.     

Highly stable gel electrolytes for dye solar cells based on chemically engineered polymethacrylic hosts

Four different species of ionically conductive polymers were synthesized and successfully implemented to formulate novel quasi-solid electrolytes for dye solar cells. A power conversion efficiency superior to 85% of the correspondent liquid electrolyte as well as an excellent cell's stability was demonstrated after 500 days of storage.     

Fibrewise injectivity and Kock–Zöberlein monads

Using Escardó’s characterization of injectivity via Kock–Zöberlein monads, we introduce suitable monads in comma categories of topological spaces that yield characterizations of fibrewise injectivity in topological T0-spaces, with respect to the class of embeddings, and of dense, of flat and of completely flat embeddings. Characterizations, in the category of topological spaces, of injective maps with respect to the same classes of embeddings follow easily from the results obtained for T0-spaces. Moreover, it is shown that, together with the corresponding embeddings, injective continuous maps form a weak factorization system in the category of topological (T0-)spaces and continuous maps.