Atomic-level investigations on the amyloid-β dimerization process and its driving forces in water

We report the spontaneous dimerization process of the full-length Aβ42 proteins in water by using unguided, fully atomistic, explicit-water molecular dynamics simulations. Based on the thermodynamic analysis, we demonstrate that Aβ42 dimerization in water occurs via a two-step nucleation-accommodation mechanism driven by water-induced force and by protein internal force, respectively.     

Ionic Copolymerizations

It is shown that for the reported instances of “random” copolymerization in cationic systems, N values related to relative reactivity may be derived for monomers. The N values approximate reasonably well the values of the function, exp (-e) - 1.23, where e is the polarity e of the Q-e scheme for free-radical copolymerizations.

In a recent paper [1] it was shown that for the reported instances [2-4] of “random” copolymerization (r₁,r₂ = 1) in cationic systems, N values, related to relative reactivity, might be derived for monomers, employing styrene as a base monomer (N = 1). Thus d[M₁]/d[M₂] =N₁[M₁]/N₂[M₂] (1)

where d[M₁]/d[M₂] is the instantaneous copolymer composition, [M₁]/[M₂] is the ratio of unreacted monomers, and N₁ and N₂ are parameters related to general monomer reactivity of monomers 1 and 2, respectively, in cationic copolymerization.     

Evaluation of the VIDAS Listeria (LIS) immunoassay for the detection of Listeria in foods using demi-Fraser and Fraser enrichment broths, as modification of AOAC Official Method 999.06 (AOAC Official Method 2004.06)

A multilaboratory study was conducted to compare the VIDAS LIS immunoassay with the standard cultural methods for the detection of Listeria in foods using an enrichment modification of AOAC Official Method 999.06. The modified enrichment protocol was implemented to harmonize the VIDAS LIS assay with the VIDAS LMO2 assay. Five food types--brie cheese, vanilla ice cream, frozen green beans, frozen raw tilapia fish, and cooked roast beef--at 3 inoculation levels, were analyzed by each method. A total of 15 laboratories representing government and industry participated. In this study, 1206 test portions were tested, of which 1170 were used in the statistical analysis. There were 433 positive by the VIDAS LIS assay and 396 positive by the standard culture methods. A Chi-square analysis of each of the 5 food types, at the 3 inoculation levels tested, was performed. The resulting average Chi square analysis, 0.42, indicated that, overall, there are no statistical differences between the VIDAS LIS assay and the standard methods at the 5% level of significance.     

Determination of rimantadine in pharmaceutical preparations by capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect detection or after derivatization

Summary Rimantadine is synthetic analog of amantadine; both are antiviral agents used for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza A. A capillary zone electrophoretic (CZE) procedure for the determination of rimantadine has been developed. As the direct determination of rimantadine is poorly sensitive because the compound is almost transparent in the UV/Vis range, several indirect methods were studied. Two were found to be the particularly useful: (a) indirect detection using 5 mM 4-methylbenzylamine in 1:4 methanol-water as absorbing background electrolyte, with detection at 210 nm, and (b) derivatization of rimantadine with 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic acid in alkaline medium and subsequent determination of the derivative by CZE (40 mM tetraborate, pH 9.2, detection at 280 nm). Uncoated capillary tubing, 44 cm length ×75 μM i.d., was used for both determinations. The detection limits were 0.1 and 2 ppm for methods a and b, respectively. The methods were used to determine rimantadine in pharmaceutical products and for dissolution testing of Flumadin^? tablets.     

A highly efficient synthesis of antiobestic ligand GW501516 for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ through in situ protection of the phenol group by reaction with a Grignard reagent

A new synthesis of an agonist for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) GW501516 as a potential antiobesity drug is described. The synthetic route involves the in situ protection of the phenol group with a Grignard reagent and a regio-controlled one-pot reaction for the formation of a sulfide bond as the key step. Starting from commercially available 4-iodo-2-methylphenol, this approach affords GW501516 with an overall yield of 87%.     

Platinum-free tungsten carbides as an efficient counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells

Mesoporous tungsten carbides displayed an excellent solar conversion efficiency (7.01%) as a counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells under 100 mW cm(-2), AM 1.5G illumination, which corresponded to ca. 85% of the efficiency of the conventional platinum electrode.     

Single eye analysis and contralateral eye comparison of tear proteins in normal and dry eye model rabbits by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry using wax-coated target plates

A study of rabbit tear protein expression in a dry eye rabbit model was performed to determine if a pattern in expressed proteins could be identified. The uniqueness of the model allows the comparison of normal (control) eye tear protein expression with surgically induced dry eye tear protein expression in individual animals. The sensitivity of the method allows for single eye analysis. One-dimensional mini-gel electrophoresis of the tear proteins did not show substantial differences between band patterns of the normal versus the dry eye, but was used to assess the molecular weight ranges of the major proteins. Specific assignments of some of the predominant proteins were obtained by tandem mass spectrometry (MS) which showed that the lower molecular weight lipid-binding proteins (approximately 10 kDa to 36 kDa) constitute a considerable amount of the observed protein, followed in lesser quantities by the transferrins which have higher molecular weights ranging from 70 kDa to 85 kDa. Enhancement of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-ToF) MS linear mode analysis of intact proteins in tear fluid was demonstrated through the use of wax-coated MALDI plates and spot washing. MALDI-ToF MS analysis of the expressed tear proteins illustrates that differences between normal eye tear and dry eye tear protein content are manifested in changes in the lower molecular weight lipid-binding proteins such as lipophilin which exhibits an increase in concentration in the dry eye, and β-2 microglobulin which undergoes a decrease.     

Theory of relaxation spectra of polymer networks with interchain friction and long-range hydrodynamic interactions

The dynamic network model taken into account the friction relative to incompressible effective viscous medium (EVM), the hydrodynamic interactions of a network with the EVM, and the interchain friction is considered. Two collective network relaxation spectra (RS) arise. The first RS corresponds to the network motion relative to immobile EVM, the EVM does not take part in this motion. The second RS includes the combined viscous motion of the network and EVM because of long-range hydrodynamic interactions. This RS is finite and narrow for infinitely large network. The symmetry of this motion is in concordance with that of incompressible EVM. The existence of interchain friction leads to the narrowing of both types of relaxation spectra.