Estimation of the Refractive Index Change in Glass Induced by Femtosecond Laser Pulses

It is known that local refractive index change occurs when femtosecond laser pulses with extremely high peak power are launched into glass. We focused 130-femtosecond laser pulses of 800 nm into the bulk of glass and examined the shape of the induced refractive index change. We found that the length of the spot of the refractive index change along the optical axis reached about 30 μm despite the diameter being about 2 μm. To estimate the distribution of induced refractive index change, we fabricated Bragg grating by scanning the focused spot and calculated the amount of the change by applying Kogelnik’s coupled mode theory to the measured diffraction efficiencies of the higher order diffracted beams.     

Ample and Spanned Rank-2 Vector Bundles with k-Jet Ample Determinant on Algebraic Surfaces

We investigate ample and spanned rank-2 vector bundles E with k-jet ample determinant on algebraic surfaces S. In paticular, we classify such polarized pairs (S,E) with small second Chern class. The case of c_2(E)=k+1 is a generalization of the result of Ballico and Lanteri.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers as artificial steroid receptors

The polymers selective to six different steroids (testosterone, Δ⁴-androstene-3,17-dione, 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione, β-estradiol, progesterone, testosterone propionate) have been synthesized using molecular imprinting based on noncovalent interactions. Analysis of the influence of structural features of the steroids under study has shown that molecules with a relatively rigid structure and the OH group at C-17 position are the most efficient templates for methacrylic acid-containing imprinted polymers. The chromatographic study of the polymers synthesized has demonstrated a strong dependence of the selectivity and intensity of interaction with analytes on the composition of solvents used both as porogen and chromatographic mobile phase. To obtain polymers with highly selective recognition sites and to create the optimal conditions for molecular recognition, all possible interactions (between template and functional monomer, template and solvent, solvent and functional monomer) should be taken into account. <?TF="palat-i"> The batch rebinding study of testosterone by the imprinted polymer in acetonitrile has revealed some heterogeneity of recognition sites, and permitted determination of K_ass = 1.05 × 10⁴ M ⁻¹, ΔG° = −5.4 kcal/mol and N = 1.2 μmol/g for high-affinity sites and K_ass = 0.33 × 10⁴ M ⁻¹, ΔG° = −4.8 kcal/mol and N = 2.2 μmol/g for low-affinity sites. <?TF="palat-i"> The results obtained show how it is possible to regulate in different modes the molecular recognition by imprinted polymers as well as to fabricate polymers possessing the necessary properties depending on their practical application.© 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of gadoxetate disodium as a contrast agent for mouse liver imaging: comparison with gadobenate dimeglumine

We investigated the characteristics of gadoxetate disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA) as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging of the mouse liver. Mice were imaged sequentially under isoflurane anesthesia using a T1-weighted, three-dimensional fast low-angle shot (3D FLASH) sequence after an intravenous injection of Gd-EOB-DTPA or gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA), and the time course of the contrast effect was examined. The time course of the contrast effect of Gd-EOB-DTPA was also assessed after intravenous injection under pentobarbital anesthesia and after subcutaneous injection while awake or under isoflurane or pentobarbital anesthesia. Moreover, different doses of Gd-EOB-DTPA or Gd-BOPTA were injected subcutaneously into conscious mice, and the clarity of the liver border was evaluated visually. Intravenous injection under isoflurane anesthesia caused rapid contrast enhancement in the liver with both Gd-EOB-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA, and the contrast effect was 41% stronger with Gd-EOB-DTPA. Subcutaneous injection of Gd-EOB-DTPA caused delayed but favorable contrast enhancement in the liver. Washout of Gd-EOB-DTPA was faster in mice injected while awake than in those injected under anesthesia. After intravenous injection, washout was faster under pentobarbital anesthesia than under isoflurane anesthesia. The peak liver contrast was 11% and 18% stronger under pentobarbital anesthesia than under isoflurane anesthesia, after intravenous and subcutaneous injections, respectively. Subcutaneous injection of Gd-EOB-DTPA or Gd-BOPTA caused dose-dependent contrast effects in the liver. At a given dose, the contrast effect tended to be stronger and liver demarcation tended to be clearer with Gd-EOB-DTPA than with Gd-BOPTA. In conclusion, intravenous or subcutaneous injection of Gd-EOB-DTPA produces a favorable contrast effects in the mouse liver, indicating its potential in investigating mouse models of liver diseases. The contrast effects vary between conscious mice and anesthetized mice and among anesthetic agents used.     

Unusual behavior in light scattering experiments of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylimidazole) prepared by precipitation polymerization

Poly(N-vinylimidazole) (PVI) was synthesized by the precipitation polymerization using 2,2’-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN; initiator) and benzene (solvent) at two different monomer/initiator ratios. The solution polymerization was also performed with the following initiator/solvent systems: AIBN/water–methanol mixture (1:1 by volume) and 4,4’-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid)/aqueous HCl solution (pH 0.8). All the four preparations of PVI in ethanol and in 0.2 M NaCl (pH 3 with HCl) were examined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The CONTIN analysis of DLS data for each preparation from the solution polymerization showed a unimodal distribution in both ethanol and aqueous solvents. A good agreement was obtained between the molar masses in these different solvents by static light scattering (SLS). However, the polymers from the precipitation polymerization exhibited a heterogeneous bimodal distribution in DLS under the same conditions as above, indicating that the SLS data as in reference [6] (Savin et al. Macromolecules 37:6565) cause a serious error in the understanding of solution behavior of PVI.     

Sulfonate group-modified FePtCu nanoparticles as a selective probe for LDI-MS analysis of oligopeptides from a peptide mixture and human serum proteins

The availability of robust methods for the species-specific detection of meat and bone meal (MBM) in compound feedingstuffs is an important prerequisite to enforce current and upcoming European legislation on the use of processed animal proteins in animal nutrition. Among possible methods, those based on DNA turned out to be a reliable tool for this aim, since DNA is a quite thermostable molecule able to resist severe heat treatments applied in the manufacturing of animal meals. The application of such methods by control laboratories implies that the method has been validated including an assessment of its robustness. Successful transferability between laboratories is considered an important robustness criterion of the method. However, corresponding guidelines regarding the design of such a study relevant to this field are missing. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of an alternative concept that was applied to check for the transferability of a qualitative assay for the detection of banned MBM in feedingstuffs at trace level based on real-time PCR. The concept was based on an experimental nested design applying analysis of variance (ANOVA) that was conducted independently in two laboratories and which allows for establishing major factors influencing the result of analysis. Statistical assessment of the results confirmed the importance of the DNA extraction/purification step utilised, whereas the PCR step turned out to be a minor factor regarding the overall variability of the results. Furthermore, blind samples comprised of compound feed adulterated with MBM at 0.1 % and blank compound feed were correctly classified as "positive" or "negative" samples, thus confirming fitness of purpose for the method. This approach can be of interest for other research groups working in the development of real-time PCR methods and in their use by control laboratories. Nested design of the study to check for the transferability of the real-time PCR method     

Investigation of the electrochemical oxidation products of zotepine and their fragmentation using on-line electrochemistry/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

When zotepine, an antipsychotic drug, was electrochemically oxidized using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) coupled with a microflow electrolytic cell, [M + 16 + H]+ (m/z 348), [M-H]+ (m/z 330) and [M-14 + H]+ (m/z 318) were observed as electrochemical oxidation product ions (M represents the zotepine molecule). Although a major fragment ion that was derived from the dimethyl aminoethyl moiety was observed only at m/z 72 in the collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectrum of zotepine, new fragments such as m/z 315 and 286 ions could be generated in the CID spectrum by combining electrochemical oxidation and CID. Since these fragments were relatively specific with high ion strength, it was thought that they would be useful for developing a sensitive LC-MS/MS assay. The S-oxide and N-demethylated products were detected by electrolysis assuring that a portion of P450 metabolites of zotepine could be mimicked by the electrochemistry/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (EC/ESI-MS) system.