Counterstaining Improves Visualization of the Myenteric Plexus in Immunolabelled Whole-Mount Preparations

Immunocytochemistry has emerged as a powerful research tool in neurobiology. One of the widely used methods is an indirect fluorescence technique that uses FITC- conjugated IgG to visualise protein expression within tissues, but a major drawback of this technique is the high background fluorescence due to non-specific antibody binding. Gut innervation is complex and best visualized in three-dimensions in whole mount preparations. We describe a simple and easy to use counterstaining procedure in conjunction with an indirect immunofluorescence technique in gut whole mount preparations that largely eliminates background fluorescence and creates a contrasting background against the bright antigen-antibody complexes. Furthermore, this technique allows the detailed qualitative and quantitative study of myenteric plexuses in whole-mount preparations.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, experimental, and computational spectrophotometric studies of 8-quinolinyloxymethyphosphonate compounds

The synthesis of diethyl-8-quinolinyloxymethylphosphonate 1 and 8-quinolinyloxymethylphosphonic acid hemihydroiodide 2 is reported along with their spectroscopic and analytical characteristics (NMR, infrared, mass spectra, and elemental analysis). The single-crystal X-ray structure of 2 is described. Solutions of the disodium phosphonate 3, from 2 and sodium hydroxide, were prepared and used in situ. The coordination complex between 1 and zinc chloride 4 is described according to its single-crystal X-ray structure. The spectrophotometric features (absorption and emission) of 1, 2, 3, and 4 are reported along with the fluorescence response and affinity of 3 to some metal cations. The origin of the fluorescence from compounds 1 and 4 is investigated using density functional theory and the oscillator strength for each transition is computed. Two deactivation pathways, one of which is only weakly emissive, are identified in 4. In contrast to 4, which is only moderately more emissive than 1 a strong zinc-activated fluorescence response is observed from aqueous solutions of 3.     

Transmission‐mode diamond white‐beam position monitor at NSLS

Two transmission‐mode diamond X‐ray beam position monitors installed at National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) beamline X25 are described. Each diamond beam position monitor is constructed around two horizontally tiled electronic‐grade (p.p.b. nitrogen impurity) single‐crystal (001) CVD synthetic diamonds. The position, angle and flux of the white X‐ray beam can be monitored in real time with a position resolution of 500 nm in the horizontal direction and 100 nm in the vertical direction for a 3 mm × 1 mm beam. The first diamond beam position monitor has been in operation in the white beam for more than one year without any observable degradation in performance. The installation of a second, more compact, diamond beam position monitor followed about six months later, adding the ability to measure the angular trajectory of the photon beam.     

ChemInform Abstract: Thermochemistry of N3O2‐

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