Circulating IgSF Proteins Inhibit Adhesion of Antibody Targeted Microspheres to Endothelial Inflammatory Ligands

Proposed methods for detecting circulatory system disease include targeting ultrasound contrast agents to inflammatory markers on vascular endothelial cells. For antibody-based therapies, soluble forms of the targeted adhesion proteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) reduce adhesion yet were left unaccounted in prior reports. Microspheres labeled simply with a maximum level of antibodies can reduce the diagnostic sensitivity by adhering to proteins expressed normally at a low level, while sparsely coated particles may be rendered ineffective by circulating soluble forms of the targeted proteins. A new microdevice technique is applied to simultaneously measure the adhesion profile to a series of IgSF-protein-coated surfaces. In this investigation, we quantify the in vitro binding characteristics of 5-μm microspheres to oriented intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) protein-coated surfaces in the presence of human serum at physiological concentrations. Defined regions of a slide were coated with recombinant chimeric Fc-human ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in variable ratios but constant total concentration. Monoclonal human anti-ICAM-1 or anti-VCAM-1 antibodies in competition with non-binding mouse anti-rabbit antibodies coat the microsphere surface at a constant surface density with variable yet controlled surface activities. Using multiple slide surface IgSF protein and microsphere antibody concentrations, an adhesion profile was developed for the microspheres with and without IgSF proteins from human serum, which demonstrated that exposure to serum reduced microsphere binding, on average, more than 50% compared to the no-serum condition.. The serum effects were limited to antibodies on the microsphere, since binding inhibition was reversed after rinsing serum from the system and fresh antibody-coated microspheres were introduced. This analysis quantifies the binding effects of soluble IgSF proteins from human serum on antibody-based targeted ultrasound detection and drug delivery methods.     

XPS calibration study of thin‐film nickel silicides

This paper presents a systematic X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)study of the Ni silicides Ni₃Si, Ni₃₁Si₁₂, Ni₂Si, NiSi and NiSi₂ produced by annealing of sputtered thin films. The in situ XPS study focuses on both the core level peaks and Auger peaks. The peak positions, shapes, satellites as well as Auger parameters are compared for different silicides. The factors that influence the Ni core level peak shifts are discussed. The Ni 2p_3/2 peak shape and satellites are correlated with the valence band structure. The effect of argon ion etching on surface composition and chemical states is also investigated. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrophoretic methods for separation of nanoparticles

This article reviews progress in the application of electrophoretic techniques for the separation of nanoparticles. Numerous types of nanoparticles have recently been synthesised and integrated into different products and procedures. Consequently, analytical methods for the efficient characterisation of nanoparticles are now required. Several studies have revealed that gel electrophoresis can readily be used for separating nanoparticles according to their size or shape. However, many other studies focused on separation of nanoparticles by CE. In some cases nanoparticles could be separated by CZE, simply using pure buffer as the BGE. In other studies, buffer additives (most often SDS) were used, enabling fast separations of metallic nanoparticles by size. Other CE methods also allowed for separation of nanoparticle conjugates with biomolecules. Dielectrophoresis is yet another electrophoretic technique useful in separation and characterisation of nanoparticles; particularly nanotubes. Detection methods often used after electrophoretic separation include UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Examples of recent and relevant older reports are presented here. The authors conclude that electrophoretic methods for nanoanalysis can provide inexpensive and efficient tools for quality assurance and safety control; and as a consequence, they can augment transfer of nanotechnologies from research to industry.     

混凝土静态力学性能的细观力学方法述评

混凝土力学特性是大坝、海洋平台等工程结构抗震设计及仿真分析的前提条件之一,也是目前研究的薄弱环节. 混凝土是一种典型的非均质材料,其宏观力学特性由细观组成来决定.本文总结了目前研究混凝土宏观力学特性的细观力学分析方法,细观有限元法及理论分析法; 阐述了界面过渡区(ITZ)对混凝土性能的影响,简单介绍了混凝土界面过渡区问题的研究现状;介绍了作者提出的混凝土宏观力学性能研究的细观单元等效化分析方法.最后对其未来发展的一些方向和有待进一步研究的问题作了总结.      

Poly(ethylene imine)s as Antimicrobial Agents with Selective Activity

We report the structure–activity relationship in the antimicrobial activity of linear and branched poly(ethylene imine)s (L‐ and B‐PEIs) with a range of molecular weights (MWs) (500–12 000). Both L‐ and B‐PEIs displayed enhanced activity against Staphylococcus aureus over Escherichia coli. Both B‐ and L‐PEIs did not cause any significant permeabilization of E. coli cytoplasmic membrane. L‐PEIs induced depolarization of S. aureus membrane although B‐PEIs did not. The low MW B‐PEIs caused little or no hemolysis while L‐PEIs are hemolytic. The low MW B‐PEIs are less cytotoxic to human HEp‐2 cells than other PEIs. However, they induced significant cell viability reduction after 24 h incubation. The results presented here highlight the interplay between polymer size and structure on activity.

     

Inter‐Electrode Distance and Breakdown Voltage in Low Pressure Argon Discharges

This work deals with the Paschen law in electrical breakdown of gases at pd values around the Paschen minimum. From the Townsend model, it is possible to deduce theoretical forms of the coefficients in Paschen's law, of which our calculated values are in the range of the tabulated values from the literature. These formulae show that the breakdown voltage must be influenced by the inter‐electrode distance, while the product pd remains a key parameter. This is confirmed by the Paschen curves measured in an argon discharge for inter‐electrode distances varying from 2 to 9 cm (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Isotopic ratio measurement of methane in ambient air using mid-infrared cavity leak-out spectroscopy

We report on infrared laser spectroscopic measurements of the isotopic composition of methane (¹²CH₄, ¹³CH₄) in natural air samples with a cavity ring-down technique. A CO overtone sideband laser is utilized to excite a high-finesse cavity which provides an effective optical absorption path length of 3.6 km. We achieved a detection limit of 105 ppt methane in ambient air using an integration time of 20 s. This corresponds to a minimum detectable absorption of 1.9×10^-9 /cm. Rapid determination of the ¹³C/¹²Cisotopic ratio of methane in ambient air without sample preconcentration or gas processing is realized. The present system requires only few minutes for an isotopic ratio measurement with a precision of 11%o . Received: 14 July 2000 / Revised version: 25 October 2000 / Published online: 6 December 2000     

Submicroscopic Defects in Metals and their Influence on HVEM In-situ Experiments

Recent high-voltage electron microscopy has provided evidence that substantial submicroscopic changes may occur in specimens examined in the HVEM under conditions where no visible radiation damage occurs. These are the introduction of vacancies by plastic deformation, rapid accumulation of invisible vacancy clusters by electron irradiation, and radiation-induced contamination and refining of materials. These processes are analysed in terms of defect interactions and the consequences for in-situ experiments are discussed.     

The Δk = ±2 perturbation-allowed ν4 band and inversion-rotation energy levels of 15NH3

More than 800 Δk = ±2 and 60 Δk = ±3 forbidden transitions to the ν₄ and 2ν₂ vibrational levels, respectively, have been assigned in the Fourier transform spectra of ¹⁵NH₃, recorded with a pathlength of 96 m. Combination differences derived from these transitions provide information on the spacing between the ground state energy levels with different rotational quantum numbers K in the interval from 0 to 16. These data along with wavenumbers of all the available allowed transitions pertaining to the ground and ν₂ states have been subjected to a simultaneous least-squares analysis using two different parametrization models to obtain precise values of the inversion-rotation energy levels.