Easy and effective method to produce functionalized particles for cellular uptake

In this contribution, a versatile approach for the synthesis of functionalized particles for drug delivery is presented, using two nonaggressive standardized procedures. The first procedure considered is the functionalization of an azido‐terminated α‐norbornenyl poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macromonomer with an alkyne‐containing active molecule via the copper catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition, click type reaction. The functionalized macromonomer is then polymerized by Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) in dispersion to form functionalized particles. The second procedure consists in synthesizing particles by ROMP in dispersed media of norbornene with azido‐terminated α‐norbornenyl PEO macromonomer. The ROMP was initiated by the first generation Grubbs catalyst. Such functionalized core‐shell particles have stealthy properties due to their PEO shell and can be viewed as universal nanocarriers on which any alkyne‐modified active molecule can be grafted by click chemistry. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Electronic structure of IPR and non-IPR endohedral metallofullerenes: Connecting orbital and topological rules

The electronic structure of endohedral metallofullerenes is rationalized by connecting the apparently independent orbital and topological rules that explain the stability of this family of fullerenes. The separation of the 12 pentagons of the fullerene, which is maximized in order to minimize the Coulomb repulsion, is found to be correlated with the orbital energies of the cage that accepts the electron transfer from the internal cluster. An explanation for the absence of non-IPR cages in large-size EMFs is also provided.     

Proliferative reactive gliosis is compatible with glial metabolic support and neuronal function

Background

Trail-making tests, such as the Concept Shifting Task (CST), can be used to test the effects of treatment on cognitive performance over time in various neuropsychological disorders. However, cognitive performance in such experimental designs might improve as a result of the practice obtained during repeated testing rather than the treatment itself. The current study investigated if practice affects the accuracy and duration of performance on the repeatedly administered Concept Shifting Task modified to make it resistant to practice (mCST). The mCST was administered to 54 healthy participants twice a day, before and after a short break, for eight days. Results. The ANOVA and meta-analysis showed that there was no improvement in the mCST accuracy on the last vs. the first trial (Hedges' g = .14, p = .221) or within the session (after vs. before the break on all days; g = .01, p = .922). However, the participants performed the task faster on the last vs. the first trial (g = -.75, p < .001) and after vs. before the break on all days (g = -.12, p = .002). Conclusions. Repeated administration of the mCST does not affect the accuracy of performance on the test. However, practice might contribute to faster performance on the mCST over time and within each session.     

Q parameter estimation using numerical simulations for linear and nonlinear transmission systems

We compare the Q parameter obtained from scalar, semi-analytical and full vector models for realistic transmission systems. One set of systems is operated in the linear regime, while another is using solitons at high peak power. We report in detail on the different results obtained for the same system using different models. Polarisation mode dispersion is also taken into account and a novel method to average Q parameters over several independent simulation runs is described.     

Observation of phase defects in quasi-two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates

We have observed phase defects in quasi-2D Bose-Einstein condensates close to the condensation temperature. Either a single or several equally spaced condensates are produced by selectively evaporating the sites of a 1D optical lattice. When several clouds are released from the lattice and allowed to overlap, dislocation lines in the interference patterns reveal nontrivial phase defects.     

High-power laser with Nd:YAG single-crystal fiber grown by the micro-pulling-down technique

We present optical characterization and laser results achieved with single-crystal fibers directly grown by the micro-pulling-down technique. We investigate the spectroscopic and optical quality of the fiber, and we present the first laser results. We achieved a cw laser power of 10 W at 1064 nm for an incident pump power of 60 W at 808 nm and 360 kW peak power for 12 ns pulses at 1 kHz in the Q-switched regime. It is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest laser power ever achieved with directly grown single-crystal fibers.     

On the interpretation of fluorescence anisotropy decays from probe molecules in lipid vesicle systems

Measurements of fluorescence depolarization decays are widely used to obtain information about the molecular order and rotational dynamics of fluorescent probe molecules in membrane systems. This information is obtained by least-squares fits of the experimental data to the predictions of physical models for motion. Here we present a critical review of the ways and means of the data analysis and address the question how and why totally different models such as Brownian rotational diffusion and wobble-in-cone provide such convincing fits to the fluorescence anistropy decay curves. We show that while these models are useful for investigating the general trends in the behavior of the probe molecules, they fail to describe the underlying motional processes. We propose to remedy this situation with a model in which the probe molecules undergo fast, though restricted local motions within a slowly rotating cage in the lipid bilayer structure. The cage may be envisaged as a free volume cavity between the lipid molecules, so that its position and orientation change with the internal conformational motions of the lipid chains. This approach may be considered to be a synthesis of the wobble-in-cone and Brownian rotational diffusion models. Importantly, this compound motion model appears to provide a consistent picture of fluorescent probe behavior in both oriented lipid bilayers and lipid vesicle systems.     

铅蓄冷材料的二级脉冲管制冷机研究

采用多级方案是高频脉冲管制冷机获得低于20 K以下制冷温度的主要方法,以不锈钢金属丝网为蓄冷材料的二级高频脉冲管制冷机,实验已经达到了20 K以下温度.理论上讲,由于热容大,以铅为主的蓄冷材料比不锈钢更适合40～10 K温区工作,这在低频回热制冷机中得到了证明.本文介绍了我们采用不同铅球和铅网为低温蓄冷材料的研究结果.实验表明,小铅球对于高频脉冲管制冷机是不很合适的,导致制冷温度的明显升高.镀铅的不锈钢丝网和已有不锈钢丝网的性能相似,可进一步深入研究.该研究对于20 K以至更低温度的高频回热制冷机研究有一定的借鉴意义.     

Response of bare 1-3 piezocomposite array to localized electrical excitation

The theoretical response of a 1-3 piezocomposite plate submitted to localized electrical excitation was studied with the theory of guided waves. The theoretical modeling was based on the global matrix method, and the piezocomposite material was considered as a homogeneous medium. To validate the theoretical results, experimental displacement measurements were performed with an interferometric probe on two piezocomposite plates, one with a single element and one with an array of electrodes. The measured response on the single-element plate was mainly supported by the S0 and S3 modes of the plate. Homogenization limits of the composite in terms of frequency and wave number are defined on the basis of data from this sample. Within these limits, the piezocomposite material operates as a homogeneous medium, and comparison between theoretical and experimental results allows the equivalent electroacoustic parameters to be evaluated. A second sample was measured to study the effects of the electrode array on the electroacoustic response of the plate. Two kinds of electrical excitation were studied.