Spectrally optimal illuminations for diabetic retinopathy detection in retinal imaging

Optical Review - Retinal photography is a standard method for recording retinal diseases for subsequent analysis and diagnosis. However, the currently used white light or red-free retinal imaging...     

Relative thermodynamic stabilities of isomeric 1,2-dialkoxyethenes

The relative thermodynamic stabilities of the geometrical isomers of a number of 1,2-dialkoxyethenes have been determined by chemical equilibration in the neat liquid and in 1,4-dioxane solution with mercuric acetate as catalyst. From the variation of the value of the equilibrium constant with temperature, the thermodynamic parameters G , H , and S of theE Z isomerization were evaluated. In all cases theZ isomer proved to be thermodynamically the more stable species, its favor increasing with the bulkiness of the alkoxy groups. The thermodynamic data obtained for theEZ isomerization of 1,2-dimethoxyethene differ significantly from those reported in the literature. An attempt to correlate the experimental thermodynamic data with MM2 calculations for the title compounds as well as for 1,2-dimethoxypropenes is presented.     

An automated turbidimetric method for the identification of certain antibiotic groups in incurred kidney samples

An automated turbidimetric method was developed for group level identification of penicillinase sensitive penicillins, tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones in kidney samples. A sample pretreatment procedure was elaborated for the extraction of incurred residues from kidney tissue in a translucent solution to enable the measurement of changes in optical density. The method was comprised of three pairs, one for each antibiotic group: a sensitive test bacterium strain and a resistant strain for the identification of fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines, and a sensitive strain with and without penicillinase for the identification of penicillinase sensitive penicillins. The algorithm employed compared the areas under the OD vs. time curves; threshold values and experimentally observed intra-test criteria were also included in the algorithm. Antibiotics were reliably identified to group level, and no false identifications were obtained with antibiotics belonging to groups not included in the reference panel. Incurred penicillin G, oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin-ciprofloxacin residues were identified at or below the MRL levels for kidney tissue. The graphically determined shortest possible identification times varied between 2 and 7 h. The method developed could furthermore easily be diversified to include other antibiotic groups by adding new "sensitive-resistant" bacterium and medium combinations.     

Magnetic polyoxometalates: anisotropic exchange interactions in the moiety of [(NaOH2)Co3(H2O)(P2W15O56)2]17-

The magnetic exchange interactions in a C0(3)(11) moiety encapsulated in Na(17) [(NaOH(2))Co(3)(H(2)O)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)] (NaCo(3)) were studied by a combination of magnetic measurements (magnetic susceptibility and low-temperature magnetization), with a detailed Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS) investigation. The novel structure of the salt was determined by X-ray crystallography. The ferromagnetic Co(3)O(14) triangular cluster core consists of three octahedrally oxo-coordinated Co(II) ions sharing edges. According to the single-ion anisotropy and spin-orbit coupling usually assumed for octahedral Co(II) ions, the appropiate exchange Hamiltonian to describe the ground-state properties of the isosceles triangular Co(3) spin cluster is anisotropic and is expressed as H = - 2sigma(alpha)(=)(x,y,z)(J(alpha)(12)S(1alpha)S(2alpha) + J(alpha)(23)S(2alpha)S(3alpha) + J(alpha)(13)S(1alpha)S(3alpha)), where J(alpha) are the components of the exchange interactions between the Co(II) ions. To reproduce the INS data, nonparallel anisotropic exchange tensors needed to be introduced, which were directly connected to the molecular symmetry of the complex. The following range of parameters (value +/- 0.5 cm(-1)) was found to reproduce all experimental information while taking magnetostructural relations into account: J(x)(12) = J(y)(13) = 8.6 cm(-1); J(y)(12) = J(x)(13) = 1.4 cm(-1); J(z)(12) = J(z)(13) = 10.0 cm(-1); J(x)(23) = J(y)(23) = 6.5 cm(-1) and = 3.4 cm(-1).     

Streptavidin-coated spot surfaces for sensitive immunoassays using fluorescence surface readout

Direct measurement of time-resolved fluorescence from a washed surface of an immunoassay well constitutes an advantage compared with label development options involving signal generation in solution. Epi-fluorometric detection collects the signal from only a small part of the microtiter well’s bottom surface and it is inadequate for the optimal assay sensitivity when using binding surfaces introduced by large coating volume. This study reports on the use of streptavidin-coated spots intended to condense the binding of the labeled antibodies to coincide with the excitation beam. The spots were generated in special microtiter wells containing 2.5-mm, 3.5-mm, and 4.5-mm diameter indentations by adsorption from liquid droplets containing either native (SAv) or modified high-capacity (GA-SAv) streptavidin. The SAv-coated and GA-SAv-coated spots exhibited maximum Eu–biotin binding densities of 0.080 and 0.47 pmol/mm², respectively. A sandwich-type immunoassay of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) provided a fivefold to sixfold increase in the signal-to-background ratios of the spot assay and an equivalent improvement in the detection limit (DL < 0.01 mU/L) compared with a reference assay. Figure The condensation of the binding area into a spot (right) results in a denser collection of the labeled antibodies and more favorable signal-to-background ratios compared with a regular approach using a large binding area (left)     

Muon pair production in very high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions

Characteristics of muon pair production in very high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions are discussed. Particular attention is given to comparing the rate of muon pairs produced from thermalized quark-gluon matter to that of pairs produced via the usual Drell-Yan mechanism. The thermal rate is at least of the same order of magnitude as the direct Drell-Yan rate and will certainly dominate whenx _F for the pair approaches 1. Beyondx _F =1 the thermal rate is also substantial. This region is particularly easily accessible in fixed target experiments.     

Applying Total Internal Reflection Excitation and Super Critical Angle Fluorescence Detection to a Morphine Assay

A surface-sensitive fluorescence measurement platform is utilised in the detection of morphine. The platform is based on a polystyrene parabolic lens that enables the simultaneous application of total internal reflection excitation and supercritical angle fluorescence detection in the measurements. The molecular recognition of morphine is based on two antibodies, one against morphine and the other against the immune complex formed between the anti-morphine antibody and a morphine molecule. The antibodies are applied in a sandwich-like format in a one-step test, where the molecular binding onto a liquid-solid-interface is monitored in real time. Morphine concentrations between 0.6 and 18.2 ng/mL were reliably determined in 60 s, while concentrations down to 2.7 ng/mL were detected already in 20 s. With appropriate recognition molecules the technique is applicable also to other drugs and small analytes.