Glucose-dependent changes in NAD(P)H-related fluorescence lifetime of adipocytes and fibroblasts in vitro: potential for non-invasive glucose sensing in diabetes mellitus

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that glucose can be monitored non-invasively by measuring NAD(P)H-related fluorescence lifetime of cells in an in vitro cell culture model. Autofluorescence decay functions were measured in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by time-correlated single-photon counting (excitation 370nm, emission 420-480nm). Free NADH had a two-exponential decay but cell autofluorescence fitted best to a three-exponential decay. Addition of 30mM glucose caused a 29% increase in autofluorescence intensity, a significantly shortened mean lifetime (from 7.23 to 6.73ns), and an increase in the relative amplitude and fractional intensity of the short-lifetime component at the expense of the two longer-lifetime components. Similar effects were seen with rotenone, an agent that maximizes mitochondrial NADH. 3T3-L1 fibroblasts stained with the fluorescent mitochondrial marker, rhodamine 123 showed a 16% quenching of fluorescence intensity when exposed to 30mM glucose, and an increase in the relative amplitude and fractional intensity of the short lifetime at the expense of the longer lifetime component. We conclude that, though the effect size is relatively small, glucose can be measured non-invasively in cells by monitoring changes in the lifetimes of cell autofluorescence or of a dye marker of mitochondrial metabolism. Further investigation and development of fluorescence intensity and lifetime sensing is therefore indicated for possible non-invasive metabolic monitoring in human diabetes.     

Baryon pairs production ine + e − annihilation at\sqrt s = 2.4 GeV

Search for baryon pairs production ine ⁺ e ^? annihilation at \(\sqrt s = 2386 MeV\) is reported. The data relate to a luminosity of 161 nb^?1 collected by the DM2 experiment at DCI, the Orsay colliding ring. First measurements of directe ⁺ e ^? annihilation into \(\Lambda \bar \Lambda \) and ofe ⁺ e ^?→ \(p\bar p\) at this energy are presented. First observation of a goode ⁺ e ^?→ \(n\bar n\) candidate is reported and upper limits are given fore ⁺ e ^?→ \(n\bar n, \Lambda \bar \sum ^0 + c.c.\) and \(\Sigma ^0 \bar \Sigma ^0 \) .     

Spin symmetry adaptation of the one-electron propagator

A new method is proposed for spin symmetry adaptation of the open-shell one-electron propagator. Possible applications to both diagrammatic perturbation theory and algebraic superoperator approximations of the propagator equations of motion are envisaged.     

A high energy X-ray diffraction study of sol–gel derived (Ta2O5) x (SiO2)1? x glasses ( x =?0.05, 0.11 and 0.25)—elucidating the role of tantalum in silica

High energy X-ray diffraction (HEXRD) has been used to study the atomic structure of (Ta₂O₅) _x (SiO₂)_1−x (x = 0.05, 0.11 and 0.25) xerogels; the direct interpretation of the resultant data has been augmented using reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) modelling. For the first time in this type of material, two Ta–O correlations have been identified (at ∼1.8 ? and 2.0 ?). The RMC modelling approach explicitly used MAS-NMR data to define its constraints; when combined with HEXRD data, it helps to confirm the more directly determined total coordination of five for the two Ta–O correlation distances and suggests Ta···Si and Ta···Ta coordination distances of ∼3.3 ? and ∼3.8 ?, respectively. The O···O and Si···Si distances and coordination numbers associated with the host silica network suggest that the Ta (V) is acting as a network modifier. The way in which the Ta–O correlations are affected by composition and calcination temperature suggest some phase separation in the (Ta₂O₅)_0.25(SiO₂)_0.75 sample. However, in general, the results indicate good mixing of the component oxides.      

On the transition functional method

The transition operator method of calculating ΔE_SCF ionization and excitation energies using a single calculation, is generalized to embrace any energy change and any variational treatment using approximate wavefunctions. The transition functional obtained is justified using perturbational and variational arguments. The applications of the method are discussed, along with a concrete example, namely a semi-empirical VB treatment of Li₃ and Li₃⁺.     

SCF theory of molecular interactions

Perturbation theory is used to analyze the interactions between two closed-shell systems in the SCF approximation. The effects of orbital overlap are included. The dominant terms through second order are identified, including electrostatic, penetration, polarization, charge transfer, and SCF dispersion effects. The basis set limit is studied so that basis set superposition contributions may be identified. Calculations are presented for He? He and Na⁺? H₂O.     

Single molecule level detection of allophycocyanin by surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering

Single molecule level detection of the near-infrared fluorescent protein allophycocyanin (APC) has been achieved using surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS). The detection limit using the peak height of the 440 cm(-1) band was 1 x 10(-13) mol l(-1), compared to 2 x 10(-12) mol l(-1) for the fluorescence peak at 660 nm.     

The Local Analysis of Changing Force Balances in Immiscible Incompressible Two-Phase Flow

The balance of viscous, capillary and gravity forces strongly affects two-phase flow through porous media and can therefore influence the choice of appropriate methods for numerical simulation and upscaling. A strict separation of the effects of these various forces is not possible due to the nature of the nonlinear coupling between the various terms in the transport equations. However, approximate prediction of this force balance is often made by calculation of dimensionless quantities such as capillary and gravity numbers. We present an improved method for the numerical analysis of simulations which recognises the changing balance of forces – in both space and time – in a given domain. The classical two-phase transport equations for immiscible incompressible flow are expressed in two forms: (i) the convection–diffusion-gravity (CDG) formulation where convection and diffusion represent viscous and capillary effects, respectively, (ii) the oil pressure formulation where the viscous effects are attributed to the product of mobility difference and the oil pressure gradient. Each formulation provides a different perspective on the balance of forces although the two forms are equivalent. By discretising the different formulations, the effect of each force on the rate of change of water saturation can be calculated for each cell, and this can be analysed visually using a ternary force diagram. The methods have been applied to several simple models, and the results are presented here. When model parameters are varied to determine sensitivity of the estimators for the balance of forces, the CDG formulation agrees qualitatively with what is expected from physical intuition. However, the oil pressure formulation is dominated by the steady-state solution and cannot be used accurately. In addition to providing a physical method of visualising the relative magnitudes of the viscous, gravity and capillary forces, the local force balance may be used to guide our choice of upscaling method.     

The coupled perturbed electron propagator in the two-particle-hole and extended two-particle-hole Tamm-Dancoff approximations

The equations satisfied by the first-order perturbed electron propagator in an applied external field are examined at a level equivalent to the two-particle-hole Tamm-Dancoff and extended two-particle-hole Tamm-Dancoff approximations (2ph-TDA). These schemes are derived with the intention of evaluating linear and quadratic response properties through second and third order in correlation. Their derivation is based on a combination of the diagrammatic and algebraic superoperator methods. Both schemes account for the polarization of the 2p-1h and 2h-1p responses and bielectron interactions under an external field. The 2ph-TDA scheme is correct up to second order in electronic correlation and includes infinite geometric series of mixed RPA-ladder-type character. Its extended version is derived consistently through third order and accounts for a first-order screening of the external field and bielectron interaction by the effects of electronic correlation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 63: 483–509, 1997