Application of high-resolution magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy to define the cell uptake of MRI contrast agents

A new method, based on proton high-resolution magic-angle spinning ((1)H HR-MAS) NMR spectroscopy, has been employed to study the cell uptake of magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents (MRI-CAs). The method was tested on human red blood cells (HRBC) and white blood cells (HWBC) by using three gadolinium complexes, widely used in diagnostics, Gd-BOPTA, Gd-DTPA, and Gd-DOTA, and the analogous complexes obtained by replacing Gd(III) with Dy(III), Nd(III), and Tb(III) (i.e., complexes isostructural to the ones of gadolinium but acting as shift agents). The method is based on the evaluation of the magnetic effects, line broadening, or induced lanthanide shift (LIS) caused by these complexes on NMR signals of intra- and extracellular water. Since magnetic effects are directly linked to permeability, this method is direct. In all the tests, these magnetic effects were detected for the extracellular water signal only, providing a direct proof that these complexes are not able to cross the cell membrane. Line broadening effects (i.e., the use of gadolinium complexes) only allow qualitative evaluations. On the contrary, LIS effects can be measured with high precision and they can be related to the concentration of the paramagnetic species in the cellular compartments. This is possible because the HR-MAS technique provides the complete elimination of bulk magnetic susceptibility (BMS) shift and the differentiation of extra- and intracellular water signals. Thus with this method, the rapid quantification of the MRI-CA amount inside and outside the cells is actually feasible.     

单向复合纤维材料弹性系数的超声测量

本文将单向复合纤维材料视作六角对称晶体，认为其弹性特征由五个独立的弹性系数来描述。利用Christoffel方程，我们得到这一各向异性介质中不同方向的声波速度与弹性系数的关系．我们还建立了一套计算机控制的实验测量系统，通过它对纤维板样品中的声速进行测量，反演得到了五个独立的弹性系数C11、C33、C13、C14和C12。理论计算得到的声速和实验测量值吻合较好，表明我们的方法是有实用意义的。     

Effects of ionic dissociation of membrane polymer on pervaporation performance

Pervaporation of a water/alcohol mixture through a membrane which has ion-exchange capacity has been investigated. Theoretical equations are introduced which relate the degree of ionic dissociation of the polymer to quantities of water and alcohol dissolved in the polymer. From these equations, an equation for selective dissolution R is derived which does not contain an explicit term for ionic dissociation. Dissociation affects selective dissolution only by changing the degree of swelling of the polymer. Reformulating R asymptotically obtains a reciprocal relationship between permselectivity and permeability for a water-selective membrane. Experiments to check the validity of the relationship have been carried out using chitosan membranes neutralized by several acids. The effect of degree of neutralization also has been investigated. Results can be well understood on the supposition that ionic dissociation depends upon the water/alcohol composition, the kind of acid, and the degree of neutralization. Experimental results indicate that the reciprocal relationship is maintained over an appropriate range of feed compositions which confirm the validity of the theoretical equations for the swelling equilibrium of an ionic membrane. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

旋转不变振幅位相合成圆谐滤波器

提出了振幅位相合成圆谐滤器用于旋转不变模式识别，该滤波器的振幅是圆谐滤波器的振幅谱加偏移量后的逆函数，位相是圆谐滤波器的位相谱。计算机模拟实验证明，与传统的圆谐滤波器和纯位相圆谐滤波器相比，振幅位相合成圆谐滤波器具有更好的识别能力，能产生更尖锐的相关峰和更大的输出信噪比。     

Interaction of dispersed phase with concentration polarization

The effect of a dispersed phase in reducing the concentration polarization in a membrane tube has been studied. The presence of a dispersed phase seems to have an effect in controlling the size of eddy formation and the rate of energy dissipation in the fluid medium. The role of eddy length and the energy dissipation rate on the mass transfer coefficient is discussed. Theoretical results obtained for the mass transfer coefficient and for the concentration polarization in the case of gelatin ultrafiltration are compared with the existing experimental results. The theoretical predictions seem to be in good agreement with the experimentally observed results.     

界面强度对复合材料细观力学性能的影响

用 界面元来连接纤维与基体,利用界面元的力学特征来模拟纤维与基体的粘结特性,计算了纤维单向周期排列的多层板在横向载荷作用下的应力分布问题,计算结果表明,中间相力学特征的变化对纤维和基体的应力分布有明显的影响。     

Filter switching device for dual-wavelength videoimaging

An inexpensive, dual-wavelength, videoimaging system that can be used for parallel observation of two fluorescent dyes is described. All four filters, two for excitation and two for emission, are placed on the same oscillating holder. Filters are coupled with a single dichroic mirror having two spectral windows. A coil driven by an electronic circuit connected to photosensors, which determine the position of the holder, moves the magnet that shifts the position of the filters. Since the filter holder is placed between two springs, it oscillates with the frequency of mechanical resonance. As a result the filter switching did not require much power and did not produce significant vibrations of the base. Switching frequencies up to 4.5 s^–1 were reached with the first experimental device. System performance was tested using phospholipid vesicles loaded with water-soluble and membrane dyes. It has been demonstrated that the device can be used successfully in experiments on membrane fusion with rhodamine- and calcein-labeled liposomes.     

Interaction between anionic polyelectrolytes and anion exchange membranes and change in membrane properties

Electrodialytic transport properties of anion exchange membranes were measured after formation of anionic polyelectrolyte layers on the membrane surfaces: relative transport number of various anions to chloride ions, current efficiency and apparent diffusion coefficients of neutral molecules. The anionic polyelectrolyte layers were formed by immersing the membrane into an aqueous solution of polycondensation product of sodium naphthalene sulfonate and formaldehyde or polystyrene sulfonic acid.

The change in the relative transport number between anions was remarkable in the anion exchange membrane with high ion exchange capacity by forming the layer. Results were: the relative transport number of sulfate ions to chloride ions decreased and those of nitrate ions to chloride ions, fluoride ions to chloride ions and bromide ions to chloride ions increased compared with the corresponding membrane. Although the apparent diffusion coefficient of neutral molecules suggested clogging of the membrane pores by the polyelectrolyte, anions with higher hydrated ionic diameter were able to permeate through the membrane easily. This means that difference of electrostatic repulsion force against two anions is effective on the change in the relative transport number of anions.     

Solvent Relaxation in Phospholipid Bilayers: Principles and Recent Applications

Although there exist a number of methods, such as NMR, X-ray, e.g., which explore the hydration of phospholipid bilayers, the solvent relaxation (SR) method has the advantage of simple instrumentation, easy data treatment and possibility of measuring fully hydrated samples. The main information gained from SR by the analysis of recorded “time-resolved emission spectra” (TRES) is micro-viscosity and micro-polarity of the dye microenvironment. Based on these parameters, one can draw conclusions about water structure in the bilayer. In this review, we focus on physical background of this method, on all the procedures that are needed in order to obtain relevant parameters, and on the requirements on the fluorescence dyes. Furthermore, a few recent applications (the effect of curvature, binding of antibacterial peptides and phase transition) illustrating the versatility of this method are mentioned. Moreover, limitations and potential problems are discussed.     

Membrane Organization and Dynamics of the G-Protein-Coupled Serotonin<Subscript>1A</Subscript> Receptor Monitored Using Fluorescence-Based Approaches

The G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily represents one of the largest classes of molecules involved in signal transduction across the plasma membrane. Fluorescence-based approaches have provided valuable insights into GPCR functions such as receptor–receptor and receptor–ligand interactions, real-time assessment of signal transduction, receptor dynamics on the plasma membrane, and intracellular trafficking of receptors. This has largely been possible with the use of fluorescent probes such as the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequoria victoria and its variants. We discuss the potential of fluorescence-based approaches in providing novel information on the membrane organization and dynamics of the G-protein-coupled serotonin_1A receptor tagged to the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP). These authors contributed equally to the work.