Ion chromatographic separation of alkylsulphonic acids with conductivity detection

Summary An ion chromatographic (IC) method has been developed for the separation of alkylsulphonic acid. Two different stationary phases, silica-based and polymer-based ion-exchange resins, were studied using pure ion exchange and/or hydrophobic interaction mechanisms. Correlations between analyte hydrophobicity and eluent polarity were made in order to investigate the possibility of changing the dominant separation mechanism by varying the eluent composition. The alkyl chain lengths of the sulphonic acids analysed ranged from C₁ to C₉. Detection limits in the submicromolar range were obtained by suppressed conductivity detection.     

Latex Fractionation by Sedimentation and Colloidal Crystallization: The Case of Poly(styrene-co-acrylamide)

Poly(styrene-co-acrylamide) (PS-AAM) latex was prepared, fractionated by sedimentation under gravity, and characterized by PCS, infrared spectra, secondary and backscattered electron imaging in the scanning electron microscope, and electron spectroscopy imaging in an analytical transmission electron microscope. Three latex fractions were obtained. The lower fraction was opalescent and its particles were the more uniform, concerning size, chemical composition, and topochemical features. This lower fraction was still further fractionated by zonal centrifugation in a density gradient, yielding two fractions with similar macrocrystal-forming abilities but different sizes and chemical compositions. These results confirm those previously obtained for the PS-HEMA latex. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Shooting methods for a PT-symmetric periodic eigenvalue problem

We present a rigorous analysis of the performance of some one-step discretization schemes for a class of PT-symmetric singular boundary eigenvalue problem which encompasses a number of different problems whose investigation has been inspired by the 2003 article of Benilov et al. (J Fluid Mech 497:201–224, 2003). These discretization schemes are analyzed as initial value problems rather than as discrete boundary problems, since this is the setting which ties in most naturally with the formulation of the problem which one is forced to adopt due to the presence of an interior singularity. We also devise and analyze a variable step scheme for dealing with the singular points. Numerical results show better agreement between our results and those obtained from small-ϵ asymptotics than has been shown in results presented hitherto.     

Ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for trace metal preconcentration followed by ion-interaction chromatography

Ion-interaction chromatography of Plasmocorinth B (a disulphonated azo dye) complexes of Co(III), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ga(III), In(III), Ni(II), V(V) and Zr(IV) was studied. The behaviour of two different reversed-phase C₁₈ columns (5 and 10 μm) was compared and an on-line enrichment procedure was developed following the optimization of eluent (pH, ligand concentration, ionic strength and organic modifier). The described technique, applied to the analysis of metal ions at μg/1 levels in natural waters, gave satisfactory precision and accuracy in comparison with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopic results.     

Antisense-mediated isoform switching of steroid receptor coactivator-1 in the central nucleus of the amygdala of the mouse brain

Background

Antisense oligonucleotide (AON)-mediated exon skipping is a powerful tool to manipulate gene expression. In the present study we investigated the potential of exon skipping by local injection in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) of the mouse brain. As proof of principle we targeted the splicing of steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1), a protein involved in nuclear receptor function. This nuclear receptor coregulator exists in two splice variants (SRC-1a and SRC-1e) which display differential distribution and opposing activities in the brain, and whose mRNAs differ in a single SRC-1e specific exon.

Methods

For proof of principle of feasibility, we used immunofluorescent stainings to study uptake by different cell types, translocation to the nucleus and potential immunostimulatory effects at different time points after a local injection in the CeA of the mouse brain of a control AON targeting human dystrophin with no targets in the murine brain. To evaluate efficacy we designed an AON targeting the SRC-1e-specific exon and with qPCR analysis we measured the expression ratio of the two splice variants.

Results

We found that AONs were taken up by corticotropin releasing hormone expressing neurons and other cells in the CeA, and translocated into the cell nucleus. Immune responses after AON injection were comparable to those after sterile saline injection. A successful shift of the naturally occurring SRC-1a:SRC-1e expression ratio in favor of SRC-1a was observed, without changes in total SRC-1 expression.

Conclusions

We provide a proof of concept for local neuropharmacological use of exon skipping by manipulating the expression ratio of the two splice variants of SRC-1, which may be used to study nuclear receptor function in specific brain circuits. We established that exon skipping after local injection in the brain is a versatile and useful tool for the manipulation of splice variants for numerous genes that are relevant for brain function.     

Water droplets as template for next-generation self-assembled poly-(etheretherketone) with cardo membranes

Next generation PEEK-WC membranes have been fabricated by using an innovative self-assembly technique. Patterned architectures have been achieved via a solvent-reduced and water-assisted process, resulting in honeycomb packed geometry. The membranes exhibit monodisperse pores with size and shape comparable to those left by templating water droplets. Influencing factors for the formation of self-assembled poly-(etheretherketone) with Cardo [PEEK-WC] membranes have been evaluated, identifying the critical parameters for nucleation, growth, and propagation of the droplet-mobile arrays through the overall films. Structure-transport relationships have been discussed according to the results achieved from the implementation of membrane distillation processes, yielding indication about the suitability of self-assembled PEEK-WC films to work as interfaces in contactor operations.