Bioanalysis of acetylcarnitine in cerebrospinal fluid by HILIC–mass spectrometry

Acetyl‐l ‐carnitine (ALCAR) is a potential biomarker for the modulation of brain neurotransmitter activity, but is also present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Recent studies have utilized hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC‐MS/MS) based assays to detect and quantify ALCAR within biofluids such as urine, plasma and serum, using various sample pretreatment procedures. In order to address the need to quantify ALCAR in CSF on a high‐throughput scale, a new and simple HILIC‐MS/MS assay has been successfully developed and validated. For rapid analysis, CSF sample pretreatment was performed via ‘dilute and shoot’ directly onto an advanced HILIC column prior to MS/MS detection. This newly developed HILIC‐MS/MS assay shows good recoveries of ALCAR without the need for chemical derivatization and multistep sample extraction procedures. The employment of this assay is suitable for the high‐throughput bioanalysis and quantification of ALCAR within the CSF of various animal models and human clinical studies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High-p T αα andαp interactions

Properties of secondaries associated with a high-p _T charged trigger particle (3<p _T <5 GeV/c) were studied for αp and αα interactions at c.m. energies \(\sqrt s = 88\) GeV and 125 GeV, respectively. Thep _T distributions of secondaries in the away-jet and trigger-jet regions were compared with those for high-p _{T pp} interactions. No statistically significant differences were seen, except at lowp _T . Momentum and angular distributions of spectator and leading protons were studied as a function of charge and rapidity of the trigger hadron. The observed correlations between trigger charge and number of spectator protons provide evidence of valence quark contributions to the trigger jet.     

R?ntgenspektrometrische Elementbestimmung in Abwasser: Probenvorbereitung und Matrixkorrekturverfahren

Zusammenfassung Für Elementbestimmungen in Abwasser wird ein Röntgenfluorescenzverfahren beschrieben. Zur Probenvorbereitung werden die Elemente durch Gefriertrocknung auf einem inerten Träger angereichert. Diese Anreicherung ist nicht selektiv und erfaßt praktisch alle in Abwasser gelösten und suspendierten Verunreinigungen. Für die Berechnung der Elementkonzentrationen aus den gemessenen Fluorescenzintensitäten wird ein Matrixkorrekturverfahren angegeben, welches dem unterschiedlichen Absorptionsverhalten der Probenmatrix Rechnung trägt. Die Massenabsorptionskoeffizienten werden durch Messung der diffus gestreuten Bremsstrahlung bzw. der Comptonstreustrahlung ermittelt. Die Selbstabsorption des zu bestimmenden Elementes wird rechnerisch berücksichtigt. Das Korrekturverfahren kann auf alle mit Röntgenfluorescenzanalyse bestimmbaren Elemente angewendet werden.

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Determination of elements in waste water by x-ray fluorescence analysis: Sample preparation and matrix correction method

Summary For sample preparation the elements are enriched upon an inert carrier by freeze-drying. This enriching procedure is not selective and collects all dissolved and suspended contaminations from the waste water. In order to calculate the element concentrations from the measured fluorescence intensities a matrix correction method is given which considers the different absorption behaviour of the matrix. The mass absorption coefficients are obtained by measuring the scattered X-ray tube spectrum or a Compton scattered X-ray tube line, respectively. The self-absorption of the element to be determined is taken into account. The correction method is applicable to all elements detectable by X-ray fluorescence.

Herrn Dr. H. Wagner danken wir für das stete Interesse, die zahlreichen konstruktiven Diskussionen und die Hilfe beim Abfassen des Manuskripts.     

Negatively charged hyperbranched polyether-based polyelectrolytes

The preparation of carboxylated hyperbranched polyglycerols of narrow polydispersity was achieved by modification (78–90%) of the hydroxyl end groups via Michael addition of acrylonitrile, followed by hydrolysis. High conversion could only be achieved for low molecular weight starting materials (520 and 1,030 g mol⁻¹). The solution properties of the resulting materials were investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), showing the formation of large aggregates with size depending on the pH value. After deposition on a negatively charged mica surface, the structures observed by atomic force microscope (AFM) show the coexistence of aggregates and single macromolecules. Most interesting, in the case of the lower molecular weight sample (PG 520 g mol⁻¹), extended and ordered terrace structures were formed, which are unprecedented for hyperbranched polymers and are of interest for surface modification in general.