Physicochemical properties and bio-interfacial interactions of surface modified PDLLA-PAMAM linear dendritic block copolymers

Here, we demonstrate the applicability of self-assembling linear-dendritic block copolymers (LDBCs) and their nanoaggregates possessing varied surfaces as therapeutic nanocarriers. These LDBCs are comprised of a hydrophobic, linear polyester chemically coupled to a hydrophilic dendron polyamidoamine (PAMAM)—the latter of which acts as the surface of the self-assembled nanoaggregate in aqueous media. To better understand how surface charge density affects the overall operability of these nanomaterials, we modified the nanoaggregate surface to yield cationic (NH₃⁺), neutral (OH), and anionic (COO⁻) surfaces. The effect of these modifications on the physicochemical properties (i.e., size, morphology, and surface charge density), colloidal stability, and cellular uptake mechanism of the polymeric nanocarrier were investigated. This comparative study demonstrates the viability of nanoaggregates formed from PDLLA-PAMAM LDBCs to serve as nanocarriers for applications in drug delivery.     

A comparison of steady-state evoked potentials to modulated tones in awake and sleeping humans.

Steady-state evoked potential responses were measured to binaural amplitude-modulated (AM) and combined amplitude- and frequency-modulated (AM/FM) tones. For awake subjects, AM/FM tones produced larger amplitude responses than did AM tones. Awake and sleeping responses to 30-dB HL AM/FM tones were compared. Response amplitudes were lower during sleep and the extent to which they differed from awake amplitudes was dependent on both carrier and modulation frequencies. Background EEG noise at the stimulus modulation frequency was also reduced during sleep and varied with modulation frequency. A detection efficiency function was used to indicate the modulation frequencies likely to be most suitable for electrical estimation of behavioral threshold. In awake subjects, for all carrier frequencies tested, detection efficiency was highest at a modulation frequency of 45 Hz. In sleeping subjects, the modulation frequency regions of highest efficiency varied with carrier frequency. For carrier frequencies of 250 Hz, 500 Hz, and 1 kHz, the highest efficiencies were found in two modulation frequency regions centered on 45 and 90 Hz. For 2 and 4 kHz, the highest efficiencies were at modulation frequencies above 70 Hz. Sleep stage affected both response amplitude and background EEG noise in a manner that depended on modulation frequency. The results of this study suggest that, for sleeping subjects, modulation frequencies above 70 Hz may be best when using steady-state potentials for hearing threshold estimation.     

Zur Bestimmung von Acetyl, besonders in Sauerstoff-Acetylverbindungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Phase shift moiré studies of processing-induced residual strains in Nickel 200 spot welds

Processing-induced residual strains in solid cylinders of Nickel 200 were investigated using phase shifting moiré interferometry. Two different experimental approaches were used to study the strains produced during Tungsten-inert gas spot welding. A comparison of results for a ‘hot/fast’ and a ‘cool/slow’ weld demonstrate the capabilities of the general approach. Both experimental methods revealed distinct differences in the residual displacement and strain fields between the two types of welds.     

Orders of Indescribable Sets

We extract some properties of Mahlo’s operation and show that some other very natural operations share these properties. The weakly compact sets form a similar hierarchy as the stationary sets. The height of this hierarchy is a large cardinal property connected to saturation properties of the weakly compact ideal.     

Activation profiles of opioid ligands in HEK cells expressing δ opioid receptors

Background  

The aim of the present study was to characterize the activation profiles of 15 opioid ligands in transfected human embryonic kidney cells expressing only δ opioid receptors. Activation profiles of most of these ligands at δ opioid receptors had not been previously characterized in vitro. Receptor activation was assessed by measuring the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP production.     

Spin-transfer switching in MgO magnetic tunnel junction nanostructures

Spin-transfer driven switching was observed in MgO based magnetic tunnelling junctions (MTJ) with tunnelling magnetoresistance ratio of up to 160% and the average intrinsic switching current density (J_c0) down to 2 MA/cm², which are the best known results reported in spin-transfer switched MTJ nanostructures. Based on a comparison of results both from MgO and AlO_x MTJs, further switching current decrease via MgO dual structures with two pinned layers is discussed.