Determination of advanced glycation end products in serum by fluorescence spectroscopy and competitive ELISA

Recent studies suggest that advanced glycation endproducts play an important role in cardiovascular complications of ageing, diabetes and end-stage renal failure. Since highly elevated levels of advanced glycation endproducts are present in serum of patients on maintenance haemodialysis, an accurate and rapid assay for their determination would be useful. This would be particularly valuable for monitoring the removal of advanced glycation endproducts by novel dialysis membranes, as well as the effect of new drugs for the inhibition of their formation. Measurement of advanced glycation endproducts in serum was performed by two competitive ELISAs, using a monoclonal antibody directed against imidazolone, an advanced glycation endproduct formed by the reaction of arginine with 3-deoxyglucosone, and a polyclonal antibody directed against keyhole limpet haemocyanin-advanced glycation endproduct, as well as by quantitative fluorescence spectroscopy. Each of the assays showed significant differences between the controls and the maintenance haemodialysis patients. Advanced glycation endproduct levels determined by each of the ELISAs correlated with total and protein-bound fluorescence, but not with each other, suggesting a variable distribution of advanced glycation endproducts on serum proteins among the maintenance haemodialysis patients.     

Psychological factors that predict AIDS high-risk versus AIDS precautionary behavior.

Men (N?=?526) who patronized gay bars in three cities completed measures of sexual behavior covering the previous 3 months and psychological measures theoretically pertinent to AIDS risk. Thirty-seven percent of the sample reported engaging in unprotected anal intercourse, the behavior most strongly associated with transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Perceived peer norms concerning the acceptability of safer sex practices, AIDS health locus of control scores, risk behavior knowledge, age, and accuracy of personal risk estimation, but not personal HIV serostatus knowledge, were associated with high-risk and precaution-taking behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Superconducting Nb/AlOX/Nb tunnel junctions on micromachined silicon substrates

Combining superconducting circuit and microfabrication technology, superconductingNb/AlO _X /Nb tunnel junctions (STJs) have been fabricated on Si-membrane windows of 1–2 µm thickness acting as substrates. The membrane windows with areas of (10 µm) ² to (1000 µm) ² remained undamaged after the different fabrication steps. Furthermore, the STJs positioned on the membranes and on the bulk silicon substrate show similar current-voltage characteristics. The investigation of a large area STJ entirely covering a (120 µm) ² membrane window allowed to compare the detector performance in the membrane area and on bulk substrate for the same STJ under identical operation conditions. Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy was applied to image the time evolution of the two-dimensional signal distribution of the device for the detection of 5 keV electrons. At T=2.1 K the number of quasiparticles generated and counted in the membrane area is increased by a factor of 10 as compared to identical energy deposition into the detector regions covering the bulk substrate. However, the strong improvement of the counting efficiency in the membrane geometry under study is combined with a spatially inhomogeneous signal distribution. Advantages and disadvantages of the membrane configuration are discussed with respect to applications in x-ray spectroscopy.     

Genetic Encoding of a Bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne‐Charged Amino Acid Enables Fast Cellular Protein Imaging by Metal‐Free Ligation

Visualizing biomolecules by fluorescent tagging is a powerful method for studying their behaviour and function inside cells. We prepared and genetically encoded an unnatural amino acid (UAA) that features a bicyclononyne moiety. This UAA offered exceptional reactivity in strain‐promoted azide–alkyne cycloadditions. Kinetic measurements revealed that the UAA reacted also remarkably fast in the inverse‐electron‐demand Diels–Alder cycloaddition with tetrazine‐conjugated dyes. Genetic encoding of the new UAA inside mammalian cells and its subsequent selective labeling at low dye concentrations demonstrate the usefulness of the new amino acid for future imaging studies.     

Adjoint based optimisation of reactive compressible flows

We derive adjoint equations for the reactive compressible Navier–Stokes equations. Therein the reaction rate is modelled by an Arrhenius approach. The adjoint equations are validated by means of a comparison between the adjoint solution and a finite difference expression. An adjoint based optimisation framework for reactive compressible flows is presented. Formulations for different target functions are shown. One- and two-dimensional laminar flame configurations are presented. We find, that the adjoint approach works well despite the strong non-linearity of the reaction terms.     

Design of Wear-Resistant Austenitic Steels for Selective Laser Melting

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Type 316L stainless steel feedstock powder was modified by alloying with powders containing carbide/boride-forming elements to create improved...     

Assessing the physical and architectural features of sheltered care settings

The Physical and Architectural Features Checklist (PaF) measures the physical resources of sheltered care settings in terms of nine conceptually unified and empirically derived dimensions. The development of the PAF is described, and psychometric characteristics, based on data from 93 representative facilities, are presented. These data show that facilities which have more physical resources are seen as attractive by outside observers and pleasant by residents. Larger facilities are more likely to provide barrier-free environments, more flexible physical settings, and more staff facilities. Cost is not related to any PAF dimension; however, nonprofit facilities score higher on several dimensions than do proprietary facilities. Richer physical settings tend to offer residents more policy resources. They are more selective, provide more privacy, allow residents a higher degree of influence and choice, and have clearer policies. Sample profiles illustrate the usefulness of this instrument for describing and comparing facilities; additional uses are discussed.