Extracellular recordings from patterned neuronal networks using planar microelectrode arrays

Neuronal cell networks have been reconstructed on planar microelectrode arrays (MEAs) from dissociated hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Microcontact printing (microCP) and a photoresist-liftoff method were used to selectively localize poly-L-lysine (PLL) on the surface of MEAs. Haptotaxis led to the organization of the neurons into networks localized adjacent to microelectrodes. Various grids of PLL with 2-25-microm-wide lines spaced by 50-200 microm with 15-25-microm nodes at intersection points were used to guide cell body attachment and neurite outgrowth. Bursting activity with spike amplitude attenuation was observed, and multichannel recordings detected instances of coincident firing activity. Finally, we present here an extracellular recording from a approximately 2 microm bundle of guided neurites.     

Quantifying the role of risk-taking behaviour in causation of serious road crash-related injury

This study was designed to quantify the increased risk of road crash-related injury, which can be attributed to risk-taking behaviour. A case-control study was conducted to compare motor vehicle drivers (car and bike) who had been hospitalised for injuries following crashes with population-based controls. Cases were recruited prospectively over 12 months and controls were randomly selected from license holders (car and bike) living in the same geographical location as cases. A self-administered questionnaire was used to ascertain participants' driving behaviour, general risk-taking behaviour and selected demographic characteristics. After adjusting for demographic variables, number of years of driving and total distance driven per week, logistic regression analysis showed that a high risk acceptance was associated with an eight-fold increased risk of having a crash that resulted in serious injury (OR 7.8, 95% CI 4.2-15.8). The findings of this study support the suggestion that certain host factors increase the risk of crash-related serious injury. There would appear to be a reasonable argument for persisting with injury prevention programmes, which concentrate on host as well as environment risk factor reduction.     

Measurement of femtogram quantities of protactinium in silicate rock samples by multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

We describe a new method for the chemical separation and analysis of Pa in silicate rock samples by isotope dilution. Our new technique has the following advantages over previous methods: (a) The initial separation of Pa from the rock matrix is carried out using anionic exchange resin and HCl-HF mixtures, avoiding the need to remove F(-) quantitatively from the sample solution prior to this step, (b) Efficient ionization of Pa is achieved using a multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, so that smaller sample sizes and shorter measurement times are required, compared to previous methods using thermal ionization mass spectrometry or alpha spectrometry. (c) Plasma ionization requires less efficient separation of the high field strength elements from Pa, thus reducing reagent volumes, blanks, and sample preparation times. Instrumental mass fractionation can be corrected for using admixed U of known isotopic composition. Using this method, Pa concentrations can be measured to a precision of approximately 0.5% and an accuracy of approximately 1% using only a few tens of femtograms of Pa.     

Accuracy and precision of manual baseline determination

Vibrational spectra often require baseline removal before further data analysis can be performed. Manual (i.e., user) baseline determination and removal is a common technique used to perform this operation. Currently, little data exists that details the accuracy and precision that can be expected with manual baseline removal techniques. This study addresses this current lack of data. One hundred spectra of varying signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal-to-baseline ratio (SBR), baseline slope, and spectral congestion were constructed and baselines were subtracted by 16 volunteers who were categorized as being either experienced or inexperienced in baseline determination. In total, 285 baseline determinations were performed. The general level of accuracy and precision that can be expected for manually determined baselines from spectra of varying SNR, SBR, baseline slope, and spectral congestion is established. Furthermore, the effects of user experience on the accuracy and precision of baseline determination is estimated. The interactions between the above factors in affecting the accuracy and precision of baseline determination is highlighted. Where possible, the functional relationships between accuracy, precision, and the given spectral characteristic are detailed. The results provide users of manual baseline determination useful guidelines in establishing limits of accuracy and precision when performing manual baseline determination, as well as highlighting conditions that confound the accuracy and precision of manual baseline determination.     

Poly(ether sulphone) as an engineering material

The polysulphones exhibit a unique blend of toughness at low temperatures and deformation resistance at high temperatures which makes them invaluable as engineering plastics. At room temperature, poly(ether sulphone) can withstand a stress of 50 MN/m² for many months without crazing or excessive creep. In this respect it is superior to all other commercial unreinforced thermoplastics. The deformation resistance at 150°C is still such that the working lifetime is at least three years at a tensile stress of 10 MN/m²; at lower stresses the lifetime is much longer. The experimental techniques and results on which these conclusions are based are reported. Complex changes occur in the mechanical properties of polymers stored at high temperatures, and poly(ether sulphone) is no exception; some of the phenomena are discussed.     

Linear electrooptic effect in HgS (Cinnabar) at 0.63 and 3.39 microns

Nonlinear optical properties of HgS have been of interest lately. The electrooptic effect has been measured in a natural crystal and values for the two independent coefficients are reported here at wavelengths of 0.63 and 3.39 microns. The results agree well with predictions of purely electronic theories, but the wavelength dependence indicates an appreciable contribution of ionic motion to the optical polarizability.     

Strength and structure of glassy networks formed from dimethacrylates

Glassy networks were formed by copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with both ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TGDM). The polymerization reaction was followed by estimation of vinyl group concentration from measurements of specific volume and infrared absorption. The sheets of polymer were cracked but gave fragments that were large enough to provide specimens suitable for a three-point bending test. Flexural strength decreased with increasing feed of dimethacrylate but, nevertheless, gave fairly strong products throughout the range of comonomer compositions c.f. PMMA, 144 ± 9 MPa; PTGDM, 132 ± 10 MPa; PEGDM, 66 ± 15 MPa. Examination of fracture surfaces indicated a predominantly brittle mode of fracture modulated by localized plastic deformation. In order to account for localized plastic deformation, it was postulated that the networks consist of highly crosslinked microgel particles in a much less crosslinked matrix.     

Mass and composition matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight analysis enabling inference of the sequence of most peptides where the protein of origin is known

Mass spectrometers combining matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization (MALDI) and time-of-flight analysis are among the most widely used in peptide analysis. They excel at accurate mass determinations on complex samples but, compared with tandem instruments, have very limited capacity to determine amino acid sequence through daughter ion analysis. Here we have investigated the sequence information that can be inferred from the masses of peptides in the special circumstance in which the peptides are known to be sub-sequences of known parent sequences. We show how sequence can be inferred from the measured m/z of a peptide (mass analysis) and examine the parameters that influence the level of confidence that can be placed in "inferred sequences". We further describe how specific amino acid modifications can be used with MALDI-TOF analysis to obtain partial composition information and demonstrate that combined mass and composition (MAC) analysis enables the sequences of most peptide ions to be inferred with very high confidence.     

The retention of heterocyclics by siliceous frameworks Part I The role of the heterocyclic

Flow microcalorimetry has been used to probe acid-base interactions between five-membered-ring heterocyclics and thermally pre-treated, porous silica. The adsorbates (1-methylpyrrolidin-2-one, pyridine, pyrrolidine, pyrrole, 2-methylthiophene, 2-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 4,5-dichloro-2-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-cyclopentenone,) varied in basicity, polarity and -character. The amounts of the adsorbates retained by the silica were determined, along with enthalpy of adsorption (ranging from –5.5 kJ mol^–1 to –57.8 kJ mol^–1) and enthalpy of desorption (ranging from 5.6 kJ mol^–1 to 26.1 kJ mol^–1). For the majority of the adsorbates the enthalpy of adsorption is consistent with hydrogen bonding to isolated silanols. Although increasing basicity enhanced the adsorption enthalpy and hence the strength of associations, desorption was inhibited when a carbonyl, or unsaturated carbonyl, group was adjacent to the active basic centre. Bulky electron-withdrawing agents (chlorine atoms) substituted at the double bond of the unsaturated carbonyl reduced the adsorption considerably. This was attributed to steric hinderance restricting the proximity of the basic groups with the active silanol sites.