Accumulation and Toxicity of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Cells and Experimental Animals

The uptake and distribution of negatively charged superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (SPIONs) in mouse embryonic fibroblasts NIH3T3, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal influenced by SPIONs injected into experimental animals, were visualized and investigated. Cellular uptake and distribution of the SPIONs in NIH3T3 after staining with Prussian Blue were investigated by a bright-field microscope equipped with digital color camera. SPIONs were localized in vesicles, mostly placed near the nucleus. Toxicity of SPION nanoparticles tested with cell viability assay (XTT) was estimated. The viability of NIH3T3 cells remains approximately 95% within 3–24 h of incubation, and only a slight decrease of viability was observed after 48 h of incubation. MRI studies on Wistar rats using a clinical 1.5 T MRI scanner were showing that SPIONs give a negative contrast in the MRI. The dynamic MRI measurements of the SPION clearance from the injection site shows that SPIONs slowly disappear from injection sites and only a low concentration of nanoparticles was completely eliminated within three weeks. No functionalized SPIONs accumulate in cells by endocytic mechanism, none accumulate in the nucleus, and none are toxic at a desirable concentration. Therefore, they could be used as a dual imaging agent: as contrast agents for MRI and for traditional optical biopsy by using Prussian Blue staining.     

Polar compounds dominate in vitro effects of sediment extracts

Sediment extracts from three polluted sites of the river Elbe basin were fractionated using a novel online fractionation procedure. Resulting fractions were screened for mutagenic, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated, transthyretin (TTR)-binding, and estrogenic activities and their potency to inhibit gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) to compare toxicity patterns and identify priority fractions. Additionally, more than 200 compounds and compound classes were identified using GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, and HPLC-DAD methods. For all investigated end points, major activities were found in polar fractions, which are defined here as fractions containing dominantly compounds with at least one polar functional group. Nonpolar PAH fractions contributed to mutagenic and AhR-mediated activities while inhibition of GJIC and estrogenic and TTR-binding activities were exclusively observed in the polar fractions. Known mutagens in polar fractions included nitro- and dinitro-PAHs, azaarenes, and keto-PAHs, while parent and monomethylated PAHs such as benzo[a]pyrene and benzofluoranthenes were identified in nonpolar fractions. Additionally, for one sample, high AhR-mediated activities were determined in one fraction characterized by PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PCNs. Estrone, 17β-estradiol, 9H-benz[de]anthracen-7-one, and 4-nonylphenol were identified as possible estrogenic and TTR-binding compounds. Thus, not only nonpolar compounds such as PAHs, PCBs, and PCDD/Fs but also the less characterized and investigated more polar substances should be considered as potent mutagenic, estrogenic, AhR-inducing, TTR-binding, and GJIC-inhibiting components for future studies.     

Antioxidant properties and total phenolics content of green and black tea under different brewing conditions

 The antioxidant activity and the total phenolics content of various tea extracts were analysed. Green and black tea were brewed from 0.5 min up to 10 min under different brewing conditions (stirring the extract, chopping the tea leaves before brewing). For measuring the antioxidant activity, the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) test and the low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation test were used. In all cases the antioxidant activity as well as the content of the phenolics increased with the brewing time. In black tea (brewed without stirring or chopping), the total phenolics increased from 33.8 mg/100 ml after 0.5 min up to 68.4 mg/100 ml after 10 min brewing time. Stirring during brewing led to higher phenolic yields in the extract. Thus, phenolics in stirred black tea ranged from 44.5 mg/100 ml (0.5 min) to 96.7 mg/100 ml (10 min). Chopping the tea leaves resulted in the highest content of phenolics. Antioxidant activity was well correlated with the corresponding total phenolics content. The results of the LDL oxidation test varied more than those of the TEAC test.     

利用有色矿物油测定洗涤剂的洗涤效率

叙述了测定洗涤剂效率的测试规范的开发.开发目的是给织物后整理商提供一种方法,使他们能通过在规定的条件下洗涤测出表面活性剂的效率.     

Antioxidant properties and total phenolics content of green and black tea under different brewing conditions

 The antioxidant activity and the total phenolics content of various tea extracts were analysed. Green and black tea were brewed from 0.5 min up to 10 min under different brewing conditions (stirring the extract, chopping the tea leaves before brewing). For measuring the antioxidant activity, the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) test and the low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation test were used. In all cases the antioxidant activity as well as the content of the phenolics increased with the brewing time. In black tea (brewed without stirring or chopping), the total phenolics increased from 33.8 mg/100 ml after 0.5 min up to 68.4 mg/100 ml after 10 min brewing time. Stirring during brewing led to higher phenolic yields in the extract. Thus, phenolics in stirred black tea ranged from 44.5 mg/100 ml (0.5 min) to 96.7 mg/100 ml (10 min). Chopping the tea leaves resulted in the highest content of phenolics. Antioxidant activity was well correlated with the corresponding total phenolics content. The results of the LDL oxidation test varied more than those of the TEAC test. Received: 27 May 1998 / Revised version: 15 July 1998     

Biosensors for the Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Virus and Diagnosis of COVID-19 Infection

Monitoring and tracking infection is required in order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To achieve this goal, the development and deployment of quick, accurate, and sensitive diagnostic methods are necessary. The determination of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is performed by biosensing devices, which vary according to detection methods and the biomarkers which are inducing/providing an analytical signal. RNA hybridisation, antigen-antibody affinity interaction, and a variety of other biological reactions are commonly used to generate analytical signals that can be precisely detected using electrochemical, electrochemiluminescence, optical, and other methodologies and transducers. Electrochemical biosensors, in particular, correspond to the current trend of bioanalytical process acceleration and simplification. Immunosensors are based on the determination of antigen-antibody interaction, which on some occasions can be determined in a label-free mode with sufficient sensitivity.     

Predictors of Subjective Age Before and After Cataract Surgery: Conscientiousness Makes a Difference.

This study contributes to research on subjective age by examining the interplay of felt age with health, functional limitations, and personality. Individuals undergoing cataract surgery (N = 134; 38 to 92 years of age) provided data for an assessment period of 6 weeks surrounding their scheduled surgery. Conscientiousness and repeated measurements of health indicators, functional limitations, and felt age were included in the analyses. Results indicated that functional limitations may be more important to the construction of felt age than their underlying health-related causes. Moreover, conscientious participants felt younger before and after surgery. Their functional status was less dependent on health than the functional status of less conscientious participants. This moderator effect is discussed along with health-related pathways leading to felt age. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Precursor evaluation for in situ InP nanowire doping

The use of tetraethyltin (TESn) and dimethylzinc (DMZn) as in situ n-?and p-dopant precursors during particle-assisted growth of InP nanowires is reported. Gate voltage dependent transport measurements demonstrate that the nanowires can be predictably synthesized as either n-?or p-type. These doped nanowires can be characterized based on their electric field response and we find that n-type doping scales over a range from 10(17) to 10(19)?cm(-3) with increasing input TESn dopant molar fraction. On the other hand, the p-type doping using DMZn saturates at low levels, probably related to a strong increase in nanowire growth rate with increasing DMZn molar fractions. By optimizing growth conditions with respect to tapering, axial pn-junctions exhibiting rectifying behavior were fabricated. The pn-junctions can be operated as light emitting diodes.     

Predicting behavioral intentions and physical exercise: A test of the health action process approach at the intrapersonal level.

Objective: Theories of health behavior are usually tested on the between-person level. Associations between variables on the between- and the within-person level, however, can differ substantially. Thus, in order to better understand intrapersonal processes in the domain of health behavior, studies applying within-person analyses are needed. This study tested the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) on the within- and between-person level in the context of physical exercise. Design: Participants were 265 first-year students who completed nine online questionnaires every second week. Data were analyzed by focusing on intrapersonal associations applying multilevel modeling. Main Outcome Measures: Intentions for physical exercise and self-reported physical exercise served as main outcome measures. Results: Analyses mainly confirm associations specified by the HAPA at the intrapersonal level: outcome expectancies and self-efficacy, but not risk awareness, were positively associated with intentions for physical exercise. Physical exercise in turn was positively associated with intentions, self-efficacy, action control, but not with action planning. Conclusion: The HAPA could be confirmed on the within-person level. Future studies should focus on testing other theories of health behavior at the within-person level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)