Compact Plasma Ionization for Ion Mobility Spectrometry Using a 4.3 MHz Miniature Tesla Coil.

In this study, a low-cost 4.3 MHz plasma ionization source for ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), utilizing a miniaturized Tesla coil, is presented. This compact design, combined with a 3D printed cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) housing, delivers a stable and directed plasma suitable for ionization in IMS applications.

Soft ionization mechanisms in flexible µ-tube plasma-from FµTP to closed µ-tube plasma.

In order to find an explanation for the mechanism in a plasma operated with an alternating voltage, or rather a square wave voltage, such a plasma was investigated. It was found that Penning ionization, charge transfer, and photoionization played a minor or even no role in the soft ionization mechanism of a FµTP. If the collision of plasma gases with air does not contribute to soft ionization, it should also be possible to use a separated plasma for soft ionization.

Setting the Separation Factor α for Ketone Monomers and Dimers by the Use of Different Drift Gases.

This study investigates the influence of different drift gases on ion mobility in ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) using ketones as model substances within a custom-built drift tube spectrometer. Different binary mixtures of nitrogen, helium, and argon were used as drift gases to investigate the influence of mobility on the monomers and dimers of the different ketones. Experimental results reveal shifts in ion drift times and separation factors (α) with varying gas compositions, in accordance with Blanc's Law.

Determination of Particle Size Distributions of Bulk Samples Using Micro-Computed Tomography and Artificial Intelligence.

The knowledge of product particle size distribution (PSD) in crystallization processes is of high interest for the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries, as well as in research and development. Not only can the efficiency of crystallization/production processes and product quality be increased but also new equipment can be qualitatively characterized. A large variety of analytical methods for PSDs is available, most of which have underlying assumptions and corresponding errors affecting the measurement of the volume of individual particles.

Non-Invasive Manipulation of Two-Phase Liquid-Liquid Slug Flow Parameters Using Magnetofluidics.

Liquid-liquid slug flow in a microcapillary, with its improved heat and mass transfer properties and narrow residence time, plays a vital role in process intensification. Knowledge of the flow properties in microchannels along variables' controllability (e.g.

Coupling Miniaturized Free-Flow Electrophoresis to Mass Spectrometry a Multi-Emitter ESI Interface.

We present a novel multi-emitter electrospray ionization (ESI) interface for the coupling of microfluidic free-flow electrophoresis (μFFE) with mass spectrometry (MS). The effluents of the μFFE outlets are analyzed in near real-time, allowing a direct optimization of the electrophoretic separation and an online monitoring of qualitative sample compositions. The short measurement time of just a few seconds for all outlets even enables a reasonable time-dependent monitoring.

EmojiGrid: A 2D Pictorial Scale for the Assessment of Food Elicited Emotions.

Research on food experience is typically challenged by the way questions are worded. We therefore developed the EmojiGrid: a graphical (language-independent) intuitive self-report tool to measure food-related valence and arousal. In a first experiment participants rated the valence and the arousing quality of 60 food images, using either the EmojiGrid or two independent visual analog scales (VAS).

Flow rate independent gradient generator and application in microfluidic free-flow electrophoresis.

Microfluidic gradient generators have been employed in several works in the literature. However, these are typically application specific and especially limited in the range of flow rates that result in the required concentration gradient outputs. Here, a flow rate independent gradient generator designed as a modified Christmas tree-like microfluidic channel network including micromixers at each channel branch is demonstrated.

Integration of polycarbonate membranes in microfluidic free-flow electrophoresis.

A general difficulty in the miniaturization of free-flow electrophoresis relates to the need to separate electrodes and separation bed compartments. This is usually performed by using membranes, which are either difficult to fabricate and integrate into microfluidic channels, or not stable over time. Here, we propose the use of track-etched polycarbonate membranes.

How radiation influences atherosclerotic plaque development: a biophysical approach in ApoE⁻/⁻ mice.

Atherosclerosis is the development of lipid-laden plaques in arteries and is nowadays considered as an inflammatory disease. It has been shown that high doses of ionizing radiation, as used in radiotherapy, can increase the risk of development or progression of atherosclerosis. To elucidate the effects of radiation on atherosclerosis, we propose a mathematical model to describe radiation-promoted plaque development.

Chemical genetic approach identifies microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 1 as a leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 substrate.

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common cause of autosomal-dominant forms of Parkinson's disease. LRRK2 is a modular, multidomain protein containing 2 enzymatic domains, including a kinase domain, as well as several protein-protein interaction domains, pointing to a role in cellular signaling. Although enormous efforts have been made, the exact pathophysiologic mechanisms of LRRK2 are still not completely known.

Quantitative Lys-ϵ-Gly-Gly (diGly) proteomics coupled with inducible RNAi reveals ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis of DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) by the E3 ligase HUWE1.

Targeted degradation of proteins through the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) via the activities of E3 ubiquitin ligases regulates diverse cellular processes, and misregulation of these enzymes contributes to the pathogenesis of human diseases. One of the challenges facing the UPS field is to delineate the complete cohort of substrates for a particular E3 ligase. Advances in mass spectrometry and the development of antibodies recognizing the Lys-ϵ-Gly-Gly (diGly) remnant from ubiquitinated proteins following trypsinolysis have provided a tool to address this question.

Mouse bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells do not restore radiation-induced microvascular damage.

Background. Radiotherapy is commonly used to treat breast and thoracic cancers but it also causes delayed microvascular damage and increases the risk of cardiac mortality. Endothelial cell proliferation and revascularization are crucial to restore microvasculature damage and maintain function of the irradiated heart.

Irradiation of existing atherosclerotic lesions increased inflammation by favoring pro-inflammatory macrophages.

Background And Purpose: Recent studies have shown an increased incidence of localized atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular events in cancer patients treated with thoracic radiotherapy. We previously demonstrated that irradiation accelerated the development of atherosclerosis and predisposed to an inflammatory plaque phenotype in young hypercholesterolemic ApoE(-/-) mice. However, as older cancer patients already have early or advanced stages of atherosclerosis at the time of radiotherapy, we investigated the effects of irradiation on the progression of existing atherosclerotic lesions in vivo.

Radiation- and anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity and the influence of ErbB2 blocking agents.

In Her2-positive breast cancer patients, inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ErbB2)-signaling is often combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The risk of cardiac toxicity after anthracyclines and radiotherapy is recognized, but little is known about increased risk when these treatments are combined with ErbB2 inhibition. This study investigated whether ErbB2 inhibition increased radiation or anthracycline-induced toxicity.

Intact Doxil is taken up intracellularly and released doxorubicin sequesters in the lysosome: evaluated by in vitro/in vivo live cell imaging.

Doxil, also known as Caelyx, is an established liposomal formulation of doxorubicin used for the treatment of ovarian cancer, sarcoma and multiple myeloma. While showing reduced doxorubicin related toxicity, Doxil does not greatly improve clinical outcome. To become biologically active, doxorubicin needs to be released from its carrier.

Is there an indication for digital subtraction angiography in the assessment of irradiation-induced vascular damage before free flap surgery by the means of the internal mammary vessels?

Secondary breast reconstruction is increasingly performed after postmastectomy radiotherapy. Damage to blood vessel walls is one of the adverse effects of irradiation therapy, which may jeopardize reconstructive free flap surgery. It would be of great importance to be informed about the quality of the recipient vessel before reconstructive surgery.

Endoglin haplo-insufficiency modifies the inflammatory response in irradiated mouse hearts without affecting structural and mircovascular changes.

Background: It is now widely recognized that radiotherapy of thoracic and chest wall tumors increases the long-term risk of cardiovascular damage although the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. There is increasing evidence that microvascular damage is involved. Endoglin, an accessory receptor for TGF-β1, is highly expressed in damaged endothelial cells and may play a crucial role in cell proliferation and revascularization of damaged heart tissue.

Understanding radiation-induced cardiovascular damage and strategies for intervention.

There is a clear association between therapeutic doses of thoracic irradiation and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in cancer survivors, although these effects may take decades to become symptomatic. Long-term survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma and childhood cancers have two-fold to more than seven-fold increased risks for late cardiac deaths after total tumour doses of 30-40 Gy, given in 2 Gy fractions, where large volumes of heart were included in the field. Increased cardiac mortality is also seen in women irradiated for breast cancer.

Thalidomide is not able to inhibit radiation-induced heart disease.

Purpose: Radiotherapy to the thorax increases the risk of radiation-induced heart disease. We and others have shown that local irradiation to the murine heart results in inflammatory and fibrotic responses and decreased microvascular density. In the present study we tested whether thalidomide is able to inhibit radiation-induced heart disease.

Irradiation induces different inflammatory and thrombotic responses in carotid arteries of wildtype C57BL/6J and atherosclerosis-prone ApoE(-/-) mice.

Background And Purpose: We have previously shown that irradiation to the carotid arteries of hypercholesterolemic ApoE(-/-) mice accelerated the development of macrophage-rich, inflammatory atherosclerotic lesions. We now investigated the mechanism underlying the development of radiation-induced atherosclerosis.

Materials And Methods: ApoE(-/-) and wildtype C57BL/6J mice received 0, 8 or 14 Gy to the neck and the carotid arteries were harvested 1 day, 1 or 4 weeks later.

Local heart irradiation of ApoE(-/-) mice induces microvascular and endocardial damage and accelerates coronary atherosclerosis.

Background And Purpose: Radiotherapy of thoracic and chest-wall tumors increases the long-term risk of radiation-induced heart disease, like a myocardial infarct. Cancer patients commonly have additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as hypercholesterolemia. The goal of this study is to define the interaction of irradiation with such cardiovascular risk factors in radiation-induced damage to the heart and coronary arteries.

Irradiation induced modest changes in murine cardiac function despite progressive structural damage to the myocardium and microvasculature.

Background: Radiotherapy of thoracic and chest wall tumors increases the long-term risk of cardiotoxicity, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear.

Methods: Single doses of 2, 8, or 16 Gy were delivered to the hearts of mice and damage was evaluated at 20, 40, and 60 weeks, relative to age matched controls. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and ultrasound were used to measure cardiac geometry and function, which was related to histo-morphology and microvascular damage.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic intervention strategies using atorvastatin, clopidogrel and knock-down of CD40L do not modify radiation-induced atherosclerosis in ApoE null mice.

Background And Purpose: We previously showed that irradiating the carotid arteries of ApoE(-/-) mice accelerated the development of macrophage-rich, inflammatory and thrombotic atherosclerotic lesions. In this study we investigated the potential of anti-inflammatory (atorvastatin, CD40L knockout) and anti-thrombotic (clopidogrel) intervention strategies to inhibit radiation-induced atherosclerosis.

Material And Methods: ApoE(-/-) mice were given 0 or 14 Gy to the neck and the carotid arteries were harvested at 4 or 28 weeks after irradiation.