Determination of the structure of adenine monolayers adsorbed at Au(110)/electrolyte interfaces using reflection anisotropy spectroscopy.

Reflection anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) has been used to show that at saturation coverage adenine adsorbs on the Au(110)/electrolyte interface in a base-stacking configuration with the plane of the bases orientated vertically on the surface and with the long axis of the molecules parallel to the [110] direction. Changes in the RAS observed from adsorbed adenine as a result of changes in the potential applied to the Au(110) electrode could arise from slight changes in the orientation of the molecules in the vertical plane.

Orientation of ordered structures of cytosine and cytidine -monophosphate adsorbed at Au(110)/liquid interfaces.

It is demonstrated using reflection anisotropy spectroscopy that the adsorption of cytosine and cytidine -monophosphate at the Au(110) 1 x 2/electrolyte interface gives rise to ordered structures in which the base is oriented vertical to the surface and parallel to the [110] axis of the Au(110) plane.

Cell analysis system based on immunomagnetic cell selection and alignment followed by immunofluorescent analysis using compact disk technologies.

BACKGROUND: Although the flow cytometer has become the standard in cell analysis, it has limitations. Recently, we introduced a new cell analysis method based on immunomagnetic selection and aligning of cells. No flow system is needed and cell analysis can be performed in whole blood. METHODS: Whole blood is incubated with fluorescent labels and immunomagnetic nanoparticles. The blood is injected into a capillary that is in a strong magnetic field. The immunomagnetic-labeled cells move upward and align themselves along ferromagnetic lines present on the upper surface of the capillary. An optical focus and tracking system analogous to that used in a conventional compact disk player focuses a 635-nm laser-diode on the magnetically aligned cells. The emitted fluorescence signals are projected on two photomultipliers. Allophycocyanin (APC)-labeled CD4 (CD4-APC) and Cyanin5.5 (Cy5.5)-labeled CD8 (CD8-Cy5.5) antibodies and Oxazine750, all red excited, are used as fluorescent labels. RESULTS: A differential white blood cell count performed in whole blood is obtained using the CD4-APC in combination with Oxazine750. The results are compared with the Technicon-H1 hematology analyzer. Correlation coefficients of 0.91 for neutrophilic granulocytes, 0.93 for lymphocytes, 0.93 for monocytes, and 0.96 for eosinophilic granulocytes were obtained. Immunofluorescence is demonstrated using CD4-APC and CD8-Cy5.5. The absolute counts obtained for CD4+ and CD8+ are compared with the Coulter Epics XL flow cytometer. Correlation coefficients of, respectively, 0.91 and 0.94 were obtained. CONCLUSION: We conclude that our system is as capable as a standard flow cytometer or hematology analyzer for a reliable routine white blood cell analysis, including immunophenotyping, and can be used as an easy-to-handle disposable white blood cell test.

Optical tracking and detection of immunomagnetically selected and aligned cells.

We have developed a platform for cell analysis based on immunomagnetic selection and magnetic alignment of cells in combination with an epi-illumination tracking and detection system. Whole blood was labeled with ferromagnetic nanoparticles and fluorescent probes, and placed in a magnetic field in a chamber. Cells labeled with ferromagnetic nanoparticles moved upward and aligned along ferromagnetic lines deposited by lithographic techniques on an optically transparent surface of the chamber. An epi-illumination system using a 635 nm laser diode as a light source scanned the lines and measured signals obtained from the aligned cells. The cell counts per unit of blood volume obtained with the system correlated well with those obtained from the counts from a standard hematology analyzer and flow cytometer. The cell analysis platform is significantly less complex and more sensitive than current cell analysis equipment and provides additional functionality through its ability to subject the cells to repeated and varied analyses while they remain in a natural environment (i.e., whole blood).

An outbreak of an enterovirus-like illness at a community wading pool: implications for public health inspection programs.

In June 1987, following an outbreak of an illness among children participating in a swim class, investigation revealed that 26 children who had swum in the outdoor wading pool were more likely to be ill than those who had not (OR 12.1, 95% CI = 2.9, 74.2). The pool chlorination system was operating improperly prior to onset of illness and chlorine levels were at or very near zero. This report emphasizes the need for operators and inspectors to give special attention to disinfection of wading pools.