The organization of 2,3-iron-naphthalocyanine molecules on substrate as revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy

Surface morphology of thin molecular layer of 2,3-Iron-naphthalocyanine (2,3 FeNPc) was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at the ambient conditions. Organic layer with thickness of 40 nm was vapour phase deposited on amorphous carbon substrate. The STM images have revealed the pecularities of surface molecular organization from large range (hundreds of nm) down to atomic scale. Arrays of locally ordered linear stuctures have been distinguished as the main morphological features of the examined surface. At several places the well-ordered STM patterns have been distinguished at the atomic scale. They can be described as stacks of periodicity approximatelly 0.4 nm in a row and 1.5 nm between stacks. These results can be explained by arrangement of 2,3-FeNPh molecules in stacks with a main plane being perpendicular to the substrate surface

High temporal resolution parametric MRI monitoring of the initial ischemia/reperfusion phase in experimental acute kidney injury

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, a consequence of kidney hypoperfusion or temporary interruption of blood flow is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). There is an unmet need to better understand the mechanisms operative during the initial phase of ischemic AKI. Non-invasive parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may elucidate spatio-temporal pathophysiological changes in the kidney by monitoring the MR relaxation parameters T* and T, which are known to be sensitive to blood oxygenation. The aim of our study was to establish the technical feasibility of fast continuous T*/T mapping throughout renal I/R. MRI was combined with a remotely controlled I/R model and a segmentation model based semi-automated quantitative analysis. This technique enabled the detailed assessment of changes in all kidney regions during ischemia and early reperfusion. Significant changes in T* and T were observed shortly after induction of renal ischemia and during the initial reperfusion phase. Our study demonstrated for the first time that continuous and high temporal resolution parametric MRI is feasible for monitoring and characterization of I/R induced AKI in rats. This technique may help in the identification of the timeline of key events responsible for development of renal damage in hypoperfusion-induced AKI

The Open AUC Project

Progress in analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) has been hindered by obstructions to hardware innovation and by software incompatibility. In this paper, we announce and outline the Open AUC Project. The goals of the Open AUC Project are to stimulate AUC innovation by improving instrumentation, detectors, acquisition and analysis software, and collaborative tools. These improvements are needed for the next generation of AUC-based research. The Open AUC Project combines on-going work from several different groups. A new base instrument is described, one that is designed from the ground up to be an analytical ultracentrifuge. This machine offers an open architecture, hardware standards, and application programming interfaces for detector developers. All software will use the GNU Public License to assure that intellectual property is available in open source format. The Open AUC strategy facilitates collaborations, encourages sharing, and eliminates the chronic impediments that have plagued AUC innovation for the last 20 years. This ultracentrifuge will be equipped with multiple and interchangeable optical tracks so that state-of-the-art electronics and improved detectors will be available for a variety of optical systems. The instrument will be complemented by a new rotor, enhanced data acquisition and analysis software, as well as collaboration software. Described here are the instrument, the modular software components, and a standardized database that will encourage and ease integration of data analysis and interpretation software