IgG antibodies were conjugated to Kodak X-Sight nanospheres to develop fluorescent-labeled antibodies using two different synthetic routes: one involving the DTT reduction method, and the other involving Traut's Reagent modification method. These two methods result in different conjugation efficiencies and different performances in antigen detection. Western blotting shows that the nanosphere-IgG antibody conjugates synthesized using the DTT reduction method are more immunospecific than the conjugates synthesized using Traut's Reagent modification method. In addition, the conjugates synthesized using DTT reduction also show higher antigen detection sensitivity than other commercially available fluorescent-IgG antibody conjugates, including Alexa Fluor, Qdot, and CyDye conjugates.

Conventional radiation therapy of brain tumors often produces cognitive deficits, particularly in children. We investigated the potential efficacy of merging Orthovoltage X-ray Minibeams (OXM). It segments the beam into an array of parallel, thin (~0.3 mm), planar beams, called minibeams, which are known from synchrotron x-ray experiments to spare tissues. Furthermore, the slight divergence of the OXM array make the individual minibeams gradually broaden, thus merging with their neighbors at a given tissue depth to produce a solid beam. In this way the proximal tissues, including the cerebral cortex, can be spared. Here we present experimental results with radiochromic films to characterize the method’s dosimetry. Furthermore, we present our Monte Carlo simulation results for physical absorbed dose, and a first-order biologic model to predict tissue tolerance. In particular, a 220-kVp orthovoltage beam provides a 5-fold sharper lateral penumbra than a 6-MV x-ray beam. The method can be implemented in arc-scan, which may include volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Finally, OXM’s low beam energy makes it ideal for tumor-dose enhancement with contrast agents such as iodine or gold nanoparticles, and its low cost, portability, and small room-shielding requirements make it ideal for use in the low-and-middle-income countries.

No abstract

The rp/23 locus of the maize plastid genome is found Inside the inverted repeats (IR) upstrean from the rp/2 locus (McLaughlin WE ad IM Larrinue, unpublished). In IR lI it starts at coordinate 26.27 and ends at coordinate 26.56. In IR I it strts at coordinate 110.52 and ends at coordinate 110.424 (1). This deduced protein Is modrately hamologous to its E. cWV counterpat (2), haing 25S exact homology, which rise to 36X

We ha cloned and sequenced the gone for the small ribosomal subunit protein S 19(1.2) from the plastid genorne of the monocot lu nwys The r 19 locus codes for a protein of 93 amino cids with a molecular weight of 10.739. This locus is highly homologous to both the spinach and. co/i Sl9 proteins (1.3). Unlike its dicot homologues(l.2). this locus Is entirely within the inverted repeat. Indeed the Inverted repeats end 34 bases after the stop codon. Downstroam from the gene copy in IRII (Bom 6) (4) is the locus for ,p/22 (McLaughlin. W.E. and Larrinue. IJ1, manuscript in proparation). Thes genes appear to be part of the same operon. a situation similar to