Stability of aqueous solutions of amoxicillin sodium in the frozen and liquid states

Observation of theorized glass-to-liquid transitions between low-density amorphous (LDA) and high-density amorphous (HDA) water states had been stymied by rapid crystallization below the homogeneous water nucleation temperature (∼235 K at 0.1 MPa). We report optical and X-ray observations suggestive of glass-to-liquid transitions in these states. Crack healing, indicative of liquid, occurs when LDA ice transforms to cubic ice at 160 K, and when HDA ice transforms to the LDA state at temperatures as low as 120 K. X-ray diffraction study of the HDA to LDA transition clearly shows the characteristics of a first-order transition. Study of the glass-to-liquid transitions in nanoconfined aqueous solutions shows them to be independent of the solute concentrations, suggesting that they represent an intrinsic property of water. These findings support theories that LDA and HDA ice are thermodynamically distinct and that they are continuously connected to two different liquid states of water.

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Ultrathin frozen sections of yeast without aldehyde prefixation

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100081152 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 58-59

Author(s):

K. J. Böhm ◽

a. E. Unger

Keyword(s):

Aqueous Solutions ◽

Biological Material ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Frozen Sections ◽

Good Preservation ◽

Ultrathin Frozen Sections

During the last years it was shown that also by means of cryo-ultra-microtomy a good preservation of substructural details of biological material was possible. However the specimen generally was prefixed in these cases with aldehydes.Preparing ultrathin frozen sections of chemically non-prefixed material commonly was linked up to considerable technical and manual expense and the results were not always satisfying. Furthermore, it seems to be impossible to carry out cytochemical investigations by means of treating sections of unfixed biological material with aqueous solutions.We therefore tried to overcome these difficulties by preparing yeast cells (S. cerevisiae) in the following manner:

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Imaging polymers, proteins and dna in aqueous solutions with the atomic force microscope

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100152136 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 32-33

Author(s):

S.A.C. Gould ◽

B. Drake ◽

C.B. Prater ◽

A.L. Weisenhorn ◽

S.M. Lindsay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Dna Sequencing ◽

Aqueous Solutions ◽

Atomic Force Microscope ◽

Piezoelectric Crystal ◽

Atomic Force ◽

Structure Of Molecules ◽

Optical Lever

The atomic force microscope (AFM) is an instrument that can be used to image many samples of interest in biology and medicine. Images of polymerized amino acids, polyalanine and polyphenylalanine demonstrate the potential of the AFM for revealing the structure of molecules. Images of the protein fibrinogen which agree with TEM images demonstrate that the AFM can provide topographical data on larger molecules. Finally, images of DNA suggest the AFM may soon provide an easier and faster technique for DNA sequencing.The AFM consists of a microfabricated SiO2 triangular shaped cantilever with a diamond tip affixed at the elbow to act as a probe. The sample is mounted on a electronically driven piezoelectric crystal. It is then placed in contact with the tip and scanned. The topography of the surface causes minute deflections in the 100 μm long cantilever which are detected using an optical lever.

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