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X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS), a synchrotron source-based technique to measure sample dynamics, is used to determine hydrodynamic diameters of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) of different sizes in biological environments. In situ determined hydrodynamic diameters are benchmarked with values obtained by dynamic light scattering. The technique is then applied to analyze the behavior of the Au NPs in a biological environment. First, a concentration-dependent agglomeration in the presence of NaCl is determined. Second, concentration-dependent increase in hydrodynamic diameter of the Au NPs upon the presence of proteins is determined. As X-rays in the used energy range are barely scattered by biological matter, dynamics of the Au NPs can be also detected in situ in complex biological environments, such as blood. These measurements demonstrate the possibility of XPCS for in situ analytics of nanoparticles (NPs) in biological environments where similar detection techniques based on visible light would severely suffer from scattering, absorption, and reflection effects.

14th International Conference on Synchrotron Radiation Instrumentation, (SRI2021), Hamburg, Germany, 28 Mar 2022 - 1 Apr 2022; Journal of physics / Conference Series 2380(1), 012085 (2022). doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2380/1/012085, We show the results of speckle contrast analysis at the MID instrument of European XFEL in the hard X-ray regime. Speckle patterns measured from static colloidal samples are compared to results previously obtained at the SPB/SFX instrument. A high degree of coherence of 0.79 is obtained by modelling the q-dependence of the speckle contrast, that corresponds to a number of coherent modes of M = 1.7. Furthermore, the variation of contrast over many pulse trains is exceptional low, resulting in a degree of coherence with a relative standard deviation below 0.1. Our results demonstrate the high stability of coherence properties at European XFEL over many X-ray pulses and pulse trains which is a prerequisite for coherence-based techniques such as MHz X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy., Published by IOP Publ., Bristol

Employing X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy we measure the kinetics and dynamics of a pressure-induced liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in a water-lysozyme solution. Scattering invariants and kinetic information provide evidence that the system reaches the phase boundary upon pressure-induced LLPS with no sign of arrest. The coarsening slows down with increasing quench depths. The $g_2$-functions display a two-step decay with a gradually increasing non-ergodicity parameter typical for gelation. We observe fast superdiffusive ($\gamma \geq 3/2$) and slow subdiffusive ($\gamma < 0.6$) motion associated with fast viscoelastic fluctuations of the network and a slow viscous coarsening process, respectively. The dynamics age linear with time $\tau \propto t_\mathrm{w}$ and we observe the onset of viscoelastic relaxation for deeper quenches. Our results suggest that the protein solution gels upon reaching the phase boundary.

ME/CFS is a chronic, complex, multisystem disease that often limits the health and functioning of the affected patients. Diagnosing patients with ME/CFS is a challenge, and many different case definitions exist and are used in clinical practice and research. Even after diagnosis, medical treatment is very challenging. Symptom relief and coping may affect how patients live with their disease and their quality of life. There is no consensus on which diagnostic criteria should be used and which treatment strategies can be recommended for patients. The purpose of the current project was to map the landscape of the Euromene countries in respect of national guidelines and recommendations for case definition, diagnosis and clinical approaches for ME/CFS patients. A 23 items questionnaire was sent out by email to the members of Euromene. The form contained questions on existing guidelines for case definitions, treatment/management of the disease, tests and questionnaires applied, and the prioritization of information for data sampling in research. We obtained information from 17 countries. Five countries reported having national guidelines for diagnosis, and five countries reported having guidelines for clinical approaches. For diagnostic purposes, the Fukuda criteria were most often recommended, and also the Canadian Consensus criteria, the International Consensus Criteria and the Oxford criteria were used. A mix of diagnostic criteria was applied within those countries having no guidelines. Many different questionnaires and tests were used for symptom registration and diagnostic investigation. For symptom relief, pain and anti-depressive medication were most often recommended. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Graded Exercise treatment were often recommended as disease management and rehabilitative/palliative strategies. The lack of consistency in recommendations across European countries urges the development of regulations, guidance and standards. The results of this study will contribute to the harmonization of diagnostic criteria and treatment for ME/CFS in Europe.

The human insulin receptor (IR) exists in two isoforms that differ by the absence (IR-A) or the presence (IR-B) of a 12-amino acid segment encoded by exon 11. Both isoforms are functionally distinct regarding their binding affinities and intracellular sig

We have used scanning micro x-ray diffraction to characterize different phases in superconducting K$_{x}$Fe$_{2−y}$Se$_{2}$ as a function of temperature, unveiling the thermal evolution across the superconducting transition temperature (T$_{c}$∼32 K), phase separation temperature (T$_{ps}$∼520 K), and iron-vacancy order temperature (T$_{vo}$∼580 K). In addition to the iron-vacancy ordered tetragonal magnetic phase and orthorhombic metallic minority filamentary phase, we have found clear evidence of the interface phase with tetragonal symmetry. The metallic phase is surrounded by this interface phase below ∼ 300 K, and is embedded in the insulating texture. The spatial distribution of coexisting phases as a function of temperature provides clear evidence of the formation of protected metallic percolative paths in the majority texture with large magnetic moment, required for the electronic coherence for the superconductivity. Furthermore, a clear reorganization of iron-vacancy order around the T$_{ps}$ and T$_{c}$ is found with the interface phase being mostly associated with a different iron-vacancy configuration, that may be important for protecting the percolative superconductivity in K$_{x}$Fe$_{2−y}$Se$_{2}$.

Journal of applied crystallography 46(4), 903-907 (2013). doi:10.1107/S0021889813003725, Structural evolution of colloidal crystals made of polystyrene hard spheres hasbeen studied in situ upon incremental heating of a crystal in a temperature rangebelow and above the glass transition temperature of polystyrene. Thin films ofcolloidal crystals having different particle sizes were studied in transmissiongeometry using a high-resolution small-angle X-ray scattering setup at the P10Coherence Beamline of the PETRA III synchrotron facility. The transformationof colloidal crystals to a melted state has been observed in a narrow temperatureinterval of less than 10 K., Published by Munksgaard, Copenhagen

Reduced expression of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) results from nitric oxide (NO)-dependent reduced SLC29A1 transcriptional activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from gestational diabetes. As expression of the transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein 10 (hCHOP, which forms heterodimers with C/EBPalpha transcription factor) is activated by NO and induced in diabetes mellitus, we hypothesize that hCHOP plays a role in the gestational diabetes-reduced hENT1 expression in HUVECs.

Journal of synchrotron radiation 16, 687 (2009). doi:10.1107/S0909049509023280, Published by IUCr, Chester