Antigens that adhere to the surfaces of living cells are difficult to detect, particularly at the single-cell level. Fixation treatment or cell lysing procedures are the traditional methods used, but they are detrimental to living cells. The researchers use thermal lens microscopy because of its ability to measure localized molecules on the surface of a single cell without having to extract the cell. The technique involves using colloidal gold rather than a fluorescently labeled antibody as the labeling material. Online Access to 20,000 Periodicals.
Researchers needing to search the Internet for scientific literature now have another option.
The Scientific World officially launched its online portal in late September. Users can conduct free searches of more than 20,000 journals and magazines based on keywords, author names, or publication titles. The site includes issues from 1999 and 2000. Once the reference is located, an electronic or hard copy of the article can be ordered for a fee. Future plans include the publishing of original, peer-reviewed research articles and the capability to purchase scientific equipment and supplies.