Photoreactivity of Hair Melanin from Different Skin Phototypes—Contribution of Melanin Subunits to the Pigments Photoreactive Properties

Photoreactivity of melanin has become a major focus of research due to the postulated involvement of the pigment in UVA-induced melanoma. However, most of the hitherto studies were carried out using synthetic melanin models. Thus, photoreactivity of natural melanins is yet to be systematically analyzed. Here, we examined the photoreactive properties of natural melanins isolated from hair samples obtained from donors of different skin phototypes (I, II, III, and V). X-band and W-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to examine the paramagnetic properties of the pigments. Alkaline hydrogen peroxide degradation and hydroiodic acid hydrolysis were used to determine the chemical composition of the melanins. EPR oximetry and spin trapping were used to examine the oxygen photoconsumption and photo-induced formation of superoxide anion, and time-resolved near infrared phosphorescence was employed to determine the singlet oxygen photogeneration by the melanins. The efficiency of superoxide and singlet oxygen photogeneration was related to the chemical composition of the studied melanins. Melanins from blond and chestnut hair (phototypes II and III) exhibited highest photoreactivity of all examined pigments. Moreover, melanins of these phototypes showed highest quantum efficiency of singlet oxygen photogeneration at 332 nm and 365 nm supporting the postulate of the pigment contribution in UVA-induced melanoma.     

Materials evaluation of diffusion bonded steel bar and its impact characteristics

When we apply non-destructive test for evaluating the soundness of weld joints it is necessary to know the mechanical properties of the joints by destructive test. In this paper we tried to obtain the correlation between the data by ultrasonic C-scope method and the absorbed energy by Charpy impact test for diffusion bonded steel bars. The surface roughness of specimens (materials: S25C, mild steel) used for the diffusion bonding was changed into several steps by machining and the diffusion bonding was performed on five kinds of combinations of the surface roughness. Through this process we obtained the diffusion bonds whose ratio of non-bonded area was different. In the ultrasonic test we used the frequency of 10 MHz and a transducer of 12.7 mm in diameter. The ratio of non-bonded area is obtained by using C-scope method by immersion testing, and this depended on the threshold echo level when we binarized the images of C-scope presentation and the surface roughness of the specimen. The lower the threshold echo level, the larger the ratio of non-bonded area. The absorbed energy depended on the ratio of non-bonded area. It is made clear that the proper threshold echo level should be selected for evaluating the soundness of diffusion bonds by ultrasonic test. Moreover, when the transition liquid phase diffusion bonding was performed on SD345 (deformed reinforcing steel bar) using Ni amorphous foil as an insert metal the absorbed energy also decreased with the increase in the ratio of flaw area obtained by ultrasonic test, though no change in the tensile strength was observed.     

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid reciprocally modifies ketogenesis and lipid secretion by the rat liver

The effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and linoleic acid (LA) on ketone body production and lipid secretion were compared in isolated perfused rat liver. After feeding the 1% CLA diet for 2 wk, the concentration of post-perfused liver cholesterol was significantly reduced by CLA feeding, whereas that of triacylglycerol remained unchanged. Livers from CLA-fed rats produced significantly more ketone bodies; and the ratio of β-hydroxybutyrate to acetoacetate, an index of mitochondrial redox potential, tended to be consistently higher in the liver perfusate. Conversely, cumulative secretions of triacylglycerol and cholesterol were consistently lower in the livers of rats fed CLA, and the reduction in the latter was statistically significant. Thus dietary CLA appeared to exert its hypolipidemic effect at least in part through an enhanced β-oxidation of fatty acids at the expense of esterification of fatty acid in the liver.     

Molecular dynamics studies of thin film growth by ionized cluster beam deposition

The mechanism of thin-film growth by ionized cluster beam deposition (ICBD) has been investigated, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the hybrid interatomic potentials which have been developed by combining the embedded-atom-method (EAM) potentials with the screened Coulomb average modified Lenz–Jensen (AMLJ) potential. In order to clarify the conversion mechanism of cluster energy into surface migration energy in ICBD, we have investigated the cluster impact phenomena for Cu₂₀₁ impact on Cu (1 1 1) and Pt (1 1 1) with a cluster energy of 5 eV/atom. For a Cu₂₀₁ impact on a Pt (1 1 1), a half of cluster atoms migrated on the substrate surface with relatively high migration energies. On the other hand, for a Cu₂₀₁ impact on a Cu (1 1 1), most of the cluster atoms are embedded into the substrate, and a small amount of them migrate with small migration energies. In the conversion mechanism of cluster energy into surface migration energy in ICBD, the most important point is whether the high-density zone is formed in the central part of the cluster, above or below the surface.     

A study of generator system selection for large wind turbine generator system

This paper focuses on selection of wind turbine generation systems that include generators, converters, and gears. We study three systems: a permanent magnet generator (PMG) system, a doubly‐fed generator (DFG) system, and a synchronous generator (SYG) system in terms of the system efficiencies and running costs. The system efficiencies and running costs are calculated by considering the relationship between wind power and wind conditions. According to these results, the one‐step gear PMG system is the best choice for a large wind turbine system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 161(1): 51–57, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20506     

Floricultural Salvia plants have a high ability to eliminate bisphenol A

The removal of bisphenol A, an endocrine disruptor, by 25 different kinds of Salvia cultivars was examined with hydroculture experiments. All the Salvia cultivars showed a high BPA-eliminating ability, and 100% to 74% of BPA (50 μM) was eliminated after 3 days.     

Removal of hazardous phenols by microalgae under photoautotrophic conditions

Various algae were screened for their ability to decrease the concentration of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), as a model compound of hazardous phenols, under photoautotrophic conditions. Chlorella fusca var. vacuolata and Anabaena variabilis grew well and showed high DNP removal ability over the concentration range of 5 to 40 microM. Their abilities to remove various phenols were investigated. More than 90% of 40 microM o- and m-nitrophenol and DNP was removed during the cultivation period of 5 d. o-, p-Chlorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol could be removed, but not to a significant extent. C. fusca also removed 85% of bisphenol A, suspected to be an endocrine disrupter. It was found that microalgae would be applicable to the removal of hazardous phenols without the addition of any organic carbon sources.     

Bioactivities of nostocine a produced by a freshwater cyanobacterium Nostoc spongiaeforme TISTR 8169

A freshwater cyanobacterium, Nostoc spongiaeforme TISTR 8169, synthesizes and releases a violet pigment, nostocine A, into medium. We examined the bioactivity of nostocine A to several model organisms breeding with N. spongiaeforme in the natural environment. To microalgae, nostocine A exhibited growth inhibitory activity comparable to paraquat, and the activity tended to be stronger to green algae than to cyanobacteria. Nostocine A also exhibited strong inhibitory activity to the root elongation of barnyard grass, strong antifeedant activity to cotton ballworm, and acute toxicity to mice resulting in its classification as a dangerous poison. The results suggest that nostocine A may act as a toxin or an allelochemical to breeding organisms in nature. In a laboratory culture of N. spongiaeforme, the production of nostocine A was enhanced at higher temperature, 30 degrees C, and more intense light, 30 W/m2, than the basal conditions, 25 degrees C and 10 W/m2. Cultivation of cells with H2O2 at 1 or 2 mM also enhanced the production of nostocine A, indicating that nostocine A may be synthesized and released when the cells are exposed to oxidative stress, possibly occurring at higher temperature and more intense light. LC-MS and electron spin resonance analyses revealed that nostocine A, reduced previously by NaBH4, immediately recovered to its original form upon exposure to air and the generation of superoxide radical anions occurred at this re-oxidation step. These results suggest that the adverse effects of nostocine A on various organisms may be related to the function of nostocine A in generating toxic reactive oxygen species, which occurs in the cells of target organisms.     

Combined effects of Cordyceps sinensis and methotrexate on hematogenic lung metastasis in mice

We investigated antitumor effects of water extracts of Cordyceps sinensis (WECS). WECS (100 microg/ml) induced apoptosis of B16 melanoma cells after 48 h exposure in vitro as determined by both the TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling) method and the detection of a DNA ladder. In vivo, combined treatment with WECS and methotrexate (MTX) in mice intravenously inoculated with B16 melanoma cells was conducted. Although MTX caused a significant and severe decrease in body weight compared with that in control mice starting 16 days after the start of administration, the mice given both MTX and WECS did not show a significant decrease in body weight. The mean survival time (days) of the control mice, MTX-treated mice (15 mg/kg/day, s.c.), and WECS-treated mice (200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) was 25.0 +/- 0.3, 25.6 +/- 1.3, and 25.7 +/- 1.0 (mean +/- S.E.M. of 6-7 mice), respectively. On the other hand, mean survival time (days) of mice given the combination of MTX and WECS was 28.2 +/- 0.7, significantly longer than the control value. WECS might be beneficial in the prevention of tumor metastasis as an adjuvant agent in cancer chemotherapy.