Development of a universal ellipsoidal mirror device for fluorescence detected circular dichroism: elimination of polarization artifacts

We have developed an ellipsoidal mirror fluorescence detected circular dichroism (FDCD) device with enhanced detection sensitivity that eliminates the polarization artifact; this is applicable to samples with strongly polarized fluorescence. The device, JASCO FDCD465, has an ellipsoidal mirror structure with a framework consisting of three mirrors (one elliptical and two plane mirrors) that maximally collects light in the FDCD. All assemblies on the device including the ellipsoidal mirror, cylindrical cell, and photomultiplier tube (PMT) are aligned on the chamber-fitting sample mount as an attachment compatible with a standard CD spectropolarimeter. The new FDCD465 device eliminates the polarization artifact caused by anisotropic distribution of the emitted light. It represents a convenient, reliable, and sensitive FDCD attachment to the JASCO J-800 CD spectrometer series that can be used under both isotropic and photoselected conditions.     

Polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of Escherichia coli O157: H7 and Escherichia coli O157: H-.

The DNA band patterns generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the du2 primer and template DNAs from various strains of Escherichia coli and non-E. coli bacteria were compared. Among three to five prominent bands produced, the three bands at about 1.8, 2.7, and 5.0 kb were detected in all of the E. coli O157 strains tested. Some nonpathogenic E. coli and all pathogenic E. coli except E. coli O157 showed bands at 1.8 and 5.0 kb. It seems that the band at 2.7 kb is specific to E. coli O157. Sequence analysis of the 2.7-kb PCR product revealed the presence of a DNA sequence specific to E. coli O157:H- and E. coli O157:H7. Since the DNA sequence from base 15 to base 1,008 of the PCR product seems to be specific to E. coli O157, a PCR assay was carried out with various bacterial genomic DNAs and O157-FHC1 and O157-FHC2 primers that amplified the region between base 23 and base 994 of the 2.7-kb PCR product. A single band at 970 bp was clearly detected in all of the strains of E. coli O157:H- and E. coli O157:H7 tested. However, no band was amplified from template DNAs from other bacteria, including both nonpathogenic and pathogenic E. coli except E. coli O157. All raw meats inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 at 3 x 10(0) to 3.5 x 10(2) CFU/25 g were positive both for our PCR assay after cultivation in mEC-N broth at 42 degrees C for 18 h and for the conventional cultural method.     

Multichannel Implantable Stimulator for Control of Paralyzed Muscle

An implantable stimulator has been developed for excitation of paralyzed muscle. The stimulator is radio frequency powered and controlled, and has four output channels; there are three sequentially fired and the fourth is independently controlled. The width of each stimulus pulse and the group stimulus frequency are controlled independently by the absence of the 25 MHz powering carrier. The stimulator has been implemented in a thick film hybrid circuit. The circuitry is encapsulated in a ceramic (Macor?) , which has hermetically sealed feed throughs for electrode lead wires.     

Present status and practical issues on dosimetry for the lens of the eye at JAEA MOX fuel facilities

ABSTRACT

At Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) MOX fuel facilities, a worker usually wears a protective lead apron; therefore, the dose to the lens of the eye (lens dose) outside the apron is higher than that to the torso. To estimate the potential impact on the current facility operation of the International Commission of Radiological Protection (ICRP)-proposed lens dose limit reduction from 150 mSv/y to average 20 mSv/y, the authors carried out an analysis on the past dose records for the workers over the last 18 years. Of a total of 4,312 workers’ records analyzed, two workers’ annual lens doses exceeded the lowered limit of 20 mSv (23.3 mSv and 20.7 mSv), although the maximum effective dose was below 10 mSv in each case. These compiled dose data reveal that in the glovebox and related operations the lens dose will be a limiting factor in radiological control under the newly lowered dose limit. To ensure that the number of workers with an annual lens dose greater than 15 mSv (approximately 0.6% of the workers) is kept to a minimum, the implementation of an administrative control level for the lens dose is considered.     

The Functional Diversity of Nitric Oxide Synthase Isoforms in Human Nose and Paranasal Sinuses: Contrasting Pathophysiological Aspects in Nasal Allergy and Chronic Rhinosinusitis

The human paranasal sinuses are the major source of intrinsic nitric oxide (NO) production in the human airway. NO plays several roles in the maintenance of physiological homeostasis and the regulation of airway inflammation through the expression of three NO synthase (NOS) isoforms. Measuring NO levels can contribute to the diagnosis and assessment of allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). In symptomatic AR patients, pro-inflammatory cytokines upregulate the expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) in the inferior turbinate. Excessive amounts of NO cause oxidative damage to cellular components, leading to the deposition of cytotoxic substances. CRS phenotype and endotype classifications have provided insights into modern treatment strategies. Analyses of the production of sinus NO and its metabolites revealed pathobiological diversity that can be exploited for useful biomarkers. Measuring nasal NO based on different NOS activities is a potent tool for specific interventions targeting molecular pathways underlying CRS endotype-specific inflammation. We provide a comprehensive review of the functional diversity of NOS isoforms in the human sinonasal system in relation to these two major nasal disorders’ pathologies. The regulatory mechanisms of NOS expression associated with the substrate bioavailability indicate the involvement of both type 1 and type 2 immune responses.     

Verification analysis of thermoluminescent albedo neutron dosimetry at MOX fuel facilities

Radiation workers engaging in the fabrication of MOX fuels at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency-Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories are exposed to neutrons. Accordingly, thermoluminescent albedo dosemeters (TLADs) are used for individual neutron dosimetry. Because dose estimation using TLADs is susceptible to variation of the neutron energy spectrum, the authors have provided TLADs incorporating solid-state nuclear tracks detectors (SSNTDs) to selected workers who are routinely exposed to neutrons and have continued analysis of the relationship between the SSNTD and the TLAD (T/R(f)) over the past 6 y from 2004 to 2009. Consequently, the T/R(f) value in each year was less than the data during 1991-1993, although the neutron spectra had not changed since then. This decrease of the T/R(f) implies that the ratio of operation time nearby gloveboxes and the total work time has decreased.     

Anti‐HIV‐1 Peptide Derivatives Based on the HIV‐1 Co‐receptor CXCR4

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) uses CD4 and the co‐receptor CCR5 or CXCR4 in the process of cell entry. The negatively charged extracellular domains of CXCR4 (CXCR4‐ED) interact with positive charges on the V3 loop of gp120, facilitating binding via electrostatic interactions. The presence of highly conserved positively charged residues in the V3 loop suggests that CXCR4‐ED‐derived inhibitors might be broadly effective inhibitors. Synthetic peptide derivatives were evaluated for anti‐HIV‐1 activity. The 39‐mer extracellular N‐terminal region (NT) was divided into three fragments with 10‐mer overlapping sites ( N1 – N3 ), and these linear peptides were synthesized. Peptide N1 contains Met 1–Asp 20 and shows significant anti‐HIV‐1 activity. Extracellular loops 1 and 2 (ECL1 and 2) were mimicked by cyclic peptides C1 and C2 , which were synthesized by chemoselective cyclization. Cyclic peptides C1 and C2 show higher anti‐HIV‐1 activity than their linear peptide counterparts, L1 and L2 . The cytotoxicities of C1 and C2 are lower than those of L1 and L2 . These results indicate that Met 1–Asp 20 segments of the NT and cyclic peptides of ECL1 and ECL2 are potent anti‐HIV‐1 drug candidates.     

Direct decomposition of nitrous oxide in the presence of oxygen over iridium catalyst supported on alumina

Direct decomposition of nitrous oxide (N₂O) on noble metal catalysts supported on alumina was examined in the presence of oxygen. The iridium catalysts supported on alumina showed higher activities than the other noble metal catalysts. Although the catalyst activity was affected by oxygen formed by N₂O decomposition at lower temperatures, desorption of oxygen proceeded promptly at the temperature , and the catalytic activity was recovered by increasing the reaction temperature from 350 to . Therefore, the Ir/Al₂O₃ catalyst can be used for N₂O decomposition in the presence of oxygen at relatively higher temperatures.     

Repellency and toxicity of troponoid compounds against the adzuki bean beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

We compared the repellency and toxicity against adzuki bean beetles among six troponoid compounds, and examined the relationship between their structure and activity. γ-Thujaplicin showed the highest repellency against the beetles among the compounds tested, while the repellency of tropiliden was quite low. The results suggested that the keto and hydroxyl groups are important in the repellent properties of troponoid compounds. Although an isopropyl group was also important in repellency, the effect varied according to its position on the seven-member ring; the farther the isopropyl group was from the keto and hydroxyl groups, the higher the repellency became. As with its repellency effect, the toxicity of tropiliden was quite low. Tropone showed the highest toxicity among the compounds tested while its repellency was relatively low. Similar to its repellency, γ-thujaplicin showed the highest toxicity among the thujaplicins. However, the toxicities of α-thujaplicin and β-thujaplicin (hinokitiol) were similar, unlike the repellency. In summary, it appears that the toxicity of troponoid compounds does not always coincide with their repellency. Furthermore, the repellency and toxicity of a mixture of γ-thujaplicin and β-thujaplicin, whose production cost is cheaper than that of hinokitiol alone, were investigated. The mixture strongly repelled the adzuki bean beetles. We conclude that the mixture of γ-thujaplicin and β-thujaplicin is a promising repellent.