OXIDATION OF ASCORBIC ACID AS AN INDICATOR OF PHOTOOXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE EYE

When whole retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells isolated from bovine eyes are incubated with 14C-labeled ascorbic acid and exposed to a visible laser, the ascorbic acid is oxidized to dehydro-L-ascorbic acid (DHA). The amount of ascorbic acid which is oxidized is proportional to the radiant exposure of the sample (i.e. the total amount of radiation per unit area delivered over the exposure time). Blue light is more effective than red light in driving the reaction. The amount of label appearing in the DHA fraction is increased if unlabeled DHA is present in the reaction mixture, indicating that some redox cycling of ascorbate is occurring in the RPE cells. The ascorbic acid oxidizing activity does not depend on intact cells, is not inactivated by heating the cells to 80 degrees C, and appears to reside mainly in the subcellular fraction which contains melanin pigment granules. The ascorbic acid oxidation may be caused by free radicals formed when melanin is illuminated with light. This reaction appears to be a useful method for quantifying the production of free radicals during photooxidative stress.     

An isobar model partial-wave analysis of three-body final states in π+p interactions from threshold to 1700 MeV c.m. energy

We present the results of an energy-independent partial-wave analysis of the reaction π⁺p→ππN at nine c.m. energies between 1400 and 1700 MeV. New bubble chamber data from the Cambridge-Imperial College-Westfield College Collaboration were fitted, together with earlier data from Oxford, using the isobar model in a maximum likehood fitting program. The isobars used were Δ(1236), N¹(1470) and ?(770) and allowance was made for an incoherent contribution from an I=2 s-wave phase shift produced by one-pion exchange in the t-channel. The results of this analysis are compared with the predictions of symmetry schemes. The ?₁N amplitudes of the S₃₁ and D₃₃ members of the {70, 1^?} multiplet are clearly observed and their signs unambiguously determined for the first time. Structure in the P₃₁ wave is discussed in relation to recent claims of a low mass resonance. Possible explanations of the complicated behaviour of the P₃₃ wave are discussed; its N¹(1470)π decay is observed for the first time.     

Modulation of Photochemical Damage in Normal and Malignant Cells by Naturally Occurring Compounds†

Certain phytochemicals, such as the stilbene, resveratrol (RES, found in red grapes and berries), and the triterpenoid, ursolic acid (UA, found in waxy berries and herbs such as rosemary and oregano), have antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and antiproliferative effects. Two human‐derived cell lines, hTERT‐RPE with a nonmalignant phenotype derived from retinal pigment epithelium, and ATCC CRL‐11147 derived from a malignant skin melanoma, were used as in vitro models of photooxidative stress produced by exposure to the broadband output of a 150 W Hg vapor arc lamp at an irradiance of 19–26 mW cm^?2. In untreated cells, UV–VIS broadband light exposure produced a loss of proliferative ability, an activation of NF‐κB and an increase in protein carbonyl adducts at 24 h postexposure. Pretreatment of the cells with RES or UA at 1–2 μm significantly reduced the amount of phosphorylated NF ‐κB at 24 h postexposure. RES pretreatment reduced the burden of light‐induced protein carbonyl adducts by up to 25% in exposed cells. UA treatment markedly increased the sensitivity of melanoma cells to UV radiation, while conferring some photoprotection to RPE cells. These observations indicate that phytochemicals modulate the cellular response to photochemical stress by interacting with specific cell‐signaling pathways.     

Transaxial mirror with combined static electric and magnetic fields

Combined transaxial mirrors are studied. In the areas of motion of charged particles, the fields of these mirrors are symmetric relative to the axis and mid-plane representing the plane of symmetry for the electric field and the plane of asymmetry for the magnetic one. An image equation is inferred and simple relationships between the linear and angular dispersions with respect to mass and energy are obtained. Aberration properties of the mirrors in the directions parallel to the mid-plane are considered. Expressions for the coefficients of the third-order geometric aberration corresponding to the beam divergence angle in the mid-plane are obtained. These expressions are especially simple when both object and image are located in the principal planes of the mirror. The aforementioned coefficients are expressed via parameters characterizing the mirror under the first-order approximation.     

MPN+, a putative catalytic motif found in a subset of MPN domain proteins from eukaryotes and prokaryotes, is critical for Rpn11 function

Background  

Three macromolecular assemblages, the lid complex of the proteasome, the COP9-Signalosome (CSN) and the eIF3 complex, all consist of multiple proteins harboring MPN and PCI domains. Up to now, no specific function for any of these proteins has been defined, nor has the importance of these motifs been elucidated. In particular Rpn11, a lid subunit, serves as the paradigm for MPN-containing proteins as it is highly conserved and important for proteasome function.     

Program portfolio selection for reducing prioritized security risks

The methodology presented here solves an R&D program portfolio selection problem that arises in critical infrastructure protection and similar security risk reduction problems. It requires priorities to be assigned to the risks, existing risk levels to be assessed, and the effectiveness of alternative risk reduction programs to be estimated. A lexicographic optimization procedure involving mixed integer programming with preemptive priorities is developed and illustrated, and extensions are discussed.     

Synthesis of a manganese germavinylidene complex from bis(germavinylidene)

The reaction of bis(germavinylidene) [(Me3SiN=PPh2)2C=Ge-->Ge=C(PPh2=NSiMe3)2] (1) with CpMn(CO)2(THF) (Cp = eta5-C5H5) in THF afforded [(Me3SiN=PPh2)2C=Ge-->Mn(CO)2Cp] (2). Similar reaction of 1 with (cod)RhCl (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) in THF gave [(Me3SiN=NPPh2)2{(cod)Rh}C-GeCl] (3). The results suggested that reactive germavinylidene may exist in solution. The X-ray structures of 2 and 3 have been determined.