DISCREPANCIES IN THE MEASUREMENT OF SPECTRAL SOURCES

Abstract— Comparison of spectroradiometric and meter measurements of a series of ultraviolet radiation sources indicates that a wide divergence between readings can occur. We found that with a xenon are filtered as a solar simulator producing UV-A (320–400 nm) and UV-B (290–320 nm) radiation, the meter can either over-or underestimate the emission of the source when different cutoff filters are used. The most severe discrepancy appears with the UV-B meter reading, although the UV-A reading can also be problematic. Meters should be calibrated against the specific sources they will be used to measure.     

Wavelength dependence for ornithine decarboxylase induction in vivo

Abstract— The wavelength dependence for ornithine decarboxylase induction was investigated in vivo in the epidermis of albino hairless mice. A 4 cm² area of dorsal skin was exposed to narrow wavebands (HPBW 6.6 nm) from a monochromator optically coupled to a 5 kW Xe arc source. Dose-response studies were caried out at 260, 275, 290, 300 and 315 nm. The animals were sacrificed 24 h after irradiation and the epidermis separated and assayed for ODC activity. A dose-related induction of ODC was observed at 260, 275, 290 and 300 nm. No stimulation was observed following exposure to 315 nm (maximal dose 6400 J/m²). ODC induction appeared to be linearly related to log UV dose within the dose range of 200 to 1600 J/m². The dose required to induce an approximately 50-fold increase in activity (1.5 nmol CO₂/h/mg protein) was determined from the dose-response regression lines and used to construct an action spectrum. Peak effectiveness occurred at 290 nm, with a rapid loss after 300 nm. After correction for epidermal transmission, peak effectiveness was shown to occur around 260 nm.     

Ultraviolet B Radiation Increases Hairless Mouse Mast Cells in A Dose-Dependent Manner and Alters Distribution of UV-lnduced Mast Cell Growth Factor

Abstract— In studies of the effects of chronic UVB irradiation on dermal connective tissue in the hairless mouse, we observed that the number and size of mast cells was increased. Because mast cells are known to be associated with connective tissue remodeling, we examined and quantified the effect of increasing UVB (290-320 nm) doses on this cell. Groups of mice were exposed to filtered FS-40 Westinghouse lamps (290-400 nm: peak irradiance 313 nm) for 1-5 minimal erythema doses (MED) thrice weekly for 10 weeks. Appropriate controls were included. Biopsies, processed for light microscopy, were stained with toluidine blue. Mast cells were counted in 15 high-magnification fields per specimen with upper and lower dermis scored separately. Significant increases in large densely granular mast cells occurred at 2 MED in the lower dermis, in association with a UVB-exacerbated granulomatous reaction. In the upper dermis, mast cells were significantly increased with 3 MED. These findings suggest that mast cells may play a dual role in UV-irradiated skin with those in the lower dermis related to inflammation processes and those in the upper dermis involved in connective tissue modeling. To gain understanding of the mechanism of mast cell recruitment and maturation, we examined the effect of UVB on mast cell growth factor expression. This was enhanced in the epidermis by UVB, with a shift from cytoplasmic staining to membrane-associated or intercellular staining at 2 MED and higher. Dermal dendritic and mononuclear cells also showed increased reactivity.     

LACK OF INHIBITION OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION-INDUCED ORNITHINE DECARBOXYLASE ACTIVITY BY RETINOIC ACID

Abstract— Normally present at low levels, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity is induced to higher levels in animal skin by such disparate agents as tumor promoter 12–0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), UV radiation, and hair plucking. Retinoids are known to inhibit induction by TPA. Repeated applications of retinoic acid (RA) in acetone have also been reported to inhibit UV-induced ODC in hairless mice. As a preliminary study, it was of interest to know whether RA in a cream vehicle would have the same effect. Groups of Skh-hairless-1 albino mice were irradiated once with Westinghouse FS-20 lamps (0.045 Joules/cm^/). Immediately post-irradiation, RA was applied to the dorsum in different concentrations (0.001%, 0.002%, 0.02%), vehicles (cream and acetone) and on various time schedules (1–5 times). Sacrifice was by cervical dislocation 24 h later. Epidermis was obtained by mild heat separation and two epidermal sheets were pooled for each extract. In all experiments, the 70-fold increase in UV-induced ODC activity was further increased by retinoic acid by a factor ∼ 1.6. Since ODC levels are usually elevated in proliferating systems, the results are in concordance with the fact that both UV radiation and RA induce epidermal hyperplasia.     

Simulation and optimization of dynamic characteristics of piezoelectric smart structures

The paper deals with optimization of dynamic characteristics of smart structures based on piezoelectric materials with external electric circuits comprising resistance, capacitance and inductance. The dynamic parameters to be optimized are resonance frequencies and damping properties. For numerical estimation of the dynamic characteristics of the model system, a natural vibration problem of an electroviscoelastic solid with differing external electric circuits is proposed. Model examples are given to demonstrate the efficiency of the natural vibration problem in finding dynamically optimum piezoelectric smart structures with external electric circuits.     

Dietary beta-carotene and 13-cis-retinoic acid are not effective in preventing some features of UVB-induced dermal damage in hairless mice

Albino hairless mice were fed diets containing 10 g/kg feed of beta-carotene and 200 mg/kg feed of 13-cis retinoic acid to assess the ability of these molecules to prevent UVB-induced dermal damage. Diets were administered for 12 weeks prior to UVB exposure and were continued throughout the 20 week irradiation period. The UVB source was a bank of FS-20 sunlamps (280-400 nm: peak 313 nm). Exposures were thrice weekly at 0.1 J/cm2 per exposure for the first 10 weeks and 0.2 J/cm2 per exposure for the second 10 weeks. Histologic evaluation of skin biopsies revealed no difference, between animals fed active or placebo diets, in UVB-induced elastosis, collagen changes or amounts of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans of the ground substance.