CHANGES IN TOTAL DIFFUSE SPECTRAL REFLECTANCE OF AMINO ACIDS AND PROTEINS AFTER ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATION

Abstract— Total diffuse reflectance spectra of air-dried surfaces of free and neutralized amino acid preparations before and after irradiation in vitro are reported. It was found that some free or neutralized amino acid surfaces underwent modification which resulted in changes in the diffuse reflectance spectra after U.V. exposure. It is suggested that these reflectance changes result from transformations in the side chains of the amino acids and that the transformations may differ from those occurring when amino acids in solution are irradiated. Histidine, cystine, hydroxyproline and some protein surfaces showed changes in reflectance of 330–400 nm light similar to those reported in skin after U.V. irradiation in viuo.     

THE AVAILABILITY OF SOLAR RADIATION BELOW 290 nm AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN PHOTOMODIFICATION OF POLYMERS

Abstract— On a percentage basis, ozone is a very minor component of the atmosphere; at STP it would make a layer only about 2 mm thick. On almost every other basis (biological, meteorological, paleontological, photochemical, etc.) it is a major component, due mainly to the tremendous reduction in solar ultraviolet flux which it causes in the 220–290 nm region. Since no data are available for Λ < 285 nm, a rational basis for estimating the flux reaching the earth's surface in this region is discussed. Variations in ozone concentration are of great importance, and it is possible to have more radiation with Λ < 270 nm fall on a surface in one extreme day than in several years of typical days. Often, persons involved in studies of polymer degradation by sunlight mention that a negligible fraction (1 ppm) of the radiant flux reaching the earth's surface is associated with wavelengths below 290 nm and infer that studies at shorter wavelengths will not be of much practical value. Such inferences are questionable for at least two reasons. (1) The quantum flux density below 290 nm is about 10¹⁶ photons cm^-2 month^-1, so that considerable long-term damage is possible since most of the flux will be absorbed in a layer only a few microns thick. (2) Even if solar radiation below 290 nm were completely absent, the existence of correlations between absorption peaks in the near ultraviolet and visible, and in the infrared with ionization potentials typically 6–12 eV or 200-100 nm) is evidence that we may expect studies in the ultraviolet and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) to provide important clues to the problem of improving the resistance of polymers to sunlight.     

EFFECT OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION ON THE ENERGY METABOLISM OF THE CORNEAL EPITHELIUM OF THE RABBIT

The present research was directed at quantifying possible alterations in corneal epithelial metabolic activity secondary to in vivo exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Microfluorometric energy metabolite assays on microgram (microgram) sized, freeze-dried tissue samples were used as an in vitro means of assessing overall metabolic activity in the epithelium of control rabbit corneas and in the epithelium of UVR-exposed rabbit corneas 2 min after discontinuation of exposure. The specific assays were for glucose, glycogen, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and phosphocreatine (PCr). The radiant exposures were kept constant at 0.05 J cm-2 for all UVR wavelengths utilized (290, 300, 310 and 360 nm). Experimental UVR exposure conditions served to increase epithelial glucose and glycogen concentrations. Although the epithelial ATP concentrations were unchanged, the epithelial PCr concentrations (a high energy phosphate bond reservoir) decreased as a result of UVR exposure. Overall, the data demonstrate a decrease in corneal epithelial metabolic activity, which may be wavelength-dependent, as a result of UVR exposure. It is suggested that immediate metabolic stress can be responsible for the pattern of epithelial cell loss seen in photokeratitis.     

A STUDY OF THE PHOTODYNAMIC EFFICIENCIES OF SOME EYE LENS CONSTITUENTS

We have studied the photochemical quantum yields of singlet oxygen production (using the RNO bleaching method) and superoxide production (using the EPR-spin trapping method and the SOD-inhibitable ferricytochrome c reduction spectral assay) of kynurenine (Ky), N-formylkynurenine (NFK), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3HK), kynurenic acid (KUA), and the flavins, riboflavin (RF) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN). Such a study of the photodynamic efficiencies is important since these compounds appear endogenously in the eye. The singlet oxygen quantum yields of the flavins and KUA are high, while Ky and 3HK generate no detectable amounts of singlet oxygen. The superoxide quantum yields of the sensitizers are low compared to their singlet oxygen, and Ky and 3HK produce no detectable amounts of superoxide. The production of the superoxide radical is enhanced in the presence of electron donor molecules such as EDTA and NADH. These results suggest that the production of oxyradicals in the lens may be modulated by the presence of endogenous electron donor molecules such as the coenzymes NADH and NADPH, which are present in significant amounts in some lenses. They also suggest that Ky and 3HK, which are known to be present in aged lenses, might play a protective rather than a deleterious role in the eye.     

二环辛二烯二酮的合成

本文报告烯酮(Ⅲ)的合成,与(Ⅲ)相当的烯醇体即1,2-二羟二环辛四烯(Ⅱ)。合成的关键中間物,二酮(Ⅳ),由一新合成步驟制备,总产率19—36%:低温加氯化氫于环戊二烯得3-氯环戊烯(85—92%),再用鎂使之双合而成二烯(Ⅴ)(80—92%)。(Ⅴ)的臭氧化合物經过氧乙酸分解而形成四元酸(Ⅵ),酯化后得其四甲酯(Ⅶ)(由(Ⅴ)至(Ⅶ)总产率66—75%);后者可环化为二甲氧羰基二酮(Ⅷ)(52—67%),(Ⅷ)經水解脫羧即生成二酮(Ⅳ)(79—84%)。二酮(Ⅳ)可还元为二醇(Ⅸ)(65%)。由二酮(Ⅳ)再經四步反应后即得烯酮(Ⅲ):氯化二酮(Ⅳ)得二氯二酮(Ⅹ)(64—74%);將(Ⅹ)与乙二醇一同脫水縮合得縮二酮(Ⅺ)(52—66%);自(Ⅺ)脫氯化氫后得二烯縮二酮(Ⅻ)(69%),后者与丙酮經交換反应即变为烯酮(Ⅲ)(76%)。上述各化合物的分子結構,均經証明。烯酮(Ⅲ)不含其相当的烯醇体(Ⅱ);在鹼性溶液中亦不能形成稳定的二环幸四烯二醇-陰离子。因此可以相信,二环辛四烯体系具有芳族性的可能性極微。     

游离基的立体化学Ⅰ.2-甲基丁酸的电解

(1)用有旋光的2-甲基丁酸(RCO 2 H)在甲醇中进行Kolbe电解,并将该酸与丁二酸单甲酯进行Kolbe混合电解。从各种产物得知游离基(R·)不能保持其立体构型。(2)前人曾提出不同的机理来解释Kolbe电解反应。本文指出“过氧化酰”机理难以成立。     

连续波锁模Pr3+:YLF激光器

本文报导了采用氩离子激光器来泵浦Pr³⁺:YLF晶体,应用声光调制器实现了主动锁模;同时应用振动─高反射平面镜也实现了被动锁模,两种锁模均得到了ps光脉冲.据作者了解这是这种晶体材料的第一次锁模运转.