Light-dependent Oxygen Consumption in Bacteriochlorophyll-Serine-treated Melanoma Tumors: On-line Determination Using a Tissue-inserted Oxygen Microsensor

Successful application of anticancer therapy, and especially photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by type II (PDTII) processes, depends on the oxygen content within the tumor before, during and after treatment. The high consumption of oxygen during type II PDT imposes constraints on therapy strategies. Although rates of oxygen consumption and repletion during PDTII were suggested by theoretical studies, direct measurements have not been reported. Application of a novel oxygen sensor allowed continuous and direct in situ measurements (up to a depth of 8–9 mm from the tumor surface and for several hours) of temporal variations in the oxygen partial pressure (pO₂) during PDT. Highly pigmented M2R mouse melanoma tumors implanted in CD1 nude mice were treated with bacteriochlorophyll-serine (Bchl-Ser; a new photodynamic reagent) and were subjected to fractionated illumination (700 < λ. < 900 nm) at a fluence rate of 12 mW cm^-2. This illumination led to total oxygen depletion with an average consumption rate of 7.2 uAf(O₂) s^-1. Spontaneous reoxygenation (at an average rate of 2.5 µM(O₂)/s) was observed during the following dark period. These rates are in good agreement with theoretical considerations (Foster et al., Radiat. Res. 126, 296,1991 and Henning et al, Radiat. Res. 142, 221, 1995). The observed patterns of oxygen consumption and recovery during prolonged periods of light/dark cycles were interpreted in terms of vasculature damage and sensitizer clearance. The presented data support the previously suggested advantages of fractionated illumination for type II photodynamic processes.     

Aeroacoustics of the swinging corrugated tube: voice of the Dragon

When one swings a short corrugated pipe segment around one's head, it produces a musically interesting whistling sound. As a musical toy it is called a "Hummer" and as a musical instrument, the "Voice of the Dragon." The fluid dynamics aspects of the instrument are addressed, corresponding to the sound generation mechanism. Velocity profile measurements reveal that the turbulent velocity profile developed in a corrugated pipe differs notably from the one of a smooth pipe. This velocity profile appears to have a crucial effect both on the non-dimensional whistling frequency (Strouhal number) and on the amplitude of the pressure fluctuations. Using a numerical model based on incompressible flow simulations and vortex sound theory, excellent predictions of the whistling Strouhal numbers are achieved. The model does not provide an accurate prediction of the amplitude. In the second part of the paper the sound radiation from a Hummer is discussed. The acoustic measurements obtained in a semi-anechoic chamber are compared with a theoretical radiation model. Globally the instrument behaves as a rotating (Leslie) horn. The effects of Doppler shift, wall reflections, bending of the tube, non-constant rotational speed on the observed frequency, and amplitude are discussed.     

Graphs with Few 3‐Cliques and 3‐Anticliques are 3‐Universal

For given integers we ask whether every large graph with a sufficiently small number of k‐cliques and k‐anticliques must contain an induced copy of every l‐vertex graph. Here we prove this claim for with a sharp bound. A similar phenomenon is established as well for tournaments with .     

Sheet-like assemblies of charged amphiphilic α/β-peptides at the air-water interface

There is growing interest in the design of molecules that undergo predictable self-assembly. Bioinspired oligomers with well-defined conformational propensities are attractive from this perspective, since they can be constructed from diverse building blocks, and self-assembly can be directed by the identities and sequence of the subunits. Here we describe the structure of monolayers formed at the air-water interface by amphiphilic α/β-peptides with 1:1 alternation of α- and β-amino acid residues along the backbone. Two of the α/β-peptides, one a dianion and the other a dication, were used to determine differences between self-assemblies of the net negatively and positively charged oligomers. Two additional α/β-peptides, both zwitterionic, were designed to favor assembly in a 1:1 molar ratio mixture with parallel orientation of neighboring strands. Monolayers formed by these α/β-peptides at the air-water interface were characterized by surface pressure-area isotherms, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD), atomic force microscopy and ATR-FTIR. GIXD data indicate that the α/β-peptide assemblies exhibited diffraction features similar to those of β-sheet-forming α-peptides. The diffraction data allowed the construction of a detailed model of an antiparallel α/β-peptide sheet with a unique pleated structure. One of the α/β-peptide assemblies displayed high stability, unparalleled among previously studied assemblies of α-peptides. ATR-FTIR data suggest that the 1:1 mixture of zwitterionic α/β-peptides assembled in a parallel arrangement resembling that of a typical parallel β-sheet secondary structure formed by α-peptides. This study establishes guidelines for design of amphiphilic α/β-peptides that assemble in a predictable manner at an air-water interface, with control of interstrand orientation through manipulation of Coulombic interactions along the backbone.     

Determination of complex Young’s modulus of viscoelastic bars using forced longitudinal vibration of slender rods

A method to identify complex Young’s modulus of viscoelastic materials using forced longitudinal vibration of slender rods is proposed.The method differs from the beam one.Experimental tests were carried out at room temperature with different lengths in 108 mm, 100 mm,90 mm,83.5 mm,80 mm.74.5 mm,70 mm for the polycarbonate bars,and the curves of ratios A₂/A₁ between two ends of a viscoelastic bar versus frequencies are obtained, furthermore,the corresponding 3 dB bandwidth and the storage and loss modulus can be calculated.Sufficient number of obtained complex Young’s modulus at different frequency allows us to calculate other ones using the least square method.If the step of the tested frequency is 5 Hz,the maximum error of results can be less than 6%.By comparison with the measurement methods which the previous literature mentioned,this new method simplifies the calculation,and the physical meaning appears apparently and clearly.     

Occupational Exposure to Solar UVB and Seasonal Monitoring of Serum Levels of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D3: A Case–Control Study

To characterize the relationship between occupational sun exposure and seasonal variations in serum 25-OH-D3, four consecutive measurements of 25-OH-D3, one per season, were taken in 122 outdoor and 104 indoor Israeli workers. Continuous UVB measurements, taken in Beer Sheva, Israel, provided the average daily standard erythema dose (SED) of ambient solar UVB. The average daily exposure of the outdoor and indoor workers to solar UVB was 4.4 ± 1.6 h (4.0–37.6 SED) and 0.9 ± 0.5 h (0.6–8.2 SED), respectively. At each season mean 25-OH-D3 were significantly higher among outdoor workers than among indoor workers. Mean 25-OH-D3 increased significantly from spring to autumn in both gender and occupational groups. Adjusting for confounders, high (>median) 25-OH-D3 among males was significantly associated with occupational sun exposure in the autumn (odds ratio [OR] 4.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–13.3), and among females in the spring (OR 3.35; 95% CI 1.53–7.32). Among this working population optimal vitamin D status (≥30 ng mL⁻¹) was approached only in summer by males working either outdoor or indoor. In the rest of the year 25-OH-D3 ranged between ≥20.0 and 29.0 ng mL⁻¹. Monitoring 25-OH-D3 may disclose undesirable vitamin D status following reduced sun exposure for skin cancer prevention among outdoor workers.     

Allocation of Control Points in Stochastic Dynamic-Programming Models

The question of allocation of control points in stochastic dynamic-programming models from different areas is considered. A widely used approach is to choose equal time intervals between successive control points. Conditions under which this choice may cease to be optimal are discussed. Two different approaches to statement and solution of a production-control problem are presented.