Spin polarization of β-emitting fragments in high energy heavy ions on Be collisions

The degrees of nuclear spin polarization of ^8,12B, ⁹C, ¹²N, ¹³O, ^20,21F, ²³Mg, ²⁷Si and ³⁹Ca produced in the high energy ^12,13C, ¹⁶O, ²²Ne, ²⁴Mg, ²⁸Si and ⁴⁰Ca ions on Be collisions have been measured systematically, for the technical developments of the nuclear moment studies as well as the hyperfine interaction studies by means of β-NMR technique. The fragment momentum dependences were well reproduced by the simple kinematical model. Incident energy dependence and the mass dependence as well as the reaction angle dependences were qualitatively explained by the mixing of the near and far side collisions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cover Picture

The cover picture shows how protein matrices can regulate the spatial arrangement and orientation of a heme-based donor (Zn-heme: ZnPP)-sensitizer (Ru²⁺(bpy)₃)-acceptor (cyclic viologen: BXV⁴⁺) triad. A U-shape conformation of the triad without protein matrix changes into a triangle arrangement by incorporation into apocytochrome b₅₆₂ (Cyt-b₅₆₂), or into a further extended conformation by apomyoglobin (Mb) matrix. The electron transfer pathways and the lifetimes of the photoinduced charge-separated states were remarkably affected by the protein wrapping effect.     

Self-organized monolayer assemblies of octopusporphyrins: photoinduced electron transfer and O 2 coordination in aqueous media

Bolaamphiphilic tetraresorcinolporphyrins with eight long side chains (octopusporphyrins) and their metal complexes form monolayered assemblies in bulk aqueous solution. The nano-structure, the photoinduced electron transfers and the O₂ coordination of these octopusporphyrin assemblies are described. In the micellar fibers of 1a and 1b, a unique spherical arrangement of eight methyl groups on both sides of the porphyrin ring plane provides hydrophobic porphyrin centers which align in a string of pearls. Exciton calculations indicated a tilt stacking porphyrins arrangement with a separation of 11 Å. These fibers fluoresced strongly; electron transfer reaction was therefore observed between the porphyrin center and hydrophobic quenchers as well as hydrophilic quenchers. The fibers were also active as photocatalysts in the reduction of dimethylviologen by triethanolamine. Octopusporphyrins with different metal centers can also produce fibrous aggregates, for example, H₂P/Zn(II)P and Zn(II)P/Fe(III)P couples. The fluorescence quenching of Zn(II)P in the Zn(II)P/Fe(III)P hybrid fibers can be ascribed to the intermolecular electron transfer within the fibers. In H₂P/Zn(II)P couple, excitation energy transfer from excited Zn¹*P to H₂P occurred after photoexcitation. Octopusporphyrin with four dialkylglycerophosphocholine groups on both sides of the ring plane ( 2b ) forms spherical unilamellar vesicles. Based on cryomicroscopy, a white line was observed with a diameter of 15 Å in the middle of the membrane which are obviously a porphyrin layer with low molecular packing. The octopusheme ( 2c ) vesicles prepared in a similar manner with 20-fold excess molar coexistence of 1-dodecyl-2-methylimidazole (DMIm) can bind and release oxygen reversibly at 25°C. Moreover, water-soluble octopusporphyrin ( 3a ) produced fluorescent and non-fluorescent monolayer assemblies by anion exchange of the head groups, e.g. 3a with sodium perchlorate showed planar sheets. An exciton calculation is consistent with a two-dimensional arrangement with porphyrin separations of 25.6 and 17.4 Å in the x- and y-directions, respectively. External addition of negatively charged electron acceptors, naphtoquinone sulfonate and anthraquinone sulfonate, led to partial quenching of the fluorescence of the central porphyrin layer. The results have been evaluated using equations derived for this special quenching. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonbubble‐Propelled Biodegradable Microtube Motors Consisting Only of Protein

This paper describes the synthesis of protein microtube motors having a urease interior surface and highlights their nonbubble‐propelled behavior driven by enzymatic reaction (urea→NH₃ and CO₂). The precursor microtubes were prepared by layer‐by‐layer assembly using a track‐etched microporous polycarbonate membrane. Immobilization of a urease on the internal wall was accomplished using avidin–biotin interaction. The tubules swam smoothly in an aqueous media containing a physiological concentration of urea. Each tubule was rotating laterally while moving forward. It is remarkable that the microtubes were digested completely by proteases, demonstrating perfect biodegradability.     

Characteristics of N-doped TiO2 thin films grown on unheated glass substrate by inductively coupled plasma assisted dc reactive magnetron sputtering

N-doped TiO₂ thin films have been deposited on unheated glass substrates by an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) assisted direct current (dc) reactive magnetron sputtering. All films were produced in the metallic mode of sputtering in order to achieve a high deposition rate. The structures and properties of the N-doped TiO₂ films were studied by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and UV–Vis spectrophotometer. Experimental results show that we can obtain well crystallized N-doped anatase phase TiO₂ thin films at low deposition temperature and at high deposition rate by using the ICP assisted dc reactive magnetron sputtering process. The doping of nitrogen into TiO₂ lattices leads to a smooth shift of the absorption band toward visible light regions.     

Comparison of total fluorine, extractable organic fluorine and perfluorinated compounds in the blood of wild and pefluorooctanoate (PFOA)-exposed rats: Evidence for the presence of other organofluorine compounds

The widespread occurrence and environmental persistence of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) received worldwide attention recently. Exhaustive analysis of all fluorinated compounds in an environmental sample can be daunting because of the constraints in the availability of analytical standards and extraction methods. Combustion ion chromatographic technique for trace fluorine analysis was used to assess the concentrations of known PFCs (e.g., PFOS, PFOA) and total fluorine (TF) in the blood of wild rats collected from Japan. The technique was further validated using tissues from PFOA-exposed rats. Six PFCs (PFOS, PFOSA, PFUnDA, PFDA, PFNA, and PFOA) were detected in all of the wild rat blood samples. Concentrations of extractable organic fluorine (EOF) in fraction 1 (Fr1; MTBE extraction) of wild rats ranged 60.9-134 ng F mL⁻¹, while those in fraction 2 (Fr2; hexane) were below LOQ (32 ng F mL⁻¹); TF concentrations in the blood of wild rats ranged from 59.9-192 ng F mL⁻¹. The contribution of known PFCs in EOF-Fr1 (MTBE) varied from 9% to 89% (56% on average), and known PFC concentrations in TF content were less than 25%. In contrast, TF concentrations in the blood of PFOA-exposed rats ranged from 46900 to 111000 ng F mL⁻¹, with PFOA contributing over 90% of TF. A comparison of results from the samples analyzed in this study and the literature revealed three distinct groups with PFOA/known PFC and TF levels (i.e., wild rats and general population, occupationally exposed workers, and PFOA-exposed laboratory rats). The mass balance analysis of the different forms of fluorine in blood suggested the presence of other forms of organic fluorine in addition to known PFCs.     

Structural characterisation of the perovskite series Sr0.9−xCaxCe0.1MnO3: Influence of the Jahn-Teller effect

Fifteen perovskite-type compounds Sr_0.9−xCa_xCe_0.1MnO₃, x=0-0.9 in steps as fine as 0.05, have been synthesised by solid state methods, and the room temperature structures characterised using X-ray synchrotron powder diffraction. At low Ca contents (x?0.45) the structures are tetragonal in space group I4/mcm and at high Ca contents (x?0.55) the compounds are orthorhombic in space group Pbnm. At room temperature these two phases co-exist in the compound with x=0.5. XANES measurements show the Ce to be present as Ce⁴⁺ in all the oxides. High temperature structures are reported for selected members.     

siRNA-mediated Knockdown of the Heme Synthesis and Degradation Pathways: Modulation of Treatment Effect of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid-based Photodynamic Therapy in Urothelial Cancer Cell Lines

Photodynamic therapy mediated by 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA-PDT) has been developed as a therapeutic modality for refractory superficial bladder cancers. Here, in experiments using urothelial cancer cell lines, we investigated the effects of siRNA modulating heme-synthetic and degradation pathways for ALA-PDT. Targeted knockdown of ferrochelatase (FECH) suppressed heme synthesis and significantly increased intracellular protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) accumulation, leading to enhanced phototoxicity in four of five cell lines. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is recognized as important for cytoprotection against oxidative stress such as PDT. Targeted knockdown of HO-1 leads to decreased intracellular PpIX accumulation, resulting in a failure to enhance ALA-PDT effect in four cell lines. Knockdown of HO-1 caused marked growth inhibition in UM-UC-2 overexpressing HO-1, whereas no inhibitory effect was observed in UM-UC-3 lacking HO-1 expression. Moreover, HO-1 protein levels and (GT) _n repeat polymorphism of the HO-1 gene promoter region were examined with the implication that the constitutive expressions of HO-1 protein were associated with a shorter (GT) _n repeat. Our results suggested that (1) FECH siRNA improved the phototoxicity of ALA-PDT, (2) overexpression of HO-1 was associated with shorter (GT) _n repeat of the promoter region, and (3) siRNA-mediated knockdown of HO-1 could suppress the growth of bladder cancer cells overexpressing HO-1.