Evaluation of an Economical Sunlamp that Emits a Near Solar UV Power Spectrum for Conducting Photoimmunological and Sunscreen Immune Protection Studies

Expense and inconvenience have restricted the use of the filtered xenon are lamp (solar simulator) as a UV source for conducting large-scale animal studies. Because sunscreen immunoprotective levels are significantly affected by the UV power spectrum of the source it is imperative that a solar simulating source be used for accurate measurements of sunscreen protection levels that are relevant to human UV exposures from sunlight. However, relatively inexpensive sunlamps, e. g. the UVA-340, that emit a UV power spectrum similar to that of a solar simulator are available. Unlike FS-type UVB sunlamps, which have a significant amount of effective immunosuppressive nonsolar UV energy at wavelengths below 295 nm, the immunosuppression effectiveness spectrum of UVA-340 sunlamps was nearly identical to that of a solar simulator. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this sunlamp for conducting photoimmunological and sunscreen immune protection studies. Groups of C3H mice were exposed to a range of UVA-340 sunlamp doses (0.25 KJ/m² to 20.0 KJ/m²) to establish a dose-response curve and determine the minimum immune suppression dose (MISD) for induction of local-type suppression of contact hypersensitivity (CH). The MISD, defined as the lowest UV dose given to produce ～50% suppression of the CH response in mice, was determined to be 1.0 kJ/m² for UVA-340 sunlamps. Immune protection tests on four marketed sunscreen lotions (sun protection factors [SPF] 4, 8, 15 and 30) were then conducted with UVA-340 sunlamps using MISD as the endpoint. The immune protection factors for these sunscreens were equivalent to the level of protection predicated by their labeled SPF. These results are similar to those we have previously obtained using a solar simulator. We conclude from these data that the immunosuppressive effects of UVA-340 sunlamps are similar to those of a solar simulator; however, further studies are needed to determine if UVA-340, or similar, sunlamps are a viable alternative to the solar simulator for conducting large-scale animal experiments that require a relevant UV solar spectrum.     

Solid-phase synthesis using a new polyacrylic resin : Synthesis of the fragment 14–21 of the amino acid sequence of histone H4

The solid-phase synthesis of the octapeptide 1 AcGly-Ala-Lys-Arg-His-Arg-Lys-ValOMe, which represents the fragment 14-21 of the amino acid sequence of the chromosomal histone H4, as well as of the structurally related nonapeptide 2 AcGly-Ala-Lys-Leu-Arg-His-Arg-Lys-ValOMe, is described using a new polyacrylic resin containing a glycolamide ester linkage(resin-NHCO-CH₂-OCO-peptide) acting as a labile anchoring moiety between the resin and the peptide.After elongation of the polypeptide chain using classical protecting groups, i.e. t-butyloxycarbonyl for the α-NH₂ function, benzyloxycarbonyl, nitro and 2,4-dinitrophenyl groups for the side-chains of Lys, Arg and His respectively, both peptides 1 and 2 were obtained in good yields and with a high purity as shown by high-pressure liquid chromatography, by amino-acid analysis and by high-field proton NMR spectroscopy.This work demonstrates the ability of the newly introduced polyacrylic resin to act as a convenient support for solid-phase peptide synthesis.     

Synthesis and crystallographic characterization of a dicyclopentadienylvanadium alkynide complex: (C5H5)2VCCC(CH3)3

(C₅H₅)₂VCl reacts with LiCCC(CH₃)₃ to form (C₅H₅)₂VCCC(CH₃)₃ which was characterized by spectroscopic, analytical, and crystallographic methods. The complex crystallizes from pentane at 0°C as a monomer in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with four molecules in a unit cell of dimensions a 9.075(3), b 9.807(3), c 16.444(5) Å. Full-matrix least-squares refinement based upon 1300 nonzero intensity data converged to a final conventional R factor of 0.060. The molecule has a mean VC₅H₅-ring centroid distance of 1.941 Å with 146.6° ring centroid-V-ring centroid angle. The vanadium alkynide carbon distance is 2.075(5) Å.     

Field-portable, high-speed GC/TOFMS

This work is focused on developing a fast gas chromatograph, time-of-flight mass spectrometer (GC/TOFMS) for man-portable field use. The goal is to achieve a total system solution for meeting performance, size, weight, power, cost, and ruggedness requirements for a laboratory in the field. The core technology will also be adaptable to specific applications including real-time point detection for hazardous chemical releases (e.g., chemical weapons), for biological agent signature identification, and for mobile monitoring platforms (e.g., air, ship, truck). Previously we presented results of a feasibility demonstration for a 30-lb field-portable TOFMS system. In this work we present recent progress in integrating a low-power, high-speed GC and show the capability for accurately recording fast GC transients for targeted compound detection using a quadrupole ion trap, time-of-flight instrument (QitTof).     

Conversion of clavulanic acid into thiadeoxa nuclear analogues

1,4-Addition of sulphur nucleophiles to the diene ($\text{12}$) derived $\text{via}$ the pen-2-em ($\text{5}$) from clavulanic acid provides the thiadeoxa analogues ($\text{14}$–$\text{15}$). X-ray analysis of the ester ($\text{14}$) shows the thermodynamically stable isomers to have the same relative stereochemistry as clavulanic acid.     

Direct determination of calcium,copper, iron,magnesium, manganese and zinc in amniotic fluid samples using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

An inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometric method is reported for the determination of calcium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium and zinc. Samples are introduced directly when a sheath gas device is used. An external calibration procedure is used. The standards are prepared in a matrix composed of 0.5% (w/v) albumin and 0.76% (w/v) sodium chloride. The procedure was evaluated with a standard reference material (NBS SRM 909 Human Serum); all the values obtained are in agreement with the certified values. Results obtained for the determination of zinc, calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and manganese in amniotic fluid samples are reported.     

Functional polymers and sequential copolymers by phase transfer catalysis. XXVIII. Synthesis and characterization of alternating block copolymers and polyformals of polyisobutylene and aromatic polyether sulfone

Alternating—i.e., -(A-B)_n- type—block copolymers of polyisobutylene (PIB) and aromatic polyether sulfone (PSU) have been prepared by phase transfer catalyzed Williamson polyetherification of α,ω-di(phenol)PIB with α,ω-di(chloroallyl)- or -(bromobenzyl)PSU. Block copolymers of the two prepolymers were also synthesized by the phase transfer catalyzed polyetherification of methylene chloride with α,ω-di(phenol)PIB and α,ω-di(phenol)PSU (bisphenol-A-terminated PSU). This method leads to -[(A)_x-(B)_y]_n- block copolymers with formal linkages between segments. At sufficiently high segment lengths, both types of block copolymers exhibit two distinct T_gs, indicating phase separation into rubbery PIB and glassy PSU domains.     

Recherches sur la formation et la transformation des esters LXXXI [1]. Sur la réaction d'isothiocyanates avec l'acide hydrazinoéthylphosphorique,et de l'isocyanate de phényle avec l'acide colaminephosphoreux

Hydrazinoethyl phosphoric monoester has been prepared by reacting hydrazinoethanol with polyphosphoric acid, and isolated as di-sodium salt. Sodium hydrazinoethyl phosphate reacts with phenylisothiocyanate (in H₂O+ethanol) to yield mainly the derivative thiocarbamoylated at the substituted nitrogen atom. This derivative, heated for one night at 100° in 0.5 N HCl, is cyclized to 3-amino-2-phenylimino-thiazolidine in 62% yield. Sodium hydrazinoethyl phosphate reacts with o-methoxycarbonylphenyl isothiocyanate (in H₂O+dioxane) at the unsubstituted nitrogen atom to yield mainly the corresponding quinazoline derivative (IV, X = OPO₃Na₂). This derivative, heated for one night at 100° in 0.5 N HCl, is cyclized to 2-o-carboxyphenylamino-dihydro-δ²-1, 3, 4-thiadiazine (Va) in 55% yield (hydrolysis of the lactamic function as well). Aminoethyl phosphorous monoester (colaminephosphorous acid) reacted with phenylisocyanate (in H₂0+dioxane) in slightly alkaline medium (one equivalent of NaOH) yields sodium N-phenylcarbamoylaminoethyl phosphite. Refluxed for 20 minutes in 1N NaOH, this carbamoyl derivative is not cyclized but only hydrolyzed to the open-chained N-phenyl-N′-hydroxyethylurea (VII).     

Multitechnique surface spectroscopic studies of plasma modified polymers III. H2O and O2/H2O plasma modified poly(methyl methacrylate)s

The surfaces of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films modified by O₂H₂O and H₂O radio-frequency glow discharge plasmas were studied using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA or XPS), low energy ion scattering (LEISS or ISS), Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR) with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) sampling, and critical surface energy from contact angle measurements. The extent and nature of modification with respect to promotion of a hydrophilic surface compared to the hydrophobic surface of the unmodified PMMA has been probed. Results show drastic decreases in C/O ratio at the near surface, which increases to that of the unmodified PMMA as deeper cross sections are analyzed. In addition peak fitting of ESCA data correlated with FTIR functional group information allows for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the resulting bonding and structure of the modified layer. From these results combined with the polarity and surface energy differences obtained from contact angle measurements, the structural changes are discussed with respect to plasma reaction mechanisms and differences in the structure of the modified polymer films.     

Base- and light-assisted synthesis of anthracenes from 3-allylnaphthalene-2-carbaldehydes

The synthesis of substituted anthracenes from naphthalene precursors is described. The key step involved heating ortho-allyl substituted naphthalene-2-carbaldehydes and potassium t-butoxide in DMF with concomitant irradiation from a high pressure mercury lamp to afford anthracenes in yields of 76-98%.