Effects of gamma irradiation on morphological changes and biological responses in plants

This review discusses the morphological changes and biological responses of plants irradiated with gamma rays. Seedlings exposed to relatively low doses of gamma rays (1-5 Gy) developed normally, while the growth of plants irradiated with a high dose gamma ray (50 Gy) was significantly inhibited. Based on TEM observations, chloroplasts were extremely sensitive to gamma irradiation compared to other cell organelles, particularly thylakoids being heavily swollen. In addition, some portions of the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum were structurally altered, for example, distortion and swelling. The cerium perhydroxide deposition, as a maker for H(2)O(2) deposition, was typically manifest on the plasma membranes and cell walls of the tissues from both the control and irradiated plants. However, the intensities of cerium perhydroxide deposits (CPDs) were remarkably increased in the plasma membranes and cell walls of pumpkin tissues such as petiole, cotyledon, hypocotyl and especially leaf after gamma irradiation. These observations are in good agreement with the results of H(2)O(2) content in all tissues. The immuno-localization analysis for peroxidase (POD) on the tissues from pumpkin plant showed the same pattern between the control and irradiated plants, but the density of gold particles as indication of POD localization was significantly increased on the cell corner middle lamellae of parenchyma cells, especially in the petiole after gamma irradiation. However, accumulation and localization of H(2)O(2) and POD in vessels were not significantly different between both plants. The accumulation and localization of both H(2)O(2) and POD were differentially affected by gamma irradiation depending on the different tissue types. The deposition of both H(2)O(2) and POD in parenchyma cells appeared much higher than in vessels, suggesting that the former is more sensitive than the latter against gamma rays.     

Simultaneous In Situ Quantification of Two Cellular Lipid Pools Using Orthogonal Fluorescent Sensors

Lipids regulate a wide range of biological activities. Since their local concentrations are tightly controlled in a spatiotemporally specific manner, the simultaneous quantification of multiple lipids is essential for elucidation of the complex mechanisms of biological regulation. Here, we report a new method for the simultaneous in situ quantification of two lipid pools in mammalian cells using orthogonal fluorescent sensors. The sensors were prepared by incorporating two environmentally sensitive fluorophores with minimal spectral overlap separately into engineered lipid‐binding proteins. Dual ratiometric analysis of imaging data allowed accurate, spatiotemporally resolved quantification of two different lipids on the same leaflet of the plasma membrane or a single lipid on two opposite leaflets of the plasma membrane of live mammalian cells. This new imaging technology should serve as a powerful tool for systems‐level investigation of lipid‐mediated cell signaling and regulation.     

A Sensor for Serotonin and Dopamine Detection in Cancer Cells Line Based on the Conducting Polymer−Pd Complex Composite

An electrochemical sensor based on the conducting polymer composite with a palladium complex (Pd(C₂H₄N₂S₂)₂) was developed for the detection of serotonin and dopamine simultaneously in the breast cancer cell and human plasma samples. The proposed sensor was fabricated using the Pd(C₂H₄N₂S₂)₂ complex‐anchored poly2,2 : 5,2‐terthiophene‐3‐(p‐benzoic acid) (pTBA) layer on the AuNPs decorated reduced graphene oxide (AuNPs@rGO) substrate, which revealed the enhanced anodic current of the target species. The sensor probe was characterized by electrochemical and surface analysis methods. The experimental parameters affecting the sensor performance were optimized, in terms of AuNPs@rGO concentration, the number of electropolymerization cycle for pTBA, immobilization time of Pd(C₂H₄N₂S₂)₂, and pH. The dynamic ranges for serotonin and dopamine were obtained from 0.02 to 200 μM, and from 0.1 to 200 μM with the detection limit of 2.5, and 24.0 nM, respectively. The reliability of proposed sensor was evaluated using cancer cell lines for the clinical applications.     

Reaction of 4,5-dichloro-3-nitropyridazin-6-one with dimethylchloromethyleneammonium chloride

3,4,5-Trichloropyridazin-6-one, 3,4,5,6-tetrachloropyridzine and 4,5-dichloro-3-(N,N-dimethylamino)-pyridazin-6-one were synthesized from 4,5-dichloro-3-nitropyridazin-6-one and dimethylchloromethylene-ammonium chloride selectively.     

A Fluorescent Sensor for Dual‐Channel Discrimination between Phosgene and a Nerve‐Gas Mimic

The ability to analyze highly toxic chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and related chemicals in a rapid and precise manner is essential in order to alleviate serious threats to humankind and public security caused by unexpected terrorist attacks and industrial accidents. In this investigation, we designed a o‐phenylenediamine‐pyronin linked dye that is capable of both fluorogenic and colorimetric discrimination between phosgene and the prototypical nerve‐agent mimic, diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP) in the solution or gas phase. Moreover, this dye has been used to construct a portable kit that can be employed for real‐time monitoring of DCP and phosgene in the field, both in a discriminatory manner, and in a simple and safe way.     

NMR chemical shifts in amino acids: effects of environments in the condensed phase

We present calculations of NMR chemical shifts in crystalline phases of some representative amino acids such as glycine, alanine, and alanyl-alanine. We explore the effects of environment on the chemical shifts in selected glycine geometries ranging from the crystalline phase to completely isolated molecules. In the crystalline and dilute molecular limits, the calculated distinct NMR chemical shifts are attributed to intermolecular hydrogen-bonds and dipole electric field effects, respectively.     

Novel electronic structure of inhomogeneous quantum wires on a Si surface

A one-dimensional system of Si(111)-(5 x 2)-Au is explored using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. The chain of Si adatoms called bright protrusions (BP's) is found to be semiconducting with an evanescent state in the gap, which originates from adjoining metallic BP-free segments. A quantitative analysis shows that the evanescent state decays in inverse-Gaussian form, leading to an appearance of a parabolic BP chain, and scales to its chain length. Spatial decay of the state suggests a quadratic band bending and the existence of a Schottky-like potential barrier at the interface driven by charge transfer.     

Magnetic and noise properties of as-deposited and annealed soft underlayer

We studied the magnetic and noise properties with various soft underlayer (SUL) types. For an as-deposited SUL, the results of spectrum, oscilloscope waveform and MFM indicated that the SUL types with IrMn pinning layer have more noise level than that of SUL types without IrMn pinning layer. And, after magnetic filed annealing along radial direction of disk, the exchange bias field increased and the noise level of type B (exchange bias type) decreased. These results reveal that incomplete or partial coupling may be generated at the interface between IrMn and ferromagnetic layer in as-deposited SUL. This incomplete coupling may result in complex or multidomain patterns in ferromagnetic layer.     

Accelerating universe in two-dimensional noncommutative dilaton cosmology

We show that the phase transition from the decelerating universe to the accelerating universe, which is of relevance to the cosmological coincidence problem, is possible in the semiclassically quantized two-dimensional dilaton gravity by taking into account the noncommutative field variables during the finite time. Initially, the quantum-mechanically induced energy from the noncommutativity among the fields makes the early universe decelerate and subsequently the universe is accelerating because the dilaton driven cosmology becomes dominant later.     

MRI of thermally denatured blood: methemoglobin formation and relaxation effects

Focal regions of T₁-shortening have been observed in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-monitored thermal ablations of perfused tissues. The aims of this study were two-fold: to find evidence for heat-induced conversion of hemoglobin (Hb) to methemoglobin (mHb), and to investigate the effects of heat treatment of in-vitro blood components upon their MR relaxation times. Spectrophotometric studies were performed to confirm the heat-induced formation of methemoglobin. Preparations of whole and fractionated blood, previously submitted to elevated temperatures of 40°C to 80°C, were imaged and the relaxation times were calculated. Optical absorption spectra of samples containing free Hb, heated to 60°C, showed increased light absorption at 630 nm, evident of mHb presence. Short T₁ values in whole blood (1.13 s) and packed red blood cell (0.65 s) compartments, heated at 60°C, compared to their baseline values (1.62 s and 0.83 s, respectively), were attributed to mHb formation. In relation to MRI-guided thermal interventions, these results suggest a possible explanation for observation of hyperintense regions on T₁-weighted images.