Effects of blue light irradiation on human dermal fibroblasts

Previous studies have reported that separately from UV-radiation also blue light influences cellular physiology in different cell types. However, little is known about the blue light action spectrum. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of blue light at distinct wavelengths (410, 420, 453, 480 nm) emitted by well defined light-emitting-diodes on viability, proliferation and antioxidative capacity of human dermal fibroblasts. We found that irradiation with blue light (410, 420 nm) led to intracellular oxidative stress and toxic effects in a dose and wavelength dependent manner. No toxicity was observed using light at 453 nm and 480 nm. Furthermore, blue light (410, 420, 453 nm) at low doses reduced the antioxidative capacity of fibroblasts. At non-toxic doses, irradiations at 410, 420 and 453 nm reduced proliferation indicating a higher susceptibility of proliferating fibroblasts to blue light. Our results show that blue light at different wavelengths may induce varying degrees of intracellular oxidative stress with different physiological outcome, which could contribute to premature skin photoaging. On the other hand, the use of blue light due to its antiproliferative and toxic properties may represent a new approach in treatment and prevention of keloids, hypertrophic scars and fibrotic skin diseases.     

The parton model,duality and deep-inelastic single-particle distributions

Within the quark parton model the two-component duality idea is generalized to single hadron inclusive distributions in deep-inelastic scattering. The discussion is limited to the current fragmentation region. The number of independent distribution functions is reduced. Relations as well as inequalities among the structure functions are obtained. In particular, the excess of π⁺ over π^? in the electroproduction off a proton comes out as a consequence and the differential cross section for e⁺e^? → π+ anything is fully determined by the electroproduction of pions on nucleons.     

Morphological and tissue characterization of the medicinal fungus Hericium coralloides by a structural and molecular imaging platform

In this study the potential of new imaging techniques such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) profiling mass spectrometry ("MALDI Profiling") and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic imaging was evaluated to study morphological and molecular patterns of the potential medicinal fungus Hericium coralloides. For interpretation, the MALDI profiling, FTIR imaging and MRI results were correlated with histological information gained from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Light Microscopy (LM). Additionally we tested several evaluation processes and optimized the methodology for use of complex FTIR images to monitor molecular patterns. It is demonstrated that the combination of these spectroscopic methods enables to gain a more distinct picture concerning morphology and distribution of active ingredients. We were able to obtain high quality FTIR imaging and MALDI-profiling results and to distinguish different tissue types with their chemical ingredients. Beside this, we have created a 3-D reconstruction of a mature Hericium basidioma, based on the MRI dataset: analyses allowed, for the first time, a realistic approximation of the "evolutionary effectiveness" of this bizarrely formed basidioma type, concerning the investment of sterile tissue and its reproductive output (production of basidiospores).     

Operator algebras and a theorem of Dieudonne

LetA be aC*-algebra with second dualA″. Let (φ _n)(n=1,...) be a sequence in the dual ofA such that limφ _n(a) exists for eacha εA. In general, this does not imply that limφ _n(x) exists for eachx εA″. But if limφ _n(p) exists whenever p is the range projection of a positive self-adjoint element of the unit ball ofA, then it is shown that limφ _n(x) does exist for eachx inA″. This is a non-commutative generalisation of a celebrated theorem of Dieudonné. A new proof of Dieudonné’s theorem, for positive measures, is given here. The proof of the main result makes use of Dieudonné’s original theorem.     

Fourier transform infrared imaging analysis in discrimination studies of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

In the present study, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging and data analysis methods were combined to study morphological and molecular patterns of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) in detail. For interpretation, FTIR imaging results were correlated with histological information gained from light microscopy (LM). Additionally, we tested several evaluation processes and optimized the methodology for use of complex FTIR microscopic images to monitor molecular patterns. It is demonstrated that the combination of the used spectroscopic method with LM enables a more distinct picture, concerning morphology and distribution of active ingredients, to be gained. We were able to obtain high-quality FTIR microscopic imaging results and to distinguish different tissue types with their chemical ingredients.     

Radial oscillations of neutron stars in strong magnetic fields

The eigen frequencies of radial pulsations of neutron stars are calculated in a strong magnetic field. At low densities we use the magnetic BPS equation of state (EOS) similar to that obtained by Lai and Shapiro while at high densities the EOS obtained from the relativistic nuclear mean field theory is taken and extended to include strong magnetic field. It is found that magnetized neutron stars support higher maximum mass whereas the effect of magnetic field on radial stability for observed neutron star masses is minimal.     

Fourier transform infrared imaging analysis in discrimination studies of squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of the oral cavity and oropharynx represents more than 95% of all malignant neoplasms in the oral cavity. Histomorphological evaluation of this cancer type is invasive and remains a time consuming and subjective technique. Therefore, novel approaches for histological recognition are necessary to identify malignancy at an early stage. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging has become an essential tool for the detection and characterization of the molecular components of biological processes, such as those responsible for the dynamic properties of tumor progression. FTIR imaging is a modern analytical technique enabling molecular imaging of a complex biological sample and is based on the absorption of IR radiation by vibrational transitions in covalent bonds. One major advantage of this technique is the acquisition of local molecular expression profiles, while maintaining the topographic integrity of the tissue and avoiding time-consuming extraction, purification, and separation steps. With this imaging technique, it is possible to obtain unique images of the spatial distribution of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, cholesterols, nucleic acids, phospholipids, and small molecules with high spatial resolution. Analysis and visualization of FTIR imaging datasets are challenging and the use of chemometric tools is crucial in order to take advantage of the full measurement. Therefore, methodologies for this task based on the novel developed algorithm for multivariate image analysis (MIA) are often necessary. In the present study, FTIR imaging and data analysis methods were combined to optimize the tissue measurement mode after deparaffinization and subsequent data evaluation (univariate analysis and MIAs). We demonstrate that it is possible to collect excellent IR spectra from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue microarrays (TMAs) of OSCC tissue sections employing an optimised analytical protocol. The correlation of FTIR imaging to the morphological tissue features obtained by histological staining of the sections demonstrated that many histomorphological tissue patterns can be visualized in the colour images. The different algorithms used for MIAs of FTIR imaging data dramatically increased the information content of the IR images from squamous cell tissue sections. These findings indicate that intra-operative and surgical specimens of squamous cell carcinoma tissue can be characterized by FTIR imaging.