The University of Surrey database of elemental composition of human hair

The elemental composition of human hair obtained from different studies at Surrey University over a period of 25 years has been recorded and forms part of a database, for biological and environmental samples, which is being developed. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), using reactor neutrons, was the principal method employed and from which reported data are presented.Elemental concentrations of Br, Ca, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, F, Fe, Hf, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, V and Zn were obtained and recorded in the database. Chronological variations in two sets of subjects separated by a period of time of 16 years are also given. Variations in the concentration values of some elements related to the state of health and disease were reported for hair samples collected from subjects suffering from manic depression, senile dementia and breast cancer. Concentration values of some elements with relation to the nationality of subjects from Bulgaria, England, Kenya, Nigeria and Wales are presented and compared. This study is part of on-going research in the analysis of biomedical and bioenvironmental materials. The database is still in its infancy. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Delocalization resonance energy of the allylic radical from the geometrical isomerization of hexa-1,3,5-trienes

Thermal cis, trans geometrical isomerization theoretically involves a 90° twisted, singlet diradical-like transition state which may serve as a base for the examination of structural perturbations. Although thermal rearrangement of hexa-1, trans-3,5-triene (and all-trans octa-2,4,6-triene) to the cis isomer cannot be followed directly owing to subsequent cyclization and 1,5 hydrogen shifts, activation parameters for disappearance have been determined. Experimental complications and mechanistic uncertainties which make interpretation difficult are removed in the bicyclic hexatriene, cyclopentenylidenecyclopentene. These geometrical isomers undergo uncomplicated thermal cis, trans isomerization in vessels of lead-potash glass: log k₁ = 12·03±0·32?41·7±0·8/(0·004575T_abs). Extraction of a value for allylic delocalization energy from the behavior of hexa-1, trans-3,5-triene [log k₁ = 12·91 ± 0·47?44·3±1·2/(0·004575 T_abs)] requires corrections of the Dewar-Schmeising type for changes in hybridization of the σ bonds. Depending on whether ethylene or trans-butene is taken as standard, values of 12·2 and 13·1 kcal/mol are obtained (estimated uncertainty ± 2 kcal/mol).     

Synthesis of periphery-functionalized dendritic molecules using polylithiated dendrimers as starting material

A general method for the functionalization of Si-Cl terminated carbosilane dendritic molecules via organolithium or organomagnesium reagents is described. Quantitative exchange of the bromine atoms of 4-bromophenyl-functionalized dendrimers affords polylithiated species that are valuable starting materials for further functionalization, e.g., into pyridyl alcohols. The latter were successfully applied as catalyst precursors in a ruthenium-mediated ring-closure metathesis reaction.