Valproic acid (VPA) is an anticonvulsant used to treat bipolar disorder, a psychiatric disease associated with disturbances in circadian rhythmicity. Little is known about how VPA affects circadian rhythms. The authors cultured tissues containing the master brain pacemaker for circadian rhythmicity, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), and skin fibroblasts from transgenic ...

Recent demonstration of the histone acetyltransferase activity of the Clock gene greatly expanded the regulatory role of circadian clocks in gene transcription. Clock and its partner Bmal1 are responsible for the generation of circadian oscillations that are synchronized (entrained) to the external light cycle. Entraining light often produces long-lasting changes ...

To make an antisaccade away from a stimulus, one must also suppress the more reflexive prosaccade to the stimulus. Whether this inhibition is diffuse or specific for saccade direction is not known. We used a paradigm examining inter-trial carry-over effects. Twelve subjects performed sequences of four identical antisaccades followed by ...

Plant phototropism is an adaptive response to changes in light direction, quantity, and quality that results in optimization of photosynthetic light harvesting, as well as water and nutrient acquisition. Though several components of the phototropic signal response pathway have been identified in recent years, including the blue light (BL) receptors ...

The ARP2/3 complex, a highly conserved nucleator of F-actin, and its activator, the SCAR complex, are essential for growth in plants and animals. In this article, we present a pathway through which roots of Arabidopsis thaliana directly perceive light to promote their elongation. The ARP2/3-SCAR complex and the maintenance of ...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the surface microhardness (SMH) of intracoronal dentin exposed to 38% hydrogen peroxide (HP) light-activated or not and to 2% sodium fluoride gel (F2%) or 5% varnish (F5%). STUDY DESIGN: Intracoronal dentin specimens were exposed to bleaching (B), bleaching and light activation ...

Interactions between β-carotene (β-C) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) turnover were investigated in relation to photoinhibition and D1 protein turnover in mature leaves of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) by (14)CO(2) pulse-chase labeling. Following a 2-h treatment of leaves with water, lincomycin (Linco; inhibitor of chloroplast protein synthesis) or norflurazon (NF; inhibitor ...

Multiple studies question the necessity of transcription/translation feedback loops for the generation of circadian rhythms. New data emphasize the necessity of proteasomal degradation for circadian rhythmicity in transcriptionally competent cells.

The podocyte plays a key role both in maintenance of the glomerular filtration barrier and in glomerular structural integrity. Podocyte injury and loss contribute to proteinuria and progressive sclerosis. Inhibitors of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) have variably decreased or caused proteinuria and sclerosis in human disease and experimental settings. ...

We present an efficient algorithm for simulating diffuse reflections of sound in a static scene. Our approach is built on recent advances in precomputed light transport techniques for visual rendering and uses them to develop an improved acoustic radiance transfer technique. We precompute a direct-to-indirect acoustic transfer operator for a ...

To examine if animals could learn action-like categorizations in a manner similar to noun-based categories, eight pigeons were trained to categorize rates of object motion. Testing 40 different objects in a go/no-go discrimination, pigeons were first trained to discriminate between fast and slow rates of object rotation around their central ...

We measured the strength of illusory self-motion perception (vection) with and without locomotion on a treadmill. The results revealed that vection was inhibited by inconsistent locomotion, but facilitated by consistent locomotion.

Devices such as robots or treadmills are often used to drive motor learning because they can create novel physical environments. However, the learning (i.e., adaptation) acquired on these devices only partially generalizes to natural movements. What determines the specificity of motor learning, and can this be reliably made more general? ...

We present the design and calibration of a microchannel plate based extreme ultraviolet spectrometer. Calibration was performed at the Advance Light Source (ALS) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). This spectrometer will be used to record the single shot spectrum of radiation emitted by the tapered hybrid undulator (THUNDER) ...

TiO(2):Eu(3+) nanorods are hydrothermally grown and used to fabricate a bilayer film electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell. A light-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency of 8.0% and a quantum efficiency of 93.7% (at 575 nm) is achieved in this solar cell. The high efficiency is due to the improvement of ultraviolet ...

To present a case of advancing keratoconus treated with corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) with ultraviolet A (UVA) light and riboflavin complicated with sterile infiltrates. The patient's cornea was de-epithelialized and CXL was performed with application of riboflavin and exposure to UVA light (370 nm, 3 mW/cm2) for 30 minutes. Early ...

This paper deals with the photobleaching of acetylated wood. The acetylated spruce wood was irradiated by artificial sunlight emitted from xenon lamp with covering several kinds of band-pass filter. The lightness (L(*)) of acetylated wood increased with integral irradiance. The chroma (ΔC(*)) decreased by light-irradiation with wavelength from 430nm to ...

The characterization of partially coherent light transmission by micrometer sized valves of marine diatoms is an interesting optical challenge and, from the biological point of view, is of outmost relevance in order to understand evolution mechanisms of such organisms. In the present work, we have studied the transmission of light ...

Narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB; 310-315 nm) is commonly used to treat vitiligo, but the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect have not been understood completely. Here, we evaluated the effects of broadband UVB (BB-UVB), NB-UVB, 308 nm xenon chloride (XeCl) excimer laser, and 308 nm XeCl excimer light on the expression ...

A method for achieving large area integration of nanowires into electrically accessible device structures remains a major challenge. We have achieved directed growth and integration of ZnO nanobridge devices using photolithographically patterned carbonized photoresist and vapor transport. This carbonized photoresist method avoids the use of metal catalysts, seed layers, and ...

In studies of cortical cataract, a severity score representing the area covered by cataract is often used as the primary outcome. However, additional disease information may exist in the spatial distribution of opacities. Further, it has been hypothesized that the lower nasal region of the lens is the most susceptible ...

Flower-like TiO(2) nanostructures with exposed {001} facets were synthesized by a low-temperature hydrothermal process from Ti powders for the first time, and they exhibited enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye under ultraviolet light irradiation.

Neglected ruptures of the tendoachilles pose a difficult surgical problem. There are no data to determine the optimal positioning of the FHL tendon to the calcaneus. Two computer programmes (MSC.visualNastran Desktop 2002™ and Solid Edge(®) V19) were used to generate a human ankle joint model. Different attachment points of FHL ...

A photoresponsive RNA aptamer to hemin was selected in vitro from a random sequence library of RNAs with azobenzene residues. The aptamer bound to hemin under visible light irradiation and was released by ultraviolet light.

We have found that coupling between catharanthine and vindoline occurs non-enzymatically in the presence of flavin mononucleotide and manganese ions with near-ultraviolet light irradiation in vitro. The present study found that the concentrations of catharanthine and vindoline in Catharanthus roseus decreased and those of dimeric indole alkaloids increased under near-ultraviolet ...

AIM: To examine selected aspects of the diet and husbandry of captive tuatara (Sphenodon spp.) in New Zealand, in order to develop recommendations on provision of ultraviolet B light and diet, to reduce the incidence of nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHP). METHODS: Information was collected from 18/20 institutions holding tuatara in ...

A considerable number of bird species carry feathers to their nests. Feathers' presence in the nests has traditionally been explained by their insulating properties. Recently, however, it has been suggested that feathers carried to the nests by females of the spotted starling (Sturnus unicolor L.) could have an ornamental function ...

The ommatidia of crustacean eyes typically contain two classes of photoreceptors with orthogonally oriented microvilli. These receptors provide the basis for two-channel polarisation vision in the blue-green spectrum. The retinae of gonodactyloid stomatopod crustaceans possess a great variety of structural specialisations for elaborate polarisation vision. One type of specialisation is ...

Gold nanoparticles strongly absorb both visible light and ultraviolet light to drive an oxidation reaction for a synthetic dye, as well as phenol degradation and selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol under UV light.

Ultraviolet irradiation therapy, including psoralen and ultraviolet A therapy and narrow-band ultraviolet B (310-312 nm) therapy, is a widely used and highly efficient treatment modality for psoriasis. Therapy with 308-nm excimer light has been reported to be effective for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. To evaluate the efficacy of 308-nm ...

Photosensitive caged compounds have enhanced our ability to address the complexity of biological systems by generating effectors with remarkable spatial/temporal resolutions. The caging effect is typically removed by photolysis with ultraviolet light to liberate the bioactive species. Although this technique has been successfully applied to many biological problems, it suffers ...

We visualized flavonol distribution in the abaxial epidermis of onion scales without chemical processes via detection of blue-light-induced green autofluorescence. Our visualizing results indicated an unequal intercellular distribution of flavonols among epidermal cells causing a patch distribution in the epidermis, and indicated that flavonol accumulation in ultraviolet irradiated-onion scales was ...

We previously developed a high powered light-emitting diode device capable of discharging germicidal ultraviolet irradiation (UVA-LED) at an approximate wavelength of 365 nm. This study examined the bactericidal activity of UVA-LED in moving air streams. Aerosols of Escherichia coli DH5alpha were exposed to UVA-LED irradiation using a stable current (0.5 ...

The balding scalp is particularly exposed to sunlight, hence, the overall ageing process modulated by ultraviolet and near-infrared light may be increased at this location. The induced changes are better revealed under ultraviolet light examination. Any alteration in the epidermal maturation is potentially reflected by stratum corneum changes observed as ...

Chakraborty et al. (Reports, 5 September 2008, p. 1328) concluded that an anomalously enriched atomic oxygen reservoir can be generated through carbon monoxide photodissociation without self-shielding. We show that this conclusion is based on the incorrect assumption that the spectral shifts of the 97.03-nanometers and 107.61-nanometers vibrational bands for C16O, ...

We report the generation of quasi-continuous-wave vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) coherent light based on a Ti:sapphire laser with two successive frequency doubling stages. In the first stage, UV light at 399 nm with power of 1.1 W was obtained by exploiting an enhanced cavity. With a KBBF crystal as nonlinear material, quasi-continuous-wave ...

Research was conducted to ascertain whether analyses of vintage absinthe samples represent their original composition in the early 1900s. Absinthe stored in traditional green glass bottles and irradiated with ultraviolet light for up to 200 h exhibited unchanged composition. Samples stored in clear glass exhibited an 18% reduction in beta-thujone ...

Listeria monocytogenes, a psychrotrophic foodborne pathogen, is a recurring postprocess contaminant on ready-to-eat meat (RTE) products including frankfurters. Flash (Steam) Pasteurization (FP) and ultraviolet light (254 nm-UVC) has been shown to reduce levels of L. monocytogenes and L. innocua on frankfurters. In this study, the use of UVC light followed ...

Polyurethanes have many properties that qualify them as high-performance polymeric materials, but they still suffer from mechanical damage. We report the development of polyurethane networks that exhibit self-repairing characteristics upon exposure to ultraviolet light. The network consists of an oxetane-substituted chitosan precursor incorporated into a two-component polyurethane. Upon mechanical damage ...

BACKGROUND: Persons with limited exposure to ultraviolet B light, including space travelers, may not receive enough vitamin D. Recent studies indicate that optimal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] should be > or = 80 nmol/L. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of 3 doses of vitamin D to ...

To determine characteristics of natural transmission of Babesia sp. EU1 and B. divergens by adult Ixodes ricinus ticks, we examined tick salivary gland contents. We found that I. ricinus is a competent vector for EU1 and that their sporozoites directly invade erythrocytes. We conclude that EU1 is naturally transmitted by ...

Iridescence, the change in hue of a surface with varying observation angles, is used by insects, birds, fish, and reptiles for species recognition and mate selection. We identified iridescence in flowers of Hibiscus trionum and Tulipa species and demonstrated that iridescence is generated through diffraction gratings that might be widespread ...

BACKGROUND: Photocatalysis of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) substrates is primarily induced by ultraviolet light irradiation. Anion-doped TiO(2) substrates were shown to exhibit photocatalytic activities under visible-light illumination, relative environmentally-friendly materials. Their anti-spore activity against Bacillus anthracis, however, remains to be investigated. We evaluated these visible-light activated photocatalysts on the reduction of ...

When seen in ultraviolet light, Venus has contrast features that arise from the non-uniform distribution of unknown absorbers within the sulphuric acid clouds and seem to trace dynamical activity in the middle atmosphere. It has long been unclear whether the global pattern arises from differences in cloud top altitude (which ...

A study of the influence of the local environment on the light-induced luminescence enhancement of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QD) embedded in silica colloids that are dispersed in various solvents is presented. The photoluminescence of the embedded QD is enhanced up to a factor of ten upon photoactivation by ultraviolet or ...

For many organisms the ability to transduce light into cellular signals is crucial for survival. Light stimulates DNA repair and metabolism changes in bacteria, avoidance responses in single-cell organisms, attraction responses in plants, and both visual and nonvisual perception in animals. Despite these widely differing responses, in all of nature ...

Although many animals use the Earth's magnetic field for orientation and navigation, the precise biophysical mechanisms underlying magnetic sensing have been elusive. One theoretical model proposes that geomagnetic fields are perceived by chemical reactions involving specialized photoreceptors. However, the specific photoreceptor involved in such magnetoreception has not been demonstrated conclusively ...

The use of sunscreens is the 'gold standard' for protecting the skin from ultraviolet light. Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) is one of the most widely used UVB filter but it can act as a sensitizer or photoallergen. When exposed to sunlight, OMC can change from the primary trans-form to cis-form and ...

Solar ultraviolet light electromagnetic waves are a known environmental carcinogenic agent closely associated with the development of skin cancer in light-complexioned individuals. Outdoor workers have higher annual exposure to ultraviolet light. We will review the topic of actinic keratoses among these individuals as this common rudimentary form of superficial cutaneous ...

In most taxa, owners win fights when defending a territory against intruders. We calculated effect sizes for four factors that potentially contribute to an 'owner advantage'. We studied male fiddler crabs Uca mjoebergi, where owners won 92% of natural fights. Owners were not more successful because they were inherently better ...