414 research outputs found
Quantitation and Visualization of Ultraviolet Induced DNA Damage Using Specific Antibodies
The major types of DNA damage induced by sunlight in the skin are DNA photoproducts, such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), (6-4)photoproducts (6-4PPs) and Dewar isomers of 6-4PPs. A sensitive method for quantitating and visualizing each type of DNA photoproduct induced by biologically relevant doses of UV or sunlight is essential to characterize DNA photoproducts and their biologlcal effects. We have established monoclonal antibodies specific for CPDs, 6-4PPs or Dewar isomers. Those antibodies allow one to quantitate
photoproducts in DNA purified from cultured cells or from the skin epidermis uslng an
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. One can also use those specific antibodies with in situ laser cytometry to visualize and measure DNA photoproducts in cultured cells or in the skin, using indirect immunofluorescence and a laser-scannlng confocal microscope. This latter method allows us to reconstruct three-dimensional images of nuclei containlng DNA photoproducts, and to simultaneously examine DNA photoproducts and histology in multilayered epidermis. Using those techniques, one can determine the induction and repair of these three distinct types of DNA photoproducts in cultured cells and in the skin exposed to sublethal or suberythematous doses of UV or solar simulated radiation. As examples of the utility of these techniques and antibodies, we describe the DNA repalr kinetics followlng irradiation of human cell nuclei and the photoprotective effect of melanin against DNA photoproducts in cultured pigrlented cells and in human epidermis
A Computational Phase Field Study of Conducting Channel Formation in Dielectric Thin Films: A View Towards the Physical Origins of Resistive Switching
A phase field method is used to computationally study conducting channel
morphology of resistive switching thin film structures. Our approach
successfully predicts the formation of conducting channels in typical
dielectric thin film structures, comparable to a range of resistive switches,
offering an alternative computational formulation based on metastable states
treated at the atomic scale. In contrast to previous resistive switching thin
film models, our formulation makes no a priori assumptions on conducting
channel morphology and its fundamental transport mechanisms
An electro-thermal computational study of conducting channels in dielectric thin films using self-consistent phase-field methodology: A view toward the physical origins of resistive switching
A large number of experimental studies suggest two-terminal resistive
switching devices made of a dielectric thin film sandwiched by a pair of
electrodes exhibit reversible multi-state switching behaviors; however coherent
understanding of physical and chemical origins of their electrical properties
needs to be further pursued to improve and customize the performance. In this
paper, phase-field methodology is used to study the formation and annihilation
of conductive channels resulting in reversible resistive switching behaviors
that can generally occur in any dielectric thin films. Our focus is on the
dynamical evolution of domains made of electrical charges under the influence
of spatially varying electric field and temperature resulting in distinctive
changes in electrical conductance.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
On the Phononic Bandgap of Carbon Nanotubes
On the phononic bandgap of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), we show in what chirality CNTs have
phononic bandgaps and its dependence on the diameters of CNTs. We find that, though the rule where CNTs have phononic bandgaps is the same as in the electronic structure case, the diameter dependence is different. The phononic bandgaps of the zigzag-CNTs reveal “three” kinds of diameter dependence due to the anisotropy of graphene phonon band around the K point in k-space. We also show the crossover from one- to two-dimensional characteristics in phononic bandgaps
Melanin Reduces Ultraviolet-Induced DNA Damage Formation and Killing Rate in Cultured Human Melanoma Cells
Epidermal melanin pigment is believed to prevent development of ultraviolet (UV)–induced skin cancer by shielding cell nuclei and reducing DNA damage formation. It has not been experimentally proved, however, whether melanin reduces UV-induced DNA damage, because published experiments have been inconclusive. The present study was carried out to determine whether intracellular melanin protected cultured cells against UV-induced DNA damage and killing. Three human melanoma cell lines containing different amounts of melanin were used. Absorption spectrum, subcellular localization of melanin, and melanin concentration were examined in the three cell lines. Two types of DNA damages cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and (6-4)photoproducts, were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with monoclonal antibodies specific for these photolesions. We found that melanin reduced the induction rates of both types of DNA damage in pigmented cells irradiated with low doses of UV in a melanin concentration-dependent manner. Almost no differences in repair capacity for the two types of photolesions were observed among the three melanoma cell lines. We also found that the more highly melanotic melanoma cell lines were more UV resistant than the less melanotic melanoma cell lines. These results suggest that intracellular melanin plays an important role in preventing UV-induced cell killing by reducing the formation of two types of DNA damage
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