A direct ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) study on the benzophenone-water 1 : 1 complex.

Direct ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) method has been applied to a benzophenone-water 1 : 1 complex Bp(H(2)O) and free benzophenone (Bp) to elucidate the effects of zero-point energy (ZPE) vibration and temperature on the absorption spectra of Bp(H(2)O). The n-pi transition of free-Bp (S(1) state) was blue-shifted by the interaction with a water molecule, whereas three pi-pi transitions (S(2), S(3) and S(4)) were red-shifted. The effects of the ZPE vibration and temperature of Bp(H(2)O) increased the intensity of the n-pi transition of Bp(H(2)O) and caused broadening of the pi-pi transitions. In case of the temperature effect, the intensity of n-pi transition increases with increasing temperature. The electronic states of Bp(H(2)O) were discussed on the basis of the theoretical results.

Zeta potential measurement on the surface of blue-green algae particles for micro-bubble process.

Any kind of blue-green alga produces metabolites of musty substances and toxins. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the blue-green algae, and processing also including nutrient removal is desired for the water quality improvement of eutrophic lakes. The purpose of this study has been to investigate the possibility of a flotation system using a hybrid technique (chemical compounds and electrostatic bridge) applied to raw water containing phytoplankton with high pH of water, and to examine the zeta potential value of phytoplankton surface and the removal efficiency for phytoplankton, ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphoric acid. The results were as follows: firstly, zeta potential of M. aeruginosa particles was observed to achieve charge neutralization on their surface by adhesion of magnesium hydroxide precipitation with increasing pH. Secondly, maximum removal efficiency concerning chlorophyll-a was observed as 84%, and this efficiency was obtained in the condition of pH > 10, and magnesium hydroxide precipitation was observed. Thirdly, in the pH condition that the maximum removal efficiency of chlorophyll-a was obtained, the removal efficiency and the amount of decrease of NH(4)-N and PO(4)-P before and after the change of pH values were observed as 6.7% (0.04 mg-P/L) and 63.6% (0.07 mg-N/L), respectively.

Hyperthermic induction of apoptosis in malignant fibrous histiocytoma cells: possible involvement of a p53-independent pathway in the induction of bax gene.

We have previously reported the unique heat sensitivity of a cell line of malignant fibrous histiocytoma cells, the MFH-2NR cell line. In the present study, treatment of MFH-2NR cells, at 43 degrees C for 1 h evoked typical apoptosis in these cells, which showed characteristic morphological changes, such as internucleosomal DNA fragmentation (DNA ladders), cell shrinkage, and chromatin condensation. Under these conditions, we examined p53 and bax protein levels, and p53 and bax mRNA expression to assess the potential relationship between these two proteins for the induction of apoptosis. The p53 protein, which is usually detected in trace amounts in normal cells, was highly expressed in untreated MFH-2NR cells, and the level did not increase after heat treatment, whereas the bax protein level increased from 30 min after the treatment. No change in p53 mRNA was found, but a transient increase in bax mRNA, peaking at 30 min, was detected by Northern blotting. DNA sequence analysis of the p53 gene from MFH-2NR cells demonstrated a GGG right arrow GAG homozygous point mutation in codon 242 of exon 6. These results suggest that the expression of bax protein and mRNA was augmented by a p53-independent pathway in the hyperthermia-induced apoptosis of MFH-2NR cells.