Transition on the entropic elasticity of DNA induced by intercalating molecules

We use optical tweezers to perform stretching experiments on DNA molecules when interacting with the drugs daunomycin and ethidium bromide, which intercalate the DNA molecule. These experiments are performed in the low-force regime from zero up to 2 pN. Our results show that the persistence length of the DNA-drug complexes increases strongly as the drug concentration increases up to some critical value. Above this critical value, the persistence length decreases abruptly and remains practically constant for larger drug concentrations. The contour length of the molecules increases monotonically and saturates as drugs concentration increases. Measured in- tercalants critical concentrations for the persistence length transition coincide with reported values for the helix-coil transition of DNA-drug complexes, obtained from sedimentation experiments.Comment: This experimental article shows and discuss a transition observed in the persistence length of DNA molecules when studied as a function of some intercalating drug concentrations, like daunomycin and ethidium bromide. It has 15 pages and 4 figures. The article presented here is in preprint forma

Altered sleep and EEG power in the P301S Tau transgenic mouse model

OBJECTIVE: Sleep disturbances are prevalent in human tauopathies yet despite the importance of sleep, little is known about its relationship with tau pathology. Here, we investigate this interaction by analyzing sleep and tau pathology throughout tauopathy disease progression in P301S human tau transgenic mice. METHODS: P301S and wild‐type mice were analyzed by electroencephalography (EEG)/electromyography at 3, 6, 9, and 11 months of age for sleep/wake time, EEG power, and homeostatic response. Cortical volume and tau pathology was also assessed by anti‐phospho‐tau AT8 staining. RESULTS: P301S tau mice had significantly decreased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep at 9 months of age and decreased REM and non‐REM (NREM) sleep as well as increased wakefulness at 11 months. Sleep loss was characterized by fewer wake, REM, and NREM bouts, increased wake bout duration, and decreased sleep bout duration. Decreased REM and NREM sleep was associated with increased brainstem tau pathology in the sublaterodorsal area and parafacial zone, respectively. P301S mice also showed increased EEG power at 6 and 9 months of age and decreased power at 11 months. Decreased EEG power was associated with decreased cortical volume. Despite sleep disturbances, P301S mice maintained homeostatic response to sleep deprivation. INTERPRETATION: Our results indicate that tau pathology is associated with sleep disturbances that worsen with age and these changes may be related to tau pathology in brainstem sleep regulating regions as well as neurodegeneration. Tau‐induced sleep changes could affect disease progression and be a marker for therapeutic efficacy in this and other tauopathy models

DNA-psoralen: single-molecule experiments and first principles calculations

The authors measure the persistence and contour lengths of DNA-psoralen complexes, as a function of psoralen concentration, for intercalated and crosslinked complexes. In both cases, the persistence length monotonically increases until a certain critical concentration is reached, above which it abruptly decreases and remains approximately constant. The contour length of the complexes exhibits no such discontinuous behavior. By fitting the relative increase of the contour length to the neighbor exclusion model, we obtain the exclusion number and the intrinsic intercalating constant of the psoralen-DNA interaction. Ab initio calculations are employed in order to provide an atomistic picture of these experimental findings.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures in re-print format 3 pages, 4 figures in the published versio

Integration of gis technology, remote sensing and multivariate analysis in the delimitation of physiographic units for pedological mapping

Este trabalho foi conduzido com o propósito de estabelecer-se um levantamento pedológico semidetalhado no Município de Ivatuba-PR, usando a associação entre técnicas e equipamentos que pudessem levar a delimitação de unidades físiográfícas cujos limites e subdivisões não se restringissem apenas ao critério do foto intérprete. Para tanto, foi avaliada uma matriz de dados obtida através do cruzamento, por meio de um Sistema de Informações Geográficas (SIG), entre uma grade regular com células de 300 x 300 metros e um mapa base de drenagem da área de estudos, bandas 3, 4, 5 e 7 do TM-LANDSAT e um mapa de declividades da área gerado em SIG. As variáveis coletadas dentro de cada célula da grade regular foram: canais longo, médio e curto das ordens 1ª à 7ª, declividade ponderada e o nível de cinza das bandas, resultando na produção de uma matriz com 1167 indivíduos com vinte e sete variáveis, cujos dados foram expostos à analise de agrupamentos. A análise propiciou a produção de dendrogramas que foram analisados, permitindo a representação pelas células da grade regular, com a finalidade de criação de pictogramas em que a separação de grupos de indivíduos servissem de "guias" que, sobrepostos às imagens orbitais HRV-SPOT devidamente tratadas e manipuladas, pudessem orientar a discriminação de unidades fisiográfícas através da interpretação destas sobre o monitor colorido do sistema SITIM. Foram delimitados 62 polígonos que configuraram a presença de nove unidades fisiográficas que geraram um mapa de solos semidetalhado do município. Em relação à possibilidade de mapeamento das unidades fisiográficas sobre o monitor colorido, os resultados apresentados demonstraram que, através da utilização dos guias, tais unidades podem ser delimitadas com grande redução da subjetividade do foto intérprete. Os polígonos semelhantes, delimitados pela metodologia utilizada, apresentaram solos homogêneos dentro de sua classe taxonómica. Já os polígonos diferentes apresentaram solos com características diferenciadoras entre si.This study was based on an association of techniques and equipment that could lead to the delimitation of physiographic units not merely restricted to the photointerpreter's criteria. A data matrix was evaluated which was obtained from the crossing, by means of Geographic Information System (GIS), of a regular grid with cells 300 x 300 meters and a drainage base map of the study area and bands 3, 4, 5 and 7 from TM-LANDSAT and a slope map generated in a GIS. The variables collected in each cell of the regular grid were: long, medium and short channels from the first to the seventh order, weighted slope and the grey levels (DNs) in bands, resulting in a matrix with 1167 individuals with 27 variables, whose data were subjected to cluster analysis. This analysis provided dendrograms which enabled the separation of groups of individuals represented by cells from the regular grid, aiming at creating pictograms to serve as "guides". These guides overlaid upon properly treated and handled orbital HRV-SPOT images oriented the discrimination of physiographic units on the color monitor of the image processing system. Among the variables used, those referring to drainage network were best for cluster analysis of regular grid cells. The variables relief and grey levels of TM-LANDSAT image also presented satisfactory results with the methodology applied

Towards absolute calibration of optical tweezers

Aiming at absolute force calibration of optical tweezers, following a critical review of proposed theoretical models, we present and test the results of MDSA (Mie-Debye-Spherical Aberration) theory, an extension of a previous (MD) model, taking account of spherical aberration at the glass/water interface. This first-principles theory is formulated entirely in terms of experimentally accessible parameters (none adjustable). Careful experimental tests of the MDSA theory, undertaken at two laboratories, with very different setups, are described. A detailed description is given of the procedures employed to measure laser beam waist, local beam power at the transparent microspheres trapped by the tweezers, microsphere radius and the trap transverse stiffness, as a function of radius and height in the (inverted microscope) sample chamber. We find generally very good agreement with MDSA theory predictions, for a wide size range, from the Rayleigh domain to large radii, including the values most often employed in practice, and at different chamber heights, both with objective overfilling and underfilling. The results asymptotically approach geometrical optics in the mean over size intervals, as they should, and this already happens for size parameters not much larger than unity. MDSA predictions for the trapping threshold, position of stiffness peak, stiffness variation with height, multiple equilibrium points and `hopping' effects among them are verified. Remaining discrepancies are ascribed to focus degradation, possibly arising from objective aberrations in the infrared, not yet included in MDSA theory.Comment: 15 pages, 20 figure

The distance to the LMC cluster NGC 1866 and the surrounding field

We use the Main Sequence stars in the LMC cluster NGC 1866 and of Red Clump stars in the local field to obtain two independent estimates of the LMC distance. We apply an empirical Main Sequence-fitting technique based on a large sample of subdwarfs with accurate {\sl Hipparcos} parallaxes in order to estimate the cluster distance modulus, and the multicolor Red Clump method to derive distance and reddening of the LMC field. We find that the Main Sequence-fitting and the Red Clump distance moduli are in significant disagreement; NGC 1866 distance is equal to $\rm (m-M)_{0,NGC 1866}=18.33\pm$0.08 (consistent with a previous estimate using the same data and theoretical Main Sequence isochrones), while the field stars provide $\rm (m-M)_{0,field}=18.53\pm$0.07. This difference reflects the more general dichotomy in the LMC distance estimates found in the literature. Various possible causes for this disagreement are explored, with particular attention paid to the still uncertain metallicity of the cluster and the star formation history of the field stars.Comment: 5 pages, incl. 1 figure, uses emulateapj.sty, ApJ accepte

Gravastars and Black Holes of Anisotropic Dark Energy

Dynamical models of prototype gravastars made of anisotropic dark energy are constructed, in which an infinitely thin spherical shell of a perfect fluid with the equation of state $p = (1-\gamma)\sigma$ divides the whole spacetime into two regions, the internal region filled with a dark energy fluid, and the external Schwarzschild region. The models represent "bounded excursion" stable gravastars, where the thin shell is oscillating between two finite radii, while in other cases they collapse until the formation of black holes. Here we show, for the first time in the literature, a model of gravastar and formation of black hole with both interior and thin shell constituted exclusively of dark energy. Besides, the sign of the parameter of anisotropy ($p_t - p_r$) seems to be relevant to the gravastar formation. The formation is favored when the tangential pressure is greater than the radial pressure, at least in the neighborhood of the isotropic case ($\omega=-1$).Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Gen. Rel. Gra