Statistical approach to the analysis of cell desynchronization data

Experimental measurements on semi-synchronous tumor cell populations show that after a few cell cycles they desynchronize completely, and this desynchronization reflects the intercell variability of cell-cycle duration. It is important to identify the sources of randomness that desynchronize a population of cells living in a homogeneous environment: for example, being able to reduce randomness and induce synchronization would aid in targeting tumor cells with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Here we describe a statistical approach to the analysis of the desynchronization measurements that is based on minimal modeling hypotheses, and can be derived from simple heuristics. We use the method to analyze existing desynchronization data and to draw conclusions on the randomness of cell growth and proliferation.     

Bifunctional Ligand Enables Efficient Gold‐Catalyzed Hydroalkenylation of Propargylic Alcohol

Using the previously designed biphenyl‐2‐ylphosphine ligand, featuring a remote tertiary amino group, the first gold‐catalyzed intermolecular hydroalkenylation of alkynes has been developed. Synthetically valuable conjugated dienyl alcohols are formed in moderate to good yields. A range of alkenyltrifluoroborates are allowed as the alkenyl donor, and no erosion of alkene geometry and/or the propargylic configuration are detected. DFT calculations confirm the critical role of the remote basic group in the ligand as a general‐base catalyst for promoting this novel gold catalysis with good efficiency.     

On the regularity of the pressure field of Brenier’s weak solutions to incompressible Euler equations

In this paper we improve the regularity in time of the gradient of the pressure field arising in Brenier’s variational weak solutions (Comm Pure Appl Math 52:411–452, 1999) to incompressible Euler equations. This improvement is necessary to obtain that the pressure field is not only a measure, but a function in . In turn, this is a fundamental ingredient in the analysis made by Ambrosio and Figalli (2007, preprint) of the necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for the variational problem by Brenier (J Am Mat Soc 2:225–255, 1989; Comm Pure Appl Math 52:411–452, 1999).     

Fabrication, structural characterization, and applications of langmuir and langmuir-blodgett films of a poly(azo)urethane

The synthesis of a poly(azo)urethane by fixing CO(2) in bis-epoxide followed by a polymerization reaction with an azodiamine is presented. Since isocyanate is not used in the process, it is termed "clean method" and the polymers obtained are named "NIPUs" (non-isocyanate polyurethanes). Langmuir films were formed at the air-water interface and were characterized by surface pressure vs mean molecular area per mer unit (Pi-A) isotherms. The Langmuir monolayers were further studied by running stability tests and cycles of compression/expansion (possible hysteresis) and by varying the compression speed of the monolayer formation, the subphase temperature, and the solvents used to prepare the spreading polymer solutions. The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique was used to fabricate ultrathin films of a particular polymer (PAzoU). It is possible to grow homogeneous LB films of up to 15 layers as monitored using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Higher number of layers can be deposited when PAzoU is mixed with stearic acid, producing mixed LB films. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy and Raman scattering showed that the materials do not interact chemically in the mixed LB films. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) and micro-Raman technique (optical microscopy coupled to Raman spectrograph) revealed that mixed LB films present a phase separation distinguishable at micrometer or nanometer scale. Finally, mixed and neat LB films were successfully characterized using impedance spectroscopy at different temperatures, a property that may lead to future application as temperature sensors. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to correlate the data.     

Speeding up biomolecular interactions by molecular sledding

Numerous biological processes involve association of a protein with its binding partner, an event that is preceded by a diffusion-mediated search bringing the two partners together. Often hindered by crowding in biologically relevant environments, three-dimensional diffusion can be slow and result in long bimolecular association times. Similarly, the initial association step between two binding partners often represents a rate-limiting step in biotechnologically relevant reactions. We demonstrate the practical use of an 11-a.a. DNA-interacting peptide derived from adenovirus to reduce the dimensionality of diffusional search processes and speed up associations between biological macromolecules. We functionalize binding partners with the peptide and demonstrate that the ability of the peptide to one-dimensionally diffuse along DNA results in a 20-fold reduction in reaction time. We also show that modifying PCR primers with the peptide sled enables significant acceleration of standard PCR reactions.     

Theoretical elastic moduli for disordered packings of interconnected spheres

A theoretical model has been developed which provides analytical expressions for the elastic moduli of disordered isotropic ensembles of spheres interconnected by physical bonds. Young's and shear moduli have been derived assuming an ideal random isotropic network and the radial distribution function for disordered packings of spheres. The interparticle interactions are accounted for in terms of surface forces for the two distinct cases of perfectly rigid spheres and spheres deformable at contact. A theoretical expression is also derived in a similar way for the bulk or compressibility modulus. In this case, an atomistic approach has been followed based on the analogy with noble gas solids and colloidal crystals. Also in this case, disordered spatial distribution of the spheres is described statistically. For the case of colloidal aggregates, a total two-body mean-field interaction potential is used which includes the Born repulsion energy. This latter contribution plays an essential role in determining the compression behavior of systems of particles aggregated in the primary minimum of the potential well and, therefore, must not be neglected. Both the expression of the Young's modulus and that of the compressibility modulus derived in this work are found to be consistent with two distinct sets of experimental data which recently appeared in the literature.     

Production and extraction of astaxanthin from Phaffia rhodozyma and its biological effect on alcohol-induced renal hypoxia in Carassius auratus

The effect of astaxanthin (3,3′-dihydroxy-s-carotene-4,4′-dione) on alcohol-induced morphological changes in Carassius auratus, as an experimental model, was determined. The yeast Phaffia rhodozyma was used as a source of astaxanthin. The animals were divided into three groups for 30 days: one group was treated with ethanol at a dose of 1.5% mixed in water, the second one with EtOH 1.5% and food enriched with astaxanthin from P. rhodozyma, and the third was a control group. After a sufficient experimental period, the samples were processed using light microscopy and evaluated by histomorphological and histochemical staining, and the data were supported by immunohistochemical analysis, using a wide range of antibodies, such as calbindin, vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin. The results show that the alcoholic damage in the kidney led to hypoxia. In contrast, the group fed with astaxanthin from P. rhodozyma showed a normal morphological picture, with better glomeruli organisation and the presence of the area of filtration. Furthermore, the immunohistochemistry has confirmed these results.