Dynamics of curved DNA molecules: prediction and experiment

We have developed a quantitative predictive model capable of describing the dynamics of migration of intrinsically curved DNA fragments on polyacrylamide gels. The model takes into account structural features of DNA, end-to-end distance, screening of hydrodynamic interactions, ionic strength of buffer, electrostatic persistence length, structural fluctuations of the macromolecule, counter condensation, and variation of dielectric constant and viscosity of water with MPD. In doing so, we have also addressed a decade old issue on the effect of the organic solvent 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol on gel migration of phased A-tracts. We show here that A-tract-solvent interactions are less favored compared with A-tract-A-tract and solvent-solvent interactions.     

Nowhere monotone functions and functions of nonmonotonic type

We investigate the relationships between the notions of a continuous function being monotone on no interval, monotone at no point, of monotonic type on no interval, and of monotonic type at no point. In particular, we characterize the set of all points at which a function that has one of the weaker properties fails to have one of the stronger properties. A theorem of Garg about level sets of continuous, nowhere monotone functions is strengthened by placing control on the location in the domain where the level sets are large. It is shown that every continuous function that is of monotonic type on no interval has large intersection with every function in some second category set in each of the spaces , and .

     

Functions not first-return integrable

Benedetto Bongiorno constructed a certain class of improperly Riemann integrable functions on [0,1] which are not first-return integrable. He asked if all improper Riemann integrable functions which are not Lebesgue integrable are not first-return integrable. Recently David Fremlin provided a clever example to show that this is not the case. It remains open as to which functions are first-return integrable. We prove two general theorems which imply the existence of a large class of improperly Riemann integrable functions which are not first-return integrable. As a corollary we obtain that there is an improperly Riemann integrable function which is C^∞ on (0,1] yet fails to be first-return integrable.     

Chaos among self-maps of the Cantor space

Glasner and Weiss have shown that a generic homeomorphism of the Cantor space has zero topological entropy. Hochman has shown that a generic transitive homeomorphism of the Cantor space has the property that it is topologically conjugate to the universal odometer and hence far from being chaotic in any sense. We show that a generic self-map of the Cantor space has zero topological entropy. Moreover, we show that a generic self-map of the Cantor space has no periodic points and hence is not Devaney chaotic nor Devaney chaotic on any subsystem. However, we exhibit a dense subset of the space of all self-maps of the Cantor space each element of which has infinite topological entropy and is Devaney chaotic on some subsystem.     

Pseudoarcs, pseudocircles, Lakes of Wada and generic maps on

We prove a Bruckner–Garg type theorem for the fiber structure of a generic map from a continuum X into the unit interval I. We also study the specific case of X=S². We show that each nondegenerate component of each fiber of a generic map in C(S²,I) is figure-eight-like. This together with a result by Krasinkiewicz and Levin gives that each nondegenerate component of each fiber of a generic map in C(S²,I) is hereditarily indecomposable and figure-eight-like. We also show that pseudoarcs, pseudocircles and Lakes of Wada appear in abundance in fibers of a generic map in C(S²,I). We also exhibit a general method for proving when a P-like hereditarily indecomposable continuum is Q-like when Q is a certain graph containing P.     

In vitro nonenzymatic glycation of DNA nucleobases: an evaluation of advanced glycation end products under alkaline pH

The advanced glycation end products (AGEs) of DNA nucleobases have received little attention, perhaps due to the fact that adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine do not dissolve under mild pH conditions. To maintain nucleobases in solution, alkaline pH conditions are typically required. The objectives of this investigation were twofold: to study the susceptibility of DNA nucleobases to nonenzymatic attack by different sugars, and to evaluate the factors that influence the formation of nucleobase AGEs at pH 12, i.e., in an alkaline environment that promotes the aldo–keto isomerization and epimerization of sugars. Varying concentrations of adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine were incubated over time with constant concentrations of D-glucose, D-galactose or D/L-glyceraldehyde under different conditions of temperature and ionic strength. Incubation of the nucleobases with the sugars resulted in a heterogeneous assembly of AGEs whose formation was monitored by UV/fluorescence spectroscopy. Capillary electrophoresis and HPLC were used to resolve the AGEs of the DNA adducts and provided a powerful tool for following the extent of glycation in each of the DNA nucleobases. Mass spectrometry studies of DNA adducts of guanine established that glycation at pH 12 proceeded through an Amadori intermediate.     

Disposition Kinetics of Amitraz in Lactating Does

Amitraz, a member of the formamidine pesticide family, commonly used for ectoparasite control, is applied as a dip or low-pressure hand spray to cattle and swine, and the neck collar on dogs. Data on amitraz were generated mainly on laboratory animals, hens, dogs, and baboons. The data on the toxicity and disposition of amitraz in animals and its residues in the milk are inadequate. Therefore, the present study was intended to analyze the disposition kinetics of amitraz and its pattern of elimination in the milk of lactating does after a single dermal application at a concentration of 0.25%. Blood at predetermined time intervals and milk twice daily were collected for eight days post application. The drug concentration was assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Amitraz was detected in whole blood as early as 0.5 h, which attained a peak concentration at 12 ± 5 h, followed by a steady decline; however, detection persisted until 168 h. Amitraz was present in the blood at its 50% C_max even after 48 h, and was still detectable after 7 days. The disposition after a single dermal application was best described non-compartmentally. The mean terminal half-life (t_1/2), mean residence time (MRT), and area under the curve (AUC_0–t) were 111 ± 31 h, 168 ± 39 h, and 539 ± 211 µg/mL/h, respectively. The apparent volume of distribution (Vd_area) was 92 ± 36 mL/g with an observed clearance (Cl) of 0.57 ± 0.33 mL/kg/h. Thus, the drug was well absorbed, widely distributed and slowly eliminated from the animal body. Amitraz achieved milk concentration approximating 0.2 per cent of the total dose after a single exposure and the steady-state elimination of amitraz in milk above the recommended maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.01 mg/kg can act as a source of public health concern when applied on lactating animals.     

Thermal characterization of piezoelectric and non-piezoelectric Lead Meta-Niobate

Powerful tools like Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and DTA seem to be under-utilized for the emerging materials for high temperature piezoelectric sensors, while thermal aspects of such piezoelectric phase change are also of theoretical interest. Curie temperature of Lead Meta-Niobate (PbNb₂O₆ or PN) is 570 °C, much higher than that for widely used lead zirconate titanate, making PN potentially more attractive at high temperatures. However, the only specific heat measurement for PN appears to be the 2–25 K study by Lawless, leaving the Curie temperature region unexplored. For PN, piezoelectricity is possible for the meta-stable orthorhombic structure only. So, we prepared pure phase orthorhombic PN by quenching (Q) and the rhombohedral PN by slow-cooling (S). We report for the first time, to our knowledge, DSC across the Curie temperature for Q and S types of PN. We find clear and interesting DSC signals at the Curie temperature in heating and cooling graphs for quenched (Q) PbNb₂O₆ only and none for the slow-cooled (S) PbNb₂O₆.