Herzberg Circuit and Berry's Phase in Chirality-based Coded Qubit in a Triangular Triple Quantum Dot

We present a theoretical proposal for the Herzberg circuit and controlled accumulation of Berry's phase in a chirality-based coded qubit in a triangular triple quantum dot molecule with one electron spin each. The qubit is encoded in the two degenerate states of a three spin complex with total spin $S=1/2$. Using a Hubbard and Heisenberg model the Herzberg circuit encircling the degeneracy point is realized by adiabatically tuning the successive on-site energies of quantum dots and tunnel couplings across a pair of neighbouring dots. It is explicitly shown that encircling the degeneracy point leads to the accumulation of the geometrical Berrys phase. We show that only triangular but not linear quantum dot molecule allows for the generation of Berry's phase and we discuss a protocol to detect this geometrical phase

How productive are academic researchers in agriculture-related sciences? The Mexican case

This paper explores the effect of commercial farmers-academic researchers linkages on research productivity in fields related to agriculture. Using original data and econometric analysis, our findings show a positive and significant relationship between intensive linkages with a small number of commercial farmers and research productivity, when this is defined as publications in ISI journals. This evidence seems contrary to other contributions that argue that strong ties with the business sector reduce research productivity and distort the original purposes of university, i.e., conducting basic research and preparing highly-trained professionals. When research productivity is defined more broadly adding other types of research outputs, the relationship is also positive and significant confirming the argument that close ties between public research institutions and businesses foster the emergence of new ideas that can be translated into innovations with commercial and/or social value. Another important finding is that researchers in public institutions produce several types of research outputs; therefore, measuring research productivity only by published ISI papers misses important dimensions of research activities.agriculture sector, research productivity, university-business sector interaction, university-industry collaboration

Logística reversa em postos de combustíveis da região metropolitana de Curitiba

The National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS) established by Law 12,305/2010, mentions Reverse Logistics (RL) as a development tool for the return of the production cycle, and also presents instruments for shared responsibility for the life cycle of products. The RL of lubricating oils in post-consumption and return is linked to concern for the environment and sustainability in the business sphere. The aim of this study was to describe the RL process of gas stations and their tax benefits, through bibliographic and documentary research, in addition to an unstructured interview with professionals involved in the process and through a case study. It was found that compliance with environmental obligations imposed by the Government, such as the destination of used or contaminated lubricating oil packaging (OLUC), can be considered inputs that may generate PIS and COFINS credits, and the revenues obtained from the sale of the destination of OLUC may be considered as environmental revenues, as well as the structure of real estate to be measured as environmental assets.A Política Nacional dos Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS) instituída pela Lei 12.305/2010 cita a Logística Reversa (RL) como um instrumento de desenvolvimento para o retorno do ciclo produtivo, também apresenta instrumentos para a responsabilidade compartilhada pelo ciclo de vida dos produtos. A RL dos óleos lubrificantes no pós-consumo e o retorno está vinculado a preocupação com o meio ambiente e a sustentabilidade no âmbito empresarial. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o processo de logística reversa de postos de combustíveis e seus benefícios tributários, através de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, além de entrevista não estruturada com profissionais envolvidos no processo e por meio de estudo de caso. Verificou-se que o cumprimento das obrigações ambientais impostas pelo Poder Público, como a destinação das embalagens de óleos lubrificantes usadas ou contaminadas (OLUC), pode ser considerado insumos e que poderão gerar créditos de PIS e COFINS, e as receitas obtidas pela venda da destinação do OLUC poderão ser consideradas como receitas ambientais, bem como a estrutura dos bens imóveis serem mensurados como ativos ambientais

Niveles de satisfacción de los usuarios del Hospital Andino Alternativo de Chimborazo / Levels of satisfaction on users in Alternative Andino Hospital of Chimborazo

Para ser competitivos en el mundo actual se debe brindar bienes y servicios de calidad, por lo tanto los esfuerzos de las empresas deben enfocarse al cliente, a partir del conocimiento de sus necesidades, brindarles soluciones con valor agregado y un nivel de excelencia que los satisfaga, y de esta manera garantizar su lealtad. El Hospital Andino Alternativo de Chimborazo, Ecuador, institución de reciente creación en el área de la salud, realiza procedimientos para la mejora continua en la entrega de su servicio, pero no conoce con certeza cuál es la opinión de sus clientes acerca de la calidad del servicio recibido. Por ello se realizó una investigación que analizó las percepciones de los clientes, utilizando el Modelo SERVPERF, este debe su nombre a la exclusiva atención que presta a la valoración del desempeño para la medida de la calidad del servicio, si bien se compone de los mismos ítems y dimensiones que el SERVQUAL, la única diferencia es que elimina la parte que hace referencia a las expectativas de los clientes. Analizadas las dimensiones seguridad, empatía, tangibilidad, confiabilidad y capacidad de respuesta, la de mejor comportamiento es la de seguridad, seguida muy de cerca por confiabilidad. AbstractTo be competitive in the present world, it should be offered goods and services of quality, therefore the efforts of enterprises should be focused on the customer, by knowing their needs, providing value-added solutions and a level of excellence that satisfies them, and thus ensure their loyalty. Alternative Andino Hospital of Chimborazo, Ecuador, which is a new institution in the area of health, performs procedures for continuous improvement when providing their service, but it does not know for sure what the opinions of its customers about the quality of the received service are. That is why, a research that analyzes the perceptions of customers, using the SERVPERF model was made, this model owes its name to the exclusive attention paid to performance assessment to measure the quality of service, although it consists of the same items and dimensions as SERVQUAL, the only difference is that it eliminates the part that refers to expectations of customers. Once analyzed the items of security, empathy, tangibility, reliability and responsiveness; the best one is safety, followed closely by reliability

Exploring Cheminformatic Toolsets for Predicting the Dermal Toxicity of Furanocoumarins

Linear furanocoumarins are skin sensitizers and anticancer agents whose appeal in skincare therapeutics is widely exploited. Owing to the need to predict the biological activities of medicines, this work aimed the investigate the predicted dermal toxicity of linear furanocoumarins through chemoinformatic approaches. Therefore, eight major linear furanocoumarins of interest in medicine were selected, and their pharmacophores / toxicophores were modelled and inputted in several databases and cheminformatic toolsets previously described in the literature. Moreover, Principal Components Analysis was performed to allow multivariable comparisons. Results showcased that the first two PCs accounted for 95.48% of all variance in the model, and molecular weight and polar surface showcased a positive correlation to Log P and Log Kp, which may be involved in skin penetration. Moreover, the pharmacophore modelling evidenced superimposition between linear furanocoumarins, ethidium bromide and acridine orange, thereby suggesting that these compounds share similar biological effects, supported by their acknowledged DNA intercalating activities. Therefore, this work showcased the application of various cheminformatic tools to screen the dermal toxicity of chemicals

with Anti-Inflammatory Activities

ABSTRACT We investigated the pharmacology of a new class of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, 6,8-disubstituted 1,7-naphthyridines, by using 4-(8-benzo[1,2,5]oxadiazol-5-yl- [1,7]naphthyridin-6-yl)-benzoic acid (NVP-ABE171) as a representative compound and compared its potency with the most advanced PDE4 inhibitor, undergoing clinical trials, Ariflo [cis-4-cyano-4-(3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxyphenyl-r-1-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid)]. NVP-ABE171 inhibited the activity of phosphodiesterase 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D with respective IC 50 values of 602, 34, 1230, and 1.5 nM. Ariflo was about 40 times less potent. In human cells, NVP-ABE171 inhibited the eosinophil and neutrophil oxidative burst, the release of cytokines by T cells, and the tumor necrosis factor-␣ release from monocytes, in the nanomolar range. Ariflo presented a similar inhibition profile but was 7 to 50 times less potent. In BALB/c mice challenged with lipopolysaccharide, NVP-ABE171 inhibited the airway neutrophil influx and activation with an ED 50 in the range of 3 mg/kg. Ariflo was inactive up to a dose of 10 mg/kg. In ovalbumin sensitized Brown Norway rats, NVP-ABE171 inhibited the lipopolysaccharide-induced airway neutrophil influx and activation (ED 50 of 0.2 mg/kg) and the ovalbumin-induced airway eosinophil influx and activation (ED 50 of

VEGF Over-Expression by Engineered BMSC Accelerates Functional Perfusion, Improving Tissue Density and In-Growth in Clinical-Size Osteogenic Grafts

The first choice for reconstruction of clinical-size bone defects consists of autologous bone flaps, which often lack the required mechanical strength and cause significant donor-site morbidity. We have previously developed biological substitutes in a rabbit model by combining bone tissue engineering and flap pre-fabrication. However, spontaneous vascularization was insufficient to ensure progenitor survival in the core of the constructs. Here, we hypothesized that increased angiogenic stimulation within constructs by exogenous VEGF can significantly accelerate early vascularization and tissue in-growth. Bone marrow stromal cells from NZW rabbits (rBMSC) were transduced with a retroviral vector to express rabbit VEGF linked to a truncated version of rabbit CD4 as a cell-surface marker. Autologous cells were seeded in clinical-size 5.5 cm; 3; HA scaffolds wrapped in a panniculus carnosus flap to provide an ample vascular supply, and implanted ectopically. Constructs seeded with VEGF-expressing rBMSC showed significantly increased progenitor survivival, depth of tissue ingrowth and amount of mineralized tissue. Contrast-enhanced MRI after 1 week; in vivo; showed significantly improved tissue perfusion in the inner layer of the grafts compared to controls. Interestingly, grafts containing VEGF-expressing rBMSC displayed a hierarchically organized functional vascular tree, composed of dense capillary networks in the inner layers connected to large-caliber feeding vessels entering the constructs at the periphery. These data constitute proof of principle that providing sustained VEGF signaling, independently of cells experiencing hypoxia, is effective to drive rapid vascularization and increase early perfusion in clinical-size osteogenic grafts, leading to improved tissue formation deeper in the constructs

2018 International Atmospheric Rivers Conference: Multi‐disciplinary studies and high‐impact applications of atmospheric rivers

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) play a vital role in shaping the hydroclimate of many regions globally, and can substantially impact water resource management, emergency response planning, and other socioeconomic entities. The second International Atmospheric Rivers Conference took place at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, during 25–28 June, 2018, in La Jolla, California, USA. It was sponsored by the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E). A total of 120 people attended the Conference with 94 abstracts submitted and 30 participating students. In addition to the conference, the Student Forecasting Workshop was organised in the same week. During this workshop, students were exposed to AR forecasting tools, and learned examples of how these tools could be used to make decisions for various applications. The main goals of this conference were to bring together experts from across the fields of hydrology, atmospheric, oceanic, and polar sciences, as well as water management, civil engineering, and ecology to advance the state of AR science and to explore the future directions for the field. The conference was organised into traditional oral and poster presentations, along with panel discussions and Breakout Groups. This format allowed enhanced interaction between participants, driving progress within the scientific community and the enhanced communication of societal needs by various stakeholders. Several emerging topics of research were highlighted, including subseasonal‐to‐seasonal (S2S) prediction of ARs and an overview of the AR Reconnaissance campaign. In addition to providing a forum to disseminate and debate new results from scientific talks and posters, the conference was equally effective and useful in linking scientists to users and decision‐makers that require improved knowledge on ARs to manage resources and prepare for hazards.The third International Atmospheric Rivers Conference will be held in Chile in 2020, and hosted by the University of Chile, Santiago.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151348/1/asl2935.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151348/2/asl2935_am.pd

A APLICABILIDADE DO ICMS ECOLÓGICO NOS MUNICÍPIOS PARANAENSES

O ICMS Ecológico é um importante instrumento de Política Pública voltada ao Meio Ambiente, compensando financeiramente municípios paranaenses que possuem em seu território Áreas de Preservação Ambiental e/ou Mananciais de Abastecimento Público. O objetivo geral deste estudo consistiu em verificar a aplicabilidade dos recursos nos municípios beneficiados pela receita advinda do ICMS-e no Estado do Paraná. A metodologia se fundamenta na revisão bibliográfica e documental, e entrevistas com servidores públicos municipais e estaduais, das áreas fiscal e ambiental. Constatou-se através das pesquisas, baixo percentual de aplicação do ICMS-e em ações voltadas à preservação ambiental, mesmo em municípios altamente dependentes desta fonte de receitas para sua manutenção. Sugerem-se ações de educação ambiental e conscientização do poder público municipal com a inserção na LDO e na LOA de parcela significativa e suficiente dos recursos gerados pelo Meio Ambiente em programas e ações efetivas para a preservação e manutenção ambiental