Estimating entanglement of unknown states

The experimental determination of entanglement is a major goal in the quantum information field. In general the knowledge of the state is required in order to quantify its entanglement. Here we express a lower bound to the robustness of entanglement of a state based only on the measurement of the energy observable and on the calculation of a separability energy. This allows the estimation of entanglement dismissing the knowledge of the state in question.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure. Comments welcome. V2: references updated. Accepted version by Applied Physics Letter

The Geometry of Entanglement Sudden Death

In open quantum systems, entanglement can vanish faster than coherence. This phenomenon is usually called sudden death of entanglement. In this paper sudden death of entanglement is discussed from a geometrical point of view, in the context of two qubits. A classification of possible scenarios is presented, with important known examples classified. Theoretical and experimental construction of other examples is suggested as well as large dimensional and multipartite versions of the effect.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, references added, initial paragraph corrected, sectioning adopted, some parts rewritten; accepted by New J. Phy

Butanol production in a first-generation Brazilian sugarcane biorefinery: Technical aspects and economics of greenfield projects

AbstractThe techno-economics of greenfield projects of a first-generation sugarcane biorefinery aimed to produce ethanol, sugar, power, and n-butanol was conducted taking into account different butanol fermentation technologies (regular microorganism and mutant strain with improved butanol yield) and market scenarios (chemicals and automotive fuel). The complete sugarcane biorefinery with the batch acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) fermentation process was simulated using Aspen Plus®. The biorefinery was designed to process 2million tonne sugarcane per year and utilize 25%, 50%, and 25% of the available sugarcane juice to produce sugar, ethanol, and butanol, respectively. The investment on a biorefinery with butanol production showed to be more attractive [14.8% IRR, P(IRR>12%)=0.99] than the conventional 50:50 (ethanol:sugar) annexed plant [13.3% IRR, P(IRR>12%)=0.80] only in the case butanol is produced by an improved microorganism and traded as a chemical

Paediatric head and neck malignant neoplasms:A brazilian retrospective study

To assess the prevalence of oral and maxillofacial malignant neoplasias in children and adolescents diagnosed through biopsies sent to the Oral Pathology Laboratory at the University of Sao Paulo School of Dentistry. A retrospective analysis of anatomopathological reports on patients between 1 and 18 years old issued by the oral and maxillofacial pathology laboratory between 1997 and 2021 was performed for demographic data, lesion site, type of biopsy, diagnostic hypothesis and final diagnosis. The laboratory issued 76,194 anatomopathological reports during this period, of which 10.77% were of children and adolescents. Of this total, only 32 biopsies (32/8.204; 0.39%) were neoplasias in children and adolescents. Sarcomas were the most prevalent malignant neoplasms (19/32; 59%), followed by carcinomas (7/32; 22%), lymphomas (5/32; 16%) and ganglioneuroblastomas (1/32; 3%). Of these 32 patients, the most affected individuals were aged between 4 and 11 years old (47%), 18 (56%) were male, and the mandible was the main anatomical site involved (28%). In 41% of the cases (13/32), the diagnostic hypothesis of the biopsied lesion was mistakenly considered benign and there was no diagnostic hypothesis in 18% of the cases. Oral and maxillofacial malignant neoplasms in children and adolescents are uncommon and the accuracy of provisional diagnoses is low in these cases. Better knowledge on oral and maxillofacial malignant lesions in this population would help professionals to reduce the diagnostic time and consequently improve the patient?s prognosis

Ethylene-induced Transcriptional And Hormonal Responses At The Onset Of Sugarcane Ripening

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The effects of ethephon as a sugarcane ripener are attributed to ethylene. However, the role of this phytohormone at the molecular level is unknown. We performed a transcriptome analysis combined with the evaluation of sucrose metabolism and hormone profiling of sugarcane plants sprayed with ethephon or aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), an ethylene inhibitor, at the onset of ripening. The differential response between ethephon and AVG on sucrose level and sucrose synthase activity in internodes indicates ethylene as a potential regulator of sink strength. The correlation between hormone levels and transcriptional changes suggests ethylene as a trigger of multiple hormone signal cascades, with approximately 18% of differentially expressed genes involved in hormone biosynthesis, metabolism, signalling, and response. A defence response elicited in leaves favoured salicylic acid over the ethylene/jasmonic acid pathway, while the upper internode was prone to respond to ethylene with strong stimuli on ethylene biosynthesis and signalling genes. Besides, ethylene acted synergistically with abscisic acid, another ripening factor, and antagonistically with gibberellin and auxin. We identified potential ethylene target genes and characterized the hormonal status during ripening, providing insights into the action of ethylene at the site of sucrose accumulation. A molecular model of ethylene interplay with other hormones is proposed.7Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [2008/52146-0, 2008/57495-3, 2013/15576-5, 2012/13920-8, 2008/54201-9]National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) [140767/2012-6, 160132/2011-3]ECMGMSMMRVRCNPqNational Science Foundation [DBI-0521250]Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Melanin in Fonsecaea pedrosoi: a trap for oxidative radicals

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The pathogenic fungus <it>Fonsecaea pedrosoi </it>constitutively produces the pigment melanin, an important virulence factor in fungi. Melanin is incorporated in the cell wall structure and provides chemical and physical protection for the fungus.</p> <p>We evaluated the production of nitric oxide (NO) in macrophages, the oxidative burst and the inducible nitric oxide synthase (i-NOS) activity in interactions between activated murine macrophages and <it>F. pedrosoi</it>. Experiments were carried out with or without tricyclazole (TC) treatment, a selective inhibitor of the dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin biosynthesis pathway in <it>F. pedrosoi</it>. The paramagnetisms of melanin and the TC-melanin were analysed by electron spin resonance. The fungal growth responses to H₂O₂and to S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a nitric oxide donor, were also evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Melanised <it>F. pedrosoi </it>cells were more resistant to both H₂O₂and NO. Nitrite was not detected in the supernatant of macrophages incubated with melanised fungal cells. However, i-NOS expression was unaffected by the presence of either untreated control <it>F. pedrosoi </it>or TC-treated <it>F. pedrosoi</it>. In addition, the inhibition of the DHN-melanin pathway by TC improved the oxidative burst capability of the macrophages.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The NO-trapping ability of <it>F. pedrosoi </it>melanin is an important mechanism to escape the oxidative burst of macrophages.</p

Microstructure and morphoquantitative study of pineal gland in santa ines sheep

O presente estudo avaliou os aspectos morfoquantitativos e qualitativos da glândula pineal em fêmeas de ovinos da raça Santa Inês em atividade reprodutiva e anestro fisiológico. Foram utilizados sete ovinos, fêmeas e adultas, coletados em frigoríficos da região de Brasília-DF. Estes não apresentavam sinais clínicos relacionados a afecções do sistema nervoso. Os encéfalos foram retirados e suas dimensões mensuradas. Posteriormente foram seccionados para expor a glândula pineal e mensurar suas dimensões. Os fragmentos do diencéfalo, contendo a glândula pineal, foram submersos em solução aquosa a 20% de formaldeído e posteriormente submetidos a técnicas histológicas convencionais. Para a avaliação morfoquantitativa desta glândula, foram empregadas as colorações Hematoxilia-Eosina, Azul de Toluidina e Tricrômio de Gomori. O encéfalo teve um comprimento médio de 67,25 ± 1,75 mm e a largura média de 58,97 ± 4,0 mm. Já a glândula pineal apresentou o comprimento médio de 6,98 ± 0,79 mm e a largura média de 6,40 ± 1,35 mm. Diante da análise microscópica, foi obtida uma média de 86,27 ± 30,44 pinealócitos por campo. Ao ser aplicado o teste de correlação de Pearson, o número de pinealócitos apresentou fraca correlação linear negativa (r = -0,11) em relação ao comprimento da glândula pineal e uma fraca correlação linear positiva (r = 0,39) em relação à largura da mesma. Portanto o número de pinealócitos apresenta uma maior correlação com a largura da glândula do que com o seu comprimento. Mastócitos estiveram presentes em apenas um animal (14,28%) e as concreções calcareas foram observadas em dois animais (28,57%). A glândula se mostrou envolta por uma cápsula de tecido conjuntivo com ausência de projeções para o parênquima. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis study examined morphologic aspects of the pineal gland in Santa Ines sheep in anoestrus physiological and reproductive activity. Seven female adult sheep were collected at slaughterhouses in the region of Brasilia-DF, with no clinical signs related to diseases of the nervous system were used. The brains were removed and their dimensions were measured. The brains were sectioned to expose and measure the pineal gland. The fragments of the diencephalon containing the pineal gland were immersed in 20% formaldehyde solution. Subsequently, the fragments were submitted to conventional histological techniques. The Hematoxylin-eosin, Toluidine blue and Gomori trichrome staining were used for a morphoquantitative analysis. The brain had an average length of 67.25 ± 1.75 mm and average width of 58.97 ± 4.0 mm. The pineal gland had an average length of 6.98 ± 0.79 mm and average width of 6.40 ± 1.35 mm. The quantitative analysis showed an average 86.27 ± 30.44 of pinealocytes per field. According to the Pearson correlation test, the number of pinealocytes showed a weak negative linear correlation (r = -0.11) with the length of the pineal gland and a weak positive linear correlation (r = 0.39) with the width. Therefore, the number of pinealocytes has a stronger correlation with the width of the gland compared to the length. Mastocytes were present in only one animal (14.28%). Calcareous concretions were observed in two animals (28.57%). The connective tissue formed the capsule surrounding the gland with no projections into the parenchyma

In vitro antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activities of flavanones from Baccharis retusa DC. (Asteraceae)

Leishmaniasis and Chagas' are parasitic protozoan diseases that affect the poorest population in the world, causing a high mortality and morbidity. As a result of highly toxic and long-term treatments, novel, safe and more efficacious drugs are essential. in this work, the CH2Cl2 phase from MeOH extract from the leaves of Baccharis retusa DC. (Asteraceae) was fractioned to afford two flavonoids: naringenin (1) and sakuranetin (2). These compounds were in vitro tested against Leishmania spp. promastigotes and amastigotes and Ttypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and amastigotes. Compound 2 presented activity against Leishmania (L) amazonensis, Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, Leishmania (L) major, and Leishmania (L) chagasi with IC50 values in the range between 43 and 52 mu g/mL and against T. cruzi trypomastigotes (IC50= 20.17 mu g/mL). Despite of the chemical similarity, compound 1 did not show antiparasitic activity. Additionally, compound 2 was subjected to a methylation procedure to give sakuranetin-4'-methyl ether (3), which resulted in an inactive compound against both Leishmania spp. and T. cnizi. the obtained results indicated that the presence of one hydroxyl group at C-4' associated to one methoxyl group at C-7 is important to the antiparasitic activity. Further drug design studies aiming derivatives could be a promising tool for the development of new therapeutic agents for Leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e DesenvolvimentoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, Diadema, SP, BrazilInst Adolfo Lutz Registro, Dept Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, Santo Andre, SP, BrazilUniv Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Ctr Ciencias & Humanidades, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, Diadema, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 06/57626-5FAPESP: 08/11496-9Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento: 473405/2008-3Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento: 477422/2009-8Web of Scienc