On Aharonov-Casher bound states

In this work bound states for the Aharonov-Casher problem are considered. According to Hagen's work on the exact equivalence between spin-1/2 Aharonov-Bohm and Aharonov-Casher effects, is known that the $\boldsymbol{\nabla}\cdot\mathbf{E}$ term cannot be neglected in the Hamiltonian if the spin of particle is considered. This term leads to the existence of a singular potential at the origin. By modeling the problem by boundary conditions at the origin which arises by the self-adjoint extension of the Hamiltonian, we derive for the first time an expression for the bound state energy of the Aharonov-Casher problem. As an application, we consider the Aharonov-Casher plus a two-dimensional harmonic oscillator. We derive the expression for the harmonic oscillator energies and compare it with the expression obtained in the case without singularity. At the end, an approach for determination of the self-adjoint extension parameter is given. In our approach, the parameter is obtained essentially in terms of physics of the problem.Comment: 11 pages, matches published versio

Environmental heterogeneity caused by anthropogenic disturbance drives forest structure and dynamics in Brazilian Atlantic Forest

We evaluated how tree community floristic composition, forest structure and dynamics varied over a period of 13 years across a topographic gradient of ravines created by anthropic disturbance in Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The study area is located within a fragment of Atlantic Forest (21° 09' S, 44° 54' W), in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. This work was based on data of tree diameter at 1.3 m from the soil, collected in four inventories. Each individual was recorded as being in one of three stratified topographic classes: hilltop, slope and bottom. We used direct gradient analysis to evaluate floristic compositional changes, phytosociological analysis to evaluate structural variations, and assessed demographic and biomass changes over time through analysis of rates of forest dynamics. The results did not reflect modifications in the patterns of floristic composition and species diversity along the topographic gradient, while differences in forest structural attributes and dynamics may be detected at these smaller spatial scales. Thus, the same species group may employ different strategies against different restrictive environmental factors. Finally, we suggest that floristic composition and species diversity may be less sensitive parameters for post-disturbance responses than forest dynamics and structure

Production Of Xylooligosaccharides From Enzymatic Hydrolysis Of Xylan By White-rot Fungi Pieurotus

Hemicellulose consists of non-cellulosic polysaccharides, with xylans and mannans as their main examples. In nature, xylan can be first degraded to xylooligosaccharides and finally to xylose by certain microorganisms. White-rot fungi basidiomycetes Pieurotus sp. BCCB068 and Pieurotus tailandia were used to degrade oat-spelts xylan under submerged fermentation for a period of 40 days. The study obtained activities of endo-1,4-β-xylanase and β-xylosidase and determination of xylan products by degradation. The fungi reached significant levels of xylan degradation by Pieurotus sp. BCCB068 (75.1%) and P. taiiandia (73.4%), following formations of xylooligosaccharides and sugar monomers. These Pieurotus strains proved to be a feasible alternative for biotechnological processes related to degradation of hemicellulose sources.3213742Adsul, M.G., Ghule, J.E., Shaikh, H., Singh, R., Bastawde, K.B., Gokhale, D.V., Varma, A.J., Enzymatic hydrolysis of delignified bagasse polysaccharides (2005) Carbohydrate Polymers, 62 (1), pp. 6-10Bajpai, P., Microbial xylanolytic enzyme system: Properties and applications (1997) Advances in Applied Microbiology, 43 (1), pp. 141-194Burla, G., Garzillo, A.M., Luna, M., Cardelli, L., Schiesser, A., Effects of different growth conditions on enzyme production by Pleurotus ostreatus in submerged culture (1992) Bioresource Technology, 42 (2), pp. 89-94Buswell, J.A., Chang, S.T., Biomass and extracellular hydrolytic enzyme production by six mushroom species grown on soybean waste (1994) Biotechnology Letters, 16 (12), pp. 1317-1322Castanares, A., Hay, A.J., Gordon, H., Mccrae, S.I., Wood, T., D-xylan degrading enzyme system from de fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Isolation and partial characterization of an Q-(4-O-methyl)-D- glucuronidase (1995) Journal of Biotechnology, 43 (3), pp. 183-194Christakopoulos, P., Nerinckx, W., Kekos, D., Macris, B., Claeyssens, M., Purification and characterization of two low molecular mass alkaline xylanases from Fusarium oxysporum F2 (1996) Journal of Biotechnology, 51 (2), pp. 181-189Collins, T., Meuwis, N.A., Stals, I., Claeyssens, M., Feller, G., Gerday, C., A novel family 8 xylanase, functional and physicochemical characterization (2002) The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 277 (2), pp. 3513-3519Cotta, M.A., Zeltwanger, R.L., Degradation and utilization of xylan by the ruminal bacteria butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and selenomonas ruminantium (1995) Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 61 (12), pp. 4396-4402Den Hann, R., Van Zyl, W.H., Enhanced xylan degradation and utilization by Pichia stipitis overproducing fungal xylanolytic enzyles (2003) Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 33 (5), pp. 620-628El-Nasser, N.H.A., Helmy, S.M., El-Gammal, A.A., Formation of enzymes by biodegradation of agricultural wastes with white rot fungi (1997) Polymer Degradation and Stability, 55 (2), pp. 249-255Furlan, S.A., Virmond, L.J., Miers, D.A., Bonatti, M., Gern, R.M.M., Jonas, R., Mushroom strains able to grow at high temperatures and low pH values (1997) World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 13 (6), pp. 689-692Garzillo, A.M.V., Di Paolo, S., Ruzzi, M., Buonocore, V., Hydrolytic properties of extracellular cellulases from pleurotus ostreatus (1994) Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 42 (3), pp. 476-481Hespell, R.B., Cotta, M., Degradation and utilization by Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c of xylan with different chemicaql and physical properties (1995) Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 61 (8), pp. 3042-3050Iembo, T., Azevedo, M.O., Block Jr., C., Filho, E.X.F., Purification and partial characterization of a new β-xylosidase from Humicola grisea var (2005) Thermoidea. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 20 (9), pp. 949-957Ingram, L.O., Aldrich, H.C., Borges, A.C., Causey, T.B., Martinez, A., Moralez, F., Enteric bacterial catalysts for fuel ethanol production (1999) Biotechnology in Progress, 15 (5), pp. 855-866Jong, S.C., Donovick, R., Antitumoral and antiviral substances from fungi (1989) Advances in Applied Microbiology, 34 (1), pp. 183-262Kall, E.E.J., Field, J.A., Joyce, T.W., Increasing ligninolytic enzyme activities in several white-rot basidiomycetes by nitrogen-sufficient media (1995) Bioresource Technology, 53 (2), pp. 133-139Lee, H., Barbosa, M.F.S., Biely, P., Latta, R.K., Schneider, H., Utilization of xylan by yeasts and its conversion to ethanol by Pichia stipitis strains (1986) Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 82 (2), pp. 324-326Milagres, A.M.F., Magalhaes, P.O., Ferraz, A., Purification and properties of a xylanase from Ceriporiopsis subvermispora cultivated on Pinus taeda (2005) FEMS Microbiology Letters, 253 (2), pp. 267-272Miller, G.L., Use of the dinitrosalicylic acid reagent for fetermination of reducing sugar (1959) Analytical Chemistry, 31 (3), pp. 426-428Pellerin, P., Gosselin, M., Lepoutre, J.P., Samain, E., Debeire, P., Enzymatic production of oligosaccharides from corncob xylan (1991) Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 13 (4), pp. 617-621Pinphanichakarn, P., Tangsakul, T., Thongnumwom, T., Talawanich, Y., Thamchaipenet, A., Purification and characterization of b-xylosidase from Streptomyces sp. CH7 and its gene sequence analysis (2004) World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology, 20 (5), pp. 727-733Puls, J., Orneman, A., Gottschalk, D., Wiegel, J., Xylobiose and xylooligomers Methods in Enzimology, 160 (528), p. 1998Qinnghe, C., Xiaoyu, Y., Tiangui, N., Cheng, J., Qiugang, M., The screening of culture condition and properties of xylanase by White-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus (2004) Process Biochemistry, 39 (11), pp. 1561-1566Reddy, G.V., Babu, R., Komaraiah, P., Roy, K.R.R.M., Kothari, I.L., Utilization of banana waste for the production of lignolytic and cellulolytic enzymes by solid substrate fermentation using two pleurotus species (2003) Process Biochemistry, 38 (10), pp. 1457-1462. , P. ostreatus and P. sajor-cajuSermanni, G.G., Annibale, A., Lena, D., Vitale, G., Di, N.S., Mattia, E., The production of exo-enzymes by Lentinus edodes and Pieurotus ostreatus and their use for upgrading corn straw (1994) Bioresource Technology, 48 (2), pp. 173-178Sethuraman, A., Akin, D.E., Eriksson, K.E.L., Plantcell-wall-degrading enzymes produced by the white- rot fungus ceriporiopsis subvermispora (1998) Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry, 27 (1), pp. 37-47Souza-Cruz, P.B., Freer, J., Siika-Aho, M., Ferraz, A., Extraction and determination of enzymes produced by ceriporiopsis subvermispora during biopulping of Pinus taeda wood chips (2004) Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 34 (3), pp. 228-234Sun, R.C., Tomkison, J., Liang, S.F., Comparative study of hemicelluloses from rice straw by alkali and hydrogen peroxide treatments (2000) Carbohydrate Polymers, 42 (2), pp. 111-122Tan, S.S., Li, D.Y., Jiang, Z.Q., Zhu, Y.P., Shi, B., Li, L.T., Production of xylobiose from the autohydrolysis explosion liquor of corncob using Thermotoga maritima xylanase B (XynB) immobilized on nickel-chelated Eupergit C (2008) Bioresource Technology, 99 (1), pp. 200-204Techapun, C., Charoenrat, T., Watanabe, M., Sasaki, K., Poosaran, N., Optimization of thermostable and alkaline-tolerant cellulose-free xylanase production from agricultural waste by tehrmotolerant Streptomyces sp. Ab106, using the central composite experimental design (2002) Biochemical Engineering Journal, 12 (1), pp. 99-105Tenkanen, M., Siika-Aho, M., Hausalo, T., Puls, J., Viikari, L., Synergism of xylanolytic enzymes of trichoderma reesei in the degradation of acetyl-4-O- methylglucuronoxylan (1996) Biotechnology in the pulp and paper industry. Vienna: Facultas-Universitatsverlog, p. 156. , SREBOTNIK, E.MESSNER, K. (Ed.)Valaskovã, V., Baldrian, P., Estimation of bound and free fractions of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes of wood-rotting fungi Pieurotus ostreatus, trametes versicoior and pictoporus betuiinus (2006) Research in Microbiology, 157 (2), pp. 119-12

3α,4α-Ep­oxy-5α-androstan-17β-yl acetate

The title compound, C21H32O3, results from modifications of the A and D rings of the aromatase substrate androstenedione. Ring A adopts a conformation between 10β-sofa and 1α,10β half-chair. Rings B and C are in slightly flattened chair conformations. Ring D approaches a 13β-envelope conformation, probably due to the acet­oxy substituent, and shows a very short Csp 3—Csp 3 bond next to the epoxide ring, which is characteristic of 3–4 epoxides.

Protective effect of tomato-oleoresin supplementation on oxidative injury recoveries cardiac function by improving β-adrenergic response in a diet-obesity induced model

The system redox imbalance is one of the pathways related to obesity-related cardiac dysfunction. Lycopene is considered one of the best antioxidants. The aim of this study was to test if the tomato-oleoresin would be able to recovery cardiac function by improving \u3b2-adrenergic response due its antioxidant effect. A total of 40 animals were randomly divided into two experimental groups to receive either the control diet (Control, n = 20) or a high sugar-fat diet (HSF, n = 20) for 20 weeks. Once cardiac dysfunction was detected by echocardiogram in the HSF group, animals were re- divided to begin the treatment with Tomato-oleoresin or vehicle, performing four groups: Control (n = 6); (Control + Ly, n = 6); HSF (n = 6) and (HSF + Ly, n = 6). Tomato oleoresin (10 mg lycopene/kg body weight (BW) per day) was given orally every morning for a 10-week period. The analysis included nutritional and plasma biochemical parameters, systolic blood pressure, oxidative parameters in plasma, heart, and cardiac analyses in vivo and in vitro. A comparison among the groups was performed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The HSF diet was able to induce obesity, insulin-resistance, cardiac dysfunction, and oxidative damage. However, the tomato-oleoresin supplementation improved insulin-resistance, cardiac remodeling, and dysfunction by improving the \u3b2-adrenergic response. It is possible to conclude that tomato-oleoresin is able to reduce the oxidative damage by improving the system\u2019s \u3b2-adrenergic response, thus recovering cardiac function

Determining factors of functioning in hemodialysis patients using the international classification of functioning, disability and health

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) treatment affects functioning, physical activity level, clinical biomarkers, and body composition. However, the association between these variables with functioning, considering International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between physical activity, biomarkers, and body composition with functioning in HD patients in reference to the ICF. Methods: Eighty HD patients performed different tests grouped according to ICF domain: Body structure and function – handgrip strength (HS), 5-repetition sit-to-stand test, and 60-s sit-to-stand test (5-STS, 60-STS, respectively); Activity – short physical performance battery (SPPB); and Participation – participation scale questionnaire. Physical activity [Human Activity Profile questionnaire (HAP)], body composition (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), Parathormone (PTH), and alkaline phosphatase were analyzed as possible variables associated with ICF domains. Data analyses were performed using simple and multiple regression models adjusted for age, duration of HD, and diuresis volume. Results: In the body structure and function domain, appendicular lean mass, PTH level, and age were associated with HS ( R2 = 0.558); HAP and PTH were associated with 5-STS ( R2 = 0.263); and HAP, PTH, duration of HD, and age were associated with 60-STS ( R2 = 0.337). In the activity domain, HAP, PTH, alkaline phosphatase, duration of HD, age, and body fat were associated with SPPB ( R2 = 0.689). Finally, only HAP was associated with the participation scale ( R2 = 0.067). Conclusion: Physical activity and PTH levels are determinant protagonists of functioning in all ICF domains in hemodialysis patients

Application Of Molecular Fingerprinting For Analysis Of A Pah-contaminated Soil Microbiota Growing In The Presence Of Complex Pahs

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a group of priority pollutants which are present at high concentrations in the soils of many industrial contaminated sites. Pollution by these compounds may stimulate growth of organisms able to live in these environments causing changes in the structure of the microbial community due to some cooperative process of metabolization of toxic compounds. A long-term PAH-contaminated soil was stored for several years and used to analyze the native microbiota regarding their ability to grow on pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, as well as in mixtures of LMW-and HMW-PAHs. Molecular profiles of the microbial community was assessed by PCR-DGGE of 16S rRNA gene, and the number of bands observed in DGGE analyses was interpreted as dominant microbial members into the bacterial community. Results of PAH-contaminated soil microorganisms showed different profiles in the degradative dynamics when some nutrients were added. Predominant species may play a significative role while growing and surviving on PAHs, and some other metabolically active species have emerged to interact themselves in a cooperative catabolism of PAHs.3216369BOONCHAN, S., BRITZ, M.L., STANLEY, G.A., Degradation and mineralization of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by defined fungal-bacterial cocultures (2000) Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 66 (3), pp. 1007-1019BOUCHEZ, M., BLANCHET, D., VANDECASTEELE, J.P., Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by pure strains and by defined strain associations:inhibition phenomena and cometabolism (1995) Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 43 (1), pp. 156-164CANET, R., BIRNSTINGL, J.G., MALCOLM, D.G., LOPEZ-REAL, J.M., BECK, A.J., Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by native microflora and combinations of white-rot fungi in a coaltar contaminated soil (2001) Bioresource Technology, 76 (5), pp. 113-117FORD, T.E., Response of marine microbial communities to anthropogenic stress (2000) Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery, 7 (1), pp. 75-89GAUTHIER, E., DÉZIEL, E., VILLEMUR, R., JUTEAU, P., LÉPINE, F., BEAUDET, R., Initial characterization of new bacteria degrading high-molecular eright poycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons isolated from a 2-year enrichment in a two-liquid-phase culture system (2003) Journal of Applied Microbiology, 94 (1), pp. 301-311JUHASZ, A.L., STANLEY, G.A., BRITZ, M.L., Microbial degradation and detoxification of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain VUN 10,003 (2000) Letters in Applied Microbiology, 30 (5), pp. 396-401KANALY, R.A., HARAYAMA, S., Bioregradation of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by bacteria (2000) Journal of Bacteriology, 182 (8), pp. 2059-2067LAPARA, T.M., KLATT, C.G., CHEN, R., Adaptations in bacterial catabolic enzyme activity and community structure in membrane-coupled bioreactors fed simple synthetic wastewater (2006) Journal of Biotechnology, 121 (1), pp. 368-380LEE, P.H., DOICK, K.J., SEMPLE, K.T., The development of phenanthrene catabolism in soils amended with transformer oil (2003) FEMS Microbiology Letters, 228 (2), pp. 217-223LINDSTROM, J.E., BARRY, R.P., BRADDOCK, J.F., Long-term affect of microbial communities after a subartic oil spill (1999) Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 31 (12), pp. 1677-1689MARCOUX, J., DÉZIEL, E., VILLEMUR, R., LÉPINE, F., BISAILLON, J.G., BEAUDET, R., Optimization of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degradation in a two-liquid-phase bioreactor (2000) Journal of Applied Microbiology, 88 (1), pp. 655-662MISHRA, S., JYOT, J., KUHAD, R.C., LAL, B., Evaluation of inoculum addition to stimulate in situ bioremediation of oily-sludge-contaminated soil (2001) Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 67 (4), pp. 1675-1681NAKATSU, C.H., TORSVIK, V., OVREÅS, L., Soil community analysis using DGGE of 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction products (2000) Soil Science Society of America Journal, 64 (7), pp. 1382-1388OVREÅS, L., TORSVIK, V., Microbial diversity and community structure in two different agricultural soil communities (1998) Microbial Ecology, 36 (1), pp. 303-315PISKONEN, R., NYYSSÖNEN, M., RAJAMÄKI, T., ITÄVAARA, M., Monitoring and accelerated naphthalenebiodegradation in bioaugmented soil slurry (2005) Biodegradation, 16 (2), pp. 127-134RAMIREZ, N., CUTRIGHT, T., JU, L.K., Pyrene biodegradation in aqueous solutions and soil slurries by Mycobacterium PYR-1 and enriched consortium (2001) Chemosphere, 44 (5), pp. 1079-1086REID, B.J., FERMOR, T.R., SEMPLE, K.T., Feasibility of using muchroom compost for the bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil (2002) Environmental Pollution, 118 (1), pp. 65-73SEI, K., INOUE, D., WADA, K., MORI, K., IKE, M., KOHNO, T., FUJITA, M., Monitoring behavior of catabolic genes and change of microbial community structures in seawater microcosms during aromatic compound degradation (2004) Water Resources, 38 (1), pp. 4405-4414TORSVIK, V., DAAE, F.L., SANDAA, R.A., OVREÅS, L., Novel techniques for analyzing microbial diversity in natural and perturbed environments (1998) Journal of Biotechnology, 64 (1), pp. 53-62VAN ELSAS, J.D., DUARTE, G.F., ROSADO, A.S., SMALLA, R.K., Microbiological and molecular biological methods for monitoring microbial inoculants and their effects in the soil environment (1998) Journal of Microbiological Methods, 32 (2), pp. 133-154VENOSA, A. D.STEPHEN, J. R.MACNAUGHTON, S. J.CHANG, Y.WHITE, D. C. Microbial population changes during bioremediation of an experimental oil spill. In: BELL, C. R.BRYLINSKY, M.JOHNSON-GREEN, P. (Ed.). Microbial biosystems: new frontiers. Kentville: Atlantic Canada Society for Microbial Ecology, 1999. p.759-765VIÑAS, M., SABATÉ, J., ESPUNY, M.J., SOLANAS, A.M., Bacterial community dynamics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation during bioremediation of heavily creosote-contaminated soil (2005) Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 71 (1), pp. 7008-701

Convergence of the critical attractor of dissipative maps: Log-periodic oscillations, fractality and nonextensivity

For a family of logistic-like maps, we investigate the rate of convergence to the critical attractor when an ensemble of initial conditions is uniformly spread over the entire phase space. We found that the phase space volume occupied by the ensemble W(t) depicts a power-law decay with log-periodic oscillations reflecting the multifractal character of the critical attractor. We explore the parametric dependence of the power-law exponent and the amplitude of the log-periodic oscillations with the attractor's fractal dimension governed by the inflexion of the map near its extremal point. Further, we investigate the temporal evolution of W(t) for the circle map whose critical attractor is dense. In this case, we found W(t) to exhibit a rich pattern with a slow logarithmic decay of the lower bounds. These results are discussed in the context of nonextensive Tsallis entropies.Comment: 8 pages and 8 fig