Exceeding the Manley-Rowe quantum efficiency limit in an optically pumped THz amplifier

Using a microscopic theory based on the Maxwell-semiconductor Bloch equations, we investigate the possibility of an optically-assisted electrically-driven THz quantum cascade laser. Whereas in optical conversion schemes the power conversion efficiency is limited by the Manley-Rowe relation, the proposed optically-assisted scheme can achieve higher efficiency by coherently recovering the optical pump energy. Furthermore, due to quantum coherence effects the detrimental effects of scattering are mitigated

A deep insight into the sialome of male and female aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Only adult female mosquitoes feed on blood, while both genders take sugar meals. Accordingly, several compounds associated with blood feeding (i.e. vasodilators, anti-clotting, anti-platelets) are found only in female glands, while enzymes associated with sugar feeding or antimicrobials (such as lysozyme) are found in the glands of both sexes. We performed de novo assembly of reads from adult Aedes aegypti female and male salivary gland libraries (285 and 90 million reads, respectively). By mapping back the reads to the assembled contigs, plus mapping the reads from a publicly available Ae. aegypti library from adult whole bodies, we identified 360 transcripts (including splice variants and alleles) overexpressed tenfold or more in the glands when compared to whole bodies. Moreover, among these, 207 were overexpressed fivefold or more in female vs. male salivary glands, 85 were near equally expressed and 68 were overexpressed in male glands. We call in particular the attention to C-type lectins, angiopoietins, female-specific Antigen 5, the 9.7 kDa, 12–14 kDa, 23.5 kDa, 62/34 kDa, 4.2 kDa, proline-rich peptide, SG8, 8.7 kDa family and SGS fragments: these polypeptides are all of unknown function, but due to their overexpression in female salivary glands and putative secretory nature they are expected to affect host physiology. We have also found many transposons (some of which novel) and several endogenous viral transcripts (probably acquired by horizontal transfer) which are overexpressed in the salivary glands and may play some role in tissue-specific gene regulation or represent a mechanism of virus interference. This work contributes to a near definitive catalog of male and female salivary gland transcripts from Ae. aegypti, which will help to direct further studies aiming at the functional characterization of the many transcripts with unknown function and the understanding of their role in vector-host interaction and pathogen transmission

A new species of Daldinia (Xylariaceae) from the Argentine subtropical montane forest

Based on a combination of morphological, molecular phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic evidence, a new species of Daldinia from Northwest of Argentina is described. Daldinia korfii is morphologically related to D. placentiformis, but differs in having brown vinaceous, KOH-extractable pigments and the tissue below the perithecial layer is composed of inconspicuous to conspicuous alternating zones in the new taxon.Fil: Sir, Esteban Benjamin. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Botánica. Instituto de Micologia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lambert, C.. Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung; AlemaniaFil: Wendt, L.. Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung; AlemaniaFil: Hladki, Adriana Ines. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Botánica. Instituto de Micologia; ArgentinaFil: Romero, Andrea Irene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; ArgentinaFil: Stadler, M.. Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung; Alemani

Polychlorinated biphenyls in air and water of the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean.

Air and seawater samples were collected on board the R/V Polarstern during a scientific expedition from Germany to the Arctic Ocean during June–August 2004. The air data show a strong decline with latitude with the highest polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in Europe and the lowest in the Arctic. ΣICES PCBs in air range from 100 pg m−3 near Norway to 0.8 pg m−3 in the Arctic. A comparison with other data from previous and ongoing land-based air measurements in the Arctic region suggests no clear temporal decline of PCBs in the European Arctic since the mid-1990s. Dissolved concentrations of Σ6PCBs (28/31, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153) in surface seawater were <1 pg L−1. Dominant PCBs in seawater were 28/31 and 52 (0.1–0.44 pg L−1), with PCBs 101, 118, and 138 < 0.1 pg L−1. In seawater, PCB 52 displayed the highest concentrations in the northernmost samples, while PCBs 101, 118, and 138 showed slightly decreasing trends with increasing latitude. Fractionation was observed for PCBs in seawater with the relative abundance of PCBs 28 and 52 increasing and that of the heavier congeners decreasing with latitude. However, in air only 15–20% of the variability of atmospheric PCBs can be explained by temperature. Owing to large uncertainties in the Henry's Law constant (HLC) values, fugacity quotients for PCBs were estimated using different HLCs reported in the literature. These indicate that on average, deposition dominates over volatilization for PCBs in the Arctic region with a strong increase in the middle of the transect near the marginal ice zone (78–79°N). The increase in fugacity ratio is mainly caused by an increase in air concentration in this region (possibly indirectly caused by ice melting being a source of PCBs to the atmosphere)

Analisis Penjadwalan Produk PT Eksotika Logam Bali (DECO BALI ) dengan Minimasi Makespan

Products Scheduling Analysis of PT Eksotika Logam Bali (DECO BALI) with Minimizing Makespan. PT.Eksotika Logam Bali is a furniture industry company in Denpasar Bali, which is a supplier to local hotels and foreign tourists. The production system of PT Eksotika Logam Bali is make to order. Production scheduling nowadays is manually done and it often finishes over the due date and causes the production cost increases. This study aims to provide production schedule using software WinQSB to minimize makespan. Scheduling of Kanufushi Island Project for areas Beach Villa consists of 27 kinds of furniture products. Type of scheduling is Jobshop and using priority dispatching rule with Shortest Processing Time (SPT). The scheduling results 12 days shorter compared to the manual scheduling. Shorter production time can reduce production costs by Rp189.652.500,

The precision of propex Pixi with different instruments and coronal preflaring procedures

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the instrument regarding the apical fit and type of the alloy and coronal preflaring procedures in the accuracy of Propex Pixi.Methods: A total of 40 extracted human single-rooted permanent teeth with apical diameters of 200 mu m were selected. A #10 K-file was inserted in the root canal until its end could be observed by a dental microscope to obtain the actual working length (WL). Electronic measurements were performed using Propex Pixi to the root apex ("0.0"). Different file alloys (stainless steel [SS] and nickel titanium [NiTi]) and sizes (#10, #15, and #20) were used before and after coronal flaring. Statistical analysis was performed by a factorial analysis of variance (P <= 0.05).Results: Results showed that the measurements of electronic length (EL) were closer to the actual working length (WL) after coronal flaring (P<0.05). A significant intraclass correlation was observed between EL and WL. In addition, results showed no significant differences between files with different sizes or alloys.Conclusion: Under the conditions of this study, Propex Pixi demonstrated adequate precision. Its accuracy was enhanced by coronal preflaring procedures regardless of the instrument type used (SS or NiTi) and the apical fit.- (undefined

Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Acacia aroma Leaf Extracts

Acacia aroma, native plant from San Luis, Argentina, is commonly used as antiseptic and for healing of wounds. The present study was conducted to investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of hot aqueous extract (HAE) and ethanolic extract (EE) of A. aroma. The cytotoxic activity was assayed by neutral red uptake assay on Vero cell. Cell treatment with a range from 100 to 5000 g/mL of HAE and EE showed that 500 g/mL and 100 g/mL were the maximum noncytotoxic concentrations, respectively. The CC50 was 658 g/mL for EE and 1020 g/mL for HAE. The genotoxicity was tested by the single-cell gel electrophoresis comet assay. The results obtained in the evaluation of DNA cellular damage exposed to varied concentrations of the HAE showed no significant genotoxic effect at range of 1–20 mg/mL. The EE at 20 mg/mL showed moderate genotoxic effect related to the increase of the DNA percentage contained in tail of the comet; DNA was classified in category 2. At concentrations below 5 mg/mL, the results of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Acacia aroma guarantee the safety at cell and genomic level. However further studies are needed for longer periods including animal models to confirm the findings.Fil: Mattana, Claudia Maricel. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Cangiano, Maria de Los Angeles. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Alcaraz, María Luciana. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Sosa, A.. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Escobar, Franco Matias. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Sabini, C.. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Sabini, Liliana Ines. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Laciar, Analia Liliana. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentin