Superquadratic behavior of upconversion luminescence transients in rare-earth-ion doped laser crystals

Inhomogeneous active-ion distributions in laser materials lead to strong deviations of upconversion versus direct luminescence transients from the quadratic law of energy-transfer upconversion. Measured luminescence decay curves in LaSc3(BO3)4:Nd3+ and GdVO4:Nd3+ confirm experimentally the predicted deviations. Differences in energy migration within the metastable level of Nd3+ are identified

Cryo-Electron Tomography Elucidates the Molecular Architecture of Treponema pallidum, the Syphilis Spirochete

Cryo-electron tomography (CET) was used to examine the native cellular organization of Treponema pallidum, the syphilis spirochete. T. pallidum cells appeared to form flat waves, did not contain an outer coat and, except for bulges over the basal bodies and widening in the vicinity of flagellar filaments, displayed a uniform periplasmic space. Although the outer membrane (OM) generally was smooth in contour, OM extrusions and blebs frequently were observed, highlighting the structure’s fluidity and lack of attachment to underlying periplasmic constituents. Cytoplasmic filaments converged from their attachment points opposite the basal bodies to form arrays that ran roughly parallel to the flagellar filaments along the inner surface of the cytoplasmic membrane (CM). Motile treponemes stably attached to rabbit epithelial cells predominantly via their tips. CET revealed that T. pallidum cell ends have a complex morphology and assume at least four distinct morphotypes. Images of dividing treponemes and organisms shedding cell envelope-derived blebs provided evidence for the spirochete’s complex membrane biology. In the regions without flagellar filaments, peptidoglycan (PG) was visualized as a thin layer that divided the periplasmic space into zones of higher and lower electron densities adjacent to the CM and OM, respectively. Flagellar filaments were observed overlying the PG layer, while image modeling placed the PG-basal body contact site in the vicinity of the stator–P-collar junction. Bioinformatics and homology modeling indicated that the MotB proteins of T. pallidum, Treponema denticola, and Borrelia burgdorferi have membrane topologies and PG binding sites highly similar to those of their well-characterized Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori orthologs. Collectively, our results help to clarify fundamental differences in cell envelope ultrastructure between spirochetes and gram-negative bacteria. They also confirm that PG stabilizes the flagellar motor and enable us to propose that in most spirochetes motility results from rotation of the flagellar filaments against the PG

Accuracy analysis of the slope maps on GIS

La cuenca de "Ribeirão Cafezal" es el segundo principal sistema de recepción de agua que abastece la ciudad de Londrina, al norte del Estado de Paraná - Brasil. Esta región presenta extensas áreas agrícolas, con diferente grado de utilización. La información de pendientes es fundamental en lo que se refiere a la elaboración de los más variados mapas que abordan los riesgos de erosión. En función de eso, fue realizado un análisis de la precisión en el mapeo, con la intención de obtener un mapa de pendientes lo más cercano a la realidad. Fueron generados mapas de pendientes, a partir de información digitalizada a escala 1:100.000, de un área representativa de la cuenca empleando dos métodos: por medio del cálculo de pendientes mediante la utilización de un ábaco gráfico (considerando como cierta la veracidad terrestre) y realizando el cálculo de pendientes utilizando herramientas de análisis de modelos digitales de terreno (con mallas de resolución 5x5, 15x15, 20x20, 25x25 y 50x50 metros). Posteriormente, esos planos fueron cruzados y analizados utilizando un sistema de información geográfica (GIS) a nivel de precisión del mapeo, según las ecuaciones adaptadas de Mendonça (1980). Los mejores resultados se obtuvieron con un modelo digital de terreno con una resolución de celda de 15x15 metros (71,50%), siendo esta, por consiguiente, la resolución final escogida en la confección del mapa de pendientes para toda el área de estudio. La prueba realizada se mostró satisfactoria para la obtención del análisis de la precisión del mapeo, en la confección del mapa de pendientes del terreno a través del GIS. De haber necesidad de una mayor precisión en la determinación de las clases de pendientes en algún proyecto más específico, el dato deberá ser obtenido a través del ábaco manual.The basin of "Ribeirão Cafezal" is the second main system of reception of water that supplies the municipality of Londrina, to the north of the State of Paraná - Brazil. This region presents extensive agricultural areas, with different exploration degrees. The slope information is fundamental to the elaboration of the several maps that approach the erosion hazards. So, an analysis of the precision was carried out in the mapping, for obtaining a slope map as close as possible to reality. Slope maps of a representative area of the basin were generated using two methods: the abacus (considering as the real slope terrain) and the GIS - Geographical Information System (with grid resolution 5x5, 15x15, 20x20, 25x25 and 50x50 meters). These maps were overlayed and the precision of the mapping was analyzed; the adjustment percentages and the omission and inclusion errors of the related maps were calculated, according to the equations of Mendonça (1980). From this analysis, the biggest adjustment percentage belongs to the cross-checked of the l5xl5 meters resolution (71,50%); so, this is the resolution chosen in the making of the slope map for the whole study area. This test was satisfactory to the analysis of the precision of the mapping when constructing the slope terrain map using the GIS. In case that a specific project needs higher precision in the determination of the slope classes, it is recommended to use the manual abacus.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Accuracy analysis of the slope maps on GIS

La cuenca de "Ribeirão Cafezal" es el segundo principal sistema de recepción de agua que abastece la ciudad de Londrina, al norte del Estado de Paraná - Brasil. Esta región presenta extensas áreas agrícolas, con diferente grado de utilización. La información de pendientes es fundamental en lo que se refiere a la elaboración de los más variados mapas que abordan los riesgos de erosión. En función de eso, fue realizado un análisis de la precisión en el mapeo, con la intención de obtener un mapa de pendientes lo más cercano a la realidad. Fueron generados mapas de pendientes, a partir de información digitalizada a escala 1:100.000, de un área representativa de la cuenca empleando dos métodos: por medio del cálculo de pendientes mediante la utilización de un ábaco gráfico (considerando como cierta la veracidad terrestre) y realizando el cálculo de pendientes utilizando herramientas de análisis de modelos digitales de terreno (con mallas de resolución 5x5, 15x15, 20x20, 25x25 y 50x50 metros). Posteriormente, esos planos fueron cruzados y analizados utilizando un sistema de información geográfica (GIS) a nivel de precisión del mapeo, según las ecuaciones adaptadas de Mendonça (1980). Los mejores resultados se obtuvieron con un modelo digital de terreno con una resolución de celda de 15x15 metros (71,50%), siendo esta, por consiguiente, la resolución final escogida en la confección del mapa de pendientes para toda el área de estudio. La prueba realizada se mostró satisfactoria para la obtención del análisis de la precisión del mapeo, en la confección del mapa de pendientes del terreno a través del GIS. De haber necesidad de una mayor precisión en la determinación de las clases de pendientes en algún proyecto más específico, el dato deberá ser obtenido a través del ábaco manual.The basin of "Ribeirão Cafezal" is the second main system of reception of water that supplies the municipality of Londrina, to the north of the State of Paraná - Brazil. This region presents extensive agricultural areas, with different exploration degrees. The slope information is fundamental to the elaboration of the several maps that approach the erosion hazards. So, an analysis of the precision was carried out in the mapping, for obtaining a slope map as close as possible to reality. Slope maps of a representative area of the basin were generated using two methods: the abacus (considering as the real slope terrain) and the GIS - Geographical Information System (with grid resolution 5x5, 15x15, 20x20, 25x25 and 50x50 meters). These maps were overlayed and the precision of the mapping was analyzed; the adjustment percentages and the omission and inclusion errors of the related maps were calculated, according to the equations of Mendonça (1980). From this analysis, the biggest adjustment percentage belongs to the cross-checked of the l5xl5 meters resolution (71,50%); so, this is the resolution chosen in the making of the slope map for the whole study area. This test was satisfactory to the analysis of the precision of the mapping when constructing the slope terrain map using the GIS. In case that a specific project needs higher precision in the determination of the slope classes, it is recommended to use the manual abacus.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Accuracy analysis of the slope maps on GIS

La cuenca de "Ribeirão Cafezal" es el segundo principal sistema de recepción de agua que abastece la ciudad de Londrina, al norte del Estado de Paraná - Brasil. Esta región presenta extensas áreas agrícolas, con diferente grado de utilización. La información de pendientes es fundamental en lo que se refiere a la elaboración de los más variados mapas que abordan los riesgos de erosión. En función de eso, fue realizado un análisis de la precisión en el mapeo, con la intención de obtener un mapa de pendientes lo más cercano a la realidad. Fueron generados mapas de pendientes, a partir de información digitalizada a escala 1:100.000, de un área representativa de la cuenca empleando dos métodos: por medio del cálculo de pendientes mediante la utilización de un ábaco gráfico (considerando como cierta la veracidad terrestre) y realizando el cálculo de pendientes utilizando herramientas de análisis de modelos digitales de terreno (con mallas de resolución 5x5, 15x15, 20x20, 25x25 y 50x50 metros). Posteriormente, esos planos fueron cruzados y analizados utilizando un sistema de información geográfica (GIS) a nivel de precisión del mapeo, según las ecuaciones adaptadas de Mendonça (1980). Los mejores resultados se obtuvieron con un modelo digital de terreno con una resolución de celda de 15x15 metros (71,50%), siendo esta, por consiguiente, la resolución final escogida en la confección del mapa de pendientes para toda el área de estudio. La prueba realizada se mostró satisfactoria para la obtención del análisis de la precisión del mapeo, en la confección del mapa de pendientes del terreno a través del GIS. De haber necesidad de una mayor precisión en la determinación de las clases de pendientes en algún proyecto más específico, el dato deberá ser obtenido a través del ábaco manual.The basin of "Ribeirão Cafezal" is the second main system of reception of water that supplies the municipality of Londrina, to the north of the State of Paraná - Brazil. This region presents extensive agricultural areas, with different exploration degrees. The slope information is fundamental to the elaboration of the several maps that approach the erosion hazards. So, an analysis of the precision was carried out in the mapping, for obtaining a slope map as close as possible to reality. Slope maps of a representative area of the basin were generated using two methods: the abacus (considering as the real slope terrain) and the GIS - Geographical Information System (with grid resolution 5x5, 15x15, 20x20, 25x25 and 50x50 meters). These maps were overlayed and the precision of the mapping was analyzed; the adjustment percentages and the omission and inclusion errors of the related maps were calculated, according to the equations of Mendonça (1980). From this analysis, the biggest adjustment percentage belongs to the cross-checked of the l5xl5 meters resolution (71,50%); so, this is the resolution chosen in the making of the slope map for the whole study area. This test was satisfactory to the analysis of the precision of the mapping when constructing the slope terrain map using the GIS. In case that a specific project needs higher precision in the determination of the slope classes, it is recommended to use the manual abacus.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Impactos do Carbon Dot Krill A32 na produtividade de biomassa da microalga Chlorella sorokiniana (LBA#39).

Há vários esforços para tornar o cultivo de microalgas economicamente viável. Isso porque esses organismos são fontes de diversas biomoléculas de valor econômico, como lipídios, proteínas e enzimas. Entretanto, há desafios na produção que dificultam a lucratividade da atividade. Alguns estudos indicam que tratamentos com carbon quantum dots podem incrementar a produtividade da biomassa microalgal produzida. Foram feitos três experimentos com diferentes concentrações do Carbon Dot Krill A32, que foram aplicadas em cultivos com a microalga Chlorella sorokiniana (LBA#39) para investigar os efeitos na produção de biomassa. Um teste inicial foi feito em biorreatores de 500 mL testando‑se 500 μg/L e 500 ng/L da nanopartícula. O segundo foi uma varredura em um volume de 1,5 L em que as concentrações investigadas foram 10 mg/L; 1 mg/L; 500 μg/L; 100 μg/L; 10 μg/L; 1 μg/L e 500 ng/L da nanopartícula. O terceiro foi uma validação em reatores de 2 L utilizando concentrações de 100 μg/L e 10 μg/L da nanopartícula. Os resultados da curva de crescimento dos cultivos não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas. Para os resultados de biomassa seca, com o aumento do volume de cultivo, os incrementos foram progressivamente menores e estatisticamente iguais ao controle. Os resultados sugerem que nas condições estudadas não há incremento na produtividade da biomassa. São necessárias análises sobre a qualidade da biomassa para melhor interpretação do observado

Functional diversity can facilitate the collapse of an undesirable ecosystem state

Biodiversity may increase ecosystem resilience. However, we have limited understanding if this holds true for ecosystems that respond to gradual environmental change with abrupt shifts to an alternative state. We used a mathematical model of anoxic–oxic regime shifts and explored how trait diversity in three groups of bacteria influences resilience. We found that trait diversity did not always increase resilience: greater diversity in two of the groups increased but in one group decreased resilience of their preferred ecosystem state. We also found that simultaneous trait diversity in multiple groups often led to reduced or erased diversity effects. Overall, our results suggest that higher diversity can increase resilience but can also promote collapse when diversity occurs in a functional group that negatively influences the state it occurs in. We propose this mechanism as a potential management approach to facilitate the recovery of a desired ecosystem state

YBa2Cu3O7 and Nb NanoSQUIDs for the Investigation of Magnetization Reversal of Individual Magnetic Nanoparticles

We report on the fabrication, performance and application of sensitive YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) and Nb nanoSQUIDs to magnetization reversal measurements of individual magnetic nanoparticles. The YBCO SQUIDs are based on grain boundary Josephson junctions and are patterned in a single layer of epitaxially grown YBCO films by Ga focused ion beam milling. The Nb SQUIDs contain sandwich-type Josephson junctions with normal conducting HfTi barriers; they are fabricated with a multilayer technology that includes patterning by e-beam lithography and a combination of milling techniques and chemical-mechanical polishing. Due to the small inductance of the SQUID loops, ultralow white flux noise at 4.2 K can be achieved, which yields spin sensitivities of down to a few Bohr magnetons per unit bandwidth for a magnetic nanoparticle placed at 10 nm distance to the SQUID loop