Uncertainty-principle noise in vacuum-tunneling transducers

The fundamental sources of noise in a vacuum-tunneling probe used as an electromechanical transducer to monitor the location of a test mass are examined using a first-quantization formalism. We show that a tunneling transducer enforces the Heisenberg uncertainty principle for the position and momentum of a test mass monitored by the transducer through the presence of two sources of noise: the shot noise of the tunneling current and the momentum fluctuations transferred by the tunneling electrons to the test mass. We analyze a number of cases including symmetric and asymmetric rectangular potential barriers and a barrier in which there is a constant electric field. Practical configurations for reaching the quantum limit in measurements of the position of macroscopic bodies with such a class of transducers are studied

Módulo de suporte à decisão para licenciamento e regularização ambiental.

RESUMO: Este artigo descreve a modelagem e implementação de um sistema de suporte à decisão para licenciamento e regularização ambiental baseado em lógica fuzzy, desenvolvido como um módulo componente do Sistema Interativo de Suporte ao Licenciamento Ambiental (SISLA). O SISLA é um produto do projeto GeoMS, uma parceria entre a Embrapa Informática Agropecuária e o Instituto de Meio Ambiente de Mato Grosso do Sul (Imasul). Por meio desse módulo, o usuário poderá obter um suporte à tomada de decisão para processos de licenciamento ambiental. Esse suporte é fornecido a partir de variáveis de entrada, como distância e intersecção da área do empreendimento solicitante de licenciamento ambiental com áreas protegidas pelo governo estadual. Como saída, o sistema fornece o grau de ?Aptidão? do processo, que pode ser "Deferido", "Indeferido" ou "Pendência". Ao longo desse trabalho, serão descritos os métodos utilizados para a criação desse módulo, bem como alguns resultados obtidos com dados reais.SBIAgro 2011

Upregulation of ERK1/2-eNOS via AT2 Receptors Decreases the Contractile Response to Angiotensin II in Resistance Mesenteric Arteries from Obese Rats

It has been clearly established that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKS) are important mediators of angiotensin II (Ang II) signaling via AT1 receptors in the vasculature. However, evidence for a role of these kinases in changes of Ang II-induced vasoconstriction in obesity is still lacking. Here we sought to determine whether vascular MAPKs are differentially activated by Ang II in obese animals. the role of AT2 receptors was also evaluated. Male monosodium glutamate-induced obese (obese) and non-obese Wistar rats (control) were used. the circulating concentrations of Ang I and Ang II, determined by HPLC, were increased in obese rats. Ang II-induced isometric contraction was decreased in endothelium-intact resistance mesenteric arteries from obese compared with control rats and exhibited a retarded AT1 receptor antagonist response. Blocking of AT2 receptors and inhibition of either endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) or extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) restored Ang II-induced contraction in obese rats. Western blot analysis revealed increased protein expression of AT2 receptors in arteries from obese rats. Basal and Ang II-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation was also increased in obese rats. Blockade of either AT1 or AT2 receptors corrected the increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation in arteries from obese rats to levels observed in control preparations. Phosphorylation of eNOS was increased in obese rats. Incubation with the ERK1/2 inhibitor before Ang II stimulation did not affect eNOS phosphorylation in control rats; however, it corrected the increased phosphorylation of eNOS in obese rats. These results clearly demonstrate that enhanced AT2 receptor and ERK1/2-induced, NO-mediated vasodilation reduces Ang II-induced contraction in an endothelium-dependent manner in obese rats.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Univ São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Pharmacol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Goias, Div Cardiovasc Physiol, Dept Biol Sci, Jatai, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, Dept Med, Escola Paulista Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, Dept Med, Escola Paulista Med, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2007/58311-0FAPESP: 2008/51622-3FAPESP: 2010/03642-5Web of Scienc

Diversity and bioprospecting of filamentous fungi isolated from Nausitora fusticulus (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) digestive organs for lignocellulolytic enzymes / Diversidade e bioprospecção de fungos filamentosos isolados dos órgãos digestivos de Nausitora fusticulus (Bivalvia:Teredinidae) para obtenção de enzimas lignocelulolíticas

The conversion of cellulose into fermentable sugars is a process of great interest to the industry and biotechnological research. The search for new sources of enzymes capable of hydrolyzing these polymers becomes urgent because of the numerous applications for energy generation. The depolymerization of the cellulose can be carried out by an enzymatic complex of cellulases capable of hydrolyzing the cellulose fractions to their glucose monomers. These enzymes are produced by microorganisms, such as filamentous fungi, that live in several types of habitats, including inside the digestive system of animals’ wood consuming, as is the case of shipworms. The objective of this work was to investigate the presence of microorganisms in the digestive organs of Nausitora fusticulus shipworm and to evaluate the production of cellulases by these microspecies. From the digestive tract of N. fusticulus specimens, fungi and bacteria were isolated, and from the total of isolates, some fungi presented cellulase production. Enzyme-producing fungi were separated by enzyme index tests and the ones with the best performance were selected to produce enzymes in liquid medium in the presence of carboxy-methyl-cellulose and sugar cane bagasse as substrates. Cultures with sugar cane bagasse showed higher production of cellulases, indicating that these fungi can be induced to increase their production. This work shows the symbiotic interaction between the shipworms and the microorganisms that inhabit it and proves that these microorganisms aid them in the digestion of wood producing cellulolytic enzymes

Genetic Diversity in Zoysiagrass Ecotypes Based on Morphological Characteristics and SSR Markers

Zoysiagrass consists of a number of interfertile species, some of which are important grasses for turfgrass and grazing pasture in Japan. Recently, we developed simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers from Zoysia japonica “Asagake” genomic DNA by enriched genomic library method (Yamamoto et al., 2002). Here we identify genetic diversity in 38 ecotypes of zoysiagrass (Z. matrella and Z. tenuifolia) from a group of southwest islands of Japan based on morphological characteristics and SSR markers

Regional differences in prostaglandin E₂ metabolism in human colorectal cancer liver metastases

Background: Prostaglandin (PG) E₂ plays a critical role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Activity of the rate-limiting enzyme for PGE₂ catabolism (15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase [15-PGDH]) is dependent on availability of NAD+. We tested the hypothesis that there is intra-tumoral variability in PGE₂ content, as well as in levels and activity of 15-PGDH, in human CRC liver metastases (CRCLM). To understand possible underlying mechanisms, we investigated the relationship between hypoxia, 15-PGDH and PGE₂ in human CRC cells in vitro. Methods: Tissue from the periphery and centre of 20 human CRCLM was analysed for PGE₂ levels, 15-PGDH and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression, 15-PGDH activity, and NAD+/NADH levels. EMT of LIM1863 human CRC cells was induced by transforming growth factor (TGF) β. Results: PGE₂ levels were significantly higher in the centre of CRCLM compared with peripheral tissue (P = 0.04). There were increased levels of 15-PGDH protein in the centre of CRCLM associated with reduced 15-PGDH activity and low NAD+/NADH levels. There was no significant heterogeneity in COX-2 protein expression. NAD+ availability controlled 15-PGDH activity in human CRC cells in vitro. Hypoxia induced 15-PGDH expression in human CRC cells and promoted EMT, in a similar manner to PGE₂. Combined 15-PGDH expression and loss of membranous E-cadherin (EMT biomarker) were present in the centre of human CRCLM in vivo.Conclusions: There is significant intra-tumoral heterogeneity in PGE₂ content, 15-PGDH activity and NAD+ availability in human CRCLM. Tumour micro-environment (including hypoxia)-driven differences in PGE₂ metabolism should be targeted for novel treatment of advanced CRC

?-glycosidase of the GH3 family produced by filamentous fungus isolated from the intestine of Nausitora fusticula (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) / ?-glicosidase da família GH3 produzida por fungo filamentoso isolado do intestino de Nausitora fusticula (Bivalvia: Teredinidae)

Cellulolytic enzymes are those that are able to break down cellulose into its monomeric component, glucose. This group of enzymes is divided into endoglucanases that act inside the cellulosic fiber, exoglucanases that act on the ends of the chains, and ?-glucosidases that act on endo and exoglucanase products, cellobiose, releasing glucose as the final product. The main producers of these enzymes are filamentous fungi and the search for new microbial sources of these enzymes is essential for research involving the production of bioethanol, to improve the efficiency of this process. The objective of this work was to investigate the production of the cellulolytic complex in a lineage of filamentous fungus, isolated from the intestine of specimens of the teredo species Nausitora fusticula, to characterize some biochemical properties of the isolated enzymes and partially purify them to obtain a cellulolytic extract. From the digestive system of N. fusticula, were isolated fungi good producers of cellulases, which were classified as better producers through enzyme index tests. One specie stood out in the production of the three investigated enzymes, and this was grown in a medium containing carboxymethylcellulose and sugarcane bagasse as substrates for obtaining enzymatic extracts. Cultures with sugarcane bagasse produced a greater amount of cellulases. The production kinetics of these enzymes was evaluated in cultures of up to six days. The temperature and optimum pH of each enzyme was verified, as well as their stability at a temperature of 52º C. The enzymes were partially purified by the ion exchange technique and analyzed by mass spectrometry. The enzyme ?-glycosidase produced showed high similarity with ?-glycosidases of the GH3 family produced by the fungal species Bipolaris sorokiniana. The morphological characteristics of the isolated strain of N. fusticula intestine were very similar to those described for the species B. sorokiniana, which strongly suggests the correlation of these species and consequently the enzymes produced by them