A complete characterisation of All-versus-Nothing arguments for stabiliser states

An important class of contextuality arguments in quantum foundations are the All-versus-Nothing (AvN) proofs, generalising a construction originally due to Mermin. We present a general formulation of All-versus-Nothing arguments, and a complete characterisation of all such arguments which arise from stabiliser states. We show that every AvN argument for an n-qubit stabiliser state can be reduced to an AvN proof for a three-qubit state which is local Clifford-equivalent to the tripartite GHZ state. This is achieved through a combinatorial characterisation of AvN arguments, the AvN triple Theorem, whose proof makes use of the theory of graph states. This result enables the development of a computational method to generate all the AvN arguments in $\mathbb{Z}_2$ on n-qubit stabiliser states. We also present new insights into the stabiliser formalism and its connections with logic.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure

Incident light orientation lets C4 monocotyledonous leaves make light work differently

Photosynthesis is an important driver of ecosystem sustainability in the face of climate change. Monocotyledonous crop species with C4 photosynthesis such as maize (Zea mays L; corn) and sugar cane are crucial for future food security and biofuel crop requirements, while C4 pasture grasses such as Paspalum are central to natural ecosystems. The global demand for corn will exceed that for wheat and rice by 2020, making it the world's most important crop. Light-driven photosynthesis supports plant biomass production, but plants have also evolved safety valve mechanisms that attenuate the absorption of potentially lethal levels of excess light. The array of survival responses that enables leaves to evade photoinhibition is complex and involves chloroplast and leaf movement as well as the molecular rearrangements that facilitate thermal energy dissipation. Here we report a novel morphological mechanism that allows C4 monocotyledonous leaves to regulate photosynthesis independently on each surface with respect to incident light allowing better adaptation to water deficits and light stress. We show that under abaxial illumination as occurs when monocotyledonous leaves curl in response to water stress the stomata close and photosynthetic metabolism shuts down on the adaxial surface of C4 leaves but these parameters increase in function to the abaxial surface. We discuss how this regulation confers a survival advantage to the C4 relative to C3 leaves which are unable to regulate their dorso-ventral functions in relation to light

ABCC subfamily vacuolar transporters are involved in Pb (lead) detoxification in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The present work has as objective to contribute for the elucidation of the mechanism associated with Pb detoxification, using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism. The deletion of GTT1 or GTT2 genes, coding for functional glutathione transferases (GST) enzymes in S. cerevisiae, caused an increased susceptibility to high Pb concentrations (5001000 mol L1). These results suggest that the formation of glutathione-Pb conjugate (GS-Pb), dependent of GSTs, is important in Pb detoxification. The involvement of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) vacuolar transporters, belonging to class C subfamily (ABCC) in vacuolar compartmentalization of Pb, was evaluated. For this purpose, mutant strains disrupted in YCF1, VMR1, YBT1 or BPT 1 genes were used. All mutants tested, without vacuolar ABCC transporters, presented an increased sensitivity to 5001000 mol L1 Pb comparative to wild-type strain. Taken together, the obtained results suggest that Pb detoxification, by vacuolar compartmentalization, can occur as a result of the concerted action of GSTs and vacuolar ABCC transporters. Pb is conjugated with glutathione, catalysed by glutathione transferases and followed to the transport of GS-Pb conjugate to the vacuole by ABCC transporters.The authors thank the FCT Strategic Project PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013

THE REALLOCATTION OF THE ANT SPECIES Dinoponera lucida EMERY (FORMICIDAE: PONERINAE) POPULATION INCREASING ITS LOCAL GENETIC DIVERSITY

The aim of the current study is to describe the genetic consequences of the reallocation process in order to preserve an entire Dinoponera lucida Emery, 1901 population. The sample collection and the mitochondrial data analysis were conducted before and after the reallocation of nests in two conservation unities in Espírito Santo State, Southeastern Brazil. The data analysis showed that the genetic variability inside the forest fragmentation has considerably increased above the natural levels. The importance of the present study relies on information and notifications about the herein studied populations, which will be provided to future studies

Environmental Response of Dinoponera lucida Emery 1901 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), an Endemic Threatened Species of the Atlantic Forest Central Corridor

Endemic species of Atlantic Forest Central Corridor may have evolved under adverse climate conditions, but their response to modern climate change is unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the response of the endemic and endangered ant species Dinoponera lucida to biotics and abiotics factors based on three scales: ecological factors inside forest fragment, physical attributes of landscape and climatic variables of the assessed region. Data collection took place in a representative selection of forest fragments in the region where the species is distributed in. Pitfalls were used to collect samples and to assure the presence and absence of the species in the site. We also checked the abundance of food resources and applied a hemispherical photography technique to measure shading inside the fragment, in loco. Landscape attributes data and climatic predictors were collected through geoprocessing techniques. All predictors were associated with binary “presence” and “absence” data based applied in logistic models. There was no significant response to environmental aspects within the fragment or to landscape, but there was strong and peculiar response to climatic variables such as temperature and rainfall. Accordingly, D. lucida presents a restricted realized niche, a feature shared among many endangered species that can disappear due to displacement and to habitat loss caused by climate and environmental changes. This species presents all the criteria necessary to be considered as rare, which is a controversial subject with political implications for Espírito Santo state, and makes D. lucida the ideal target for urgent conservation strategies

Do isolacionismo ao intervencionismo: a participação dos Estados Unidos nas grandes guerras mundiais do século XX (1914 – 1944)

A influência norte-americana se dá praticamente em todo o sistema internacional. Para que os norte-americanos chegassem a essa posição, utilizaram, desde o final da Segunda Guerra Mundial, diversas ferramentas que lhes deram a oportunidade de obter e, posteriormente, consolidar sua capacidade de impor seus interesses sobre todo o sistema internacional, o que denota a habilidade do país na formação de novas diretrizes de poder. A potência passou por um longo processo de expansão, sobretudo no período entre guerras e durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, que lhe permitiu emergir do conflito mundial com indeléveis vantagens em relação aos países da Europa. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a participação dos EUA nos dois conflitos mundiais e como se deu a passagem de sua atuação de cenário internacional do isolacionismo para o intervencionismo

Myristica lowiana Phytochemicals as Inhibitor of Plasmid Conjugation in Escherichia coli

Hexane extract and methanol fraction from the stem bark of Myristica lowiana specifically and significantly inhibited the conjugal transfer of the IncW plasmid R7K, a plasmid which harbors ampicillin-, streptomycin-, and spectinomycin-resistant genes. The transfer of this plasmid via the conjugative pilli of Escherichia coli was reduced by 76.5 ± 2.0% and 79.0 ± 1.2% by hexane extract and methanol fraction of M. lowiana, respectively. The hexane extract exhibited significant anti-conjugant activity at a non-cytotoxic concentration of 100 mg/L as assessed against adult human dermal fibroblast cells. The hexane extract and methanol fraction were screened using phytochemical tests, NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) and were found to contain terpenoids, sterols, and fatty acids

Processo decisório em política externa comercial : uma análise sobre a atuação do Brasil nas negociações agrícolas das rodadas Uruguai e Doha (1986-1990/2003-2008)

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Fabrício Ricardo de Limas TomioTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Humanas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Política. Defesa : Curitiba, 30/11/2020Inclui referências: p. 142-148Resumo: Esta Tese de Doutorado tem como objetivo analisar, comparativamente, o processo decisório que delineou a atuação do Brasil nas negociações agrícolas do Sistema Multilateral de Comércio na Rodada Uruguai (1986-1990) e na Rodada Doha (2003-2008). Empregando-se o process tracing, buscar-se-á avaliar o papel do Ministério das Relações Exteriores e sua interação com os demais atores, nos dois momentos. Buscar-se-á responder se as mudanças ocasionadas nas estruturas políticas domésticas, a partir do processo de redemocratização, afetaram o papel da diplomacia na condução da política externa e como isso impactou na participação dos demais atores. Levanta-se a hipótese que, apesar de essas mudanças terem permitido o aumento da porosidade do MRE à participação de outros atores, tanto de outros órgãos do Governo como da sociedade civil interessada, o Ministério de Relações Exteriores continua sendo o ator central e que detém a palavra final processo decisório. Ou seja, a abertura a outros atores não implica na diminuição do seu peso no processo decisório. Palavras-Chave: Política Externa Comercial. Processo Decisório. Ministério de Relações Exteriores. Atores.Abstract: This Thesis aims to analyze, comparatively, the decision-making process that outlined Brazil's performance in the agricultural negotiations of the Multilateral Trade System in the Uruguay Round (1986-1990) and in the Doha Round (2003-2008). Using process tracing, the research will seek to evaluate the role of Itamaraty and its interaction with other actors, at both times. The main question is whether the changes brought about in domestic political structures, from the process of redemocratization, affected the role of diplomacy in the conduct of foreign policy and how it impacted the participation of other actors. The hypothesis raised is that, although these changes allowed the increase in the porosity of the MRE to the participation of other actors, both from Government structure and from civil society, Itamaraty remains the central actor and holds the final decision. In other words, openness to other actors does not imply a decrease in its weight in the decision-making process. Keywords: Foreign Trade Policy. Decision-Making Process. Itamaraty. Actors