Clock spectroscopy of interacting bosons in deep optical lattices

We report on high-resolution optical spectroscopy of interacting bosonic $^{174}$Yb atoms in deep optical lattices with negligible tunneling. We prepare Mott insulator phases with singly- and doubly-occupied isolated sites and probe the atoms using an ultra-narrow "clock" transition. Atoms in singly-occupied sites undergo long-lived Rabi oscillations. Atoms in doubly-occupied sites are strongly affected by interatomic interactions, and we measure their inelastic decay rates and energy shifts. We deduce from these measurements all relevant collisional parameters involving both clock states, in particular the intra- and inter-state scattering lengths

Reiter syndrome following protracted symptoms of Cyclospora infection.

Two large outbreaks of diarrheal illness associated with Cyclospora cayetanensis, a coccidian parasite, provided an opportunity to evaluate clinical syndromes associated with this enteric pathogen. Reiter syndrome, a triad of ocular inflammation, inflammatory oligoarthritis, and sterile urethritis, has been associated with enteric infections. We describe the first case of Reiter syndrome following protracted symptoms of Cyclospora infection

A Mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana with a Reduced Response to Fusicoccin. I

Because fusicoccin (FC) has the the capacity to promote solute uptake, a selective procedure for isolating mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana with a reduced response to the toxin has been developed. The procedure is based on the incubation of A. thaliana seedlings in a solution containing the cation Paraquat (Pq) at a concentration that per se does not produce bleaching of the leaves upon illumination but does in the presence of FC because of the increased uptake of the toxic cation. Using this procedure, we identified, among the progenies of 2010 M1 ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized plants, two mutants that stay green after exposure to FC and Pq. Some properties and inheritance of one of the two mutants (5\u20132) are described. Morphology of mutant plants is almost indistinguishable from that of the wild type. However, 5\u20132 seeds germinate and produce viable seedlings in the presence of FC plus the aminoglycoside antibiotic hygromycin B: plants of the mutant do not wilt when exposed to FC and stomata do not open or open only partially. In the presence of FC, the mutant appears less responsive than the wild type as far as the increment in fresh weight, the enlargement of leaf disc area, or the stimulation of H+ extrusion is concerned. Inheritance of the trait is monogenic dominant or semidominant, depending on the test used

Recuperação de pastagens no sudeste paraense com cultivo sequenciado de arroz e milho mecanizado.

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Removal of metallic elements from real wastewater using zebra mussel bio-filtration process

The metallic element pollution is a serious environmental problem but still unsolved since these contaminants are released mainly by human activity, reaching all the environmental compartments. Traditional wastewater treatment plants are very efficient in removing metallic elements only when their concentration is in the order of mg/L, but are not able to remove them until \u3bcg/L, as it would be needed to cope with the water quality standards in low flow receptors. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the potential removal of some recalcitrant metallic elements to the classical treatments, by the natural process of bio-filtration performed by the invasive zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). For this purpose we built a pilot-plant at the Milano-Nosedo wastewater treatment plant, where we placed about 40,000 D. polymorpha specimens appointed to the wastewater bio-filtration. The metallic element removal due to zebra mussel activity was evaluated in the treated wastewater with a plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Data obtained in these experiments showed an encouraging metallic element removal due to D. polymorpha activity; in particular, the total abatement (100%) of Cr after one day of bio-filtration exposure is remarkable. Therefore, this study encourages further research related with the use of bivalves as a new tool for the wastewater depuration process; in this regard, the contaminated mollusks used in the bio-filtration could be incinerated or stored in special landfills, as is also the case of traditional sewage sludge

Use of a new proximity assay (NanoBRET) to investigate the ligand binding characteristics of three fluorescent ligands to the human β1-adrenoceptor expressed in HEK-293 cells

Previous research has indicated that allosteric interactions across the dimer interface of β1-adrenoceptors may be responsible for a secondary low affinity binding conformation. Here we have investigated the potential for probe dependence, in the determination of antagonist pKi values at the human β1-adenoceptor, which may result from such allosterism interactions. Three fluorescent β1-adrenoceptor ligands were used to investigate this using bioluminescence energy transfer (BRET) between the receptor-bound fluorescent ligand and the N-terminal NanoLuc tag of a human β1-adrenoceptor expressed in HEK 293 cells (NanoBRET). This proximity assay showed high affinity specific binding to the NanoLuc-β1-adrenoceptor with each of the three fluorescent ligands yielding KD values of 87.1 ± 10nM (n=8), 38.1 ± 12nM (n=7), 13.4 ± 2nM (n=14) for propranolol-Peg8-BY630, propranolol-3(Ala-Ala)-BY630 and CGP-12177- TMR respectively. Parallel radioligand-binding studies with 3H-CGP12177 and TIRF microscopy, to monitor NanoLuc bioluminescence, confirmed a high cell surface expression of the NanoLuc- 31-adrenoceptor in HEK 293 cells (circa 1500 fmol.mg protein-1). Following a 1h incubation with fluorescent ligands and β1-adrenoceptor competing antagonists, there were significant differences (p < 0.001) in the pKi values obtained for CGP20712a and CGP 12177 with the different fluorescent ligands and 3H-CGP 12177. However, increasing the incubation time to 2h removed these significant differences. The data obtained show that the NanoBRET assay can be applied successfully to study ligand-receptor interactions at the human β1-adrenoceptor. However, the study also emphasizes the importance of ensuring that both the fluorescent and competing ligands are in true equilibrium before interpretations regarding probe dependence can be made

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in the Vatican city state

The results of this seroprevalence analysis showed a positivity rate among individuals assisted by the internal healthcare system of the Vatican City State lower than that found in other studies on similar samples. This may be due to the small sample size and to the low number of COVID-19 cases tracked in the Vatican City State thanks to the control and prevention measures taken by the Directorate of Health and Hygiene. These measures were applied uninterruptedly through the first and second waves and included preventive measures such as hand disinfection, social distancing, use of face masks, body temperature measurement and symptom screening, as well as clinical surveillance, isolation protocols for symptomatic individuals and careful evaluation of all potential contacts

Selection of rice cultivars resistant to some pathogens using seed health testing

Trinta e seis progênies de arroz (Oryza sativa L) irrigado foram testadas, em campo, objetivando-se determinar os fungos mais importantes de sementes e o desempenho das progênies com relação a esses patógenos, dando-se ênfase especial à descoloração e consequente perda de peso de sementes. Observaram-se diferenças significativas entre progênies quanto à presença de sete fungos de sementes. Entretanto, considerando-se a descoloração e a consequente perda de peso de sementes, Rhynchosporium oryzae, Phoma spp., Trichoconis padwickii e Helminthosporium oryzae se apresentaram como patógenos mais nocivos. Em todos os parâmetros analisados, sete progênies suplantaram a cultivar comercial IAC-899, usada como controle. Conclui-se que, apesar de trabalhoso, o teste de sanidade de sementes é um instrumento muito eficaz na seleção de novos germoplasmas de arroz com baixa incidência de fungos de sementes.Thirty-six lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) progenies have been tested in yield trials aiming at determining the most important seed-borne fungi and the progeny performance as to each of the pathogens found in seeds, with special emphasis on seed discoloration and consequent seed weight loss. Significant progeny differences as to seven seed-born fungi have been found; however, as far as seed discoloration and consequent seed weight loss are concerned, Rhynchosporium oryzae, Phoma spp., Trichoconis padwickii and Helminthosporium oryzae have been the most important pathogens. Seven progenies outperformed IAC-899 (commercial variety used as control) regarding all the parameters analysed. It is concluded that seed health testing is an effective complementary 1001 in selecting rice germplasms with lower seed-borne fungal incidence

Optically trapped Feshbach molecules of fermionic 161Dy and 40K

We report on the preparation of a pure ultracold sample of bosonic DyK Feshbach molecules, which are composed of the fermionic isotopes 161Dy and 40K. Employing a magnetic sweep across a resonance located near 7.3 G, we produce up to 5000 molecules at a temperature of about 50 nK. For purification from the remaining atoms, we apply a Stern-Gerlach technique based on magnetic levitation of the molecules in a very weak optical dipole trap. With the trapped molecules we finally reach a high phase-space density of about 0.1. We measure the magnetic field dependence of the molecular binding energy and the magnetic moment, refining our knowledge of the resonance parameters. We also demonstrate a peculiar anisotropic expansion effect observed when the molecules are released from the trap and expand freely in the magnetic levitation field. Moreover, we identify an important lifetime limitation that is imposed by the 1064-nm infrared trap light itself and not by inelastic collisions. The light-induced decay rate is found to be proportional to the trap light intensity and the closed-channel fraction of the Feshbach molecule. These observations suggest a one-photon coupling to electronically excited states to limit the lifetime and point to the prospect of loss suppression by optimizing the wavelength of the trapping light. Our results represent important insights and experimental steps on the way to achieve quantum-degenerate samples of DyK molecules and novel superfluids based on mass-imbalanced fermion mixtures