Recent advances in production of lignocellulolytic enzymes by solid-state fermentation of agro-industrial wastes

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Tail estimates for one-dimensional random walk in random environment

Suppose that the integers are assigned i.i.d. random variables { _x } (taking values in the unit interval), which serve as an environment. This environment defines a random walk {X _k } (called a RWRE) which, when atx, moves one step to the right with probability _x , and one step to the left with probability 1- _x . Solomon (1975) determined the almost-sure asymptotic speed (=rate of escape) of a RWRE. For certain environment distributions where the drifts 2 _x -1 can take both positive and negative values, we show that the chance of the RWRE deviating below this speed has a polynomial rate of decay, and determine the exponent in this power law; for environments which allow only positive and zero drifts, we show that these large-deviation probabilities decay like exp(–Cn ^1/3). This differs sharply from the rates derived by Greven and den-Hollander (1994) for large deviation probabilities conditioned on the environment. As a by product we also provide precise tail and moment estimates for the total population size in a Branching Process with Random Environment.Partially supported by NSF DMS-9209712 and DMS-9403553 grants, by a US-ISRAEL BSF grant and by the S. and N. Grand research fund.Research partially supported by NSF grant # DMS-9404391 and a Junior Faculty Fellowship from the Regents of the University of California.Partially supported by NSF grant # DMS-9302709, by a US-Israel BSF grant and by the fund for promotion of research at the Technion.     

The Divisible Sandpile at Critical Density

The divisible sandpile starts with i.i.d. random variables (“masses”) at the vertices of an infinite, vertex-transitive graph, and redistributes mass by a local toppling rule in an attempt to make all masses ≤  1. The process stabilizes almost surely if m < 1 and it almost surely does not stabilize if m > 1, where m is the mean mass per vertex. The main result of this paper is that in the critical case m = 1, if the initial masses have finite variance, then the process almost surely does not stabilize. To give quantitative estimates on a finite graph, we relate the number of topplings to a discrete bi-Laplacian Gaussian field.     

Quantum cryptography with 3-state systems

We consider quantum cryptographic schemes where the carriers of information are 3-state particles. One protocol uses four mutually unbiased bases and appears to provide better security than obtainable with 2-state carriers. Another possible method allows quantum states to belong to more than one basis. Security is not better, but many curious features arise.     

Finite-frequency optical absorption in 1D conductors and mott-hubbard insulators

The frequency-dependent conductivity is studied for the one-dimensional Hubbard model, using a selection rule, the Bethe ansatz, and symmetries associated with conservation laws. For densities where the system is metallic the absorption spectrum has two contributions, a Drude peak at omega = 0 separated by a pseudogap from a broad absorption band whose lower edge is characterized by a nonclassical critical exponent. Our findings shed new light on the "far infrared puzzle" and other optical properties of metallic organic chain compounds.     

A New Lipase Isolated from Oleaginous Seeds from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pachira aquatica</Emphasis> (Bombacaceae)

A new lipase from seeds of Pachira aquatica was purified to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE obtaining an enzyme with a molecular weight of approximately 55 kDa. The purified lipase exhibited maximum activity at 40 degrees C and pH 8.0, for an incubation time of 90 min. Concerning temperature stability, at the range from 4 to 50 degrees C, it retained approximately 47% of its original activity for 3 h. The enzyme activity increased in the presence of Ca(++) and Mg(++), but was inhibited by Hg(++), Mn(++), Zn(++), Al(+++) and various oxidizing and reducing agents. The lipase was highly stable in the presence of organic solvents, and its activity was stimulated by methanol. The values of K(m) and V(max) were 1.65 mM and 37.3 micromol mL(-1) min(-1), respectively, using p-nitrophenylacetate as substrate. The enzyme showed preference for esters of long-chain fatty acids, but demonstrated significant activity against a wide range of substrates.     

Protein extraction for proteome analysis from cacao leaves and meristems, organs infected by Moniliophthora perniciosa, the causal agent of the witches' broom disease

Preparation of high-quality proteins from cacao vegetative organs is difficult due to very high endogenous levels of polysaccharides and polyphenols. In order to establish a routine procedure for the application of proteomic and biochemical analysis to cacao tissues, three new protocols were developed; one for apoplastic washing fluid (AWF) extraction, and two for protein extraction--under denaturing and nondenaturing conditions. The first described method allows a quick and easy collection of AWF--using infiltration-centrifugation procedure--that is representative of its composition in intact leaves according to the smaller symplastic contamination detected by the use of the hexose phosphate isomerase marker. Protein extraction under denaturing conditions for 2-DE was remarkably improved by the combination of chemically and physically modified processes including phenol, SDS dense buffer and sonication steps. With this protocol, high-quality proteins from cacao leaves and meristems were isolated, and for the first time well-resolved 1-DE and 2-DE protein patterns of cacao vegetative organs are shown. It also appears that sonication associated with polysaccharide precipitation using tert-butanol was a crucial step for the nondenaturing protein extraction and subsequent enzymatic activity detection. It is expected that the protocols described here could help to develop high-level proteomic and biochemical studies in cacao also being applicable to other recalcitrant plant tissues.     

Changes in mouse Leydig cells ultrastructure and testosterone secretion after diethylcarbamazine administration

Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) has been proven to be highly effective against lymphatic filariasis, although its effect on vertebrate cells remains uncertain. Mice Leydig cells after treatment with 200mg/kg of DEC for 12 days showed numerous lipid droplets, degenerated mitochondria, residual bodies and several giant whorl-like smooth endoplasmic reticulum, some of them encircling large lipids droplets. Treatment with lower dosages showed similar alterations on Leydig cells and the morphological effects decreased directly proportional to the drug concentration. Serum testosterone levels were significantly lower only in 200 mg/kg DEC-treated group when compared to the controls. However, no significant changes were observed in the pregnancy rates and offspring number of DEC-treated male-mated female mice in any doses studied. The results obtained in the present study are consistent with the hypothesis that DEC has some effects on mice Leydig cells, although they were not sufficient enough to interfere with the rodent fertility.     

Localized magnetic states in graphene

We examine the conditions necessary for the presence of localized magnetic moments on adatoms with inner shell electrons in graphene. We show that the low density of states at the Dirac point, and the anomalous broadening of the adatom electronic level, lead to the formation of magnetic moments for arbitrarily small local charging energy. As a result, we obtain an anomalous scaling of the boundary separating magnetic and nonmagnetic states. We show that, unlike any other material, the formation of magnetic moments can be controlled by an electric field effect.     

Localized states at zigzag edges of bilayer graphene

We report the existence of zero-energy surface states localized at zigzag edges of bilayer graphene. Working within the tight-binding approximation we derive the analytic solution for the wave functions of these peculiar surface states. It is shown that zero-energy edge states in bilayer graphene can be divided into two families: (i) states living only on a single plane, equivalent to surface states in monolayer graphene and (ii) states with a finite amplitude over the two layers, with an enhanced penetration into the bulk. The bulk and surface (edge) electronic structure of bilayer graphene nanoribbons is also studied, both in the absence and in the presence of a bias voltage between planes.