Reply to “Comments on ‘Global and Regional Entropy Production by Radiation Estimated from Satellite Observations’”

This reply addresses a comment on the study by Kato and Rose (herein referred to as KR2020). The comment raises four points of criticism. These are 1) on notations used, 2) on a steady-state assumption made, 3) on the result of entropy production change with Earth’s albedo, and 4) disputing the statement that a simple energy balance model cannot produce absorption temperature change with Earth’s albedo. We concur on points 2 and 3 raised by the comment and recognize the significance of entropy storage due to ocean heating in the analysis of how entropy production changes with the shortwave absorptivity of Earth. Once entropy storage is considered, the results of KR2020 indicate that the increase of entropy production rate by irreversible processes, including by radiative processes, is smaller than the increase of entropy storage when absorptivity is increased. This is a manifestation of the primary contribution of positive top-of-atmosphere net irradiances (i.e., energy input to Earth) to heating the ocean and is consistent with an energy budget perspective. Once entropy storage is separated, the entropy production by irreversible processes increases with the shortwave absorptivity.

Engineering Bacterial Cellulose by Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is an advanced form of genetic manipulation that applies the principles of modularity and engineering design to reprogram cells by changing their DNA. Over the last decade, synthetic biology has begun to be applied to bacteria that naturally produce biomaterials, in order to boost material production, change material properties and to add new functionalities to the resulting material. Recent work has used synthetic biology to engineer several Komagataeibacter strains; bacteria that naturally secrete large amounts of the versatile and promising material bacterial cellulose (BC). In this review, we summarize how genetic engineering, metabolic engineering and now synthetic biology have been used in Komagataeibacter strains to alter BC, improve its production and begin to add new functionalities into this easy-to-grow material. As well as describing the milestone advances, we also look forward to what will come next from engineering bacterial cellulose by synthetic biology.

AVALIAÇÃO DO MARCO REGULATÓRIO NA PRODUÇÃO DE MEDICAMENTOS FITOTERÁPICOS NO BRASIL

Resumo: Para analisar a legislação para fitoterápicos no Brasil e as mudanças propostas com o Projeto de Lei n.o 3381/2004, que tenta modernizá-la, foi utilizado o Delphi Eletrônico, que busca o consenso de opiniões entre especialistas na área. Assim, foram aplicados 100 questionários e, a partir dos resultados, foi possível constatar que a atual legislação é uma das maiores barreiras do setor, devido às exigências e altos custos com pesquisas, assim como a falta de estudo sobre as plantas nativas, o que privilegia a entrada de plantas exóticas no país. A falta de informação, descrédito e desconfiança dos profissionais prescritores, também, têm prejudicado o setor. A pesquisa conclui, portanto, que se o Projeto de Lei for aprovado, trará mudanças positivas como: influência no comportamento das indústrias brasileiras, aumentando sua produção; alteração na localização geográfica das indústrias deste setor, causando a descentralização; aumento na utilização de plantas nativas que, consequentemente, ocasionará a diminuição nos níveis de importação.Palavras-chave: Plantas Medicinais, fitoterápicos, legislação.EVALUATION OF THE REGULATORY MARK IN THE PRODUCTION OF PHYTOTHERAPEUTIC MEDICINES IN BRAZILAbstract: To analyze the legislation of phytotherapeutic in Brazil and the changes proposed by the Law Project 3381/2004, that tempts to modernize it, was utilized the Electronic Delphi, that looks for opinion consensus among specialists of the area. Therefore, one hundred questionnaires were applied and the results discovered that the current legislation is one of the biggest limits to the production chain, due to the exigencies and high costs with researches, as well as the lack of study about native herbs, that makes easier the entrance of exotic plants in the country. The lack of information, discredit and suspicion of the prescriber professionals, also, have prejudiced of the area. Concludes that if the Law Project comes to be approved, it will bring positive changes like: influence in the behavior of Brazilian industries, increasing its production; change of geographical place of the industries of this sector, causing decentralization; improve the use of native herbs that, consequently will cause a decrease in the importation levels.Key words: Medicinal plants, phytotherapeutics, legislation.