1,011 research outputs found

    Atazanavir-Based Therapy Is Associated with Higher Hepatitis C Viral Load in HIV Type 1-Infected Subjects with Untreated Hepatitis C

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    Comunicación cortaWe assessed the relationship between atazanavir (ATV)-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) and plasma hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral load in a population of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who received ART based on a protease inhibitor (PI) or nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) were included. Patients were stratified by ART drug [ATV/rtv, lopinavir (LPV/rtv), efavirenz (EFV), nevirapine (NVP), and other PIs], HCV genotype (1/4 and 2/3), and IL28B genotype (CC and non-CC). The Kruskal-Wallis test and chi-squared test were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Multivariate analysis consisted of a stepwise linear regression analysis. Six hundred and forty-nine HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were included. HCV genotype 1/4 patients who received ATV had higher HCV RNA levels [6.57 (5.9-6.8) log IU/ml] than those who received LPV [6.1 (5.5-6.5) log IU/ml], EFV [6.1 (5.6-6.4) log IU/ml], NVP [5.8 (5.5-5.9) log IU/ml], or other PIs [6.1 (5.7-6.4) log IU/ml] (p=0.014). This association held for the IL28B genotype (CC versus non-CC). The association was not found in patients carrying HCV genotypes 2/3. The linear regression model identified the IL28B genotype and ATV use as independent factors associated with HCV RNA levels. ATV-based therapy may be associated with a higher HCV RNA viral load in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients

    Synchrotron radiation photoionization mass spectrometry of laser ablated species

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    The present paper describes an experimental apparatus suitable to create and study free clusters by combining laser ablation and synchrotron radiation. First tests on sulfur samples, S, showed the production, through laser ablation, of neutral Sn clusters (n = 1–8). These clusters were ionized using synchrotron radiation at photon energies from 160 eV to 175 eV, across the S 2p core edge. The feasibility of such combined ablation–synchrotron radiation experiments is demonstrated, opening new possibilities on the investigation of free clusters and radical

    Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of a Semiconducting Two-Dimensional Metal–Organic Framework via Iodine Loading

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    We report the first result of a study in which molecular iodine has been incorporated via incipient wetness impregnation into the two-dimensional semiconducting metal–organic framework (MOF) Cu3(2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene)2 Cu3(HHTP)2 to enhance its thermoelectric properties. A power factor of 0.757 μW m–1 K–2 for this MOF was obtained which demonstrates that this provides an effective route for the preparation of moderate-performance thermoelectric MOFs

    Methods of application and dosages of insecticides for Aphis gossypii (Glover) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the yellow melon

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    [PT] - Para aperfeiçoar o manejo fitossanitário de pragas na cultura do melão (Cucumis melo L.), objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de formas de aplicação e doses de inseticidas sobre a eficiência de controle químico do pulgão A. gossypii. O experimento foi realizado em 2010, na cidade de Fortaleza, Ceará, com melão amarelo cultivado em condições de campo. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, arranjo fatorial 2 x 4, com quatro repetições e parcelas de seis plantas. Os tratamentos foram duas formas de aplicação (pulverização costal manual e insetigação por gotejamento) e quatro doses de inseticida (0; 50; 100; 200% da dose recomendada pelo fabricante). Os inseticidas acefato e tiametoxam, testados separadamente, foram aplicados em manejo de rotação de grupos químicos. A eficiência de controle foi avaliada sete dias após o uso de cada inseticida. O acefato não apresentou diferença significativa entre as formas de aplicação, atingindo eficiências de controle de 88,95 e 84,09% com 100 e 200% da dose recomendada, respectivamente. O tiametoxam não diferiu significativamente quanto às formas de aplicação e doses testadas, apresentando eficiência de 100% em todos os tratamentos. Atualmente, no Brasil, a utilização de acefato no melão está limitada à aplicação mecanizada devido ao risco de contaminação. Diante dessa limitação, o controle do pulgão em meloeiro amarelo pode ser realizado via insetigação por gotejo ou pulverização costal manual, devendo-se empregar, preferencialmente, 100% da dose recomendada de tiametoxam.[EN] In order to perfect the phytosanitary management of pests in the melon crop (Cucumis melo L.), the aim here was to evaluate the effects of different methods of application and dosages of insecticides on the effectiveness of chemical control of the aphid A. gossypii. The experiment was carried out in 2010, in Fortaleza, in the state of Ceara, Brazil, with yellow melon grown under field conditions. The experimental design was of randomised blocks in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement, with four replications and lots of six plants. Treatments consisted of two methods of application (manual backpack spray and drip insectigation) and four dosages of insecticide (0, 50, 100 and 200% of the dosage recommended by the manufacturer). The insecticides acephate and thiamethoxam, tested separately, were applied in a rotating management of chemical groups. Efficiency of the control was evaluated seven days after the use of each insecticide. The acephate showed no significant difference between the forms of application, reaching control efficiencies of 88.95 and 84.09% with 100 and 200% of the recommended dose respectively. The thiamethoxam did not differ significantly for the application methods and dosages under test, giving 100% efficiency in all treatments. Currently in Brazil the use of acephate in the melon is limited to mechanised application due to the risk of contamination. Because of this limitation, the control of aphids in yellow melon can be carried out via drip insectigation or backsack spray, with preferably 100% of the recommended dose of thiamethoxam.Do Bomfim, G.; Moreira De Azevedo, B.; Viana, TVA.; Manzano Juarez, J.; Vasconcelos, DV. (2015). Formas de aplicação e doses de inseticidas sobre Aphis gossypii (Glover) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) em melão amarelo. Revista Ciencia Agronomica. 46(3):488-496. doi:10.5935/1806-6690.20150030S48849646

    CAD-Based Shielding Analysis for ITER Port Diagnostics

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    Radiation shielding analysis conducted in support of design development of the contemporary diagnostic systems integrated inside the ITER ports is relied on the use of CAD models. This paper presents the CAD-based MCNP Monte Carlo radiation transport and activation analyses for the Diagnostic Upper and Equatorial Port Plugs (UPP #3 and EPP #8, #17). The creation process of the complicated 3D MCNP models of the diagnostics systems was substantially accelerated by application of the CAD-to-MCNP converter programs MCAM and McCad. High performance computing resources of the Helios supercomputer allowed to speed-up the MCNP parallel transport calculations with the MPI/OpenMP interface. The found shielding solutions could be universal, reducing ports R&D costs. The shield block behind the Tritium and Deposit Monitor (TDM) optical box was added to study its influence on Shut-Down Dose Rate (SDDR) in Port Interspace (PI) of EPP#17. Influence of neutron streaming along the Lost Alpha Monitor (LAM) on the neutron energy spectra calculated in the Tangential Neutron Spectrometer (TNS) of EPP#8. For the UPP#3 with Charge eXchange Recombination Spectroscopy (CXRS-core), an excessive neutron streaming along the CXRS shutter, which should be prevented in further design iteration

    Experimental observation of phase transitions of a deformed Dicke model using a reconfigurable, bi-parametric electronic platform

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    We experimentally study the infinite-size limit of the Dicke model of quantum optics with a parity-breaking deformation strength that couples the system to an external bosonic reservoir. We focus on the dynamical consequences of such symmetry-breaking, which makes the classical phase space asymmetric with non-equivalent energy wells. We present an experimental implementation of the classical version of the deformed Dicke model using a state-of-the-art bi-parametric electronic platform. Our platform constitutes a playground for studying representative phenomena of the deformed Dicke model in electrical circuits with the possibility of externally controlling parameters and initial conditions. In particular, we investigate the dynamics of the ground state, various phase transitions, and the asymmetry of the energy wells as a function of the coupling strength γ\gamma and the deformation strength α\alpha in the resonant case. Additionally, to characterize the various behavior regimes, we present a two-dimensional phase diagram as a function of the two intrinsic system parameters. The onset of chaos is also analyzed experimentally. Our findings provide a clear connection between theoretical predictions and experimental observations, demonstrating the usefulness of our bi-parametric electronic setup

    Surface Physicochemical Properties At The Micro And Nano Length Scales: Role On Bacterial Adhesion And Xylella Fastidiosa Biofilm Development.

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    The phytopathogen Xylella fastidiosa grows as a biofilm causing vascular occlusion and consequently nutrient and water stress in different plant hosts by adhesion on xylem vessel surfaces composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin and proteins. Understanding the factors which influence bacterial adhesion and biofilm development is a key issue in identifying mechanisms for preventing biofilm formation in infected plants. In this study, we show that X. fastidiosa biofilm development and architecture correlate well with physicochemical surface properties after interaction with the culture medium. Different biotic and abiotic substrates such as silicon (Si) and derivatized cellulose films were studied. Both biofilms and substrates were characterized at the micro- and nanoscale, which corresponds to the actual bacterial cell and membrane/ protein length scales, respectively. Our experimental results clearly indicate that the presence of surfaces with different chemical composition affect X. fastidiosa behavior from the point of view of gene expression and adhesion functionality. Bacterial adhesion is facilitated on more hydrophilic surfaces with higher surface potentials; XadA1 adhesin reveals different strengths of interaction on these surfaces. Nonetheless, despite different architectural biofilm geometries and rates of development, the colonization process occurs on all investigated surfaces. Our results univocally support the hypothesis that different adhesion mechanisms are active along the biofilm life cycle representing an adaptation mechanism for variations on the specific xylem vessel composition, which the bacterium encounters within the infected plant.8e7524

    Detection of gastrointestinal nematode populations resistant to albendazole and ivermectin in sheep

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    Gastrointestinal parasite infections represent a major welfare problem in small ruminants reared in extensive systems, which may be exacerbated by anthelmintic resistance. Therefore, we aimed to study the efficacy of albendazole and ivermectin in sheep. Eighty-six animals were selected from commercial farms in the temperate area of the State of Mexico at the age of seven months. These animals were randomly distributed into three groups: Group A, treated with albendazole, Group I, treated with ivermectin and Group C, left untreated. Faecal samples were collected before the anthelmintic was administered and 15 days post-treatment. Both Group A and Group I displayed a significant decrease of faecal egg counts when pre-and post-treatment values were compared (p = 0.003 and p = 0.049, respectively), and a significantly lower faecal egg count when compared with Group C after the treatment (p < 0.05). However, the faecal egg count reduction test showed that gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) developed anthelmintic resistance to both albendazole and ivermectin. The results of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allowed the identification of Cooperia spp., and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The allele-specific PCR results confirmed that T. colubriformis was resistant to albendazole. In conclusion, this study showed the presence of resistant GIN to albendazole and ivermectin in sheep reared in Mexican temperate zones. Therefore, nematode infections should be systematically monitored in order to implement integrated management strategies to prevent the spread of anthelmintic resistance

    Recombination reduction on lead halide perovskite solar cells based on low temperature synthesized hierarchical TiO2 nanorods

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    Intensive research on the electron transport material (ETM) has been pursued to improve the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and decrease their cost. More importantly, the role of the ETM layer is not yet fully understood, and research on new device architectures is still needed. Here, we report the use of three-dimensional (3D) TiO2 with a hierarchical architecture based on rutile nanorods (NR) as photoanode material for PSCs. The proposed hierarchical nanorod (HNR) films were synthesized by a two-step low temperature (180 °C) hydrothermal method, and consist of TiO2 nanorod trunks with optimal lengths of 540 nm and TiO2 nanobranches with lengths of 45 nm. Different device configurations were fabricated with TiO2 structures (compact layer, NR and HNR) and CH3NH3PbI3, using different synthetic routes, as the active material. PSCs based on HNR-CH3NH3PbI3 achieved the highest power conversion efficiency compared to PSCs with other TiO2 structures. This result can be ascribed mainly to lower charge recombination as determined by impedance spectroscopy. Furthermore, we have observed that the CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite deposited by the two-step route shows higher efficiency, surface coverage and infiltration within the structure of 3D HNR than the one-step CH3NH3PbI3−xClx perovskite.This work was supported by the Universitat Jaume I (project 12I361.01/1), the Spanish MINECO (project MAT2013-47192- C3-1-R), CONACYT-México (project CB-2010/153270) and UNAM (PAPIIT-IN1030
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