840 research outputs found
Detection and accurate identification of new or emerging bacteria in cystic fibrosis patients
AbstractRespiratory infections remain a major threat to cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The detection and correct identification of the bacteria implicated in these infections is critical for the therapeutic management of patients. The traditional methods of culture and phenotypic identification of bacteria lack both sensitivity and specificity because many bacteria can be missed and/or misidentified. Molecular analyses have recently emerged as useful means to resolve these problems, including molecular methods for accurate identification or detection of bacteria and molecular methods for evaluation of microbial diversity. These recent molecular technologies have increased the list of new and/or emerging pathogens and epidemic strains associated with CF patients. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of intact cells has also emerged recently as a powerful and rapid method for the routine identification of bacteria in clinical microbiology laboratories and will certainly represent the method of choice also for the routine identification of bacteria in the context of CF. Finally, recent data derived from molecular culture-independent analyses indicate the presence of a previously underestimated, complex microbial community in sputa from CF patients. Interestingly, full genome sequencing of some bacteria frequently recovered from CF patients has highlighted the fact that the lungs of CF patients are hoT-SPOTs for lateral gene transfer and the adaptation of these ecosystems to a specific chronic condition
Magnetic, thermal and transport properties of Cd doped CeIn
We have investigated the effect of Cd substitution on the archetypal heavy
fermion antiferromagnet CeIn via magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and
resistivity measurements. The suppression of the Neel temperature, T,
with Cd doping is more pronounced than with Sn. Nevertheless, a doping induced
quantum critical point does not appear to be achievable in this system. The
magnetic entropy at and the temperature of the maximum in resistivity are
also systematically suppressed with Cd, while the effective moment and the
Curie-Weiss temperature in the paramagnetic state are not affected. These
results suggest that Cd locally disrupts the AFM order on its neighboring Ce
moments, without affecting the valence of Ce. Moreover, the temperature
dependence of the specific heat below is not consistent with 3D magnons
in pure as well as in Cd-doped CeIn, a point that has been missed in
previous investigations of CeIn and that has bearing on the type of quantum
criticality in this system
Training-induced inversion of spontaneous exchange bias field on La1.5Ca0.5CoMnO6
In this work we report the synthesis and structural, electronic and magnetic
properties of La1.5Ca0.5CoMnO6 double-perovskite. This is a re-entrant spin
cluster material which exhibits a non-negligible negative exchange bias effect
when it is cooled in zero magnetic field from an unmagnetized state down to low
temperature. X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and
magnetometry results indicate mixed valence state at Co site, leading to
competing magnetic phases and uncompensated spins at the magnetic interfaces.
We compare the results for this Ca-doped material with those reported for the
resemblant compound La1.5Sr0.5CoMnO6, and discuss the much smaller spontaneous
exchange bias effect observed for the former in terms of its structural and
magnetic particularities. For La1.5Ca0.5CoMnO6, when successive magnetization
loops are carried, the spontaneous exchange bias field inverts its sign from
negative to positive from the first to the second measurement. We discuss this
behavior based on the disorder at the magnetic interfaces, related to the
presence of a glassy phase. This compound also exhibits a large conventional
exchange bias, for which there is no sign inversion of the exchange bias field
for consecutive cycles
Distinct high-T transitions in underdoped BaKFeAs
In contrast to the simultaneous structural and magnetic first order phase
transition previously reported, our detailed investigation on an
underdoped BaKFeAs single crystal unambiguously
revealed that the transitions are not concomitant. The tetragonal (:
I4/mmm) - orthorhombic (: Fmmm) structural transition occurs at
110 K, followed by an adjacent antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition
at 102 K. Hysteresis and coexistence of the and
phases over a finite temperature range observed in our NMR
experiments confirm the first order character of the structural transition and
provide evidence that both and are strongly correlated. Our
data also show that superconductivity (SC) develops in the phase
below = 20 K and coexists with long range AFM. This new observation,
, firmly establishes another similarity between the hole-doped
BaFeAs via K substitution and the electron-doped iron-arsenide
superconductors.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Association of a green tea extract with serum immunoglobulin G status and neonatal vitality in newborn dairy calves
Poor vigor at birth has been associated with reduced IgG absorption from colostrum and a reduced vitality in neonatal dairy calves. Some natural compounds, such as green tea extract, may improve vitality in compromised calves. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the potential of supplementing a green tea extract (15 mL) to calves to improve vigor and activity behavior for the first 72 h postnatal. Also, this study aimed to investigate the influence of green tea extract supplementation on calf serum IgG concentration and the apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA) of colostral IgG. Holstein calves (n = 24) weighing 42.49 ± 1.07 kg postnatal received a complete random assignment at 3 h of one 15-mL dose of green tea extract (Calf Perk, TechMix) or distilled water orally before tube feeding colostrum replacer (Premolac Plus IgG, Zinpro) at 4 h postnatal. Two observers assessed for calving time and dystocia by live video stream to retrieve all calves within 2 h postnatal. One veterinarian performed a baseline vigor assessment based on heart rate and response to stimuli on all calves at 2.5 h, before colostrum feeding at 3.75 h, as well as at 24, 48, and 72 h postnatal. Calf blood samples were taken to assess total IgG by radial immunodiffusion assay at 2.5, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. Calf vitality was also observed continuously by video for all calves to determine whether treatment was associated with attempts to stand, lying time, and exploration of their pen environment for the first 24 h. We used an ordinal logistic model to evaluate the odds of green tea extract improving a calf\u27s vigor category from 2.5 h postnatal to 72 h of age. Vigor score was categorized as abnormal (≤4), average (5), or alert (≥6), with hour as a fixed effect. We also ran mixed linear models to evaluate the effect of extract on total IgG and AEA, with time and dystocia as fixed effects. Five dystocia calves were enrolled (2 control, 3 extract), but assistance was minor (e.g., manual assistance and all were assisted within 1 h). Baseline vigor scores and baseline total IgG were not different between groups. Vigor score category was not associated with green tea extract supplementation (odds ratio 1.17; 95% CI: 0.43–3.15) but increased with time compared with controls. We observed no association of treatment with total IgG or AEA in the calves, suggesting green tea extract does not compromise IgG absorption. Calf vitality, lying behavior, and exploratory behavior were not associated with green tea extract treatment. Our findings suggest that green tea extract supplementation does not affect AEA and serum IgG concentration in calves. Future research should evaluate whether green tea extract improves vitality in calves experiencing severe dystocia
Compensation temperatures and exchange bias in La1.5Ca0.5CoIrO6
We report on the study of magnetic properties of the La1.5Ca0.5CoIrO6 double
perovskite. Via ac magnetic susceptibility we have observed evidence of weak
ferromagnetism and reentrant spin glass behavior on an antiferromagnetic
matrix. Regarding the magnetic behavior as a function of temperature, we have
found that the material displays up to three inversions of its magnetization,
depending on the appropriate choice of the applied magnetic field. At low
temperature the material exhibit exchange bias effect when it is cooled in the
presence of a magnetic field. Also, our results indicate that this effect may
be observed even when the system is cooled at zero field. Supported by other
measurements and also by electronic structure calculations, we discuss the
magnetic reversals and spontaneous exchange bias effect in terms of magnetic
phase separation and magnetic frustration of Ir4+ ions located between the
antiferromagnetically coupled Co ions.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures and supplemental materia
Composição quÃmica e digestibilidade in vitro do pedúnculo de caju.
O presente trabalho se propõe a avaliar a composição quÃmica-bromatológica e a digestibilidade in vitro do pedúnculo de caju, um subproduto fibroso, tratado ou não tratado com ureia
- …