VLBA imaging of radio-loud BAL QSOs

Broad Absorption Line Quasars (BAL QSOs) have been found to be associated with extremely compact radio sources. These reduced dimensions can be either due to projection effects or these objects might actually be intrinsically small. Exploring these two hypotheses is important to understand the nature and origin of the BAL phenomenon because orientation effects are an important discriminant between the different models proposed to explain this phenomenon. In this work we present VLBA observations of 5 BAL QSOs and discuss their pc-scale morpholog

Morphology and orientation of radio-loud Broad Absorption Line quasars

ABSTRACT: BAL QSOs are still a not-well understood class of objects. In the UV spectra they show Broad Absorption Lines (BALs) in the blue wings of the UV resonance lines, due to ionized gas with outflow velocities up to 0.2 c. Two different models have been proposed to explain this phenomenon: in the orientation model BAL-producing outflows should be present in all QSOs, but seen only when they intercept the observer’s line of sight. In the evolutionary model BAL QSOs are young sources still expelling their dust cocoon. We performed VLBI observations with both the EVN (4.8 GHz) and VLBA (4.8 and 8.4 GHz) to map the pc-scale structure of the brightest radio-loud objects of our sample. A variety of morphologies and orientations have been found: 5 BAL QSOs in a total of 9 observed sources have a resolved structure, with a linear size < 1 kpc. In some cases the spectral index analysis of single components suggests a beamed emission toward the observer, in other cases a symmetric structure is evident from the map. From VLBI observations BAL QSOs do not seem to have a preferred orientation. Dimensions are typical of young GPS-CSS sources. This evidence could indicate an evolutionary scenario for the origin of this class of quasars

Fermented Cassava Starch Biscuits Enriched With Soluble And Insoluble Fibers [biscoitos De Polvilho Azedo Enriquecidos Com Fibras Solúveis E Insolúveis]

This work evaluated the use of wheat bran and polidextrose as fiber sources to enrich fermented cassava starch biscuits. The Response Surface Methodology was used to verify the influence of the addition of these fiber sources on the quality parameters of the biscuits. The responses of the 22 central composite rotational experimental design that were evaluated were specific volume, hardness, and moisture and color - parameters L, a*, and b*. For the specific volume and hardness responses, all factors were significant: 95% confidence level, with R2 of 0.9307 and 0.8091, respectively Analyzing the surfaces obtained it could be observed that the wheat bran and polidextrose reduced the specific volume and the wheat bran had a greater effect in increasing hardness. The substitution of fermented cassava starch by wheat bran and polidextrose in proportions of 1.5 and 5%, respectively, produced a fiber-rich sample with 6.23% dietary fiber (calculated theoretically) without affecting the expansion and texture characteristics negatively and with a good sensory acceptance.28SUPPL.184191(2000) Approved Methods, , AACC. 10 ed. St. Paul: American Association of Cereal ChemistsBertolini, A.C., Relationship between thermomechanical properties and baking expansion of sour cassava starch (polvilho azedo) (2001) Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 81 (4), pp. 429-435Portaria n° 27. Aprova o Regulamento Técnico referente à Informação Nutricional Complementar (declarações relacionadas ao conteúdo de nutrientes), constantes do anexo desta Portaria (2006) Diário Oficial da União, , http://www.anvisa.gov.br/alimentos/legis/, BRASIL, Brasília, DF, 16 jan. 1998. Disponível em: Acesso em: 04 maioCereda, M.P., Padronização para ensaios de qualidade da fécula de mandioca fermentada (polvilho azedo). I. Formulação e preparo de biscoitos (1983) Boletim da Sociedade Brasileira de Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos, 17 (3), pp. 287-295Chandalia, M., Beneficial effects of high dietary fiber intake in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (2000) New England Journal of Medicine, 342 (19), pp. 1392-1398Demiate, I.M., Relationship between baking behavior of modified cassava starches and starch chemical structure determined by FTIR spectroscopy (2000) Carbohydrate Polymers, 42 (2), pp. 149-158Fidgor, S.K., Rennhard, H.W., Caloric utilization and disposition of C-polydextrose in the rat (1981) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 29 (6), pp. 1181-1189Gomes, A.M.M., Silva, C.E.M., Ricardo, N.M.P.S., Effects of annealing on the physicochemical properties of fermented cassava starch (polvilho azedo) (2005) Carbohydrate Polymers, 60 (1), pp. 1-6Govers, M.J., Wheat bran affects the site of fermentation of resistant starch and luminal indexes related to colon cancer risk: A study in pigs (1999) Gut, 45 (6), pp. 840-847Gutkoski, L.C., Pedó, I., (2000) Aveia: composição química, valor nutricional e processamento, , São Paulo: VarelaPolydextrose (1995) Compendium of Food Additive Specifications - Addendum 3, pp. 137-144. , JECFA. In: FAO Food and Nutrition, Paper 52Maier, H., Guar, locust bean, tara and fenugreek gums (1993) Industrial Gums: Polysaccharides and their Derivatives, pp. 181-226. , In: Whistler, R. L.BeMiller, J. N. (Eds.). 3a ed., cap. 8Marcon, M.J.A., The effect of fermentation on cassava starch microstructure (2006) Journal of Food Process Engineering, 29 (4), pp. 362-372Nelson, A.L., Higher Fiber Ingredients (2001), St. Paul: American Association of Cereal ChemistsPark, H., Seib, P.A., Chung, O.K., Fortifying bread with a mixture of wheat fiber and psyllium husk fiber plus three antioxidants (1997) Cereal Chemistry, 74 (3), pp. 207-211(1997) User Manual, , STABLE MICRO SYSTEMS, Texture Analyser TA-XT2i, Godalming, versions 6.10 and 7.10. Fasdfafas: Stable Micro Systems(1995) STATISTICA for Windows - Release 5.0 A, , STATSOFT, Tulsa, OK, USA: Stat Soft, IncStone, H., Sidel, J.L., (1993) Sensory Evaluation Practices, p. 338. , 2a ed. San Diego: Academic PressTorres, A., Thomas, R.D., Polydextrose and its applications in foods (1981) Food Technology, 35 (7), pp. 44-49Trowell, H.C., Definition of dietary fibre (1974) Lancet, pp. 503-505Vatanasuchart, N., Molecular properties of cassava starch modified with different UV irradiations to enhance baking expansion (2005) Carbohydrate Polymers, 61 (1), pp. 80-87Zoul, K., Laux, J.J., Yu, L., Comparison of Swiss red wheat grain and fractions for their antioxidant properties (2004) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52 (5), pp. 1118-112

Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus introduced into intensive care units of a University Hospital

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the principal human pathogens that colonize healthy individuals in the community in general, and it is responsible for severe infections in hospitalized patients. Due to an increase in the prevalence of strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), combating these microorganisms has become increasingly difficult. A descriptive study was carried out on 231 patients in intensive care at the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital (HUOC) in Recife, Brazil between January and April 2003 to determine the prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA and to evaluate risk factors for colonization by these bacteria when introduced into Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Body secretions were collected from the nostrils, axillary and perineal regions, and from broken skin lesions, of all patients during the first 48 hours following admission to the ICU. Samples were inoculated into blood agar and mannitol-salt-agar culture medium and identified by Gram staining, and by coagulase, DNAse and agglutination (Slidex Staph Test®) tests. Growth in Mueller-Hinton agar with 4% sodium chloride and 6mg/L oxacillin was used to identify MRSA. In addition, the latex agglutination test was performed to identify penicillin-binding protein, PBP 2A. The prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA was 87/231 (37.7%) and 30/231 (12.98%), respectively. There was no association between any risk factor studied (age, sex, origin of the patient - whether hospital or community, previous hospitalization, use of current or previous antibiotic therapy, corticotherapy and/or immunotherapy, reason for hospitalization and place of hospitalization) and the presence of S. aureus. However, a significant association was established between previous hospitalization and the presence of MRSA (RR:1.85; CI:1.00-3.41; p=0.041). The nostrils were the principal site of colonization by both S. aureus (80.4%) and MRSA (26.4%), followed by the perineal area, with rates of 27.6% and 12.6%, respectively. If only the nostrils had been investigated, the study would have failed to diagnose 17 patients (19.5%) as carriers of the pathogen into the ICU, thus contributing towards cross-dissemination

Levantamento soroepidemiológico para arbovírus em macaco-prego-galego (Cebus flavius) de vida livre no estado da Paraíba e em macaco-prego (Cebus libidinosus) de cativeiro do nordeste do Brasil

Este estudo descreve a primeira investigação de anticorpos para arbovírus em primatas não humanos do Novo Mundo no nordeste brasileiro. No período de março de 2008 a setembro de 2010 foram colhidos soros sanguíneos de 31 macacos-prego-galegos (Cebus flavius) de vida livre na Paraíba e de 100 macacos-prego (Cebus libidinosus) em cativeiro nos estados de Alagoas, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí e Rio Grande do Norte. Para a pesquisa de anticorpos utilizou-se o teste de inibição da hemaglutinação (IH), usando antígenos de 19 diferentes tipos de arbovírus, pertencentes aos gêneros Flavivirus,Alphavirus e Bunyavirus. As amostras de soro foram testadas nas diluições de 1:20 a 1:1280. Dentre as amostras examinadas, todas as de C. flavius foram negativas e 46% das de C. libidinosus em cativeiro apresentaram anticorpos para arbovírus. Foram detectados anticorpos para nove (9/19) arbovírus. Foram observadas 17 reações heterotípicas, para dois ou mais vírus, do gênero Flavivirus, e 15 para o gênero Alphavirus, com títulos variando de 1:20 a 1:1280. Quinze amostras apresentaram reação monotípica para ILHV (n=4), MAYV (n=6), SLEV (n=1), ROCV (n=2), OROV (n=1) e MUCV (n=1). Estes resultados sugerem que houve intensa circulação de arbovírus na população estudada de macacos-prego em cativeiro

Synthesis and characterization of a novel organic nitrate NDHP: Role of xanthine oxidoreductase-mediated nitric oxide formation

In this report, we describe the synthesis and characterization of 1,3-bis(hexyloxy)propan-2-yl nitrate (NDHP), a novel organic mono nitrate. Using purified xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), chemiluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, we found that XOR catalyzes nitric oxide (NO) generation from NDHP under anaerobic conditions, and that thiols are not involved or required in this process. Further mechanistic studies revealed that NDHP could be reduced to NO at both the FAD and the molybdenum sites of XOR, but that the FAD site required an unoccupied molybdenum site. Conversely, the molybdenum site was able to reduce NDHP independently of an active FAD site. Moreover, using isolated vessels in a myograph, we demonstrate that NDHP dilates pre-constricted mesenteric arteries from rats and mice. These effects were diminished when XOR was blocked using the selective inhibitor febuxostat. Finally, we demonstrate that NDHP, in contrast to glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), is not subject to development of tolerance in isolated mesenteric arteries