Seroprevalence of human toxoplasmosis

A comparative study of the prevalence of infection by Toxoplasma gondii in Southern Spain in different population groups was carried out using serological markers. The presence of IgG antitoxoplasma antibodies was investigated in serum samples of several population groups. Infection by T. gondii was very prevalent, especially among intravenous drug users (47.6%). An IgG antibody prevalence of 49.6% was obtained from immunocompetent adults with suspected active toxoplasmosis. In infants IgG antibodies were detected in 12.2%, and in pregnant women there was 30% IgG antitoxoplasma antibodies

The performance of three ordination methods

The performance of robust principal component analysis (RPCA), detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) with two demersal fish data sets were assessed in terms of their stability to bootstrap-generated sample variation and the method’s ability to reflect a well-known depth gradient. Stability was assessed for both species and site orderings and configurations, using scaled rank variance (SRV) and Spearman (q) and Procrustes correlations (t0). The NMDS site and species orderings showed the highest stability. DCA performed best in terms of site ordination stability, but NMDS performed best in terms of species ordination stability. In terms of matching the expected ecological variation, NMDS was the most sensitive method for the wider-depth gradient data and DCA was the most sensitive for the narrower-depth gradient data. According to the sensitivity and informative power criteria associated with the stability assessment, t0 was the best methodological approach for site ordinations, and SRV for species ordinations

ELISA test to detect Chlamydophila pneumoniae IgG

A new ELISA test (Chlamydophila pneumoniae IgG, Vircell, Spain) to detect Chlamydophila pneumoniae IgG was evaluated. The micro-immunofluorescence (MIF) test was used as reference method. Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydophila psittaci elementary bodies were also assayed. Two hundred and sixteen sera were included in the study: 66 from patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (Panel 1), 68 from adults with pneumonia (Panel 2), 44 from healthy adults (Panel 3) and 38 from patients with a sexuality transmitted disease by C. trachomatis (Panel 4). In Panel 1, 51 sera (77%) had antibody titres between 32 and 128; 4 out of 15 sera with IgG titres < 32 were positive by ELISA test and 2 sera with 32 IgG titres were uncertain by ELISA; the remaining 60 sera were correctly classified, giving a 91% concordance between the techniques. In Panel 2, 55 sera (81%) had IgG titres between 32 and 512; 2 out of 13 sera with IgG titres < 32 were positive by ELISA and 2 sera with 32 titres were uncertain by ELISA; the remaining 64 sera were correctly classified, giving a 97% concordance. In Panel 3, 22 sera (50%) had IgG titres between 32 and 64; only 1 out of 22 sera with IgG titres < 32 was positive by ELISA, giving a 97% concordance between the techniques. In Panel 4, there were 24 (63%) negative, 10 (26%) uncertain and 4 (10%) positive results by ELISA, giving an 86% concordance. The C. pneumoniae ELISA test demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 85% specificity. The IgG ELISA test demonstrated a good concordance with the MIF test without the drawbacks associated with the latter assay. We conclude that the ELISA test could be an alternative to the MIF test

Comparison of several ELISA tests for detecting the presence of IgG and IgM against herpes simplex viruses

Four enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays designated test 1 (ETI-HSVK-G 1/2); test 2 (ETI-HSVK-M 1/2); test 3 (ETI-HSVK-G 2), and test 4 (BioElisa HSV2 IgG) were studied to evaluate different stages of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. Samples (50 sera and 14 cerebrospinal fluid) were included in four groups. Group 1 consisted of samples from patients with primary HSV infections; group 2 comprised samples from patients with recurrent HSV infections; group 3 were samples nonreactive to HSV; and group 4 were samples from patients with infections by other herpes viruses (4a, chickenpox; 4b, herpes zoster; and 4c, infectious mononucleosis by Epstein-Barr virus). The percentages of agreement between tests 1 and 2 were 100 and 72.1%, respectively. The total diagnostic values of tests 1 and 2 were: 100 and 50% sensitivity, respectively; and 100 and 89% specificity, respectively. Few positive results for HSV-2 infection were found, and so, tests 3 and 4 were not evaluated. The results of tests 3 and 4 for a chickenpox patient, and a herpes zoster patient were not in agreement

Popularity in Facebook Pages: What role network structural variables play?

Facebook pages (FP) are meeting points between events and actors in virtual social networks (RSV) of this platform. Companies and events bring together actors that participate through the online expression mechanisms that are enabled, through reactions, tagging, photo posting, liking, comments, etc. These interactions form online contact networks. We propose to investigate structural variables of the networks captured online with structural variables of these networks. We found that various structural variables related to concentration or disconnection between nodes are negatively associated with popularity measured by the number of likes, on the other hand, the most popular FPs associated with the media (radio and news).Facebook pages (FP) are meeting points between events and actors in virtual social networks (RSV) of this platform. Companies and events bring together actors that participate through the online expression mechanisms that are enabled, through reactions, tagging, photo posting, liking, comments, etc. These interactions form online contact networks. We propose to investigate structural variables of the networks captured online with structural variables of these networks. We found that various structural variables related to concentration or disconnection between nodes are negatively associated with popularity measured by the number of likes, on the other hand, the most popular FPs associated with the media (radio and news)

Estudio cinético de la desdiazoación en medio acuoso del tetrafluorborato de bencenodiazonio

The kinetic analyses carried out at different temperatures (20ºC - 40ºC) indicate that the dediazoniation process of thebenzenediazonium ion (BZ) is of the order of one, with BZ at A = 2,3.1015 s-1 and Ea = 112,5 kJ.mol-1 for the Arrheniusequation, and ΔH‡ = 110,0 kJ.mol-1 and ΔS‡ = 40,7 J.K-1.mol-1 for the Eyring equation. The chromatographic resultsreveal that BZ decomposes through a heterolytic process mediated by the aryl ion. The presence of Cu(I) or Cu(II) saltsand ascorbic acid produce a change in the reaction mechanism. The intermediate compounds produced in these conditionsare stable species that may be transported in the bloodstream. The model studied suggests a possible explanation for thelocalisation of tumours produced by the administration of BZ in rats.Los análisis cinéticos realizados a diferentes temperaturas (20º C - 40º C) indican que el proceso de desdiazoacióndel ion bencenodiazonio (BZ) es de orden uno respecto a BZ siendo A = 2,3.1015 s-1 y Ea = 112,5 kJ.mol-1 en laecuación de Arrhenius así como ΔH‡ = 110,0 kJ.mol-1 y ΔS‡ = 40,7 J.K-1.mol-1 para la ecuación de Eyring. Losresultados cromatográficos revelan que BZ se descompone por un proceso heterolítico mediado por el catión arilo.La presencia de sales Cu(I) o de Cu(II) y ácido ascórbico produce un cambio del mecanismo de reacción. Loscompuestos intermedios originados en estas condiciones son especies estables que pueden ser transportadas en lasangre. El modelo estudiado sugiere una posible explicación para la localización descrita en la literatura para lostumores producidos por la administración de BZ a ratas

Effects of the presence of cellulose and curaua fibers on the thermal and mechanical properties of eco-composites based on cellulose acetate

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOLos materiales eco-compósitos han obtenido el interés de la academia, debido a sus características amigables al medio ambiente. En este trabajo, se prepararon dos grupos de eco-compósitos con matriz de acetato de celulosa, reforzados con fibras de celulos172533546FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO2010/02098-02010/17804-7Los autores agradecen el financiamiento de los proyectos CONACYT 251504 y 264110. Además,se agradece a EMBRAPA por donar las fibras y aFAPESP (2010/02098-0 y 2010/17804-7

Extension of the characteristic equation to absorption chillers with adiabatic absorbers

Various researchers have developed models of conventional H2O–LiBr absorption machines with the aim of predicting their performance. In this paper, the methodology of characteristic equations developed by Hellmann et al. (1998) is applied. This model is able to represent the capacity of single effect absorption chillers and heat pumps by means of simple algebraic equations. An extended characteristic equation based on a characteristic temperature difference has been obtained, considering the facility features. As a result, it is concluded that for adiabatic absorbers a subcooling temperature must be specified. The effect of evaporator overflow has been characterized. Its influence on cooling capacity has been included in the extended characteristic equation. Taking into account the particular design and operation features, a good agreement between experimental performance data and those obtained through the extended characteristic equation has been achieved at off-design operation. This allows its use for simulation and control purposes