Resolving the AGN and host emission in the mid-infrared using a model-independent spectral decomposition

We present results on the spectral decomposition of 118 Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) spectra from local active galactic nuclei (AGN) using a large set of Spitzer/IRS spectra as templates. The templates are themselves IRS spectra from extreme cases where a single physical component (stellar, interstellar, or AGN) completely dominates the integrated mid-infrared emission. We show that a linear combination of one template for each physical component reproduces the observed IRS spectra of AGN hosts with unprecedented fidelity for a template fitting method, with no need to model extinction separately. We use full probability distribution functions to estimate expectation values and uncertainties for observables, and find that the decomposition results are robust against degeneracies. Furthermore, we compare the AGN spectra derived from the spectral decomposition with sub-arcsecond resolution nuclear photometry and spectroscopy from ground-based observations. We find that the AGN component derived from the decomposition closely matches the nuclear spectrum, with a 1-sigma dispersion of 0.12 dex in luminosity and typical uncertainties of ~0.19 in the spectral index and ~0.1 in the silicate strength. We conclude that the emission from the host galaxy can be reliably removed from the IRS spectra of AGN. This allows for unbiased studies of the AGN emission in intermediate and high redshift galaxies -currently inaccesible to ground-based observations- with archival Spitzer/IRS data and in the future with the Mid-InfraRed Instrument of the James Webb Space Telescope. The decomposition code and templates are available at http://www.denebola.org/ahc/deblendIRS.Comment: 16 pages, 15 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Ap

New magnetotelluric data through the boundary between the Ossa Morena and Centroiberian Zones

The south-western part of the Iberian Peninsula, including the southern branch of the Iberian Massif, has recently been the subject of several magnetotelluric (MT) studies. This area is made up of three different tectonic terranes: the South Portuguese Zone (SPZ), the Ossa Morena Zone (OMZ) and the Central Iberian Zone (CIZ). The boundaries between these zones are considered to be sutures, which appear as high electrical conductivity anomalies in the MT surveys. The OMZ is characterised by a conductive layer at middle-lower crustal levels. To investigate the continuity of this conductive layer into the CIZ, a new MT profile was carried out. This 75-km long ENE profile goes through the boundary between the OMZ and the CIZ. The results of a two-dimensional magnetotelluric inversion revealed a high-conductivity anomaly in the transition OMZ/CIZ (the so-called Central Unit), which is interpreted as due to interconnected graphite along shear planes. High-conductivity anomalies appeared in the middle crust of the CIZ, whose geometry and location are consistent with the conductive layer previously found in the OMZ, thus confirming the prolongation of the conductive layer into the CIZ. The top of this layer correlated spatially with a broad reflector detected by a seismic profile previously acquired in the same area. This, together with other geological and petrological evidence, points to a common origin for both features

Self-organization in dc glow microdischarges in krypton: modelling and experiments

Self-organized patterns of cathodic spots have been observed in microdischarges operated in xenon, but not in other gases. However, modelling has indicated that it is, in principle, possible to observe the patterns of spots in discharges operated in other gases provided that experimental conditions, in particular pressure, are right. In this work, self-organized patterns of cathodic spots are for the first time observed in dc glow microdischarges operated in a gas other than xenon: krypton. The experiments have been guided by the modelling. According to both the experiment and the modelling, patterns in krypton are similar to those found earlier in xenon, however occur at higher pressures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Application of flow cytometry for the identification of Staphylococcus epidermidis by peptide nucleic acid fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA FISH) in blood samples

Staphylococcus epidermidis is considered to be one of the most common causes of nosocomial bloodstream infections, particularly in immune-compromised individuals. Here, we report the development and application of a novel peptide nucleic acid probe for the specific detection of S. epidermidis by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The theoretical estimates of probe matching specificity and sensitivity were 89 and 87%, respectively. More importantly, the probe was shown not to hybridize with closely related species such as Staphylococcus aureus. The method was subsequently successfully adapted for the detection of S. epidermidis in mixed-species blood cultures both by microscopy and flow cytometry.This work was supported by the Portuguese Institute Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (PhD Fellowship SFRH/BD/29297/2006 and Post-Doc Fellowship SFRH/BPD/42208/2007)

Correção de umidade do grão de genótipos de feijão-caupi avaliados para produção de feijão-verde.

O presente trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de verificar a necessidade da utilização da metodologia para correção de umidade de vagens frescas para estimar a produtividade de genótipos de feijão-caupi avaliados para feijão-verde. Foram utilizados dados de produtividade de grãos de 16 genótipos de feijão-caupi avaliados em Pentecoste - Ceará. A correção de umidade das vagens frescas é necessária devido a diferenças de maturação em uma mesma colheita, sendo realizada a correção de umidade pelo método da embebição de água das vagens e grãos até atingir peso constante. As estimativas das correlações foram positivas de baixa a média magnitude. Sendo correlações de maior magnitude aquelas entre massa natural e massa seca. Os dados originais apresentam maiores representatividades da massa seca indicando maior precisão experimental. A correção de umidade das vagens é desnecessária para os dados deste trabalho. Entretanto, torna-se necessário a realização de trabalhos futuros em condições ambientais diferentes para confirmar os resultados obtidos.CONAC 2012. Disponível em: http://www.conac2012.org/resumos/pdf/142a.pdf. Acesso em: 26 jul. 2013

Produtividade de genótipos de feijão-caupi avaliados para produção de feijão-verde no Estado do Ceará.

O presente trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar componentes de produção e produtividade de genótipos de feijão-caupi avaliados para feijão-verde. Foram utilizados dados de produtividade de grãos de 16 genótipos de feijão-caupi avaliados em Pentecoste - Ceará. A análise de variância univariada foi utilizada para a determinação da variabilidade e da resposta dos genótipos quanto à produtividade. Em seguida os valores médios de cada variável analisada para os diferentes genótipos foram agrupadas pelo teste de Scott-Knott. Foi observada resposta diferenciada dos genótipos para todos os caracteres avaliados, demonstrando presença de variabilidade genética. O genótipo BRS Tumucumaque apresentou a maior média de produtividade de grãos verdes e se destacou quanto aos componentes primários da produção em relação aos demais genótipos.CONAC 2012. Disponível em: http://www.conac2012.org/resumos/pdf/142b.pdf. Acesso em: 26 jul. 2013

Perceptions and evaluations of front-line health workers regarding the Brazilian National Program for Improving Access and Quality to Primary Care (PMAQ): a mixed-method approach

Although it is well known that a successful implementation depends on the front-liners’ knowledge and participation, as well as on the organizational capacity of the institutions involved, we still know little about how front-line health workers have been involved in the implementation of the Brazilian National Program for Improving Access and Quality to Primary Care (PMAQ). This paper develops a contingent mixed-method approach to explore the perceptions of front-line health workers - managers, nurses, community health workers, and doctors - regarding the PMAQ (2nd round), and their evaluations concerning health unit organizational capacity. The research is guided by three relevant inter-related concepts from implementation theory: policy knowledge, participation, and organizational capacity. One hundred and twenty-seven health workers from 12 primary health care units in Goiânia, Goiás State, Brazil, answered semi-structured questionnaires, seeking to collect data on reasons for adherence, forms of participation, perceived impact (open-ended questions), and evaluation of organizational capacity (score between 0-10). Content analyses of qualitative data enabled us to categorize the variables “level of perceived impact of PMAQ” and “reasons for adhering to PMAQ”. The calculation and aggregation of the means for the scores given for organizational capacity enabled us to classify distinct levels of organizational capacity. We finally integrated both variables (Perceived-Impact and Organizational-Capacity) through cross-tabulation and the narrative. Results show that nurses are the main type of professional participating. The low organizational capacity and little policy knowledge affected workers participation in and their perceptions of the PMAQ

Caracterização físico-química de misturas de óleos vegetais para fins alimentares.

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