The use of 16s rDNA restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for the identification of non-fermenting gram negative bacilli in a cystic fibrosis microbiology referral service

The utility of 16s rDNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis for the partial genomovar differentiation of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacterium is well documented. We compared the 16s rDNA RFLP signatures for a number of non-fermenting gram negative bacilli (NF GNB) LMG control strains and clinical isolates pertaining to the genera Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Achromobacter (Alcaligenes), Ralstonia, Stenotrophomonas and Pandoraea. A collection of 24 control strain (LMG) and 25 clinical isolates were included in the study. Using conventional PCR, a 1.2 kbp 16s rDNA fragment was generated for each organism. Following restriction digestion and electrophoresis, each clinical isolate RFLP signature was compared to those of the control strain panel. Nineteen different RFLP signatures were detected from the 28 control strains included in the study. TwentyoneyTwenty- five of the clinical isolates could be classified by RFLP analysis into a single genus and species when compared to the patterns produced by the control strain panel. Four clinical B. pseudomallei isolates produced RFLP signatures which were indistinguishable from B. cepacia genomovars I, III and VIII. The identity of these four isolates were confirmed using B. pseudomallei specific PCR. 16s rDNA RFLP analysis can be a useful identification strategy when applied to NF GNB, particularly for those which exhibit colistin sulfate resistance. The use of this molecular based methodology has proved very useful in the setting of a CF referral laboratory particularly when utilised in conjunction with B. cepacia complex and genomovar specific PCR techniques. Species specific PCR or sequence analysis should be considered for selected isolates; especially where discrepancies between epidemiology, phenotypic and genotypic characteristics occur.

Adsorption of supercritical fluids in non-porous and porous carbons: analysis of adsorbed phase volume and density

In this paper, we revisit the surface mass excess in adsorption studies and investigate the role of the volume of the adsorbed phase and its density in the analysis of supercritical gas adsorption in non-porous as well as microporous solids. For many supercritical fluids tested (krypton, argon, nitrogen, methane) on many different carbonaceous solids, it is found that the volume of the adsorbed phase is confined mostly to a geometrical volume having a thickness of up to a few molecular diameters. At high pressure the adsorbed phase density is also found to be very close to but never equal or greater than the liquid phase density. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Resolution enhancement by subtraction of confocal signals taken at different pinhole sizes

Subtractive imaging in confocal fluorescence light microscopy is based on the subtraction of a suitably weighted widefield image from a confocal image. An approximation to a widefield image can be obtained by detection with an opened confocal pinhole. The subtraction of images enhances the resolution in-plane as well as along the optic axis. Due to the linearity of the approach, the effect of subtractive imaging in Fourier-space corresponds to a reduction of low spatial frequency contributions leading to a relative enhancement of the high frequencies. Along the direction of the optic axis this also results in an improved sectioning. Image processing can achieve a similar effect. However, a 3D volume dataset must be acquired and processed, yielding a result essentially identical to subtractive imaging but superior in signal-to-noise ratio. The latter can be increased further with the technique of weighted averaging in Fourier-space. A comparison of 2D and 3D experimental data analysed with subtractive imaging, the equivalent Fourier-space processing of the confocal data only, and Fourier-space weighted averaging is presented. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous observations of ionospheric quasiperiodic scintillations from short and long meridional baselines using VHF transmissions from transit satellites

For the first time it was possible to observe regular quasiperiodic scintillations (QPS) in VHF radio-satellite transmissions from orbiting satellites simultaneously at short (2.1 km) and long (121 km) meridional baselines in the vicinity of a typical mid-latitude station (Brisbane; 27.5degreesS and 152.9degreesE geog. and 35.6degrees invar.lat.), using three sites (St. Lucia-S, Taringa-T in Brisbane and Boreen Pt.-B, north of Brisbane). A few pronounced quasiperiodic (QP) events were recorded showing unambiguous regular structures at the sites which made it possible to deduce a time displacement of the regular fading minimum at S, T and B. The QP structure is highly dependent on the geometry of the ray-path from a satellite to the observer which is manifested as a change of a QP event from symmetrical to non-symmetrical for stations separated by 2.1 km, and to a radical change in the structure of the event over a distance of 121 km. It is suggested the short-duration intense QP events are due to a Fresnel diffraction (or a reflection mechanism) of radio-satellite signals by a single ionospheric irregularity in a form of an ellipsoid with a large ionization gradient along the major axis. The structure of a QP event depends on the angle of viewing of the irregular blob from a radio-satellite. In view of this it is suggested that the reported variety of the ionization formation, responsible for different types of QPS, is only apparent but not real. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Non-volant tetrapods from Reserva Biológica de Duas Bocas, State of Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil

A Reserva Biológica de Duas Bocas (2.190 ha) é um dos maiores remanescentes de Mata Atlântica do Estado do Espírito Santo, Sudeste do Brasil. Nós amostramos tetrápodes não voadores nessa área entre maio de 2007 e abril de 2008, utilizando armadilhas de queda, armadilhas de isca, armadilhas fotográficas e buscas oportunísticas diurnas e noturnas. Além disso, nós compilamos registros de vertebrados não voadores ocorrentes nesta área disponíveis na literatura e através de espécimes em museus. Nós documentamos 52 espécies de anfíbios, 24 espécies de répteis não voadores e 39 espécies de mamíferos não voadores. Do total de 115 espécies, 47 configuram novos registros para a área e seis outras espécies tiveram sua distribuição geográfica ampliada com os resultados do presente estudo. Além disso, apresentamos o registro de predação da perereca Hypsiboas faber pela serpente Chironius bicarinatus. Cinco das espécies registradas são listadas como ameaçadas no Estado do Espírito Santo e muitas outras possuem estado de conservação incerto. A Reserva Biológica de Duas Bocas é um importante refúgio de vida selvagem, principalmente quando consideramos a expansão de áreas urbanas no seu entorno.

Feeding non-preference by Spodoptera frugiperda and Spodoptera eridania on tomato genotypes

Larvae of the genus Spodoptera spp. are highly polyphagous and can cause economical losses in several agricultural crops. Given their growing importance in the tomato crop, especially for industry, this work aimed to evaluate the feeding non-preference by larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) and Spodoptera eridania (Cramer, 1782) on tomato genotypes and classify them by the levels of resistance. The commercial cultivar Santa Clara was set as the susceptible standard and line PI 134417 as the resistant standard to evaluate the lines PI 134418, PI 126931, LA 462 and LA 716. Feeding non-preference tests were performed under non-choice and free-choice conditions to evaluate the genotype attractiveness to larvae at predetermined times after their release, as well as the leaf area consumed. Overall, the genotypes LA 716 and PI 126931 were the least attractive to S. frugiperda, whereas Santa Clara was the most attractive and consumed. For S. eridania, the genotypes PI 126931, LA 462, LA 716 and PI 134418 were the least preferred for feeding, and Santa Clara and PI 134417 were the most attractive and consumed. The genotypes LA 716 and PI 126931 are moderately resistant to S. frugiperda and S. eridania; PI 134418 and LA 462 are moderately resistant to S. eridania; PI 134417 is susceptible to S. frugiperda and S. eridania; and Santa Clara is highly susceptible to both S. frugiperda and S. eridania.

Risk factors for non compliance using occlusive therapy: a case study

Purpose: compliance with treatment is a common problem when treating amblyopic patients. Visual acuity of amblyopic eye does not improve without effective occlusive therapy. The aim of this study is to identify potential risk factors of non-compliance with treatment when it is implemented by family in amblyopic children. Setting: a quantitative transversal study was performed in a public hospital and in a private clinic in Lisbon.

Multi-scaled femtosecond laser structuring of stationary titanium surfaces

The evolution of the topography of titanium surfaces treated with femtosecond laser radiation in stationary conditions as a function of radiation fluence and number of laser pulses is investigated. Depending on the processing parameters, ripples, microcolumns, wavy or smooth surfaces can be obtained. The ripples predominate for fluences near the damage threshold of titanium (0.2+/-0.1) J/cm(2), while microcolumns form during the first 200 pulses for fluences between (0.6+/-0.2) and (1.7+/-0.2) J/cm(2). A wavy topography develops for fluences and number of pulses higher than (1.7+/-0.2) J/cm(2) and 300, respectively. A bimodal surface topography consisting of surface ripples overlapping a microcolumnar topography can be obtained if the surfaces are firstly treated to create microcolumns followed by laser treatment with a lower fluence near the ablation threshold of the material, in order to generate periodic ripple

Mortality among patients with non-affective functional psychoses in a metropolitan area of South-Eastern Brazil

High mortality rates among those suffering from schizophrenia and related psychoses have been consistently described in developed societies. However, to date there is a lack of data on this matter in Brazil. In order to examine this issue, a prospective 2-year follow-up study was carried out in S. Paulo. The sample consisted of 120 consecutive admissions to psychiatric hospitals in a defined catchment area, aged 18 to 44 years old, with clinical diagnoses of non-affective functional psychoses according to the ICD-9. After 2 years, 116 (96.7%) subjects were traced. During the study period there were 7 deaths (6.0% of those traced), 5 (4.3%) due to suicide. All but one of the suicides occurred in the first year after discharge from hospital. Age and sex Standardised Mortality Ratios (relative to rates for the population of the city of Sao Paulo) were 8.4 for overall mortality (95% confidence interval: 4.0-15.9) and 317.9 for deaths due to suicide (95% confidence interval: 125.2-668.3). These results are in agreement with previous studies, and show that in Brazil non-affective functional psychoses are life-threatening illnesses, which need adequate care, particularly when patients go back to live in the community after hospital discharge.

A non-pixel image reader for continuous image detection based on tandem heterostructures

An optically addressed read-write sensor based on two stacked p-i-n heterojunctions is analyzed. The device is a two terminal image sensing structure. The charge packets are injected optically into the p-i-n writer and confined at the illuminated regions changing locally the electrical field profile across the p-i-n reader. An optical scanner is used for charge readout. The design allows a continuous readout without the need for pixel-level patterning. The role of light pattern and scanner wavelengths on the readout parameters is analyzed. The optical-to-electrical transfer characteristics show high quantum efficiency, broad spectral response, and reciprocity between light and image signal. A numerical simulation supports the imaging process. A black and white image is acquired with a resolution around 20 mum showing the potentiality of these devices for imaging applications.

Stacked photo-sensing devices based on SiC alloys A non-pixelled architecture for imagers and demultiplexing devices

In this review paper different designs based on stacked p-i'-n-p-i-n heterojunctions are presented and compared with the single p-i-n sensing structures. The imagers utilise self-field induced depletion layers for light detection and a modulated laser beam for sequential readout. The effect of the sensing element structure, cell configurations (single or tandem), and light source properties (intensity and wavelength) are correlated with the sensor output characteristics (light-to-dark sensivity, spatial resolution, linearity and S/N ratio). The readout frequency is optimized showing that scans speeds up to 104 lines per second can be achieved without degradation in the resolution. Multilayered p-i'-n-p-i-n heterostructures can also be used as wavelength-division multiplexing /demultiplexing devices in the visible range. Here the sensor element faces the modulated light from different input colour channels, each one with a specific wavelength and bit rate. By reading out the photocurrent at appropriated applied bias, the information is multiplexed or demultiplexed and can be transmitted or recovered again. Electrical models are present to support the sensing methodologies.