Showing papers by "Federal University of Rio de Janeiro published in 2006"
TL;DR: The virologic target for patients with treatment failure is now a plasma HIV-1 RNA level below 50 copies/mL, making delivery of state-of-the-art care challenging.
Abstract: Context Guidelines for antiretroviral therapy are important for clinicians worldwide given the complexity of the field and the varied clinical situations in which these agents are used. The International AIDS Society–USA panel has updated its recommendations as warranted by new developments in the field. Objective To provide physicians and other human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinicians with current recommendations for the use of antiretroviral therapy in HIVinfected adults in circumstances for which there is relatively unrestricted access to drugs and monitoring tools. The recommendations are centered on 4 key issues: when to start antiretroviral therapy; what to start; when to change; and what to change. Antiretroviral therapy in special circumstances is also described. Data Sources and Study Selection A 16-member noncompensated panel was appointed, based on expertise in HIV research and patient care internationally. Data published or presented at selected scientific conferences from mid 2004 through May 2006 were identified and reviewed by all members of the panel. Data Extraction and Synthesis Data that might change previous guidelines were identified and reviewed. New guidelines were drafted by a writing committee and reviewed by the entire panel. Conclusions Antiretroviral therapy in adults continues to evolve rapidly, making delivery of state-of-the-art care challenging. Initiation of therapy continues to be recommended in all symptomatic persons and in asymptomatic persons after the CD4 cell count falls below 350/µL and before it declines to 200/µL. A nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or a protease inhibitor boosted with low-dose ritonavir each combined with 2 nucleoside (or nucleotide) reverse transcriptase inhibitors is recommended with choice being based on the individual patient profile. Therapy should be changed when toxicity or intolerance mandate it or when treatment failure is documented. The virologic target for patients with treatment failure is now a plasma HIV-1 RNA level below 50 copies/mL. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in the short-term and the long-term is crucial for treatment success and must be continually reinforced.
1,050 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a methodology for optimal distributed generation allocation and sizing in distribution systems, in order to minimize the electrical network losses and to guarantee acceptable reliability level and voltage profile.
623 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the chemical characteristics, biosynthesis, and distribution of chlorogenic acids (CGA) and related compounds in green coffee beans is presented, focusing on the influence of genetic, physiological and environmental factors as well as processing on the chemical composition of coffee beans.
Abstract: Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites generally involved in plant adaptation to environmental stress conditions. Chlorogenic acids (CGA) and related compounds are the main components of the phenolic fraction of green coffee beans, reaching levels up to 14 % (dry matter basis). These compounds have a number of beneficial health properties related to their potent antioxidant activity as well as hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic and antiviral activities. The main groups of CGA found in green coffee beans include caffeoylquinic acids, dicaffeoylquinic acids, feruloylquinic acids, p-coumaroylquinic acids and mixed diesters of caffeic and ferulic acids with quinic acid, each group with at least three isomers. During coffee processing, CGA may be isomerized, hydrolyzed or degraded into low molecular weight compounds. The high temperatures of roasting also produce transformation of part of CGA into quinolactones and, along with other compounds, melanoidins. This review focuses on the chemical characteristics, biosynthesis, and distribution of CGA and related compounds in coffee. The influence of genetic, physiological and environmental factors as well as processing on the chemical composition of coffee beans is discussed. The impact of CGA composition of green coffee on cup quality is also approached. Despite the existence of substantial published information on the total levels of CGA in coffee, more research is needed on the composition of minor phenolic compounds and specific CGA isomers (and related substances) in green and roasted coffee beans, as well as their impact on coffee quality.
608 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, four LEP collaborations, ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL, have searched for the neutral Higgs bosons which are predicted by the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM).
Abstract: The four LEP collaborations, ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL, have searched for the neutral Higgs bosons which are predicted by the Minimal Supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). The data of the four collaborations are statistically combined and examined for their consistency with the background hypothesis and with a possible Higgs boson signal. The combined LEP data show no significant excess of events which would indicate the production of Higgs bosons. The search results are used to set upper bounds on the cross-sections of various Higgs-like event topologies. The results are interpreted within the MSSM in a number of “benchmark” models, including CP-conserving and CP-violating scenarios. These interpretations lead in all cases to large exclusions in the MSSM parameter space. Absolute limits are set on the parameter cosβ and, in some scenarios, on the masses of neutral Higgs bosons.
494 citations
TL;DR: Antifungal resistance was rare, but correlation between fluconazole and voriconazole MICs suggests cross-resistance may occur, and shows the substantial morbidity and mortality of candidemia in Brazil.
Abstract: Candidemia studies have documented geographic differences in rates and epidemiology, underscoring the need for surveillance to monitor trends. We conducted prospective candidemia surveillance in Brazil to assess the incidence, species distribution, frequency of antifungal resistance, and risk factors for fluconazole-resistant Candida species. Prospective laboratory-based surveillance was conducted from March 2003 to December 2004 in 11 medical centers located in 9 major Brazilian cities. A case of candidemia was defined as the isolation of Candida spp. from a blood culture. Incidence rates were calculated per 1,000 admissions and 1,000 patient-days. Antifungal susceptibility tests were performed by using the broth microdilution assay, according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. We detected 712 cases, for an overall incidence of 2.49 cases per 1,000 admissions and 0.37 cases per 1,000 patient-days. The 30-day crude mortality was 54%. C. albicans was the most common species (40.9%), followed by C. tropicalis (20.9%) and C. parapsilosis (20.5%). Overall, decreased susceptibility to fluconazole occurred in 33 (5%) of incident isolates, 6 (1%) of which were resistant. There was a linear correlation between fluconazole and voriconazole MICs (r = 0.54 and P < 0.001 [Spearman's rho]). This is the largest multicenter candidemia study conducted in Latin America and shows the substantial morbidity and mortality of candidemia in Brazil. Antifungal resistance was rare, but correlation between fluconazole and voriconazole MICs suggests cross-resistance may occur.
486 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focus on the importance of income growth in a cross-country analysis of sustainable household consumption from a global perspective, using per capita energy requirements as an indicator of environmental pressure.
441 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review of the literature on heavy-ion fusion at low energies is presented, with special emphasis given to the fusion of loosely bound stable and unstable projectiles, and the experimental challenges encountered in the measurement of the fusion cross section of these systems are pointed out.
415 citations
TL;DR: It is proposed that the faster increase in average neuronal size in the cerebral cortex than in the cerebellum as these structures gain neurons and the rapidly increasing glial numbers that generate glial mass to match total neuronal mass at a fixed glia/neuron total mass ratio are fundamental cellular constraints that lead to the relative expansion of cerebral cortical volume across species.
Abstract: How do cell number and size determine brain size? Here, we show that, in the order Rodentia, increased size of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and remaining areas across six species is achieved through greater numbers of neurons of larger size, and much greater numbers of nonneuronal cells of roughly invariant size, such that the ratio between total neuronal and nonneuronal mass remains constant across species. Although relative cerebellar size remains stable among rodents, the number of cerebellar neurons increases with brain size more rapidly than in the cortex, such that the cerebellar fraction of total brain neurons increases with brain size. In contrast, although the relative cortical size increases with total brain size, the cortical fraction of total brain neurons remains constant. We propose that the faster increase in average neuronal size in the cerebral cortex than in the cerebellum as these structures gain neurons and the rapidly increasing glial numbers that generate glial mass to match total neuronal mass at a fixed glia/neuron total mass ratio are fundamental cellular constraints that lead to the relative expansion of cerebral cortical volume across species.
409 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the correlation between cup quality and the levels of sucrose, caffeine, trigonelline and chlorogenic acids, determined by HPLC analysis.
383 citations
TL;DR: This paper develops a tabu search algorithm to solve VRP_SPD, a variant of the classical vehicle routing problem (VRP) where clients require simultaneous pick-up and delivery service.
371 citations
TL;DR: This review summarizes significant advances in poxvirus genetics and molecular biology during the past 15 years and attempts to assemble them into a comprehensible and thoughtful picture of poxVirus structure and assembly.
Abstract: Poxviruses comprise a large family of viruses characterized by a large, linear dsDNA genome, a cytoplasmic site of replication and a complex virion morphology. The most notorious member of the poxvirus family is variola, the causative agent of smallpox. The laboratory prototype virus used for the study of poxviruses is vaccinia, the virus that was used as a live, naturally attenuated vaccine for the eradication of smallpox. Both the morphogenesis and structure of poxvirus virions are unique among viruses. Poxvirus virions apparently lack any of the symmetry features common to other viruses such as helical or icosahedral capsids or nucleocapsids. Instead poxvirus virions appear as "brick shaped" or "ovoid" membrane-bound particles with a complex internal structure featuring a walled, biconcave core flanked by "lateral bodies." The virion assembly pathway involves a remarkable fabrication of membrane-containing crescents and immature virions, which evolve into mature virions in a process that is unparalleled in virology. As a result of significant advances in poxvirus genetics and molecular biology during the past 15 years, we can now positively identify over 70 specific gene products contained in poxvirus virions, and we can describe the effects of mutations in over 50 specific genes on poxvirus assembly. This review summarizes these advances and attempts to assemble them into a comprehensible and thoughtful picture of poxvirus structure and assembly.
TL;DR: The application of a pretreatment to hydrolyze and dissolve lipids may improve the biological degradation of fatty wastewaters, accelerating the process and improving time efficiency.
TL;DR: The results strongly suggest that the apoptotic cell inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediator production is pleiotropic and significantly dependent on the stimulation of TGF-β production.
TL;DR: A form of experience-dependent response enhancement in the visual cortex of awake mice is described, which can mask deprivation-induced response depression in adult mice and may reveal the mechanisms involved in certain forms of perceptual learning.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors review mechanisms by which heme can exert biological damage, together with a wide spectrum of adaptations developed by blood-feeding insects and ticks to counteract its deleterious effects.
TL;DR: The IC(50) and IC(90) for the compounds determined by the microtiter plate method indicated that trigonelline, caffeine, and protocatechuic acids are potential natural antimicrobial agents against Salmonella enterica, which is relevant to human safety.
Abstract: The in vitro antimicrobial activity of commercial coffee extracts and chemical compounds was investigated on nine strains of enterobacteria. The antimicrobial activity investigated by the disc diffusion method was observed in both the extracts and tested chemical compounds. Even though pH, color, and the contents of trigonelline, caffeine, and chlorogenic acids differed significantly among the coffee extracts, no significant differences were observed in their antimicrobial activity. Caffeic acid and trigonelline showed similar inhibitory effect against the growth of the microorganisms. Caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and protocatechuic acid showed particularly strong effect against Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter cloacae. The IC50 and IC90 for the compounds determined by the microtiter plate method indicated that trigonelline, caffeine, and protocatechuic acids are potential natural antimicrobial agents against Salmonella enterica. The concentrations of caffeine found in coffee extracts are enough to war...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a phase diagram of the U.S. economy with a regular counterclockwise cycle involving capacity utilization u (horizontal axis) and the labor share ψ (vertical axis) in the US economy.
Abstract: There are regular counterclockwise cycles involving capacity utilization u (horizontal axis) and the labor share ψ (vertical axis) in the US economy since 1929. As in Goodwin’s cyclical growth model, ψ can be interpreted as a Lotka–Volterra predator variable and u as prey. In a phase diagram, dynamics around the u=0 schedule respond to effective demand that econometric estimation (1948–2002) shows to be profit-led. Distributive dynamics around the =0 curve demonstrate a long-term profit squeeze. Across cycles, the real wage and labor productivity grow at 0.57 per cent per quarter, holding the labor share broadly stable. Modeling the cycle in the (u, ψ) plane provides a parsimonious description of demand and distributive dynamics, consistent with the macroeconomics embedded in the work of Kalecki, Steindl, Goodwin and many subsequent authors.
TL;DR: The performance of several oxidation processes to remove organic pollutants from sourwater was investigated, finding that the Fenton reaction is very fast and reaches, in a few minutes, an ultimate DOC removal of 13-27%, due to the formation of iron complexes.
TL;DR: Evidence is presented that dissolved HS are indeed taken up and interact directly and/or indirectly with freshwater organisms, and that they exert a mild chemical stress upon aquatic organisms in many ways.
Abstract: SUMMARY 1. This review focuses on direct and indirect interactions between dissolved humic substances (HS) and freshwater organisms and presents novel opinions and hypotheses on their ecological significance. Despite their abundance in freshwaters, the role of HS is still inadequately understood. These substances have been considered too large to be taken up by freshwater organisms. On the contrary, here we present evidence that dissolved HS are indeed taken up and interact directly and/or indirectly with freshwater organisms. 2. We show that dissolved HS exert a mild chemical stress upon aquatic organisms in many ways; they induce molecular chaperones (stress shock proteins), induce and modulate biotransformation enzymes and modulate (mainly inhibiting) the photosynthetic release of oxygen by freshwater plants. Furthermore, they produce an oxidative stress, which may lead to membrane oxidation. HS modulate the multixenobiotic resistance activity and probably other membrane-bound pumps. This property may lead to the increased bioaccumulation of xenobiotic chemicals. Furthermore, they can modulate the numbers of offspring in a nematode and feminise fish and amphibians. The ecological consequences of this potential remain obscure at present. HS also have the potential to act as chemical attractants (as shown with a nematode). 3. In some macrophytes and algae we show that HS interfere with photosynthesis and growth. For instance, the presence of HS suppresses cyanobacteria more than eukaryotic algae. By applying a quantitative structure activity relationship approach, we show that
TL;DR: A linear optics experiment is reported in which a pure-state entanglement measure is directly observed, namely concurrence, which is measured with a single, local measurement on just one of the photons.
Abstract: Nearly all protocols requiring shared quantum information--such as quantum teleportation or key distribution--rely on entanglement between distant parties. However, entanglement is difficult to characterize experimentally. All existing techniques for doing so, including entanglement witnesses or Bell inequalities, disclose the entanglement of some quantum states but fail for other states; therefore, they cannot provide satisfactory results in general. Such methods are fundamentally different from entanglement measures that, by definition, quantify the amount of entanglement in any state. However, these measures suffer from the severe disadvantage that they typically are not directly accessible in laboratory experiments. Here we report a linear optics experiment in which we directly observe a pure-state entanglement measure, namely concurrence. Our measurement set-up includes two copies of a quantum state: these 'twin' states are prepared in the polarization and momentum degrees of freedom of two photons, and concurrence is measured with a single, local measurement on just one of the photons.
TL;DR: It would be worthwhile to establish a global consensus regarding a standard assessment package for OCD, to produce more cross-culturally valid versions of the key research instruments, and to conduct studies specifically aimed at comparing the sociodemographic, clinical and prognostic aspects of OCD across different countries.
Abstract: Since the early eighties, there has been a growing interest in the descriptive epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this narrative review, the authors describe the findings of a number of studies that employed selected instruments, such as the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, the Composite International Diagnostic Instrument, and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, to ascertain the prevalence and incidence rates for OCD in several different countries. We noted that there is a great heterogeneity of findings and that the potential reasons for this variability include not only the intrinsic characteristics of the population under study but also extrinsic factors (i.e., the several methodologically-informed decisions that are to be made before undertaking such investigations, such as the adoption of a specific diagnostic instrument). In order to further the knowledge on the epidemiology of OCD, it would be worthwhile to establish a global consensus regarding a standard assessment package for OCD, to produce more cross-culturally valid versions of the key research instruments, and to conduct studies specifically aimed at comparing the sociodemographic, clinical and prognostic aspects of OCD across different countries.
TL;DR: This work presents a proof of principle demonstration of a quantum key distribution scheme in higher-order -dimensional alphabets using spatial degrees of freedom of photons, allowing for the transmission of 4.56 bits per sifted photon, while providing improved security.
Abstract: We present a proof of principle demonstration of a quantum key distribution scheme in higher-order d-dimensional alphabets using spatial degrees of freedom of photons. Our implementation allows for the transmission of 4.56 bits per sifted photon, while providing improved security: an intercept-resend attack on all photons would induce an average error rate of 0.47. Using our system, it should be possible to send more than a byte of information per sifted photon.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of the biodiesel addition on the emission profile of mono-and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs and PAHs, respectively) was investigated with a heavy-duty diesel engine, fueled with pure diesel (D) and biodiesel blends (v/v).
TL;DR: The essential oil showed no cytototoxic effects against mammalian cells, suggesting that O. gratissimum essential oil and its compounds could be used as sources for new antileishmanial drugs.
TL;DR: In this paper, different alkaline leaching techniques were tested in order to dissolve the zinc present in an EAF dust: (i) conventional agitation leaching, (ii) pressure leaching; (iii) conventional leaching following a microwave pretreatment and (iv) leaching with agitation provided by an ultra-sonic probe.
TL;DR: Differences in CGA and CGL contents of regular and decaffeinated roasted coffees appear to be relatively small, but they may be enough to affect flavor characteristics as well as the biopharmacological properties of the final beverage, suggesting the need for further study.
Abstract: The market for decaffeinated coffees has been increasingly expanding over the years. Caffeine extraction may result in losses of other compounds such as chlorogenic acids (CGA) and, consequently, their 1,5-gamma-quinolactones (CGL) in roasted coffee. These phenolic compounds are important for flavor formation as well as the health effects of coffee; therefore, losses due to decaffeination need to be investigated. The present study evaluates the impact of decaffeination processing on CGA and CGL levels of green and roasted arabica coffees. Decaffeination produced a 16% average increase in the levels of total CGA in green coffee (dry matter), along with a 237% increase in CGL direct precursors. Different degrees of roasting showed average increments of 5.5-18% in CGL levels of decaffeinated coffee, compared to regular, a change more consistent with observed levels of total CGA than with those of CGL direct precursors in green samples. On the other hand, CGA levels in roasted coffee were 3-9% lower in decaffeinated coffee compared to regular coffee. Although differences in CGA and CGL contents of regular and decaffeinated roasted coffees appear to be relatively small, they may be enough to affect flavor characteristics as well as the biopharmacological properties of the final beverage, suggesting the need for further study.
TL;DR: Eighteen analogues of an active natural chalcone were synthesized using xanthoxyline and some derivatives, and these analogues were tested for selective activity against both promastigote and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis in vitro.
TL;DR: The findings reveal the functional diversity of the rice APx genes and suggest complementation and coordination of the antioxidant defenses in different cellular compartments during development and abiotic stress.
Abstract: Aerobic organisms evolved a complex antioxidant system, which protect the cells against oxidative damage caused by partially reduced oxygen intermediates, also known as reactive oxygen species. In plants, ascorbate peroxidases (EC, 1.11.1.11) catalyze the conversion of H(2)O(2) to H(2)O, using ascorbate as the specific electron donor in this enzymatic reaction. Previously, eight APx genes were identified in the rice (Oryza sativa L.) genome through in silico analysis: two cytosolic isoforms, two putative peroxisomal isoforms, and four putative chloroplastic ones. Using gene-specific probes, we confirmed the presence of the eight APx genes in the rice genome by Southern blot hybridization. Transcript accumulation analysis showed specific expression patterns for each member of the APx family according to developmental stage and in response to salt stress, revealing the complexity of the antioxidant system in plants. Finally, the subcellular localization of rice APx isoforms was determined using GFP-fusion proteins in BY-2 tobacco cells. In agreement with the initial prediction, OSAPX3 was localized in the peroxisomes. On the other hand, the OSAPX6-GFP fusion protein was found in mitochondria of the BY-2 cells, in contrast to the chloroplastic location predicted by sequence analysis. Our findings reveal the functional diversity of the rice APx genes and suggest complementation and coordination of the antioxidant defenses in different cellular compartments during development and abiotic stress.
TL;DR: The presence of sexual/religious symptoms, low economic status and high modification on family function due to OCD were independently associated with treatment-refractoriness, and future longitudinal studies are warranted to verify if these variables represent predictive factors of treatment non-response.
TL;DR: In this paper, the theory of the Casimir effect using scattering techniques was reviewed and a more general scattering formalism accounting for non-specular reflection with wavevectors and field polarizations mixed was proposed.
Abstract: We review the theory of the Casimir effect using scattering techniques. After years of theoretical effort, this formalism is now largely mastered so that the accuracy of theory–experiment comparisons is determined by the level of precision and pertinence of the description of experimental conditions. Due to an imperfect knowledge of the optical properties of real mirrors used in the experiment, the effect of imperfect reflection remains a source of uncertainty in theory–experiment comparisons. For the same reason, the temperature dependence of the Casimir force between dissipative mirrors remains a matter of debate. We also emphasize that real mirrors do not obey exactly the assumption of specular reflection, which is used in nearly all calculations of material and temperature corrections. This difficulty may be solved by using a more general scattering formalism accounting for non-specular reflection with wavevectors and field polarizations mixed. This general formalism has already been fruitfully used for evaluating the effect of roughness on the Casimir force as well as the lateral Casimir force appearing between corrugated surfaces. The commonly used 'proximity force approximation (PFA)' turns out to lead to inaccuracies in the description of these two effects.