ELECTROACTIVE BLENDS OF POLY(VINYLIDENE FLUORIDE) AND POLYANILINE DERIVATIVES

The conditions for processing and doping of blends of poly(o-alkoxyaniline)s and poly(vinylidene fluoride) were investigated. Flexible, free-standing and stretchable films of blends of various compositions were obtained by casting. A low percolation threshold was observed with the onset of conductivity at low polyalkoxyaniline contents (i.e. 5%). Interestingly, these blends displayed electrochromism with colour changes similar to those of the parent conducting polymer, as observed from cyclic voltammetry measurements. This behaviour is seen even for low contents of the conducting polymer, indicating that a continuous conducting pathway, which is capable of exchanging charge, is formed within the insulating matrix.

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ELECTRONIC-STRUCTURE OF THE ANTITUMOR DRUG ELLIPTICINE AND ITS DERIVATIVES .1. GEOMETRICAL AM1 STUDY

Ellipticine and its derivatives are a class of molecules that show antitumor and cytotoxic activity with a multimodal mechanism of action. In this paper we report a preliminary Austin Method One (AM1) study of ellipticine and some molecules derived from it. We have observed a relationship between charge density distribution and biological selectivity. A mechanism that could improve cytotoxic activity is proposed.

Synthesis and thermal study of magnesium complexes with 8-hydroxyquinolinate derivatives

Magnesium ion was reacted with 5,7-dibromo-, 5,7-dichloro-, 7-iodo- and 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinoline, in acetone/ammonium hydroxide medium under constant stirring to obtain (I) Mg[(C9H4ONBr2)(2)].2H(2)O; (II) Mg[(C9H4ONCl2)(2)].3H(2)O; (III) Mg[(C9H5ONI)(2)].2H(2)O and (IV) Mg[(C9H4ONICl)(2)].2.5H(2)O complexes. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, ICP, TG-DTA and DSC.Through thermal decomposition residues were obtained and characterized, by X-ray diffractometry, as a mixture of hexagonal MgBr2 and cubic MgO to the (I) compound at 850degreesC; cubic MgO to the (II), (III) and (IV) compounds at 750, 800 and 700degreesC, respectively.

Quantitative determination of cytotoxic friedo-nor-oleanane derivatives from five morphological types of Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae) by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Five different morphological types of Maytenus ilicifolia of the same age and harvested under the same conditions showed distinct accumulations of some friedo-nor-oleananes. A rapid, sensitive and reliable reverse-phase HPLC method (employing an external standard) was used for the determination of the cytotoxic triterpenoids, 20alpha-hydroxymaytenin, 22beta-hydroxymaytenin, maytenin, celastrol and pristimerin in each of the five types. Well resolved peaks with good detection response and linearity in the range 1.0-100 mug/mL were obtained. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Conformational analyses and docking studies of a series of 5-nitrofuran- and 5-nitrothiophen-semicarbazone derivatives in three possible binding sites of trypanothione and glutathione reductases

To explore three possible binding sites of trypanothione and glutathione reductase, namely, the active, the dimer interface and the coenzyme NADPH binding site, a series of eight compounds, nitrofurans and nitrothiophenes derivatives, were docked, using their crystallographic and modeled conformations. Docking results showed that, for both families and both enzymes, compounds are more likely to bind in the interface site, even though there is some probability of binding in the active site. These studies are in agreement with experimental data, which suggest that these class of compounds can act either as uncompetitive or mixed type inhibitors, and also with the finding that there is an alpha-helix which connects the active with the interface site, thus allowing charge transference between them. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal decomposition of microcrystalline cellulose and its pure and containing adsorbed cadmium cations derivatives.

We have studied the thermal decomposition of the microcrystalline cellulose and some of its derivative such as pure carboxymethylcellulose (CMCH), phosphate cellulose (FOSCEL) and oxycellulose (OXICEL) and also these same derivatives containing adsorbed cadmium cations. We have used the TG,DTG tecniques in order to determine the quantity of retained cadmium II cations on the surface of these adsorbents.

Study of the alkaline earth metals with 8-hydroxyquinolinate derivatives - Calcium complexes

Metal complexes of calcium with 5,7-dibromo, 7-iodo and 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinolate were precipitated in aqueous ammonia and acetone medium, except for the solid state compound with 5,7-dichloro-8-hydroxyquinoline which hasn't been obtained under these conditions. The complexes obtained through the mentioned precipitation are Ca[(C9H4ONBr2)(2)](3).H2O, Ca[(C9H5ONI)(2)].2H(2)O and Ca[(C9H4ONICl)(2)].2.5H(2)O. Their intermediate from the thermal decomposition found through TG/DTA curves in air indicated the presence of different kinds of calcium carbonates related to the reversibility and crystalline structure, depending on the original compounds. The initial compounds and the intermediate from the thermal decomposition were also characterized through IR spectra and X-ray diffraction.

Expression and variability of molecular chaperones in the sugarcane expressome

Molecular chaperones perform folding assistance in newly synthesized polypeptides preventing aggregation processes, recovering proteins from aggregates, among other important cellular functions. Thus their study presents great biotechnological importance. The present work discusses the mining for chaperone-related sequences within the sugarcane EST genome project database, which resulted in approximately 300 different sequences. Since molecular chaperones are highly conserved in most organisms studied so far, the number of sequences related to these proteins in sugarcane was very similar to the number found in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. The Hsp70 family was the main molecular chaperone system present in the sugarcane expressome. However, many other relevant molecular chaperones systems were also present. A digital RNA blot analysis showed that 5'ESTs from all molecular chaperones were found in every sugarcane library, despite their heterogeneous expression profiles. The results presented here suggest the importance of molecular chaperones to polypeptide metabolism in sugarcane cells, based on their abundance and variability. Finally, these data have being used to guide more in deep analysis, permitting the choice of specific targets to study. (c) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Benzoic acid derivatives from piper species and their fungitoxic activity against Cladosporium cladosporioides and C-sphaerospermum

Piper crassinervium, P. aduncum, P. hostmannianum, and P. gaudichaudianum contain the new benzoic acid derivatives crassinervic acid (1), aduncumene (8), hostmaniane (18), and gaudichaudianic acid (20), respectively, as major secondary metabolites. Additionally, 19 known compounds such as benzoic acids, chromenes, and flavonoids were isolated and identified. The antifungal activity of these compounds was evaluated by bioautographic TLC assay against Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermum.

An eco-friendly protocol for synthesis of thiourea derivatives: 1-benzoyl-3-benzylguanidine and 1-benzoyl-3-benzyl-O-ethylisourea. A possible non-purely thermal microwave assisted reaction

1-Benzoyl-3-benzylguanidine and 1-benzoyl-3-benzyl-O-ethylisourea were synthesized in good yields (68 and 76%, respectively) from 1-benzoyl-3-benzylthiourea and benzoyl-ethylthiocarbamate in dry media conditions using KF-Al2O3 under microwave irradiation. Strong nucleophilic amines promoted the sulfur elimination by attack on the thiocarbonyl group in both thiourea and thiocarbamates to afford guanidines and isourea, respectively. Transesterification products were obtained from p-TsOH catalyzed reaction of thiocarbamate with alcohols under MW-solvent-free conditions. Very important non-purely thermal MW specific effects were evidenced and attributed to stabilization by coulombic interactions between materials and waves. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Greenhouse gas balance due to the conversion of sugarcane areas from burned to green harvest in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Development and energy balance of sugarcane in the norte fluminense, Brazil

The growing concern for renewable and cleaner energy sources has increased the demand for biofuels, pointing out the ethanol from sugarcane. The aim of this study was quantify the partition of energy balance components and monitor the physiological development indexes of the sugarcane, relating them to water availability conditions of climate and soil in Campos dos Goytacazes, Norte Fluminense, Brazil. To this end, a micrometeorological station was settled in an area of 13 ha in commercial cultivation. The culture was regularly monitored at 85, 102, 128, 149, 174, 194, 215, 235, 255 and 280 days after cutting (DAC). The variations in water availability directly influenced the rates of crop growth and energy balance. Under the conditions studied most of the available energy (53%) was consumed by the latent heat flux.