Global yields, chemical compositions and antioxidant activities of clove basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.) extracts obtained by supercritical fluid extraction

Clove basil (Ocimum gratissimum) extracts were obtained with supercritical CO2. Clove basil was cultivated using 0, 4, 8 and 12 kg/m(2) of organic fertilizer and was harvested in four seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn, in the Southern Hemisphere. The extracts' global yields were determined at 40C and 150 bar for samples from all cultivation conditions and harvesting seasons. For selected samples, the extracts' global yields at 40C were determined for pressures of 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 bar. The extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. Antioxidant activity (AA) was assessed using the coupled reaction of beta-caroteneand linolenic acid. The extracts' global yields varied from 0.91 to 1.79% (dry basis), and the AAs varied from 62 to 84% compared with the control beta-carotene. Eugenol and beta-selinene were the major compounds. The relative proportion of eugenol varied from 35 to 60%, while the content of beta-selinene remained approximately constant (11.5-14.1%, area). The other substances quantified in the extracts were 1,8 cineole, trans-caryophyllene and alpha-selinene.

Modulation of the Pharmacological Activities of Secretory Phospholipase A2 from Crotalus durissus cascavella Induced by Naringin

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Teaching and learning data structures supported by computers: An experiment using CADILAG tool

This paper aims to present the use of a learning object (CADILAG), developed to facilitate understanding data structure operations by using visual presentations and animations. The CADILAG allows visualizing the behavior of algorithms usually discussed during Computer Science and Information System courses. For each data structure it is possible visualizing its content and its operation dynamically. Its use was evaluated an the results are presented. © 2012 AISTI.

Estrogenic and mutagenic activities of crotalaria pallida measured by recombinant yeast assay and ames test

Background: Crotalaria pallida Ailton is a plant belonging to the Fabaceae family, popularly known as rattle or rattlesnake and used in traditional medicine to treat swelling of the joints and as a vermifuge. Previous pharmacological studies have also reported anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal activities. Nevertheless, scientific information regarding this species is scarce, and there are no reports related to its possible estrogenic and mutagenic effects. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the estrogenic potential of C. pallida leaves by means of the Recombinant Yeast Assay (RYA), seeking an alternative for estrogen replacement therapy during menopause; and to reflect on the safe use of natural products to assess the mutagenic activity of the crude extract from C. pallida leaves, the dichloromethane fraction and stigmasterol by means of the Ames test.Methods: The recombinant yeast assay with the strain BY4741 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was performed with the ethanolic extract, dichloromethane fraction and stigmasterol isolated from the leaves of C. pallida. Mutagenic activity was evaluated by the Salmonella/microsome assay (Ames test), using the Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA100, TA98, TA97 and TA102, with (+S9) and without (-S9) metabolization, by the preincubation method.Results: All samples showed estrogenic activity, mainly stigmasterol. The ethanolic extract from C. pallida leaves showed mutagenic activity in the TA98 strain (-S9), whereas dichloromethane fraction and stigmasterol were found devoid of activity.Conclusion: Considering the excellent estrogenic activity performed by stigmasterol in the RYA associated with the absence of mutagenic activity when evaluated by the Ames test, stigmasterol becomes a strong candidate to be used in hormone replacement therapy during menopause. © 2013 Boldrin et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Differential modulation of sympathetic and respiratory activities by cholinergic mechanisms in the nucleus of the solitary tract in rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The perspective of the teaching of arts projected by H. Gardner and the National Syllabus Parameters - (arts) of elementary school

In a concise way, the article reports part of the Master of Arts dissertation in Music entitled The meaning of the teaching of Arts in H. Gardner's perspective, presented in the IAUNESP [Arts Institute-State of Sao Paulo University] in 2008. Some considerations on the Statutory Law n. 11.769/08 were added to the original text. The produced research had an exploratory nature and a theoretical mark. Some texts by Howard Gardner, by the psychologist Eliane Leao, as well as the text of the National Syllabus Parameters-Art, from the Department of Elementary Education, served as a foundation for this article. The intended aim was to demonstrate to what extent the pedagogical proposition of the Arts Education projected by H. Gardner is similar to the one proposed by the National Syllabus Parameters, and which would the benefits be in this age group of an artistic sensitizing work for the development of the individual's personality.

Constraints on the teaching work: the use of experimental activities in a Municipal Public School System

O trabalho escolar pode ser concebido como o resultado de complexas relações entre as prescrições legais, os diversos atores e as condições materiais da realidade objetiva de determinada escola, apresentando diferentes dimensões que condicionam seu desenvolvimento, envolvendo aspectos de natureza organizacionalestrutural e de natureza político-ideológica. O presente trabalho é resultado do curso de extensão realizado com professoras de ciências naturais de uma rede escolar pública municipal. Utilizando a abordagem de pesquisa qualitativa do tipo estudo de caso, objetivamos identificar os principais condicionantes que atuam sobre o trabalho docente e que são responsáveis pela baixa frequência de utilização de atividades experimentais. Os condicionantes identificados no estudo realizado se enquadraram em quatro fatores: relacionados à organização da escola e das aulas; ligados às condições estruturais e materiais; relacionados ao professor; e relacionados ao comportamento do aluno.

Evaluation of area contaminated by wood treatment activities: genetic markers in the environment and in the child population

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Mutagenicity and chemopreventive activities of Astronium species assessed by Ames test

In the neotropical savannah, Astronium species are used in popular medicine to treat allergies, inflammation, diarrhea and ulcers. Given that natural products are promising starting points for the discovery of novel potentially therapeutic agents, the aim of the present study was to investigate the mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of Astronium spp. The mutagenicity was determined by the Ames test on Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA97a, TA100 and TA102. The antimutagenicity was tested against the direct-acting and indirect-acting mutagens. The results showed that none of the extracts induce any increase in the number of revertants, demonstrating the absence of mutagenic activity. On the other hand, the results on the antimutagenic potential showed a moderate inhibitory effect against NPD and a strong protective effect against B[a]P and AFB1. This study highlights the importance of screening species of Astronium for new medicinal compounds. The promising results obtained open up new avenues for further study and provide a better understanding the mechanisms by which these species act in protecting DNA from damage. However, further pharmacological and toxicological investigations of crude extracts of Astronium spp., as well as of its secondary metabolites, are necessary to determine the mechanism(s) of action to guarantee their safer and more effective application to human health.

Pedagogical practices carried out during an in-service teachers education project: approaching history and philosophy of science to physics teaching

We report here part of a research project developed by the Science Education Research Group, titled: "Teachers’ Pedagogical Practices and formative processes in Science and Mathematics Education" which main goal is the development of coordinated research that can generate a set of subsidies for a reflection on the processes of teacher training in Sciences and Mathematics Education. One of the objectives was to develop continuing education activities with Physics teachers, using the History and Philosophy of Science as conductors of the discussions and focus of teaching experiences carried out by them in the classroom. From data collected through a survey among local Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics teachers in Bauru, a São Paulo State city, we developed a continuing education proposal titled “The History and Philosophy of Science in the Physics teachers’ pedagogical practice”, lasting 40 hours of lessons. We followed the performance of five teachers who participated in activities during the 2008 first semester and were teaching Physics at High School level. They designed proposals for short courses, taking into consideration aspects of History and Philosophy of Science and students’ alternative conceptions. Short courses were applied in real classrooms situations and accompanied by reflection meetings. This is a qualitative research, and treatment of data collected was based on content analysis, according to Bardin [1].

Greening of the essential activities of an Engineering School: a case study in the Area/Department of Production Engineering

This article analyzes the inclusion of the issue of “environmental management” in the department of Production Engineering of the “Alfa” School of Engineering. For this, a case study was conducted at the School of "Alpha" Engineering, with a focus on the area of Production Engineering. Professors were interviewed; documents were reviewed as well as information collected from direct observations by of one of the authors of this article. It was observed that the department of Production Engineering at the Alpha School of Engineering has been developing activities covering all those aspects proposed by Jabbour [8]. "Environmental management" has been included in the curriculums of: (a) Teaching: in the creation of undergraduate courses (obligatory) and graduate Master's degree (optional), (b) Research: formalization of research groups in environmental management for the creation of master’s post graduation research, formalization of environmental management as one of the subjects that should be chosen by candidates for a Professorship in the area of production engineering; (c) Extension: Course in Environmental Management, Symposium (which in recent years has been focusing on environmental issues), creation of sustainability indicators for universities, (d) University Management: initiatives to raise awareness, distribution of reusable mugs and installation of special bins for selective collection in the Campus.

The chemical composition and pharmacological activities of geopropolis produced by Melipona fasciculata Smith in northeast Brazil

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