COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON PIGMENT GRANULES AND PIGMENT DISTRIBUTION IN THE COMPOUND EYES OF WILD-TYPE AND MUTANT WORKER HONEYBEES .2. AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

INPLANE RESISTIVITY IN GRAPHITE-INTERCALATION COMPOUNDS OBTAINED FROM CONDUCTION-ELECTRON-SPIN-RESONANCE MEASUREMENTS

We developed a procedure to take advantage of the magnetic-field-modulation-frequency effect on the line shape of conduction-electron-spin resonance of graphite intercalation compounds (GIC's) to extract the absolute value of the in-plane resistivity. We calculated the power absorbed in each slice of the sample normal to the wave penetration, multiplied by a factor to account for the magnetic-field-modulation-frequency effect. Room-temperature spectra of stage-I AlCl3-intercalated GIC in both H-0 perpendicular-to c and H-0 parallel-to c configurations were fitted to the theoretical line shapes and the value of in-plane resistivity (and also the value of c-axis resistivity) obtained from the fitting parameters are in reasonable agreement with those from the literature.

Polymerization of ethylene by the tris(pyrazolyl)borate titanium(IV) compound immobilized on MAO-modified silicas

The immobilization of soluble catalyst {Tp(Ms)}TiCl3 (Tp(Ms*)HB(3-mesityl-pyrazolyl)(2)(5-mesityl-pyrazolyl)(-)) on silica and MAO-modified silicas containing 4.0, 8.0 and 23.0 wt.% Al/SiO2 yields active supported catalysts for ethylene polymerization. Among the supported catalysts studied by XRF spectroscopy, higher titanium content was obtained using MAO-modified silica containing 8.0 wt.% Al/SiO2 as support. For the ethylene polymerization reactions carried out in hexane at 60degreesC using a combination of triisobutylaluminum (TiBA) and methylaluminoxane (MAO) (1:1), the activities varied between 24.4 and 113.5 kg of PE/mol [Ti] h. The highest activity is reached using MAO-modified silica containing 4.0 wt.% Al/SiO2 as support. The viscosity-average molecular weights ((M) over bar (v)) of the PE's produced with the supported catalysts varying from 1.44 to 9.94 x 10(5) g/mol with melting temperatures in the range of 125-140degreesC. The use of other Lewis acid cocatalysts, including TiBA, diethylaluminium chloride (DEAC), and trimethylaluminum (TMA) resulted also in the formation of active catalysts for ethylene polymerization. However, the activities are lower than that one using a combination of TiBA and MAO. The viscosity-average molecular weights (R,) of PE's are influenced by varying the cocatalysts as well as the Al/Ti molar ratio. The supported catalyst generated in situ under ethylene atmosphere is roughly four times more active than supported one containing 4.0 wt.% Al/SiO2. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermodynamic aspects of ion intercalation in KhFek[Fe(CN)(6)](l)center dot mH(2)O compounds: Application to the Everit's salt/Prussian Blue transition

The K+ reversible processes for ion exchange in KhFek[Fe(CN)(6)](l)center dot mH(2)O host compounds (Prussian Blue) were thermodynamically analyzed. A thermodynamic approach was established and developed based on the consideration of a lattice-gas model where the electronic contribution to the chemical potential is neglected and the ion-host interaction is not considered. The occupation fraction of the intercalation process was calculated from the kinetic parameters obtained through ac-electrogravimetry in a previous paper. In this way, the mass potential transfer function introduces a new way to evaluate the thermodynamic aspect of intercalation. Finally, based on the thermodynamic approach, the energy used to put each K+ ion into the host material was calculated. The values were shown to be in good agreement with the values obtained through transient techniques, for example, cyclic voltammetry. As a result, this agreement between theory and experimental data validates the thermodynamic approach considered here, and for the first time, the thermodynamic aspects of insertion were considered for mixed valence materials.

Experimental and theoretical study of the compound [Pd(dmba)(NCO)(imz)]

The compound [Pd(dmba)(NCO)(imz)] (dmba = N,N-dimethylbenzilamine; NCO = cyanate; imz = imidazole) was studied through experimental and theoretical methods. The complex was synthesized and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy. To an appropriate representation of the molecular environment, Gaussian basis sets for the constituent atoms of the compound were built and, after adequate supplementation with polarization and diffuse functions, they were used to study the molecule. Calculations of electronic and vibrational structure of two possible isomers were carried out, showing that the compound, which contains the NCO GROUP trans to the Pd-C bond, is 4.29 kcal/mol more stable than the analogous one, where the imz ligand is trans to the Pd-C bond. The calculated molecular parameters, bond distances, and bond angles showed that the geometry around the metallic center is square-planar with the cyanate being linear. The theoretical infrared spectrum of C(1) symmetry (electronic state (1)A) is in accordance with the experimental one. It also verified the contribution of Pd (4d(xz) + 4d(yz)) and Pd (4d(xy)) in the HOMO and LUMO orbitals, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Host-guest complexation of a nitroheterocyclic compound with cyclodextrins: a spectrofluorimetric and molecular modeling study

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

SnO2, ZnO and related polycrystalline compound semiconductors: An overview and review on the voltage-dependent resistance (non-ohmic) feature

The present review describes mainly the history of SnO2-based voltage-dependent resistors, discusses the main characteristics of these polycrystalline semiconductor systems and includes a direct comparison with traditional ZnO-based voltage-dependent resistor systems to establish the differences and similarities, giving details of the basic physical principles involved with the non-ohmic properties in both polycrystalline systems. As an overview, the text also undertakes the main difficulties involved in processing SnO2- and ZnO-based non-ohmic systems, with an evaluation of the contribution of the dopants to the electronic properties and to the final microstructure and consequently to the system's non-ohmic behavior. However, since there are at least two review texts regarding ZnO-based systems [Levinson, L. M., and Philipp, H. R. Ceramic Bulletin 1985;64:639; Clarke, D. R. Journal of American Ceramic Society 1999;82:485], the main focus of the present text is dedicated to the SnO2-based varistor systems, although the basic physical principles described in the text are universally useful in the context of dense polycrystalline devices. However, the readers must be careful of how the microstructure heterogeneity and grain-boundary chemistry are capable to interfere in the global electrical response for particular systems. New perspectives for applications, commercialization and degradation studies involving SnO2-based polycrystalline non-ohmic systems are also outlined, including recent technological developments. Finally, at the end of this review a brief section is particularly dedicated to the presentation and discussions about others emerging non-ohmic polycrystalline ceramic devices (particularly based on perovskite ceramics) which must be deeply studied in the years to come, specially because some of these systems present combined high dielectric and non-ohmic properties. From both scientific and technological point of view these perovskite systems are quite interesting. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Intercalation processes and diffusion paths of lithium ions in spinel-type structured Li(1+x)Ti(2)O(4): Density functional theory study

Intercalation processes and corresponding diffusion paths of Li ions into spinel-type structured Li(1+x)Ti(2)O(4) (0 <= x <= 0.375) are systematically studied by means of periodic density functional theory calculations for different compositions and arrangements. An analysis of the site preference for intercalation processes is carried out, while energy barriers for the diffusion paths have been computed in detail. Our results indicate that the Li insertion is thermodynamically favorable at octahedral sites 16c in the studied composition range, and Li migration from tetrahedral sites 8a to octahedral sites 16c stabilizes the structure and becomes favorable for compositions x >= 0.25. Diffusion paths from less stable arrangements involving Li migrations between tetrahedral and octahedral sites exhibit the lowest energy barrier since the corresponding trajectories and energy profiles take place across a triangle made by three neighboring oxygen anions without structural modification. Theoretical and experimental diffusion coefficients are in reasonable agreement.

Propolis Standardized Extract (EPP-AF (R)), an Innovative Chemically and Biologically Reproducible Pharmaceutical Compound for Treating Wounds

The aim of this study was to develop a formulation, containing the propolis standardized extract (EPP-AF (R)), which can assist in the healing of skin lesions. To achieve this objective the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of the propolis extract was determined. The final product was subjected to in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical evaluation. The broth macrodi-lution method was used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the extracts and formulations against the microorganisms most commonly found in burns, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Wistar rats with puncture wounded skin were used to evaluate the wound healing properties of propolis. The results of chemical and biological characterization demonstrated the batch-to-batch reproducibility of the standardized extract which is an unprecedented result. The antimicrobial and wound healing activity of the pharmaceutical studied showed the best results when samples contain 3.6% propolis, suggesting that this is the most promising composition.

The in vitro antiviral activity of an aliphatic nitro compound from Heteropteris aphrodisiaca

We investigated the antiviral activity of an aliphatic nitro compound (NC) isolated from Heteropteris aphrodisiaca O. Mach. (Malpighiaceae), a Brazilian medicinal ptant. The NC was tested for its antiviral activity against poliovirus type 1 (PV-1) and bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV-1) by plaque reduction assay in cell culture. The NC showed a moderate antiviral activity against PV-1 and BHV-1 in HEp-2 celts, and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) were 22.01 mu g/ml (selectivity index (SI) = 2.83) and 21.10 mu g/mi (SI = 2.95), respectivety. At the highest concentration of the drug (40 mu g/ml) a reduction of approximately 80% in plaque assay was observed for both viruses. The treatment of cells or virus prior to infection did not inhibit the replication of virus strains. (C) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) on the histamine release induced by compound 48/80 and cardiac anaphylaxis in guinea-pig isolated heart

Histamine release from guinea pig heart treated with compound 48/80 was potentiated by the cyclooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin and piroxicam but not by aspirin or phenylbutazone. This differential effect suggests that the potentiation is not merely due to an inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Piroxicam potentiated the histamine release induced by cardiac anaphylaxis whereas indomethacin reduced this effect. The SRS-A antagonist FPL 55712 inhibited histamine release induced by cardiac anaphylaxis, but not that evoked by compound 48/80, and also prevented the potentiation due to indomethacin and piroxicam. In total, these data suggest that the potentiation of histamine release by piroxicam and indomethacin is probably due to a diversion of arachidonic acid metabolism from the cyclooxygenase to the lipoxygenase pathways. The resulting lipoxygenase products may then regulate histamine release, with the secretion due to antigen being more sensitive to such modulation than that evoked by compound 48/80.