Análise isotópica, físico-química, centesimal e energética de água de coco

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Detection of hormones in surface and drinking water in Brazil by LC-ESI-MS/MS and ecotoxicological assessment with Daphnia magna

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Correlations among antiangiogenic factors and trace elements in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Baccharis dracunculifolia D.C: diversidade genética e química de populações

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Purificação da dextranasacarase de L. mesenteroides FT045B, produção de dextrana de massa molar média controlada, produção de ácido ascórbico α-glicosídeo e do composto bromo-dextrana

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

The ability of Nile tilapia to regulate protein and energy intake evaluated by carbon relative enrichement

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise isotópica do carbono em néctares de caju

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and petroleum biomarkers in Sao Sebastiao Channel, Brazil: Assessment of petroleum contamination

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and non-aromatic hydrocarbons (NAHs), including n-alkanes, isoprenoids and petroleum biomarkers (terpanes, hopanes, steranes and diasteranes), were quantified by gas chromatography with flame ionization and mass spectrometer detectors in sediment samples collected from the Sao Sebastiao Channel (SSC), Brazil, where the largest Brazilian maritime petroleum terminal is located The concentrations of total PAHs. total n-alkanes and petroleum biomarkers ranged from below the detection limits to 370 ng g(-1,) 28 mu g g(-1), 2200 ng g(-1) (dry weight), respectively. The analysis of PAN distribution suggested combustion sources of PAHs as the main input for these compounds with smaller amount from petroleum contamination The distribution of petroleum biomarkers undoubtedly demonstrated petroleum as a source of anthropogenic contamination throughout the region. The assessment of petrogenic sources of contamination in marine sediment is more challenging if only PAH analysis were carried out, which demonstrates that more stable hydrocarbons such as petroleum biomarkers are useful for investigating potential presence of petroleum (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

N-glycome profiling of Bothrops jararaca newborn and adult venoms

Glycosylation is an important post-translational modification of snake venom proteins and contributes to venom proteome complexity. Many snake venom components are known to be glycosylated, however, very little is known about the carbohydrate structures present in venom glycoproteins. Previous studies showed that the ontogenetic shift in diet, from ectothermic prey in early life to endothermic prey in adulthood, and shift in animal size are associated with changes in the venom proteome of the snake Bothrops jararaca. In this study we explored the composition of the N-glycome released from newborn and adult B. jararaca venom proteins. We used an ion trap mass spectrometer (IT-MS) to disassemble glycan structures based on the use of several pathways of MS (MSn) and demonstrate the presence of some structural isomers in both newborn and adult venom B. jararaca N-glycans. The main N-glycans identified in both venoms are of the hybrid/complex type however some mannose-rich type structures were also detected. The N-glycan composition of newborn and adult venoms did not vary indicating that differences in the utilization of the N-glycosylation motif could be the explanation for the differences in the glycosylation levels indicated by the differential electrophoretic profiles previously reported for B. jararaca newborn and adult venoms. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A theoretical study of SnF2+, SnCl2+, and SnO2+ and their experimental search

We present a detailed theoretical study of the stability of the gas-phase diatomic dications SnF2+, SnCl2+, and SnO2+ using ab initio computer calculations. The ground states of SnF2+, SnCl2+, and SnO2+ are thermodynamically stable, respectively, with dissociation energies of 0.45, 0.30, and 0.42 eV. Whereas SnF2+ dissociates into Sn2+ + F, the long range behaviour of the potential energy curves of SnCl2+ and SnO2+ is repulsive and wide barrier heights due to avoided crossing act as a kind of effective dissociation energy. Their equilibrium internuclear distances are 4.855, 5.201, and 4.852 a(0), respectively. The double ionisation energies (T-e) to form SnF2+, SnCl2+, and SnO2+ from their respective neutral parents are 25.87, 23.71, and 25.97 eV. We combine our theoretical work with the experimental results of a search for these doubly positively charged diatomic molecules in the gas phase. SnO2+ and SnF2+ have been observed for prolonged oxygen (O-16(-)) ion beam sputtering of a tin metal foil and of tin (II) fluoride (SnF2) powder, respectively, for ion flight times of about 10(-5) s through a magnetic-sector mass spectrometer. In addition, SnCl2+ has been detected for O-16(-) ion surface bombardment of stannous (tin (II)) chloride (SnCl2) powder. To our knowledge, SnF2+ is a novel gas-phase molecule, whereas SnCl2+ had been detected previously by electron-impact ionization mass spectrometry, and SnO2+ had been observed before by spark source mass spectrometry as well as by atom probe mass spectrometry. We are not aware of any previous theoretical studies of these molecular systems. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4758475]

U-Pb dating by zircon dissolution method using chemical abrasion

Chemical abrasion was carried out on zircons grains of the Temora II standard for U-Pb dating prior to analyses using in situ Laser Ablation-MultiCollector Ion Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (LA-ICPMS) followed by the Isotope Dissolution Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (ID-TIMS) method. The proposed methodology was herein applied in order to reduce primarily the effects of secondary Pb loss, the presence of common lead and/or silicate impurities. Nine Temora II zircon grains were analyzed by the laser ablation method yielding an age of 418.3±4.3 Ma. Zircon grains of a same population were separated for chemical abrasion before dissolution and mass spectrometry analyses. Six fractions of them were separated for isotope dissolution using 235U-205Pb mixed spike after we have checked and assured the laboratory conditions of low blank values for total Pb of less than 2 pg/g. The obtained U-Pb zircon age by the ID-TIMS method was 415.7±1.8 Ma (error 0.43 %) based on four successful determinations. The results are consistent with the published ages for the Temora diorite (Temora I â 416.75±1.3 Ma; Temora II â 416.78±0.33 Ma) and established as 416±0.33 Ma. The technique is thus recommended for high precision U-Pb zircon analyses (error < 1 %), mainly for high resolution stratigraphic studies of Phanerozoic sequences.

Effects of a cyanobacterial extract containing-anatoxin-a(s) on the cardiac rhythm of Leurolestes circunvagans

This work presents the effects of an anatoxin-a(s)-containing extract on a cockroach semi-isolated heart preparation and the results supporting the extract s biological activity on acetylcholinesterase (purified from ell). The presence of the toxin in cyanobacterial strains Anabaena spiroides (ITEP-024, ITEP-025 and ITEP-026) isolated from the Tapacurá reservoir in Pernambuco, Brazil, was confirmed by means of liquid chromatography coupled to an ion-trap mass spectrometer. The anticholinesterase activity was assessed biochemically by the Ellman test and was confirmed by measuring the cockroach s heart rate. The concentration of the extract containing the tested anatoxin-a(s) (antx-a(s)) (10, 16 and 100 μg.μL-1) inhibited the eel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by more than 90%. The cockroach cardiac frequency increased by a maximum of about 20% within 29 min after the addition of 2.5x10³ μg of extract containing antxa (s).g-1 bw (n=9, p<0.05). Our results strongly indicate that antx-a(s) is capable of exerting biological effects on cockroach, indicating that more research might be conducted to determine its role in the environment, especially on insects.

Chemically Resolved Particle Fluxes Over Tropical and Temperate Forests

Chemically resolved submicron (PM1) particlemass fluxes were measured by eddy covariance with a high resolution time-of-flight aerosolmass spectrometer over temperate and tropical forests during the BEARPEX-07 and AMAZE-08 campaigns. Fluxes during AMAZE-08 were small and close to the detection limit (<1 ng m−2 s−1) due to low particle mass concentrations (<1 μg m−3). During BEARPEX-07, concentrations were five times larger, with mean mid-day deposition fluxes of −4.8 ng m−2 s−1 for total nonrefractory PM1 (Vex,PM1 = −1 mm s−1) and emission fluxes of +2.6 ng m−2 s−1 for organic PM1 (Vex,org = +1 mm s−1). Biosphere–atmosphere fluxes of different chemical components are affected by in-canopy chemistry, vertical gradients in gas-particle partitioning due to canopy temperature gradients, emission of primary biological aerosol particles, and wet and dry deposition. As a result of these competing processes, individual chemical components had fluxes of varying magnitude and direction during both campaigns. Oxygenated organic components representing regionally aged aerosol deposited, while components of fresh secondary organic aerosol (SOA) emitted. During BEARPEX-07, rapid incanopy oxidation caused rapid SOA growth on the timescale of biosphere-atmosphere exchange. In-canopy SOA mass yields were 0.5–4%. During AMAZE-08, the net organic aerosol flux was influenced by deposition, in-canopy SOA formation, and thermal shifts in gas-particle partitioning.Wet deposition was estimated to be an order ofmagnitude larger than dry deposition during AMAZE-08. Small shifts in organic aerosol concentrations from anthropogenic sources such as urban pollution or biomass burning alters the balance between flux terms. The semivolatile nature of the Amazonian organic aerosol suggests a feedback in which warmer temperatures will partition SOA to the gas-phase, reducing their light scattering and thus potential to cool the region.

A multiproxy assessment of organic pollution in shore sediments from the Río de la Plata Estuary, SW Atlantic

The study of organic pollution in estuaries is very relevant as they are transitional zones, which control the fluxes of water, nutrients, particles and organisms from and to the continental margins, rivers and oceans. The aims of this study are:(1) to evaluate organic pollution in coastal sediments of Montevideo, Río de la Plata Estuary by a multi-biomarker approach, (2) to identify major sources of organic pollutants through qualitative analysis using molecular indices, (3) to assess the relative contribution of different sources of hydrocarbons through quantitative source apportionment employing (PCA/MLR) as chemometric technique. Sampling surveys were carried out in July 2009, January 2010 and March 2011 in 37 stations along the middle portion of the Río de la Plata Estuary across the coast of Montevideo. In each station surface (0–2 cm depth) sediment samples were taken with a 0.05 m2 van Veen grab. The Soxhlet extracted organic compounds included aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHs) and steroids, analysed by gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector (GC-FID), linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) quantified by gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer (GC/MS). All biomarkers presented the highest concentrations in the stations of Montevideo Bay indicating high levels of organic pollution. The combination of molecular indices and the chemometric technique showed that major sources of AHs and PAHs are petroleum inputs and combustion, due to oil transport and refinement, harbour activities and vehicular emissions.Major sources of LABs and steroids are urban and domestic sewage. Identification, quantification and source assignment of those organic compounds are very important to assess pollution and to give tools to help minimize the inputs into the environment

In-situ XANES experiments on Ni K-edge in mesoporous ZrO2-CeO2:Ni.

Ordered mesoporous ZrO2-CeO2 mixed oxides are potential candidates for catalytic applications. These systems, used as anodes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), may lead to better performance of SOFCs, due to an enhancement on surface area, aiming to achieve a lower working temperature. The aim of this studies is to evaluate the reduction capacity of Ni2+ to Ni in ZrO2-x(mol)%CeO2 (x=50 and 90) samples impregnated with 60(wt.)%NiO. The synthesis was made with Zr and Ce chloride precursors, HCl aqueous solution, Pluronic P123, NH4OH to adjust the pH (3-4) and a teflon autoclave to perform a hydrothermal treatment (80oC/48h). The samples were dried and calcined, until 540oC in N2 and 4 hours in air. The NiO impregnation was made with an ethanol dispersion of Ni(NO3)£6H2O. The powder was calcinated in air until 350oC for 2 hours. Temperature-resolved XANES data at the Ni K-edge were collected at the DXAS beam line of the LNLS in transmission mode, using a Si(111) monochromator and a CCD detector. Sample preparation consisted of mixing »6mg of the powder samples with boron nitride and pressing into pellets. The data were acquired during an experiment of temperature programmed reduction (TPR) under a 5% H2/He until 600oC and mixtures of 20%CH4:5%O2/He, at temperatures from 400 to 600oC. All the reactions were monitored with a mass spectrometer. The data was analyzed with a linear combination fit of 2 standards for each valence number using Athena software. The Ni K-edge experiments demonstrated that for both contents of CeO2, NiO embedded in the porous zirconia-ceria matrix reduces at lower temperatures than pure NiO, revealing that the ZrO2-CeO2 support improves the reduction of impregnated NiO. Ni was oxidized to NiO after all reactions with methane and oxygen. Hydrogenated carbonaceous species were detected, but under reducing conditions, the hydrocarbon compounds are removed. The reaction of total oxidation of methane CH4:O2 (1:2 ratio) was observed at lower temperatures (around 400oC) for both samples.