Neural mechanisms underlying adaptive actions after slips

An increase in cognitive control has been systematically observed in responses produced immediately after the commission of an error. Such responses show a delay in reaction time (post-error slowing) and an increase in accuracy. To characterize the neurophysiological mechanism involved in the adaptation of cognitive control, we examined oscillatory electrical brain activity by electroencephalogram and its corresponding neural network by event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging in three experiments. We identified a new oscillatory thetabeta component related to the degree of post-error slowing in the correct responses following an erroneous trial. Additionally, we found that the activity of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the right inferior frontal cortex, and the right superior frontal cortex was correlated with the degree of caution shown in the trial following the commission of an error. Given the overlap between this brain network and the regions activated by the need to inhibit motor responses in a stop-signal manipulation, we conclude that the increase in cognitive control observed after the commission of an error is implemented through the participation of an inhibitory mechanism.

Parâmetros operacionais no processamento de zeólitas desativadas por fusão com KHSO4

This work presents a study on the determination of the optimal experimental conditions for processing spent commercial zeolites in order to recover lanthanide elements and eventually other elements. The process is based on the fusion of the sample with potassium hydrogenosulfate (KHSO4). Three experimental parameters were studied: temperature, reaction time and catalyst/flux mass ratio. After fusion the solid was dissolved in water and the amount of insoluble matter was used to determine the efficiency of the process. The optimized experimental parameters depend on the composition of the sample processed. Under such conditions the insoluble residue corresponds to SiO2. Lanthanide elements and aluminum present in solution were isolated by conventional precipitation techniques; the yields were at least 75 wt%. The final generated wastes correspond to neutral colorless solutions containing alkali chlorides/sulfates and solids that can be disposed of in industrial dumps.

Avaliação do potencial de processos oxidativos avançados para remediação de águas contaminadas com geosmina e 2-MIB

In this work, the efficiency of some homogeneous advanced oxidation processes (UVC/H2O2, Fe2+/H2O2, UVC/Fe2+/H2O2, UVA/Fe2+/H2O2, solar/Fe2+/H2O2) was investigated toward the degradation of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB). The effect of relevant experimental parameters (ie. pH, Fe2+ and H2O2 concentration) was first investigated by factorial design, using camphor as a model substrate. In the geosmin and 2-MIB degradation studies the Fenton processes assisted by solar and UVA radiation offered the most promising results, mainly on account of high degradation capacity (higher than 80% at a reaction time of 60 min), high operational simplicity and low cost.

Otimização de metodologia para derivação de desoxinivalenol através de planejamento experimental

The objective of this work was to optimize the derivatization reaction for determining deoxynivalenol (DON) by gas chromatography employing an experimental planning procedure. The factors were: temperature, reaction time, catalyst and trifluoroacetic anhydride concentration. The relative peak areas were used to evaluated the effects. The best conditions for DON derivatization were 200 µL TFAA and 18 mg sodium bicarbonate for 6 min at 74 ºC for 7 to 21 µg of DON. Under these conditions, the detection limit was 1.4 µg of DON.

Ciclização do lapachol induzida por sais de tálio III

This work describes the cyclization of lapachol (1) induced by thallium triacetate (TTA) and thallium trinitrate (TTN) in several solvents using magnetic stirring and under microwave irradiation. alpha-Xyloidone (2) - dehydro-alpha-lapachone - was obtained as the main product in these reactions in 20 75% yield. However, rhinacanthin-A (4) was isolated as main product in a 40% yield, using TTA and acetic anhydride:water (1:1) as solvent, and dehydro-iso-alpha-lapachone (3) in 21% yield, using TTA and dichloromethane as solvent. The reaction time decreased drastically under microwave conditions, but the yields of these reactions were not the expected.

Interesterificação química de óleo de soja e óleo de soja totalmente hidrogenado: influência do tempo de reação

Chemical interesterification is an important alternative to produce zero trans fats. In practice, however, excessive reaction times are used to ensure complete randomization. This work evaluated the influence of the reaction time on the interesterification of soybean oil/fully hydrogenated soybean oil blend, carried out in the following conditions: 100 ºC, 500 rpm stirring speed, 0.4% (w/w) sodium methoxide catalyst. The triacylglycerol composition, solid fat content and melting point analysis showed that the reaction was very fast, reaching the equilibrium within 5 min. This result suggests the interesterification can be performed in substantially lower times, with reduction in process costs.

Influência da ação das enzimas alcalase e flavourzyme no grau de hidrólise das proteínas de carne de frango

To study the action of Alcalase and Flavourzyme on the proteins of chicken meat, the influence of the substrate concentration [S], enzyme concentration [E] and hydrolysis time on the degree of hydrolysis (DH) of the proteins was evaluated. The highest DH for breast meat was obtained with a [S] of 3.3% (w/v), with a [E] of 6% (w/w) and reaction time of 90 min, for both enzymes. For thigh meat the conditions to get the highest DH were: [S] of 5% (w/v), [E] of 8% (w/w) and a reaction time of 120 min, for both enzymes.

Determination of Ni(II) in metal alloys by spectrophotometry UV-Vis using dopasemiquinone

A spectrophotometric method was proposed for Ni(II) determination in alloys using a dopa-semiquinone (L-1) to form [Ni(II)(L1-)3]1-, ε = 9.3 x 10³ L mol-1 cm-1. The optimal conditions for the determination were: wavelength 590 nm, temperature 25 °C, reaction time 45 min and pH 7.5. The Beer's law was obeyed for nickel from 3.33 x 10-5 to 1.78 x 10-4 mol L-1. The method was applied to complex samples, such as inox, nickel-titanium and cobalt-chromium alloys. A study of the potential interferents revealed that Mn was the major interferent. The limit of detection and quantification were 2.88 x 10-5 mol L-1 and 3.06 x 10-5 mol L-1, respectively.

Produção de biodiesel através de transesterificação in situ de sementes de girassol via catálise homogênea e heterogênea

The objective of this work is to show the results of the in situ transesterification of sunflower seed oil with methanol on basic homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis for the production of biodiesel. In homogeneous catalysis, the activity of KOH and K2CO3 were evaluated using the same oil:methanol ratio of 1:90. KOH showed to be more active than K2CO3, leading to total conversion in biodiesel after 1h reaction time. In the heterogeneous catalysis the activity of K2CO3/Al2O3 was comparable to the activity of K2CO3 bulk: 53.0 and 66.6% resp. The properties of samples of biodiesel produced by homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis were evaluated and are in accordance with the recommended fuel properties.

Síntese hidrotermal assistida por micro-ondas como metodologia sintética eficiente para obtenção da rede metalorgânica [ZN(BDC)(H2O)2]n

This work presents the optimization of the microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of [Zn(BDC)(H2O)2]n . The reactions were carried out at the fixed temperature of 120 ºC for 10, 20, 30 and 40 min. Pure crystalline [Zn(BDC)(H2O)2]n was obtained in high yield (ca. 90%) with a reaction time of 10 min. The phase obtained and its purity was confirmed by Rietveld refinement, with a final value for Rwp/Rexp equal to 1.48. Increased reaction times (20, 30 and 40 min) favored the formation of unwanted by products, resulting in mixtures of several crystalline phases.

Spectrophotometric determination of famotidine using sulphonphthalein dyes

Four new extraction-free spectrophotometric methods have been established for the quantitation of famotidine (FMT). The methods are based on the formation of yellow ion-pair complexes between FMT and four sulphonphthalein dyes viz., bromothymol blue (method A), bromophenol blue (method B), bromocresol purple (method C) and bromocresol green (method D) in dioxane or acetone medium. The experimental variables such as reagent concentration, solvent medium and reaction time have been carefully optimized to achieve the highest sensitivity. The proposed methods were applied successfully to the determination of famotidine in tablets with good accuracy and precision and without interferences from common excipients. The results obtained by the proposed methods were compared favorably with those of the reference method.

Efficient synthesis of sulfonamide derivatives on solid supports catalyzed using solvent-free and microwave-assisted methods

In this work we report the synthesis of sulfonamide derivatives using a conventional procedure and with solid supports, such as silica gel, florisil, alumina, 4Å molecular sieves, montmorillonite KSF, and montmorillonite K10 using solvent-free and microwave-assisted methods. Our results show that solid supports have a catalytic activity in the formation of sulfonamide derivatives. We found that florisil, montmorillonite KSF, and K10 could be used as inexpensive alternative catalysts that are easily separated from the reaction media. Additionally, solvent-free and microwave-assisted methods were more efficient in reducing reaction time and in increasing yield.

Synthesis of quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives on solid support using room temperature and microwave-assisted solvent-free procedures

We describe the synthesis of 12 new ethyl and methyl quinoxaline-7-carboxylate 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives on solid supports with room temperature and microwave-assisted solvent-free procedures. Results show that solid supports have good catalytic activity in the formation of quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives. We found that florisil and montmorillonite KSF and K10 could be used as new, easily available, inexpensive alternatives of catalysts. Additionally, room temperature and microwave-irradiation solvent-free synthesis was more efficient than a conventional procedure (Beirut reaction), reducing reaction time and increasing yield.

Iodeto de potássio suportado em peneiras moleculares mesoporosas (SBA-15 e MCM-41) como catalisador básico para síntese de biodiesel

Iodide potassium incorporated on mesoporous molecular sieves (SBA-15 and MCM-41) was used as heterogeneous catalysts in the transesterification of sunflower oil under different conditions of reaction time and ratio catalyst/oil (w/w). The results have showed that the system supported in SBA-15 has been more active than the supported in MCM-41, promoting a conversion to methyl esters of 84.98%.

Tratamento do efluente do biodiesel utilizando a eletrocoagulação/flotação: investigação dos parâmetros operacionais

Electrocoagulation/flotation process was applied to treat biodiesel wastewater using aluminium electrodes. Firstly, a literature survey was conducted to choose the process variables and then, operational parameters including initial pH, electrode distance and reaction time were tested. Experimental results showed the best parameter that can be used in a factorial design for further studies. The results indicate that electrocoagulation/flotation is very efficient to reduce oil and grease, the effluent was very clear after treatment and small amount of sludge was produced.