Estudo do comportamento térmico e da luminescência de filmes de quitosana com os íons Eu3+ e Tb3+

Films of chitosan with trivalent lanthanides ions Eu3+ and Tb3+ were respectively prepared in the ratio of 3:1 m/m (chitosan: lanthanide) and 6:1 m/m (chitosan: lanthanide). There were no formations of films in a ratio of 1:1 m/m (chitosan: lanthanides). The films of chitosan with the Tb3+ ion have the same transparent appearance than the pure chitosan films. The film of chitosan with Eu3+ ion has a muddy appearance. These films present good resistance to tear. The appearance of the compounds prepared in ratio 1:1m/m is a white powder. The films and compounds of chitosan were characterized by Elementary Analysis (CHN), Thermal Analysis (TG/DTG) and Spectroscopy of Luminescence. The CHN analysis was made only for compounds prepared in ratio 1:1m/m, suggesting that these compounds possess the formula QUILn.6H2O, where QUI = Chitosan and Ln = Lanthanide. The results of the curves TG/DTG indicated that there are strong interactions between Eu3+ or Tb3+ and chitosan, causing a lesser lost of mass in the films. The luminescence analysis showed that the films of chitosan with the ions Eu3+ and Tb3+ present emissions in the region of the visible one, with bands of the chitosan and of the Eu3+ ion. The luminescence analysis of the compounds of chitosan with the Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions suggest that the chitosan does not transfer into energy to the ions lanthanides, however the chemical neighborhood around of the ion lanthanides breaks the selection rules and, conseqüently the 4f-4f transitions of the lanthanide ions are observed

Síntese, caracterização e aplicação do MCM-41 e A1-MCM-41 na pirólise do resíduo atmosférico de petróleo

In present work, mesoporous materials of the M41S family were synthesized, which were discovered in the early 90s by researchers from Mobil Oil Corporation, thus allowing new perspectives in the field of catalysis. One of the most important members of this family is the MCM-41, which has a hexagonal array of mesopores with pore diameters ranging from 2 to 10 nm and a high surface area, enabling it to become very promising for the use as a catalyst in the refining of oil in the catalytic cracking process, since the mesopores facilitate the access of large hydrocarbon molecules, thereby increasing the production of light products, that are in high demand in the market. The addition of aluminum in the structure of MCM-41 increases the acidity of the material, making it more beneficial for application in the petrochemical industry. The mesoporous materials MCM-41 and Al-MCM-41 (ratio Si / Al = 50) were synthesized through the hydrothermal method, starting with silica gel, NaOH and distilled water. CTMABr was used as template, for structural guiding. In Al-MCM-41 the same reactants were used, with the adding of pseudoboehmite (as a source of aluminum) in the synthesis gel. The syntheses were carried out over a period of four days with a daily adjustment of pH. The optimum conditions of calcination for the removal of the organic template (CTMABr) were discovered through TG / DTG and also through analysis by XRD, FTIR and Nitrogen Adsorption. It was found that both the method of hydrothermal synthesis and calcination conditions of the studies based on TG were promising for the production of mesoporous materials with a high degree of hexagonal array. The acidic properties of the materials were determined by desorption of n-butylamine via thermogravimetry. One proved that the addition of aluminum in the structure of MCM-41 promoted an increase in the acidity of the catalyst. To check the catalytic activity of these materials, a sample of Atmospheric Residue (RAT) that is derived from atmospheric distillation of oil from the Pole of Guamaré- RN was used. This sample was previously characterized by various techniques such as Thermogravimetry, FTIR and XRF, where through thermal analysis of a comparative study between the thermal degradation of the RAT, the RAT pyrolysis + MCM-41 and RAT + Al- MCM-41. It was found that the Al-MCM-41 was most satisfactory in the promotion of a catalytic effect on the pyrolysis of the RAT, as the cracking of heavy products in the waste occurred at temperatures lower than those observed for the pyrolysis with MCM-41, and thereby also decreasing the energy of activation for the process and increasing the rates of conversion of residue into lighter products

Síntese, caracterização e estudo fotofísico de complexos de 4,4- diaminoestilbeno-2,2-dissulfonato com íons lantanídeos

This is a work involving fundamental studies of chemistry where the synthesis and structural characterization, as well as a possible future application of these new compounds as luminescent sensors or sunscreen agents, complexes with 4,4 diaminostilbene-2,2-disulfonic (DSD) and trivalent lanthanide ions La3+, Nd3+, Eu3+, Gd3+ and Yb3+, were synthesized in the ratio of 3 mmol: 1 mmol (DSD: lanthanides). The complexes obtained with these ions were present in powder form and were characterized by complexometric titration with EDTA CHN Elemental analysis, molecular absorption spectroscopy in the ultraviolet region, the absorption spectroscopy in the infrared, thermal analysis (TG / DTG), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance - NMR 1H and Luminescence Spectroscopy. The complexometric titration and CHN analysis, confirmed the TG / DTG which suggest that these complexes have the following general chemical formulas: [La2(C14H12S2O6N2)2(H2O)2Cl2].7H2O,[Nd2(C14H12S2O6N2)2(H2O)2Cl2].6H2O,[Eu2(C14 H12S2O6N2)2(H2O)2Cl2].7H2O,[Gd2(C14H12S2O6N2)2(H2O)2Cl2].4H2O e [Yb2(C14H12S2O6N2)2(H2O)2].6H2O. The disappearance of the bands in the infrared spectrum at 2921 cm-1 and 2623 cm-1 and the displacement of the bands in the spectra of the amine complex indicate that the lanthanide ion is coordinated to the oxygen atoms and the sulfonate groups of the nitrogens amines, suggesting the formation of the dimer. The disappearance of the signal and the displacement signal SO3H amines in the 1H NMR spectrum of this complex are also indicative coordination and dimer formation. The Thermogravimetry indicates that the DSD is thermally stable in the range of 40º to 385°C and their complexes with lanthanide ions exhibit weight loss between 4 and 5 stages. The Uv-visible spectra indicated that the DSD and complexes exhibit cis isomers. The analysis of luminescence indicates that the complexes do not exhibit emission in the region of the lanthanides but an intense emission part of the binder. This is related to the triplet states of the ligand, which are in the lowest energy state emitting lanthanide ions, and also the formation of the dimer that suppress the luminescence of ion Eu3+. The formation of dimer was also confirmed by calculating the europium complex structure using the model Hamiltonian PM6 and Sparkle

Apparent digestibility of diets with different concentrations of lysine and energy in piglets with different body weights and post-weaning age

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

Increase in severity of molar-incisor hypomineralization and its relationship with the colour of enamel opacity: a prospective cohort study

Background. Predicting risk of posteruptive enamel breakdown (PEB) of molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) opacity is a difficult but important clinical task. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate these aspects through longitudinal studies.Objective. The aim of this longitudinal study was to analyse the relationship between colours of MIH opacity of children aged 6-12 (baseline) and other clinical and demographic variables involved in the increase in severity of MIH.Materials and methods. A blinded prospective 18-month follow-up was conducted with 147 individuals presenting mild MIH. Tooth-based incidence of increase in severity of MIH (PEB or atypical restorations) was used as dependent measurement. Enamel opacities were recorded according to colour shades of white, yellow and brown, allowing assessment of susceptibility to structural loss over time, according to colour of MIH opacity. Poisson regression models were used to adjust the results for demographic and clinical variables.Results. Brown and yellow MIH opacities were at higher risk for PEB and atypical restorations than those of white ones, even after adjustment for clinical and demographic variables.Conclusion. Teeth presenting mild MIH severity associated with yellow and brown enamel opacities were at high risk for increase in severity of MIH than lighter ones. This result could help clinicians determine a risk-based treatment for children with MIH.

Capacidade reprodutiva de fêmeas de Apanteles galleriae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) em lagartas de Galleria mellonella e Achroia grisella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) criadas com dietas diferentes

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

Influência da abertura de trilhas antrópicas e clareiras naturais na fenologia reprodutiva de Gymnanthes concolor (Spreng.) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae)

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

The Importance of Bees for Eggplant Cultivations (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Andrenidae, Halictidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Haptic Stabilization of Posture in Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Using a Nonrigid Tool

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Tribute to R.G. Boutilier: Skin colour and body temperature changes in basking Bokermannohyla alvarengai (Bokermann 1956)

In amphibians solar basking far from water sources is relatively uncommon since the highly permeable amphibian skin does not represent a significant barrier to the accompanying risk of losing water by evaporation. A South American frog, Bokermannohyla alvarengai (Bokermann 1956), however, spends a significant amount of the day exposed to full sun and relatively high temperatures. The means by which this frog copes with potentially high rates of evaporative water loss and high body temperatures are unknown. Thus, in this study, skin colour changes, body surface temperature, and evaporative water loss rates were examined under a mixture of field and laboratory conditions to ascertain whether changes in skin reflectivity play an important role in this animal's thermal and hydric balance. Field data demonstrated a tight correlation between the lightness of skin colour and frog temperature, with lighter frogs being captured possessing higher body temperatures. Laboratory experiments supported this relationship, revealing that frogs kept in the dark or at lower temperatures (20 degrees C) had darker skin colours, whereas frogs kept in the light or higher temperatures (30 degrees C) had skin colours of a lighter hue. Light exhibited a stronger influence on skin colour than temperature alone, suggesting that colour change is triggered by the increase in incident solar energy and in anticipation of changes in body temperature. This conclusion is corroborated by the observation that cold, darkly coloured frogs placed in the sun rapidly became lighter in colour during the initial warming up period (over the first 5 min), after which they warmed up more slowly and underwent a further, albeit slower, lightening of skin colour. Surprisingly, despite its natural disposition to bask in the sun, this species does not possess a 'waterproof' skin, since its rates of evaporative water loss were not dissimilar from many hylid species that live in arboreal or semi-aquatic environments. The natural history of B. alvarengai is largely unknown and, therefore, it is likely that the herein reported colour change and basking behaviour represent a complex interaction between thermoregulation and water balance with other ecologically relevant functions, such as crypsis.

A seasonally dependent change in the distribution and physiological condition of Caiman crocodilus yacare in the Paraguay River Basin

The distribution and physiological condition of 116 Caiman crocodilus yacare was assessed over one year in the Southern Pantanal. Body mass and intermediary plasma metabolites were measured at three different time periods, representing large differences in the abundance of surface water. During the wet season the study site was completely submerged under water and C. c. yacare were distributed evenly throughout. High levels of [glucose] and [triglyceride] in the plasma indicated regular feeding. As the dry season progressed C. c. yacare became increasingly crowded around the remaining ponds. They showed a reduction in plasma [glucose] and [triglyceride], and an increase in plasma [beta-hydroxy-butyrate], signifying that they were feeding less and utilising fat reserves. At this sampling period, similar to 40% of the male C. c. yacare that were > 10 years old inhabited dry grassland and did not have access to water. These animals were significantly lighter than males of a similar length that had immediate water access, and plasma [uric acid] indicated that they had not fed for a long time and were metabolising tissue proteins. Essentially, the adult male C. c. yacare that inhabited dry grassland were in a state of energy deficiency. This was so severe in some animals that recovery seemed unlikely. The study suggests that fluctuations in the abundance of surface ground water may influence the size and structure of the C. c. yacare population in the Pantanal.

Closing the SU(3)(L)circle times U(1)(X) symmetry at the electroweak scale

We show that some models with SU(3)(C)circle times SU(3)(L)circle times U(1)(X) gauge symmetry can be realized at the electroweak scale and that this is a consequence of an approximate global SU(2)(L+R) symmetry. This symmetry implies a condition among the vacuum expectation value of one of the neutral Higgs scalars, the U(1)(X)'s coupling constant, g(X), the sine of the weak mixing angle sin theta(W), and the mass of the W boson, M-W. In the limit in which this symmetry is valid it avoids the tree level mixing of the Z boson of the standard model with the extra Z(') boson. We have verified that the oblique T parameter is within the allowed range indicating that the radiative corrections that induce such a mixing at the 1-loop level are small. We also show that a SU(3)(L+R) custodial symmetry implies that in some of the models we have to include sterile (singlets of the 3-3-1 symmetry) right-handed neutrinos with Majorana masses, since the seesaw mechanism is mandatory to obtain light active neutrinos. Moreover, the approximate SU(2)(L+R)subset of SU(3)(L+R) symmetry implies that the extra nonstandard particles of these 3-3-1 models can be considerably lighter than it had been thought before so that new physics can be really just around the corner.

Heavy-flavor tagging and the supersymmetry reach of the CERN Large Hadron Collider

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

Stable isotopes (H-2, O-18 and C-13) in groundwaters from the northwestern portion of the Guarani Aquifer System (Brazil)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Synthesis, characterization and thermal behaviour of heavy trivalent lanthanide malonates

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