Chemical constituents from the infusion of Zollernia ilicifolia vog. and comparison with Maytenus species

The new flavonoid glycoside kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-O-[α-L- rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-O-β-D-galactopyranoside-7-O-α-L- rhamnopyranoside was isolated together with (S)-zierin from the leaves of Zollernia ilicifolia (Fabaceae), a medicinal plant used as analgesic and antiulcerogenic effects in Brazilian Tropical Atlantic Rain Forest. The structures were established on the basis of 1H, 13C NMR and 2D NMR (COSY, HMBC, HMQC), UV, MS and IV spectra. The infusion of Zollernia ilicifolia was qualitatively compared to the infusion of the espinheiras-santas (Maytenus aquifolium and Maytenus ilicifolia) by HPLC-DAD.

Merging higher derivative gravity and quantum mechanics

The most general quantum mechanical wave equation for a massive scalar particle in a metric generated by a spherically symmetric mass distribution is considered within the framework of higher derivative gravity (HDG). The exact effective Hamiltonian is constructed and the significance of the various terms is discussed using the linearized version of the above-mentioned theory. Not only does this analysis shed new light on the long standing problem of quantum gravity concerning the exact nature of the coupling between a massive scalar field and the background geometry, it also greatly improves our understanding of the role of HDG's coupling parameters in semiclassical calculations.

New biflavonoid and other flavonoids from the leaves of Chimarrhis turbinata and their antioxidant activities

A new biflavonol, named chimarrhoside (1), and eight known flavonol glycosides (2-9), were isolated from the leaves of Chimarrhis turbinata. Their structures were established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR experiments as quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (2), kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (3), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-galactopyranoside (4), quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D- galactopyranoside (5), 6-hydroxy-rutin (6), kaempferol-3-O-D-galactopyranoside (7), kaempferol-3-O-D-glucopyranoside (8) and kaempferol-3-O-α- Lrhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4) -β-D-glucopyranoside (9). In addition, catechin (10) and catechin-(4α→8)-catechin-procyanidin B-3) (11) were isolated. The crude extract, fractions and isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidative properties using an autographic assay based on β-carotene bleaching on TLC plates, and spectrophotometric detection by reduction of the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. Flavonoids 2, 5, 6, 10 and 11 displayed strong free radical scavenging activity, when compared with the standards BHT and rutin. ©2005 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.

Solubilization of proteins from human lymph node tissue and two-dimensional gel storage.

In the present study, we compared six different solubilization buffers and optimized two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) conditions for human lymph node proteins. In addition, we developed a simple protocol for 2-D gel storage. Efficient solubilization was obtained with lysis buffers containing (a) 8 M urea, 4% CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate), 40 mM Tris base, 65 mM DTT (dithiothreitol) and 0.2% carrier ampholytes; (b) 5 M urea, 2 M thiourea, 2% CHAPS, 2% SB 3-10 (N-decyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate), 40 mM Tris base, 65 mM DTT and 0.2% carrier ampholytes or (c) 7 M urea, 2 M thiourea, 4% CHAPS, 65 mM DTT and 0.2% carrier ampholytes. The optimal protocol for isoelectric focusing (IEF) was accumulated voltage of 16,500 Vh and 0.6% DTT in the rehydration solution. In the experiments conducted for the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), best results were obtained with a doubled concentration (50 mM Tris, 384 mM glycine, 0.2% SDS) of the SDS electrophoresis buffer in the cathodic reservoir as compared to the concentration in the anodic reservoir (25 mM Tris, 192 mM glycine, 0.1% SDS). Among the five protocols tested for gel storing, success was attained when the gels were stored in plastic bags with 50% glycerol. This is the first report describing the successful solubilization and 2D-electrophoresis of proteins from human lymph node tissue and a 2-D gel storage protocol for easy gel handling before mass spectrometry (MS) analysis.

Myeloperoxidase inhibitory and radical scavenging activities of flavones from Pterogyne nitens

Two new flavone glucosides, nitensosides A and B (1, 2), together with four known compounds, sorbifolin (3), sorbifolin 6-O-β-glucopyranoside (4), pedalitin (5), and pedalitin 6-O-β-glucopyranoside (6) were isolated from Pterogyne nitens. Their structures were elucidated from 1D and 2D NMR analysis, as well as by high resolution mass spectrometry. All the isolated flavones were evaluated for their myeloperoxidase (MPO) inhibitory activity. The most active compound, pedalitin, exhibited IC 50 value of 3.75 nM on MPO. Additionally, the radical-scavenging capacity of flavones 1-6 was evaluated towards ABTS and DPPH radicals and compared to standard compounds quercetin and Trolox®. © 2008 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.

Severe fracture of the maxillary alveolar process associated with extrusive luxation and tooth avulsion: A case report

Aim: The aim of this report is to present a case of severe fracture of the maxillary anterior alveolar process with substantial bone dislodgement associated with extrusive tooth luxation and avulsion. Background: Dentoalveolar trauma is a challenge to dentistry, especially in young patients, for it can lead to early tooth loss which compromises oral function, esthetics, self-esteem, and alter the long-term plan of care for the victim. Case Report: A 12-year-old girl with severe dentoalveolar trauma to the maxillary anterior region presented for emergency care for her injury. Treatment consisted of fracture reduction of the alveolar process, repositioning of the teeth that had suffered extrusive luxation, placement of a semi-rigid splint, and suturing of soft tissue lacerations. The traumatized teeth presented with pulpal necrosis and were treated endodontically. After 24 months of follow up, the fracture of the alveolar process was completely healed and the displaced teeth presented no signs of ankylosis or root resorption. Summary: First-aid care contributed remarkably to this case allowing the re-establishment of esthetics, function, and patient's self-esteem. In spite of trauma extension the treatment outcomes were favorable. Clinical Significance: Cases of dentoalveolar trauma should be evaluated on an individual basis. However, early emergency management and adequate follow-up can prevent further complications and contribute to treatment success.

Dependência estrutural da capacidade de rotação plástic em vigas de concreto armado

Summary In this work the structural dependence of plastic rotation capacity in RC beams is evaluated using the Finite Element Method. The objective is to achieve a better understanding of the non-linear behavior of reinforced concrete members and perform extensive parameter studies, using a rational model developed by Bigaj [1] to analyze the phenomenon of plastic rotation capacity in reinforced concrete members. It is assumed that only bending failure is relevant due to sufficient member resistance against shear and torsion. The paper begins with the physical and theoretical background of the phenomenon of plastic hinge development in RC structures. Special emphasis is laid on the issue of structural dependence of deformation capacity of plastic hinges in RC members. Member size dependence and influence of properties of construction materials were emphasized as well. The essential components of the Bigajs model for calculating the plastic rotation capacity are discussed. The behaviour of the plastic hinge is analysed taking into account the strain localisation in the damage zones of the hinge region. The Fictitious Crack Model (FCM) and the Compressive Damage Zone Model (CDZ) are adopted in a Fracture Mechanics approach to model the behaviour of concrete in tension and compression, respectively. The approach is implemented in FEMOOP, a FEM in-house solver under development, and applied to evaluate ductility in 2D beams. The models were generated with GiD, a pre-processor and post-processor developed by CIMNE, and analyzed with the capabilities implemented in FEMOOP. © Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, España 2010.

A theoretical and experimental study to unequivocal structural assignment of tetrahydroquinoline derivatives

The tetrahydroquinoline derivatives can be easily synthesized through Povarov reaction and have several important biological activities. This work describes a comparative study for the unequivocal assignment of molecular structure of different tetrahydroquinoline derivatives, through a complete analysis of NMR 1D and 2D NMR spectra (1H, 13C, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC), and the correlation this data with theoretical calculations of energy-minimization and chemical shift (δ), employing the theory level of DFT/B3LYP with set of the cc-pVDZ basis. For these derivatives the experimental analyses and the theoretical model adopted were sufficient to obtain a good description of its structures, and these results can be used to assign the structure of various others tetrahydroquinoline derivatives. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Occurrence of Cu and Cr in the sedimentary humic substances and pore water from a typical sugar cane cultivation area in São Paulo, Brazil

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study the interactions of sedimentary humic substances (SHS) from a sugarcane cultivation area with Cu(II) and Cr(III) and to evaluate the occurrence of these metals in the pore water and SHS. Materials and methods: For this study, the northwestern region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, which is considered the region with the highest production of sugar cane in the state, was selected. Samples of sediment were collected from four sampling sites in the Preto, Turvo, and Grande rivers. The SHS and pore water were extracted from the sediment using the method suggested by the International Humic Substances Society and centrifugation, respectively. The complexing capacity (CC) of the SHS for Cu(II) and Cr(III) was determined by individually titrating these metals with an ultrafiltration system using tangential flow. The total concentrations of Cr and Cu were determined for the pore water, sediments, and humic substances with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and Zeeman background correction after an acid digestion, according to the methods described in US EPA Method 3050B. Results and discussion: The SHS from a site in the Turvo River, which is typically cultivated with sugarcane, possessed the highest concentration of Cu bound to SHS (25.0%), the largest CC (0.63 mmol Cu g-1 HS) and the highest concentration of this metal in the pore water (1.38 mg Cu Kg-1 sed.). For Cr, the SHS collected from a location on the Preto River dam had the largest CC (0.90 mmol Cr g-1 HS) and the lowest Cr content in the pore water (0.29 mg Cr Kg-1 sed.), indicating that there was an inverse relationship between the CC and the concentration of metal available in the pore water. Conclusions: Sedimentary humic substances might be one of the regulatory factors controlling the availability of Cu and Cr in the sediments found in a typical region that has been planted with sugarcane. Distinct behaviors were observed between the two elements investigated; higher CC and a larger fraction of Cu(II) were found in the pore water of samples originating from sugarcane crops. The opposite behavior was observed for the Cr(III) species. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Fruit color and contrast in seasonal habitats - a case study from a cerrado savanna

Communication contributes to mediate the interactions between plants and the animals that disperse their genes. As yet, seasonal patterns in plant-animal communication are unknown, even though many habitats display pronounced seasonality e.g. when leaves senescence. We thus hypothesized that the contrast between fruit displays and their background vary throughout the year in a seasonal habitat. If this variation is adaptive, we predicted higher contrasts between fruits and foliage during the fruiting season in a cerrado-savanna vegetation, southeastern Brazil. Based on a six-year data base of fruit ripening and a one-year data set of fruit biomass, we used reflectance measurements and contrast analysis to show that fruits with distinct colors differed in the beginning of ripening and the peak of fruit biomass. Black, and particularly red fruits, that have a high contrast against the leaf background, were highly seasonal, peaking in the wet season. Multicolored and yellow fruits were less seasonal, not limited to one season, with a bimodal pattern for yellow ones, represented by two peaks, one in each season. We further supported the hypothesis that seasonal changes in fruit contrasts can be adaptive because fruits contrasted more strongly against their own foliage in the wet season, when most fruits are ripe. Hence, the seasonal variation in fruit colors observed in the cerrado-savanna may be, at least partly, explicable as an adaptation to ensure high conspicuousness to seed dispersers. © 2013 The Authors.

Solanidane and iminosolanidane alkaloids from Solanum campaniforme

From the leaves of Solanum campaniforme (Solanaceae), eight solanidane alkaloids were isolated, four of which contain a p-hydroxyphenylethylamine unit. Their structures were established as: 22β,23β-epoxy-solanida-1,4-dien-3-one; 22α,23α-epoxy-10-epi-solanida-1,4,9-trien-3-one; 22α,23α-epoxy-solanida-4-en-3-one; 22β,23β-epoxy-solanida-4-en-3-one; (E)-N-[8′(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-22α,23α-epoxy-solanida-1,4,9-trien-3-imine; (E)-N-[8′(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-22α,23α-epoxy-solanida-1,4-dien-3-imine; (Z)-N-[8′(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-22α,23α-epoxy-solanida-1,4,9-trien-3-imine and (Z)-N-[8′(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-22α,23α-epoxy-solanida-1,4-dien-3-imine. All structures were determined using spectroscopic techniques, such as 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS. The cytotoxicity and the antiophidic activities of the alkaloids were evaluated. The alkaloids did not show any cytotoxicity, but inhibited the main toxic actions of Bothrops pauloensis venom. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Regional Climate Modelling In The Caribbean

The information here represents a compilation of existing and ongoing regional and national climate modelling studies that could be useful in the execution of the regional project The Economics of Climate Change in Caribbean. The report is mainly focused on the sustainable regional efforts that represent opportunities for further developments in climate change scenarios. It describes the different techniques that have been used to model changes in temperature and precipitation in the Caribbean and compares the outputs of these models. Essentially, temperatures are expected to increase while precipitation may increase for countries in the more southerly latitudes, but decrease for more northerly countries (Bahamas, Cuba and Hispaniola) resulting in drought. These changes would present tremendous challenges for the Caribbean subregion and, despite significant progress made in recent years, there is a need for continuous development of climate research and modelling in the subregion, to produce more relevant information for regional and national studies and to overcome the limitations of existing results. This may well be realized through coordination of activities between the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), the Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) in Cuba and the University of the West Indies (UWI). These activities will address the implementation of further analyses using available information to generate best practices and to produce useful results. There are also new opportunities for climate research in the region with Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) which is planned to start early next year. It is expected that the participation of various Caribbean institutions like INSMET, UWI, CCCC and the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology in this global project will allow the generation of new and more abundant information.

Potencial de linhagens experimentais de milho (Zea mays L.) para produção de híbridos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aplicação do método da eletrorresistividade na investigação e mapeamento da contaminação por cemitérios: o exemplo do cemitério da Vila Rezende, Piracicaba/SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo hidrofaciológico do aqüífero Rio Claro no município de Rio Claro - SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)