Espectrometria de absorção atômica com atomização eletrotérmica em filamento de tungstênio: uma re-visão crítica

In this review it is presented some aspects of electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with tungsten coil (ETAW-AAS) since its beginning until the present days as well as the perspectives for this technique. Some aspects concerning its development and theoretical concepts are discussed. The analytical figures of merit such as limit of detection (LD), characteristic mass (m0), relative standard deviation (RSD), accuracy and precision are evaluated, compared and discussed considering published works. It is also evaluated its advantages, applications, limitations and instrumental development. The use of diode laser as radiation source and its perspectives to ETAW are also discussed.

Compostos carbonílicos atmosféricos: fontes, reatividade, níveis de concentração e efeitos toxicológicos

In the last three decades carbonyl compounds, aldehydes and ketones, have received a great deal of attention due to their strong influence on photochemical smog formation and their recognized adverse human health effects. Carbonyl compounds are directly emitted into the atmosphere by combustion sources and also produced from photochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons and other organic compounds. In this paper it is presented a general overview about the carbonyl compounds sources, reactivity, concentration levels and toxicological effects.

Cristalização e taxa crítica de resfriamento para vitrificação do poli(sebacato de decametileno)

We synthesized Poly(decamethylene sebacate) - P10MS - and studied its overall crystallization rates in a range of temperatures using Differential Scanning Calorimetry in isothermal conditions, which enabled us to identify the crystallization mechanism by means of the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov equation. The critical cooling rate (Rc) to vitrify the P10MS was determined using a non-isothermal method proposed by Barandiarán & Colmenero (BC). The value of Rc is around 50-250 K/s, which confirms the experimentally observed difficulty to vitrify this polymer.

Amônia (NH3) atmosférica: fontes, transformação, sorvedouros e métodos de análise

Ammonia is the most common alkaline gas of the atmosphere, being important in the neutralization of various processes that occur in the atmosphere. Its main sources of emission are the decomposition of organic matter and dejections of animals. Ammonia is used by man in diverse activities of production, therefore it is a gas that can contaminate work environments. Measurements of ammonia concentration in some parts of the world have shown great spatial and weather variation. This large variability makes it difficult to estimate the input of reduced nitrogen to different ecosystems from measurements.

Determinação da concentração micelar crítica de ácidos húmicos por medidas de condutividade e espectroscopia

The aim of this study was the determination of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant using spectroscopic and conductimetric determinations and to compare these methodologies in the determination of the CMC of different humic acids (HA). The CMC obtained by conductimetric determination was satisfactory. By spectroscopic determination two values of the CMC were obtained for HA. These values can be to due the intra and intermolecular interactions in the HA structure.

Aerossóis atmosféricos: perspectiva histórica, fontes, processos químicos de formação e composição orgânica

This work starts with a historical perspective of the social and scientific progress related to the understanding of the atmospheric aerosol. Its origin, physical, chemical and optical characteristics, as well as its environmental behaviour are described, retracing the evolution of the concepts related to this subject over the last centuries. The main sources that contribute to atmospheric particulate matter and the modern understanding of its formation processes and constitution, focusing on the chemical pathways leading to it and on its organic components are presented. This discussion is complemented with recent evaluations of the quantities emitted by primary, secondary, biogenic and anthropogenic sources and the effects due to accumulation or dispersion of aerosols, justifying the chemical and environmental interest they engender.

[Ressenya del llibre] Esteban, Mari Luz. (2011). Crítica del pensamiento amoroso. Barcelona. Bellaterra. ISBN: 978­84­7290­549­8

Ressenya del llibre de Mari Luz Esteban, titulat 'Crítica del pensamiento amoroso', i publicat l'any 2011 per Hepatia Press, sobre l'amor

Enzimas termoestáveis: fontes, produção e aplicação industrial

REVIEW: Living organisms encountered in hostile environments that are characterized by extreme temperatures rely on novel molecular mechanisms to enhance the thermal stability of their proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and cell membranes. Proteins isolated from thermophilic organisms usually exhibit higher intrinsic thermal stabilities than their counterparts isolated from mesophilic organisms. Although the molecular basis of protein thermostability is only partially understood, structural studies have suggested that the factors that may contribute to enhance protein thermostability mainly include hydrophobic packing, enhanced secondary structure propensity, helix dipole stabilization, absence of residues sensitive to oxidation or deamination, and increased electrostatic interactions. Thermostable enzymes such as amylases, xylanases and pectinases isolated from thermophilic organisms are potentially of interest in the optimization of industrial processes due to their enhanced stability. In the present review, an attempt is made to delineate the structural factors that increase enzyme thermostability and to document the research results in the production of these enzymes.

Estat de la qüestió sobre la romanització en l'àmbit rural de l'illa de Menorca : revisió crítica de les investigacions

Estat de la qüestió de les investigacions que s'han portat a terme sobre la continuïtat d'ocupació en els poblats talaiòtics durant l'època romana a Menorca. S'estudia la continuïtat en relació al procés de romanització que va patir l'illa

Padecer y Transcender. La crítica de Zambrano al análisis heideggeriano del concepto de tiempo

[spa]El concepto de tiempo ha sido estudiado por Heidegger y Zambrano en dos sentidos muy diferentes. Si el filósofo alemán pensó que estaba relacionado con la cuestión del ser (problema principal de toda su investigación), Zambrano dijo que estaba ligado a la experiencia del sueño. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las coincidencias y divergencias entre estas dos aproximaciones y sus consecuencias teóricas, centrándose en algunas obras mayores (Sein und Zeit, El sueño creador y Los sueños y el tiempo), pero tomando también como referencia otros escritos de estos autores.

Estudo das emissões de fontes móveis na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul

The present study aims at assessing the influence of pollution from mobile sources on air quality in the Metropolitan Area of Porto Alegre by means of an inventory based on methods applied specifically to vehicular emissions. The study uses the method described by CETESB, based on inventories on vehicular emissions, according to USEPA methodology. Following fuel types were taken into account: gasoline (24% ethanol), alcohol, diesel oil, and CNG (compressed natural gas). Results have shown that gasoline-powered vehicles are still responsible for emitting the highest CO and HC concentrations, while diesel-powered vehicles are the source of highest NOx, MP and SOx concentrations.

El deporte como instrumento de desarrollo de la capacidad crítica de los adolescentes. Experiencias realizadas en cuatro centros de secundaria = Sport as a tool in the development of critical capacity of teenagers. Experiments carried out in four centres of Secondary education

In the article we resume four experiments of an interdisciplinary nature carried out in four different secondary education centres. The nexus of the union of these didactic proposals is that of looking at values in sport and the critical capacity of the students from distinct perspectives: violence, mass media, politics and gender and the treatment of body in our society

Determinação potenciométrica da concentração micelar crítica de surfactantes: uma nova aplicação metodológica no ensino de Química

The participation of the students in the planning, execution and discussion of experimental results is important for the valuation of the role of them in the construction of the chemical knowledge implicited in the approach between education and research. This work relates either the construction of selective membrane electrodes for surfactants and its application in the potenciometric determination of the critical micellar concentration of the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) surfactants. In adition it´s possible to discuss the potenciometric results in matching with the data valued for the tensiometric and condutimetric traditionally used in the physical-chemistry lessons.

Fontes vegetais naturais de antioxidantes

Growing knowledge on the health-promoting impact of antioxidants in everyday foods, combined with the assumption that a number of common synthetic preservatives may have hazardous side effects has led to increased investigations in the field of natural antioxidants, principally those found in plants. Food industries normally discard plant residues that could benefit the human health and diminish undesirable environmental impact. Once estimated the content of antioxidants in these residues, advantageous economical and social alternatives to the discard are possible, for example, their use for preparation of nutraceuticals to be offered to low-income populations. We present here a broad, although not complete, account of the continuously growing knowledge on the antioxidant capacity of whole fruits, seeds and peels, cereals, vegetal oils and aromatic plants, at several physical forms, as well as a description of the usual methods for evaluating their antioxidant capacity and examples of agroindustrial processes that could be harnessed for the production of antioxidant supplement food, along with research perspectives in the area.