Production and Characterization of Composite Material Useful as a Protective Barrier in Electronic Applications

This work describes the production and characterization of a selective membrane useful for electronic devices. The membrane was a composite made by a thin film of plasma-polymerized HFE (methyl nonafluoro(iso)butyl ether) immersed in plasma-polymerized HMDS (hexamethyldisilazane) film, a third phase being 5 µm starch particles included in this matrix. The film was deposited on silicon substrates and its physical, chemical and adsorption characteristics were determined. Infrared and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses showed fluorine and carboxyl groups on the bulk and the surface, respectively. SEM results indicate the film is conformal even if starch is present. Optical microscopy analysis showed good resistance toward acid and base solutions. Quartz crystal microbalance indicated adsorption of polar organic compounds on ppm range. This thin film is environment-friendly and can be used as a protective layer or in electronic devices due to adsorption of volatile organic compounds.

PWA-diureasils organic-inorganic hybrids: photochromism and effect of the organic chain length

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

Chromium in soil organic matter and cowpea after four consecutive annual applications of composted tannery sludge

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Rapid and sensitive ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography method for quantification of antichagasic benznidazole in plasma: application in a preclinical pharmacokinetic study

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

Transparent organic-inorganic nanocomposites membranes based on carboxymethylcellulose and synthetic clay

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

Comparative morpho-physiology of the metapleural glands of two Atta leaf-cutting ant queens nesting in clayish and organic soils

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

Polyamines in conventional and organic vegetables exposed to exogenous ethylene

Relationships between endogenous levels of polyamines by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography (GC), nitrate and response to the application of ethylene were established between organic and conventional vegetables (broccoli, collard greens, carrots and beets), both raw and cooked. Responses to ethylene showed that organic plants were less responsive to the growth regulator. The levels of free polyamines obtained by TLC were higher in organic vegetables. Organic broccoli showed higher levels of putrescine (Put), and cooking resulted in lowering the overall content of these amines. Conventional collard green showed the highest level of putrescine in the leaves compared with organic. Tubers of carrots and beets contain the highest levels of Put. These plants also contain high levels of spermine. GC analysis showed the highest polyamines contents compared with those obtained by TLC. Cooking process decreased putrescine and cadaverine content, both in conventionally and organically grown vegetables. Organic beets contain lower NO3(-) compared with its conventional counterpart.

Influence of sanitization on the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of organic and conventional broccoli

The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the effect of chlorinated and ozonized water on the physico-chemical characteristics of broccoli, produced under organic and conventional cultivation procedures. Organic and conventional broccolis were subjected to two sanitation treatments, using chlorine and ozone, and were kept under cold storage for seven days. Analyses of pH, titrable acidity, soluble solids and weight loss were performed and the content of Cu, Mn and Zn was determined. In addition, the presence of pesticides was verified. The results show no influence of the cultivation method or the sanitation treatment on sample weight loss. Cultivation methods and sanitizing treatments affected broccoli pH, titratable acidity, and soluble solids during the evaluation period. No differences regarding the metal content on organic and conventional broccoli were observed. Furthermore, the presence of organochlorine compounds, nor other pesticides, was not detected both in organic and conventional vegetables.

Oral Contraceptive Containing Chlormadinone Acetate and Ethinylestradiol Reduces Plasma Concentrations of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Biochemical markers of cardiovascular disease, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), are altered in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), with many of these alterations thought to be due to excess androgen concentrations. Despite oral contraceptives (OCs) being the first-line pharmacological treatment in women with PCOS and the importance of MMPs in many physiological conditions and pathological states, including cardiovascular diseases, no study has yet evaluated whether OCs alter plasma concentrations of MMPs. We therefore assessed whether treatment with an OC containing the anti-androgenic progestogen alters MMP profiles in women with PCOS. We analysed 20 women with PCOS who wanted hormonal contraception (OC-PCOS group), 20 ovulatory women who required hormonal contraception (OC-control group) and 20 ovulatory women who wanted non-hormonal contraception (non-OC-control group). OC consisted of cyclic use of 2 mg chlormadinone acetate/30 mu g ethinylestradiol for 6 months. Plasma concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were measured by gelatin zymography or enzyme-linked immunoassays. OC treatment for 6 months significantly reduced plasma MMP-2 concentrations in the OC-control and OC-PCOS groups and TIMP-2 and TIMP-1 concentrations levels in the OC-control group (all p < 0.05), but had no effects on MMP-9 concentrations or on MMP-2/TIMP-2 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in any group (all p > 0.05). These findings indicated that long-term treatment with an OC containing chlormadinone acetate plus ethinylestradiol reduced plasma MMP-2 concentrations in both healthy and PCOS women. As the latter have imbalances in circulating matrix MMPs, treatment of these women with an OC may be beneficial.

Iron supplementation reduces the erosive potential of a cola drink on enamel and dentin in situ

Iron has been suggested to reduce the erosive potential of cola drinks in vitro. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate in situ the effect of ferrous sulfate supplementation on the inhibition of the erosion caused by a cola drink. Material and Methods: Ten adult volunteers participated in a crossover protocol conducted in two phases of 5 days, separated by a washout period of 7 days. In each phase, they wore palatal devices containing two human enamel and two human dentin blocks. The volunteers immersed the devices for 5 min in 150 mL of cola drink (Coca-Cola (TM), pH 2.6), containing ferrous sulfate (10 mmol/L) or not (control), 4 times per day. The effect of ferrous sulfate on the inhibition of erosion was evaluated by profilometry (wear). Data were analyzed by paired t tests (p<0.05). Results: The mean wear (+/- se) was significantly reduced in the presence of ferrous sulfate, both for enamel (control: 5.8 +/- 1.0 mu m; ferrous sulfate: 2.8 +/- 0.6 mu m) and dentin (control: 4.8 +/- 0.8 mu m; ferrous sulfate: 1.7 +/- 0.7 mu m). Conclusions: The supplementation of cola drinks with ferrous sulfate can be a good alternative for the reduction of their erosive potential. Additional studies should be done to test if lower ferrous sulfate concentrations can also have a protective effect as well as the combination of ferrous sulfate with other ions.

Fatty acid profile, trans-octadecenoic, alpha-linolenic and conjugated linoleic acid contents differing in certified organic and conventional probiotic fermented milks

Development of dairy organic probiotic fermented products is of great interest as they associate ecological practices and benefits of probiotic bacteria. As organic management practices of cow milk production allow modification of the fatty acid composition of milk (as compared to conventional milk), we studied the influence of the type of milk on some characteristics of fermented milks, such as acidification kinetics. bacterial counts and fatty acid content. Conventional and organic probiotic fermented milks were produced using Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 in co-culture with Streptococcus thermophilus TA040 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus LB340. The use of organic milk led to a higher acidification rate and cultivability of Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Fatty acids profile of organic fermented milks showed higher amounts of trans-octadecenoic acid (C18:1, 1.6 times) and polyunsaturated fatty acids, including cis-9 trans-11. C18:2 conjugated linoleic (CLA-1.4 times), and alpha-linolenic acids (ALA-1.6 times), as compared to conventional fermented milks. These higher levels were the result of both initial percentage in the milk and increase during acidification, with no further modification during storage. Finally, use of bifidobacteria slightly increased CLA relative content in the conventional fermented milks, after 7 days of storage at 4 degrees C, whereas no difference was seen in organic fermented milks. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cooking Effects on Iron and Proteins Content of Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) by GF AAS and MALDI-TOF MS

The effects of domestic cooking on proteins, organic compounds and Fe distribution in beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were investigated. Sequential extraction with different extractant solutions (mixture of methanol and chloroform 1:2 v/v, water, 0.5 mol L-1 NaCl, 70% v/v ethanol and 0.5 mol L-1 NaOH) were used for extracting lipids, albumins, globulins, prolamins and glutelins, respectively. Iron determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS), proteins by Bradford method and organic compounds by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) were carried out in this work. High concentration of albumins, globulins and glutelins were found in raw beans, while in the cooked beans, albumins and glutelins are main proteins types. The MALDI-TOF MS spectra of raw and cooked beans revealed that the domestic cooking altered the molecular weight of the organic compounds, since that in the cooked beans were found compounds between 2 and 3.5 kDa, which were not presented in the raw beans. Besides this, in cooked beans were also observed the presence of four compounds of high molecular weight (12-16 kDa), being that in the raw grains there is only one (ca. 15.2 kDa). In raw grains is possible to observe that Fe is mainly associated to albumins, globulins and glutelins. For cooked grains, Fe is associated to albumins and globulins.

Evaluation of sun protection factor of cosmetic formulations by a simple visual in vitro method mimicking the in vivo method

A new concept for in vitro visual evaluation of sun protection factor (SPF) of cosmetic formulations based on a supramolecular ultraviolet (UV) dosimeter was clearly demonstrated. The method closely parallels the method validated for in vivo evaluation and relies on the determination of the slightest perceptible bleaching of an iron-complex dye/nanocrystallinetitanium dioxide interface (UV dosimeter) in combination with an artificial skin substrate simulating the actual human skin in the presence and absence of a cosmetic formulation. The successful evaluation of SPF was ensured by the similarity of the erythema response of our dosimeter and human skin to UV light irradiation. A good linear correlation of in vitro and in vivo data up to SPF 40 confirmed the effectiveness of such a simple, cheap, and fast method. In short, here we unravel a convenient and accessible visual FPS evaluation method that can help improving the control on cosmetic products contributing to the reduction of skin cancer, one of the critical public health issues nowadays. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 101:726732, 2012

Effect of NaF and TiF4 varnish and solution on bovine dentin erosion plus abrasion in vitro

Objectives. This in vitro study aimed to analyze the effect of TiF4 compared to NaF varnishes and solutions, to protect against dentin erosion associated with abrasion. Materials and methods. Bovine dentin specimens were pre-treated with NaF-Duraphat (2.26% F), NaF/CaF2-Duofluorid (5.63% F), experimental-NaF (2.45% F), experimental-TiF4 (2.45% F) and placebo varnishes; NaF (2.26% F) and TiF4 (2.45% F) solutions. Controls remained untreated. The erosive pH cycling was performed using a soft drink (pH 2.6) 4 x 90 s/day and the toothbrushing-abrasion 2 x 10 s/day, in vitro for 5 days. Between the challenges, the specimens were exposed to artificial saliva. Dentin tissue loss was measured profilometrically (mu m). Results. ANOVA/Tukey's test showed that all fluoridated varnishes (Duraphat, 7.5 +/- 1.1; Duofluorid, 6.8 +/- 1.1; NaF, 7.2 +/- 1.9; TiF4, 6.5 +/- 1.0) were able to significantly reduce dentin tissue loss (40.7% reduction compared to control) when compared to placebo varnish (11.2 +/- 1.3), control (11.8 +/- 1.7) and fluoridated (NaF, 9.9 +/- 1.8; TiF4, 10.3 +/- 2.1) solutions (p < 0.0001), which in turn did not significantly differ from each other. Conclusion. All fluoridated varnishes, but not the solutions, had a similar performance and a good potential to reduce dentin tissue loss under mild erosive and abrasive conditions in vitro. Risk patients for erosion and abrasion, especially those with exposed dentin, should benefit from this clinical preventive measure. Further research has to confirm this promising result in the clinical situation.

Organic milk improves Bifidobacterium lactis counts and bioactive fatty acids contents in fermented milk

In functional dairy products, polyunsaturated fatty acids such as, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) have been highlighted for their benefits related to prevention of some chronic diseases. In order to study the effect of type of milk (conventional vs. organic, characterized by a specific fatty acid composition), Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB12, B94, BL04 and HN019) counts, acidification activity and chemical composition (pH, lactose, lactic acid contents and fatty acids profile) were investigated before fermentation and after 24 h of products stored at 4 degrees C. Organic and conventional milk influenced acidification performance and bacteria counts, which was strain-dependent. Higher counts of BB12 were observed in organic milk, whereas superior counts of BL04 were found in conventional milk. Organic fermented milk showed lower levels in saturated fatty acids (FA) and higher in monounsaturated FA contents. Similarly, among bioactive FA, organic fermented milks have higher amounts of trans vaccenic acid (TVA-C18:1t), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and slightly higher contents of alpha-linoleic acid (ALA). (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.