Dinámica del heleoplancton en relación a las fluctuaciones hidrológicas en aiguamolls de l’Empordà (NE de la península Ibérica). Propuesta de un método sencillo de monitorización basado en la abundancia de grupos taxonómicos

Monitoring of the 'ecological water quality' in 'Aiguamolls de l’Empordà' Natural Park was carried out between September 1996 and August 1997 . The aim of this sampling programme was to design a simple method for rapid detect changes in water quality due to human activity. These include flow regulation by the Park management, nutrient entries from effluents of a nearby wastewater treatment plant or agricultural fertilising. The proposed method is based on the analysis of the abundance of characteristic taxonomic groups of aquatic invertebrates (heleoplankton). The simplicity of the method is ensured by the use of large taxa which are easier to recognise than species. The functioning of aquatic systems has been modelled by means of correspondence analysis between samples and taxa. Results can be summerized in five environmental conditions with a regular community structure. Dominated by one taxon: cladocerans, ostracods, calanoids, cyclopoids and harpacticoids. The dynamics of both freshwater and brackish lagoons can be modelled as displacements between these five groups of environmental conditions. Nevertheless, the “calanoids situation” and the “harpacticoids situation” occur mainly in brackish lagoons, whereas the “cladocerans situation” occurs mainly in freshwater. The four principal axes of data variation have been respectively identified as nutrient turnover rate, hypertrophy, degree of mineralization of the organic matter and eutrophy. The use of these taxa has been validated by comparison with a model obtained from the species. We conclude that in a highly fluctuating system such as the one here, only persistent situations of eutrophy or hypertrophy must be equated to low 'ecological water quality'

Cardiotocógrafo: monitor para el control de la frecuencia cardiaca fetal y la dinámica uterina

Controlar la frecuencia cardiaca fetal y la dinámica uterina durante el proceso del embarazo y el parto resulta de particular importancia para conocer el estado de salud de la madre y el niño. Hoy en día existen aparatos muy novedosos para este fin de uso generalizado en los hospitales españoles. De este tema se ocupa la Ficha de Utillaje de este mes analizando en qué consiste este monitor; cómo se utiliza, los pasos a seguir; etc.

Cardiotocógrafo: monitor para el control de la frecuencia cardiaca fetal y la dinámica uterina

Controlar la frecuencia cardiaca fetal y la dinámica uterina durante el proceso del embarazo y el parto resulta de particular importancia para conocer el estado de salud de la madre y el niño. Hoy en día existen aparatos muy novedosos para este fin de uso generalizado en los hospitales españoles. De este tema se ocupa la Ficha de Utillaje de este mes analizando en qué consiste este monitor; cómo se utiliza, los pasos a seguir; etc.

Cardiotocógrafo: monitor para el control de la frecuencia cardiaca fetal y la dinámica uterina

Controlar la frecuencia cardiaca fetal y la dinámica uterina durante el proceso del embarazo y el parto resulta de particular importancia para conocer el estado de salud de la madre y el niño. Hoy en día existen aparatos muy novedosos para este fin de uso generalizado en los hospitales españoles. De este tema se ocupa la Ficha de Utillaje de este mes analizando en qué consiste este monitor; cómo se utiliza, los pasos a seguir; etc.

Aproveitamento sustentável de biomassa e de recursos naturais na inovação química

Increased production of biomass is currently the only immediately accessible alternative for large-scale carbon sequestration and it can produce large amounts of food, fuel and raw materials for the chemical industry that can in turn growingly replace oil as a source of organic building blocks and also of hydrogen and sulfur. Development of processes for biomass and abundant minerals transformation into chemical raw materials should now benefit from large inputs from nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, information and micro-reactor technologies. Success in R&D&Innovation along this line can yield new products and processes needed to perform desirable functions within a sustainable development paradigm.

Bases moleculares da ação anti-inflamatória dos ácidos oleanólico e ursólico sobre as isoformas da ciclo-oxigenase por docking e dinâmica molecular

The triterpenoids oleanolic (OA) and ursolic (UA) acids show non-selective antiinflamatory activity in vitro for cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms. 3D conformations of OA and UA, with three possible orientations (1, 1' and 2) in the active site of isoforms COX, obtained by docking, were submitted to molecular dynamics. The results show that orientation 2 of the OA in COX-2 is more favorable because orientation 1 moved away from the active site. The carboxylate group of OA interact by hydrogen bonds with Ser353 and with Phe357 and Leu359, mediated by water, while hydroxyl in C-3 interact by hydrogen bond, mediated by water, with Tyr385.

Dinâmica oscilatória em sistemas contendo bromato e 1,4-ciclo-hexanodiona em meio ácido: I. Efeito da temperatura

We present in this work the influence of temperature on the dynamics of homogeneous chemical systems containing bromate and 1,4-cyclohexanedione (1,4-CHD) in acidic media. In particular, the following systems were studied: bromate/1,4-CHD/acid, bromate/1,4-CHD/ferroin/acid and bromate/1,4-CHD/trisbipyridine ruthenium/acid. Investigations were carried out by means of an electrochemical probe, at five temperatures between 5 and 45 °C. Activation energies (Ea) were estimated in different ways for the pre-oscillatory and oscillatory regimes. In any case, the Ea was found to depend on the catalyst, composition and initial concentrations. In addition, it was observed that ferroin and trisbipyridine ruthenium act as catalysts only during the transition between the induction period and oscillatory regime.

Estudo teórico da estrutura eletrônica e da dinâmica induzida por lasers da molécula de HCl

Potential energy and dipole moment curves for the HCl molecule were computed. Calculations were performed at different levels of theory (DFT, MRCI). Spectroscopic properties are reported and compared with experimental data, for validating the theoretical approaches. Interaction of infrared radiation with HCl is simulated using the wave packet formalism. The quantum control model for population dynamics of the vibrational levels, based on pi-pulse theory, is applied. The results demonstrate that wavepackets with specific composition can be built with short infrared laser pulses and provide the basis for studies of H + HCl collision dynamics with infrared laser excitation.

A política de inovação e a formação do químico

In December 2004, Brazil's President signed Law number 10.973, which provides for incentives toward innovation, scientific and technological research in the production environment and other measures, also known as the Law of Innovation. Although Brazil has advanced greatly in the number of scientific articles published, currently accounting for about 3% of world scientific output, this progress has not been replicated in the production of patents. This article presents a discussion on the importance of introducing patent issues into national undergraduate courses.

Inovação & propriedade industrial & indústria química

ABSTRACT The main aim of this paper was to contribute to reflections in Brazil on the need to transfer knowledge held at universities and R&D institutions over to companies, i.e. to transfer scientific knowledge of chemistry to technology. It discusses how the competitiveness of countries is increasingly dependent on their technological capacity. The chemicals industry is a fundamental driver of social, environmental, economic and industrial indicators of sustainable development. In Brazil, the chemicals industry's deficit has grown over the last three decades. Patents are important sources of information because patent documents contain 75% of all technological information available. The National Institute of Industrial Property in Brazil has created a Technology Observatory with the purpose of identifying and analyzing technological information contained in patent documents within the ambit of partnerships with government entities or business associations, in order to support their technology-related decision-making processes. The paper gives examples of ethanol and biotechnology patent documents, including pharmaceuticals, of which there are very few in Brazil. However, a few of the patent applications identified are filed in Brazil, giving the country the opportunity to transform this scientific knowledge into technology by means of partnership agreements with companies. Finally, the paper presents information on the patent applications filed by the world's leading chemicals companies as measured by their revenues, and the respective numbers of patent applications in the last five years in organic chemistry and polymers, sectors in which Brazil is currently dependent on imports for over 50% of its needs. The patent assignees in these sectors in Brazil are also identified, and the paper concludes that Brazil needs to invest in the development of professionals, providing clearly-defined career paths in technology innovation teams at R&D institutions, and to foster more initiatives such as the creation of a new research and innovation entity, EMBRAPII, since investing in science and technology is a prerequisite for knowledge production, industrial property, economic development and, consequently, the competitiveness of the country.

Panorama de propriedade intelectual, transferência de tecnologia e inovação da química brasileira e a comparação com os países do BRIC

Based on Science, Technology & Innovation (ST&I) indicators, Brazil is a competitive and interesting country from the point of view of technological foreign investment. However, it is still incipient with regard to national investments, production of technological knowledge, inbound mobility of scientists and technology transfer to the productive sector. Among many other factors, global patent production is considered as an important indicator of innovation. Likewise, the balance between revenue and expenses obtained through royalties and licensing fees of technologies is also critical in mapping the diffusion and absorption of knowledge. The understanding of intellectual property and its strategic management brings a significant advantage to the economic and technological development of nations, especially in the field of chemistry, which greatly contributes to biotechnology, new materials and microelectronics - three fundamental areas for innovation in developed countries. Therefore, this article aims to map out competencies in chemistry in Brazil and evaluate science, technology and innovation indicators in the country, comparing this dynamic to the one of other BRIC members (Russia, India and China). Chemistry is the fourth biggest field of interest in Brazil based on the number of researchers registered at the governmental platform for researchers, Plataforma Lattes/CNPq, and is preceded by education, medicine and agronomy. The majority of research groups are registered in the area of materials, followed by macromolecules and polymers, pharmaceutical products and basic materials chemistry. These groups represent approximately 77% of research groups analyzed, therefore, indicating a tendency in the country. The analyses of patents in different sub-areas of chemistry reveal that non-residents file most deposits in the country, a probable reflection of the low internal intellectual property culture. Pharmaceutics and Fine Chemistry are prominent areas in the country, in line with the global trend. Among BRIC countries, China has the highest number of patents and of requests for protection in international offices. On the other hand, Brazil has the lowest number of chemical patents published at USPTO, EPO and JPO. An analysis of the transfer of technology data indicates an increase in this activity in various sub-areas of chemistry in the country. Despite the great efforts made by the country to consolidate its national innovation system, more needs to be done to put Brazil in a competitive position. In a globalized world dominated by large players, Brazil needs a lot of progress on ownership and generation of chemistry technologies to strengthen its national sovereignty. It is essential to strengthen chemical research at all levels, from elementary school to university, as an inexhaustible source of knowledge and technology that, when properly protected, may generate real public achievement and social return.

Inovação para a sustentabilidade

The transition to sustainable standards of production and consumption within a scenario of decreased availability of natural resources, growing population and climate change is essential to meet current challenges facing mankind. A strategy to meet these challenges should contain elements different from current approaches for industrial production. This work concentrates on the possibilities for the intensive use of sustainable biomass, abundant minerals and every type of residue, a task that can largely benefit from the application of nanotechnology and biotechnology platforms for material design and transformation. This strategy cannot be solely based on existing knowledge and requires new science, new knowledge including supposedly well-known themes, like the tribochemistry of electrostatic charging and friction. It is especially relevant within the Brazilian context, where many recent successful innovations are related to biomass production and transformation. Implementation of this strategy requires converging efforts by personnel from many different organizations and professions, while making sound risk assessment to produce significant innovation leading to sustainable development.

Dinâmica não-linear e reagente limitante: um exemplo de bifurcação transcrítica

The nonlinear analysis of a general mixed second order reaction was performed, aiming to explore some basic tools concerning the mathematics of nonlinear differential equations. Concepts of stability around fixed points based on linear stability analysis are introduced, together with phase plane and integral curves. The main focus is the chemical relationship between changes of limiting reagent and transcritical bifurcation, and the investigation underlying the conclusion.