"Spin-Off" acadêmico: criando riquezas a partir de conhecimento e pesquisa

Technology companies created from University research are known as "Academic Spin-Off" (ASO). These innovative companies play an important role for the technological, economical and social development of a country. This work discusses some aspects of ASO companies and their importance to Universities. It is also presented a fictitious history of Prof. João, a chemical researcher who will create an ASO company from his academic research work illustrating the basic steps involved in this process.

Contribuição à organização da pesquisa em Química e os desafios da interação com outras áreas do conhecimento

This article provides some aspects that allow making a current reading of the situation of the Brazilian Chemistry that permit us considerate it as a strategic area. They are still presented some initial proposals related to the organization of the research as well as to win the challenges of the relationship with the other areas of the knowledge.

Geração do conhecimento através da especificação de produtos químicos

Technological innovation connects competitiveness and knowledge. In Brazil, knowledge is mainly concentrated in the universities which undertake R&D. This article aims to show the importance of Brazilian university extension activities, which transfer knowledge to society, contributing, in the case of the chemical sector, to a reduction in the country's total trade deficit of around US$8.5 billion, which is result of the importation of innumerable products. On the other hand, developed countries are resorting to technical barriers, which impose documentation and regulations based on testing products for conformity with standards. This demands a technical and scientific infrastructure, concentrated in the universities.

Purificação e caracterização da beta-lapachona e estudo de estabilidade dos cristais em diferentes condições de armazenamento

The beta-lapachone is a product obtained from the Ipê Roxo tree [Tabebuia avellandae], which has proved its excellent antineoplasic potential acting through a particular mechanism of apoptosis against various cancer types. This study aims at determining the identity card of beta-lapachone by means of physico-chemical and pharmaco-technical characterization. A purifying process has been performed, as well as the isolation of a contaminant, its isomer alpha-lapachone. A stability study was also performed, determining the ideal storing conditions for beta-lapachone, essential for the ongoing pre-formulation studies for obtaining the different classic pharmaceutical forms and modified release systems.

Construindo o conhecimento através de projetos de trabalho: uma experiência no curso de química da universidade estadual de Santa Cruz

In this work, we describe a pedagogical experiment using work projects in chemistry undergraduate programs in general chemistry and inorganic chemistry courses making learning more dynamic and consolidating the link between students and the external community. We highlight as fundamental outcomes the improvement in the learning process and, above all, the active participation of the students in investigation and problem-solving activities.

A produção do conhecimento sobre o ensino de química nas reuniões anuais da Sociedade Brasileira de Química: uma revisão

This paper discusses the Brazilian academic production on Chemical Education. The main source of information is the annual meeting of the Brazilian Chemical Society (RASBQ) covering the period 1999-2006. All the papers presented by the Division of Chemical Education of the RASBQ were reviewed to permit a discussion about the development of the area in Brazil. This bibliographical revision comprises the following aspects: year of presentation, Brazilian region and institution of production, scholastic level encompassed by the study, the kind of academic work (or research type) and thematic focus of the study.

Polissacarídeos da biodiversidade brasileira: uma oportunidade de transformar conhecimento em valor econômico

A brief comment about general characteristics of polysaccharide was presented. Brazilian trade of polysaccharides was obtained from the "Ministério de Desenvolvimento, Indústria e Comércio Exterior" - Brazil. A list of these products was prepared and their price and amount analyzed in the period of 1998-2007. Some chemical properties and application of polysaccharides from our biodiversity was described. In this review they were classified by origin, in vegetal (exudate, seed, fruit, seaweed), animal and bacteria source. There is a trade deficit that can be reverted if part of the accumulated scientific knowledge was used to promote the national economic development in the field.

Hidróxidos duplos lamelares: nanopartículas inorgânicas para armazenamento e liberação de espécies de interesse biológico e terapêutico

Studies about the inorganic nanoparticles applying for non-viral release of biological and therapeutic species have been intensified nowadays. This work reviews the preparation strategies and application of layered double hydroxides (LDH) as carriers for storing, carrying and control delivery of intercalated species as drugs and DNA for gene therapy. LDH show low toxicity, biocompatibility, high anion exchange capacity, surface sites for functionalization, and a suitable equilibrium between chemical stability and biodegradability. LDH can increase the intercalated species stability and promote its sub-cellular uptake for biomedical purposes. Concerning the healthy field, LDH have been evaluated for clinical diagnosis as a biosensor component.

Influência do armazenamento de folhas secas no óleo essencial de patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth.)

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of five storage times of dry leaves of two patchouli genotypes on its essential oil content and chemical composition. Harvest was realized four months after planting. Storage influenced essential oil content of genotype POG-002. Patchoulol was the majority compound. Storage of dry leaves increased significatively the content of the compounds α-bulnesene and germacrene A of genotype POG-021 and longicanfenilone, pogostol and patchoulol of POG-002. However, storage reduced significatively the content of the compounds cicloseichelene, β-cariofilene, α-guaiene, acifilene and α-bulnesene of the essential oil of genotype POG-002.

Identificação do carbamato de etila durante o armazenamento da cachaça em tonel de carvalho (quercus sp) e recipiente de vidro

The objective of the present study was the identification and quantification of ethyl carbamate (EC), by HPLC-FLD, after different periods of storage in an oak (Quercus sp) barrel and a glass vessel. The concentration of EC in the cachaça samples varied from -1, for the period during which the cachaça was stored in an oak barrel, and -1 for the cachaça stored in a glass recipient. The storage of the beverage in both the oak barrel and the glass vessel resulted in a significant increase in the concentration of this contaminant.

A gestão do conhecimento aplicada à reciclagem de componentes automotivos através do tratamento das informações contidas em documentos de patentes

This article evaluates the technologies adopted for recycling and reuse of automobile components, through the analysis of patents documents. The automobile batteries recycling is the main topic, followed by the automatic disassembly of vehicles, tires recycling and polyurethane recycling. None document approached recycling of steel and aluminum or ceramics products. The reduced number of technologies for the recycling of the polymeric compounds (including polyurethane) indicates that a bigger number of research and inventions must be elaborated in the next years, aiming at to the reduction of costs of processes and adequacy to the more restricted environmental legislation.

Avaliação do conhecimento sobre periodicidade química em uma turma de química geral do ensino a distância

This work describes the software Quiptabela, suggests a teaching activity, and analyses responses of general chemistry students from the Biological Sciences distance course at the Federal University of Tocantins. The software was described according to its educational potential, featuring the creation of dozens of charts or tables correlating physicochemical properties of the elements, being Brazilian, and free distribution. The teaching activities suggested analyzed students' ability to create and analyze tables and charts correlating the properties of chemical elements. Some 41% of students tested could define the term "periodic", but failed to use the concept to explain and differentiate changes in mass or atomic radius with the atomic number of elements.

Química Nova Interativa - QNInt - o portal do conhecimento da SBQ: conectando ciência e educação

The Química Nova Interativa (QNInt) portal was launched in 2009 by the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) to offer free quality content for broad audiences. QNInt provides peer-reviewed articles from SBQ journals on science & society, chemical concepts, classroom activities and educational research. With 3,000,000 visits, QNInt also offers a unique library of interactive molecules. In the International Year of Chemistry QNInt served for distributing pH kits and registering data from IUPAC's Global Water Experiment, yielding Brazil the largest share of the global pH data set. The portal performance makes QNInt a valuable resource for connecting science to education.

Potencial uso de serpentinito no armazenamento mineral do CO2

Rising anthropogenic CO2 emissions are considered a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. There are several options for reducing atmospheric CO2 levels, and among these alternatives, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has been identified as an effective and promising approach. This work investigated the feasibility of using serpentinite as a vehicle for carbon storage presenting a source-sink match. The main results of the work confirmed that serpentinite is appropriate for the carbonation process due to the high concentration of Mg in its composition.

METODOLOGIAS DE COLETA, PRESERVAÇÃO E ARMAZENAMENTO DE AMOSTRAS DE ÁGUA PARA ANÁLISE DE MERCÚRIO - UMA REVISÃO

Knowing the mercury levels of an environment allows a diverse array of biogeochemical studies into the mercury cycle on a local or global scale. Among matrices commonly evaluated, water remains a challenge for research because its mercury levels can be very low, requiring development of complex analytical protocols. Currently, sample preservation methods, protocols that avoid contamination, and analytical techniques with low detection limits allow analysis of mercury in pristine waters. However, different protocols suggest different methods depending on a range of factors such as the characteristics of water sampled and storage time. In remote areas, such as oceanic and Amazonian regions, sample preservation and transport to a laboratory can be difficult, requiring processing of the water during the sampling expedition and the establishment of a field laboratory. Brazilian research on mercury in water can be limited due to difficulty obtaining reagents, lack of laboratory structure, qualified personnel, and financial support. Considering this complexity for analyzing water, we reviewed methodologies for sampling, preservation, and storage of water samples for analysis of the most commonly evaluated mercury species (dissolved gaseous mercury, reactive mercury, methylmercury and total mercury).