Homoleptic copper(II) and copper(I) complexes of 5,6-dihydro-5,6-epoxy-1,10-phenanthroline. Six-coordinate copper(I) in solution

Reaction of 5,6-dihydro-5,6-epoxy-1,10-phenanthroline (L) with Cu(ClO(4))(2)center dot 6H(2)O in methanol in 3:1 M ratio at room temperature yields light green [CuL(3)](ClO(4))(2)center dot H(2)O (1). The X-ray crystal structure of the hemi acetonitrile solvate [CuL(3)](ClO(4))(2)center dot 0.5CH(3)CN has been determined which shows Jahn-Teller distortion in the CuN(6) core present in the cation [CuL(3)](2+). Complex 1 gives an axial EPR spectrum in acetonitrile-toluene glass with g(parallel to) = 2.262 (A(parallel to) = 169 x 10 (4) cm (1)) and g(perpendicular to) = 2.069. The Cu(II/I) potential in 1 in CH(2)Cl(2) at a glassy carbon electrode is 0.32 V versus NHE. This potential does not change with the addition of extra L in the medium implicating generation of a six-coordinate copper(I) species [CuL(3)](+) in solution. B3LYP/LanL2DZ calculations show that the six Cu-N bond distances in [CuL(3)](+) are 2.33, 2.25, 2.32, 2.25, 2.28 and 2.25 angstrom while the ideal Cu(I)-N bond length in a symmetric Cu(I)N(6) moiety is estimated as 2.25 angstrom. Reaction of L with Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)ClO(4) in dehydrated methanol at room temperature even in 4:1 M proportion yields [CuL(2)]ClO(4) (2). Its (1)H NMR spectrum indicates that the metal in [CuL(2)](+) is tetrahedral. The Cu(II/I) potential in 2 is found to be 0.68 V versus NHE in CH(2)Cl(2) at a glassy carbon electrode. In presence of excess L, 2 yields the cyclic voltammogram of 1. From (1)H NMR titration, the free energy of binding of L to [CuL(2)](+) to produce [CuL(3)](+) in CD(2)Cl(2) at 298 K is estimated as -11.7 (+/-0.2) kJ mol (1).

Interaction between allelic variations in vitamin D receptor and retinoid X receptor genes on metabolic traits

BACKGROUND: Low vitamin D status has been shown to be a risk factor for several metabolic traits such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The biological actions of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D, are mediated through the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which heterodimerizes with retinoid X receptor, gamma (RXRG). Hence, we examined the potential interactions between the tagging polymorphisms in the VDR (22 tag SNPs) and RXRG (23 tag SNPs) genes on metabolic outcomes such as body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio (WHR), high- and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterols, serum triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and glycated haemoglobin in the 1958 British Birth Cohort (1958BC, up to n = 5,231). We used Multifactor- dimensionality reduction (MDR) program as a non-parametric test to examine for potential interactions between the VDR and RXRG gene polymorphisms in the 1958BC. We used the data from Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC66, up to n = 5,316) and Twins UK (up to n = 3,943) to replicate our initial findings from 1958BC. RESULTS: After Bonferroni correction, the joint-likelihood ratio test suggested interactions on serum triglycerides (4 SNP - SNP pairs), LDL cholesterol (2 SNP - SNP pairs) and WHR (1 SNP - SNP pair) in the 1958BC. MDR permutation model testing analysis showed one two-way and one three-way interaction to be statistically significant on serum triglycerides in the 1958BC. In meta-analysis of results from two replication cohorts (NFBC66 and Twins UK, total n = 8,183), none of the interactions remained after correction for multiple testing (Pinteraction >0.17). CONCLUSIONS: Our results did not provide strong evidence for interactions between allelic variations in VDR and RXRG genes on metabolic outcomes; however, further replication studies on large samples are needed to confirm our findings.

The effects of lipoic acid and alpha-tocopherol supplementation on the lipid profile and insulin sensitivity of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Antioxidants probably play an important role in the etiology of type 2 diabetes (DM2). This study evaluated the effects of supplementation with lipoic acid (LA) and alpha-tocopherol on the lipid profile and insulin sensitivity of DM2 patients. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 102 DM2 patients divided into four groups to receive daily supplementation for 4 months with: 600 mg LA (n = 26); 800 mg alpha-tocopherol (n = 25); 800 mg alpha-tocopherol + 600 mg LA (n = 25); placebo (n = 26). Plasma alpha-tocopherol, lipid profile, glucose, insulin, and the HOMA index were determined before and after supplementation. Differences within and between groups were compared by ANOVA using Bonferroni correction. Student`s t-test was used to compare means of two independent variables. The vitamin E/total cholesterol ratio improved significantly in patients supplemented with vitamin E + LA and vitamin E alone (p <= 0.001). There were improvements of the lipid fractions in the groups receiving LA and vitamin E alone or in combination, and on the HOMA index in the LA group, but not significant. The results suggest that LA and vitamin E supplementation alone or in combination did not affect the lipid profile or insulin sensitivity of DM2 patients. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Níveis de julgamento de alunos de 1., 2. e 3. graus de ensino

Os níveis de julgamen to dos alunos de 1 2 , 22 e ,:3 2 graus de ensino da Rede de E'sco las Particulares e da ~~ndação Universitária da cidade de Lages - Santa Catari ~a -, é um estudo teórico e de investigação prática, que -pretende verificar e discutir as relações entre a quali~ . dade ou maturidade de julgamento .. ' . e as var~ave~s idade grau de escolaridade, capacidade intelectual e nível só- --ci.o-econômico dos alunos ,sujeitos da pesquisa. A amostra foi sorteada aleatoriamente entre to- dos os alunos da 8! série do 12 grau, 2~' série do 29 grau e 3! série do 3 2 grau, num percentual aproximado de 20% da população total visada. Constituiu-se, assim, uma amos tra de 152 sujeitos, extTa{da de uma população de 898 a~ . . lunos. Os objetivos específicos que orientaram o estu- , ." ... . .' ,.., . do resumem-se na anal~se e discussao das relaçoes entreo nível de julgamento e as demais variáveis, isto é, ida~ de, grau de escolaridade, capacidade intelectual e nível sócio-econômico dos ,alunos pesquisados. Os resultados indicam que: 1) a maioria absolu- , ta dos sujeitos tanto de 12 e 22 graus qcinnto os de .j2 grau não alcançou'os níveis de julgamento mais maduros - ou seja - julgamento imaginativo-explicativo e imaginati vo-explicati vo-compreensi vo.· .2) Os sujei tos revelam -a- centuada dificuldade de raciocínio e julgamento' em ,rela ção ao texto-teste de estrutura lógica. 3) As variáveis' ~dade, grau de escolaridade, nível 56cio~ecortômico rela- ',c~onam-se,. em geral, positivamente com o nível de julga- ~mento, embora, no caso desta pesquisa, essa relação seja :fraca, possivelmente em função da pou.ca dispersão ougra!! de homog'eneic.ade' dos escores obtidos pelos sujeitos. Es- -sa homogeneidade de resultados levanta problemas que me- receriam novos estudos para maiores esclarecimentos sobre as condiç;es de desenvolvimento do processo de julga- mento, sejam internas ou externas à escola. são levantadas questões relativas, principalmen- te, à ação da escola, aos livros textos nela utilizados às condições precárias dos professores, à concepção tradi ciônal de educação e sobre o sistema ou contexto social a tual dentro do qual a escola é um sub-sistema. são sugeridas, no final do trabalho, pesquisas e estudos que visem amplioar o c onhecimento a raspei to do d~ senvolvimento do processo de julgar, bem como, pesquisas que procurem relacionar o nível sócio-econômico do profes sor e a quantidade e qualidade de leituras feitas por ele com o desempenho dos alunos.

Signatures of doubly charged Higgs in the SU(3)(L) circle times U(1)(N) model at the CERN LHC

The scalar sector of the simplest version of the 3-3-1 electroweak model is constructed with three Higgs triplets only. We show that a relation involving two of the constants of the model, two vacuum expectation values of the neutral scalars, and the mass of the doubly charged Higgs boson leads to important information concerning the signals of this scalar particle.

Controle químico de plantas daninhas aquáticas em condições controladas - caixa d'água

Durante o ano de 1998 foram conduzidos quatro experimentos em Botucatu, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, em condições de caixas d'água, com o objetivo de estudar o efeito de alguns herbicidas sobre Eicchornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Thypha subulata e Salvinia molesta. Os herbicidas e doses utilizadas foram: imazapyr a 125, 250, 500, 1.000, 1.500 e 2.000 g e.a./ha; 2,4 D a 1.200 g e.a./ha; glyphosate a 3.360 g e.a./ha. Houve, ainda, uma testemunha sem aplicação de herbicidas. Os experimentos foram instalados no delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As parcelas experimentais foram constituídas pelas caixas d'água com dimensões de 60x60x60 cm e colocadas a pleno sol no campo. Utilizou-se 3, 12, 25 e 60 plantas/caixa de T. subulata, P. stratiotes, E. crassipes e S. molesta, respectivamente. Os herbicidas foram aplicados com pulverizador costal a pressão constante de CO2 de 1,75 Bar, munido de barra com bicos Teejet 110.02 VS e com um consumo de calda de 200 l/ha. Foram efetuadas avaliações visuais de controle de sete em sete dias por 35 a 49 dias, dependendo da espécie. Todos os herbicidas testados foram eficientes no controle de E. crassipes e o imazapyr foi o único herbicida a promover morte total das plantas, independente da dose utilizada. Os herbicidas 2,4 D e glyphosate não foram eficientes no controle de P. stratiotes. O herbicida imazapyr foi eficiente no controle de P. stratiotes, exceto na dose de 125 g e.a./ha. Todos os herbicidas foram eficientes no controle de T. subulata, exceção ao imazapyr na dose de125 g e.a./ha. Houve rebrota de T. subulata nas parcelas aplicadas com 2,4 D. Nenhum tratamento químico foi eficiente no controle de S. molesta.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of botryosphaeran and laminarin by beta-1,3-glucanases produced by Botryosphaeria rhodina and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai

Botryosphaeran, a (1 -> 3; 1 -> 6)-beta-D-glucan produced by Botryosphaeria rhodina, and laminarin were hydrolysed by two fungal beta-glucanases predominantly of the 1,3-type produced by B. rhodina and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai grown on botryosphaeran as sole carbon source. Both beta-glucanase preparations presented different modes of attack on botryosphaeran and laminarin. Laminarin was hydrolysed to the extent of similar to 50% in 1 hand 100% within 24 h, and its hydrolysis products were mainly glucose and gentiobiose, and lesser amounts of laminaribiose and oligosaccharides of DP 3-4 during the early stages of hydrolysis, while botryosphaeran 'yielded mainly glucose and gentiobiose with some trisaccharide, but no laminaribiose or tetrasaccharide when hydrolysed by the T. harzianum enzyme. By contrast, B. rhodina beta-1,3-glucanases produced predominantly glucose during all stages of botryosphaeran hydrolysis. Some physicochemical properties of the 1,3- and 1,6-beta-glucanases, and beta-glucosidases contained in the two fungal P-glucanase preparations are also described for the first time. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Botryosphaeran, a new substrate for the production of beta-1,3-glucanases by Botryosphaeria rhodina and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai

Botryosphaeria rhodina and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai were grown on botryosphaeran (an exopolysaccharide (EPS) of the beta-1,3; 1,6-D-Glucan type produced by B. rhodina) as sole carbon source with the objective of producing beta-glucanases of the beta-type. Conditions for beta-1,3-glucanase production by T harzianum were examined by a statistical response surface method, and showed maximal enzyme production at 5 days growth in media containing 1.5 g/1 of EPS. Good agreement was obtained between the experimental values of beta-1, 3-glucanase activity and the corresponding values predicted by the mathernatical model. The crude beta-1,3-glucanase preparations were active towards a number of different beta-1,3-glucans and beta-glucosides. The mycelium of B. rhodina also proved to be a good substrate for beta-1,3-glucanase production by both fungal species. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The semi-synthetic kaurane ent-16 alpha-methoxykauran-19-oic acid induces vascular relaxation and hypotension in rats

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

Spin-1 duality in D dimensions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Strategic supplementation of calcium salts of polyunsaturated fatty acids to enhance reproductive performance of Bos indicus beef cows

Five experiments evaluated the effects of supplemental Ca salts of PUFA on reproductive function of Bos indicus beef cows. In Exp. 1, nonlactating and multiparous grazing cows (n = 51) were assigned to receive (as-fed basis) 0.1 kg of a protein-mineral mix + 0.1 kg of ground corn per cow/d, in addition to 0.1 kg per cow/d of 1) Ca salts of PUFA (PF), 2) Ca salts of SFA (SF), or 3) kaolin (control). Treatments were offered from d 0 to 20 of the estrous cycle. No treatment effects were detected on serum progesterone concentrations (P = 0.83), day of luteolysis (P = 0.86), or incidence of short cycles (P = 0.84). In Exp. 2, nonlactating and multiparous grazing cows (n = 43) were assigned to receive PF, SF, or control from d 0 to 8 of the estrous cycle. on d 6, all cows received (intramuscularly) 25 mg of PGF(2 alpha). No treatment effects were detected on serum progesterone concentrations on d 6 (P = 0.37), and incidence (P = 0.67) or estimated time of luteolysis (P = 0.44). In Exp. 3, twenty-seven lactating and multiparous grazing cows, approximately 30 to 40 d postpartum, were assigned to receive PF or control for 10 d beginning at the first postpartum ovulation. No treatment effects were detected (P = 0.85) on incidence of short cycles. In Exp. 4, lactating and multiparous grazing cows (n = 1,454), approximately 40 to 60 d postpartum, were assigned to receive 1 of the 7 treatments for 28 d after timed AI (TAI; d 0): 1) control from d 0 to 28, 2) SF from d 0 to 14 and then control, 3) PF from d 0 to 14 and then control, 4) SF from d 0 to 21 and then control, 5) PF from d 0 to 21 and then control, 6) SF from d 0 to 28, and 7) PF from d 0 to 28. Cows receiving PF for more than 21 d after TAI had greater (P < 0.01) pregnancy to TAI compared with all other treatments combined (50.4 vs. 42.4%, respectively). In Exp. 5, lactating and multiparous grazing cows (n = 501), approximately 40 to 60 d postpartum, were assigned to receive 1 of the 4 treatments for 21 d after TAI (d 0): 1) PF from d 0 to 14 and then control, 2) control from d 0 to 6 and then PF, 3) control from d 0 to 13 and then PF, and 4) PF from d 0 to 21. Cows receiving PF after d 14 of the experiment had greater (P = 0.02) pregnancy to TAI compared with cows not receiving PF during the same period (46.8 vs. 33.1%, respectively). In summary, supplemental Ca salts of PUFA during the expected time of luteolysis increased pregnancy to TAI in beef cows.

BOND STRENGTH DURABILITY of SELF-ETCHING ADHESIVES and RESIN CEMENTS TO DENTIN

Objectives: To evaluate the microtensile bond strength (mu TBS) of one-(Xeno III, Dentsply) and two-step (Tyrian-One Step Plus, Bisco) self-etching adhesive systems bonded to dentin and cemented to chemically cured (C&B Metabond) or light-cured paste of a dual-cure resin cement (Variolink II, Ivoclar) within a short (24 h) and long period of evaluation (90 days). Material and Methods: Forty recently extracted human molars had their roots removed and their occlusal dentin exposed and ground wet with 600-grit SiC paper. After application of one of the adhesives, the resin cement was applied to the bonded surface and a composite resin block was incrementally built up to a height of 5 mm (n = 10). The restored teeth were stored in distilled water at 37 C for 7 days. The teeth were then cut along two axes (x and y), producing beam-shaped specimens with 0.8 mm(2) cross-sectional area, which were subjected to mu TBS testing at a crosshead speed of 0.05 mm/min and stressed to failure after 24 h or 90 days of storage in water. The mu TBS data in MPa were subjected to three-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05). Results: The interaction effect for all three factors was statistically significant (three-way ANOVA, p < 0.001). All eight experimental means (MPa) were compared by the Tukey's test (p < 0.05) and the following results were obtained: Tyrian-One Step Plus /C&B/24 h (22.4 +/- 7.3); Tyrian-One Step Plus /Variolink II/24 h (39.4 +/- 11.6); Xeno III/C&B/24 h (40.3 +/- 12.9); Xeno III/Variolink II/24 h (25.8 +/- 10.5); Tyrian-One Step Plus / C&B/90 d (22.1 +/- 12.8) Tyrian-One Step Plus/VariolinkII/90 d (24.2 +/- 14.2); Xeno III/C&B/90 d (27.0 +/- 13.5); Xeno III/Variolink II/90 d (33.0 +/- 8.9). Conclusions: Xeno III/Variolink II was the luting agent/adhesive combination that provided the most promising bond strength after 90 days of storage in water.

Closing the SU(3)(L)circle times U(1)(X) symmetry at the electroweak scale

We show that some models with SU(3)(C)circle times SU(3)(L)circle times U(1)(X) gauge symmetry can be realized at the electroweak scale and that this is a consequence of an approximate global SU(2)(L+R) symmetry. This symmetry implies a condition among the vacuum expectation value of one of the neutral Higgs scalars, the U(1)(X)'s coupling constant, g(X), the sine of the weak mixing angle sin theta(W), and the mass of the W boson, M-W. In the limit in which this symmetry is valid it avoids the tree level mixing of the Z boson of the standard model with the extra Z(') boson. We have verified that the oblique T parameter is within the allowed range indicating that the radiative corrections that induce such a mixing at the 1-loop level are small. We also show that a SU(3)(L+R) custodial symmetry implies that in some of the models we have to include sterile (singlets of the 3-3-1 symmetry) right-handed neutrinos with Majorana masses, since the seesaw mechanism is mandatory to obtain light active neutrinos. Moreover, the approximate SU(2)(L+R)subset of SU(3)(L+R) symmetry implies that the extra nonstandard particles of these 3-3-1 models can be considerably lighter than it had been thought before so that new physics can be really just around the corner.

FLAVOR-CHANGING NEUTRAL CURRENTS IN SU(3)L-CIRCLE-TIMES-U(1)Y MODELS

We consider flavor changing neutral current effects coming from the Z' exchange in 3-3-1 models. We show that the mass of this extra neutral vector boson may be less than 2 TeV and discuss the problem of quark family discrimination.

Crystal structure of potassium trifluoro(2-methyl-1,3-dithiano)borate, K(C5H9BF3S2)

C5H9BF3KS2, triclinic, P (1) over bar (no. 2), a = 11.9238(5) angstrom, b = 13.6060(5) angstrom, c = 14.0280(3) angstrom, alpha = 114.995(2)degrees, beta = 92.035(2)degrees, gamma = 92.390(2)degrees, V = 2057.4 angstrom(3), Z = 8, R-gt(F) = 0.049, wR(ref)(F-2) = 0.117, T = 296 K.