Aggregation behavior of hydrophobically modified dextran in aqueous solution: a fluorescence probe study

Dextrans (M-W = 11.000 and M-w = 40.000) have been modified with 4-hexyl benzoyl chloride and their aggregation behavior was studied in aqueous solution employing the fluorescent probes pyrene and 1,8 anilinonaphtalene sulfonic acid sodium salt (1,8 ANS). The photophysical studies showed that above a critical concentration the derivatives tend to form aggregates having different properties, which depend on both the degree of substitution (alpha) and the molecular weight of the sample. The parameter alpha has a marked effect on the critical aggregation concentrations (CAC) and aggregate proper-ties. Hydrophobic microenvironments can be detected for substituted dextrans having alpha values varying from 0.01 to 0.19. CAC values decreased by two orders and magnitude when the molecular weight increased from 11 to 40 kDa, leading to formation of more apolar aggregates and diminishing by about 30% the polarity of the microenviromnents. Pre-aggregation was evidenced by pyrene excimer emission and intermolecular interactions were responsible by the formation of aggregates leading to solution behaviour similar to that of common surfactants. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane by rhodium catalysts under water gas shift reaction conditions

Homogeneous catalysts prepared from rhodium trichloride in aqueous aromatic amines have been shown to reduce C-CI bonds under mild water gas shift conditions (T=100 degrees C, P-CO = 1.0 atm). In a 4-picoline/water solvent mixture, 1,2-dichloroethane is reduced to ethylene and ethane in yields compatible with the consumption of the reducing agent CO and with the formation of CO2. Variation of the catalyst solutions by using different substituted pyridines shows a pattern of catalytic activity parallel to that reported previously for H-2 production from the shift reaction, There is a moderate dependence of activity on the basicity of the aromatic amine, but a methyl group at the alpha-position exercises a strong negative steric effect. Long term studies show decrease of the activity with the time perhaps due to the build up of chloride in the medium. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Three exopolysaccharides of the beta-(1 -> 6)-D-glucan type and a beta-(1 -> 3;1 -> 6)-D-glucan produced by strains of Botryosphaeria rhodina isolated from rotting tropical fruit

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

Solid-phase peptide synthesis in highly loaded conditions

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

A homovalent doping in PMN ceramics by using lithium and scandium cations

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

Uso da FTIR na obtenção de resinas e na síntese de peptídeos em fase sólida

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

Indole ring oxidation by activated leukocytes prevents the production of hypochlorous acid

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) released by activated leukocytes has been implicated in the tissue damage that characterizes chronic inflammatory diseases. In this investigation, 14 indole derivatives, including metabolites such as melatonin, tryptophan and indole-3-acetic acid, were screened for their ability to inhibit the generation of this endogenous oxidant by stimulated leukocytes. The release of HOCl was measured by the production of taurine-chloramine when the leukocytes (2 x 10(6) cells/mL) were incubated at 37ºC in 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4, for 30 min with 5 mM taurine and stimulated with 100 nM phorbol-12-myristate acetate. Irrespective of the group substituted in the indole ring, all the compounds tested including indole, 2-methylindole, 3-methylindole, 2,3-dimethylindole, 2,5-dimethylindole, 2-phenylindole, 5-methoxyindole, 6-methoxyindole, 5-methoxy-2-methylindole, melatonin, tryptophan, indole-3-acetic acid, 5-methoxy-2-methyl-3-indole-acetic acid, and indomethacin (10 µM) inhibited the chlorinating activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the 23-72% range. The compounds 3-methylindole and indole-3-acetic acid were chosen as representative of indole derivatives in a dose-response study using purified MPO. The IC50 obtained were 0.10 ± 0.03 and 5.0 ± 1.0 µM (N = 13), respectively. These compounds did not affect the peroxidation activity of MPO or the production of superoxide anion by stimulated leukocytes. By following the spectral change of MPO during the enzyme turnover, the inhibition of HOCl production can be explained on the basis of the accumulation of the redox form compound-II (MPO-II), which is an inactive chlorinating species. These results show that indole derivatives are effective and selective inhibitors of MPO-chlorinating activity.

Effect of magnesium on structure and properties of LiNbO3 prepared from polymeric precursors

The effect of magnesium addition on the phase formation and electric properties of LiNbO3 powder prepared from polymeric precursor was analyzed. It was shown that the unit-cell volume of the rhombohedral phase decreased with increasing magnesium concentration. Small amounts of secondary phases were observed in LiNbO3 powder doped with 5 and 10 mol% Mg+2. These results indicated that the Mg+2 ion was substituted for niobium ion in the rhombohedral phase. The addition of Mg+2 promotes densification of LiNbO3 ceramics. It was noticed that the increase in additive concentration leads to a decrease of electric properties, K-p and d(33). This is due to formation of LiNb3O8 and MgNb2O6 phases at the grain boundaries. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd and Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Ferroelectric and dielectric properties of vanadium-doped Ba(Ti0.90Zr0.10)O-3 ceramics

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Alkyl Hydroxybenzoic Acid Derivatives that Inhibit HIV-1 Protease Dimerization

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Catálise estereoespecífica de estireno por titanocenos alquil-substituídos do tipo (RCp)2TiCl2

Uma série de sete complexos alquil substituídos do tipo (RCp)2TiCl2 (R= H, etila, n-propila, iso-propila, n-butila, iso-amila, ciclo-hexila) foi preparada juntamente com o ainda inédito contendo R= sec-butila, e o efeito do substituinte na polimerização do estireno foi investigada à temperaturas de polimerização de 0 e 50 ºC. Foi encontrado que R = n-butila maximiza a produção de poliestireno sindiotático. Ligantes alquilas com R = RCH2- são superiores aos R = RR CH- e ao precursor Cp2TiCl2 na produção de poliestireno sindiotático de alto peso molecular.

O registro escrito da nasalidade em crianças de educação infantil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Mercury in soils and sediments from gold mining liabilities in Southern Amazonia

The 1980-1990 Amazonian gold rush left an enormous liability that increasingly has been substituted by developing fish aquaculture. This work aimed at the identification of the mercury levels in the environment, associated with fish farms located in the North of Mato Grosso State, Southern Amazon. Sediment and soil samples were analyzed for total organic carbon and total mercury. Results indicate that the chemical characteristics of the sediment largely depend on the management procedures of the fish pond (liming, fish food used and fish population). The soils presented relatively low concentrations when compared with other data from the literature.

Violência, sociedade e escola: da recusa do diálogo à falência da palavra

Esse artigo aborda a violência na sociedade capitalista e na escola, permitindo uma discussão sobre como ela é veiculada pelos meios de comunicação e pela maneira como os professores a enfrentam. Enfoca a necessidade da comunicação e aponta as dificuldades vivenciadas na construção do indivíduo, do aluno em particular, quando a escola e o professor não possuem clareza da importância da comunicação como forma de simbolização e representação que, em muitos casos, permitem que os atos violentos possam ser substituídos pela palavra. A escola é um lugar privilegiado para a palavra e denúncia de um problema social. Ao se desejar eliminar a violência, acaba-se por naturalizá-la, através das banalizações sofridas pelos meios de comunicação e de um Estado que legitima e violenta seus cidadãos em seus direitos básicos.

Efeitos cardiorrespiratórios do butorfanol em cães pré-tratados ou não pela levomepromazina

Objetivou-se com este experimento avaliar os efeitos do butorfanol precedido ou não pela levomepromazina sobre a freqüência cardíaca (FC), as pressões arteriais sistólica, diastólica e média (PAS, PAD e PAM, respectivamente), a freqüência respiratória (f), a concentração de dióxido de carbono ao final da expiração (ETCO2), a saturação da oxihemoglobina (SpO2), o volume corrente (VC) e o volume minuto (VM), em cães. Para tal, foram empregados vinte animais adultos, clinicamente saudáveis, distribuídos igualmente em dois grupos (GC e GL). Ao GC administrou-se solução salina a 0,9% (Controle), no volume de 0,2mL kg-1, pela via intravenosa (IV). Decorridos 15 minutos, administrou-se butorfanol na dose de 0,3mg kg-1 pela mesma via. Aos animais do GL foi adotada a mesma metodologia, porém substituindo-se a solução salina pela levomepromazina na dose de 1mg kg-1. As medidas das variáveis cardiorrespiratórias iniciaram-se imediatamente antes da aplicação dos fármacos (M1). Novas mensurações foram realizadas 15 minutos após a administração da solução salina a 0,9% ou levomepromazina (M2) e 10 minutos após a administração de butorfanol (M3). As demais colheitas foram realizadas a intervalos de 10 minutos, durante 30 minutos (M4, M5 e M6, respectivamente). Os dados numéricos colhidos foram submetidos à Análise de Variância (ANOVA), seguida pelo teste de Tukey (p<0,05) para as comparações das médias. O emprego do butorfanol promoveu diminuição significativa das freqüências cardíaca e respiratória e do volume minuto no grupo previamente tratado pela levomepromazina; entretanto, essas alterações foram discretas, não comprometendo os demais parâmetros circulatórios e respiratórios.