Ácidos siálicos: da compreensão do seu envolvimento em processos biológicos ao desenvolvimento de fármacos contra o agente etiológico da gripe

Sialic acids are nine-carbon carbohydrates that occur widely in nature and occupy the terminal portions of some glycoproteins and glycolipids of cell membranes. These carbohydrates are closely involved in cell-cell interactions and in processes such as microbial infection, inflammation, etc. Studies on the participation of sialic acids in biological processes have provided comprehension about their role in the infection by the influenza virus, the causal agent of flu. In this article, we present an overview of the importance of sialic acids in the influenza virus infection and how the knowledge of their involvement in this process has allowed the development of selective and efficient drugs against the virus.

Constituintes químicos da raiz e do talo da folha do açaí (Euterpe precatoria Mart., Arecaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of the hexane, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of roots and leaf stalks of Euterpe precatoria Mart. ("açaí"), afforded stigmast-4-en-6beta-ol-3-one (3); p-hydroxy benzoic acid (4); 3beta-O-D-glucopyranosyl-sitosterol (5); beta-sitosterol palmitate (6); mixtures of beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol (1 and 2), alpha-, beta-amirin and lupeol (7, 8 and 9), friedelin-3-one and 28-hydroxy-friedelin-3-one (10 and 11) and alpha-, beta-D-glucose (12, 13). Except for 1, 2 and 4, the other isolated constituents are described in the genus for the first time. Compounds 3 and 5 gave good results in the brine shrimp bioassay, which detects compounds with potential uses as antitumor agents, pesticides, etc..

Catalisador Pd/gama-Al2O3: efeito do tamanho de partícula na atividade catalítica para combustão do CH4

Methane, the main constituent of natural gas (> 85%), is employed in large scale as an energy source (thermoelectric power plants, automobiles, etc). However, significant quantities of this gas contribute to the greenhouse effect. The catalytic combustion of methane can minimize these emissions. Palladium is one of the metals that shows the highest activity, depending on the different active forms of the metal. In this article, we focus on the influence of particle size and pretreatment on the catalytic performance of palladium in the methane combustion reaction.

Qual é o perfil do profissional de química que está sendo formado? Esse é o perfil de que a sociedade necessita?

In this paper, we present and discuss the chemist's education profile in Brazil from the points of view of the academy and the industry. We emphasize that the chemistry courses need urgently to face the following challenge: to improve the undergraduate's interdisciplinary approach, management abilities and interpersonal relationships.

Uso de lodo de estação de tratamento de água centrifugado em matriz de concreto de cimento portland para reduzir o impacto ambiental

An alternative application of the humid sludge from the Passaúna WTP, located in Curitiba's metropolitan area, is proposed for concrete structures, partially replacing aggregates and cement. For the investigation, a reference concrete and four concrete mixtures with sludge were produced, and from these, two mixtures, containing 4% and 8% of sludge (m/m), were analyzed by different techniques: X ray fluorescence, X ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetric analysis, physicochemical analysis, compressive strength, etc. The properties were evaluated and the results indicate that the mixtures can be applied in different situations as cast structures for construction of concrete walls. Mixtures with more than 4% of sludge are restricted to applications where the workability of the concrete is not required, such as for residential pavements, sidewalks and stepping floors.

Quimioluminiscencia electrogenerada del luminol usando electrodos de bajo costo

The purpose of the study was to observe eletrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of luminol using different materials as electrodes such as wires, nails, coins, razor blades, etc. Based on the experimental observations and the mechanisms proposed in the literature, students should be capable of analyzing their results in order to understand the phenomena studied. Students could then elaborate a mechanism of action consistent with the experimental results which could rationalize the formation of intermediates in the reaction and the dependence of ECL on solution pH in addition to other points of interest

Desempenho físico-químico de metais e estruturas de concreto de redes de distribuição de energia: estudo de caso na região de Manaus

The influence of natural aging furthered by atmospheric corrosion of parts of electric transformers and materials, as well as of concrete poles and cross arms containing corrosion inhibitors was evaluated in Manaus. Results for painted materials, it could showed that loss of specular gloss was more intensive in aliphatic polyurethane points than in acrylic polyurethane ones. No corrosion was observed for metal and concrete samples until 400 days of natural aging. Corrosion in steel reinforcement was noticed in some poles, arising from manufacturing faults, such as low cement content, water/cement ratio, thin concrete cover thickness, etc. The performance of corrosion inhibitors was assessed by many techniques after natural and accelerated aging in a 3.5% saline aqueous solution. The results show the need for better chemical component selection and its concentration in the concrete mixture.

Superando la violencia colectiva y construyendo cultura de paz

La aparición del libro 'Superando la violencia colectiva y construyendo cultura de paz' no podría ser más oportuna en nuestro país. Actualmente vivimos la etapa más esperanzadora respecto al fin de la violencia de ETA, última organización terrorista en territorio europeo (TE-SAT, 2011) y aunque este no es un libro sobre ETA, sus aportaciones sobre la violencia colectiva y la construcción de la paz, nos muestran como el fin de la violencia y la construcción de la paz es un proceso que requiere de una nueva cultura, la cultura de paz.

Análises quali- e quantitativa de cafés comerciais via ressonância magnética nuclear

Coffee is one of the beverages most widely consumed in the world and the "cafezinho" is normally prepared from a blend of roasted powder of two species, Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. Each one exhibits differences in their taste and in the chemical composition, especially in the caffeine percentage. There are several procedures proposed in the literature for caffeine determination in different samples like soft drinks, coffee, medicines, etc but most of them need a sample workup which involves at least one step of purification. This work describes the quantitative analysis of caffeine using ¹H NMR and the identification of the major components in commercial coffee samples using 1D and 2D NMR techniques without any sample pre-treatment.

N-halossacarinas: reagentes úteis (e alternativos) em síntese orgânica

N-halosaccharins proved to be useful and alternative reagents for diverse organic transformations, such as halogenation of aromatic compounds, benzylic and alpha-carbonylic positions, cohalogenation of alkenes, oxidation of secondary alcohols, etc. Their preparation from saccharin, a cheap and readly available starting material, is simple.

As secretarias regionais e as divisões científicas da Sociedade Brasileira de Química

This article offers an overview on the historical facts and the recent state of the Regional Secretaries and the Scientific Divisions in the course of 30 years of SBQ.

A inserção internacional da Sociedade Brasileira de Química

This paper presents some aspects involved in the internationalization of SBQ. The importance of journals, meetings and agreements in this process is discussed.

Efecto de la naturaleza del precursor sobre las caracteristicas de las nanoparticulas de SnO2 sintetizadas

Tin oxide (SnO2) is widely used in industry as raw material for electronic devices, plating of different types of materials, for dyes and pigments, for electroplating, heterogeneous catalysis, etc. In this work SnO2 was obtained by a controlled precipitation method with special attention to the effects the tin precursor has on the microstructure of the final product. The most appropriate pH for obtaining SnO2 with the rutile structure as the main phase is 6.25 for SnCl2 and 6.40 for SnSO4. After heat treatment at 600 °C, particles of nanometric order (~10 - 30 nm approx) were obtained. The characterization of the solid phase was made by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (DTA/TG), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).