Interfacial surface charge and free accessibility to the PLA(2)-active site-like region are essential requirements for the activity of Lys49 PLA(2) homologues

Lys49 phospholipase A(2) homologues are highly myotoxic and cause extensive tissue damage but do not display hydrolytic activity towards natural phospholipids. The binding of heparin, heparin derivatives and polyanionic compounds such as suramin result in partial inhibition (up to 60%) of the myotoxic effects due to a change in the overall charge of the interfacial surface. In vivo experiments demonstrate that polyethylene glycol inhibits more than 90% of the myotoxic effects without exhibiting secondary toxic effects. The crystal structure of bothropstoxin-I complexed with polyethylene glycol reveals that this inhibition is due to steric hindrance of the access to the PLA(2)-active site-like region. These two inhibitory pathways indicate the roles of the overall surface charge and free accessibility to the PLA2-active site-like region in the functioning of Lys49 phospholipases A(2) homologues. Molecular dynamics simulations, small angle X-ray scattering and structural analysis indicate that the oligomeric states both in solution and in the crystalline states of Lys49 phospholipases A2 are principally mediated by hydrophobic contacts formed between the interfacial surfaces. These results provide the framework for the potential application of both clinically approved drugs for the treatment of Viperidae snakebites. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On the search for potential anti-Trypanosoma cruzi drugs: Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-hydroxy-3-methylamino and 1,2,3-triazolic naphthoquinoidal compounds obtained by click chemistry reactions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

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.

C programs for solving the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation in a fully anisotropic trap

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

Search for anomalous t(t)over-bar production in the highly-boosted all-hadronic final state

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Electron Transport in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on ZnO Nanotubes: Evidence for Highly Efficient Charge Collection and Exceptionally Rapid Dynamics

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Structure and ferro/piezoelectric properties of SrBi(4)Ti(4)O(15) films deposited on TiO(2) buffer layer

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

Highly corrosion resistant siloxane-polymethyl methacrylate hybrid coatings

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Synthesis and characterization of a novel series of meso (nitrophenyl) and meso (carboxyphenyl) substituted porphyrins

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

Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays and photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of aromatic amine

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

Efeito alelopático de sabugueiro e capim-limão na germinação de picão-preto e soja

As plantas invasoras são constantes e diminuem a produtividade das culturas por competirem por espaço, nutrientes e água. Dessa forma, os agricultores adotam, em grande escala, produtos químicos eficientes no controle da lavoura e com alta toxicidade ao meio ambiente. Existem, no entanto, formas alternativas para o controle de invasoras, por meio de aleloquímicos presentes em algumas plantas, dentre elas, as medicinais. Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar as propriedades alelopáticas dos extratos das plantas medicinais Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. e Sambucus australis Cham. and Schltdl. em inibir a germinação de Bidens pilosa L., sem interferir na germinação de Glycine max L. Merrill. Os extratos foram obtidos triturando-se 200 g de folhas com 1 L de água destilada. As sementes foram mantidas em B.O.D. à temperatura de 25ºC, com fotoperíodo de 12h de luz. Nas condições em que foram realizados os experimentos, constatou-se que o extrato de capim-limão inibiu a germinação de picão-preto sem que este inibisse a germinação da soja, enquanto o extrato de sabugueiro inibiu a germinação de picão-preto e a germinação da soja. Assim, indica-se a utilização do capim-limão, como um herbicida natural para o picão-preto.

Defining Issues Test-2: fidedignidade da versão brasileira e ponderações acerca de seu uso em pesquisas sobre moralidade

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a fidedignidade da tradução e adaptação brasileira do Definig Issues Test (DIT) -2, assim como realizar algumas ponderações sobre a utilização desse instrumento e do DIT -1 em pesquisas sobre moralidade. Os testes DIT-1 e DIT-2 foram aplicados em 621 jovens brasileiros, proporcionalmente distribuídos conforme a cidade de procedência (Floriano/PI, Erechim/RS e Marília/SP), o tipo de escola (pública e particular) e o ano escolar freqüentado (8º ano do ensino fundamental e 3º ano do ensino médio). em relação à fidedignidade, notou-se que, apesar de os valores alcançados serem próximos àquele obtido na tradução e adaptação do DIT-1, revelam-se bem menores que os verificados nas versões originais americanas. Na verificação das pontuações alcançadas nos testes, foi observada a existência de tendências distintas no interior da amostra investigada, marcadas pelas variáveis controladas. Foram tecidas considerações sobre a validade e a interpretação desses testes.

High Verdet constant Ga : S : La : O chalcogenide glasses for magneto-optical devices

The magneto-optical rotation at room temperature was measured for three Ga:S:La:O chalcogenide glasses at several laser lines in the visible. The first sample was a binary system constituted by 70 mol % Ga2S3 and 30 mol % La2O3, whereas in the second and third ones the lanthanum oxide was partially substituted by lanthanum sulfide, keeping the amount of gallium sulfide fixed. A pulsed magnetic field between 50 and 80 kG was used for the Faraday rotation measurements. The Verdet constant for one of the ternary samples was found to be as high as 0.205 min G(-1) cm(-1) at 543 nm, indicating that these chalcogenide glasses are very promising for magneto-optical applications. The data for each sample were fitted using the expected analytical expression for the magneto-optical dispersion. Measurements of the refractive index of the glasses at 632.8 nm are also reported. Data on the magneto-optical properties of two high Verdet constant, heavy-metal oxide diamagnetic glasses are also included for comparison. (C) 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [S0091-3286(99)00102-6].

Rehydration and shrinkage behaviour of dried pineapple

The shrinking behavior, apparent densities and rehydration indexes of fresh and osmotically pre-treated pineapple slices during air-drying were obtained. The air drying velocity varied from 1.5 to 2.5 m/s and the air temperature from 40 to 70 degreesC. By means of automatic control, it was possible to obtain drying curves under conditions of constant product temperature. Volumetric shrinkage of fresh samples was temperature independent for drying at high air velocities but, at lower velocities, increased with decreasing drying temperature. Osmotically pre-treating the material resulted in reduced shrinkage, as well as drying with product temperature controlled, due to lower drying times needed that led to shorter high temperature exposition. Moisture dependence of apparent density was highly non-linear and could be fitted by an empirical model. Fresh sample rehydration indexes were higher than osmosed ones and increased with increasing temperature, except for pre-treated samples dried at 70 degreesC, probably due to superficial sugar caramelization, which reduced surface water permeability.

Oxidation of p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE in highly and long-term contaminated soil using Fenton reaction in a slurry system

The degradation of DDT [1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane] and DDE [2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene] in highly and long-term contaminated soil using Fenton reaction in a slurry system is studied in this work. The influence of the amount of soluble iron added to the slurry versus the mineral iron originally present in the soil, and the influence of H2O2 concentration on the degradation process are evaluated. The main iron mineral species encountered in the soil, hematite (Fe2O3), did not show catalytic activity in the decomposition of H2O2, resulting in low degradation of DDT (24%) and DDE (4%) after 6 h. The addition of soluble iron (3.0 mmol L-1) improves the reaction reaching 53% degradation of DDT and 46% of DDE. The increase in iron concentration from 3.0 to 24 mmol L-1 improves slightly the degradation rate of the contaminants. However, similar degradation percentages were obtained after 24 h of reaction. It was observed that low concentrations of H2O2 were sufficient to degrade around 50% of the DDT and DDE present in the soil, while higher degradation percentages were achieved only with high amounts of this reagent (1.1 mol L-1). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.