O ARMAZENAMENTO REFRIGERADO PROLONGA A VIABILIDADE DE SEMENTES DE GOIABEIRA-SERRANA

RESUMO Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a viabilidade e o vigor das sementes de dois genótipos de Acca sellowiana sob diferentes condições e tempos de armazenamento. As sementes foram obtidas a partir de duas plantas (G1 e G2) localizadas em quintais da área urbana de Vacaria-RS. O experimento foi realizado em esquema trifatorial (2 x 3 x 2), sendo duas condições de armazenamento (temperatura ambiente: 20-25ºC; e refrigerado: 4-8ºC), três períodos de armazenamento (zero, um e dois anos), e dois genótipos (G1 e G2), conduzidos em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições de 50 sementes. As sementes foram postas para germinar sobre papel absorvente umedecido em caixas tipo “gerbox”, mantidas em câmara de crescimento com temperatura de 25 ± 2 °C e fotoperíodo de 16 h. Avaliaram-se o índice de velocidade de germinação, a porcentagem de germinação e o tempo médio de germinação, por meio da contagem de sementes germinadas a cada dois dias, por 44 dias após o início da germinação. Os genótipos apresentaram desempenhos significativamente diferentes na taxa germinativa e no vigor das sementes. Quando armazenadas em temperatura ambiente, as sementes perderam o poder germinativo drasticamente no primeiro ano e completamente no segundo ano. Conclui-se que é possível manter 80% de poder germinativo das sementes de Acca sellowiana por dois anos em armazenamento refrigerado (4 a 8 ºC).

Otimização da dose em exames de rotina em tomografia computadorizada: estudo de viabilidade em um Hospital Universitário

OBJETIVO: Estudar a viabilidade de redução da dose de radiação em protocolos de aquisição de imagens de tomografia helicoidal em um hospital universitário. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foi realizado levantamento de dose de radiação de protocolos de tomografia com objetos simuladores e câmara de ionização. Foram propostas variações de kVp e mAs, determinando-se a média de ruído. Protocolos com valores de ruído menores ou iguais a 1% foram submetidos à avaliação qualitativa de contraste e resolução espacial por três observadores. RESULTADOS: Foram realizados 22 testes de variações para o protocolo de crânio pediátrico, 26 para crânio adulto, 28 para abdome e 18 para tórax. A redução da dose conseguida variou entre 7,4-13% para protocolo de crânio pediátrico, 3,8-25% para crânio adulto, 9,6-34,3% para abdome e 6,4-12% para tórax. Notou-se também que a utilização de ferramentas de janelamento e zoom favoreceu o aceite das imagens pelos observadores. CONCLUSÃO: É possível reduzir os níveis de dose de radiação em até 34,4%, comparativamente aos protocolos utilizados na rotina, mantendo-se o ruído em níveis aceitáveis. O uso de ferramentas de manipulação digital das imagens possibilitou a aceitação de imagens com níveis maiores de ruído, favorecendo o processo de redução de dose de radiação.

Estudos de QSAR baseados em dados de atividade biológica obtidos por microcalorimetria: III interação de m-alcoxifenóis e p-hidroxibenzoatos de alquila com Escherichia coli

QSAR studies based on flow microcalorimetric bioassay data for interaction of homologous series of m-alkoxyphenols and p-hydroxybenzoates with E. coli cells were carried out applying factorial design. Results for both series showed a linear relationship between log(dose)max and log Po/w. Analysis of these data allows the identification of contributions toward the derived bioactivity from the parent structures (the molecule minus n-CH2 groups present in the side-chain) and the lipophilic groups, CH2. These results are discussed with respect to drug quantitative structure-relationship.

A técnica de dispersão de taylor para estudos de difusão em líquidos e suas aplicações

This paper describes the theoretical basis and the experimental requirements for the application of the Taylor dispersion technique for measurements of diffusion coefficients in liquids, emphasizing its simplicity and accuracy in comparison to other usual techniques. Some examples are discussed describing the use of this methodology on studies of solute-solvent interactions, solute aggregation, solute partitioning into macromolecular systems and on the assessment of nanoparticles sizes.

Utilização de eletrodos potenciométricos de amálgama em estudos de complexação de substâncias húmicas

Potentiometric amalgam electrodes of lead, cadmium, and zinc are proposed to study the complexation properties of commercial and river sediment humic acids. The copper complexation properties of both humic acids were studied in parallel using the solid membrane copper ion-selective electrode (Cu-ISE). The complexing capacity and the averaged conditional stability constants were determined at pH 6.00 ± 0.05 in medium of 2x10-2 mol L-1 sodium nitrate, using the Scatchard method. The lead and cadmium amalgam electrodes presented a Nernstian behavior from 1x10-5 to 1x10-3 moles L-1 of total metal concentration, permitting to perform the complexation studies using humic acid concentrations around of 20 to 30 mg L-1, that avoids colloidal aggregation. The zinc amalgam electrode showed a subnernstian linear response in the same range of metal concentrations. The Scatchard graphs for both humic acids suggested two classes of binding sites for lead and copper and one class of binding site for zinc and cadmium.

Estudos da eletrodeposição de metais em regime de subtensão

This work reviews recent studies of underpotential deposition (UPD) of several metals on Pt and Au substrates performed in the Grupo de Materiais Eletroquímicos e Métodos Eletroanalíticos (IQSC -- USP, São Carlos). The UPD Cu, Cd and Pb on Pt were analysed in terms of their influence in the oxygen evolution reaction. Partial blockage of surface active sites, promoted by Pb ad-atoms, resulted in a change from water to hydrogen peroxide as the final product. The Ag UPD on Pt and Au substrates was also discussed in this work. A detailed model of charge calculation for Ag monolayer was developed and confirmed by the rotating ring-disk data. The partial charge transfer in UPD studies was analysed in the Cd/Pt and Cd/Au systems and a value of 0.5 was found for the adsorption electrovalence of Cd ad-ions. The Sn/Pt UPD systems were studied from the point of view of the valences of metallic ions in solution. The deposition from Sn(IV) generates a full monolayer with a maximum occupation of approximately 40% of the surface active sites (340 µC cm-2) plus 105 µC cm-2 of Hads (half monolayer). Changing the metallic ion for Sn(II), it was possible to deposit a full monolayer (210 µC cm-2) without any detectable Hads. Finally, the effect of anions was discussed in the Zn/Pt and Zn/Au systems. Here, the hydrogen evolution reaction (her) and the hydrogen adsorption/desorption were used in order to investigate the maximum coverage of the surface with Zn ad-atoms. The full monolayer, characterised by the complete absence of Hads, was achieved only in 0.5 M HF solutions.

Principais avanços e perspectivas na área de produtos naturais ativos: estudos desenvolvidos no NIQFAR/UNIVALI

This work describes the more promising chemical and pharmacological or biological results obtained with some selected Brazilian medicinal plants, which has been conducted at Núcleo de Investigações Químico-Farmacêuticas (NIQFAR)/UNIVALI in the last five years. It was found that several phytoconstituents exhibit different activities, such as antispasmodic, antiallergic, analgesic, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral. Some of them were more potent than some well-known standard drugs used clinically.

Acoplamento cromatografia gasosa - espectrometria de absorção atômica em estudos de especiação: uma revisão

This review presents an updated overview of the trace element speciation by gas chromatography coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry.

Estudos da deposição em subtensão de cádmio sobre ouro policristalino na presença de diferentes ânions co-adsorvidos

Cadmium UPD on Au was studied by voltammetric and microgravimetric measurements. In the oxide formation/reduction potential region, a mass increasing/decreasing of 32 ng cm-2 was associated to incorporation/elimination of one oxygen per active site. The modifications promoted in the voltammetric and mass profiles by 10-5 M Cd(ClO4)2 are restricted to potentials more negative than 0.4 V. After a 120 s potential delay at 0.05 V, the positive sweep reveals an anodic peak with charge of 40 muC cm-2 and mass decrease of 22 ng cm-2, associated to Cd ads dissolution. Sulphate or chloride was added to the solution without significant influence, due to the low coverage with Cd or anions.

Plantas medicinais: a necessidade de estudos multidisciplinares

This paper presents a program emphasizing ethnopharmacological approaches that could allow great success in the study of medicinal plants. The minimum ethnopharmacological research team should consist of a botanist, a chemist and a pharmacologist with each carrying the responsibility for answering in sequential fashion critical questions. The chemical composition and pharmacological properties of the very efficient medicinal plant Croton cajucara were investigated according to ethnopharmacological approaches. The study with this Croton proved to be both efficient and successful. This happy situation was only possible because a multidisciplinary team was involved getting the research done correctly. The ethnopharmacological study involving one other especies Copaifera will be cited.

Estudos de proteção da célula de saccharomyces cerevisiae para utilização em reações de redução em meio orgânico

New methodologies for protection of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (FP) cells when supported in montmorillonite K10 (K10), recovered or not with gelatin (G) and in the presence or absence of sucrose (S) are presented. These systems were used for the enantioselective reduction of ethyl acetoacetate and a-chloroacetophenone in hexane, under FP/K10/G/S and FP/S at 20ºC during 24 hours, affording S-(+)-ethyl-3-hydroxybutanoate in 100% conversion and 99% ee, and R-(-)-2-chloro-1-phenylethanol 79% and 78% ee at 20 and 30 ºC, respectivelly.

Aplicação da espectroscopia de ressonância magnética nuclear para estudos de difusão molecular em líquidos: a técnica DOSY

Diffusion coefficients provide uniquely detailed and easily interpreted information on molecular organization and phase structure. They are quite sensitive to structural changes, and to binding and association phenomena, in particular for liquid colloidal or macromolecular systems. This paper describes the principles of diffusion measurements in liquids by pulsed magnetic field gradient spin-echo (PFG-SE) NMR spectroscopy. The important PFG-SE technique known as DOSY is presented and discussed. This is a noninvasive technique that can provide individual multicomponent translational diffusion coefficients with good precision in a few minutes, without the need for radioactive isotopic labelling.