Mutagenic and cytotoxic effect of planifolin: A naphthopyranone dimer isolated from Paepalanthus planifolius

A naphthopyranone dimer, named planifolin, was isolated from a methylene chloride extract of the capitula of Paepalanthus planifolius Koern. The molecule (C31H26O10) appeared to be made up of two monomeric portions, semi-vioxanthin and paepalantine (an isocoumarin), linked by an ether bond, and it may possess several kinds of biological activity that can be related to its polyphenolic structure. Short-term tests that detect genetic damage can afford the information needed to evaluate carcinogenic risks of chemicals to humans. The Ames test, recommended for testing the mutagenicity of chemical compounds with potential pharmacological application, was used in the present study. The mutagenic activity was evaluated in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100, TA98, TA102 and TA97a and the cytotoxic effect in McCoy cells. The in vitro cytotoxicity of planifolin to McCoy cells, tested in microculture with neutral red, showed a significant cytotoxic index (CI50) of 12.83 mu g/mL. Planifolin showed mutagenic activity for TA100, TA98 and TA97a. The results indicate that this new naphthopyranone dimer causes mutations by substitution and by addition and deletion of bases in the sequence of DNA. Moreover, its mutagenic potential was increased by metabolic activation. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rheological, Mechanical and Adhesive Properties of Surfactant-Containing Systems Designed as a Potential Platform for Topical Drug Delivery

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

A metafísica de Isaac Newton

The general objective of this dissertation is to analyze the metaphysical aspects of "rational mechanics" of Isaac Newton, clarifying, by scientific and philosophical discourse, their main elements, with emphasis to the presence of one entity infinitely rational behind all the phenomena of nature, and to the Newton's insight as certain empiricist which, however, accepts deductions metaphysics; a philosopher-scientist. The specific objectives are detailed below: a) brief presentation of the development of modern science, since the Pre-Socratics, seeking to understand the historical conjecture that enabled the rise of Newtonian mechanics; b) presentation of the elements of scientific methodology and philosophical, aimed at comprehension of certain "Newtonian methodology", understanding how this specific methodology able to present empirical aspects, mathematics, philosophic and religious in communion; c) to understand, from the Newtonian concepts, both concerning man's role in the world as the "notional notions" of mass, space, time and movement, necessary for analysis and understanding of certain metaphysical aspects in the Newtonian physics; d) to present the Newtonian concepts related to the ether, to understand why it necessarily assumes metaphysics characteristics and mediation between the bodies; e) to present and understand the factors that lead the empiricist Newton to assume the religion in his mechanics, as well as, the existence and functions of God in nature, to object to the higher content of his metaphysics; f) to highlight the metaphysical elements of his classical mechanics, that confirm the presence of concepts like God Creator and Preserver of the natural laws; g) at last, to analyze the importance of Newton to the modern metaphysics and the legacy to philosophy of science at sec. XVII to science contemporary

Valor nutritivo de fenos de moringa (moringa oleifera lam) com diferentes idades de corte

This study was conducted to evaluate the consumption and digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), total carbohydrates (TC), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in sheep fed hay moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam) obtained with four cutting ages (28, 35, 42 and 49 days). We used 20 females Morada Nova breed, with 20kg of live weight, distributed in a completely randomized design and maintained in metabolism cages. There was a negative linear effect of age of cutting on DM intake, with an estimated maximum consumption of 0.67 kg / day for the hay produced at 28 days of cutting. It was also observed linear behavior, with an estimated maximum consumption 172g/dia, 0.36 kg / day; 18g/dia, at 35, 42 and 49 days old, for CP, OM and EE, respectively. For NDF, quadratic effect was found with advancing maturity of the plant. The apparent digestibility of DM, CP, OM and TC linearly decreased with advancing age of cutting hay Moringa oleifera. It was concluded that the hay Moringa oleifera showed better nutritional value after 28 days of cutting

Optical and structural properties of PEO-like plasma polymers

This paper deals with the study of optical, structural and biocompatible properties of PEO-like plasma polymerized films resulting from RF excited diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (CH3O(CH2CH2O)(2)CH3 diglyme) glow discharges. The study was carried out using visible-ultraviolet and FTIR spectroscopies and contact angle measurements. FTIR spectra of plasma polymerized diglyme showed a stronger presence of ethylene glycol groups in film structure for lower RF power levels. The contact angle measurements for water revealed an increasing from 30degrees to 62,5degrees when the RF power was varied from 2 to 45 W, indicating the decreasing of the hydrophilic character of diglyme films with the increasing of RF power. This trend is in agreement with FTIR results. The data from visible-ultraviolet reflectance and transmittance spectra revealed alterations on optical properties of plasma polymerized diglyme films. The film's optical gap varied from 3.8 to 3 eV for RF power running from 5 to 45 W.

Polyurethane coating with thin polymer films produced by plasma polymerization of diglyme

Aqueous-based polyurethane dispersions have been widely utilized as lubricants in textile, shoes, automotive, biomaterial and many other industries because they are less aggressive to surrounding environment. In this work thin films with different thickness were deposited on biocompatible polyurethane by plasma polymerization process using diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (Diglyme) as monomer. Molecular structure of the films was analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. The spectra exhibited absorption bands of O-H (3500-3200cm(-1)), C-H (3000-2900cm(-1)), C=O (1730-1650cm(-1)), C-O and C-O-C bonds at 1200-1600cm(-1). The samples wettability was evaluated by measurements of contact angle using different liquids such as water, glycerol, poly-ethane and CMC. The polyurethane surface showed hydrophilic behavior after diglyme plasma-deposition with contact angle dropping from 85(0) to 22(0). Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed that diglyme films covered uniformly the polyurethane surfaces ensuring to it a biocompatible characteristic.

Dielectric spectroscopy and thermally stimulated discharge current in PEEK film

A permissividade complexa de filmes de poli(eter-eter-cetona) (PEEK) foram investigados num grande intervalo de frequência. Não foram observados picos de relaxação no intervalo de frequência de 1,0 Hz a 10(5) Hz, mas no intervalo de baixa frequência (10-4 Hz) há uma evidência de pico, o qual também pode ser observado com medidas de corrente de despolarização termo-estimulada (TSDC). Este pico está relacionado com a transição vítrea do polímero. A energia de ativação relacionada a esta relaxação dipolar foi obtida e ovalor é Ea = 0,44 eV, que é similar à energia de ativação de muitos polímeros sintéticos. As cargas espaciais se mostraram importantes no mecanismo de condução como evidenciado nas medidas da corrente de despolarização.

Avaliações térmica e reológica da matriz termoplástica PEKK utilizada em compósitos aeronáuticos

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

Durability of adhesives based on different epoxy/aliphatic amine networks

The mechanical and adhesives properties of epoxy formulations based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A cured with various aliphatic amines were evaluated in the glass state. Impact tests were used to determine the impact energy. The adhesive properties have been evaluated in terms single lap shear using steel adherends. Its durability in water at ambient temperature (24 degrees C) and at 80 degrees C has also been analyzed. The fracture mechanisms were determined by optical microscopy. It was observed a strong participation of the cohesive fracture mechanisms in all epoxy system studied. The 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine epoxy adhesive and piperidine epoxy adhesive presents the best adhesive strength and the largest impact energy. The durability in water causes less damage to piperidine epoxy networks. This behavior appears to be associated with the lower water uptake tendency of homopolymerised resins due to its lower hydroxyl group concentration. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dynamic mechanical properties for polyurethane elastomers applied in elastomeric mortar

Dynamic mechanical properties of a polyurethane (PU) elastomer and a mortar processed with the same elastomer (modified polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG)) were studied. The results obtained showed that the liquid aromatic amine ETHACURE (R) 300, used as cure agent, can be used to substitute the aromatic amine MOCA (R), which is usually used as cure agent in high performance elastomers. The resulting mortar produced with ETHACURE (R) 300 presents similar dynamic-mechanical thermal properties when compared with MOCA (R). However, dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis studies showed that the mortar developed with ETHACURE (R) 300 presents some advantages such as the low values of tan d, indicating a good capacity of recovery of the strain after retreating an applied force. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012

Substituição do milho e farelo de algodão pelo milheto no concentrado da dieta de novilhos em confinamento

Objetivou-se identificar possíveis efeitos da substituição do milho e do farelo de algodão por milheto na digestibilidade dos nutrientes da dieta e no desempenho de bovinos em confinamento. As dietas, com relação volumoso:concentrado 65:35, foram compostas de silagens de milho e milheto como volumoso (50:50, com base na matéria natural) e cinco níveis de milheto em substituição ao milho e ao farelo de algodão (0; 23; 49; 80 e 96% da matéria natural) no concentrado. O delineamento de blocos ao acaso foi adotado em ambos os experimentos. Utilizaram-se cinco repetições no estudo de desempenho e quatro na avaliação do consumo e da digestibilidade in vivo. O consumo de matéria seca (MS) expresso em porcentagem do peso vivo (PV) e g/kgPV0,75, diminuiu linearmente com a introdução de milheto na dieta, registrando-se 2,91% e 108,5 g e, 2,5% e 92,53 g para dietas exclusivas de milho e milheto, respectivamente. As digestibilidades de MS, proteína bruta e carboidratos totais não foram afetadas, enquanto a digestibilidade do extrato etéreo diminuiu e a de fibra aumentou linearmente sem afetar os teores de nutrientes digestíveis totais. O ganho de peso vivo diário, o consumo de MS e a conversão alimentar também não foram afetados pela adição de milheto, portanto, é possível substituir o milho e o farelo de algodão por milheto em rações para bovinos em confinamento.

Pyroelectric composite film for X-ray intensity detection

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

Photopyroelectric response of PTCa/PEEK composite

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

Sistema microemulsionado: caracterização e aplicação na indústria de petróleo

Alkyl polyethoxylates are surfactants widely used in vastly different fields, from oil exploitation to pharmaceutical applications. One of the most interesting characteristics of these surfactants is their ability to form micellar systems with specific geometry, the so-called wormlike micelle. In this work, microemulsions with three distinct compositions (C/T = 40 %, 30 % and 25 %) was used with contain UNITOL / butanol / water / xylene, cosurfactant / surfactante (C/S) ratio equal to 0,5. The microemulsion was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), capillary viscometry, torque rheometry and surface tensiometry experiments carried out with systems based on xylene, water, butanol (cosurfactant) and nonaethyleneglycolmonododecyl ether (surfactant), with fixed surfactant:cosurfactant:oil composition (with and without oil phase) and varying the overall concentration of the microemulsion. The results showed that a transition from wormlike micelles to nanodrops was characterized by maximum relative viscosity (depending on how relative viscosity was defined), which was connected to maximum effective diameter, determined by DLS. Surface tension suggested that adsorption at the air water interface had a Langmuir character and that the limiting value of the surfactant surface excess was independent of the presence of cosurfactant and xylene. The results of the solubilization of oil sludge and oil recovery with the microemulsion: C/S = 40%, 30% and 25% proved to be quite effective in solubilization of oil sludge, with the percentage of solubilization (%solubilization) as high as 92.37% and enhanced oil recovery rates up to 90.22% for the point with the highest concentration of active material (surfactant), that is, 40%.

Evaluation of Hemodynamic, Metabolic, and Electrolytic Changes After Graft Reperfusion in a Porcine Model of Intestinal Transplantation

Background. We sought to establish an anesthetic protocol to evaluate the hemodynamic, metabolic, and electrolytic changes after graft reperfusion in pigs undergoing orthotopic intestinal transplant (ITX).Methods. Fifteen pigs were distributed into two groups: GI (n = 6), without immunosuppression, and GII (n = 9), immunosuppressed before surgery with tacrolimus (0.3 mg/kg). The animals were premedicated at 1 hour before surgery with IM acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg), morphine (0.4 mg/kg), ketamine (10 mg/kg), and atropine (0.044 mg/kg IM). Anesthesia induction used equal proportions of diazepam and ketamine (0.1-0.15 mL/kg/IV) and for maintenance in IV infusion of xylazine (1 mg/mL), ketamine (2 mg/mL), and guaiacol glyceryl ether 5% (50 mg/mL), diluted in 250 mL of 5% glucose solution. In addition, recipient pigs were treated with isofluorane inhalation. Heart rate (HR), systolic (SAP), mean (MAP), and diastolic (DAP) arterial pressure, pulse oximetry, respiratory frequency (f), capnography, body temperature (T), blood gas analysis (pH, PaCO(2), PaO(2), base excess, BE; HCO(3)(-), SatO(2)), serum potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium, hematocrit (Hct), and glucose (Glu) were measured at four times; MO: after incision (basal value); M1: 10 minutes before reperfusion; and M2 and M3: 10 and 20 minutes after graft reperfusion.Results. All groups behaved in a similar pattern. There was significant hypotension after graft reperfusion in GI and GII (M2 = 56.2 +/- 6.4 and M3 = 57.2 +/- 8.3 mm Hg and M2 = 65.7 +/- 10.2 and M3 = 67.8 +/- 16.8 mm Hg, respectively), accompanied by elevated HR. The ETCO(2) was elevated at M2 (42 mm Hg) and M3 (40 mm Hg). Metabolic acidosis was observed after reperfusion, with significant increase in K levels.Conclusion. The anesthetic protocol for donors and recipients was safe to perform the procedure, allowing control of hemodynamic and metabolic changes after reperfusion without differences regarding immunosuppression.