Determination of the anomeric configurations of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-D-mannopyranosyl azide

The structures of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl azide and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-mannopyranosyl azide were determined using X-ray crystallographic and one-dimensional NOESY techniques.

Synthesis and immunological evaluation of M protein targeted tetra-valent and tri-valent group A streptococcal vaccine candidates based on the lipid-core peptide system

Group A streptococcus (GAS) is responsible for causing many clinical complications including the relatively benign streptococcal pharyngitis and impetigo. However. if left untreated. these conditions may lead to more severe diseases such as rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). These diseases exhibit high morbidity and mortality, Particularly in developing countries and in indigenous populations of affluent countries. Only ever occur following GAS infection, a vaccine offers Promise for their Prevention. As stich, we have investigated the Use of the lipid-core peptide (LCP) system for the development of multi-valent Prophylactic GAS vaccines. The current study has investigated the capacity of this system to adjuvant LIP to four different GAS peptide epitopes. Presented are the synthesis and immunological assessment of tetra-valent and tri-valent GAS LCP systems. We demonstrated their capacity to elicit systemic IgG antibody responses in B10.BR mice to all GAS peptide epitopes. The data also showed that the LCP systems Were self-adjuvanting. These findings are particularly encouraging for the development of multi-valent LCP-based GAS vaccines.

A study of the electrical and optical properties of unhydrogenated neon-sputtered amorphous silicon

Films of amorphous silicon (a-Si) were prepared by r.f. sputtering in a Ne plasma without the addition of hydrogen or a halogen. The d.c. dark electrical conductivity, he optical gap and the photoconductivity of the films were investigated for a range of preparation conditions, the sputtering gas pressure, P, the target-substrate spacing, d, the self-bias voltage, Vsb, on the target and the substrate temperature, Ts. The dependence of the electrical and optical properties on these conditions showed that various combinations of P, d and Vsb, at a constant Ts, giving the same product (Pd/V sb) result in films with similar properties, provided that P, d and Vsb remain vithin a certain range. Variation of Pd/Vsb between about 0.2 and 0.8 rrTorr.cm!V varied the dark conductivity over about 4 orders of magnitude, the optical gap by 0.5 eV and the photoconductivity over 4-5 orders of magnitude. This is attributed to controlling the density-of-states distribution in the mobility gap. The temperature-dependence of photoconductivity and the photoresponse of undoped films are in support of this conclusion. Films prepared at relatively high (Pd/Vsb) values and Ts=300 ºc: exhibited low dark-conductivity and high thermal activation energy, optical gap and photoresponse, characteristic properties of a 'low density-of-states material. P-type doping with group-Ill elements (Al, B and Ga) by sputtering from a composite target or from a predoped target (B-.doped) was investigated. The systematic variation of room-temperature conductivity over many orders of magnitude and a Fermi-level shift of about 0.7 eV towards the valence-band edge suggest that substitutional doping had taken place. The effects of preparation conditions on doping efficiency were also investigated. The post-deposition annealing of undoped and doped films were studied for a temperature range from 250 ºC to 470 ºC. It was shown that annealing enhanced the doping efficiency considerably, although it had little effect on the basic material (a-Si) prepared at the optimum conditions (Pd/Vsb=0.8 mTorr.cm/V and Ts=300 $ºC). Preliminary experiments on devices imply potential applications of the present material, such as p-n and MS junctions.

TETRA mobile radios interfere with electroencephalography recording equipment

We observed an anomaly in the human electroencephalogram (EEG) associated with exposure to terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) Radiofrequency Fields (RF). Here, we characterize the time and frequency components of the anomaly and demonstrate that it is an artefact caused by TETRA RF interfering with the EEG recording equipment and not by any direct or indirect effect on the brain.

Acute Exposure to Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) has effects on the electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram, consistent with vagal nerve stimulation

BACKGROUND: Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) is a telecommunications system widely used by police and emergency services around the world. The Stewart Report on mobile telephony and health raised questions about possible health effects associated with TETRA signals. This study investigates possible effects of TETRA signals on the electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram in human volunteers. METHODS: Blinded randomized provocation study with a standardized TETRA signal or sham exposure. In the first of two experiments, police officers had a TETRA set placed first against the left temple and then the upper-left quadrant of the chest and the electroencephalogram was recorded during rest and active cognitive processing. In the second experiment, volunteers were subject to chest exposure of TETRA whilst their electroencephalogram and heart rate variability derived from the electrocardiogram were recorded. RESULTS: In the first experiment, we found that exposure to TETRA had consistent neurophysiological effects on the electroencephalogram, but only during chest exposure, in a pattern suggestive of vagal nerve stimulation. In the second experiment, we observed changes in heart rate variability during exposure to TETRA but the electroencephalogram effects were not replicated. CONCLUSIONS: Observed effects of exposure to TETRA signals on the electroencephalogram (first experiment) and electrocardiogram are consistent with vagal nerve stimulation in the chest by TETRA. However given the small effect on heart rate variability and the lack of consistency on the electroencephalogram, it seems unlikely that this will have a significant impact on health. Long-term monitoring of the health of the police force in relation to TETRA use is on-going.

Chlorofluorocarbons, helium, and neon measured on water bottle samples during POLARSTERN cruise ANT-XXII/2 (ISPOL)

During Ice Station POLarstern (ISPOL; R.V. Polarstern cruise ANT XXII/2, November 2004-January 2005), hydrographic and tracer observations were obtained in the western Weddell Sea while drifting closely in front of the Larsen Ice Shelf. These observations indicate recently formed Weddell Sea Bottom Water, which contains significant contributions of glacial melt water in its upper part, and High-Salinity Shelf Water in its lower layer. The formation of this bottom water cannot be related to the known sources in the south, the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf. We show that this bottom water is formed in the western Weddell Sea, most likely in interaction with the Larsen C Ice Shelf. By applying an Optimum Multiparameter Analysis (OMP) using temperature, salinity, and noble gas observations (helium isotopes and neon), we obtained mean glacial melt-water fractions of about 0.1% in the bottom water. On sections across the Weddell Gyre farther north, melt-water fractions are still on the order of 0.04%. Using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as age tracers, we deduced a mean transit time between the western source and the bottom water found on the slope toward the north (9±3 years). This transit time is larger and the inferred transport rate is small in comparison to previous findings. But accounting for a loss of the initially formed bottom water volume due to mixing and renewal of Weddell Sea Deep Water, a formation rate of 1.1±0.5 Sv in the western Weddell Sea is plausible. This implies a basal melt rate of 35±19 Gt/year or 0.35±0.19 m/year at the Larsen Ice Shelf. This bottom water is shallow enough that it could leave the Weddell Basin through the gaps in the South Scotia Ridge to supply Antarctic Bottom Water. These findings emphasize the role of the western Weddell Sea in deep- and bottom-water formation, particularly in view of changing environmental conditions due to climate variability, which might induce enhanced melting or even decay of ice shelves.

Methyl tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranuronate: crystal structure and influence on the crystallisation of the β anomer

Methyl tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranuronate (1) and methyl tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranuronate (3) were isolated as crystalline solids and their crystal structures were obtained. That of the β anomer (1) was the same as that reported by Root et al., while anomer (3) was found to crystallise in the orthorhombic space group P212121 with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. No other crystal forms were found for either compound upon recrystallisation from a range of solvents. The α anomer (3) was found to be an impurity in initially precipitated batches of β-anomer (1) in quantities <3%; however, it was possible to remove the α impurity either by recrystallisation or by efficient washing, i.e. the α anomer is not incorporated inside the β anomer crystals. The β anomer (1) was found to grow as prisms or needles elongated in the a crystallographic direction in the absence of the α impurity, while the presence of the α anomer (3) enhanced this elongation.

Ice rafted debris, tetra-unsaturated alkenone and reconstructed sea surface temperature in sediment of ODP Hole 104-642B

Abstract of paper will be inserted here...

Casa de embalagem de placas planas recicladas e tetra pak®: alternativa econômica e viável para a produção integrada de morango.

De acordo com Brasil (1997a, 1997b), as áreas de manipulação de alimento, como as Casas de embalagens de morango, devem atender a uma série de critérios. Os pisos devem ser de material resistente ao trânsito, impermeáveis, laváveis, antiderrapantes, não possuírem frestas e serem fáceis de limpar ou desinfetar. As superfícieis devem ser de material de fácil higienização. Atualmente, na região produtora de morango de Atibaia e Jarinu (SP), grande parte das Casas de embalagem convencionais são precárias, feitas somente de uma estrutura de madeira sem revestimento, coberta por folhas de Tetra Pak® e chão de terra-batida. Essas Casas não oferecem as condições mínimas de higiene previstas pelas Portarias mencionadas nem nas Normas Técnicas Específicas da Produção Integrada de Morango - NTE-PIMo (BRASIL, 2008), que estão sendo adotadas por um grupo de produtores da região. Devido ao fato do chão não ser lavável e as madeiras não receberem tratamento, as construções inadequadas podem se transformar em locais de propagação de patógenos, colocando em risco a segurança do morango embalado. No entanto, a falta de recursos financeiros dos pequenos produtores limita a compra de materiais ideais e de alto custo (aço inoxidável, por exemplo), a serem utilizados na construção. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma proposta de construção de uma Casa de embalagem simples, economicamente viável e que atenda minimamente às normas e portarias mencionadas, usando materiais de baixo custo e disponíveis na região.

Bioconcentration and elimination of endosulfan by yellow tetra fish under laboratory conditions.

1992

Neon Genesis Evangelion: un’analisi dei suoi adattamenti italiani, tra fallimenti e successi

In questo elaborato, diviso in quattro parti, verranno analizzati e paragonati alcuni degli adattamenti dell’opera Neon Genesis Evangelion, al fine di discuterne in maniera oggettiva dopo le controversie del 2019. Nella prima parte verrà presentata la serie originale Neon Genesis Evangelion e i suoi numerosi media derivati, per poi parlare della storia della serie in Italia e dei suoi adattamenti. Verrà inoltre fornito un breve riassunto della trama generale della serie originale. La seconda parte discuterà la metodologia affrontata per raccogliere i dati e per la loro successiva analisi. La terza parte discuterà dei risultati dell’analisi dividendoli in ampie sottocategorie e affrontandone le problematiche e le possibili risoluzioni. L’elaborato conclude con alcune considerazioni personali sull’analisi svolta.

Life cycle assessment (lca) of six separation methods of polyethylene and aluminum in tetra pak

In food and beverage industry, packaging plays a crucial role in protecting food and beverages and maintaining their organoleptic properties. Their disposal, unfortunately, is still difficult, mainly because there is a lack of economically viable systems for separating composite and multilayer materials. It is therefore necessary not only to increase research in this area, but also to set up pilot plants and implement these technologies on an industrial scale. LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) can fulfil these purposes. It allows an assessment of the potential environmental impacts associated with a product, service or process. The objective of this thesis work is to analyze the environmental performance of six separation methods, designed for separating the polymeric from the aluminum fraction in multilayered packaging. The first four methods utilize the chemical dissolution technique using Biodiesel, Cyclohexane, 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF) and Cyclopentyl-methyl-ether (CPME) as solvents. The last two applied the mechanical delamination technique with surfactant-activated water, using Ammonium laurate and Triethanolamine laurate as surfactants, respectively. For all six methods, the LCA methodology was applied and the corresponding models were built with the GaBi software version 10.6.2.9, specifically for LCA analyses. Unfortunately, due to a lack of data, it was not possible to obtain the results of the dissolution methods with the solvents 2-MeTHF and CPME; for the other methods, however, the individual environmental performances were calculated. Results revealed that the methods with the best environmental performance are method 2, for dissolution methods, and method 5, for delamination methods. This result is confirmed both by the analysis of normalized and weighted results and by the analysis of 'original' results. An hotspots analysis was also conducted.

Vascular Response Of Ruthenium Tetraamines In Aortic Ring From Normotensive Rats.

Background: Ruthenium (Ru) tetraamines are being increasingly used as nitric oxide (NO) carriers. In this context, pharmacological studies have become highly relevant to better understand the mechanism of action involved. Objective: To evaluate the vascular response of the tetraamines trans-[RuII(NH3)4(Py)(NO)]3+, trans-[RuII(Cl)(NO) (cyclan)](PF6)2, and trans-[RuII(NH3)4(4-acPy)(NO)]3+. Methods: Aortic rings were contracted with noradrenaline (10-6 M). After voltage stabilization, a single concentration (10-6 M) of the compounds was added to the assay medium. The responses were recorded during 120 min. Vascular integrity was assessed functionally using acetylcholine at 10-6 M and sodium nitroprusside at 10-6 M as well as by histological examination. Results: Histological analysis confirmed the presence or absence of endothelial cells in those tissues. All tetraamine complexes altered the contractile response induced by norepinephrine, resulting in increased tone followed by relaxation. In rings with endothelium, the inhibition of endothelial NO caused a reduction of the contractile effect caused by pyridine NO. No significant responses were observed in rings with endothelium after treatment with cyclan NO. In contrast, in rings without endothelium, the inhibition of guanylate cyclase significantly reduced the contractile response caused by the pyridine NO and cyclan NO complexes, and both complexes caused a relaxing effect. Conclusion: The results indicate that the vascular effect of the evaluated complexes involved a decrease in the vascular tone induced by norepinephrine (10-6 M) at the end of the incubation period in aortic rings with and without endothelium, indicating the slow release of NO from these complexes and suggesting that the ligands promoted chemical stability to the molecule. Moreover, we demonstrated that the association of Ru with NO is more stable when the ligands pyridine and cyclan are used in the formulation of the compound.Fundamento: As tetra-aminas de rutênio cada vez mais se destacam como carreadoras da molécula de óxido nítrico. Desse modo, estudos farmacológicos tornam-se altamente relevantes, afim de melhor compreender o mecanismo de ação envolvido. Objetivo: Avaliar a resposta vascular das tetra-aminas trans-[RuII(NH3)4(Py)(NO)]3+, trans-[RuII(Cl)(NO)(Cyclan)](PF6)2 e trans-[RuII(NH3)4(4-acPy)(NO)]3+. Métodos: Anéis de aorta foram pré-contraídos com noradrenalina (10-6M). Após estabilização da tensão, concentração única (10-6M) dos compostos foi adicionada ao banho de incubação. As respostas foram registradas ao longo de 120 minutos. A integridade vascular foi avaliada funcionalmente (acetilcolina 10-6M; nitroprussiato de sódio 10-6M) e histologicamente Resultados: A análise histológica confirmou a presença ou não de células endoteliais nos tecidos analisados. Todos os complexos alteraram a resposta contrátil induzida pela noradrenalina, resultando em aumento de tônus seguido de efeito relaxante. Em anéis com endotélio, a inibição do óxido nítrico endotelial causou redução do efeito contrátil da piridina óxido nítrico. Não foram observadas respostas significativas em anéis com endotélio referente ao composto cyclan óxido nítrico. Por outro lado, em anéis sem endotélio, a inibição da guanilato ciclase reduziu significativamente a resposta contrátil dos complexos piridina óxido nítrico e cyclan óxido nítrico, levando ambos os compostos a um efeito relaxante. Conclusão: Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o efeito vascular dos complexos avaliados apresentaram diminuição no tônus vascular induzido pela noradrenalina (10-6M) ao final do tempo de incubação, em anéis com e sem endotélio, indicando liberação lenta da molécula de óxido nítrico do composto estudado e sugerindo que os ligantes causaram estabilidade química à molécula. Demonstramos que a ligação rutênio óxido nítrico é mais estável quando utilizamos os ligantes piridina e cyclan para a formulação do composto.

Mechanisms of pigmentation loss in subterranean fishes

Troglobitic (exclusively subterranean) organisms usually present, among their apomorphies related to the subterranean life (troglomorphisms), the regression of eyes and melanic pigmentation. The degree of regression varies among species, from a slight reduction to the complete loss of eyes and dark pigmentation, without a taxonomic correlation. While mechanisms of eye reduction have been intensively investigated in some troglobites such as the Mexican blind tetra characins, genus Astyanax, and the European salamander, Proteus anguinus, few studies have focused on pigmentation. The Brazilian subterranean ichthyofauna distinguishes not only by the species richness (23 troglobitic fishes so far known) but also by the variation in the degree of reduction of eyes and pigmentation. This study focused on Brazilian fishes completely devoid of melanic pigmentation: the characiform Stygichthys typhlops (Characidae) and the siluriforms Ancistrus formoso (Loricariidae), Rhamdiopsis sp.1 (Heptapteridae; from caves in the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia) and Rhamdiopsis sp. 2 (cave in Campo Formoso, Bahia). In order to investigate if such depigmentation is the result of blockage in some step in the melanogenesis, in vitro tests of administration of L-DOPA were done, using caudal-fin fragments extracted from living fish. Except for Rhamdiopsis sp. 2, all the studied species were DOPA(+), i.e., melanin was synthesized after L-DOPA administration. This indicates these fish do have melanophores but they are unable to convert L-tyrosine to L-DOPA. On the other hand, Rhamdiopsis sp. 2, like the albino specimens of Trichomycterus itacarambiensis previously studied (which correspond to one third of the population), are DOPA(-), either because the block of melanin synthesis occurs downstream in melanogenesis, which is probably the case with T. itacarambiensis (monogenic system in view of the phenotypic discontinuity), or because the so-called albinos do no possess melanophores. The physiological loss in the ability to synthesize melanin, apparently caused by different genetic processes in DOPA(+) and in DOPA(-) fishes, may co-exist in subterranean populations with a decrease in the density of melanophores, as observed in the pigmented two thirds of T. itacarambiensis population, a morphological reduction apparently controlled by polygenic systems producing a continuous phenotypic variation.