Biochemical and biological evaluation of gyroxin isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom

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

Scaling-Up of Dental Pulp Stem Cells Isolated from Multiple Niches

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

Molecular and functional characterization of a new non-hemorrhagic metalloprotease from Bothrops jararacussu snake venom with antiplatelet activity

BjussuMP-II is an acidic low molecular weight metalloprotease (Mr similar to 24,000 and pI similar to 6.5), isolated from Bothrops jararacussu snake venom. The chromatographic profile in RP-HPLC and its N-terminal sequence confirmed its high purity level. Its complete cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR and the 615 bp codified for a mature protein of 205 amino acid residues. The multiple alignment of its deduced amino acid sequence and those of other snake venom metalloproteases showed a high structural similarity, mainly among class P-I proteases. The molecular modeling analysis of BjussuMP-II showed also conserved structural features with other SVMPs. BjussuMP-II did not induce hemorrhage, myotoxicity and lethality, but displayed dose-dependent proteolytic activity on fibrinogen, collagen, fibrin, casein and gelatin, keeping stable at different pHs, temperatures and presence of several divalent ions. BjussuMP-II did not show any clotting or anticoagulant activity on human citrated plasma, in contrast to its inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation. The aspects broached, in this work, provide data on the relationship between structure and function, in order to better understand the effects elicited by snake venom metalloproteases. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cromatografia gasosa ultrarrápida: uma visão geral sobre parâmetros, instrumentação e aplicações

Since the introduction of GC there has been an ongoing interest in reducing time of analysis resulting in new terms and definitions such as ultra fast gas chromatography (UF-GC). One of the most used definitions describes UF-GC as a technique that combines the employment of short narrow bore column with very fast temperature programming rates producing chromatographic peaks in the range of 50 ms and allowing separations times in 1-2 min or less. This paper summarizes the analytical approaches, the main parameters involved and the instrumentation towards UF-GC.

Avaliação da limpeza de CDtrodo construídos a partir de CD de ouro gravável/fita adesiva de galvanoplastia

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

Scandium fluorophosphate glasses: a structural approach

A systematic investigation on glass formation in the ternary system InF3-BaF2-[Sc(PO3)(3)](n) has been carried out. Scandium polyphosphate [Sc(PO3)(3)](n) has been used as a third component in order to investigate the possibilities of obtaining new stable glasses. The above long-chain polyphosphate has been prepared using a specially elaborated cryo-technique, which allowed the preparation of high-purity product. Stable ternary compositions have been obtained within the compositions range (in mol%): 5-75 InF3, 0-80% BaF2, 0-50% [Sc(PO3)(3)](n). Glasses were characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry, vibrational spectroscopy (Raman) and P-31 NMR. Structural features for the glass were put forward. Isolated P(O,F)4 groups or fluoroindated metaphosphate units could be identified depending on glass compositions. (C) 2002 Academie des sciences / Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.

Evaluation of Ir, Ru, and W as permanent modifiers for the simultaneous determination of As, Bi, Pb, Sb, and Se in natural water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Iridium-, Ru-, and W-coated platforms were prepared by thermal treatment of the transversely heated graphite atomizer and investigated for the simultaneous determination of As, Bi, Pb, Sb, and Se in tap water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The maximum pyrolysis temperature for As and Bi increased in a modifier sequence W < Ru < Ir. For Pb, Sb, and Se, this sequence was W < Ru, It. Calculated characteristic masses in the presence of It, Ru, and W were 35, 33, and 35 pg for As; 63, 51, and 52 pg for Bi; 50, 32, and 34 pg for Pb; 40, 35, and 31 pg for Sb; and 39, 39, and 93 pg for Se, respectively. Ruthenium was elected as the optimum modifier.Repeatability of the measurements was typically < 6%. Recoveries of As, Bi, Pb, Sb, and Se added to tap water samples varied from 79 to 109%. Accuracy was also checked by analysis of five certified reference materials (CRMs) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST1640 - Trace Elements in Natural Water; NIST 1643d Trace Elements in Water) and High Purity Standards (Trace Metals in Drinking Water Standards, lots #812708, #591107, and #710710). A paired t-test showed that the results for the CRMs were in agreement at the 95% confidence level with the certified values. The graphite tube lifetime was about 650 firings. multi-element determination is particularly challenging due to the necessity of carefully optimizing compromise conditions.Based on the considerations listed above, the aim of this paper was to evaluate the behavior of Ir, Ru, and W as permanent modifiers for the simultaneous determination of As, Bi, Pb, Sb, and Se. The performance of the proposed procedure was also verified after the ETAAS analysis of tap waters and reference materials.

Extraction and exchange behavior of metal species in therapeutically applied peat

The binding and availability of metals (Al, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) in therapeutically applied peat (GroBes Gifhorner Moor, Sassenburg/North Germany) was characterized by means of a versatile extraction approach. Aqueous extracts of peat were obtained by a standardized batch equilibrium procedure using high-purity water (pH 4.5 and 5.0), 0.01 mol l(-1) calcium chloride solution, 0.0 1 mol l(-1) ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and 0.01 mol l(-1) diethylenetriarnine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) solution as metal extractants. In addition, the availability of peat-bound metal species was kinetically studied by collecting aliquots of extracts after different periods of extraction time (5, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min). Metal determinations were performed by atomic spectrometry methods (AAS, ICP-OES) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) was characterized by UV/Vis measurements at 254 and 436 nm, respectively. of the extractants studied Ca, Mg and Mn were the most available metals, in contrast to peat-bound Fe and Al. The relative standard deviation s(r) of the developed extraction procedures was mostly in the range of 4 to 20%, depending on the metal and its concentration in peat. A pH increase favored the extraction of metals and DOM from peat revealing complex extraction kinetics. Moreover, a competitive exchange between peat-bound metal species and added Cu(II) ions showed that > 100 mg of Cu(II) per 50 g wet peat was necessary to exchange the maximum of bound metals (e.g. 21.8% of Al, 3.9% of Fe, 79.0% of Mn, 81.9% of Sr, related to their total content). (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT ON CU-AL-AG ALLOYS IN DEAERATED 0.5M NAOH

The effect of consecutive cyclic polarization in de-aerated 0.5 M NaOH solutions on the surface microstructure of mechanically polished Cu-Al-Ag alloys of different compositions and heat treatments has been studied using optical microscopy, SEM and EDS. The current peaks of the cyclic polarization curves do not depend on the alloy composition in the composition range studied. The repetitive potential scans between H2 and O2 evolution in alkaline media lead to preferential dissolution of aluminium, the roughness and phase composition of the surface of the alloys changing significantly. The quasistationary I-E curves of the different Cu-Al-Ag alloys studied consist in the superposition of the quasistationary I-E curves of high-purity Cu and Ag, the EDS microanalysis showing that aluminium is not present on the surface of the alloy in these conditions.

Structural and electrical characterization of semiconducting barium-lead-titanate ceramics

BaTiO3 is usually doped to achieve the temperature stability required by device applications, as well as to obtain a large positive temperature coefficient anomaly of resistivity (PTCR). Uniform distribution of dopants among the submicron dielectric particles is the key for optimal control of grain size and microstructure to maintain a high reliability. The system Ba0.84Pb0.16TiO3 was synthesized from high purity BaCO3, TiO2, PbO oxide powders as raw materials. Sb2O3, MnSO4 and ZnO were used as dopants and Al2O3, TiO2 and SiO2 as grain growth controllers. Phase composition was analyzed by using XRD and the microstructure was investigated by SEM. EDS attached to SEM was used to analyze phase composition specially related to abnormal grain growth. Electrical resistivities were measured as a function of temperature and the PTCR effect characterized by an abrupt increase on resistivity.

Wet-chemical synthesis of magnesium niobate nanoparticles powders

Nanosized and highly reactive magnesium mobate (MgNb2O6) powders were successfully synthesized by a new wet-chemical method by means of the dissolution of Nb2O5 center dot 5H(2)O and in a solution of oxalic acid followed by the addition of stoichiometric amounts of magnesium carbonate. The Nb-Mg-oxalic acid solution was evaporated resulting in a dry and amorphous powder that was calcined in the temperature range from 200 to 900 degrees C for 2 h. The crystallization process from the amorphous state to the crystalline MgNb2O6 was followed by thermal analysis. The calcined powders characterized by FT-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and their morphology examined by high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM). Pure MgNb2O6, free from the second phases and obtained at 800 degrees C was confirmed by a combined analysis using XRD and FT-Raman. The average diameter of the particles was calculated from the HR-SEM image as 70 urn approximately. This technique allows a better mixing of the constituent elements and thus a better reactivity of the mixture to obtain pre-reaction products with high purity at lower temperatures and reducing cost. It can offer a great advantage in the PMN-PT formation with respect to the solid-state synthesis. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Determination of low-aliphatic aldehydes indoors by micellar electrokinetic chromatography using sample dissolution manipulation for signal enhancement

This work describes a novel approach for the analysis of selected aldehydes (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and acrolein) and acetone in environmental samples using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). The method is based on the reaction of carbonyl compounds with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazoline hydrazone (MBTH) that gives an azine intermediate with maximum absorbance at 216 nm. A systematic evaluation of sample dissolution medium was conducted as a means to enhancing sensitivity. In the best condition, samples were dissolved in 0.030 mol.L-1 tetraborate solution. This condition presented enhancement factors in the range of 35-54 for the aldehydes under investigation, computed as the improvement of the concentration limits of detection (LODs) with reference to the sample dissolved in pure water. The running buffer was 0.020 mol.L-1 tetraborate, pH 9.3, containing 0.050 mol-L-1 sodium dodecyly sulfate (SIDS). The overall methodology presented several advantages over established methods for aldehydes. Worthy mentioning that MBTH is available in high purity degree, dispensing laborious reagent purification procedures. A few method validation parameters were determined revealing good migration time repeatability (< 2.5% coefficient of variation, CV) and area repeatability (< 4% CV), excellent linearity (20-120 mug/L, r > 0.995) and adequate sensitivity for environmental applications. The LODs with respect to each single aldehyde were in the range of 0.54-4.0 mug.L-1 and 11 mug.L-1 for acetone. The methodology was applied to the determination of aldehydes indoors. Samples were collected in an impinger flask containing 0.05% MBTH solution, at a flow rate of 0.80 L.min(-1), during 2.5 h, at different times during the day. The most abundant carbonyls in the samples were acetone, followed by formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, with estimate peak concentrations of 452, 5.2 and 2.2 ppbv, respectively.

New glasses in the system InF3-BaF2-ErPO4

New glasses have been obtained in the system InF3-BaF2-ErPO4. Glass compositions with up to 30% mol Er3+ were shown to exist and characterized by thermal analysis, x-ray: diffraction, IR absorption and electronic spectroscopy. The systems with high Er3+ content were studied recording IR and visible emission spectral characteristics. A specially elaborated technique allowed the preparation of a high purity phosphate precursor ErPO4. X-ray identification of the crystalline phases appearing during thermal treatment have been carried out and parameters of a mixed fluoride Ba4In3-nErnF17 calculated.

Microstructured chalcogenide optical fibers from As2S3 glass: towards new IR broadband sources

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

Influence of the heat treatment in the electrochemical corrosion of Al-Zn-Mg alloys

The localized corrosion of Al-(5.03%)Zn-(1.67%)Mg-(0.23%)Cu alloys and high purity Al has been studied using electrochemical techniques, optical microscopy, SEM and EDX. The samples were previously submitted to different heat treatments in which coherent and incoherent MgZn 2 precipitates with different distribution and aggregation degree were produced. The influence of NaCl and Na 2SO 4, dissolved oxygen, immersion time and convection were studied. In NaCl solutions, pitting potentials for the alloys were more negative than for aluminium, indicating an increase in their susceptibility to localized corrosion. Moreover, annealed and cold-rolled alloys presented more negative pitting and repassivation potentials than those submitted to age hardening with direct or interrupted quenching. In annealed and cold-rolled samples, pit nucleation and propagation takes place in the zones where MgZn 2 is accumulated. In the case of the age-hardened alloys, a double pitting behaviour is observed, the first one in the magnesium and zinc enriched regions and the second in the matrix. While the cold water quenched alloy is susceptible to stress corrosion craking, the alloy submitted to the interrupted quenching process is less susceptible to intergranular attack. The sulphate ion shifts the pitting potential of aluminium and the alloys by chloride towards more positive values because it impedes local accumulations of the latter. © 1992 Chapman & Hall.