Electrochemical procedures have emerged as a powerful tool for the synthesis of complex organic molecules including transformation of natural products. In this study, the electrosynthesis of biseugenol in MeOH afforded one new oxidized derivative, which was characterized as methoxyl-oxo-biseugenol (MOB) by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-HRMS) analysis. Since biseugenol was previously described as a cytotoxic natural product, MOB was also tested against tumoral cells B16F10-Nex2 (murine metastatic melanoma) and SKMEL-25 (human metastatic melanoma) as well as against non-tumoral cells MØ Raw 264.7 (murine macrophage immortalized) and HUVEC (human umbilical endothelium). As results, MOB showed inhibitory concentration that affects 50% of cells (IC50) values of 9.5 ± 1.6 mg mL-1(B16F10Nex2), 13.2 ± 2.5 mg mL-1 (SKMEL-25), 19.9 ± 3.5 mg mL-1 (MØ Raw 264.7) and 36.3 ± 7.4 mg mL-1 (HUVEC). Therefore, selectivity index (SI) values of MOB to tumoral cells B16F10Nex2 and SKMEL-25 were calculated as 2.1 and 2.8, respectively, higher than biseugenol (1.4 and 1.7, respectively). Based on these results, the superior cytotoxic activity of MOB in comparison to biseugenol could be associated, at least in part, to the presence of a non-aromatic ring and a conjugated carbonyl system instead of a phenol moiety.

Abstract Ground Penetrating Radar is a complex nondestructive evaluation technique where the antenna is the most critical part. The antenna is responsible for transmission and reception of waves at the proper level and frequencies defined in the GPR system specifications. Important GPR features such as resolution and penetration depth depend on its characteristics. In this context, this work outlines the fundamental GPR system theory in order to discuss procedures for improving antennas to GPR applications. Additionally, recent works regarding GPR antenna optimization are reviewed and placed in the context of a framework for GPR antenna design and optimization.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho verificar os componentes de produção e a produção de aquênios do girassol (Helianthus annuus L., variedade Embrapa 122/V-2000), sob irrigação com diferentes níveis de salinidade de água em ambiente protegido. Os tratamentos foram compostos de seis níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação (CEa): N1 - 0,5; N2 - 1,0; N3 - 2,0; N4 - 3,0; N5 - 4,0 e N6 - 5,0 dS m-1 a 25 oC, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 5 repetições. Avaliaram-se: o diâmetro interno do capítulo, número de aquênios, massa de 100 aquênios, massa total de aquênios, fitomassa seca da parte aérea e da raiz, relação fitomassa seca da raiz e da parte aérea, consumo de água, condutividade elétrica da água drenada e do extrato de saturação do solo. A massa total de aquênios e o número de aquênios decresceram de 11,39 e 9,64%, respectivamente, por aumento unitário da condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação; a fitomassa seca da raiz foi mais afetada pela salinidade da água de irrigação que a fitomassa seca da parte aérea, os níveis de salinidade da água de drenagem no final do experimento foi cerca de 2,2 vezes da condutividade elétrica do extrato de saturação.

The aim of this study was to determine yield components and achene production of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) variety Embrapa 122/V-2000 irrigated with water of different salinities in a greenhouse. The treatments consisted of six levels of salinity of irrigation water (ECw), N1 - 0.5, N2 - 1.0; N3 - 2.0; N4 - 3.0; N5 - 4.0 and N6 - 5.0 dS m-1 at 25 oC in a randomized design with five replications. The internal diameter of the chapter, number of seeds, weight of 100 seeds, the total mass of seeds, dry weight of shoot and root, ratio of dry weight of root and shoot, water consumption, electrical conductivity of drainage water and the saturation extract of soil. The total mass of seeds and number of seeds decreased 11.39 and 9.64%, respectively, with per unit increase in electrical conductivity of irrigation water, the root dry mass was more affected by salinity of irrigation water than dry mass of aerial parts, salinity levels of drainage water at the end of experiment were about 2.2 times of electrical conductivity of saturation extract.

Resumo Sabendo-se que os efeitos da salinidade variam entre espécies, entre variedades de uma mesma espécie e entre estádios de desenvolvimento de um mesmo genótipo, realizaram-se dois experimentos de campo, com as variedades Prata Anã e Grand Naine irrigadas com águas de diferentes salinidades, para se avaliar o crescimento e desenvolvimento das plantas durante o primeiro ciclo de produção. As avaliações foram realizadas em intervalos de 45 dias. O crescimento das plantas variou entre as variedades e ao longo do tempo, excetuando-se a área foliar total, o diâmetro do pseudocaule e a fitomassa seca da folha quando foi utilizada água de baixa salinidade. A Prata Anã foi mais tolerante à salinidade que a Grand Naine.

Abstract Keeping in view that salinity affects may vary between species, between varieties of the same specie and in development stages of the same genotype, two experiments were conducted under field conditions to evaluate: gouth development of two banana varieties (Musa spp), under irrigated conditions with water of different salinities, during the first production cycle (300 days), evaluations were made at interval of 45 days, through samplings. It was verified that all the primary variables were influenced by the time and the variety, except the total leaf area, the stem pseudo diameter and the dry phytomass of the leaves, when water of low salinity was used. The cycle of both varieties was delayed whem saline water was used and Prata Anã variety was found to be more tolerant to salinity in comparision to Grand Naine.

We have characterized, in the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast phase, an exocellular SH-dependent serine proteinase activity against Abz-MKRLTL-EDDnp and analogous fluorescent-quenched peptides, and showed that it is also active against constituents of the basement membrane in vitro. In the present study, we separated the components of P. brasiliensis culture filtrates by electrophoresis and demonstrated that the serine-thiol exocellular proteinase has a diffuse and heterogeneous migration by SDS-PAGE, localizing in a region between 69 and 43 kDa. The hydrolytic activity was demonstrable after SDS-PAGE using buffered agarose overlays of Abz-MKALTLQ-EDDnp, following incubation at 37oC, and detection of fluorescent bands with a UV transilluminator. Hydrolysis was more intense when incubation was carried out at basic pH, and was completely inhibited with 2.5 mM PMSF and partially with sodium 7-hydroxymercuribenzoate (2.5 mM p-HMB), suggesting its serine-thiol nature. A proteolytic band with similar characteristics was observed in conventional gelatin zymograms, but could not be correlated with a silver-stained component. Detection of the serine-thiol proteinase in substrate gels after SDS-PAGE provides a useful way of monitoring purification of the basement membrane degrading enzyme.

Embora não esteja definitivamente comprovada que a severidade da malária esteja associada com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV), sabe-se que a infecção pelo Plasmodium falciparum pode favorecer uma rápida evolução da infecção pelo HIV. Além disso a associação da malária com HIV/AIDS, do ponto de vista clínico, pode ser extremamente grave face a ocorrência de outros microorganismos e/ou neoplasias, o que piora a evolução e prognóstico dos pacientes. A concomitância do vírus HIV com o Plasmodium em zonas endêmicas de malária, é uma possibilidade que deve ser sempre pensada, visto que a sua transmissão está relacionada a fatores de risco ligados aos comportamentos das pessoas, que nem sempre são logo revelados e/ou identificados. Os autores descrevem um caso de malária cerebral por Plasmodium vivaxe Plasmodiumfalciparum em um paciente com AIDS. Descrevem sua evolução clínica e terapêutica.

Although it has not been definitely proven that the severity of malaria is associated to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) we know that infection through Plasmodium falciparum can favor a rapid evolution of the HIV infection. Besides, association of malaria with HIV/AIDS from a clinical point of view can be clinically severe in the face of the occurrence of other microorganisms or neoplasias, which worsens the evolution and prognosis of the affected patients. The concurrence of HIV with Plasmodium in malaria endemic zones is a possibility which should always be taken into consideration, since transmission is related to risk factors caused by people's behavior which are not always promptly revealed and/or identified. The authors report one case of brain malaria infection by Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum in a patient with AIDS. They describe the clinical evolution and therapy.

Foram estudados 50 pacientes com AIDS. Todos estes pacientes apresentavam anticorpos anti-HIV1 (ELISA) e preenchiam os critérios de pontuação OPAS/Caracas de definição de casos de AIDS em adultos. A análise do liquido cefalorraqueano (LCR) incluiu: pressão; citologia (número de células e aspectos citomorfológicos); proteína total e eletroforese; concentrações de glicose, cloretos e testes imunológicos para sífilis, toxoplasmose e infecções virais (citomegalovírus, varicela-zoster, Herpes simplex, e HI VI). Investigações bacteriológicas e micológicas (pesquisa direta e cultura), além de teste de aglutinação (látex) para Cryptococcus foram também realizados. Os testes imunológicos usados foram fixação do complemento, imunofluorescência indireta, hemaglutinação passiva e/ou ELISA. Todos os LCR foram analisados no mesmo laboratório seguindo sempre a mesma metodologia. O LCR esteve alterado em 45 pacientes (90,0%) dos 50 pacientes estudados. As principais alterações encontradas no LCR foram: aumento de gamaglobulina em 25 casos (55,5%); aumento da proteína total em 23 (51,1%); hipercitose em 22 (48,9%) e diminuição dos cloretos em 18(40,0%). A detecção de anticorpos anti- HIV1 estiveram presentes em 42 pacientes (93,3%). Toxoplasmose isolada ou associada a outros agentes foi a infecção oportunista mais freqüente, detectada em 26 casos (57,7%). O LCR deverá ser sempre analisado em todos os pacientes com AIDS, com ou sem sintomas neurológicos.

Fifty AIDS patients were studied. AH patients had anti-HIV antibodies (ELISA) present and met OPAS/ Caracas punctuation criteria for AIDS cases in adults. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis included pressure, cytology (number and cytomorphological aspects), total protein and electrophoresis, glucose and chloride concentration. Bacteriological and mycological investigations were performed as well as agglutination tests for Cryptococcus. Complement fixation, indirect immunoflorescence, passive hemagglutination and/or ELISA tests were performed for syphilis, toxoplasmosis, viral and fungal infections. AH CSF analysis were made in the same laboratory following the same methodology. CSF was alterated in 45 cases (90.0%) of the 50 patients studied. The most important alterations observed were: gammaglobulin (55.5%) and total protein (51.1%) increase, hypercytosis (48.9%) and decrease of chloride concentration (40.0%). HIV antibodies were detected in 42 patients (93.3%). Toxomoplamosis, isolated or associated to other agents, was the most frequent opportunistic infection (57.7%). Cerebrospinal fluid should always be examined in AIDS patients with or without neurological symptoms.

Utilizando-se 3 amostras de leveduras psicrofóbicas: Torulopsis pintolopesii, Torulopsis bovina e Candida slooffii foram realizadas experiências visando a determinação dos possíveis fatores condicionantes da especificidade destas leveduras para determinados hospedeiros. Estes fatores parecem estar relacionados às exigências nutritivas das amostras, apresentando interesse no estudo da associação ecológica. Não foram detectados fatores estomacais determinantes da especificidade para o hospedeiro, observada em algumas amostras, embora não estejam excluídos fatores nutricionais presentes em áreas mais distais do trato digestivo. Alguns resultados sobre a viabilidade de leveduras em presença de soros animais sugerem que fatores séricos podem ser importantes na fixação de microrganismos nos animais hospedeiros.

The psychrophobic yeasts Torulopsis pintolopesii, Torulopsis bovina and Candida slooffii were studied aiming at determining some of the factors important for the specificity of yeastdwelling in certain hosts. These factors seem to be related in part to the nutritional requirements of the strains. Stimulatory or inhibitory factors extracted from the stomach of different animal species were unrelated to the specific fixation of certain yeasts in their hosts. We cannot however exclude that factors present in the more distal areas of the digestive tract are responsible for this specific fixation. Studies on the viability of yeasts in presence of animal sera suggest that serum factors may be equally important in determining the host-specificity of some psychrophobic yeasts.