The aim of the current study was the valorization of hesperidin, the dominant flavonoid in citrus processing waste, by microwave-assisted synthesis of hesperidin-Mg complex, improving its antioxidant activity and insecticidal potential. Here we show, for the first time, that microwave-assisted synthesis of [Mg(hesp)2(phen)]OAc (1) (hesp: hesperidin, phen: phenanthroline) improve the reaction rate and yield. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments proved to be powerful tools for the identification of three isomers in metal complexes. Moreover, we explore the insecticidal potential of 1 and [Mg(phen)2(Isov)]OAc (2) (Isov : isovanillic acid) complexes against three insects. Complex 1 killed 80% of adults whitefly at 0.14 μmol L-1, and 2 76% at 0.36 μmol L-1. There was a total mortality of Spodoptera frugiperda with 2 at 0.39 μmol L-1, and 83% with 1 at 0.14 μmol L-1. Both have similar activity, and represent a novel group of insecticide for Bemisia tabaci and S. frugiperda; nevertheless, the benefits of both as Myzus persicae repellent require further evaluation.

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the physiological action of triiodothyronine T3 on the expression of transforming growth factor α (TGFA) mRNA in MCF7 cells by inhibition of RNA Polymerase II and the MAPK/ERK pathway Materials and methods: The cell line was treated with T3 at a physiological dose (10−9M) for 10 minutes, 1 and 4 hour (h) in the presence or absence of the inhibitors, α-amanitin (RNA polymerase II inhibitor) and PD98059 (MAPK/ERK pathway inhibitor). TGFA mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. For data analysis, we used ANOVA, complemented with the Tukey test and Student t-test, with a minimum significance of 5%. Results: T3 increases the expression of TGFA mRNA in MCF7 cells in 4 h of treatment. Inhibition of RNA polymerase II modulates the effect of T3 treatment on the expression of TGFA in MCF7 cells. Activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway is not required for T3 to affect the expression of TGFA mRNA. Conclusion: Treatment with a physiological concentration of T3 after RNA polymerase II inhibition altered the expression of TGFA. Inhibition of the MAPK/ERK pathway after T3 treatment does not interfere with the TGFA gene expression in a breast adenocarcinoma cell line.

Resumo A discussão informal tem despertado crescente interesse em estudos sobre deliberação. Contudo, são raros os estudos que examinam o engajamento das pessoas em contextos conflitantes. Este artigo investiga o modo pelo qual sujeitos de grupos sociais em conflito fazem uso de razões concorrentes que circulam nos media para negociar suas opiniões sobre uma “questão sensível”: a redução da maioridade penal. Para tanto, foram realizados cinco grupos de discussão em Belém (PA) e Belo Horizonte (MG), com policiais militares e moradores e adolescentes de periferia. A partir da adaptação do Discourse Quality Index, este estudo analisa: as justificativas expressas pelos participantes; o respeito entre os grupos; o papel das histórias pessoais na discussão. Investiga-se, ainda, o fluxo de argumentos antes e após a apresentação do material dos media. Os resultados contribuem para compreender a dinâmica através da qual os sujeitos se situam num “espaço de razões” em debates plurais.

Abstract Informal debates have attracted increasing attention in deliberation studies. However, studies that explore how people make sense of plural information in the media are rare. This paper analyses how subjects from antagonizing social groups engage with a variety of media arguments to negotiate their opinions on a sensitive issue: the reduction of the criminal responsibility age in Brazil. We conducted five discussion groups in Belem (PA) and Belo Horizonte (MG) with members of the local police and with teenagers and adults who live in marginalized communities. By using an adapted version of the Discourse Quality Index, this study analyses: the justifications expressed during the discussion, the respect between groups and the role of personal stories in debates. It also investigates the arguments flow before and after the exposition of the media material to participants. The results contribute for advancing the understanding of the dynamics by which subjects situate themselves in a “space of reasons” in plural debates.

ABSTRACT Objective The current study was aimed at analyzing sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (Serca2) and ryanodine receptor type 2 (Ryr2) gene expression in rats subjected to surgery that induced HF and were subsequently treated with T4 using physiological doses. Materials and methods HF was induced in 18 male Wistar rats by clipping the ascending thoracic aorta to generate aortic stenosis (HFS group), while the control group (9-sham) underwent thoracotomy. After 21 weeks, the HFS group was subdivided into two subgroups. One group (9 Wistar rats) with HF received 1.0 µg of T4/100 g of body weight for five consecutive days (HFS/T4); the other group (9 Wistar rats) received isotonic saline solution (HFS/S). The animals were sacrificed after this treatment and examined for signs of HF. Samples from the left ventricles of these animals were analyzed by RT-qPCR for the expression of Serca2 and Ryr2 genes. Results Rats with HF developed euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) and treatment with T4 restored the T3 values to the Sham level and increased Serca2 and Ryr2 gene expression, thereby demonstrating a possible benefit of T4 treatment for heart function in ESS associated with HF. Conclusion The T4 treatment can potentially normalize the levels of T3 as well elevated Serca2 and Ryr2 gene expression in the myocardium in heart failure rats with euthyroid sick syndrome.

RESUMO A alface se destaca como a principal hortaliça folhosa consumida no Brasil apresentando divergência para adaptabilidade a diferentes condições ambientais, entre as quais a salinidade. O trabalho teve, como objetivo, avaliar as respostas de cultivares de alface ao uso de água salina residuária da atividade da piscicultura. O experimento foi desenvolvido sob delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 7 x 4 sendo sete cultivares (Regiane, Vera, Isabela, Elisa, Amélia, Lavínia e Angelina) e quatro níveis de salinidade (1,2; 2,2; 3,2 e 4,2 dS m-1). As características avaliadas foram: número de folhas, área foliar, diâmetro da coroa, massa fresca e seca da parte aérea. Verificou-se que a água residuária da piscicultura diluída pode ser utilizada na irrigação da alface cultivada em vasos. As cultivares Regiane e Elisa apresentaram maior emissão de folhas e área foliar e as cultivares Amélia e Angelina foram as mais produtivas em termos de biomassa. As cultivares Vera, Isabela, Amélia e Angelina se mostraram mais tolerantes à salinidade da solução de fertirrigação.

ABSTRACT Lettuce stands out as the main leafy vegetable consumed in Brazil, with divergence regarding adaptability to different environmental conditions, which include salinity. The objective of the work was to evaluate the response of lettuce cultivars to the use of saline wastewater from fish farming. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replicates, in a factorial 7 x 4, corresponding to seven cultivars (Regiane, Vera, Isabela, Elisa, Amelia, Lavinia and Angelina) and four salt concentrations (1.2, 2.2, 3.2 and 4.2 dS m-1). The evaluated characteristics were: number of leaves, leaf area, crown diameter and shoot fresh and dry matter. Diluted wastewater from fish farming can be used in the preparation of solution for fertigation of lettuce. The cultivars Regiane and Elisa had higher production of leaves and leaf area, while Amélia and Angelina were the most productive in terms of biomass. The cultivars Vera, Isabela, Amélia and Angelina were more tolerant to the salinity of the fertigation solution.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar coeficientes de cultura e avaliar a produtividade da cebola submetida a diferentes lâminas de irrigação. O experimento foi conduzido no campo experimental do DTCS/UNEB, em Juazeiro, no período de abril a setembro de 2011. Para determinação da ETc foram efetuadas medidas diárias em evapotranspirômetros. A ETo foi obtida através dos métodos do tanque classe A (TCA) e Penman-Monteith (PM) e o Kc pela relação: Kc = ETc/ETo. O delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos e sete repetições. As variáveis analisadas foram: diâmetro transversal, peso médio de bulbos, produção total, produção comercial, teor de sólidos solúveis totais e acidez total titulável. Os Kc's encontrados tomando-se como base a ETo determinada pelo método TCA, com o Kp calculado com dados climáticos obtidos in situ, foram bem próximos daqueles determinados pelo método PM; a produtividade total superou a média nacional em torno de 122% para os tratamentos T1 (irrigação feita na base de ETc) e T3 (irrigação em base na ETo calculado pelo método de PM) e em 86% para o tratamento T2 (irrigação na base de ETo calculado pelo método de TCA); o manejo de irrigação, tomando-se como base o método TCA, pode proporcionar produtividade elevada levando-se em consideração as condições climáticas locais.

The present study aimed to determine crop coefficients and evaluate the productivity of onion under different irrigation levels. The experiment was conducted in the experimental field at DTCS/UNEB Juazeiro during the period from April to September 2011. For determining the ETc, daily measurements were made in evapotranspirometers. The ETo was obtained by the methods of the Class A pan (TCA) and Penman-Monteith (PM) and the Kc by: Kc = ETc/ETo. The experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments and seven replications. The examined variables were: transverse diameter, mean bulb weight, total production, commercial production, total soluble solids and titratable acidity. The Kc values found by taking as a basis the ETo determined by the TCA method with the Kp calculated using weather data obtained in situ, were very close to those determined by the PM method; the total productivity surpassed the national average by 122% for T1 (irrigation on the basis of ETc) and T3 (irrigation on the basis of ETo calculated according to PM) treatments and 86% for the T2 (irrigation on the basis of ETo calculated according to TCA) treatment; the irrigation management, based on the TCA method can provide high productivity, taking into account local climatic conditions.

OBJETIVO: Examinar o efeito de diferentes doses de triiodotironina (T3) sobre a expressão gênica dos receptores TRα e TRβ em diferentes tempos. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Adipócitos, 3T3-L1, foram incubados com T3 nas doses fisiológica (F, 10nM) e suprafisiológicas (SI, 100nM ou SII, 1000nM) ou veículo (controle, C) durante 0,5, 1, 6 ou 24h. mRNA dos TRs foram detectados utilizando PCR em tempo real. RESULTADOS: Níveis de TRβ aumentaram em F em 0,5h. Após 1h, níveis de TRα aumentaram em F e SI comparado ao C, enquanto TRβ diminuiu no SII comparado com C, F, e SI. Após 6h, ambos os genes foram suprimidos em todas concentrações. Em 24h, níveis de TRα e TRβ retornaram aos do C. CONCLUSÕES: Ação do T3 em F iniciou-se em 1h para TRα e 0,5h para TRβ. Esses resultados são importantes para determinar tempo inicial e dose de T3 em que os receptores de HT são ativados em adipócitos.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of different doses of triiodothyronine (T3) on mRNA levels of thyroid hormone receptors, TRα and TRβ, at different times. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 3T3-L1 adipocytes were incubated with T3 (physiological dose: F; supraphysiological doses: SI or SII), or without T3 (control, C) for 0.5, 1, 6, or 24h. TRα and TRβ mRNA was detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: F increased TRβ mRNA levels at 0.5h. After 1h, TRα levels increased with F and SI and TRβ levels decreased with SII compared with C, F, and SI. After 6h, both genes were suppressed at all concentrations. In 24h, TRα and TRβ levels were similar to those of C group. CONCLUSIONS: T3 action with F began at 1h for TRα and at 0.5h for TRβ. These results suggest the importance of knowing the times and doses that activate T3 receptors in adipocytes.

It is through the application of an electronic partition approach called Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory (SAPT) that the nature of hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions can be unveiled according to the contribution of electrostatic, charge transfer, exchange repulsion, polarization, and dispersion terms. Among these, electrostatic partition governs the formation of the hydrogen bonds, whose energies are arguably high. However, the weakness of the interaction strength is caused by dispersion forces, whose contribution decisively lead to the stabilization of complexes formed via van der Waals interactions.

Hydrogen bonds formed through the interaction between a high electronic density center (lone electron pairs, π or pseudo-π bonds) and proton donors cause important electronic and vibrational phenomena in many systems. However, it was demonstrated that proton donors interact with hydrides, such as alkali and alkaline earth metals (BeH2, MgH2, LiH and NaH), what yields a new type of interaction so-called dihydrogen bonds. The characterization of these interactions has been performed at light of the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM), by which the electronic densities ρ are quantified and the intermolecular regions are characterized as closed-shell interactions through the analysis of the Laplacian field ∇2ρ.

We present a theoretical study of solvent effect on C2H5N···HF hydrogen-bonded complex through the application of the AGOA methodology. By using the TIP4P model to orientate the configuration of water molecules, the hydration clusters generated by AGOA were obtained through the analysis of the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) of solute (C2H5N···HF). Thereby, it was calculated the hydration energies on positive and negative MEP fields, which are maxima (PEMmax) and minima (PEMmin) when represent the -CH2- methylene groups and hydrofluoric acid, respectively. By taking into account the higher and lower hydration energy values of -370.6 kJ mol-1 and -74.3 kJ mol-1 for PEMmax and PEMmin of the C2H5N···HF, our analysis shows that these results corroborate the open ring reaction of aziridine, in which the preferential attack of water molecules occurs at the methylene groups of this heterocyclic.

We present a theoretical study of molecular properties in C2H4···2HF, C2H2···2HF and C3H6···2HF trimolecular hydrogen-bonded complexes. From B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations, the most important structural deformations are related to the C=C (C2H4), C≡C (C2H2), C-C (C3H6) and HF bond lengths. According to the Bader's atoms in molecules and CHELPG calculations, it was identified a tertiary interaction between the fluorine atom of the second hydrofluoric acid molecule and hydrogen atoms of the ethylene and acetylene within the C2H4···2HF and C2H2···2HF complexes, respectively. Additionally, the evaluation of the infrared spectrum characterized the new vibrational modes and bathochromic effect of the HF molecules.

B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) calculations were used to determine the optimized geometries of the C2H4O-C2H2 and C2H4S-C2H2 heterocyclic hydrogen-bonded complexes. Results of structural, rotational, electronic and vibrational parameters indicate that the hydrogen bonding is non-linear due to the pi bond of the acetylene interacting with the hydrogen atoms of the methyl groups of the three-membered rings. Moreover, the theoretical investigation showed that the non-linearity is much more intriguing, since there is a structural disjunction on the acetylene within the heterocyclic system.

Hydrogen-bonded complexes formed by the interaction of the heterocyclic molecules C2H4O and C2H5N with HF, HCN, HNC and C2H2 have been studied using density functional theory. The hydrogen bond strength has been analyzed through electron density charge transfer from the proton acceptor to the proton donor. The density charge transfer has been estimated using different methods such as Mulliken population analysis, CHELPG, GAPT and AIM. It has been shown that AIM-estimated charge transfer correlates very well with the hydrogen bond energy and the infrared bathochromic effect of the proton donor stretching frequencies.

Calophyllum brasiliense Camb. é uma espécie predominante de áreas com alta saturação hídrica, sendo comum nos ambientes cilares do sul de Minas Gerais. Com o intuito de se estudar a variabilidade genética dessa espécie, 20 indivíduos reprodutivos de C. brasiliense foram amostrados de duas populações localizadas a montante do Reservatório Hidroelétrico do Funil, localizado no Município de Lavras,MG. A análise de eletroforese isoenzimática permitiu a obtenção de 17 alelos, distribuídos entre oito locos, sendo estes representados em cinco sistemas enzimáticos: alfa-esterase, beta-esterase, fosfatase ácida, glutamato oxalacetato, malato desidrogenase e transaminase. Os índices de diversidade revelaram um baixo número de alelos por loco em ambas as populações (1,75 e 1,50). A porcentagem de locos polimórficos (P) foi de 37,5% e 50% nas populações I e II, respectivamente. A heterozigosidade média observada foi de 0,119 e 0,111 e a esperada, de 0,131 e 0,112. O número de migrantes (Nm) encontrado entre as populações foi de 2,70. O tamanho efetivo estimado foi de 18 indivíduos para a população I e 19 para a II.

Calophyllum brasiliense Camb. is a predominant species in areas with high water saturation such as the riparian forests in southern Minas Gerais State. The objective of this research was to study the genetic variability of C. brasiliense populations. Twenty individuals were sampled from two populations located in Funil Dam in Lavras-MG. Isozyme eletrophoresis analysis provided evidence of 17 alleles distributed in 8 loci, which were represented in five enzymatic systems: alpha-esterase, beta esterase, acid phosphatase, malate dehydrogenase and transaminase oxalacetatum glutamate. The diversity indexes showed a low number of alleles per loci in both populations, pop I (1.75) and pop II (1.50). The polymorphic loci percentage (P) were 37.5% and 50% in populations I and II respectively. The mean heterozygosities were 0.119 and 0.111, while the expected was 0.131 and 0.112. The number of migrants (Nm) between populations was 2.70. The estimated effective size was 18 individuals for population I, and 19 for population II.