Abstract Parkia platycephala is the only species of the genus Parkia that is endemic to the brazilian Cerrado and the tree symbol of the state of Tocantins, but there are still few studies regarding its bioprospecting. In this study, we aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, toxicity and bioactivities of the bark and flower of Parkia platycephala. Hot sequential extractions (Soxhlet) were performed using methanol and hydroethanolic solution (70%), after degreasing the sample (hexane). The presence of flavonoids, tannins, steroids and alkaloids was detected in the preliminary screening. Trilinolein, (Z)-9-octadecenamide, 3-O-methyl-d-glucose were detected by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). In the Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detector (LC-PDA) analysis, it was detected exclusively ferulic acid (bark) and ellagic acid (flower). The ethanolic extract of the bark (IC50=10.69 ± 0.35 µgmL-1) has an antioxidant potential (DPPH• radical) higher than that of the rutin standard (IC50=15.85 ± 0.08 µgmL-1). All extracts showed excellent anticholinesterase potential (Ellman), with emphasis on the ethanol extract of the flower (IC50 =5.34 ± 0.12 µgmL-1). Regarding toxicity (Artemia salina), the methanolic extract of the bark and the ethanolic extract of the flower presented high and moderate levels, respectively. Such results limit the concentrations of biological activities in this study, however, the antioxidant and anticholinesterase indices fall short of toxicity. The results demonstrated promising antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of both the bark and the flower of Parkia platycephala.

Resumo A Parkia platycephala é a única espécie do gênero Parkia, endêmica do Cerrado brasileiro e a árvore símbolo do estado do Tocantins, porém ainda com pouco estudos com relação a sua bioprospecção. Neste estudo, objetivamos realizar a caracterização fitoquímica, avaliar a toxicidade e as atividades antioxidante e anticolinesterásica dos extratos da casca e da flor da Parkia platycephala. Foram realizadas extrações sequenciais a quente (Soxhlet), utilizando hexano, metanol e solução hidroetanólica (70%). A presença de flavonoides, taninos, esteroides e alcaloides foi detectada na triagem preliminar. A análise por Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada a Espectrometria de Massa (GC-MS) indicou a presença de variados compostos, tais como trilinoleina, (Z)-9-octadecenamida, 3-O-methyl-d-glucose e methylsulfinyl(methylthio)-methane. Na análise por Cromatografia Líquida com Detector de Arranjo de Diodo (LC-PDA), destacam-se o ácido elágico, presente apenas nos extratos da flor, e o ácido ferúlico, presente apenas nos extratos da casca. Os extratos da casca predominaram quanto ao potencial antioxidante (radical DPPH•), sendo que o extrato etanólico (IC50=10,69 ± 0,35 µgmL-1) superou o padrão rutina (IC50=15,85 ± 0,08 µgmL-1). Todos os extratos apresentaram excelentes potenciais anticolinesterásicos (teste de Ellman), com ênfase no extrato etanólico da flor (IC50=5,34 ± 0,12 µgmL-1). Em relação à toxicidade (Artemia salina), o extrato metanólico da casca e o extrato etanólico da flor, apresentaram níveis elevado e moderado, respectivamente. Tais resultados limitam as concentrações das atividades biológicas deste estudo, entretanto, os índices antioxidante e anticolinesterásico ficam aquém da toxicidade. Os resultados mostraram as promissoras atividades antioxidante e anticolinesterásica da casca e flor da Parkia platycephala.

Furanaphthoquinones are well known in medicinal chemistry for exhibiting relevant structural heterogeneity and bioactivities. In this work, it was synthesized a series of furanaphthoquinones through a tandem reaction between lawsone (8) and cyclic ketones in the presence of morpholine. This strategy provides an efficient and general method for synthesizing furanaphthoquinones with activity against the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), the parasite that causes Chagas disease. Compound 9b was the better prototype, and it exhibited high potency for causing parasite death, showed reduced acute toxicity towards mammalian cells, and was capable of rupturing the epimastigote plasma membrane and acting on sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51). Additionally, 9b reduced trypomastigote viability by 99% after 24 h. Candidate 9b demonstrated the best and most promising profile when bound to CYP51.

This work describes the development of a photoelectrochemical sensor for glucose quantification exploiting a light assisted-batch injection analysis (BIA) cell. A light-emitting diode (LED) lamp was employed to control the incidence of light on the p-Cu2O/n-Cu2O/fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) photoactive platform in BIA cell. The p-Cu2O/n-Cu2O/FTO platform was constructed by electrodepositing n-Cu2O and p-Cu2O and the characteristics of electrodeposited Cu2O films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The light assisted-batch injection analysis of glucose based on the illuminated p-Cu2O/n-Cu2O/FTO photoelectrode presented a linear response of 10 μmol L-1-1 mmol L-1, a limit of detection of 4.0 μmol L-1, and sensitivity of 0.768 ± 0.011 μA L μmol-1 cm-2. The system presented an average recovery value of 96% when applied to the determination of glucose in an artificial saliva sample, which indicates that the incidence of light on photoelectroactive platforms is a promising approach for the determination and quantification of glucose.

Resumo É possível determinar experimentalmente o valor da aceleração da gravidade por diferentes experimentos, dos mais simples aos mais complexos. O objetivo do artigo é fornecer um auxílio para tomada de decisão do docente quanto àsua abordagem de ensino. Estes experimentos apresentam variações significativas com relação à acurácia do valor encontrado, aparatos e tecnologias utilizadas, precisão do experimento entre outros aspectos. Apresentamos quatro experimentos que serão comparados entre si quanto à: exatidão, fontes de incerteza e tecnologias utilizadas para a realização do experimento. O experimento com melhor desempenho utilizou um pêndulo simples.

Abstract It is possible to determine experimentally the value of the acceleration of gravity by different experiments, from the simplest to the most complex. The aim of the article is to provide assistance for the professor's decision making regarding their teaching approach. These experiments present significant variations with respect to the accuracy of the experimental value found, apparatus and technologies used, experiment precision among other aspects. We present four experiments that will be compared with each other regarding: accuracy, sources of uncertainty and technologies used to carry out the experiment. The best performing experiment used a simple pendulum.

Identifying impurities in drug substances has become one of the most important issues in pharmaceutical analysis since it can have a significant impact on the efficacy of new pharmaceutical products. Due to the purity requirements, in this paper a new synthetic α2-adrenoceptor agonist, called LPSF-PT-31, was purified and its impurities were characterized by liquid chromatography-multistage mass spectrometry (LC-MSn) and liquid chromatography-solid phase extraction-nuclear magnetic resonance (LC-SPE-NMR). The purification step was conducted using a semi-preparative liquid chromatography and stacked injections as a new approach to drug purification. As a result, a total yield of 75% of the pure LPSF-PT-31 and 2.9 L day-1 in solvent reduction was obtained. The combination of semi-preparative stacking injection, LC-MSn, and LC-SPE-NMR, demonstrated to be efficient to purify active drugs and unambiguously identify its impurities. In addition, isolation and identification of drug impurities in the early stages of development can improve the synthetic pathway, preventing the formation of impurities or minimizing this formation to minimum levels.

ABSTRACT Flowers of species of Senna are very morphologically diverse, however, nothing has been reported regarding variation in the presence of a unicarpellate gynoecium, which is characteristic of the group. This study reports the occurrence of a bicarpellate gynoecium in two enantiostylous species of Senna in an area of dry forest (Caatinga) in NE Brazil. Observations of floral morphology and estimates of the proportions of floral morphs in the populations were performed. The species produce three floral types: left (L), right (R) and bicarpellate (B). The proportion of these floral morphs were similar in the populations of Senna macranthera var. micans, but the number of B flowers in populations of S. trachypus was lower than that recorded for L and R flowers. The occurrence of this morphological variation may be related to enhancing pollen capture in both species; in S. trachypus, this variation may also be related to reducing florivory by caterpillars that were observed eating sexual elements of the flowers.

<title>Abstract</title><sec><title>Background:</title><p>This investigation aimed to evaluate the occurrence of some apoptotic features induced by <italic>Leptospira interrogans</italic> serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae infection in young BALB/c mice during 2, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days post-infection (dpi).</p></sec><sec><title>Methods:</title><p>The animals were euthanized and lung, liver and kidneys were harvested to histopathology analysis and immunohistochemistry to caspase-3 antigen detection was performed.</p></sec><sec><title>Results:</title><p>Chromatin condensation in kidney and liver tissues, but not in lung tissue, was observed. Caspase-3 reactive cells, mainly characterized as renal epithelial cells, were detected in the days 14 and 21 at high levels when compared to days 2,4 and 7 (p = 0.025; p <0.05). Lung sections revealed caspase-3 labeled alveolar cells in 10 and 14 days post-infection was higher than observed at 7 days (p = 0.0497; p < 0.05). Liver sections demonstrated reactive cells at a highest level at 14 and 21 days post-infection when comparison to 2,4, 7 and 10 days (p = 0.0069; p<0.05).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions:</title><p>Our results suggest that infection of L <italic>interrogans</italic> induce in kidney, liver and lung an activation of apoptosis mediated by caspase-3 dependent pathway in later phases of infectious process.</p></sec>

O dióxido de titânio apresenta boas propriedades como um material fotocatalisador para aplicação em processos de degradação fotocatalítica. No entanto, o dióxido de titânio deve ser usado ancorado num suporte adequado. O uso de cerâmica vermelha como suporte de fotocatalisadores pode ser uma boa alternativa devido ao seu baixo custo e facilidade de fabricação. Neste trabalho foi estudado, via difração de raios X, o dióxido de titânio suportado em cerâmica vermelha produzida com argilas cauliníticas da região de Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ. Os resultados mostram que o dióxido de titânio apresenta mudança estrutural da fase mais fotoativa (anatásio) para a fase menos fotoativa (rutilo) com o aumento da temperatura de sinterização. Em 700 ºC cerca de 50% da fase anatásio é retida para o dióxido de titânio suportado em cerâmica vermelha, independentemente do tipo de argila usada.

The titanium dioxide presents good properties as a photocatalyst material for application in processes of photocatalytic degradation. However, the titanium dioxide should be anchored on a suitable support. The use of red ceramic as supporting material can be an alternative very interesting due to the its low cost and ease of manufacturing. In this work was studied via X-ray diffraction the phase transformation anatase-rutile at different temperatures for supported titanium dioxide in red ceramic substrate prepared with kaolinitic clays from the Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ region. The results showed that the effect of the sintering temperature was promoting the structural change of the phase more photoactive (anatase) for the less photoactive (rutile). At 700 ºC about 50% of the anatase phase is retained for supported titanium dioxide in red ceramic substrate, independently of the clay type used.

Os óleos essenciais dos frutos e talos finos de Piper tuberculatum e das raízes de P. hispidum, coletados no estado de Rondônia, foram obtidos por hidrodestilação e analisados por GC e GC-MS. Foram identificados como constituintes majoritários, nos óleos dos frutos e talos finos de P. tuberculatum, o óxido de cariofileno (32,1%) e (26,6%) e o (E)-cariofileno (17,7%) e (12,3%), respectivamente. No óleo essencial das raízes de P. hispidum, foram identificados, como constituintes majoritários, o dilapiol (57,5%), a elemicina (24,5%) e o apiol (10,2%). Do extrato etanólico dos frutos de P. tuberculatum, foram isolados os esteróides β-sitosterol e estigmasterol, as amidas piplartina e dihidropiplartina e um derivado do ácido cinâmico, o ácido 3,4,5-trimetoxi-dihidrocinâmico.

The essential oils of the fruits and fine stems of Piper tuberculatum and of the roots of P. hispidum, collected in the state of Rondônia, had been gotten by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Caryophyllene oxide - 32,1% in fruits and 26,6% in fine stem, and (E)-caryophyllene - 17,7% in fruits and 12,3% in fine stems, were identified as the major constituents in such parts of P. tuberculatum. In the essential oil of the roots of P. hispidum, dillapiol (57,5%), elemicine (24,5%) and apiole (10,2%) were identified as the most abundant constituents. From the ethanolic extract of the fruits of P. tuberculatum, the steroids β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, the amides piplartine and dihidropiplartine and the derivative of the cinâmico acid 3,4,5-trimethoxy-dihidrocinâmic acid were isolated.

The anaerobic treatment of wastewater from the household and personal products industry was studied using a 16.3 L hybrid reactor (UASB and biofilter). The top of the UASB reactor was filled with coconut shells to act as the support material for the biofilter. The wastewater was characterized in terms of pH (1.0 - 12.0), COD (1,000 - 5,000 mg/L), BOD5 (700 - 1,500 mg/L), chloride (55 - 850 mg/L), ammonia nitrogen (0.4 - 0.9 mg/L), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (22.1 - 34.0 mg/L), phosphorus (2.0 - 2.5 mg/L), anionic surfactants (100 - 600 mg/L), turbidity (115 - 300 NTU) and total suspended solids (450 - 1,440 mg/L). The bioreactor was operated continuously for 120 days at room temperature (26 ± 5ºC) with hydraulic retention times of 50, 40 and 60 h. COD and BOD removals and biogas production were evaluated in order to analyze process efficiency. The average removal efficiencies for COD (77%, 72% and 80%) and BOD5 (approximately 90%) were obtained with HRTs of 50, 40 and 60 h, respectively. The average specific biogas production was 0.32 L/g COD (at standard temperature and pressure) for the three experimental runs. These data indicate good reactor efficiency and suggest the possibility of using this system to treat wastewater generated by the household and personal products industry.

Los niños con el Sindrome de Down (SD), además de los factores que predisponen a la candidiasis bucal, presentan alteración cromosómica que afecta la estructura anatómica de la boca y compromete el sistema inmunológico. En este estudio se usaron 30 cepas de Candida albicans aisladas de la boca de los niños, siendo 25 (83.3%) portadores del SD y cinco (16.7%) sin este. Este hecho convierte a los niños portadores de este sindrome como grandes “cargadores” de levaduras predisponiéndolos a candidiasis bucal. El estudio topográfico de las colonias gigantes de C. albicans, aisladas de la cavidad bucal de los niños con y sin el SD revelaron los mismos aspectos macroscópicos con predominio de colonias que tienen la periferia con franjas, lo que demuestra que este sindrome probablemente no interfiere con esta característica específica en las colonias de levaduras. Sin embargo, estas mismas peculiaridades condicionan una mayor capacidad de adherencia de estas cepas de Candida con la mucosa afectada y a las secuelas ocasionadas por el SD, favoreciendo por lo tanto a la infección bucal por Candida.

Children with Down’s syndrome, besides the predispose factors to buccal candidiasis, present chromosomal alteration that affects the anatomic structure of the mouth and commits the immune system. In this study 30 strains of C. albicans isolated of the children's mouth were used, being 25 (83.3%) bearers of Down’s syndrome and five (16.7%) without it. This evidence turns the children with Down’s syndrome more carried of yeasts of Candida therefore predisposed the buccal candidiasis. The topographical study of the gigantic colonies of C. albicans, isolated of the children's buccal cavity with and without Down’s syndrome showed the same macroscopic aspects with prevalence of colonies with fringed periphery demonstrating that this syndrome presumably doesn't interfere in this characteristic of the fungal colonies however this outlying colonial aspect propitiates larger capacity of adherence of strains of Candida with the injured mucous membrane and the sequels propitiated by the Down’s syndrome inducing larger favoring the buccal infection to Candida.

Neste trabalho, avaliou-se a qualidade fisiológica e se quantificaram os possíveis gradientes de umidade de sementes de sorgo BR 601, durante o armazenamento. Utilizaram-se amostras coletadas em secador de camada fixa vertical, com duto central perfurado e distribuição radial de ar. Os pontos amostrais no secador se distanciavam 0,10; 0,30 e 0,50 m em relação à lateral do duto central de ar e nas alturas de 0,85; 2,02 e 3,64 m da base do secador, com capacidade de 8 t, além de uma amostra média (M) que representou os três pontos radiais, respectivamente. Armazenou-se o sorgo durante nove meses e se avaliou a germinação, vigor e umidade do produto no terceiro, sexto e nono meses de armazenamento. Não houve diferença na qualidade fisiológica das sementes nas diferentes alturas e distâncias em relação ao duto central de ar do secador, em relação à média (M) durante o armazenamento, mas no decorrer deste, a queda de qualidade foi mais evidente no teste de frio, obtida no nono mês de armazenamento.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the physiological quality and possible moisture gradients in seeds of sorghum BR 601, during storage. Samples from a vertical fixed-bed dryer with a perforated central duct and radial air distribution were used. In the dryer, the sample points were located at 0.10, 0.30 and 0.50 m distances in relation to the lateral of the central air duct. A composite sample was also collected and used as the control in relation to the others, at the respective heights. These sampling procedures were followed at heights of 0.85; 2.02 and 3.64 m from the dryer base. Within each height and distance relative to the air duct, the collected samples were stored during nine months and evaluated for germination and vigor. At the third, sixth and ninth months after storage, the samples were evaluated for possible differences in quality and seed moisture gradient in comparison to the composite sample. No differences were observed in the physiological quality of the seeds from either different heights or distances relative to the hot-air central duct, in comparison to the composite sample, during the storage time. In general, seed vigor diminished with time while the decreasing quality was most evident in a cold test, conducted after nine months of storage.

Descreve-se o isolamento e a identificação do vírus rábico em morcegos insetívoros Molossus ater, no Estado de São Paulo, nos municípios de Araçatuba, Penápolis e São José do Rio Preto. A maioria dos exemplares foi capturada ainda com vida, não havendo, porém, contato com pessoas ou animais. O diagnóstico foi realizado pelas provas de imunofluorescência direta e inoculação intracerebral em camundongos.

This is a report of rabies infection in insectivorous bat Molossus ater in the city districts of Araçatuba, Penápolis and São José do Rio Preto, in São Paulo state, Brazil. Fluorescent antibody test detected the virus in the brain and isolation was obtained by intracerebral inoculation of mice with nervous tissue and organs suspension. There was no contact with humans or other animals.

Descreve-se o isolamento e a identificação do vírus rábico em morcegos insetívoros Molossus ater, no Estado de São Paulo, nos municípios de Araçatuba, Penápolis e São José do Rio Preto. A maioria dos exemplares foi capturada ainda com vida, não havendo, porém, contato com pessoas ou animais. O diagnóstico foi realizado pelas provas de imunofluorescência direta e inoculação intracerebral em camundongos.

This is a report of rabies infection in insectivorous bat Molossus ater in the city districts of Araçatuba, Penápolis and São José do Rio Preto, in São Paulo state, Brazil. Fluorescent antibody test detected the virus in the brain and isolation was obtained by intracerebral inoculation of mice with nervous tissue and organs suspension. There was no contact with humans or other animals.