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- Author or Editor: A. dos Santos x
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Abstract
Eugenol is an allyl chain-substituted guaiacol in the biosynthesized phenylpropanoid compound class derived from Syzygium aromaticum L. and widely used in folk medicine. Nonetheless, its pharmacological use is limited by some problems, such as instability when exposed to light and high temperature. In order to enhance stability, the eugenol molecule was structurally modified, resulting in eugenyl acetate. The eugenyl acetate’s thermal behavior and crystal structure was then characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and compared to a commercial sample.
Summary
The axial and radial distribution of the catalyst concentration, in the riser of an EMC - experimental cold model of a fluid catalytic cracking type unit, was measured by gamma-absorption. The solid concentration in the circulating fluidized bed was determined by measurements with a 241Am gamma-source and a NaI(Tl) detector. The operation, instrumental measurements and data acquisition system of the cold unit were automated. The catalyst concentration measurements were carried out in static experiments and in the circulating fluidized bed. A calibration of the distribution concentration was made with experimental data from gas velocity and pressure drop along the riser that gave the best multi-regression model. A spatial resolution of 5.0 . 10-3 m by scanning the riser and a catalyst density resolution of 5.0±0.8 kg/m3 were obtained. The axial catalyst concentration distribution, in the 5-13 kg/m 3 interval, showed a predicted pattern according to the literature. The radial distribution was in an annular configuration for this diluted catalyst concentration.
Abstract
Nowadays the growing fuel deficit requires the development of alternative fuel sources. Biodiesel is a good substitute to the conventional diesel because it is quite similar to the fossil fuel in its main characteristics. However, there are some obstacles, as the properties of cold-flow, to the development of a more useful alternative fuel. In this work we use the X-ray diffraction and differential calorimetry scanning to study low temperature properties of ethylic Babassu biodiesel. Our results show that the nucleation of crystals starts below −8 °C and the crystallization temperature does not change significantly when the sample was submitted to a winterization process. The higher concentrations of ethyl esters from saturated fat acid are probably responsible for this characteristic. The X-ray diffraction, combined with DSC measurements, was efficiently employed in the characterization of cold-flow biodiesel properties, showing to be very helpful techniques.
Abstract
The conventional treatments of effluents containing heavy metals produce significant quantities of byproducts with recalcitrant characteristics, making necessary looking after alternative techniques in order to avoid the production of new contaminated residues. Sorption process of chromium and zinc in vertical columns loaded with sewage sludge and organic solid waste has been studied in this work. The data from the TG curves of the two sorbents presented significant differences when they were submitted to the metal uptake, being noticed the displacement of the thermal events towards lower temperatures for both types of sorbents studied. As it was expected, for both sorbents, an increase in the mass of samples has been observed at the completion of the thermal tests upon metal uptake. Therefore, these facts demonstrate that during the biosorption process a physico-chemical interaction took place between sorbents and metals, as it was evidenced by the more than 100 K increase in the decomposition temperatures as well as the variation of the ΔH values of the samples.
Abstract
The invertebrate biodiversity of subtropical streams depends on the seasonal input of organic matter, as much as the leaf decomposition process on stream system. However, one of the challenges in determining the importance of invertebrates for leaf breakdown in subtropical streams is the low taxonomic resolution applied in most studies. To overcome this limitation, here we used litter bags with senescent leaves to evaluate the impact of different taxonomic resolutions of trophic group classification to assess the seasonal importance of invertebrate community for leaf litter breakdown in a subtropical stream (Atlantic Forest in western of Paraná state, Brazil). Litterfall was quarterly measured over a year. The leaf litter accumulated in an interval of 30 days was retrieved, weighed, and used for the leaf breakdown experiments (by litter bags). We found a lower importance of invertebrate community richness and density (shredders and scrapers) in leaf breakdown process irrespective of the taxonomic resolution (family or genus level used). Hyphomycetes biomass and fungi sporulation also did not present changes among sample times, and consecutively, importance for leaf breakdown. However, the richness and density of Chironomidae taxa respond differently depending on the taxonomic resolution used. Low litter breakdown may be explained by the increase of consumption of microorganisms, due to high density of Chironomidae scrapers evaluated at the genus level. Moreover, temperature is the main factor responsible for breakdown over the year, in a positive way. Therefore, our results indicated the family level as the taxonomic resolution sufficient to assess the role of shredders and scrapers in the leaf litter breakdown process of this subtropical stream system.
Abstract
The standard molar enthalpy of formation of crystalline dialkyldithiocarbamate chelates, [Pd(S2CNR2)2], with R=CH3 and i-C3H7, was determined through reaction-solution calorimetry in 1,2-dichloroethane, at 298 K. Using the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the gaseous chelates, the homolytic (52618 and 66610) and heterolytic (269318 and 295710 kJ mol-1) mean enthalpies of palladium-sulphur bond dissociation were calculated.
Summary
The aim of this work was to use the binding assay of tritiated-dihydropyridine and radioiodinated Tx1, isolated from the Phoneutria nigriventer venom, in order to show the presence of Cav1 calcium channels on pituitary tumour cell (GH3). We showed that GH3 cells have specific sites for 125I-Tx1, which are sensitive to nifedipine (~20%). Reverse competition assay with 3H-PN200-110 (40% inhibition) and electrophysiological data (50% inhibition) suggest that Cav1 calcium channels are target sites for this toxin. To summarize, Tx1 binds to specific sites on GH3 cells and this interaction results in Cav1 calcium channel blockade. 3H-PN200-110 and 125I-Tx1 binding assays proved to be useful tools to show the presence of calcium channels on GH3 cells.
Summary
Crotoxin (Crtx) is the main toxin of South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus) venom. Research on antitumoral drugs has demonstrated the potential use of Crtx as tumour reducing agent. Tissue distribution studies are very important for clinical use and 99mTc-labeling is a very convenient method for studies related to biodistribution. The aim of the present study was to label Crtx with 99mTc keeping its biological activity for use in biodistribution and binding studies. High labeling yield was obtained using stannous chloride and sodium borohydride. Results demonstrated that biological activity of 99mTc-Crtx was preserved and confirmed kidneys as the target organ. Biological activities of unlabeled and 99mTc-labeled Crtx were evaluated after labeling. 99mTc-Crtx can be a useful tool for imaging and binding studies.
