Rhodium(II)-catalyzed stereocontrolled synthesis of dihydrofuran-3-imines from 1-Tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles

Rhodium(II) acetate catalyzes the denitrogenative transformation of 5-substituted and 4,5-disubstituted 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles with pendent allyl and propargyl ether motifs to oxonium ylides that undergo [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement to give substituted dihydrofuran-3-imines in high yield and diastereoselectivity

Zoaramine, a Zoanthamine-like Alkaloid with a New Skeleton

Chemical investigation of an Atlantic variety of Zoanthus sp. led to the isolation of two new metabolites, zoaramine and zoarenone. Their structures were deduced by the use of NMR spectroscopy and computational calculation of 1H and 13C chemical shifts. The core of these novel compounds resembles the structure of norzoanthamine alkaloids, and their isolation represents an important step toward a better understanding of the biogenetic origin of this group of antiosteoporotic molecules.Peer reviewe

Ações e possibilidades de prevenção de acidentes com crianças em creches de Fortaleza, Ceará Actions and possibilities of accidents prevention with children in daycare at Fortaleza, Ceará State

Este estudo descreve o cotidiano de professoras da educação infantil, em creches de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil, bem como as ações desenvolvidas e as possibilidades de prevenção de acidentes com crianças, nesse espaço educativo e de cuidado à saúde. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa, realizado com 17 professoras de Educação Infantil, que trabalhavam em creches da Secretaria Executiva Regional VI, em Fortaleza, Ceará, em 2004. A entrevista semi-estruturada conduziu à coleta de dados e esses foram analisados à luz do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo (DSC). Os resultados evidenciaram que as professoras concebem esse tipo de acidente como passível de prevenção mediante a orientação à família, alterações físicas no espaço domiciliar e elaboração e cumprimento de leis específicas. Reconhecem que a agilidade e curiosidade da criança favorecem a ocorrência dos acidentes. Em suas práticas, relatam e propõem vigilância, mudanças na estrutura física das creches e educação por meio de orientações às crianças, professores, pais ou responsáveis, estendendo-se à comunidade. Portanto, é preciso que os profissionais de saúde compartilhem sua prática de cuidado com os profissionais do setor da educação, não só prevenindo acidentes e outros agravos à saúde humana, mas, sobretudo, ampliando conceitos que contribuam com a Promoção da Saúde.<br>This paper describes the daily of infantile education teachers in day-cares in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil as well as the developed actions and the possibilities of prevention accidents' with children, in this educative space of health care. It is a descriptive study, using a qualitative approach that involved 17 day care teachers working at the 6th Regional Executive Office (Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil) in the year of 2004. A semi-structured interview was used to collect the data, which was analysed using the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) technique. The results showed that teachers believe that this type of accident is preventable through family orientation, physical modifications of house spaces and creation and enforcement of specific laws. They recognise children's agility and curiosity, which facilitate the occurrence of accidents. In their practices, they report and suggest vigilance, physical changes at the day care centers, and education, through orientation directed to children, teachers, parents (or care givers), and the community. Therefore, health care professionals should share their 'caring' practice with professionals in the educational area, not only in order to prevent accidents and other human health afflictions, but also to expand concepts that contribute Health Promotion

A methodology for ranking potential pollution caused by abandoned mining wastes: application to sulfide mine tailings in Mazarrón (Southeast Spain)

[EN] Mining wastes often contain high concentrations of toxic elements, whose mobility and dispersion may pose an environmental hazard for soils, water, ecosystems and people. This article describes the partial application of a methodology designed to evaluate the pollution potential of abandoned mining wastes, using two indices for potential pollution evaluation: an index of contamination (IC) and a hazard average quotient (CPP). Composite samples, consisting of at least 30 subsamples, were taken at three sulfidic tailings impoundments in the mining area of Mazarrón (SE Spain). Mineralogical, physical, and chemical characteristics were analyzed: color, particle size, powder XRD analysis, pH, total content of toxic elements, and concentrations in leachates by the standard procedure EN-12457-2. Tailings were extremely acid (pH 2.30–2.52). Some ranges of total content (in mg/kg) were: As (381–565), Pb (2602–4487), Sb (139–170), and Zn (3254–5652). The concentration measured in the EN-12457 leachates (µg/L) was as high as 367,000 for Zn, 2030 for Cu, and 974 for Cd. The IC and CPP values were among the most high of the tailings inventoried in Spain. The combination of the indices provided a good estimation of the potential toxicity of these wastes, and it can be useful to rank abandoned mining waste facilities.This study has benefited from a collaboration agreement with the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism (2010–2012), and from a management entrustment with the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (2012–2013)Peer reviewe

Antibiofilm, Antifouling, and Anticorrosive Biomaterials and Nanomaterials for Marine Applications

Formation of biofilms is one of the most serious problems affecting the integrity of marine structures both onshore and offshore. These biofilms are the key reasons for fouling of marine structures. Biofilm and biofouling cause severe economic loss to the marine industry. It has been estimated that around 10% of fuel is additionally spent when the hull of ship is affected by fouling. However, the prevention and control treatments for biofilms and biofouling of marine structures often involve toxic materials which pose severe threat to the marine environment and are strictly regulated by international maritime conventions. In this context, biomaterials for the treatment of biofilms, fouling, and corrosion of marine structures assume much significance. In recent years, due to the technological advancements, various nanomaterials and nanostructures have revolutionized many of the biological applications including antibiofilm, antifouling, and anticorrosive applications in marine environment. Many of the biomaterials such as furanones and some polypeptides are found to have antibiofilm, antifouling, and anticorrosive potentials. Many of the nanomaterials such as metal (titanium, silver, zinc, copper, etc.) nanoparticles, nanocomposites, bioinspired nanomaterials, and metallic nanotubes were found to exhibit antifouling and anticorrosive applications in marine environment. Both biomaterials and nanomaterials have been used in the control and prevention of biofilms, biofouling, and corrosion in marine structures. In recent years, the biomaterials and nanomaterials were also characterized to have the ability to inhibit bacterial quorum sensing and thereby control biofilm formation, biofouling, and corrosion in marine structures. This chapter would provide an overview of the biomaterials from diverse sources and various category of nanomaterials for their use in antibiofilm, antifouling, and anticorrosion treatments with special reference to marine applications