Relationship of ozone and its precursors in the West Coast Air Basin of Athens: a statistical model for the assessment of air quality in an urban area

Surface measurements of ozone are correlated to measurement of its precursors (NOx and hydrocarbons) for the period 1986-1989, for the West Coast Air Basin of Athens. We first find that the concentrations of total hydrocarbons (THC) and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) are linearly correlated. We then attempt to express the relationship of ozone to its precursors via polynomial and multiplicative regression models, to find that in all cases ozone variation is explained by the mixing ratios of NOx and non-methane hydrocarbons in conjunction with a meteorological parameter, namely the temperature at the pressure level of 850 hPa. Depending on the regression model, the correlation coefficient increases from 0.73 to 0.98. The satisfactory performance of the regression models support their application for both the assessment of air quality in urban areas and the formulation of localized environmental protection policies. © 1992

Design, synthesis and anti-HBV activity evaluation of new substituted imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines

The design and synthesis of a number of new imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines is described. The heterocyclic scaffold possesses 6-chloro- or 5,6-dichloro-substitution and bears various 2-alkylamino-methyl or ethyl groups. The corresponding N1 and N3-tosylates are also presented. The anti-HBV activity of the compounds was evaluated in HBV infectious system at the level of HBV rcDNA secretion and CC50, EC50 and selectivity index values were determined. The tosylates showed low antiviral potency and relatively high cytotoxicity, on the contrary, a number of 2,5 and/or-6-substituted imidazopyridines, mainly those belonging to the 6-chloroimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine series, were endowed with a very interesting profile and were further investigated. The most promising among them, along with the reduction of the secreted HBV rcDNA, also caused a reduction in HBV cccDNA and pgRNA levels, with a concomitant accumulation of the intracellular encapsidated rcDNA. Surprisingly, the most active 2-diethylaminoethyl-substituted derivative (21d), was highly competitive to interferon. © 2020 Elsevier Inc

Queijo de minas artesanal da Serra da Canastra: influência da altitude das queijarias nas populações de bactérias acidolácticas

Amostras de queijo de minas artesanal foram coletadas em 18 queijarias localizadas em propriedades rurais da região da Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, com o objetivo de avaliar a influência da altitude sobre a população de bactérias acidolácticas. As queijarias estavam distribuídas nas altitudes de 600 a 900m, 900 a 1000m e mais de 1000m. Observaram-se populações mais elevadas de bactérias acidolácticas nas amostras de queijo da altitude de 600 a 900m. Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei e Lactobacillus plantarum foram os principais microrganismos isolados e identificados por PCR ARDRA 16S-23S rDNA, além de Enterococcus spp., Lactococcus spp. e outras espécies de Lactobacillus. Sugere-se que estas espécies estejam adaptadas ao ambiente de produção do queijo de minas artesanal produzido na região, o que resultaria em características sensoriais próprias do produto