The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, in Madeira Island

The environmental conditions in Madeira Island are favorable for the presence and dissemination of the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Five hundred Pinus pinaster wood samples were collected in several forest areas and PWN was detected in 22.8 % of the samples. Bursaphelenchus xylophilus isolates from Madeira Island displayed the species-specific diagnostic characters. A morphological variation in the female tail terminus was detected. In most females, the tail presented a broadly rounded terminus and, occasionally, a digitate terminus with a terminal nipple-like extension resembling a mucro. PCR ITS-RFLP analysis revealed that Madeira Island isolates exhibited patterns specific to the species B. xylophilus and similar to virulent isolates. Amplified ITS regions were further sequenced and no genetic diversity was found for this genomic region among 17 Portuguese isolates (Madeira Island and Continental Portugal). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Portuguese isolates grouped with isolates from China, Korea and one isolate from Japa

Solubilities of some new refrigerants in water

Solubility data for the refrigerants HFC23 (CHF3), HFC32 (CH2F2) and HFC125 (C2HF5) in water have been determined as a function of the temperature in the range of temperatures 288-303 K at atmospheric pressure. These hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are good substitutes of the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which have significant impact to stratospheric ozone depletion.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TG2-4177PK4-7/1/12019e8daebba6ccc7515753953406a

Fenton-type heterogeneous catalysts based in zeolites for water treatment

Water pollution is one of the most important environmental problems in the world. Large amounts of synthetic organic contaminants are released daily into different types of wastewaters and ultimately enter into natural water bodies. It is well known the vast majority of these compounds are persistent organic pollutants, owing to their high stability to sunlight irradiation and resistance to microbial attack. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been demonstrated to achieve good results for the elimination of organic pollutants from wastewater with very short treatment times. Fenton-type heterogeneous processes have received much attention for their low cost, high efficiency, and moderate conditions among these AOPs.1 In heterogeneous Fenton-type catalysis, iron (or other transition metals) is stabilized on/in the catalysts structure and thus can reduce hydroxide precipitation over a wider pH range.2 This work report the preparation of bimetallic heterogeneous catalysts based in NaY zeolite with Fe, Cu and Mn by ion-exchange method using different routes (Figure 1). Different characterization techniques show that the metals are cationic and show higher oxidation efficiency against the azo dyes, tartrazine and procion yellow, and the order of metal ion exchanging are important to improve their catalytic activity. The prepared bimetallic catalysts can be used at least three times without a significant loss of catalytic activity, proving to have a very high stability.We thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia for financial support through Centre of Chemistry (UID/QUI/00686/2013 and UID/QUI/0686/2016) and BioTecNorte (operation NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004), and the INAGBE (Instituto Nacional de Gestão de Bolsas de Estudo, Angola) for the PhD grant of BLCS.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Infectious risk of elderly patients on peritoneal dialysis: Experience of a portuguese center

Background: The goal of this study was to compare the risk of peritoneal dialysis‑related infections in younger and older patients and to identify risk factors for infection in elderly patients. Methods: We performed a longitudinal retrospective study on a population of Portuguese peritoneal dialysis patients treated at the same center between January 2005 and December 2015. Clinical and laboratory data were collected from medical reports. Two groups of patients were compared: non elderly (< 65 years) and elderly (≥ 65 years). Results: Among 100 patients, there were 73 non elderly (median age 52 years) and 27 elderly (median age 74 years). Elderly patients were not associated with higher PD‑infection rates or with less time to PD‑related infections. Cerebrovascular disease was the only significant adverse predictor of peritonitis in elderly (crude HR 3.8; 95% CI 1.10 to 13.34; P = 0.035) and those with higher levels of serum albumin were less likely to develop peritonitis (crude HR 0.47 per each g/dl of increase; 95% CI 0.24 to 0.89; P = 0.023). Conclusions: In our study, elderly patients did not present a greater risk for peritonitis or catheter‑related infections.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ZIF-8 materials as heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts for degradation of pollutants in water

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) is a subclass of metalorganic frameworks (MOFs) formed by inorganic connectors and imidazolate organic linkers, topologically isomorphic with zeolites. Compared with other conventional inorganic porous materials, they have potential application in gas storage, adsorption separation and catalysis. Water pollution has become a worldwide issue, and sustainable processes are need. Fenton-type reaction is considered a promising, economical, sustainable method and that can be used to eliminate toxic and harmful substances in water, such as Tartrazine. Zeolite imidazole framework- 8-modified with different metal ratios was successfully synthesized to activate the hydrogen peroxide for the degradation of Tartrazine in open air by the Fenton-type reaction. Furthermore, the catalysts were characterized in order to understanding the catalytic activity's behavior of the materials. ZIF-8 could be regenerated easily and the reusability could be well maintained for at least three runs.We thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia for financial support through Centre of Chemistry (UID/QUI/0686/2020) and BioTecNorte (operation NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

PVT Property Measurements for Ethyl Propionate, Ethyl Butyrate, and Ethyl Pentanoate Esters from (298 to 393) K and up to 35 MPa

The results of PVT measurements of the liquid phase within the temperature range (298 to 393) K and up to 35 MPa are presented for some aliphatic esters. Measurements were made by means of a vibrating tube densimeter, model DMA 512P from Anton Parr. The calibration of the densimeter was performed with water and n-heptane as reference fluids. The experimental PVT data have been correlated by a Tait equation. This equation gives good results when used to predict the density of the esters using the method proposed by Thomson et al. Isothermal compressibilities, isobaric expansivities, thermal pressure coefficients, and changes in the isobaric heat capacity have been calculated from the Tait equation

Encapsulated pyridazine Cr(III) complexes prepared from biosorbents supported in zeolites

The encapsulation of a pyridazine Cr(III) complex was prepared from a robust biosorption system consisting of a bacterial biofilm supported on NaY or NaX zeolites. The maximum removal efficiency was 20% for Cr in both systems based in NaY or NaX. The bacterial biofilm, Arthrobacter viscosus, supported on the zeolite reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The Cr(III) is retained in the zeolite by ion exchange. These occluded complexes were characterized by chemical analysis, spectroscopic methods (FTIR and UV/Vis) and surface analysis (DRX). The various techniques of characterization used show that the Cr(III) complex was effectively encapsulated in the zeolite and this process does not modified the morphology and structure of the NaY/NaX zeolites. These materials have potential applications in heterogeneous catalysis in mild conditions.Departamento de Ciências da Terra of Universidade do Minho; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

NIVEIS DE SUPERÓXIDO DISMUTASE REVELAM STRESS OXIDATIVO AUMENTADO NA POLINEUROPATIA AMILOIDÓTICA FAMILIAR

NIVEIS DE SUPERÓXIDO DISMUTASE REVELAM STRESS OXIDATIVO AUMENTADO NA POLINEUROPATIA AMILOIDÓTICA FAMILIAR Henrique Reguengo1,2, Maria Luís Cardoso2, Teresa Coelho3, Ana Martins3, Marta Novais3, Madalena Cruz1, Isabel Fonseca3, Berta Martins4, Franklim Marques2 1Serviço de Química Clínica, HSA/CHP, 2FFUP, 3Unidade Clínica de Paramiloidose, HSA/CHP, 4Laboratório de Imunogenética, ICBAS/UP. Hospital de Santo António, Centro Hospitalar do Porto (HSA/CHP), Porto. Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto (FF/UP), Porto. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto (ICBAS/UP), Porto. Introdução A polineuropatia amiloidótica familiar (PAF) é provocada por mutações no gene da transtirretina, principalmente em resultado da mutação TTRv30M no caso de Portugal. Estudos recentes em vários tipos de amiloidoses revelam que o stress oxidativo pode estar envolvido quer na produção das fibrilas de proteína amilóide, quer na modificações pós formação das fibrilas. A enzima superóxido dismutase (SOD) desempenha um importante papel antioxidante que protege as células expostas aos radicais superóxido. O presente estudo pretendeu avaliar o stress oxidativo nesta patologia. Material e Métodos A amostra em estudo incluiu 40 doentes com PAF e 45 portadores assintomáticos da mutação, seguidos habitualmente na Unidade Clínica de Paramiloidose do CHP. Foi ainda considerado um grupo controlo de 26 indivíduos saudáveis. Avaliou-se a concentração de SOD intra-eritocitária com um método colorimétrico disponível no KIT RANSOD ref SD 125 da Randox. A análise estatística foi efectuada utilizando o software SPSS, versão 19. Resultados Os valores de SOD obtidos foram os seguintes: Controlos: (1208±254 U/g Hb), Portadores assintomáticos (1436±62 U/g Hb), Doentes com PAF (1455±350 U/g Hb). Os valores resultaram da média de três réplicas. Os valores de SOD foram significativamente mais elevados no grupo de doentes com PAF e nos portadores assintomáticos, comparativamente ao grupo controlo (respectivamente P=0.003 e P=0.013). Não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os doentes com PAF e os portadores assintomáticos. No grupo de doentes com PAF verificou-se uma correlação positiva significativa entre os valores de SOD e Proteína C reactiva (r=0.45, P =0.013). Conclusão A alteração da concentração da SOD nos doentes com PAF sugere uma maior exposição dos mesmos a fenómenos de stress oxidativo comparativamente ao grupo controlo. Dado que este fenómeno pode ter influência quer no despoletar, quer no curso da patologia da doença, justifica-se uma maior atenção e estudo deste fenómeno nestes doentes. Apresentador: Henrique Reguengo, Técnico Superior de Saúde, Serviço de Quimica Clínica, HSA/CHP; Aluno de Doutoramento em Ciências Farmacêuticas, FF/UP

Box-Behnken Design for optimization of Fenton-type reaction for water treatment using heterogeneous catalysts

Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was widely used in numerous research works for the optimization of different processes for liquid effluents treatment, since water pollution is one of the most serious environmental problem concerning human health and sustainability.1,2 RSM is a statistical technique applied to reduce the number of experiments, optimize and analyze the experimental independent parameters, that affect a process efficiency, and to generate a mathematical model which describes the process behavior.1,3 In this work, Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used for optimize the Fenton-type reaction using different bimetallic catalysts based in Rare Earth Elements with iron ion exchanged in zeolite (NaY) or a natural clay from Morocco. The effect of different experimental parameters such as, temperature, concentration of H2O2 and the heterogeneous catalysis used, was studied and optimized.We thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia for financial support through Centre of Chemistry (UID/QUI/00686/2013 and UID/QUI/0686/2016) and BioTecNorte (operation NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Synthesis and immobilization of molybdenum complex in a pillared layered clay

New molecular systems based on donor/acceptor groups connected by π-conjugated bridge, trans-[MoF(NNC7H6SO2)(Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)2][BF4], have been synthesized. This complex with nonlinear optical (NLO) applications was immobilized by an adsorption process from liquid phase, in the interlayer of a pillared clay (PILC). The metal complex and the new materials were characterized by thermal analysis (DSC), chemical analysis, surface techniques (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption isotherms, spectroscopic methods (NMR, FT-IR and UV/Vis) and electrochemical measurements. The studies of the electrochemical and the spectroscopic properties of the complex show interactions between donor and acceptor groups across the conjugated bridge. The results obtained from the studies using different techniques of analysis confirm that the molybdenum complex was effectively immobilized in the host matrix and this process does not modify the morphology or structure of the PILC upon metal complex loading.Dr. Carmen Serra Rodrigues (C.A.C.T.I., Vigo University, Spain) is gratefully acknowledged for performing and analyzing the XPS measurements. We thank António Souza Azevedo for collecting the powder diffraction data. This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) through project POCTI/42931/QUI/2001.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio