EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL STRENGTH AFTER COMPRESSION OF METFORMIN 500MG TABLETS PRODUCED BY DIFFERENT WET ROUTES

Objective: This work evaluated the post-compression hardness gain of Metformin tablets made from two granulates of the same formulation, but with different formation principles, one by the fluidized bed and the other in a V-shaped mixer. Methods: The base granulate for the production of the tablets was prepared using Metformin HCL as the main active ingredient. After compression, the prepared tablets were tested with different evaluation parameters like relative humidity, apparent and compacted density, granulometric dispersion, hardness, moisture content, and friability for complete characterization. Results: All prepared samples were within the pre-established humidity ranges (MT1 = 3.31%, MT2 = 2.72%, MT3 = 1.73%, LF1 = 3.25%, LF2 = 2.43% and LF3 = 1.79%). The density determination showed that the granules produced in the fluidized bed are less dense than those of the V mixer. LF2 sample had an apparent density of 0.525 g/ml and a compacted density of 0.546 g/ml, while the MT2 sample had an apparent density of 0.711 g/ml and a compacted density of 0.738 g/ml, corroborating the greater porosity of granules produced in a fluidized bed. It was found that there is a difference in the increase in hardness between the two granulation methods. The tablets manufactured from the granules elaborated in a V-shaped mixer showed a greater gain in comparison with those produced in the fluid bed. The MT1 sample had the highest gain percentage, reaching 99.47%, 48 h after compression. The MT2 sample obtained, for the same time, 76.34%, at a much slower speed than MT1. As for the other samples, all increased between 24 and 42%. These results are justified by the migration of agglutination liquid that occurs during the drying step. Conclusion: This work demonstrated that the product Metformin 500 mg tablet has increased hardness after compression, with most significance in the first hour after the procedure. It was possible to verify that the tablets made from the granules produced in a V-shaped mixer have a greater increase in hardness than those produced by the fluidized bed, in the same humidity range

Evolutionary winners are ecological losers among oceanic island plants

Aim Adaptive radiation, in which successful lineages proliferate by exploiting untapped niche space, provides a popular but potentially misleading characterization of evolution on oceanic islands. Here we analyse the respective roles of members of in situ diversified vs. non-diversified lineages in shaping the main ecosystems of an archipelago to explore the relationship between evolutionary and ecological ‘success’. Location Canary Islands. Taxon Vascular plants. Methods We quantified the abundance/rarity of the native flora according to the geographical range (number of islands where present and geographical extent of the range), habitat breadth (climatic niche) and local abundance (cover) using species distribution data based on 500 × 500 m grid cells and 2000 vegetation inventories located all over the archipelago. Results Species of diversified lineages have significantly smaller geographic ranges, narrower climatic niches and lower local abundances than those of non-diversified lineages. Species rarity increased with the degree of diversification. The diversified Canarian flora is mainly comprised by shrubs. At both archipelagic and island level, the four core ecosystems (Euphorbia scrub, thermophilous woodlands, laurel forest and pine forest) were dominated by non-diversified lineages species, with diversified lineages species providing <25% cover. Species of diversified lineages, although constituting 54% of the archipelagic native flora, were only abundant in two rare ecosystems: high mountain scrub and rock communities. Main conclusions Radiated species, endemic products of in situ speciation, are mostly rare in all three rarity axes and typically do not play an important role in structuring plant communities on the Canaries. The vegetation of the major ecosystem types is dominated by plants representing non-diversified lineages (species that derive from immigration and accumulation), while species of evolutionarily successful lineages are abundant only in marginal habitats and could, therefore, be considered ecological losers. Within this particular oceanic archipelago, and we posit within at least some others, evolutionary success in plants is accomplished predominantly at the margins.publishedVersio

Aplicação dos modelos de Langmuir e Freundlich no estudo da casca de banana como bioadsorvente de cobre (II) em meio aquoso

A contaminação de água por metais pesados ainda é um grande risco de poluição. Diante deste cenário, processos adsortivos e diversos materiais adsorventes têm sido empregados para descontaminação. Dentre os materiais sintéticos e bioadsorventes empregados, os sintéticos são eficientes na remoção de metais em solução aquosa, contudo agregam alto custo comparados aos bioadsorventes. Os bioadsorventes são em geral provenientes de biomassa agroindustrial e vêm se destacando por serem abundantes, renováveis e com custo acessível para remediação de efluentes com metais pesados na forma ionizada. Dentre os bioadsorventes, a casca da banana reúne grupos funcionais capazes de adsorver íons de metais pesados em meio aquoso. Dessa forma, este trabalho descreve o método de preparação e caraterização da farinha da casca de banana (FCB) através das técnicas de Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV), Espectroscopia Dispersiva em Energia de Raios X e Espectroscopia na Região do Infravermelho bem como estudos da capacidade adsortiva desse bioadsorvente para o íon Cu (II) em soluções aquosas. Os estudos de adsorção foram realizados através da avaliação das isotermas experimentais de adsorção em função do tempo de contato, variações do pH, temperatura e concentração de íon Cu (II) na solução pela técnica de batelada. As isotermas experimentais foram submetidas aos modelos matemáticos de isotermas de Langmuir e Freundlich. A capacidade máxima de adsorção alcançada pela FCB foi 15,1 mg de Cu (II) por grama de FCB, pH ajustado em 5 e tempo de saturação bastante rápido, em torno de 10 minutos. A isoterma de Langmuir foi o modelo que melhor se ajustou ao processo adsortivo de cobre (II) pela FCB e o preenchimento dos sítios ativos foi na faixa de 98,7%.  Palavras-chave: Bioadsorvente. Musa spp. Metal pesado. Biorremediaçã

Data from: Signatures of volcanism and aridity in the evolution of an insular pine (Pinus canariensis Chr. Sm. Ex DC in Buch)

Oceanic islands of volcanic origin provide useful templates for the study of evolution because they are subjected to recurrent perturbations that generate steep environmental gradients that may promote adaptation. Here we combine population genetic data from nuclear genes with the analysis of environmental variation and phenotypic data from common gardens to disentangle the confounding effects of demography and selection to identify the factors of importance for the evolution of the insular pine P. canariensis. Eight nuclear genes were partially sequenced in a survey covering the entire species range, and phenotypic traits were measured in four common gardens from contrasting environments. The explanatory power of population substrate age and environmental indices were assessed against molecular and phenotypic diversity estimates. In addition, neutral genetic variability (FST) and the genetic differentiation of phenotypic variation (QST) were compared in order to identify the evolutionary forces acting on these traits. Two key factors in the evolution of the species were identified: (1) recurrent volcanic activity has left an imprint in the genetic diversity of the nuclear genes; (2) aridity in southern slopes promotes local adaptation in the driest localities of P. canariensis, despite high levels of gene flow among populations