Alkaloids in Erythrina

Erythrina species are used in popular medicine as sedative, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive. In this work, we investigated the chemical composition of extracts obtained from leaves of E. falcata and E. crista-galli. The hypotensive potential of E. falcata and the mechanism of action were also studied. The extracts were obtained by maceration and infusion. The total content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids was estimated by spectrophotometric methods. The chemical constituents were studied performing a chromatographic analysis by UPLC-ESI-MS. For in vivo protocols, blood pressure and heart rate were measured by the invasive hemodynamic monitoring method. Different concentrations of extracts and drugs such as L-NAME, losartan, hexamethonium, and propranolol were administrated i.v. The results of total phenolic contents for E. falcata and E. crista-galli were 1.3193–1.4989 mgGAE/mL for maceration and 0.8771–0.9506 mgGAE/mL for infusion. In total flavonoids, the content was 7.7829–8.1976 mg RE/g for maceration and 9.3471–10.4765 RE mg/g for infusion. The chemical composition was based on alkaloids, suggesting the presence of erythristemine, 11β-methoxyglucoerysodine, erysothiopine, 11β-hydroxyerysodine-glucose, and 11-hydroxyerysotinone-rhamnoside. A potent dose-dependent hypotensive effect was observed for E. falcata, which may be related to the route of β-adrenergic receptors

Processamento de Leite Fermentado Probiótico com um Preparado de Albúmen Sólido de Coco Verde.

O coco verde é muito consumido no Brasil, sendo basicamente utilizado na produção da água de coco (albúmen líquido). A água de coco verde corresponde a aproximadamente 25% do peso do fruto in natura, ou seja, a industrialização resulta em uma grande quantidade de resíduo. O albúmen sólido do coco, em geral, é descartado junto com as cascas. Os leites fermentados podem ter adição de outras substâncias alimentícias, tais como sucos, pedaços, preparados ou polpas de frutas em uma concentração máxima de 30% em relação à massa final do produto. A adição de preparados de frutas conferem diferentes experiências sensoriais, agregando valor ao leite fermentado. A utilização do albúmen sólido de coco verde para elaboração um preparado para conferir aroma e sabor de coco verde ao leite fermentado potencialmente probiótico é uma alternativa interessante e viável. A concentração de probióticos no produto varia de 10 8 UFC/g (primeira semana) a 10 6 UFC/g (quarta semana de armazenagem). A quantidade observada até a quarta semana de armazenagem é suficiente para conferir uma possível alegação funcional de probiótico. De acordo com a legislação brasileira, as contagens de Bifidobacterium em leite fermentados devem ficar acima de 10 6 UFC/g (Brasil, 2007). O produto tem uma boa aceitação sensorial, com relação ao sabor, aroma e aceitação global, alcançando nota média de 7,0 em uma escala hedônica de nove pontos. O produto tem pouca pós-acidificação durante estocagem, com uma variação de pH de 4,73 a 4,91 ao longo da estocagem refrigerada. Nesta publicação é descrito o processo para obtenção de um leite fermentado probiótico com adição de 30% de preparado de albúmen sólido de coco verde para agregar valor à esta matéria-prima e conferir sabor e aroma de coco verde ao leite fermentado

Construção de uma bomba peristáltica e de um sistema de detecção utilizando um hardware de código fonte aberto “arduino” para análise em fluxo

This work describes the development of a peristaltic pump and a photometric detector, using “Arduino” and alternative and low-cost materials for flow analysis system. The analytical calibration curve of the acid-red-283 using the proposed system presents 0.9984 and 3.9% as the coefficients of determination and variation, and 1.1 and 3.8 mg L-1 as limits of detection and quantification, respectively. Three prepared samples of the acid-red-283 (25, 30 and 35 mg L-1) showed recovery between 99 to 104%. For construction of the peristaltic pump and the photometer using Light Emitting Diodes (LED), light-dependent resistor (LDR) were spent less than 10% of the cost was spent on a commercial system employing a peristaltic pump and a spectrophotometer. Furthermore, the peristaltic pump and the photometer developed in this work allow the implementation of practical disciplines, such as molecular absorption spectrophotometry and flow analysis system in undergraduate courses, making these instruments more accessible, especially for the chemistry students

DISTRIBUIÇÃO E BIOMASSA DE MACROALGAS EM UM MANGUEZAL DA BAÍA DA BABITONGA, SC: RESULTADOS PRELIMINARES

This work aims to assess distribution and biomass of epiphyte macroalgae of mangrove roots in the Babitonga Bay. The macroalgae were collected monthly in three topographyc levels into the mangrove (Places A, B and C). In each place the collect was stratified in the trees (0 to 10 cm high, 10 to 20 cm , etc). The observed Rhodophyta, from higher to smaller biomass, were: Bostrychia calliptera, Bostrychia pinnata, Bostrychia radicans f. radicans, Bostrychia montagnei, Catenella caespitosa, Caloglossa leprieurii, Bostrychia tenella, Caloglossa ogazawaraensis, Bostrychia radicans f. moniliforme, Bostrychia moritziana, Polysiphonia howei, Bostrychia binderi, Gelidium spp., Polysiphonia tepida. The observed Chlorophyta were: Bloodleopsis pusilla, Cladophoropsis membranacea, Rhizoclonium spp., Ulvaria oxysperma, Enteromorpha spp. There are strong variation on horizontal and vertical biomass and on contribution of each species to total biomass. In the mangrove fringe (place A) the algae occur from 0 to 60 cm high in the trees, the mean biomass along this high varies 30 and 45 g m-2 of substrate. Higher values of biomass occur between 10 and 30 cm high, rising to 75 g m-2. On place B (intermediate tidal flooding) the algae occur from 0 to 30 cm high in the trees, the mean biomass along this high varies 20 and 30 g m-2 of substrate. Higher values of biomass occur between 0 and 10 cm high (50 g m-2 of substrate), but high values may also occur between 10 and 20 cm high. In the inner mangrove (place C) the algae occur from 0 to 20 cm high in the trees, the mean biomass along this high varies 10 and 20 g m-2 of substrate. Like place B, higher values of biomass occur between 0 and 10 cm high (35 g m-2 of substrate), but high values may also occur between 10 and 20 cm high. The green algae, Bloodleopsis pusilla, Cladophoropsis membranacea, Rhizoclonium, and the red algae, Bostrychia montagnei, Caloglossa leprieurii and Caloglossa ogazawaraensis were mainly present from 0 to 10 cm high, and rarely occur above 20 cm. Bostrychia radicans f. radicans presents the most broad distribution, has the higher frequency of occurrence in all places and all strata, and it is the main algae in the upper strata. The higher values of biomass, specially on place A, are due to Bostrychia calliptera and Bostrychia pinnata. This two algae also have a broad vertical and horizontal distribution, but they have higher values from 10 to 30 cm high. The results found until now suggest that macroalgae may be an important component of mangrove primary production. Meanwhile, to evaluate the mangrove magroalgae biomass, we need to include algae epiphytic on pneumatophores. And to evaluate the contribution of these algae to the total primary production of the mangrove, it will be necessary to complement biomass data with ecophysiological experiments, including the responses of growth and photosynthetic rates to environmental factors.Este trabalho tem como objetivo determinar a distribuição e quantificar a biomassa de macroalgas presentes nas raízes e troncos das árvores de manguezal da Baía de Babitonga. Para tal, as macroalgas foram coletadas mensalmente (setembro/1997 a junho/1998) em 3 níveis topográficos dentro do manguezal (Linhas A, B e C). Em cada linha a coleta foi estratificada de acordo com a altura das algas no tronco (0 a 10 cm de altura, 10 a 20 cm , etc). As espécies de Rhodophyta observadas, em ordem decrescente de biomassa, foram: Bostrychia calliptera, Bostrychia pinnata, Bostrychia radicans f. radicans, Bostrychia montagnei, Catenella caespitosa, Caloglossa leprieurii, Bostrychia tenella, Caloglossa ogazawaraensis, Bostrychia radicans f. moniliforme, Bostrychia moritziana, Polysiphonia howei, Bostrychia binderi, Gelidium spp., Polysiphonia tepida. As Chlorophyta são Bloodleopsis pusilla, Cladophoropsis membranacea, Rhizoclonium spp., Ulvaria oxysperma, Enteromorpha spp. Há uma forte variação horizontal e vertical na biomassa e na contribuição de cada espécie para a biomassa total. Na franja do manguezal (linha A) as algas ocupam uma altura de 60 cm, e a biomassa média por tronco varia entre 30 e 45 g m-2 de tronco. A maior biomassa ocorre entre 10 e 30 cm, chegando a 75 g m-2 de tronco. Na porção intermediária (linha B) as algas ocupam uma altura de 30 cm e a biomassa média varia entre 20 e 30 g m-2 de tronco. A biomassa é maior nos primeiros 10 cm (50 g m-2 de tronco), mas pode atingir altos valores também entre 10 e 20 cm. Na porção interna do manguezal (linha C) as algas ocupam uma altura de 20 cm, e a biomassa média varia entre 10 e 20 g m-2 de tronco. Assim como na linha B, a biomassa é maior nos primeiros 10 cm (35 g m-2 de tronco), mas pode atingir altos valores também entre 10 e 20 cm. As algas verdes Bloodleopsis pusilla, Cladophoropsis membranacea, Rhizoclonium, e as algas vermelhas Bostrychia montagnei, Caloglossa leprieurii e Caloglossa ogazawaraensis estão presentes principalmente nos primeiros 10 cm de altura, raramente ocorrendo acima de 20 cm. Bostrychia radicans f. radicans é a alga mais amplamente distribuída, com maior freqüência de ocorrência e a mais abundante na região superior do tronco nas três linhas. As algas que apresentam a maior biomassa, especialmente na linha A, são Bostrychia calliptera e Bostrychia pinnata, que também apresentam distribuição vertical e horizontal ampla, mas são mais abundantes entre 10 e 30 cm de altura. Os resultados obtidos até o momento indicam que as macroalgas podem ser vistas como um componente produtor representativo dentro do manguezal. Entretanto, para uma avaliação da biomassa de macroalgas no manguezal como um todo, é necessário quantificar a biomassa de algas em pneumatóforos. Para avaliar a contribuição destas algas para a produção primária do manguezal, os dados de biomassa devem ser complementados com experimentos de crescimento e produtividade, com relação aos fatores ambientais

Causes of variation in BCG vaccine efficacy: examining evidence from the BCG REVAC cluster randomized trial to explore the masking and the blocking hypotheses.

BCG protection varies and in some places (nearest the equator) is low or absent. Understanding this variation can inform the efforts to develop new vaccines against tuberculosis. Two main hypotheses are used to explain this variation: under masking, new vaccines are unlikely to increase protection; under blocking new vaccines have a greater potential to be effective when BCG is not. We conducted a cluster randomized trial to explored the masking and blocking hypotheses by studying BCG vaccine efficacy of neonatal vaccination and when administered for the first or a second (revaccination) time at school age in two sites (Manaus close and Salvador further south from the equator). Seven hundred and sixty three state schools were matched on socio economic characteristics of the neighborhood and 239,934 children were randomized to vaccine (BCG vaccination at school age) or control group. Protection by first BCG vaccination at school age was high in Salvador (34%, 95% CI 7-53%, p=0.017) but low in Manaus (8%, 95% CI t0 39-40%, p=0.686). For revaccination at school age, protection was modest in Salvador (19%, 95% CI 3-33%, p=0.022) and absent in Manaus (1%, 95% CI to 27-23%, p=0.932). Vaccine efficacy for neonatal vaccination was similar in Salvador (40%, 95% CI 22-54%, p<0.001) and Manaus (36%, 95% CI 11-53%, p=0.008). Variation in BCG efficacy was marked when vaccine was given at school age but absent at birth, which points towards blocking as the dominant mechanism. New tuberculosis vaccines that overcome or by pass this blocking effect could confer protection in situations where BCG is not protective

On the interpretative essence of the term "interaction-free measurement": The role of entanglement

The polemical term "interaction-free measurement" (IFM) is analyzed in its interpretative nature. Two seminal works proposing the term are revisited and their underlying interpretations are assessed. The role played by nonlocal quantum correlations (entanglement) is formally discussed and some controversial conceptions in the original treatments are identified. As a result the term IFM is shown to be consistent neither with the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics nor with the lessons provided by the EPR debate.Comment: accepted in Found. Phy

Hygienisation, gentrification, and urban displacement in Brazil

This article engages recent debates over gentrification and urban displacement in the global South. While researchers increasingly suggest that gentrification is becoming widespread in “Southern” cities, others argue that such analyses overlook important differences in empirical context and privilege EuroAmerican theoretical frameworks. To respond to this debate, in this article, we outline the concept of higienização (hygienisation), arguing that it captures important contextual factors missed by gentrification. Hygienisation is a Brazilian term that describes a particular form of urban displacement, and is directly informed by legacies of colonialism, racial and class stigma, informality, and state violence. Our objective is to show how “Southern” concepts like hygienisation help urban researchers gain better insight into processes of urban displacement, while also responding to recent calls to decentre and provincialise urban theory