N,N′‐Bis(2‐hydroxycyclohexyl)‐N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)ethane‐1,2‐diaminium dichloride

The achiral meso form of the title compound, C₁₈H₃₈N₂O₄²⁺·2Cl⁻, crystallizes to form undulating layers consisting of chains linked via weak hydroxyalkyl C—H...Cl contacts. The chains are characterized by centrosymmetric hydrogen‐bonded dimers generated via N—H...Cl and hydroxycycloalkyl O—H...Cl interactions. trans‐N‐Alkyl bridges subdivide the chains into hydrophilic segments flanked by hydrophobic cycloalkyl stacks along [001].     

Effect of Bee Pollen on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Starch Films

The use of casein, starch and bee pollen as biodegradable materials has been promise. The objective of this work was the development and characterization of films containing casein, pollen and starch. The films were obtained by casting process and the solvent evaporation was performed at 40 °C/24 h. The films characterization was carried out by microscopy, thermal analysis, opacity test, mechanical properties and barrier methods. The starch films presented heterogeneous on microscopy analysis. The thermal behaviors of pollen films were similar. The formulation containing only pollen 3% was unable to form film. The introduction of pollen in starch film formulation improved the mechanical characteristic and thermal stability of films.     

In vitro photodynamic inactivation of Candida spp. growth and adhesion to buccal epithelial cells

In this study, photodynamic inactivation (PDI) was used to inhibit in vitro growth and adhesion of different Candida isolates to buccal epithelial cells (BEC). Experimental conditions were optimized and 25 μM toluidine blue O (TBO) and 15 min of irradiation time by light emitting diode (LED) (energy density of 180 J/cm²) were selected due to higher reductions in cellular viability obtained after treatment. Reduction media of Log₁₀ 3.41 in viable cellular growth and media of 55% in the inhibition of adhesion to buccal epithelial cells were obtained. Two fluconazole resistant isolates were susceptible to PDI (Log₁₀ 3.54 in IB05 and Log₁₀ 1.95 in CG09) and a second session of this treatment for CG09 isolate inhibited cellular viability in 100%, without producing heat. The results permit to conclude that photodynamic inactivation under these experimental conditions would be a possible alternative approach to inhibit Candida spp. cellular growth and adhesion to buccal epithelial cells.     

A Study of the Effects of Aeration and Agitation on the Properties and Production of Xanthan Gum from Crude Glycerin Derived from Biodiesel Using the Response Surface Methodology

The effects of aeration and agitation on the properties and production of xanthan gum from crude glycerin biodiesel (CGB) by Xanthomonas campestris mangiferaeindicae 2103 were investigated and optimized using a response surface methodology. The xanthan gum was produced from CGB in a bioreactor at 28 °C for 120 h. Optimization procedures indicated that 0.97 vvm at 497.76 rpm resulted in a xanthan gum production of 5.59 g L^?1 and 1.05 vvm at 484.75 rpm maximized the biomass to 3.26 g L^?1. Moreover, the combination of 1.05 vvm at 499.40 rpm maximized the viscosity of xanthan at 0.5 % (m/v), 25 °C, and 25 s^?1 (255.40 mPa s). The other responses did not generate predictive models. Low agitation contributed to the increase of xanthan gum production, biomass, viscosity, molecular mass, and the pyruvic acid concentration. Increases in the agitation contributed to the formation of xanthan gum with high mannose concentration. Decreases in the aeration contributed to the xanthan gum production and the formation of biopolymer with high mannose and glucose concentrations. Increases in aeration contributed to increased biomass, viscosity, and formation of xanthan gum with greater resistance to thermal degradation. Overall, aeration and agitation of CGB fermentation significantly influenced the production of xanthan gum and its properties.     

Supercoiled plasmid DNA purification by integrating membrane technology with a monolithic chromatography

The present study describes the integration of membrane technology with monolithic chromatography to obtain plasmid DNA with high quality. Isolation and clarification of plasmid DNA lysate were first conducted by a microfiltration step, by using a hydrophilic nylon microfiltration membrane, avoiding the need of centrifugation. For the total elimination of the remaining impurities, a suitable purification step is required. Monolithic stationary phases have been successfully applied as an alternative to conventional supports. Thus, the sample recovered from the membrane process was applied into a nongrafted CarbonylDiImidazole disk. Throughout the global procedure, a reduced level of impurities such as proteins and RNA was obtained, and no genomic DNA was detectable in the plasmid DNA sample. The chromatographic process demonstrated an efficient performance on supercoiled plasmid DNA purity and recovery (100 and 84.44%, respectively). Thereby, combining the membrane technology to eliminate some impurities from lysate sample with an efficient chromatographic strategy to purify the supercoiled plasmid DNA arises as a powerful approach for industrial‐scale systems aiming at plasmid DNA purification.     

In vitro antibacterial and time-kill assay of ethanolic extract of Davilla nitida bark on multidrug resistant bacteria isolated from diabetic foot lesions

This study reported the antimicrobial activity of the bark extract of Davilla nitida on multidrug resistant bacteria isolated from Diabetic Foot Infections. Antibacterial activity of the bark extract was evaluated by agar Disk-Diffusion (DD), Broth Dilution (BD), Checkerboard and Time-kill methods. The extract showed a significant antibacterial activity against all groups of bacteria tested. BD was more sensitive for determining the antibacterial activity of the bark extract than the DD method. The bark extract inhibited the growth of bacteria with high-levels of antibiotic-resistance, such as Pseudomonas spp. (100.0%), Enterobacer spp. (88.89%), Staphylococcus aureus (54.55%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (75.0%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (92.86%). The combination of extract with antibiotics resulted in an additive effect against most of the strains tested. Time-kill kinetics profiles of bark extract showed bactericidal and time-dependent properties. Our results suggest that the bark extract of Davilla nitida is a source of bioactive compounds, which may be useful against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.     

Chemical composition determination of complex organic-aqueous mixtures of alcohols, acetone, acetonitrile, hydrocarbons and water by near-infrared spectroscopy

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with chemometric techniques has provided fast and precise methods for quality control in the petrochemical industry. In the present work, NIRS multivariate models were used to predict the chemical composition of an organic-aqueous solvent used in an isoprene production plant. The models were developed to predict the mass percent concentration of the components present in the solvent, namely water, acetonitrile, acetone, n-propanol, i-propanol, t-butanol, allyl alcohol and 1,3-dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) plus codimers. Each component concentration was estimated from FT-NIR spectra within the 7300-3900 cm⁻¹ region, using the whole range or only selected regions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for exploratory data analysis and partial least-squares models were employed for calibration based on at least 70 samples. The models’ accuracy, in terms of deviation from the primary method (gas chromatography) results, was also confirmed using external validation sets and expressed by the standard error of prediction (SEP) which ranged from 0.18 to 1.27% (w/w). Therefore, the feasibility of performing the chemical composition analysis required for process control of the isoprene unit solvent has been demonstrated. The simple and fast procedure, based on a single NIR spectrum, was able to differentiate between spectroscopic features of water, hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones and nitrile compounds present in a complex organic-aqueous sample.     

Chemisorption and thermodynamic data of the interaction between a chelate free acidic center with basic groups attached to grafted silicas

The molecule 2-aminoethanethiol was added to the grafted silylant agent [(3-chlorosilylpropyl)trimethoxysilane] (cpts) onto silica gel(triple bond SilCl), obtaining a surface (triple bond SilSNH(2)) and giving 0.70 mmol g(-1) of nitrogen; the surface of silica was modified with [(3-mercaptosilylpropyl)trimethoxysilane] (mpts) with surface (triple bond SilSH), giving 0.78 mmol g(-1) of sulphur. Both matrices, (triple bond SilSNH(2)) and (triple bond SilSH), adsorb copper and cobalt acetylacetonates from ethanolic solution. Adsorption, using a batchwise process, showed that copper chelate was the most adsorbed. The interactions between the basic centers attached to organic chains of these modified silicas with the cations in the chelates Me(acac)(2) [M=Cu and Co] were followed through calorimetric titrations. Exothermic enthalpic results were obtained for the triple bond SilSNH(2) matrix. The spontaneity of these systems was reflected in negative free Gibbs energy and positive from entropic values.     

Effect of Diets,Familial History,and Alternative Therapies on Genomic Instability of Breast Cancer Patients

This study evaluates a correlation between family history, micronutrients intake, and alternative therapies with genetic instability, before and during breast cancer treatment. For this study, a total of 150 women were selected. Among those, 50 women were breast cancer patients on chemotherapy, while 50 breast cancer patients were on radiotherapy, and 50 were healthy females. All the participants signed the informed consent form and answered the public health questionnaire. Samples of buccal epithelial and peripheral blood cells were collected and analyzed through micronucleus and comet assays. The cells were evaluated for apoptosis and DNA damage. Results showed the association of patients’ family history with an increase in toxicogenetic damage before and during cancer therapy. On the other hand, patients with late-onset cancer also presented genetic instability before and during therapy, along with those who did not take sufficient vegetables and alternative therapies. A positive correlation was observed between the genetic instability and alternative therapies, while inverse correlation was recorded with the vegetable consumption. Results clearly explain that the nutritional aspects and alternative therapies influence the genetic instability before and during cancer therapies especially in radiotherapy treated patients. Our data could be used for the monitoring therapies and management of breast cancer patients.

     

NMR assignments and X-ray diffraction spectra for two unusual kaurene diterpenes from Erythroxylum barbatum

The structural characterization of two new, unusual kaurene diterpenes isolated from roots of Erythroxylum barbatum is described. 1D NMR and several 2D shift-correlated NMR pulse sequences (1H,1H-COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY) were used for structure elucidation and the unambiguous 1H and 13C chemical shifts assignments. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was also used to confirm the final relative configuration of the compounds possessing the C-20 methyl and the CH2-15 methylene groups in cis-orientation.