Photosynthesis Assessment in Microphytobenthos Using Conventional and Imaging Pulse Amplitude Modulation Fluorometry

Imaging pulse amplitude modulated (Imaging‐PAM) fluorometry is a breakthrough in the study of spatial heterogeneity of photosynthetic assemblages. However, Imaging and conventional PAM uses a different technology, making comparisons between these techniques doubtful. Thereby, photosynthetic processes were comparatively assessed using conventional (Junior PAM and PAM 101) and Imaging‐PAM on intertidal microphytobenthos (MPB; mud and sand) and on cork oak leaves. Lower values of α (initial slope of the rETR, relative photosynthetic electron transport rate) vs E (incident photosynthetic active radiation) curve), ETR_max (maximum relative ETR), E_k (light saturation parameter) and F_v/F_m (maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II of dark‐adapted samples) were obtained using the Imaging‐PAM. The level of discrepancy between conventional and Imaging‐PAM systems was dependent on the type of sample, being more pronounced for MPB muddy sediments. This may be explained by differences in the depth integration of the fluorescence signal related to the thickness of the photosynthetic layer and in the light attenuation coefficients of downwelling irradiance. An additional relevant parameter is the taxonomic composition of the MPB, as cyanobacteria present in sandy sediments rendered different results with red and blue excitation light fluorometers. These findings emphasize the caution needed when interpreting chlorophyll fluorescence data of MPB communities.     

Study of stability and drug-excipient compatibility of diethylcarbamazine citrate

Diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) is the main drug used in the lymphatic filariasis treatment. This study aimed to evaluate drug-excipient compatibility of binary mixtures (BMs) (1:1, w/w), initially by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and subsequently, if there were any interaction evidence, by complementary techniques, such as thermogravimetric (TG), non-isothermal kinetics, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). For the analyses of the BMs by DSC, we selected those with Tabletose^®, representing the excipients containing lactose, polivinilpirrolidona (PVP), and magnesium stearate (MgS). The additional analyses by FT-IR and XRD showed no interaction evidence. The TG curves of DEC–Tabletose^® showed no signs of interaction, unlike the TG curves of PVP and MgS, confirming the results of non-isothermal kinetics, in which the BMs with PVP and MgS decreased the reaction activation energy. Thus, it was concluded after evaluation that the excipients, especially the PVP and MgS, should be avoided.     

Columnar mesomorphism of bent-rod mesogens containing 1,2,4-oxadiazole rings

In this study, the synthesis, characterization, and mesomorphic properties of ten new bent-rod compounds containing two units of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles are reported. In order to understand the relationship between the structure and the mesomorphic behavior, molecules containing a variety of polar substituents (i.e., I, NO₂, NH₂, OH) on the central rigid core were prepared. The hexagonal columnar mesomorphism was characterized by DSC and POM and the nature of the mesophases was established through XRD studies. The driving force for self-assembly can be explained by microsegregation between the aliphatic parts and the polar parts, producing a dimer, trimer, and tetramer inside a single disc.     

Electrochemical Determination of Norepinephrine on Cathodically Pretreated Poly(1,5‐diaminonaphthalene) Modified Electrode

A sensitive and simple electrochemical method for norepinephrine (NE) determination was developed based on a poly(1,5‐diaminonaphthalene) film electrode (PDAN). Cathodically pretreated PDAN presents good selectivity, sensitivity, and reproducibility for NE. The polymer film can be easily electropolymerized onto a platinum electrode by cyclic voltammetry in 1.0 M HClO₄. A cathodic pretreatment, consisting of the application of a potential of ?0.7 V for 3 s (vs. Ag/AgCl) to PDAN before each voltammetric measurement, enhanced the electrochemical activity of NE with no inference of ascorbic acid (AA). In optimized conditions, PDAN presents linear responses for NE in the range of 9.90 to 90.9 µM by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with a detection limit of 1.82 µM. A relative standard deviation of 3.0 % was obtained for 10 consecutive measurements of 40.0 µM NE solutions. The cathodically pretreated PDAN was successfully applied for NE determination in pharmaceutical formulation samples.     

Biopesticide Encapsulation Using Supercritical CO2: A Comprehensive Review and Potential Applications

As an alternative to synthetic pesticides, natural chemistries from living organisms, are not harmful to nontarget organisms and the environment, can be used as biopesticides, nontarget. However, to reduce the reactivity of active ingredients, avoid undesired reactions, protect from physical stress, and control or lower the release rate, encapsulation processes can be applied to biopesticides. In this review, the advantages and disadvantages of the most common encapsulation processes for biopesticides are discussed. The use of supercritical fluid technology (SFT), mainly carbon dioxide (CO₂), to encapsulate biopesticides is highlighted, as they reduce the use of organic solvents, have simpler separation processes, and achieve high-purity particles. This review also presents challenges to be surpassed and the lack of application of SFT for biopesticides in the published literature is discussed to evaluate its potential and prospects.     

Chemical Composition,Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic/Cytoprotective Activity of Non-Polar Extracts of Grape (Vitis labrusca cv. Bordeaux) and Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) Seeds

The aim of this study was to compare the influence of the extraction method, chemical composition, antimicrobial effects, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity on human cells of the non-polar extracts of grape (Vitis labrusca) and blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) seeds. The Soxhlet (Sox), Bligh–Dyer (BD), and ultrasound (US) methods were used for extractions. For blackberry non-polar seed extract, extraction via the BD method showed the highest mean values of total phenolic content (TPC), expressed in milligrams of gallic acid equivalent per 100 mL of non-polar seed extracts (102.37 mg GAE/100 mL), and higher antioxidant activity in relation to the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, expressed in milligrams of gallic acid equivalent per 100 mL of non-polar seed extracts (11.50 mg AAE/100 mL), if compared with the Sox and US extractions. Similar results were obtained for the non-polar grape seed extracts, where BD extraction obtained the highest values for TPC (28.61 mg GAE/100 mL) and DPPH (35.36 mg AAE/100 mL). The type of extraction method had an impact on the composition of fatty acids. Only the non-polar blackberry and grape seed extracts obtained via the Sox method showed some in vitro inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli (IAL 2064) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 13565). Regardless of the extraction method used, the non-polar blackberry and grape seed extracts did not decrease the cell viability (IC₅₀ >1000 µg/mL) of cancer and normal cell lines, thus indicating the relative safety of the extracts. All the seed extracts decreased the generation of reactive oxygen species in the cell lines. Blackberry and grape seed lipid fractions can be utilized as antioxidants, and the extraction methods used cause significant changes in relation to their bioactivity and chemical composition.     

Almost perfect transport of an entangled two-qubit state through a spin chain

We show that using a slightly modified XX model for a spin-1/2 chain, one can transmit almost perfectly a maximally entangled two-qubit state from one end of the chain to the other one. This is accomplished without external fields or modulation of the coupling constants among the qubits. We also show that this strategy works for any size of the chain and is relatively robust to imperfections in the coupling constants among the qubits belonging to the chain. Actually, under certain scenarios of small disorder, we obtain better results than those predicted by the optimal ordered and noiseless case.     

Lexicographic optimization for the multi-container loading problem with open dimensions for a shoe manufacturer

4OR - Motivated by a real-world application, we present a multi-container loading problem with 3-open dimensions. We formulate it as a biobjective mixed-integer nonlinear program with lexicographic...     

β-Cyclodextrin PAMAM Dendrimer Surface Doped with Silver and Hexacyanoferrate (III) and its Applications for Dopamine Detection in Synthetic Samples

A synthesis of β-cyclodextrin (β-Cd) functionalized with polyamide dendrimer PAMAM G.0 complexed with silver and potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) forming a mixed-valence complex (β-Cd-PAMAM-Ag/Fe) was proposed. This material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (EDS) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). The hybrid complex was electrochemically investigated using cyclic voltammetry and some parameters (electrolyte, concentration of electrolyte, pH and scan rate) were evaluate in order to obtain optimum analytical responses. The β-Cd-PAMAM-Ag/Fe material was successfully applied in the electrocatalytic oxidation of dopamine (DOP) using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Square Wave Voltammetry (SWV).