Complexity Measures of Heart-Rate Variability in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with Alternative Pulmonary Capacities

Objective: the complexity of heart-rate variability (HRV) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with different pulmonary capacities was evaluated. Methods: We set these according to their pulmonary capacity, and specifically forced vital capacity (FVC). We split the groups according to FVC (FVC > 50% (n = 29) and FVC < 50% (n = 28)). In ALS, the presence of an FVC below 50% is indicative of noninvasive ventilation with two pressure levels and with the absence of other respiratory symptoms. As the number of subjects per group was different, we applied the unbalanced one-way analysis of variance (uANOVA1) test after three tests of normality, and effect size by Cohen’s d to assess parameter significance. Results: with regard to chaotic global analysis, CFP4 (p < 0.001; d = 0.91), CFP5 (p = 0.0022; d = 0.85), and CFP6 (p = 0.0009; d = 0.92) were enlarged. All entropies significantly increased. Shannon (p = 0.0005; d = 0.98), Renyi (p = 0.0002; d = 1.02), Tsallis (p = 0.0004; d = 0.99), approximate (p = 0.0005; d = 0.97), and sample (p < 0.0001; d = 1.22). Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) (p = 0.0358) and Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD) (p = 0.15) were statistically inconsequential between the two groups. Conclusions: HRV complexity in ALS subjects with different pulmonary capacities increased via chaotic global analysis, especially CFP5 and 3 out of 5 entropies.     

Insights for diastereoselective synthesis of cyclic α-sulfinyl and sulfanyl oximes

The comparison in several reaction conditions for synthesis of nonracemic α-methylsulfinylation of 3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one was achieved. The sulfanylation reactions of 3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one-O-methyloxime and 2-(methylsulfinyl)-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one-O-methyloxime by homogenous reaction medium are reported. The products were obtained in good yields and de. The yields, diastereoselectivity and theoretical calculations to all obtained compounds to support the experimental data are compared and discussed.     

Effects of supplemental UV-A on the development, anatomy and metabolite production of Phyllanthus tenellus cultured in vitro

Phyllanthus tenellus is widely used for its antiviral, analgesic and hepatoprotective properties. Although the production of several chemical classes of secondary metabolites is influenced by UV radiation, particularly phenolic compounds, we also know that UV radiation can result in anatomical and developmental damage. However, the morphological, anatomical and phytochemical changes in response to UV-A exposure are generally understudied in the Phyllanthaceae. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of UV-A radiation on plant development and leaf anatomy, as well as the production of secondary metabolites and the contents of carotenoids and chlorophylls a and b, in P. tenellus. To accomplish this, in vitro cultures of P. tenellus were maintained for 60 days under white light (WL) and WL plus UV-A radiation. Results showed different phenotypic responses under additional UV-A, such as high phenolic metabolite production, increasing dimensions of abaxial epidermis and thickness of palisade parenchyma. Compared to plants cultured under WL, UV-A radiation caused damage to plant morphogenesis, including a reduced number of branches and shoots, consequently reducing the rate of proliferation. On the other hand, geraniin, ellagic acid and carotenoid contents increased after UV-A exposure, indicating that this light source is an important resource for inducing phenolic compounds.     

Using near-infrared overtone regions to determine biodiesel content and adulteration of diesel/biodiesel blends with vegetable oils

This work evaluates the use of near-infrared (NIR) overtone regions to determine biodiesel content, as well potential adulteration with vegetable oil, in diesel/biodiesel blends. For this purpose, NIR spectra (12,000–6300 cm⁻¹) were obtained using three different optical path lengths: 10 mm, 20 mm and 50 mm. Two strategies of regression with variable selection were evaluated: partial least squares (PLS) with significant regression coefficients selected by Jack-Knife algorithm (PLS/JK) and multiple linear regression (MLR) with wavenumber selection by successive projections algorithm (MLR/SPA). For comparison, the results obtained by using PLS full-spectrum models are also presented. In addition, the performance of models using NIR (1.0 mm optical path length, 9000–4000 cm⁻¹) and MIR (UATR – universal attenuated total reflectance, 4000–650 cm⁻¹) spectral regions was also investigated. The results demonstrated the potential of overtone regions with MLR/SPA regression strategy to determine biodiesel content in diesel/biodiesel blends, considering the possible presence of raw oil as a contaminant. This strategy is simple, fast and uses a fewer number of spectral variables. Considering this, the overtone regions can be useful to develop low cost instruments for quality control of diesel/biodiesel blends, considering the lower cost of optical components for this spectral region.     

New Imatinib Derivatives with Antiproliferative Activity against A549 and K562 Cancer Cells

Tyrosine kinase enzymes are among the primary molecular targets for the treatment of some human neoplasms, such as those in lung cancer and chronic myeloid leukemia. Mutations in the enzyme domain can cause resistance and new inhibitors capable of circumventing these mutations are highly desired. The objective of this work was to synthesize and evaluate the antiproliferative ability of ten new analogs that contain isatins and the phenylamino-pyrimidine pyridine (PAPP) skeleton, the main pharmacophore group of imatinib. The 1,2,3-triazole core was used as a spacer in the derivatives through a click chemistry reaction and gave good yields. All the analogs were tested against A549 and K562 cells, lung cancer and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell lines, respectively. In A549 cells, the 3,3-difluorinated compound (3a), the 5-chloro-3,3-difluorinated compound (3c) and the 5-bromo-3,3-difluorinated compound (3d) showed IC₅₀ values of 7.2, 6.4, and 7.3 μM, respectively, and were all more potent than imatinib (IC₅₀ of 65.4 μM). In K562 cells, the 3,3-difluoro-5-methylated compound (3b) decreased cell viability to 57.5% and, at 10 µM, showed an IC₅₀ value of 35.8 μM (imatinib, IC₅₀ = 0.08 μM). The results suggest that 3a, 3c, and 3d can be used as prototypes for the development of more potent and selective derivatives against lung cancer.     

The discretized flow on domains of attraction: a structural stability result

It is well known that, for stepsize sufficiently small, compactattractors of ordinary differential equations persist underdiscretization. The present paper describes the structure ofthe discrete-time dynamical system obtained via discretizationon A(M_h)\M_h where M_h is the approximate attractor and A(M_h)is its domain of attraction. The existence of a smooth embeddinginto a continuous-time parallelizable flow is proved. The constructioncan be used to define sections for discretizations and can beinterpreted as a justification of the method of modified equations.     

Exact solutions in Brans-Dicke theory with bulk viscosity

The effect of bulk viscosity on the evolution of the homogeneous and isotropic cosmological models in the Brans-Dicke theory of gravitation is studied. Solutions are found, with a baratropic equation of state, a time-independent bulk viscosity, the gravitational constant inversely proportional to the age of the universe, and the mass of the universe (in the closed model) proportional to the square of its age; the expansion factor is a linear function of the cosmological time. For flat space, power law expansions are found, among them one that is related to extended inflation.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of N,N-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine derivatives. Useful ligands in coordination chemistry

Microwave-assisted synthesis of the ligands N,N-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (BMPA), N-(methylpropanoate)-N,N-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (MPBMPA), N-(propanamide)-N,N-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (PABMPA), PNBMPA (N-(3-propionitrile)-N,N-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine), N-(3-aminopropyl)-N,N-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (APBMPA), and lithium N-(proponoate)-N,N-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (LiPBMPA) are reported. High yields and short reaction time were obtained for condensation and Michael addition.     

Analytical curve or standard addition method: how to elect and design--a strategy applied to copper determination in sugarcane spirits using AAS

In most instrumental analysis, the analyte concentration is usually obtained the by Analytical Curve Method (ACM) or Standard Addition Method (SAM). Thus, it is important for the analyst to select the most appropriate method, to seek the best conditions of analysis, and to provide parameters of analytical performance. A strategy to do so is proposed in this paper in conjunction with MATLAB software to implement it. The proposed strategy was applied to copper determination by atomic absorption spectrometry in Brazilian sugarcane spirits termed 'Cacha?a' and SAM was chosen as the most appropriate method. To select the best experimental design for SAM, the influence of some factors, such as the number of standard additions and concentration levels, the location of the levels and the average concentration of the standard additions were demonstrated. The design with six standard additions, four concentration levels located near the inferior and superior levels and the average concentration of the standard additions closer to zero yielded SAM with an adequate compromise between precision, cost and time of analysis. The uniform distribution of concentration levels, usually used in routine analysis, is not a good design regarding precision. On the other hand, it is adequate when the linear range is unknown. Generally, the proposed strategy can be applied to different instrumental techniques and samples, which aim to improve their analytical performance.     

Absorption and photoluminescence of Buriti oil/polystyrene and Buriti oil/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

This work reports the preparation and characterization of Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L.) oil/polystyrene (PS) and Buriti oil/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends. The Buriti is an abundant palm tree of the Amazon region. This oil was used because of its chemical composition (high concentrations of oleic acid, tocopherols and carotenoids, especially β-carotene) and interesting optical properties, such as absorption and photoluminescence. The incorporation of the vegetable oil in the PS and PMMA matrices renders orange-colored blends, which were verified to absorb UV-Vis radiation and emit light in the green region. The intensity of these properties is proportional to the oil content in the samples. Micrographs of the blends showed that the oil is located in cavities distributed in the polymeric matrices. This work shows that it is possible to employ the Buriti oil, a cheaper and abundant natural resource, to improve absorption and light emission properties of PS and PMMA polymers.