The spin-S Blume-Capel RG flow diagram

Using the finite-size scaling renormalization group, we obtain the two-dimensional flow diagram of the Blume-Capel model forS=1 andS=3/2. In the first case our results are similar to those of mean-field theory, which predicts the existence of first- and second-order transitions with a tricritical point. In the second case, however, our results are different. While we obtain in theS=1 case a phase diagram presenting a multicritical point, the mean-field approach predicts only a second-order transition and a critical endpoint.     

Natural and artificial radionuclides in soils from Paraná State,Brazil

Soil samples from Paraná State, Brazil, were collected in 1991 and compared with others collected at the same location in March 1977 and at the end of 1983. Pedological analyses were practiced on these samples and¹³⁷Cs and²³²Th,²²⁶Ra and⁴⁰K activities were determined by gammaray spectrometry. A latitude dependence of¹³⁷Cs was found as well. It was impossible to determine the¹³⁷Cs contribution from Chernobyl nuclear accident because of low fallout and intense leaching, erosion and re-suspension in soils of regions with high annual precipitation. Natural radionuclides did not show such effects.     

Determination of the Enthalpies of Vaporization of Cyclic Organic Peroxides by Correlation of Changes in Gas Chromatographic Retention Times

Liquid and solid cyclic peroxides derived from aliphatic ketones are explosive materials so their enthalpies of vaporization and other thermodynamic or condensed-phase properties cannot be measured directly. In this work the enthalpies of vaporization of peroxides at 298.15 K were estimated simply from gas chromatographic retention times measured at different temperatures. The technique correlates changes in the retention times of compounds whose enthalpies of vaporization are known (called the reference series), with those of the compounds of interest. If t _R′ is the adjusted retention time (retention time of each compound minus the retention time of unretained diethyl ether, used as solvent) a plot of ln t _R′ against 1/T for each compound (reference compounds and cyclic peroxides) results in a straight line (r ² > 0.99 for all compounds). The enthalpy of transfer from solution to the vapor state (Δ_sol^g H _m) can be obtained by multiplying the slope by the gas constant (R). A second plot correlates the enthalpies of transfer from solution to the vapor state (Δ_sol^g H _m), as measured by gas–liquid chromatography (GLC), with enthalpies of vaporization of reference materials (Δ_vap H _m at 298.15 K) available in the literature. C₉–C₁₅ fatty acid methyl esters and hydrocarbons were used as reference compounds. The enthalpies of vaporization of the cyclic organic peroxides were calculated from the equation of the line obtained in this second correlation, the slope of which was Δ_vap H _m (at 298.15 K)/Δ^g _sol H _m. The experiments were performed under isothermal conditions with a DB-5 capillary column, flame-ionization detection (FID), and nitrogen as carrier gas. The column temperature was varied over a range of at least 30–70 K between 403 and 473 K, with chromatograms being acquired at 10 K intervals. Enthalpies of vaporization of cyclic organic peroxides are not available in the literature, and the values given in this paper, obtained by gas chromatography, are the first to be reported.     

Characterization and decomposition mechanism of an unusual nickel, thiocyanate and 4-methylpyridine polymeric complex

The synthesis, characterization, and thermal decomposition of the [Ni(SCN)₂(H⁺SCN)₂(4-mepy)₂] compound with an octahedral structure in polymeric chain were reported, in which SCN groups form bridges among Ni(II) ions. The compound decomposes in water resulting in a pH<4 solution. The FT-IR spectrum presented doublet bands at 2117; 2128 cm⁻¹, 788; 773 cm⁻¹ assigned to ν(C---N) and ν(C---S) stretching modes, respectively, and δ(SCN) deformation modes at 468; 476 cm⁻¹. The Raman spectrum of the compound presented the ν(C---N) stretching as a strong doublet at 2122; 2128 cm⁻¹, ν(C---S) at 783; 770 cm⁻¹, and δ(SCN) at 468; 477 cm⁻¹. No significant changes were observed in the 4-mepy ligand bands compared with the vibrational frequencies of the pure compound or the compound in aqueous solution 0.2 mol l⁻¹. The crystal UV–vis reflectance spectrum presented two bands centered in 626 and 424 nm tentatively assigned to the d→d type transitions, ³A_2g→³T_1g and ³A_2g→³T_1g, for a symmetry close to O_h. The TG curve showed a mass loss between 120 and 200 °C assigned to the loss of the two 4-mepy molecules; from 200 to 265 °C, the loss of the two H⁺SCN groups; and from 265 to 450 °C, the loss of the two SCN groups that formed the bridges among the nickel atoms. Based on these mass loss data, a mechanism of thermal decomposition for the compound was proposed.     

Lipid-Based Nanostructures for the Delivery of Natural Antimicrobials

Encapsulation can be a suitable strategy to protect natural antimicrobial substances against some harsh conditions of processing and storage and to provide efficient formulations for antimicrobial delivery. Lipid-based nanostructures, including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), and nanostructured lipid nanocarriers (NLCs), are valuable systems for the delivery and controlled release of natural antimicrobial substances. These nanostructures have been used as carriers for bacteriocins and other antimicrobial peptides, antimicrobial enzymes, essential oils, and antimicrobial phytochemicals. Most studies are conducted with liposomes, although the potential of SLNs and NLCs as antimicrobial nanocarriers is not yet fully established. Some studies reveal that lipid-based formulations can be used for co-encapsulation of natural antimicrobials, improving their potential to control microbial pathogens.     

A liquid-liquid extraction procedure followed by a low temperature purification step for the analysis of macrocyclic lactones in milk by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and fluorescence detection

In this work a method is proposed and demonstrated for the analysis of the macrocyclic lactones abamectin, doramectin, eprinomectin, ivermectin and moxidectin in bovine milk by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FL). The method is based on liquid-liquid extraction followed by a low temperature purification (LLE-LTP) step. Moreover, the proposed method was validated according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC, using LC-MS/MS and LC-FL for confirmatory and quantitative analysis, respectively. For LC-MS/MS the recovery rates observed ranged from 101.2 to 141.6% with coefficient of variation from 2.6 to 19.8%. For LC-FL the recovery rates observed ranged from 100.2 to 105% and coefficient of variations from 2.9 to 8.8%. Matrix effects were negligible due to the low temperature purification step. The quantification limits were far below the maximum limits established by regulations of all countries consulted. The proposed method proved to be simple, easy, and adequate for high-throughput analysis of a large number of samples per day at low cost.     

Fluorescent tetraruthenated porphyrins embedded in monolithic SiO2 gels by the sol-gel process

In this work silica gels have been prepared by a sol-gel method using tetraethylorthosilicate as gel precursor. The tetraruthenated porphyrins H2(3-TRPyP), Co(3-TRPyP), and H2(4-TRPyP) were incorporated into the systems during gel formation without problems commonly found in the process, such as aggregation. Spectroscopic studies of the resulting silica gels revealed the presence of absorption bands in the range 200-400 nm associated with the transitions of the groups ruthenium-bipyridine, along with the Soret band at the same wavelengths observed in solution. The porphyrins were found to preserve fluorescence emission properties in the range 650-700 nm even after the aging period. Study of the thermal behavior and decomposition kinetics evidenced that the porphyrin H2(4-TRPyP) is the least stable of the group and that all compounds decompose according to first-order kinetics.     

Novel betulin derivatives inhibit IFN-γ and modulates COX-2 expression

Abstract

Betulin (BE) is a pentacyclic triterpenes, obtained from natural sources and with several biological activities described, such as anti-tumoral and anti-inflammatory activities. The BE esterification at hydroxyl group (C-3 and C-28) resulted in five new ester derivatives with different numbers of carbons or halogens (chlorine and fluorine). Among these BE derivatives, two (2a e 2c) were able to significantly decrease IFN-g (*p?=?0.0391; **p?=?0.0156) and 2c modulated the expression of COX-2 better than Dexamethasone (DEXA). Regarding to cytotoxic assay, the best results were obtained for BE without modifications, with emphasis on tumoral cell lines Raji and MCF-7. The derivatives 2a and 2c showed immunomodulation activity (for the cytokines IFN-g). The presence of chorine in BE seems to be important for the ability of modulate COX-2 expression, since the ester chloride derivative 2c at 100?μM is more powerful inhibitor of COX-2 than DEXA.