Quassinoids from Picrasma crenata

From woods of Picrasma crenata, a new stereoisomer dihydronorneoquassin was obtained together with others well knowns dihydronorneoquassin, parain, alpha-neoquassin, beta-neoquassin and quassin. The structures were determined by spectroscopic data and chemical evidence.     

Water-soluble chiral monosulfonamide-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine-RhCp complex and its application in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of ketones

Monosulfonamide ligands with heteroatom/heterocyclic systems were derived from trans-(1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine and complexed with [Ru(benzene)Cl₂]₂, [Cp^∗RhCl₂]₂ in situ and used in the ATH of aromatic ketones with aqueous sodium formate as the hydrogen source. The chiral secondary alcohols were obtained with >93% enantioselectivity and >89% yield. Reduction in water was faster than in isopropanol/KOH. Addition of surfactants showed little or no effects.     

Volumetric Properties of the Ternary System 1,4-Dioxane + Butyl Acrylate + Ethyl Acrylate and Its Binary Butyl Acrylate + Ethyl Acrylate at 298.15 K

Densities of the ternary system 1,4-dioxane + butyl acrylate + ethyl acrylate and its binary butyl acrylate + ethyl acrylate have been measured in the whole composition range, at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure, using an Anton Paar DMA 5000 oscillating U-tube densimeter. The calculated excess molar volumes of the binary system are positive and were correlated with the Redlich–Kister equation and with a series of Legendre polynomials. Several models were used to correlate the ternary behavior from the excess molar volume data of their constituent binaries and were found equally good to fit the data. The best fit was based on a direct approach, without information on the component binary systems.     

Pigment Production by Filamentous Fungi on Agro-Industrial Byproducts: an Eco-Friendly Alternative

The search for new sources of natural pigments has increased, mainly because of the toxic effects caused by synthetic dyes used in food, pharmaceutical, textile, and cosmetic industries. Fungi provide a readily available alternative source of natural pigments. In this context, the fungi Penicillium chrysogenum IFL1 and IFL2, Fusarium graminearum IFL3, Monascus purpureus NRRL 1992, and Penicillium vasconiae IFL4 were selected as pigments producers. The fungal identification was performed using ITS and part of the β-tubulin gene sequencing. Almost all fungi were able to grow and produce water-soluble pigments on agro-industrial residues, with the exception of P. vasconiae that produced pigments only on potato dextrose broth. The production of yellow pigments was predominant and the two strains of P. chrysogenum were the largest producers. In addition, the production of pigments and mycotoxins were evaluated in potato dextrose agar using TOF-MS and TOF-MS/MS. Metabolites as roquefortine C, chrysogine were found in both extracts of P. chrysogenum, as well fusarenone X, diacetoxyscirpenol, and neosolaniol in F. graminearum extract. In the M. purpureus extract, the pigments monascorubrin, rubropunctatin, and the mycotoxin citrinin were found. The crude filtrates have potential to be used in the textile industry; nevertheless, additional pigment purification is required for food and pharmaceutical applications.     

Narrow band quantitative and multivariate electroencephalogram analysis of peri-adolescent period

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The peri-adolescent period is a crucial developmental moment of transition from childhood to emergent adulthood. The present report analyses the differences in Power Spectrum (PS) of the Electroencephalogram (EEG) between late childhood (24 children between 8 and 13 years old) and young adulthood (24 young adults between 18 and 23 years old). RESULTS: The narrow band analysis of the Electroencephalogram was computed in the frequency range of 0--20 Hz. The analysis of mean and variance suggested that six frequency ranges presented a different rate of maturation at these ages, namely: low delta, delta-theta, low alpha, high alpha, low beta and high beta. For most of these bands the maturation seems to occur later in anterior sites than posterior sites. Correlational analysis showed a lower pattern of correlation between different frequencies in children than in young adults, suggesting a certain asynchrony in the maturation of different rhythms. The topographical analysis revealed similar topographies of the different rhythms in children and young adults. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated the same internal structure for the Electroencephalogram of both age groups. Principal Component Analysis allowed to separate four subcomponents in the alpha range. All these subcomponents peaked at a lower frequency in children than in young adults. CONCLUSIONS: The present approaches complement and solve some of the incertitudes when the classical brain broad rhythm analysis is applied. Children have a higher absolute power than young adults for frequency ranges between 0-20 Hz, the correlation of Power Spectrum (PS) with age and the variance age comparison showed that there are six ranges of frequencies that can distinguish the level of EEG maturation in children and adults. The establishment of maturational order of different frequencies and its possible maturational interdependence would require a complete series including all the different ages.