Biochar-MgO from Soursop Seeds in the Production of Biofuel Additive Intermediates.

The conversion of residual biomass from fruit seeds into biochar can be achieved using MgCl2 as an activating agent and calcining at 700 °C. The resulting MgO-biochars were employed in the aldol condensation reaction between furfural and acetone. This reaction is essential as the first step in the obtention of biofuels derived from biomass. The biochars were characterized through various physicochemical techniques, revealing that the presence of MgO nanoparticles deposited on the carbon surface modifies the structural and acidic-basic properties of the carbonaceous materials with a graphitic structure. The biochar with a surface content of MgO of 0.34 % w/w enables the achievement of 100 % of selectivity towards 4-(2-furanyl)-3-buten-2-one (I) with quantitative conversions under optimized conditions. This property highlights the potential of using this type of biochar, commonly used for CO2 capture, as a versatile acidic-basic catalyst, thereby introducing a novel approach to sustainable chemistry.

Whey as an Alternative Nutrient Medium for Growth of Sporosarcina pasteurii and Its Effect on CaCO3 Polymorphism and Fly Ash Bioconsolidation.

Whey in large quantities can cause environmental problems when discarded, because it reduces dissolved oxygen and aquatic life. Nonetheless, it could be used as an easily available and economical alternative to reduce culture medium costs in microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP). In this work, a native Sporosarcina pasteurii was isolated and then cultured by using different proportions of whey (W) in nutrient broth (NB). The solids were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TGA, and SEM. The potential applications in bioconsolidation were also studied. Whey concentration was directly related to CaCO3 production. Higher whey concentrations reduced calcium carbonate purity to nearly 80%. All experiments showed calcite and vaterite fractions, where a whey increment in the media increased calcite content and decreased vaterite content, causing a decrease in crystal size. MICP improved compressive strength (CS) in sand and fly ash. The best CS results were obtained by fly ash treated with 25 W-75 NB (37.2 kPa) and sand with 75 W-25 NB (32.1 kPa). Whey changed crystal polymorphism in biogenic CaCO3 production. Material bioconsolidation depends on the CaCO3 polymorph, thus fly ash was effectively bioconsolidated by crystallization of vaterite and sand by crystallization of calcite.

Effect of Metal Content on Ethanol Decomposition over Ni-Co Catalysts Supported on La-Ce Oxides.

The search for catalysts with features that can improve coke resistance and decrease byproduct formation is a current goal in H2 production from renewable sources. In this work, the effect of the presence of Ni nanoparticles over Co/La-Ce oxides on the ethanol decomposition reaction was studied. Catalysts were synthetized using as precursor a La0.8Ce0.2NixCo1-xO3 perovskite-type material to ensure a low segregation of phases and a high dispersion of metals. After reduction at 873 K, the perovskite structure was destroyed, and metal Co-Ni particles were supported over a lanthanum-cerium oxide. The materials were characterized by different techniques before and after reaction. Solids exhibited metal particle sizes between 5 and 15 nm demonstrating the advantages of the preparation method to obtain Ni-Co alloys. Although the results of adsorption of ethanol followed by diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transformed spectroscopy (DRIFTS) showed acetate species strongly adsorbed on the catalyst's surface, the material (Ni0.7Co0.3/La0.8Ce0.2) with the lowest particle size was the most stable system leading to the lowest amount of carbon deposits during ethanol decomposition. This catalyst showed the better performance, with a higher ethanol conversion (98.4%) and hydrogen selectivity (75%). All catalysts exhibited carbonaceous deposits, which were an ordered and disordered carbon phase mixture.

TASK-2: a K2P K(+) channel with complex regulation and diverse physiological functions.

TASK-2 (K2P5.1) is a two-pore domain K(+) channel belonging to the TALK subgroup of the K2P family of proteins. TASK-2 has been shown to be activated by extra- and intracellular alkalinization. Extra- and intracellular pH-sensors reside at arginine 224 and lysine 245 and might affect separate selectivity filter and inner gates respectively. TASK-2 is modulated by changes in cell volume and a regulation by direct G-protein interaction has also been proposed. Activation by extracellular alkalinization has been associated with a role of TASK-2 in kidney proximal tubule bicarbonate reabsorption, whilst intracellular pH-sensitivity might be the mechanism for its participation in central chemosensitive neurons. In addition to these functions TASK-2 has been proposed to play a part in apoptotic volume decrease in kidney cells and in volume regulation of glial cells and T-lymphocytes. TASK-2 is present in chondrocytes of hyaline cartilage, where it is proposed to play a central role in stabilizing the membrane potential. Additional sites of expression are dorsal root ganglion neurons, endocrine and exocrine pancreas and intestinal smooth muscle cells. TASK-2 has been associated with the regulation of proliferation of breast cancer cells and could become target for breast cancer therapeutics. Further work in native tissues and cells together with genetic modification will no doubt reveal the details of TASK-2 functions that we are only starting to suspect.

Skeletal muscle electron transport chain dysfunction after sepsis in rats.

BACKGROUND: The derangement in oxygen utilization occurring during sepsis is likely to be linked to impaired mitochondrial functioning. Skeletal muscle comprises 50%-60% of body cell mass and represents the largest organ potentially affected by systemic inflammation. Thus, we investigated whether sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) modifies mitochondrial activity in respiratory and nonrespiratory skeletal muscle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats were subjected to CLP and at different times, diaphragm and quadriceps were removed for the determination of electron transfer chain activities and mitochondrial oxidative stress. In addition, we determined diaphragm contractile strength. RESULTS: In the quadriceps, 12 h after CLP we demonstrated a significant diminution on complex II-III activity. At late times (48 h after CLP), we demonstrated a decrease in the activity of all electron transfer chain complexes, which seemed to be secondary to early oxidative stress and correlates with diaphragm contractile strength. Differently from diaphragm, electron transfer chain was not decreased after sepsis and even oxidative stress was not increased at all times tested. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that quadriceps mitochondria are more resistant to sepsis-induced dysfunction.

HIDROGENACIÓN ASIMÉTRICA DE 4-METOXIACETOFENONA SOBRE CATALIZADORES DE Pt/TiO2 MODIFICADOS CON CINCONIDINA / ASYMMETRIC HYDROGENATION OF 4-METHOXYACETOPHENONE OVER Pt/TiO2 CATALYSTS MODIFIED WITH CHINCHONIDINE / HIDROGENADLO DE 4-METOXIACETOFENONA EM CATALISADORES Pt/TiO2 MODIFICADOS COM CINCONIDINE

Se estudió la hidrogenación enantio selectiva de 4-metoxiacetofenona sobre catalizadores de Pt/TiO2 reducidos a 773K y modificados con cinconidina (CD). Los catalizadores se caracterizaron por fisiadsorción de N2, quimiadsorción de H2, DRX y XPS. Las transformaciones se llevaron a cabo en un reactor tipo STR a distintas concentraciones de cinconidina (CD) con el propósito de evaluar la incidencia de algunos parámetros de reacción como el orden de adición del modificador y la presión de hidrógeno. Se demostró que a bajas concentraciones de CD es posible obtener excesos enantioméricos cercanos al 30%. Se encontró que la estructura de la molécula puede afectar el comportamiento observado.

The enantioselective hydrogenation of 4-methoxyacetophenone over Pt/TiO2 catalyst reduced to 773 K in the presence of cinchonidine (CD) was studied. The catalysts were characterized by N2 physisorption, H2 chemisorption, XRD and XPS. The reactions were carried out in a STR reactor at various concentrations of CD. The effect of several reaction parameters was investigated, such as the addition order of the modifier and hydrogen pressure. Lower concentrations of CD can produce an enantiomeric excess near to 30%. The structure of the molecule can influence the behavior observed.

Neste trabalho, foi estudada a hidrogenação enantioselective do 4-metoxiaceto-fenona em catalisadores Pt/TiO2 reduzidos a 773 K e modificados com cinconidina (CD). Os sólidos foram caracterizados por adsorção de nitrogênio a 77K, quimisorção de hidrogênio a temperatura ambiente, DRX, TEM e XPS. As reações foram realizadas em um reator STR a diferentes concentrações de CD. Alem de isso o efeito de vários parâmetros de reação foi estudado, como ordem de adição do modificador e pressão do hidrogênio. Baixas concentrações do CD podem produzir excesso enantiomêricos próximos aos 30%. A estrutura da molécula pode influenciar o comportamento obtido.