Abstract: Body size of the gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae)in the Coco's Island National Park, Costa Rica. The gecko Hemidactylus frenatus reached Coco's Island on boats. We captured 21 individuals and found that their snout-cloaca length ranged from 22,30mm to 47,85mm (0,1 g to 3,6 g).

Resumen: El gecko Hemidactylus frenatus llegó a la Isla del Coco en los barcos. Se capturaron 21 individuos y encontramos que su longitud hocico- cloaca varió de 22,30mm a 47,85mm a (0,1 g- 3,6 g).

Abstract: The common house gecko, Hemidactylusfrenatus, is a native of Indonesia that has rapidly colonized new environments. Normally it is found in human constructions, but it can also invade natural environments and is causing the displacement and extinction of some native lizards, mostly in oceanic islands. In the Pacific reserve of Isla del Coco (Costa Rica) we captured nine specimens with sticky traps and direct capture. Theridium spp. accounted for 54% of its stomach contents (25,7% were unidentified remains and 18,8% Hymenoptera).

Resumen Hemidactylusfrenatus es una especie nativa de Indonesia que ha colonizado rápidamente nuevos ambientes. Habitualmente se encuentra en edificaciones humanas, pero también puede invadir ambientes naturales y es el causante del desplazamiento y extinción de algunas lagartijas autóctonas, principalmente en islas oceánicas. En Isla del Coco capturamos 9 ejemplares utilizando trampas adhesivas y captura directa. Theridiumspp. representó el 54% de su contenido estomacal (25,7% organismos no identificados, 18,8% Hymenoptera).

Capsaicinoids (CAPS) are substances responsible for pungency in Capsicum. It is important to quantify these types of compounds owing to their broad application in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and chemical weapons. In this work, we developed an indirect spectrophotometric method based on the colorimetric reaction between CAPS, Co(II) 3.10×10-5 mol L-1 and 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) 6.23×10-5 and, in cachaça:water 92:8v/v solutions, for quantification of total CAPS in Capsicum peppers. The product of the reaction is CoPAR2CAPS2 and its absorption in aquo-ethanolic solution at 510 nm is proportional to the total CAPS concentration from 0.60 to 17.94 mg L-1. The values of limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.0004 and 0.001 mg of CAPS/g of pepper, respectively, with 4% relative standard deviation. The developed method yielded similar results to those obtained from high performance liquid chromatography, with 95% of confidence.

Introduction Diabetes mellitus has been identified as a strong independent predictor of cardiovascular disease onset and progression and acknowledged as a mortality risk factor after coronary artery surgery. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting has been established as an efficient alternative for coronary revascularization comparable to the conventional technique, with results evidencing a reduction in procedure morbidity and, in high risk patients, lower postoperative mortality. Objective The aims of this study were to compare short and long-term postoperative results of off-pump coronary artery revascularization surgerywith multiple arterial grafts in patients with or without diabetes mellitus and to determine if postoperative hyperglycemia is an independent predictor of early morbidity and mortality. Methods Off-pump coronary artery revascularization surgery with multiple arterial grafts was consecutively performed on 1002 patients between January 2004 and December 2008. The population was divided in diabetes mellitus (n: 234) and non-diabetes mellitus (n: 768) patients. Post-operative complications were analyzed and independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were identified. The average follow-up period of 1038 ± 517 days was completed by 95.7% of patients. Results Diabetes mellitus patients had lower cardiac output (p = 0.005), atrial fibrillation (p = 0.005) and deep sternal wound infection (p = 0.005). Age (OR = 1.11), non-elective surgery (OR = 5.88) and blood glucose level > 200 mg/dL (OR= 6.9) were significant predictors of in-hospital mortality. Five-year survival was lower in diabetes mellitus patients (p = 0.01). Diabetes mellitus (HR = 2.1), age (HR = 1.06), left ventricular ejection fraction 1.6 mg/dL (HR = 2.46) were significant predictors of decreased long-term survival. Conclusions Diabetes mellitus and non-diabetes mellitus patients had similar in-hospital mortality rates. Postoperative hyperglycemia was a predictor of greater in-hospital mortality. Diabetes mellitus and creatinine > 1.6 mg/dL were independent predictors of decreased long-term survival.

Introducción La diabetes mellitus se ha identificado como un fuerte predictor independiente de iniciación y progresión de la enfermedad cardiovascular y se ha reconocido como un factor de riesgo de mortalidad luego de la cirugía coronaria. La cirugía de revascularización miocárdica sin circulación extracorpórea se ha establecido como una alternativa eficaz de revascularización coronaria comparable a la técnica convencional, con resultados que muestran una disminución en la morbilidad del procedimiento y, en pacientes de riesgo alto, una mortalidad posoperatoria menor. Objetivos Comparar los resultados posoperatorios tempranos y alejados de pacientes con y sin diabetes mellitus luego de cirugía de revascularización miocárdica sin circulación extracorpórea con puentes arteriales múltiples y determinar si la hiperglucemia posoperatoria es un predictor independiente de morbimortalidad temprana. Material y métodos Entre enero de 2004 y diciembre de 2008 se efectuó cirugía de revascularización miocárdica sin circulación extracorpórea con puentes arteriales múltiples en 1.002 pacientes en forma consecutiva. La población se dividió en pacientes con diabetes mellitus (n = 234) y sin diabetes mellitus (n = 768). Se efectuó un análisis de las complicaciones posoperatorias y se identificaron predictores independientes de mortalidad hospitalaria. El seguimiento promedio fue de 1.038 ± 517 días y fue completo en el 95,7%. Resultados Los pacientes con diabetes mellitus presentaron mayor incidencia de bajo gasto cardíaco (p = 0,005), fibrilación auricular (p = 0,005) e infección esternal profunda (p = 0,005). Fueron predictores de mortalidad hospitalaria la edad (OR = 1,11), la cirugía no electiva (OR = 5,88) y la glucemia posoperatoria > 200 mg/dl (OR = 6,9). Los pacientes con diabetes mellitus tuvieron menor sobrevida alejada a los 5 años (p = 0,01). Fueron predictores de menor sobrevida alejada la diabetes mellitus (HR = 2,1), la edad (HR = 1,06), la fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo 1,6 mg/dl (HR = 2,46). Conclusiones Los pacientes con diabetes mellitus tuvieron igual mortalidad hospitalaria que los no diabéticos. La presencia de hiperglucemia posoperatoria fue un predictor de mayor mortalidad hospitalaria. La diabetes mellitus y la creatinina > 1,6 mg/dl fueron predictores independientes de menor sobrevida alejada.

The contextualized understanding of concepts in Chemistry by students from other areas is a challenging task. In this experiment, the synthesis of biodiesel is done by base catalyzed transesterification of refined soy oil with methanol at room temperature and common glassware found in any chemistry laboratory. The proposal permits introducing several concepts, such as that of emulsion, viscosity and catalysis to illustrate an activity based on an actual problem. In this didactic approach, some common problems of biodiesel production, such as soap formation and phase separation, are introduced into the procedure in order to raise questions and motivate the students to participate in the experimental work and stimulate reflections about critical aspects of biodiesel production. This experiment was carried out in the first semester of 2006, in experimental general chemistry taken by physics and agricultural, civil and chemical engineering students of UNICAMP.

Classical methods of analysis played a fundamental role in the development of Chemistry and the chemical industry. They have been tools for analytical procedures since the 18th century, remaining useful until today. The technological appeal of the instrumental methods seems to dazzle the incoming generations of chemists who do not recognize the importance of titrimetry. A short description of the development of titrimetry is presented in order to call attention to historical landmarks for teaching and learning activities in Portuguese. A compilation of some current standard analytical methods that employ titrations is presented to illustrate the availability of titrimetry nowadays.

Os critérios diagnósticos dos distúrbios do metabolismo de glicose foram estabelecidos pela Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS)/National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) no início da década de 1980. Em 1997, a American Diabetes Association (ADA) sugeriu novos critérios diagnósticos, baseados na interpretação da glicemia de jejum. Neste estudo, 56 indivíduos foram submetidos ao teste de tolerância à glicose oral (oGTT) (75g) e aplicamos ambos os critérios diagnósticos para estimar a prevalência de distúrbios de metabolismo de glicose. Dos 56 indivíduos, 11 (19,6% - grupo 1) foram considerados intolerantes pelos critérios da OMS/NDDG e seis (10,7% - grupo 2), como glicemia de jejum alterada (GJA) pelos novos critérios da ADA. Comparamos variáveis clínicas e bioquímicas (idade, índice de massa corporal, pico de insulina durante o oGTT, área sob a curva de insulina durante o oGTT e concentrações séricas basais da proteína carreadora dos fatores de crescimento insulina-símiles 1 (IGFBP-1) entre ambos os grupos, não observando diferença significativa em nenhuma das variáveis (43 ± 13 x 46 ± 4,4 anos, 29,5 ± 3,2 x 27,2 ± 2,6kg/m², 153,7 ± 100,7 x 171,3 ± 145,6µUI/ml, 12.040 ± 8.488 x 13.970 ± 12.170 e 14,4 ± 9,3 x 19,4 ± 11,8ng/ml, respectivamente, p = NS). Entretanto, quando comparamos estas mesmas variáveis entre o grupo de indivíduos considerados normais pelos critérios da ADA e intolerantes pelos critérios da OMS/NDDG (n = 8, grupo 3) e o grupo de indivíduos considerados normais por ambos os critérios (n = 42, grupo 4), observamos que não houve também diferença em relação à idade (42 ± 15 x 38 ± 10 anos, respectivamente, NS); entretanto o grupo 3 apresenta índice de massa corporal (IMC) (29,5 ± 3,9 x 24,5 ± 3,5kg/m², respectivamente, p < 0,02), pico de insulina durante o oGTT (115,2 ± 29,1 x 84,4 ± 56,5µUI/ml, respectivamente, p < 0,02) e área sob a curva de insulina durante o oGTT (9.112 ± 2.323 x 6.649 ± 4.438, respectivamente, p < 0,007) com valores médios superiores ao grupo 4. O grupo 3 apresentou ainda concentrações séricas basais de IGFBP-1 com valores em média inferiores ao grupo 4 (14,9 ± 10,1 x 28,9 ± 17,6ng/ml, respectivamente, p < 0,03).

The diagnostic criteria of the glucose metabolism disorders had been established by the World Health Organization (WHO)/National Data Group (NDDG) in the beginning of the 1980's. In 1997, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggested new criteria, based upon the interpretation of the fasting glucose. In this study, 56 subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT), and we have applied both criteria to estimate the prevalence of the glucose metabolism disorders. Out of 56 subjects, 11 (19,6% - Group 1) had been considered glucose intolerants by the criteria of the WHO/NDDG and 6 (10,7% - Group 2) as impaired fasting glycemia (IFG) by the ADA new criteria. We have compared clinical and biochemical variables (age, BMI, insulin peak during oGTT, area under the insulin curve during oGTT and serum concentrations of IGFBP-1) between both groups, not observing differences in any of the variables (43 ± 13 x 46 ± 4.4 years, 29.5 ± 3.2 x 27.2 ± 2.6kg/m², 153.7 ± 100.7 x 171.3 ± 145.6µUI/ml, 12,040 ± 8,488 x 13,970 ± 12,170 e 14.4 ± 9.3 x 19.4 ± 11.8ng/ml, respectively, p = NS). However, when we compare these same variables between the subjects considered normal by the ADA criteria and intolerants by the WHO/NDDG (n = 8, Group 3) and the subjects considered normal by both criteria (n = 42, Group 4), we observed that it also did not have difference in relation to age (42 ± 15 x 38 ± 10 years, respectively, NS), however, Group 3 presents BMI (29.5 ± 3.9 x 24.5 ± 3.5kg/m², respectively, p < 0.02), insulin peak (115.2 ± 29.1 x 84.4 ± 56.5µUI/ml, respectively, p < 0.02) and area under the insulin curve (9,112 ± 2,323 x 6,649 ± 4,438, respectively, p < 0.007)with higher values than Group 4. Group 3 still presented serum concentration of IGFBP-1 with lower values than Group 4 (14.9 ± 10.1 x 28.9 ± 17.6ng/ml, respectively, p < 0.03).

Relevant aspects of proposed mechanisms of the chemiluminescent reaction of luminol are presented and commented to emphasize its perspectives for kinetic analysis. A careful search for analytical applications of this reaction is discussed in order to point out new trends of the studies. Kinetic analysis using the luminol reaction is proposed to be a very attractive due to the good performance of the reaction in analytical applications and the positive characteristics of kinetic analysis, such as low cost and sensibility. It is pointed out that kinetic analysis using the chemiluminescent reaction of luminol should be encouraged.

In this work, the fruit extracts of Morus nigra - mulberry, Syzygium cuminii - jambolão, Vitis vinifera <FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT> grape, Myrciaria cauliflora - jabuticaba are suggested as pH indicators in the form of either solutions or paper. The pH indicator solutions were prepared by soaking the fruits or their peels in ethanol 1:3 (m/V) for 24 h, followed by simple filtration. The pH indicator papers were prepared by imersion of the qualitative filter paper strips in the pH indicator solutions. The different pH leads to color changes in the indicator solutions or papers and it can be used for teaching elementary chemistry concepts.

The present study reports details of the stoichiometric characterization of the mixed complex system, V(H2O2)PAR, formed when vanadium adequately reacts with hydrogen peroxide and with 4-(2-Pyridilazo)Resorcinol. Also the presence of polynuclear species was investigated in order to elucidate about unambiguous assignment of the molar absorptivity, stability constant and composition of the complex. Two mathematical treatments methods of the experimental results were employed. From the results it can be concluded that this system corresponds to a mononuclear complex with 1:1:1 stoichiometry.