Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging disease caused by an alphavirus of the Togaviridae family. Since its first description in 1952, the disease has spread worldwide, affecting populations in both tropical and temperate countries. To date, there is no licensed vaccine or specific pharmacological treatment. Therefore, there is an increasing urgency in developing new antiviral drugs capable of specifically inhibiting viral replication. In the present work, we report the synthesis and antiviral activity evaluation of nineteen naphthoquinone derivatives, containing a sulfonamide or sulfonate group. Cell viability assays indicated a low toxic potential for all tested compounds and inhibitory assays against CHIKV identified five compounds with potent activity. The compounds were also evaluated for their virucidal potential, and the results demonstrated that compound 11a exhibited a virucidal effect higher than 70% in the treatment with 20 µM. Furthermore, in silico studies were performed to predict the antiviral drug targets.

ABSTRACT The aim of the current study is to develop an electronic system capable of automatically replacing hydraulic spray nozzles, based on psychrometric air conditions such as temperature and relative air humidity, in order to help improving the efficiency of application technologies. The system comprised one microcontroller, two solenoid valves, one temperature and relative humidity sensor, and a control algorithm. The system was installed in a hydropneumatic sprayer adapted with two semi-arcs. One semi-arc was equipped with JA-2 and other semi-arc with CVIA-015 hydraulic nozzles. After the algorithm interpreted the momentary psychrometric air conditions, it activated the JA-2 (when VPD < 20 hPa) or the CVIA-015 nozzle (when VPD > 20 hPa). The system was evaluated based on technical spraying parameters and on the response time to replace the hydraulic nozzle. Based on the results, the smallest-diameter droplets were the most influenced by psychrometric air conditions. VPD > 20 hPa tended to increase the VMD values and to reduce droplet density, although it did not change the SPAN index. The necessary mean time to switch from the JA-2 to the CVIA-015 nozzle was 0.742 s, whereas the necessary mean time to switch from the CVIA-015 to the JA-2 nozzle was 0.684 s.

This work presents the electrochemical treatment of wastewater of biodiesel production, using DSA based on IrO2 and Nb2O5. The anode was prepared by modified Pechini method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), in order to evaluate structural and morphological properties and by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and accelerated stability test to investigate the electrochemical behavior. The SEM image shows the typical mud-cracked layer. By the XRD measurements, the oxides onto the support were crystallized as tetragonal IrO2 and hexagonal Nb2O5. The amount of glycerin and methanol in the wastewater were 1.60 and 0.31% (w/w), respectively. The electrochemical treatment of the wastewater was evaluated by electrolysis at different current densities and time. The total organic carbon (TOC) and UV-Vis spectra were performed during the electrolysis. The UV-Vis spectra obtained during the electrolysis at 100 and 150 mA cm-2, shows the disappearance of an absorption band at 264 nm and the appearance of one at 290 nm, which the absorption increases as current and the time of the electrolysis increases. The electrochemical treatment with the proposed DSA leads to 80% of removal of TOC by electrolysis at 150 mA cm-2 during the first 6 hours of the electrochemical treatment.

RESUMO A doença de Chagas, causada pelo Trypanosoma cruzi, possui uma ampla distribuição na América do Sul, e tem como principal método de controle a eliminação de triatomíneos. Apresenta-se aqui a distribuição geográfica e a taxa de infecção natural por T. cruzi de triatomíneos coletados e avaliados de 2008 a 2013, no sudoeste da Bahia. Os triatomíneos foram capturados nas áreas intradomiciliares e peridomiciliares de cinco cidades localizadas no sudoeste da Bahia, identificados e analisados quanto à presença de tripanossomatídeos em suas fezes. Durante o período de estudo o número de pacientes com suspeita de doença de Chagas aguda foi recuperado a partir do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). 8966 triatomíneos foram capturados e identificados como pertencentes a oito espécies. Vinte e seis apresentaram-se infectados, sendo Triatoma sordida o que mostrou maior percentagem de infecção pelo T. cruzi. Tremedal foi a cidade com o maior número de casos de doença de Chagas aguda relatado pelo SINAN. Todas as cidades apresentaram triatomíneos infectados com o T. cruzi, por isso, existe um risco considerável de transmissão vetorial da doença de Chagas no sudoeste da Bahia, evidenciando a necessidade de programas de controle de vetores de transmissão e medidas de vigilância preventiva.

ABSTRACT Chagas disease, caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi, has a wide distribution in South America, and its main method of control is the elimination of triatomines. It is presented here the geographic distribution and the rate of natural infection by T. cruzi of triatomines collected and evaluated from 2008 to 2013 in southwest of Bahia. Triatomines were captured in the intradomiciliary and peridomiciliary areas of five cities located in the southwest of Bahia state, identified, and analyzed for the presence of trypanosomatids in their feces. During the study period the number of patients suspected for acute Chagas disease was recovered from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). 8966 triatomines were captured and identified as belonging to eight species. Twenty-six presented themselves infected, being Triatoma sordida the most abundant and with the highest percentage of infection by T. cruzi. Tremedal was the city with the highest number of cases of acute Chagas' disease reported to SINAN. All cities showed triatomines infected with T. cruzi, so there is considerable risk of vectorial transmission of Chagas disease in the southwestern Bahia state, evidencing the need for vector transmission control programs and preventive surveillance measures.

A crescente ocorrência de antibióticos e seus metabólitos estão cada vez maiores em águas superficiais e subterrâneas, causando impactos significativos no meio ambiente e necessitando de desenvolvimento de novos tratamentos para a remoção completa de tais contaminantes. Este trabalho apresenta o estudo da eletrogeração de peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) em meio ácido e a degradação do analgésico dipirona em um reator de fluxo eletroquímico usando um eletrodo de difusão gasosa (GDE) modificado com 5,0% ftalocianina de cobalto (II) (CoPc) e pressurizado com O2. A maior produção de H2O2 alcançada foi de 133 mg L-1 a um potencial aplicado de -2,1 V (vs. Pt//Ag/AgCl/KCl s) e os melhores resultados para a degradação da dipirona foram obtidos sob condições eletro-Fenton, em que o carbono orgânico total (TOC) foi reduzido 62,8% após 90 min de reação e 49,1 kW h de energia foi consumida por kg de dipirona degradada.

The increasing occurrence of antibiotics and their metabolites in surface and ground waters is causing a significant impact on the environment and needing of developing novel treatments for the complete removal of such contaminants. This paper presents the study of the electrogeneration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in acidic medium and the degradation of the analgesic dipyrone in an electrochemical flow reactor using a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) modified with 5.0% cobalt (II) phthalocyanine (CoPc) and pressurized with O2. The highest yield of H2O2 (133 mg L-1) was achieved after 90 min of electrolysis at an applied potential of -2.1 V (vs. Pt//Ag/AgCl/KCl s) and the best results for degradation of dipyrone were obtained under electro-Fenton conditions, where the total organic carbon (TOC) was reduced 62.8% after 90 min of reaction and 49.1 kW h of energy was consumed per kg of dipyrone degraded.

Neste trabalho descrevemos a preparação e a caracterização espectroscópica [ressonância paramagnética eletrônica (EPR), espectroscopia UV-Vis e espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR)], magnética e espectroeletroquímica do complexo [MnII2(tidf)(OAc)(ClO4)(MeOH)] (tidf = ligante macrocíclico do tipo Robson, obtido pela condensação entre 2,6-diformil-4-metilfenol e 1,3-diaminopropano). O composto [MnII2(tidf)(OAc)(ClO4)(MeOH)] exibe antiferromagnetismo fraco e constante de acoplamento magnético J = -1.59(1) cm-1. A oxidação de [MnII2(tidf)(OAc)(ClO4)(MeOH)] monitorada por experimentos de espectroeletroquímica de UV-Vis e de EPR produziu espécies de valência mista Mn2(II/III) com perfil espectral semelhante ao do complexo [MnII MnIII(tidf)Br3(H2O)2]. Tentativas de cristalização de [MnII2(tidf)(OAc)(ClO4)(MeOH)] produziram o complexo trinuclear de manganês [Mn3III/II/III(tidf)2(µ-OAc)2](ClO4)2. O composto possui duas unidades [MnIII(tidf)]+ onde o íon metálico é pentacoordenado e conectadas a um íon central de MnII hexacoordenado através de pontes µ-fenolato e µ-acetato.

Synthesis, spectroscopic [electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), UV-Vis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)], magnetic and spectroeletrochemical properties of [MnII2(tidf)(OAc)(ClO4)(MeOH)] (tidf = a Robson type macrocyclic ligand obtained through condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and 1,3-diaminopropane) are reported. Compound [MnII2(tidf)(OAc)(ClO4)(MeOH)] shows a weak antiferromagnetic behavior with exchange coupling constant J = -1.59(1) cm-1. UV-Vis and EPR spectroelectrochemical response after oxidation of complex [MnII2(tidf)(OAc)(ClO4)(MeOH)] detected the stabilization of mixed-valence Mn2(II/III) species in solution showing spectral features similar to the ones of the isolated mixedvalence [MnII MnIII(tidf)Br3(H2O)2] compound. Crystallization of [MnII2(tidf)(OAc)(ClO4)(MeOH)] surprisingly produced the trimanganese complex [Mn3III/II/III(tidf)2(µ-OAc)2](ClO4)2, not observed in solution. It contains two pentacoordinated [MnIII(tidf)]+ units, each one connected to a central hexacoordinated MnII ion through one µ-phenolate and one µ-acetate bridge.

This work reports the development of GDE for electrogeneration of H2O2 and their application in the degradation process of Reactive Blue 19 dye. GDE produced by carbon black with 20% polytetrafluoroethylene generated up to 500 mg L-1 of H2O2 through the electrolysis of acidic medium at -0.8 V vs Ag/AgCl. Reactive Blue 19 dye was degraded most efficiently with H2O2 electrogenerated in the presence of Fe(II) ions, leading to removal of 95% of the original color and 39% of TOC at -0.8 V vs Ag/AgCl.

This paper reports a study of electrochemical degradation of the chloramphenicol antibiotic in aqueous medium using a flow-by reactor with DSA® anode. The process efficiency was monitored by chloramphenicol concentration analysis with liquid chromatography (HPLC) during the experiments. Analysis of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) was performed to estimate the degradation degree and Ion Chromatography (IC) was performed to determinate inorganic ions formed during the eletrochemical degradation process. In electrochemical flow-by reactor, 52% of chloramphenicol was degraded, with 12% TOC reduction. IC analysis showed the production of chloride ions (25 mg L-1), nitrate ions (6 mg L-1) and nitrite ions (4.5 mg L-1).

The study of the electrochemical degradation of the ranitidine was developed using an electrochemical reactor with a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) as cathode. The electrolysis experiments was performed at constant current (1 < A < 10) and flow rate of 200 L h-1. The process of drug degradation, chemical/electrochemical and electro-Fenton ways, using electrochemical reactor showed best efficiency at current values of > 4 A. The process reached a production of 630 mg L-1 of the H2O2 at 7 A. The ranitidine concentrations was reduced in 99.9% (HPLC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced in 86.7% by electro-Fenton.

This paper describes a degradation study of the anti-inflammatory sodium diclofenac in aqueous medium using an electro-chemical flow reactor with a gas diffusion electrode as cathode. Two degradation processes were compared: by H2O2 electro-generated and H2O2 electro-generated/Fe(II). Concentration of sodium diclofenac was determined during the experiments by HPLC. The changes in chemical oxigen demand (COD) were also evaluated. Under the specific reaction conditions, 350 mg L-1 of H2O2 was electro-generated and 99.2% of sodium diclofenac was degradated, with 27.4% COD reduction. At the same conditions, but using Fe(II), drug degradation was 99.4% and the COD reduction was 63.2%.

O trabalho retratado neste artigo tem por objetivo apresentar uma visão sucinta das concepções previdenciais e matemáticas utilizadas na mensuração das obrigações previdenciais de Regimes Capitalizados de Previdência no Serviço Público. Explicitam-se formulações matemáticas básicas necessárias à análise das solvências econômica e financeira desses regimes de previdência, contribuindo para o aprimoramento da formação técnica daqueles envolvidos com a gestão governamental do setor público previdenciário brasileiro. Essas formulações estão de acordo com as exigências das normas legais vigentes relacionadas aos Regimes Próprios de Previdência Social - RPPS do país e retratam uma vertente da prática profissional hoje verificada para a execução dessa referida análise de solvência, através i) da mensuração do "fluxo de caixa prospectivo" dos direitos e das obrigações previdenciais pertinentes e ii) do cálculo dos Valores Presentes desses direitos e obrigações. Apresentam-se, também, como forma de evidenciar a aplicabilidade das formulações aqui tratadas, os resultados resumidos obtidos ao se considerar um regime capitalizado de previdência composto pelo agrupamento de cinco RPPS reais de cinco Municípios do Estado do Ceará, em que se observa um significativo Déficit Atuárial e a incorreta prática de contribuições que são insuficientes para cobrir todas as obrigações previdenciais para com seus segurados.

This article aims to present a concise view of the theoretical and mathematical concepts in measuring the stochastic liabilities of a pension benefits portfolio in the Brazilian Public Sector Pension System. This work discloses the basic logic formulations required to estimate the benefits reserves and to test the economic e financial solvency of a pension plan, in order to improve the understanding of the entire process by those working in that system. Those formulations are in accordance with the legal rules governing the system and with current pension actuarial theory and practice, and mainly include: i) the projection of future cashflows of contributions, benefits and expenses and ii) the estimation of the Actuarial Present Values of stochastic rights and liabilities. Using such formulations, this study also includes the aggregate results of five municipal benefit plans analyzed by the authors, which reveal an important distortion in the capital accumulation process, as a result of poor management, with improper contributions and investments to fund all accrued benefits.