Solventless Photopolymerizable Paper Coating Formulation for Packaging Applications.

Nowadays, packaging applications require the use of advanced materials as well as production methods that have a low environmental impact. In this study, a solvent-free photopolymerizable paper coating was developed using two acrylic monomers (2-ethylhexyl acrylate and isobornyl methacrylate). A copolymer, with a molar ratio of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate/isobornyl methacrylate of 0.64/0.36, was prepared and used as the main component of the coating formulations (50 and 60 wt%). A mixture of the monomers with the same proportion was used as a reactive solvent, yielding formulations with 100% solids. The coated papers showed an increase in the pick-up values from 6.7 to 32 g/m2 depending on the formulation used and the number of coating layers (up to two). The coated papers maintained their mechanical properties and presented improved air barrier properties (Gurley's air resistivity of ≈25 s for the higher pick-up values). All the formulations promoted a significant increase in the paper's water contact angle (all higher than 120 °) and a remarkable decrease in their water absorption (Cobb values decrease from 108 to 11 g/m2). The results confirm the potential of these solventless formulations for fabricating hydrophobic papers with potential application in packaging, following a quick, effective, and more sustainable approach.

Spatial variability of soil physical properties in longitudinal profiles.

The spatial variability of physical properties, such as bulk density, penetration resistance and gravimetric moisture, obtained by applying geostatistics in precision agriculture, can effectively indicate the physical behavior of agricultural soils in longitudinal profiles. In this way, the spatial dependence of physical properties in streets of coffee plantations with different lengths was evaluated in the southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. For this purpose, five longitudinal profiles were measured in streets, each one with depths ranging from 0 to 0.60 m, in six layers of 0.10 m, being the database composed of 432 property, 144 by property, submitted to the ordinary kriging geostatistical method in order to obtain spatial variability maps using the R software. They were evaluated by the lower mean cross-validation error of theoretical models fitted by ordinary least squares (OLS), being detected in higher superficial layers, from 0 to 0.30 m, lower bulk density and lower penetration resistance, with variable gravimetric moisture in the length direction of some streets of coffee plantations, being that these properties presented different structures of spatial dependence for each street.

Cyantraniliprole susceptibility baseline, resistance survey and control failure likelihood in the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei.

Cyantraniliprole was recently registered for controlling the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei, the main coffee pest in the world. In this study, baseline determination and resistance monitoring to cyantraniliprole were carried out in Brazilian populations of H. hampei. Evaluations were carried out for three years with representative field-collected populations from nine coffee-producing states in Brazil, using artificial diet containing the insecticide. The likelihood of control failure due to cyantraniliprole resistance was also determined. Populations from Campo do Meio, Linhares and Jaú were more susceptible (<2-fold resistance) to cyantraniliprole than populations from Patrocínio and Londrina (17-fold). Nonetheless, the frequency of cyantraniliprole resistance insects was low and not significant throughout the regions survey and the likelihood of control failure was negligible. Therefore, cyantraniliprole remains an important management tool against the coffee berry borer without current problems of control failure. However, enough field variation in susceptibility to cyantraniliprole exists justifying attention and careful management of this insecticide to prevent quick development of insecticide resistance in populations of this insect pest species.

Translocation of chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole applied to corn as seed treatment and foliar spraying to control Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The translocation of chemical insecticides in corn plants could enhance the control of Spodoptera frugiperda, based on their application form. Chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole were applied via seed treatment and foliar spray in corn (VE and V3) to characterize the systemic action of both molecules in leaves that appeared after application. Bioassays with S. frugiperda and chemical quantification in LC-MS/MS confirmed the absorption and upward translocation of chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole by xylem to new leaves. Both insecticides caused the mortality of larvae up to stage V6 (57.5±9.5% for chlorantraniliprole and 40±8.1% for cyantraniliprole), indicating the translocation of insecticides into leaves of corn plants when applied via seed treatment. However, the translocation of chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole from sprayed leaves to new leaves was not observed, regardless of the stage of application plus the next first, second and third stages. An increased dosage of cyantraniliprole did not influence on its translocation in plant tissues, however, it influenced on the present amount of active ingredient. The application of chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole in seed treatment is an important alternative for integrated pest management. The absorption and redistribution capacity of chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole throughout the plant confer a prolonged residual action with satisfactory control of S. frugiperda.

Regioselective synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking of dihydropyrimidin-4-ols as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

A new series of 3,6-disubstituted 2-(methylthio)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-4-ols displaying methyl, phenyl, aryl, and heteroaryl groups at the 6-position; and methyl, ethyl, allyl, and phenyl groups at the 3-position of the dihydropyrimidine ring, were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Seven compounds showed activity with IC50 values in the lower micromolar range. The compound 4-trifluoromethyl-6-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-methyl-2-methylthio-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-4-ol (6e) had the best inhibitory activity (IC50 2.2 ± 0.9 µm) and this inhibition was characterized as competitive. The molecular docking study showed that the acetylcholinesterase enzyme accommodates compound 6e in its catalytic site. The enantiomers of compound 6e, present similar interactions: π-π stacking interactions between the aromatic ring of the ligand's 4-fluorophenyl moiety and the aromatic rings of the electron-rich Trp84; and H-bonds between the hydroxyl group of Tyr121 and the hydroxyl moiety from 6e. The antioxidant effect of the dihydropyrimidin-4-ols was also investigated.

Regioselectively Controlled Synthesis of N-Substituted (Trifluoromethyl)pyrimidin-2(1H)-ones.

A simple and regioselectively controlled method for the preparation of both 1,4- and 1,6-regioisomers of 1-substituted 4(6)-trifluoromethyl-pyrimidin-2(1H)-ones is described. Both regioisomers were synthesized from the cyclocondensation reaction of 4-substituted 1,1,1-trifluoro-4-methoxybut-3-en-2-ones: with nonsymmetric ureas for the 1-substituted 4-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidin-2(1H)-ones (1,4-isomer) and with nonsymmetric 1-substituted 2-methylisothiourea sulfates for the synthesis of 1-substituted 6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidin-2(1H)-ones (1,6-isomer). Each method furnished only the respective isomer in very good yields. The structure of the products was assigned based on the (1)H and (13)C NMR as well as 2D HMBC spectral analysis.

Desempenho de um conjunto motogerador adaptado a biogás / Performance of a motogenerator adapted for biogas

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido na Estação de Produção e Uso de Biogás, da Universidade Federal de Lavras. O objetivo foi desenvolver e avaliar um sistema de alimentação de um motor estacionário com biogás. Foi utilizado um motor de 4 tempos com 4077 W de potência nominal à rotação de 4200 rpm acoplado a um gerador de 2400 W com rotação operacional de 3600 rpm. O biogás utilizado foi produzido em um biodigestor modelo indiano a partir de esterco bovino, contendo, em média, 63 por cento de metano. Os experimentos foram realizados com o motor operando, inicialmente, a gasolina na sua versão original e, posteriormente, com o sistema de alimentação a biogás. Para os ensaios foram medidas as rotações e o consumo energético do motor, além da tensão e corrente gerada para alimentar três potências resistivas iguais a 1000, 1200 e 1500 W. Para o conjunto motogerador alimentado a gasolina na sua versão original, observou-se uma potência média gerada de 840,2 W com tensão de 109 volts e eficiência do conjunto de 12,14 por cento. Para o conjunto motogerador operando a biogás utilizando o sistema de alimentação desenvolvido, observou-se uma potência média de 934,59 W, tensão 100,90 volts e eficiência de 8,22 por cento. Foi possível operar estavelmente o conjunto motogerador com combustível alternativo, biogás, utilizando o sistema de alimentação desenvolvido, substituindo em 100 por cento o uso de gasolina.

The present work was conducted at the Unity of Production and Use of Biogas of Lavras Federal University. Its objective was to develop and to evaluate the biogas powering system in a stationary motor using biogas. A four-timing stationary motor with 4077 W nominal potency at a 4200 rpm rotation was used coupled to a generator of 2400 W with operational rotation of 3600 rpm. The biogas used in the experiment was produced in an Indian model biodigestor operated with bovine manure, containing an average of 63 percent methane. The experiments were accomplished with a gasoline operating motor on its original version adapted for biogas. For the experiment, the rotation and the energy consumption of the motor were measured, besides the tension and current generated to feed three resistance potencies of 1000, 1200, and, 1500 W. For the motogenerator group using the gasoline in its original version we observed an average potency of 840.2 W with an average tension of 109 volts and an average group efficiency of 12.14 percent. For the motogerador group operating with biogas using the supply system developed here, we observed an average potency of 934.59 W, an average tension of 100.90 volts and an average efficiency of 8.22 percent. It was possible to steadily operate the motogenerator with biogas as the alternative fuel, using the supply system developed substituting 100 percent of the gasoline used.

Synthesis, antimicrobial activity, and QSAR studies of furan-3-carboxamides.

The synthesis and characterization of a new series of furan-3-carboxamides, from the aromatization of 4-trichloroacetyl-2,3-dihydrofuran to 3-trichloroacetyl furan followed by nucleophilic displacement of the trichloromethyl group or the corresponding carboxylic acid chloride by nitrogen-containing compounds, is presented. Preliminary in vitro antimicrobial activity of the title compounds was assessed against a panel of microorganisms including yeast, filamentous fungi, bacteria, and alga. Some of the furan-3-carboxamides exhibited significant in vitro antimicrobial activity. QSAR investigation was applied to find a correlation between the different physicochemical parameters of the compounds studied and their biological activity.