Search

The development of bio-based materials has attracted increasing attention from both academia and industry. In this study, polyurethanes (PUs) prepared from cashew biomass at different NCO:OH molar ratios (0.75, 1.00, and 1.50) were reinforced with coir fiber to produce bio-composites. The resulting bio-composites showed high gel content values (94–100%), indicating good matrix/reinforcement interaction. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated that manufactured bio-composites showed flame retardancy property with LOI values > 28. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed no interphase separation. Also, dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) of composites showed glass transitions values of 85 °C, 95 °C, and 121 °C when PUs were formulated using NCO:OH molar ratios at 0.75, 1.00, and 1.50, respectively. Furthermore, equibiaxial flexural strength results presented values ranging from 71.2 to 88 MPa. Thus, overall results have demonstrated the great potential of bio-composites prepared from cashew biomass-based polyurethanes reinforced with coir fiber which could be explored for high-performance applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of STP1, a combination of ibudilast and bumetanide, tailored for the treatment of a clinically and biologically defined subgroup of patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), namely ASD Phenotype 1 (ASD-Phen1). We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase 1b study with two 14-day treatment phases (registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04644003). Nine ASD-Phen1 patients were administered STP1, while three received a placebo. We assessed safety and tolerability, along with electrophysiological markers, such as EEG, Auditory Habituation, and Auditory Chirp Synchronization, to better understand STP1's mechanism of action. Additionally, we used several clinical scales to measure treatment outcomes. The results showed that STP1 was well-tolerated, with electrophysiological markers indicating a significant and dose-related reduction of gamma power in the whole brain and in brain areas associated with executive function and memory. Treatment with STP1 also increased alpha 2 power in frontal and occipital regions and improved habituation and neural synchronization to auditory chirps. Although numerical improvements were observed in several clinical scales, they did not reach statistical significance. Overall, this study suggests that STP1 is well-tolerated in ASD-Phen1 patients and shows indirect target engagement in ASD brain regions of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this investigation concerns evaluating the mechanical strength and microhardness values of A356 alloy samples in distinctive heat treatments, including those commonly applied to automotive wheels. It is recognized that A356 and Al-Si-based alloys exhibit considerable versatility across numerous industrial applications. The mechanical behavior obtained is intimately associated with different operational parameters (e.g., cooling rates, solution treatment, quenching, and artificial aging). In this study, a group of samples are quenched at 30, 60 and 80 °C. Another set is quenched and subsequently aged at three different temperatures, i.e., 180, 200, and 220 °C for 5 h, and mechanical responses are compared. Microstructural characterization, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, tensile testing, and microhardness measurements are carried out. Using the Rietveld data and based on the modified Williamson–Hall method, the microstrains, crystallite size, and dislocation densities are calculated. Based on this, the resulting mechanical strengths from distinctive quenching and aging are understood. It was found that there exists a "quasi-optimal range" of operational parameters involving different A356 alloy treatments, which vary depending on the manufacturing route. Considering A356 alloy wheels, the planning of the powder coat treatment before or after T6 treating provides better mechanical properties and ductility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population-based meta-heuristics use particles represented by d - dimensional points to encode candidate solutions to an optimization problem. The goal of this work is to introduce a new type of particle represented by a d - dimensional hypercube. Our new representation offers a field of view to swarm particles, making them aware of their surroundings. This gives each particle its own coverage of the search space. We evaluated the effect of our approach in the performance of seven swarm-based algorithms, including artificial bee colony, cuckoo search optimization and particle swarm optimization. We used 30 well-known benchmark functions and six different numbers of dimensions. We compared the performances of the algorithms with blind and sighted particles using Mann-Whitney tests. The results of our extensive experiments show that sighted particles perform at least as well as blind ones in 93% of all scenarios, across different algorithms, benchmark functions and numbers of dimensions, showing significantly better results 51% of the time. We also proposed a new scale which measures an algorithm's exploration and exploitation capabilities and we used it to explain our results. Finally, we followed a sighted swarm throughout the convergence process, showing its ability to cover large portions of the search space. Our take-home message is that any swarm algorithm can adopt our particle representation in order to improve its performance, because any method can benefit from improving its exploitation and exploration capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a troubling public health problem as it increases risks of sleep disorders, respiratory complications, systemic arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). As a measure to counteract comorbidities associated with severe obesity, bariatric surgery stands out. This study aimed to investigate the adiponectin/leptin ratio in women with severe obesity with and without MetS who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and to characterize the biochemical, glucose, and inflammatory parameters of blood in women with severe obesity before and after RYGB. Were enrolled females with severe obesity undergoing RYGP with MetS (n = 11) and without (n = 39). Anthropometric data and circulating levels of glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), adiponectin, and leptin were assessed before and 6 months after RYGB. Significant reductions in weight, body mass index, and glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, and leptin were observed after surgery, with higher levels of HDL, adiponectin, and adiponectin/leptin ratio being observed after surgery compared to the preoperative values of those. This study demonstrated that weight loss induced by RYGB in patients with severe obesity with or without MetS improved biochemical and systemic inflammatory parameters, particularly the adiponectin/leptin ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, there is an increasing trend for replacing petro‐based adhesives with sustainable and eco‐friendly alternatives, especially in the wood industry. In this work it was developed and characterized novolac‐type phenolic resins from the full use of the cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), an agro‐industrial residue and a rich source of phenolic compounds, sustainable alternative to petroleum‐derived chemicals, to develop bio‐based polymers. CNSL and paraformaldehyde were reacted, using oxalic acid as a catalyst, under a solvent‐free methodology. A dark and viscous resin of high molar mass and thermally stable was obtained. The development of highly bio‐based adhesives was proposed by combining CNSL‐based novolac resin (CNSL‐nov) with commercial epoxy resin (DGEBA), as an alternative to conventional hardeners. The use of the epoxy‐novolac system proved to be efficient and promising in obtaining new highly cross‐linked polymers with excellent thermal performance and with potential for wood industry, improving the bio‐based content of high‐performance adhesive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Procesamiento del Lenguaje Natural is the property of Sociedad Espanola para el Procesamiento del Lenguaje Natural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: As the scientific community grapples with the increasing symptomatology stemming from COVID-19, it is becoming increasingly evident that this systemic disease extends beyond its acute respiratory manifestations. While the world was still grappling with the immediate consequences of the pandemic, such as pneumonia, pulmonary thromboembolism, and heightened cardiovascular risk, a series of questions arose concerning the long-term sequelae. The mechanisms and implications of these sequelae remain elusive. Objective: This review explores the impact of COVID-19 on lung function and underscores the significance of thorough assessment and treatment for post-COVID-19 patients, often referred to as Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PACS). COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, exerts its primary effects on the respiratory system and can lead to chronic complications affecting various organ systems. Methods: We carried out searches in three main databases and gray literature, in English, without date restrictions. Results: Lung function assumes a pivotal role, as a substantial number of patients report persistent dyspnea and other respiratory symptoms even after recovery from the acute infection. These lingering symptoms significantly impair patients' quality of life and functional capacity. This study underscores the necessity of precise assessments of lung function, encompassing pulmonary function tests and computed tomography scans, to identify abnormalities and guide treatment strategies. Moreover, we emphasize the vital role of therapeutic interventions and multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs aimed at enhancing the quality of life for PACS patients. Final Considerations: While there exist recommendations for post-COVID-19 rehabilitation, further research is imperative to validate the effectiveness of these interventions and establish a robust evidence base. In summary, this review underscores the enduring impact of COVID-19 on lung function and underscores the importance of individualized care and ongoing research efforts to cater to the needs of post-COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to study the Finslerian gradient Yamabe solitons on top of warped product manifolds. First, we present some rigidity results related to the warping and potential functions. In the sequel, in order to provide nontrivial examples, we take the warped product base as a double twisted product invariant by the action of a translation and rotation group and, as a result, we characterize the invariant solutions of Finslerian gradient Yamabe solitons. We use this method to provide explicit examples of expanding, shrinking and steady warped product Finslerian gradient Yamabe solitons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical forests provide essential environmental services to human well-being. In the world, Brazil has the largest continuous area of these forests. However, in the state of Maranhão, in the eastern Amazon, only 24% of the original forest cover remains. We integrated and analyzed active fires, burned area, land use and land cover, rainfall, and surface temperature datasets to understand forest fragmentation and forest fire dynamics from a remote sensing approach. We found that forest cover in the Maranhão Amazon region had a net reduction of 31,302 km2 between 1985 and 2017, with 63% of losses occurring in forest core areas. Forest edges extent was reduced by 38%, while the size of isolated forest patches increased by 239%. Forest fires impacted, on average, around 1031 ± 695 km2 year−1 of forest edges between 2003 and 2017, the equivalent of 60% of the total burned forest in this period. Our results demonstrated that forest fragmentation is an important factor controlling temporal and spatial variability of forest fires in the eastern Amazon region. Thus, both directly and indirectly, forest fragmentation can compromise biodiversity and carbon stocks in this Amazon region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethanes (PUs) are among the most produced type of polymers in the world due to their wide field of applications. However, most commercial PUs are still prepared from non-renewable sources. In this study, we report for the first time, the preparation of PUs from the direct valorization of cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) without any further purification. First, two polyols were synthesized through epoxidation of CNSL double bonds followed by ring-opening reaction, using ethanol and ethylene glycol. Then, PUs were prepared from the reaction between the synthesized polyols and toluene diisocyanate at different NCO:OH ratios (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0), and subsequently applied onto wood surfaces. All formulations were evaluated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, gel content, and thermogravimetric analysis. The adhesion efficiency of PUs was investigated by lap shear strength test. The results showed that PUs with lower NCO:OH ratio presented the highest values of tensile strength. This study presents the direct usage of CNSL as an efficient and eco-friendly alternative towards the development of bio-based polyurethanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polysaccharide β-glucan, found in the cell wall of cereals such as wheat, oats, and barley, is believed to lower the concentration of bad cholesterol in humans, but the molecular-level mechanisms responsible for such an action are unknown. In this study, we use Langmuir monolayers of cholesterol and dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) as cell membrane models that are made to interact with β-glucan. Neat cholesterol and mixed cholesterol/DPPC monolayers were expanded upon incorporating β-glucan from the aqueous subphase. This incorporation was found to induce ordering in mixed monolayers and dehydration of the carbonyl group at higher cholesterol concentrations. These effects are attributed to hydrophobic interactions as identified with polarization-modulated infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy. They correlate well with the hypothesis that cholesterol levels can be lowered by the formation of soluble fibers with β-glucan through hydrophobic interactions, blocking cholesterol absorption by the organism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze the risk of municipal urban water shortage in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) through the results of the Index of Water Shortage Risk (IRDH). The theoretical-methodological assumptions are based on Walle and Birkmann (2015); Almeida, Welle and Birkman (2016); Medeiros (2018); Oliveira (2018); Macedo et al. (2020 e 2021). In this context, the IRDH was structured in a systemic perspective, where the territories of water shortage risk were identified through environmental, social and economic, and state planning indicators, using 19 variables as instruments of analysis. The research was conducted qualitatively and quantitatively, evaluating and analyzing the risk of water shortage in RN and the 153 cities that compose the system of supply managed by the Company of Waters and Sewers of Rio Grande do Norte (CAERN), a state concessionaire (representing 92% of the 167 cities of the State), in its seven regions of water supply. The result of the IRDH of Rio Grande do Norte proved the relationship between the indicators in the water shortage problem in the State, classifying 49% of the analyzed cities in the classes of “high” and “very high” risk, which places them in a situation of higher attention regarding the potential damages derived from the water shortage, 40.5% of them being “medium” and 10% “low” risks, with no occurrences of “very low” risk examples. In absolute values, 1 city was classified as “very high”; 74 were classified as “high”; 62 as “medium”; and 16 were considered of “low” risk of water shortage. With the goal of reducing/mitigating the results of the IRDH in the State, a transposition of watersheds, integration of supply systems, hydrogeologic research, among others, were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Momento: Revista de Física is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Departamento de Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Global estimates point to high prevalence of neuropsychiatrie disorders in individuals hospitalized for COVID-19. In Brazil, anxiety and depression rates resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection range from 29.7% to 68%, respectively, being more prevalent in young women, with lower educational level, with comorbidities and psychological problems, previous. Objective: Identify possible causes, verify prevalence and identify risk factors for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Methods: An integrative literature review was carried out involving retrospective and/or prospective cohort studies and population-based clinical trials published in the last three years. The main evidence on the relationship between neuropsychiatrie disorders and intrinsic changes in neuroimmunomodulation parameters was also raised. Results: Twenty-one studies were included that addressed the presence of symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, fatigue in sleep disorders in COVID19 survivors. Conclusion: With this literature review, it can be concluded that PTSD, anxiety, depression, fatigue and sleep disturbances are highly prevalent symptoms in COVID-19 survivors, being persistent for up to one-year post-infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the clinical situations faced, patients with COVID-19 who survive the intensive care unit (ICU) are at greater risk of developing post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), characterized by typical physical, psychological and cognitive consequences in the post hospital discharge. Given this situation, it is important to assess these patients for the presence of musculoskeletal and psychosocial changes, so that they are referred to an outpatient and/or home rehabilitation program. Objective: to identify in the scientific literature the effects of hospitalization on the functional status and health-related quality of life of patients with complications from COVID-19. Methods: Searches were performed for scientific articles indexed in the MEDLINE database (accessed by Pubmed), between the years 2019 to 2022. Articles that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria determined to compose this study were included. Results: from a total of 524 articles found in the literature, only 15 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The sample was represented by eight cross-sectional studies and seven cohort studies, and the main outcomes found to assess functional status were the six minute walking test the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status scale and for quality of life the EuroQol visual analogue scale and the Short form-36. Conclusion: With this literature review, it can be concluded that patients hospitalized for complications of COVID-19 showed a significant decline in functional status and health-related quality of life. However, updates are necessary to characterize the symptoms and persistent sequelae in the post-COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To test the hypothesis of a semi‐supervised home physical exercise programme that is likely to improve the functional mobility and quality of life (QOL) of elderly in the community. Methods: This trial included elderly adults (88% female) aged 60 years or older and who were sedentary and without cognitive decline. The participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG, home physical exercise and sleep hygiene) and a control group (CG, sleep hygiene). The International Questionnaire on Physical Activity, mental state mini‐exam, World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument‐Older Adults Module (WHOQOL‐OLD) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests were conducted before and after the 12‐week intervention period. Results: The study was concluded with 125 elderly participants. Anthropometric data were indicative of pre‐obesity, with a mean body mass index of 27.3 ± 4, a low‐income socio‐economic profile (78% ≤ 2 SM) and low schooling rates (76% ≤ 3 years of study). Most of the elderly (87%) were considered physically active with IPAQ > 150 min/week. The group of elderly people who performed the home physical exercise programme showed a significant improvement in functional mobility according to the time of execution of the TUG test before (9.1 ± 2) and after (7.1 ± 1) with an average reduction of 2 ± 1 s (P <.01). The difference in the QOL of the elderly who participated in the exercise protocol was also observed, verified through the WHOQOL‐OLD global score, which presented an initial score of 85 ± 10, changing to 90.4 ± 9 after the intervention. Conclusion: Semi‐supervised physical home exercise is safe and effective in improving the functional mobility and QOL of sedentary elderly people in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Strength Training (ST) reduces the cardiovascular risk of hypertensive elderly people; however, there is a need for efficient and low-cost ST programs that aim to reduce blood pressure (BP) in elderly people with adherence and affectivity in this population. Objective: Evaluate the acute effect on BP and satisfaction with the practice of bodyweight-based strength training (BWST) in hypertensive older adults. Methods: Participants performed a BWST session and a control session (CS). The BWST consisted of six exercises, with three sets of 30 seconds. In the CS, no activity was performed. BP was measured before and at 0, 10, 20, and 30 minutes post-session. Participants' satisfaction was assessed. Results: Eleven older adults (65.8 ± 4.6 years; 7 men) participated in the study. There was an increase (p =.028) in systolic BP immediately after BWST, returning to baseline values in the intervals 10, 20, and 30 post-section. In the CS there was an increase (p =.009) 30 minutes post-session compared to 20 minutes. Between sessions, a lower systolic BP was found in BWST (−6.54 ± 3.31; p =.048) 30 minutes post-sessions. For satisfaction, 82% of participants were "totally satisfied" with BWST. Conclusion: The SBP is lower 30 minutes after BWST session than control session, and BWST promoted a pleasant affective response in hypertensive older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supervised machine learning and opinion lexicon are the most frequent approaches for opinion mining, but they require considerable effort to prepare the training data and to build the opinion lexicon, respectively. In this paper, a novel unsupervised clustering approach is proposed for opinion mining. Three swarm algorithms based on Particle Swarm Optimization are evaluated using three corpora with different levels of complexity with respect to size, number of opinions, domains, languages, and class balancing. K-means and Agglomerative clustering algorithms, as well as, the Artificial Bee Colony and Cuckoo Search swarm-based algorithms were selected for comparison. The proposed swarm-based algorithms achieved better accuracy using the word bigram feature model as the pre-processing technique, the Global Silhouette as optimization function, and on datasets with two classes: positive and negative. Although the swarm-based algorithms obtained lower result for datasets with three classes, they are still competitive considering that neither labeled data, nor opinion lexicons are required for the opinion clustering approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Ts65Dn mouse is the most widely used animal model of Down syndrome (DS). Differences in autonomic regulation of heart rate variability (HRV) in individuals with DS have been hypothesized. Pharmacological studies in animal models may help us understand mechanisms underlying observed changes in HRV in people with DS. Objective: To investigate the use a new, noninvasive technique to assess cardiac autonomic modulation in Ts65Dn mice under the effect of adrenergic and cholinergic agonists. Method: We recorded electrocardiograms (ECGs) from 12 Ts65Dn and 12 euploid control mice. A 30‐min baseline recording was followed by the injection of an adrenergic (isoproterenol [Iso]) or cholinergic (carbachol [CCh]) agonist. Heart rate and HRV were analyzed using a series of methods customized for mice. Results and Discussion: The ECG apparatus described here allowed us to detect noninvasively long series of heartbeats in freely‐moving animals. During baseline conditions, the yield of detectable heartbeats was 3%–27% of the estimated total number of events, which increased to 35%–70% during the 15‐min period after either Iso or CCh injections. Ts65Dn mice displayed a robust enhanced Iso‐induced negative chronotropic rebound response compared with euploid control mice. We observed a significantly smaller CCh response in Ts65Dn versus control euploid mice in the 6‐ to 10‐min‐interval postcarbachol injection. Conclusion: This work showed that the techniques described here are sufficient for this type of study. However, future studies involving the use of more selective pharmacological agents and/or genetic manipulations will be key to advance a mechanistic understanding of cardiac autonomic regulation in DS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mammographic breast density is an important predictor of breast cancer, but its measurement has limitations related to subjectivity of visual evaluation or to difficult access for automatic volumetric measurement methods. Herein, we describe the design and clinical validation of Aguida, a software program for automated quantification of breast density from flat mammography images.Materials and Methods: The software program was developed in MatLab. After image segmentation separating the background from the breast image, the operator positions a cursor defining a region of interest on the pectoralis major muscle from the mediolateral oblique view. Then, in the craniocaudal view, the threshold for separation of the dense tissue is based on the optical density of the pectoral muscle, and the proportion of dense tissue is calculated by the program. Mammograms obtained from 2 different occasions in 291 women were used for clinical evaluation.Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between breast density measurements by the software and by a radiologist was 0.96, with a bias of only 0.67 percentage points and a 95% limit of agreement of 13.5 percentage points; the ICC was 0.94 in the interobserver reliability assessment by two radiologists with different experience; and the ICC was 0.98 in the intraobserver reliability assessment. The distribution among the density classes was close to the values obtained with the volumetric software.Conclusions: Measurement of breast density with the Aguida program from flat mammography images showed high agreement with the visual determination by radiologists, and high inter- and intra-observer reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The natural process of human aging causes biopsychosocial alterations, which can trigger chronic pain and poor sleep quality in older adults. Considering the high prevalence and possible association between these two clinical conditions, special attention from public health policies is necessary to provide quality aging. Objective: To verify if there is an association between chronic pain and sleep quality among older adults in the community. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional study on the association of chronic pain with the sleep quality among older people in the community. Participants were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); Visual Analog Pain scale; questionnaires of sociodemographic and clinical data, assessment of cognitive impairment through the Mini Mental State Examination, and anthropometric assessments. The data were submitted to descriptive statistics. The means between the groups of older people with and without chronic pain were compared using the Student's t test for independent samples and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used to analyze the association of PSQI with pain intensity. Results: In total, 51 older women were included, with a mean age of 70 ± 8 years. The majority had a low level of education (52.9%), low financial income (64.7%), and chronic pain (56.9%). It was found that the older adults with chronic pain presented worse sleep quality when compared those without chronic pain and a moderate (r=0.595) and significant (p<0.01) correlation between sleep quality and the intensity of chronic pain was observed. Conclusion: Older adults in the community with chronic pain present worse sleep quality when compared to the older adults without pain. There is a strong correlation between the intensity of chronic pain and sleep quality in older adults; the greater the intensity of pain, the worse the sleep quality. Trial Registration: Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (REBEC) Identifier: RBR-3cqzfy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composites from recycled polyethylene and kapok fibers were prepared using untreated and plasma-treated fibers. Flow properties, mechanical properties and fracture morphology were analyzed in order to evaluate the effects of cold plasma treatment on kapok fibers to improve interfacial bonding between fibers and matrix. Melt flow rate (MFR) measurements indicated a reduction in flow rate of the polymer with the addition of kapok fibers. Storage modulus increased with fiber addition and this effect was more significant when plasma-treated fibers were used. Tanδ obtained from viscoelastic characterization also suggested improvements in fiber/matrix interface as a result of plasma treatment. Addition of kapok fibers to polyethylene produced a reduction in onset decomposition temperature determined from thermogravimetry curve. However, the decrease in temperature observed does not limit composite processing. Furthermore, the degree of crystallinity of polyethylene increased with the addition of untreated fibers and reduced when plasma treated fibers were added. Morphological analysis of failure surface by Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEGSEM) suggest that fiber/matrix adhesion was clearly improved when plasma treated fibers were used. Thus, the oxygen cold plasma treatment proved to be an effective non-polluting approach to enhance matrix/fiber adhesion in polyethylene/kapok fiber composites, as opposed to chemical treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoseiidae is the most extensively studied family of predatory mites, some of which are effectively used as biological control agents. Nevertheless, studies of these mites in some Brazilian biomes such as the Pantanal are still scarce. The objective this publication was to assess the diversity of this family in Pantanal vegetation from Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, verifying the importance of the native plants as reservoirs for these mites. Samplings were carried out in five phytophysiognomies of the Pantanal: Cambarazal, Capão (forest islet), Carandazal, Riparian Forest and Paratudal. Thirty-five phytoseiid species were recorded on 40 plant species of 28 families. The most common species were Amblyseius chiapensis De Leon and Euseius concordis De Leon, recorded on 21 and 18 plant species, respectively. Inga vera Willd. (Fabaceae) and Paullinia pinnata L. (Sapindaceae) were the host plants harboring the greatest richness of phytoseiids, 15 and 14 species, respectively. Our results suggest a high diversity of phytoseiid mites in the Pantanal biome. However, as only a small proportion of the total biome area was considered, only a fraction of the mite diversity was probably recovered. Thus, new studies on this biome are needed, especially in other well-preserved native vegetation remnants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Neotropical Mammalogy / Mastozoologia Neotropical is the property of Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de los Mamiferos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Ts65Dn mouse is the most studied animal model of Down syndrome. Past research has shown a significant reduction in CA1 hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by theta-burst stimulation (TBS), but not in LTP induced by high-frequency stimulation (HFS), in slices from Ts65Dn mice compared with euploid mouse-derived slices. Additionally, therapeutically relevant doses of the drug memantine were shown to rescue learning and memory deficits in Ts65Dn mice. Here, we observed that 1 μM memantine had no detectable effect on HFS-induced LTP in either Ts65Dn- or control-derived slices, but it rescued TBS-induced LTP in Ts65Dn-derived slices to control euploid levels. Then, we assessed LTP induced by four HFS (4xHFS) and found that this form of LTP was significantly depressed in Ts65Dn slices when compared with LTP in euploid control slices. Memantine, however, did not rescue this phenotype. Because 4xHFS-induced LTP had not yet been characterized in Ts65Dn mice, we also investigated the effects of picrotoxin, amyloid beta oligomers, and soluble recombinant human prion protein (rPrP) on this form of LTP. Whereas ≥10 μM picrotoxin increased LTP to control levels, it also caused seizure-like oscillations. Neither amyloid beta oligomers nor rPrP had any effect on 4xHFS-induced LTP in Ts65Dn-derived slices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is aimed at the one-step chemical modification of the surface of cashew wood flour particles using the technical grade cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). The goal is to develop an alternative way to introduce chemically active sites on the surface of the particles, which allows the addition of new functionalities to such particles. The influence of time and temperature and catalyst on the substitution of lignocellulosic hydroxyls with cardanol/cardol urethane derivatives was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and contact angle measurements. The mechanical behavior of the modified particles in polypropylene composites was also evaluated by mechanical testing and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The FTIR, thermogravimetry, and contact angle results indicated changes on the particle surface, and the mechanical and thermomechanical behavior of the mercerized and modified particles in the composites was found to be similar. These results point that the CNSL approach is a viable way to chemically modify cashew wood flour particle surfaces, while maintaining their properties. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A full-arch rehabilitation with implants is often hampered by the presence of excessive bone resorption, whether by early tooth loss or due to the cleaning deficiency of supporting tissues and prosthetic infrastructure in areas that have already been rehabilitated with dental implants. In extensive cases, a new surgical-prosthetic approach is required that aims to recover some lost aspects, such as function and conditions, for a good location and esthetic cleaning. Thus, rehabilitation using the system MK1 fittings is well indicated. Such fittings provide the convenience of a fixed prosthesis without full palatal coverage. They are easy to remove for the patient and facilitate proper cleaning, especially in patients susceptible to periimplant disease development. The aim of this study was to present the case of a patient who had been rehabilitated with the full prosthesis-type protocol established by the MK1 fittings system. Multidisciplinary treatment was performed to restore health to the peri-implant tissues by taking a new surgical approach and to achieve prosthetic conditions that offer better sanitation of the area as rehabilitated by the patient. Surgical planning successfully achieved the total removal of the condemned implants and treated the support structures. It was carried out graft in previous jaw and installation of new lower implants and prostheses protocol type using the MK1 locking system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify critical success factors (CSFs) that are regarded as the most important in Six Sigma programs in Brazil and to compare these rankings with those in international literature. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of industrial companies was selected to complete a survey. In total, 104 questionnaires were obtained. The results were compared with a literature review consisting of 26 papers from 13 countries. In total, 70 CSFs were found in the papers, but 19 CSFs were analyzed and reduced to ten. A multivariate factor analysis further reduced this number to two underlying constructs. Findings – The authors identified a CSFs common denominator/ranking based on the sample of international articles. The authors found that there are four CSFs that are more prevalent in Brazil and in the international papers studied and that there are no differences between the importance of CSFs in terms of hierarchical levels. Three gaps, five levers and two CSFs constructs were identified. Social implications – This study may initiate cooperation between the studied companies and academia, thus possibly increasing these organization’ knowledge regarding Six Sigma. Originality/value – The originality of this study is that the survey was conducted with companies in Brazil, a country where little information exists on Six Sigma programs. The authors also contributed a literature review on CSFs, a comparison based on most of the consulted papers and the use of a robust methodological strategy that was made possible by the sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) using X-ray Free-Electron Lasers (XFELs) allows for room temperature protein structure determination without evidence of conventional radiation damage. In this method, a liquid suspension of protein microcrystals can be delivered to the X-ray beam in vacuum as a micro-jet, which replenishes the crystals at a rate that exceeds the current XFEL pulse repetition rate. Gas dynamic virtual nozzles produce the required micrometer-sized streams by the focusing action of a coaxial sheath gas and have been shown to be effective for SFX experiments. Here, we describe the design and characterization of such nozzles assembled from ceramic micro-injection molded outer gas-focusing capillaries. Trends of the emitted jet diameter and jet length as a function of supplied liquid and gas flow rates are measured by a fast imaging system. The observed trends are explained by derived relationships considering choked gas flow and liquid flow conservation. Finally, the performance of these nozzles in a SFX experiment is presented, including an analysis of the observed background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Neotropical Mammalogy / Mastozoologia Neotropical is the property of Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de los Mamiferos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)