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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]

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]

The objective of this work is to obtain thermoplastic starch, polymer biocomposites and nanobiocomposites using agro-industrial waste generated in mango processing, and characterize the obtained materials. The starch extraction from the kernels of mango pits showed a good yield and the obtained starch had high purity.The results obtained characterizing the fibers and cellulose nanowhiskers, from the husk of the mango seed, proved the effectiveness of chemical treatment removing the amorphous constituents (hemicellulose and lignin).The polymer biocomposites and nanobiocomposites were obtained and the TPS mango starch showed satisfactory results of mechanical and thermal properties, when compared with TPS corn starch materials with the same composition. It is concluded that the waste generated in the agro-industrial processing of mangos showed a potential source for biodegradable materials production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Previous studies have shown that relaxation music increases the heart's parasympathetic modulation as well as reducing its sympathetic activity. However, what is lacking in the literature is information on the acute effects of different intensities of music on cardiac autonomic regulation. We aimed to evaluate the acute effects of baroque and heavy-metal music on cardiac autonomic regulation at different intensities. Method The study was performed in 16 healthy men aged between 18 and 25 years. The main outcomes were the geometric indices of heart-rate variability ( HRV) [i.e. triangular index ( RRtri); triangular interpolation of RR intervals ( TINN) and Poincaré plot: SD1, SD2 and SD1/ SD2 ratio]. First, HRV was recorded at rest for 10 min. The volunteers were then exposed to baroque or heavy-metal music for 5 min through an earphone; subjects were exposed to each song at three different sound levels (60-70, 70-80 and 80-90 decibels). After the first song, subjects remained at rest for 5 min before being exposed to the next song. The sequence of songs and sound intensity were randomised for each individual. Results Musical auditory stimulation with baroque music did not influence the geometric indices of HRV. The same was observed with heavy-metal musical auditory stimulation at the three sound-level ranges. Conclusion Musical auditory stimulation at different sound intensities did not influence the geometric indices of HRV in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Bite force is an important performance measure for vertebrate and is related to a variety of ecological challenges. Phyllostomid bats present highly diversified feeding habits associated with extensive cranial shape divergence. Biomechanical models predict that the cranial shape changes are linked to dietary variation through bite force. However, the relationship of cranial shape, diet and bite force had not been explicitly tested before. 2. Here we use a combination of geometric morphometric techniques and comparative methods to test for morphological correlates of bite force and diet in 14 phyllostomid bat species. Skull and mandible shape variation were assessed by vectors, derived from a two-block partial least squares analysis of geometric shape and size-independent bite forces. The relationship between bite force, skull shape and diet was assessed by phylogenetic generalized least square regressions. 3. Most variation in the bite force data examined here (approximately 74%) was explained by size variation alone, but the shape vectors for both skull and mandible explained a significant part of the residual variation in bite force (83% and 56%, respectively), as did the dietary differences (56%). Although the first principal component of diet variation is associated with a negative correlation between insectivory and frugivory, residual bite force and cranial shape are not associated with this diet contrast. Shape and residual bite force variation in the sample were strongly associated with the second diet component, depicting an increase in nectarivory. 4. Species with stronger bites (insectivorous and frugivorous) than expected for their sizes presented a shorter rostrum and mandible, higher skulls, and more developed muscle attachment areas. On the other hand, the characteristic cranial elongation of nectarivorous species (supporting the long tongue) is a trade-off with bite force. These morphological correlates of bite force are similar to those observed in carnivores and non-herbivorous marsupials, and can be related to morphological characters used in biomechanical models for bite force prediction. 5. Our results reinforce the effectiveness of statistically integrating geometric shape variables to bite force and diet information in the investigation of patterns of cranial shape change and trophic radiation in ecologically diverse vertebrate groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon has beneficial effects on many crops, mainly under biotic and abiotic stresses. Silicon can affect biochemical, physiological, and photosynthetic processes and, consequently, alleviates drought stress. However, the effects of Si on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants under drought stress are still unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Si supply on some biochemical characteristics and yield of potato tubers, either exposed or not exposed to drought stress. The experiment was conducted in pots containing 50 dm3 of a Typic Acrortox soil (33% clay, 4% silt, and 63% sand). The treatments consisted of the absence or presence of Si application (0 and 284.4 mg dm-3), through soil amelioration with dolomitic lime and Ca and Mg silicate, and in the absence or presence of water deficit (-0.020 MPa and -0.050 MPa soil water potential, respectively), with eight replications. Silicon application and water deficit resulted in the greatest Si concentration in potato leaves. Proline concentrations increased under lower water availability and higher Si availability in the soil, which indicates that Si may be associated with plant osmotic adjustment. Water deficit and Si application decreased total sugars and soluble proteins concentrations in the leaves. Silicon application reduced stalk lodging and increased mean tuber weight and, consequently, tuber yield, especially in the absence of water stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent data have shown that owing to their seed-predator capacity Chiroderma doriae and Chiroderma villosum trophically depart from all previously studied species within the canopy fruit-bat ensemble. In this paper, the hypothesis that morphological adaptations related to granivory have evolved in these bats is investigated and discussed. A canonical variate analysis was used to search for possible divergent trends between the masticatory apparatus of Chiroderma and other stenodermatines currently recognized in the same ensemble. A total of 142 specimens representative of eight species was included in the analysis. Species of Chiroderma can be discriminated from all other species in the sample based on the increased development of masseter-related variables (height of the anterior zygomatic arch, masseter moment arm, and masseter volume), which, in conjunction with other morphological characteristics (dentition and gape angle) discussed herein, corroborates the evolution of durophagy in this group. A complementary analysis based on a Mantel test revealed that the pattern of morphological differentiation that emerged from the canonical variate analysis does not agree with the one expected based solely on the phylogenetic relationships adopted for the canopy fruit-bats studied here. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that morphological adaptations related to granivory have evolved in Chiroderma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Copper-Catalyzed Coupling of (E)-Bromostilbene with Phenols/Azole: ESI-MS Detection of Intermediates by Using an Ionically-Tagged Ligand" that was published in the 2012 issue is presented.