Development of an Innovative Lightweight Composite Material with Thermal Insulation Properties Based on Cardoon and Polyurethane.

The search for innovative and sustainable solutions to improve the energy efficiency of the construction industry has been a hot topic for researchers due to the tremendous impact of insulator materials in the thermal comfort of buildings. In the present work, an innovative lightweight composite material with thermal insulation properties was developed, for the first time, by using cardoon particles and polyurethane. The formulation of the composite material was optimized in terms of cardoon fraction and the polyol/isocyanate ratio, to achieve the best compromise between internal bond (IB) strength and thickness swelling (TS).

Synthesis of Vitamin B3 through a Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Approach Using Metal-Free Carbon Nitride-Based Catalysts.

Vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid, VB3) was synthesized through the photocatalytic oxidation of 3-pyridinemethanol (3PM) under visible-light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation using metal-free graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) - based materials. A bulk (GCN) material was prepared by a simple thermal treatment using dicyandiamide as the precursor. A post-thermal treatment under static air and nitrogen flow was employed to obtain the GCN-T and GCN-T-N materials, respectively.

Aqueous solution photocatalytic synthesis of -anisaldehyde by using graphite-like carbon nitride photocatalysts obtained the hard-templating route.

Graphite-like carbon nitride (GCN)-based materials were developed the hard-templating route, using dicyandiamide as the GCN precursor and silica templates. That resulted in urchin-like GCN (GCN-UL), 3D ordered macroporous GCN (GCN-OM) and mesoporous GCN (GCN-MP). The introduction of silica templates during GCN synthesis produced physical defects on its surface, as confirmed by SEM analysis, increasing their specific surface area.

Efficient removal of parabens from real water matrices by a metal-free carbon nitride photocatalyst.

Metal-free graphite-like carbon nitride (GCN-500) was obtained by thermal post-treatment of bulk polymeric carbon nitride at 500 °C. The catalyst was thoroughly characterized by morphological, optical and textural analysis techniques. The efficiency of GCN-500 was evaluated under visible (λ = 417 nm) LED excitation for the photocatalytic degradation of methyl-, ethyl- and propyl-paraben in different water matrices either isolated or in a mixture of the three compounds.

Trial of Electrical Direct-Current Therapy versus Escitalopram for Depression.

Background: We compared transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) with a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor for the treatment of depression.

Methods: In a single-center, double-blind, noninferiority trial involving adults with unipolar depression, we randomly assigned patients to receive tDCS plus oral placebo, sham tDCS plus escitalopram, or sham tDCS plus oral placebo. The tDCS was administered in 30-minute, 2-mA prefrontal stimulation sessions for 15 consecutive weekdays, followed by 7 weekly treatments.

Nonverbal behaviors are associated with increased vagal activity in major depressive disorder: Implications for the polyvagal theory.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with impairments in nonverbal behaviors (NVBs) and vagal activity. The polyvagal theory proposes that vagal activity regulates heart rate and NVBs by modulating a common anatomically and neurophysiologically discrete social engagement system. However, the association between these putative endophenotypes has not yet been explored.

The Escitalopram versus Electric Current Therapy for Treating Depression Clinical Study (ELECT-TDCS): rationale and study design of a non-inferiority, triple-arm, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Context And Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric condition, mostly treated with antidepressant drugs, which are limited due to refractoriness and adverse effects. We describe the study rationale and design of ELECT-TDCS (Escitalopram versus Electric Current Therapy for Treating Depression Clinical Study), which is investigating a non-pharmacological treatment known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

Design And Setting: Phase-III, randomized, non-inferiority, triple-arm, placebo-controlled study, ongoing in São Paulo, Brazil.

Analysis of the TAX1BP1 gene in head and neck cancer patients.

Unlabelled: In Brazil, there were 14,160 new estimated cases of head and neck cancer for the year of 2008. Smoking and drinking are the main risk factors established in the etiology of this disease.

Aim: To assess the T --> A polymorphism in gene TAX1BP1 (leu306ile) in patients with head and neck cancer and a control population.