De forma geral os livros texto de física básica abordam a segunda lei da termodinâmica de duas maneiras distintas. Inicialmente, associada à discussão sobre máquinas térmicas, são enunciados os princípios de Clausius e Kelvin; subsequentemente aborda-se a segunda lei introduzindo o conceito de entropia e seu princípio de variaação positiva, ou nula, nas tranformações termodinâmicas. Embora se encontrem demonstrações da equivalência entre os princípios de Kelvin e Clausius, é rara, nos textos básicos de termodinâmica, uma discussão que evidencie a conexão entre os enunciados da segunda lei associados à s máquinas térmicas e a abordagem entrópica. Este artigo apresenta uma incursão na segunda lei da termodinâmica com enfoque na equivalência entre seus enunciados, especificamente, entre o princípio da máxima entropia, ou sua variação nunca negativa em qualquer processo termodinâmico, e os princípios associados às máquinas térmicas.

The second law of thermodynamics can be found in basic physics textbooks presented in two different ways. Firstly, related to the concept of thermal machines in which the principles of Clausius and Kelvin are postulated. Subsequently, this law is introduced using the concept of entropy and its non negative variation in a thermodynamical transformation (also known as principle of maximum entropy). It is common to find in textbooks the relation between the principles of Clausius and Kelvin of the law, but not so evident the relation between these principles and that one related to variation of the entropy. In this paper we present an incursion into the second law of thermodynamics as seen in these three different ways, specially considering the connection between the second law for entropy variation and as dictated by Clausius and Kelvin.

Tungsten bonze structured lead barium niobate (Pb1-xBa xNb2O6) ferroelectric ceramics were prepared by the conventional mixed oxide method and their dielectric properties were carefully investigated. All studied samples presented elevated values of maximum dielectric constant (epsilon'm) and its corresponding temperature of maximum (Tm) in comparison with perovskite structured ones. The phase transition features indicate that the PBN samples do not present a complete diffuse phase transition. Indeed, the diffuseness degree of the ferroelectric phase transition is highly dependent of the ions Pb2+ content in the sample compositions. The diffuseness of the ferroelectric phase transition is enhanced while the temperature of maximum dielectric constant is decreased with the Pb2+ content decreasing. In addition, the maximum dielectric constant shows an opposite behavior.

The structure of polycrystalline strontium barium niobate at room temperature was refined by the Rietveld method. Sintered ceramic samples were used to collect powder neutron and X-ray diffraction data. The ratio Sr/Ba ~ 64/36 was found from the initial batch composition Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6, corroborating with the quantitative X-ray dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) measurements. The structure is tetragonal with cell parameters a, b = 12.4504(3) Å and c = 3.9325(1) Å and space group P4bm. It was not necessary to introduce any positional disorder for the oxygen atoms. Cation Nb+5 displacements not parallel to the c direction are presented, which can influence the behavior of the ferroelectric properties.

Lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics were obtained with high transmittance in the visible range by a combination of an inexpensive chemical processing and hot pressing. Optical, microstructural, pyroelectric, ferroelectric and dielectric properties characterized in this study attested the applicability of the employed method in the production of PLZT transparent ferroelectric ceramics. In fact, the corresponding analyzed physical parameters are in very good agreement with those obtained in samples traditionally prepared by other methods. Furthermore, due to high sample quality, a phenomenological analysis of the PLZT 10/65/35 relaxor features was performed in these ceramics.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fibrin adhesive made up of snake venom and bubaline fibrinogen by rat colon anastomosis. Eighty rats were randomly assigned into 2 experimental groups: GI control (anastomosis with extramucous interrupted suture) and GII (repair suture + fibrin glue). The animals were studied at the following 4 times: T0 – preoperative, T1 – 7th day postoperative, T2 – 14th day postoperative, and T3 – 21 st day postoperative. The macroscopic characteristics of the intestinal segment open and closed anastomosis and the bursting strength of the anastomosed segments were observed at each of the above times. The results showed that the anastomosed segments coapted and there was no difference in the bursting strength values between the 2 groups. There was a decrease in the bursting strength values up until the 7 th day postoperative in both groups with its progressive increase at the other times. Although important experimental studies using large animals are needed for a better evaluation of tissue repair processes, this adhesive may become a valuable tool for use in anastomosis.