The aerospace industry is constantly looking for innovative materials that exhibit good mechanical and corrosion properties. The 2198-T851 (Al-Cu-Li) alloy was developed to replace the conventional Al-Cu-Mg in aircraft structures. Despite the usefulness of the 2198-T851 alloy, its performance may be affected when subjected to an aggressive medium containing chloride ions. The deposition of Nb2O5 coatings by using the reactive sputtering technique on the 2198-T851 alloy surface appears as a powerful tool to improve the corrosion resistance of this material. Recently, groundbreaking research findings have demonstrated the positive effect of Nb2O5 coatings on corrosion protection of alloy 2198-T851. However, the corrosion products originated from the 2198-T851 aluminium alloy are poorly understood. The use of Raman spectroscopy and XPS techniques may help to shed some light on the corrosion products of 2198-T851 alloy. Results demonstrated the corrosion products are mainly composed by CuCl2 x H2O, CuCl, Cu2Cl(OH)3, Al(OH)3, and AlO(OH).

OBJETIVOS: Analisar os efeitos de exercícios físicos (EF) e orientação nutricional (ON) sobre a composição corporal, aptidão física, perfil lipídico e resistência insulínica em adolescentes obesos com e sem síndrome metabólica (SM). MÉTODOS: 64 obesos (26 meninos), com idade entre 10 a 16 anos, divididos em dois grupos: com SM (n=29) e sem SM (n=35). Utilizou-se como critério de classificação de SM a presença de três ou mais critérios para idade e sexo de acordo com Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III). Mensuraram-se antes e após 12 semanas de intervenção: pressão arterial, circunferência abdominal, consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2pico), glicemia, insulinemia, Homeostatic Metabolic Assessments (HOMA-IR), Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) e perfil lipídico. Os dois grupos participaram de 12 semanas de EF e duas sessões de ON. Cada sessão de EF consistiu em 50 minutos de ciclismo indoor, 50 minutos de caminhada e 20 minutos de alongamento, três vezes por semana. RESULTADOS: 55 sujeitos (com SM=25; sem SM=30) completaram o tratamento. Após 12 semanas, houve diminuição na massa corporal, IMC escore-z, circunferência abdominal, massa gorda, TG e aumento na estatura, HDL-C e VO2pico, em ambos os grupos. Além disso, houve uma redução na pressão arterial sistólica, aumento na sensibilidade à insulina (p<0,05) no grupo com SM. Os fatores de risco para SM diminuíram em 72%. CONCLUSÃO: Após a intervenção multidisciplinar, houve uma redução nos fatores de risco, melhorando a aptidão física e perfil metabólico. A intervenção multidisciplinar foi efetiva para redução da SM.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effects of physical exercise and nutritional guidance on body composition, physical fitness, lipid profile and insulin resistance among obese adolescents with and without metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Sixty-four obese adolescents (26 boys), 10-16 years of age, were divided into two groups: with metabolic syndrome (n=29) and without metabolic syndrome (n=35). They were classified as having metabolic syndrome if they met three or more criteria for age and sex according to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III). Blood pressure, waist circumference, maximum oxygen uptake (VO2peak), blood glucose, blood insulin, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and lipid profile were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention. Both groups participated in 12 weeks of physical education and two nutritional guidance sessions. Each physical education session consisted of 50 min indoor cycling, 50 min of walking/running and 20 min of stretching, three times a week. RESULTS: Fifty-five participants (with metabolic syndrome=25; without metabolic syndrome=30) completed the treatment. After 12 weeks, both groups showed reductions in body weight, BMI z-score, waist circumference, fat mass and triglycerides; and increases in height, HDL-C and VO2peak (p<0.05). In addition, the group with metabolic syndrome presented reduced systolic blood pressure and increased insulin sensitivity (p<0.05). The risk factors for metabolic syndrome decreased by 72%. CONCLUSION: Following the multidisciplinary intervention, the risk factors decreased, with improvements in physical fitness and metabolic profile. The multidisciplinary intervention was effective in reducing metabolic syndrome.

Nitrogen Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PIII) has been used to modify the surface chemical structure of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Grinding and polishing processes based on abrasive papers and alumina pastes have been evaluated with regard to their results on the improvement of polymer surface roughness, which has shown to be of crucial importance for hardness characterization. Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and Nanoindentation tests were used to characterize the modified surfaces. Experimental results has shown that UHMWPE surface mechanical properties such as hardness and elastic modulus can be improved by induced chain cross-linking between the macromolecules on the polymer surface caused by nitrogen PIII. The new material formed on the surface is Diamond Like Carbon (DLC). As a significant improvement in hardness was obtained by DLC synthesis on the treated surface, it is expected a dramatic improvement of abrasion resistance and overall durability of prostheses made with PIII treated UHMWPE.

Trabalho executado para estudar a influência, na produção e no tipo dos tubérculos, dos micronutrientes - ferro, cobre, zinco, molibdênio, manganês e boro - sobre a cultura da batata (Solanum tuberosum, L.), em solos de várzea do Vale do Paraíba. Os resultados de produção mostraram elevado efeito do boro e do molibdênio. Os outros micronutrientes não apresentaram efeito algum.

The influence of the micronutrients iron, copper, zinc, molybdenium, manganese and boron added to the basic fertilizer on yield and quality of potato (Solatium tuberosum L.), growing on alluvial soils was studied. An increase in the yield of 40% in soils of Avareí series and 50% of Paraiba series, was associated with application of boron and molybdenium to the soil. The effect of boron was much more pronounced than that of molybdenium. Application of iron, copper, zinc and manganese have no significant effect on potato yield.