RESUMO A corrosão de armadura é um dos maiores problemas que reduzem a durabilidade das estruturas de concreto, causada, frequentemente, pelo processo de carbonatação e ataque de íons cloretos, presentes em ambientes agressivos e marinhos. Estima-se que 90% dos problemas patológicos em estruturas de concreto no mundo tem como consequência a corrosão de armadura. Dessa forma, a pesquisa por materiais com resistência a este processo de deterioração é fundamental para melhorar a durabilidade e a eficiência das estruturas de concreto. Neste contexto, foi estudado o efeito de três aditivos químicos, um comercial à base de sais de nitrito, o molibdato de sódio (MoNa2O4) e o tungstato de sódio (Na2O4W.2H2O), utilizados nos teores de 1% e 2% em relação à massa de cimento. Foram preparados corpos de prova cilíndricos de argamassa (classe de resistência de 30 MPa) com aço embebidos neste, para serem submetidos ao ensaio eletroquímico de polarização potenciodinâmica. A utilização do aditivo comercial não foi eficiente na redução das taxas de corrosão, porém, o efeito do tempo de cura, reduziu a taxa média de corrosão de 4,7 mm/ano aos 60 dias, para 1,6 mm/ano, aos 90 dias. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos para os aditivos de molibdato e tungstato, nos quais foi observado um índice de eficiência do aditivo de 50%, para adição de 1% de molibdato, e de 29%, para adição de 2% de tungstato.

ABSTRACT Concrete reinforcement corrosion is one of the most important problems that diminish the durability of concrete structures, and it is often caused by the carbonation process and chloride ion attack in aggressive and marine environments. It is estimated that 90% of pathological problems affecting concrete structures worldwide lead to reinforcement corrosion. The research for materials with resistance to this deterioration process is fundamental to improve the durability and efficiency of concrete structures. In this context, the effect of three chemical additives, a commercial one based on nitrite salts, sodium molybdate (MoNa2O4) and sodium tungstate (Na2O4W.2H2O), used in contents of 1% and 2% in relation to the cement mass. Cylindrical, steel embedded, mortar samples (30 MPa strength class) were submitted to the potentiodynamic polarization test. The use of commercial additive was not efficient in reducing corrosion rates, but the effect of curing time reduced the mean corrosion rate from 4.7 mm/year at 60 days to 1.6 mm/year, at 90 days. The best results were obtained for the tungstate and molybdate additives, in which the addition of 1% of molybdate additive presented an efficiency rate of 50%, while 2% of tungstate additive presented an efficiency rate of 29%.

The aim of this work was to experimentally evaluate the use of calcium carbonate as a pore-generating agent in ceramic compositions. Compositions that contained 50% kaolin, 20% limestone, and different concentrations of quartz and feldspar were prepared by uniaxial pressing. Samples were heat-treated at a heating rate appropriate to induce calcium carbonate degassing, and they were then sintered at 800, 900, and 1050 ºC. Tests of X-ray fluorescence, thermogravimetric analysis, porosimetry, and air permeation were performed. The composition (wt%) that contained 50% kaolin, 20% limestone, 20% feldspar, and 10% quartz and heat treated at 1050 ºC (k1 = 1.73×10-13 m² and k2 = 1.00×10-8 m) showed the highest level of permeability among the investigated samples. Fluid dynamics simulations showed that the prepared samples would exhibit a pressure drop greater than the range desired for applications that involve the filtration of aerosols, but alternatively would be suitable as substrates for asymmetric membranes in microfiltration applications.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between enteral nutrition discontinuation and outcome in general critically ill patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients admitted to a mixed intensive care unit in a tertiary care hospital from May-August 2009 were screened for an indication for enteral nutrition. Patients were followed up until leaving the intensive care unit or a maximum of 28 days. The gastrointestinal failure score was calculated daily by adding values of 0 if the enteral nutrition received was identical to the nutrition prescribed, 1 if the enteral nutrition received was at least 75% of that prescribed, 2 if the enteral nutrition received was between 50-75% of that prescribed, 3 if the enteral nutrition received was between 50-25% of that prescribed, and 4 if the enteral nutrition received was less than 25% of that prescribed. RESULTS: The mean, worst, and categorical gastrointestinal failure scores were associated with lower survival in these patients. Age, categorical gastrointestinal failure score, type of admission, need for mechanical ventilation, sequential organ failure assessment, and Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores were selected for analysis with binary regression. In both models, the categorical gastrointestinal failure score was related to mortality. CONCLUSION: The determination of the difference between prescribed and received enteral nutrition seemed to be a useful prognostic marker and is feasible to be incorporated into a gastrointestinal failure score.

A corrosão é um fenômeno que afeta toda a sociedade, atribuindo-se uma grande importância sócio-econômica aos seus efeitos. Na área da engenharia, existem diversas conseqüências do processo corrosivo, como ocorre no aço de reforço das estruturas de concreto. Na intenção de oferecer segurança e durabilidade às estruturas, empresas do ramo químico e de produtos para construção civil disponibilizam no mercado diferentes formas de proteção à corrosão. Este trabalho apresenta análises de medidas de potencial realizadas em amostras de concreto armado, com diferentes relações água/cimento, produzidos com e sem inibidores de corrosão e expostos a dois ambientes com cloretos: em campo, exposto às intempéries da atmosfera marinha do litoral sul de Santa Catarina; em laboratório, a um processo cíclico de aceleração da corrosão através de imersão parcial (solução contendo cloretos) e secagem em estufa. Nas duas situações, foram mantidas as amostras por um período de 63 dias. A corrosão por cloretos em laboratório mostrou-se o sistema mais agressivo e eficiente para avaliar o potencial de corrosão. Os resultados buscaram caracterizar a eficiência dos inibidores de corrosão utilizados, que foram denominados de inibidor A, inibidor B e inibidor C e, ao fim das análises, foi possível classificá-los quanto ao desempenho em ambientes contaminados por cloretos em: Inibidor B > Inibidor C > Inibidor A. A redução da relação água/cimento (0,45) melhorou o desempenho do concreto de referência e dos três tipos de inibidores de corrosão utilizados. Evidenciou-se modificação das propriedades mecânicas dos concretos com inibidores, o que pode conduzir ao desenvolvimento de concretos mais impermeáveis e duráveis.

Corrosion is a phenomenon that affects the whole of society, such that great socioeconomic importance is attributed to its effects. In the area of the engineering, numerous consequences of the corrosive process exist, like that which occurs in steel reinforcement of concrete structures. With the intention of providing structural safety and durability, the chemical industry and companies that supply construction products market different forms of protection against corrosion. This work presents analyses of measurements of corrosive potential conducted on samples of steel-reinforced concrete, with different water/cement ratios, fabricated with and without corrosion inhibitor and exposed to two environments containing chloride: in the field, exposed to the unpredictable weather of the marine environment of the southern coastal region of Santa Catarina; and in the laboratory, exposed to a cyclical process of corrosion acceleration through partial immersion (solution containing chloride) and drying in a heater. The specimens were maintained for a period of 63 days in the respective environments. Corrosion by chloride solution in the laboratory proved to be the most aggressive and efficient system for evaluating corrosive potential. The results aimed to characterize the efficiency of the corrosion inhibitors used, denominated inhibitor A, inhibitor B and inhibitor C. After completing the analyses, it was possible to classify these regarding their performance in environments contaminated by chloride: inhibitor B > inhibitor C > inhibitor A. Reduction in the water/cement ratio (0.45) improved the performance of the reference concrete and the three types of corrosion inhibitors studied. Modification of the mechanical properties of the concretes with corrosion inhibitors was verified, which could lead to the development of more impermeable and durable concrete.

A nanopartícula de prata (AgN) é um dos mais proeminentes nanoprodutos, uma vez que a prata exibe propriedades físicas, químicas e biológicas notavelmente incomuns. Creatina quinase (CK) desempenha um papel central no metabolismo de tecidos que consomem muita energia, tais como o cérebro, músculo esquelético e coração, funcionando como um efetivo sistema tampão dos níveis de ATP celular. Uma diminuição na atividade da CK pode alterar a homeostase energética, contribuindo para a morte celular. No presente trabalho nós estudamos o efeito in vitro de AgN na atividade da CK de cérebro, coração e músculo esquelético de ratos. Nossos resultados demonstraram que AgN (10, 25 e 50 mg L-1) in vitro inibiram a atividade da CK em cérebro e músculo esquelético, porém não em coração. Vários trabalhos mostraram que os efeitos citotóxicos da AgN provavelmente envolvem a interação entre íons prata e grupos sulfidrila de proteínas. Nós sugerimos que a AgN inibiu a atividade da CK por meio da interação com grupos tiol da enzima.

One of the most prominent nanoproducts is the silver nanoparticle (AgN), since silver ions exhibit remarkably unusual physical, chemical and biological properties. Creatine kinase (CK) plays a central role in metabolism of high-energy consuming tissues such as brain, skeletal muscle and heart, where it functions as an effective buffering system of cellular ATP levels. A decrease of CK activity may impair energy homeostasis, contributing to cell death. In the present work we studied the in vitro effect of AgN on the activity of CK from rat brain, heart and skeletal muscle. Our results demonstrated that AgN (10, 25 and 50 mg L-1) in vitro inhibited CK from brain and skeletal muscle, but not from heart. Several works showed that AgN cytotoxic effects probably involve interaction between silver ions and sulphydryl groups of proteins. We suggest that AgN inhibited CK activity through interactions with thiol groups of the enzyme.