RESUMO O encapsulamento de hastes de âncora em pasta de cimento reduz o contato dos materiais metálicos com os ambientes agressivos, em torres estaiadas de linhas de transmissão de energia elétrica. Contudo, ainda são reportados casos de falha prematura devido à corrosão do sistema de ancoragem. O íon cloreto é considerado um dos principais responsáveis pelo início e pela propagação da corrosão. Entretanto, existem muitas divergências em relação a concentração crítica de cloreto no solo e na pasta de cimento e a sua influência na formação dos produtos de corrosão. Neste estudo, o aço carbono 1040 foi exposto em laboratório a ambientes com diferentes concentrações de íons cloreto, 764 e 1764 mg/kg no solo, 2,0% e 3,5% na pasta de cimento, teores estes, baseados nos resultados analíticos obtidos em amostras de hastes e de seu entorno, retiradas do campo. A investigação do estado quanto à corrosão do metal em laboratório foi efetuada ao longo do tempo, pela medida do potencial de circuito aberto (OCP- “Open Circuit Potential”) e pela espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica (EIE). Os produtos de corrosão foram caracterizados por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, com análise química elementar (MEV/EDS) e difração de raios-X (DRX). Por meio da análise de EIE foi possível detectar a evolução do processo corrosivo do metal no solo e na pasta de cimento, mesmo sendo observadas diferentes formas de corrosão: generalizada no primeiro e localizada nesta última, respectivamente. Na avaliação dos produtos de corrosão, por MEV e DRX, foi inferida a presença de goetita, e calcita na superfície do aço exposto ao solo, e no encapsulado em pasta cimento foi possível visualizar os pites formados e as composições do seu entorno superficial. Esses resultados indicaram a necessidade da utilização de metais mais resistentes à corrosão em ambientes com íons cloreto, visando o aumento da durabilidade do sistema de ancoragem.

ABSTRACT The encasement of anchor rods in cement paste reduces the contact of metal materials with aggressive environments in guyed power transmission line towers, however, many cases of premature failure due to corrosion of the anchorage systems are still reported. Chloride ions are considered to be one of the main factors responsible for the initiation and propagation of corrosion, however, there are many differences regarding the critical concentration of chloride in the soil and cement paste and their influence on the formation of corrosion products. In this study carbon steel 1040 was exposed in the laboratory to environments with different concentrations of chloride ions, 764 and 1764 mg/kg in the soil, 2.0% and 3.5% in the cement paste, based on the analytical results obtained in samples of rods and their surroundings, taken from the field. The investigation of the corrosion state of the metal in the laboratory was evaluated, over time, by the measurement of open circuit potential (OCP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The corrosion products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy with elemental chemical analysis (SEM/EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). By means of the EIS analysis, it was possible to detect the evolution of the corrosive process of the metal in the soil and cement paste, even though different forms of corrosion were observed: general in the soil and localized in the cement paste. Moreover, the evaluation of the corrosion products, by SEM and XRD, indicated the presence of goethite and calcite on the steel surface exposed to the soil, and in the steel encapsulated in cement paste it was possible to visualize the pits formed and the compositions of their surface surroundings. These results suggest to need to use corrosion resistant metals in environments with chloride ions, in order to increase the durability of the anchorage system.

El estudio del tamaño y la forma del cuerpo humano ha sido un tema de investigación durante un tiempo muy largo. En el pasado, la antropometría utilizó técnicas de medición tradicionales para registrar las dimensiones del cuerpo humano y reportó la variación en las dimensiones del cuerpo en función de la media y la desviación estándar. Hoy en día, el estudio de las dimensiones del cuerpo humano se puede llevar a cabo utilizando maneras más eficientes, como los escáneres tridimensionales del cuerpo, que pueden proporcionar grandes cantidades de datos antropométricos más rápidamente que las técnicas tradicionales. En este trabajo se presenta una descripción de la amplia gama de temas relacionados con la recogida de datos antropométricos utilizando escáneres tridimensionales del cuerpo, incluyendo los diferentes tipos de tecnologías disponibles y sus implicaciones, el proceso de digitalización estándar necesario para la captura efectiva de datos, y las posibles fuentes de los errores de medición que podrán afectar la fiabilidad y validez de los datos recogidos.

The study of human body size and shape has been a topic of research for a very long time. In the past, anthropometry used traditional measuring techniques to record the dimensions of the human body and reported variance in body dimensions as a function of mean and standard deviation. Nowadays, the study of human body dimensions can be carried out more efficiently using three-dimensional body scanners, which can provide large amounts of anthropometric data more quickly than traditional techniques can. This paper presents a description of the broad range of issues related to the collection of anthropometric data using three-dimensional body scanners, including the different types of technologies available and their implications, the standard scanning process needed for effective data collection, and the possible sources of measurement errors that might affect the reliability and validity of the data collected.

IntroductionResearchers have observed a clear increase in the incidence and prevalence of neurocognitive disorders associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection due to early involvement of the central nervous system.ObjectivesIt was find predictors of cognitive deterioration of a set of variables related to sociodemographic, lifestyle, comorbid depression and disease progression.MethodsOne hundred and thirty (130) HIV-positive outpatients, asymptomatic, with undetectable viral load, CD4 count>200 cells/mm3, treated with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). In addition to the structured interview and clinical global assessment, they were administered the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center Battery, consisting of 16 neuropsychological tests.ResultsA positive relation between cognitive impairment and depression was found, although it has not shown determinant of the overall neurocognitive damage. The negative impact of infection on neurocognition was confirmed, globally and in all areas evaluated. The main predictors of cognitive functioning were: (1) education, professional status and social class; (2) infection pathway, protective measures and lifestyles; (3) psychotropic drugs and coffee intake; (4) disease stage and nadir CD4 count.ConclusionsStrategies for prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment should take into account several levels of intervention, leading to an earlier treatment with cART.

Cryphonectria parasitica, o fungo responsável pelo cancro do castanheiro, foi descrito pela primeira vez em Portugal (1929) em amostras da casca de Castanea crenata, provenientes da Beira Interior. Depois da detecção inicial, apenas em 1989, dois focos da doença foram encontrados em castanheiro Europeu, C. sativa, na província de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Para determinar a distribuição actual do cancro do castanheiro em Portugal (continente e Regiões Autónomas da Madeira e Açores), foi implementado um programa nacional de monitorização da doença. Para o efeito houve intensa cooperação entre os Serviços Florestais e Agrícolas do país, com coordenação da Estação Florestal Nacional. Foram visitadas, em todo o país, 191 parcelas de castanheiro. C. parasitica foi isolado em 56,5% da amostragem (108 parcelas). As parcelas amostradas foram digitalmente georeferenciadas e cartografadas. Uma colecção de isolados de C. parasitica foi estabelecida encontrando-se em curso o estudo da variabilidade genética da doença em Portugal.

Cryphonectria parasitica, the fungus that causes chestnut blight disease, was first described in Portugal (1929) on bark samples of Castanea crenata, collected in Beira Interior province. After this report, only in 1989 two disease foci were found on native European chestnut, C. sativa, in Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province. To assess the current distribution of chestnut blight in Portugal (mainland, Azores and Madeira) a nationwide monitoring program was implemented. A major cooperative effort, involving all the Portuguese Forest and Agricultural Services, was created for this endeavor and coordinated by the National Forestry Station. A total of 191 chestnut stands was surveyed across the entire country. C. parasitica was isolated from 56.5% of the sampling sites (108 sites). Sampled parcels were digitally geo-referenced and mapped. In addition, a collection of C. parasitica isolates has been established and the study of the molecular variability of C. parasitica in Portugal is underway.