Effects of macrosegregation and microstructure on the corrosion resistance and hardness of a directionally solidified Zn-5.0wt.%Mg alloy

This study aims to analyze the influence of macrosegregation on microstructure evolution, and of microstructure length scale on the corrosion resistance of a Zn-5.0wt.%Mg alloy casting. The analyzed samples were taken along the length of castings unidirectionally solidified in unsteady state conditions of heat extraction. Microstructure characterization, microhardness, linear polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests were performed. A unique type of microstructure was observed, characterized essentially by a morphology typified by idiomorphic MgZn2 crystals in a “complex eutectic mixture” [coexistence of stable (Zn+Mg2Zn11) and metastable (Zn+MgZn2) eutectics]. The correlation between thermal and microstructural parameters, permitted experimental growth laws, correlating the evolution of the lamellar eutectic spacing with the cooling rate to be established. Vickers microhardness and electrochemical corrosion tests showed that more refined microstructures associated with higher experimental cooling rates, are related to a better set of higher hardness and corrosion resistance221CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP155863/2013-4; Project i-link0944; 166912/2017-4não tem2012/08494-0; 2013/15478-3; 2013/25452-1; 2013/23396-7; 2014/50502-

The Sub-Surface Structure of a Large Sample of Active Regions

We employ ring-diagram analysis to study the sub-surface thermal structure of active regions. We present results using a large number of active regions over the course of Solar Cycle 23. We present both traditional inversions of ring-diagram frequency differences, with a total sample size of 264, and a statistical study using Principal Component Analysis. We confirm earlier results on smaller samples that sound speed and adiabatic index are changed below regions of strong magnetic field. We find that sound speed is decreased in the region between approximately r=0.99R_sun and r=0.995R_sun (depths of 3Mm to 7Mm), and increased in the region between r=0.97R_sun and r=0.985R_sun (depths of 11Mm to 21Mm). The adiabatic index is enhanced in the same deeper layers that sound-speed enhancement is seen. A weak decrease in adiabatic index is seen in the shallower layers in many active regions. We find that the magnitudes of these perturbations depend on the strength of the surface magnetic field, but we find a great deal of scatter in this relation, implying other factors may be relevant.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Solar Physic

An evaluation of the somatosensory profile of hemiparetic individuals

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the somatosensory profile of 18 hemiparetic spastic victims of stroke with and without blocking vision. Maximal isometric contraction test was used for flexor and extensor muscles of the hip and knee, and flexor plantar muscles. The number of cycles per minute on stationary bike was also measured with eyes opened and closed. Significant differences were found suggesting the existence of miscommunication between sensory-motor neural mechanisms responsible for voluntary motor actions in these individuals

Variabilidade Do Desempenho No Line-drill Test Em Adolescentes Jogadores De Basquetebol

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)The practice of basketball during adolescence increases the body size and functional performance. Basketball involves short-time maximum effort for changes of direction, which use anaerobic metabolism and agility. Objective: To examine the variation in performance in the Line-drill Test in adolescent basketball players (n=59, age 9-15 years) in relation to the stage of somatic maturity (estimated age of peak growth velocity [PGV]) and the variation in body size. Methods: We considered chronological age, estimated time for the age of PGV by the maturity offset protocol, height and body mass measured by anthropometry, and performance in the Line Drill Test. Proportional allometric models were used to control the variation associated with the body size, chronological age, and maturity of inter-individual variation in the Line-drill Test. Results: We found a high negative linear relationship between performance in the Line-drill Test and chronological age (r=-0.64, 95% IC -0.77 - -0.46, p<0.01). The relationship between performance on the Line-drill Test and the time until the age of PGV proved to be non-linear, indicating slowdown in performance variation, approximately from the age of PGV and one year after the predicted PGV. The allometric models showed a negative relationship between body size and performance in the Line-drill Test. The amplitude of variance explained in the proportional allometric models ranged from 0.28 to 0.48. Negative exponents of small magnitude were observed for chronological age and the indicator of maturity being, however, significant and with reduced amplitude (-0.05 to -0.06) Conclusion: The use of allometric models to control the influence of body size can potentially help to understand the development of agility performances in adolescent basketball players. © 2016, Redprint Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.226445449PNPD/CAPES/2013, CAPES, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorFAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São PauloCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Charm Contribution to the Structure Function in Diffractive Deep Inelastic Scattering

The charm contribution to the structure functions of diffractive deep inelastic scattering is considered here within the context of the Ingelman-Schlein model. Numerical estimations of this contribution are made from parametrizations of the HERA data. Influence of the Pomeron flux factor is analized as well as the effect of the shape of the initial parton distribution employed in the calculations. The obtained results indicate that the charm contribution to diffractive deep inelastic process might be large enough to be measured in the HERA experiments.Comment: 16 pages, RevTeX, 6 figures, to be published in Physical Review

Improving the phototoxicity of the zinc phthalocyanine by encapsulation in nanoparticles: preparation, characterization and phototherapy studies

Nanoparticles are widely utilized to overcome drugs insolubility problems and sustain release improving the bioavailability. Zinc phthalocyanine, a hydrophobic photosensitizer with solubility problems, was loaded in PLA nanoparticles. Photosensitizer loaded in polymeric nanoparticles was produced with the following characteristics: size in the 200-300 nm range, negative zeta potential (-15 to -19 mV), low polydispersity index (2 ) or incubation time (2 to 4 h). The phototoxicity of the zinc phthalocyanine was improved by encapsulation in nanoparticles and this nanocarrier is a promising delivery system for photodynamic therapy use.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire