Stainless steel weld metal enhanced with carbon nanotubes.

This paper aims to establish the most indicated route to manufacture a nanostructured powder composed of 5 wt% Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes and 304LSS powder. Four specimens were prepared using Mechanical Alloying and Chemical Treatment (CT) with Hydrogen Peroxide ([Formula: see text]) as the main processes. A thermal treatment post-processing was used in half of the samples to remove the remaining amorphous carbon and to evaluate its effects. Regarding the powder analysis, attachment, amorphous carbon degree, crystallinity, and doping of the CNT throughout the metal matrix were investigated. The nanostructured powders were then inserted as a core in a 304LSS tubular rod to perform the arc welding process. The CT route eliminated the amorphous carbon and generated more refiner grains, which provided a cross-section hardness gain of more than 40% regarding the 304LSS joint. In summary, the CT route, combined with the GTAW process, provided a new method for nanocomposite manufacturing by combining shorter preparation steps, obtaining an improvement in the microstructural and hardness performance.

Ecomorphological correlates of twenty dominant fish species of Amazonian floodplain lakes / Correlações ecomorfológicas de vinte espécies de peixes dominantes em lagos de várzea da Amazônia

Abstract Fishes inhabiting Amazonian floodplain lakes exhibits a great variety of body shape, which was a key advantage to colonize the several habitats that compose these areas adjacent to the large Amazon rivers. In this paper, we did an ecomorphological analysis of twenty abundant species, sampled in May and August 2011, into two floodplain lakes of the lower stretch of the Solimões River. The analysis detected differences among species, which could be probably associated with swimming ability and habitat use preferences.

Resumo Os peixes que habitam os lagos de várzea da Amazônia apresentam morfologias bastante diversas, possibilitando a exploração bem sucedida dos diferentes habitats que formam estas áreas adjacentes aos grandes rios amazônicos. Neste artigo, relatamos os resultados de uma análise ecomorfológica de vinte espécies abundantes, coletadas em maio e agosto de 2011, em dois lagos das várzeas do trecho inferior do rio Solimões. As analises indicaram diferenças entre as espécies como função do atributos ecomorfológicos, provavelmente associadas com a capacidade natatória e com preferências por habitat.

Ecomorphological correlates of twenty dominant fish species of Amazonian floodplain lakes.

Fishes inhabiting Amazonian floodplain lakes exhibits a great variety of body shape, which was a key advantage to colonize the several habitats that compose these areas adjacent to the large Amazon rivers. In this paper, we did an ecomorphological analysis of twenty abundant species, sampled in May and August 2011, into two floodplain lakes of the lower stretch of the Solimões River. The analysis detected differences among species, which could be probably associated with swimming ability and habitat use preferences.

Antinociceptive effect of a ruthenium complex in mice.

1. The ruthenium complexes are important tools in inorganic chemistry. Different biological properties are found in the presence of distinct coordinate ligands, which offer a variety of potential clinical and pharmacological uses. 2. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antinociceptive and behavioural effects of the ruthenium complex, trans-[RuCl(2)(i-dinic)(4)]Cl, in mice. 3. The potential analgesic activity was tested using the formalin and hot plate tests and the behavioural effect was evaluated using the rotarod and spontaneous locomotor tests. The complex was administered at concentrations of 1.3, 4.5 and 18.0 mumol kg(-1) i.p. Morphine (6.0 mg kg(-1), i.p.) and diclofenac sodium (20.0 mg kg(-1), i.p.) were used as reference drugs. 4. The compound had no sedative activity on motor ataxia in the behavioural and analgesic tests. No significant effect was observed in the first phase of the formalin test, however, an effect was observed in the second phase. 5. The complex studied was probably more powerful than the reference drugs as an antinociceptive agent, as this mechanism also involved the nitric oxide (NO) pathway. From this perspective, further experimental studies will be useful to understand the effect of these compounds on NO and the relationship between prostaglandin and NO biosynthesis.

Honeybees and caterpillars: epidemiology of accidents involving these animals in the Criciúma region, southern Santa Catarina State, Brazil

The present study aimed to acquire knowledge regarding some aspects of the epidemiology and injuries provoked by honeybees and caterpillars in southern Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Epidemiological information concerning accidents with both animals was prospectively collected from the System of Injury Notification Information (SINAN) files of the Municipal Health Secretary of the Criciúma region, Brazil. Between 1994 and 2006, 203 cases of accidents were registered, 149 provoked by honeybees (73.39%) and 54 by caterpillars (26.61%). The majority of the victims (200 cases) presented full recovery, two cases presented sequelae after recovery, and only one death was recorded in a case involving honeybee injury. The high frequency of victim recovery suggests that the public health system is efficient and the low frequency of sequelae after recovery also suggests that this system is fast and well developed. However, the low number of allergic people in this population should be considered as well as the severity level of the recorded accidents.(AU)