Study of the Effect of Hot Rolling Processing Parameters on the Variability of HSLA Steels

The effect of different hot mill processing parameters and their influence on the variability of mechanical properties of HSLA steels has been studied. This work presents an analysis of the relative contribution of the different hot mill processing parameters to the variability of HSLA steels. The experimental design includes variation of Reheating, Roughing, Finishing, and Coiling temperatures, as well as Cooling Rate through the austenite to ferrite transformation, and from coiling to room temperature. The variation in finishing and coiling temperature results in an average variation of 12% in mechanical properties. The variation of the cooling rate, through the austenite to ferrite transformation, and from coiling to room temperature, has the largest impact on the variability of microstructure and properties. A correlation between the various microstructural features, dislocation densities and precipitation behavior, with mechanical properties is presented

Fundamental Study on the Austenite Formation and Decomposition of low-Si, Al added Nb-Mo TRIP steels

TRIP (Transformation Induced Plasticity) steels are under development for automotive applications that require high strength and high formability. Conventional TRIP steels consist of a multiphase microstructure consisting of a ferrite matrix with a dispersion of bainite and metastable retained austenite. The high ductility exhibited by these steels results from the transformation of the metastable retained austenite to martensite during straining. In conventional TRIP steel processing, the multiphase microstructure is obtained by controlled cooling from the austenite+ferrite region to an isothermal holding (bainitic)temperature. During this holding, bainite forms and carbon is rejected out into the austenite, which stabilizes the austenite to room temperature.In this research project, a fundamental study in a low-Si, Mo-Nb added cold rolled TRIP with and without Al additions was conducted, where the austenite formation in the two-phase region and the characteristics of the decomposition of intercritically annealed austenite were analyzed. The systematic study of the recrystallization of ferrite during intercritical annealing was also of primary importance. Similarly, this study intended to obtain a fundamental knowledge of the decomposition behavior of intercritically annealed austenite by controlled cooling rates. Of special interest was to study the effect of the initial hot band microstructure and intercritically annealed austenite on the formation of bainite during the isothermal holding temperature as well as the formation of epitaxial ferrite during cooling from the intercritical annealing temperature to the isothermal holding temperature. Furthermore, the influence of the starting hot band microstructure and processing parameters during TRIP steel processing on the type, amount, and composition of retained austenite and its stability were evaluated. During this research study, techniques such as OM, SEM, EBSD, TEM, XRD and Magnetometry analysis were used to fully characterize the corresponding microstructures

Provisos for classic linear oscillator design methods. New linear oscillator design based on the NDF/RRT

In this paper, the classic oscillator design methods are reviewed, and their strengths and weaknesses are shown. Provisos for avoiding the misuse of classic methods are also proposed. If the required provisos are satisfied, the solutions provided by the classic methods (oscillator start-up linear approximation) will be correct. The provisos verification needs to use the NDF (Network Determinant Function). The use of the NDF or the most suitable RRT (Return Relation Transponse), which is directly related to the NDF, as a tool to analyze oscillators leads to a new oscillator design method. The RRT is the "true" loop-gain of oscillators. The use of the new method is demonstrated with examples. Finally, a comparison of NDF/RRT results with the HB (Harmonic Balance) simulation and practical implementation measurements prove the universal use of the new methods

Capecitabine and irinotecan with bevacizumab 2-weekly for metastatic colorectal cancer: the phase II AVAXIRI study

Background: The optimal sequence of chemotherapeutic agents is not firmly established for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This phase II multi-centre study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of a standard capecitabine plus irinotecan (XELIRI) regimen with bevacizumab in previously untreated patients with mCRC. Methods: Patients received intravenous irinotecan 175 mg/m2 on day 1 and oral capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 (800 mg/m2 for patients >65 years of age) twice daily on days 2–8, followed by a 1-week rest, and bevacizumab 5 mg/kg as an intravenous infusion on day 1 every 2 weeks. Results: Seventy-seven patients were included in the intention-to-treat and safety populations. Progression-free survival at 9 months was 61%. The overall response and disease control rates were 51% and 84%, respectively. Median progression-free and overall survival times were 11.9 and 24.8 months, respectively. 48 patients (62%) had at least one grade 3/4 adverse event, the most common being asthenia, diarrhoea and neutropenia. Quality of life varied little over the study period with mean visual analogue scale general health scores ranging from 71 to 76 over cycles 1–11. Conclusion: Our study found irinotecan and capecitabine administered fortnightly with bevacizumab in patients with mCRC to be an effective and tolerable regimen. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT00875771. Trial registration date: 04/02/2009. Keywords: Irinotecan, Capecitabine, Bevacizumab, Metastatic colorectal cancer, Chemotherap

Identification of tissue microRNAs predictive of sunitinib activity in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE: To identify tissue microRNAs predictive of sunitinib activity in patients with metastatic renal-cell-carcinoma (MRCC) and to evaluate in vitro their mechanism of action in sunitinib resistance. METHODS: We screened 673 microRNAs using TaqMan Low-density-Arrays (TLDAs) in tumors from MRCC patients with extreme phenotypes of marked efficacy and resistance to sunitinib, selected from an identification cohort (n = 41). The most relevant differentially expressed microRNAs were selected using bioinformatics-based target prediction analysis and quantified by qRT-PCR in tumors from patients presenting similar phenotypes selected from an independent cohort (n = 101). In vitro experiments were conducted to study the role of miR-942 in sunitinib resistance. RESULTS: TLDAs identified 64 microRNAs differentially expressed in the identification cohort. Seven candidates were quantified by qRT-PCR in the independent series. MiR-942 was the most accurate predictor of sunitinib efficacy (p = 0.0074). High expression of miR-942, miR-628-5p, miR-133a, and miR-484 was significantly associated with decreased time to progression and overall survival. These microRNAs were also overexpressed in the sunitinib resistant cell line Caki-2 in comparison with the sensitive cell line. MiR-942 overexpression in Caki-2 up-regulates MMP-9 and VEGF secretion which, in turn, promote HBMEC endothelial migration and sunitinib resistance. CONCLUSIONS: We identified differentially expressed microRNAs in MRCC patients presenting marked sensitivity or resistance to sunitinib. MiR-942 was the best predictor of efficacy. We describe a novel paracrine mechanism through which high miR-942 levels in MRCC cells up-regulates MMP-9 and VEGF secretion to enhance endothelial migration and sunitinib resistance. Our results support further validation of these miRNA in clinical confirmatory studies

Refractory Ceramics Synthesis by Solid-State Reaction Between CaCO3 (Mollusk Shell) And Al2O3 Powders

Calcium aluminate-based refractory ceramic was developed as an innovative refractory material, using garden snail (Helix aspersa) shells as a natural source of CaCO3. A 1:1 molar ratio mixture of CaC O3 from snail shells and commercial Al2O3 powder was prepared by means of high-energy mechanical milling. The mixed powder was compacted in cylindrical samples (disks) and consolidated by sintering at 1450°C and 1500°C for 1h. The density and porosity were evaluated using the Archimedes principle, while the mechanical properties (hardness, fracture toughness, and shear modulus) were determined by indentation and ultrasonic methods, respectively. The thermal shock resistance was tested by heating samples to temperatures between 900 and 1400°C and subsequent quenching in water at room temperature. X-ray diffraction patterns of sintered samples indicate the formation of different calcium aluminate phases, such as CaAl12O (krotite/monoclinic),CaAl4O7 (grossite/monoclinic) and CaAl2O (hibonite-5H/hexagonal). The fracture toughness and shear modulus values of materials sintered at 1450°C were higher (0.48 MPa•m1/2)) and 59 GPa, respectively than those of materials sintered at 1500°C (0.43 MPa•m1/ 2 and 55 GPa, respectively). Also changes in the bulk density, hardness and thermal shock resistance values were observed in materials sintered at 1450°C and 1500°C

Evaluation of 12 GWAS-drawn SNPs as biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis response to TNF inhibitors. A potential SNP association with response to etanercept

Research in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is increasingly focused on the discovery of biomarkers that could enable personalized treatments. The genetic biomarkers associated with the response to TNF inhibitors (TNFi) are among the most studied. They include 12 SNPs exhibiting promising results in the three largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, they still require further validation. With this aim, we assessed their association with response to TNFi in a replication study, and a meta-analysis summarizing all nonredundant data. The replication involved 755 patients with RA that were treated for the first time with a biologic drug, which was either infliximab (n = 397), etanercept (n = 155) or adalimumab (n = 203). Their DNA samples were successfully genotyped with a single-base extension multiplex method. Lamentably, none of the 12 SNPs was associated with response to the TNFi in the replication study (p > 0.05). However, a drug-stratified exploratory analysis revealed a significant association of the NUBPL rs2378945 SNP with a poor response to etanercept (B = -0.50, 95% CI = -0.82, -0.17, p = 0.003). In addition, the metaanalysis reinforced the previous association of three SNPs: rs2378945, rs12142623, and rs4651370. In contrast, five of the remaining SNPs were less associated than before, and the other four SNPs were no longer associated with the response to treatment. In summary, our results highlight the complexity of the pharmacogenetics of TNFi in RA showing that it could involve a drug-specific component and clarifying the status of the 12 GWAS-drawn SNPsThis work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII, Spain) through grants PI14/01651, PI17/01606 and RD16/0012/0014 to AG and PI12/01909 to JJG-R. These grants are partially financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the EU (FEDER

El desarrollo municipal, factor estratégico en el posicionamiento de México en los escenarios políticos y sociales del siglo XXI

LA DEMOCRACIA COMO GOBERNABILIDAD IMPLICA, EN UN PRIMER MOMENTO, establecer una revisión periódica del papel interventor del Estado, por ser éste el principal factor de estabilidad y desarrollo democrático. En un segundo punto, de forma simultánea al estudio del papel del Estado en la conformación de un ambiente de estabilidad, crecimiento, desarrollo, orden y gobernabilidad, merece especial atención el papel y funciones cumplidas tradicionalmente por sus ámbitos de gobierno, como instancias que son fundamentales para la transición, democratización, liberalización y para la propia gobernabilidad

Desarrollo multidisciplinario en investigación y docencia del centro universitario UAEM Valle de México

DESARROLLO MULTIDISCIPLINARIO EN INVESTIGACIÓN Y DOCENCIA DEL CENTRO UNIVERSITARIO UAEM VALLE DE MÉXICOLa Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México ha evolucionado a través de sus 188 años de historia, dedicada a la educación, la investigación, la cultura y el deporte, como sus grandes ejes rectores, formadora de hombres y mujeres con un alto sentido humanista y ético, contribuyendo a lograr nuevas y mejores formas de existencia y convivencia social. Durante el proceso de desconcentración de la UAEM, se crearon las Unidades Académicas y Centros Universitarios para brindar el servicio de educación a más jóvenes en todo el Estado de México, este Centro Universitario fue uno de los primeros y a sus veinte años de existencia se está consolidando como uno de los mejores. Es en los últimos años que se ha venido impulsando la investigación al contar con cuerpos académicos, en formación y en consolidación, con infraestructura de primera tanto en equipo como en laboratorios especializados, con profesores de tiempo completo que participan en congresos, seminarios y presentan publicaciones en revistas indexadas. Por ello para celebrar esos veinte años de existencia de esta honorable institución, se planeó la compilación de esta obra que es parte del quehacer multidisciplinario en investigación y docencia como parte del Plan de Desarrollo 2013-2017, de esta administración. Esta obra reúne investigaciones tanto de profesores como de alumnos desde las diferentes ramas del saber en las que se inscriben sus siete licenciaturas, Actuaría, Administración, Contaduría, Derecho, Economía, Relaciones Económicas Internacionales e Informática Administrativa, tanto presencial como a distancia, así como sus tres ingenierías, Industrial, en Computación y Sistemas y Comunicaciones, así como gracias a la vinculación y colaboración académico – científica que se tiene con otras instituciones de educación superior a nivel nacional, como el Instituto Tecnológico de Orizaba, la Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Universidad Politécnica de Victoria, el Instituto Politécnico Nacional entre otras. En el capítulo 1 se abordan seis temáticas diferentes de vanguardia en el área de las Ingenierías, en los capítulos 2 y 3 se incluyen temas de interés y gran relevancia en materia de ciencias sociales, política y economía. Se hace extensivo un reconocimiento para todos los que participaron tanto en la revisión de los trabajos, como en la compilación del producto final de este Libro intitulado “Desarrollo Multidisciplinario en Investigación y Docencia del Centro Universitario UAEM Valle de México”