Implementation of Special Singular Finite Elements for Cracks along Adhesive Interfaces in Mode III

El MEF puede aplicarse a la Mecánica de la Fractura para simular tensiones en el entorno del borde de grieta; así se puede calcular el Factor de Intensificación de Tensiones. Los elementos lineales aportan tensiones constantes en su interior, por lo cual no son apropiados para captar la tendencia al infinito, requiriéndose mallas densas. Para reducir el coste computacional, se diseñan Elementos Singulares, cuyas funciones de forma y/o disposición de los nodos permite captar mejor las tensiones en torno al borde de grieta con menor número de elementos. Aun así, un comportamiento correcto de cualquier elemento singular es muy dependiente del mallado de la pieza: forma, disposición y tamaño de los elementos alrededor de la región mallada con elementos singulares, y el tamaño relativo entre elementos y grieta entre otros. El objetivo de este trabajo es desarrollar un breve manual de uso de un nuevo Elemento Singular con singularidad logarítmica adaptado para interfases adhesivas en modo III. Como objetivo secundario, el proceso de pruebas se generaliza para extrapolarse fácilmente. Finalmente, los códigos y macros generados se adjuntan para que el proceso se aplique fácilmente a nuevos Elementos Singulares.FEM can be applied to Fracture Mechanics to simulate stresses in the neighborhood of a crack tip; thus, the Stress Intensity Factor can be estimated. Linear Elements bear constant tensions inside, so they are not suitable for capturing the tendency to infinity, hence requiring dense meshes. To reduce computation time, Singular Elements are designed, whose basis functions and/or nodal placing allow to better fit stresses around the crack tip with a lesser number of elements. However, the correct behavior of any Singular Element is heavily dependent on the part meshing: shape, placing and size of the elements surrounding the singular-element-meshed region near the crack and the relative size between elements and crack among others. The purpose of this work is to develop a series of guidelines on the use of a newly programmed Singular Element with a logarithmic singularity adapted to adhesive interfaces in mode III. As a secondary purpose, the testing process is generalized so that it can be easily extrapolated. Finally, generated codes and macros are appended so that the process can be easily applied to another element.Universidad de Sevilla. Grado Ingeniería Aerospacia

Quantum phase transitions in odd-A nuclei: The effect of the odd particle from spherical to oblate shapes

Quantum shape-phase transitions in odd-nuclei are investigated within the framework of the interacting boson-fermion model (IBFM). We consider the case of a single-j fermion coupled to an even-even boson core that performs a transition from spherical to oblate shapes varying a control parameter in the boson Hamiltonian. The aim of this work is to see the effect of the coupling of the unpaired fermion on the transition, to understand how the coupled single particle modifies the geometric shape of the system and how each of the odd states behaves when the boson core shifts along the transitional path.Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey BIDEB-2224AMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad FIS2011-28738- c02-01, CSD2007-00042Junta de Andalucía FQM160, P11-FQM-763

Prediction of Federal Funds Target Rate: a dynamic logistic Bayesian Model averaging approach

In this paper we examine which macroeconomic and financial variables have most predictive power for the target repo rate decisions made by the Federal Reserve -- We conduct the analysis for the FOMC decisions during the period June 1998-April 2015 using dynamic logistic models with dynamic Bayesian Model Averaging that allows to perform predictions in real-time with great flexibility -- The computational burden of the algorithm is reduced by adapting a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Model Composition: MC3 -- We found that the outcome of the FOMC meetings during the sample period are predicted well: Logistic DMA-Up and Dynamic Logit-Up models present hit ratios of 87,2 and 88,7; meanwhile, hit ratios for the Logistic DMA-Down and Dynamic Logit-Down models are 79,8 and 68,0, respectivel

Estimation of real estate asset pricing models

In this project we aim to develop 4 different methods in order to estimate the real market price of 380 properties owned by Midtown Realty Group in Miami, Florida -- We used the ordinary least squares, generalized method of moments, artificial neural networks and fuzzy inference systems -- The comparison between the 4 models was made using the root mean squared errors (RMSE) with an interesting result showing that the best method to estimate housing price given our data set is the artificial neural network using the correct network architecture -- Some further work is proposed in order to make more comparison between the models and dene the best model for housing pric

Critical point symmetries in boson-fermion systems. The case of shape transition in odd nuclei in a multi-orbit model

We investigate phase transitions in boson-fermion systems. We propose an analytically solvable model (E(5/12)) to describe odd nuclei at the critical point in the transition from the spherical to $\gamma$-unstable behaviour. In the model, a boson core described within the Bohr Hamiltonian interacts with an unpaired particle assumed to be moving in the three single particle orbitals j=1/2,3/2,5/2. Energy spectra and electromagnetic transitions at the critical point compare well with the results obtained within the Interacting Boson Fermion Model, with a boson-fermion Hamiltonian that describes the same physical situation.Comment: Phys. Rev. Lett. (in press

Opciones terapéuticas en el carcinoma hepatocelular. Revisión bibliográfica

El hepatocarcinoma es el principal tumor primario del hígado, representando aproximadamente el 85-90% de las neoplasias primarias hepáticas. Es considerado el 5º cáncer más frecuente en varones, y el 7º en mujeres, apareciendo en torno a las 50-60 años. Es considerado la tercera causa de muerte relacionada con cáncer en el mundo. El hepatocarcinoma normalmente se asocia a cirrosis, cuyas principales causas son el alcohol y la hepatitis vírica. En recientes estudios epidemiológicos, se ha observado también un importante papel de la obesidad, la diabetes y el síndrome metabólico en el desarrollo del hepatocarcinoma. El hepatocarcinoma es un tumor solido muy vascularizado que se caracteriza molecularmente por una alteración en la regulación del ciclo celular, angiogénesis aberrante y evasión de la apoptosis. La patogenia del hepatocarcinoma es muy compleja, e incluye múltiples alteraciones genéticas y epigenéticas.Grado en Medicin

Influence of inflammation in the process of T lymphocyte differentiation: Proliferative, metabolic, and oxidative changes

T lymphocytes, from their first encounter with their specific antigen as naïve cell until the last stages of their differentiation, in a replicative state of senescence, go through a series of phases. In several of these stages, T lymphocytes are subjected to exponential growth in successive encounters with the same antigen. This entire process occurs throughout the life of a human individual and, earlier, in patients with chronic infections/pathologies through inflammatory mediators, first acutely and later in a chronic form. This process plays a fundamental role in amplifying the activating signals on T lymphocytes and directing their clonal proliferation. The mechanisms that control cell growth are high levels of telomerase activity and maintenance of telomeric length that are far superior to other cell types, as well as metabolic adaptation and redox control. Large numbers of highly differentiated memory cells are accumulated in the immunological niches where they will contribute in a significant way to increase the levels of inflammatory mediators that will perpetuate the new state at the systemic level. These levels of inflammation greatly influence the process of T lymphocyte differentiation from naïve T lymphocyte, even before, until the arrival of exhaustion or cell death. The changes observed during lymphocyte differentiation are correlated with changes in cellular metabolism and these in turn are influenced by the inflammatory state of the environment where the cell is located. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) exert a dual action in the population of T lymphocytes. Exposure to high levels of ROS decreases the capacity of activation and T lymphocyte proliferation; however, intermediate levels of oxidation are necessary for the lymphocyte activation, differentiation, and effector functions. In conclusion, we can affirm that the inflammatory levels in the environment greatly influence the differentiation and activity of T lymphocyte populations. However, little is known about the mechanisms involved in these processes. The elucidation of these mechanisms would be of great help in the advance of improvements in pathologies with a large inflammatory base such as rheumatoid arthritis, intestinal inflammatory diseases, several infectious diseases and even, cancerous processes

La prensa del siglo XIX como medio de difusión de la literatura hispanoamericana

Este artículo es el resultado de una comunicación presentada en las VII Jomadas E.U.B.D. Complutense. En él se investigan alrededor de 15 revistas españolas de finales del siglo XIX, haciendo hincapié en las madrileñas, para destacar la importancia de la prensa periódica en la difusión de la producción literaria de los escritores, hombres y mujeres, hispanoamericanos del momento, estableciendo así unas relaciones culturales entre España e Hispanoamérica que se vieron apoyadas, además, por la celebración del IV Centenario del Descubrimiento. Al mismo tiempo, la importancia de estas revistas reside en que fueron las transmisoras de las obras de muchas mujeres escritoras que vieron en las páginas de estas revistas la posibilidad de dar a conocer sus frutos literarios

Odd-even 147–153Pm isotopes within the neutron-proton interacting boson-fermion model

Low-lying energy states of the 147 -153Pm isotopic chain are studied within the framework of the neutron-proton interacting boson-fermion model (IBFM-2). The spectra of these isotopes show a transition from a particle coupled to a vibrational core to a particle coupled to a deformed one. The calculation reproduces this behavior. In addition, reduced transition probabilities B(E2) and B(M1) and quadrupole and magnetic moments, as well as spectroscopic factors corresponding to stripping and pickup transfer reactions, are calculated. Obtained results compare well with the available experimental data, which reinforces the reliability of the wave functions obtained within the IBFM-2 model.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España) FIS2009-07277 FIS2008-04189CPAN-Ingenio CSPD-2007-00042Junta de Andalucía FQM160 P07-FQM-0296