Operating Speed models for heavy vehicles on tangents of Spanish two-lane rural roads

Road safety is one of the most important public health concern in our society. In Spain, the most of the traffic accidents involving a heavy vehicle occur on two-lane rural roads. Current consistency models only rely on the analysis of the operating speed profile for passenger cars due to the few speed models available for heavy vehicles. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to analyze and model the free flow speed developed by heavy vehicles on tangents of two-lane rural roads. Thus, this research presents new speed models for estimating heavy vehicle speeds on tangents of two-lane rural roads. To do this, truck speeds were collected by means of Global Positioning System tracking devices, on 49 tangents sections that were identified from 12 road sections. Two different patterns were detected, which were associated with loaded and unloaded trucks. The combined effect of geometric and operational variables was analyzed. As a result, the most influential variables on loaded truck speeds were the speed of the preceding horizontal curve and the grade of the tangent, whereas unloaded truck speeds were significantly influenced by the length of the tangent and the speed of the preceding horizontal curve. Finally, several regression models were calibrated to predict the 85th and 15th percentile speeds for both loaded and unloaded trucks

Identification of bovine material in porcine spray-dried blood derivatives using the Polymerase Chain Reaction technique

Due to the widely supported theory of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) spread in cattle by contaminated animal feeds, screening of feed products has become essential. For many years, manufacturers have used blood and plasma proteins as high quality ingredients of foods for both pets and farm animals. However, in Europe, the Commission Regulation 1234/2003/EC temporally bans the use of processed animal proteins, including blood-derivative products, in feedstuffs for all farm animals which are fattened or bred for the production of food. This regulation has some exceptions, such as the use of non ruminant blood products into the feed of farm fish. Authorization of the re-introduction of these proteins into animal feed formulations, especially non ruminant proteins into the feed for non ruminant farm animals, is expected when adequate control methods to discriminate ruminant proteins exist. Currently, the number of validated methods to differentiate the species of origin for most of the animal by-products is limited. Here we report the development of a rapid and sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay, which allows detection of bovine or porcine specific mitochondrial DNAfrom spray-dried blood derivate products (plasma, whole blood and red cells), as a marker for bovine contamination in porcine products. Sample extracts, suitable for PCR, were easily and quickly obtained with the commercial PrepManTM Ultra reagent (Applied Biosystems). To confirm the porcine origin of the samples, primers targeting a specific region of 134 bp of the porcine cytochrome b coding sequence were designed (cytbporc1-F and cytbporc2-R). Previously published PCR primers (L8129 and H8357), specific for a 271 bp fragment of the bovine mitochondrial ATPase 8-ATPase 6 genes, were chosen to accomplish amplification of bovine DNA. The limit of detection (LOD) of the bovine PCR assay was at least of 0.05% (v/v) of bovine inclusion in spray-dried porcine plasma or red cells fraction. In dried whole blood samples, sensitivity of the method was found to be at least of 0.1 % (v/v). Since the method described here exhibits high specificity and sensitivity and it is rapid, simple and consistent, it could be successfully utilized as a routine control assay to evaluate the presence of bovine materials in spray-dried blood products

Microstructural development and mechanical properties of PM Ti-45Al-2Nb-2Mn-0.8vol.%TiB₂ processed by field assisted hot pressing

A gamma-TiAl intermetallic alloy, Ti-45Al-2Nb-2Mn(at.%)-0.8vol.%TiB₂, has been processed from gas atomized prealloyed powder by field assisted hot pressing (FAHP). An initial analysis of the prealloyed powder helped on the understanding of the intermetallic sintering behavior. Atomized powder consisted of alfa metastable phase that transformed into alfa2+gamma equilibrium phases by thermal treating. Different powder particle microstructures were found, which influence the microstructure development of the FAHP gamma-TiAl material depending on the sintering temperature. Duplex, nearly lamellar and fully lamellar microstructures were obtained at the sintering temperatures above 1000°C. Lower consolidation temperatures, below 1000°C, led to the formation of an Al rich phase at powder particle boundaries, which is deleterious to the mechanical properties. High compressive yield strength of 1050MPa was observed in samples with FAHP duplex microstructures at room temperature. Whereas nearly lamellar and fully lamellar microstructures showed yield strength values of 655 and 626MPa at room temperature and 440 and 425MPa at 750°C, respectively, which are superior in comparison to similar alloys processed by other techniques. These excellent properties can be explained due to the different volume fractions of the alfa2 and gamma phases and the refinement of the PM microstructures.Funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through projects MAT2009-14547-C02-01 and MAT2009-14547-C02-02 is acknowledged. The Madrid Regional Government partially supported this project through the ESTRUMAT grant (P2009/MAT-1585).Publicad

In vivo antihypertensive mechanism of lactoferrin-derived peptides: Reversion of angiotensin I- and angiotensin II-induced hypertension in Wistar rats

Novel peptides with antihypertensive effects in SHR rats have previously been identified in lactoferrin (LF) hydrolysates. To investigate their in vivo antihypertensive mechanism, we have assessed the blood pressure lowering effects of two of these LF-derived peptides (RPYL and DPYKLRP) in Wistar rats subjected to either angiotensin I- or angiotensin II-induced hypertension. Blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method, hypertension was induced by subcutaneous infusion of angiotensins, and then captopril, valsartan or LF-derived peptides orally administered. Angiotensin I- and angiotensin II-induced hypertension were reversed by captopril and valsartan, respectively. RPYL and DPYKLRP reversed angiotensin I-induced hypertension, while DPYKLRP but not RPYL produced a modest reversion of angiotensin II-elicited hypertension. Neither RPYL nor DPYKLRP modified normotension. Thus, in vivo ACE inhibition is involved in the antihypertensive effects of LF-derived peptides like RPYL and DPYKLRP, while inhibition of AT1 receptor-mediated vasoconstriction plays a less relevant role.This work was supported by grant AGL2010-21009 from ‘Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia – FEDER’, Consolider Ingenio 2010, Fun-C-Food, CSD2007-00063 and RETICS INVICTUS RD12/0014/0004 from ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’. A. García-Tejedor is recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from ‘Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia’ (BES-2011-044424).Peer reviewe

Antihypertensive Mechanism of Lactoferrin-Derived Peptides: Angiotensin Receptor Blocking Effect

Texto del artículo, no incluye figuras ni tablas.Looking for antihypertensive mechanisms beyond ACE inhibition, we assessed whether lactoferrin (LF)-derived peptides can act as receptor blockers to inhibit vasoconstriction induced by angiotensin II or endothelin-1. The lactoferricin B (LfcinB)-derived peptide LfcinB20–25 (RRWQWR), the low molecular weight LF hydrolysate (LFH < 3 kDa), and two peptides identified in LFH < 3 kDa (LIWKL and RPYL) were tested in ex vivo assays of vasoactive responses. The peptide RPYL was tested in radioligand receptor binding assays. Both LFH < 3 kDa and individual peptides inhibited angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction. RPYL showed the highest ex vivo inhibitory effect and also inhibited binding of [125I]-(Sar1,Ile8)-angiotensin II to AT1 receptors. By contrast, neither LFH < 3 kDa nor RPYL inhibited endothelin-1 and depolarization-induced vasoconstrictions. In conclusion, LF-derived peptides selectively inhibit angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction by blocking angiotensin AT1 receptors. Therefore, inhibition of angiotensin II-induced vasocontriction is suggested as a mechanism contributing along with ACE inhibition to the antihypertensive effect of some LF-derived peptides.This work was supported by Grants AGL2010-21009 from Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia – FEDER, Consolider Ingenio 2010, Fun-C-Food, CSD2007-00063, and network RETICS INVICTUS – RD12/0014/0004 from Instituto de Salud Carlos III. R. Fernández-Musoles is the recipient of a fellowship from Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (BES-2008-004472).Peer reviewe

Pigments ceràmics encapsulats

En aquesta comunicació es presenta un panorama actual del món de la investigació en pigments ceràmics, amb les diferents classificacions establertes per a la seua classificació sistemàtica, s'emfatitza la via del encapsulament de colors ceràmics mitjançant rutes de síntesis sol-gel com la més innovadora, prometedora i rendible de totes les vies d'investigació en el camp dels pigments ceràmics, i es presenten alguns resultats aclaridors respecte de repeste de la naturalesa d'aquests pigments

Novel Antihypertensive Lactoferrin-Derived Peptides Produced by Kluyveromyces marxianus: Gastrointestinal Stability Profile and In Vivo Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibition

Novel antihypertensive peptides released by Kluyveromyces marxianus from bovine lactoferrin (LF) have been identified. K. marxianus LF permeate was fractionated by semipreparative high performance liquid chromatography and 35 peptides contained in the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory fractions were identified by using an ion trap mass spectrometer. On the basis of peptide abundance and common structural features, six peptides were chemically synthesized. Four of them (DPYKLRP, PYKLRP, YKLRP, and GILRP) exerted in vitro inhibitory effects on ACE activity and effectively decreased systolic blood pressure after oral administration to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Stability against gastrointestinal enzymes suggested that the sequence LRP could contribute to the in vivo effects of parental peptides. Finally, there were reductions in circulating ACE activity and angiotensin II level in SHRs after either DPYKLRP or LRP intake, thus confirming ACE inhibition as the in vivo mechanism for their antihypertensive effect.This work was supported by grant AGL2010–21009 from ‘Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia - FEDER’, Consolider Ingenio 2010, Fun-C-Food, CSD2007–00063 and RETICS INVICTUS RD12/0014/0004 from ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’. A.G.-T. is the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from ‘Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia’ (BES-2011–044424).Peer reviewe

Algebraic coarsening in voter models with intermediate states

The introduction of intermediate states in the dynamics of the voter model modifies the ordering process and restores an effective surface tension. The logarithmic coarsening of the conventional voter model in two dimensions is eliminated in favour of an algebraic decay of the density of interfaces with time, compatible with Model A dynamics at low temperatures. This phenomenon is addressed by deriving Langevin equations for the dynamics of appropriately defined continuous fields. These equations are analyzed using field theoretical arguments and by means of a recently proposed numerical technique for the integration of stochastic equations with multiplicative noise. We find good agreement with lattice simulations of the microscopic model.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures; minor typos correcte

La sociedad red y el nuevo paradigma comunicacional : caso de estudio: la red CARICET para la certificación de especialidades técnicas en la Universidad Tecnológica Nacional

La ponencia propone analizar y describir el funcionamiento de la red CARICET del Programa de Certificaciones de Oficios de la Universidad Tecnológica Nacional en el período 2009-2019, utilizando como concepto rector el de &quot;sociedad red y el nuevo paradigma comunicacional&quot;. Esta nueva forma de entender el funcionamiento de la sociedad se basa en el fenómeno de la globalización, el cual se ha ido desarrollando gracias a internet. El trabajo de investigación se centrará sobre el campo las redes institucionales conformadas a partir de este programa en la red mencionada y los diferentes actores sociales que participan en la misma. Es una complejización del proyecto &quot;Trayectorias Laborales y Certificación de Oficios&quot; que se circunscribió a la Facultad Regional Delta, pionera de este programa. Se pretende determinar, en ese sentido, como los términos “sociabilidad" o “transferencia", devienen en fundamentales para problematizar los usos de sentido común de la palabra “red social" que se pretendió formar a partir de un caso de éxito como fue el de la UTN FRD y la incorporación paulatina de las demás regionales hasta la conformación del CARICET y si el funcionamiento resulta exitoso o no a los fines propuestos inicialmente, éste será el camino que marcará la investigación. Podemos mencionar la incidencia en los programas de certificación de oficios de las diferentes Facultades Regionales y en la “red" que tuvo y tiene los cambios acaecidos en las condiciones socio-económicas y políticas en este período que desmanteló parte del trabajo construido en los primeros años de la red. En cuanto a la estrategia metodológica se plantea para este trabajo un método mixto, en el que tendrá prioridad el enfoque cualitativo y será utilizado de forma combinada. Las fuentes de información serán las bases de datos o números proporcionados por las distintas regionales y entrevistas a diferentes actores de la red CARICET.Fil: Carrizo, Nancy A..Fil: Castelló, Gonzalo E..Fil: Villalba, Karen B..Fil: Falcón, Manuel

Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis with AQP4 antibodies revealing ovarian teratoma.

Paraneoplastic myelitis is a rare inflammatory disorder most frequently associated with solid tumors or lymphoproliferative disorders. Patients often harbor onconeuronal antibodies and their prognosis is usually poor. Here we report a 42-year old woman with longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies that led to the diagnosis of ovarian teratoma. After tumor removal and immune therapy (including corticosteroids, plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulins and rituximab) the patient progressively improved achieving complete recovery. Histological study of the teratoma demonstrated neural tissue containing AQP4 expressing cells and intense inflammatory infiltrates, providing evidence for a possible paraneoplastic link between both disorders