Surface laser treatment of cast irons: A Review

Heat treatments are frequently used to modify the microstructure and mechanical properties of materials according to the requirements of their applications. Laser surface treatment (LST) has become a relevant technique due to the high control of the parameters and localization involved in surface modification. It allows for the rapid transformation of the microstructure near the surface, resulting in minimal distortion of the workpiece bulk. LST encompasses, in turn, laser surface melting and laser surface hardening techniques. Many of the works devoted to studying the effects of LST in cast iron are diverse and spread in several scientific communities. This work aims to review the main experimental aspects involved in the LST treatment of four cast-iron groups: gray (lamellar) cast iron, pearlitic ductile (nodular) iron, austempered ductile iron, and ferritic ductile iron. The effects of key experimental parameters, such as laser power, scanning velocity, and interaction time, on the microstructure, composition, hardness, and wear are presented, discussed, and overviewed. Finally, we highlight the main scientific and technological challenges regarding LST applied to cast irons.Fil: Catalán, Néstor. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Escuela de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecanica y Metalurgica; ChileFil: Ramos Moore, Esteban. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Física; ChileFil: Boccardo, Adrian Dante. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Celentano, Diego Javier. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Escuela de Ingeniería. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecanica y Metalurgica; Chil

Validation of a Spanish Version of the Lille Apathy Rating Scale for Parkinson’s Disease

Introduction. To date, no rating scales for detecting apathy in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients have been validated in Spanish. For this reason, the aim of this study was to validate a Spanish version of Lille apathy rating scale (LARS) in a cohort of PD patients from Spain. Participants and Methods. 130 PD patients and 70 healthy controls were recruited to participate in the study. Apathy was measured using the Spanish version of LARS and the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI). Reliability (internal consistency, test-retest, and interrater reliability) and validity (construct, content, and criterion validity) were measured. Results. Interrater reliability was 0.93. Cronbach’s α for LARS was 0.81. The test-retest correlation coefficient was 0.97. The correlation between LARS and NPI scores was 0.61. The optimal cutoff point under the ROC curve was , whereas the value derived from healthy controls was . The prevalence of apathy in our population tested by LARS was 42%. Conclusions. The Spanish version of LARS is a reliable and useful tool for diagnosing apathy in PD patients. Total LARS score is influenced by the presence of depression and cognitive impairment. However, both disorders are independent identities with respect to apathy. The satisfactory reliability and validity of the scale make it an appropriate instrument for screening and diagnosing apathy in clinical practice or for research purposes

Cuando la historia está presente: Argumentos a favor de la sociología histórica

Sociology and history have maintained a discontinuous relationship and a permanent discussion. Classical sociology is intrinsically historical, but after the first theoretical synthesis the dialogue between both disciplines was extinguished and it has often been necessary to defend the need for the historical view in sociology from the margins of the dominant paradigm. However, as a specialty or subdiscipline, historical sociology has consolidated its own academic space and a strong theoretical, methodological and conceptual body. In Spain this process of institutionalization has not yet success. In this article we expose a few arguments in defense of historical sociology, both theoretical and for the validity of its scientific agend

Dos nuevas hachas de época tardoantigua procedentes de los fondos del Museo de Guadalajara (siglos V-VI). Cronología y contexto cronocultural

This work presents two previously unknown late roman iron axes deposited in the Museum of Guadalajara that come from two fortuitous findings made in the north of the province. Both cases are adscribed to rare typologies in Hispania, since the clearest parallels are all outside the peninsular sphere. Given its extreme rarity, its documentation and analysis confirms both the expansion of the repertoire of elements linked to the late-Roman and early medieval military world in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, and the mobility and dispersion of types throughout Europe.Este trabajo presenta dos hachas de hierro tardoantiguas inéditas depositadas en el Museo de Guadalajara que proceden de sendos hallazgos fortuitos realizados en el norte de la provincia. Ambos casos se adscriben a tipologías poco comunes en Hispania, ya que los paralelos más claros se encuentran fuera del ámbito peninsular. Dada su extremada rareza, su documentación y análisis proporciona tanto la ampliación del repertorio de elementos vinculados con el mundo militar tardorromano y altomedieval en el centro peninsular, como la movilidad y dispersión de tipos por toda Europa

A LoRaWAN testbed design for supporting critical situations: prototype and evaluation

The Internet of Things is one of the hottest topics in communications today, with current revenues of $151B, around 7 billion connected devices, and an unprecedented growth expected for next years. A massive number of sensors and actuators are expected to emerge, requiring new wireless technologies that can extend their battery life and can cover large areas. LoRaWAN is one of the most outstanding technologies which fulfill these demands, attracting the attention of both academia and industry. In this paper, the design of a LoRaWAN testbed to support critical situations, such as emergency scenarios or natural disasters, is proposed. This self-healing LoRaWAN network architecture will provide resilience when part of the equipment in the core network may become faulty. This resilience is achieved by virtualizing and properly orchestrating the different network entities. Different options have been designed and implemented as real prototypes. Based on our performance evaluation, we claim that the usage of microservice orchestration with several replicas of the LoRaWAN network entities and a load balancer produces an almost seamless recovery which makes it a proper solution to recover after a system crash caused by any catastrophic event.Postprint (published version

Aspectos sociodemográficos y laborales en el error asistencial de enfermería

Objetivo: Valorar cómo influyen las características personales y laborales de los profesionales de enfermería en el error asistencial en hospitalización. Método: Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en 254 enfermeros de los hospitales públicos de Zaragoza, España. Se administró un cuestionario que contenía preguntas sobre los datos sociodemográficos y laborales del profesional y el error sanitario. Resultados: La muestra estuvo formada predominantemente por mujeres (un 88,6%) con una edad media de 37,4 años. El 45,2% tiene una experiencia profesional menor de 10 años, existiendo un alto índice de movilidad en el puesto de trabajo. Existe una asociación entre la edad, el sexo, la movilidad en el servicio hospitalario y el número de errores cometidos (p<0,05). La sobrecarga laboral y la presión por parte de familiares y pacientes son los factores del entorno laboral que más influyen en el momento de cometer un error asistencial. Conclusiones: Las tasas de error en la práctica enfermera hospitalaria están influenciadas por las características del trabajador y el entorno laboral. Para disminuir su frecuencia habrá que proporcionar a los profesionales la formación adecuada al servicio y prevenir los factores de riesgo modificables como el exceso de cargas de trabajo y la presión del entorno social laboral. Objective: To assess the influence of nurses personal characteristics and hospital work environment in error of nurses Method: Cross-sectional study performed on 254 nurses in public hospitals in Zaragoza, Spain. A questionnaire containing questions about socio-demographic, occupational data and nursing error, were administered. Results: The sample consisted predominantly of women (88.6%) with a mean age of 37.4 years. A total of 45.2% have less than 10 years of professional experience, having a high rate of mobility in the workplace. There is an association between age, sex, mobility in the hospital service and the number of errors (p <0.05). The overload and pressure from relatives and patients are the work environment factors with more influence at the time of committing an error in healthcare. Conclusions: Error rates in hospital nursing practice are influenced by the characteristics of the worker and the workplace. To decrease its frequency should be providing adequate training professional to the service and prevent modifiable risk factors such as excessive workloads and work pressure social environment

Population prevalence and control of cardiovascular risk factors : What electronic medical records tell us

To analyze the prevalence, control, and management of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Cross-sectional analysis of all individuals attended in the Catalan primary care centers between 2006 and 2009. History of cardiovascular diseases, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, DM2, lipid profile, glycemia and blood pressure data were extracted from electronic medical records. Age-standardized prevalence and levels of management and control were estimated. Individuals aged 35-74 years using primary care databases. A total of 2,174,515 individuals were included (mean age 52 years [SD 11], 47% men). Hypertension was the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor (39% in women, 41% in men) followed by hypercholesterolemia (38% and 40%) and DM2 (12% and 16%), respectively. Diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were most often prescribed for hypertension control (<140/90 mmHg, achieved in 68% of men and 60% of women treated). Hypercholesterolemia was controlled (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <130 mg/dl) in just 31% of men and 26% of women with no history of cardiovascular disease, despite lipid-lowering treatment, primarily (90%) with statins. The percentage of women and men with DM2 and with glycated hemoglobin <7% was 64.7% and 59.2%, respectively; treatment was predominantly with oral hypoglycemic agents alone (70%), or combined with insulin (15%). Hypertension was the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor in the Catalan population attended at primary care centers. About two thirds of individuals with hypertension or DM2 were adequately controlled; hypercholesterolemia control was particularly low

Estudio comparativo de los efectos de dos estrategias de fertilización sobre el desarrollo de un cultivo de cebada y sobre las propiedades del suelo

El exceso de contaminación por nitratos, los altos niveles de retención de fosfatos y la escasez en los niveles de materia orgánica en los suelos del Valle del Ebro, hacen necesaria la búsqueda de alternativas que mitiguen las consecuencias negativas que estos factores generan sobre la producción agrícola a corto, y sobre todo, a largo plazo. En este sentido, se pretende evaluar en parcela agrícola y en invernadero la variación de diversos parámetros físicos, químicos y biológicos del suelo, como indicadores productivos y de calidad en un cultivo de cebada (Hordeum vulgare L.) en función del tipo de fertilizante empleado: orgánico, mineral y testigo (sin abonado). Los resultados en parcela agrícola no han generado variaciones significativas en la mayoría de los parámetros agronómicos relacionados con el crecimiento y la producción, mientras que para aquellos relacionados con la fertilidad biológica, el tratamiento orgánico produjo valores significativamente mayores de micorrización frente al mineral. Los resultados en invernadero han revelado variaciones significativas en los parámetros agronómicos relacionados con el crecimiento y la producción a favor del tratamiento mineral, y en aquellos ligados a la fertilidad biológica, significativamente mayores en el tratamiento orgánico frente al mineral

Prescripció farmacèutica segura (PREFASEG)

L'Organització Mundial de la Salut, mitjançant el seu programa especial "Aliança Mundial per a la Seguretat del Pacient", ha posat a l'agenda de les diferents organitzacions sanitàries de tot el món la seguretat clínica dels pacients en un lloc molt destacat. ..

An ancient testis-specific IQ motif-containing H gene regulates specific transcript isoform expression during spermatogenesis

Spermatogenic cells express more alternatively spliced RNAs than most whole tissues; however, the regulation of these events remains unclear. Here, we have characterized the function of a testis-specific IQ motif-containing H gene (Iqch) using a mutant mouse model. We found that Iqch is essential for the specific expression of RNA isoforms during spermatogenesis. Using immunohistochemistry of the testis, we noted that Iqch was expressed mainly in the nucleus of spermatocyte and spermatid, where IQCH appeared juxtaposed with SRRM2 and ERSP1 in the nuclear speckles, suggesting that interactions among these proteins regulate alternative splicing (AS). Using RNA-seq, we found that mutant Iqch produces alterations in gene expression, including the clear downregulation of testis-specific lncRNAs and protein-coding genes at the spermatid stage, and AS modifications – principally increased intron retention – resulting in complete male infertility. Interestingly, we identified previously unreported spliced transcripts in the wild-type testis, while mutant Iqch modified the expression and use of hundreds of RNA isoforms, favouring the expression of the canonical form. This suggests that Iqch is part of a splicing control mechanism, which is essential in germ cell biologyThis study was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (PID2021-122507OB-I00 and PID2020-117491GB-I00) and the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR. P.N.-L. was supported by a pre-doctoral fellowship from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PRE2019-088813) and M.L. was supported by a Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral contract (FJC2019-040385-I) from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Open access funding provided by Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientıficas. Deposited in PMC for immediate releas