Barcelona SMARTMOTO CHALLENGE

In this paper we present the rules of the first edition of the SMARTMOTO CHALLENGE, www.smartmotochallenge.org . It will take place during the 2012-2013 season, showing the vehicles in July 2013 at the ParcMotor of Igualada and in Barcelona City. This is a competition of an electric motorcycle development where students, from participating universities, must make an electric motorcycle in accordance with the rules that we expose here. Following the successful example in the automotive industry with the Formula SAE, started in the USA, and now in full expansion in Europe with the Formula Student, we want to launch an Spanish but international competition oriented to the light electrical bikes.Postprint (published version

Incorporación de residuos derivados de la fabricación cerámica y del vidrio reciclado en el proceso cerámico integral

The following research work shows the results of the introduction of waste generated by the ceramic industry, such as the calcined clay from fired porcelain of stoneware and raw biscuit, sludge and cleaning water, as well as waste from other sectors like the recycling glass. In this way, it can be obtained a stoneware porcelain slab, engobe-glaze and satin glaze that contains high percentage of recyclable raw material

Trebouxia lynnae sp. nov. (former Trebouxia sp. TR9): biology and biogeography of an epitome lichen symbiotic microalga

Two microalgal species, Trebouxia jamesii and Trebouxia sp. TR9, were detected as the main photobionts coexisting in the thalli of the lichen Ramalina farinacea. Trebouxia sp. TR9 emerged as anew taxon in lichen symbioses and was successfully isolated and propagated in in vitro culture andthoroughly investigated. Several years of research have confirmed the taxon Trebouxia sp. TR9 tobe a model/reference organism for studying mycobiont–photobiont association patterns in lichensymbioses. Trebouxia sp. TR9 is the first symbiotic, lichen-forming microalga for which an exhaustivecharacterization of cellular ultrastructure, physiological traits, genetic and genomic diversity is available.The cellular ultrastructure was studied by light, electron and confocal microscopy; physiologicaltraits were studied as responses to different abiotic stresses. The genetic diversity was previouslyanalyzed at both the nuclear and organelle levels by using chloroplast, mitochondrial, and nucleargenome data, and a multiplicity of phylogenetic analyses were carried out to study its intraspecificdiversity at a biogeographical level and its specificity association patterns with the mycobiont.Here, Trebouxia sp. TR9 is formally described by applying an integrative taxonomic approach and ispresented to science as Trebouxia lynnae, in honor of Lynn Margulis, who was the primary modernproponent for the significance of symbiosis in evolution. The complete set of analyses that werecarried out for its characterization is provided

SUCCOR Nodes: May Sentinel Node Biopsy Determine the Need for Adjuvant Treatment?

Background The SUCCOR cohort was developed to analyse the overall and disease-free survival at 5 years in women with FIGO 2009 stage IB1 cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the use of adjuvant therapy in these women, depending on the method used to diagnose lymphatic node metastasis. Patients and Methods We used data from the SUCCOR cohort, which collected information from 1049 women with FIGO 2009 stage IB1 cervical cancer who were operated on between January 2013 and December 2014 in Europe. We calculated the adjusted proportion of women who received adjuvant therapy depending on the lymph node diagnosis method and compared disease free and overall survival using Cox proportional-hazards regression models. Inverse probability weighting was used to adjust for baseline potential confounders. Results The adjusted proportion of women who received adjuvant therapy was 33.8% in the sentinel node biopsy + lymphadenectomy (SNB+LA) group and 44.7% in the LA group (p = 0.02), although the proportion of positive nodal status was similar (p = 0.30). That difference was greater in women with negative nodal status and positive Sedlis criteria (difference 31.2%, p = 0.01). Here, those who underwent a SNB+LA had an increased risk of relapse [hazard ratio (HR) 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98–6.33, p = 0.056] and risk of death (HR 3.49, 95% CI 1.04–11.7, p = 0.042) compared with those who underwent LA. Conclusions Women in this study were less likely to receive adjuvant therapy if their nodal invasion was determined using SNB+LA compared with LA. These results suggest a lack of therapeutic measures available when a negative result is obtained by SNB+LA, which may have an impact on the risk of recurrence and survival

Intra-tumor heterogeneity in TP53 null high grade serous ovarian carcinoma progression

[Background]: High grade serous ovarian cancer is characterised by high initial response to chemotherapy but poor outcome in the long term due to acquired resistance. One of the main genetic features of this disease is TP53 mutation. The majority of TP53 mutated tumors harbor missense mutations in this gene, correlated with p53 accumulation. TP53 null tumors constitute a specific subgroup characterised by nonsense, frameshift or splice-site mutations associated to complete absence of p53 expression. Different studies show that this kind of tumors may have a worse prognosis than other TP53 mutated HGSC. [Methods]: In this study, we sought to characterise the intra-tumor heterogeneity of a TP53 null HGSC consisting of six primary tumor samples, two intra-pelvic and four extra-pelvic recurrences using exome sequencing and comparative genome hybridisation. [Results]: Significant heterogeneity was found among the different tumor samples, both at the mutational and copy number levels. Exome sequencing identified 102 variants, of which only 42 were common to all three samples; whereas 7 of the 18 copy number changes found by CGH analysis were presented in all samples. Sanger validation of 20 variants found by exome sequencing in additional regions of the primary tumor and the recurrence allowed us to establish a sequence of the tumor clonal evolution, identifying those populations that most likely gave rise to recurrences and genes potentially involved in this process, like GPNMB and TFDP1. Using functional annotation and network analysis, we identified those biological functions most significantly altered in this tumor. Remarkably, unexpected functions such as microtubule-based movement and lipid metabolism emerged as important for tumor development and progression, suggesting its potential interest as therapeutic targets. [Conclusions]: Altogether, our results shed light on the clonal evolution of the distinct tumor regions identifying the most aggressive subpopulations and at least some of the genes that may be implicated in its progression and recurrence, and highlights the importance of considering intra-tumor heterogeneity when carrying out genetic and genomic studies, especially when these are aimed to diagnostic procedures or to uncover possible therapeutic strategies.This work has been supported by grants from the AECC network-2012, Telemarató 2013, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (PI13/00132 and RETIC-RD12/0036/0007), GEIS award 2013, and by the Community of Madrid (S2010/BMD-2303). AM is a predoctoral student supported by FPU fellowship (Spanish Education Ministry). PGS is founded by postdoc contracts from the AECC Scientific Foundation.Peer Reviewe

Older workers in the hospitality industry: valuing experience and informal learning

The research sets out to identify the learning processes adopted by older workers in the hospitality and visitor attraction industry in Scotland, with a view to determining how employers may better support their education and training within enterprises. The study was undertaken as part of the ESRC project on ‘sustaining the employability of older workers in the hospitality sector: personal learning strategies and cultures of learning. The data collection period was from 2008-2010 and focused on six case studies; three in hospitality and three visitor attraction centres. The conceptual framework of the research is based upon the simple yet important notion of experience and how this enhances the learning lives of older employees. It will be argued that the learning processes used by older employees are primarily recognisable as social practices, based upon the utilisation of existing knowledge and skills. The analysis suggests that organisations should be encouraged to avoid using a ‘one size fits all’ approach to education and training and, in the case of older workers, to make more use of their past work and life experiences in order to facilitate their own and others’ learning

Femtosecond laser microstructuring of zirconia dental implants

This study evaluated the suitability of femtosecond laser for microtexturizing cylindrical zirconia dental implants surface. Sixty-six cylindrical zirconia implants were used and divided into three groups: Control group (with no laser modification), Group A (microgropored texture), and Group B (microgrooved texture). Scanning electron microscopy observation of microgeometries revealed minimal collateral damage of the original surface surrounding the treated areas. Optical interferometric profilometry showed that ultrafast laser ablation increased surface roughness (Ra, Rq, Rz, and Rt) significantly for both textured patterns from 1.2× to 6×-fold when compared with the control group (p Group B 8.4% ± 0.42% > Group A 1.6% ± 0.35%) and aluminum (Control 4.3% ± 0.9% > Group B 2.3% ± 0.3% > Group A 1.16% ± 0.2%) in the laser-treated surfaces (p Group A 1.94% > Group B 1.72%) as the surfaces were processed with ultrashort laser pulses. We concluded that femtosecond laser microstructuring offers an interesting alternative to conventional surface treatments of zirconia implants as a result of its precision and minimal damage of the surrounding areas

Desarrollo de un procedimiento para el cálculo acoplado CFD-Neutrónico con Ansys CFX 12.1 y Parcs

Se ha desarrollado una nueva herramienta computacional para los cálculos de reactor es nucleares basada en el acople entre el código de transporte neutrónico PARCS y el código comercia l de dinámica de fluido s computacional (CFD) ANSYS CFX 12.1. En este trabajo se presenta la metodología desarrollada para el a cople de los códigos ANSYS CFX/PARCS. En el pasado, las metodologías desarrolladas tenían por objeto el acopl e de códigos neutrónicos 3D con códigos termohidráulicos 1D. En este trabajo se presenta el d esarro llo de un procedimiento para el acopl e de los códigos ANSYS CFX/PARCS siendo l as metodologías existentes acopl e s de código s neutrónicos tridimensionales con códigos termohidráulicos unidimensionales.Peña, C.; Chiva, S.; Miró Herrero, R.; Barrachina Celda, TM.; Pellacani, F.; Macián Juan, R. (2011). Desarrollo de un procedimiento para el cálculo acoplado CFD-Neutrónico con Ansys CFX 12.1 y Parcs. Grupo Senda. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/34015

simulación de un elemento combustible PWR simplificado mediante los códigos acoplados CFD-Neutrónicos ANSYS CFX 12.1 y PARCS

Se ha desarrollado una nueva herramienta computacional para los cálculos de reactores nucleares basada en el acople entre el código de transporte neutrónico PARCS y e l código comercial de dinámica de fluidos computacional (CFD) ANSYS CFX 12.1. En esta cont ribución se presentan los primeros resultados de la aplicación de esta nueva metodología para el acople de códigos CFD con códigos neutrónicos. C on esta nueva herramienta de simulación se abren nuevas posibilidades en el diseño de elementos combustibles, ya que contribuye a un mejor entendimiento y una mejor simulación de los procesos de transferencia de calor y fenómenos específicos de dinámica de fluidos como el 'crossflow'. La simulación de transitorios de inserción de barra de control, dilución de boro o inyección de agua fría se pueden llevar a cabo con un nivel de precisión que no es posible alcanzar con las metodologías actuales basadas en el uso de códigos de sistema.Peña Monferrer, C.; Chiva, S.; Miró Herrero, R.; Barrachina Celda, TM.; Pellacani, F.; Macian Juan, R. (2011). simulación de un elemento combustible PWR simplificado mediante los códigos acoplados CFD-Neutrónicos ANSYS CFX 12.1 y PARCS. Grupo Senda. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/34068S10

CFD-Neutronic coupled calculation of a PWR fuel assembly considering pressure drop and turbulence produced by spacer grids

[EN] A computational code system called Coupled Solver ANSYS CFX/PARCS (CSAP) based on coupling the 3D neutron diffusion code PARCS v2.7 and the ANSYS CFX 13.0 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code has been developed as a tool for nuclear reactor systems simulations. This paper presents the coupling methodology between the CFD and the neutronic code. The methodology to simulate a 3D-neutronic problem coupled with 1D thermalhydraulics is already a mature technology, being part of the regular calculations performed to analyze different kinds of Reactivity Insertion Accidents (RIA) and asymmetric transients in Nuclear Power Plants, with state-of-the-art coupled codes like TRAC-B/NEM, RELAP5/PARCS, TRACE/PARCS, RELAP3D, RETRAN3D, etc. The transport of neutrons depends on several parameters, like fuel temperature, moderator temperature and density, boron concentration and fuel rod insertion. These data are calculated by the CFD code with high local resolution and used as input to the neutronic code to calculate a 3D nodal power distribution that will be returned and remapped to the CFD code control volumes (cells). Since two different nodalizations are used to discretize the same system, an averaging and interpolating procedure is needed to realize an effective data exchange. These procedures have been developed by means of the ANSYS CFX “User Fortran” interface; a library with several subroutines has been developed for calculation and synchronization purposes. The data exchange is realized by means of the Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM) software package. In this contribution, steady-state and transient results of a quarter of PWR fuel assembly with cold water injection are presented and compared with obtained results from a RELAP5/PARCS v2.7 coupled calculation. A simplified model for the spacers has been included. A methodology has been introduced to take into account the pressure drop and the turbulence enhancement produced by the spacers.This research was supported by the “Plan Nacional de I+D+i” Project EXPERTISER ENE2010-21368-C02-01 and ENE2010-21368-C02-02.Peña-Monferrer, C.; Pellacani, F.; Chiva Vicent, S.; Barrachina Celda, TM.; Miró Herrero, R.; Macián-Juan, R. (2012). CFD-Neutronic coupled calculation of a PWR fuel assembly considering pressure drop and turbulence produced by spacer grids. Nuclear Espana. 52-61. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/48423S526