Energy security of supply in France and in Mexico : similarities and differences to better understand its future.

This paper aims to compare how two countries are facing the challenges of energy security of supply. Mexico, a member of NAFTA and a neighbour of the United States, has oil resources and is thinking how to answer to the increasing energy demand. France, one of the 27 member states of the European Union has been evolving from its position of being the "black sheep" and now displays an interesting position of protecting its national interests and its security of supply while still complying with the European vision.Union européenne; Electricité; Gaz; Mexique; France; Approvisionnement; Politique énergétique;

LNG in the Northwestern Coast of Mexico: Impact on Prices of Natural Gas in Both Sides of the US-Mexico Border

This paper studies the possible impacts of LNG projects on natural gas prices in both sides of the US-Mexico border in California. In California, gas prices are high and the demand is expected to grow. Several projects of LNG facilities have been proposed and have to cope with public opinions against them. In Baja California, four LNG projects are under development given the rising demand forecasted for the next years. After a detailed study of the opportunity for LNG projects, we conclude with an analysis of the fundamentals of the current and future price formation in both sides of the US Mexico border.Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), price formation, LNG projects, Mexico-US border, natural gas market

Desarrollo de método de diagnóstico de daños en turbinas hidráulicas

El factor de estrés más elevado en las turbinas-bombas, viene producido por la interacción entre el rotor y el estator, conocida dicha interacción como RSI (de sus siglas en ingles Rotor Stator Interaction). Dicho fenómeno, responsable de la generación de pulsos de presión, repercute en el daño por fatiga de la estructura del rotor, siendo las zonas más alejadas del centro de éstelas más propensas a sufrir los daños.En la actualidad, se conoce el hecho de que la presencia del RSI en las turbinas hidráulicas es capaz de producir la rotura de la corona del rotor mediante una geometría peculiar, la cual recuerda a una lágrima.En la presente memoria, se ha realizado un estudio del espectro de frecuencias de una turbina-bomba a la cual se le ha incorporado un rotor en el que se presentaba una rotura en la corona. Deesta forma, y mediante la comparación de los resultados obtenidos con los de un caso sin daño en el rotor, se han establecido relaciones entre las variaciones presentes en el espectro de frecuencias y la presencia de la rotura en la máquina.Finalmente, mediante la comparación de los espectros de frecuencias, se ha podido determinar que,la aparición de una rotura en la corona directriz del rotor de una turbina-bomba de 7 álabes en el rotor y 16 en el estator, produce una disminución de la amplitud de las frecuencias características de la máquina como consecuencia de una disminución de la presión en el interior de ést

Effect of heat treatments on the mechanical and microstructural behavior of a hypoeutectic Al alloy obtained by laser power bed fusion

Large gains in strength and ductility are of little significance if the material’s anisotropy is high. Therefore, improving the mechanical properties and reducing the anisotropy of Al alloys obtained by additive manufacturing is a topic of growing interest. This manuscript examines the effect of distinct heat treatments on the mechanical, anisotropic, and microstructural behavior of a hypoeutectic, almost eutectic, AlSi11Cu alloy obtained by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF). The microstructural characterization revealed an Al matrix surrounded by a Si-rich network, forming a coral-like pattern with a heterogeneous combination of columnar and equiaxed grains. The texture indicated that the columnar grains were preferentially oriented towards the building direction with strong Cube and Goss components. Different strength-ductility ratios were obtained following the annealing and solution heat treatments at different temperatures (200 °C–550 °C) with a holding time of 1 h. In terms of grain size and dislocation density, no significant changes were found in the microstructure, suggesting that grain size and dislocation strengthening mechanisms are not highly affected by the heat treatments. In addition, the Si-enriched network remained interconnected until 300 °C. At higher temperatures, this interconnection was lost, giving rise to large Si particles depleting the Si content in solid solution in the Al matrix. Digital image correlation maps revealed that deformation fields were more homogeneous when the cellular structure disappeared. The visco-plastic self-consistent model showed that when applying the load at 30° in the building direction (BD), the largest tensile strength was generated, whereas the lowest strength was obtained when the load was parallel to the BD. Heat treatments for 1 h holding time were found to be efficient in reducing the Lankford coefficients dispersion, suggesting improvements in formability and reducing the alloy’s planar anisotropy. These results revealed that annealing up to 400 °C or higher temperatures followed by water quenching leads to good strength and ductility ratios while reducing anisotropy.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Formability of the 5754-aluminum alloy deformed by a modified repetitive corrugation and straightening process

Sheets of 5754-aluminum alloy processed by a modified repetitive corrugation and straightening (RCS) process were tested in order to measure their formability. For this purpose, forming limit curves were derived. They showed that the material forming capacity decreased after being processed by RCS. However, they kept good formability in the initial stages of the RCS process. The formability study was complemented with microstructural analysis (derivation of texture) and mechanical tests to obtain the strain-rate sensitivity. The texture analysis was done by employing X-ray diffraction, obtaining pole figures, and the orientation distribution function. It was noticed that the initial texture was conserved after successive RCS passes, but the intensity dropped. RCS process did not induce ß-fiber, contrary to common deformation process. The strain-rate sensitivity coefficient was measured through tensile tests at different temperatures and strain rates; the coefficient of the samples processed after one and two passes were still relatively high, indicating the capacity to delay necking, in agreement with the good formability observed in the initial passes of the RCS processPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Optofluidic study of the pore widening in nanoporous alumina membranes

En este trabajo se utiliza una técnica optofluídica para estudiar el ensanchamiento químico de los poros de membranas de alúmina nanoporosa. La técnica optofluídica consiste en medir la evolución de la reflectancia de luz láser producida por la membrana durante la imbibición capilar de la misma con un líquido de propiedades conocidas. El cambio en la proporción aire-líquido a medida que la membrana se llena modifica el índice de refracción efectivo de la membrana produciendo sucesivamente interferencias constructivas y destructivas. La señal obtenida puede relacionarse con el volumen de líquido que penetró en la membrana utilizando una teoría de medio efectivo. Realizando las medidas de llenado capilar en ambas direcciones de la membrana es posible caracterizar la morfología del poro. Los resultados obtenidos indican que los poros de las membranas utilizadas son inicialmente cónicos y que el ensanchamiento por ataque químico con soluciones diluidas de H3PO4 es uniforme a lo largo de los mismos y proporcional al tiempo de ataque. Los resultados obtenidos son consistentes con los que produce la caracterización de las membranas por técnicas estándar de elipsometría y demuestran que esta nueva técnica optofluídica constituye una forma simple y rápida de caracterizar membranas nanoporosas. La porosidad de las membranas obtenida con esta técnica difiere de la encontrada a partir del análisis de imágenes de las muestras. Se sugiere que parte del líquido que ingresa en la membrana ocupa una sub-porosidad formada por defectos en la matriz de alúmina.In this paper we use an optofluidic technic for study the chemical pore widening process of nanoporous alumina membranes. This technic consists in measure the time evolution of the membrane reflectance during capillary imbibition of a liquid with known properties. The change in the proportion air-liquid inside the membrane, modify the effective refractive index producing successively constructive and destructive interferences. Using an effective medium theory, the obtained signal can be related with the liquid volume inside the membrane. Additionally, this information can be processed to characterize the morphology of the pores. The obtained results indicate that, initially, the pores are conical and the chemical etching with diluted H3PO4 solutions is produced in an axially uniform way at constant rate. These results are consistent with those obtained with standard ellipsometry technics and show that this novel optofluidic technic is simple, fast and suitable for characterization of nanoporous membranes. However, the porosity value obtained differs with those obtained from SEM images analysis. This result suggests that a portion of the liquid used enters to a sub-nano porosity formed by defects in the alumina matrix.Fil: Elizalde, Emanuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Física del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Física del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Rahman, M.M.. Universitat Rovira I Virgili; EspañaFil: Urteaga, Raul. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Física del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Física del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Berli, Claudio Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Koropecki, Roberto Roman. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Física del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Física del Litoral; Argentin

LNG in the Northwestern Coast of Mexico: Impact on Prices of Natural Gas in Both Sides of the US-Mexico Border

This paper studies the possible impacts of LNG projects on natural gas prices in both sides of the US-Mexico border in California. In California, gas prices are high and the demand is expected to grow. Several projects of LNG facilities have been proposed and have to cope with public opinions against them. In Baja California, four LNG projects are under development given the rising demand forecasted for the next years. After a detailed study of the opportunity for LNG projects, we conclude with an analysis of the fundamentals of the current and future price formation in both sides of the US Mexico border

Effect of the microstructure generated by repetitive corrugation and straightening (RCS) process on the mechanical properties and stress corrosion cracking of Al-7075 alloy

This study discussed the effect of the heterogeneous microstructure generated through the Repetitive Corrugation and Straightening (RCS) process on the mechanical and stress corrosion cracking behavior of the AA7075. As a result of the RCS process, significant grain refinement was obtained. The average grain size ranged from 126 to 59 µm, for the initial condition and 4 RCS passes, respectively. The yield strength and hardness increased 170% and 15% from the initial pass, remaining almost constant afterward. The evaluation of stress corrosion cracking showed a decrement in the number of cracks of 21.6% and 23.5% between the initial condition and fourth RCS passes. The cracking and pitting corrosion were the dominant mechanisms in the tested samples. The mechanical and corrosion results were also discussed in terms of the microstructural features.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Progestins induce transcriptional activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) via a Jak- and Src-dependent mechanism in breast cancer cells

Interactions between steroid hormone receptors and signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)-mediated signaling pathways have already been described. In the present study, we explored the capacity of progestins to modulate Stat3 transcriptional activation in an experimental model of hormonal carcinogenesis in which the synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) induced mammary adenocarcinomas in BALB/c mice and in the human breast cancer cell line T47D. We found that C4HD epithelial cells, from the MPA-induced mammary tumor model, expressed Stat3 and that MPA treatment of C4HD cells up-regulated Stat3 protein expression. In addition, MPA induced rapid, nongenomic Stat3, Jak1, and Jak2 tyrosine phosphorylation in C4HD and T47D cells. MPA treatment of C4HD cells also resulted in rapid c-Src tyrosine phosphorylation. These effects were completely abolished by the progestin antagonist RU486. Abrogation of Jak1 and Jak2 activity by transient transfection of C4HD cells with dominant negative (DN) Jak1 or DN Jak2 vectors, or inhibition of Src activity by preincubation of cells with the Src family kinase inhibitor PP2, blocked the capacity of MPA to induce Stat3 phosphorylation. Treatment of C4HD cells with MPA induced Stat3 binding to DNA. In addition, MPA promoted strong Stat3 transcriptional activation in C4HD and T47D cells that was inhibited by RU486 and by blockage of Jak1, Jak2, and Src activities. To investigate the correlation between MPA-induced Stat3 activation and cell growth, C4HD cells were transiently transfected with a DN Stat3 expression vector, Stat3Y705-F, or with a constitutively activated Stat3 mutant, Stat3-C. While expression of Stat3Y705-F mutant had an inhibitory effect on MPA-induced growth of C4HD cells, transfection with the constitutively activated Stat3-C vector resulted in MPA-independent proliferation. Finally, we addressed the effect of targeting Stat3 in in vivo growth of C4HD breast tumors. Blockage of Stat3 activation by transfection of C4HD cells with the DN Stat3Y705-F expression vector significantly inhibited these cells' ability to form tumors in syngeneic mice. Our results have for the first time demonstrated that progestins are able to induce Stat3 transcriptional activation, which is in turn an obligatory requirement for progestin stimulation of both in vitro and in vivo breast cancer growth.Fil: Proietti Anastasi, Cecilia Jazmín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Salatino, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Rosemblit, Cinthia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Carnevale, Romina Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Pecci, Adali. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Kornblihtt, Alberto Rodolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Molinolo, Alfredo. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Frahm, Isabel. Sanatorio Mater Dei Hermanas de María de Schoenstatt; ArgentinaFil: Charreau, Eduardo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Schillaci, Roxana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Elizalde, Patricia Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentin

Percepción de los procesos de trabajo según el índice de cociente emocional en especialistas en Cobol del área de Desarrollo de Sistemas de la banca privada en Lima Metropolitana

La presente investigación descriptivo-correlacional explora la Percepción de los Procesos de Trabajo según el Índice de Cociente Emocional en los colaboradores del área de Desarrollo de Sistemas de la banca privada de Lima especializados en el desarrollo de software usando Cobol, según el cargo que ocupan, responsabilidad familiar, nivel de instrucción y edades. Para tal fin, se hace uso del cuestionario de Inteligencia Emocional de Bar-On (1997) en la versión adaptada a la realidad nacional por Zoila Abanto y Leonardo Higueras en el año 2000; así mismo complementamos nuestro instrumento con una escala de 35 ítems formulados en base a la definición de Procesos de Trabajo según la taxonomía de condiciones de trabajo propuesta por Peiró y Prieto (1996), lo cual es estadísticamente válido y confiable. Esta investigación brinda importante información a la Psicología Organizacional, siendo que los resultados nos muestran la existencia de una relación entre el Índice de Cociente Emocional y la Percepción de los Procesos de Trabajo para la muestra seleccionada; además de la existencia de una relación entre la autoestima con el cargo desempeñado y la edad; y las Relaciones Interpersonales y la Flexibilidad con el nivel de instrucción según el análisis de grupos. Palabras Claves: Índice de Cociente Emocional, Procesos de Trabajo, Desarrollo de Sistemas, Banca privada de Lima, Cobol.--- This descriptive-correlational research explores the relationship between Perception of Work Processes as Emotional Quotient Index reviewers in the area of Systems Development Lima private banking specializing in software development using Cobol, according to the position they occupy, family responsibility, level of education and age. To this end, using the questionnaire on Emotional Intelligence Bar- On (1997) as adapted to the national situation by Zoila Abanto and Leonardo Higueras in 2000 version is done; also complement our instrument with a scale of 35 items formulated based on the definition of Work Processes according to the taxonomy of working condition proposed by Peiró & Prieto (1996), which is statistically valid and reliable. This research provides important information to the Organizational Psychology, with the results show the existence of a relationship between Emotional Quotient Index and Perception of work Processes for the selected sample, in addition to the existence of a relationship between self-esteem played with the charge and age, and Interpersonal Relationships and Flexibility with the level of education according to the cluster analysis. Keywords: Emotional Quotient Index, Work Processes, Systems Development, Private Banking Lima, Cobol.Tesi