Protection of outbred mice against a vaginal challenge by a Chlamydia trachomatis serovar E recombinant major outer membrane protein vaccine is dependent on phosphate substitution in the adjuvant.

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually-transmitted pathogen for which there is no vaccine. We previously demonstrated that the degree of phosphate substitution in an aluminum hydroxide adjuvant in a TLR-4-based C. trachomatis serovar E (Ser E) recombinant major outer membrane protein (rMOMP) formulation had an impact on the induced antibody titers and IFN-γ levels. Here, we have extended these observations using outbreed CD-1 mice immunized with C. trachomatis Ser E rMOMP formulations to evaluate the impact on bacterial challenge. The results confirmed that the rMOMP vaccine containing the adjuvant with the highest phosphate substitution induced the highest neutralizing antibody titers while the formulation with the lowest phosphate substitution induced the highest IFN-γ production. The most robust protection was observed in mice vaccinated with the formulation containing the adjuvant with the lowest phosphate substitution, as shown by the number of mice with positive vaginal cultures, number of positive cultures and number of C. trachomatis inclusion forming units recovered. This is the first report showing that vaccination of an outbred strain of mice with rMOMP induces protection against a vaginal challenge with C. trachomatis

A Multiinstitutional Spanish Master’s Program in Ecosystem Restoration: Vision and Four-Year Experience

Since 2006, an innovative, multiinstitutional Spanish Master in Ecosystem Restoration (MER) is jointly offered by four major public universities in Madrid. In view of the high student demand—about 900 applications this academic year for only 30 places, a remarkable 75% rate of professional poststudy employment in a period of economic crisis, and the high number (> 40) of prestigious organizations involved in the program, we consider the MER program, although still young, to be very promising for the long term. We explain the process to create the MER and achieve the results obtained thus far. We describe its organization, report its vital statistics in terms of students, and identify some strengths and weaknesses observed to date. The MER program has evolved as a network of knowledge and experience that links universities, lecturers, researchers, students, private and public companies, NGOs, and administration centers. Our aim is to help other groups that may want to launch similar graduate-level ecological restoration degree programs

Evaluation of coloured nets in peach protected cultivation

The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of the radiometric properties of coloured nets on peach tree photomorphogenesis. The modification of the spectral distribution of the transmitted radiation and thus the effects on the tree vegetative and productive activity were studied. A field experimental test using coloured nets for the protection of peach trees was carried out during 2008 at the experimental farm of the University of Bari, latitude 41° 05' N. A blue net and a red net, characterised by a nominal shading factor of 40%, and a neutral net with a nominal 12% shading factor were tested. Peach trees in open field conditions were used as control. The effects of the nets on the trees growth were correlated with the radiometric properties of the nets, which were evaluated by means of laboratory tests. The red and blue nets influenced mainly the B/FR ratio: the former net decreased and the latter increased the B/FR ratio. The nets influenced the quantity as the quality of the yield. The red net increased the shoot growth of the trees more than the blue one. The nets influenced positively the fruit weight and skin colour in comparison to the open-field

An analytical solution for the critical number of particles for stable bose-einstein condensation under the influence of an anisotropic potential

We have considered a Bose gas in an anisotropic potential. Applying the the Gross-Pitaevskii Equation (GPE) for a confined dilute atomic gas, we have used the methods of optimized perturbation theory and self-similar root approximants, to obtain an analytical formula for the critical number of particles as a function of the anisotropy parameter for the potential. The spectrum of the GPE is also discussed.CNPQCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

FRP Confinement of Stone Samples after Real Fire Exposure

The mechanical properties of stone materials can be severely affected by exposure to high temperatures. The effect of fire on stone buildings could cause irreversible damage and make it necessary to retrofit the affected elements. Particularly, the strengthening of columns by confinement with composites has been widely improved during the last decades. Today, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) confinement represents a very interesting alternative to traditional steel solutions. This work studied the behavior of cylindrical stone specimens subjected to real fire action and confined by means of CFRP or GFRP jackets, with the aim of assessing the effectiveness of these reinforcement systems applied to a material that has previously been seriously damaged by high temperature exposure. In general, the strengthened samples showed notable increases in strength and ductility. The response seemed to depend basically on the FRP properties and not on the degree of damage that the stone core may have suffered. Finally, the results obtained experimentally were compared with the confinement models proposed by the available design guides, in order to evaluate the accuracy that these models can offer under the different situations addressed in this research.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, grant number RTI2018‐101148‐B‐I00. The APC was funded by University of Alicante, grant number VIGROB 212

Análisis por elementos finitos de losas de edificación sometidas a punzonamiento

Comunicación presentada en el VII Congreso Trienal de la Asociación Científico-Técnica del Hormigón Estructural (ACHE), A Coruña, 20-22 junio 2017.Uno de los principales problemas en las estructuras de edificación es el debido al punzonamiento en el encuentro losa-pilar. En el presente trabajo se expone un modelo numérico no lineal basado en método de los elementos finitos, y desarrollado en ABAQUS, para el análisis de la rotura por punzonamiento en losas de hormigón armado. El objeto es disponer de una herramienta de simulación que permita el estudio de forjados existentes, para la evaluación de su capacidad a punzonamiento y de un posible refuerzo. También el estudio de forjados de nueva construcción, donde se pueda optimizar la geometría y las cuantías.One of the main building structure problems is the phenomenon of punching in the slab-column connection. In this paper a nonlinear numerical model based on finite element method is exposed, and developed in ABAQUS, for the analysis of punching failure of reinforced concrete slabs. The goal is to achieve simulation tool that allows the study of existing slabs, to assess their ability to punching and a possible reinforcement. The study also concerns new constructions, where geometry and ratios can be optimized

Experimental analysis of the loss of bond between rebars and concrete exposed to high temperatures

En el conjunto de materiales de construcción habituales en la edificación y las obras de ingeniería, el hormigón destaca entre otras razones por su excelente comportamiento frente a las altas temperaturas y la exposición al fuego. El presente estudio se centra en la adherencia residual entre el hormigón y las barras de acero corrugado soldable tras exponer probetas a altas temperaturas y enfriarlas hasta temperatura ambiente por convección natural. El estudio incluye hormigones de resistencia convencional, hormigones de alta resistencia y hormigones reforzados con fibras de polipropileno y fibras de acero. La adherencia hormigón-acero se ha medido mediante el conocido ensayo de pull-out. La campaña experimental también ha incluido la resistencia a compresión y la resistencia a tracción indirecta. Parte de las probetas se han ensayado a 28 días de edad a temperatura ambiente. A 60 días de edad se han repetido los ensayos a temperatura ambiente y se han realizado esos mismos ensayos en probetas calentadas en un horno industrial hasta tres rangos de temperatura: 450°C, 650°C y 825°C. Previo al proceso de calentamiento han sido sometidas durante 3 horas a un escalón de secado a 120°C. Mediante la metodología propuesta ha sido posible caracterizar la evolución de la pérdida de adherencia residual entre el acero y el hormigón conforme se exponen los especímenes a temperaturas más elevadas. La adición de fibras no tiene una influencia clara en la adherencia a temperatura ambiente. Sin embargo, sí se ha conseguido determinar una mejora sustancial de la adherencia residual en los hormigones, reforzados con fibras de acero sometidos a altas temperaturas.Within the context of the most usual construction materials for building and civil infrastructures, concrete stands out because of its excellent behaviour when exposed to high temperatures and fire condition. The present study focuses on the residual bond strength between concrete and steel rebars after exposure to elevated temperatures and natural cooling to room temperature. Normal strength and high strength concretes have been tested, as well as polypropylene and steel fibre reinforced concretes. The bond strength has been measured using the pull-out test. Compressive and tensile strength have also been determined. Some specimens have been tested at an age of 28 days and at room temperature. At 60 days the tests have been repeated at room temperature and after heating up to three temperature ranges: 450°C, 650°C and 825°C. Before each of the three heating phases, the specimens were pre-heated during 3 hours at 120 °C. After these experiments it has been possible to assess the loss of steel-concrete bonding for higher temperatures. The addition of fibres has no clear influence on the bonding at ambient condition. However, an improvement on the residual bonding strength has been observed for steel fibre reinforced concrete under high temperatures

Yield, water use efficiency, and yield response factor in carrot crop under different irrigation depths

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation depths on the yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and yield response factor (Ky) of carrot (cv. 'Brasília') in the edaphoclimatic conditions of Baixada Fluminense, RJ, Brazil. Field trials were conducted in a Red-Yellow Argisol in the 2010-2011period. A randomized block design was used, with 5 treatments (depths) and 4 replicates. Depths were applied by drippers with different flow rates, and the irrigation was managed by time domain reflectometry (TDR) technique. The reference (ETo) and crop (ETc) evapotranspiration depths reached 286.3 and 264.1mm in 2010, and 336.0 and 329.9mm in 2011, respectively. The root yield varied from 30.4 to 68.9t ha-1 as a response to treatments without irrigation and 100% replacement of the soil water depth, respectively. Values for WUE in the carrot crop varied from 15 to 31kg m-3 and the mean Ky value was 0.82. The mean values for Kc were obtained in the initial (0.76), intermediate (1.02), and final (0.96) stages. Carrot crop was influenced by different water depths (treatments) applied, and the highest value for WUE was obtained for 63.4% of soil water replacement.Publicada online Online em 5 de abril de 2016

Study of the influence of the needle lift on the internal flow and cavitationphenomenon in diesel injector nozzles by CFD using RANS methods

It is well known that cavitation phenomenon in diesel injector nozzles has a strong influence on the internal flow during the injection process and spray development. However, its influence on the flow during needle opening and closing remains still unclear due to the huge difficulties related to performing experiments at partial needle lifts. In this paper, an extended computational study has been performed in a multi-hole nozzle modeling 10 different fixed needle lifts. The internal flow has been modeled with a continuum nozzle flow model that considers the cavitating flow as a homogeneous mixture of liquid and vapour. Due to high Reynolds numbers, turbulence effects have been taken into account by RANS methods using a RNG k e model. Firstly, the code has been validated against experimental data at full needle lift conditions in terms of mass flow, momentum flux and effective velocity, showing a fairly good agreement with experimental results. Once the code has been validated, it has been possible to study in depth the internal nozzle flow and its characteristics at the outlet at different partial needle lifts. Nevertheless, not only the main flow features have been explained, but also the cavitation appearance and the turbulence development, which present huge differences between the different needle lifts simulated.The authors wish to acknowledge the Generalitat Valenciana for the financial support through the project GVA PROMETEO CMT 2010 (reference code: GR001/2009/00167539).Salvador, FJ.; Martínez López, J.; Caballer Fernández, M.; Alfonso Laguna, CD. (2013). Study of the influence of the needle lift on the internal flow and cavitationphenomenon in diesel injector nozzles by CFD using RANS methods. Energy Conversion and Management. 66:246-256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2012.10.0112462566

Evaluación de procesos de desgaste en turbinas aeronáuticas mediante espectrometría por disco rotativo(rde) y por contador de partículas láser(lnf)

En esta ponencia se realiza una revisión de diferentes metodologías para la evaluación de procesos de desgaste en turbinas aéreas derivadas. Mediante el análisis de las características del lubricante utilizado, a través de espectrometría de micropartículas y de la evaluación por contadores de partículas de tamaño superior a los 20 micrómetros, se pretende determinar procesos de desgaste y correlaciones entre diversos parámetros de funcionamiento de la turbina. Para ello se presentan las principales metodologías de análisis de aceite en uso, indicando la información que suministran, los ámbitos en los que su aplicación es pertinente, y se muestran los resultados de diferentes casos de aplicación correspondientes tanto a aeronaves de ala fija como de ala rotativa