Multi-component boron and niobium coating on M2 high speed steel processed by powder metallurgy

A multi-component boron and niobium coating can improve properties compared to conventional boron coating. A thicker layer of boron diffusion could be formed, providing a support layer of higher mechanical strength for the hard layer. The objective of this research is to develop a boron and niobium-based coating on the high-speed steel M2 produced by powder metallurgy (P/M). Firstly, calculations by ThermoCalc® were made to estimate parameters of niobium boronizing. Secondly, thermochemical treatments by pack cementation were carried out, in stages and also simultaneously. Microstructures, phases, hardness, roughness, wear resistance and coefficient of friction of the coatings were investigated. Finally, coatings composed of niobium carbides or niobium borides and iron borides, measuring more than 3000 HV0.025 of hardness was obtained by niobium‑boron based treatments. However, the best wear resistance was conferred in the boronizing coating.The authors would like to acknowledge financial support to the Ph.D. student from FAPESC, under the studentship number 0951801-0-01, from CAPES for Sandwich Doctorate, BEX 9676/11-2. Also, they would like to thank the UC3M and UDESC universities, where this investigation was performed

Indicadores de desempenho para a gestão dos processos operacionais citrícolas/ Performance indicators of operational processes management in citrus

A globalização e o desenvolvimento tecnológico trouxeram alterações expressivas na forma de administração das organizações, que se tornaram obrigadas a substituir o empirismo por uma gestão baseada na análise de fatos e dados. Porém, na agricultura, há ainda potencial para uma maior adoção de ferramentas gerenciais que promovam a obtenção de melhores resultados.  Assim, o objetivo do trabalho é propor um conjunto de indicadores de desempenho para os principais processos operacionais de um sistema de produção citrícola. Os quatro principais macroprocessos - Plantio; Tratos culturais I (estabelecimento das mudas); Tratos culturais II (manutenção do pomar); e Colheita - e suas fases operacionais, foram mapeados a partir do modelo IDEF0. Assim, definiu-se 248 indicadores de desempenho operacional, sendo 28 desses classificados como fatores de sucesso. Os indicadores de qualidade relacionados ao sucesso das fases com maior frequência referiram-se à qualidade química do solo

Deployment of Secure Machine Learning Pipelines for Near-Real-Time Control of 6G Network Services

This paper has been submitted at : Optical Fiber Communication Conference 2024A ML function orchestrator deploying secure ML pipelines to support near-real-time control of network services is demonstrated. A distributed ledger supports the initial key exchange to establish secure connectivity among the agents in the pipelineThe research leading to these results has received funding from the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking under the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under G.A. No. 101096466 (DESIRE6G) from the MICINN IBON (PID2020-114135RB-I00) projects and from the ICREA Institutio

Glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism: low morbidity and mortality in a four-generation italian pedigree.

Glucocorticoid remediable hyperaldosteronism (GRA) is a monogenic form of inherited hypertension caused by a chimeric gene originating from an unequal cross-over between the 11 beta-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) and aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) genes. GRA is characterized by high plasma levels of aldosterone (regulated by ACTH) with suppressed plasma renin activity and the production of two rare steroids, 18hydroxycortisol and 18oxocortisol. Affected patients usually show severe hypertension and an elevated frequency of stroke at a young age. Affected women have a high risk of developing preeclampsia during pregnancy. Here, we describe a 5-generation pedigree from Sardinia in which the presence of the chimeric gene is demonstrated in 4 generations. This family displays a mild phenotype with average blood pressure levels of 131/86 mm Hg for GRA+ patients. The occurrence of stroke is very low, and preeclampsia was not observed in 29 pregnancies from 8 GRA+ mothers. We investigated whether the cross-over site (between the CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 genes) or biochemical characteristics could explain this phenotype. The cross-over site was located at the end of intron 3, in the same region as described in other families. We found a significant correlation between blood pressure and 18hydroxycortisol, 18oxocortisol, and plasma aldosterone levels, but not with kallikrein. However, none of the biochemical or genetic parameters investigated could explain the mild phenotype of the family

Cardiovascular Hypertension-Mediated Organ Damage in Hypertensive Urgencies and Hypertensive Outpatients

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hypertension mediated organ damage (HMOD) in patients attending the Emergency Department (ED) with symptomatic blood pressure (BP) rise is unknown, and whether HMOD varies between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with grade 3 hypertension is unclear. AIM: This study aimed to investigate cardiac and vascular HMOD in hypertensive urgencies (HU) and asymptomatic outpatients with grade 1–3 hypertension. METHODS: Patients attending the ED with a symptomatic BP rise ≥180/110 mmHg were prospectively enrolled (HU group), after the exclusion of acute organ damage. HMOD and BP were assessed after 72 h from ED discharge in an office setting. These patients were matched by age and sex to outpatients with grade 3 hypertension (Grade 3 group), and by age, sex, and 72 h office BP values to outpatients with any grade hypertension (Control group). RESULTS: A total of 304 patients were enrolled (76 patients in the HU group, 76 in the Grade 3 group, and 152 in the Control group). Grade 3 patients had increased left ventricular mass (LVMi) compared to patients with HU (106.9 ± 31.5 vs. 96.1 ± 30.7 g/m(2), p = 0.035). Severe left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was more frequent in grade 3 (21.1 vs. 5.3%, p = 0.004), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) was similar in the two groups. There was no difference in LVMi between ED and Control patients (96.1 ± 30.7 vs. 95.2 ± 26.6 g/m(2), p = 0.807). LVH prevalence was similar (43.4 vs. 35.5%, p = 0.209, respectively), but patients with HU had thicker interventricular septum (11.9 ± 2.2 vs. 11.1 ± 2.2 mm, p = 0.007). PWV was similar between these two groups. Patients with HU needed more antihypertensive drugs than Control patients (2 vs. 1, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HU had a better cardiac HMOD profile than outpatients with grade 3 hypertension. Their cardiac and vascular HMOD is more comparable to an outpatient with similar in-office BP, although they need more antihypertensive medications

Ipertensione arteriosa e dilatazione dell'aorta toracica: un mistero insoluto

Summary Introduction Acute and chronic aortic syndromes are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Silent risk factors such as arterial hypertension and aortic root dilatation can increase the likelihood of aortic dissection or rupture. The relationship between arterial hypertension and the dimensions of the aortic root dimension is a topic of active debate. Materials and methods We reviewed the literature on the physiopathology, diagnosis, natural history, and management of thoracic aortic aneurysms. Results Biological variables influencing the size of the aorta include age, sex, body surface area, pressure values, and stroke volume. Pathologic enlargement of the thoracic aorta can be caused by genetic, degenerative, inflammatory, traumatic, or toxic factors. Studies investigating the correlation between aortic dimensions and arterial pressures (diastolic, systolic, or pulse) have produced discordant results. Discussion Classically, emphasis has been placed on the importance of hypertension-related degeneration of the medial layer of the aortic wall, which leads to dilatation of the thoracic aorta, reduced aortic wall compliance, and increased pulse pressures. However, there are no published data that demonstrate unequivocally the existence of a pathogenetic correlation between arterial hypertension and aortic root dilatation. Furthermore, there is no evidence that antihypertensive therapy is effective in the management of nonsyndromic forms of aortic root dilatation. An interesting branch of research focuses on the importance of genetic predisposition in the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic aneurysms. Different genetic backgrounds could explain differences in the behaviour of aortic walls exposed to the same hemodynamic stress. Further study is needed to evaluate these focal physiopathological aspects