Breve historia del temple: de las espadas a los automóviles modernos

Postprint (published version

Residual stresses and microstructural evolution of ECAPed AA2017

The mechanical behavior and microstructural evolution of an AA2017 aluminum alloy processed by ECAP with an equivalent simple shear deformation of ∼6 at 200 °C were studied. Samples were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS- EBSD), image-assisted by focus ion beam (FIB), Vickers microhardness and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. During the deformation process, the Al 2 Cu precipitates did not get fragmented or re-absorbed in the Al matrix. After the first ECAP pass, at least 50% of grains displayed an ultrafine size. The EBSD analysis showed an increment of the misorientation angle immediately after the first ECAP pass. The macrotexture evolution was explained in terms of the formation of f1: A 1θ ∗ , A θ , Ā θ , A 2θ ∗ , f2: C θ , B¯ θ , B θ , Ā θ , A θ , A 1θ ∗ and f3: C θ , B θ , B¯ θ , A θ , Ā θ , A 2θ ∗ fibers. The macro-residual stress measurements of the highly deformed samples showed linear sin 2 ψ profiles. The micro and macro-residual stresses were compatible with dislocation rearrangement, in which the annihilation and formation were in quasi-equilibrium. It was found that the highest microhardness value (1176 MPa) and grain refinement (at least 20% of grains showed a size smaller than 100 μm 2 ) appeared after the first extrusion pass. The decrease in hardness, after the second pass and the residual stress stability, could be associated to a dynamic recovery phenomenon

Repetitive corrugation and straightening effect on the microstructure, crystallographic texture and electrochemical behavior for the Al-7075 alloy

Anti-corrosion susceptibility is one of the top criteria for selecting metallic materials for several industrial applications. This work studies the corrosion performance on an Al-7075 alloy obtained by Repetitive Corrugation and Straightening (RCS). This processing method generated a microstructure formed by randomly distributed micro-, submicro-, and nano- metric grain sizes. The samples exhibited a drop in corrosion resistance for a longer duration in the electrolyte and higher deformation. However, the samples processed by RCS showed better electrochemical stability in comparison with the non-deformed condition. The improvement of electrochemical stability could be associated with the particular microstructure generated during the RCS process.Postprint (published version

Polarization-insensitive multimode interference coupler based on bricked subwavelength gratings

The recently proposed bricked patterning enables enhanced performance in integrated photonics devices based on subwavelength gratings, including polarization insensitivity. We report on the design of a polarization-agnostic 2×2 multimode interference coupler for the 220 nm silicon-on-insulator platform using the bricked SWG metamaterial, operating in telecom O-band.We acknowledge funding from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (PID2019-106747RB-I00), Junta de Andalucía (P18-RT-1453, UMA-FEDERJA-158), Ministerio de Ciencia Innovación y Universidades (FPU16/06762, FPU19/02408). Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Polarization independent 2×2 multimode interference coupler with bricked subwavelength metamaterial

The silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform enables high integration density in photonic integrated circuits while maintaining compatibility with CMOS fabrication processes. Nevertheless, its inherently high modal birefringence hinders the development of polarization-insensitive devices. The dispersion and anisotropy engineering leveraging subwavelength grating (SWG) metamaterials makes possible the development of polarization agnostic waveguide components. In this work we build upon the bricked SWG metamaterial nanostructures to design a polarization independent 2×2 multimode interference (MMI) coupler for the 220 nm SOI platform, operating in the telecom O-band. The designed device exhibits a 160 nm bandwidth with excess loss, polarization dependent loss and imbalance below 1 dB and phase error lower than 5°.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (PID2019-106747RB-I00), Junta de Andalucía (P18-RT-1453, UMA20-FEDERJA-158), Ministerio de Ciencia Innovación y Universidades (FPU16/06762, FPU19/02408) and Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

The role of glucagon after bariatric/metabolic surgery: much more than an “anti-insulin” hormone

The biological activity of glucagon has recently been proposed to both stimulate hepatic glucose production and also include a paradoxical insulinotropic effect, which could suggest a new role of glucagon in the pathophysiology type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). An insulinotropic role of glucagon has been observed after bariatric/metabolic surgery that is mediated through the GLP-1 receptor on pancreatic beta cells. This effect appears to be modulated by other members of the proglucagon family, playing a key role in the beneficial effects and complications of bariatric/metabolic surgery. Glucagon serves a dual role after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). In addition to maintaining blood glucose levels, glucagon exhibits an insulinotropic effect, suggesting that glucagon has a more complex function than simply an “anti-insulin hormone”

Mapa global de la regulación de factores de transcripción tipo MADS-BOX en frutilla silvestre (Fragaria vesca).

90 p.Las interacciones entre proteínas y DNA son particularmente conservadas a lo largo de la evolución. El estudio de estas redes de interacción pueden dar pie al entendimiento de cómo se regulan los principales procesos celulares. Los factores de transcripción tipo MADS-BOX han sido descritos como reguladores maestros del desarrollo de flores y su arquitectura en angiospermas. Algunos de sus miembros como: APETALLA, AGAMOUS, FLOWERING LOCUS y, los pertenecientes a la subfamilia SEPALLATA entre otros, presentes en tomate, manzana y frutilla comercial; juegan un rol clave en los procesos de maduración del fruto.Fragaria vesca, cuyo genoma ha sido recientemente secuenciado y a diferencia de otras especies de este género, como la mencionada frutilla comercial (Fragaria x ananassa) y la frutilla chilena (Fragaria chiloensis), las cuales son altamente complejas a nivel genético, es una especie diploide lo que facilita su uso como modelo de estudio a nivel genético y fisiológico. El objetivo de esta investigación, es determinar los posibles genes regulados transcripcionalmente por los factores tipo MADS-BOX en Fragaria vesca, estableciendo la presencia y densidad de su correspondiente sitio de unión (CArG-BOX) dentro de las secuencias de 2Kb río arriba de cada uno de los 24.000 genes anotados en este genoma. Esto se realizó mediante la utilización de la suite para el descubrimiento y búsqueda de patrones MEME. Los resultados basados en los nueve miembros de la familia MADS-Box analizados, muestran un total de 5.828 regiones promotoras con presencia de sitios de respuesta afines, que se distribuyen de manera uniforme a lo largo de la región promotora a través de 64 secuencias de unión no siempre específicas para cada factor de transcripción. Dicha inespecificidad concuerda con el mecanismo de unión al DNA a través de multímeros, propio de esta familia. Los genes putativamente regulados por MADS-Box determinados en la presente investigación participan principalmente en procesos metabólicos con actividad catalítica o de unión, aunque se destacan 90 genes clasificados funcionalmente relacionados a desarrollo y 22 con rol de factores de transcripción. Se encontraron tres enzimas que regulan el inicio de las cascadas metabólicas en la síntesis de antocianinas y fenilpropanoides. Así como otras que participan en la degradación de aminoácidos esenciales como valina, leucina e isoleucina. Dado los presentes resultados, se revela la importancia de la regulación de los factores de transcripción en dichos procesos metabólicos, los cuales tienen un rol directo en el cómo los frutos ejecutan los procesos que determinan su color (o la falta de este) durante su periodo de maduración. Se proyecta, la validación experimental de los elementos de unión predichos a través de modelos estructurales e interacción DNA-Proteína in silico. Esta validación sería el punto de partida para comprobar que dichos elementos en regulatorios, son funcionales y responsables de que factores de transcripción de la familia MADS-box regulen efectivamente dichos genes blancos. /ABSTYRACT: Interactions between proteins and DNA are particularly conserved throughout evolution. The study of these interaction networks can unravel the key cellular processesThe MADS-box transcription factors have been described as master regulators of flower development in angiosperms and in its architecture, in which some of its members as APETALLA, AGAMOUS, FLOWERING LOCUS and, according to the results found in tomato, apple and commercial strawberry, those belonging to the subfamily SEPALLATA, among others, play a key role in the process of fruit ripening. Fragaria vesca, whose genome has recently been sequenced and, unlike other species of this genus as the mentioned commercial strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) and the Chilean strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis), it is a diploid species which facilitates its use as a model organism in genetics and at a physiological level.The objective of this research is to identify potential genes transcriptionally regulated by MADS-box transcription factors in Fragaria vesca, establishing the presence and density of its corresponding binding site, called CArG-box within 2Kb upstream sequences of each one of the 24,000 annotated genes in this genome. This was done using the suite for search and discovery of patterns MEME.The results based on the nine types of MADS-Box analyzed, which were defined based on information present in the current literature, shows a total of 5828 promoter regions with presence of at least one related response site, which are distributed uniformly along promoter regions through 64 specific sequences that are not always specific (shared) for each transcription factor, which matches with the DNA binding mechanism through self-multimers, common on this family.The genes putatively regulated by MADS-Box identified in this research are mainly involved in metabolic processes as binding or catalytic activity, although we also found 90 genes functionally related to development and 22 as transcription factors. Interestingly three enzymes which regulate the start of the metabolic cascade in anthocyanin and phenylpropanoid synthesis has been also found, as well as part of the breakdown of essential amino acids such as valine, leucine and isoleucine. Given these results, it’s clear the importance of regulation of transcription factors in these metabolic processes, which have a direct role in how fruits acquire its color during the ripening period.As further work, it will be necessary to structurally model the binding sites candidates in order to measure the affinity of DNA-protein interaction to determine their viability and establish a starting point for the experimental validation of the best candidates here described

Rac2 GTPase activation by angiotensin II is modulated by Ca2+/calcineurin and mitogen-activated protein kinases in human neutrophils

Angiotensin II (Ang II) highly stimulates superoxide anion production by neutrophils. The G-protein Rac2 modulates the activity of NADPH oxidase in response to various stimuli. Here, we describe that Ang II induced both Rac2 translocation from the cytosol to the plasma membrane and Rac2 GTP-binding activity. Furthermore, Clostridium difficile toxin A, an inhibitor of the Rho-GTPases family Rho, Rac and Cdc42, prevented Ang II-elicited O2/ROS production, phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2, and Rac2 activation. Rac2 GTPase inhibition by C. difficile toxin A was accompanied by a robust reduction of the cytosolic Ca2+ elevation induced by Ang II in human neutrophils. Furthermore, SB203580 and PD098059 act as inhibitors of p38MAPK and ERK1/2 respectively, wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, and cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor, hindered both translocation of Rac2 from the cytosol to the plasma membrane and enhancement of Rac2 GTP-binding elicited by Ang II. These results provide evidence that the activation of Rac2 by Ang II is exerted through multiple signalling pathways, involving Ca2+/calcineurin and protein kinases, the elucidation of which should be insightful in the design of new therapies aimed at reversing the inflammation of vessel walls found in a number of cardiovascular diseases.This work was financed by grants from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (BFU2006-13802), and the Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa (P06-CTS-1936), Junta de Andalucía, Spain, awarded to F S

Nueva guía visual de la fauna y flora marina del intermareal de La Caleta y roquedos intermareales asociados.

Nueva guía visual de las especies de animales (54 especies) y macroalgas (52 especies) más habituales y/o curiosas de los roquedos del intermareal de La Caleta (Cádiz) y roquedos intermareales asociados. Se incluyen mas del doble de las especies que aparecían en la guía publicada en 2019. Dos de las especies de animales añadidas fueron recientemente descritas como nuevas para la Ciencia a partir de material encontrado en La Caleta (en parte).Universidad de Cádiz Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Fundación Española de Ciencia y Tecnología (FECYT) Campus de Excelencia Internacional del MAR (CEIMAR)108 pagina

Oxigenación con membrana extracorpórea en el paciente COVID-19: resultados del Registro Español ECMO-COVID de la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Cardiovascular y Endovascular (SECCE)

Background and aim: COVID-19 patients with severe heart or respiratory failure are potential candidates for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Indications and management of these patients are unclear. Our aim is to describe the results of a prospective registry of COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO. Methods: An anonymous prospective registry of COVID-19 patients treated with veno-arterial (V-A) or veno-venous (V-V) ECMO was created on march 2020. Clinical, analytical and respiratory preimplantation variables, implantation data and post-implantation course data were recorded. The primary endpoint was all cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary events were functional recovery and the combined endpoint of mortality and functional recovery in patients followed at least 3 months after discharge. Results: Three hundred and sixty-six patients from 25 hospitals were analyzed, 347 V-V ECMO and 18 V-A ECMO patients (mean age 52.7 and 49.5 years respectively). Patients with V-V ECMO were more obese, had less frequently organ damage other than respiratory failure and needed less inotropic support; Thirty three percent of V-A ECMO and 34.9% of V-A ECMO were discharged (P = NS). Hospital mortality was non-significantly different, 56.2% versus 50.9% respectively, mainly during ECMO therapy and mostly due to multiorgan failure. Other 51 patients (14%) remained admitted. Mean follow-up was 196 +/- 101.7 days (95%CI: 170.8-221.6). After logistic regression, body weight (OR 0.967, 95%CI: 0.95-0.99, P = 0.004) and ECMO implantation in the own centre (OR 0.48, 95%CI: 0.27-0.88, P = 0.018) were protective for hospital mortality. Age (OR 1.063, 95%CI: 1.005-1.12, P = 0.032), arterial hypertension (3.593, 95%CI: 1.06-12.19, P = 0.04) and global (2.44, 95%CI: 0.27-0.88, P = 0.019), digestive (OR 4,23, 95%CI: 1.27-14.07, P = 0.019) and neurological (OR 4.66, 95%CI: 1.39-15.62, P = 0.013) complications during ECMO therapy were independent predictors of primary endpoint occurrence. Only the post-discharge day at follow-up was independent predictor of both secondary endpoints occurrence. Conclusions: Hospital survival of severely ill COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO is near 50%. Age, arterial hypertension and ECMO complications are predictors of hospital mortality, and body weight and implantation in the own centre are protective. Functional recovery is only predicted by the follow-up time after discharge. A more homogeneous management of these patients is warranted for clinical results and future research optimization. (C) 2022 Sociedad Espanola de Cirugia Cardiovascular y Endovascular. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U