Influence of the notch-sharpening technique on styrene-acrylonitrile fracture behavior

The Centre Catala del Plastic and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos laboratories joined forces to investigate the effect of the notch-sharpening technique on the fracture parameters of styrene-acrylonitrile. Contact notch-sharpening techniques, such as razor tapping, razor sliding, and razor broaching, and a noncontact procedure, femtolaser, were analyzed. The fracture values of the samples with notches sharpened via contact techniques were divided into two groups: one with pop-in and the other with no pop-in in the load-displacement records; this resulted in the lowest and highest fracture toughnesses, respectively. The fracture parameters of the specimens with notches sharpened via a femtolaser were between those of the samples with notches sharpened via contact procedures in which pop-in occurred and those in which it did not. To explain these results, the crack front of the nontested specimens after sharpening was investigated in depth, we identified the type of damage and measured its size and the crack tip radii. The morphology of the crack front was related to the fractographic study.Postprint (author's final draft

Trace element analyses indicative of paleodiets in Middle Miocene mammals from the Somosaguas site (Madrid, Spain)

Trace element analysis of fossil bone and enamel constitutes a useful tool to characterize the paleoecological behavior of mammals. Up to now, most trace element studies have focused on Plio-Pleistocene fossils. Here, we show that paleodietary inferences based on trace element analyses can be also obtained from ~14Ma old Miocene mammals, in a period of time when important paleoclimatic changes took place due to the development of the East Antarctic ice sheet. Trace element ratio (Ba/Ca, Sr/Ca) analyses have been performed on herbivore tooth enamel (gomphothere Gomphotherium angustidens, equid Anchitherium cf. A. cursor, suid Conohyus simorrensis and ruminants) across three stratigraphic levels from the Somosaguas site (Middle Miocene, Madrid Basin, Spain). Previous scanning electron microscope, rare earth element and stable isotope analyses suggested minimal diagenetic alteration of the tooth enamel samples. Trace element analyses reported here show different paleoecological behavior among the studied fossil taxa. Anchitherium cf. A. cursor shows higher Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios than Gomphotherium angustidens, indicating the equid was a mixed-feeder, while the gomphothere was a browser. The enrichment in Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios in the ruminants is attributed to differences in their gastrointestinal tracts and to a more grazing diet. A high variability in trace element values characterizes the suid Conohyus simorrensis, which is believed to be connected to some degree of omnivory

Características palinológicas del Cretácico Superior y del tránsito Cretácico-Terciario en los Pirineos Sur-Centrales

XV lnternational A.P.L.E. Symposium of Palynolog

Fabrication and Characterization of Multiband Solar Cells Based on Highly Mismatched Alloys

Multiband solar cells are one type of third generation photovoltaic devices in which an increase of the power conversion efficiency is achieved through the absorption of low energy photons while preserving a large band gap that determines the open circuit voltage. The ability to absorb photons from different parts of the solar spectrum originates from the presence of an intermediate energy band located within the band gap of the material. This intermediate band, acting as a stepping stone allows the absorption of low energy photons to transfer electrons from the valence band to the conduction band by a sequential two photons absorption process. It has been demonstrated that highly mismatched alloys offer a potential to be used as a model material system for practical realization of multiband solar cells. Dilute nitride GaAs1-xNx highly mismatched alloy with low mole fraction of N is a prototypical multiband semiconductor with a well-defined intermediate band. Currently, we are using chemical beam epitaxy to synthesize dilute nitride highly mismatched alloys. The materials are characterized by a variety of structural and optical methods to optimize their properties for multiband photovoltaic devices

The impact of age and comorbidity on the postoperative outcomes after emergency surgical management of complicated intra-abdominal infections

Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (a-CCI) score has been used to weight comorbid conditions in predicting adverse outcomes. A retrospective cohort study on adult patients diagnosed with complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) requiring emergency surgery was conducted in order to elucidate the role of age and comorbidity in this scenario. Two main outcomes were evaluated: 90-day severe postoperative complications (grade ≥ 3 of Dindo-Clavien Classification), and 90-day all-cause mortality. 358 patients were analyzed. a-CCI score for each patient was calculated and then divided in two comorbid categories whether they were ≤ or > to percentile 75 (= 4): Grade-A (0–4) and Grade-B (≥ 5). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed, and the predictive validity of the models was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) curve. Independent predictors of 90-day severe postoperative complications were Charlson Grade-B (Odds Ratio [OR] = 3.49, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.86–6.52; p < 0.0001), healthcare-related infections (OR = 7.84, 95%CI: 3.99–15.39; p < 0.0001), diffuse peritonitis (OR = 2.64, 95%CI: 1.45–4.80; p < 0.01), and delay of surgery > 24 hours (OR = 2.28, 95%CI: 1.18–4.68; p < 0.02). The AUROC was 0.815 (95%CI: 0.758–0.872). Independent predictors of 90-day mortality were Charlson Grade-B (OR = 8.30, 95%CI: 3.58–19.21; p < 0.0001), healthcare-related infections (OR = 6.38, 95%CI: 2.72–14.95; p < 0.0001), sepsis status (OR = 3.98, 95%CI: 1.04–15.21; p < 0.04) and diffuse peritonitis (OR = 3.06, 95%CI: 1.29–7.27; p < 0.01). The AUROC for mortality was 0.887 (95%CI: 0.83–0.93). Post-hoc sensitivity analyses confirmed that the degree of comorbidity, estimated by using an age-adjusted score, has a critical impact on the postoperative course following emergency surgery for cIAI. Early assessment and management of patient’s comorbidity is mandatory at emergency setting

Application of network analysis and cluster analysis for better prevention and control of swine diseases in Argentina

Rationale/background: Though much smaller than the bovine industry, the porcine sector in Argentina involves a large number of farms and represents a significant economic sector. In recent years Argentina has implemented a national registry of swine movements amongst other measures, in an effort to control and eventually eradicate endemic Aujesky’s disease. Such information can prove valuable in assessing the risk of transmission between farms for endemic diseases but also for other diseases at risk of emergence. Methods: Shipment data from 2011 to 2016 were analyzed in an effort to define strategic locations and times at which control and surveillance efforts should be focused to provide cost-effective interventions. Social network analysis (SNA) was used to characterize the network as a whole and at the individual farm and market level to help identify important nodes. Spatio-temporal trends of pig movements were also analyzed. Finally, in an attempt to classify farms and markets in different groups based on their SNA metrics, we used factor analysis for mixed data (FAMD) and hierarchical clustering. Results: The network involved approximate 136,000 shipments for a total of 6 million pigs. Over 350 markets and 17,800 production units participated in shipments with another 83,500 not participating. Temporal data of shipments and network metrics showed peaks in shipments in September and October. Most shipments where within provinces, with Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Santa Fe concentrating 61% of shipments. Network analysis showed that markets are involved in relatively few shipments but hold strategic positions with much higher betweenness compared to farms. Hierarchical clustering yielded four groups based on SNA metrics and node characteristics which can be broadly described as: 1. small and backyard farms; 2. industrial farms; 3. markets; and 4. a single outlying market with extreme centrality values. Conclusion: Characterizing the network structure and spatio-temporal characteristics of Argentine swine shipments provides valuable information that can guide targeted and more cost-effective surveillance and control programs. We located key nodes where efforts should be prioritized. Pig network characteristics and patterns can be used to create dynamic disease transmission models, which can both be used in assessing the impact of emerging diseases and guiding efforts to eradicate endemic ones.Instituto de PatobiologíaFil: Baron, Jerome N. University of California Davis. School of Veterinary Medicine. Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance (CADMS). Department of Medicine and Epidemiology; Estados UnidosFil: Aznar, Maria Natalia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Monterubbianesi, Mariela. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria de la Republica Argentina (SENASA); ArgentinaFil: Martínez-López, Beatriz. University of California Davis. School of Veterinary Medicine. Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance (CADMS). Department of Medicine and Epidemiology; Estados Unido

The false root-knot nematode Nacobbus aberrans modifies the level of phenylpropanoid compounds during infection of chilli pepper

[SPA] En este trabajo, algunos metabolitos fenilpropanoide en plantas de chile CM334 infectadas por el nemátodo falso agallador Nacobbus aberrans fueron determinados. Las raíces fueron químicamente analizadas para su contenido de lignina y perfil de fenilpropanoides mediante un ensayo cuantitativo de lignina y HPLC-ESI/MS. El efecto in vitro de flavonoides en larvas juveniles (J2) de N. aberrans y Meloidogyne incognita también fue probado. El contenido de lignina fue similar en todos los tratamientos, excepto cuando M. incognita estuvo involucrado (P<0.05). Ácidos fenólicos (hidroxibenzoico –pHBA-, gálico, caféico, siríngico, ferúlico, vanílico y clorogénico) y el flavonoid quercetin-3-rutinósido fueron encontrados en el sistema radical. La concentración de los ácidos pHBA, ferúlico y clorogénico fue menor en las plantas inoculadas en comparación con el control (P<0.05) en cualquier tiempo de muestreo. El compuesto quercetin-3-rutinósido tuvo un efecto nematicida en larvas de N. aberrans, mientras que éste solamente tuvo un efecto nematostático en M. incognita. Estos resultados indican que N. aberrans modifica el nivel de compuestos fenilpropanoides durante la infección de chile. [ENG] In this work, some phenylpropanoid metabolites in CM334 chilli pepper plants infected by the false root-knot nematode Nacobbus aberrans were determined. Roots were chemically analyzed for their lignin content and phenylpropanoid profile by quantitative lignin assay and HPLC-ESI/MS. The in vitro effect of flavonoids on second-stage juveniles (J2) of N. aberrans and Meloidogyne incognita was also tested. The lignin content was similar in all treatments excepting when M. incognita was involved (P<0.05). Phenolic acids (Hidroxibenzoic -pHBA-, gallic, caffeic, syringic, ferulic, vanillic and chlorogenic) and the flavonoid quercetin-3-O-rutinoside were found in the root system. Concentration of pHBA, ferulic and chlorogenic acids was lower in inoculated plants than in the control (P<0.05) at any sampling date. Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside had a nematocidal effect on J2 of N. aberrans, whereas it only had a nemastatic effect on M. incognita. These results indicate that N. aberrans modifies the level of phenylpropanoid compounds during the infection of chilli pepper.Our thanks go to Dirección General Académica of Universidad Autónoma Chapingo for the financial support for participate in WiA2016. Thanks are due to CONACYT for financial support of the Research Project 46331-Z

Changes in the phenylpropanoid metabolism induced by Nacobbus aberrans in chilli pepper CM334 resitant to Phytophthora capsici

[SPA] La línea endogámica de chile Criollo de Morelos 334 (CM334I es resistente a Phytophthora capsici Leonian, pero Nacobbus aberrans Thorne and Allen, 1944 podría romper su resistencia en plantas previamente infectadas por el nemátodo. Éste fenómeno es conocido como “ruptura de la resistencia”. La resistencia de las plantas de chile CM334 ha sido asociada con la ruta de los fenilpropanoides. Tanto los ácidos fenólicos como los flavonoides son metabolitos sintetizados a través de esa ruta metabólica y juegan importantes funciones en la interacción planta-patógeno. El objetivo de esta tesis doctoral será determinar qué cambios son inducidos por N. aberrans en la ruta fenilpropanoide que podrían convertir al tejido resistente en un substrato favorable para el establecimiento de P. capscici. Los cambios inducidos por N. aberrans en la actividad de la L-fenil alanina amonio liasa, el contenido total de fenoles solubles totales, el establecimiento de un perfil y la caracterización de ácidos fenólicos solubles y flavonoides, el efecto tóxico de los flavonoides de la raíz en nemátodos y el contenido de lignina en plantas de chile CM334 podrían ser asociados a esta ruptura de la resistencia a P. capscici en chile CM334. [ENG] The inbred chilli line Criollo de Morelos 334 (CM334) is resistant to Phytophthora capsici Leonian, but Nacobbus aberrans Thorne and Allen, 1944 could break down resistance of plants previously infected by this nematode. This phenomenon is known as “resistance breakdown”. The resistance of CM334 chilli pepper plant has been associated to the phenylpropanoid pathway. Both phenolic acids and flavonoids metabolites are synthesized in this metabolic pathway and play an important role in the plant-pathogen interaction. The goal of this PhD project will be to determine which changes are induced by N. aberrans in the phenylperopanoid pathway that could turn the resistant plant tissues into a favourable sub-stratum for the establishment of P. capscici. Changes induced by N. aberrans on L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, total soluble phenols content, the profiling and characterization of soluble phenolic acids and flavonoids, the toxic effect of root flavonoids on nematodes and the lignin content of CM334 chilli pepper plants may be associated to the breakdown of resistance to P. capscici in CM334 chilli pepper.We would like to thank the Structural Research Laboratory (SRL) at the Department of Chemistry of University of Warsaw for using HPLC–MS. SRL has been established with financial support from European Regional Development Found in the Sectorial Operational Programme “Improvement of the competitiveness of Enterprises, years 2004–2005” project no: WPK_1/1.4.3./1/2004/72/72/165/2005/U. The first author thanks Dirección General Académica of Universidad Autónoma Chapingo for the financial support to participate in WiA15