Performance optimization in switched reluctance motor drives

In this paper, switched reluctance motors (SRM) are proposed as an alternative for electric power assisted steering (EPAS) applications. A prototype machine has been developed as very attractive design for a steering electric motor, both from a cost and size perspective. A fourphase 8/6 SRM drive is designed for a rack type EPAS which should provide a maximum force of 10 kN. Two-dimension finite element analysis is used to validate the design

Effect of nutrient input frequency on the structure and dynamics of the marine pelagic community: A modeling approach

33 páginas, 9 figuras, 2 tablas.An analysis of the induced changes in both total productivity and community structure as a consequence of different pulsed nutrient inputs has been made by using two different ecosystem modeling tools. One was a modified version of the N-based model proposed by Fasham et al. (1990) for pelagic ecosystems and the other the plankton functional type model by Vichi et al. (2007). Both models lead to higher total biomass production with a pulsed nutrient input compared to a continuous supply, affecting both phytoplankton and zooplankton. Detailed responses are, however, different among plankton groups depending on the frequency of pulsed nutrient input and the complexity of the model. The differences in biomass production were higher for an oscillation period of 150-170 days following a sinusoidal supply pattern. A tidal mixing-induced nutrient supply was also simulated by using both models and a larger biomass increment was observed compared to that obtained with the sinusoidal pattern. Finally, a theoretical application of this approach to the pelagic ecosystem of the North Western Alboran Sea shows a preferential selection of diatoms and larger zooplankton under discontinuous nutrient inputs.This work was funded by the Spanish National Research Program, Project; CTM2005–08142-C03–01. D.M. was supported by the Spanish Postdoc Fellowship Program and E.R. by a grant from the Spanish FPU fellowship.Peer reviewe

Saturday night purpura: An uncommon presentation of exercise-induced vasculitis

Exercise-induced vasculitis (EIV) is a benign cutaneous vasculitis that affects healthy individuals. We report a case of EIV in a 15-year-old male patient with a striking clinical appearance triggered by a combination of prolonged standing and disco dancing in a warm environment. Pediatric dermatologists should be aware of this activity as a possible trigger of EIV, especially in teenagers

Redes de transmisión inteligente. Beneficios y riesgos

ResumenActualmente los sistemas eléctricos operan cada vez más cercanos a sus límites de estabilidad, es por ello que se hace necesaria y primordial la transición hacia nuevos sistemas de transmisión que garanticen la eficiente entrega de la energía eléctrica, evitando con ello cortes de energía que generan importantes pérdidas en la economía de cualquier país del mundo. En este documento se realiza un análisis de los elementos necesarios para una sana y eficiente transición de una red de transmisión eléctrica verticalmente, integrada hacia una red de transmisión inteligente. Se presenta un análisis comparativo entre dos de los marcos de referencia más importantes, el de la UE y el de EUA, en el modelo, desarrollo, beneficios y riesgos en la implementación de estos sistemas.AbstractNowadays the Power Systems are working near their stability limits, for this reason it is necessary and essential a transition to new transmission systems that ensure efficient delivery of electrical energy, with the objective to prevent “blackouts” that cause significant losses in the economy of any country in the world. This paper analyzes important elements to consider having a healthy and efficient transition from a power grid vertically integrated into a smart transmission grid. A comparative analysis in the model, development, benefits and risks of the implementation of these systems, between two of the main marc of references of smart grids, the EU and the USA is presented

Progressive encoding with non-linear source codes for compression of low-entropy sources

We propose a novel scheme for source coding of non-uniform memoryless binary sources based on progressively encoding the input sequence with non-linear encoders. At each stage, a number of source bits is perfectly recovered, and these bits are thus not encoded in the next stage. The last stage consists of an LDPC code acting as a source encoder over the bits that have not been recovered in the previous stages.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Construcción sociocultural de las emociones en el proceso del cuidado en la vejez en un contexto de exclusión social urbana. Prácticas y significados de mujeres adultas mayores y el cuidador(a), en sus comunidades de vida y sentido.

Esta investigación indaga sobre las emociones, los significados y las formas de regulación que se presentan en la construcción de las prácticas en el proceso del cuidado de mujeres adultas mayores. El estudio se realizó en dos municipios de la zona metropolitana de Guadalajara con un alto índice de adultos mayores que viven en marginación y exclusión social. Este trabajo tiene el afán de aportar conocimientos sobre el papel que tiene la comunicación al momento de intercambiar significados, los procesos comunicativos y el sentido que se configura y reproduce en la transmisión de significados en relación a las emociones que se gestan en el proceso de cuidar. Se da cuenta del lugar que ocupan las emociones en mujeres adultas mayores y en sus cuidadores principales, al estar ambos inmersos en un contexto de exclusión social urbana.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí

Application of genomic and quantitative genetic tools to identify candidate resistance genes for brown rot resistance in peach.

The availability of a complete peach genome assembly and three different peach genome sequences created by our group provide new opportunities for application of genomic data and can improve the power of the classical Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) approaches to identify candidate genes for peach disease resistance. Brown rot caused by Monilinia spp., is the most important fungal disease of stone fruits worldwide. Improved levels of peach fruit rot resistance have been identified in some cultivars and advanced selections developed in the UC Davis and USDA breeding programs. Whole genome sequencing of the Pop-DF parents lead to discovery of high-quality SNP markers for QTL genome scanning in this experimental population. Pop-DF created by crossing a brown rot moderately resistant cultivar 'Dr. Davis' and a brown rot resistant introgression line, 'F8,1-42', derived from an initial almond × peach interspecific hybrid, was evaluated for brown rot resistance in fruit of harvest maturity over three seasons. Using the SNP linkage map of Pop-DF and phenotypic data collected with inoculated fruit, a genome scan for QTL identified several SNP markers associated with brown rot resistance. Two of these QTLs were placed on linkage group 1, covering a large (physical) region on chromosome 1. The genome scan for QTL and SNP effects predicted several candidate genes associated with disease resistance responses in other host-pathogen systems. Two potential candidate genes, ppa011763m and ppa026453m, may be the genes primarily responsible for M. fructicola recognition in peach, activating both PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) responses. Our results provide a foundation for further genetic dissection, marker assisted breeding for brown rot resistance, and development of peach cultivars resistant to brown rot

Induced systemic resistance against Botrytis cinerea by Micromonospora strains isolated from root nodules

This article is part of the Research Topic: Harnessing useful rhizosphere microorganisms for pathogen and pest biocontrol.-- Edited by: Aurelio Ciancio, Corné M. J. Pieterse and Jesús Mercado-Blanco.Micromonospora is a Gram positive bacterium that can be isolated from nitrogen fixing nodules from healthy leguminous plants, where they could be beneficial to the plant. Their plant growth promoting activity in legume and non-legume plants has been previously demonstrated. The present study explores the ability of Micromonospora strains to control fungal pathogens and to stimulate plant immunity. Micromonospora strains isolated from surface sterilized nodules of alfalfa showed in vitro antifungal activity against several pathogenic fungi. Moreover, root inoculation of tomato plants with these Micromonospora strains effectively reduced leaf infection by the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea, despite spatial separation between both microorganisms. This induced systemic resistance, confirmed in different tomato cultivars, is long lasting. Gene expression analyses evidenced that Micromonospora stimulates the plant capacity to activate defense mechanisms upon pathogen attack. The defensive response of tomato plants inoculated with Micromonospora spp. differs from that of non-inoculated plants, showing a stronger induction of jasmonate-regulated defenses when the plant is challenged with a pathogen. The hypothesis of jasmonates playing a key role in this defense priming effect was confirmed using defense-impaired tomato mutants, since the JA-deficient line def1 was unable to display a long term induced resistance upon Micromonospora spp. inoculation. In conclusion, nodule isolated Micromonospora strains should be considered excellent candidates as biocontrol agents as they combine both direct antifungal activity against plant pathogens and the ability to prime plant immunity.This work was supported by MICINN Grant AGL2010-17380 and AGL-2012-39923. Fellowship from CSIC JAE-PREPeer reviewe

Saproxylic beetles and syrphids (Coleoptera; Diptera: Syrphidae) of the “dehesa” from the western Iberian: the Biological Reserve of “Campanarios de Azaba” (Salamanca)

Se aporta la relación de especies de coleópteros y sírfidos saproxílicos que habitan en ecosistemas de dehesa del oeste ibérico. Se ha estudiado la Reserva Biológica de Campanarios de Azaba, provincia de Salamanca, designada en 2013 como primera Reserva Entomológica de España por la Asociación española de Entomología. Durante los 19 meses de muestreo se registraron 9.603 ejemplares de coleópteros saproxílicos pertenecientes a 157 especies (40 familias) y 477 ejemplares de sírfidos saproxílicos pertenecientes a 18 especies. Para la recolección del material se utilizaron trampas de emergencia y trampas de ventana. Entre los insectos capturados hay diez especies amenazadas, ya sea a nivel europeo o de España, que, a la vista de los resultados, mantienen poblaciones abundantes en este ecosistema de dehesa del oeste ibérico.We provide a checklist of the saproxylic beetles and syrphids species inhabiting the “dehesa” ecosystem from western Iberian. We have studied the Biological Reserve of “Campanarios de Azaba”, Salamanca province, designated in 2013 as the first Entomological Reserve by the “Asociación española de Entomología”. During the 19 months of sampling period a total of 9, 603 specimens of saproxylic beetles belong to 157 species (40 families) and 477 specimens of saproxylic syrphids belonging to 18 species. In order to collect the specimens we used both emergence and window traps. Among the captured insects are ten threatened species either at European and Spanish levels, which maintain abundant populations inhabiting this “dehesa” ecosystem.Esta investigación fue financiada por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (CGL2011-23658), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CGL2012-31669) y Generalitat Valenciana (proyectos PROMETEO/2013/03412 y ACOMP/2014/140). A. R. H. agradece la beca predoctoral recibida por la Generalitat Valenciana a través del programa Santiago Grisolía (GRISOLIA/2010/080)