Study of the processing conditions for stainless steel additive manufacturing using femtosecond laser

The use of ultrashort-pulsed (USP) lasers in Additive Manufacturing (AM) enables the processing of different materials and has the potential to reduce the sizes and shapes manufactured with this technology. This work confirms that USP lasers are a viable alternative for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) when higher precision is required to manufacture certain critical parts. Promising results were obtained using tailored and own-produced stainless steel powder particles, manufacturing consistent square layers with a series of optimized processing parameters. The critical role of processing parameters is confirmed when using this type of lasers, as a slight deviation of any of them results in an absence of melting. For the first time, melting has been achieved at low pulse repetition (500 kHz) and using low average laser power values (0.5–1 W), by generating heat accumulation at reduced scanning speeds. This opens up the possibility of further reducing the minimum size of parts when using USP lasers for AM

CROS: A Contingency Response multi-agent system for Oil Spills situations

This paper presents CROS, a Contingency Response multi-agent system for Oil Spill situations. The system uses the Case-Based Reasoning methodology to generate predictions to determine the probability of finding oil slicks in certain areas of the ocean. CBR uses past information to generate new solutions to the current problem. The system employs a SOA-based multi-agent architecture so that the main components of the system can be remotely accessed. Therefore, all functionalities (applications and services) can communicate in a distributed way, even from mobile devices. The core of the system is a group of deliberative agents acting as controllers and administrators for all applications and services. CROS manages information such as sea salinity, sea temperature, wind speed, ocean currents and atmosphere pressure, obtained from several sources, including satellite images. The system has been trained using historical data obtained after the Prestige accident on the Galician west coast of Spain. Results have demonstrated that the system can accurately predict the presence of oil slicks in determined zones after an oil spill. The use of a distributed multi-agent architecture has been shown to enhance the overall performance of the system

Natalizumab y Leucoencefalopatía Multifocal Progresiva: adecuación a las recomendaciones del Ministerio de Sanidad de España

Introducción y Objetivo: Valorar el seguimiento de las recomendaciones emitidas por el ministerio de sanidad dirigidas a minimizarel riesgo de aparación de Leucoencefalopatía Multifocal Progresiva (LMP) asociada al tratamiento con natalizumab por parte de losprofesionales sanitarios de nuestro centro. Material y método: Revisión del 100% de pacientes diagnosticados de Esclerosis Múltiple a tratamiento con natalizumab (septiembre2008-junio 2013). Resultados: 34 pacientes. La duración de tratamiento fue inferior a 1 año en 10 pacientes, entre 1 y 2 años para 11 pacientes ysuperior a 2 años en 13 pacientes. Se encuentran 24 resultados de serología VJC: positiva 14 y negativa10. Ningún paciente habíarecibido inmunosupresores y en el 100% de ellos se realizaron resonancias. Fueron informados acerca del riesgo de desarrollar LMP18 pacientes, 10 con serología VJC positiva llevando 7 de ellos más de dos años a tratamiento con natalizumab. Discusión: Los facultativos se ajustan a las recomendaciones en la gran mayoría de los pacientes sin embargo, la información previaal inicio de tratamiento y una vez alcanzados los 2 años no se realiza de manera extendida.Sería adecuado realizar una estratificación de riesgo en función de presencia o ausencia de determinados factores que permitiríauna selección segura y eficaz de la terapia para EM más adecuada para cada paciente

Natalizumab y Leucoencefalopatía Multifocal Progresiva: adecuación a las recomendaciones del Ministerio de Sanidad de España

Introducción y Objetivo: Valorar el seguimiento de las recomendaciones emitidas por el ministerio de sanidad dirigidas a minimizarel riesgo de aparación de Leucoencefalopatía Multifocal Progresiva (LMP) asociada al tratamiento con natalizumab por parte de losprofesionales sanitarios de nuestro centro. Material y método: Revisión del 100% de pacientes diagnosticados de Esclerosis Múltiple a tratamiento con natalizumab (septiembre2008-junio 2013). Resultados: 34 pacientes. La duración de tratamiento fue inferior a 1 año en 10 pacientes, entre 1 y 2 años para 11 pacientes ysuperior a 2 años en 13 pacientes. Se encuentran 24 resultados de serología VJC: positiva 14 y negativa10. Ningún paciente habíarecibido inmunosupresores y en el 100% de ellos se realizaron resonancias. Fueron informados acerca del riesgo de desarrollar LMP18 pacientes, 10 con serología VJC positiva llevando 7 de ellos más de dos años a tratamiento con natalizumab. Discusión: Los facultativos se ajustan a las recomendaciones en la gran mayoría de los pacientes sin embargo, la información previaal inicio de tratamiento y una vez alcanzados los 2 años no se realiza de manera extendida.Sería adecuado realizar una estratificación de riesgo en función de presencia o ausencia de determinados factores que permitiríauna selección segura y eficaz de la terapia para EM más adecuada para cada paciente

Relationship between target organ damage and blood pressure, retinal vessel calibre, oxidative stress and polymorphisms in VAV-2 and VAV-3 genes in patients with hypertension: a case-control study protocol (LOD- Hipertensión)

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 3.0) license.[Introduction]: Target organ damage (TOD) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The study objectives were to analyse the relationship of TOD to blood pressure, size of retinal arteries and veins, oxidative stress and different polymorphisms in the VAV-2 and VAV-3 genes in participants with hypertension. [Methods and analysis]: A case-control study to analyse the relationship between clinical, biochemical and genetic parameters and presence of cardiac, vascular and renal TOD in 486 patients with hypertension. Participants with TOD will be considered as cases, and those without TOD will be enrolled as controls. This will be a collaborative study conducted by the groups of Primary Care, Cardiovascular and Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases of the Instituto de Investigación Biomédica of Salamanca (IBSAL). Assessment of cardiac, renal and vascular TOD. Measurement of peripheral and central blood pressure, size of eye fundus arteries and veins, and oxidative stress, and polymorphisms in the VAV-2 and VAV-3 genes. [Ethics and dissemination]: The study will be conducted after approval is obtained from the Ethics Committee of Hospital Clínico Universitario of Salamanca. All study participants will sign an informed consent to agree to participate in the study, and another consent to agree on the genetic study, in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the WHO standards for observational studies. The results of this study will allow for an understanding of the relationship of the different TODs with blood pressure, retinal artery and vein diameters, oxidative stress and polymorphisms in VAV-2 and VAV-3 genes. [Trial registration number]: Clinical Trials. gov Identifier: NCT02022618.This project has been supported by the Castilla y León Health Service (BIO/SA05/13), Carlos III Institute of Health of the Spanish Ministry of Health (RETICS RD12/0005, RedIAPP, and RD12/0021, RedinRen), and Infosalud Foundation.Peer Reviewe

Yearly evolution of organ damage markers in diabetes or metabolic syndrome: data from the LOD-DIABETES study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cardiovascular disease morbidity-mortality is greater in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the yearly evolution of organ damage markers in diabetes or metabolic syndrome, and to analyze the associated factors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An observational prospective study was carried out in the primary care setting, involving 112 patients: 68 diabetics and 44 subjects with metabolic syndrome, subjected to 12 months of follow-up. Measurements: traditional cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, blood glucose, lipids, smoking, body mass index (BMI) and) and non-traditional risk factors (waist circumference, hsC Reactive Protein and fibrinogen); subclinical vascular (carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity and ankle/brachial index), cardiac (Cornell voltage-duration product), renal organ damage (creatinine, glomerular filtration and albumin/creatinine index), and antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At baseline, the diabetics presented a mean age of 59.9 years, versus 55.2 years in the subjects with metabolic syndrome (p = 0.03). Diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were lower among the patients with diabetes, while blood glucose and HbA1c, as well as antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drug use, were greater. At evaluation after one year, the diabetics showed a decrease in BMI (-0.39), diastolic blood pressure (-3.59), and an increase in fibrinogen (30.23 mg/dL), ankle/brachial index (0.07) and the number of patients with ankle/brachial index pathologic decreased in 6. In turn, the patients with metabolic syndrome showed an increase in HDL-cholesterol (1-91 mg/dL), fibrinogen (25.54 mg/dL), Cornell voltage-duration product (184.22 mm/ms), ankle/brachial index (0.05) and the use of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs, and a reduction in serum glucose (3.74 mg/dL), HOMA, systolic (-6.76 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (-3.29 mmHg), and pulse wave velocity (-0.72 m/s). The variable that best predicted a decrease in pulse wave velocity in subjects with metabolic syndrome was seen to be an increase in antihypertensive drug use.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The annual assessment of cardiovascular risk factors and the decrease in pulse wave velocity was more favorable in the patients with metabolic syndrome, probably influenced by the increased percentage of subjects treated with antihypertensive and lipid lowering drugs in this group.</p

Combined use of smartphone and smartband technology in the improvement of lifestyles in the adult population over 65 years: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial (EVIDENT-Age study)

Background The increasing use of smartphones by older adults also increases their potential for improving different aspects of health in this population. Some studies have shown promising results in the improvement of cognitive performance through lifestyle modification. All this may have a broad impact on the quality of life and carrying out daily living activities. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of combining the use of smartphone and smartband technology for 3 months with brief counseling on life habits, as opposed to providing counseling only, in increasing physical activity and improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Secondary objectives are to assess the effect of the intervention on body composition, quality of life, independence in daily living activities and cognitive performance. Methods This study is a two-arm cluster-randomized trial that will be carried out in urban health centers in Spain. We will recruit 160 people aged between 65 and 80 without cardiovascular disease or cognitive impairment (score in the Mini-mental State Examination ≥24). On a visit to their center, intervention group participants will be instructed to use a smartphone application for a period of 3 months. This application integrates information on physical activity received from a fitness bracelet and self-reported information on the patient’s daily nutritional composition. The primary outcome will be the change in the number of steps measured by accelerometer. Secondary variables will be adherence to the Mediterranean diet, sitting time, body composition, quality of life, independence in daily living activities and cognitive performance. All variables will be measured at baseline and on the assessment visit after 3 months. A telephone follow-up will be carried out at 6 months to collect self-reported data regarding physical activity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Discussion Preventive healthy aging programs should include health education with training in nutrition and lifestyles, while stressing the importance of and enhancing physical activity; the inclusion of new technologies can facilitate these goals. The EVIDENT-AGE study will incorporate a simple, accessible intervention with potential implementation in the care of older adults.This study was supported in part by grants funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL)-IBY17/00003, and the Spanish Research Network for Preventive Activities and Health Promotion in Primary Care (REDIAPP)-RD16/0007

Study of the processing conditions for stainless steel additive manufacturing using femtosecond laser

The use of ultrashort-pulsed (USP) lasers in Additive Manufacturing (AM) enables the processing of different materials and has the potential to reduce the sizes and shapes manufactured with this technology. This work confirms that USP lasers are a viable alternative for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) when higher precision is required to manufacture certain critical parts. Promising results were obtained using tailored and own-produced stainless steel powder particles, manufacturing consistent square layers with a series of optimized processing parameters. The critical role of processing parameters is confirmed when using this type of lasers, as a slight deviation of any of them results in an absence of melting. For the first time, melting has been achieved at low pulse repetition (500 kHz) and using low average laser power values (0.5-1 W), by generating heat accumulation at reduced scanning speeds. This opens up the possibility of further reducing the minimum size of parts when using USP lasers for AM

Ansiedad dimensional: Un análisis desde la teoría clásica del formulario autodiligenciado de Zung

RESUMEN Introducción: A pesar del uso extendido del formulario de Zung para ansiedad no se encontraron artículos sobre la invarianza de la prueba. Objetivo: Establecer la invarianza por género del formulario para ansiedad autodiligenciado de Zung desde la Teoría Clásica. Métodos: Muestra no aleaotoria de 336 mujeres y 205 hombres estudiantes de varias universidades colombianas que diligenciaron el formulario. El análisis se realizo con análisis confimatorio de factores. Se investigó la invarianza dimensional, de configuración y métrica. Resultados: Se encontró que las invarianzas dimensional y de configuración se cumplen al demostrarse que el constructo es unidimensional en los 2 géneros, seleccionando los modelos con el Criterio de información Bayesiano y que la carga de los ítems es en general alta. No así la invarianza métrica para la cual debieron eliminarse 9 ítems para lograr invarianza en las cargas. Conclusión: El formulario de Zung presenta invarianzas dimensional, de configuración y métrica con 11 ítems. Salud UIS 2011; 43 (2): 159-166 Palabras clave: Formulario autodiligenciado de Zung, invarianza, análisis de factores   ABSTRACT Introduction: There is not a published report of the invariance of anxiety Zung test, although is widely used. Objective: To stablish gender invariance of the Zung self-rating anxiety scale using Classical Test Theory. Methods: A non random sample of 336 women and 205 men students from several colombian universities that answered the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed. Dimensional, configurational and metric invariance were investigated. Results: Dimensional and configurational invariance are met because for both genders theres is one dimension, using Bayesian Information Crietria as the model selection strategy, and the loadings are generally high. The metric invariance was obtained after deleting 9 items. Conclusion: Eleven items of The Zung self-rating anxiety scale show dimensional, configurational and metric invariance. Salud UIS 2011; 43 (2): 159-166 Keywords: The Zung self-rating scale, invariance, factor analysi