A NASTRAN/TREETOPS solution to a flexible, multi-body dynamics and controls problem on a UNIX workstation

Demands for nonlinear time history simulations of large, flexible multibody dynamic systems has created a need for efficient interfaces between finite-element modeling programs and time-history simulations. One such interface, TREEFLX, an interface between NASTRAN and TREETOPS, a nonlinear dynamics and controls time history simulation for multibody structures, is presented and demonstrated via example using the proposed Space Station Mobile Remote Manipulator System (MRMS). The ability to run all three programs (NASTRAN, TREEFLX and TREETOPS), in addition to other programs used for controller design and model reduction (such as DMATLAB and TREESEL, both described), under a UNIX Workstation environment demonstrates the flexibility engineers now have in designing, developing and testing control systems for dynamically complex systems

Use of textile waste as an addition in the elaboration of an ecological concrete block

The textile industry has grown significantly in recent years, reaching a global fiber production of 53 million tons which 12 % are recycled; Construction sector has been using more and more recycled materials from different industrial sources, to apply them in their constructions and to reduce CO2 emissions and final energy consumption. The present study aims to study the behavior of concrete blocks of fć= 210 kg/cm2 adding polyester textile waste with 3 %, 6 %, 9 %, 12 % and 15 %; void content, compressive strength and thermal conductivity decrease, and water absorption, acoustic insulation and unit price increase by 3 %, 34 % and 16 % compared to conventional concrete block

Using whole genome sequence data to study genomic diversity and develop molecular barcodes to profile Plasmodium malaria parasites

Malaria is a major threat to human health, causing over 300 million clinical cases and approximately ~500,000 deaths per year. Countries attempting malaria elimination are increasingly concerned with identifying pockets of transmission and outbreaks arising from imported cases, and there is a need to establish molecular barcodes for implementation in the field. The genetic diversity and non-recombining properties of mitochondrial and apicoplast sequence can be powerfully exploited for geographic genetic profiling of P. falciparum malaria at an inter-continent level. However, this approach provides limited insights for assessing drug resistance, intra-regional geographical differentiation, and ignores malaria caused by other Plasmodium spp. (P. vivax and P. knowlesi). To overcome these limitations, this project proposes to study the genomic diversity found in the nuclear and organellar genomes of the Plasmodium species causing human malaria and establish robust ways to create SNP barcodes. In this study, an assessment of the current libraries of genomic sequence data across the species P. falciparum, P. vivax and P. knowlesi was performed and using a range of bioinformatics approaches the genetic diversity in the different populations was assessed. For this, a new high-quality reference for the A1-H.1 P. knowlesi strain was generated and its methylome was characterized. Using this reference, the first evidence of genetic exchange events between the three subpopulations of P. knowlesi was found in Malaysia. Furthermore, a study of the structural and genetic diversity found in the hypervariable vaccine candidate var2csa gene in P. falciparum and its potential geographical signal associated with Malaria in Pregnancy (MiP) were performed. Finally, we accomplished a genetic diversity study of global P. vivax isolates and the insights obtained from this analysis allowed the development of a 71 SNP barcode to predict the geographical origin of P. vivax isolates. The obtained barcode were tested using prospectively and retrospectively collected datasets, particularly from endemic settings with complex mixed infections and near-elimination settings. The identification of SNP barcodes using this methodology can inform future rapid diagnostics and promote the application of field-based sequencing

Determination of hydraulic parameters in experimental soil columns from the southeast of Buenos Aires province

La cuenca del Río Quequén Grande constituye una región representativa de los sistemas agrícolas pampeanos. El acuífero en esta región es la principal fuente de abastecimiento de agua para todos los usos, lo que pone de manifiesto la importancia de desarrollar los elementos necesarios para el estudio de la movilidad de los contaminantes a través de los suelos hacia la zona saturada. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue obtener parámetros hidráulicos bajo condiciones de saturación en columnas intactas de distintos tipos de suelos de la región, contemplando suelos de uso agrícola y natural. Se estudiaron dos series de suelo: Serie Azul y Serie Semillero Buck, con muestras tomadas en dos sectores próximos a las localidades de Lobería y La Dulce, respectivamente. Las columnas fueron eluidas con una solución acuosa de iones cloruro y se midió el incremento progresivo de conductividad. A partir de las curvas de arribo obtenidas, se ajustó la ecuación de transporte, obteniendo los valores de dispersividad y porosidad. Dichos parámetros no presentaron diferencias significativas según el uso para los suelos de Lobería, de textura franco arcillosa, indicando que la labranza no produciría modificaciones evidentes en el perfil del suelo. En La Dulce, donde los suelos poseen una textura más arenosa, los parámetros variaron según el uso del suelo, presentando una mayor dispersividad y menor porosidad del suelo bajo explotación agrícola extensiva.The Quequén Grande river basin is representative of the farming systems from the Pampas region. The aquifer is the main source of water supply for all uses, which highlights the importance to study the mobility of contaminants through the soil to the saturated zone. The aim of this study was to obtain hydraulic parameters of different soil types in the region according to land use (agricultural and natural) under saturated conditions. Two study areas were selected close to the cities La Dulce (Azul Series Soil) and Lobería (Semillero Buck Series Soil), as representatives of the dominant soil types in this area. The columns were eluted with an aqueous solution containing chloride ions and the progressive increase was measured at the end of the column. From the experimental data the breakthrough curve was adjusted using MATLAB software while dispersivity and porosity values were determined from modeled data. These parameters did not differ significantly in Lobería, so it is assumed that tillage does not produce significant changes in the soil profile. Conversely, in La Dulce land use affects the hydraulic properties of the soil leading to lower porosity and higher dispersivity values in soils under tillage use.Fil: Grondona, Sebastián I.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del PlataFil: Martínez, Daniel E.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del PlataFil: Benavente, Miguel. Universidad Nacional de Mar del PlataFil: Gonzalez, Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Mar del PlataFil: Massone, Héctor E.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del PlataFil: Miglioranza, Karina S. B.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plat

Reseña de decisiones internacionales

Fil: Vales Benavente, Hernán E. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Derecho. Buenos Aires, Argentin

Modes of action of rosemary and Debaryomyces hansenii against Aspergillus westerdijkiae in dry-cured meat matrix

Aspergillus westerdijkiae is an ochratoxin A (OTA) producer mould in dry-cured meat products. Natural strategies to control ochratoxigenic moulds using biocontrol agents (BCAs) are currently in the spotlight. The aim of this study was to test the potential antiochratoxigenic activity of rosemary leaves (R), rosemary essential oil (REO) and Debaryomyces hansenii FHSCC 253H (Dh) as BCAs against A. westerdijkiae in a dry-cured fermented sausage-based medium. The mechanisms involved in their effect were also analysed by Proteomics, using a Q-Exactive Plus. Three batches were carried out: a control without BCAs, another one with R+REO and one with Dh. R (2 g/kg) and Dh (100 μL of 10^6 cells/mL) were added to the medium and REO was added on the casing, which was put onto the medium surface to simulate the real product. Significant OTA reductions of 73.87 % and 88.26 % were provoked by R+REO and Dh, respectively. Proteomics revealed that the BCAs affected to proteins linked to OTA biosynthesis and the cell wall integrity pathway (CWI). Proteins from PKS ER domain, directly involved in mycotoxin biosynthesis, were diminished in abundance by both treatments (R+REO or Dh). R+REO altered the CWI by decreasing proteins related to the synthesis of cell surface polysaccharides and actin assembly, and increasing the cell wall protein PhiA, involved in conidiogenesis. Dh decreased the NRPS protein, indispensable for the formation of the OTB, an OTA precursor, and affected to the CWI by lowering the abundance of proteins associated with the actin binding, the synthesis of polysaccharides and the response against cell wall stress agents. Therefore, rosemary and D. hansenii FHSCC 253H are potentially useful to minimise the hazard posed by A. westerdijkiae in dry-cured fermented sausages within a HAPPCC framework.This research was funded by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT/MCTES to CIMO, UIDB/00690/2020). Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-“Una manera de hacer Europa” (GR18056). Grant PID2019-104260GB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033. Grant BES-2017-081340 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future”. Grant UNEX-AE-3394 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. Date of PhD graduation: 14/12/2021info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Changes of data sampling procedure to avoid energy and data losses during microclimates monitoring with wireless sensor networks.

Wireless sensor networks are gaining importance in agricultural applications, such as monitoring crops microclimates. Precision agriculture is one of the areas that can most benefit from this technology in the sense that wireless sensors networks allow data collection with high resolution, enabling better decision making. Such networks have restrictions on their deployment in a real environment, for example, on energy. Thus, several studies have been conducted in order to optimize the use of this technology. Depending on the application, it is desirable that the available energy on sensor nodes batteries allows operation for months or even years. One proposed solution to extend the lifetime of sensor nodes, so as to avoid unnecessary data collection, is the implementation of a routing protocol that allows a differentiated data sampling. An application that can benefit from this approach is vineyard microclimates monitoring, which is very important to monitor temperature and reIative humidity, and can apply precision agriculture techniques to the crop. Thus, in the program to be installed into sensor nodes, rules for data collection are defined, so that the value collected by the sensor at a given time is in the rule that defines normal conditions, the rate of sampling data used will be higher; however, when the value collected by the sensor is out ofthis rule, the sampling rate will automatically be reprogrammed to a higher value. This differentiated data collection allows savings in power consumption under normal conditions, and generates less data to be analyzed. Keywords: Wireless sensor network, microclimates monitoring, vineyards differentiated data samplin