Process planning and metallurgical issues for laser asisted spin froming of dual phase automotive steel

Postprint (published version

Biosynthesis of IAA in Pseudomonas savastanoi: a comparative genomic approach

Bacteria belonging to the Pseudomonas syringae complex cause diseases in a variety of woody and herbaceous plants. Pseudomonas savastanoi is a member of this complex and produces tumors or excrescences in the aerial parts of woody plants. The species is classified into four pathovars, i.e. savastanoi (Psv, olive), nerii (Psn, oleander), retacarpa (Psr, Spanish broom) and fraxini (Psf, ash). Our research group have carried out the sequencing, annotation and comparative analysis of the genomes of several strains belonging to these pathovars. These analyses have identified the set of genes belonging to the P. savastanoi pan-genome and the collection of pathovar- and strain-specific genes. Through the web app PIFAR (Plant-bacterium Interaction Factors Resource) we have determined the presence of potential virulence factors involved in the interaction of these pathovars with their hosts. Special attention was given to genes putatively involved in the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a pathogenicity factor in these bacteria. With the exception of Psf, P. savastanoi strains produce IAA from tryptophan through the indole-3-acetamide pathway (iaaM and iaaH genes). We have shown that a Psv iaaMH mutant drastically reduces IAA levels. However, this mutant produces amounts of this phytohormone similar to those synthesized by Psf strains. We are currently analyzing the role of several Psv genes in the biosynthesis of IAA through alternative pathways.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Microstructure characterization of metallic materials processed by Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP): an Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) analysis

This overview article discusses the Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) processing of different metallic materials. Particular emphasis is given to the microstructural evolution from the coarse grain (CG) to the ultrafine-grained (UFG) states throughout the electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) technique. Iron-based alloys, such as duplex and 1020 low-carbon steels reached higher hardening with a lower deformation and lower non-ultrafine average grain sizes than the ultrafine pure iron condition due to fast grain fragmentation, i.e., more geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) grouping. Moreover, due to the magnesium adhesion, copper alloys reached superior mechanical properties compared to pure copper even when the initial grain size for as-cast alloys was over 1000 µm. On the other hand, low melting temperature (T MP) materials processed at 250°C, like the ZK60 magnesium and AA6082 aluminum alloys (i.e., homologous temperatures (TH) of 0.38T MP and 0.37T MP, respectively), showed grain refinement without reaching the ultrafine regime and mechanical softening due to the static and dynamic recrystallization phenomena. CP titanium also displayed heterogeneous grain sizes with average values of above 1 µm after four ECAP passes for temperatures ranging between 150°C and 400°C (TH between 0.09T MP ¹ 0.24TMP). The evolution of the GNDs suggested that the initial deformation stages of severe plastic deformation (SPD) by ECAP produced the most notorious density increments from 10 12 m¹2 to 1014 m¹2 , which level up at high deformations (more than four ECAP passes) around 1014 1015 m¹2 , explaining the fast and slow grain size reduction rates, respectively. The ECAP processing on different metallic material systems showed a larger grain fragmentation capacity in high melting points and alloyed materials, giving rise to steep yield strength increases and low ductility. The low ductility and grain size saturation correspond to a low capacity to create new grain boundaries manifested by the GNDs saturation in the UFG range.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

The Burden of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Signs and Symptoms in Quality of Life: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent and debilitating inflammatory skin disease of the hair follicle that usually presents as painful, deep-seated inflamed lesions in the apocrine gland-bearing areas of the body. HS patients suffer from uncomfortable signs and symptoms, such as pain, pruritus, malodour and suppuration, which may impair patients’ quality of life (QoL). Although HS patients frequently experience these signs and symptoms, they are only occasionally assessed by clinicians and, unexpectedly, the scientific evidence available is limited and heterogeneous. The aim of this study is to summarize the evidence regarding the impact of HS signs and symptoms on QoL to serve as a basis for future research and help clinicians to consider them in the daily care of HS patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA Guidelines. The following search algorithm was used: (hidradenitis or “acne inversa”) and (pain or itch or odour or malodour or suppuration or oozing or drainage) and (“quality of life”). The literature search identified 836 references, 17 of them met the eligible criteria and were included for analysis, representing 4929 HS patients. Mean age of the participants was 36.28 years and there was a predominance of female sex among study participants. The BMI of the population was in the range of over-weight and about two out five patients were active smokers. Studies included patients with mild to moderate HS, with a mean disease duration of 13.69 years. The HS signs and symptoms assessed were pain, pruritus, malodour and suppuration. Overall, the higher intensity of a sign or symptom correlated with poorer general QoL or specific QoL dimensions including sexual distress, anxiety, depression and sleep. The most frequently employed tool to assess QoL was the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). DLQI was used in 52.9% of the studies (9/17) with a mean value of 10.70 (2.16 SD). The scores employed to assess signs and symptoms severity were subjective and varied between studies, being the numerical rating scale (NRS) for each of the most used symptoms. The mean NRS value for pain was 3.99 and the mean NRS for pruritus was 4.99. In conclusion, we have summarized, categorized and analyzed the scientific evidence regarding signs and symptoms in HS patients and their impairment in QoL. Their assessment should be thorough and included during routine evaluation of HS patients to motivate therapeutic modifications and increase patients’ health

Cambio climático, política, economía y derecho : desafíos para la comunidad internacional

El cambio climático y los desafíos que plantea a la Comunidad Internacional es objeto del presente libro. La monografía culmina un proceso de investigación iniciado en 2012 con la celebración de un Congreso con título “La lucha internacional contra el cambio climático: Nuevos desafíos para la Comunidad Internacional en el siglo XXI “, celebrado en el Aula Magna de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, los días 9 a 11 de octubre de 2012.Dirección de la colección, Carlos R. Fernández Liesa y Montserrat Huguet SantosPrólogo / Pablo Antonio Fernández Sánchez. -- Presentación / José Escribano Úbeda-Portugués (coord.). -- I. El marco para los diversos enforques: una nueva aproximación para la efectividad del régimen internacional sobre cambio climático / Rosa Giles Carnero. -- II. El protagonismo de la Unión Europea en la lucha internacional contra el cambio climático: ¿un liderazgo en declive? / Delia Contreras. -- III. El cambio climático. Un enemigo ausente en las agendas gubernamentales / José Miguel Calvillo Cisneros. -- IV. Cambio climático y desarrollo sostenible: el papel de Naciones Unidas y la Unión Europea / José Escribano Úbeda-Portugués. -- V. Hacia una regulación y supervisión de los mercados europeos de derechos de emisión de GEI. El autocontrol, buen gobierno y las buenas prácticas como mecanismos complementarios de control / Isabel Rodríguez Martínez y Javier Guillem Carrau. -- VI. El sistema comunitario de comercio de derechos de emisión en el origen de los mercados de negociación secundaria de emisiones / Sara Gonzále

Epidermal Barrier Function and Skin Homeostasis in Atopic Dermatitis: The Impact of Age

We would like to thank all the individuals who generously shared their time to participate in this research. The results of this study are part of the PhD work of Trinidad Montero-Vilchez.Skin is damaged in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Age is also believed to have a negative effect on epidermal barrier function. The aim of this study was to investigate skin barrier function changes with age in AD patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted including 162 participants, 81 AD patients and 81 healthy volunteers. Skin barrier function parameters, such as transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema, temperature, stratum corneum hydration (SCH), pH, and elasticity, were evaluated. Healthy volunteers were evaluated on the volar forearm. AD patients were measured on two regions: on an eczematous lesion on the volar forearm and on a non-involved area 5 cm from the affected area. TEWL was lower on healthy skin than uninvolved AD skin (9.98 vs. 25.51 g center dot m(-2)center dot h(-1), p < 0.001) and AD eczematous lesions (9.98 vs. 28.38 g center dot m(-2)center dot h(-1), p < 0.001). SCH was lower on AD eczematous lesions than uninvolved AD skin (24.23 vs. 39.36 AU, p < 0.001) and healthy skin (24.23 vs. 44.36 AU, p < 0.001). Elasticity was lower on AD eczematous lesions than uninvolved AD skin (0.69 vs. 0.74, p = 0.038) and healthy skin (0.69 vs. 0.77, p = 0.014). A negative correlation was found between age and elasticity in all the population (r = -0.383, p < 0.001). This correlation was stronger in AD patients (r = -0.494, p < 0.001) than in controls (r = -0.266, p = 0.092). After conducting a linear regression model in AD patients adjusted by age, sex, and SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), it was found that elasticity was impaired by an increasing age (beta = -0.004, p < 0.001) and a higher SCORAD (beta = -0.003, p < 0.001). The skin barrier function is impaired by age and AD, reflected mainly in poor elasticity values in older AD patients

Microstructure and mechanical properties of a commercially pure Ti processed by warm equal channel angular pressing

A commercially pure (CP) Titanium alloy classified as Grade 1, was processed by Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) up to 4 passes in the temperature range of 450-150 degrees C.; The resulting microstructures were observed by Electron Back-Scattered Diffraction, revealing a bimodal grain size distribution consisting of small recrystallized grains of submicrometer size, with an average value of 0.3 mu m, and elongated bands of 1.4 mu m with different degree of substructure. Additionally the fraction of restored and deformed grains were evaluated as a function of processing temperature following an internal grain misorientation criterion, leading to an overall fraction of recrystallized grains between 40% and 20% in samples ECAPed at 450 and 150 degrees C, respectively.; The strengthening contributions of the grain size, equivalent oxygen content (O-eq) and Low Angle Grain Boundaries (LAGBs) to the yield stress were identified by the Hall Fetch and Taylor equations. The strengthening coefficient k of the Hall-Fetch relation was approximately 5 MPa mm(-1/2), with an increment of 0.44 MPa mm(-1/2) per 0.1 O-eq.-%, while the LAGB strengthening contribution was responsible approximately by half of the experimental yield stress values measured. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe

Microstructure and mechanical properties of a commercially pure Ti processed by warm equal channel angular pressing

A commercially pure (CP) Titanium alloy classified as Grade 1, was processed by Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) up to 4 passes in the temperature range of 450-150 degrees C.; The resulting microstructures were observed by Electron Back-Scattered Diffraction, revealing a bimodal grain size distribution consisting of small recrystallized grains of submicrometer size, with an average value of 0.3 mu m, and elongated bands of 1.4 mu m with different degree of substructure. Additionally the fraction of restored and deformed grains were evaluated as a function of processing temperature following an internal grain misorientation criterion, leading to an overall fraction of recrystallized grains between 40% and 20% in samples ECAPed at 450 and 150 degrees C, respectively.; The strengthening contributions of the grain size, equivalent oxygen content (O-eq) and Low Angle Grain Boundaries (LAGBs) to the yield stress were identified by the Hall Fetch and Taylor equations. The strengthening coefficient k of the Hall-Fetch relation was approximately 5 MPa mm(-1/2), with an increment of 0.44 MPa mm(-1/2) per 0.1 O-eq.-%, while the LAGB strengthening contribution was responsible approximately by half of the experimental yield stress values measured. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe