Computer-Aided Architectural Design Oriented to Robotized Facade Panels Manufacturing

This article presents a manufacturing system of prefabricated panels for the construction industry that has been developed for the Spanish company Dragados, S.A. The main contribution of the system is the automatic manufacturing programming, taking into account process restrictions and using as input the architect's three-dimensional (3D) drawing of the building done on a computer-aided design (CAD) system. From the CAD building design, the optimal facade to panel partition is obtained. In order to manufacture each panel, based on CAD information, automatic task and path planning are performed for the equipment present in the robotized flexible manufacturing cell.     

white+ transgene insertions presenting a dorsal/ventral pattern define a single cluster of homeobox genes that is silenced by the polycomb-group proteins in Drosophila melanogaster

We used the white gene as an enhancer trap and reporter of chromatin structure. We collected white+ transgene insertions presenting a peculiar pigmentation pattern in the eye: white expression is restricted to the dorsal half of the eye, with a clear-cut dorsal/ventral (D/V) border. This D/V pattern is stable and heritable, indicating that phenotypic expression of the white reporter reflects positional information in the developing eye. Localization of these transgenes led us to identify a unique genomic region encompassing 140 kb in 69D1-3 subject to this D/V effect. This region contains at least three closely related homeobox-containing genes that are constituents of the iroquois complex (IRO-C). IRO-C genes are coordinately regulated and implicated in similar developmental processes. Expression of these genes in the eye is regulated by the products of the Polycomb-group (Pc-G) and trithorax-group (trx-G) genes but is not modified by classical modifiers of position-effect variegation. Our results, together with the report of a Pc-G binding site in 69D, suggest that we have identified a novel cluster of target genes for the Pc-G and trx-G products. We thus propose that ventral silencing of the whole IRO-C in the eye occurs at the level of chromatin structure in a manner similar to that of the homeotic gene complexes, perhaps by local compaction of the region into a heterochromatin-like structure involving the Pc-G products.     

Effect of synthesis process on the densification,microstructure, and electrical properties of Ca0.9Yb0.1MnO3 ceramics

Ca_0.9Yb_0.1MnO₃ thermoelectric materials have been prepared, through a classical solid‐state sintering method, from attrition‐ and ball‐milled precursors. After calcination step, microstructural observations have shown that attrition‐milled precursors possess much smaller particle sizes than the obtained by ball milling. Smaller precursors sizes lead to higher reactivity, producing higher density, hardness, and thermoelectric phase content in the sintered materials. The thermoelectric properties reflect the microstructural features, decreasing electrical resistivity in the attrition milling prepared samples without a drastic decrease in the Seebeck coefficient. As a consequence, power factor values are higher than the obtained in the classical solid‐state method samples. Moreover, the highest power factor values at 800°C are much higher than the best results obtained in this CaMnO₃ family. As a result, it has been found that it is possible to tailor the thermoelectric properties of Ca_0.9Yb_0.1MnO₃ ceramics by designing the appropriate preparation procedure while keeping in mind its industrial scalability.     

Improved fermentation kinetics by wine yeast strains evolved under ethanol stress

Adaptive laboratory evolution works on the principle that populations of cells adapt to their environment over time by natural selection. In this work, we assess adaptive laboratory evolution as a tool to improve the performance of winemaking yeast strains, in order to cope with the challenges of global climate change. Specifically we addressed ethanol tolerance as a way to ensure good fermentation kinetics despite increasing sugar content in musts.     

Modification of thermoelectric properties in Ca3Co4Oy ceramics by Nd doping

Ca_3?xNd_xCo₄O_y polycrystalline thermoelectric ceramics with small amounts of Nd have been synthesized by the classical solid state method. X-ray diffraction data have shown that all the Nd has been incorporated into the Ca₃Co₄O₉ and Ca₃Co₂O₆ phases and no Nd-containing secondary phases have been produced. Apparent density measurements have revealed that all samples are very similar, with densities around 70 % of the theoretical one. Electrical resistivity decreases in all Nd-doped samples, compared with the pure one, while Seebeck coefficient remains constant for all samples. The improvement in resistivity leads to higher power factor values than the obtained for the undoped samples.     

Deficiency in Tissue Non-Specific Alkaline Phosphatase Leads to Steatohepatitis in Mice Fed a High Fat Diet Similar to That Produced by a Methionine and Choline Deficient Diet

The liver expresses tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), which may participate in the defense against bacterial components, in cell regulation as part of the purinome or in bile secretion, among other roles. We aimed to study the role of TNAP in the development of hepatosteatosis. TNAP^+/− haplodeficient and wild type (WT) mice were fed a control diet (containing 10% fat w/w) or the same diet deficient in methionine and choline (MCD diet). The MCD diet induced substantial weight loss together with hepatic steatosis and increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) plasma levels, but no differences in IL-6, TNF, insulin or resistin. There were no substantial differences between TNAP^+/− and WT mice fed the MCD diet. In turn, TNAP^+/− mice receiving the control diet presented hepatic steatosis with alterations in metabolic parameters very similar to those induced by the MCD diet. Nevertheless, no weight loss, increased ALT plasma levels or hypoglycemia were observed. These mice also presented increased levels of liver TNF and systemic resistin and glucagon compared to WT mice. The phenotype of TNAP^+/− mice fed a standard diet was normal. In conclusion, TNAP haplodeficiency induces steatosis comparable to that produced by a MCD diet when fed a control diet.     

Neuroprotective Effects of Sigma 1 Receptor Ligands on Motoneuron Death after Spinal Root Injury in Mice

Loss of motor neurons (MNs) after spinal root injury is a drawback limiting the recovery after palliative surgery by nerve or muscle transfers. Research based on preventing MN death is a hallmark to improve the perspectives of recovery following severe nerve injuries. Sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) is a protein highly expressed in MNs, proposed as neuroprotective target for ameliorating MN degenerative conditions. Here, we used a model of L4–L5 rhizotomy in adult mice to induce MN degeneration and to evaluate the neuroprotective role of Sig-1R ligands (PRE-084, SA4503 and BD1063). Lumbar spinal cord was collected at 7, 14, 28 and 42 days post-injury (dpi) for immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses. This proximal axotomy at the immediate postganglionic level resulted in significant death, up to 40% of spinal MNs at 42 days after injury and showed markedly increased glial reactivity. Sig-1R ligands PRE-084, SA4503 and BD1063 reduced MN loss by about 20%, associated to modulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers IRE1α and XBP1. These pathways are Sig-1R specific since they were not produced in Sig-1R knockout mice. These findings suggest that Sig-1R is a promising target for the treatment of MN cell death after neural injuries.     

Dynamic analysis of runout correction in milling

Tool runout and its effects is an important area of research within modelling, simulation, and control of milling forces. Tool runout causes tool cutting edges to experience uneven forces during milling. This fact also affects tool life and deteriorates workpiece surface quality. In this article a procedure, in order to diminish the effects of tool runout, is presented. The procedure is based on chip thickness modification by means of the fast correction of the tool feed rate. Dynamic feed rate modification is provided by superposing our own design of a fast feed system driven by a piezoelectric actuator to the conventional feed drive of the CNC machine tool. Previously, a model of the dynamic behaviour of the system was developed to analyze the influence of fast feed rate modification on cutting forces. The model incorporates the piezoelectric actuator response as well as the structural dynamics of the tool and the designed Fast Feed Drive System (FFDS). Simulated and experimental results presented in this paper show the effectiveness and benefits of this new tool runout correction procedure.     

Plastic wastes, lube oils and carbochemical products as secondary feedstocks for blast-furnace coke production

Two plastic wastes (polyolefin-enriched and multicomponent), two lube oils (paraffinic and synthetic) and one coal-tar were assessed as individual and combined additives to coal blends for the production of blast furnace coke. The effects of adding 2 wt.% of these additives or their mixtures (50:50 w/w) on the coking capacity of coal, coking pressure and coke quality parameters were investigated. It was found that the two plastic wastes reduce fluidity, whereas the addition of oils and tar helps to partially restore the fluidity of the coal-plastic blend. From the co-carbonization of the coking blend with the different wastes in a movable wall oven of over 15 kg capacity, it was deduced that polyolefins have a detrimental effect on coking pressure. The addition of oils and tar to the coal-plastic blend has different modifying effects. Whereas paraffinic oil eliminated the high coking pressure caused by the polyolefins, polyol-ester oil had a weak reducing effect unlike coal-tar which had a strong enhancing effect. The compatibility of the oils/tar with plastics and coal and the beneficial influence of these combinations on coking pressure is discussed in relation to the miscibility of the plastic and the oily and bituminous additives, and the amount and composition of the volatile matter evolved from each additive during pyrolysis as evaluated by thermal analysis. Furthermore, it was found that coke reactivity towards CO₂ (CRI) and coke strength after reaction with CO₂ (CSR) are heavily dependent on the composition of the plastic waste, with polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) having a clear negative effect. The porosity of the cokes obtained from blends containing plastic wastes is always higher, but the pores are smaller in size.