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Sex hormones significantly impact women's lives. Throughout the different stages of life, from menarche to menopause and all stages in between, women experience dramatic fluctuations in the levels of progesterone and estradiol, among other hormones. These fluctuations affect the body as a whole, including the central nervous system (CNS). In the CNS, sex hormones act via steroid receptors. They also have an effect on different neurotransmitters such as GABA, serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate. Additionally, studies show that sex hormones and their metabolites influence brain areas that regulate mood, behavior, and cognitive abilities. This review emphasizes the benefits a proper hormonal balance during the different stages of life has in the CNS. To achieve this goal, it is essential that hormone levels are evaluated considering a woman's age and ovulatory status, so that a correct diagnosis and treatment can be made. Knowledge of steroid hormone activity in the brain will give women and health providers an important tool for improving their health and well-being.

ElsevierBenajes Calvo, JV.; García Martínez, A.; Monsalve Serrano, J. (2015). Effects of direct injection timing and blending ratio on RCCI combustion with different low reactivity fuels. Energy Conversion and Management. 99:193-209. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2015.04.046. Effects of Direct injection timing and Blending Ratio on RCCI combustion with different Low Reactivity FuelsEnergy Conversion and Management, Volume 99, 2015, Pages 193-209. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015 AbstractThis work investigates the effects of the direct injection timing and blending ratio on RCCI performance and engine-out emissions at different engine loads using four low reactivity fuels: E10-95, E10-98, E20-95 and E85 (port fuel injected) and keeping constant the same high reactivity fuel: diesel B7 (direct injected). The experiments were conducted using a heavy-duty single-cylinder research diesel engine adapted for dual-fuel operation. All the tests were carried out at 1200 rpm. To assess the blending ratio effect, the total energy delivered to the cylinder coming from the low reactivity fuel was kept constant for the different fuel blends investigated by adjusting the low reactivity fuel mass as required in each case. In addition, a detailed analysis of the air/fuel mixing process has been developed by means of a 1-D in-house developed spray model.Results suggest that notable higher diesel amount is required to achieve a stable combustion using E85. This fact leads to higher NOx levels and unacceptable ringing intensity. By contrast, EURO VI NOx and soot levels are fulfilled with E20-95, E10-98 and E10-95. Finally, the higher reactivity of E10-95 results in a significant reduction in CO and HC emissions, mainly at low load.

ElsevierBenajes Calvo, JV.; Molina Alcaide, SA.; García Martínez, A.; Belarte Mañes, E.; Vanvolsem, M. (2014). An investigation on RCCI combustion in a heavy duty diesel engine using in-cylinder blending of diesel and gasoline fuels. Applied Thermal Engineering. 63 (1) AbstractAn experimental and numerical study has been carried out to understand mixing and auto-ignition processes in RCCI combustion conditions, using gasoline and diesel as low and high reactivity fuels, respectively. Three parametrical studies have been developed using a heavy duty compression ignition engine equipped with a direct injector and a port fuel injector, to be able to vary the in-cylinder fuel blending ratio. Besides, a detailed analysis in terms of air/fuel mixing process has also been performed by means of a 1-D spray model. It is found that combustion starts with the auto-ignition of the diesel injection and the air and gasoline entrained. Then, the temperature and pressure raise starts the flame propagation across the lean diesel and gasoline zones of the combustion chamber. As the Diesel/Gasoline fuel ratio is reduced, the ignition delay increases extending the mixing time and the first combustion stage gets lowered while the second one is enhanced. The advance of the diesel injection timing enlarges the mentioned effects over the combustion process. With respect to conventional neat diesel combustion, a slight reduction in terms of NOx and a very important reduction in terms of soot were achieved with the RCCI combustion.

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Elsevier Molina, S.; Salvador Rubio, FJ.; Carreres Talens, M.; Jaramillo, D. (2014). A computational investigation on the influence of the use of elliptical orifices on the inner nozzle flow and cavitation development in diesel injector nozzles. Energy Conversion and Management. 79:114-127. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2013.12.015. THE INFLUENCE OF THE USE OF ELLIPTICAL ORIFICES ON THE INNER NOZZLE FLOW AND CAVITATION DEVELOPMENT IN DIESEL INJECTOR A COMPUTATIONAL INVESTIGATION ON

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ElsevierBenajes Calvo, JV.; García Martínez, A.;Monsalve Serrano, J. (2015). Effects of low reactivity fuel characteristics and blending ratio on low load RCCI (reactivity controlled compression ignition) performance and emissions in a heavy-duty diesel engine. Energy. 90:1261Energy. 90: -1271Energy. 90: . doi:10.1016Energy. 90: /j.energy.2015.088.Effects of low reactivity fuel characteristics and blending ratio on low load RCCI (reactivity controlled compression ignition) performance and emissions in a heavy-duty diesel engine Energy, Volume 90, October 2015, Pages 1261-1271. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015 Jesús Benajes, Santiago Molina, Antonio García* and Javier Monsalve-Serrano CMT -Motores Térmicos, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain (*) Corresponding author: angarma8@mot.upv.es (Antonio García Martínez) AbstractThis work investigates the effect of low reactivity fuel characteristics and blending ratio on low load RCCI performance and emissions using four different low reactivity fuels: E10-95, E10-98, E20-95 and E85 (port fuel injected) while keeping constant the same high reactivity fuel: diesel B7 (direct injected). The experiments were conducted using a heavy-duty single-cylinder research diesel engine adapted for dual fuel operation. All tests were carried out at 1200 rev/min and constant CA50 of 5 CAD ATDC. For this purpose, the premixed energy was equal for the different blends and the EGR rate was modified as required, keeping constant the rest of engine settings. In addition, a detailed analysis of air/fuel mixing process has been developed by means of a 1-D spray model.Results suggest that in-cylinder fuel reactivity gradients strongly affect the engine efficiency at low load. Specifically, a reduced reactivity gradient allows an improvement of 4.5% in terms of gross indicated efficiency when the proper blending ratio is used. In addition, EURO VI NOx and soot emission levels are fulfilled with a strong reduction in CO and HC compared with the case of the higher reactivity gradient among the low and high reactivity fuel.