Carbonatación de diatomeas y génesis de calizas/dolomías diagenéticas en ambiente continental y marino (Mioceno de Tresjuncos, Cuenca y Níjar, Almería). Un ejemplo de secuestro de CO2 en la Naturaleza

Carbonate (calcite and dolomite) pseudomorphs after diatoms were identified from marine (Messinian, Níjar section) and freshwater (Turolian, Tresjuncos section) diatomites. The mineralogical and petrological study has allowed to know the replacement of opal-A by calcite or dolomite, and the consequent formation of diagenetic limestones/dolostones, deducing the factors that favor this replacement in both environments. The data obtained are relevant to the research about the use of diatomites for the capture and storage of carbon dioxide through carbonation. A pseudomorphic carbonatation process of the frustules occurred by a direct replacement of the opal-A and a cementation of the microporosity. Opal-A was replaced by calcite or dolomite via a coupled dissolution-precipitation process. The organization of the opal A microspheres inside the frustules could determine the organization of multi-ion complexes / nanoparticles of amorphous carbonates that would later recrystallize to calcite or dolomite crystals. The carbonation of the lacustrine diatomites was favored by the great amount of biota (amphibians, crusta­ceans, insects, plants…etc.) included in them. In this environment, the sulphate-reduction processes during the degradation of the organic matter generated CO2, which along with pH and salinity changes, facilitated the replace­ments. It is possible that the carbonatation of the frustules was coeval to the calcite or dolomite precipitation during the fossilization of the biota, and therefore, early diagenetic in origin. The nodules and opaline lenticular beds formation triggered the carbonation process of the marine diatomites because CO2 and Ca are released from the dissolution of biocalcarenites/biocalcitutites included in the diatomites. Small pH variations around 9, and the presence of sulfates, would facilitate the replacement of the valves, during the burial diagenesis.En el presente trabajo se estudian los procesos de carbonatación de frústulas de diatomeas y la consecuente formación de calizas/dolomías diagenéticas, en estratos de diatomitas marinas (Messiniense, sección de Níjar) y lacustres (Turoliense, sección de Tresjuncos). Se realiza un estudio mineralógico y petrológico para conocer el reemplazo de ópalo A por calcita o dolomita, considerando los factores que favorecen este reemplazo en ambos ambientes. Los datos obtenidos son relevantes para la investigación del uso de diatomitas en la captura y alma­cenamiento de dióxido de carbono a través de su carbonatación. Los procesos pseudomórficos de carbonatación de las valvas se llevaron a cabo mediante el reemplazo directo del ópalo A por calcita o dolomita y la cementación de la microporosidad. La perfecta reproducción de las valvas indica un mecanismo de reacción con acoplamiento de disolución-precipitación en la interfase de reacción. Se interpreta que la organización de las microesferas de ópalo A, dentro de las valvas, condicionaría la organización de complejos amor­fos de varios iones o nanopartículas de carbonatos amorfos, que posteriormente recristalizarían a calcita o dolomita. En las diatomitas lacustres, el proceso de carbonatación de las valvas fue favorecido por la materia orgánica proveniente de la gran cantidad de biota (anfibios, crustáceos, insectos, plantas... etc.) que incorporan. En este ambiente, los procesos de sulfato-reducción durante la degradación de la materia orgánica, generaron CO2, que junto con cambios de pH y salinidad facilitaron los reemplazos. Es posible que las carbonataciones de las valvas fueran coetáneas a la precipitación de calcita y dolomita que fosiliza la biota y por lo tanto, diagenéticas tempra­nas. En las diatomitas marinas, el proceso desencadenante del reemplazo de las valvas fue la formación de capas lenticulares y nódulos opalinos, ya que al disolverse los microfósiles calcáreos que las diatomitas incluían, se liberó CO2 y Ca. Pequeñas variaciones de pH en un entorno alrededor de 9, y la presencia de sulfatos facilitarían el reemplazado durante la diagénesis por enterramiento

Impact of gravitational radiation higher order modes on single aligned-spin gravitational wave searches for binary black holes

Current template-based gravitational wave searches for compact binary coalescences (CBC) use waveform models that neglect the higher order modes content of the gravitational radiation emitted, considering only the quadrupolar $(\ell,|m|)=(2,2)$ modes. We study the effect of such a neglection for the case of aligned-spin CBC searches for equal-spin (and non-spinning) binary black holes in the context of two versions of Advanced LIGO: the upcoming 2015 version, known as early Advanced LIGO (eaLIGO) and its Zero-Detuned High Energy Power version, that we will refer to as Advanced LIGO (AdvLIGO). In addition, we study the case of a non-spinning search for initial LIGO (iLIGO). We do this via computing the effectualness of the aligned-spin SEOBNRv1 ROM waveform family, which only considers quadrupolar modes, towards hybrid post-Newtonian/Numerical Relativity waveforms which contain higher order modes. We find that for all LIGO versions, losses of more than $10\%$ of events occur for mass ratio $q\geq6$ and $M \geq 100M_\odot$ due to the neglection of higher modes. Moreover, for iLIGO and eaLIGO, losses notably increase up to $(39,23)\%$ respectively for the highest mass $(220M_\odot)$ and mass ratio ($q=8$) studied. For the case of early AdvLIGO, losses of $10\%$ occur for $M>50M_\odot$ and $q\geq6$. Neglection of higher modes leads to observation-averaged systematic parameter biases towards lower spin, total mass and chirp mass. For completeness, we perform a preliminar, non-exhaustive comparison of systematic biases to statistical errors. We find that, for a given SNR, systematic biases dominate over statistical errors at much lower total mass for eaLIGO than for AdvLIGO

Global Antifungal Profile Optimization of Chlorophenyl Derivatives against Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Twenty-two aromatic derivatives bearing a chlorine atom and a different chain in the para or meta position were prepared and evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The results showed that maximum inhibition of the growth of these fungi was exhibited for enantiomers S and R of 1-(40-chlorophenyl)- 2-phenylethanol (3 and 4). Furthermore, their antifungal activity showed a clear structure-activity relationship (SAR) trend confirming the importance of the benzyl hydroxyl group in the inhibitory mechanism of the compounds studied. Additionally, a multiobjective optimization study of the global antifungal profile of chlorophenyl derivatives was conducted in order to establish a rational strategy for the filtering of new fungicide candidates from combinatorial libraries. The MOOPDESIRE methodology was used for this purpose providing reliable ranking models that can be used later

Sedimentología química de los sedimentos miocenos con diatomeas de la Cuenca del Guadalquivir

The chemical data of major elements is used to study the precise lithological composition and the sedimentology of Miocene diatomaceous sediments from 24 sections of the Guadalquivir Basin. Three main episodes (Lower, Middle and Upper), defined on the basis of diatom zones have been studied. They record a highly productive coastal upwelling regime in the area during the Miocene. The wide range of variation of SiO2 (12.1878.00), CaO (1.60-43.73) and Al2O3 (2.76-10.32) contents reflects the important variations of the main components: Opal A, calcite (mainly biogenic) and clay minerals-terrigenous components. Biogenic silica has been estimated by using normative calculations after determination of the mineralogical compositions of the samples by means of X-ray diffraction. Maximum and minimum contents in biogenic silica are related to the dominant diatom taxa, the structure of the rock and the geographicallocation in the basin. The ternary diagrams SiO2 biogenic- Al2O3-CaO reveal that the Upper Episode has the highest amounts of clay minerals-terrigenous components. Plots of SiO2 biogenic/CaO versus Al2O3show a relation between the biogenic calcite and the clay-minerals-terrigenous components. The plots of Fe2O3/TiO2 versus Al2O3/ Al2O3+ Fe2O3 show that most of the samples may be interpreted as deposited in a continental margin enviranment. The data obtained fram the slope of linear regressions Fe (y) - Al (x) are indicative of areas with varying influence of a terrigenous source. The MnO/ Al2O3 ratio is used to estimate rates of sedimentation of the diatomaceous sediments. The range is between 1.7 and 180 mm/103 years, which is consistent with the sedimentation rate values fram sediments formed in coastal upwelling regimes. The rate of sedimentation varies in relation to the structure of the rack, the dominant diatom taxa and the age of the episodes.La composición química de elementos mayores es utilizada para analizar las características composicionales y sedimentológicas en 24 afloramientos de sedimentos miocenos con diatomeas de la Cuenca del Guadalquivir. En función de las biozonas de diatomeas, se consideran tres episodios de sedimentación diatomítica (Inferior, Medio y Superior) que reflejan un medio de sedimentación de alta productividad biogénica ocasionada por corrientes ascensionales costeras («coastal upwelling»). Los grandes márgenes de variación de los tres óxidos más importantes SiO2 (12,1878,00), CaO (1,60-43,73) y Al2O3 (2,76-10,32) definen la gran variación que presentan los tres componentes mayoritarios de estos sedimentos: Opalo A, calcita y minerales de la arcilla-terrígenos. A través de cálculos normativos en función de la composición mineralógica de las muestras y de los análisis de difracción de RX, se ha definido el porcentaje de sílice biogénica. El estudio de los máximos y mínimos de sílice biogénica ha puesto de manifiesto su relación con tipos dominantes de diatomeas, la estructura de la roca y la posición geográfica dentro de la Cuenca. La proyección de las muestras en los diagramas triangulares SiO2 biogénica- Al2O3-CaO ha revelado que el Episodio Superior es el que manifiesta mayor proporción relativa de Al2O3 (arcillas-componentes terrígenos). Los diagramas SiO2 biogénicalCaO versus Al2O3 han demostrado que existe frecuentemente una asociación preferente entre el plancton calcáreo y los minerales de arcilla-terrígenos. La proyección de las muestras en el diagrama Fe2O3/TiO2 versus Al2O3/ Al2O3+FeO, junto con la pendiente de la recta de regresión Fe (y) - Al (x) indican que todas las series se pueden considerar de plataforma continental existiendo zonas con mayor o menor influencia del continente. La relación MnO/ Al2O3, se ha utilizado para medir la tasa sedimentación; los valores obtenidos (entre 1,7 y 180 mm/103 años) concuerdan con los hallados en otras zonas de corrientes ascensionales costeras, encontrándose diferencias en función de las estructura de la roca, las diatomeas dominantes y los episodios considerados

Los sedimentos con diatomeas del Mioceno en la Cuenca del Guadalquivir: edad y composición litológica

The lithological composition and biostratigraphy of diatomaceous marls have been defined in 93 outcrops of the Guadalquivir Basin. The diatomaceous marls display a wide variety of lithological types, mainly comprised of opal A (10-85 %) (mainly diatoms and to a lesser extent silicoflagellates, spicules and radiolarians), calcite (5-80 %) (principally foraminifers, nannoplankton, sparite, micrite and microspar), c1ay minerals (5-40 %) (smectite in greater quantities than illite; and kaolinite in small quantities) and terrigenous quartz (< 15 %). The diatom assemblages in the marls reflect the occurrence of temperate to warm water conditions in this area during middle and late Miocene. The diatoms are dominated by the fol1owing upwelling species: Thalassiosira nitzshoides, Thalassiotrix longuissima and Thalassionema baci//aris. Benthic diatoms are scarce but they have great species diversity. However, in sorne outcrops the genus Delphineis is more frequent thus indicating environments c10ser to shore areas. Three episodes based on Barron's (1985) low latitude zonation have been defined. The Lower Episode includes Cestodiscus peplum and Coscinodiscus lewisianus Zone and is assigned to the upper Langhian- lower Serravalian. After a period of no diatom occurrence (e. gigas var. diorama Zone is missing), the Middle Episode is defined by Craspedodiscus coscinodiscus and Actinocyclus moronensis Zones and covers the latest Serravalian-early Tortonian. The Upper Episode corresponds to Thalassiosira yabei Zone and it is assigned to middle Tortonian. The fundamental types of dilutants in diatomic sedimentation (biogenic calcareous, terrigenous and c1ay minerals), do not vary throughout the three episodes but there are great variations in the proportions. The coastal upwelling regime produces tongue-like patterns of sedimentation and the sedimentary record displays different changes of facies. The Upper Episode, where the c1ay-terrigenous dilutants predominate over calcareous dilutants and Delphineis appear in greater quantities, is interpreted as having been formed in an environment closer to the shore than other episodes.El estudio de 93 puntos en el Mioceno de la cuenca del Guadalquivir ha permitido definir en esta cuenca la situación, bioestratigráfica y composición litológica de las margas con diatomeas o «moronitas». Dichas rocas incluyen gran variedad de términos litológicos estando constituidos principalmente por ópalo A (10-85 %) (mayoritariamente diatomeas; silicoflagelados, espículas de esponja y radiolarios en menor proporción), calcita (5-80 %) (microforaminíferos, nanoplancton calcáreo, micrita y esparita fundamentalmente), minerales de la arcilla (5-40 %) (esmectita predominando sobre illita y caolinita en menores proporciones) y cuarzo terrígeno « 15 %). Las asociaciones de diatomeas están constituidas fundamentalmente por diatomeas planctónicas de aguas templado-cálidas, con dominio de Thalassionema nitzschoides, Thalassionema bacillaris y Thalassiotrix longuissima, definiendo áreas de alta productividad (upwelling) en la zona durante el Mioceno Medio y Superior. El componente bentónico es escaso y diversificado, sin embargo localmente adquiere importancia el género Delphineis indicando zonas más litorales. Se determinan tres episodios de sedimentación diatomítica basados en la zonación de baja latitud de Barron (1985c). El Episodio Inferior definido por las biozonas Cestodiscus peplum y Coscinodiscus lewisianus, comprende desde el Langhiense superior al Serrava¡ iense inferior. Después de un período de tiempo sin deposición de diatomeas comienza el Episodio Medio definido por las biozonas Craspedodiscus coscinodiscus y Actinocyclus moronensis, y que incluye el techo del Serravaliense y el Tortoniense Inferior. El Episodio Superior que corresponde a la biozona Thalassiosira yabei comprende el Tortoniense Medio. Los tipos de diluyentes fundamentales de la sedimentación diatomítica (componentes biogénicos calcáreos, terrígenos y arcillas), se mantienen en los tres episodios pero presentan gran variación en sus proporciones debido a la morfología «en lenguas» y composición de los depósitos sedimentarios formados bajo zonas de «coastal upwelling». El Episodio Superior diferenciado por el predominio del diluyente arcilloso-terrígeno y por una mayor proporción de Delphineis en las asociaciones de diatomeas. se interpreta formado más cerca del continente

Raman spectroscopy analysis of Paleolithic industry from Guadalteba terrace river, Campillos (Guadalteba county, Southern of Iberian Peninsula)

Artículo sobre la aplicación de la espectroscopía ramán a los materiales de la terraza fluvial del Río Guadalteba, en Campillos

Nanoscale mosaicity revealed in peptide microcrystals by scanning electron nanodiffraction.

Changes in lattice structure across sub-regions of protein crystals are challenging to assess when relying on whole crystal measurements. Because of this difficulty, macromolecular structure determination from protein micro and nanocrystals requires assumptions of bulk crystallinity and domain block substructure. Here we map lattice structure across micron size areas of cryogenically preserved three-dimensional peptide crystals using a nano-focused electron beam. This approach produces diffraction from as few as 1500 molecules in a crystal, is sensitive to crystal thickness and three-dimensional lattice orientation. Real-space maps reconstructed from unsupervised classification of diffraction patterns across a crystal reveal regions of crystal order/disorder and three-dimensional lattice tilts on the sub-100nm scale. The nanoscale lattice reorientation observed in the micron-sized peptide crystal lattices studied here provides a direct view of their plasticity. Knowledge of these features facilitates an improved understanding of peptide assemblies that could aid in the determination of structures from nano- and microcrystals by single or serial crystal electron diffraction

Nueva estrategia para el diseño y fabricación de cabezales de fresadora de altas prestaciones

Los cabezales de transmisión mecánica de altas prestaciones son una de las partes más complejas, costosas y problemáticas de una maquina fresadora. Esto es debido a la gran cantidad de canalizaciones para la transmisión de fluidos que deben de contener y a las altas prestaciones mecánicas que se les exigen. En este trabajo se presenta una estrategia para optimizar el diseño y la fabricación de los cuerpos de estos cabezales basada en la incorporación de aleaciones de aluminio y la inclusión de insertos tubulares de acero en la propia fundición que conforma el cabezal. Los insertos tubulares sustituyen a los canales de refrigeración realizados actualmente por taladros de mecanizado y quedan integrados en la masa de aluminio. La nueva metodología ha permitido realizar un diseño que mantiene las prestaciones mecánicas, aumenta la fiabilidad y reduce la masa de estos elementos móviles de fresadoras como ha demostrado la validación experimental de un primer prototipo.High-performance mechanical-transmission heads are one of the most complex, costly and problematic parts of a milling machine, owing to the large amount of piping required for transporting fluids and to the high level of mechanical performance that is required from them. This study proposes a strategy for optimising the design and manufacture of head bodies by using aluminium alloys and by integrating tubular stainless steel inserts in the casting of the head. These tubular inserts that are integrated into the aluminium mass are an alternative to cooling conduits currently made by machine drilling. As demonstrated in the experimental validation of the first prototype, the new method has created a design that retains the same mechanical performance, increases its reliability and reduces the weight of the milling machine’s moving parts.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation in the PROFIT Project FIT-020500-2006-50 and by the Agencia de Desarrollo Economico of the Junta de Castilla-Leon (04/06/BU/0008)

Monitoring of airborne biological particles in outdoor atmosphere. Part 2: Metagenomics applied to urban environments

The air we breathe contains microscopic biological particles such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollen, some of them with relevant clinic importance. These organisms and/or their propagules have been traditionally studied by different disciplines and diverse methodologies like culture and microscopy. These techniques require time, expertise and also have some important biases. As a consequence, our knowledge on the total diversity and the relationships between the different biological entities present in the air is far from being complete. Currently, metagenomics and next-generation sequencing (NGS) may resolve this shortage of information and have been recently applied to metropolitan areas. Although the procedures and methods are not totally standardized yet, the first studies from urban air samples confirm the previous results obtained by culture and microscopy regarding abundance and variation of these biological particles. However, DNA-sequence analyses call into question some preceding ideas and also provide new interesting insights into diversity and their spatial distribution inside the cities. Here, we review the procedures, results and perspectives of the recent works that apply NGS to study the main biological particles present in the air of urban environments. [Int Microbiol 19(2): 69-80 (2016)]Keywords: airborne biological particles &middot; metagenomics &middot; next-generation sequencing (NGS) &middot; air biomonitoring &middot; urban aerobiolog