Analysis of double-parallel amplified recirculating optical-delay lines

A novel method of analysis of double-parallel amplified recirculating optical-delay lines (DPAROD) is presented. The location of the maxima and the minima of the transfer function for this configuration is calculated and experimentally demonstrated. The influence of different parameters, such as the coupling coefficients, gains, lengths of the fiber loops and fractional losses of the directional couplers, on the shape of the transfer function are analyzed. Different measurements have been taken to verify this model. The potential application of these interconnected delay loops as filters is a reason for developing this method.Publicad

Valoración económica de los servicios ecosistémicos asociados al Parque Natural del Turia (Valencia)

[EN] The objective of this paper is to obtain the monetary value of ecosystem services provided by the Turia Natural Park (TNP). This paper proposes the use of the Analytic Multicriteria Valuation Method (AMUVAM) by replacing the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the Analytic Network Process (ANP), since the ANP method allows to analyze interdependence relationships between the services provided by a system. The results express that the economic value of the ecosystem services associated to the TNP ranges between 163,946,752 € and 481,549,597 €. The results reveal distinct patterns in the valuation of the existing services due to ethical issues.[ES] El objeto de este trabajo es la obtención de un intervalo de valor de los servicios ecosistémicos proporcionados por el Parque Natural del Turia (PNT). La metodología empleada ha sido el método analítico de valoración multicriterio (Analytic Multicriteria Valuation Method, AMUVAM) sustituyendo el Proceso Analítico Jerárquico por el proceso analítico en red (Analytic Network Process, ANP), dado que este permite analizar relaciones de interdependencia entre los servicios del sistema. El valor económico de los servicios ecosistémicos asociados al PNT oscila entre 163.946.752 € y 481.549.597 € en función de las diferentes sensibilidades éticas de los expertos.Estruch-Guitart, V.; Valls-Civera, A. (2019). An economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by the River Turia Natural Park (Valencia). Economía Agraria y Recursos Naturales - Agricultural and Resource Economics. 18(2):93-115. https://doi.org/10.7201/earn.2018.02.05SWORD9311518

Amplified Fiber-Optic Recirculating Delay Lines

Experimental and theoretical results on single- and double-amplified recirculating delay lines are presented. One of our aims is to emphasize their application as filters, showing a wide flexibility of design. Analysis of their performance in the spectral and time domains have been carried out. A novel method of understanding the behavior of double structures has been developed and successfully tested with experimental results employing Er-doped fiber amplifiers as delay lines.Publicad

A Computer Vision-Based Approach for Non-contact Modal Analysis and Finite Element Model Updating

Computer vision-based techniques for modal analysis and system identification are rapidly becoming of great interest for both academic research and engineering practice in structural engineering. For instance, this is particularly relevant in fields such as bridge or tall building monitoring, where the large size of the structure would require an expensive sensor network, and for the characterisation of very slender, highly-flexible structural components, where physically-attached sensors cannot be deployed without altering the mass and stiffness of the system under investigation. This study concerns the latter case. Here, an algorithm for the full-field, non-contact extraction and processing of useful information from vibrational data is applied. Firstly, video acquisition is used to capture rapidly very spatially- and temporally-dense information regarding the vibrational behaviour of a high-aspect-ratio (HAR) prototype wing, with high image quality and high frame rate. Video processing is then applied to extract displacement time histories from the collected data; in turn, these are used to perform Modal Analysis (MA) and Finite Element Model Updating (FEMU). Results are benchmarked against the ones obtained from a single-point laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV). The study is performed on the beam-like spar of the wing prototype with and without the sensors attached to appreciate the disruptive effects of sensor loading. Promising results were achieved

Transformative social innovation in developing and emerging ecosystems: a configurational examination

Despite the literature on social innovation (SI) in ecosystems growing considerably in recent years, what makes an ecosystem a facilitator for transformative SI remains unexamined, particularly indeveloping and emerging countries. Our research aims to fill this literature gap by determining which combination of characteristics-stemming from stakeholder theory and knowledge management-turns local smallholder coffee farmers in developing and emerging producing countries into autonomous and empowered partners and catalysts for spreading SI initiatives locally. We adopt a configurational approach using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of 18 SI projects that coffee MNEs, nongovernmental organizations, and institutions have undertaken to favor such an egalitarian value co-creation with local stakeholders. We demonstrate that stakeholder empowerment, cooperative strategic posturing, knowledge transfer, and local knowledge exchange are necessary conditions within the ecosystem to create local autonomy as an antecedent for transformative SI. The novelty in our approach lies in proposing a shift from a pure firm-centric perspective based on stakeholder dependence to a more participatory relational perspective that entails lower-power stakeholders' interdependence and collaboration for autonomous decision-making, thereby advancing fresh thinking on stakeholder and knowledge management applied to SI in developing and emerging contexts. We also propose practical suggestions to deal with stakeholder power's imbalances, which might limit the ecosystems' adaptation toward transformative SI

PP118—In vitro study of sonodynamic and photodynamic treatment on human cancer cell lines

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Synthesis and Conformational Studies of Peptidomimetics Containing a New Bifunctional Diketopiperazine Scaffold Acting as a \u3b2-Hairpin Inducer

A practical synthesis of a new bifunctional diketopiperazine (DKP) scaffold 1, formally derived from the cyclization of L-aspartic acid and (S)-2,3-diaminopropionic acid, is reported. DKP-1 bears a carboxylic acid and an amino functionalities in a cis relationship, which have been used to grow peptide sequences. Tetra-, penta-, and hexapeptidomimetic sequences were prepared by solution-phase peptide synthesis (Boc strategy). Conformational analysis of these derivatives was carried out by a combination of 1H NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, CD spectroscopy, and computer modeling, and reveals the formation of beta-hairpin mimics involving 10-membered and 18-membered H-bonded rings and a reverse turn of the growing peptide chain

Effect of gaseous ozone on listeria monocytogenes planktonic cells and biofilm: An in vitro study

Among food-borne pathogens, Listeria monocytogenes continues to pose concerns to food business operators due to its capacity to form biofilm in processing environments. Ozone may be an eco-friendly technology to control microbial contaminations, but data concerning its effect on Listeria monocytogenes biofilm are still limited. In this study, the effect of gaseous ozone at 50 ppm on planktonic cells and biofilm of reference and food-related Listeria monocytogenes strains was evaluated. Ozone caused a reduction in microbial loads of 3.7 ± 0.4 and 3.9 ± 0.4 Log10 CFU/mL after 10 and 30 min, respectively. A complete inactivation of planktonic cells after 6 h of treatment was observed. Biofilm inhibition and eradication treatments (50 ppm, 6 h) resulted in a significant decrease of the biofilm biomass for 59% of the strains tested, whilst a slight dampening of live cell loads in the biofilm state was observed. In conclusion, gaseous ozone is not sufficient to completely counteract Listeria monocytogenes biofilm, but it may be useful as an additional tool to contrast Listeria monocytogenes free-living cells and to improve the existing sanitization procedures in food processing environments