Physics for non-physicists - Two bio-degrees reforms in Spanish universities: Health Biology and Biology

We present a review of two different innovative experiences of Physics education for Bio-Sciences in two Spanish Universities - the Health Biology degree of the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares (UAH) and the Biology degree of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). Both experiences took place simultaneously and coincident with the implementation of Bologna Plan. Although they were developed under different contextual constraints, set by the respective Faculties, they share a number of similar pedagogical strategies which are analyzed. In both cases the reforms allowed a substantial improvement in learning results compared to those obtained in the previous Physics courses in the respective degreesLHM participated in the GIREP-MPTL 2018 on behalf of the project IPLS-Spain, promoted and supported by an inter-university group of physics teachers and young biologist

Estudio fotoacústico de la luminiscencia de centros de color

Se han realizado mediciones fotoacústicas de centros F₂⁺ en cristales de Na C1: OH⁻ coloreados aditivamente. Se empleó un láser Nd : YAG y la señal fue detectada con un detector cerámico resonante. Los centros F₂⁺ fueron producidos “in situ” permitiendo así realizar mediciones en función de la concentración de centros sin alterar la geometría. Comparando estos valores con los obtenidos antes de la creación de los centros F₂⁺ se determinó la eficiencia cuántica de luminiscencia que resultó mayor que 0,95.Centro de Investigaciones Óptica

Estudio fotoacústico de la luminiscencia de centros de color

Se han realizado mediciones fotoacústicas de centros F₂⁺ en cristales de Na C1: OH⁻ coloreados aditivamente. Se empleó un láser Nd : YAG y la señal fue detectada con un detector cerámico resonante. Los centros F₂⁺ fueron producidos “in situ” permitiendo así realizar mediciones en función de la concentración de centros sin alterar la geometría. Comparando estos valores con los obtenidos antes de la creación de los centros F₂⁺ se determinó la eficiencia cuántica de luminiscencia que resultó mayor que 0,95.Centro de Investigaciones Óptica

Near-field scanning optical microscopy to study nanometric structural details of LiNbO3 Zn-diffused channel waveguides

A near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) is used to perform structural and optical characterization of the surface layer after Zn diffusion in a channel waveguide fabricated on lithium niobate. A theoretical approach has been developed in order to extract refractive index contrast from NSOM optical transmission measurements (illumination configuration). As a result, different solid phases present on the sample surface can be identified, such as ZnO and ZnNb2O6. They appear like submicrometric crystallites aligned along the domain wall direction, whose origin can be ascribed to some strain relaxation mechanism during the annealing process after Zn [email protected]

Time resolved confocal luminescence investigations on Reverse Proton Exchange Nd:LiNbO3 channel waveguides

This paper was published in Optics Express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.008805. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under la

Bimodal Nd-doped luVo4 nanoprobes functionalized with polyacrilic acid for x-ray computed tomography and NIR luminescent imaging

Uniform Nd3+-doped LuVO4 nanophosphors have been synthesized for the first time in literature by using a poliol-based method at 120 °C from Nd3+ and vanadate precursors. After optimizing the Nd doping level, these phosphors present intense luminescence in the near-infrared biological windows. The X-ray attenuation capacity of the optimum nanophosphor has been found to be higher than that of a commercial X-ray computed tomography contrast agent. After surface coating with polyacrylic acid, such nanoparticles present high colloidal stability in physiological pH medium and high cell viability. Because of these properties, the developed Nd3+-doped LuVO4 nanoparticles have potential applications as a bimodal probe for NIR luminescent bioimaging and X-ray computed tomography

Structural and Functional Brain Abnormalities in Mouse Models of Lafora Disease.

Mutations in the EPM2A and EPM2B genes, encoding laforin and malin proteins respectively, are responsible for Lafora disease, a fatal form of progressive myoclonus epilepsy with autosomal recessive inheritance. Neuroimaging studies of patients with Lafora disease have shown different degrees of brain atrophy, decreased glucose brain uptake and alterations on different brain metabolites mainly in the frontal cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum. Mice deficient for laforin and malin present many features similar to those observed in patients, including cognitive, motor, histological and epileptic hallmarks. We describe the neuroimaging features found in two mouse models of Lafora disease. We found altered volumetric values in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, basal ganglia and cerebellum using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Positron emission tomography (PET) of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum of Epm2a-/- mice revealed abnormal glucose uptake, although no alterations in Epm2b-/- mice were observed. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) revealed significant changes in the concentration of several brain metabolites, including N-acetylaspartate (NAA), in agreement with previously described findings in patients. These data may provide new insights into disease mechanisms that may be of value for developing new biomarkers for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of Lafora disease using animal models

Instalación de medidores de ozono en Argentina y Chile

Se han instalado en el cono sur de nuestro continente 16 medidores simples de ozono construidos mediante una colaboración entre Argentina y España. Durante la primavera de 1993 se realizó una campaña de mediciones simultáneas con objeto de cuantificar la posible influencia del episodio anual antártico en terreno continental. En Argentina, los equipos fueron instalados en Río Grande, Bariloche, Carmen de Patagones, Mar del Plata, Tandil, Mercedes (Provincia de Buenos Aires), La Plata, San Luis, Rosario y Salta. Seis equipos similares fueron enviados a Chile para realizar medidas en distintos paralelos que cubrirán desde la Antártida hasta Arica. El funcionamiento de los sensores está basado en la dependencia de la distribución espectral de la radiación ultravioleta solar con el contenido de ozono atmosférico. Es sabido que, para longitudes de onda cercanas a 300 nm, esa distribución espectral está prácticamente gobernada por el ozono y que otros agentes que filtran la radiación sólo modifican levemente la distribución. Las mediciones realizadas en Río Grande, las únicas analizadas hasta el momento, muestran claramente la llegada del agujero de ozono a esa ciudad el 27 de setiembre de 1993.Sixteen very simple ozone detectors, built in by a collaboration between Argentina and España, were installed in south America. During spring of 1993 the network was operated to observe the influence of the Antarctic ozone hole over our continent. The instruments has been installed through Argentina and Chile, covering latitudes extending from 64° S to 18° S. Each device measured the direct-solar irradiance at 300 nm and 313 nm with 10 nm FWHM by photodiodes with integrated interference filters. Quartz telescopic assemblies and an equatorial mounting allowed sun tracking. The irradiance ratio between this two cióse wavelengths are proportional to total ozone contení. Measurements performed at Río Grande (53° 48 S 67° 45 W) showed a pronunced drop in the ozone valúes on setember 27th, 1993.Centro de Investigaciones Óptica

Preparation and characterization of stable aqueous suspensions of up-converting Er3+/Yb3+-doped LiNbO3 nanocrystals

The preparation of LiNbO3:Er3+/Yb3+ nanocrystals and their up-conversion properties have been studied. It is demonstrated that polyethyleneimine- (PEI) assisted dispersion procedures allow obtaining stable aqueous LiNbO3:Er3+/Yb3+ powder suspensions, with average size particles well below the micron range (100–200 nm) and the isoelectric point of the suspension reaching values well above pH 7. After excitation of Yb3+ ions at a wavelength of 980 nm, the suspensions exhibit efficient, and stable, IR-to-visible (green and red) up-conversion properties, easily observed by the naked eye, very similar to those of the starting crystalline bulk material