38 research outputs found

    Electrochemical analysis of the first Polish coins using voltammetry of immobilized particles

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    [EN] A series of 20 denarii from Boleslaus the Brave (992-1025) and Mieszko II Lambert (1025-1034), corresponding to the beginning of the Polish state were studied using the voltammetry of immobilized particles (VIMP) methodology. VIMP experiments, applied to nanosamples of the corrosion layers of the coins in contact with aqueous acetate buffer, provided well-defined responses mainly corresponding to the corrosion products of copper and lead. Such voltammetric responses, combined with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy experiments performed on the same set of coins, and complemented by focusing ion beam-field emission scanning electron microscope (FIB-FESEM) on silver coins from the 19th century, supported the hypothesis that two different metal sources were used in the former historical period and suggested that the coins were produced in three different mints. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserve.Financial support from the MINECO Projects CTQ2014-53736-C3-1-P and CTQ2014-53736-C3-2-P which are supported with ERDF funds is gratefully acknowledged. The authors are very grateful to the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education for partly financing the work presented in this paper through a grant within the framework of the National Program for the Development of the Humanities (Decision No. 0100/NPRH3/H12/82/2014) and also wish to thank Dr. Jose Luis Moya Lopez and Mr. Manuel Planes Insausti (Microscopy Service of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia) for technical support.Doménech Carbó, A.; Del Hoyo Meléndez, JM.; Domenech Carbo, MT.; Piquero-Cilla, J. (2017). Electrochemical analysis of the first Polish coins using voltammetry of immobilized particles. Microchemical Journal. 130:47-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2016.07.020S475513

    Distance Measurement Error in Time-of-Flight Sensors Due to Shot Noise

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    Unlike other noise sources, which can be reduced or eliminated by different signal processing techniques, shot noise is an ever-present noise component in any imaging system. In this paper, we present an in-depth study of the impact of shot noise on time-of-flight sensors in terms of the error introduced in the distance estimation. The paper addresses the effect of parameters, such as the size of the photosensor, the background and signal power or the integration time, and the resulting design trade-offs. The study is demonstrated with different numerical examples, which show that, in general, the phase shift determination technique with two background measurements approach is the most suitable for pixel arrays of large resolutionThis work has been partially funded by Spanish government Project TEC2012-38921-C02-02 MINECO(FEDER) and by the Xunta de Galicia with EM2013/038 and EM2014/012, AE CITIUS(CN2012/151, (FEDER)) and GPC2013/040 (FEDER)S

    Mineralogical and petrographic characterization of the Cerrillo Blanco Iberian sculptures

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    This research was funded by the following projects: (ECODIGICOLOR), grant number TED2021‑132023B‑I00, supported MCIN/AEI /http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and Unión Europea NextGenerationEU/ PRTR (Proyectos estratégicos orientados a la transición ecológica y digital) and project “Aplicación avanzada de las algas procedentes de la Alhambra y el Generalife en técnicas artísticas y de conservación‑restauración, (FICOARTE2), grant number P18‑FR‑4477, supported by Consejería de Universidad, Investigacion e Innovación, Junta de Andalucía, Programa FEDER, “Andalucía se mueve con Europa”, Grant PID2020‑113022GB‑I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”, by the “European Union”.The archaeological heritage at Cerrillo Blanco (Porcuna, Spain) is made up of 27 sculptural ensembles and hundreds of fragments dated between the seventh and second centuries BC. They represent a fundamental milestone in Iberian art and culture. Despite their relevance, no scientific studies have been carried out to date in order to fully understand the materials, intentions and techniques that led to their creation. This is a study carried out on original pieces from the Archaeological Museum of Jaen using stereoscopic optical microscopy (SOM), polarised optical microscopy (POM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray analysis (FESEM-EDX) and spectrophotometry (SF). The results obtained provide new information on the material composition of this important legacy of the Iberian civilization as well as its main alteration factors.MCIN/AEI TED2021-132023B-I00, PID2020-113022GB-I00Unión Europea NextGenerationEU/ PRTR TED2021-132023B-I00Junta de Andalucía, FEDER, "Andalucía se mueve con Europa" P18-FR-4477"ERDF A way of making Europe" Unión Europea PID2020-113022GB-I0

    Cardiovascular fitness in youth: association with obesity and metabolic abnormalities.

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    Therapies currently implemented for obesity are focused on nutritional aspects and on physical activity. In order to make physical activity a positive therapy instead of triggering disabilities it is relevant to accurately assess cardiovascular fitness. Objective: To assess the cardiovascular fitness by measuring the peak oxygen consumption and to asses their relationship with classical cardiometabolic parameters. Methods: A modified Balke protocol was applied to one hundred and twenty-six Caucasians (60% males),ranging between 9 and 16 years old, who underwent an assessment of obesity. The non-obese group consisted of healthy age and sex matched subjects who were invited to participate from the general population. Results: Significant differences in consumption of oxygen peak between non-obese and obese individuals were observed. In contrast, no significant differences existed between the categories of obesity. Furthermore in obese subjects consumption of oxygen peak was inversely correlated with parameters of cardiometabolic risk,particularly insulin and HOMA index. In addition, two predictive equations of consumption of oxygen peak, with an R2 of 0.74 and 0.84, respectively, have been developed. Conclusion: The consumption of oxygen peak is a relevant clinical parameter that should be included in the routine clinical assessment of obese subjects. Therefore, it is crucial to make exercise tests more affordable which can be achieved by employing predictive equations Las terapias que se implantan actualmente para la obesidad se centran en los aspectos nutricionales y sobre la actividad física. Con el fin de hacer que la actividad física sea una terapia positiva en vez de un desencadenador de discapacidades, es relevante evaluar de forma precisa el entrenamiento cardiovascular. Objetivo: evaluar el entrenamiento cardiovascular midiendo el consumo máximo de oxígeno y evaluar su relación con los parámetros cardiometabólicos clásicos. Métodos: se aplicó el protocolo modificado de Balke a 126 individuos caucásicos (60 % de varones), con edades entre 9 y 16 años, que se sometieron a una evaluación de obesidad. El grupo de no obesos consistía de individuos sanos, de la población general, emparejados por edad y sexo y a los que se les invitó a participar. Resultados: se observaron diferencias significativas en el consumo máximo de oxígeno entre los indiviudos obesos y no obesos. Por contra, no existían diferencias significativas entre las categorías de obesidad. Además, en los sujetos obesos, el consumo máximo de oxígeno se correlacionó de forma inversa con los parámetros de riesgo cardiometabólico, particularmente con la insulina y el índice HOMA. Además, se han desarrollado dos ecuaciones predictivas del consumo máximo de oxígeno con una R2 de 0,74 y de 0,84, respectivamente. Conclusión: el consumo máximo de oxígeno es un parámetro clínico relevante que debería incluirse en la evaluación clínica rutinaria de los sujetos obesos. Por lo tanto, es crucial hacer que las pruebas de esfuerzo sean más asequibles, que puedan alcanzarse empleando las ecuaciones predictivas

    Use of a Customized Device for Correction of Antebrachial Angular Deformity in a Dog

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    Angular deformity is a common condition in dogs that can cause serious malformations and is a challenge for surgeons to correct. A 15-month- old male Saint Bernard was evaluated due toright foreleg lameness. Orthopedic examination revealed a valgus deformity with external rotation and anteversion of the forelimb. Carpal examination revealedthe decreased range of motion with slight disturbances in carpal flexion. Radiography of both forelimbs showed angular deviation because of possible premature physeal closure of the distal ulnar growth plate.Surgical intervention was selected to correct the angular deformity. A closed-wedge osteotomy was planned using 3D reconstruction, obtained via computed tomography (CT). In order to accomplish this, a custom-made device was developed to aid the surgeon in establishing the position and orientation of the cutting planes during the intervention.Long-term follow-up obtained 3 years after surgery revealed the correct ossification of the osteotomy and complete resolution of lameness. The main advantages of using a customized device obtained from 3D CT include the predictability and accuracy of the method. The device allows for correction of atriple-axis angular long bone deviation, with full opposition between the bone fragments after osteotomy and minor loss of length of the limb.Ciencias Experimentale

    Influence of Concurrent Obesity and Low Birth Weight on Blood Pressure Phenotype in Youth

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    The aim of this study was to assess the impact of obesity and low birth weight on both office and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) values, as well as on aortic-derived parameters in youths. A total of 422 white youths, from 10 to 18 years of age, were included. Subjects were divided into 4 groups according to the presence (234; 55%) or the absence (188; 45%) of obesity and according to low (114; 27%) or normal (308; 73%, birth weight. Spacelabs 90207 was used to measure ambulatory BP during a 24-hour period. SphygmoCor radial/aortic transform software was used to estimate aortic pressure waveform. Office, 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime systolic BP values were significantly higher in those subjects with low birth weight who became obese. The lowest BP values were present in nonobese subjects in the absence of low birth weight. In the middle, with similar BP values, were nonobese subjects with low birth weight and obese subjects in the absence of low birth weight. No interaction existed between obesity and low birth weight in the office (P 0.165) or ambulatory (P 0.603) systolic BP values. Augmentation index, an estimate of the pulse wave reflection, was significantly higher in the nonobese low birth weight group when compared with the other groups after controlling for height, heart rate, and diastolic BP. A significant interaction between low birth weight and obesity (P 0.005) existed. In conclusion, although the low birth weight children who become obese have the highest systolic BP values, the presence of obesity blunts the increment of the reflecting wave observed in low birth weight [email protected] [email protected]

    Tratamiento cognitivo conductual en pacientes con dolor lumbar en salud pública: Estudio piloto

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    Low back pain is a major public health problem due to the physical limitations it produces and the comorbidity with mental problems. The aim of this study was to apply a cognitive behavioral group treatment of six sessions in a public health rehabilitation service, to test its effects on pain, disability, anxiety, depression, fear and avoidance beliefs, catastrophizing, and pain coping strategies. The sample consisted of 5 patients from a public hospital in Valencia diagnosed with low back pain (M = 57 years), who had been suffering pain for an average of 5.9 years. The results showed a reduction of disability, of the use of maladaptive strategies and fear-avoidance beliefs, indicating that psychological aspects have a great impact on low back pain and that it is possible to apply psychological interventions for this condition in the public health system in Spain.El dolor lumbar constituye un grave problema de salud pública por las limitaciones físicas que produce y las psicopatologías asociadas. El objetivo de este estudio fue aplicar un tratamiento cognitivo conductual grupal de seis sesiones en un servicio de rehabilitación de sanidad pública, para comprobar sus efectos sobre: dolor, discapacidad, ansiedad, depresión, creencias sobre miedo y evitación, catastrofización y estrategias de afrontamiento ante el dolor. La muestra consistió en 5 pacientes de un hospital público de Valencia diagnosticados de dolor lumbar (M = 57 años), que habían padecido dolor lumbar durante una media de 5.9 años. Los resultados muestran una reducción en discapacidad, uso de estrategias desadaptativas y creencias de miedo-evitación, lo que indica que los aspectos psicológicos tienen gran impacto en el dolor lumbar y que es posible aplicar terapia psicológica para esta dolencia en el sistema de salud pública en el sistema de salud público español.

    Seguimiento y coordinación del cumplimiento de objetivos de las asignaturas gráficas del Título de Grado de Arquitectura Técnica

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    Este trabajo recoge una nueva participación en Redes de Docencia de los profesores que imparten docencia en las materias gráficas del Grado de Arquitectura Técnica. En el trabajo se reflexiona sobre el cumplimiento de objetivos, los sistemas de evaluación y la metodología docente, todo ello para cada una de las asignaturas así como para el conjunto de los objetivos que tiene asignada el Área de Expresión Gráfica Arquitectónica para la formación de los estudiantes del Grado de Arquitectura Técnica

    Analysis of monitoring programmes and their suitability for ecotoxicological risk assessment in four Spanish basins

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    Data from four Spanish basin management authorities were analysed. Chemical and biological data from four Spanish basin management authorities were analysed, focusing on three consecutive years. Aims were to i) determine the chemicals most likely responsible for the environmental toxicological risk in the four Spanish basins and ii) investigate the relationships between toxicological risk and biological status in these catchments. The toxicological risk of chemicals was evaluated using the toxic unit (TU) concept. With these data we considered if the potential risk properly reflects the risk to the community or, alternatively, if new criteria should be developed to improve risk assessment. Data study revealed inadequacies in processing and monitoring that should be improved (e.g., site coincidence for chemical and biological sampling). Analysis of the chemical data revealed high potential toxicological risk in the majority of sampling points, to which metals were the main contributors to this risk. However, clear relationships between biological quality and chemical risk were found only in one river. Further investigation of metal toxicity may be necessary, and future analyses are necessary to accurately estimate the risk to the environment.The present work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economics and Competitiveness through the Consolider-Ingenio 2010 Program (project Scarce CSD2009-00065). The authors would like to acknowledge the Confederacion Hidrografica del Ebro (C. Duran and V. Sanchez-Tello), Confederacion Hidrografica del Guadalquivir (V. Cifuentes), Agenda Andaluza del Agua, Agenda Catalana de l'Aigua (A Munne, L Tirapu) and Confederacion Hidrografica del Jucar (MA Pinon) which kindly provided the monitoring data. Nuria De Castro-Catala holds a predoctoral grant from the University of Barcelona. We would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their suggestions which have improved this manuscript.López Doval, JC.; De Castro Catala, N.; Andrés Doménech, I.; Blasco, J.; Ginebreda, A.; Muñoz, I. (2012). Analysis of monitoring programmes and their suitability for ecotoxicological risk assessment in four Spanish basins. Science of the Total Environment. 440:194-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.07.035S19420344
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