Ultra-thin 3D silicon sensors for neutron detection

We present a novel neutron detector based on an ultra-thin 3D silicon sensor with a sensitive volume only 10 µm thick. This ultra-thin active volume allows a high gamma-ray rejection, a key requirement in order to discriminate the signal coming from the neutrons in a mixed neutron-gamma ray environment. The device upper-side is covered with a novel boron-based compound that detects neutrons by means of the 10B(n,α)7Li nuclear reaction. The performance of test devices has been investigated first with a gamma-ray source to evaluate the gamma-ray rejection factor, and then with an 241AmBe neutron source to assess the neutron-gamma ray discrimination properties.Peer reviewe

Why universities and scientific world should stay away from the tobacco industry. Journey in Big Tobacco deception

Universities are institutions dedicated to improving life through the research and dissemination of knowledge. They facilitates the "peer to peer" communication among young people; the acquisition of knowledge and skills to improve personal and community health; the propagation of healthy lifestyles through the emulation of behavior. Tobacco industry, through commercial policies, enlist young people and transform them, through dependence, into "loyal customers" for many years. The recent introduction of the "reduced risk" products, (the so-called "cold smoke" for example), are a threat for young people who might underestimate the dangers, not even completely known by the experts. Universities and Scientific world that turn a blind eye to tobacco market, accepting the advantages offered by grants and donations from tobacco industry, become accomplices in spreading the "tobacco epidemic" because the funding comes directly from the sale of tobacco products. This "dirty" money causes illness, suffering and death. Universities are invested with an important ethical responsibility to help the world reduce and eliminate the tobacco epidemic, with research, training and information. Universities should have a policy statement that specifically prohibits academic bodies from accepting tobacco industry funding including grant funding. In the U.S.A. several scientific journals no longer publish tobacco industry- supported researches

Gestión de inventarios para mejorar la productividad de la empresa comercial negocios Omega S.R.L

La investigación contó con el siguiente objetivo general: Elaborar una propuesta de un sistema de gestión de inventarios que permita mejorar la productividad de la empresa comercial negocios Omega S.R.L. El tipo de investigación fue aplicada, con un diseño experimental, en donde se contó con el objeto de estudio, representado por la gestión de inventarios de la empresa Comercial Negocios OMEGA S.R.L. Los resultados señalaron que la productividad inicial alcanzada fue de 138.50% acumulado entre los diferentes tipos de pedidos que la empresa entrega, en donde la consecuencia de la aplicación de la propuesta de compensación, se pudo registrar un total de 242.90% de productividad por dimensión de pedido, contando con un total de inversión de S/ 46 337.00, en donde se alcanzó a contar con un valor de VAN de S/130 311.00 en relación con los ingresos alcanzados. Así mismo, para el caso del TIR, se evidenció una valoración del 49.00% y en cuanto al B/C, el valor alcanzado fue de S/2.81. Mientras que se concluyó que la mejora de la eficiencia, después de la aplicación de mejora incorporada en el área de estudio fue del 83% para los productos pequeños, un 87% para los productos de dimensión mediana y un 92% para los productos de dimensiones grandes.TesisInfraestructura, Tecnología y Medio Ambient

Analysis of the upconversion emission of yttrium orthoaluminate nanoperovskite co-doped with Er3+/Yb3+ ions for thermal sensing applications

[EN] The upconversion emissions of yttrium orthoaluminate nano-perovskite co-doped with Er3+/Yb3+ have been studied. Strong green and red upconversion emissions, which can be observed by naked eyes, were observed when exciting the sample at 980 nm. In particular, the green band was monitored as a function of temperature and the obtained results suggest that this nano-perovskite can be used as an optical temperature sensor by exciting in the infrared range. The viability of YAP: Er3+/Yb3+ nano-perovskite in laser heating applications has been tested and discussed.This research was partially supported MINECO (MAT2013-46649-C4-2/4-P, MAT2015-71070-REDC, and MAT2016-75586-C4-2/4-P), and by the EU-FEDER. M.A. Hernández-Rodríguez thanks to MINECO for FPI grant (BES-2014-068666).Hernández-Rodríguez, M.; Lozano-Gorrín, A.; Lavin, V.; Rodriguez-Mendoza, U.; Martin, I.; Manjón, F. (2018). Analysis of the upconversion emission of yttrium orthoaluminate nanoperovskite co-doped with Er3+/Yb3+ ions for thermal sensing applications. Journal of Luminescence. 202:316-321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2018.05.078S31632120

The role of heart rate on the associations between body composition and heart rate variability in children with overweight/obesity : the ActiveBrains project

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is negatively associated with body mass index and adiposity in several populations. However, less information is available about this association in children with overweight and obesity, especially severe/morbid obesity, taking into consideration the dependence of HRV on heart rate (HR). Objectives: (1) to examine associations between body composition measures and HRV, (2) to study differences in HRV between children with overweight and severe/morbid obesity; and (3) to test whether relationships and differences tested in objectives 1 and 2, respectively are explained by the dependency of HRV on HR. Methods: A total of 107 children with overweight/obesity (58% boys, 10.03 +/- 1.13 years) participated in this study. Body composition measures were evaluated by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). HRV parameters were measured with Polar RS800CXR (R). Results: Body composition measures were negatively associated with HRV indicators of parasympathetic activity (beta values ranging from -0.207 to -0.307, all p 0.05). Conclusion: All associations between adiposity/obesity and HRV could be explained by HR, suggesting a key confounding role of HR in HRV studies in children with weight disturbances

A novel validated assay to support the discovery of new anti-malarial gametocytocidal agents

Additional file 1. Graphical representation of the expression of 12 selected genes throughout the 30 days of gametocytogenesis. Y-axis shows the gene expression represented as (Ctgene−Ct18S rRNA)Ttime × −(Ctgene−Ct18S rRNA)T0, considering the time 0 as the basal expression. Although only the gametocytogenesis during 30 days is presented, similar results were obtained from day 0 to day 15 in both assays

Aprendizaje basado en proyectos interuniversitarios y entre titulaciones para la adquisición de competencias transversales y específicas

La enseñanza universitaria, tal y como dicta el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, se ha centrado en la formación mediante competencias (Ibarra Sáiz & Rodríguez Gómez, 2010). Dichas competencias transversales o específicas están presentes a lo largo de la trayectoria universitaria del alumnado en las diferentes asignaturas que componen cada una de las titulaciones. En los últimos años, se ha observado un gran auge de diferentes metodologías que abordan la adquisición de competencias desde diversos ámbitos, como pueden ser la gamificación (Soto-Hidalgo, Martínez-Rojas, Alonso, & Gámez, 2019) o el aprendizaje basado en proyectos (ABP) (Naranjo S, Alice., & Correa Lemus, Freddy, 2020). Es en este contexto, se propone una metodología basado en el ABP, que se puede focalizar desde un punto de vista colaborativo (Jarauta Borrasca, B., 2014). Esta metodología pone en valor los conocimientos de los alumnos de diferentes titulaciones, incluso universidades, colaborando entre sí mediante equipos de trabajo interdisciplinares para generar proyectos y resolver un problema real. Así, los alumnos se encuentran ante la necesidad de aplicar los conocimientos adquiridos y ser capaces de entenderse con miembros de un equipo de trabajo sin ser expertos en la materia del otro.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Structural, Vibrational, and Elastic Properties of Yttrium Orthoaluminate Nanoperovskite at High Pressures

"This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://pubs.acs.org/page/policy/articlesonrequest/index.html."[EN] The structural and vibrational properties of nanocrystalline yttrium orthoaluminate perovskite (YAlO3) under compression have been experimentally studied. Experimental results have been compared to ab initio simulations of. bulk YAlO3, in the framework of the density functional theory. Furthermore, they have been complemented with an ab initio study of its elastic properties at different pressures. Calculated total and partial phonon density of states have allowed us to understand the contribution of the different atoms and structural units, YO12 dodecahedra and AlO6 octahedra, to the vibrational modes. The calculated infrared-active modes and their pressure dependence are also reported. Finally, the pressure dependences of the, elastic constants and the mechanical stability of the perovskite structure have been analyzed in detail, showing that this phase is mechanically stable until 92 GPa. In fact, experimental results up to 30 GPa show no evidence of any phase transition. A previously proposed possible phase transition in YAlO3 above 80 GPa is also discussed.This research was partially supported by MINECO (MAT2013-46649-C4-2/3/4-P, MAT2015-71070-REDC, and MAT2016-75586-C4-2/3/4-P) and by EU-FEDER funds. M.A.H.-R. thanks MINECO for an FPI grant (BES-2014-068666).Hernández-Rodríguez, M.; Monteseguro, V.; Lozano-Gorrín, A.; Manjón, F.; González-Platas, J.; Rodríguez-Hernández, P.; Muñoz, A.... (2017). Structural, Vibrational, and Elastic Properties of Yttrium Orthoaluminate Nanoperovskite at High Pressures. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 121(28):15353-15367. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b04245S15353153671212

Chemical pressure effects on the spectroscopic properties of Nd3+-doped gallium nano-garnets

[EN] Nd3+-doped RE3Ga5O12 (RE = Gd, Y, and Lu) nano-crystalline garnets of 40-45 nm in size have been synthesized by a sol-gel method. With the decrease of the RE atom size, the chemical pressure related to the decreasing volumes of the GaO4 tetrahedral, GaO6 octahedral and REO8 dodecahedral units drive the nano-garnets toward a more compacted structure, which is evidenced by the change of the vibrational phonon mode frequencies. The chemical pressure also increases the crystal-field strength felt by the RE3+ ions while decreases the orthorhombic distortion of the REO8 local environment. These effects alter the absorption and emission properties of the Nd3+ ion measured in the near-infrared luminescence range from 0.87 to 1.43 ¿m associated with the 4 F3/2¿4 IJ (J = 9/2, 11/2, 13/2) transitions. The 4 F3/2 luminescence decay curves show non-exponential behavior due to dipole-dipole energy transfer interactions among Nd3+ ions that increases with pressure.Authors are grateful to The Governments of Spain and India for the Indo-Spanish Joint Programme of Bilateral Cooperation in Science and Technology (PRI-PIBIN-2011-1153/DST-INT-Spain-P-38-11). Dr. Venkatramu is grateful to DAE-BRNS, Government of India for the award of DAE Research Award for Young Scientist (No. 2010/20/34/5/BRNS/2223). This work have been partially supported by MINECO under The National Program of Materials (MAT2013-46649-C4-2-P/-3-P/-4-P), The Consolider-Ingenio 2010 Program (MALTA CSD2007-00045), by Fundacion CajaCanarias (ENER-01), and by the EU-FEDER funds. V. Monteseguro wishes to thank MICINN for the FPI grant (BES-2011-044596). Authors also thank Agencia Canaria de Investigacion, Innovacion y Sociedad de la Informacion for the funds given to Universidad de La Laguna, co-financed by The European Social Fund by a percentage of 85%.Monteseguro, V.; Rathaiah, M.; Linganna, K.; Lozano-Gorrin, AD.; Hernandez-Rodriguez, MA.; Martin, IR.; Babu, P.... (2015). Chemical pressure effects on the spectroscopic properties of Nd3+-doped gallium nano-garnets. Optical Materials Express. 5(8):1661-1673. https://doi.org/10.1364/OME.5.001661S1661167358Pollnau, M., Hardman, P. ., Clarkson, W. ., & Hanna, D. . (1998). Upconversion, lifetime quenching, and ground-state bleaching in Nd3+:LiYF4. Optics Communications, 147(1-3), 203-211. doi:10.1016/s0030-4018(97)00524-5Brandle, C. D., & Barns, R. L. (1974). Crystal stoichiometry of Czochralski grown rare-earth gallium garnets. Journal of Crystal Growth, 26(1), 169-170. doi:10.1016/0022-0248(74)90223-1Venkatramu, V., Giarola, M., Mariotto, G., Enzo, S., Polizzi, S., Jayasankar, C. K., … Speghini, A. (2010). Nanocrystalline lanthanide-doped Lu3Ga5O12garnets: interesting materials for light-emitting devices. Nanotechnology, 21(17), 175703. doi:10.1088/0957-4484/21/17/175703Speghini, A., Piccinelli, F., & Bettinelli, M. (2011). Synthesis, characterization and luminescence spectroscopy of oxide nanopowders activated with trivalent lanthanide ions: The garnet family. Optical Materials, 33(3), 247-257. doi:10.1016/j.optmat.2010.10.039Krsmanović, R., Morozov, V. A., Lebedev, O. I., Polizzi, S., Speghini, A., Bettinelli, M., & Tendeloo, G. V. (2007). Structural and luminescence investigation on gadolinium gallium garnet nanocrystalline powders prepared by solution combustion synthesis. Nanotechnology, 18(32), 325604. doi:10.1088/0957-4484/18/32/325604Naccache, R., Vetrone, F., Speghini, A., Bettinelli, M., & Capobianco, J. A. (2008). Cross-Relaxation and Upconversion Processes in Pr3+ Singly Doped and Pr3+/Yb3+ Codoped Nanocrystalline Gd3Ga5O12: The Sensitizer/Activator Relationship. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 112(20), 7750-7756. doi:10.1021/jp711494dAntic-Fidancev, E., Hölsä, J., Lastusaari, M., & Lupei, A. (2001). Dopant-host relationships in rare-earth oxides and garnets doped with trivalent rare-earth ions. Physical Review B, 64(19). doi:10.1103/physrevb.64.195108Rodríguez-Carvajal, J. (1993). Recent advances in magnetic structure determination by neutron powder diffraction. Physica B: Condensed Matter, 192(1-2), 55-69. doi:10.1016/0921-4526(93)90108-iMonteseguro, V., Rodríguez-Hernández, P., Ortiz, H. M., Venkatramu, V., Manjón, F. J., Jayasankar, C. K., … Muñoz, A. (2015). Structural, elastic and vibrational properties of nanocrystalline lutetium gallium garnet under high pressure. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 17(14), 9454-9464. doi:10.1039/c4cp05903dRay, S., León-Luis, S. F., Manjón, F. J., Mollar, M. A., Gomis, Ó., Rodríguez-Mendoza, U. R., … Lavín, V. (2014). Broadband, site selective and time resolved photoluminescence spectroscopic studies of finely size-modulated Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphors synthesized by a complex based precursor solution method. Current Applied Physics, 14(1), 72-81. doi:10.1016/j.cap.2013.07.027Nekvasil, V. (1978). The Crystal Field for Nd3+ in Garnets. Physica Status Solidi (b), 87(1), 317-323. doi:10.1002/pssb.2220870137Rodríguez-Mendoza, U. R., León-Luis, S. F., Muñoz-Santiuste, J. E., Jaque, D., & Lavín, V. (2013). Nd3+-doped Ca3Ga2Ge3O12garnet: A new optical pressure sensor. Journal of Applied Physics, 113(21), 213517. doi:10.1063/1.4809217Kaminska, A., Buczko, R., Paszkowicz, W., Przybylińska, H., Werner-Malento, E., Suchocki, A., … Saxena, S. (2011). Merging of the4F3/2level states of Nd3+ions in the photoluminescence spectra of gadolinium-gallium garnets under high pressure. Physical Review B, 84(7). doi:10.1103/physrevb.84.075483Allik, T. H., Stewart, S. A., Sardar, D. K., Quarles, G. J., Powell, R. C., Morrison, C. A., … Pinto, A. A. (1988). Preparation, structure, and spectroscopic properties ofNd3+:{La1−xLux}3[Lu1−yGay]2Ga3O12crystals. Physical Review B, 37(16), 9129-9139. doi:10.1103/physrevb.37.9129Wu, K., Yao, B., Zhang, H., Yu, H., Wang, Z., Wang, J., & Jiang, M. (2010). Growth and properties of Nd:Lu3Ga5O12 laser crystal by floating-zone method. Journal of Crystal Growth, 312(24), 3631-3636. doi:10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2010.09.029Jia, Z., Arcangeli, A., Tao, X., Zhang, J., Dong, C., Jiang, M., … Tonelli, M. (2009). Efficient Nd3+→Yb3+ energy transfer in Nd3+,Yb3+:Gd3Ga5O12 multicenter garnet crystal. Journal of Applied Physics, 105(8), 083113. doi:10.1063/1.3115442Guillot-Noel, O., Bellamy, B., Viana, B., & Gourier, D. (1999). Correlation between rare-earth oscillator strengths and rare-earth–valence-band interactions in neodymium-dopedYMO4(M=V,P, As),Y3Al5O12,andLiYF4matrices. Physical Review B, 60(3), 1668-1677. doi:10.1103/physrevb.60.1668Demidovich, A. A., Shkadarevich, A. P., Danailov, M. B., Apai, P., Gasmi, T., Gribkovskii, V. P., … Batay, L. E. (1998). Comparison of cw laser performance of Nd:KGW, Nd:YAG, Nd:BEL, and Nd:YVO 4 under laser diode pumping. Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics, 67(1), 11-15. doi:10.1007/s003400050467Inokuti, M., & Hirayama, F. (1965). Influence of Energy Transfer by the Exchange Mechanism on Donor Luminescence. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 43(6), 1978-1989. doi:10.1063/1.1697063Lupei, V., & Lupei, A. (2000). Emission dynamics of the4F3/2level ofNd3+in YAG at low pump intensities. Physical Review B, 61(12), 8087-8098. doi:10.1103/physrevb.61.8087Maeda, K., Wada, N., Umino, M., Abe, M., Takada, Y., Nakano, N., & Kuroda, H. (1984). Concentration Dependence of Fluorescence Lifetime of Nd3+-Doped Gd3Ga5O12Lasers. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 23(Part 2, No. 10), L759-L760. doi:10.1143/jjap.23.l759Geusic, J. E., Marcos, H. M., & Van Uitert, L. G. (1964). LASER OSCILLATIONS IN Nd‐DOPED YTTRIUM ALUMINUM, YTTRIUM GALLIUM AND GADOLINIUM GARNETS. Applied Physics Letters, 4(10), 182-184. doi:10.1063/1.1753928Löhring, J., Nicklaus, K., Kujath, N., & Hoffmann, D. (2007). Diode pumped Nd:YGG laser for direct generation of pulsed 935 nm radiation for water vapour measurements. Solid State Lasers XVI: Technology and Devices. doi:10.1117/12.708220Maunier, C., Doualan, J. L., Moncorgé, R., Speghini, A., Bettinelli, M., & Cavalli, E. (2002). Growth, spectroscopic characterization, and laser performance of Nd:LuVO_4, a new infrared laser material that is suitable for diode pumping. Journal of the Optical Society of America B, 19(8), 1794. doi:10.1364/josab.19.00179

miRNAs and Muscle Stem Cells

Skeletal muscle represents between 30 and 38% of the human body mass. Both the maintenance and repair of adult muscle tissue are directed by satellite cells (SCs). SCs are located beneath the basal lamina of the skeletal muscle myofiber. They are quiescent for most of their life but, in response to physiological stimuli or muscle trauma, they activate, proliferate, and enter the myogenic program via generating myogenic progenitors (myoblasts) that fuse to existing myofibers or de novo myofibers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) play a critical role in regulating muscle regeneration and stem cell behavior. In this chapter, we review the pivotal role in the regulation of SC quiescence, activation, and differentiation in the context of muscular dystrophies