Estudio de las estructuras sedimentarias de la caliza de montaña de la playa de San Pedro (Asturias)

La serie de la caliza de Montaña que aflora en la Playa de San Pedro, consta de unos 112 m de calizas de tonalidad gris oscuro en la base (unos 70 m) que se hace más claro hacia el techo. Una descripción litológica detallada de la serie puede verse en la columna estratigráfica de la fig. 1. Esta serie se apoya sobre la caliza griotte de edad viseense que constituye la base del carbonífero de esta región. Por encima se sitúa una serie de tipo flysch

Sensing properties of ITO coated optical fibers to diverse VOCs

AbstractIndium tin oxide ITO-coated optical fibers have been very recently presented as lossy mode resonance (LMR) based refractometers as well as a label-free optical fiber sensing platform. Here, ITO coated optical fiber devices are used for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These devices are immune to optical power variations due to their wavelengthbased detection technique. More precisely, the sensitivity of these devices to fixed concentrations of ethanol, acetone and methanol has been studied. Furthermore, the cross-sensitivity with temperature and relative humidity (RH) has been addressed

Route Towards a Label-free Optical Waveguide Sensing Platform Based on Lossy Mode Resonances

According to recent market studies of the North American company Allied Market Research, the field of photonic sensors is an emerging strategic field for the following years and it is expected to garner $18 billion by 2021. The integration of micro and nanofabrication technologies in the field of sensors has allowed the development of new technological concepts such as lab-on-a-chip, which have achieved extraordinary advances in terms of detection and applicability, for example in the field of biosensors. This continuous development has allowed that equipment consisting of many complex devices that occupied a whole room a few years ago, at present it is possible to handle them in the palm of the hand; that formerly long duration processes are carried out in a matter of milliseconds and that a technology previously dedicated solely to military or scientific uses is available to the vast majority of consumers. The adequate combination of micro and nanostructured coatings with optical fiber sensors has permitted us to develop novel sensing technologies, such as the first experimental demonstration of lossy mode resonances (LMRs) for sensing applications, with more than one hundred citations and related publications in high rank journals and top conferences. In fact, fiber optic LMR-based devices have been proven as devices with one of the highest sensitivity for refractometric applications. Refractive index sensitivity is an indirect and simple indicator of how sensitive the device is to chemical and biological species, topic where this proposal is focused. Consequently, the utilization of these devices for chemical and biosensing applications is a clear opportunity that could open novel and interesting research lines and applications as well as simplify current analytical methodologies. As a result, on the basis of our previous experience with LMR based sensors to attain very high sensitivities, the objective of this paper is presenting the route for the development of label-free optical waveguide sensing platform based on LMRs that enable to explore the limits of this technology for bio-chemosensing applications

Perceived feasibility of computer-generated auralization in concert halls

Over the years auralization has become a useful tool for simulating and evaluating the listening experience in virtual environments. Psychoacoustic phenomena, embodied by the human hearing system, highly determine the accuracy of sound-field recreation that is required for seemingly feasible auralization. In this scenario, the main aim of this study is to assess the suitability of computer-generated room impulse responses when used for auralizing spaces. To this purpose, simulated and experimentally measured binaural room impulse responses (BRIRs) have been convolved with iconic musical excerpts for various representative seats within a medium-sized concert hall. Listening tests have been thereby conducted and their results will be shown, analyzed and discussedEn estos últimos años, la auralización se ha convertido en una herramienta útil para la simulación y evaluación de la experiencia del oyente en entornos virtuales. En este ámbito, son de especial importancia los aspectos psicológicos y perceptivos, derivados del funcionamiento del sistema auditivo y del cerebro humanos, que determinan la precisión que se requiere para una recreación aparentemente creíble del campo sonoro. En este contexto, el principal objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la validez de respuestas al impulso de la sala generadas por ordenador para su utilización en la auralización de espacios. Con este propósito, para algunas localidades representativas de una sala de conciertos de tamaño medio, se han convolucionado varias respuestas al impulso binaurales (BRIRs), simuladas y medidas experimentalmente, con fragmentos musicales conocidos. Con los datos obtenidos, se han llevado a cabo pruebas de audición, cuyos resultados se presentan, analizan y discuten en esta comunicació

Tunable Sensitivity in Long Period Fiber Gratings During Mode Transition With Low Refractive Index Intermediate Layer

Double-clad fibers where the second cladding has a lower refractive index than the first cladding, prove to be ideal structures for potentiating and tuning the sensitivity in long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) operating in mode transition. When a thin film is deposited on the optical fiber, the second cladding performs acts as a barrier that initially prevents the transition to guidance in the thin film of one of the modes guided in the first cladding. Finally, the transition to guidance occurs with a sensitivity increase, in analogy to the tunnel effect observed in semiconductors. This improvement has been demonstrated both as a function of the thin film thickness and the surrounding medium refractive index, with enhancement factors of 4 and 2, respectively. This idea reinforces the performance of LPFGs, adding a new degree of freedom to the mode transition and the dispersion turning point phenom- ena. Moreover, the control of the variation of the effective index of cladding modes could be applied in other structures, such as tilted-fiber gratings or evanescent wave sensors

An OPR3-independent pathway uses 4,5-didehydrojasmonate for jasmonate synthesis.

Biosynthesis of the phytohormone jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) requires reduction of the JA precursor 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) by OPDA reductase 3 (OPR3). Previous analyses of the opr3-1 Arabidopsis mutant suggested an OPDA signaling role independent of JA-Ile and its receptor COI1; however, this hypothesis has been challenged because opr3-1 is a conditional allele not completely impaired in JA-Ile biosynthesis. To clarify the role of OPR3 and OPDA in JA-independent defenses, we isolated and characterized a loss-of-function opr3-3 allele. Strikingly, opr3-3 plants remained resistant to necrotrophic pathogens and insect feeding, and activated COI1-dependent JA-mediated gene expression. Analysis of OPDA derivatives identified 4,5-didehydro-JA in wounded wild-type and opr3-3 plants. OPR2 was found to reduce 4,5-didehydro-JA to JA, explaining the accumulation of JA-Ile and activation of JA-Ile-responses in opr3-3 mutants. Our results demonstrate that in the absence of OPR3, OPDA enters the β-oxidation pathway to produce 4,5-ddh-JA as a direct precursor of JA and JA-Ile, thus identifying an OPR3-independent pathway for JA biosynthesis

Factores y actores de la europeización de la política antiterrorista : el caso de España (2001-2004)

La europeización de la lucha antiterrorista ha sido fundamental para configurar las medidas de seguridad en la Unión Europea, especialmente después de los atentados del 11 de septiembre de 2001. Este estudio analiza los factores que determinan la cooperación antiterrorista en la UE, utilizando un marco teórico basado en la cooperación internacional y la europeización se diferencian tres fases: embrionaria, nacimiento y desarrollo. Con un enfoque en el papel de España entre 2001 y 2004, este trabajo pretende explicar el liderazgo del gobierno de Aznar en la europeización de la lucha antiterrorista mientras su política exterior se caracterizaba por atlantista. Los resultados reflejan dos percepciones distintas del terrorismo: una amenaza externa y otra interna. Así, se concluye el papel desempeñado por Aznar como clave en el nacimiento de la europeización de la política antiterrorista española mediante la proyección de intereses nacionales no necesariamente europeístas.La europeïtzació de la lluita antiterrorista ha estat fonamental per a la configuració de les mesures de seguretat a la Unió Europea, especialment després dels atemptats de l'11 de setembre de 2001. Aquest estudi analitza els factors que determinen la cooperació antiterrorista a la UE, utilitzant un marc teòric basat en la cooperació internacional i la europeïtzació, diferenciant tres fases: embrionària, naixement i desenvolupament. Amb un enfocament en el paper d'Espanya entre 2001 i 2004, aquest treball pretén explicar el lideratge del govern d'Aznar en la europeïtzació de la lluita antiterrorista mentre la seva política exterior es caracteritzava per l'atlantisme. Els resultats reflecteixen dues percepcions diferents del terrorisme: una amenaça externa i una altra d'interna. Així, es conclou que el paper d'Aznar va ser clau en el naixement de la europeïtzació de la política antiterrorista espanyola mitjançant la projecció d'interessos nacionals no necessàriament europeistes.The Europeanization of the fight against terrorism has been fundamental in shaping security measures in the European Union, especially after the September 11, 2001 attacks. This study analyzes the factors that determine counter-terrorism cooperation in the EU, using a theoretical framework based on international cooperation and Europeanization, distinguishing three phases: embryonic, birth, and development. Focusing on Spain's role between 2001 and 2004, this work aims to explain the leadership of Aznar's government in the Europeanization of the fight against terrorism while its foreign policy was characterized by Atlanticism. The results reflect two distinct perceptions of terrorism: an external threat and an internal threat. Thus, the role played by Aznar is concluded to be key in the birth of the Europeanization of Spanish counter-terrorism policy through the projection of national interests that are not necessarily Europeanist

Effect of water stress during grain filling on yield, quality and physiological traits of illpa and rainbow quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) cultivars

The total area under quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) cultivation and the consumption of its grain have increased in recent years because of its nutritional properties and ability to grow under adverse conditions, such as drought. Climate change scenarios predict extended periods of drought and this has emphasized the need for new crops that are tolerant to these conditions. The main goal of this work was to evaluate crop yield and quality parameters and to characterize the physiology of two varieties of quinoa grown under water deficit in greenhouse conditions. Two varieties of quinoa from the Chilean coast (Rainbow) and altiplano (Illpa) were used, grown under full irrigation or two different levels of water deficit applied during the grain filling period. There were no marked differences in yield and quality parameters between treatments, but the root biomass was higher in plants grown under severe water deficit conditions compared to control. Photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance decreased with increased water stress in both cultivars, but the coastal variety showed higher water use efficiency and less discrimination of C-13 under water deficit. This response was associated with greater root development and a better stomatal opening adjustment, especially in the case of Rainbow

Ligand-receptor co-evolution shaped the jasmonate pathway in land plants

The phytohormone jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) regulates defense, growth and developmental responses in vascular plants. Bryophytes have conserved sequences for all JA-Ile signaling pathway components but lack JA-Ile. We show that, in spite of 450 million years of independent evolution, the JA-Ile receptor COI1 is functionally conserved between the bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha and the eudicot Arabidopsis thaliana but COI1 responds to different ligands in each species. We identified the ligand of Marchantia MpCOI1 as two isomeric forms of the JA-Ile precursor dinor-OPDA (dinor-cis-OPDA and dinor-iso-OPDA). We demonstrate that AtCOI1 functionally complements Mpcoi1 mutation and confers JA-Ile responsiveness and that a single-residue substitution in MpCOI1 is responsible for the evolutionary switch in ligand specificity. Our results identify the ancestral bioactive jasmonate and clarify its biosynthetic pathway, demonstrate the functional conservation of its signaling pathway, and show that JA-Ile and COI1 emergence in vascular plants required co-evolution of hormone biosynthetic complexity and receptor specificity