119 research outputs found

    Reversible Tuning of Ca Nanoparticles Embedded in a Superionic CaF2 Matrix

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    ABSTRACT: Controlling the size and shape of metallic colloids is crucial for a number of nanotechnological applications ranging from medical diagnosis to electronics. Yet, achieving tunability of morphological changes at the nanoscale is technically difficult and the structural modifications made on nanoparticles generally are irreversible. Here, we present a simple non-chemical method for controlling the size of metallic colloids in a reversible manner. Our strategy consists on applying hydrostatic pressure on a Ca cationic sublattice embedded in the irradiated matrix of CaF2 containing a large concentration of defects. Application of our method to CaF2 along with in situ optical absorption of the Ca plasmon shows that the radii of the Ca nanoparticles can be reduced with an almost constant rate of −1.2 nm/GPa up to a threshold pressure of ∼ 9.4 GPa. We demonstrate recovery of the original nanoparticles upon decompression of the irradiated matrix. The mechanisms for reversible nanocolloid-size variation are analyzed with first-principles simulations. We show that a pressure-driven increase in the binding energy between fluorine centers is responsible for the observed nanoparticle shrinkage. We argue that the same method can be used to generate other metallic colloids (Li, K, Sr, and Cs) with tailored dimensions by simply selecting an appropriate matrix

    Plasticity in the Echolocation Inventory of Mormopterus minutus (Chiroptera, Molossidae)

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    We recorded the echolocation behavior of the molossid bat Mormopterus minutus, a species that uses a plastic call inventory. During its foraging activity, M. minutus searches for insects emitting rather long and narrow-band echolocation calls. Search call design however, can vary noticeably even in a continuous foraging pass. While echolocating in different flying conditions M. minutus uses several other call designs such as short CF, QCF, FM/QCF, FM and multi-harmonic FM, with or without harmonic overlap, and QCF/FM. Call plasticity characterizes most echolocation sequences, particularly in bats flying in open spaces. Call variation was also influenced by the presence of conspecifics. In those sequences containing echolocation calls from more than one bat, signals from different individuals were reliably identified. In contrast to other small molossids, the call designs in the echolocation inventory of M. minutus show a high level of plasticity. Our results suggest that M. minutus has combined the advantages of emitting several call designs, as shown by molossids, with the advantages of manipulating one signal design as shown by vespertilionids within the same sonar inventory.Peer reviewe

    Characteristic lengths and maximum entropy estimation from probe signals in the ellipsoidal bubble regime

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    The bubble size, surface and volume distributions in two and three phase flows are essential to determine energy and mass transfer processes. The traditional approaches commonly use a conditional probability density function of chordlengths to calculate the bubble size distribution, when the bubble size, shape and velocity are known. However, the approach used in this paper obtains the above distributions from statistical relations, requiring only the moments inferred from the measurements given by a sampling probe. Using image analysis of bubbles injected in a water tank, and placing an ideal probe on the image, a sample of bubble diameter, shape factor and velocity angle are obtained. The samples of the bubble chord-length are synthetically generated from these variables. Thus, we propose a semi-parametric approach based on the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) distribution estimation subjected to a number of moment constraints avoiding the use of the complex backward transformation. Therefore, the method allows us to obtain the distributions in close form. The probability density functions of the most important length scales (D,D20,D30,D32), obtained applying the semi-parametric approach proposed here in the ellipsoidal bubble regime, are compared with experimental measurementsPublicad

    Intramural child burials in Iron Age Navarra: How ancient DNA can contribute to household archaeology

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    The transition from the Late Bronze to the Iron Age on the Iberian Peninsula saw a shift in mortuary customs from mainly inhumation to cremation of the deceased. The poor preservation characteristic of cremated skeletal remains has hindered molecular analyses (isotope analyses, ancient DNA) of the Iberian Final Bronze and Iron Age communities of Iberia. Incidentally, a limited number of young children, often newborns, were exempt from the predominant cremation ritual, in favour of intramural inhumations inside buildings at certain settlements. The discourse surrounding the mean- ing and interpretation of this particular burial rite has developed over a long time in Iberian archaeology but has always been hampered by the limited anthropological, archaeological, and molecular data from these intramural inhumations. Here, we study the genomes of 37 intramurally buried children found in three Early Iron Age settlements, dated between c. 800–450 BC. Population genetic analyses on the newly reported individuals extend our understanding of ancient Iberia by revealing previously unsampled genetic diversity as well as showing a lesser influence of Mediterranean ancestry than on previously published Iron Age individuals from northern Spain. We also provide insights into the sex and biological relatedness of the children, and in so doing, elucidate differ- ent aspects of the intramural burial ritual and building use in settlements. More broadly, the genetic data from these individuals fill an important gap in the archaeogenetic record of northern Spain and offer a unique opportunity to study the genetic makeup and population changes from the Bronze Age to Antiquity.This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement number 851511). It has also been supported by the research project »Convergence and interaction between complex Bronze Age societies« from the Academia program of the Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) of the Catalan Government and the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (PID2020-112909GB-100)

    Pressure-induced band-gap energy increase in a metal iodate

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    A wide band gap is one of the essential requirements for metal iodates to be used as nonlinear optical materials. Usually, the band gap of these materials decreases under the application of pressure. Herein, we introduce a case in which the band-gap energy of a hydrated metal iodate, namely Ca(IO3)2 center dot H2O, has been successfully increased, from 4.52 to 4.92 eV, by applying external pressure without showing signs of saturation upon increasing pres-sure. The pressure-induced nonlinear band-gap opening correlates with the pressure-induced shortening of the I-O bond distances, as obtained from x-ray diffraction measurements. In addition, two pressure-induced isostructural phase transitions are observed in the pressure regions of 6.6-8.0 and 13.0-15.5 GPa. These two isostructural phase transitions cause a nonlinear pressure-induced evolution of the band-gap energy and crystal lattice parameters, as well as the occurrence of several extra peaks and peak splitting in Raman spectra.This study was supported by project MALTA Consolider Team network (RED2018‐102612‐T), financed by MINECO/AEI/10.13039/501100003329, I+D+i project PID2019‐106383GB‐41/42 financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; as well as by projects PROMETEO CIPROM/2021/075 (GREENMAT) and MFA/2022/007 financed by Generalitat Valenciana. A.L. and D.E. thank the Generalitat Valenciana for the Ph.D. Fellowship No. GRISOLIAP/2019/025. R.T. and D.E. thank the Generalitat Valenciana for the postdoctoral Fellowship No. CIAPOS/2021/20. The authors also thank ALBA synchrotron light source for funded experiment under proposal number AV-2021095390 at the MSPD-BL04 beamline

    Taquipnea transitoria del recién nacido en el Hospital General Docente "Ciro Redondo García". Artemisa 2009

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    Entre 40-50 % de los casos con síndrome de dificultad respiratoria (SDR)evolucionan como una Taquipnea Transitoria (TTRN). Se realizó un estudioretrospectivo descriptivo, con el objetivo de conocer el comportamiento de la(TTRN) en la Unidad de Cuidados Especiales de Neonatología (UCEN) del HospitalGeneral Docente "Ciro Redondo García", en el período comprendido enero 2008hasta diciembre 2009. El universo fue 113 recién nacidos (RN) con SDR y 72constituyeron la muestra con diagnóstico de (TTRN) por un muestreo noprobabilístico. Se confeccionó un formulario y se recogieron variables relacionadascon el parto y examen físico del RN. Los datos se procesaron estadísticamente porel sistema Excel. Aproximadamente 3 de cada 4 RN con (TT) nacen por cesárea, atérmino, del sexo masculino, normopesos, conteo de apgar normal y tiempo deevolución inferior a 120 horas. Se concluye que el comportamiento de la TTRN ennuestro servicio resultó elevado.Palabras clave: Síndrome de dificultad respiratoria (SDR), recién nacidos (RN),Taquipnea Transitoria del recién nacido (TTRN)

    Detection of rhabdovirus viral RNA in oropharyngeal swabs and ectoparasites of spanish bats

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    Rhabdoviruses infect a variety of hosts, including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects and plants. As bats are the natural host for most members of the genus Lyssavirus, the specificity of the amplification methods used for active surveillance is usually restricted to lyssaviruses. However, the presence of other rhabdoviruses in bats has also been reported. In order to broaden the scope of such methods, a new RT-PCR, able to detect a diverse range of rhabdoviruses, was designed. The method detected 81 of 86 different rhabdoviruses. In total, 1488 oropharyngeal bat swabs and 38 nycteribiid samples were analysed, and 17 unique rhabdovirus-related sequences were detected. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that those sequences detected in bats did not constitute a monophyletic group, even when originating from the same bat species. However, all of the sequences detected in nycteribiids and one sequence obtained from a bat did constitute a monophyletic group with Drosophila melanogaster sigma rhabdovirus. © 2013 Crown.Peer Reviewe
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