A non-standard shear resonator for the matrix characterization of piezoceramics and its validation study by finite element analysis

Standard shear samples used for piezoceramic characterization lead to underestimation of the piezoelectric shear coefficients due to its dynamical clamping at resonance. This work presents the application of Alemany et al.´s automatic iterative method to the resonance of a non-Standard shear sample, in order to determine the related complex parameters of piezoceramics, thus including losses, from impedance measurements. The matrix of dielectric, elastic and piezoelectric complex parameters that fully characterize a piezoceramic, a 6mm symmetry material, can be obtained from such shear data combined with the application of the method to three other electromechanical resonances, namely: the length extensional mode of long rods or rectangular bars, length poled; the thickness extensional mode of a thin plate or disk, thickness poled, and the radial mode of a thin disk, thickness poled. Shear results are here obtained for non-Standard samples of a commercial Navy type II piezoceramic, solving the underestimation of the coefficients in the Standard shear sample and allowing the improvement of the previously reported characteristic matrix from Standard samples. Three-dimensional Finite Element Analysis (FEA) modelling of the resonances of the three material samples used in the matrix characterization was here accomplished using the improved matrix of dielectric elastic and piezoelectric material coefficients including all losses. The comparison of the experimental resonance spectra of this piezoceramic samples and the FEA results obtained for the elastically, dielectrically and piezoelectrically homogeneous items modelled is here presented and discussed.Peer reviewe

Modification of a Commercial Nanoindentation System for measurement of hysteresis cycles under mechanical load in polycrystalline ferroelectric films

A commercial hardness-tester by nanoindentation was modified to use metallic indenter tips for the measurement of hysteresis cycles of ferroelectric films under mechanical load and with high lateral resolution. A novel semi-automatic charge integrating module was developed to this aim. LabVIEW 8.6 graphical programming environment was used to control the data acquisition system (DAS), the sinusoidal high voltage generator (± 300V) and the charge integrating module in the measurement of the loops. The software also provides data correction due to non-ferroelectric-switching contributions to obtain reliable remanent polarization (Pr) and coercive field (Ec) values. It also displays the loops both in polarization-field (P-E) and current density-field (J-E) modes. The experimental set-up was validated with measurements on dense PZT films (10μm) on platinised Si substrates. Coherent cycles are obtained using the novel semi-automatic charge integrator, the classical Sawyer and Tower circuit and using an electrometer. Under low indentation load causing quasi-elastic strain, the loops do not show any artifact.CSIC-PIE#201060E069Peer reviewe

Analysis of the Inland Port Regionalization Process in Spain

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to analyse and compare the ability of the main Spanish containers ports to penetrate into their inland territory along the last decade. To achieve this goal we firstly identify the inland origin of the container cargo by considering the location of the Spanish companies generating those flows in the peninsula. Then we determine the distribution of flows among the considered ports from 2000 to 2010, setting the boundaries of their hinterlands along that period. Finally we use two indexes to assess the evolution of these hinterlands in a complementary way: by their scope and their homogeneity.Furthermore, considering that the inter-port distribution of the traffic can change according to their composition, we repeat the analysis in a disaggregate way; that is, separately for each one of the main flows (by volume) of the Spanish foreign trade on the basis of the Combined Nomenclature Clasification.The main results show that the port of Valencia is the one whose hinterland has better evolved: by increasing its scope and by reducing its dependency both geographical as by type of flow. They also highlight that the main centres generating the maritime container flows are closer to this port than to the rest. Also these results allow us to conclude that this port regionalization process has not been oblivious to its economic environment but positively influenced by it

Identification of new biomarkers in Prostate Cancer

Trabajo de fin de máster en Bioinformática y Biología ComputacionalBackground Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most heritable tumours as 57% of the interindividual risk is attributed to genetic factors. Germline mutations in DNA damage and repair (DDR) genes have been found in up to 11.8% of men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), but the spectrum and prevalence of these mutations in mCRPC Spanish patients has not been established yet. Methods The germline DNA from two cohorts of mCRPC Spanish patients (419 and 93 from PROREPAIR-B and PRORADIUM) were screened for mutations in 107 and 55 DDR genes, respectively. We also analysed germline variants from the general population included in Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) and CIBERER Spanish Variant Server (CSVS). Computational tools and databases such as ANNOVAR, ClinVar and dbNSFP were used to associate the phenotypic effect of the identified variants, followed by their classification by using the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. We also used Pfam and Interactome3D databases to analyse the distribution of pathogenic variants across protein sequences and three-dimensional structures. Results A total of 72 germline DDR (gDDR) pathogenic mutations were identified in 68 mCRPC patients (16.2%) in PROREPAIR-B, and 13 pathogenic mutations in 14 mCRPC patients (19.4%) in the PRORADIUM cohorts. The most recurrent mutated gene in PROREPAIR-B and PRORADIUM was BRCA2, with a significantly higher prevalence in Spanish cohorts than in the general non-cancer population (CSVS P< .001 and ExAC P < .001). Structural analysis in some of the DDR protein-coding genes affected revels clustering of the pathogenic variants in hotspots for different tumour types. Conclusions The incidence of germline mutations in genes related to the DDR processes in Spanish mCRPC patients is higher than in general non-cancer population, with BRCA2 as the most recurrent mutated gene. We also suggested that BRCA2 could be a key factor for the advance disease

Implementación lista de chequeo de predios productores de leche para consumo humano, encaminado a la certificación de BPG en la finca el Ciprés ubicada en la vereda Las Mercedes, zona rural Usme

La finca El Ciprés, objeto de estudio y análisis en la aplicación de las Buenas Practicas Pecuarias, se encuentra ubicada en la ciudad de Bogotá en los limites de las localidades de Usme y Ciudad Bolívar, vereda las Mercedes. La vereda las Mercedes tiene un área total de 1.355,19 hectáreas la Vereda Limita con norte con la Vereda de Pasquilla, al occidente con el municipio de Soacha, al sur con la Vereda las Margaritas y al oriente con las Veredas Pasquillita y Santa Rosa. (http://www.ciudadbolivar.gov.co/milocalidad/vereda- las-mercedes), durante los diferentes recorridos y visitas a la zona, se evidencia que la mayoría de los ejemplares bovinos encontrados en la zona son de la raza Holstein y Normando. En la zona no se reportan asociaciones de producción o acopio del sector lechero. La finca el Ciprés cuenta con un inventario de 75 animales de la raza Holstein, los cuales se encuentran en los siguientes grupos , 36 hembras en ordeño, 19 hembras secas, 12 novillas de 12 meses aproximadamente, 6 terneras, 1 reproductor y 1 ternero. Su promedio de producción al día son 20 litros.The El Ciprés farm, object of study and analysis in the application of Good Livestock Practices, is located in the city of Bogotá on the limits of the towns of Usme and Ciudad Bolívar, Las Mercedes village.   The Las Mercedes village has a total area of ​​1,355.19 hectares. The village limits to the north with the Pasquilla village, to the west with the municipality of Soacha, to the south with the Las Margaritas village and to the east with the Pasquillita and Santa Rosa villages.   (http://www.ciudadbolivar.gov.co/milocalidad/vereda-las-mercedes), during the different tours and visits to the area, it is evident that the majority of the bovine specimens found in the area are of the Holstein breed and Norman. There are no production or collection associations in the dairy sector reported in the area.   The Ciprés farm has an inventory of 75 animals of the Holstein breed, which are in the following groups: 36 milking females, 19 dry females, 12 heifers approximately 12 months old, 6 calves, 1 breeding stock and 1 calf. Its average production per day is 20 liters

Electrificación de polígono residencial

El polígono se encuentra ubicado en Cartagena. Geométricamente está construido sobre una malla de calles paralelas y perpendiculares. El polígono se estructura en parcelas denominadas con números desde el 1 hasta el 12 y otra parcela destinada a equipamiento, (social y deportivo) como se observará en los planos adjuntos. La superficie total de la urbanización será aproximadamente de 150 km2. se estructurará en tres partes: 1. Diseño de la red de distribución de baja tensión para suministro de energía eléctrica a las viviendas de tipo unifamiliar y colectivo, así como la alimentación de las zona ajardinadas y de equipamientos social y deportivo. 2. Diseños de la Red Subterránea de Medía Tensión para alimentar a los Centros de Transformación. 3. Diseños de los Centros de Transformación necesarios para satisfacer la demanda de Energía Eléctrica del conjunto de la instalación. Además incluye un anexo para el alumbrado público.Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industria

MICROSTRUCTURAL EFFECTS ON THE PHASE TRANSITIONS AND THE THERMAL EVOLUTION OF ELASTIC AND PIEZOELECTRIC PROPERTIES IN HIGHLY DENSE, SUBMICRON-STRUCTURED NaNbO3 CERAMICS

The dielectric, piezoelectric and elastic coefficients, as well as the electromechanical coupling factors, of NaNbO3 submicron-structured ceramics have been obtained by an automatic iterative method from impedance measurements at resonance. Poled thin disks were measured from room temperature up to the depoling one, close to 300ºC. Dielectric thermal behaviour was determined also for unpoled ceramics up to the highest phase transition temperature. Ceramics were processed by hot-pressing from mechanically activated precursors. Microstructural effects on the properties are discussed. The suppression of the classical maximum in dielectric permittivity in unpoled ceramics at the phase transition at 370ºC was found when a bimodal distribution of grain sizes, in which a population of average grain size of 110 nm in between much coarser grains is observed. The appearance of a phase transition at 150ºC took place when Na vacancies are minimized. The occurrence of a non-centrosymmetric, ferroelectric phase, in the unpoled ceramic from room temperature to ~300ºC, highly polarisable resulting in high ferro-piezoelectric properties was also observed in the ceramic which presents grain size below 160 nm. Maximum values of kp=14%, d31=-8.7•10-12 C•N-1 and Np=3772 Hz•m at room temperature, and kp=18%, d31=-25.4•10-12 C•N-1 and Np=3722 Hz•m at 295ºC were achieved in the best processing conditions of the ceramics.Peer reviewe

Late miocene calcareous nannofossils and biostratigraphy of the sw tumaco onshore basin (colombian pacific)

Se presenta el estudio bioestratigráfico semicuantitativo de nanofósiles calcáreos para tres secciones estratigráficas del Mioceno superior de la costa Pacífica de Colombia (SW de la Cuenca Tumaco costa adentro). Para establecer la biocronología de las asociaciones de nanofósiles recuperadas se identificaron las biozonas estándar y se compararon los bioeventos reconocidos con las edades obtenidas en otros estudios (e.g. ODP leg 138, ODP Leg 165). Un total de seis bioeventos fueron reconocidos, incluyendo los primeros registros o lower occurrence (LO) de Amaurolithus primus, Reticulofenestra rotaria, Amaurolithus delicatus, Amaurolithus amplificus y Amaurolithus tricorniculatus, y el último registro o highest occurrence (HO) de Reticulofenestra rotaria. Los resultados sugieren que las secciones abarcan un intervalo de tiempo entre el Tortoniense y el Mesiniense, correspondiente a las biozonas NN11a - NN11b de Martini (1971) y CN9a - CN9b de Okada and Bukry (1980).Fil: Bedoya Agudelo, Erika Lorena. Universidad de Caldas; Colombia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Flores, José Abel. Universidad de Salamanca; EspañaFil: Pardo, Andrés. Universidad de Caldas; Colombi

Substrate influence on the ferroelectric properties of PTCa thin films

[ES] Se han estudiado las propiedades ferroeléctricas de láminas delgadas de titanato de plomo modificado con calcio (Pb0.76Ca0.24)TiO3 (PTCa) preparadas vía sol gel mediante cristalizaciones sucesivas sobre tres tipos de substratos: (A) Pt / Ti / SiO2 / Si (100), (B) Ti / Pt / Ti / SiO2 / Si(100) y (C) Pt / TiO2 / SiO2 /Si (100). Los resultados de la caracterización ferroeléctrica muestran valores del coeficiente piroeléctrico espontáneo entorno a » 5 .10-9 C cm-2 K-1. La baja conmutabilidad de las laminas facilita la estabilización del valor del coeficiente piroeléctrico en el tiempo. Un tratamiento térmico posterior de recocido a 650ºC 1 hora produce cambios en las propiedades ferro-piezoeléctricas que se pueden asociar con modificaciones de la textura en las láminas.[EN] The ferroelectric properties of calcium modified lead titanate (Pb0.76Ca0.24)TiO3 (PTCa) thin films prepared by a sol - gel method with successive crystallisations on three different substrates (A) Pt / Ti / SiO2 / Si (100), (B) Ti / Pt / Ti / SiO2 / Si(100) y (C) Pt / TiO2 / SiO2 /Si (100), have been studied. The results of the ferroelectric characterisation show values of the spontaneous pyroelectric coefficient close to » 5 .10-9 C cm-2 K-1. The low switching properties favour the stabilisation in time of the pyroelectric coefficient value. Alatter annealing thermal treatment (650ºC 1h) produces changes in the ferro - piezoelectric properties that can be related with changes in the texture of the films.Este trabajo ha sido realizado mediante la financiación recibida de los proyectos MAT98 - 1068 (CICYT) y BRPR - CT98 - 0777 (BRITE EURAM de la U.E.).Peer reviewe

Business plan for the sustainable use of cane bagasse in obtaining packages with added value

Plan de negocio que busca crear una empresa en el municipio de Santana - Boyacá, a partir de la producción y comercialización de productos de empaques desechables de uso único para alimentos elaborados con bagazo de caña de azúcar. El proyecto desarrolla plan de negocio, métodos para realizar estudio específico de mercado, estudio técnico, estudio organizacional y financiero hacia el enfoque del desarrollo sostenible en sus tres dimensiones. Como resultado del estudio, se proyecta una formulación viable y favorable para los diferentes grupos de interés, encontrando una producción mensual de 672.000 unidades de los productos planteados. Teniendo en cuenta que los empaques son considerados como productos significativos, puesto que cumplen diversas funciones de protección, transporte, seguridad y bajo impacto en el medio ambiente, se percibe competitividad y valor diferenciador en el mercado, encontrando un 86,7% de interés en la identificación del mercado por el cuidado del medio ambiente. Desde estas ventajas dadas a los clientes, también se origina oportunidad de crecimiento para los proveedores, inversionistas y colaboradores de manera responsable, para un mercado que representa cerca del 40% de envases fabricados en polímeros.Business plan that seeks to create a company in the municipality of Santana - Boyacá, based on the production and marketing of single-use disposable packaging products for food made with sugarcane bagasse. The project develops a business plan, methods to carry out a specific market study, technical study, organizational and financial study towards the sustainable development approach in its three dimensions. As a result of the study, a viable and favorable formulation is projected for the different interest groups, finding a monthly production of 672,000 units of the proposed products. Taking into account that packaging is considered significant products, since they fulfill various functions of protection, transport, security and low impact on the environment, competitiveness and differentiating value are perceived in the market, finding 86.7% interest in the identification of the market for the care of the environment. From these advantages given to customers, there is also a growth opportunity for suppliers, investors and collaborators in a responsible manner, for a market that represents close to 40% of containers made of polymers.Magíster en Proyectos de Desarrollo SostenibleMaestrí