Composite polymer membranes for laserinduced fluorescence thermometry

We demonstrate a modified version of laser-induced fluorescence thermometry (LIFT) for mapping temperature gradients in the vicinity of small photothermal devices. Our approach is based on temperature sensitive fluorescent membranes fabricated with rhodamine B and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Relevant membrane features for LIFT, such as temperature sensitivity, thermal quenching and photobleaching are presented for a range of 25 °C to 90 °C, and their performance is evaluated upon obtaining the temperature gradients produced in the proximity of optical fiber micro-heaters. Our results show that temperature measurements in regions as small as 750 μm x 650 μm, with a temperature resolution of 1 °C, can be readily obtained

Nuevo índice para evaluar anomalías de elementos traza en suelos: el caso del SE español

In this work, an index is established to detect anomalies in trace elements in the soil. This index, which relates the total concentration of each element with the regional geochemical background value of the element considered, was defined by studying the levels of trace elements from different soils located in SE Spain. In the area, a previous screening of trace elements detected seven zones with anomalies and revealed two conflictive areas: Sierra Gador and Cabo de Gata. In each zone, a second sampling was undertaken at two different depths (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm). The results indicate that the main anomalies were due to arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). In Sierra Gador Pb was the element that registered the highest rate of enrichment with respect to the regional geochemical background, reaching values up to 270-fold higher in some samples. In this zone, more than 50% of the samples were anomalous in any of the trace elements studied (higher than regional geochemical background). In Cabo de Gata, As concentration was higher than the geochemical background in more than 40% of the samples; meanwhile Pb concentration was higher in 50% of the samples.En este trabajo establecemos un índice para detectar anomalías en el contenido de elementos traza en suelos. Este índice relaciona el contenido total de cada elemento traza con el fondo geoquímico regional, definido mediante el estudio de los niveles de elementos traza en diferentes suelos localizados en el sureste español. En un primer estudio sobre niveles de elementos traza en suelos del área de estudio detectaron siete zonas con anomalías, de las cuales dos fueron consideradas conflictivas: Sierra de Gádor y Cabo de Gata. En cada una de estas dos zonas se realizó un segundo estudio más exhaustivo a dos niveles de profundidad (0-20 y 20-40 cm). Los resultados indican que las principales anomalías correspondes a los niveles de As, Pb y Zn. En Sierra de Gádor el Pb es el elemento que presenta una mayor tasa de enriquecimiento con respecto al fondo geoquímico regional, con valores puntuales que lo superan hasta 270 veces. También en esta zona más del 50% de las muestras presentan anomalías en alguno de los elementos analizados. En Cabo de Gata el As supera el fondo geoquímico regional en más del 40% de las muestras; mientras que el Pb lo supera en el 50% de las muestras.This study has been made possible by the research Project no. 1550 of the Regional Environmental Department of the Andalusian Government

Quality of life associated with treatment adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite certain contradictions, an association has been identified between adherence to drug treatment and the quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes. The contradictions observed emphasize the importance of using different methods to measure treatment adherence, or the association of psychological precursors of adherence with quality of life. For this reason, we have used an indirect method to measure adherence (pill count), as well as two adherence behaviour precursors (attitude and knowledge), to assess the association between adherence and the quality of life in type 2 diabetes patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional comparative study on a random sample of 238 type 2 diabetic patients was carried out over one year in four family medicine units of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Treatment adherence was measured using the indirect method of pill count to assess adherence behaviour, obtaining information at two home visits. In the first we recorded the medicine prescribed and in the second, we counted the medicine remaining to determine the proportion of the medicine taken. We also assessed two adherence behaviour precursors: the patients' knowledge regarding their medical prescription measured through a structured questionnaire; and attitudes to treatment adherence using a Likert scale. Quality of life was measured through the WHOQOL-100 (the WHO Quality of Life questionnaire). Information concerning both knowledge and attitude was obtained through interviews with the patients. A multiple linear regression model was constructed to establish the relationship between each quality of life domain and the variables related to adherence, controlling for covariates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was no association between quality of life and treatment adherence behaviour. However, the combination of strong knowledge and a positive attitude was associated with five of the six quality of life domains.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results suggest that it is important to explore psychological precursors of treatment adherence behaviour in type 2 diabetic patients. Indeed, we consider that it will be useful to carry out interventions that change negative attitudes towards treatment adherence and that promote medical prescription knowledge, which may help to improve the quality of life of such patients.</p

New Physics effects in the flavor-changing neutral couplings of the Top quark

We survey the flavor-changing neutral couplings (FCNC) of the top quark predicted by some extensions of the Standard Model: THDM, SUSY, L-R symmetric, TC2, 331, and models with extra quarks. Since the expected sensitivity of the LHC and ILC for the tcV (V=\gamma,g,Z) and tcH couplings is of order of a few percent, we emphasize the importance of any new physics effect that gives a prediction for these FCNC couplings within this limit. We also review the constraints imposed on these couplings from low-energy precision measurements.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures. Accepted as a review paper in Int. J. of Mod. Phys.

Analysis of the operating parameters in a Stirling cryocooler

In this work, the results obtained in different tests performed on a Stirling cryocooler are shown, as well as a comparative analysis of these results with different load pressures. The prototype is a single-acting Stirling engine with a piston and displacer, which is used to liquefy air with helium as the working fluid; this is an integral Stirling (β-type). A three-phase asynchronous electric motor drives the Stirling engine and cooling, in the hot focus, is performed with a pressurized water circuit. In the cold focus are reached very low temperatures, around 75 K (-198 °C). The study has been developed at different load pressures of the working fluid and it shows a comparative analysis about the most important work parameters evolution. The parameters studied are the following: cooling water inlet and outlet temperatures, cold and hot focus temperatures, voltage and intensity consumed by the electric motor that drives the Stirling engine and quantity of liquid air obtained. The results show that it is very likely to use this configuration in industrial processes when they need cold and heat simultaneously.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Endmember extraction algorithms from hyperspectral images

During the last years, several high-resolution sensors have been developed for hyperspectral remote sensing applications. Some of these sensors are already available on space-borne devices. Space-borne sensors are currently acquiring a continual stream of hyperspectral data, and new efficient unsupervised algorithms are required to analyze the great amount of data produced by these instruments. The identification of image endmembers is a crucial task in hyperspectral data exploitation. Once the individual endmembers have been identified, several methods can be used to map their spatial distribution, associations and abundances. This paper reviews the Pixel Purity Index (PPI), N-FINDR and Automatic Morphological Endmember Extraction (AMEE) algorithms developed to accomplish the task of finding appropriate image endmembers by applying them to real hyperspectral data. In order to compare the performance of these methods a metric based on the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) between the estimated and reference abundance maps is used

Mixing with vector-like quarks: constraints and expectations

We argue why vector-like quarks are usually expected to mix predominantly with the third generation, and discuss about the expected size of this mixing and its naturalness

Structural, ferroelectric, and optical properties of Bi3+ doped YFeO3: A first‐principles study

The orthoferrites with the general formula RFeO3 (R = Ho, Er, Lu, Sc, and Y) have recently attracted a great deal of attention because they are promising candidates for a second generation of multiferroic materials. In this computational work, the structural, ferroelectric and optical properties of the YFeO3 perovskite oxide (YFO) and a Bi‐doped YFeO3 were analyzed. Bi‐substitution in YFO leads to an increase of its lattice parameters by virtue of the larger ionic radius of Bi3+. Both compounds exhibit a G‐type antiferromagnetic ground state. The calculations disclose a significant spontaneous polarization along the [101] direction of YFO‐Bi, which originates in the asymmetric distribution of the charges around the Bi3+ ions, as a result of the Bi‐6s electrons. The electric polarizability of YFO is increased upon Bi3+‐doping and the more significant components of the real permittivity tensor of YFO‐Bi are those associated with the direction along which the maximum value of spontaneous polarization is observed. The spontaneous polarization of YFO‐Bi found in this work reveals that this compound holds the potential for the next generation of multi ferroic materials