Angular emission properties of a layer of rare-earth based nanophosphors embedded in one-dimensional photonic crystal coatings

The angular properties of light emitted from rare-earth based nanophosphors embedded in optical resonators built in one-dimensional photonic crystal coatings are herein investigated. Strong directional dependence of the photoluminescence spectra is found. Abrupt angular variations of the enhancement caused by the photonic structure and the extraction power are observed, in good agreement with calculated polar emission patterns. Our results confirm that the optical cavity favors the extraction of different wavelengths at different angles and that integration of nanophosphors within photonic crystals provides control over the directional emission properties that could be put into practice in phosphorescent displays.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación MAT2008- 02166, CSD2007-00007Junta de Andalucía FQM3579, FQM524

Domogis: Prototipo de un interfaz del sistema de control de un edificio integrado en un SIG

Este trabajo trata de la utilización de los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) en uno de las nuevos requerimientos de la arquitectura, el control domótico. El objetivo es el desarrollo de un interfaz de comunicación del Sistema de Control de un Edificio (SCE) integrado en un SIG. La consecución de este objetivo implica previamente el desarrollo del SIG del Campus de Montegancedo sede de la Facultad de Informática de la UPM y la creación de un interfaz integrado en el SIG, desarrollado en lenguaje de programacion C# de Microsoft. Este interfaz dirige al usuario en la realización de ciertas tareas de control domótico de las instalaciones urbanas y edificios del Campus universitario, como evaluar, monotorizar y gestionar datos procedentes de sensores estratégicamente situados en dicho Campus

Determination of curing heat and curing time of light-cured composite resins by differential scanning calorimetry

The behavior of curing heat of in light-cured restorative composite resins, containing bis-GMA and 3G, was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Visible light-activated polymerization of these monomer systems was studied using camphorquinone (CQ) and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) as reducing agent. In particular, DSC can be easily used to measure the heat of polymerization because of the easy features in the sample preparation. Four samples of a visible lightcured restorative composite resin (two of them unfilled and two filled) were studied at two different light exposition times. The used materials in this study were bis-GMA, 2,2-bis[p-g-methacryloxy-b-hydroxypropoxy)phenyl]- propane; 3G, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate; CQ, camphorquinone and DMAEMA, dimethylaminoethyl+methacrylate. The two filled composites were prepared with silicium dioxide (77 wt %, 30 µm particle size average). A system of thermal analysis Mettler TA-3000, DSC-30 was used to carry out measurements, in an isothermal segment at 37 oC during 5 min under a controlled thermal program. The specimens were polymerized by illuminating them in a DSC apparatus with radiation from a visible light source (Heliolux II) for 0.33 and 0.67 min and the heat output was determined. It seems that the exothermic peak of the DSC curve for lightcured resins depend on the heat of polymerization of each monomer itself contained in the resins

Active Disturbance Rejection Control for Robot Manipulator

Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC) is a control methodology used in chemical processes, aircraft, motors, and other systems. This paper compares the results of an ADRC controller to a Proportional Integral Derivative controller (PID), applied to two degrees of freedom robots. A Linear Extended State Observer (LESO) is used to reconstruct the state variables and unknown parameters needed to control the position of each link. The ADRC can achieve the tracking position and estimate the velocity of each link. The results of the simulation program are shown

Tissue remodelling and increased DNA damage in patients with incompetent valves in chronic venous insufficiency

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), in which blood return to the heart is impaired, is a prevalent condition worldwide. Valve incompetence is a complication of CVI that results in blood reflux, thereby aggravating venous hypertension. While CVI has a complex course and is known to produce alterations in the vein wall, the underlying pathological mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined the presence of DNA damage, pro-inflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrix remodelling in CVI-related valve incompetence. One hundred and ten patients with CVI were reviewed and divided into four groups according to age (<50 and ≥50 years) and a clinical diagnosis of venous reflux indicating venous system valve incompetence (R) (n = 81) or no reflux (NR) (n = 29). In vein specimens (greater saphenous vein) from each group, PARP, IL-17, COL-I, COL-III, MMP-2 and TIMP-2 expression levels were determined by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. The younger patients with valve incompetence showed significantly higher PARP, IL-17, COL-I, COL-III, MMP-2 and reduced TIMP-2 expression levels and a higher COL-I/III ratio. Young CVI patients with venous reflux suffer chronic DNA damage, with consequences at both the local tissue and systemic levels, possibly associated with ageing.This study (FIS-PI18/00912) was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Plan Estatal de I + D+i 2013-2016) and co-financed by the European Development Regional Fund “A way to achieve Europe” (ERDF) and B2017/BMD-3804 MITIC-CM

Genetic footprints of iberian cattle in America 500 years after the arrival of Columbus.

American Creole cattle presumably descend from animals imported from the Iberian Peninsula during the period of colonization and settlement, through different migration routes, andmay have also suffered the influence of cattle directly imported from Africa. The introduction of European cattle, which began in the 18th century, and later of Zebu from India, has threatened the survival of Creole populations, some of which have nearly disappeared or were admixed with exotic breeds. Assessment of the genetic status of Creole cattle is essential for the establishment of conservation programs of these historical resources. Methodology/Principal Findings: We sampled 27 Creole populations, 39 Iberian, 9 European and 6 Zebu breeds. We used microsatellite markers to assess the origins of Creole cattle, and to investigate the influence of different breeds on their genetic make-up. The major ancestral contributions are from breeds of southern Spain and Portugal, in agreement with the historical ports of departure of ships sailing towards the Western Hemisphere. This Iberian contribution to Creoles may also include some African influence, given the influential role that African cattle have had in the development of Iberian breeds, but the possibility of a direct influence on Creoles of African cattle imported to America can not be discarded. In addition to the Iberian influence, the admixture with other European breeds was minor. The Creoles from tropical areas, especially those from the Caribbean, show clear signs of admixture with Zebu. Conclusions/Significance: Nearly five centuries since cattle were first brought to the Americas, Creoles still show a strong and predominant signature of their Iberian ancestors. Creole breeds differ widely from each other, both in genetic structure and influences from other breeds. Efforts are needed to avoid their extinction or further genetic erosion, which would compromise centuries of selective adaptation to a wide range of environmental conditions

Constraining the pˉ/p\bar{p}/p Ratio in TeV Cosmic Rays with Observations of the Moon Shadow by HAWC

An indirect measurement of the antiproton flux in cosmic rays is possible as the particles undergo deflection by the geomagnetic field. This effect can be measured by studying the deficit in the flux, or shadow, created by the Moon as it absorbs cosmic rays that are headed towards the Earth. The shadow is displaced from the actual position of the Moon due to geomagnetic deflection, which is a function of the energy and charge of the cosmic rays. The displacement provides a natural tool for momentum/charge discrimination that can be used to study the composition of cosmic rays. Using 33 months of data comprising more than 80 billion cosmic rays measured by the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory, we have analyzed the Moon shadow to search for TeV antiprotons in cosmic rays. We present our first upper limits on the $\bar{p}/p$ fraction, which in the absence of any direct measurements, provide the tightest available constraints of $\sim1\%$ on the antiproton fraction for energies between 1 and 10 TeV.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures. Accepted by Physical Review

DETECCIÓN DE ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 EN CARNE FRESCA DE RES MEDIANTE PCR MÚLTIPLEX

Para la detección de E. coli O157:H7 en carne fresca de res, se comparó el método microbiológico tradicional y dos ensayos de PCR Múltiplex. En ensayos con muestras inoculadas se obtuvo una diferencia significativa entre PCR Múltiplex y aislamiento microbiológico. PCR Múltiplex mostró porcentaje mayor de sensibilidad, precisión relativa e índice kappa en el enriquecimiento con el caldo Ecm+n en comparación al CST+ccv. En 40 muestras de res corte tipo americano se detectaron 2 positivas (5%) por PCR múltiplex, mientras que por el método microbiológico no se logró su aislamiento en ninguna muestra. AbstractIn the present study were compared the traditional microbiological method and two tests of multiplex PCR for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 in fresh beef meat. A significant difference was obtained between PCR multiplex and microbiological isolation in inoculated samples; in addition, in multiplex PCR was obtained a higher percentage of sensitivity, precision relative and Kappa index using the Ecm+n broth in comparison to the CST+ccv in the enrichment. In 40 samples of meat cuts American type were detected two positive samples (5%) by Multiplex PCR, whereas by the microbiological method was not obtained the isolation in any sample. Palabras clave: PCR Múltiplex, E. coli O157:H7, Carne,  Beef

On the origins of American Criollo pigs: A common genetic background with a lasting Iberian signature

American Criollo pigs are thought to descend mainly from those imported from the Iberian Peninsula starting in the late 15th century. Criollo pigs subsequently expanded throughout the Americas, adapting to very diverse environments, and possibly receiving influences from other origins. With the intensification of agriculture in the mid-20th century, cosmopolitan breeds largely replaced Criollo pigs, and the few remaining are mostly maintained by rural communities in marginal areas where they still play an important socio-economic and cultural role. In this study, we used 24 microsatellite markers in samples from 1715 pigs representing 46 breeds with worldwide distribution, including 17 American Criollo breeds, with the major focus of investigating their genetic diversity, structure and breed relationships. We also included representatives of the Iberian, Local British, Hungarian, Chinese and Commercial breeds, as well as Wild Boar, in order to investigate their possible influence in the genetic composition of Criollos. Our results show that, when compared with the other breeds, Criollo pigs present higher levels of genetic diversity, both in terms of allelic diversity and expected heterozygosity. The various analyses indicate that breed differentiation overall explains nearly 21% of the total genetic diversity. Criollo breeds showed their own identity and shared a common genetic background, tending to cluster together in various analyses, even though they differ from each other. A close relationship of Criollos with Iberian breeds was revealed by all the different analyses, and the contribution of Iberian breeds, particularly of the Celtic breeds, is still present in various Criollo breeds. No influence of Chinese breeds was detected on Criollos, but a few were influenced by Commercial breeds or by wild pigs. Our results confirm the uniqueness of American Criollo pigs and the role that Iberian breeds have played in their development. © 2021 Revidatti et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited