Digestive utilization of quebracho-treated soya bean meals in sheep

The definitive version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021859699007261Previamente, ha sido publicado en el congreso: ITEA, Vol. Extra 20 nº 2: 496-498 (1999).https:///digital.csic.es/handle/10261/16352Previamente, ha sido publicado en el congreso: ITEA, vol. Extra 20 Nº 2: 499-501 (1999). https://digital.csic.es/handle/10261/16373A study on the use of quebracho tannins as chemical additives was carried out at the Spanish Council for Scientific Research, Leon, Spain during 1998 by conducting two experiments. In the first experiment, three ruminally cannulated ewes were used to determine in situ degradability of soya bean meals (SBM) treated with different doses of quebracho tannin. Samples were prepared by spraying 100 g SBM with 100 ml distilled water containing 0, 1, 5, 10, 15 or 25 g of commercial quebracho powder (S-0, S-Q1, S-Q2, S-Q3, and S-Q5, respectively). Intestinal digestibility of non-degradable protein was estimated in vitro. The rapidly degradable protein fraction of all quebracho treated soya bean meals was different (P < 0.05) from the non-treated SBM (S-0: 0.154), with values ranging from 0.032 to 0.133. S-Q4 and S-Q5 showed lower fractional rates of degradation of the protein than S-0 (0.042 and 0.046 v. 0.082, respectively). By contrast, in vitro digestibility of the non-degradable protein was not significantly affected by the treatments imposed, with the exception of treatment with the highest dose of quebracho tannin in which intestinal digestion was reduced (0.939 v. 0.826 for S-0 and S-Q5, respectively. P < 0.05). In the second experiment, ten ruminally cannulated ewes were used to examine the effect of a daily dosing of quebracho tannin into the rumen on the degradation of the quebracho-treated SBM. Long-term dosing of quebracho tannin did not increase the ability of the rumen microbes to degrade tannin treated SBM. It was therefore concluded that quebracho tannins could be used as chemical additives for improving the digestive utilization of protein-rich feeds in sheep.This work was supported by the Inter-ministerial Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT) of Spain (Project AGF98-0874).Peer reviewe

Indoor Environmental Quality and Consumption Patterns before and during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Twelve Social Dwellings in Madrid, Spain

This article analyses the situation that prevailed in 12 dwellings located on the outskirts of Madrid during Spain’s state of emergency. How did 24/7 occupation affect the quality of indoor air and power consumption patterns? The mixed method used (surveys and instrumental monitoring) pragmatically detected the variation in consumption, comfort and indoor air quality patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The characteristics initially in place and household predisposition had a conclusive effect on such variations. The starting conditions, including household composition, habits and the way daily activities were performed, differed widely, logically affecting power consumption: 8/12 case studies increase occupancy density by more than 25 percent; 11/12 improve thermal comfort; 10/12 improve air quality but not necessarily translate in a sufficient ventilation practices; air quality was lower in the bedrooms on the whole; only 4/12 case studies use the potential of passive measures; only one household adopted energy savings strategies; 10/12 case studies increase electric power consumption but none of the dwellings was fitted with a renewable power generation system. The conclusion drawn is that, despite starting conditions differing widely, household composition, habits (including performance of daily activities performance) and power consumption also played an active role in the end result. This approach allowed to integrate qualitative and quantitative findings on indoor environmental quality (IEQ), energy use and households’ behavior. The objective data on the energy situation of the case studies not only is useful for the study, but also for potential enrollment in energy rehabilitation programs, such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of the Economy’s National Programme for R&D + I Geared to Societal Challenges under the project BIA2017-83231-C2-1-R ‘Nueva herramienta integrada de evaluación para áreas urbanas vulnerables. Hacia la autosuficiencia energética y a favor de un modelo de habitabilidad biosaludable’ and ‘Habita_RES-(2018–2021)’.S

Phase transitions in PbTiₓHf₁₋ₓO₃ determined by thermal analysis and impedance spectroscopy

The objective of this study is to determine the influence of partial substitutions of Ti⁴⁺ by isovalent Hf⁴⁺ in the perovskite-type crystalline structure of PbTiO₃. Different samples over the whole composition range (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) in the PbTi₁₋ₓHfₓO₃ family have been prepared. Phase transitions have been determined by thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimeter: DSC) and complex impedance spectroscopy (IS) over a wide temperature range. As a consequence of the cation replacement the changes that take place in the different phase transition temperature are reported. By both techniques, thermal analysis and electrical characterization, it is shown that for all compositions prepared there is only one phase transition in a temperature range between 230 and 460 °C. With these results and the previously known crystalline structure of pure PbTiO₃ and PbHfO₃ perovskites, the phase diagram of the PbTi₁₋ₓHfₓO₃ family is presented including a morphotropic phase transition at x ~ 0.5.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

The fictitious diurnal cycle of aerosol optical depth: A new approach for “in situ” calibration and correction of AOD data series

Aerosol optical depth (AOD) very often shows a distinct diurnal cycle pattern, which seems to be an artifact. This phenomenon is the result of a deficient calibration (or an equivalent effect, as filter degradation). The fictitious sinusoidal shape of the AOD diurnal cycle is a function of the cosine of the solar zenith angle (SZA) and its effect is more accentuated during mid-day. The observation of this effect is not easy at current field stations and only those stations with excellent weather conditions permit an easier detection and correction. By taking advantage of this diurnal cycle behavior because of its dependence on the cosine of the SZA, we propose an improved “in situ” calibration correction procedure. The method is named KCICLO because the determination of a constant K and the behavior of AOD as a cycle (ciclo, in Spanish). It can be seen as a modification of the classical Langley technique (CLT) with the same level of accuracy when CLT is applied at high-altitude stations, and results in an accuracy of 0.2–0.5% for the calibration ratio constant K (or 0.002–0.005 in AOD). The application of this correction method to current and old data series at sunny stations is a significant improvement over “in situ” methods, because no other information beyond the AOD data is necessary

Effect of the Synthesis Route on the Microstructure and the Dielectric Behavior of CaCu3Ti4O12 Ceramics

CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) was prepared by a conventional synthesis (CS) and through reaction sintering, in which synthesis and sintering of the material take place in one single step. The microstructure and the dielectric properties of CCTO have been studied by XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, AFM, and impedance spectroscopy to correlate structure, microstructure, and electrical properties. Samples prepared by reactive sintering show very similar dielectric behavior to those prepared by CS. Therefore, it is possible to prepare CCTO by means of a single-step processing method

Status of the Izaña BSRN Station

Póster presentado en: Twelfth BSRN Scientific Review and Workshop, celebrado del 1 al 3 de agosto de 2012 en Potsdam, Alemania.Financial supports from the Spanish MICIIN for projects CGL2009-09740, CGL2011-23413 and CGL2010-09480E, CGL2011-13085-E are gratefully acknowledged

Evolución microestructural en la preparación de materiales compuestos NiFe2O4-BaTiO3 por vía hidrotermal

La obtención de materiales monofásicos con respuesta ferroeléctrica y (anti-)ferromagnética simultánea y acoplada resulta problemática debido a limitaciones intrínsecas de tipo físico, estructural y electrónico. En este sentido una alternativa más realista, y en cierto modo con mayor flexibilidad a la hora de diseñar futuros dispositivos multiferroicos, consiste en preparar materiales compuestos en los cuales el acoplamiento magnetoeléctrico se puede alcanzar explotando los efectos interfaciales entre fases disimilares. Tal es el caso de los materiales compuestos basados en BaTiO3 (fase ferroeléctrica) y NiFe2O4 (fase magnética), que ya se han empezado a preparar fundamentalmente por medio de técnicas de deposición altamente energéticas. Sin embargo de cara a su aplicación práctica, sería interesante poder preparar esos materiales por métodos más sostenibles y menos costosos. De acuerdo con ello, en este trabajo se presenta un estudio preliminar en torno a la evolución microestructural experimentada por los materiales basados en NiFe2O4-BaTiO3 cuando son preparados mediante una técnica de procesamiento suave en disolución como es la síntesis hidrotermal. En concreto se ha analizado la influencia que diversos parámetros característicos del procesamiento hidrotermal pueden tener sobre la generación y distribución de fases e interfases durante la posterior consolidación térmica de estos materiales compuestos

Dielectric behaviour of Hf-doped CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics obtained by conventional synthesis and reactive sintering

CaCu3(Ti4xHfx)O12 ceramics (JC = 0.04, 0.1 and 0.2) were prepared by conventional synthesis (CS) and through reactive sintering (RS), in which synthesis and sintering of the material take place in one single step. The microstructure and the dielectric properties of Hf-doped CCTO (CCTOHf) have been studied by XRD, FE-SEM, AFM, Raman and impedance spectroscopy (IS) in order to correlate the structure, microstructure and the electrical properties. Samples prepared by reactive sintering show slightly higher dielectric constant than those prepared by conventional synthesis in the same way than the pure CCTO. Dielectric constant and dielectric losses decrease slightly increasing Hf content. For CCTOHf ceramics with x> 0.04 for CS and x> 0.1 for RS, a secondary phase HfTi04 appears. As expected, the reactive sintering processing method allows a higher incorporation of Hf in the CCTO lattice than the conventional synthesis one

Repuesta ferro-piezoeléctrica de KNN-LTS poroso

La obtención de materiales monofásicos con respuesta ferroeléctrica y (anti-)ferromagnética simultánea y acoplada resulta problemática debido a limitaciones intrínsecas de tipo físico, estructural y electrónico. En este sentido una alternativa más realista, y en cierto modo con mayor flexibilidad a la hora de diseñar futuros dispositivos multiferroicos, consiste en preparar materiales compuestos en los cuales el acoplamiento magnetoeléctrico se puede alcanzar explotando los efectos interfaciales entre fases disimilares. Tal es el caso de los materiales compuestos basados en BaTiO3 (fase ferroeléctrica) y NiFe2O4 (fase magnética), que ya se han empezado a preparar fundamentalmente por medio de técnicas de deposición altamente energéticas. Sin embargo de cara a su aplicación práctica, sería interesante poder preparar esos materiales por métodos más sostenibles y menos costosos. De acuerdo con ello, en este trabajo se presenta un estudio preliminar en torno a la evolución microestructural experimentada por los materiales basados en NiFe2O4-BaTiO3 cuando son preparados mediante una técnica de procesamiento suave en disolución como es la síntesis hidrotermal. En concreto se ha analizado la influencia que diversos parámetros característicos del procesamiento hidrotermal pueden tener sobre la generación y distribución de fases e interfases durante la posterior consolidación térmica de estos materiales compuestos