Numerical Investigation of Galloping Instabilities in Z-Shaped Profiles

Aeroelastic effects are relatively common in the design of modern civil constructions such as office blocks, airport terminal buildings, and factories. Typical flexible structures exposed to the action of wind are shading devices, normally slats or louvers. A typical cross-section for such elements is a Z-shaped profile, made out of a central web and two-side wings. Galloping instabilities are often determined in practice using the Glauert-Den Hartog criterion. This criterion relies on accurate predictions of the dependence of the aerodynamic force coefficients with the angle of attack. The results of a parametric analysis based on a numerical analysis and performed on different Z-shaped louvers to determine translational galloping instability regions are presented in this paper. These numerical analysis results have been validated with a parametric analysis of Z-shaped profiles based on static wind tunnel tests. In order to perform this validation, the DLR TAU Code, which is a standard code within the European aeronautical industry, has been used. This study highlights the focus on the numerical prediction of the effect of galloping, which is shown in a visible way, through stability maps. Comparisons between numerical and experimental data are presented with respect to various meshes and turbulence models

Generation of the Thymine Triplet State by Through-Bond Energy Transfer

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Chem. Eur. J. 2019, 25, 7004 7011, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201900830. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.[EN] Benzophenone (BP) and drugs containing the BP chromophore, such as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen, have been widely reported as DNA photo-sensitizers through triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET). In the present work, a direct spectroscopic fingerprint for the formation of the thymine triplet ((3)Thy*) by through-bond (TB) TTET from (BP)-B-3* has been uncovered. This has been achieved in two new systems that have been designed and synthesized with one BP and one thymine (Thy) covalently linked to the two ends of the rigid skeleton of the natural bile acids cholic and lithocholic acid. The results shown here prove that it is possible to achieve triplet energy transfer to a Thy unit even when the photosensitizer is at a long (non-bonding) distance.Financial support from the Spanish Government (Grant SEV-2016-0683 and Projects CTQ2012-38754-C03-03 and CTQ2015-70164P), the Generalitat Valenciana (Prometeo Program), and the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (pre-doctoral FPI fellowship for P.M.) is gratefully acknowledged.Miró, P.; Gomez-Mendoza, M.; Sastre Navarro, GI.; Cuquerella Alabort, MC.; Miranda Alonso, MÁ.; Marín García, ML. (2019). Generation of the Thymine Triplet State by Through-Bond Energy Transfer. Chemistry - A European Journal. 25(28):7004-7011. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201900830S700470112528Mouret, S., Baudouin, C., Charveron, M., Favier, A., Cadet, J., & Douki, T. (2006). Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers are predominant DNA lesions in whole human skin exposed to UVA radiation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 103(37), 13765-13770. doi:10.1073/pnas.0604213103Setlow, R. B., Grist, E., Thompson, K., & Woodhead, A. D. (1993). Wavelengths effective in induction of malignant melanoma. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 90(14), 6666-6670. doi:10.1073/pnas.90.14.6666Rochette, P. J. (2003). UVA-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers form predominantly at thymine-thymine dipyrimidines and correlate with the mutation spectrum in rodent cells. Nucleic Acids Research, 31(11), 2786-2794. doi:10.1093/nar/gkg402Smith, C. A., Wang, M., Jiang, N., Che, L., Zhao, X., & Taylor, J.-S. (1996). Mutation Spectra of M13 Vectors Containing Site-Specific Cis-Syn, Trans-Syn-I, (6−4), and Dewar Pyrimidone Photoproducts of Thymidylyl-(3‘→5‘)-Thymidine inEscherichia coliunder SOS Conditions†. Biochemistry, 35(13), 4146-4154. doi:10.1021/bi951975cGentil, A. (1996). Mutagenicity of a unique thymine-thymine dimer or thymine-thymine pyrimidine pyrimidone (6-4) photoproduct in mammalian cells. Nucleic Acids Research, 24(10), 1837-1840. doi:10.1093/nar/24.10.1837Görner, H. (1990). Phosphorescence of nucleic acids and DNA components at 77 K. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 5(3-4), 359-377. doi:10.1016/1011-1344(90)85051-wLamola, A. A., & Eisinger, J. (1971). Excited states of nucleotides in water at room temperature. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis, 240(3), 313-325. doi:10.1016/0005-2787(71)90524-7Cuquerella, M. C., Lhiaubet-Vallet, V., Bosca, F., & Miranda, M. A. (2011). Photosensitised pyrimidine dimerisation in DNA. Chemical Science, 2(7), 1219. doi:10.1039/c1sc00088hBlancafort, L., & Voityuk, A. A. (2018). Thermally induced hopping model for long-range triplet excitation energy transfer in DNA. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 20(7), 4997-5000. doi:10.1039/c7cp07811kAntusch, L., Gaß, N., & Wagenknecht, H.-A. (2016). Elucidation of the Dexter-Type Energy Transfer in DNA by Thymine-Thymine Dimer Formation Using Photosensitizers as Artificial Nucleosides. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 56(5), 1385-1389. doi:10.1002/anie.201610065Antusch, L., Gaß, N., & Wagenknecht, H.-A. (2016). Aufklärung des Dexter-Energietransfers in DNA an der Thymin-Thymin-Dimerbildung mithilfe von Photosensibilisatoren als artifizielle Nucleoside. Angewandte Chemie, 129(5), 1406-1410. doi:10.1002/ange.201610065Kanvah, S., Joseph, J., Schuster, G. B., Barnett, R. N., Cleveland, C. L., & Landman, U. (2010). Oxidation of DNA: Damage to Nucleobases. Accounts of Chemical Research, 43(2), 280-287. doi:10.1021/ar900175aGiese, B., Amaudrut, J., Köhler, A.-K., Spormann, M., & Wessely, S. (2001). Direct observation of hole transfer through DNA by hopping between adenine bases and by tunnelling. Nature, 412(6844), 318-320. doi:10.1038/35085542Giese, B. (2000). Long-Distance Charge Transport in DNA:  The Hopping Mechanism. Accounts of Chemical Research, 33(9), 631-636. doi:10.1021/ar990040bTakada, T., Kawai, K., Fujitsuka, M., & Majima, T. (2004). Direct observation of hole transfer through double-helical DNA over 100 A. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(39), 14002-14006. doi:10.1073/pnas.0402756101Takada, T., Kawai, K., Cai, X., Sugimoto, A., Fujitsuka, M., & Majima, T. (2004). Charge Separation in DNA via Consecutive Adenine Hopping. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 126(4), 1125-1129. doi:10.1021/ja035730wTakada, T., Fujitsuka, M., & Majima, T. (2007). Single-molecule observation of DNA charge transfer. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(27), 11179-11183. doi:10.1073/pnas.0700795104Kawai, K., & Majima, T. (2013). Hole Transfer Kinetics of DNA. Accounts of Chemical Research, 46(11), 2616-2625. doi:10.1021/ar400079sKawai, K., Kodera, H., Osakada, Y., & Majima, T. (2009). Sequence-independent and rapid long-range charge transfer through DNA. Nature Chemistry, 1(2), 156-159. doi:10.1038/nchem.171Kawai, K., Kodera, H., & Majima, T. (2010). Long-Range Charge Transfer through DNA by Replacing Adenine with Diaminopurine. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 132(2), 627-630. doi:10.1021/ja907409zGiese, B., Carl, B., Carl, T., Carell, T., Behrens, C., Hennecke, U., … Feresin, E. (2004). Excess Electron Transport Through DNA: A Single Electron Repairs More than One UV-Induced Lesion. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 43(14), 1848-1851. doi:10.1002/anie.200353264Giese, B., Carl, B., Carl, T., Carell, T., Behrens, C., Hennecke, U., … Feresin, E. (2004). Excess Electron Transport Through DNA: A Single Electron Repairs More than One UV-Induced Lesion. Angewandte Chemie, 116(14), 1884-1887. doi:10.1002/ange.200353264Park, M. J., Fujitsuka, M., Kawai, K., & Majima, T. (2011). Direct Measurement of the Dynamics of Excess Electron Transfer through Consecutive Thymine Sequence in DNA. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 133(39), 15320-15323. doi:10.1021/ja2068017Lin, S.-H., Fujitsuka, M., & Majima, T. (2016). Excess-Electron Transfer in DNA by a Fluctuation-Assisted Hopping Mechanism. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 120(4), 660-666. doi:10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b10857Manetto, A., Breeger, S., Chatgilialoglu, C., & Carell, T. (2006). Complex Sequence Dependence by Excess-Electron Transfer through DNA with Different Strength Electron Acceptors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 45(2), 318-321. doi:10.1002/anie.200502551Manetto, A., Breeger, S., Chatgilialoglu, C., & Carell, T. (2006). Komplexe Sequenzabhängigkeit beim Transport von Überschusselektronen durch DNA mit verschieden starken Acceptoren. Angewandte Chemie, 118(2), 325-328. doi:10.1002/ange.200502551Heil, K., Pearson, D., & Carell, T. (2011). Chemical investigation of light induced DNA bipyrimidine damage and repair. Chem. Soc. Rev., 40(8), 4271-4278. doi:10.1039/c000407nHaas, C., Kräling, K., Cichon, M., Rahe, N., & Carell, T. (2004). Excess Electron Transfer Driven DNA Does Not Depend on the Transfer Direction. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 43(14), 1842-1844. doi:10.1002/anie.200353067Haas, C., Kräling, K., Cichon, M., Rahe, N., & Carell, T. (2004). Excess Electron Transfer Driven DNA Does Not Depend on the Transfer Direction. Angewandte Chemie, 116(14), 1878-1880. doi:10.1002/ange.200353067Carell, T. (1995). Sunlight-Damaged DNA Repaired with Sunlight. Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English, 34(22), 2491-2494. doi:10.1002/anie.199524911Carell, T. (1995). Reparatur von sonnenlichtgeschädigter DNA mit Sonnenlicht. Angewandte Chemie, 107(22), 2697-2700. doi:10.1002/ange.19951072207Breeger, S., Hennecke, U., & Carell, T. (2004). Excess Electron-Transfer-Based Repair of a Cis-Syn Thymine Dimer in DNA Is Not Sequence Dependent. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 126(5), 1302-1303. doi:10.1021/ja038358tCuquerella, M. C., Lhiaubet-Vallet, V., Cadet, J., & Miranda, M. A. (2012). Benzophenone Photosensitized DNA Damage. Accounts of Chemical Research, 45(9), 1558-1570. doi:10.1021/ar300054eDelatour, T., Douki, T., D’Ham, C., & Cadet, J. (1998). Photosensitization of thymine nucleobase by benzophenone through energy transfer, hydrogen abstraction and one-electron oxidation. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 44(3), 191-198. doi:10.1016/s1011-1344(98)00142-0Schreier, W. J., Schrader, T. E., Koller, F. O., Gilch, P., Crespo-Hernandez, C. E., Swaminathan, V. N., … Kohler, B. (2007). Thymine Dimerization in DNA Is an Ultrafast Photoreaction. Science, 315(5812), 625-629. doi:10.1126/science.1135428Schreier, W. J., Kubon, J., Regner, N., Haiser, K., Schrader, T. E., Zinth, W., … Gilch, P. (2009). Thymine Dimerization in DNA Model Systems: Cyclobutane Photolesion Is Predominantly Formed via the Singlet Channel. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131(14), 5038-5039. doi:10.1021/ja900436tSandros, K., Haglid, F., Ryhage, R., Ryhage, R., & Stevens, R. (1964). Transfer of Triplet State Energy in Fluid Solutions. III. Reversible Energy Transfer. Acta Chemica Scandinavica, 18, 2355-2374. doi:10.3891/acta.chem.scand.18-2355Douki, T., Bérard, I., Wack, A., & Andrä, S. (2014). Contribution of Cytosine-Containing Cyclobutane Dimers to DNA Damage Produced by Photosensitized Triplet-Triplet Energy Transfer. Chemistry - A European Journal, 20(19), 5787-5794. doi:10.1002/chem.201303905Gut, I. G., Wood, P. D., & Redmond, R. W. (1996). Interaction of Triplet Photosensitizers with Nucleotides and DNA in Aqueous Solution at Room Temperature. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 118(10), 2366-2373. doi:10.1021/ja9519344Miro, P., Lhiaubet-Vallet, V., Marin, M. L., & Miranda, M. A. (2015). Photosensitized Thymine Dimerization via Delocalized Triplet Excited States. Chemistry - A European Journal, 21(47), 17051-17056. doi:10.1002/chem.201502719Encinas, S., Belmadoui, N., Climent, M. J., Gil, S., & Miranda, M. A. (2004). Photosensitization of Thymine Nucleobase by Benzophenone Derivatives as Models for Photoinduced DNA Damage:  Paterno−Büchi vs Energy and Electron Transfer Processes. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 17(7), 857-862. doi:10.1021/tx034249gTrzcionka, J., Lhiaubet-Vallet, V., Paris, C., Belmadoui, N., Climent, M. J., & Miranda, M. A. (2007). Model Studies on a Carprofen Derivative as Dual Photosensitizer for Thymine Dimerization and (6–4) Photoproduct Repair. ChemBioChem, 8(4), 402-407. doi:10.1002/cbic.200600394Joseph, A., Prakash, G., & Falvey, D. E. (2000). Model Studies of the (6−4) Photoproduct Photolyase Enzyme:  Laser Flash Photolysis Experiments Confirm Radical Ion Intermediates in the Sensitized Repair of Thymine Oxetane Adducts. 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Attitudes to acute pain and the use of pain assessment scales among Spanish small animal veterinarians

Evaluation of acute pain in dogs and cats is the basis for an appropriate treatment and improved well-being. The difficulties involved in pain assessment pose a challenge for veterinarians, and recent findings indicate that the most effective tools available—validated pain assessment scales—may not be widely utilized.ObjectivesThis study aimed to characterize the level of concern among Spanish veterinarians regarding acute pain in companion animals. Additionally, it sought to determine whether this concern correlates with the utilization of optimal assessment tools.MethodsA survey was conducted to explore Spanish veterinarians’ attitudes toward pain and its assessment. The survey was distributed through two most prominent small animal veterinary associations, the Spanish association for veterinary anesthesia and analgesia, as well as key industry players committed to proactive pain management. Descriptive analysis of the collected data was performed using Excel and SPSS.ResultsA total of 292 veterinarians participated in the study. A high level of concern regarding pain in dogs and cats was determined where 44% of surveyed veterinarians assessed pain in all patients. Despite an awareness of validated pain scales, only 28% used them. The preferred scales were the Glasgow CMPS for dogs (94%) and the Feline Grimace Scale for cats (93%). Among respondents who do not use these validated tools, there was a considerable interest in incorporating these scales into practice (85%) and considered lack of training was the most relevant issue (32%). Other challenges to scale utilization were identified, including constraints related to time, staffing, and the need to establish a habit.Conclusions and relevanceSpanish small animal veterinarians demonstrated a strong awareness to pain in their patients and employed various methods for pain assessment. However, a limited use of validated tools was identified and likely attributed to challenges such as a lack of established routine, time constraints, insufficient personnel, and, notably, a knowledge gap among veterinarians who do not employ pain assessment scales. The most commonly used scales were the Glasgow CMPS for dogs and the FGS for cats. Overall, these results suggest a window of opportunity for the implementation of training programs in small animal pain assessment at a national level

High-fat diet feeding alters metabolic response to fasting/non fasting conditions. Effect on caveolin expression and insulin signalling.

BACKGROUND: The effect of food intake on caveolin expression in relation to insulin signalling was studied in skeletal muscle and adipocytes from retroperitoneal (RP) and subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue, comparing fasted (F) to not fasted (NF) rats that had been fed a control or high-fat (HF) diet for 72 days. METHODS: Serum glucose was analysed enzymatically and insulin and leptin by ELISA. Caveolins and insulin signalling intermediaries (IR, IRS-1 and 2 and GLUT4) were determined by RT-PCR and western blotting. Caveolin and IR phosphorylation was measured by immunoprecipitation. Data were analysed with Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: High-fat fed animals showed metabolic alterations and developed obesity and insulin resistance. In skeletal muscle, food intake (NF) induced activation of IR and increased expression of IRS-2 in control animals with normal metabolic response. HF animals became overweight, hyperglycaemic, hyperinsulinemic, hyperleptinemic and showed insulin resistance. In skeletal muscle of these animals, food intake (NF) also induced IRS-2 expression together with IR, although this was not active. Caveolin 3 expression in this tissue was increased by food intake (NF) in animals fed either diet. In RP adipocytes of control animals, food intake (NF) decreased IR and IRS-2 expression but increased that of GLUT4. A similar but less intense response was found in SC adipocytes. Food intake (NF) did not change caveolin expression in RP adipocytes with either diet, but in SC adipocytes of HF animals a reduction was observed. Food intake (NF) decreased caveolin-1 phosphorylation in RP but increased it in SC adipocytes of control animals, whereas it increased caveolin-2 phosphorylation in both types of adipocytes independently of the diet. CONCLUSIONS: Animals fed a control-diet show a normal response to food intake (NF), with activation of the insulin signalling pathway but without appreciable changes in caveolin expression, except a small increase of caveolin-3 in muscle. Animals fed a high-fat diet develop metabolic changes that result in insulin signalling impairment. In these animals, caveolin expression in muscle and adipocytes seems to be regulated independently of insulin signalling

Atmospheric deposition of inorganic nitrogen in Spanish holm oak forests measured with ion-exchange resins and conventional collectors

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition is one of the main threats for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Measurement techniques like ion-exchange resin collectors (IECs), which are less expensive and timeconsuming than conventional methods, are gaining relevance in the study of atmospheric deposition and are recommended to expand monitoring networks. In the present work, bulk and throughfall deposition of inorganic nitrogen were monitored in three different holm oak forests in Spain during two years. The results obtained with IECs were contrasted with a conventional technique using bottle collectors and with a literature review of similar studies. The performance of IECs in comparison with the conventional method was good for measuring bulk deposition of nitrate and acceptable for ammonium and total dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Mean annual bulk deposition of inorganic nitrogen ranged 3.09 e5.43 kg N ha1 according to IEC methodology, and 2.42e6.83 kg N ha1 y1 using the conventional method. Intra-annual variability of the net throughfall deposition of nitrogen measured with the conventional method revealed the existence of input pulses of nitrogen into the forest soil after dry periods, presumably originated from the washing of dry deposition accumulated in the canopy. Important methodological recommendations on the IEC method and discussed, compiled and summarized

WadD, a New Brucella Lipopolysaccharide Core Glycosyltransferase Identified by Genomic Search and Phenotypic Characterization

Brucellosis, an infectious disease caused by Brucella, is one of the most extended bacterial zoonosis in the world and an important cause of economic losses and human suffering. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Brucella plays a major role in virulence as it impairs normal recognition by the innate immune system and delays the immune response. The LPS core is a branched structure involved in resistance to complement and polycationic peptides, and mutants in glycosyltransferases required for the synthesis of the lateral branch not linked to the O-polysaccharide (O-PS) are attenuated and have been proposed as vaccine candidates. For this reason, the complete understanding of the genes involved in the synthesis of this LPS section is of particular interest. The chemical structure of the Brucella LPS core suggests that, in addition to the already identified WadB and WadC glycosyltransferases, others could be implicated in the synthesis of this lateral branch. To clarify this point, we identified and constructed mutants in 11 ORFs encoding putative glycosyltransferases in B. abortus. Four of these ORFs, regulated by the virulence regulator MucR (involved in LPS synthesis) or the BvrR/BvrS system (implicated in the synthesis of surface components), were not required for the synthesis of a complete LPS neither for virulence or interaction with polycationic peptides and/or complement. Among the other seven ORFs, six seemed not to be required for the synthesis of the core LPS since the corresponding mutants kept the O-PS and reacted as the wild type with polyclonal sera. Interestingly, mutant in ORF BAB1_0953 (renamed wadD) lost reactivity against antibodies that recognize the core section while kept the O-PS. This suggests that WadD is a new glycosyltransferase adding one or more sugars to the core lateral branch. WadD mutants were more sensitive than the parental strain to components of the innate immune system and played a role in chronic stages of infection. These results corroborate and extend previous work indicating that the Brucella LPS core is a branched structure that constitutes a steric impairment preventing the elements of the innate immune system to fight against Brucell

Identification of lptA, lpxE, and lpxO, Three Genes Involved in the Remodeling of Brucella Cell Envelope.

The brucellae are facultative intracellular bacteria that cause a worldwide extended zoonosis. One of the pathogenicity mechanisms of these bacteria is their ability to avoid rapid recognition by innate immunity because of a reduction of the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS), free-lipids, and other envelope molecules. We investigated the Brucella homologs of lptA, lpxE, and lpxO, three genes that in some pathogens encode enzymes that mask the LPS PAMP by upsetting the core-lipid A charge/hydrophobic balance. Brucella lptA, which encodes a putative ethanolamine transferase, carries a frame-shift in B. abortus but not in other Brucella spp. and phylogenetic neighbors like the opportunistic pathogen Ochrobactrum anthropi. Consistent with the genomic evidence, a B. melitensis lptA mutant lacked lipid A-linked ethanolamine and displayed increased sensitivity to polymyxin B (a surrogate of innate immunity bactericidal peptides), while B. abortus carrying B. melitensis lptA displayed increased resistance. Brucella lpxE encodes a putative phosphatase acting on lipid A or on a free-lipid that is highly conserved in all brucellae and O. anthropi. Although we found no evidence of lipid A dephosphorylation, a B. abortus lpxE mutant showed increased polymyxin B sensitivity, suggesting the existence of a hitherto unidentified free-lipid involved in bactericidal peptide resistance. Gene lpxO putatively encoding an acyl hydroxylase carries a frame-shift in all brucellae except B. microti and is intact in O. anthropi. Free-lipid analysis revealed that lpxO corresponded to olsC, the gene coding for the ornithine lipid (OL) acyl hydroxylase active in O. anthropi and B. microti, while B. abortus carrying the olsC of O. anthropi and B. microti synthesized hydroxylated OLs. Interestingly, mutants in lptA, lpxE, or olsC were not attenuated in dendritic cells or mice. This lack of an obvious effect on virulence together with the presence of the intact homolog genes in O. anthropi and B. microti but not in other brucellae suggests that LptA, LpxE, or OL β-hydroxylase do not significantly alter the PAMP properties of Brucella LPS and free-lipids and are therefore not positively selected during the adaptation to intracellular life

X-ray diffraction, cements and environment, three worlds in one

This keynote lecture will be focused on the strategies for reducing CO2 emissions in the cement production. Concretely, the production of ecocements with optimised formulations that yield reductions in CO2 emissions of up to 25%, when compared to OPC production. Phase assemblage has to be carefully optimised to be competitive and these new ecocements should develop compressive strengths of at least 50 MPa at 28 days of hydration. Optimised compositions of several ecocements will be discussed, but all of them are ye'elimite or calcium sulphoaluminate containing ones: belite-ye'elimite-ferrite (BYF), belite-alite-ye'elimite (BAY) and ye'elimite rich ones (CSA). The clinkering temperature of BYF and BAY has to be established to obtain the targeted phase assemblages. Moreover, the stabilisation of alpha-forms of belite is needed to develop high mechanical strengths at early ages. The benefits of the use of waste materials (such as fly ash or slag) as additions to ecocements are three-fold: lower CO2 emissions due to clinker replacement; valorisation of “useless” products that need a lot of landscape and the consequent efficient consumption of raw materials; and to enhance mechanical properties of the corresponding mortars. The design of appropriate CSA, BYF and BAY mortars, with the final aim of knowing and controlling the hydration mechanisms, will be presented. Particularly, the role of i) type and amount of set regulator (gypsum, anhydrite, etc.), ii) water/cement ratio (w/c); iii) superplasticiser; and iv) pozzolanic additions will be discussed. The role of these parameters in the microstructure and hydraulic behaviour has been investigated through traditional techniques as well as advanced synchrotron characterisation. The formers include laboratory/synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction combined with Rietveld methodology (to obtain phase assemblage), electron microscopy techniques for paste microstructure determination, rheological studies (to control the effect of the different additives, w/c ratio and setting time retarders) and mechanical tests (setting times, compressive strengths and dimensional stability). The latters comprise a group of techniques available at synchrotrons such as: i) high temperature x-ray diffraction for clinkering studies and ii) total scattering data to be analysed by pair distribution function, PDF.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. PhD D. Londono-Zuluaga thanks Colciencias and Enlaza Mundos program PhD grant. Spanish MINECO (BIA2014-57658-C2-2-R, which is co-funded by FEDER, BIA2014-57658-C2-1-R and I3 (IEDI-2016-0079) grants) are acknowledged

A power-line communication system governed by loop resonance for photovoltaic plant monitoring

Within this paper, a PLC system that takes advantage of the loop resonance of an entire DC-PV string configured as a circular signal path is developed and implemented. Low cost and extremely simple transceivers intended to be installed within each PV module of a string have been designed and successfully tested. In addition, an anti-saturation coil has been conceived to avoid saturation of the core when the entire DC current of the string flows through it. Bi-directional half-duplex communication was successfully executed with up to a 1 MHz carrier frequency (150 kbps bitrate), using a simple ASK modulation scheme. The transmission and reception performance are presented, along with the overall system cost in comparison to the previous literature.The Universidad dee Valladolid with the predoctoral contracts of 2020 co-funded by Santander Bank.https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensorsam2023Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineerin

The OTELO survey: A case study of [O III] lambda 4959,5007 emitters at z=0.83

Context. The OSIRIS Tunable Filter Emission Line Object (OTELO) survey is a very deep, blind exploration of a selected region of the Extended Groth Strip and is designed for finding emission-line sources (ELSs). The survey design, observations, data reduction, astrometry, and photometry, as well as the correlation with ancillary data used to obtain a final catalogue, including photo-z estimates and a preliminary selection of ELS, were described in a previous contribution. Aims. Here, we aim to determine the main properties and luminosity function (LF) of the [O III] ELS sample of OTELO as a scientific demonstration of its capabilities, advantages, and complementarity with respect to other surveys. Methods. The selection and analysis procedures of ELS candidates obtained using tunable filter pseudo-spectra are described. We performed simulations in the parameter space of the survey to obtain emission-line detection probabilities. Relevant characteristics of [O III] emitters and the LF ([O III]), including the main selection biases and uncertainties, are presented. Results. From 541 preliminary emission-line source candidates selected around z = 0.8, a total of 184 sources were confirmed as [O III] emitters. Consistent with simulations, the minimum detectable line flux and equivalent width in this ELS sample are ∼5 × 10−19 erg s−1 cm2 and ∼6 Å, respectively. We are able to constrain the faint-end slope (α = −1.03 ± 0.08) of the observed LF ([O III]) at a mean redshift of z = 0.83. This LF reaches values that are approximately ten times lower than those from other surveys. The vast majority (84%) of the morphologically classified [O III] ELSs are disc-like sources, and 87% of this sample is comprised of galaxies with stellar masses of M⋆ <  1010 M⊙