Observation of a Griffiths-like phase in the paramagnetic regime of ErCo_2

A systematic x-ray magnetic circular dichroism study of the paramagnetic phase of ErCo2 has recently allowed to identify the inversion of the net magnetization of the Co net moment with respect to the applied field well above the ferrimagnetic ordering temperature, Tc. The study of small angle neutron scattering measurements has also shown the presence of short range order correlations in the same temperature region. This phenomenon, which we have denoted parimagnetism, may be related with the onset of a Griffiths-like phase in paramagnetic ErCo2. We have measured ac susceptibility on ErCo2 as a function of temperature, applied field, and excitation frequency. Several characteristics shared by systems showing a Griffiths phase are present in ErCo2, namely the formation of ferromagnetic clusters in the disordered phase, the loss of analyticity of the magnetic susceptibility and its extreme sensitivity to an applied magnetic field. The paramagnetic susceptibility allows to establish that the magnetic clusters are only formed by Co moments as well as the intrinsic nature of those Co moments

The CARIMED (CARbon IN the MEDiterranean Sea) data synthesis initiative: overview and quality control procedures

posterIn this work we present the data synthesis project CARIMED (CARbon in the MEDiterranean Sea), we aim to create a uniformly formatted consistent quality controlled public database for carbon relevant variables from hydrographic cruises covering the whole water column and the different basins in the MedSea. Both primary and secondary quality control (QC) of the data has been performed following the experience gathered in CARINA and GLODAPv2. The motivation for this initiative stemmed from two CIESM (Mediterranean Science Commission) workshops, the first one in Menton (France) October 2008 (CIESM, 2008) focused on the impact of OA on biological, chemical and physical systems in the MedSea, and the second one in Supetar (Croatia) May 2011 (CIESM, 2012) focused on designing the Mediterranean Sea repeat hydrography program (MED-SHIP). The unresolved issues regarding the CO2 system in the MedSea were summarized in Malanotte-Rizzoli et al. (Oc Sc, 2014), one of them the temporal and spatial variability of the interior CO2 system, clearly justifies the need for CARIMED. Independently two projects focused on compiling CO2 water column data in the MedSea, an initiative within the EU MedSeA project (Gemayel et al., ESD 2015) called MEDICA (T. Lovato personal communication) and the one here presented lead by the Spanish IEO and partially funded by SanLeón-Bartolomé 's PhD project. We hope a product like this will be much welcome by the oceanographic community, both observationist and modellers, as it was the release of the Meteor cruise M84/3 data in CDIAC used in several publications (Palmieri et al., BG 2015; Cossarini et al., BG 2015; Hassoun et al., DSR 2015 & JWROS 2015; Lovato & Vichi, DSR 2015; Gemayel et al., ESD 2015)

Magnetic nanoparticles with bulk-like properties

The magnetic behavior of $Fe_{3-x}O_4$ nanoparticles synthesized either by high-temperature decomposition of an organic iron precursor or low-temperature co-precipitation in aqueous conditions, is compared. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and magnetization measurements show that nanoparticles synthesized by thermal decomposition display high crystal quality and bulk-like magnetic and electronic properties, while nanoparticles synthesized by co-precipitation show much poorer crystallinity and particle-like phenomenology, including reduced magnetization, high closure fields and shifted hysteresis loops. The key role of the crystal quality is thus suggested since particle-like behavior for particles larger than about 5 nm is only observed when they are structurally defective. These conclusions are supported by Monte Carlo simulations. It is also shown that thermal decomposition is capable of producing nanoparticles that, after further stabilization in physiological conditions, are suitable for biomedical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging or bio-distribution studies.Comment: Review article. 20 pages, 7 figures. Invited contribution to 55th MMM Conference 2010 (Atlanta), Session HG-01. To be published in J. Appl. Phy

Efectos de un programa escolar orientado a la mejora de la condición física sobre el perfil lipídico de adolescentes: estudio EDUFIT

Observational studies have reported an association among physical activity, fitness and lipid profile in youth. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of a school-based intervention focused on increasing the number and intensity of Physical Education (PE) sessions a week, on adolescents' lipid profile. METHODS: A 4-month group-randomized controlled trial was conducted in 67 adolescents (12-14 years-old) from South-East Spain, 2007. Three school classes were randomly allocated into control group (CG), experimental group-1 (EG1) and experimental group-2 (EG2). The CG received the usual PE in Spain (2 sessions/week), the EG1 received 4 PE sessions/week, and the EG2 received 4 PE sessions/week of high intensity. The main study outcomes were fasting levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and triglycerides. All the analyses were adjusted for sex, sexual maturation, attendance and baseline value of the outcome studied. RESULTS: The intervention did not positively affect cardio-metabolic parameters except for LDLc, that was marginally yet significantly reduced in EG2 (-10.4 mg/dl), compared with the CG (+4.1 mg/dl) (p = 0.04); no differences were observed however for the LDLc/HDLc ratio. No significant effects were observed in EG1. DISCUSSION: Overall, a 4-month school-based physical activity intervention did not substantially influence lipid profile in adolescents. However, the results suggest that increasing both frequency and intensity of PE sessions had a modest effect on LDLc in youth. Future studies involving larger sample sizes and longer interventions should focus on the separate effects of volume and intensity of PE.Objetivos: Los estudios observacionales han notificado una asociación entre la actividad física, la forma física y el perfil lipídico en la juventud. El propósito de este estudio fue analizar el efecto de una intervención basada en la escuela centrada en aumentar el número y la intensidad de las sesiones de educación física (EF) a lo largo de la semana, en el perfil lipídico de los adolescentes. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio controlado de distribución aleatoria en 67 adolescentes (12-14 2013s) del sudeste de España, en 2007. Tres clases fueron distribuidas al azar a un grupo control (GC), un grupo experimental-1 (GE1) y un grupo experimental-2 (GE2). El GC recibió las sesiones habituales de EF en España (2 sesiones semanales), el GE1 recibió 4 sesiones de EF /semana y el GE2 recibió 4 sesiones de EF /semana de alta intensidad. Los criterios de valoración principales del estudio fueron las concentraciones en ayunas de colesterol toral, lipoproteínas de densidad elevada-colesterol (HDLc), lipoproteínas de densidad baja-colesterol (LDLc) y de triglicéridos. Se ajustaron todos los análisis para el sexo, maduración sexual, asistencia y valor basal de la variable estudiada. Resultados: La intervención no afectó de forma positiva a los parámetros cardiovasculares a excepción de las LDLc que disminuyeron marginal aunque significativamente en el GE2 (-10,4 mg/dl), en comparación del GC (+4,1 mg/dl) (p = 0,04); sin embargo, no se observaron diferencias para el cociente LDLc/HDLc ratio. No se observaron efectos significativos en el GE1. Discusión: De forma global, una intervención de actividad física basada en la escuela durante 4 meses no influyó de forma sustancial en el perfil lipídico de los adolescentes. Sin embargo, los resultados sugieren que el aumentar tanto la frecuencia como la intensidad de las sesiones de EF tiene un efecto modesto sobre las LDLc en los jóvenes. Los estudios futuros que impliquen una muestra mayor e intervenciones más duraderas deberían centrarse en los efectos separados del volumen e intensidad de la EF

Implementation and application of Retinex algorithms to the preprocessing of retinography color images

La retinopatía diabética es una enfermedad causada por complicaciones de la retina, con evolución progresiva. Esta patología se detecta en las imágenes de fondo de ojo que, en la mayoría de los casos, presentan iluminación no uniforme. En este trabajo se implementaron y aplicaron cuatro algoritmos de la teoría Retinex a imágenes de fondo de ojo, con el fin de proporcionar una mejor iluminación, para una posterior visualización o procesamiento, buscando detectar con mayor exactitud la presencia o no de la enfermedad y poder hacer un seguimiento más acertado.Diabetic retinopathy is a disease caused by complications of the retina, with progressive evolution. This pathology is detected on the fundus eye images, which in most cases have non-uniform illumination. In this paper four type of algorithms, based on the Retinex theory, were implemented and applied to fundus images in order to provide better illumination for later visualization or processing. The purpose was to find more accuracy to detect the presence or not of the disease and thus to get a more accurate approach of diagnosis

Spin-Glass State in CuGa2O4\rm CuGa_2O_4

Magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, specific heat and positive muon spin relaxation (\musr) measurements have been used to characterize the magnetic ground-state of the spinel compound $\rm CuGa_2O_4$. We observe a spin-glass transition of the S=1/2 $\rm Cu^{2+}$ spins below $\rm T_f=2.5K$ characterized by a cusp in the susceptibility curve which suppressed when a magnetic field is applied. We show that the magnetization of $\rm CuGa_2O_4$ depends on the magnetic histo Well below $\rm T_f$, the muon signal resembles the dynamical Kubo-Toyabe expression reflecting that the spin freezing process in $\rm CuGa_2O_4$ results Gaussian distribution of the magnetic moments. By means of Monte-Carlo simulati we obtain the relevant exchange integrals between the $\rm Cu^{2+}$ spins in this compound.Comment: 6 pages, 16 figure

Characterizing active faults and associated mass transport deposits in the South Iberian Margin (Alboran Sean and Gulf of Cadiz): on-fault and off-fault paleoseismic evidence

During the last years we have carried out successive high-resolution marine geological and geophysical surveys to investigate the seismic potential of the slow-moving seismogenic faults from the South Iberian Margin. Based on ,ultiscale acoustic mapping, sub-seafloor seismic imaging and dating methods we have characterized submarine fault systems with unprecedented resolution. We present primary paleoseismic evidence obtained by direct investigations of selected faults from theMediterranean Sea (i.e. Carboneras Fault, Bajo Segura Fault, Adra Fault) and the external part of the Gulf of Cadiz (i.e. Marques de Pombal Fault, Horseshoe Fault, Coral Patch Ridge Fault and SWIM lineaments). The obtained fault seismic parameters suggest that these faults are active and capable of generating large magnitude (Mw > 6) seismic events, representing an earthquake and tsunami hazard for the surrounding coastal areas. Secondary paleoseismic evidence in the SW Iberian Margin (based on landslides and turbidite deposits) yields a regional recurrence rate of large magnitude earthquake of 1800 - 2000 years

Specific heat and magnetic measurements in Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3, Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and Ho0.5Ca0.5MnO3 samples

We studied the magnetization as a function of temperature and magnetic field in the compounds Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3, Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and Ho0.5Ca0.5MnO3. It allowed us to identify the ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and charge ordering phases in each case. The intrinsic magnetic moments of Nd3+ and Ho3+ ions experienced a short range order at low temperatures. We also did specific heat measurements with applied magnetic fields between 0 and 9 T and temperatures between 2 and 300 K in all three samples. Close to the charge ordering and ferromagnetic transition temperatures the specific heat curves showed peaks superposed to the characteristic response of the lattice oscillations. Below 10 K the specific heat measurements evidenced a Schottky-like anomaly for all samples. However, we could not successfully fit the curves to either a two level nor a distribution of two-level Schottky anomaly. Our results indicated that the peak temperature of the Schottky anomaly was higher in the compounds with narrower conduction band.Comment: submitted to PR