Laser Shock Microforming of Thin Metal Sheets

Continuous and long-pulse lasers have been used for the forming of metal sheets in macroscopic mechanical applications. However, for the manufacturing of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), the applicability of such type of lasers is limited by the long-relaxation-time of the thermal fields responsible for the forming phenomena. As a consequence of such slow relaxation, the final sheet deformation state is attained only after a certain time, what makes the generated internal residual stress fields more dependent on ambient conditions and might make difficult the subsequent assembly process from the point of view of residual stresses due to adjustment. The use of ns laser pulses provides a suitable parameter matching for the laser forming of an important range of sheet components used in MEMS that, preserving the short interaction time scale required for the predominantly mechanic (shock) induction of deformation residual stresses, allows for the successful processing of components in a medium range of miniaturization, particularly important according to its frequent use in such systems. In the present paper, a discussion is presented on the physics of laser shock microforming and the influence of the different effects on the net bending angle. The experimental setup used for the experiments, sample fabrication and experimental results of influence of number of laser pulses on the net bending angle are also presented

A striking morphotype of Aplidium proliferum (Milne Edwards, 1841) (Ascidiacea: Polyclinidae) from the Strait of Gibraltar

An unusual colonial ascidian with 1-2m in length, belonging to the genus Aplidium (Ascidiacea: Polyclinidae), has been sampled from the Strait of Gibraltar (Ras Leona, Morocco). The characteristics of the colony, zooids and larvae point us to A. proliferum. The species seems common in the NE Atlantic from the Shetland Islands to Mediterranean Sea, but it never has observed the size of colonies as found in this area, the Strait is the largest so far reported, which it is probably represents one of the longest ascidian worldwide.The first observations (2009) were made thanks to a grant from the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID: A-016248/08)

Hallazgo de anémonas anillo (Anthozoa, Actiniaria) en la región de Azores

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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

Do Alu repeats drive the evolution of the primate transcriptome?

The abundance of Alu elements near broadly expressed genes is best explained by their preferential preservation near housekeeping genes

Semi-synthetic Derivatives of Limonin A: Synthesis Using Basic Hydrolysis and Reduction with NaBH4

Limonin A (L-A) was obtained from seeds of Citrus sinensis that were dried, grounded, and extracted using Soxhlet equipment. Initially, 100% hexane was used to eliminate fats, and finally, 100% dichloromethane was used in order to concentrate and isolate the compound. L-A recrystallization was performed using acetic acid. The purified fraction was identified as limonin according to spectral nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. Two reactions were performed from L-A: Basic hydrolysis that acted on the A’ lactone ring producing a sodium salt of the lactone, and reduction with NaBH4 to reduce the carbonyl of carbon C-7 and generate the corresponding alcohol limonol. The structural modification of abundant secondary metabolites can become a source of new products with biological activity, useful in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agrochemical industries of natural origin. Keywords: limonin, semisynthetic derivates, bioactive compounds, non-timber forest products. Resumen La limonina A (L-A) se obtuvo a partir de semillas de Citrus sinensis, que fueron secadas, molidas y extraídas en equipo Soxhlet, utilizando inicialmente hexano al 100% para eliminar grasas y finalmente diclorometano al 100% para concentrar y aislar el compuesto. La re cristalización de la L-A se realizó utilizando ácido acético. La fracción purificada se identificó como limonina, acorde a los datos espectrales de RMN (Resonancia Magnética Nuclear). A partir de la Limonina A se realizaron dos reacciones: Hidrólisis básica que actuó sobre el anillo de lactona A’ produciendo la sal sódica de lactona y reducción con NaBH4 para reducir el carbonilo del carbono C-7 y generar el correspondiente alcohol limonol. La modificación estructural de metabolitos secundarios abundantes puede convertirse en una fuente para generar nuevos productos con actividad biológica, útiles en las industrias farmacéutica, cosmética y agroquímica de origen natural. Palabras Clave: Limonina; derivados semisintéticos, compuestos bioactivos, productos forestales no maderables

Rare earth based nanostructured materials: Synthesis, functionalization, properties and bioimaging and biosensing applications

Rare earth based nanostructures constitute a type of functional materials widely used and studied in the recent literature. The purpose of this review is to provide a general and comprehensive overview of the current state of the art, with special focus on the commonly employed synthesis methods and functionalization strategies of rare earth based nanoparticles and on their different bioimaging and biosensing applications. The luminescent (including downconversion, upconversion and permanent luminescence) and magnetic properties of rare earth based nanoparticles, as well as their ability to absorb X-rays, will also be explained and connected with their luminescent, magnetic resonance and X-ray computed tomography bioimaging applications, respectively. This review is not only restricted to nanoparticles, and recent advances reported for in other nanostructures containing rare earths, such as metal organic frameworks and lanthanide complexes conjugated with biological structures, will also be commented on.European Union 267226Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MAT2014-54852-

A survey of the genera Sarcodictyon Forbes, 1847, and rolandia Lacaze-Duthiers, 1900, (anthozoa: octocorallia) in the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean

Sarcodictyon catenatum Forbes, 1847, is a common species in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. However, often it has been mistaken for Rolandia coralloides Lacaze-Duthiers, 1900. On the basis of British and Mediterranean material we studied the main characters for distinguishing S. catenatum. We consider Rolandia coralloides Lacaze-Duthiers, 1900, to be a valid species and we assign to it all the material named Rolandia rosea by S. Weinberg (1978). Furthermore, a histological study confirmed that R. coralloides typically forms groups of polyps embedded in a common coenenchyme. Therefore, the possibility of transferring R. coralloides from Stolonifera to Alcyonacea is discussed. Evagorgia rosea Philippi, 1842, is here considered to be a nomen dubium

Europium-doped NaGd(WO4)2 nanophosphors: synthesis, luminescence and their coating with fluorescein for pH sensing

Uniform Eu-doped NaGd(WO4)2 nanophosphors with a spherical shape have been synthesized for the first time by using a wet chemistry method based on a homogeneous precipitation process at low temperature (120 °C) in ethylene glycol/water mixtures. The obtained nanoparticles crystallized into the tetragonal structure and presented polycrystalline character. The europium content in such phosphors has been optimized through the analysis of the luminescence dynamics (lifetime measurements). By coating the Eu3+-doped wolframate based nanoparticles with fluorescein through a layer-by-layer (LbL) approach, a wide range (4¿10) ratiometric pH-sensitive sensor has been developed, which uses the pH insensitive emission of Eu3+ as a reference.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MAT2014-54852-RConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas CSIC PIE 201460E005, PIE 201560E056European Union 26722