Comparative study of two synthesis methods to obtain ZnO-Pr2O3-CoO ceramic powders

[ES] Los polvos cerámicos de ZnO - Pr2O3 - CoO son utilizados como materia prima para la fabricación de varistores. Estos dispositivos presentan una característica corriente - voltaje altamente no lineal que permiten su uso como conmutadores de estado sólido con capacidad de manejar altas energías. La discusión de las propiedades de los varistores no se puede realizar de manera separada de una discusión sobre su microestructura ya que ésta se puede considerar como un medio a través de la cual aquellas se manifiestan. Con el fin de optimizar las propiedades de los varistores de ZnO es necesario establecer un adecuado control sobre la composición del sistema, la naturaleza de los dopantes, métodos de síntesis y condiciones de sinterización. Concretamente, en métodos de síntesis, se han realizado muchos esfuerzos para desarrollar procesos que permitan obtener partículas con tamaño y morfología determinada y que se pueda garantizar su reproducibilidad. En este trabajo se estudiaron dos procesos de síntesis, co-precipitación y precursor polimérico, para la obtención de polvos cerámicos del sistema Zn-Pr-Co. Se analizaron los principales fenómenos fisicoquímicos que ocurren durante su desarrollo y se caracterizaron las muestras en polvo obtenidas utilizando Difracción de Rayos - X (DRX), Análisis Térmico Diferencial (ATD) y Microscopía Electrónica.[EN] Zinc oxide containing rare earth metal and Cobalt oxide are utilized as raw material to make varistors. Some of systems were found to exhibit non-ohmic current-voltaje characteristics and they are applicable not only for low voltaje devices but also for hight voltaje electric power stations. The microstructure of ZnO varistor can be considered as a vehicle thorugh which all of these properties ara manifested. Therefore, a discussion of the microstructure cannot be separated from a discussion of the properties. Fine particle dimensions and a narrow size distribution are often important aims when fabricating a ceramic material of a desired microstructure. Chemical methods give the ability to produce powders with an exceptionally small size in the nanometer range. In this paper we report the production of nanosized ZnO, doped with cobalt and Praseodymium oxides, using co-precipitation reaction and metallorganic polymeric method. Adequate description of synthesis methods and the characterization of ceramic powders obtained are show.Este trabajo fue realizado a través del proyecto COLCIENCIAS 1103-05-11507 Colombia (CYTED VIII.13 PROALERTA).Peer reviewe

Procedimiento de obtención de partículas de ZnO con morfología acicular

Referencia OEPM: P200001597.-- Fecha de solicitud: 27/06/2000.-- Titular: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).Procedimiento de obtención de partículas de ZnO con morfología acicular. La presente invención utiliza el método de precipitación controlada para obtener partículas de ZnO con morfología acicular. A través del control de los parámetros de formación de precursores intermedios de compuestos de cinc y la evolución de dichos precursores intermedios mediante el lavado con agua destilada de la suspensión coloidal se obtiene hidróxido de cinc. La destilación entre 100-150°C de una suspensión acuosa del hidróxido de zinc produce la formación de partículas de óxido de cinc con morfología acicular. El tamaño de las partículas varía con las condiciones de obtención, siendo el tamaño estándar de 0.5 μm de diámetro y 5-8 μm de longitud. La eficacia del procedimiento es superior al 90%.Peer reviewe

A detailed analysis of the Gl 486 planetary system

Context. The Gl 486 system consists of a very nearby, relatively bright, weakly active M3.5 V star at just 8 pc with a warm transiting rocky planet of about 1.3 R-circle plus and 3.0 M-circle plus. It is ideal for both transmission and emission spectroscopy and for testing interior models of telluric planets. Aims. To prepare for future studies, we aim to thoroughly characterise the planetary system with new accurate and precise data collected with state-of-the-art photometers from space and spectrometers and interferometers from the ground. Methods. We collected light curves of seven new transits observed with the CHEOPS space mission and new radial velocities obtained with MAROON-X at the 8.1 m Gemini North telescope and CARMENES at the 3.5 m Calar Alto telescope, together with previously published spectroscopic and photometric data from the two spectrographs and TESS. We also performed near-infrared interferometric observations with the CHARA Array and new photometric monitoring with a suite of smaller telescopes (AstroLAB, LCOGT, OSN, TJO). This extraordinary and rich data set was the input for our comprehensive analysis. Results. From interferometry, we measure a limb-darkened disc angular size of the star Gl 486 at theta(LDD) = 0.390 +/- 0.018 mas. Together with a corrected Gaia EDR3 parallax, we obtain a stellar radius R-* = 0.339 +/- 0.015 R-circle plus. We also measure a stellar rotation period at P-rot = 49.9 +/- 5.5 days, an upper limit to its XUV (5-920 A) flux informed by new Hubble/STIS data, and, for the first time, a variety of element abundances (Fe, Mg, Si, V, Sr, Zr, Rb) and C/O ratio. Moreover, we imposed restrictive constraints on the presence of additional components, either stellar or sub-stellar, in the system. With the input stellar parameters and the radial-velocity and transit data, we determine the radius and mass of the planet Gl 486 b at R-p = 1.343(-0.062)(+0.063) R-circle plus and M-p = 3.00(-0.12)(+0.13) M-circle plus, with relative uncertainties of the planet radius and mass of 4.7% and 4.2%, respectively. From the planet parameters and the stellar element abundances, we infer the most probable models of planet internal structure and composition, which are consistent with a relatively small metallic core with respect to the Earth, a deep silicate mantle, and a thin volatile upper layer. With all these ingredients, we outline prospects for Gl 486 b atmospheric studies, especially with forthcoming James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) observations.The David & Lucile Packard FoundationHeising-Simons FoundationGemini ObservatoryUniversity of ChicagoMax Planck SocietyConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)Spanish GovernmentEuropean Commission FICTS-2011-02 ICTS-2017-07-CAHA-4 CAHA16-CE-3978German Research Foundation (DFG) FOR2544National Science Foundation (NSF) AST-1636624 AST-2034336 2108465 DGE 1746045European Research Council (ERC) 639889National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) XRP NNX16AD43GNational Science Foundation (NSF) AST 1909165Wise Observatory, Tel-Aviv University, Israel TAU2021A-015Agencia Estatal de Investigacion of the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades and the ERDF PID2019-109522GB-C5[1:4] PID2019-107061GBC64 PID2019-110689RB-100 PGC2018-095317-B-C21 PGC2018-102108-BI00Centre of Excellence "Severo Ochoa" CEX2019-000920-SCentre of Excellence "Maria de Maeztu" CEX2019-000920-SInstituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia SEV-2017-0709Centro de Astrobiologia MDM2017-0737German Research Foundation (DFG)European Commission FOR2544 (KU 3625/2-1)Germany's Excellence Strategy to the Excellence Cluster ORIGINS EXC-2094 -390783311European Research Council (ERC)European Commission 639889Bulgarian National Science Fund through VIHREN-2021 KP-06-DB/5Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Forderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung/Fonds national suisse de la recherche scientifique PZ00P2_174028United Kingdom Science Technology and Facilities Council 630008203Princeton UniversityUniversidad La Laguna through the Margarita Salas Fellowship from the Spanish Ministerio de UniversidadesEU Next Generation funds UNI/551/2021Generalitat de Catalunya (CERCA programme

Support effects on NiO-based catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane

[EN] We report on the effect of NiO-support interactions on the chemical nature of Ni species in a series of supported NiO catalysts for the ODH of ethane. SiO2, TiO2-anatase, a high surface area TiO2 and a porous clay hetero-structure (PCH) with TiO2 and SiO2 pillars were used as supports, which led to a selectivity to ethylene in the range 30-90% over supported NiO catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by means of XRD, N-2-Adsorption, H-2-TPR, XPS and in situ (under H-2 reductive atmosphere) and ex situ XAS spectroscopy. The catalytic performance of supported materials is discussed in terms of their reducibility and specific reduction kinetics, but also taking into account the specific chemical nature of Ni species on each catalyst. The influence of the particle size and the presence of Ni and O vacancies on the catalytic performance in the ODH of ethane is inferred.Authors would like to thank the DGICYT in Spain CTQ2015-68951-C3-1-R, CTQ2015-68951-C3-3-R, CTQ2012-37925-C03-2 and ENE2017-88818-C2-1-R. Also authors want to acknowledge the ALBA Synchrotron Light Source (Project ID: 2015021258 at CLAESS beamline). Authors from ITQ thank Project SEV-2016-0683 for financial support. D. D. also thanks MINECO and Severo Ochoa Excellence Program for his fellowship (SVP-2014-068669). Authors from UV thank the University of Valencia (UV-INV-AE16-484416 project) and MINECO (MAT2017-84118-C2-1-R project) for funding.Delgado-Muñoz, D.; Sanchís, R.; Cecilia, JA.; Rodríguez-Castellón, E.; Caballero, A.; Solsona, B.; López Nieto, JM. (2019). Support effects on NiO-based catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane. Catalysis Today. 333:10-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2018.07.010S101633

Redox and Catalytic Properties of Promoted NiO Catalysts for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane

[EN] NiO and metal-promoted NiO catalysts (M-NiO, with a M/(M+Ni) atomic ratio of 0.08, with M = Nb, Sn, or La) have been prepared, tested in the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane, and characterized by means of XRD, TPR, HRTEM, Raman, XPS, and in situ XAS (using H-2/He, air or C2H6/He mixtures). The selectivity to ethylene during the ODH of ethane decreases according to the following trend: Nb NiO Sn NiO > La NiO > NiO, whereas the catalyst reducibility (determined by both TPR and XAS using H-2/He mixtures) shows the opposite trend. However, different reducibility and catalytic behavior in the absence of oxygen (ethane/He mixtures) have been observed, especially when comparing Nb- and Sn-promoted NiO samples. These differences can be ascribed mainly to a different phase distribution of the promoter. The results presented here are discussed in terms of the nature of active and selective sites for ODH of ethane in selective and unselective catalysts, but also the role of promoters and the importance of their phase distribution.The authors would like to acknowledge the DGICYT in Spain CTQ2012-37925-C03-2, CTQ2015-68951-C3-1-R, and CTQ2015-68951-C3-3-R. Authors thank European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, ESRF (Project CH-4512; BM25-SpLine Beamlime). Authors from ITQ also thank Project SEV-2016-0683 for financial support. D.D. thanks MINECO and Severo Ochoa Excellence Program for his fellowship (SVP-2014-068669). B.S. also thanks UV-INV-AE16-484416. Finally, the authors thank the Electron Microscopy Service of Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for their support.Delgado-Muñoz, D.; Solsona Espriu, BE.; Ykrelef, A.; Rodriguez-Gomez, A.; Caballero, A.; Rodríguez-Aguado, E.; Rodriguez-Castellón, E.... (2017). Redox and Catalytic Properties of Promoted NiO Catalysts for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 121(45):25132-25142. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b07066S25132251421214

Evaluación de los diferentes índices para cartografiar biocostras a partir de información espectral

Revista oficial de la Asociación Española de Teledetección[EN] Biological soil crusts (BSC) are complex communities formed by a close association of soil particles and cyanobacteria, algae, microfungi, lichens or bryophytes that live within or immediately on top of the uppermost millimeters of the soil surface. These communities cover non vegetated areas in most of the arid and semiarid ecosystems, and modify numerous soil surface properties and ecosystem processes. Given the importance of BSC in ecosystem functioning, accurate and spatially explicit information on the distribution of BSC is mandatory. With this objective, considerable effort has been devoted to identify and map BSC using remote sensing data, and some spectral indices have been developed. These indexes use the spectral differences among BSC and other surface components like vegetation or bare soil to identify the areas dominated by BSC. Our main objective is to test the feasibility of the previous indices published in the literature for mapping different types of BSC in a complex study area, where these index have not been developed, at different spatial scales. Our results showed the low capability of indexes based on multiespectral images to identify areas covered by BSCat field and image spatial scales. Hyperspetral indices, on the other hand, showed better results than those obtained with multispectral indices, with an accuracy around 71% because they analyzed specific absorption features related with photosynthetic pigments like chlorophyll and carotenoids. We can conclude that the spatial heterogeneity of the area and the spectral similarities among BSC, green and dry vegetation or bare soil makes it difficult to correctly distinguish BSC in arid and semiarid ecosystems using only multispectral information, whereas hyperspectral images offer an important tool to map different types of BSC and to discriminate among these and other surface components.[ES] Las biocostras o costras biológicas del suelo (CBS) son comunidades formadas por la asociación de partí-culas de suelo con microorganismos como cianobacterias, algas, hongos, líquenes, hepáticas o briófitos, que viven en la superficie del suelo. Estas comunidades bióticas cubren las áreas desprovistas de vegetación en los ecosistemas áridos y semiáridos, modificando las propiedades del suelo e influyendo en numerosos procesos clave para el funcio-namiento de los ecosistemas. Aunque representan una porción insignificante del perfil del suelo, las CBS regulan el intercambio de gases, agua y nutrientes desde y hacia el suelo, por lo que desempeñan un papel fundamental en los ecosistemas en los que aparecen. Debido al importante papel que ejercen las CBS en los ecosistemas donde aparecen y a su fragilidad frente a las acciones antrópicas, es necesario conocer de forma precisa su distribución espacial. Para ello, recientemente, se han desarrollado varios índices que permiten cartografiarlas a partir de imágenes obtenidas de sensores remotos. Este trabajo tiene por objetivo evaluar los diferentes índices desarrollados para cartografiar CBS, aplicándolos a una zona distinta para las que han sido desarrolladas. Los diferentes índices se evaluarán a dos escalas espaciales diferentes, parcela y ecosistema. A ambas escalas se analizará la fiabilidad de cada uno de los índices para la cartografía de CBS y su capacidad de diferenciar entre diferentes tipos, así como las principales cubiertas presentes en los sistemas áridos y semiáridos. La gran heterogeneidad espacial de la zona y la similitud espectral entre las CBS y la vegetación seca dificultan la correcta cartografía de ecosistemas en los que las CBS son una componente impor-tante utilizando información multiespectral. Sin embargo, los índices basados en información hiperespectral y alta resolución espacial constituyen una herramienta sólida para cartografiar CBS proporcionando una fiabilidad de 71%.Este trabajo ha sido cofinanciado por el proyecto COSTRAS (RNM 3614) de la Junta de Andalucía, y por el Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología a través del proyecto BACARCOS (CGL2011-29429), ambos cofinanciados con fondos FEDER. Los autores ademas agradecen al area de teledeteccion del INTA (Labtel) su inestimable ayAlonso, M.; Rodríguez-Caballero, E.; Chamizo, S.; Escribano, P.; Cantón, Y. (2014). Evaluation of the different spectral indices to map biocrust using spectral information. Revista de Teledetección. (42):79-98. https://doi.org/10.4995/raet.2014.2317SWORD79984

Response of obesity-resistant BALB/c mice to a ketogenic diet

Introduction. The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet in which the body undergoes metabolic adjustments that stimulate ketogenesis, thereby increasing circulating ketone bodies. Loss of body weight is attributed to these adjustments, as well as neuroprotective properties. However, the mechanisms involved are still not fully elucidated. That aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of a ketogenic diet on body composition, feeding behavior and glucose metabolism in mice of the BALB/c strain, a mouse model resistant to obesity. Materials and methods. BALB/c mice of both sexes, 12 weeks old, were divided into KD and control groups, which received a ketogenic diet (Research Diets) or standard chow (LabDiet 5001), respectively, for 23 days. Throughout the experiment, body weight gain, water and food intake were measured, whereas body mass index (BMI), the percentage of interscapular, inguinal, and visceral adipose tissue and blood b-hidroxybutyrate levels were measured at the end of the protocol. In addition, glucose tolerance tests were carried out at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Results. Similar body weight gain (10%) was observed in males and females on KD compared to the control group (p\u3c0.05). However, a higher BMI was observed only in males. The KD group consumed 50% less food in both sexes, whereas water consumption was diminished 25% in males and 50% in females, compared to the control (p= 0.0001). The estimated energy intake was lower (12 Kcal) in males on ketogenic diet, but not in females. Regarding the metabolic state at day 23, in KD mice levels of b-hidroxybutyrate increased to 0.4 mmol/L in males and 0.7 mmol/L in females. Mice of both sexes on KD showed increased inguinal and visceral fat, when compared to the control group on standard chow. At day 23, the glucose tolerance test showed an increase in the area under the curve, indicating impaired glucose tolerance, in both males and females on KD. Conclusions. In obesity-resistant BALB/c mice, the consumption of a ketogenic diet for a short period induces a state of nutritional ketosis accompanied by weight gain, increased fat tissue, and impaired glucose intolerance

Analysis of polarized 16 O ( → e , e ′ → p ) observables within the relativistic distorted wave impulse approximation

Recoil nucleon transferred polarization observables in coincidence quasielastic electron scattering are studied within the relativistic distorted wave impulse approximation. Results for response functions and polarization asymmetries are discussed for proton knockout from p 1 ∕ 2 , p 3 ∕ 2 , and s 1 ∕ 2 shells in 16 O . The impact of spinor distortion is examined by comparing the fully relativistic calculation with results obtained by projecting out the negative-energy components. In particular, a careful analysis of effects linked to the description of the bound and scattered relativistic nucleon wave functions is presented. The high sensitivity of some polarization observables to the dynamical enhancement of the lower components, already shown within the relativistic plane wave impulse approximation, is proven to be maintained in the relativistic distorted wave approach. Semi-relativistic approaches based on the effective momentum approximation are also studied. Finally, comparison with experimental data and a brief analysis of effects linked to medium modified form factors is presented.Dirección Genera de Investigación de España (DGI) y Fondos FEDER. BFM2002-03315, BFM2002-03562, FPA2002-04181-C04- 04, y BFM2000-0600Junta de Andalucía, España y Department of Energy de los EE.UU. DE-FC02-94ER4081