Nuevos datos sobre Eumops dabbenei Thomas, 1914 (Chiroptera, Molossidae)

The present paper gives data on three male specimens of Eumops dabbenei (1 male and 3 females were only recorded until now) from Venezuela, with a description of the baculum of this species. Comments on the status of the Venezuelan population are given. Eumops underwoodi mederai Massoia is considered synonym of E. dabbenei

Descripción de un nuevo género de quiróptero neotropical de la familia Molossidae

Se describe un nuevo género de quiróptero de la familia Molossidae del Nuevo Mundo, al que se denomina Cabreramops y cuya especie tipo es Molossops aequatorianus Cabrera. Los caracteres principales de este nuevo género son: La presencia de dos pares de incisivos inferiores y uno de premolares superiores. Incisivos superiores que no se proyectan hacia adelante. Parte anterior del paladar completa sin emarginación. Orejas casi unidas sobre la frente.A new genus of Chiroptera of the Molossidae family of the New World is described, giving if the name Cabreramops. The type species is Molossops aequatorianus Cabrera, 1917. Since the time of the description of this species, made on the basis of four specimens, no new material has been reported. Only the skin of the type and the skull and skin of a paratype are actually known to exist and both are deposited in the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales of Madrid. The features diagnostic of this new genus are the following: Anterior bases of ears near together on forehead. Upper lip wrinkled though more weekly than in Tadarida. No keel-like ridge from behind muzzle to origin of ears. Second phalanx of digit IV slightly shorter than the first. Dental formula i (1-1)/(2-2), c (1-1)/(1-1), pm (1-1)/(2-2), m (3-3)/(3-3). Converging upper incisors widely separated at base and in contacy in the distal half, scarcely proyected ahead of the canine (very similar in form and proportions to Molossus and Cheiromeles). Lower premolars nearly equal; the anterior, slightly smaller, is not being compressed between the canine and posterior premolar. Upper molars essentially normal, the two first ones with hipocone though not very large, the third reduced, missing the third commisure.Saginal crest absent, lachrimal ridge poorly developed. Anterior portion of palate entire without emargination. Basisphenoid pits oval well developed. Cabreramops is also compared here with other molossid genera, giving the main differential characteristics among them

Tan lejos, tan cerca: universalidad y conciencia para la educación del siglo XXI

We are attending a real revolution in the education realm. The new tools to get information, the communication speed and new structures of learning are questioning current pedagogical institutions. Polytechnic universities have opened a debate between strengthening their technical approach or focusing to a more speculative research. Reviewing some text of unquestionable figures of the XXth century, the text shows a third way. Its objetives, more general and timeless, are the ones that pay attention to accept the knowledge universality, the same meaning for learning and teaching, the empowerment of the “art of living”, the worth of the well-done job and the connection with the spiritual dimension of the human being.Estamos asistiendo a una revolución en el mundo de la enseñanza. Las nuevas herramientas para la obtención de informa-ción, la velocidad de la comunicación y la aparición de nuevas estructuras de aprendizaje están poniendo en cuestión las actuales instituciones pedagógicas. En las escuelas politécnicas hay abierto un debate entre potenciar sus intereses hacia la formación técnica habilitante o enfocarse hacia una mayor investigación especulativa. Mediante el repaso a algunos textos de figuras incuestionables del siglo XX, el texto expone la existencia de una tercera vía. Sus objetivos, más generales e intempora-les, son aquellos que atienden a la aceptación de la universalidad del conocimiento, la igualdad entre aprender y enseñar, la potenciación del arte de vivir, el valor del trabajo bien hecho y la conexión con la dimensión espiritual del hombre

Activated Carbon Fiber Monoliths as Supercapacitor Electrodes

Activated carbon fibers (ACF) are interesting candidates for electrodes in electrochemical energy storage devices; however, one major drawback for practical application is their low density. In the present work, monoliths were synthesized from two different ACFs, reaching 3 times higher densities than the original ACFs’ apparent densities. The porosity of the monoliths was only slightly decreased with respect to the pristine ACFs, the employed PVDC binder developing additional porosity upon carbonization. The ACF monoliths are essentially microporous and reach BET surface areas of up to 1838 m2 g−1. SEM analysis reveals that the ACFs are well embedded into the monolith structure and that their length was significantly reduced due to the monolith preparation process. The carbonized monoliths were studied as supercapacitor electrodes in two- and three-electrode cells having 2 M H2SO4 as electrolyte. Maximum capacitances of around 200 F g−1 were reached. The results confirm that the capacitance of the bisulfate anions essentially originates from the double layer, while hydronium cations contribute with a mixture of both, double layer capacitance and pseudocapacitance.Financial support through the projects of reference MAT2014-57687-R, GV/FEDER (PROMETEOII/2014/010), and University of Alicante (VIGROB-136) is gratefully acknowledged

Intervenciones en el patrimonio arquitectónico. 5+1 oportunidades

Artículo de investigación sobre intervenciones recientes en el patrimonio arquitectónic

The contribution of sulfate ions and protons to the specific capacitance of microporous carbon monoliths

The monoliths studied in this work show large specific surface areas (up to 1600 m2 g-1), high densities (up to 1.17 g cm-3) and high electrical conductivities (up to 9.5 S cm-1). They are microporous carbons with pore sizes up to 1.3 nm but most of them below 0.75 nm. They also show oxygen functionalities. The electrochemical behavior of the monoliths is studied in three-electrode cells with aqueous H2SO4 solution as electrolyte. This work deals with the contribution of the sulfate ions and protons to the specific capacitance of carbon monoliths having different surface areas and different contents of oxygen groups. Protons contribute with a pseudocapacitance (up to 152 F g-1) in addition to the double layer capacitance. Sulfate ions contribute with a double layer capacitance only. At the double layer, the capacitance of the sulfate ions (up to 291 F g-1) is slightly higher than that of protons (up to 251 F g-1); both capacitances increase as the surface area increases. The preference of protons to be electroadsorbed at the double layer and the broader voltage window of these ions account for their higher contribution (70 %) to the double layer capacitance.Financial support through the projects MAT2011-25198, MP 1004 and PROMETEO/2009/047 is gratefully acknowledged. V.B. thanks MINECO for R&C contract

Eduardo Torroja's Zarzuela Racecourse grandstand: Design, construction, evolution and critical assessment from the Structural Art perspective

The grandstands of La Zarzuela Racecourse in Madrid designed by the engineer E. Torroja and the architects C. Arniches and M. Dominguez are one of the world s most outstanding concrete constructions of the first half of the 20th century. This paper describes the design competition and the conceptual design process that led to their construction and carries out a critical assessment of the grandstands from the perspective of Structural Art. By doing so, the paper helps to develop the discipline of structural criticism, and points out lessons learned from their design and construction process which should not be forgotten at the present time, such as: (a) the importance of design competitions; (b) the fact that the pursuit of economy and efficiency can actually improve the quality and aesthetics of the design; (c) the importance of combining logical reasoning based on technical criteria with imagination to achieve excellence in structural design; and (d) the importance of estimating structural behavior by simple formulas and of learning from both existing structures and experimental models.The authors are very grateful to the engineers G. Ayuso and L. Fernandez Troyano from Carlos Fernandez Casado S.L. and C. Polo from the company Hipodromo de La Zarzuela S.A. for all the information and support provided. The authors also want to thank the Archivo Torroja and its former librarian, I. Garcia, for providing full access to the funds of the archive to develop this research. Funding for this research was provided by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (Research Project BIA 2011-27104).Moragues, JJ.; Paya-Zaforteza, I.; Medina, O.; Adam Martínez, JM. (2015). Eduardo Torroja's Zarzuela Racecourse grandstand: Design, construction, evolution and critical assessment from the Structural Art perspective. Engineering Structures. 105:186-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2015.10.008S18619610

Aluminum slurry coatings to replace cadmium for aeronautic applications

Cadmium has been widely used as a coating to provide protection against galvanic corrosion for steels and for its natural lubricity on threaded applications. However, it is a toxic metal and a known carcinogenic agent, which is plated from an aqueous bath containing cyanide salts. For these reasons, the use of cadmium has been banned in Europe for most industrial applications. However, the aerospace industry is still exempt due to the stringent technical and safety requirements associated with aeronautical applications, as an acceptable replacement is yet to be found. Al slurry coatings have been developed as an alternative to replace cadmium coatings. The coatings were deposited on AISI 4340 steel and have been characterized by optical and electron microscopy. Testing included salt fog corrosion exposure, fluid corrosion exposure (immersion), humidity resistance, coating-substrate and paint-coating adhesion, electric conductivity, galvanic corrosion, embrittlement and fatigue. The results indicated that Al slurry coatings are an excellent alternative for Cd replacement

HVOF-Deposited WCCoCr as Replacement for Hard Cr in Landing Gear Actuators

WCCoCr coatings deposited by HVOF can replace hard Cr on landing gear components. Powders with two different WC particle sizes (micro and nano-) and geometries have been employed to study the effects on the coating’s properties. Moreover, coatings produced employing two sets of parameters resulting in high and low flame temperatures have been evaluated. Minor differences in microstructure and morphology were observed for the two powders employing the same spraying parameters, but the nano-sized powder exhibited a higher spraying efficiency. However, more significant microstructural changes result when the low- and high-energy spray parameters are used. Moreover, results of various tests which include adhesion, wear, salt fog corrosion resistance, liquid immersion, and axial fatigue strength, indicate that the coatings produced with high-energy flame are similar in behavior. On the other hand, the nanostructured low-energy flame coating exhibited a significantly lower salt fog corrosion resistanc