The diet and habitat of Leptomeryx sp. from the Late Uintan Yolomécatl Formation of NW Oaxaca, SE Mexico were inferred using dental enamel carbon and oxygen isotopic relationships, and compared with those of congeneric species from temperate North America. Results show that Leptomeryx sp. fed on C3 plants and lived in open forest or forest/savanna ecotone. The palynoflora and co-occurrence of perissodactyls and artiodactyls that live in an environment like that of Leptomeryx support this interpretation. Further, both records disclose that in NW Oaxaca (southern North America) tropical conditions prevailed at that time, unlike that of temperate North America.

Objectives: The methodological quality of an economic evaluation performed alongside a clinical trial can be underestimated if the paper does not report key methodological features. This study discusses methodological assessment issues on the example of a systematic review on cost-effectiveness of physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: Six economic evaluation studies included in the systematic review and related clinical trials were assessed using the 10-question check-list by Drummond and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale.

Results: All economic evaluations were performed alongside a clinical trial but the studied interventions were too heterogeneous to be synthesized. Methodological quality of the economic evaluations reported in the papers was not free of drawbacks, and in some cases, it improved when information from the related clinical trial was taken into account.

Conclusions: Economic evaluation papers dedicate little space to methodological features of related clinical trials; therefore, the methodological quality can be underestimated if evaluated separately from the trials. Future economic evaluations should follow more strictly the recommendations about methodology and the authors should pay special attention to the quality of reporting.

This work shows the development of several models for chain-growth polymerizations that admit the direct calculation of the complete molecular weight distribution of the polymer. The direct and complete calculation implies that no statistical mean values are employed as in the moments method neither numerical approximations like in the minimum-squared based methods. The free radical polymerization of ethylene (LDPE) and the coordination via metallocenes polymerization of ethylene (HDPE) are taken as examples for analysis.

In the free radical polymerization case, the conventional scheme for chain-growth polymerization is adopted, with steps for initiation, propagation, chain transfer to small species and the additional step of chain transfer to dead chains [1]. The kinetic parameter are obtained from the open literature. Two kind of reactors were modelled: batch and continuous stirred tank reactor. For this last case, a simulation strategy was considered in which the run started from an initial known population of dead chains. Results show that typical non-linear polymerization profiles for the molecular weight distribution are obtained. For the coordination polymerization of ethylene via metalocenes, the standard coordination model was employed [2]. A two-site catalyst was considered and kinetic parameters reported in the open literature were used. For this study an experimental program in a lab-scale reactor was undertaken in order to obtain modelling data [3]. Results show that the standard model adequately reproduces the experimental data in the kinetic and molecular attributes of the polymer.

We study the properties of the young population of NGC 604 and find evidences for 1–2 Myr differences between different regions. Four of the eleven WR stars in NGC 604 are found to have wide Hα emission lines. None of the WR stars is located within knots of high density, high excitation gas, as opposed to some of the O-type stars.

We study the radial distribution of oxygen and nitrogen abundances in H ii regions in 350 galaxies observed in the CALIFA survey using the semi-empirical N-sensitive code Hii-Chi-mistry. A separate analysis of N/O when using [N ii] is justified as the dispersion in the O/H-N/O diagram is very large. In fact different O/H and N/O slope distributions and flattening in the outskirts are obtained.On the other hand there is a tight correlation between O/H and N/O when the values of the fittings at the effective radius are considered as representative of each galaxy.

This is the first detailed analysis of a CO2 diffuse degassing time series from Deception volcano, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, performed during an episode of anomalously high long-period (LP) seismicity. Diffuse CO2 emissions measured by an automatic geochemical station between 7 December 2009 and 13 February 2010 showed an excellent temporal agreement with the LP seismicity in December 2009. The absence of such a temporal correlation with the second burst of seismicity that occurred in late January 2010 suggests a different source for this LP activity. This was confirmed by analysis of seismic array data. The LP seismicity observed during December 2009 was caused by fluid-driven cracks that originated from pressure fluctuations in the volcano-hydrothermal systems beneath Deception volcano that were probably caused by a deep injection of undegassed magma before December 2009. The diffuse CO2 degassing data have provided evidence of the activation of at least two different sources of seismicity during the study period at Deception volcano.

This work presents results on the prediction of the molecular weight distributions (MWD) of chain growth polymerization using conventional software and hardware tools. The investigation focuses on two kinds of polymerization processes: free radical batch and continuous polymerization processes with application to low density polyethylene synthesis (LDPE); and coordination polymerization via metallocenes with application to high density polyethylene synthesis (HDPE). For both processes, kinetic models, consisting of sets of differential equations describing the dynamic behavior of all the chemical species in the reaction media, are presented. From these sets is possible to obtain the molecular weight distribution of the polymer 1,2,4

Strategies for the simulation of the polymerization models were developed and results of these simulations are presented. On the free radical polymerization case, the next results are highlighted: i) It was confirmed that the chain transfer to polymer step produces strong asymmetries on the MWD as well as a high polydispersity index; ii) It’s possible to calculate the MWD in the CSTR process through a simulation strategy that permits the decoupling of the live and dead chains populations. On the metallocene polymerization case, it was demonstrated that the coordination standard model represents well the system experimentally studied and it can be employed to directly calculate the molecular weight distribution.

These results confirm the idea that the complete MWD can be directly calculated with conventional hardware and software tools.

An experimental study oriented to gather kinetic modelling data in the ethylene polymerization via metallocenes is reported. Also is illustrated the employment of two methods for determination of kinetic behavior and the instantaneous activity of Ziegler-Natta catalysts in the slurry polymerization of ethylene. The theoretical basis for both methods is described as well as the required instrumentation for its implantation at a laboratory level. An experimental program of polymerization with two different metallocenic systems was executed, showing that the direct (measurement of ethylene flow) as well as the calorimetric method (based on energy balances) give equivalent high quality information on the kinetic performance of the catalyst.

A multidisciplinary study from a number of drilled cores in the Guadalquivir estuary has made possible to identify as many as three extreme wave events and their facies in the 4th millennium BP (A: ~ 4000 cal yr BP, B: ~ 3550 cal yr BP, and C: ~ 3150 cal yr BP). These events, which caused strong erosion in the Guadalquivir sandy barrier and in the neighboring aeolian systems of El Abalario, brought about significant paleogeographical changes that may have affected human settlements established in the area during the Neolithic and Copper Age periods and during the Middle Bronze Age. The three events can be spatially correlated and their facies differentiated from more proximal to more distal from the coastline. The most proximal facies is characterized by a massive accumulation of shells, a sandy or sandy–muddy matrix, an erosive base, a highly diverse mixture of species (marine and estuarine), and lithoclasts. The most distal facies presents a muddy–sandy matrix, dominance of estuarine fauna, shell accumulation, presence of terrestrial species, mudpebbles, pebbles in a clayey matrix, and bioturbation. The evidence presented will further advance scientific knowledge about the impact of extreme wave events on coastal areas in SW Iberia and NW Africa.

The kinetic performance of metallocene type catalysts as well as their instantaneous activity is determined on line by two independent methods in the semi-batch polymerization of ethylene via metallocenes. On the basis of first-principles, both methods are described and guidelines for their implementation at a laboratory scale reactor are offered. Polymerization tests were conducted with two heterogenized metallocene catalysts showing that the direct method (based on ethylene flow measurement) and also the calorimetric method (based on energy balances) reported equivalent high quality information. The calorimetric method here developed can be readily used by the chemical practitioner as the notions and tools required for its implantation are easily grasped. It is noted that the calorimetric method has the advantage of requiring a low cost instrumentation (only thermocouples) whereas the direct method needs a relatively more sophisticated equipment (mass flow meter).

The Santa Mónica Church is one of the most representative buildings in Guadalajara, Mexico as it is the finest Solomonic Baroque temple in the city. The church was built in the XVIII century with different types of volcanic tuffs, which have been studied from the macroscopic level to the structural level with the aim to determine the deterioration degree of the church’s tuffs.

Textural, morphological and structural properties of Tuff were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR ATR) and 29Si and 27Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR), nitrogen adsorption-desorption techniques, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), compressive strength tests were also performed.

Characterization data has provided a comprehensive view of the alterations on the volcanic tuff of Santa Mónica Church. Then the study focused on proposing the best strategy for the understanding and conservation of Churches and other buildings in Guadalajara which have been built with the same stone. Currently, siliceous materials doped with aluminum are being tested as consolidate.

The Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) project is an ongoing 3D spectroscopic survey of 600 nearby galaxies of all kinds. This pioneer survey is providing valuable clues on how galaxies form and evolve. Processed through spectral synthesis techniques, CALIFA datacubes allow us to, for the first time, spatially resolve the star formation history of galaxies spread across the color-magnitude diagram. The richness of this approach is already evident from the results obtained for the first ~ 1/6 of the sample. Here we show how the different galactic spatial sub-components (“bulge” and “disk”) grow their stellar mass over time. We explore the results stacking galaxies in mass bins, finding that, except at the lowest masses, galaxies grow inside-out, and that the growth rate depends on a galaxy's mass. The growth rate of inner and outer regions differ maximally at intermediate masses. We also find a good correlation between the age radial gradient and the stellar mass density, suggesting that the local density is a main driver of galaxy evolution.

This study broaches in a novel way the analysis of cognitive impairment characteristic of the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Specifically, we attempt to determine the acoustic speech parameters that are sensitive to the onset of the disease, and their association with the language deficit characteristic of AD. Speech analysis was carried out on 21 elderly patients with AD using Praat software, which analyzes the acoustic components of speech. The data obtained were subjected to stepwise regression, using the overall scores obtained in the test as the criterion variable, and the scores on the frequency, amplitude and periodicity variables as predictors of performance. We found that the percentage of voiceless segments explains a significant portion of the variance in the overall scores obtained in the neuropsychological test. This component seems to be related mainly to the patient's ability in phonological fluency. This finding could permit the creation of a diagnostic test for AD through analysis of the acoustic speech parameters at very low cost in terms of both time and resources.

The multiple-gate aspect of the Screen Grid Field Effect Transistor (SGrFET) increases functionality and reduces component count of circuits. An independently-driven gate SGrFET is used to control the switching voltage as well as the gain factor of an inverter. The multi-gate configuration of the SGrFET allows a decrease in output conductance without an increase of transistors count. This leads to a reduction in fabrication complexity, chip area and parasitics. In addition, a simple SGrFETs-based current mirror circuit is proposed with gain factor control.

In this study, polymer-matrix composites are fabricated by mixing liquid epoxy resin with 0, 15, 20 and 25 wt % of PET. PET is used as a reinforcement material since it can be recycled and this implies a beneficial environmental impact. After mixing, specimens are dried at room temperature during 24 h and then cured at 150°C during 0.5, 0.75 and 1 h. Then mechanical tests are performed. Experimental results obtained from the flexion test for 100 % epoxy resin and 15 % PET samples, without curing treatment show values of 30 and 21 MPa, respectively. Flexure strength values for the same samples but after curing treatment are: 56, 90, 32 MPa and 69, 64, 70 MPa, for 0.5, 0.75 and 1 h of treatment, respectively. These data show an important increase in the flexure strength for the sample reinforced with 15 % PET and curing time of 1h. This is most likely due to the behavior of PET's powders at this temperature and time. They can partially melt improving the adhesion to the polymeric matrix. For a curing time of 0.75h, this property decreases, due to the high porosity developed in the composite and the poor adhesion between polymeric matrix and reinforced material.

In this work the synthesis and mechanical characterization of a polymer matrix composite is reported. An epoxy resin is used as matrix with addition of starch and coconut fibers as reinforcement. Vickers hardness and impact tests are used for mechanical characterization. Starch is used to promote degradability of the polymer matrix with clear benefits for the environment. Natural fibers have been used for reinforcing the composite materials. Natural fibers have several advantages such as price, low density and relatively high mechanical properties, they are also biodegradable and non abrasive In this investigation, the composite material samples are fabricated with epoxy resin, 5, 10, 15 wt % of starch and 5, 10 wt % of coconut fibers with the help of silicon molds which have the dimensions and geometry according to ASTM Standards for make Impact and Vickers hardness tests. The obtained results show that increases in the amount of coconut fibers cause an enhancement of the mechanical properties of the material, due to a good adhesion between the polymeric matrix and the natural fibers.