Ternary Sn-Sb-S thin films with remarkable optical, electrical and structural properties were developed by chemical bath deposition. Tin and antimony chlorides and thioacetamide were used as tin, antimony, and sulfur ion sources, respectively, while tartaric acid was used as a complexing agent. XRD analysis of as-deposited films showed a combination of binary phases of SnS, Sn2S3, and Sb2S3, while after thermal treatment in nitrogen at 400 °C, the films became crystalline showing well-defined reflections of the ternary SnSb2S4. The heating also influenced the morphology, compactness, and thickness of the films. On the other hand, all the films showed an absorption coefficient higher than 104 cm-1, while the optical band gap of the as-deposited film decreased from 1.49 to 1.37 eV after heating at 400 °C. In addition, the photoconductivity of the films prior to heating was of 10-9 Ω-1 cm-1, while after that at 400 °C was of 10-7 Ω-1 cm-1. The evaluation of the ternary film in solar cells gave an open-circuit voltage Voc of 448 mV and short-circuit current density of Jsc of 2.4 mA/cm2.

The Centro de Laseres Pulsados in Salamanca, Spain has recently started operation phase and the first user access period on the 6 J 30 fs 200 TW system (VEGA 2) already started at the beginning of 2018. In this paper we report on two commissioning experiments recently performed on the VEGA 2 system in preparation for the user campaign. VEGA 2 system has been tested in different configurations depending on the focusing optics and targets used. One configuration (long focal length $F=130$  cm) is for underdense laser–matter interaction where VEGA 2 is focused onto a low density gas-jet generating electron beams (via laser wake field acceleration mechanism) with maximum energy up to 500 MeV and an X-ray betatron source with a 10 keV critical energy. A second configuration (short focal length $F=40$  cm) is for overdense laser–matter interaction where VEGA 2 is focused onto a $5~\unicode[STIX]{x03BC}\text{m}$ thick Al target generating a proton beam with a maximum energy of 10 MeV and temperature of 2.5 MeV. In this paper we present preliminary experimental results.

This research evidences the impact of Materials Science and Engineering Clubs as an outreach effort to expand the education and training required for a competitive Nanotechnology workforce beyond traditional STEM areas. An engineering perception questionnaire was implemented as a pre-test/post-test to track student perceptions and goals throughout the academic year to identify trends amongst gender and school level groups. Findings (107 students) show a perceived increase in student knowledge and interest for different fields of study, based on pre/post-test responses, with differences amongst gender and school level groups (middle school and high school). Also, significant differences in students’ aspirations for higher education degree were found among school level and gender. Results show that over 20% of participants increased their aspirations to higher education degrees and their interests in pursuing STEM degrees at end of the academic year. Specific findings on engineering perceptions and perceived level of knowledge and interest in science, engineering, materials, and nanotechnology as a result of club participation and student’s educational aspirations, expectations and future study plans are discussed along with implications for future STEM education.

The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of substrate roughness on the adhesion and tribological performance of thin TiN coatings obtained by physical vapor deposition. For that purpose, substrates of AISI H13 steel with surface finishes of 0.06, 0.28 and 0.90 μm in Ra were coated with TiN under the same coating conditions. The chemical composition of the steel, as well as that of the TiN coating, were obtained using EDS analysis. Adhesion tests were carried out following the procedure of BSi 1071-8 standard while hardness was evaluated by ASTM C 1327-03. On the other hand, dry sliding friction tests were conducted with a pin-on-disk tribometer, according to the ASTM G 99-05 standard. This study showed that the roughness of the coating increases as the substrate roughness increases. Regarding adhesion and hardness, all the samples showed an adhesion class 1 according to the standard and a hardness value of 14.51 GPa. Nevertheless, the highest substrate roughness produced the best adhesion. On the other hand, the lowest values for the friction coefficient and wear behavior were obtained by the sample with the lowest substrate roughness of 0.06 µm. In addition, it was found that friction and wear increase when the substrate roughness increases.

This is the first report on the development and characterization of eight monoclonal antibodies (MABs) generated against whole- and membrane-enriched tachyzoite extracts of the apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti. Confocal laser scanning immunofluorescence microscopy was used to localize respective epitopes in B. besnoiti tachyzoites along the lytic cycle. A pattern compatible with dense granule staining was observed with MABs 2.A.12, 2.F.3 and 2.G.4, which could be confirmed by immunogold electron microscopy for MABs 2.A.12 and 2.F.3. In particular, MABs 2.F.3 and 2.G.4 were secreted during early invasion, proliferation and egress phases. MABs 3.10.8 and 5.5.11 labelled the tachyzoite surface, whilst MABs 1.17.8, 8.9.2 and 2.G.A recognized the apical tip, which is reminiscent for microneme localization. Besides, the epitopes recognized by the latter two (MABs 8.9.2 and 2.G.A) exhibited a redistribution from the anterior part across the parasite surface towards the posterior end during invasion. Most MABs developed were genus-specific. Indeed, the MABs cross-reacted neither with T. gondii nor with N. caninum tachyzoites. In summary, we have generated MABs that will be useful to study the key processes in the lytic cycle of the parasite and with additional promising diagnostic value. However, the molecular identity of the antigens recognized remains to be elucidated.

This work attempts to confirm the effect of an enriched diet with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) trying to mitigate the reproductive performances issues such as low conception rate of primiparous rabbits. A total of 127 does were fed ad libitum throughout their two first cycles with two diets with different fat sources: mixed fat in the control and salmon oil in the enriched one, with 3.19 g/100 g (n=63 does) and 28.77 g/100 g (n=64 does) of n-3 of the total fatty acid, respectively. Feed intake was similar between groups (P>0.05). Plasma progesterone concentration was higher in the enriched females than in control ones at 7 (30.9±2.18 v. 23.9±2.30 ng/ml, respectively; P=0.029) and 14 (38.7±2.18 v. 28.2±2.30 ng/ml, respectively; P=0.001) days of first gestation. Considering both cycles, reproductive parameters of mothers (fertility, duration of gestation and prolificacy) and litter parameters (weight at parturition and weaning, mortality and average daily gain (ADG) of kits during lactation) were similar in both groups. However, individual measurements of neonates of enriched group improved 5.87%, 7.10% and 18.01% (P<0.05) in terms of crown-rump length, biparietal and thoracic diameters, respectively, compared to control ones at first parturition. It is noteworthy that at the second insemination, critical point in rabbit, fertility rate of enriched group did not decline as sharply as in the control group (89.7% v. 76.6%, respectively; P=0.067), although ADG and littler weight were slightly lower at the second lactation after PUFA enrichment (P<0.05). Total PUFA and unsaturated index of milk of enriched does group were significantly elevated than in control one (33.3±0.02 v. 23.2±0.02 g/100 g and 1.20±0.00 v. 0.86±0.00, respectively; P<0.05). Finally, plasma progesterone, ovulation rate, fertility and embryo development at 3.5 days after the artificial insemination were similar between diets (P>0.05), but embryo apoptosis rate was higher in control group than in enriched one (31.1±4.56% v. 17.1±3.87%, respectively; P<0.05). In conclusion, dietary PUFA enrichment from the rearing and throughout two productive cycles improved plasma progesterone during pregnancy, fertility, milk fatty acid profile and neonates development of primiparous supporting the beneficial effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation in rabbit does.

Two metal fillers with TiC nanoparticles (TiC NPs) of less than 100 nm for the overlay process is an alternative to hardfacing for treating surfaces subjected to severe wear. In this work, the effect of tribological behavior for TiC NPs addition on two Co-based filler materials, as well as the dilutions, was studied. Mixtures of Co-based filler metals without and with 0.5% and 2% TiC NPs were deposited onto D2 steel plates using PTA (Plasma Transferred Arc). The BET surface area was 0.17 m2 g-1 and 0.31 m2 g-1, respectively, for Stellite 6 and 12. The distribution of ca 23% macroporous for Stellite 6 was sufficient to get inside the TiC NPs, as well as in the case of Stellite 12, with a pore distribution of ca 13%. Stellite 12 has an increase in the dilutions (70%) and enthalpies showed endothermic reactions. Stellite 6 with NPs was determined to be most effective in increasing the wear resistance.

A Q fever outbreak was declared in February 2016 in a company that manufactures hoists and chains and therefore with no apparent occupational-associated risk. Coxiella burnetii infection was diagnosed by serology in eight of the 29 workers of the company; seven of them had fever or flu-like signs and five had pneumonia, one requiring hospitalisation. A further case of C. burnetii pneumonia was diagnosed in a local resident. Real-time PCR (RTi–PCR) showed a widespread distribution of C. burnetii DNA in dust samples collected from the plant facilities, thus confirming the exposure of workers to the infection inside the factory. Epidemiological investigations identified a goat flock with high C. burnetii seroprevalence and active shedding which was owned and managed by one of the workers of the company as possible source of infection. Genotyping by multispacer sequence typing (MST) and a 10-loci single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discrimination using RTi–PCR identified the same genotype (MST18 and SNP type 8, respectively) in the farm and the factory. These results confirmed the link between the goat farm and the outbreak and allowed the identification of the source of infection. The circumstances and possible vehicles for the bacteria entering the factory are discussed.

Photometric observations of o And collected from 1994 to 1998 are presented. Neither multimodal pulsations nor rotational modulation seems able to explain completely the complex light curves, but a model based on the pulsations together with some type of magnetic activity could be applicable.

Some inconsistency is observed in the results from studies of reading development regarding the role of the syllable in visual word recognition, perhaps due to a disparity between the tasks used. We adopted a word-spotting paradigm, with Spanish children of second grade (mean age: 7 years) and sixth grade (mean age: 11 years). The children were asked to detect one-syllable words that could be found at the beginning of pseudo-words, with the boundary between the word and the remaining letters being manipulated. The end of the embedded word could either match the syllabic boundary (e.g. the word FIN in the pseudo-word FINLO, where the syllable boundary is between N and L) or not (e.g. FINUS, where the syllable boundary is located between I and N). The results showed that children of both grades were faster in the syllabic than the non-syllabic condition, and that the magnitude of this effect was the same regardless of reading ability. The results suggest an early universality in the use of syllables in Spanish, regardless of reading level.

The ATP-binding cassette transporter G2/breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2/BCRP) is an efflux protein involved in the bioavailability and milk secretion of endogenous and exogenous compounds, actively affecting milk composition. A limited number of physiological substrates have been identified. However, no studies have reported the specific effect of this polymorphism on the secretion into milk of compounds implicated in milk quality such as vitamins or endogenous compounds. The bovine ABCG2 Y581S polymorphism is described as a gain-of-function polymorphism that increases milk secretion and decreases plasma levels of its substrates. This work aims to study the impact of Y581S polymorphism on plasma disposition and milk secretion of compounds such as riboflavin (vitamin B2), enterolactone, a microbiota-derived metabolite from the dietary lignan secoisolariciresinol and uric acid. In vitro transport of these compounds was assessed in MDCK-II cells overexpressing the bovine ABCG2 (WT-bABCG2) and its Y581S variant (Y581S-bABCG2). Plasma and milk levels were obtained from Y/Y homozygous and Y/S heterozygous cows. The results show that riboflavin was more efficiently transported in vitro by the Y581S variant, although no differences were noted in vivo. Both uric acid and enterolactone were substrates in vitro of the bovine ABCG2 variants and were actively secreted into milk with a two-fold increase in the milk/plasma ratio for Y/S with respect to Y/Y cows. The in vitro ABCG2-mediated transport of the drug mitoxantrone, as a model substrate, was inhibited by enterolactone in both variants, suggesting the possible in vivo use of this enterolignan to reduce ABCG2-mediated milk drug transfer in cows. The Y581S variant was inhibited to a lesser extent probably due to its higher transport capacity. All these findings point to a significant role of the ABCG2 Y581S polymorphism in the milk disposition of enterolactone and the endogenous molecules riboflavin and uric acid, which could affect both milk quality and functionality.

Ferritic stainless steels are widely used in transportation industry due to their exceptional performance regarding mechanical and corrosion properties. However, after a welding process, joints feature the sensitizing phenomenon because of the heat exchange from the torch affecting mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. This work describes the behavior firstly of mechanical properties of weld joints of ferritic stainless steel as base material without and with filler material (AISI 308L) by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Operating parameters such as arc voltage, welding currrent, welding speed, feed speed, shielding gas flow were evaluated. Secondly, samples of weld joints were coated by flame spraying of composite particles in order to reduce the weight loss induced by corrosion in a salt spray (fog) apparatus. Changes induced from GTAW on the heat affected zone and Thermal Spraying on corrosion resistance, were monitored by optical and scanning electron microscopy, microhardness and longitudinal tensile testing. Results show that GTAW helps to control the size and the microstructure of heat affected zone improving simultaneously the mechanical properties. Meanwhile, welded joints covered by composite coatings feature a lower damage provided that the ceramic phase has been homogeneously dispersed.

A protective coating was built and assessed in order to reduce the degradation of metallic substrates caused by corrosion damage. Hence, a set of coatings with different configurations, in terms of layer arrangement, was produced by flame-spraying of composite powder (AISI 316L stainless steel coated with an α-alumina layer) onto an AISI 1018 steel substrate. In order to ensure a homogeneous dispersion of phases, a correlation was established between the operating parameters of thermal spraying (roughness and surface temperature of substrate, spraying distance, passing speed) and the splat formation. Then, corrosion damage caused in the coated samples by exposure to a salt spray was monitored through weight measurements and observations with optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that corrosion still remains in all cases; however, it proceeds at lower rates for coatings made with composite particles plus an α-alumina layer. The weight loss due to corrosion damage was reduced in approximately 94% as compared with the substrate without protection. Coating adhesion was also improved by an increased substrate roughness, with no need for an intermediate layer.

An observational study was conducted to describe the epidemiology of bacteriuria and candiduria in the intensive care unit (ICU), and the occurrence of blood stream infection (BSI) associated with ICU-acquired positive urine culture. Between 2006 and 2011, 444 episodes of either bacteriuria or candiduria defined by positive urine culture (microorganisms ⩾105 c.f.u./ml) occurred in 406 patients. Three hundred and seventy-seven (85%) were hospital-acquired including 221 which were ICU-acquired (6·4 ± 0·8 episodes/1000 ICU days). Escherichia coli was the most common bacteria of both community- and ICU-acquired bacteriuria/candiduria (49·2% and 29%, respectively). Candida spp. represented 55% (129/236) of pathogens responsible for ICU-acquired positive urine cultures. Patients with ICU-acquired candiduria had greater illness severity at ICU admission than those with ICU-acquired bacteriuria (APACHE III score 79 ± 25 vs. 66 ± 31, P = 0·0015). BSI associated with ICU-acquired positive urine culture occurred in 0·15/1000 ICU days and was more often due to Candida. In this study, Candida was the most common pathogen responsible for ICU-acquired positive urine cultures and illness severity was a risk factor for candiduria in the study population.

In this work we report a study of the chemical and structural order of the double perovskite compound Sr2-x Gd x MnTiO6 for compositions x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1. A noticeable disorder at the B-site in the Mn and Ti sublattice is detected at the atomic scale by electron energy-loss spectroscopy for all x values, resulting in Mn-rich and Ti-rich regions. For x≥0.75, the cubic unit cell doubles and lowers its symmetry because of structural rearrangements associated with a giant ferroelectric displacement of the perovskite B-site cation. We discuss this finding in the light of the large electroresistance observed in Sr2-x Gd x MnTiO6, x≥0.75.

The present work shows results on elemental distribution analyses in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films for solar cells performed by use of wavelength-dispersive and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) in a scanning electron microscope, EDX in a transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron, angle-dependent soft X-ray emission, secondary ion-mass (SIMS), time-of-flight SIMS, sputtered neutral mass, glow-discharge optical emission and glow-discharge mass, Auger electron, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, by use of scanning Auger electron microscopy, Raman depth profiling, and Raman mapping, as well as by use of elastic recoil detection analysis, grazing-incidence X-ray and electron backscatter diffraction, and grazing-incidence X-ray fluorescence analysis. The Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films used for the present comparison were produced during the same identical deposition run and exhibit thicknesses of about 2 μm. The analysis techniques were compared with respect to their spatial and depth resolutions, measuring speeds, availabilities, and detection limits.

Ten ancient mortars of dolomitic origin, used in the construction of the church of Santa María de Zamarce in Navarre, Spain, have been studied in order to define their composition and to characterize the type of binder employed. A complete characterization has been carried out including: morphological examination (visually and using optical microscopy); mineralogical studies (X-ray diffraction, XRD); chemical analysis (main components and soluble salts); grain size distribution and thermal studies (thermogravimetric and thermodifferential simultaneous analysis, TGA-DTA). Dolomite and calcite, as binders, and quartz, as aggregate, have been found as the main phases. The important variability of the studied samples has confirmed that the choice of the raw materials and their preparation were not taken carefully. Thermal behavior of the samples has shown the endothermic peaks related to calcite and dolomite decarbonations. No hydromagnesite phases have been detected. Finally, the approximate indications of the original composition of the raw materials mixtures are presented.

The CuInS2 thin film formation from a Cu/In precursor stack in the presence of elemental sulfur using a rapid thermal process under Cu-poor conditions has been studied. The process has been aborted at appropriate stages and the corresponding samples were investigated by XRD, Raman spectroscopy and SEM. The sulfurisation starts from elemental Cu and CuIn2. Elemental In and the binary phases Cu11In9 and Cu7In3 appear as intermediate phases. At the end of the sulfurisation the sample contains the ternary phases CuInS2 and CuIn5S8. CuS and β-In2S3 are detected by Raman spectroscopy at the sample surface and at distinct stages of the sulfurisation only. A difference in CuInS2 crystal quality is observed between the surface and the bottom of the samples.

In order to clarify the structure underlying the appearance of several compounds in dolomitic mortars (specifically hydromagnesite, Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2.4H2O), as well as the suitability of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric and thermodifferential simultaneous analysis (TGA-DTA) in their determination, different patterns from phases that could be present in mortars of these characteristics have been prepared and studied by these techniques. The standards were prepared from: hydromagnesite (HY) with calcite in weight/weight proportions 1:1 to 1:5; HY with calcite and quartz in proportions 1:1:1 and 1:6:12; HY with quartz, 1:1 and 1:2; HY with portlandite (calcium hydroxide), 1:1 and 1:2; HY with portlandite and quartz, in 1:6:12, and HY with magnesium oxide in 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1.

The XRD results have shown that it is possible to detect HY and the other compounds (dolomite, calcite, magnesite, quartz, …), but when the HY is mixed, the intensity of its diffraction peaks is very weak, even not detectable in some cases. The poor crystallinity of the HY could be the reason of this drop in intensity. Therefore thermal studies were necessary to find HY phases in low weight percentages.

TGA-DTA led us to establish the experimental conditions most suitable for thermal studies. A high CO2 pressure around the sample was required for the occurrence of an exothermic peak at 500°C. This high pressure was guaranteed in the present work as follows: static air atmosphere, packed sample, high heating rate (20°C.min-1), and alumina crucibles with holed lids in order to establish a selfgenerated atmosphere. The thermal behavior of hydromagnesite phases has been clearly established in contradiction to some references of the literature; specifically, the exothermic peak at 500°C has been observed repeatedly. This result invalidates reports of the crystallization of magnesium carbonate from the amorphous phase.

In the past years artificially-structured materials have been grown with an increasing degree of sophistication due to steady progress in our ability to control growth processes down to the atomic level. These materials have yielded new physical properties due to the confinement of electrons in less than three dimensions. Thus, the confinement of electrons in two-dimensional (2D) metallic superlattices has resulted in oscillatory magnetic coupling with an associated oscillatory giant magnetoresistance (GMR). New properties are expected when the electrons are further confined to one dimension (1D) of free motion in the structures known as quantum wires. In this report we briefly describe two recent examples of atomic-scale engineering of materials. In the first case a surfactant is used to purposely modify the structure of magnetic/non magnetic superlattices. The second example illustrates a further reduction in dimensionality obtained by modifying the substrate onto which the growth takes place: the fabrication of 1D magnetic quantum wires on vicinal surfaces.