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The Laguna Salada Basin in northeastern Baja California, Mexico, is an active half-graben with subsidence principally controlled by two major faults along the eastern basin margin—the Canada David detachment fault and the dextral oblique Laguna Salada fault. Active-source, seismic-reflection data constrain the geometry of the active detachment fault and indicate two structural domains. The south domain is a supradetachment basin controlled by the Canada David detachment fault. Two seismic profiles indicate the detachment fault dips 17°–20° west, has a minimum of 10.1 km of slip, and accumulates a sedimentary wedge more than 2.5 km thick in the west-central part of this basin domain. This estimation indicates that the subsurface portion of the Canada David detachment accommodates 24% of extension in the western main plate boundary zone. The north domain is a dilatational stepover (or pull apart) controlled by the northwest-trending, west-dipping, dextral-oblique Laguna Salada fault and the north-trending, dip-slip Canon Rojo fault, which defines the south boundary of the pull-apart basin domain. The Canon Rojo fault accumulates more than 2 km of subsidence, but geometric considerations indicate that the basement in the hanging wall of the Laguna Salada fault projects to a depth of ∼3.8 km and intersects the 70° west-dipping Laguna Salada fault. Several faults cut the west margin of the floodplain lagoon and the hanging wall of both the Canada David detachment and the Laguna Salada fault. The largest fault is west dipping and produces ∼500 m of vertical offset. Its location projects south of the Canon Rojo fault, and we speculate these two faults may correlate. Seismic facies reflect its sedimentary environment and processes. Seismic facies 1 is high-amplitude, laterally continuous reflectors that represent flooding and prolonged lacustrine conditions. Seismic facies 2 is high- to low-amplitude, laterally discontinuous reflectors also representing flooding conditions. Seismic facies 3 is low-amplitude, poorly contrasted continuous to discontinuous reflectors interpreted as subaerial distal fan sandstone deposits. Seismic facies 4 is high-amplitude, discontinuous, imbricated to a chaotic pattern of reflectors. We interpret facies 4 as coarse-grained, high-energy alluvial fan deposits prograding over the basin floor from the west in the range front of Sierra Juarez. Seismic facies 1 and 2 predominate in the east and central portions of seismic profiles where the depocenter accumulates thicker sedimentary sequences.

We demonstrate low-temperature processed and high-gain unipolar inverters operating at voltages as low as $V_{D} = 1$ V. A maximum gain for a two-transistor unipolar inverter of 153 was achieved at $V_{D} = 5$ V with the advantage of using a solution-based n-type semiconductor and an entire fabrication process below 150 °C. We evaluate the impact of the gate dielectric thickness on the main thin-film transistor (TFT) parameters and operation voltage. In addition, we compare the conventional MOSFET square-law model indistinctly used in TFTs with a model specifically developed for TFTs. We demonstrate a methodology to model the TFT electrical characteristics and use the extracted parameters in SPICE simulations to evaluate different inverter configurations. Finally, we validate the SPICE simulations with our experiential results.

Bragg mirrors (BM) based on TiOx and SiO2 layers were built on glass and PET substrates at operating wavelength in the visible region. The layers were processed by the sol–gel method at room temperature and dried in air for one hour at 100 °C (glass) and 70 °C (PET). At these deposition conditions, the refractive indices of the TiOx and SiO2 layers were 2 and 1.49, respectively. The BM were assembled in a multilayer stack of quarter-wave thickness of alternately high and low refractive index materials. We report the experimental and simulated optical reflection spectra of TiOx–SiO2 BM for different number of layers pairs.

In these days, the inappropriate disposal of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) causes severe environmental problems and, for this reason, it is necessary to develop alternatives for the efficient use of this material. This study presents an application of a new type of composite nanofibers made with recycled PET and polyacrylonitrile (RPET/PAN) recently synthesized and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The composite was added to cementitious materials to improve the mechanical and durability properties, making it a viable alternative in PET recycling. With this aim, the following properties were evaluated to mortars prepared with small amounts of these nanofibers: mechanical (compressive and flexural resistance), of the microstructure (fiber adherence) and durability (total porosity, effective porosity, capillary absorption, and resistance to water penetration). These nanofibers have an average diameter of 402 nm and good mechanical properties. Among other important results, the material showed an increase in compressive and flexural strength, and a decrease in drying shrinkage of up to 26.1, 89.1 and 93.1% in comparison with a reference mortar, respectively.

Background and aims Diabetic women have a more adverse plasma lipid profile than men. Sex differences in dietary habits may play a role, but are little investigated. The study evaluates the quality of diet, adherence to the nutritional recommendations of the Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group and their relation with plasma lipid in men and women with diabetes. Methods and results We studied 2573 people, aged 50–75, enrolled in the TOSCA.IT study (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00700856). Plasma lipids were measured centrally. Diet was assessed with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Women had a more adverse plasma lipid profile than men. Women consumed significantly more legumes, vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk, vegetable oils, and added sugar, whereas men consumed more starchy foods, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. This stands for a higher proportion (%) of energy intake from saturated fat and added sugar (12.0 ± 2.4 vs 11.5 ± 2.5 and 3.4 ± 3.2 vs 2.3 ± 3.2, P < 0.04), and a higher intake of fiber (11.2 ± 2.8 vs 10.4 ± 2.6 g/1000 Kcal/day) in women. Adherence to the recommendations for saturated fat and fiber consumption was associated with significantly lower LDL-cholesterol regardless of sex. Adherence to the recommendations for added sugars was associated with significantly lower triglycerides and higher HDL-cholesterol in men and women. Conclusions Men and women with diabetes show significant differences in adherence to nutritional recommendations, but sex differences in plasma lipid profile are unlikely to be explained by nutritional factors. Adherence to the nutritional recommendations is associated with a better plasma lipid profile regardless of sex, thus reinforcing the importance of substituting saturated for unsaturated fat sources, increasing fiber and reducing added sugar intake.

Aim: The development of small molecules through convergent multicomponent reactions (MCR) has been boosted during the last decade due to the ability to synthesize, virtually without any side-products, numerous small drug-like molecules with several degrees of structural diversity.(1) The association of positron emission tomography (PET) labeling techniques in line with the “one-pot” development of biologically active compounds has the potential to become relevant not only for the evaluation and characterization of those MCR products through molecular imaging, but also to increase the library of radiotracers available. Therefore, since the [18F]fluorination of arylboronic acid pinacol ester derivatives tolerates electron-poor and electro-rich arenes and various functional groups,(2) the main goal of this research work was to achieve the 18F-radiolabeling of several different molecules synthesized through MCR. Materials and Methods: [18F]Fluorination of boronic acid pinacol esters was first extensively optimized using a benzaldehyde derivative in relation to the ideal amount of Cu(II) catalyst and precursor to be used, as well as the reaction solvent. Radiochemical conversion (RCC) yields were assessed by TLC-SG. The optimized radiolabeling conditions were subsequently applied to several structurally different MCR scaffolds comprising biologically relevant pharmacophores (e.g. β-lactam, morpholine, tetrazole, oxazole) that were synthesized to specifically contain a boronic acid pinacol ester group. Results: Radiolabeling with fluorine-18 was achieved with volumes (800 μl) and activities (≤ 2 GBq) compatible with most radiochemistry techniques and modules. In summary, an increase in the quantities of precursor or Cu(II) catalyst lead to higher conversion yields. An optimal amount of precursor (0.06 mmol) and Cu(OTf)2(py)4 (0.04 mmol) was defined for further reactions, with DMA being a preferential solvent over DMF. RCC yields from 15% to 76%, depending on the scaffold, were reproducibly achieved. Interestingly, it was noticed that the structure of the scaffolds, beyond the arylboronic acid, exerts some influence in the final RCC, with electron-withdrawing groups in the para position apparently enhancing the radiolabeling yield. Conclusion: The developed method with high RCC and reproducibility has the potential to be applied in line with MCR and also has a possibility to be incorporated in a later stage of this convergent “one-pot” synthesis strategy. Further studies are currently ongoing to apply this radiolabeling concept to fluorine-containing approved drugs whose boronic acid pinacol ester precursors can be synthesized through MCR (e.g. atorvastatin).

The Gulf of California is an excellent example of how new ocean basins form. Tectonically, the northern Gulf of California is an incipient ocean basin and studies on it have defined acoustic basement and reveal the presence of new oceanic crust and intrusive bodies. Some recent studies report fundamental differences between the basins of the northern and southern Gulf of California: that the latter have well-developed oceanic crust beneath a thin cover of sediments, whereas the northern basins show proto-ocean basins, which may reflect thermal insulation of the thick sedimentary cover, the presence of low-angle faults, and more diffuse and distributed deformation. During the 1970s, Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) undertook a 2D seismic reflection survey in the northern Gulf of California, over many active rift basins, including the Consag Basin. Through the processing and interpretation of these data, we describe the structural characteristics of the Consag Basin beyond 2 km depths. Using seismic reflection d...

A structural study in the SW section of the Colorado River delta using seismic reflection data is presented. The study area is located along the Cerro Prieto transform fault, which extends from the northern Gulf of California through the Mexicali Valley and is an active fault within the Pacific-North American plate boundary zone. The research was supported by a database of five seismic profiles with a total length of 215 km, collected in the early 80’s by Petroleos Mexicanos. The results show a high density of faults, most of which are buried by sediments. Within the Cerro Prieto fault zone, several faults were identified, such as: Palmas, Mesa, and Pangas Viejas, until now unknown. In addition, even though the Indiviso fault was investigated and superficially identify prior to this work, herein mapped at depth. West of the Cerro Prieto fault zone lies the Las Tinajas basin, bound by the Dunas and Saldana faults and by the Montague basin to the southeast. The deformation zone along the plate boundary is 18-km-wide, stretching from the Cerro Prieto fault in the east to the Pangas Viejas fault in the west. The orientations of the faults are NW–SE, and if projected from the southern side of the Sierra Cucapah southward, the faults tend to join the Cerro Prieto fault. In the Las Tinajas basin, the acoustic basement is deeper than 5,000 m. Some of the largest vertical displacements generated by the 2010 7.2-Mw El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake occurred southeast of the epicenter and coincided with the location of the Pangas Viejas Fault, which is buried by sediments. Before this event, seismic activity was very low, and no structures were known in the area. In this paper, we demonstrate that there are at least seven major faults that may now pose a high seismic hazard.

Fifty potato genotypes from the breeding program were evaluated against common scab, caused by Streptomycessp., in a greenhouse of the Balcarce Integrated Unit (INTA-FCA, UNMdP). The isolation of Streptomycessp. was done from tubers that exhibited symptoms of the disease. The "seed" tubers of each genotype were planted in plastic pots containing a mixture of sterilized soil and sand, previously inoculated with the bacteria. Cv. Bintje was included because of its known susceptibility to the disease. Plants naturally completed their cycle and tuber´s scab symptoms were evaluated. Scab severity (%), type of damage and scab index (SI) were calculated for each tuber of each genotype. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. It was determined that there were significant differences among genotypes in scab severity, type of damage and SI. Six genotypes with a potentially resistant behavior to common scab were identified. This characterization of infection with common scab will allow resistance genes to be incorporated against this disease in breeding programs.

In this study, the co-synthesis of TiO2 and Cu metallic nanoparticles obtained via one-pot cost-efficient hydrothermal process has been addressed. Different nanocatalysts with Cu contents were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The TiO2 and Cu metallic nanoparticles were synthesized with copper loading up to one (Cu/Ti atomic ratio). Synthesized catalysts exhibited pore sizes in the mesoporous range and high surface areas above 150 m2/g. The particle size for TiO2 presented a homogeneous distribution of approximately 8 nm, moreover, Cu nanoparticles varied from 12 to &gt, 100 nm depending on the metal loading. The nanostructured materials were successfully tested in the conversion of trans-ferulic acid into vanillin under sustainable conditions, achieving the best performance for 0.3 Cu/Ti atomic ratio (70% vanillin yield).

The structural, optical and dielectric characteristics of PMMA–TMSPM–SiO2 hybrid thin films, synthesized by sol–gel, were studied as a function of the molar concentration of the coupling agent (TMSPM) in the hybrid precursor solution. It was possible to obtain very homogenous films, with improved thermal stability and variable organic and inorganic composition. The hybrid films showed high uniformity, excellent optical transparency and tunable refractive index from 1.447 to 1.490 at 633 nm depending on the PMMA fraction in the films. The formation of both organic and inorganic components and their interaction in the hybrid material were confirmed by the analysis of the ATR–FTIR spectra, suggesting changes in the film structure caused by the variations of the TMSPM concentration. The dielectric constant of the hybrid films, determined from capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements performed in metal–insulator–metal (MIM) configuration, had unexpectedly high values between 5 and 14, increasing with decreasing TMSPM molar ratio. Such high dielectric constant values were attributed to highly polarizable OH and C C groups in the hybrid films, OH being part of the residual precursor solvents and C C the result of incomplete conversion of precursor monomer (MMA) into polymer (PMMA), as shown by FTIR measurements. Furthermore, the dielectric constant of the hybrid films was modeled according to an effective media approximation model, taking into account the constituting organic and inorganic phases, residual O H and C C groups.