Knock, knock, knocking on muscle doors. Visions on the transport of substrates across the plasma membrane in muscle.

Muscle is a major player in metabolism. It uses large amounts of glucose in the absorptive state and changes in muscle insulin-stimulated glucose uptake alter whole-body glucose disposal. Lipid substrates such as fatty acids or ketone bodies are preferentially used by muscle in certain physiological conditions. Muscle is also the main reservoir of amino acids and protein. The activity of many different plasma membrane transporters such as glucose carriers, carnitine, creatine or amino acid transporters maintain muscle metabolism by taking up or releasing substrates or metabolites across the cell surface. The goal of this review is the molecular characterization of muscle membrane transporter proteins and the analysis of their regulatory roles.

Screen printed La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 thick films on alumina substrates

We report here on the preparation of La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 magnetoresistive thick films on polycrystalline Al2O3 substrates by using the screen printing technique. It is shown that films can be obtained using high temperature sintering. While there is a reacted layer, this improves adhesion and is not too troublesome if the films are made thick enough. It is shown that PbO-B2O3-SiO2 glass additives allow sintering at lower temperatures and can be used to improve the mechanical stress of the films. However, it is found that glass concentrations large enough to significantly improve the film adherence result in a weak low field magnetoresistance probably because grains are coated with high resistivity material. Strategies to overcome these difficulties are discussed.

Cationic Diffusion in La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 Thin Films Grown on LaAlO3 (001) Substrates.

Microstructural features of La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 layers of various thicknesses grown on top of 001 LaAlO3 substrates are studied by using transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Films are of high microstructural quality but exhibit some structural relaxation and mosaicity both when increasing thickness or after annealing processes. The existence of a cationic segregation process of La atoms toward free surface has been detected, as well as a Mn oxidation state variation through layer thickness. La diffusion would lead to a Mn valence change and, in turn, to reduced magnetization.

Raman scattering of InSb quantum dots grown on InP substrates

In this paper we present the Raman scattering of self-assembled InSb dots grown on (001) oriented InP substrates. The samples were grown by pulsed molecular beam epitaxy mode. Two types of samples have been investigated. In one type the InSb dots were capped with 200 monolayers of InP; in the other type no capping was deposited after the InSb dot formation. We observe two peaks in the Raman spectra of the uncapped dot, while only one peak is observed in the Raman spectra of the capped dots. In the case of the uncapped dots the peaks are attributed to LO-like and TO-like vibration of completely relaxed InSb dots, in agreement with high resolution transmission electron microscopy photographs. The Raman spectra of the capped dot suggest a different strain state in the dot due to the capping layer.

From nonwetting to prewetting: The asymptotic behavior of 4He drops on alkali substrates

We investigate the spreading of 4He droplets on alkali-metal surfaces at zero temperature, within the frame of finite range density-functional theory. The equilibrium configurations of several 4HeN clusters and their asymptotic trend with increasing particle number N, which can be traced to the wetting behavior of the quantum fluid, are examined for nanoscopic droplets. We discuss the size effects inferring that the asymptotic properties of large droplets correspond to those of the prewetting film.

Dynamics of driven three-dimensional thin films: from hdrophilic to superhydrophobic substrates

We study the forced displacement of a thin film of fluid in contact with vertical and inclined substrates of different wetting properties, that range from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, using the lattice-Boltzmann method. We study the stability and pattern formation of the contact line in the hydrophilic and superhydrophobic regimes, which correspond to wedge-shaped and nose-shaped fronts, respectively. We find that contact lines are considerably more stable for hydrophilic substrates and small inclination angles. The qualitative behavior of the front in the linear regime remains independent of the wetting properties of the substrate as a single dispersion relation describes the stability of both wedges and noses. Nonlinear patterns show a clear dependence on wetting properties and substrate inclination angle. The effect is quantified in terms of the pattern growth rate, which vanishes for the sawtooth pattern and is finite for the finger pattern. Sawtooth shaped patterns are observed for hydrophilic substrates and low inclination angles, while finger-shaped patterns arise for hydrophobic substrates and large inclination angles. Finger dynamics show a transient in which neighboring fingers interact, followed by a steady state where each finger grows independently.

Nucleation of diamond on silicon, SiAlON, and graphite substrates coated with an a-C:H layer

We investigated the influence of a hydrogenated disordered carbon (a-C:H) layer on the nucleation of diamond. Substrates c-Si<100>, SiAlON, and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite {0001} were used in this study. The substrate surfaces were characterized with Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) while diamond growth was followed with Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that on silicon and SiAlON substrates the presence of the a-C:H layer enabled diamond to grow readily without any polishing treatment. Moreover, more continuous diamond films could be grown when the substrate was polished with diamond powder prior to the deposition of the a-C:H layer. This important result suggests that the nucleation of diamond occurs readily on disordered carbon surfaces, and that the formation of this type of layer is indeed one step in the diamond nucleation mechanism. Altogether, the data refute the argument that silicon defects play a direct role in the nucleation process. Auger spectra revealed that for short deposition times and untreated silicon surfaces, the deposited layer corresponds to an amorphous carbon layer. In these cases, the subsequent diamond nucleation was found to be limited. However, when the diamond nucleation density was found to be high; i.e., after lengthy deposits of a¿C:H or after diamond polishing, the Auger spectra suggested diamondlike carbon layers.

Dynamics of driven three-dimensional thin films: from hdrophilic to superhydrophobic substrates

We study the forced displacement of a thin film of fluid in contact with vertical and inclined substrates of different wetting properties, that range from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, using the lattice-Boltzmann method. We study the stability and pattern formation of the contact line in the hydrophilic and superhydrophobic regimes, which correspond to wedge-shaped and nose-shaped fronts, respectively. We find that contact lines are considerably more stable for hydrophilic substrates and small inclination angles. The qualitative behavior of the front in the linear regime remains independent of the wetting properties of the substrate as a single dispersion relation describes the stability of both wedges and noses. Nonlinear patterns show a clear dependence on wetting properties and substrate inclination angle. The effect is quantified in terms of the pattern growth rate, which vanishes for the sawtooth pattern and is finite for the finger pattern. Sawtooth shaped patterns are observed for hydrophilic substrates and low inclination angles, while finger-shaped patterns arise for hydrophobic substrates and large inclination angles. Finger dynamics show a transient in which neighboring fingers interact, followed by a steady state where each finger grows independently.

Optimization of KOH etching process to obtain textured substrates suitable for heterojunction solar cells fabricated by HWCVD

In this work, we have studied the texturization process of (100) c-Si wafers using a low concentration potassium hydroxide solution in order to obtain good quality textured wafers. The optimization of the etching conditions have led to random but uniform pyramidal structures with good optical properties. Then, symmetric heterojunctions were deposited by Hot-Wire CVD onto these substrates and the Quasi-Steady-State PhotoConductance technique was used to measure passivation quality. Little degradation in the effective lifetime and implicit open circuit voltage of these devices (< 20 mV) was observed in all cases. It is especially remarkable that for big uniform pyramids, the open-circuit voltage is comparable to the values obtained on flat substrates.

Optical analysis of textured plastic substrates to be used in thin silicon solar cells

Light confinement strategies in thin-film silicon solar cells play a crucial role in the performance of the devices. In this work, the possible use of Ag-coated stamped polymers as reflectors to be used in n-i-p solar cells is studied. Different random roughnesses (nanometer and micrometer size) have been transferred on poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) by hot embossing. Morphological and optical analyses of masters, stamped polymers and reflectors have been carried out evidencing a positive surface transference on the polymer and the viability of a further application in solar cells.

Highly textured Sr, Nb, co-doped BiFeO3 thin films grown on SrRuO3/Si substrates by rf-sputtering

In this study, (011)-highly oriented Sr, Nb co-doped BiFeO3 (BFO) thin films were successfully grown on SrRuO3/Si substrates by rf-magnetron sputtering. The presence of parasite magnetic phases was ruled out based on the high resolution x-ray diffraction data. BFO films exhibited a columnar-like grain growth with rms surface roughness values of 5.3 nm and average grain sizes of 65-70 nm for samples with different thicknesses. Remanent polarization values (2Pr) of 54 lC cm 2 at room temperature were found for the BFO films with a ferroelectric behavior characteristic of an asymmetric device structure. Analysis of the leakage mechanisms for this structure in negative bias suggests Schottky injection and a dominant Poole-Frenkel trap-limited conduction at room temperature. Oxygen vacancies and Fe3þ/Fe2þ trap centers are consistent with the surface chemical bonding states analysis from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data. The (011)-BFO/ SrRuO3/Si film structure exhibits a strong magnetic interaction at the interface between the multiferroic film and the substrate layer where an enhanced ferromagnetic response at 5 K was observed. Zero-field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) magnetization curves of this film system revealed a possible spin glass behavior at spin freezing temperatures below 30 K depending on the BFO film thickness.

Surface passivation and optical characterization of Al2O3/a-SiCx stacks on c-Si substrates

Postprint (published version)

Bioequivalence of meat products treated with high pressure processing

The effects of high pressure on the composition of food products have not been evaluated extensively. Since, it is necessary to take in consideration the possible effects in basis to the changes induced in the bio molecules by the application of high pressures. The main effect on protein is the denaturation, because the covalent bonds are not affected; however hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and intermolecular interactions are modified or destroyed. 1 High pressure can modify the activity of some enzymes. If this is done the proteolysis and lipolysis could be more or less intense and the content of free amino acids and fatty acids will be different. This could be related to the bioavailability of these compounds. Low pressures (100 MPa) have been shown to activate some enzymes (monomeric enzymes). Higher pressures induce loss of the enzyme activity. However some enzymes are very stable (ex. Lipase ~ 600 - 1000 MPa). Lipoxygenase is less stable, and there is little information about the effects on antioxidant enzymes. Other important issue is the influence of high pressure on oxidation susceptibility. This could modify the composition of lipids if the degree of the oxidation would have been higher or lower than in the traditional product. Pressure produces the damage of cell membranes favouring the contact between substrates and enzymes, exposure to oxidation of membrane fatty acids and loos of the efficiency of vitamin E. These effects can also affect to protein oxidation. In this study different compounds were analysed to establish the differences between non-treated and high-pressure treated products.

Effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide fertilization on biomass and secondary metabolites of some plant species with pharmacological interes under greenhouse conditions

RESUMEN El aumento del CO2 atmosférico debido al cambio global y/o a las prácticas hortícolas promueve efectos directos sobre crecimiento vegetal y el desarrollo. Estas respuestas pueden ocurrir en ecosistemas naturales, pero también se pueden utilizar para aumentar la producción de algunas plantas y de algunos compuestos secundarios. El actual trabajo intenta estudiar los efectos del enriquecimiento atmosférico del CO2 bajo condiciones de invernadero en el crecimiento y la concentración y la composición de metabolitos secundarios de Taxus bacatta, Hypericum perforatum y Echinacea purpurea en condiciones ambientales mediterráneas. La fertilización del CO2 muestra perspectivas interesantes para la mejorara y aplicabilidad de técnicas hortícolas para aumentar productividad de plantas medicinales, a pesar de diferencias claras entre la especie. En general esta técnica promueve aumentos importantes y significativos en producción primaria y, en algunos casos, también en compuestos secundarios. Esto tiene una gran importancia hortícola porque la productividad a nivel de cosecha total aumenta, directamente porque se aumenta la concentración e indirectamente porque se aumenta la biomasa. SUMMARY The increase of atmospheric CO2 due to global change and/or horticultural practices promotes direct effects on plant growth and development. These responses may occur in natural ecosystems, but also can be used to increase the production of some plants and some secondary compounds. Present work tries to study the effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment under greenhouse conditions on growth and in the concentration and composition of secondary metabolites of Taxus bacatta, Hypericum perforatum and Echinacea purpurea under Mediterranean environmental conditions. CO2 fertilization shows interesting perspectives to increase and improve horticultural techniques in order to increase plant medicinal productivity, in spite of clear differences among the species. In general this technique promotes important and significant increases in primary productivity and, in some cases, also in secondary compounds. This has a great horticultural relevance because the total productivity of this kind of products increase at crop level, directly because concentration is increased and /or indirectly because biomass is increased. RESUM L'augment del CO2 atmosfèric a causa del canvi global i/o a les pràctiques hortícoles promou efectes directes sobre creixement vegetal i el desenvolupament. Aquestes respostes poden ocórrer en ecosistemes naturals, però també es poden utilitzar per a augmentar la producció d'algunes plantes i d'alguns compostos secundaris. L'actual treball intenta estudiar els efectes de l'enriquiment atmosfèric del CO2 sota condicions d'hivernacle en el creixement i la concentració i la composició de metabòlits secundaris de Taxus bacatta, Hypericum perforatum i Echinacea purpurea en condicions ambientals mediterrànies. La fertilització del CO2 mostra perspectives interessants per a la millora i aplicabilitat de tècniques hortícoles per a augmentar productivitat de plantes medicinals, a pesar de diferències clares entre l'espècie. En general aquesta tècnica promou augments importants i significatius en producció primària i, en alguns casos, també en compostos secundaris. Això té una gran importància hortícola perquè la productivitat a nivell de collita total augmenta, directament perquè s'augmenta la concentració i indirectament perquè s'augmenta la biomassa.