Magnitudes en libros de texto de 6º curso de educación primaria

En este trabajo se analiza la aparición de las magnitudes en tres libros de texto españoles de sexto curso de Educación Primaria. Para poder llevarlo a cabo se han revisado las investigaciones realizadas sobre la enseñanza-aprendizaje de la medida en Educación Primaria y el uso de los libros de texto en el aula. Posteriormente, se ha seleccionado una muestra y ha sido necesario construir un instrumento que permita poder analizar cada uno de ellos. Entre los resultados arrojados de este estudio se encuentra la presentación de la magnitud área en todos los manuales, una predominancia del sistema de representación verbal, problemas específicos relacionados con la vida cotidiana y la presencia de imágenes que acompañan a alguna de las nociones

Magnitudes en libros de texto de 6º curso de Educación Primaria

En este trabajo se analiza la aparición de las magnitudes en tres libros de texto españoles de sexto curso de Educación Primaria. Para poder llevarlo a cabo se han revisado las investigaciones realizadas sobre la enseñanza-aprendizaje de la medida en Educación Primaria y el uso de los libros de texto en el aula. Posteriormente, se ha seleccionado una muestra y ha sido necesario construir un instrumento que permita poder analizar cada uno de ellos. Entre los resultados arrojados de este estudio se encuentra la presentación de la magnitud área en todos los manuales, una predominancia del sistema de representación verbal, problemas específicos relacionados con la vida cotidiana y la presencia de imágenes que acompañan a alguna de las nociones

Geophysical Prospecting for Geothermal Resources in the South of the Duero Basin (Spain)

[EN]The geothermal resources in Spain have been a source of deep research in recent years and are, in general, well-defined. However, there are some areas where the records from the National Institute for Geology and Mining show thermal activity from different sources despite no geothermal resources being registered there. This is the case of the area in the south of the Duero basin where this research was carried out. Seizing the opportunity of a deep borehole being drilled in the location, some geophysical resources were used to gather information about the geothermal properties of the area. The employed geophysical methods were time-domain electromagnetics (TDEM) and borehole logging; the first provided information about the depth of the bedrock and the general geological structure, whereas the second one gave more detail on the geological composition of the different layers and a temperature record across the whole sounding. The results allowed us to establish the geothermal gradient of the area and to discern the depth of the bedrock. Using the first 200 m of the borehole logging, the thermal conductivity of the ground for shallow geothermal systems was estimated

Use of 3D electrical resistivity tomography to improve the design of low enthalpy geothermal systems

[EN] In designing low enthalpy geothermal systems, the ideal location and length of the boreholes in the well-field is the key to improve the performance and reduce the costs of the installation. The correct assessment of the heat conductivity of the ground (λ) plays also a very important role in estimating the amount of energy that we are going to be able to obtain from the subsoil and the ideal pace of the process. In low enthalpy geothermal installations based on granite type environments is especially important to improve the information we have from the subsoil at a small scale. This is due to the great horizontal variation we can find on this kind of terrain. Electrical conductivity (C = 1/ρ, ρ = resistivity in ohm meters) can be related to thermal conductivity (λ) of many rock types (Directive (EU), 2019) (see Robertson, 1988). We show that a 3D electrical resistivity survey can be used as a proxy for λ in terrain with weathered and solid granitic rock. Knowledge of λ is essential for the design of efficient ground source heat pump systems that use vertical wells for closed-loop systems. Shorter well lengths are accomplished if wells are in solid granite with high λ. Furthermore the electrical resistivity survey identifies low density, clayey subsurface materials that may require specialized drilling methods. Project cost savings can result from shorter borehole lengths, number of holes, and correct drilling methods

Fast Analysis of Caffeic Acid-Related Molecules in Instant Coffee by Reusable Sonogel–Carbon Electrodes

Reusable Sonogel–Carbon electrodes containing carbon black (SNGC-CB) have been used for the electrochemical analysis of caffeic acid (CA) in real matrices. Measurements were firstly performed in standard solutions, in which SNGC-CB electrodes allowed the electrochemical determination of CA with high sensitivity and low limit of detection, equal to 0.76 μM. The presence of CB nanostructures in the formulation led to improved performances with respect to pristine SNGC electrodes. Then, measurements were performed in four instant coffees of different brands. A comparison between the results obtained by electrochemical, chromatographic and spectroscopic methods showed that SBGC-CB electrodes represent a simple and economic tool for the rapid assessment of caffeic acid-related molecules in instant coffees

Spiking neural networks based on two-dimensional materials

The development of artificial neural networks using memristors is gaining a lot of interest among technological companies because it can reduce the computing time and energy consumption. There is still no memristor, made of any material, capable to provide the ideal figures-of-merit required for the implementation of artificial neural networks, meaning that more research is required. Here we present the use of multilayer hexagonal boron nitride based memristors to implement spiking neural networks for image classification. Our study indicates that the recognition accuracy of the network is high, and that can be resilient to device variability if the number of neurons employed is large enough. There are very few studies that present the use of a two-dimensional material for the implementation of synapses of different features; in our case, in addition to a study of the synaptic characteristics of our memristive devices, we deal with complete spiking neural network training and inference processes.Ministry of Science and Technology, China 2018YFE0100800National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 61874075Collaborative Innovation Centre of Suzhou Nano Science TechnologyPriority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions111 Project from the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of ChinaJunta de AndaluciaEuropean Commission A-TIC-117-UGR18 B-TIC-624-UGR20 IE2017-5414Spanish GovernmentERDF fund RTI2018-098983-B-I00King Abdullah University of Science & Technolog

Geophysical exploration for shallow geothermal applications: A case study in Artà, (Balearic Islands, Spain)

[EN] Within the installation of a shallow geothermal system, the lack of information on the subsoil frequently leads to errors in the design of the geothermal wellfield. This research presents the application of geophysics, combining 2D and 3D electrical resistivity tomography surveys and the geological information of a certain area for defining the structural distribution of the underground. Processed electrical resistivity data allow elucidating possible geological units and the thermal behavior of the in-depth materials. Two different assumptions (with different locations of the wells) are designed by using the specific geothermal software GES-CAL. Results show, that Case 1 (based on the geophysical results, so avoiding complex areas) allows the reduction of the global drilling length, and hence, the general initial investment of the system (around 20% lower). Meanwhile, Case 2 (without considering the geophysics) is less economically advantageous and could also present technical difficulties during the drilling process, as well as the possible alteration to the normal system operation. The study highlights the benefits of geophysics as an effective approach to characterize the underground and to help to understand its thermal behavior, which is, in turn, crucial for a proper geothermal design.S

Deciphering complexity: TULP1 variants linked to an atypical retinal dystrophy phenotype

Introduction: TULP1 exemplifies the remarkable clinical and genetic heterogeneity observed in inherited retinal dystrophies. Our research describes the clinical and molecular characteristics of a patient manifesting an atypical retinal dystrophy pattern, marked by the identification of both a previously unreported and a rarely encountered TULP1 variant. Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was performed to identify potential causative variants. The pathogenicity of the identified TULP1 variants was evaluated through in silico predictors and a minigene splice assay, specifically designed to assess the effect of the unreported TULP1 variant. Results: We identified two TULP1 gene variants in a patient exhibiting unusual and symmetrical alterations in both retinas, characterized by an increase in autofluorescence along the distribution of retinal vessels. These variants included a known rare missense variant, c.1376T>C, and a novel splice site variant, c.822G>T. For the latter variant (c.822G>T), we conducted a minigene splice assay that demonstrated the incorporation of a premature stop codon. This finding suggests a likely activation of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay mechanism, ultimately resulting in the absence of protein production from this allele. Segregation analysis confirmed that these variants were in trans. Discussion: Our data support that individuals with biallelic TULP1 variants may present with a unique pattern of macular degeneration and periarteriolar vascular pigmentation. This study highlights the importance of further clinical and molecular characterization of TULP1 variants to elucidate genotype-phenotype correlations in the context of inherited retinal dystrophies

Rational Design and Synthesis of Efficient Sunscreens to Boost the Solar Protection Factor

Skin cancer incidence has been increasing in the last decades, but most of the commercial formulations used as sunscreens are designed to protect only against solar erythema. Many of the active components present in sunscreens show critical weaknesses, such as low stability and toxicity. Thus, the development of more efficient components is an urgent health necessity and an attractive industrial target. We have rationally designed core moieties with increased photoprotective capacities and a new energy dissipation mechanism. Using these scaffolds, we have synthesized a series of compounds with tunable properties suitable for their use in sunscreens, and enhanced properties in terms of stability, light energy dissipation, and toxicity. Moreover, some representative compounds were included in final sunscreen formulations and a relevant solar protection factor boost was measured

Rapid and simultaneous determination of histidine metabolism intermediates in human and mouse microbiota and biomatrices

European Food Safety Authority; FEDER-Infraestructure Consejeria de Economia, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad, Grant/Award Number: IE_2019-198Histidine metabolism is a key pathway physiologically involved in satiety, recognition memory, skin, and neural protection and allergic diseases. Microbiologicallyproduced imidazole propionate induces type II diabetes and interferes with glucose lowering drugs. Despite their determinant health implications, no single method simultaneously assesses histidine metabolites in urine, feces, and microbiota. The aim of this study was to develop a simple, rapid, and sensitive method for the determination of histidine and its major bioactive metabolites histamine, N-acetylhistamine, imidazole-4-acetate, cis-urocanate, trans-urocanate, glutamate and imidazole propionate, using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. An innovative simple extraction method from small aliquots of human and mice urine, feces and microbial cell extracts was coupled to separation in a 6.5 min chromatographic run. The successful performance allowed accurate and precise quantification of all metabolites in mouse feces, suggesting broad exchange of histidine metabolites between the gut and mice. Higher urine histamine, histamine to histidine ratio, and imidazole-4-acetate pointed to an underlying inflammatory or allergic process in mice compared to human subjects. N-acetylhistamine and imidazole propionate were detected in human and mouse feces, confirming its origin from gut microbial metabolism. Our novel and robust analytical method captured histidine metabolism in a single assay that will facilitate broad and deep histidine metabolic phenotyping assessing the impact of microbiota on host health in large-scale human observational and interventional studies.European Food Safety AuthorityFEDER-Infraestructure Consejeria de Economia, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad IE_2019-19