Estimation of single-cell parameters from a distribution of bacterial size

1 póster presentado al Cell Size Regulation EMBO Workshop, 14-18 September 2016Funding project DPI2014-54085-JINPeer reviewe

The concept of diversity understood by future teachers

En la actualidad viene siendo común emplear el término de diversidad a la ligera, sin llegar a pensar a qué o quién nos estamos refiriendo cuando utilizamos tal concepto en el discurso. Muchas investigaciones reducen este término a discapacidad y multiculturalidad cuando la diversidad se entiende como un concepto muy polisémico y tan amplio que abarca a todo el colectivo poblacional. Este trabajo pretende analizar qué entienden los futuros docentes acerca del término “diversidad”. Para ello, se administró un cuestionario, en el que debían señalar aquellas que más se asemejaran a su concepción. Como principales resultados se manifestaron evidencias que demuestran que dicho concepto se suele relacionar con discapacidad y cultura, por lo que se hace necesario promover una actitud reflexiva acerca del vocablo para que no se continúe empleando a la ligera y se llegue a comprender la polisemia del mismo y el gran grupo de personas que lo componen.Today is still common to use the expression “diversity” so lightly, without thinking about what or who we are referring when we use this concept to speech. In fact, nowadays are continuing the investigations that reduce the diversity to two fundamental terms and practices: on the one hand, disability and the other hand, multiculturalism when, in reality, diversity is understood as a concept very polysemic, including a lot of personal casuistries. This paper attempts to analyze what do future teachers understand about diversity. To do this, a questionnaire was given, in which there were different options and meanings related to diversity and they should choose the more related to their conception. As key outcomes, we evidenced that this word is usually related to disability and culture. So, it is necessary to promote a thoughtfulness about the polysemy of the term and the large group of people that we can include in it

El camino al emprendimiento en la educación de personas mayores. The road to entrepreneurship in older adults education.

Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar una visión general sobre la educación de adultos mayores, centrándose principalmente en el llamado envejecimiento activo. Esta perspectiva trae nuevas tendencias a este grupo particular que, debido a la actual realidad sociodemográfica, está en su apogeo. A la luz de ello, se pueden crear nuevos formatos empresariales, a fin de desarrollar nuevas vías de aprendizaje aplicadas a los adultos mayores. Esto podría contribuir al crecimiento personal de los miembros de este grupo social, así como al crecimiento económico del país. Pueden fundarse nuevas empresas, públicas y privadas, y pueden proporcionar marcos novedosos en los que el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje sería sólo un paso más en la vida de los adultos mayores, porque todavía hay mucho que aprender incluso durante la vejez. Después de un breve estado de la técnica, el presente artículo proporciona un marco teórico en el que se analizan los aspectos generales, junto con sus principales objetivos, el curso de acción y el impacto del emprendimiento en la educación de adultos mayores

El camino al emprendimiento en la educación de personas mayores

This article aims to present an overview about older adults education, mainly focusing on the so-called active ageing. This perspective brings new trends to this particular group which, due to the present socio- demographic reality, is in its heyday. In light of that, new entrepreneurial formats can be created, in order to develop new learning pathways applied to older adults. These might contribute to this social group’s members’ personal growth, as well as to the country’s economic growth. New companies –both public and private-owned- can be founded, and they can provide novel frameworks where the teaching-learning process would be just one more step in older adults’ lives, because there is still plenty to learn even during old age. After a brief state of the art, the present article provides a theoretical framework where general aspects are analysed, together with its main objectives, course of action, and the impact of entrepreneurship on older adults education.Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar una visión general sobre la educación de adultos mayores, centrándose principalmente en el llamado envejecimiento activo. Esta perspectiva trae nuevas tendencias a este grupo particular que, debido a la actual realidad sociodemográfica, está en su apogeo. A la luz de ello, se pueden crear nuevos formatos empresariales, a fin de desarrollar nuevas vías de aprendizaje aplicadas a los adultos mayores. Esto podría contribuir al crecimiento personal de los miembros de este grupo social, así como al crecimiento económico del país. Pueden fundarse nuevas empresas, públicas y privadas, y pueden proporcionar marcos novedosos en los que el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje sería sólo un paso más en la vida de los adultos mayores, porque todavía hay mucho que aprender incluso durante la vejez. Después de un breve estado de la técnica, el presente artículo proporciona un marco teórico en el que se analizan los aspectos generales, junto con sus principales objetivos, el curso de acción y el impacto del emprendimiento en la educación de adultos mayores

A robust multi-model predictive controller for distributed parameter systems

12 páginas, 6 figurasIn this work a robust nonlinear model predictive controller for nonlinear convection–diffusion-reaction systems is presented. The controller makes use of a collection of reduced order approximations of the plant (models) reconstructed on-line by projection methods on proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) basis functions. The model selection and model update step is based on a sufficient condition that determines the maximum allowable process-model mismatch to guarantee stable control performance despite process uncertainty and disturbances. Proofs on the existence of a sequence of feasible approximations and control stability are given. Since plant approximations are built on-line based on actual measurements, the proposed controller can be interpreted as a multi-model nonlinear predictive control (MMPC). The performance of the MMPC strategy is illustrated by simulation experiments on a problem that involves reactant concentration control of a tubular reactor with recycle.This work has been also partially founded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (SMART-QC, AGL2008-05267-C03-01), the FP7 CAFE project (KBBE-2007-1-212754), the Project PTDC/EQU-ESI/73458/2006 from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and PI grant 07/IN.1/I1838 by Science Foundation Ireland. Also, the authors acknowledge financial support received by a collaborative grant GRICES-CSIC.Peer reviewe

A model for the biochemical degradation of inosine monophosphate in hake (Merluccius merluccius)

7 páginas, 3 tablas, 3 figuras, 1 apéndiceATP-derived products are typically used as early indicators of fish quality loss during storage. In this work, we explore different biochemical routes that are potentially relevant in contributing to nucleotide degradation in hake (Merluccius merluccius). A major motivation of this study is to get more insight on the biochemical degradation mechanisms of nucleotide catabolites in hake muscle at fish storage and transport conditions. This requires the identification of its relevant pathways. To that purpose, different degradation routes proposed in the literature are considered and a mathematical model for the degradation process is derived. First order kinetics are assumed for all the reactions and temperature dependence is taken into account through the Arrhenius equation. Unknown model parameters, namely activation energies and pre-exponential Arrhenius coefficients, are estimated via fitting to experimental data. From the estimation results, relevant routes are identified. The kinetic study is performed on sterile fish juice to avoid coupling with microbial degradation mechanisms or possible interferences of the food matrix that might hide biochemical interactions. The proposed scheme adequately describes biochemical changes in nucleotide catabolites under variable temperature profiles. It also reveals a pathway which at least seems relevant for nucleotide degradation in hakeThe authors acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Projects ISFORQUALITY AGL2012-39951-C02-01, PIE 201230E042 and RESISTANCE DPI2014-54085-JIN)Peer reviewe

A robust multi-model predictive controller for distributed parameter systems

12 páginas, 6 figurasIn this work a robust nonlinear model predictive controller for nonlinear convection–diffusion-reaction systems is presented. The controller makes use of a collection of reduced order approximations of the plant (models) reconstructed on-line by projection methods on proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) basis functions. The model selection and model update step is based on a sufficient condition that determines the maximum allowable process-model mismatch to guarantee stable control performance despite process uncertainty and disturbances. Proofs on the existence of a sequence of feasible approximations and control stability are given. Since plant approximations are built on-line based on actual measurements, the proposed controller can be interpreted as a multi-model nonlinear predictive control (MMPC). The performance of the MMPC strategy is illustrated by simulation experiments on a problem that involves reactant concentration control of a tubular reactor with recycle.This work has been also partially founded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (SMART-QC, AGL2008-05267-C03-01), the FP7 CAFE project (KBBE-2007-1-212754), the Project PTDC/EQU-ESI/73458/2006 from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and PI grant 07/IN.1/I1838 by Science Foundation Ireland. Also, the authors acknowledge financial support received by a collaborative grant GRICES-CSIC.Peer reviewe

Aplicaciones TIC para la innovación metodológica docente en educación superior

El impacto que han tenido y mantienen las nuevas tecnologías en el ámbito educativo es evidente, sobre todo desde la irrupción de la web social o 2.0. De esta manera, observamos como la utilización en la metodología docente va en aumento de progresiva y exponencial, sobre todo en niveles educativos obligatorios, donde la necesidad de hacer al alumnado competente digitalmente es esencial. Por ello, las instituciones de Educación Superior deben posicionarse a la vanguardia respecto a la formación de los futuros docentes, lugar donde el alumnado de Ciencias de la Educación, en particular, aprenda a utilizar la multitud de recursos tecnológicos de manera didáctica y pedagógica y poder así extraer todo su potencial en su futura labor profesional en las aulas. Por tanto, el objetivo principal de este trabajo es exponer una serie de experiencias de innovación docente basadas en el uso de aplicaciones Doodly, Powtoon, Videoscribe y Renderforest, como herramientas para la exposición audiovisual y el desarrollo del visual thinking en el alumnado de Educación Superior. Además de Kahoot y Plickers, como herramientas de evaluación.The impact that ICT have had in the educational field is evident, especially since the irruption of the social web 2.0. In this way, we observe how the use in the teaching methodology is increasing progressively, above all in compulsory educational levels. Therefore, the need to make digitally competent students is essential. Accordingly, institutions of Higher Education should be positioned at the forefront regarding the training of future teachers; where the students of Educational Sciences learn to use the multitude of ICT resources in a didactic and pedagogical way. Consequently, they will be able to extract the full potential of technology in their future professional work in the classroom. Hence, the main objective of this work is to expose a series of teaching innovation experiences based on the use of applications such as Doodly, Powtoon, Videoscribe and Renderforest, as tools for the visual presentations and the development of visual thinking in the students; in addition, Kahoot and Plickers as assessment tools

Towards predictive models in food engineering: Parameter estimation dos and don'ts

1 póster.-- 29th EFFoST International Conference, 10-12 November 2015, Athens, GreeceRigorous, physics based, modeling is at the core of computer aided food process engineering. Models often require the values of some, typically unknown, parameters (thermo-physical properties, kinetic constants, etc). Therefore, parameter estimation from experimental data is critical to achieve desired model predictive properties. Unfortunately, it must be admitted that often experiment design and modeling are fully separated tasks: experiments are not designed for the purpose of modeling and models are usually derived without paying especial attention to available experimental data or experimentation capabilities. When, at some point, the parameter estimation problem is put on the table, modelers use available experimental data to ``manually'' tune the unknown parameters. This results in inaccurate parameter estimates, usually experiment dependent, with the implications this has in model validation. This work takes a new look into the parameter estimation problem in food process modeling. First the common pitfalls in parameter estimation are described. Second we present the theoretical background and the numerical techniques to define a parameter estimation protocol to iteratively improve model predictive capabilities. This protocol includes: reduced order modeling, structural and practical identifiability analyses, data fitting with global optimization methods and optimal experimental design. And, to finish, we illustrate the performance of the proposed protocol with an example related to the thermal processing of packaged foods. The model was experimentally validated in the IIM-CSIC pilot plantThe authors acknowledge financial support from the EU (Project SPECTRAFISH), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project ISFORQUALITY) and CSIC (Project CONTROLA)Peer reviewe

Smart Polymers for Food and Water Quality Control and Safety

A large number of annual cases of diseases and deaths related to spoiled or contaminated food, and the amount of food waste are a matter of socio-economic impact, highlighting the need for a fast, easy, cheap, available, and real-time determination of food quality and safety. To ensure this, physical and chemical food quality indicators such as humidity, temperature, gases, pH, microorganisms, pesticides, etc., should be controlled and monitored during production, transportation, storage, and consumption. In this sense, smart polymers are raised as useful tools to facilitate this task. These polymers are sensitive to variations in the microenvironment, modifying their properties and/or generating a response that can be measured. Due to their versatility, these materials can be part of the food packaging to inform the consumers or be used as a measuring tool to determine the state of the food. This chapter envisaged the concept of smart polymers, the types, and their main applications for determining food quality and ensuring food and beverage safety.We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by FEDER (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional), the Spanish AEI (State Research Agency, PID2020-113264RBI00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and PID2019-108583RJI00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033), and "La Caixa" Foundation (under agreement LCF/PR/PR18/51130007). We also acknowledge the financial support provided by the Spanish Ministerio de Universidades (Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliciencia, European Union-NextGenerationEU, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (RD 289/2021) and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CA1/RSUE/2021-00409))