Analytical activities and evaluation of air quality as professional experience in the Laboratoio de Medio Ambiente de Galicia

[Resumen] Este trabajo de fin de máster se centra en la de evaluación de la calidad de aire. Su desarrollo ha sido realizado en el Laboratorio de Medio Ambiente de Galicia (LMAG), perteneciente a la Secretaría Xeral de Calidade e Avaliación Ambiental, que es el organismo competente para la evaluación de la calidad del aire en la Comunidad Autonómica de Galicia. A lo largo de la duración del TFM, se ha trabajado en las diferentes etapas de la evaluación de calidad de aire, las cuales incluyen la toma de muestras, análisis en el laboratorio y realización de los informes con los resultados y la evaluación de los mismos. Adicionalmente, se ha participado en otras actividades analíticas del laboratorio.[Resumo] Este traballo fin de máster céntrase na avaliación da calidade do aire. O seu desenvolvemento foi realizado no Laboratorio de Medio Ambiente de Galicia (LMAG), pertencente á Secretaría Xeral de Calidade e Avaliación Ambiental, o cal é o organismo competente para a avaliación da calidade do aire na Comunidade Autonómica de Galicia. Durante a realización do TFM, traballouse nas diferentes etapas da avaliación da calidade do aire, as cales inclúen mostraxe, análise no laboratorio e realización dos informes cos resultados e a avaliación dos mesmos. Adicionalmente, participouse noutras actividades analíticas do laboratorio.[Abstract] This End-of-Master’s degree Project focuses on the evaluation of air quality. Its development has been done at the Laboratorio de Medio Ambiente de Galicia (LMAG), which is the competent organism for carrying out these studies in the Autonomous Community of Galicia. Throughout the duration of TFM, I have worked in different phases of the evaluation of air quality, which include both sampling and laboratory analysis, as well as the writing of the reports with the results and their evaluation. Furthermore, he has participated in other analytical laboratory activities.Traballo fin de mestrado (UDC.CIE). Ciencias, tecnoloxías e xestión ambiental. Curso 2014/201

Desarrollo de procesos sintéticos sostenibles

[Resumen] Este Trabajo de Fin de Grado se centra en el estudio de las disoluciones de organometálicos de indio(III). Por una parte, se estudiaron varios métodos para la determinación de la concentración de las disoluciones de organometálicos de indio y, por otro lado, en paralelo, se estudió su estabilidad en el tiempo. El trabajo se realizó con dos reactivos organoíndicos, el Ph3In y el PhInCl2. Los resultados obtenidos permiten el establecimiento de métodos eficaces de valoración, así como el mantenimiento en el tiempo de la especie Ph3In.[Resumo] Este Traballo de Fin de Grao se centra no estudo das disolucións de organometálicos de indio(III). Por unha parte, estudáronse varios métodos para a determinación da concentración das disolucións de organometálicos de indio e, por outro lado, en paralelo, estudouse a súa estabilidade no tempo. O traballo se realizou con dous reactivos organoíndicos, o Ph3In e o PhInCl2. Os resultados obtidos permiten o establecemento de métodos eficaces de valoración, así como o mantemento no tempo da especie Ph3In.[Abstract] This End-­‐of-­‐Degree Project focuses on the study of the organometallics of indium(III) solutions. On the one hand, we studied some methods for the titration of indium(III) organometallics solution and the stability of these reagents. Two organoindium reagents were employed in the work: Ph3In and PhInCl2. The results we obtained let us established an efficient tritation method.Traballo fin de grao (UDC.CIE). Química. Curso 2013/201

The impact of abrupt deglacial climate variability on productivity and upwelling on the southwestern Iberian margin

This study combines high-resolution records of nannofossil abundances, oxygen and carbon stable isotopes, core scanning X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and ice rafted debris (IRD) to assess the paleoceanographic changes that occurred during the last deglaciation on the SW Iberian Margin. Our results reveal parallel centennial-scale oscillations in coccolithophore productivity, nutricline depth and upwelling phenomena not previously observed, explained by means of arrival of iceberg-melting waters, iceberg-induced turbulent conditions, SST changes and riverine discharges. On millennial time-scales, higher primary productivity (PP), shallower nutricline, and upwelling occurrence/invigoration are observed for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Bølling-Allerød (B/A). The opposite scenario (i.e., lower productivity, deeper nutricline and upwelling weakening/absence) is linked to cold spells such as Heinrich Stadials 2 and 1 (HS2 and HS1) and the Younger Dryas (YD). Such paleoproductivity variations are attributed to latitudinal migrations of the thermal fronts associated with oceanic gyres in the North Atlantic, in parallel to oscillations in the strength of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Moderate-to-high PP during the Holocene is ascribed to the development of the modern seasonal surface hydrography, with a more persistent Iberian Poleward Current (IPC) and seasonal wind-induced upwelling

"Just" accuracy? Procedural fairness demands explainability in AI-based medical resource allocations

Altres ajuts: Universidad de Granada/CBUA. This research is funded by the project "Detección y eliminación de sesgos en algoritmos de triaje y localización para la COVID-19" of the call Ayudas Fundación BBVA a Equipos de Investigación Científica SARS-CoV-2 y COVID-19, en el área de Humanidades. DR-A thanks the funding of the Spanish Research Agency (codes FFI2017-88913-P and PID2020-118729RB-I00). IPJ also thanks the funding of the Spanish Research Agency (code PID2019-105422GB-I00).The increasing application of artificial intelligence (AI) to healthcare raises both hope and ethical concerns. Some advanced machine learning methods provide accurate clinical predictions at the expense of a significant lack of explainability. Alex John London has defended that accuracy is a more important value than explainability in AI medicine. In this article, we locate the trade-off between accurate performance and explainable algorithms in the context of distributive justice. We acknowledge that accuracy is cardinal from outcome-oriented justice because it helps to maximize patients' benefits and optimizes limited resources. However, we claim that the opaqueness of the algorithmic black box and its absence of explainability threatens core commitments of procedural fairness such as accountability, avoidance of bias, and transparency. To illustrate this, we discuss liver transplantation as a case of critical medical resources in which the lack of explainability in AI-based allocation algorithms is procedurally unfair. Finally, we provide a number of ethical recommendations for when considering the use of unexplainable algorithms in the distribution of health-related resources

Influence of Small Quantities of Water on the Physical Properties of Alkylammonium Nitrate Ionic Liquids

This paper presents a comprehensive study of two alkylammonium nitrate ionic liquids. As part of this family of materials, mainly ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) and also propylammonium nitrate (PAN) have attracted a great deal of attention during the last decades due to their potential applications in many fields. Although there have been numerous publications focused on the measurement of their physical properties, a great dispersion can be observed in the results obtained for the same magnitude. One of the critical points to be taken into account in their physical characterization is their water content. Thus, the main objective of this work was to determine the degree of influence of the presence of small quantities of water in EAN and PAN on the measurement of density, viscosity, electrical conductivity, refractive index and surface tension. For this purpose, the first three properties were determined in samples of EAN and PAN with water contents below 30,000 ppm in a wide range of temperatures, between 5 and 95 °C, while the last two were obtained at 25 °C. As a result of this study, it has been concluded that the presence of water is critical in those physical properties that involve mass or charge transport processes, resulting in the finding that the absolute value of the average percentage change in both viscosity and electrical conductivity is above 40%. Meanwhile, refractive index (≤0.3%), density (≤0.5%) and surface tension (≤2%) present much less significant changesThis research was funded by the Spanish MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND COMPETITIVENESS, grant numbers MAT2017-89239-C2-1-P and MAT2017-89239-C2-2-P. D. Ausín thanks the funding support of Fundación Segundo Gil Dávila. J.J. Parajó thanks the funding support of I2C postdoctoral program of Xunta de GaliciaS

Attitudes about Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology among Spanish rehabilitation professionals

To assess—from a qualitative perspective—the perceptions and attitudes of Spanish rehabilitation professionals (e.g. rehabilitation doctors, speech therapists, physical therapists) about Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) technology. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study was carried out by means of interviews and analysis of textual content with mixed generation of categories and segmentation into frequency of topics. We present the results of three in-depth interviews that were conducted with Spanish speaking individuals who had previously completed a survey as part of a larger, 3-country/language, survey on BCI perceptions. 11 out of 15 of these Spanish respondents (survey) either strongly or somewhat accept the use of BCI in rehabilitation therapy. However, the results of our three in-depth interviews show how, due to a strong inertia of attitudes and perceptions about BCI technology, most professionals feel reluctant to use BCI technology in their daily practice (interview)

Radiocarbon age offsets between two surface dwelling planktonic foraminifera species during abrupt climate events in the SW Iberian Margin

This study identifies temporal biases in the radiocarbon ages of the planktonic foraminifera species Globigerina bulloides and Globigerinoides ruber (white) in a sediment core from the SW Iberian margin (so‐called Shackleton site). Leaching of the outer shell and measurement of the radiocarbon content of both the leachate and leached sample enabled us to identify surface contamination of the tests and its impact on their 14C ages. Incorporation of younger radiocarbon on the outer shell affected both species and had a larger impact downcore. Interspecies comparison of the 14C ages of the leached samples reveal systematic offsets with 14C ages for G. ruber being younger than G. bulloides ages during the last deglaciation and part of the Early and mid‐Holocene. The greatest offsets (up to 1,030 years) were found during Heinrich Stadial 1, the Younger Dryas, and part of the Holocene. The potential factors differentially affecting these two planktonic species were assessed by complementary 14C, oxygen and carbon isotopes, and species abundance determinations. The coupled effect of bioturbation with changes in the abundance of G. ruber is invoked to account for the large age offsets. Our results highlight that 14C ages of planktonic foraminifera might be largely compromised even in settings characterized by high sediment accumulation rates. Thus, a careful assessment of potential temporal biases must be performed prior to using 14C ages for paleoclimate investigations or radiocarbon calibrations (e.g., marine calibration curve Marine13, Reimer et al., 2013, https://doi.org/10.2458/azu_js_rc.55.16947).UID/Multi/04326/2019, IF/01500/2014info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Radiocarbon Age Offsets Between Two Surface Dwelling Planktonic Foraminifera Species During Abrupt Climate Events in the SW Iberian Margin

[EN]This study identifies temporal biases in the radiocarbon ages of the planktonic foraminifera species Globigerina bulloides and Globigerinoides ruber (white) in a sediment core from the SW Iberian margin (so‐called Shackleton site). Leaching of the outer shell and measurement of the radiocarbon content of both the leachate and leached sample enabled us to identify surface contamination of the tests and its impact on their 14C ages. Incorporation of younger radiocarbon on the outer shell affected both species and had a larger impact downcore. Interspecies comparison of the 14C ages of the leached samples reveal systematic offsets with 14C ages for G. ruber being younger than G. bulloides ages during the last deglaciation and part of the Early and mid‐Holocene. The greatest offsets (up to 1,030 years) were found during Heinrich Stadial 1, the Younger Dryas, and part of the Holocene. The potential factors differentially affecting these two planktonic species were assessed by complementary 14C, oxygen and carbon isotopes, and species abundance determinations. The coupled effect of bioturbation with changes in the abundance of G. ruber is invoked to account for the large age offsets. Our results highlight that 14C ages of planktonic foraminifera might be largely compromised even in settings characterized by high sediment accumulation rates. Thus, a careful assessment of potential temporal biases must be performed prior to using 14C ages for paleoclimate investigations or radiocarbon calibrations (e.g., marine calibration curve Marine13, Reimer et al., 201

Valoración del aprendizaje obtenido en la formación inicial del profesorado en función del enfoque metodológico

Resumen:La vinculación entre los aprendizajes generados en la Formación Inicial del Profesorado (FIP) y la utilización de los mismos en el ámbito profesional es una temática de especial relevancia en el ámbito educativo. El presente estudio analiza la percepción del alumnado universitario del Grado en Educación Primaria (N=148) sobre la utilidad del aprendizaje obtenido y las competencias mostradas por el docente en el desarrollo de los contenidos de la asignatura, con el fin de comprobar qué efecto tiene la metodología de enseñanza aplicada. Para ello, se ha dividido al alumnado en dos grupos (A y B) y se han utilizado dos enfoques metodológicos distintos, uno, experimental, vinculado a las competencias del proceso selectivo de la oposición de maestros y otro, control, en el que no se llevó a cabo este proceso. Cada uno de ellos impartidos por un profesor. La metodología de la investigación es mixta, empleándose tanto un análisis descriptivo (medias y desviación típica por factores) e inferencial (ANOVA) como cualitativo. Se ha utilizado el Cuestionario de Evaluación de Intervención Docente (CEID) y la entrevista como instrumentos de recogida de datos. Se utiliza un diseño pretest-postest, comprobando la variabilidad de la percepción al finalizar la asignatura. Entre los principales resultados se observa que existen diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos en relación a las competencias reflejadas por el docente y la utilidad del aprendizaje obtenido. Atendiendo a la transferibilidad al ámbito profesional docente, en el grupo A existen diferencias en función de edad y la asistencia a cursos de formación docente, mientras que en el B no se encuentra diferencias significativas entre variables. Por otro lado, las entrevistas a los docentes ponen de manifiesto la disparidad de percepciones respecto al tipo de enfoque metodológico que debe utilizarse en la FIP. Se concluye que el alumno valora más positivamente las metodologías orientadas al ámbito profesional que las que únicamente se centran en contenidos curriculares. Abstract: The link between learning generated in Initial Teacher Training (IFJ) and the use thereof in the professional field is a subject of particular relevance in education. This study analyzes the perception of university students of the Degree in Primary Education (N = 148) about the utility of learning and skills developed by the teacher in the development of the contents of the subject, in order to check which effect shows the methodology applied teaching. To do so, it has divided the students into two groups (A and B) and used two different methodological approaches, one experimental, linked to the powers of the selective process of opposition from teachers and other control, which this process was not carried out. Each group was taught by a teacher. The research of methodology is mixed, using both a descriptive analysis (mean and standard deviation factors) and inferential (ANOVA) and qualitative). It was used Intervention Assessment Questionnaire Teachers (IAQT) and interview as data collection instruments. A pretest-posttest design is used, checking the variability of perception to the end of the course. The main results shows that there are significant differences between the two groups regarding the competencies reflected by the teacher and the usefulness of the learning outcomes. Considering the transferability teachers professionally, in group A there are differences depending on age and attending teacher training courses, while in the B was no significant difference between variables is. Furthermore, interviews with teachers show the disparity of perceptions regarding the type of methodological approach to be used in the FIP. It is concluded that students valued more positively oriented methodologies to professionals than those that solely focus on curriculum content

Influencia del sistema de evaluación empleado en la percepción del alumno sobre su aprendizaje y las competencias docentes

El presente estudio, realizado en la Universidad de Burgos (España), analiza la percepción del alumnado universitario acerca del aprendizaje y las competencias docentes. Participaron 485 alumnos de cinco asignaturas de dos grados: maestro en Educación Primaria y maestro de Educación Infantil. Estos se dividen en dos grupos, (A el de primaria y B el de infantil), impartido cada uno por dos profesores. En el grupo de Primaria se ha utilizado un sistema de evaluación formativa, basado en autoevaluaciones grupales y coevaluaciones intra e intergrupales a lo largo del proceso. Sin embargo, en el grupo B el sistema de evaluación ha sido más tradicional, asociándose a la calificación final de un examen y a la realización de trabajos. La metodología del trabajo ha sido mixta, empleándose tanto un análisis descriptivo (medias y desviación típica por factores) e inferencial (tablas de contingencia y correlaciones de Pearson y ANOVAS) como cualitativo (entrevistas a los dos docentes). Se utiliza un diseño pretest-postest, comprobando la variabilidad de la percepción al finalizar las asignaturas. Se emplean dos cuestionarios, la escala de formación inicial del profesorado y el cuestionario de evaluación de competencias docentes. Se observa cómo el alumnado que participó en el sistema de evaluación formativa (grupo A) tiene una percepción más elevada tanto en el aprendizaje como en las competencias docentes, estableciéndose diferencias significativas en este factor. En la parte cualitativa se manifiesta la disparidad de percepciones entre docentes respecto al rol que ha de desempeñar el alumno como agente del proceso de aprendizaje