Bifurcation diagram for saddle/source bimodal linear dynamical systems

We continue the study of the structural stability and the bifurcations of planar bimodal linear dynamical systems (BLDS) (that is, systems consisting of two linear dynamics acting on each side of a straight line, assuming continuity along the separating line). Here, we enlarge the study of the bifurcation diagram of saddle/spiral BLDS to saddle/source BLDS and in particular we study the position of the homoclinic bifurcation with regard to the new improper node bifurcationPostprint (published version

Use of formative assessment in Physical Education teacher education in Secondary School: a case study

The adoption of a competency-based education model in university teaching brings up the debate about the overtaking of traditional assessment methods by new systems, such as formative assessment. The aim of this study was to analyse the level of presence of formative assessment in general and specific courses of the Teacher Education for Secondary School, Vocational Training, Languages, Arts and Sports master’s degree, with major in Physical Education, of a Spanish public university, and to explore professors’ perceptions. To do so, a complementary mixed quantitative and qualitative design case study was carried out, where data from twelve courses were obtained through the instrument for analysis of syllabus assessment systems (IASEG) and in-depth interviews with five professors. The results revealed the use of formative assessment, with no significant differences between general and specific courses. On the other hand, diversity was detected among professors in terms of their knowledge on this type of assessment and its implementation in the courses. In conclusion, an incipient interest in this type of assessment was observed. However, a number of obstacles were noticed, such as a context that was still unfamiliar with this practice and the lack of training of some professors

Jupyter Notebooks for the study of advanced topics in fluid mechanics

In recent years, Jupyter Notebooks have become a very useful free and opensource tool in teaching, as they allow you to combine text, images, mathematical expressions, links and code into a single document. This gives students an interactive document with which they can experiment and learn with the help of high-level mathematical calculus. In Fluid Mechanics, it is very common for students to deal with complex computations that take away attention from the Mechanic, especially in advanced topics such as Rheology, Turbulence, or Boundary Layer. The subject “Advanced Fluid Mechanics” is an elective one of the last year of the Bachelor's degree in Industrial and Aerospace Technology Engineering at the Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. This subject has three ECTS credits and has been taught since the academic year 2020–2021 This subject complements the compulsory subject Fluid Mechanics and is developed in 6 weeks with 5h of class each week. This work presents Fluid Mechanics modules with Jupyter Notebooks that complement the syllabus given in the compulsory subject. An elective subject is presented where subjects of Fluid Mechanics per week are studied independently, using different Python tools: symbolic calculation, modeling of experimental data, statistical analysis, numerical calculation, and so forth. The main goal is for the student to focus on mechanical concepts and actively learn to use the tools available, especially open source, to do the associated mathematical calculationsPostprint (published version

Structural stability of (C,A)-marked and observable subspaces

Given an observable pair of matrices (C;A) we consider the manifold of (C;A)-invariant and observable subspaces having a fixed Brunovsky- Kronecker structure. Using Arnold’s techniques we obtain the explicit form of a miniversal deformation of a marked and observable (C;A)- invariant subspace with regard to the usual equivalence relation. As an application, we obtain the dimension of the orbit and we characterize the structurally stable subspaces

Gamification tools in the learning of shipbuilding in the undergraduate marine engineering education

This study assesses the implementation of different gamification tools and learning complexity in the of the subject Shipbuilding Principles of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC). This experience has been carried out under a triple new scenario: the virtuality due to the Covid-19 pandemic, added to the gamified training, and the assessment carried out remotely. Both the content and the assessment of the subject have been presented using three gamification web tools (Kahoot!, Mentimeter, and Socrative) and three learning complexity (Lexicon, Comprehension, and Visual & Relationship). The content of the subject has been taught in a dynamic, entertaining, and active way. An important factor that has been taken into account was student diversity when responding to gamified elements, using different gamification tools and different learning complexity. This experience of gamification had a positive impact on student motivation, class attendance, participation, collaborative learning, and classroom climate, which is key in a scenario like the current one, with an adaptation of classes to online learning due to the pandemic. From the results obtained, it can be stated that the gamified experience, even offering a good result compared to previous academic years, did not provide a significant improvement in the overall academic performance of the students. Regarding the gamification tools, the one that presented a slight advantage over the rest was Socrative, which is based on a particular challenge without competition between peers or groups. Regarding the learning complexity, all presented a similar level of success.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::4 - Educació de QualitatPostprint (published version

Improving calculus curriculum in engineering degrees: implementation of technological applications

The teaching of mathematics has always concerned all the professionals involved in engineering degrees. Curently students have less interest in these studies, what has caused an increase of this concern. The lack of awareness of students about the significance of mathematics in their careers, provoke the decrease of undergraduate students’ motivation, which derives in a low interest in engineering degrees. The aim of this work is that engineering students achieve a greater motivation and involvement in first academic courses, through the implementation of real and technological applications related to their degrees in the learning of mathematical concepts. To this end, the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 academics years, the seminar “Applications of Multivariable Calculus in Engineering” has been held in Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech (UPC), based on the teaching of Multivariable Calculus by the execution of real problems where calculus concepts are necessary to solve them. With the aim of analyzing students’ motivation and assessment of the seminar, anonymous surveys and personal interviews have been conducted. The number of attending students to the sessions in each academic year has been 16 and all of them have been participants in the surveys and interviews. The results show that students’ responses were generally positive and they agree that their motivation to the subject Multivariable Calculus has increased with the use of real applications of mathematics. The execution of practical problems with engineering applications improves the acquirement of mathematical concepts, what could imply an increase of students’ performance and a decrease of the dropout in the first academic courses of engineering degrees.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::4 - Educació de QualitatPostprint (published version

Encouraging students’ motivation and Involvement in STEM degrees by the execution of real applications in mathematical subjects: the population migration problem

This paper presents a simplified model of the population migration problem, addressed to first-year engineering students in order to show them the use of linear algebra tools. The study consists of predicting the census in the city centre and in the suburbs, determining the city population equilibrium point, and making a sociological interpretation of population flows. This practical problem is part of the seminar “Applications of Linear Algebra in Engineering”, which is being held at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech (UPC). This seminar consists in the learning of linear algebra by the implementation of real applications where mathematical tools are required to resolve them. This paper presents an application of linear algebra to the population migration problem and analyses students’ appreciation through anonymous surveys and personal interviews. The surveys assessed students’ motivation towards the subject of linear algebra and their learning of mathematical concepts. Personal interviews were conducted for students in order to let them express in detail their opinion about the seminar. The results confirm that the introduction of real applications in the learning of mathematics increases students’ motivation and involvement, which implies an improvement in students’ performance in the first courses of STEM degrees.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::4 - Educació de QualitatPostprint (published version

Developing recovery oriented services and co-production in mental healthcare: Building- up on existing promising organisational practices

Recovery, as a patient-centred emergent transformative concept in mental healthcare, requires a change in the culture and practice of organisations at different levels. This paper investigates the potential of nurturing existing recovery oriented initiatives as promising practices for the re-orientation of mental healthcare provision. In the field of social innovation, promising practices are intended as very context-linked sustainable practices which open up possibilities of societal radical transformation based on people’s real needs and existing assets. Similarly, in mental healthcare services, the authors argue that emergent promising recovery oriented and co-produced practices can favour the shift from a traditional top-down culture to a more collaborative one. This paper is based on an experimental action-research project, Recovery CO–LAB, developed in collaboration with the Mental Health Department of Spedali Civili di Brescia, aiming to explore how service design could help the organisation to increase its orientation toward recovery

Bomba de infusión intratecal implantable: evaluación de la calidad de vida de los pacientes con dolor crónico no oncológico en tratamiento con morfina

El dolor crónico no oncológico se considera un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial, puesto que es la causa más frecuente de sufrimiento y discapacidad. La analgesia intratecal surge como una nueva estrategia terapéutica para aquellos pacientes en quienes no han sido efectivos otros tipos de tratamientos y para aquellos que están sometidos a altas dosis de fármacos y/o sufren importantes efectos secundarios. El objetivo es evaluar la calidad de vida de los pacientes con DCNO tras la implantación de la bomba de infusión de morfina intratecal.Grado en Enfermerí