A methodology to introduce sustainability into the Final Year Project to foster sustainable engineering projects

The introduction of sustainability skills into higher education curricula is a natural effect of the increasing importance of sustainability in our daily lives. Topics like green computing, sustainable design or environmental engineering have become part of the knowledge required by today’s engineers. Furthermore, we strongly believe that the introduction of this skill will eventually enable future engineers to develop sustainable products, services and projects. The Final Year Project is the last academic stage facing students and a step towards their future professional engineering projects. As such, it constitutes a rehearsal for their professional future and an ideal opportunity for reflecting on whether their Final Year Project is sustainable or not, and to what extent. It also provides a good tool for reviewing the lessons learned about sustainability during the degree course and for applying them in a holistic and integrated way. In this paper, we present a guide that allows both students and advisors to think carefully about the sustainability of engineering projects, in particular the Final Year Project.Postprint (author’s final draft

A learning tool to develop sustainable projects

This paper presents a tool developed to help engineers to design and develop sustainable projects. The tool has been designed to introduce and evaluate the sustainability of engineering projects in general, but here we show its application to assess the final project of an engineering degree. This tool is a guide for students to introduce and estimate the sustainability of their projects, but it also helps teachers to assess them. The tool is based on the Socratic Methodology and consists of a matrix where each cell contains several questions that students must consider during the project development and which they must answer in their project report. A positive or negative mark is assigned to every cell, and the sum of all marks states the project sustainability. However, the result is not as simplistic as a final number, but a descriptive sustainability analysis where questions are answered and every mark justified. A pilot test with some students has obtained good results, but the first Final Degree Project using this methodology will be read in July 2016.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

El método socrático como guía del trabajo de fin de grado

En el marco del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES) se espera que, durante sus estudios de Grado, un estudiante adquiera las competencias técnicas/específicas relacionadas con la carrera que estudia y, además, trabaje un conjunto de competencias transversales/genéricas. La mayoría de estas competencias serán evaluadas en el Trabajo Fin de Grado (TFG). Todos los TFG son diferentes y es difícil, por no decir imposible, establecer un modelo único de proyecto que sirva para todos. Además, se corre el riesgo de que si se establece un modelo único el alumno tienda a seguirlo de manera estricta, sin plantearse que debe considerarlo sólo como una guía y que tal vez su TFG debería tener un planteamiento distinto. En este trabajo se propone una posible solución para este problema. En lugar de definir un modelo único de TFG, se propone seguir el método socrático, estableciendo un conjunto de preguntas que inviten al estudiante a reflexionar sobre la forma de afrontar su proyecto. Reflexionar sobre estas preguntas debe fomentar la iniciativa del estudiante y ayudarle a tomar decisiones importantes, de forma crítica y meditada, sobre la propia organización del TFG y la forma de abordarlo e implementarlo. Con esta táctica se aumenta la capacidad crítica del estudiante y se consigue que los TFG se adapten mejor a las necesidades del proyecto concreto, huyendo de estándares preestablecidos.Postprint (published version

De la teoría a la práctica: cinco años después de la integración de la competencia genérica de sostenibilidad en el Grado en Ingeniería Informática

La sostenibilidad es una de las competencias transversales básicas que todo ingeniero debería adquirir durante su formación. De hecho, seguir desarrollando ciencia y tecnología de espaldas a la sostenibilidad provocaría en poco tiempo un colapso de nuestro planeta. La puesta en marcha del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES) ha propiciado una oportunidad única para replantearse diferentes aspectos educativos, entre los cuales destaca la inclusión de esta competencia en los planes de estudio. Existe literatura abundante sobre estrategias y propuestas teóricas para incluir esta competencia en las ingenierías. Sin embargo, pocos trabajos han sido llevados a cabo desde una perspectiva más práctica. La Facultat de Informàtica de Barcelona (FIB) posee amplia experiencia en el diseño de titulaciones adaptadas al EEES y ha integrado la sostenibilidad en su plan de estudios de Grado en Ingeniería Informática. En este trabajo se revisa el proceso de diseño del plan de estudios de Grado en Ingeniería Informática de la FIB, aprobado en el año 2009, y se analiza la experiencia de integración de la sostenibilidad tras cinco años de funcionamiento del grado. Se comentan los mecanismos de organización y coordinación entre las asignaturas implicadas y, finalmente, se extraen las lecciones aprendidas.SUMMARY -- Sustainability is one of the basic professional skills that every engineer should incorporate during their training. In fact, developing science and technology without sustainability criteria would collapse our planet. The launching of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) has provided a unique opportunity to rethink different educational aspects, including the integration of this skill into the curriculum. Abundant literature exists on strategies and theoretical proposals to include this skill into engineering. However, few studies have been done from a more practical perspective. The Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB) has wide experience in the design of degrees according to the EHEA, and has integrated sustainability into the Informatics Engineering degree. This paper reviews the process of the design of the FIB’s Informatics Engineering degree curriculum, approved in 2009, and analyses the experience of sustainability integration after five years. The organizational and coordination mechanisms between the subjects are discussed, and finally the lessons learnt are extracted

La Sostenibilidad en los proyectos de ingeniería

El Trabajo de Fin de Grado representa la última prueba para que el estudiante de grado demuestre que está preparado para ejercer como ingeniero, elaborando y defendiendo un proyecto de envergadura. El proyecto debe cumplir todos los requisitos que se exigen a un proyecto de ingeniería, desde el análisis del problema hasta la presentación de una solución. Los autores del presente trabajo pensamos que todo proyecto de ingeniería debe incorporar un informe de sostenibilidad que demuestre que el proyecto es sostenible en los ámbitos social, ambiental y económico. Existe poca experiencia en este tema, tanto en la empresa como en la universidad, ya que las empresas (algunas) hace pocos años que han incorporado la sostenibilidad como uno de los criterios de realización de sus proyectos y las universidades apenas han comenzado a trabajar en esa dirección. En este trabajo se presentan algunas reflexiones sobre cómo debería ser tratada la sostenibilidad en un proyecto de ingeniería, y en particular cómo se pueden aplicar estas ideas al Trabajo de Fin de Grado.SUMMARY -- The Final Degree Work represents the last test for the students to demonstrate they are ready to practice as engineer, developing and defending a major project. The project must meet all requirements demanded on an engineering project, from the problem analysis to the presentation of one solution. The authors of this paper believe that every engineering project must include a sustainability report which demonstrates that the project is sustainable in the social, environmental and economic scopes. There is little experience in this subject, either in enterprises or in universities, as only few companies have recently incorporated sustainability as one of their criteria for developing their projects, and the universities have hardly begun working in that direction. This paper presents some thoughts about how sustainability should be addressed in an engineering project and, in particular, how these ideas should be applied to the Final Degree Work

Evaluation and comparison of two different cartilage-sparing techniques in 356 otoplasties performed in children

Background: Prominent ear is the most common deformity of the external ear. Although hundreds of surgical otoplasty techniques have been described, none of them has proved enough advantage over others to become the gold standard in this field. In this study, we evaluated the results of a cohort of 188 patients operated with two different cartilagesparing otoplasty techniques.Patients and methods: A total of 356 otoplasties were performed in 188 patients, between January 2012 and November 2016. Two different techniques were utilized in two different groups: a modified-Mustardé otoplasty and a modified-Furnas technique. Postoperative follow-ups were performed at week 1, and at 1 and 6 months and at 1 year. Complications were recorded and compared between both techniques. The success rate was measured according to McDowells’ criteria.Results: A total of 356 ears were operated in 188 patients (85 men; 103 women; mean age 9.97; range: 6–15 years). In all, 105 patients underwent modified-Mustarde otoplasty, and 83 were operated utilizing a modified-Furnas technique. Success rates ranged from 90 to 100% depending on the technique utilized. No significative differences wereobserved in the incidence of complications and success rates.Conclusion: None of the compared otoplasty techniques showed better results than the other. Notwithstanding, otoplasty shows to be an effective treatment with high success rates (independent of the technique utilized) for patients with prominent ears.Keywords: antihelix, concha, Furnas, Mustarde, otoplasty, prominent ear

Luz blanca en la normativa española como mejora de la sostenibilidad

En la actualidad, en nuestro país debido al índice de reproducción cromática en las lámparas del alumbrado exterior, el color que suelen presentar es un color amarillento, lo cual puede tener graves consecuencias en la seguridad de los ciudadanos al distorsionar algunos aspectos de la realidad. Es por este motivo que pretendemos resaltar las bondades que presenta la luz blanca, como la mejora de la eficiencia energética o en el comportamiento de los usuarios a la hora de aprovechar los espacios públicos en horarios nocturnos. Para asegurarnos que la introducción de la Luz Blanca en la normativa no presenta inconvenientes, esta investigación se presenta dividida en tres campos diferentes: Crimen, Seguridad Vial y Eficiencia Energética, con el propósito de evaluar el mayor número de factores que afectan al alumbrado exterior

Guía del estudiante para elaborar el informe de sostenibilidad del TFG

Este artículo presenta una guía para ayudar a los ingenieros a diseñar y desarrollar proyectos sostenibles. Esta guía es la culminación de siete años de trabajos publicados en JENUI. La guía ha sido diseñada para introducir y evaluar la sostenibilidad de los proyectos de ingeniería en general, pero en este trabajo se presenta su aplicación al Trabajo Final de Grado. Esta herramienta no es simplemente una guía para ayudar a los estudiantes a introducir y estimar la sostenibilidad de sus proyectos, sino que también es útil para ayudar a los profesores a realizar la evaluación. La guía se basa en el método socrático y consiste en una matriz en la que cada celda contiene varias preguntas que los estudiantes deben considerar durante el desarrollo del proyecto, y a las que deben responder en el informe final. A cada celda de la matriz se le otorga una valoración, y la suma de todos los valores refleja la sostenibilidad del proyecto. El resultado no es simplemente un número, ya que el estudiante debe escribir un análisis de sostenibilidad en el que responde a todas las preguntas de la matriz de forma justificada. Se ha realizado una prueba piloto con algunos estudiantes y se han obtenido buenos resultados, pero el primer Trabajo Final de Grado que usará la metodología propuesta se leerá en julio de 2016.This paper presents a guide to help engineers to design and develop sustainable projects. The guide is the culmination of previous studies published over the last seven years in JENUI. The guide has been designed to introduce and evaluate the sustainability of engineering projects in general, but here we pre-sent how it can be applied to the final project of an engineering degree. This tool is a guide for students. to introduce and estimate the sustainability of their projects, but it also helps teachers to assess them. The guide is based on the Socratic Methodology and consists of a matrix where each cell contains several questions that students must consider during the project development and which they must answer in their project report. A positive or negative mark is assigned to every cell, and the sum of all marks states the project sustainability. However, the result is not as simplistic as a final number, but a descriptive sustainability analysis where all questions are answered and every mark justified. A pilot test with some students has obtained good results, but the first Final Degree Project using the proposed methodology will be read in July 2016

Integrative analysis of DNA copy number, DNA methylation and gene expression in multiple myeloma reveals alterations related to relapse

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable despite the introduction of novel agents, and a relapsing course is observed in most patients. Although the development of genomic technologies has greatly improved our understanding of MM pathogenesis, the mechanisms underlying relapse have been less thoroughly investigated. In this study, an integrative analysis of DNA copy number, DNA methylation and gene expression was conducted in matched diagnosis and relapse samples from MM patients. Overall, the acquisition of abnormalities at relapse was much more frequent than the loss of lesions present at diagnosis, and DNA losses were significantly more frequent in relapse than in diagnosis samples. Interestingly, copy number abnormalities involving more than 100 Mb of DNA at relapse significantly affect the gene expression of these samples, provoking a particular deregulation of the IL-8 pathway. On the other hand, no significant modifications of gene expression were observed in those samples with less than 100 Mb affected by chromosomal changes. Although several statistical approaches were used to identify genes whose abnormal expression at relapse was regulated by methylation, only two genes that were significantly deregulated in relapse samples (SORL1 and GLT1D1) showed a negative correlation between methylation and expression. Further analysis revealed that DNA methylation was involved in regulating SORL1 expression in MM. Finally, relevant changes in gene expression observed in relapse samples, such us downregulation of CD27 and P2RY8, were most likely not preceded by alterations in the corresponding DNA. Taken together, these results suggest that the genomic heterogeneity described at diagnosis remains at relapse.This work was partially supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-Cofinanciación con fondos FEDER (PI080568, PS0901897 and PI13/00111), the Gerencia Regional de Salud, Junta de Castilla y León (GRS202/A08 and GRS 702/A/11), the Spanish Myeloma Network Program (RD06/0020/0006) and the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC, GCB120981SAN).Peer Reviewe

Comparative Analysis of Chromatin-Delivered Biomarkers in the Monitoring of Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Pilot Study

[EN] Sepsis management remains one of the most important challenges in modern clinical practice. Rapid progression from sepsis to septic shock is practically unpredictable, hence the critical need for sepsis biomarkers that can help clinicians in the management of patients to reduce the proba-bility of a fatal outcome. Circulating nucleoproteins released during the inflammatory response to infection, including neutrophil extracellular traps, nucleosomes, and histones, and nuclear pro-teins like HMGB1, have been proposed as markers of disease progression since they are related to inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial damage, and impairment of the coagulation response, among other pathological features. The aim of this work was to evaluate the actual potential for decision making/outcome prediction of the most commonly proposed chromatin-related bi-omarkers (i.e., nucleosomes, citrullinated H3, and HMGB1). To do this, we compared different ELISA measuring methods for quantifying plasma nucleoproteins in a cohort of critically ill pa-tients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock compared to nonseptic patients admitted to the inten-sive care unit (ICU), as well as to healthy subjects. Our results show that all studied biomarkers can be used to monitor sepsis progression, although they vary in their effectiveness to separate sepsis and septic shock patients. Our data suggest that HMGB1/citrullinated H3 determination in plasma is potentially the most promising clinical tool for the monitoring and stratification of septic patients.This activity received funding from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). This body of the European Union receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. C.R-M. thanks GVA for starting grant (GV/2018/127) and Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for research project (PID2020-119127RA-I00); J.B-G thanks ISCIII, AES2018 for iPFIS fellowship (IFI18/00015) and GVA for APOTI fellowship (APOTIP/2017/012); CG thanks Spanish Ministry of Universities for fellowship FPU18/03969; J.L.G-G and F.V.P thank INCLIVA, GVA and AES2016 and AES2019 (ISCIII) for starting grant (GV/2014/132), project PI16/01036 and PI19/00994 and project DTS17/00132 (co-financed by the ERDF). The project leading to these results has received funding from "la Caixa" Foundation (ID 100010434), under agreement CI18-0009. C.R-M., F.V.P. and A.M. thank Grand Challenges Canada. : We want to particularly acknowledge the patients and the INCLIVA Biobank (PT17/0015/0049; B.000768 ISCIII) integrated in the Valencian Biobanking Network and the Spanish National Biobanks Network for their collaboration.Beltrán-García, J.; Manclus Ciscar, JJ.; García-López, EM.; Carbonell, N.; Ferreres, J.; Rodríguez-Gimillo, M.; Garcés, C.... (2021). Comparative Analysis of Chromatin-Delivered Biomarkers in the Monitoring of Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22(18):1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22189935115221