El lenguaje científico, la divulgación de la ciencia y el riesgo de las pseudociencias

El lenguaje de la ciencia, al igual que los lenguajes técnicos, se caracteriza por su especificidad. En él palabras de uso común 'englobadas en el grupo comunidad científica del resto de la sociedad. No debe pues sorprendernos que el lenguaje científico especializado sea, en no pocas ocasiones, utilizado por algunos científicos 'aquéllos que por el hecho de ser científicos se consideran parte de una élite intelectual' como una suerte de muralla comunicativa, que los mantiene a una distancia 'prudencial' de los profanos y los diferencia del resto de los ciudadanos. Afortunadamente estos científicos son en la actualidad una minoría, ya que la mayoría entiende que la ciencia debe, ante todo, establecer una relación fluida con la sociedad. Y aquí es donde entra en juego la divulgación de la ciencia. Para que la ciencia pueda llegar a la sociedad en su más amplia extensión, y para que pueda ser entendible y aceptada, debe apostar por desprenderse, al menos en parte, de esa incomprensible jerga científica para adoptar un lenguaje más cercano y cotidiano. Pero todo esto colisiona con una corriente opuesta: la adopción por parte de las llamadas 'pseudociencias', como la homeopatía, la osteopatía, o el psicoanálisis de un lenguaje deliberadamente opaco que imita al científico, precisamente con el fin de revestirse de una pátina de respetabilidad, al modo de las ciencias básicas, e incluso para 'protegerse', dificultando el acceso y la comprensión del público general hacia ellas. del vocabulario denominado general' aparecen con significados concretos, en muchas ocasiones diferentes de los que se dan en el discurso cotidiano o general. El discurso científico se caracteriza además por contar con un gran porcentaje relativo de vocabulario específico y exclusivo de este discurso. Esto hace que el lenguaje científico pueda reflejar cierta opacidad, particularmente ante la gente ajena a su uso; lo cual crea una barrera que, en la práctica, aísla a laScientific language is characterized by its specific characteristics. Common general words appear here with specific meanings, frequently different from the ones used in the daily language. Scientific discourse is also characterized by the great relative amount of specific vocabulary, exclusive of this discourse. This makes scientific language to reflect a certain degree of opacity, particularly to people alien to its use; this in turn creates a sort of barrier which in practice isolates the scientific community from the rest of society. It is no surprise that specialized scientific language is often employed by some scientists 'those who believe themselves to be a part of an intellectual élite' as a sort of communicative barrier, which keeps them at a 'prudential' distance away from the laypersons and distinguishes them from the rest of people. Fortunately these elitist scientists are nowadays a minority, for most of them understand that science must, above all, establish a fluid relationship with society. And here comes popularization of science. For science to reach society in its widest extension, and to be understandable, it must get rid of this incomprehensible scientific jargon in order to adopt a closer and more quotidian language. All this collides with an opposite trend: the adoption by the 'pseudo-sciences', such as homeopathy, osteopathy, or psychoanalysis, of a deliberately opaque language which imitates scientific language with the sole aim of arm these pseudo-sciences with a patina of respectability, which serves to protect themselves hence hindering the access to them and the comprehension of the general public

Modelo de costes ahorrados aplicado a un consultorio médico en el ambiente laboral de una gran obra en construcción

The benefits of supporting a medical service in the works place in construction, some times are difficult to realize for the administration department and they just see it as a requirement to obtain the permissions. The aim is to know, which are the suppositions of waiting times saved in the urgency services of the area, to have financial utility in the District C project, on having had a medical consultation in the place of work during 2005. For that, an economic evaluation has been made of cost minimization, where the available information has been obtained from the accounting, historical statistical information and generated for it and proposes a calculation model of saved time in Euros based on suppositions, taking salary hour of the workers as a shade price. The program generates financial utility with a time of wait in the Social Security corresponding assistance center of 165 minutes or 30 minutes for the different involved mutual, always for the cases catalogued as slight or moderate of work accidents with injury (WAI). Programs like this one in the place of great constructions can produce financial utilities, if the sanitary services ambient in which they are localized, allow it. The authorities must stimulate the companies to register better the waiting times and movements in cases of slight and moderated of WAI to be able to document the cost of these displacements.Los beneficios de mantener un servicio de consulta médica en las obras en construcción muchas veces son difíciles de percibir por parte de su administración que simplemente lo ven como un requisito más para obtener los permisos. El objetivo es establecer cuáles son los supuestos en tiempos de espera ahorrados en los servicios de urgencias de la zona, en que se produce utilidad financiera en el proyecto de la obra Distrito C, al haber mantenido una consulta médica en el sitio de la obra durante el año 2005.Para ello se ha realizado una evaluación económica del tipo minimización de costes, donde se han empleado los datos disponibles en la contabilidad una vez depurados, información estadística histórica y clasificada para ello y se planteó un modelo de cálculo de tiempo ahorrado en euros basado en supuestos, tomando como precio sombra el salario hora de los trabajadores. El programa genera utilidad financiera con un tiempo de espera en la Seguridad Social correspondiente de 165 minutos o 30 minutos para las diferentes mutuas involucradas, siempre para los casos catalogados como accidentes de trabajo con lesiones (ATL) leves o moderados. Programas como el analizado en grandes obras de construcción pueden presentar utilidad financiera, si el entorno de servicios sanitarios en que se desarrollan así lo permiten. Las autoridades deben estimular a las empresas a registrar mejor los tiempos y movimientos en casos de ATL leves y moderadas para poder documentar el coste de esos desplazamientos

An approach to the influence of climate change on the seasonal real estate market

[EN] The effects of climate change are becoming more apparent day by day. This is reflected in an increasing global warming that produces changes in the climate in the short and medium term with potential and growing consequences in the behavioral patterns of society.The climate crisis described above may have significant consequences on the vacation dynamics of national and foreign audiences. Effects such as the increase in temperatures, the desertification and erosion of large areas of the territory, or the scarcity of rainfall, reduce or alter the appeal of traditional holiday destinations. The loss of interest in typical tourist areas and the detour of their public to other areas that had never been touristic, cause alterations in the real estate market.Despite the topicality and importance of this subject, the existing bibliography is scarce and scattered. This paper attempts to compile the existing scientific publications on the effect of climate change on real estate investment, as well as the main factors to be considered.García Martínez, F.; Llorca Ponce, A.; Pérez Royo, D. (2023). An approach to the influence of climate change on the seasonal real estate market. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 580-587. https://doi.org/10.4995/VIBRArch2022.2022.1567258058

Towards the real estate project. The architect in the new paradigm of real estate investment

[EN] After the financial crisis of 2008, which hit the real estate sector particularly hard, there was a paradigm shift in the real estate investment process. Traditional development was drastically reduced, giving rise to the emergence of other agents. The model of analysis, decision-making and development has been redefined. It is assimilated to other types of more abstract investments, while maintaining a clear local component. A tour of the different investment mechanisms that have burst into the sector is made like venture capital funds, crowdfunding platforms, participatory companies and investors with foreign capital. This paper deals with the question of how external circumstances have an impact depending on the objective of the investment. And another point analyzed is the real estate as a product or the real estate as a tool for the sale of another product (tertiary sector). The aim of this paper is to analyze the position of the architect in the new context of identifying opportunities in the real estate sector. In this new context the architect plays a key role in the investment strategy taking into account what both society and the investors need, and thus participates in all phases of the process.Pérez Royo, D.; Llorca Ponce, A.; García Martínez, F. (2023). Towards the real estate project. The architect in the new paradigm of real estate investment. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 152-161. https://doi.org/10.4995/VIBRArch2022.2022.1559915216

Effect of width and boundary conditions on meeting maneuvers on two-way separated cycle tracks

Cycle track design guidelines are rarely based on scientific studies. In the case of off-road two-way cycle tracks, a minimum width must facilitate both passing and meeting maneuvers, being meeting maneuvers the most frequent. This study developed a methodology to observe meeting maneuvers using an instrumented bicycle, equipped with video cameras, a GPS tracker, laser rangefinders and speed sensors. This bicycle collected data on six two-way cycle tracks ranging 13-2.15 m width delimitated by different boundary conditions. The meeting maneuvers between the instrumented bicycle and every oncoming bicycle were characterized by the meeting clearance between the two bicycles, the speed of opposing bicycle and the reaction of the opposing rider: change in trajectory, stop pedaling or braking. The results showed that meeting clearance increased with the cycle track width and decreased if the cycle track had lateral obstacles, especially if they were higher than the bicycle handlebar. The speed of opposing bicycle shown the same tendency, although were more disperse. Opposing cyclists performed more reaction maneuvers on narrower cycle tracks and on cycle tracks with lateral obstacles to the handlebar height. Conclusions suggested avoiding cycle tracks narrower than 1.6 m, as they present lower meeting clearances, lower bicycle speeds and frequent reaction maneuvers. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.García García, A.; Agustin Gomez, F.; Llorca Garcia, C.; Angel-Domenech, A. (2015). Effect of width and boundary conditions on meeting maneuvers on two-way separated cycle tracks. Accident Analysis and Prevention. 78:127-137. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2015.02.019S1271377

Motor vehicles overtaking cyclists on two-lane rural roads: Analysis on speed and lateral clearance

Two-lane rural roads in Spain accommodate significant bicycle traffic volumes, mainly associated to sport and leisure activities. Motor vehicles' higher speed, weight and volume, compared to cyclists, represent a serious safety concern when overtaking a bicycle. Spanish traffic rules determine a minimum 1.5. m lateral distance.This research characterised 2928 overtaking manoeuvres in the overtaking lateral clearance between motor vehicle and bicycle, as well as in the motor vehicle speed, in contrast with previous research. Two instrumented bicycles were equipped with laser rangefinders, a GPS tracker and three video cameras. They rode along seven rural road segments at a speed between 15 and 25. km/h, centred on the paved shoulder, or as close as possible to the outer edge. Besides, this methodology allowed the characterisation of the overtaken vehicle type, its left lane occupation as well as its interaction with opposing traffic flow. For each session, rider's general risk perception was also registered.The analysis suggested that lateral clearance is not the only factor that influenced rider's risk perception, although current standards are only related to it. On the contrary, a combined factor of lateral clearance, vehicle type and vehicle speed had a more significant correlation with the perceived risk. This agreed with literature models of transient aerodynamic forces between overtaking and overtaken vehicles. Results showed that effect of heavy vehicles on bicyclists was also strong. In addition to this, the combined factor of clearance and speed was higher on tangent sections where overtaking was permitted.Llorca Garcia, C.; Ángel-Domènech, A.; Agustin Gomez, F.; García García, A. (2017). Motor vehicles overtaking cyclists on two-lane rural roads: Analysis on speed and lateral clearance. Safety Science. 92:302-310. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2015.11.005S3023109

Transverse cracking of cross-ply laminates: A computational micromechanics perspective

Transverse cracking in cross-ply carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy laminates in tension is analyzed by means of computational micromechanics. Longitudinal plies were modeled as homogenized, anisotropic elastic solids while the actual fiber distribution was included in the transverse plies. The mechanical response was obtained by the finite element analysis of a long representative volume element of the laminate. Damage in the transverse plies was triggered by interface decohesion and matrix cracking. The simulation strategy was applied to study the influence of ply thickness on the critical stress for the cracking of the transverse plies and on the evolution of crack density in 02=90n=2 s laminates, with n = 1, 2, 4 and 8. It was found that the transverse ply strength corresponding to the initiation and propagation of a through-thickness crack was independent of the ply thickness and that the transverse strength of carbon/epoxy laminates was 35% higher than that of the glass fiber counterparts. In addition, the mechanisms of crack initiation and propagation through the thickness as well as of multiple matrix cracking were ascertained and the stiffness reduction in the 90 ply as a function of crack density was computed as a function of the ply thickness.The authors kindly acknowledge the support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the project MAT2012-37552. CSL acknowledges the support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Ramon y Cajal program

Interface characterization in fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix composites

A novel methodology is presented and applied to measure the shear interface strength of fiber-reinforced polymers. The strategy is based in fiber push-in tests carried out on the central fiber of highly-packed fiber clusters with hexagonal symmetry, and it is supported by a detailed finite element analysis of the push-in test to account for the influence of hygrothermal residual stresses, fiber constraint and fiber anisotropy on the interface strength. Examples of application are presented to determine the shear interface strength in carbon and glass fiber composites reinforced with either thermoset or thermoplastic matrices. In addition, the influence of the environment (either dry or wet conditions) on the interface strength in C/epoxy composites is demonstrated.This investigation was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain through the Grant MAT2012-37552, by the Comunidad de Madrid through the program DIMMAT (P2013/MIT2775), and by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013 under Grant Agreement 213371 (MAAXIMUS, www.maaximus.eu). In addition, the support of Airbus through the project SIMSCREEN ("Simulation for Screening Properties of Materials") is gratefully acknowledged