Analysis of double-parallel amplified recirculating optical-delay lines

A novel method of analysis of double-parallel amplified recirculating optical-delay lines (DPAROD) is presented. The location of the maxima and the minima of the transfer function for this configuration is calculated and experimentally demonstrated. The influence of different parameters, such as the coupling coefficients, gains, lengths of the fiber loops and fractional losses of the directional couplers, on the shape of the transfer function are analyzed. Different measurements have been taken to verify this model. The potential application of these interconnected delay loops as filters is a reason for developing this method.Publicad

“Zombie attack” a new way to teach Chemistry

The Higher Education requires new models which allow training people able to adapt and survive in changing environments. It is based on the use of technologies and the adaptation of knowledge to people. It is about an education according to circumstances, which is adapted to context and virtual behaviour of people. One of the main difficulties that lecturers find in the classroom is how to maintain students' attention and interest in their subject, especially when students also think that the subject is not important for their training. In order to motivate these students, innovation in educational techniques and methodologies, such as experiential learning, are progressively being imposed to and/or coordinated with the traditional ones. Escape Room is a very modern concept in education, based on the development of mental skills for the solution of enigmas and problems. It is a tool to develop the cooperative, cognitive, deductive and logical reasoning skills of the students. In this work, an educational gamification experience based on the escape room concept is presented. The students have 1 hour and 30 minutes to carry out this activity. They will have to solve four puzzles and enigmas that will give them the key to open a treasure chest and finally let them escape from the classroom. Logic, ingenuity and teamwork will allow participants to develop not only chemical competence, but also other basic skills. The story that is told throughout the escape room is a zombie attack: the city has been infected (with a virus) and only the occupants of the room where the activity takes place have not been infected. In addition, they can all protect themselves if they are able to open the chest where the antidote is located. The aim of this activity is to enhance the knowledge acquired throughout the semester as well as the development of skills.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Amplified Fiber-Optic Recirculating Delay Lines

Experimental and theoretical results on single- and double-amplified recirculating delay lines are presented. One of our aims is to emphasize their application as filters, showing a wide flexibility of design. Analysis of their performance in the spectral and time domains have been carried out. A novel method of understanding the behavior of double structures has been developed and successfully tested with experimental results employing Er-doped fiber amplifiers as delay lines.Publicad

Scoping Review About Working Conditions and Health of Immigrant Workers in Spain

Fundamentos: La relación entre inmigración, trabajo y salud constituye uno de los retos más importantes en salud laboral y más concretamente en España por el importante incremento de proporción inmigrante acontecido en el mercado laboral. El objetivo de esta investigación es conocer la relación entre las condiciones de trabajo y sus efectos en la salud de trabajadores inmigrantes en España. Métodos: Revisión bibliográfica de artículos científicos originales en español e inglés Medline y Medes (1998-2012). Se revisaron los textos completos de los artículos incluidos. Resultados: Se incluyeron 20 estudios, 13 con metodología de investigación cuantitativa y 7 cualitativa. Los temas tratados abordaban problemas específicos de salud relacionados con el trabajo (principalmente lesiones por accidente de trabajo), incapacidad laboral y diferencias en condiciones de trabajo y empleo. Los hallazgos de los estudios mostraron mayor incidencia de lesiones por accidentes de trabajo, menores tasas de incapacidad laboral, mayor prevalencia de presentismo laboral, exposición a factores psicosociales y precariedad laboral en la población inmigrante. Conclusiones: A pesar de la singularidad del proceso demográfico migratorio, los problemas de salud y determinantes identificados no difieren de los referenciados en otros países, en otros contextos y en otros momentos.Background:The relationship between immigration, work, and health is one of the most important challenges in occupational health at current, particularly in Spain, by the significant increase in the migrant workers in the labor market occurred. This investigation aims to know the relationship betwen working conditions and their effects on migrant workers. Methods: Scoping review of scientific papers on this topic at the Medline and Medes databases in Spanish and English (1998-2012). The articles included were full text reviewed. Results: 20 studies were included, 13 with quantitative methodology and 7 qualitative. The topics address specific health problems related to work (primarily occupational accidents), disability, and differences in working conditions and employment. The findings of the studies show a higher incidence of injury accidents, lower rates of disability, higher prevalence of work presenteeism, exposure to psychosocial factors, and precariousness. Conclusion: Despite the uniqueness of the demographic process migration happened in Spain, health problems and determinants identified no different from those referenced in other countries, in other contexts and in other times

Aislamiento de fallos por estimación de parámetros con técnicas neuronales

XXV Jornadas de Automática,Ciudad Real, 8, 9, y 10 de septiembre de 2004El artículo aborda un novedoso método para la estimación de parámetros inherentes a procesos no lineales y de difícil medida utilizando masivamente redes neuronales entrenadas mediante propagación hacia atrás para ser utilizado en la detección y aislamiento de fallos en procesos físicos. La herramienta para la utilización masiva de redes neuronales es una parte de DeltaV y permite su implementación dentro de arquitecturas de control basadas en el estándar Foundation Fieldbu

Análisis de la problemática en la generación de residuos para detección de fallos mediante autómatas programables

XXV Jornadas de Automática,Ciudad Real, 8, 9, y 10 de septiembre de 2004[Resumen] En este artículo se analiza la problemática de la utilización del PLC como elemento de supervisión de un proceso. Se desarrolla una aplicación en la que se utiliza un PLC( el elemento habitual de control de la planta) como supervisor introduciendo, además de las secciones de control, una de detección de fallos basada en la generación de residuos a partir del modelo cuantitativo de la plant

Implementación de sensores virtuales en Foundation Fieldbus

[Resumen] En este articulo se describe la implementación de sensores virtuales distribuidos para la obtención de determinadas variables, a partir de otras relacionadas, bajo arquitecturas del estándar Foundation Fieldbu

Control MPC bajo el estándar Foundation Fieldbus

[Resumen] Este artículo describe una alternativa de implementación de control basado en modelo predictivo (MPC) utilizando las técnicas de diseño aplicables en arquitecturas Fundation Fieldbu

Cannabidiol treatment might promote resilience to cocaine and methamphetamine use disorders: A review of possible mechanisms

Currently, there are no approved pharmacotherapies for addiction to cocaine and other psychostimulant drugs. Several studies have proposed that cannabidiol (CBD) could be a promising treatment for substance use disorders. In the present work, the authors describe the scarce preclinical and human research about the actions of CBD on the effects of stimulant drugs, mainly cocaine and methamphetamine (METH). Additionally, the possible mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of CBD on stimulant use disorders are reviewed. CBD has reversed toxicity and seizures induced by cocaine, behavioural sensitization induced by amphetamines, motivation to self-administer cocaine and METH, context- and stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine and priming-induced reinstatement of METH seeking behaviours. CBD also potentiated the extinction of cocaine- and amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), impaired the reconsolidation of cocaine CPP and prevented priming-induced reinstatement of METH CPP. Observational studies suggest that CBD may reduce problems related with crack-cocaine addiction, such as withdrawal symptoms, craving, impulsivity and paranoia (Fischer et al., 2015). The potential mechanisms involved in the protective effects of CBD on addiction to psychostimulant drugs include the prevention of drug-induced neuroadaptations (neurotransmitter and intracellular signalling pathways changes), the erasure of aberrant drug-memories, the reversion of cognitive deficits induced by psychostimulant drugs and the alleviation of mental disorders comorbid with psychostimulant abuse. Further, preclinical studies and future clinical trials are necessary to fully evaluate the potential of CBD as an intervention for cocaine and methamphetamine addictive disorders

A vision of uses and gratifications applied to the study of Internet use by adolescents

Based on uses and gratifications theory, the aim of this paper is to identify the reasons for using Internet among teenagers and to check different variables in order to predict types of uses. After conducting a representative survey applied to 397 high school students in Community of Madrid (Spain), Internet users’ gratifications and their relationships with variables related to adolescent characteristics, family context and time of online exposure are analyzed. The article concludes that daily use of Internet predicts higher consumption of communication and social relationship