303 research outputs found

    An overview on armor research for the laser fusion project HiPER

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    During the current preparatory phase of the European laser fusion project HiPER, an intensive effort has being placed to identify an armour material able to protect the internal walls of the chamber against the high thermal loads and high fluxes of x-rays and ions produced during the fusion explosions. This poster addresses the different threats and limitations of a poly-crystalline Tungsten armour. The analysis is carried out under the conditions of an experimental chamber hypothetically constructed to demonstrate laser fusion in a repetitive mode, subjected to a few thousand 48MJ shock ignition shots during its entire lifetime. If compared to the literature, an extrapolation of the thermomechanical and atomistic effects obtained from the simulations of the experimental chamber to the conditions of a Demo reactor (working 24/7 at hundreds of MW) or a future power plant (producing GW) suggests that “standard” tungsten will not be a suitable armour. Thus, new materials based on nano-structured W and C are being investigated as possible candidates. The research programme launched by the HiPER material team is introduced

    Promoting Emotional and Social Well-Being and a Sense of Belonging in Adolescents through Participation in Volunteering

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    This research received external funding from Research Group (SEJ 131): Analysis of Social Life.The data presented in this study are available on request from the first author, e-mail: [email protected] (M.L.-S.).The aim of this study was to analyze the differences within education-related degrees with respect to participation in volunteering. Volunteering motivation promotes and encourages emotional and social well-being and a sense of belonging in university students. This study was based on a total sample of 985 students undertaking Degrees in Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Social Education who attended higher education institutions in Northern Africa (Spain) and Eastern Spain. Once the quality parameters of the instrument were determined, the reliability was confirmed, and data collection was initiated. In order to analyze the results, a multilevel study (ANOVA) was conducted by interacting the variables for degrees with three levels (PE = Primary Education; EC = Early Childhood Education; SE = Social Education) and the variable "volunteering is my motivation to feel better", with five levels (strongly disagree, disagree, unsure, agree, and strongly agree). From the data obtained, it was concluded that there were significant differences between the different degree paths, the assessment covering sociodemographic variables and areas of interest showing that volunteering benefits university students both socially and in their decision-making processes.Research Group: Analysis of Social Life SEJ 13

    Coupling electrical resistivity methods and GIS to evaluate the effect of historic building features on wetting dynamics during wind-driven rain spells

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    Moisture is one of the most important factors causing building stone decay and rain penetration is one of the leading factors. Particularly, wind-driven rain spells, which are becoming increasingly common and seasonal as a result of climate change. Historic buildings' sometimes intricate design features can be a factor multiplying meteorological anisotropy, either shielding walls or increasing the surface that is affected by wind-driven rain spells. This paper aims to identify the effect of pilasters and tower buttresses on the wetting dynamics of a listed 9th Century historic building during a rain spell by means of electrical resistivity methods coupled with GIS mapping, paying special attention to how data representation and map algebra can improve the interpretation of several data sets of non-destructive testing. Results show how building features can modify deeply moisture dynamics and maximise local anisotropy. In the present case, a compound of an external tower buttress and an internal pilaster decreases moisture ingress through ground infiltration while increasing moisture retention into the wall due to its larger mass. This, in turn, multiplies the incidence of moisture-related processes inside the building. The presented data also highlight the usefulness of mapping over time (4D mapping) and of GIS to improve interpretations through map algebraThis research was supported by Top Heritage (P2018/NMT-4372) programme from the Regional Government of Madrid (Spain) and Grants “PIC2020–116896RB-C21”, “PIC2020–116896RB-C22” funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/50110001103

    Active fault databases and seismic hazard calculations: a compromise between science and practice. Review of case studies from Spain

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    Since the Quaternary Active Faults Database of Iberia (QAFI) was released in February 2012 a number of studies aimed at producing seismic hazard assessments have made use of it. We will present a summary of the shortcomings and advantages that were faced when QAFI was considered in different seismic hazard studies. These include the production of the new official seismic hazard map of Spain, performed in the view of the foreseen adoption of Eurocode-8 throughout 2017. The QAFI database was considered as a complementary source of information for designing the seismogenic source-zone models used in the calculations, and particularly for the estimation of maximum magnitude distribution in each zone, as well as for assigning the predominant rupture mechanism based on style of faulting. We will also review the different results obtained by other studies that considered QAFI faults as independent seismogenic-sources in opposition to source-zones, revealing, on one hand, the crucial importance of data-reliability and, on the other, the very much influence that ground motion attenuation models have on the actual impact of fault-sources on hazard results. Finally, we will present briefly the updated version of the database (QAFI v.3, 2015), which includes an original scheme for evaluating the reliability of fault seismic parameters specifically devised to facilitate decision-making to seismic hazard practitioners

    El efecto del familiness en la performance innovadora de las empresas familiares: un análisis exploratorio.

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    El presente trabajo de carácter exploratorio ha tratado de cubrir el vacío existente en la literatura sobre innovación en la empresa familiar mediante el análisis del efecto del familiness en la performance innovadora de las empresas familiares. Para ello se ha llevado a cabo un estudio sobre una muestra representativa de empresas familiares de Cantabria. Los resultados muestran: 1) una estrategia exploradora permite obtener unos mejores resultados en términos de patentes, innovaciones incrementales y efectos internos (periodo de respuesta) 2) el nivel de estudios o de formación del CEO afecta al impacto cualitativo de la innovación; 3) son las empresas familiares en primera generación las que solicitan más patentes, dibujando el perfil de un fundador de carácter más claramente emprendedor

    La empresa MAXCOLCHON apuesta por la Innovación Orientada por las Personas

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    [ES] Conocer los aspectos más importantes que genera una experiencia de uso satisfactoria en los potenciales usuarios de un producto y el proceso de toma de decisión de la compra es clave para garantizar el éxito. Para conocer los aspectos y saber cómo los perciben los perfiles poblacionales concretos a los que va orientado el producto es imprescindible escuchar la voz de los usuarios. La Innovación Orientada por las Personas facilita una metodología validada para incluir a las personas en todas las fases del proceso de desarrollo, convirtiendo al usuario objetivo del producto en un recurso activo de generación de valor para las empresas. En esta línea, la empresa MAXCOLCHON ha desarrollado junto con el Instituto de Biomecánica (IBV) un proyecto que tiene como objetivo identificar los aspectos clave que tienen en cuenta los usuarios a la hora de valorar el colchón ONE y tomar la decisión de compra. A partir de dicha información es posible, desde trabajar en el desarrollo o mejora de un producto, hasta identificar la mejor forma de orientar una campaña de marketingSoriano Garcia, C.; Marzo Rosello, R.; Martínez Gómez, L.; Sanchís Almenara, M.; Mercader Ricos, A. (2020). La empresa MAXCOLCHON apuesta por la Innovación Orientada por las Personas. Revista de Biomecánica (Online). (67):1-5. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/176089S156

    Optical and electrochemical properties of spirobifluorene iridanaphthalene complexes

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    Three new spirobifluorene iridaaromatic compounds bearing electron-withdrawing or electron-donor substituents or another iridanaphthalene moiety have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Thorough experimental and theoretical evaluation revealed that these novel systems present a high thermal, air and electrochemical stability as well as low optical and electronic energy gap values with a significant redshift of the absorption maximum in the UV-Vis spectra and predicted remarkably higher first hyperpolarizabilities compared to their organic counterparts. Therefore, the combination of a metallaaromatic system with a spirobifluorene moiety leads to the design and development of new spirobifluorene derivatives. These new systems have shown interesting optical and electronic properties making them of interest for future applications in optoelectronics.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. GRC2019/2

    Sex-Specific Regulation of miR-29b in the Myocardium Under Pressure Overload is Associated with Differential Molecular, Structural and Functional Remodeling Patterns in Mice and Patients with Aortic Stenosis

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    Pressure overload in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) induces an adverse remodeling of the left ventricle (LV) in a sex-specific manner. We assessed whether a sex-specific miR-29b dysregulation underlies this sex-biased remodeling pattern, as has been described in liver fibrosis. We studied mice with transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and patients with AS. miR-29b was determined in the LV (mice, patients) and plasma (patients). Expression of remodeling-related markers and histological fibrosis were determined in mouse LV. Echocardiographic morpho-functional parameters were evaluated at baseline and post-TAC in mice, and preoperatively and 1 year after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with AS. In mice, miR-29b LV regulation was opposite in TAC-males (down-regulation) and TAC-females (up-regulation). The subsequent changes in miR-29b targets (collagens and GSK-3?) revealed a remodeling pattern that was more fibrotic in males but more hypertrophic in females. Both systolic and diastolic cardiac functions deteriorated more in TAC-females, thus suggesting a detrimental role of miR-29b in females, but was protective in the LV under pressure overload in males. Clinically, miR-29b in controls and patients with AS reproduced most of the sexually dimorphic features observed in mice. In women with AS, the preoperative plasma expression of miR-29b paralleled the severity of hypertrophy and was a significant negative predictor of reverse remodeling after AVR; therefore, it may have potential value as a prognostic biomarker

    Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) among Children Adopted from Eastern European Countries: Russia and Ukraine

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    Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; Adopted children; Cognitive disorderTrastornos del espectro alcohólico fetal; Niño adoptado; Trastorno cognitivoTrastorns de l'espectre alcohòlic fetal; Nens adoptats; Trastorn cognitiuFetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental disorders. Children adopted internationally from countries where alcohol consumption during pregnancy is very high are at greater risk for FASD. Lack of expertise in diagnosing FASD and mixed neurodevelopmental and behavioral signs due to abandonment complicate a timely diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of FASD in adopted children. Children between the ages of 8 and 24 adopted from Russia and Ukraine were evaluated for clinical and historical features of FASD. Of the 162 children evaluated, 81 (50%) met FASD diagnostic criteria. Thirty-three (20.4%) children had fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), 28 (17.2%) had partial FAS, 2 (1.2%) had alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) and 18 (11.1%) had alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). Of the 81 children in which fetal alcohol exposure could not be confirmed, many had manifestations that would have established a diagnosis of FASD if a history of maternal alcohol consumption was confirmed. In a population of children with a high risk of prenatal alcohol exposure (adoptees from Eastern European countries), at least 50% showed manifestations associated with FASD. The reported prevalence in this study is in line with the results obtained in a previous study as well as in orphanages of origin

    Heterogeneity in response to MCT and psychoeducation: a feasibility study using latent class mixed models in first-episode psychosis

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    Metacognitive training (MCT) is an effective treatment for psychosis. Longitudinal trajectories of treatment response are unknown but could point to strategies to maximize treatment efficacy during the first episodes. This work aims to explore the possible benefit of using latent class mixed models (LCMMs) to understand how treatment response differs between metacognitive training and psychoeducation. We conducted LCMMs in 28 patients that received MCT and 34 patients that received psychoeducation. We found that MCT is effective in improving cognitive insight in all patients but that these effects wane at follow-up. In contrast, psychoeducation does not improve cognitive insight, and may increase self-certainty in a group of patients. These results suggest that LCMMs are valuable tools that can aid in treatment prescription and in predicting response to specific treatments.Daniel Fernández has been supported by grant 2017 SGR 622 (GRBIO) administrated by the Departament d’Economia i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya (Spain) and by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain) [PID2019-104830RB-I00/ DOI (AEI): 10.13039/501100011033]; and CIBER, Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovaciónPostprint (published version
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