Alkaline cement mortars. Chemical resistance to sulfate and seawater attack

The durability and chemical resistance of alkali activated slag and fly ash/slag mortars in contact with sulfates and seawater media have been studied. Two methods were used in the evaluation of such durability: Kock-Steinegger and ASTM CI012. A mineralogical and a microstructural characterization of mortars were done at different ages of their conservation in aggressive media through XRD, SEM/EDX and mercury porosimetry. Results showed a high durability of activated cement mortars in sulfates and seawater media. NaOH activated mortars are the most sensitive to environment attack with formation of expansive products as gypsum and ettringite, although in very low proportion.Se ha estudiado la estabilidad química en medios sulfáticos y de agua de mar de morteros de escorias activadas alcalinamente y morteros de mezclas de escoria y cenizas volantes activadas alcalinamente. Se han empleado dos métodos para evaluar dicha estabilidad: Kock-Steinegger y la norma ASTM CIO 12. Se ha realizado una caracterización mineralógica y micro estructural de los morteros (a diferentes edades de permanencia en los medios agresivos) a través de DRX, SEM/EDXy porosimetría de mercurio. Los resultados obtenidos han demostrado la elevada durabilidad de todos los morteros de cementos activados estudiados frente a la agresividad de los sulfatos y del agua de mar Los morteros de escoria activada con NaOH son los más susceptibles al ataque por esos medios, conformación de productos expansivos como el yeso y la etringita, aunque en proporciones muy bajas.Consejo Superior de investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)Peer reviewe

Morteros de cementos alcalinos. Resistencia química al ataque por sulfatos y al agua de mar

The durability and chemical resistance of alkali activated slag and fly ash/slag mortars in contact with sulfates and seawater media have been studied. Two methods were used in the evaluation of such durability: Kock-Steinegger and ASTM C1012. A mineralogical and a microstructural characterization of mortars were done at different ages of their conservation in aggressive media through XRD, SEM/ EDX and mercury porosimetry. Results showed a high durability of activated cement mortars in sulfates and seawater media. NaOH activated mortars are the most sensitive to environment attack with formation of expansive products as gypsum and ettringite, although in very low proportion.Se ha estudiado la estabilidad química en medios sulfáticos y de agua de mar de morteros de escorias activadas alcalinamente y morteros de mezclas de escoria y cenizas volantes activadas alcalinamente. Se han empleado dos métodos para evaluar dicha estabilidad: Kock-Steinegger y la norma ASTM C1012. Se ha realizado una caracterización mineralógica y micro estructural de los morteros (a diferentes edades de permanencia en los medios agresivos) a través de DRX, SEM/EDX y porosimetría de mercurio. Los resultados obtenidos han demostrado la elevada durabilidad de todos los morteros de cementos activados estudiados frente a la agresividad de los sulfatos y del agua de mar Los morteros de escoria activada con NaOH son los más susceptibles al ataque por esos medios, conformación de productos expansivos como el yeso y la etringita, aunque en proporciones muy bajas

Assistive Robot with an AI-Based Application for the Reinforcement of Activities of Daily Living: Technical Validation with Users Affected by Neurodevelopmental Disorders

In this work, we propose the first study of a technical validation of an assistive robotic platform, which has been designed to assist people with neurodevelopmental disorders. The platform is called LOLA2 and it is equipped with an artificial intelligence-based application to reinforce the learning of daily life activities in people with neurodevelopmental problems. LOLA2 has been integrated with an ROS-based navigation system and a user interface for healthcare professionals and their patients to interact with it. Technically, we have been able to embed all these modules into an NVIDIA Jetson Xavier board, as well as an artificial intelligence agent for online action detection (OAD). This OAD approach provides a detailed report on the degree of performance of a set of daily life activities that are being learned or reinforced by users. All the human–robot interaction process to work with users with neurodevelopmental disorders has been designed by a multidisciplinary team. Among its main features are the ability to control the robot with a joystick, a graphical user interface application that shows video tutorials with the activities to reinforce or learn, and the ability to monitor the progress of the users as they complete tasks. The main objective of the assistive robotic platform LOLA2 is to provide a system that allows therapists to track how well the users understand and perform daily tasks. This paper focuses on the technical validation of the proposed platform and its application. To do so, we have carried out a set of tests with four users with neurodevelopmental problems and special physical conditions under the supervision of the corresponding therapeutic personnel. We present detailed results of all interventions with end users, analyzing the usability, effectiveness, and limitations of the proposed technology. During its initial technical validation with real users, LOLA2 was able to detect the actions of users with disabilities with high precision. It was able to distinguish four assigned daily actions with high accuracy, but some actions were more challenging due to the physical limitations of the users. Generally, the presence of the robot in the therapy sessions received excellent feedback from medical professionals as well as patients. Overall, this study demonstrates that our developed robot is capable of assisting and monitoring people with neurodevelopmental disorders in performing their daily living tasks.This research was funded by project AIRPLANE, with reference PID2019-104323RB-C31, of Spain’s Ministry of Science and Innovation

Attitudes and burden in relatives of patients with schizophrenia in a middle income country

BACKGROUND: Most studies of family attitudes and burden have been conducted in developed countries. Thus it is important to test the generalizability of this research in other contexts where social conditions and extended family involvement may be different. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the attitudes of caregivers and the burden they experience in such a context, namely Arica, a town located in the northernmost region of Chile, close to the border with Peru and Bolivia. METHODS: We assessed attitudes towards schizophrenia (including affective, cognitive and behavioural components) and burden (including subjective distress, rejection and competence) in 41 main caregivers of patients with schizophrenia, all of whom were users of Public Mental Health Services in Arica. RESULTS: Attitude measures differed significantly according to socio-demographic variables, with parents (mainly mothers) exhibiting a more negative attitude towards the environment than the rest of the family (t = 4.04; p = 0.000).This was also the case for caregivers with a low educational level (t = 3.27; p < 0.003), for the oldest caregivers (r = 0.546; p = 0.000) and for those who had spent more time with the patient (r = 0.377; p = 0.015). Although attitudes had significant association with burden, their explanatory power was modest (R2 = .104, F = 4,55; p = .039). CONCLUSIONS: Similar to finding developed countries, the current study revealed a positive and significant relationship between the attitudes of caregivers and their burden. These findings emphasize the need to support the families of patients with schizophrenia in this social context

Quality of life in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia: A literature review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A couple of decades ago, hospitals or psychiatric institutions were in charge of caring for patients with schizophrenia; however, nowadays this role is performed by one or more patient's relatives. Evidence shows that informal caregivers experience negative changes in their quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study is to review the main factors associated with the QOL of caregivers of people with schizophrenia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A search through databases from journals published last decade between 1998 and 2008 was performed. In accordance with the inclusion criteria, titles and abstracts of citations obtained from the search were examined independently by two authors and irrelevant articles discarded. The full text of those studies considered relevant by either reviewer were obtained and assessed independently. Where differences of opinion rose they were resolved by discussion. Out of the 258 references, 37 were included in the review.</p> <p>Studies which assessed factors associated with caregivers of people with schizophrenia's quality of life were included and the information summarized.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Evidence suggest that physical, emotional and economic distress affect negatively caregiver's QOL as a result of a number of unfulfilled needs such as, restoration of patient functioning in family and social roles, economic burden, lack of spare time, among other factors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Decreased QOL may be associated with caregivers' burden, lack of social support, course of the disease and family relationships problems. In addition, in developing countries, QOL is affected by caregivers' economic burden. High quality research is needed in order to identify factors associated with QOL over time and testing the efficacy of interventions aiming to improve QOL in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia.</p

Visión educativa ambiental, en la Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, 2006-2020 y su impacto en el cambio climático y salud

La Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, desde su fundación en 1832 y hasta la actualidad ha estado comprometida con la sociedad y el medio ambiente. En el año de 2006 presentó su proyecto de Cultura Ambiental ante CECADESU-SEMARNAT y ANUIES, este proyecto es transversal a todas las actividades sustantivas (docencia, investigación, extensión, divulgación) y adjetivas (recursos humanos, infraestructura y economía) de la institución, acorde con su modelo académico UAZ siglo XXI, que inició en 2005 y está centrado en el alumno. Actualmente cuenta con una población de 40.504 alumnos (785 de secundaria, 12.255 de bachillerato, 25.559 de licenciatura, 1.876 de posgrado y 79 de educación técnica; 2.895 profesores y 1.985 trabajadores administrativos). Siendo fundamental el trabajo en el conocimiento de la salud, la educación y cambio climático, para la salud del hombre, animales, plantas y el planeta. Objetivo: Implementar la cultura ambiental en toda la comunidad UAZ y trasversal a todas sus actividades sustantivas (docencia, investigación, extensión, divulgación, vinculación) y adjetivas (recursos de infraestructura, humanos y financieros).Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria