Monumental entrances at iberian Neolithic and Chalcolithic ditches enclosures. Entrance 1 at Perdigoes (Portugal) as case study

Ditched enclosures have been found in many European regions during the Neolithic and Copper Age. This widespread, almost pan-European monumental tradition has also been documented in the Iberian Peninsula in the last 25 years, although the impact of their discovery in the continental debates has been, for the most part, rather small. In these enclosed sites, ditches delimit spaces by establishing an inside and an outside. Crucially, however, in most enclosures known to date with enough detail, ditches show one or more interruptions interpreted as entrances or points of access that connect the outside with the inside. These entrances appear to be architectural elements of great importance and possibly special meanings. During the Neolithic, European ditched enclosures showed great formal variability, from the simplest (a break or discontinuity in the ditch's layout) to more complex forms such as the pince de crabe (crab's claw). Many of them show astrological awareness and/or orientation towards certain prominent features of the surrounding landscape. Changes in form and transformations through time, both of the entrance itself and of the nearby elements, are also very common. All in all, they are an important component of almost every ditched enclosure, and often some of the most visibly monumentalised areas of these sites. This presentation has two objectives. First, we shall examine the monumental character and the diversity of entrances at Southern Iberian Neolithic and Chalcolithic ditched enclosures (4th-3rd millennia cal BC). Second, we will focus on Entrance 1 at Perdigões (Portugal), its form, features and temporality, as a particular case to be contextualised in the wider Southern Iberian scene.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Gauge invariant fluctuations of the metric during inflation from new scalar-tensor Weyl-Integrable gravity model

We investigate gauge invariant scalar fluctuations of the metric during inflation in a non-perturbative formalism in the framework of a recently introduced scalar-tensor theory of gravity formulated on a Weyl-Integrable geometry. We found that the Weyl scalar field can play the role of the inflaton field in this theory. As an application we study the case of a power law inflation. In this case the quasi-scale invariance of the spectrum for scalar fluctuations of the metric is achieved for determined values of the $\omega$ parameter of the scalar-tensor theory. In our formalism the physical inflaton field has a geometrical origin.Comment: 9 pages, no figures. This is a revised version accepted for publication in Physical Review

Using social network sites in higher education: an experience in business studies

[SPA]En los últimos años, el impacto de la Web 2.0. Entre las nuevas generaciones ha sido remarcadamente significativo (Pew Research Center, 2010). Este trabajo muestra los resultados de una experiencia innovadora basada en el uso de una Red Social para fomentar el desarrollo de competencias básicas y la implicación activa de los estudiantes en la asignatura. En opinión de los alumnos, la experiencia ha sido valorada muy positivamente. La experiencia contribuyó a una mayor implicación en la asignatura y a una mejor colaboración con los compañeros y con el profesorado. Como consecuencia la mayoría de los estudiantes optarían por el uso de la Red Social como soporte básico si tuviesen que matricularse de nuevo en la asignatura. Sobre la relación entre rendimiento y uso de la Red, se identificaron dos perfiles de acuerdo a los patrones de uso. Los estudiantes con un perfil de uso más intensivo mostraron rendimientos más altos que aquellos con perfil de uso bajo. [ENG]In the past 5 years the impact of the Web 2.0 in new generations has been remarkably significant (Pew Research Center, 2010). This paper reports on an experience in the use of Social Network Sites (SNS) to support student involvement with the subject and to develop basic skills. According to students’ opinion, the experience was deemed as positive. They considered that the experience contributed to a higher engagement with the subject and a deeper collaboration with other students and teaching staff. As a result, the majority of students would prefer the use of SNS as a first option if they had to enrol again in the subject. Regarding the relationships between academic performance and use of the SNS, two different student profiles were identified based on usage patterns of the platform. Students with a more intensive use of the site showed a significantly better performance than students with a low usage profile.Campus Mare Nostrum, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Universidad de Murcia, Región de Murci

Valorización energética de la biomasa : aplicación en industrias del sector agroalimentario

La utilización de la biomasa proveniente del sector agroalimentario como una fuente de energía renovable es de gran interés en la actualidad. Ésta puede generar energía, a través de procesos tanto termoquímicos como bioquímicos, susceptible de utilizarse en forma de calor, energía mecánica o electricidad, y en diferentes estados de agregación: sólida, líquida o gas. La Digestión Anaerobia de vertidos de destilerías vínicas es un ejemplo idóneo de los procesos bioquímicos de conversión de la biomasa para obtener energía, ya que la vinaza se genera en el propio proceso de obtención del alcohol etílico (destilación de vinos y subproductos de la vinificación) producido por fermentación de una disolución azucarada y el metano se genera en la digestión anaerobia del residuo de la destilación. En este trabajo se estudia el funcionamiento y operación de diferentes tecnologías anaerobias susceptibles de ser utilizadas para la degradación de vertidos de destilerías vínicas (vinazas de vino) en condiciones anaerobias termofílicas (55°C), estableciéndose una comparación entre procesos con biomasa en suspensión y sistemas con biomasa adherida de tipo filtro anaerobio. En este último caso, además, se comparan diferentes tipos de materiales soportes y se analiza el efecto de la tasa de recirculación sobre el proceso.____________________________________Nowadays, the use of food industry biomass as a resource of renewable energy is a very interesting management alternative. Biomass can be converted to energy via thermal, biochemical and mechanical processes. This energy can be used like heat, mechanic o electric energies, and in different aggregation states (solid, liquid or gaseous). Anaerobic digestion of wine distilleries wastewater (vinasses) is a suitable example of biochemical conversion process of biomass to obtain energy. Vinasses are generated in the obtaining of ethylic alcohol on wine and wine-subproducts distillation process. This alcohol is previously generated in the biological fermentation of sugars from must. Subsequently, the biogas, mainly methane, can be obtained from anaerobic digestion of the residue of alcohol distillation, the vinasses. This work presents the main operational conditions of different anaerobic technologies used for anaerobic digestion of wine distilleries wastewater (vinasses) in the thermophilic range of temperature (55ºC). This study makes the comparison between technologies that used suspended biomass and fixed-film biorreactors (anaerobic filters). In the anaerobic filter technology there is a comparison between different support media and different recirculation rate regimes and its influence in the process

Finite element modeling of energy harvesters: application to vibrational devices

[ES] En este capítulo se presenta el conjunto de ecuaciones de gobierno para estudiar el comportamiento de los materiales activos, los cuales tienen una capacidad intrínseca para acoplar varias ramas de la Física y, en consecuencia, son comúnmente utilizados para la fabricación de cosechadoras. Una vez definidas las ecuaciones, se desarrolla una formulación numérica basada en el método de los elementos finitos para modelar estos materiales. En particular, en este capítulo se estudia la producción de energía a partir de las vibraciones mecánicas presentes en puentes ferroviarios de alta velocidad. Para ello, se hace un repaso de los parámetros básicos de estos puentes, sus vibraciones, frecuencias y las características dinámicas. A continuación, se simulan cosechadores en voladizo fabricados con materiales piezoeléctricos y piezomagnéticos bajo vibraciones mecánicas típicas y se destacan varias conclusiones.[EN] This chapter presents the set of governing equations to study the behavior of active materials, which have an intrinsic ability for coupling several branches of Physics and, consequently, are commonly used for manufacturing harvesters. Once the equations are defined, a numerical formulation based on the finite element method is developed in order to model these materials. In particular, this chapter studies the energy production from mechanical vibrations present in high-speed railway bridges. For this purpose, a review of the basic parameters of these bridges, their vibrations, frequencies and the dynamic characteristics are highlighted. Then, cantilever harvesters made out of piezoelectric and piezomagnetic materials are simulated under typical mechanical vibrations and several conclusions are highlighted.Palma, R.; Pérez-Aparicio, JL.; Museros Romero, P. (2018). Finite element modeling of energy harvesters: application to vibrational devices. En Energy Harvesting for Wireless Sensor Networks: Technology, Components and System Design. De Gruyter. 3-33. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110445053-00133

From Sustainable Finances to Faithful Investing: A moral proposal according to the Catholic Social Thought

Finance is an element of economic life that can contribute to shaping a more humane, equitable and sustainable world; and finance oriented by reference to ESG criteria represents an encouraging step forward at the service of the Common Good. In this article we contrast finance from ESG criteria with Faithful Investing, more specifically, with the tradition of Catholic Social Thought (CST) and its criteria for ethical, responsible, and sustainable investing decisions. Therefore, we try to go beyond, opening a path towards a more explicit way of acting in financial markets from a moral option rooted in religion: Faithful Investing. The paper begins by delimiting differences among ambits of reality in the field of meta-financial investing options. So, the first section, using a Logical-symbolic notation, presents a triple thesis that serves as a framework for the rest of the paper. From it, the concept of Faithful Investing is demarcated, by contrasting it with other related concepts: ESG, SRI, and EI. After underlining the relevance of the moral dimension of financial activity, and after presenting in depth the principles of the CST, the paper presents the point of view of this tradition about finance. We conclude the paper by showing some empirical evidence of how Faithful Investing is not only attractive as a good moral option, but it is also, because of profitable portfolios, well diversified and with persistent and sustainable returns over time

Influence of ultra-high strength infill in slender concrete-filled steel tubular columns

This paper describes 24 tests conducted on slender circular tubular columns filled with normal, high, and ultra-high strength concrete for plain, bar reinforced and steel fiber reinforced columns. These were reinforced and subjected to both concentric and eccentric axial load. It is a continuation of a previous research paper (Portoles et al., 2011 [1]), which presented test results on eccentrically loaded plain concrete columns. The test parameters are nominal strength of concrete (30, 90 and 130 MPa), eccentricity e (0, 20 and 50 mm) and type of reinforcement. A comparison with the corresponding empty tubular columns is performed, as the aim of the paper is to analyze the influence of each type of infill and establish the best option for practical application. For the limited cases analyzed the results show that the addition of high or ultra-high strength infill is more useful for concentric loaded cases than for eccentric loaded ones, where it seems that the best design option is the utilization of bar reinforced concrete filling rather than steel fiber to reinforce CFST columns. The experimental ultimate load of each test was compared with the design loads from Eurocode 4, accurate for the eccentrically loaded tests.The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for help provided through project BIA 2009_09411, Plan E, and to the European Community for FEDER funds,Portoles Flaj, JM.; Serra Mercé, E.; Romero, ML. (2013). Influence of ultra-high strength infill in slender concrete-filled steel tubular columns. Journal of Constructional Steel Research. 86:107-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2013.03.016S1071148

Ultimate capacity of rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular columns under unequal load eccentricities

The paper describes 36 experimental tests conducted on rectangular and square tubular columns filled with normal and high strength concrete and subjected to a non-constant bending moment distribution with respect to the weak axis. The test parameters were the nominal strength of concrete (30 and 90 MPa), the cross-section aspect ratio (square or rectangular), the thickness (4 or 5 mm) and the ratio of the top and bottom first order eccentricities e top/e bottom (1, 0.5, 0 and - 0.5). The ultimate load of each test was compared with the design loads from Eurocode 4, presenting unsafe results inside a 10% safety margin. The tests show that the use of high strength concrete is more useful for the cases of non-constant bending moment, whereas if the aim is to obtain a more ductile behavior the use of concrete-filled columns is more appealing in the cases of normal strength concrete with non-constant bending moments because, although they resist less axial force than the members with HSC, they obtain a softened post-peak behavior. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude to the Spanish Ministry of Education for the help provided through projects BIA2005_255 and BIA2009_9411, and to the European Community for FEDER funds.Hernández Figueirido, D.; Romero, ML.; Bonet Senach, JL.; Montalva Subirats, JM. (2012). Ultimate capacity of rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular columns under unequal load eccentricities. Journal of Constructional Steel Research. 68(1):107-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2011.07.014S10711768

Susceptibility of pepper weevil (anthonomus eugenii cano) (coleoptera: curculionidae) to seven insecticides in rural areas of Baja California Sur, México

The susceptibility of the pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii), collected from Baja California Sur, Mexico, to seven insecticides was determined. Acontact, residual exposition method was used to obtain the lethal concentrations fifty (LC50) and the diagnostic concentration (LC95) of organophosphates (OF), carbamates (CA), pyrethroids (PIR), and organochlorine (OC) insecticides used to control pepper weevils from two agricultural areas (Los Planes and Todos Santos) in Southern Baja California Peninsula, as well as on a pepper weevil population not exposed to insecticides (PWIF) for two years. The highest LC50’s were obtained for methomyl (CA) and oxamyl (CA), followed by methamidophos (OF), endosulfan (OC), cyfluthrin (PIR) and azinphos-methyl (OF). The lowest LC50’s were observed for carbaryl (CA). The field population from Todos Santos showed lower susceptibility than the population from Los Planes to insecticides as methomyl, oxamyl, and carbaryl, while with methamidophos, azinphos-methyl, and cyfluthrin, the LC50 showed higher values. The PWIF population presented the lowest LC50 values of all three populations tested. However, in most cases, the difference was not significant in relation to the two field populations, thus the PWIF population needs to be kept free of insecticides for longer periods to establish a susceptibility baseline for Anthonomus eugenii

Systematic review of the nature of nursing care described by using the Caring Behaviours Inventory

Aim To describe the nature of care received by patients measured through the Caring Behaviours Inventory. Background Professional nursing practice combines two dimensions of caring: instrumental care and expressive care. Instrumental care focuses on physical health needs, in terms of efficiency and employs interventions based on evidence. Expressive care is patient‐centred and based on the interpersonal relationship. It requires caring attitudes that include respect, kindness, sensitivity and patience. The Caring Behaviours Inventory is a tool designed to assess the care expressed through the behaviours nurses perform, contextualised within the Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring. Methods A systematic review following PRISMA recommendations. Scopus, PubMed and CINAHL databases were consulted using the keywords “Caring Behaviours Inventory” AND “Nursing”. The Joanna Briggs Institute tool was used for the quality appraisal. A conceptual analysis and a thematic synthesis were performed for data extraction. Results 11 articles were selected. Three categories were identified: nature of caring, congruence between perceived care by patients and nurses, and factors associated with the expression of care. Discussion An emphasis on care of an instrumental nature was identified. The perception of patients differs from that of nurses, patients perceive a lower level of expressive caring than the one nurses believe to deliver. Caring behaviours are affected by the working environment, nurses' emotional intelligence and coping skills, and socio‐demographic characteristics. Conclusion This paper described the findings of previous research regarding the nature of care that is transmitted and received in clinical practice. Results highlight an emphasis on the instrumental aspect of the nursing care according to the patients' perception. Relevance to clinical practice Findings summarised in this review could contribute to a better understanding of the nursing care. Results reported in this paper could also help to improve the quality of care delivered by nurses as well as patient‐centeredness