101 research outputs found
Recursos per a la comunicació cientÃfica i tecnológica multilingüe: per què. quins, com?
En aquesta comunicació presentem el perquè cal disposar de recursos de suport, analitzem quins poden ser adequats i plantegem com es poden organitzar per posar-los a l’abast de la comunitat università ria en general.
En primer lloc remarquem que més enllà dels mitjans, impartició d’assignatures en llengües estrangeres, elaboració del Treball Final de Grau o programes de mobilitat, és clar que la finalitat és desenvolupar la competència multilingüÃstica. I per a fer-ho cal que els actors del panorama universitari, especialment professorat i alumnat, tinguem al nostre abast recursos de suport.
En el context de la nostra universitat, els recursos més adients són justament aquells que poden incidir en afavorir i millorar la comunicació cientÃfica i tecnològica multilingüe. Des del punt de vista del professorat i l’alumnat s’han detectat mancances en l’existència o l’accés a recursos de suport en aquesta direcció. De fet la majoria de recursos habituals ofereixen una molt baixa o nul·la relació amb les à rees cientÃfico-tècniques ja que estan pensats per ensenyar o aprendre llengües, de manera més o menys independent del contingut. Això ha motivat la recerca i l’elaboració de recursos.
Nogensmenys, és important classificar bé els recursos, siguin provinents d’altres fonts o elaborats pel propi grup de recerca Linguatech. Cal reflexionar sobre la manera òptima d’organitzar-los per tal de facilitar-ne el seu ús a la comunitat cientÃfico-tecnològica en un sentit ampli, en especial al professorat i l’alumnat universitari, sigui a l’aula o bé com a material d’autoaprenentatge.Peer Reviewe
Porous cellulose substrate study to improve the performance of diffusion-based ionic strength sensors
Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) are leading the field of low-cost, quantitative in-situ assays. However, understanding the flow behavior in cellulose-based membranes to achieve an accurate and rapid response has remained a challenge. Previous studies focused on commercial filter papers, and one of their problems was the time required to perform the test. This work studies the effect of different cellulose substrates on diffusion-based sensor performance. A diffusion-based sensor was laser cut on different cellulose fibers (Whatman and lab-made Sisal papers) with different structure characteristics, such as basis weight, density, pore size, fiber diameter, and length. Better sensitivity and faster response are found in papers with bigger pore sizes and lower basis weights. The designed sensor has been successfully used to quantify the ionic concentration of commercial wines with a 13.6 mM limit of detection in 30 s. The developed µPAD can be used in quantitative assays for agri-food applications without the need for any external equipment or trained personnel.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSPs): A Reliable Tool for Assessing the Selectivity of Pristine and Hybrid Polymer Nanocomposites in the Presence of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Mixtures
Polymeric materials are widely employed for monitoring volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Compared to other sensitive materials, polymers can provide a certain degree of selectivity, based on their chemical affinity with organic solvents. The addition of conductive nanoparticles within the polymer layer is a common practice in recent years to improve the sensitivity of these materials. However, it is still unclear the effect that the nanoparticles have on the selectivity of the polymer membrane and vice versa. The current work proposes a methodology based on the Hansen solubility parameters, for assessing the selectivity of both pristine and hybrid polymer nanocomposites. The impedance response of thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films is compared to the response of hybrid polymer films, based on the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). With the addition of just 1Â wt.% of MWCNTs, fabricated sensors showcased a significant improvement in sensitivity, faster response times, as well as enhanced classification of non-polar analytes (>22% increase) compared to single PDMS layers. The methodology proposed in this work can be employed in the future to assess and predict the selectivity of polymers in single or array-based gas sensors, microfluidic channels, and other analytical devices for the purpose of VOCs discrimination.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Enhanced fully cellulose based forward and reverse blood typing assay
This study presents an enhanced paper-based analytical device (PAD) for forward and reverse group blood typing. The proposed PAD uses a novel methodology, which provides highly reliable results on a fully cellulose based device. The PAD was printed on different cellulose substrates. These substrates were made of different cellulose fibers (sisal and eucalyptus), different grammages, refining steps, and wet additive content. Best parameters were chosen to achieve high reliability on both forward and reverse blood typing. The substrates were patterned with five hydrophilic channels and two hydrophobic areas. For reverse blood typing, the hemoagglutination reaction took place on the hydrophobic surface of the paper before being transferred to the paper web, where together with the forward blood typing tests were all washed with saline solution to read the results by elution. This device allows direct read-out of results; the stains show were agglutination happens. Different blood types were in full agreement between the reverse and forward method and in agreement with traditional methods. The time and simplicity of this methodology confirmed its utilityPostprint (author's final draft
Driving device for a hand movement without external force
People with disabilities have limitations in activities of daily life such as grasping a glass of water or moving an object. Orthotic products that improve or restore the functionality of the musculoskeletal system of a patient contribute to some extent to overcome the limitations described. So does the hand brace, used to treat musculoskeletal disorders caused by various diseases (rheumatic disorders, neurological, orthopedic and others). The paper simulates a novel exoskeleton helping to grasp any object. The novelty of this mechanism is that works without external energy, it works with a wrist movement that generates a kinetic movement and helps to grasp objects with an extra force. The orthosis facilitates the functionality, being comfortable and easy to be used by the patient. It is adaptable to hand size and finger length of the patient.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Memorias del paisaje nilótico: prospección, simulación y recreación de la inundación estacional en la zona del dique de Mimbal (Minia, Egipto)
Se verifican y documentan sobre el terreno los datos sobre los sistemas de control hidráulico de inundaciones registrados en la zona del rio Nilo. Este trabajo de campo ira acompañado de un estudio sedimentológico de la zona de estudio, la cual comprende las localidades de Marzouk, Mimbal, y Matay (Minia, Egipto). A partir de estos datos arqueológicos y sedimentológicos se crea un sistema de simulación y computación gráfica de alta resolución que refleje la gestión mediante cubetas y canales de irrigación, asà como la irrigación perenne del Valle Medio del Nilo. Por otro lado, se pretende recoger y registrar la memoria oral sobre la inundación en el Valle Medio del Nilo en general y en la zona de estudio en particular y el impacto socio-cultural de su desaparición. A partir de los datos de la prospección sobre el terreno, los estudios sedimentológicos, el registro sobre el terreno de la memoria oral, la simulación y la visualización gráfica se quieren analizar los cambios paisajÃsticos inducidos por las transformaciones del siglo XIX y XX y los diversos procesos de sedimentación, asà como sus efectos sobre el propio proceso de inundación y el entorno habitado de las riberas del rÃo
MetodologÃas de diseño aplicadas al rediseño de un producto del ámbito industrial
En todo proceso industrial, las técnicas y metodologÃas de diseño se han fundamentado, en buena parte, en el pensamiento creativo presente en todos los procesos de la actividad humana. El objetivo de este estudio se centra en el rediseño de un objeto de uso cotidiano; se establecen unas condiciones de partida y se plantean unos objetivos ligados a una serie de resultados aportados evaluables y contrastable
- …