Cryomorphological topographies in the study of ice caves

Producción CientíficaThe current interest in ice caves requires that their varied manifestations be known as accurately as possible in view of their responses to a global change and also to their great potential as paleoenvironmental witnesses. This phenomenon has been known about for a long time but is still scarcely studied from the point of view of its cryological values and the evolution and distribution of many of their morphologies. For this, the development of cryomorphological topographies from traditional techniques to geodetic surveys with different tools, including terrestrial laser scanning, is one of the most current ways to characterize and quantify this type of cryospheric phenomena. It represents a new kind of periglacial cartography whose use is feasible in spite of the difficulties these environments present.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (project CGL2015-68144-R

Exploring the Interplay between CAD and FreeFem++ as an Energy Decision-Making Tool for Architectural Design

The energy modelling software tools commonly used for architectural purposes do not allow a straightforward real-time implementation within the architectural design programs. In addition, the surrounding exterior spaces of the building, including the inner courtyards, hardly present a specific treatment distinguishing these spaces from the general external temperature in the thermal simulations. This is a clear disadvantage when it comes to streamlining the design process in relation to the whole-building energy optimization. In this context, the present study aims to demonstrate the advantages of the FreeFem++ open source program for performing simulations in architectural environments. These simulations include microclimate tests that describe the interactions between a building architecture and its local exterior. The great potential of this mathematical tool can be realized through its complete system integration within CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software such as SketchUp or AutoCAD. In order to establish the suitability of FreeFem++ for the performance of simulations, the most widely employed energy simulation tools able to consider a proposed architectural geometry in a specific environment are compared. On the basis of this analysis, it can be concluded that FreeFem++ is the only program displaying the best features for the thermal performance simulation of these specific outdoor spaces, excluding the currently unavailable easy interaction with architectural drawing programs. The main contribution of this research is, in fact, the enhancement of FreeFem++ usability by proposing a simple intuitive method for the creation of building geometries and their respective meshing (pre-processing). FreeFem++ is also considered a tool for data analysis (post-processing) able to help engineers and architects with building energy-efficiency-related tasks

Defining discrete Morse functions on infinite surfaces

We present an algorithm which defines a discrete Morse function in Forman’s sense on an infinite surface including a study of the minimality of this function.Plan Andaluz de Investigación (Junta de Andalucía

ePatients on YouTube: analysis of four experiences from the patient's perspective

Background: Many patients share their personal experiences and opinions using online video platforms. These videos are watched by millions of health consumers and health care professionals. Although it has become a popular phenomenon, little is known about patients who share videos online and why they do so. Objective: We aimed to explore the motivations and challenges faced by patients who share videos about their health and experiences on YouTube. As part of a conference discussion, we asked several patients actively engaged on YouTube to make a video explaining their motivations. This paper discusses these videos. Methods: In this qualitative study, we performed an analysis of the videos created by 4 patients about their self-reported motivations and challenges they face as YouTube users. First, two judges compared the transcriptions and decided the exact wording when confusing content was found. Second, two judges categorized the content of the videos to identify the major themes. Results: Four main categories emerged: (1) the origin or cause for making the first video, (2) the objectives that they achieve by continuing to make videos, (3) the perception of community, and (4) the negative consequences of the experience. Conclusions: The main reason for making videos was to bridge the gap between traditional health information about their diseases and everyday life. The first consequence of sharing their life on YouTube was a loss of privacy. However, they also experienced the positive effects of expressing their feelings, being part of a large community of peers, and helping others to deal with a chronic condition

Exploitation of Liquefied Natural Gas Cold Energy in Floating Storage Regasification Units

[Abstract] This paper aims to review regasification technology installed in Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs) and the potential offered by the exploitation of cold energy from liquefied natural gas (LNG) in these vessels. The assessment describes the main characteristics of regasification systems along with their respective advantages and limitations. Regasification systems in direct exchange (seawater and steam) and systems with intermediate fluids that use propane or water-glycol in the heat transfer process are studied. In recent years, water-glycol systems have cornered the market. The mixture, besides reducing the risk of freezing, is non-flammable, economical and highly available. Thermodynamic analysis of the regasification process shows that LNG cold energy is the main source of residual energy in these vessels; the specific energy and exergy content is more than double that of engine exhaust gases. Exploitation of this cold energy in power cycles could significantly reduce FSRUs harmful emissions and electrical energy could even be exported to shore. The organic Rankine cycle technology is the most well-known and widely studied, although scientific literature is scarce and there is a need to propose new regasification systems with cold energy exploitation that can be adopted on these vessels

Functionalization and Characterization of Magnetic Nanoparticles for the Detection of Ferritin Accumulation in Alzheimer's Disease

Early diagnosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD), prior to the appearance of marked clinical symptoms, is critical to prevent irreversible neuronal damage and neural malfunction that lead to dementia and death. Therefore, there is an urgent need to generate new contrast agents which reveal by a noninvasive method the presence of some of the pathological signs of AD. In the present study, we demonstrate for the first time a new nanoconjugate composed of magnetic nanoparticles bound to an antiferritin antibody, which has been developed based on the existence of iron deposits and high levels of the ferritin protein present in areas with a high accumulation of amyloid plaques (particularly the subiculum in the hippocampal area) in the brain of a transgenic mouse model with five familial AD mutations. Both in vitro and after intravenous injection, functionalized magnetic nanoparticles were able to recognize and bind specifically to the ferritin protein accumulated in the subiculum area of the AD transgenic mice.Fil: Fernández Cabada, Tamara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Martínez Serrano, Alberto. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; España. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Cussó, Lorena. Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón; España. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid; España. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental; EspañaFil: Desco, Manuel. Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón; España. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental; España. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid; EspañaFil: Ramos Gómez, Milagros. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; Españ

Phase Composition and Transport Properties of oxide ion conductors based on Sr1-xKxGeO3-x/2

Oxide ion conductors have been increasingly studied because of their potential applications in different electrochemical devices, such as, oxygen sensors, membranes for oxygen separation and components of fuel cells. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are electrochemical devices that operate at high temperatures, 600-1000 ºC, with higher efficiency for electrical generation than conventional systems based on fuel combustion. The high operating temperatures of the SOFC is mainly due to the limited ionic conductivity of the electrolyte. Zr0.84Y0.16O1.92 (YSZ) is the electrolyte most widely used in commercial systems due to its high stability and oxide ion conductivity at elevated temperatures (900-1000 ºC). However, there is a great interest in the development of devices with lower operation temperatures (600-800 ºC) to overcome collateral problems like difficulties in cell sealing or shorter lifetime of the components caused by the high operation temperature of YSZ. The high oxide ion conductivities recently reported in Na- and K-doped strontium silicates and germanates, make them potentially suitable for SOFC electrolytes. In this work, the structure, microstructure and electrical properties of Sr1-xKxGeO3-x/2 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) compounds have been re-investigated. The materials have been prepared by conventional ceramic and freeze-drying precursor methods. Different phases are stabilized depending on the synthetic method and the sintering temperature. Samples prepared by freeze-drying at 700 ºC exhibit a triclinic structure, which transforms to a mixture of monoclinic and trigonal related phases on heating at 1000 ºC. The presence of some broad diffractions peaks, which are not fitted in the Rietveld analysis, indicates the existence of an amorphous or low-crystalline phase (ACn) that have been quantified by an external standard procedure (G-factor approach). The homogeneity and chemical composition of the samples were checked by scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX). The total conductivity of these materials was studied by impedance spectroscopy.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Extracto da ponencia: A intervención no contexto do desenvolvemento familiar

[Resumo] A familia ven senda obxecto de atención preferente por parte de psicólogos, pedagogos, antropólogos, sociólogos, médicos, etc, e tal despliegue de interese científico non está nin moito menos inxustificado. A familia presenta un dos grupos sociais a través dos cales se vertebra o tecido social, pero tamén cumpre funcións esenciais para facilitar o desenvolvemento e a educación dos seus membros, e isto tanto nos aspectos relacionados coa intelixencia, o desenvolvemento da personalidade ou o desenvolvemento social. Handel (1985) sinala que cando as persoas adultas forman una familia traen consigo certos significados derivados da súa cultura e das súas historias individuais. Mais ademáis de representar a súa cultura e as súas historias individuais, a familia crea os seus propios significados a través da súa interacción. Dende o punto de vista sistémico a nasa análise quere partir do feito de que tamén o contexto cultural ten un efecto inductor sobre o funcionamento familiar e sobre os diversos aspectos do desenvolvemento e a educación dos seus membros, especialmente filIos e filIas. Os plantexamentos teóricos en torno a este tema non chegan a esgotarse na perspectiva sistémica antedita, se non polo contrario, complétanse con outros enfoques. O propio Bronfenbrenner chega a soster que a familia representa un medio de trascendental importancia para o desenvolvemento e a socialización dos individuos e que nela os suxeitos realizan roles e actividades específicas que son fundamentais para o seu desenvolvemento persoal e social. E isto é algo no que moitos presupostos teóricos parece estar a compartir. Tamén analizamos o conxunto das expectativas que os filIas e filIas teñen sobre o funcionamento familiar. Neste senso non podemos ma!s que suliñar as aportacións de Bandura (1981, 1986), Musitu, Román e Gracia (1988), Wittrock, 1990, ou Rogers, 1982. A teoría social-cognitiva de Bandura pon de relieve que os rendementos nas tarefas dos suxeitos condiciónanse polas elaboracións cognitivas que istos realicen e que median entre as habilidades que posuen, as súas execucións e as consecuencias que reciben. Si ternos en conta o antedito é preciso por de manifesto a modo de presupostos- que o funcionamento familiar está parcialmente condicionado polo contexto socio-cultural no que as familias se desenvolvan, que a avaliación pode ser tida en conta dende a tipoloxía do modelo circunflexo, reflexando as diversas formas de interacción familiar, e que as percepcións sobre a competencia median a actividade e as metas de nais/pais e filIas/filIos. As interrelacións existentes entre a familia e o medio escolar, cando estudamos a filIos e filIa nesta idade son de extraordinaria importancia. Parece que as investigacións apuntan o feito que o rendemento escolar e as habilidades cognitivas e sociais dos suxeitos na escola dependen en moita medida do climax familiar no que o neno/a se desenvolve. Clima familiar que depende da estructura, estilos, e das interaccións familiares que se produzan. A importancia da intervención no medio familiar poderíase xustificar, tal e como sinalan Nelson (1984), Musitu e cols. (1985), polo clima familiar, o cal relaciónase directamente coa intelixencia, logro escolar, autoestima escolar, competencia cognitivo-emocional e desenvolvemento socioeconómico adecuado. Nin que decir ten que a familia non é un contexto que se poda estudar tan só na súa influencia cando os filIos/as son infantes ou adolescentes. A importancia da familia e as posibilidades de intervención evolutivo-educativa adentranse na etapa adulta e na terceira idade. Polo tanto a familia como contexto de desenvolvemento ten importancia ó longo de todo o ciclo vital representando, como diría Serra Desfilis, un dos motores do cambio evolutivo, receptora e xeneradora dos sucesos evolutivos acaecidos na adultez e senectude