Technical Evolution of Ceramic Tile Printing

[EN] Ceramic tile decorating techniques have evolved significantly in recent years. Digital inkjet printing technology has enabled digital systems to be used for the direct decoration of ceramic tiles, revolutionizing ceramic tile decoration and providing many advantages over traditional decoration techniques. It was the formulation of inks with soluble and vitrifiable stains that allowed inkjet printing technology to be introduced into ceramic tile decoration. The incorporation of milled inorganic pigments into the inks broadened the available color palette. However, the colloidal instability of these inks and the constraints of the printing heads themselves made it necessary to reduce pigment particle size, thus limiting color saturation and the color gamut. In order to increase color saturation and obtain a set of pigmented inks with colors more closely resembling CMYK colors, pigments with larger particle sizes need to be used. Indeed, other digital decorating techniques, such as xerography, allow larger particle sizes to be used, while also providing the advantages associated with digital decoration. However, the implementation of this technique for ceramic tile decoration requires the development of appropriate ceramic toners and adaptation of printing machines. This article reviews the technical evolution of ceramic tile printing and describes the development of a prototype, based on xerographic printing, that is able to print ceramic tiles directly and provides greater color intensity and a wider color gamut.40140756

Generation and diffusion of innovations in a district innovation system: The case of ink-jet printing

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.This paper provides an in-depth case study of the ink-jet printing (IJP) technology that emerged from the ceramic industry in a Spanish region (Castellon) in the first decade of 2000. We propose an analytical framework that combines the theoretical perspectives of Industrial Districts and Innovation Systems, and exploit a qualitative methodology that includes information from patent and scientific article databases and 21 in-depth interviews. Our results show that IJP is a major innovation that breaks with the tradition of machinery innovations in this industry in Spain. Micro-level evidences show the complex external and internal relationships in the sharing of knowledge and innovation process, being the role of internal ties, trust, secrecy and strong in-house R&D strategies determinants of the IJP innovation. © Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Facultad de Economía y Negocios.This work was supported by ITC-AICE and the Quevedo Program of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation Education and Culture through Project no. PB97-0804, and by the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional through the Project RedINNOVA.Peer Reviewe

ROC evaluation of statistical wavelet-based analysis of brain activation in [15O]-H2O PET scans

This paper presents and evaluates a wavelet-based statistical analysis of PET images for the detection of brain activation areas. Brain regions showing significant activations were obtained by performing Student's t tests in the wavelet domain, reconstructing the final image from only those wavelet coefficients that passed the statistical test at a given significance level, and discarding artifacts introduced during the reconstruction process. Using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, we have compared this statistical analysis in the wavelet domain to the conventional image-domain Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) method. For obtaining an accurate assessment of sensitivity and specificity, we have simulated realistic single subject [15O]-H2O PET studies with different hyperactivation levels of the thalamic region. The results obtained from an ROC analysis show that the wavelet approach outperforms conventional SPM in identifying brain activation patterns. Using the wavelet method, activation areas detected were closer in size and shape to the region actually activated in the reference image.Publicad

Statistical power maps for SPM analysis of PET scans

[Abstract] The 10th International Conference on Functional Mapping of the Human Brain, June 13-17, 2004, Budapest, HungaryThis work presents an alternative method for reporting negative results in statistical parametric maps, consisting in estimating the maximum effect size that the test would not detect as significant with a certain probabilityPublicad

Predictive Model for Preeclampsia Combining sFlt-1, PlGF, NT-proBNP, and Uric Acid as Biomarkers

Angiogenic factors; Preeclampsia; Uric acidFactores angiogénicos; Preeclampsia; Ácido úricoFactors angiogènics; Preeclàmpsia; Àcid úricN-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and uric acid are elevated in pregnancies with preeclampsia (PE). Short-term prediction of PE using angiogenic factors has many false-positive results. Our objective was to validate a machine-learning model (MLM) to predict PE in patients with clinical suspicion, and evaluate if the model performed better than the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio alone. A multicentric cohort study of pregnancies with suspected PE between 24+0 and 36+6 weeks was used. The MLM included six predictors: gestational age, chronic hypertension, sFlt-1, PlGF, NT-proBNP, and uric acid. A total of 936 serum samples from 597 women were included. The PPV of the MLM for PE following 6 weeks was 83.1% (95% CI 78.5-88.2) compared to 72.8% (95% CI 67.4-78.4) for the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. The specificity of the model was better; 94.9% vs. 91%, respectively. The AUC was significantly improved compared to the ratio alone [0.941 (95% CI 0.926-0.956) vs. 0.901 (95% CI 0.880-0.921), p < 0.05]. For prediction of preterm PE within 1 week, the AUC of the MLM was 0.954 (95% CI 0.937-0.968); significantly greater than the ratio alone [0.914 (95% CI 0.890-0.934), p < 0.01]. To conclude, an MLM combining the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, NT-proBNP, and uric acid performs better to predict preterm PE compared to the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio alone, potentially increasing clinical precision.This work was supported by public funds obtained in competitive calls with peer review (grant PI19/00702), Insituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Health, by the Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (SAMID, RD16/0022/0015), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain, the Spanish Clinical Research and Clinical Trials Platform, SCReN (Spanish Clinical Research Network), funded by the ISCIII-General Subdirectorate for Evaluation and Promotion of Research, through project PT13/0002/0028, integrated in the 2013–2016 R + D + I State Plan and co-financed by and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER); and by the Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Maternal and Child Chronic Diseases of Perinatal and Developmental Origin Network (RICORS, RD21/0012/0001), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain, funded by the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan 2017–2020, ISCIII, and by the European Union-Next Generation EU. Dr Cruz-Lemini is supported by Juan Rodés contract JR19/00047, Instituto de Salud Carlos III-Spanish Ministry of Health. Funding sources were not involved in study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data

Recovery of natural polyphenols from spinach and orange by-products by pressure-driven membrane processes

Spinach and orange by-products are well recognized for their health benefits due to the presence of natural polyphenols with antioxidant activity. Therefore, the demand to produce functional products containing polyphenols recovered from vegetables and fruits has increased in the last decade. This work aims to use the integrated membrane process for the recovery of polyphenols from spinach and orange wastes, implemented on a laboratory scale. The clarification (microfiltration and ultrafiltration, i.e., MF and UF), pre-concentration (nanofiltration, NF), and concentration (reverse osmosis, RO) of the spinach and orange extracts were performed using membrane technology. Membrane experiments were carried out by collecting 1 mL of the permeate stream after increasing the flow rate in 1 mL/min steps. The separation and concentration factors were determined by HPLC-DAD in terms of total polyphenol content and by polyphenol families: hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonoids. The results show that the transmembrane flux depended on the feed flow rate for MF, UF, NF, and RO techniques. For the spinach and orange matrices, MF (0.22 μm) could be used to remove suspended solids; UF membranes (30 kDa) for clarification; NF membranes (TFCS) to pre-concentrate; and RO membranes (XLE for spinach and BW30 for orange) to concentrate. A treatment sequence is proposed for the two extracts using a selective membrane train (UF, NF, and RO) to obtain polyphenol-rich streams for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications, and also to recover clean water streams

Recovery of natural polyphenols from spinach and orange by-products by pressure-driven membrane processes

Spinach and orange by-products are well recognized for their health benefits due to the presence of natural polyphenols with antioxidant activity. Therefore, the demand to produce functional products containing polyphenols recovered from vegetables and fruits has increased in the last decade. This work aims to use the integrated membrane process for the recovery of polyphenols from spinach and orange wastes, implemented on a laboratory scale. The clarification (microfiltration and ultrafiltration, i.e., MF and UF), pre-concentration (nanofiltration, NF), and concentration (reverse osmosis, RO) of the spinach and orange extracts were performed using membrane technology. Membrane experiments were carried out by collecting 1 mL of the permeate stream after increasing the flow rate in 1 mL/min steps. The separation and concentration factors were determined by HPLC-DAD in terms of total polyphenol content and by polyphenol families: hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonoids. The results show that the transmembrane flux depended on the feed flow rate for MF, UF, NF, and RO techniques. For the spinach and orange matrices, MF (0.22 μm) could be used to remove suspended solids; UF membranes (30 kDa) for clarification; NF membranes (TFCS) to pre-concentrate; and RO membranes (XLE for spinach and BW30 for orange) to concentrate. A treatment sequence is proposed for the two extracts using a selective membrane train (UF, NF, and RO) to obtain polyphenol-rich streams for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications, and also to recover clean water streams

Generation and Diffusion of Innovations in a District Innovation System: The Case of Ink-Jet Printing

[EN] This paper provides an in-depth case study of the ink-jet printing (IJP) technology that emerged from the ceramic industry in a Spanish region (Castellon) in the first decade of 2000. We propose an analytical framework that combines the theoretical perspectives of Industrial Districts and Innovation Systems, and exploit a qualitative methodology that includes information from patent and scientific article databases and 21 in-depth interviews. Our results show that IJP is a major innovation that breaks with the tradition of machinery innovations in this industry in Spain. Micro-level evidences show the complex external and internal relationships in the sharing of knowledge and innovation process, being the role of internal ties, trust, secrecy and strong in-house R&D strategies determinants of the IJP innovationThis work was supported by ITC-AICE and the Quevedo Program of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation Education and Culture through Project no. PB97-0804, and by the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional through the Project RedINNOVAReig-Otero, Y.; Edwards Schachter, ME.; Feliú-Mingarro, C.; Fernandez De Lucio, I. (2014). Generation and Diffusion of Innovations in a District Innovation System: The Case of Ink-Jet Printing. Journal of Technology Management and Innovation. 9(2):56-76. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242014000200005S56769

Gamificación en Iberoamérica. Experiencias desde la comunicación y la educación

La presente obra capitular es el resultado de las investigaciones sobre las aplicaciones de la gamificación en contextos múltiples, emergentes provenientes de las comunicaciones presentadas en el Simposio 06 del III Congreso Internacional Comunicación y Pensamiento (Sevilla, España), así como de aquellas presentadas por los miembros del Gamelab UPS, del Proyecto I+D+i Coordinado “Competencias mediáticas de la ciudadanía en medios digitales emergentes (smartphones y tablets): Prácticas innovadoras y estrategias educomunicativas en contextos múltiples” (EDU2015-64015-C3-1-R) (MINECO/FEDER), de la “Red de Educación Mediática” del Programa Estatal de Investigación Científica-Técnica de Excelencia, Subprograma Estatal de Generación de Conocimiento (EDU2016-81772-REDT), financiados por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) y Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España. En este sentido se busca construir, desde una mirada dual desde Europa y América Latina el primer libro iberoamericano de gamificación, avalado por el Gamelab de la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (Ecuador), el Proyecto I+D+i EDU2015-64015-C3-1-R, la Red Interuniversitaria Euroamericana de Investigación sobre Competencias Mediáticas para la Ciudadanía (Alfamed), el Laboratorio de Estudios en Comunicación (Ladecom) y el Grupo de Investigación Ágora (PAI-HUM-648) de la Universidad de Huelva (España) y el Grupo de Investigación Estructura, Historia y Contenidos de la Comunicación GREHCCO

La función de la retórica en la prestación de servicios públicos a través de terceros

[spa] En las democracias modernas, el alcance social de la retórica que vincula la ética, la verdad y la justicia con la política, como base de la convivencia social y de la democracia, pone de relieve la importancia del uso de la comunicación y del poder de las palabras en la construcción del discurso público, para evitar la instrumentalización, y proporcionar conocimientos y criterios a los ciudadanos para la toma de decisiones en la vida pública. Este alcance social de la retórica y la potencia de las palabras en la construcción del discurso público en el ámbito de la colaboración público-privada son el objeto de análisis del presente estudio. Pese a que los organismos internacionales requieren desarrollar conocimientos para abordar la gobernanza de las colaboraciones público-privadas (en adelante, CPP), al objeto de garantizar su éxito y recuperar la confianza de los ciudadanos en las instituciones públicas, hay muy pocos datos empíricos sobre la función de la retórica en las CPP. El presente trabajo analiza cómo la retórica que conforma el debate público interacciona con las creencias previas de los individuos para configurar la forma en que estos valoran la idoneidad de estas colaboraciones y lograr así satisfacer el interés público y desempeñar mejor los servicios públicos. Este estudio combina el desarrollo de un marco teórico con el análisis del servicio de suministro de agua a la población. En concreto, se analiza el caso de la gestión del agua en el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona, para explicar el impacto del uso de la retórica en la percepción de los ciudadanos y en el rendimiento de los servicios. Para ello, se han realizado 38 entrevistas en profundidad a responsables de asociaciones de usuarios, a directivos públicos y privados, a académicos, a políticos y a periodistas, y se ha observado que resulta fundamental desarrollar un relato en torno a la información de la CPP que se hace pública. La contribución principal del estudio es que, en la construcción del discurso a través del cual se facilita la información, intervienen factores específicos que influyen en la percepción de los ciudadanos y en el desempeño de los servicios públicos. Es fundamental desarrollar un relato en torno a la información que se hace pública que oriente al ciudadano en el proceso de interpretación de la información relativa a la forma de provisión de los servicios públicos. Las conclusiones de este estudio proporcionan recomendaciones importantes para la práctica: sugieren que la función de la retórica es clave en la gobernanza de la CPP y que los gestores que ignoran su importancia o hacen un uso inadecuado de ella pueden obstaculizar el éxito de la colaboración.[cat] A les democràcies modernes, l’abast social de la retòrica que vincula l’ètica, la veritat i la justícia amb la política, com a base de la convivència social i de la democràcia, posa de manifest la importància de l’ús de la comunicació i del poder de les paraules en la construcció del discurs públic, per tal d’evitar-ne la instrumentalització, i oferir coneixements i criteris als ciutadans perquè puguin prendre decisions en la vida pública. Aquest abast social de la retòrica i la potència de les paraules en la construcció del discurs públic en l’àmbit de la col·laboració publicoprivada és el tema que es tracta en aquest estudi. Malgrat que els organismes internacionals requereixen desenvolupar coneixements per abordar la governança de les col·laboracions publicoprivades (d’ara endavant, CPP) a fi de garantir-ne l’èxit i recuperar la confiança dels ciutadans en les institucions públiques, hi ha molt poques dades empíriques sobre la funció de la retòrica en les CPP. Aquest treball analitza com la retòrica que conforma el debat públic interacciona amb les creences prèvies dels individus per tal de configurar la manera en què aquests valoren la idoneïtat d’aquestes col·laboracions i aconseguir així la satisfacció de l’interès públic i un millor acompliment dels serveis públics. Aquest estudi combina el desenvolupament d’un marc teòric amb l’anàlisi del servei de subministrament d’aigua a la població. Concretament, s’hi analitza el cas de la gestió de l’aigua a l’Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona, per tal d’explicar l’impacte de l’ús de la retòrica en la percepció dels ciutadans i en el rendiment dels serveis. Amb aquesta finalitat, s’han realitzat 38 entrevistes amb profunditat a responsables d’associacions d’usuaris, a directius públics i privats, a acadèmics, a polítics i a periodistes, i s’ha observat que és fonamental desenvolupar un relat amb relació a la informació de la CPP que es fa pública. La conclusió principal de l’estudi és que, en la construcció del discurs a través del qual es facilita la informació, hi intervenen factors específics que influeixen en la percepció dels ciutadans i en l’acompliment dels serveis públics. És fonamental, doncs, desenvolupar un relat a l’entorn de la informació que es fa pública que orienti el ciutadà en el procés d’interpretació de la informació relativa a la forma de proveir els serveis públics. Els resultats d’aquest estudi ofereixen recomanacions importants per a la pràctica: suggereixen que la funció de la retòrica és clau en la governança de la CPP i que els gestors que n’ignoren la importància o en fan un ús inadequat poden obstaculitzar l’èxit de la col·laboració.[eng] Rhetoric in modern democracies encompasses politics and links ethics, truth, and justice – and its scope underlies social coexistence and democracy. The power of words in the construction of public discourse avoids instrumentalization, while providing the knowledge and criteria for public decision-making. This study is focussed on the social scope of rhetoric and the power of words in building public discourse for public-private cooperation. There is little empirical evidence published on the role of rhetoric in public-private partnerships (hereafter PPPs), even though international organisations must develop such knowledge to successfully manage PPPs and regain trust in public organisations. This paper analyses how the rhetoric that shapes public debate interacts with the beliefs held by individuals and influences how they assess the appropriateness of such collaborations for advancing the public interest and achieving better public services. This study combines a theoretical framework with an analysis of a public water supply service. Specifically, we analyse water management in the metropolitan area of Barcelona to explain the impact of rhetoric on public perceptions and the performance of services. We conducted 38 in-depth interviews with heads of user associations, public and private managers, academics, politicians, and journalists, and found that narratives need to be developed for publishing PPP information. The main contribution of this study reveals how specific factors in a discourse influence public perception about the performance of public services. Narratives must be developed that guide the public in interpreting information about how public services are provided. The results provide important recommendations for practice – and suggest that rhetoric is crucial in PPP governance and that managers who misuse rhetoric, or ignore its importance, may hinder successful collaboration