Seismic Activity Rates in the Iberian Peninsula

Evaluating the seismic hazard requires establishing a distribution of the seismic activity rate, irrespective of the methodology used in the evaluation. In practice, how that activity rate is established tends to be the main difference between the various evaluation methods. The traditional procedure relies on a seismogenic zonation and the Gutenberg-Richter (GR) hypothesis. Competing zonations are often compared looking only at the geometry of the zones, but the resulting activity rate is affected by both geometry and the values assigned to the GR parameters. Contour plots can be used for conducting more meaningful comparisons, providing the GR parameters are suitably normalised. More recent approaches for establishing the seismic activity rate forego the use of zones and GR statistics and special attention is paid here to such procedures. The paper presents comparisons between the local activity rates that result for the complete Iberian Peninsula using kernel estimators as well as two seismogenic zonations. It is concluded that the smooth variation of the seismic activity rate produced by zoneless methods is more realistic than the stepwise changes associated with zoned approaches; moreover, the choice of zonation often has a stronger influence on the results than its fairly subjective origin would warrant. It is also observed that the activity rate derived from the kernel approach, related with the GR parameter “a”, is qualitatively consistent with the epicentres in the catalogue. Finally, when comparing alternative zonations it is not just their geometry but the distribution of activity rate that should be compared

Seismic Isolation of Liquefied Natural Gas Tanks: a Compartive Assessment

In severe seismic environments, tanks for storage of liquefied natural gas may benefit from seismic isolation. As the design accelerations increase, the inner tank undergoes progressively greater demands and may suffer from corner uplift, elephant’s foot buckling, gross sliding, shell thickness requirements beyond what can be reliably welded and, eventually, global uplift. Some of these problems cause extra costs while others make the construction impossible. The seismic environments at which the previous problems arise are quantified for modern 160,000 m3 tanks, whether supported on shallow or pile foundations, for both a conventional design and one employing seismic isolation. Additionally, by introducing some cost assumptions, comparisons can be made as to the cost of dealing with the seismic threat for each seismic environment and tank design option. It then becomes possible to establish the seismic environments that require seismic isolation, as well as to offer guidance for decisions in intermediate cases

Peligrosidad sísmica en la península ibérica

Se estudia la peligrosidad sísmica en la Península Ibérica con una metodología no paramétrica basada en estimadores de densidad kernel; la tasa de actividad se deduce del catálogo, tanto en cuanto a su dependencia espacial (prescindiendo de zonificación) como en relación con la magnitud (obviando la ley de Gutenberg-Richter). El catálogo es el del Instituto Geográfico Nacional, complementado con otros en zonas periféricas, homogeneizado en su cuantificación de los terremotos y eliminando eventos espacial o temporalmente interrelacionados para mantener un modelo temporal de Poisson. La tasa de actividad sísmica viene determinada por la función kernel, el ancho de banda y los períodos efectivos. La tasa resultante se compara con la obtenida usando estadísticas de Gutenberg-Richter y una metodología zonificada. Se han empleado tres leyes de atenuación: una para terremotos profundos y dos para terremotos superficiales, dependiendo de que su magnitud fuera superior o inferior a 5. Los resultados se presentan en forma de mapas de peligrosidad para diversas frecuencias espectrales y períodos de retorno de 475 y 2475 años, lo que permite construir espectros de peligrosidad uniforme

Vocational profile in Health Sciences Students, enrolled in first-year at University of Malaga (Spain): differences by degree.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine certain characteristics about the vocational profile of college students, especially if we consider the situation of transition that is taking place currently in college with the implementation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Participants: Students enrolled in first grade of Health Sciences at University of Malaga (Spain) in Nursing, Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Occupational Therapy. The population comprised 272 participants (90%), of a 300 total sample of Health Sciences students with a mean age of 19 years (SD=1.8). Methodology: It was a descriptive and a cross sectional study. Students were asked to fill out an on-line questionnaire in May 2011. It was a vocational interests scale adapted into Spanish by a cross-cultural study. The dimensions were: Leadership, Organization, Altruism, Creativity, Analysis, Production, Adventure, and Erudition. The differences between the four groups of students have been checked by Anova. Results: The vocational profile among Health Sciences students showed significant differences. By degree, the most altruistic were Physiotherapy students (F=3.022, p= 0.030), being also the most adventurous (F=3.658, p=0.013). The most creative were Nursing students (F=3.578, p=0.014) and also the most erudite (F=5.527, p=0.001). Conclusions: These results could be useful in order to study the development of competences that are necessary for finding a job, work with patients and work as a member of multidisciplinary group. Also, we are collecting data every day in order to know the variance with respect the academic year (longitudinal study).Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

The Impact of Depression on the Functional Outcome of the Elderly Stroke Victim from a Gender Perspective: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: The aim of this systematic review focused on analyzing the impact of depression on the functional outcome of the elderly stroke victim and how this disorder affects both the female and the male population. (2) Methods: We conducted a systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review was registered in PROSPERO (ID 346284). The systematic search for clinical trials was performed in the databases Pubmed, Otseeker, Scopus, Web of Science, Psycinfo, Medline Complete, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and Dialnet. Articles were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, including those dealing with post-stroke depression in adults whose psychological status had changed. Studies that only assessed the psychological state of caregivers were excluded. (3) Results: In total, 609 articles were identified, of which 11 randomized controlled trials were finally included in the review. The results indicate that post-stroke depression influences the recovery of functionality and quality of life. In addition, the need to detect the mood of the adult population after the stroke and to provide individualized treatment according to the characteristics of the person is highlighted. (4) Conclusions: This systematic review shows how early detection of post-stroke depressive symptoms can improve the degree of disability and quality of life of the person, especially in women.The APC was funded by the University of Malaga. Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Contribution to Theme A of the Benchmark Workshop: Effect of Concrete Swelling on the Equilibrium and Displacements of an Arch Dam

The Kariba dam is undergoing concrete expansion as a result of an alkali-aggregate reaction. The model adopted to simulate the process is explained in the paper; it is based on the model first proposed by Ulm et al, as later modified by Saouma and Perotti. It has been implemented in the commercial finite element code Abaqus and applied to solve the benchmark problem. The parameters of the model were calibrated using the data recorded up to 1995. The calibrated model was then used for predicting the evolution of the dam up to the present date. Apart from this prediction the paper offers a number of conclusions, such as the fact that the stress level appears to have a major influence on the expansion process; and it presents some suggestions to improve the formulation of the benchmark, such as providing temperature data and widening the locations and conditions of the data employed in the calibratio

Novel cannabinoid release system : encapsulation of a cannabidiol precursor into γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks

Altres ajuts: acord transformatiu CRUE-CSICAltres ajuts: Jorge Rodríguez-Martínez acknowledges Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca from Generalitat de Catalunya (Sapin) for the FI-2018 fellowship.γ-Cyclodextrin-metal-organic frameworks (γ-CD-MOFs) are developed as a new promising and biocompatible material, which shows a great potential for drug delivery system (DDS) applications. γ-CD-MOFs were successfully synthesized using microwave-assisted technique from different potassium sources (KOH, KCl and KNO3). The encapsulation of olivetol (OLV) into these materials was investigated as an innovative model of DDS for cannabinoids. Loading of OLV in γ-CD-MOFs was performed by impregnation and co-crystallization methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) were employed to study the structural properties of γ-CD-MOF samples, showing the typical cubic crystals in case of KOH and trigonal morphologies in case of KCl and KNO3. Olivetol content was determined using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and its interaction with γ-CD-MOFs was investigated by Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis (ATR-FTIR). OLV content was significantly higher when KCl or KNO3 were employed in combination with a cocrystallization method, while the drug encapsulation using KOH and the impregnation method was really poor. For the first time, γ-CD-MOFs loaded with cannabinoids were developed and they could be considered a novel strategy as DDS of these compounds

Evaluación de competencias del proyecto mentor

En el curso 2009/2010 comenzó la implantación del nuevo título de Grado en Ingeniería Informática de la UPM. En el nuevo marco del EEES (Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior) las competencias transversales como las desarrolladas en un programa de mentoría cobran una especial relevancia, por ser éstas especialmente apreciadas actualmente en el mundo empresarial. En este trabajo se propone asociar el Proyecto Mentor a una asignatura optativa de formación de mentores como vehículo de formación de los estudiantes en las siguientes competencias transversales del grado: capacidad de trabajo en equipo, capacidad de comunicación efectiva, liderazgo y espíritu emprendedor y capacidad de trabajo en un contexto internacional. Se ha analizado, estudiado y definido un procedimiento de evaluación eficaz de las competencias transversales que los alumnos mentores deben adquirir, estudiando las diversas metodologías y técnicas propuestas por el entorno empresarial y académico, así como estableciendo los distintos niveles de exigencia de adquisición. Este procedimiento de evaluación proporciona además una experiencia piloto para la evaluación de competencias transversales de toda la titulación de grado, por lo que se ha coordinado con la dirección del Centro. Asimismo, se ha analizado la cantidad de trabajo del alumno mentor para la definición de la guía de aprendizaje y los ECTS requeridos por esta nueva actividad académic

Effect of Concrete Swelling on the Equilibrium and Displacements of an Arch Dam

The Kariba dam is undergoing concrete expansion as a result of an alkali-aggregate reaction. The model adopted to simulate the process is explained in the paper; it is based on the model first proposed by Ulm et al, as later modified by Saouma and Perotti. It has been implemented in the commercial finite element code Abaqus and applied to solve the benchmark problem. The parameters of the model were calibrated using the data recorded up to 1995. The calibrated model was then used for predicting the evolution of the dam up to the present date. Apart from this prediction the paper offers a number of conclusions, such as the fact that the stress level appears to have a major influence on the expansion process; and it presents some suggestions to improve the formulation of the benchmark, such as providing temperature data and widening the locations and conditions of the data employed in the calibratio

Fluid-Structure Interaction in Civil Engineering Structures

The problems being addressed involve the dynamic interaction of solids (structure and foundation) with a liquid (water). Various numerical procedures are reviewed and employed to solve the problem of establishing the expected response of a structure subjected to seismic excitations while duly accounting for those interactions. The methodology is applied to the analysis of dams, lock gates, and large storage tanks, incorporating in some cases a comparison with the results produced by means of simplified analytical procedures