10,672 research outputs found
Reaction Kinetics in the Production of Pd Nanoparticles in Reverse Microemulsions. Effect on Particle Size
In the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles in microemulsions, we hypothesized
that particle size is mainly controlled by the reaction rate. Thus, the changes
observed on the particle sizes as reaction conditions, such as concentrations,
temperature, type of surfactant used, etc., are varied should not be correlated
directly to the modification of those conditions but indirectly to the changes
they produce on the reaction rates. By means of time resolved UV-vis
spectroscopy, we measured the reaction rates in the production of Pd
nanoparticles inside microemulsions at different reactant concentrations,
keeping all the other parameters constant. The measured reaction rates were
then correlated with the particle sizes measured by transmission electron
microscopy (TEM). We found that nanoparticle size increases linearly as the
reaction rates increases, independently of the actual reactant concentrations.
We proposed that the kinetics is controlled mainly by the diffusion of the
reducing agent through the surfactant monolayer covering the microemulsion
membrane. With this model, we predicted that particle size should depend
indirectly, via the reaction kinetics, on the micelle radius (v0 ~ r^-3), the
water volume (v0~vw^3) and the total microemulsion volume (v0~vT^-3), and
temperature (Arrhenius). Some of these predictions were explored in this
article
Detector developments for the hypernuclear programme at PANDA
The technical design of the PANDA experiment at the future FAIR facility next
to GSI is progressing. At the proposed anti-proton storage ring the
spectroscopy of double Lambda hypernuclei is one of the four main topics which
will be addressed by the Collaboration. The hypernuclear experiments require
(i) a dedicated internal target, (ii) an active secondary target of alternating
silicon and absorber material layers, (iii) high purity germanium (HPGe)
detectors, and (iv) a good particle identification system for low momentum
kaons. All systems need to operate in the presence of a high magnetic field and
a large hadronic background. The status of the detector developments for this
programme is summarized.Comment: Contributed to 2008 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, 19-25 October
2008, Dresden, German
Semiclassical (Quantum Field Theory) and Quantum (String) de Sitter Regimes: New Results
We compute the quantum string entropy S_s(m, H) from the microscopic string
density of states rho_s (m,H) of mass m in de Sitter space-time. We find for
high m, a {\bf new} phase transition at the critical string temperature T_s=
(1/2 pi k_B)L c^2/alpha', higher than the flat space (Hagedorn) temperature
t_s. (L = c/H, the Hubble constant H acts at the transition as producing a
smaller string constant alpha' and thus, a higher tension). T_s is the precise
quantum dual of the semiclassical (QFT Hawking-Gibbons) de Sitter temperature
T_sem = hbar c /(2\pi k_B L). We find a new formula for the full de Sitter
entropy S_sem (H), as a function of the usual Bekenstein-Hawking entropy
S_sem^(0)(H). For L << l_{Planck}, ie. for low H << c/l_Planck,
S_{sem}^{(0)}(H) is the leading term, but for high H near c/l_Planck, a new
phase transition operates and the whole entropy S_sem (H) is drastically
different from the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy S_sem^(0)(H). We compute the
string quantum emission cross section by a black hole in de Sitter (or
asymptotically de Sitter) space-time (bhdS). For T_sem ~ bhdS << T_s, (early
evaporation stage), it shows the QFT Hawking emission with temperature T_sem ~
bhdS, (semiclassical regime). For T_sem ~ bhdS near T_{s}, it exhibits a phase
transition into a string de Sitter state of size L_s = l_s^2/L}, l_s=
\sqrt{\hbar alpha'/c), and string de Sitter temperature T_s. Instead of
featuring a single pole singularity in the temperature (Carlitz transition), it
features a square root branch point (de Vega-Sanchez transition). New bounds on
the black hole radius r_g emerge in the bhdS string regime: it can become r_g =
L_s/2, or it can reach a more quantum value, r_g = 0.365 l_s.Comment: New original materia
Opinion mining and sentiment analysis in marketing communications: a science mapping analysis in Web of Science (1998–2018)
Opinion mining and sentiment analysis has become ubiquitous in our society, with
applications in online searching, computer vision, image understanding, artificial intelligence and
marketing communications (MarCom). Within this context, opinion mining and sentiment analysis
in marketing communications (OMSAMC) has a strong role in the development of the field by
allowing us to understand whether people are satisfied or dissatisfied with our service or product
in order to subsequently analyze the strengths and weaknesses of those consumer experiences. To
the best of our knowledge, there is no science mapping analysis covering the research about opinion
mining and sentiment analysis in the MarCom ecosystem. In this study, we perform a science
mapping analysis on the OMSAMC research, in order to provide an overview of the scientific work
during the last two decades in this interdisciplinary area and to show trends that could be the basis
for future developments in the field. This study was carried out using VOSviewer, CitNetExplorer
and InCites based on results from Web of Science (WoS). The results of this analysis show the
evolution of the field, by highlighting the most notable authors, institutions, keywords,
publications, countries, categories and journals.The research was funded by Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucía 2014‐2020, grant number “La
reputación de las organizaciones en una sociedad digital. Elaboración de una Plataforma Inteligente para la
Localización, Identificación y Clasificación de Influenciadores en los Medios Sociales Digitales (UMA18‐
FEDERJA‐148)” and The APC was funded by the same research gran
A curricular approach to develop autonomies from the mathematics and scientific education
The purpose of this work is to highlight how the current Spanish education system supports the
development of both scientific and mathematic competences. We understand these competences as
the set of skills and capabilities needed to use mathematics or science when the situation requires.
For that purpose, we have carried out a curricular didactic analysis of the current regulations in
Andalusia. This analysis intends to reveal how the new educational systems emphasize the
development of the formative character of teaching-learning processes, which has been
overshadowed by the functional and the instrumental characters in Science and Mathematics
Education. The findings of the research show that the objectives set out in the law are aimed at
developing in students a number of attributes such as personal autonomy, creativity, tolerance,
empathy, critical spirit, etc. From our point of view, all of these attributes contribute to developing the
students' formative character. Besides, the analysis shows that course contents are not presented as
an end in itself, but as a means for students to acquire these attributes and be whole human beings.
Finally, it can be inferred from the analysis that both the methodological guidance and the evaluation
criteria highlight the need to educate citizens to be capable of adapting to the environment and
positively transforming it. Ultimately, promoting teaching-learning processes where scientific and
mathematic competences are developed, educating students to be intellectually, socially and morally
autonomous.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech.“Criterios e instrumentos de evaluación de unidades de enseñanza y aprendizaje” (PPIT.UMA.B1.2017/16) financiado por la Universidad de Málaga en la convocatoria de 2017-2018
A Single Question of Parent-Reported Physical Activity Levels Estimates Objectively Measured Physical Fitness and Body Composition in Preschool Children: The PREFIT Project
Physical inactivity is recognized as a determinant of low physical fitness and body composition in preschool children, which in turn, are important markers of health through the lifespan. Objective methods to assess physical activity, physical fitness and body composition in preschool children are preferable; however, they have some practical limitations in the school context. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test whether a single question regarding physical activity level of preschool children, reported by their parents, could be used as an alternative screening tool of physical fitness and body composition. The information was obtained from 10 different cities throughout Spain, gathering a total of 3179 healthy preschool children (52.8% boys and 47.2% girls) aged 3-5 years. Physical activity levels of preschool children were reported by parents using a single question with five response options (very low, low, average, high, or very high). Physical fitness and body composition were assessed with the PREFIT fitness battery. The results showed that parents' perception of their children's physical activity was positively associated with all objectively measured physical fitness components (beta(range) = -0.094 to 0.113; all p < 0.020); and negatively with body composition indicators as measured (beta(range) = -0.113 to -0.058; all p < 0.001). The results showed significant differences in all physical fitness and body composition z-scores across the parent-reported physical activity levels (all p < 0.017 and all p < 0.001, respectively), as well as, for the fitness index (p < 0.001). Our study suggests that in school settings with insufficient resources to objectively assess fitness and body composition, parents-reported physical activity level by means of a single question might provide useful information about these important health markers in preschool children
Weight and levels of physical activity influences on quality of life of university students
Este estudio persigue dilucidar si hay relación existente entre la cantidad de actividad física realizada, la composición corporal y la Calidad de Vida Relacionada con la Salud (CVRS) en estudiantes de primer curso de Grado en Educación Infantil (n=88). Los sujetos realizaron el cuestionario SF-36 sobre CVRS y el cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física (IPAQ). Los sujetos fueron divididos en tres grupos de acuerdo a su Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC).
Los resultados obtenidos muestran que no existe relación existente entre la cantidad de actividad física, la composición corporal y la CVRS en esta muestra
CXCL12-induced neurotoxicity critically depends on NMDA receptor-gated and L-type Ca2+ channels upstream of p38 MAPK.
BackgroundThe chemokine receptor CXCR4 (CD184) and its natural ligand CXCL12 contribute to many physiological processes, including decisions about cell death and survival in the central nervous system. In addition, CXCR4 is a co-receptor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and mediates the neurotoxicity of the viral envelope protein gp120. However, we previously observed that CXCL12 also causes toxicity in cerebrocortical neurons but the cellular mechanism remained incompletely defined.MethodsPrimary neuronal-glial cerebrocortical cell cultures from rat were exposed to a neurotoxicity-inducing CXCL12 concentration for different times and the activity of the stress-associated mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 (p38 MAPK) was assessed using an in vitro kinase assay. Neurotoxicity of CXCL12 and cellular localization of p38 MAPK was analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Pharmacological inhibition of NMDA-type glutamate receptor-gated ion channels (NMDAR) of L-type Ca2+ channels was employed during 12- and 24-h exposure to neurotoxic amounts of CXCL12 to study the effects on active p38 MAPK and neuronal survival by Western blotting and microscopy, respectively. Neurotoxicity of CXCL12 was also assessed during pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK.ResultsHere, we show that a neurotoxic amount of CXCL12 triggers a significant increase of endogenous p38 MAPK activity in cerebrocortical cells. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting experiments with mixed neuronal-glial and neuron-depleted glial cerebrocortical cells revealed that the majority of active/phosphorylated p38 MAPK was located in neurons. Blockade of NMDAR-gated ion channels or L-type Ca2+ channels both abrogated an increase of active p38 MAPK and toxicity of CXCL12 in cerebrocortical neurons. Inhibition of L-type Ca2+ channels with nimodipine kept the active kinase at levels not significantly different from baseline while blocking NMDAR with MK-801 strongly reduced phosphorylated p38 MAPK below baseline. Finally, we confirmed that directly blocking p38 MAPK also abrogated neurotoxicity of CXCL12.ConclusionsOur findings link CXCL12-induced neuronal death to the regulation of NMDAR-gated ion channels and L-type Ca2+ channels upstream of p38 MAPK activation
Cuestionarios online dentro de las clases invertidas
Los cuestionarios en línea forman parte de una serie de recursos que se
pueden utilizar en las clases invertidas (lo que tradicionalmente se hacía en
casa se hace en clase y al contrario), entre los que se pueden citar la inclusión
de preguntas en vídeos, el uso de plataformas de enseñanza virtual o sitios
web para organizar contenidos, etc.
En este trabajo se describen varias aplicaciones para la realización de dichos
cuestionarios y se comenta resultados de su uso con alumnos de la Facultad
de Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad de Málaga.
La satisfacción del alumnado por su uso ha sido altamente positiva.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech
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