Unravelling the mechanisms that drive the performance of photocatalytic hydrogen production

The increasing interest and applications of photocatalysis, namely hydrogen production, artificial photosynthesis, and water remediation and disinfection, still face several drawbacks that prevent this technology from being fully implemented at the industrial level. The need to improve the performance of photocatalytic processes and extend their potential working under visible light has boosted the synthesis of new and more efficient semiconductor materials. Thus far, semiconductor–semiconductor heterojunction is the most remarkable alternative. Not only are the characteristics of the new materials relevant to the process performance, but also a deep understanding of the charge transfer mechanisms and the relationship with the process variables and nature of the semiconductors. However, there are several different charge transfer mechanisms responsible for the activity of the composites regardless the synthesis materials. In fact, different mechanisms can be carried out for the same junction. Focusing primarily on the photocatalytic generation of hydrogen, the objective of this review is to unravel the charge transfer mechanisms after the in-depth analyses of already reported literature and establish the guidelines for future research.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (grant numbers RTI2018-099407-B-I00 and RTI2018-093310-B-I00 MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE)

Primer registro de regeneración posincendio de Adesmia bijuga (Fabaceae), una especie en peligro crítico de Chile central

Adesmia bijuga is an endemic species of central Chile which is considered as Critically Endangered for the Chilean vascular flora. The knowledge on the regeneration dynamics of this species is deficient. Our study reveals that A. bijuga has the ability to recover after a fire event.Adesmia bijuga es una especie endémica de la zona central de Chile y es considerada como En Peligro Crítico para la flora vascular chilena. Actualmente el conocimiento acerca de la dinámica de la regeneración de esta especie es deficiente. Nuestro estudio indica que A. bijuga tiene la capacidad de recuperarse después de un incendio

Mechanical Isolation of Highly Stable Antimonene under Ambient Conditions

Using mechanical exfoliation combined with a controlled double step transfer procedure we demonstrate that single layers of antimony can be readily produced. These flakes are not significantly contaminated upon exposure to ambient conditions and they do not react with water. DFT calculations confirm our experimental observations and predict a band gap of 1.2-1.3 eV (ambient conditions) for single layer antimonene, which is smaller than that calculated under vacuum conditions at 0 K. Our work confirms antimonene as a highly stable 2D material with promising relevant applications in optoelectronics.Comment: main paper: 5 pages, 4 figures supporting: 9 pages, 7 figures, Advanced Materials, 201

Projects and research for the Education improvement and the use of Technology in Engineering

[ES] Las características de un entorno cambiante e inmersos en la sociedad del conocimiento, exigen de las empresas, organizaciones, universidades y de la sociedad en general, una adaptación continua que ha de ir ligada a la innovación como una necesidad real, dando una respuesta dinámica a las nuevas demandas, como consecuencia de la necesidad de mejorar sus procesos de funcionamiento. Y eso afecta igualmente a la enseñanza de la Ingeniería y la Electrónica, así como en la Formación Permanente y el impacto en la empresa de la misma. La accesibilidad remota y la movilidad son un ejemplo de ello, y suponen una innovación en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, y por lo tanto, en la formación. Para el estudio de la accesibilidad remota se presenta un proyecto de investigación “Remote-labs access in Internet-based Performance-centred Learning Environment for currículum Support”, cuyo objetivo es la definición y desarrollo de una infraestructura basada en la telemática europea para la organización de los currículums a través de la práctica basada en laboratorios remotos (RIPLECS). Para la implementación de estos sistemas de aprendizaje se precisa la realización de proyectos innovadores, con el fin de examinar la integración de dispositivos móviles y sus efectos sobre el aprendizaje de los estudiantes y el rendimiento. Se presenta así un proyecto de investigación en el entorno de la empresa: “E-business Mobile Training –use of de mobile performance Support System for acquiring e-business Mangement Skills (EMTM)”Los programas curriculares deben conectarse con el mundo real del trabajo, detectando las habilidades que serán necesarias para el trabajo del futuro. En esta línea se presenta por último un proyecto innovador, “Performance-centred Adaptative Aurriculum for Employment Needs (PAC)”. Estos tres proyectos son una aportación práctica de la tecnología al mundo del aprendizaje y la formación, encarando los retos educativos europeos del siglo XXI, mediante tecnologías emergentes innovadoras aplicadas al aprendizaje. Palabras clave:e-learning, m-learning, b-learning, formación personalizada, formación en el puesto de trabajo, educación online y a distancia.[EN] The characteristics of a changing environment and immersed in the knowledge society, demand from enterprises, organizations, universities and society in general, continuous adaptation. This adaptation has to be linked to innovation as a real need, giving a dynamic response to new demands, as a result of the need to improve their operation processes. And that also affects the teaching of Engineering and Electronics, as well as Lifelong learning and the impact on the company itself.Remote accessibility and mobility are an example ofthis, and represent an innovation in the teaching-learning process, and therefore, in training.The research project “Remote-labs access in Internet-based Performance-centred Learning Environment for currículum Support” is presented for the remote accessibility study. Whose objective is the definition and development of an infrastructure based on European telematics for the organization of currículum through practice based on remote laboratories (RIPLECS).The execution of innovative projects is required for the implementation of these learning systems, in order to examine the integration of mobile devices and their effects on student learning and capacity. A research project in the business environment is presented: “E-business Mobile Training –use of de mobile performance Support System for acquiring e-business Mangement Skills (EMTM)”Curricular programs should connect to the real world of work, identifying the skills that will be needed for future work. Finally, in this line is presented an innovative project, “Performance-centred Adaptative Aurriculum for Employment Needs (PAC)”. These three projects are a practical contribution of technology to the world of learning and training, facing the 21st century European educational challenges, by innovative emerging technologies applied to learning.Castro Gil, M.; Albert Gómez, MJ.; Pérez Molina, C.; Díaz Orueta, G.; Gil Ortego, R.; San Cristóbal Ruiz, E.; Martín Gutiérrez, S.... (2013). Proyectos e Investigación para la mejora de la Educación y el uso de la Tecnología en la Ingeniería. REDU. Revista de Docencia Universitaria. 11(0):301-328. https://doi.org/10.4995/redu.2013.5558OJS301328110Albert, M. J. (2005). Formación y empleo. Desarrollo y evolución profesional. Madrid, España, UNED.Albert, M. J. y otros (2012). Performance-Centered Adaptive currículum for Employment Needs. Proc. del congreso Tecnologías Aplicadas a la Enseñanza de la Electrónica (TAEE), Junio de 2012, Vigo, España.Armengol, C. y Rodríguez, D. (2006). La moderación de redes, algunos aspectos a considerar. Educar, 37, 85-100.Garin, J. (2010). Nuevas estrategias formativas para las organizaciones. Bilbao. Wolters Kluwer, S.A.Garin, J. y Armengol, C. (2003). Estrategias de formación para el cambio organizacional. Barcelona. Praxis.Gil, R. (2010). Autenticación por Huella Dactilar en Sistemas de Gestión de Aprendizaje y su Análisis Empírico en Estudiantes de Ingeniería (Tesis Doctoral), UNED.Gil, R., Castro, M. y otros. (2011). Sistema de verificación por huella dactilar en exámenes en Moodle. Proc. del Congreso FINTDI 2011 (Fomento e Innovación con Nuevas Tecnologías en la Docencia de la Ingeniería). Mayo de 2011, Teruel, España.Gros S. (2012). La generación digital. Dentro de Nuevos medios para nuevas formas de aprendizaje. Reddigital.cnice.mec.es/3/firmas_nuevas/gros/gros_2.html. Consultado el 15 de Julio de 2012.Martin S. y otros, (2011). State of the art of frameworks and middleware for facilitating mobile and ubiquitous learning development, Journal of Systems and Software, Volumen 84, Número 11, Noviembre de 2011, Páginas 1883-1891, ISSN 0164- 1212, 10.1016/j.jss.2011.06.042.Martín, S. (2010). M2LEARN: Framework for Development of Mobile and Ubiquitous Learning Applications (Tesis Doctoral), UNED.Martínez-Mediano, C. y otros (2010). Internet-based performance-centered learning environment for currículum Support (IPLECS) and its application in mLearning. Proc. del congreso Educon 2010, Abril de 2010, Madrid, España.Pgdan, Y. (2009). Towards a theoretical model of dispositional influences on transfer of learning. Proc. del 10th International Conference on Human Resource Development: Research & Practice across Europe, Junio de 2009, Newcastle Business School, UK.Plaza, I.; Martín, L.; Martin, S. y Medrano, C. (2011). Mobile applications in an aging society: Status and trends. Journal of Systems and Software. Volumen 84, Número 11, Noviembre de 2011, Páginas 1977-1988.Salomon, G. (2000). It's not just the tools, but the educational rationale that counts. Presentación invitada en el congreso Ed-Media 2000, Montreal, [Online] http://construc.haifa.ac.it/~gsalomon/edMedia2000.html. Consultado el 15 de Julio de 2012.San Cristóbal, E. (2010). Metodología, estructura y desarrollo de interfaces intermedias para la conexión de laboratorios remotos y virtuales a plataformas educativas (Tesis Doctoral), UNED.Tauste, M.; Martín, S.; Sancrsitobal, E. Tawfik M.; Peire, J. y Castro, M. (2011). Implementation of a remote laboratory for practices in FPGAs Programmable Logic Devices. Proc. del congreso exp.at'11 - Remote and Virtual Labs, Noviembre de 2011, Lisboa, Portugal.Tawfik M.; Sancristobal E.; Martín S; Gil R. y otros (2012). VISIR: Experiences and Challenges. iJOE - Volume 8, Issue 1, Febrero de 2012.Tawfik, M. y otros. (2011) Chapter Title: Towards a Better Deployment of Remote Laboratories in Undergraduate Engineering Education, Editor: J. G. Zubía and G. R. Alves, Book Title: Using Remote Labs in Education: Two Little Ducks in Remote Experimentation, Bilbao, Publisher: University of Deusto, ISBN: 978-84-9830-398- 8, http://www.deusto-publicaciones.es/index.php/main/libro/913.Yuren, M.T. (2004). ¿La autoformación es olvido del otro?. Una mirada desde la filosofía. En C. Navia, A. Castañeda y T. Yurén (Coords.), Formación, distancias y subjetividades. Nuevos retos de la formación en la globalización (Páginas 157- 174). México. Noriega-UAM, 2004

Herramienta para la mejora de la gestión de espacios de estudio en la Universidad de Salamanca

Memoria ID2022-087. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2022-2023

VER USAL: Plataforma web para el diseño y ejecución de Escape Rooms Virtuales educacionales destinados al aprendizaje de conocimientos aplicando técnicas de gamificación

Memoria ID2022-025. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2022-2023

Dietary Iron, Anemia Markers, Cognition, and Quality of Life in Older Community-Dwelling Subjects at High Cardiovascular Risk

Anemia causes hypo-oxygenation in the brain, which could lead to cognitive disorders. We examined dietary iron intake as well as anemia markers (i.e., hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume) and diabetes coexistence in relation to neuropsychological function and quality of life. In this study, 6117 community-dwelling adults aged 55-75 years (men) and 60-75 years (women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome were involved. We performed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Trail Making Test parts A and B (TMT-A/B), Semantic Verbal Fluency of animals (VFT-a), Phonological Verbal Fluency of letter P (VFT-p), Digit Span Test (DST), the Clock Drawing Test (CDT), and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF36-HRQL test). Dietary iron intake did not influence neuropsychological function or quality of life. However, anemia and lower levels of anemia markers were associated with worse scores in all neurophysiological and SF36-HRQL tests overall, but were especially clear in the MMSE, TMT-B (cognitive flexibility), and the physical component of the SF36-HRQL test. The relationships between anemia and diminished performance in the TMT-A/B and VFT tasks were notably pronounced and statistically significant solely among participants with diabetes. In brief, anemia and reduced levels of anemia markers were linked to inferior cognitive function, worse scores in different domains of executive function, as well as a poorer physical, but not mental, component of quality of life. It was also suggested that the coexistence of diabetes in anemic patients may exacerbate this negative impact on cognition. Nevertheless, dietary iron intake showed no correlation with any of the outcomes. To make conclusive recommendations for clinical practice, our findings need to be thoroughly tested through methodologically rigorous studies that minimize the risk of reverse causality

Healthcare workers hospitalized due to COVID-19 have no higher risk of death than general population. Data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

Aim To determine whether healthcare workers (HCW) hospitalized in Spain due to COVID-19 have a worse prognosis than non-healthcare workers (NHCW). Methods Observational cohort study based on the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry, a nationwide registry that collects sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data on patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Spain. Patients aged 20-65 years were selected. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify factors associated with mortality. Results As of 22 May 2020, 4393 patients were included, of whom 419 (9.5%) were HCW. Median (interquartile range) age of HCW was 52 (15) years and 62.4% were women. Prevalence of comorbidities and severe radiological findings upon admission were less frequent in HCW. There were no difference in need of respiratory support and admission to intensive care unit, but occurrence of sepsis and in-hospital mortality was lower in HCW (1.7% vs. 3.9%; p = 0.024 and 0.7% vs. 4.8%; p<0.001 respectively). Age, male sex and comorbidity, were independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality and healthcare working with lower mortality (OR 0.211, 95%CI 0.067-0.667, p = 0.008). 30-days survival was higher in HCW (0.968 vs. 0.851 p<0.001). Conclusions Hospitalized COVID-19 HCW had fewer comorbidities and a better prognosis than NHCW. Our results suggest that professional exposure to COVID-19 in HCW does not carry more clinical severity nor mortality

Dinámicas colectivas de base creativa en procesos universitarios de enseñanza-aprendizaje en artes

Esta memoria presenta el desarrollo y los resultados del proyecto de Innovación “Dinámicas colectivas de base creativa en procesos universitarios de enseñanza-aprendizaje en artes” concedido en la Convocatoria Docentia UCM 2021-22. En el marco del mismo se han generado una serie de dinámicas educativas en el contexto universitario de los estudios de arte y áreas afines durante el curso académico 2021-22. Se han creado e implementado una serie de prácticas docentes en las asignaturas impartidas por las y los participantes en el proyecto, a partir de los vínculos que se establecen entre los procesos artísticos y las metodologías de enseñanza-aprendizaje en las enseñanzas universitarias de arte. La premisa del proyecto planteaba las potencialidades de ampliar los ámbitos de acción de la innovación docente en la Universidad, determinando el papel significativo de los modos de hacer de prácticas que se están desarrollando en los espacios de producción artística y cultural en las metodologías docentes en el EEES. Se trataba de apostar, así, por un acercamiento a la innovación múltiple, entendido como una relación de nodos entre estudiantes, docentes, educadoras/es, instituciones académicas e instituciones artísticas, entendiendo que dichos ejes quedaban vertebrados por los modos de hacer y las metodologías propias de cada ámbito de actuación que podían ponerse en diálogo para nutrirse mutuamente más allá de sus contextos de inserción determinados institucionalmente

EstuPlan: Methodology for the development of creativity in the resolution of scientific and social problems

[EN] Creative thinking is necessary to generate novel ideas and solve problems. "EstuPlan" is a methodology in which knowledge and creativity converge for the resolution of scientific problems with social projection. It is a training programme that integrates teachers, laboratory technicians and PhD students, master and undergraduate students which form working groups for the development of projects. Projects have a broad and essential scope and projection in terms of environmental problems, sustainable use of natural resources, food, health, biotechnology or biomedicine. The results show the success of this significant learning methodology using tools to develop creativity in responding to scientific and social demand for problem-solving to transfer academic knowledge to different professional environments. Bioplastics, Second Life of Coffee, LimBio, Algae oils, Ecomers, Caring for the life of your crop and Hate to Deforestate are currently being developed.Astudillo Calderón, S.; De Díez De La Torre, L.; García Companys, M.; Ortega Pérez, N.; Rodríguez Martínez, V.; Alzahrani, S.; Alonso Valenzuela, R.... (2019). EstuPlan: Methodology for the development of creativity in the resolution of scientific and social problems. En HEAD'19. 5th International Conference on Higher Education Advances. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 711-717. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD19.2019.9205OCS71171