Predicting Dimensions in Microfluidic Paper Based Analytical Devices

The main problem for the expansion of the use of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices and, thus, their mass production is their inherent lack of fluid flow control due to its uncontrolled fabrication protocols. To address this issue, the first step is the generation of uniform and reliable microfluidic channels. The most common paper microfluidic fabrication method is wax printing, which consists of two parts, printing and heating, where heating is a critical step for the fabrication of reproducible device dimensions. In order to bring paper-based devices to success, it is essential to optimize the fabrication process in order to always get a reproducible device. Therefore, the optimization of the heating process and the analysis of the parameters that could affect the final dimensions of the device, such as its shape, the width of the wax barrier and the internal area of the device, were performed. Moreover, we present a method to predict reproducible devices with controlled working areas in a simple manner.The authors would like to acknowledge funding support from Gobierno de España, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, with Grant No. BIO2016-80417-P (AEI/FEDER, UE), the Gobierno Vasco Dpto. Educación for the consolidation of the research groups (IT1271-19) and from Proyectos Colaborativos from the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, BIOPLASMOF (COLAB19/05). This project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 778001

Identifying the Future Skills Requirements of the Job Profiles Related to Sustainability in the Engineering Sector

The field of engineering has undergone significant evolution over the time. With the advent of newindustrial revolutions and the growing importance of sustainability, the skills necessary to excel as anengineer have changed drastically. To be a competent engineer in the future, and to achieve thepsychological wellbeing of a qualified and up-to-date professional, it is necessary to analyze potentialchanges that may occur in the field and adapt one\u27s skills accordingly. Engineers can stay ahead of thecurve and remain relevant in an ever-changing landscape, only by anticipating and preparing forfuture developments as well as foreseeing the future skills needs. In order to address the need ofidentifying the future skill requirements for engineers, in this work, we created a skills database with astrong focus on sustainability. This database not only integrates current skills, but also foresees andestablishes the skills related to sustainability, which will be needed in the future. For this aim, webenefited from the ESCO database for selecting the engineering job profiles related to sustainabilityas well as the current skills needs of the engineers. On the other hand, we conducted a detailed deskresearch in order to analyse and identify the future skills needs for the selected engineering jobprofiles. The aim of our work is to address the lack of a skills database specifically designed for theengineering field in relation to sustainability. The database is intended to provide end -users withinformation on new skill requirements that may arise from future changes, such as industrial andsustainable shifts

Understanding the behavior of stimuli-response ionogels for microfluidic applications

Part of special issue: Proceedings of the 30th anniversary Eurosensors Conference – Eurosensors 2016, 4-7. Sepember 2016, Budapest, HungaryElectrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) studies of two different ionogels (IOs) are performed using gold interdigitated electrodes (Au-IDEs). Poly(N isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAM) is polymerized in the presence of two ionic liquids (ILs), ethyl- 3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate [C2mIm][EtSO2] (1) or trihexyltetradecyl-phosphonium dicyanamide [P6,6,6,14][DCA] (2). The Nyquist diagrams of the IOs reflect significant differences due to their polarity and porosity dissimilarities. This fact is supported with the study of the diffusion of water through the polymer matrix, which is faster for IO-1, the most porous IO. Moreover, the ability of IO-1 and IO-2 to conduct current is measured and the sheet resistance of IO-2 is two orders of magnitude higher than IO-1. Finally, the swelling/drying properties of the IOs are monitored exposing them to several vacuum and rehydration cycles. The Nyquist plot of IO-1 shows faster diffusion and recovery of the original properties. Both hydrophilicity and porosity are in the basis of these results.This work was supported by the Basque Government under the Etortek Program (Grant No. IE14–391). N.G-G. was supported by a PhD fellowship from the University of Navarra

Validation of Real Case Solving (RCS) Methodology as an Efficient Engineering Learning Tool

In recent times, new learning methodologies known as student-based methodologies have been introduced to simplify the learning process for the students and facilitate the acquisition of skills for them. Among them, problem based learning (PBL) and project-based learning (PjBL) are widely used methods in the world of education. Real case solving (RCS) is a variant of the PBL where students solve real cases through the application of the PBL methodology. RCS seems to be a relevant approach for educators, but it has an apparently limited implementation degree at the academic level. This article presents the successful implementation of four different RCS approaches in the lecturing process in five different classes in the engineering degree of University of Deusto. The initiative has been analyzed both quantitative and qualitatively; the overall performance and success rate of the students were compared with the ones acquired from conventional teaching methods. The results were found to be promising, demonstrating a significantly better performance than the traditional teaching methodologies. The successful results encouraged the university to continue working further in this direction.This research was funded by the X. INNOVATION IN TEACHING CALL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DEUSTO, project “Application and potential validation of the Real Case Solving methodology as method for relevant learning at the Faculty of Engineering”, and by the BBK Foundation

Manipulation of Fluid Flow Direction in Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices with an Ionogel Negative Passive Pump

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (microPADs) are a relatively new group of analytical tools thatrepresent an innovative low-cost platform technology for fluid handling and analysis. Nonetheless, microPADs lack in the effective handling and controlling of fluids, which leads to a main drawback for their reproducibility in large volumes during manufacturing, their transition from the laboratory into the marketand thus accessibility by end-users. Herein we investigate the applicability of ionogel materials basedon a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel with the 1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate ionic liquidas fluid flow manipulator in microPADs using the ionogel as a negative passive pump to control the flowdirection in the device. A big challenge undertook by this contribution is the integration of the ionogel materials into the microPADs. Finally, the characterisation and the performance of the ionogel as a negative passive pump is demonstrated.The project was carried out with the support of the Ramón y Cajal programme (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad). FBL thanks to the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme(FP7) for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration under grant agreement no. 604241 and the Gobierno Vasco, Dpto. Industria, Innovación, Comercio y Turismo under ELKARTEKKK-2015/00088. FBL and TA personally acknowledge Marian M.de Pancorbo for letting them to use her laboratory facilities at UPV/EHU. MCMM acknowledges the Basque Government under theEtortek Program (Grant No. IE14-391) and Dr Seifert for the use ofhis laboratory facilities. NG-G work was supported by a PhD fellowship from the University of Navarra. Authors also acknowledge Adhesive Research for the donation of the PSA samples

Skills Needs of the Civil Engineering Sector in the European Union Countries: Current Situation and Future Trends

The construction sector has always occupied a strategic place in the European economy. The European construction industry suffered during the 2007–2008 global financial crisis, and today the sector is undergoing a recovery process. Among all the construction subsectors, civil engineering has the highest growth rate. Currently, the sector has to face profound industrial changes emerging with digital transformations (Industry 4.0), sustainability, climate change and energy efficiency. To promote the growth of the civil engineering sector and accelerate the recovery, we need to create a highly qualified and competent workforce that can handle the challenges coming up with the technological progress and global competitiveness. The main condition to achieve this capable workforce is to define the expected evolution of skills requirements. For that purpose, our work focuses on identifying current and near-future key skills required by the civil engineering occupations. To achieve this, we developed an automated sectoral database for the current and near-future skills requirements of the selected professional profiles. It is our belief that this sectoral database is a fundamental framework that will guide the sector through the future changes. We also believe that our research can be used as a key tool for construction companies, policy-makers, academics and training centers to develop well-designed and efficient training programs for upskilling and reskilling the workforce.This research was partly cofunded by: the European Union through the Erasmus Plus Programme (Grant Agreement No. 2018-3019/001-001, Project No. 600886-1-2018-1-DE-EPPKA2-SSA-B), Accenture, Inzu Group, Fundación Telefónica and Fundación BBK, partners of the Deusto Digital Industry Chair

Definition of the Future Skills Needs of Job Profiles in the Renewable Energy Sector

The growth of the renewable energy industry is happening at a swift pace pushed, by the emergence of Industry 4.0. Smart technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Twin (DT), etc. enable companies within the sector of renewable energies to drastically improve their operations. In this sectoral context, where upgraded sustainability standards also play a vital role, it is necessary to fulfil the human capital requirements of the imminent technological advances. This article aims to determine the current skills of the renewable energy industry workforce and to predict the upcoming skill requirements linked to a digital transition by creating a unified database that contains both types of skills. This will serve as a tool for renewable energy businesses, education centers, and policymakers to plan the training itinerary necessary to close the skills gap, as part of the sectoral strategy to achieve a competent future workforce.This research was partly funded by (a) the European Union through the Erasmus Plus Programme (Grant Agreement No. 2018-3019/001-001, Project No. 600886-1-2018-1-DE-EPPKA2-SSA-B)*, (b) the 4gune cluster, Siemens Gamesa and Aalborg University through the project “Identification of the necessary skills and competences for professionals of the future renewable energy sector”, and (c) Lantek, Inzu Group, Fundación Telefónica and Fundación BBK, partners of the Deusto Digital Industry Chair

Skills Requirements for the European Machine Tool Sector Emerging from Its Digitalization

Abstract The machine tool industry, which is the starting point of all the metal producing activities, is presently undergoing rapid and continuous changes as a result of the fourth industrial revolution Industry 4.0. Manufacturing models are profoundly transforming with emerging digitalization. Smart technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twin, allow the machine tool companies to optimize processes, increase efficiency and reduce waste through a new phase of automation. These technologies, as well, enable the machine tool producers to reach the aim of creating products with improved performance, extended life, high reliability that are eco-efficient. Therefore, Industry 4.0 could be perceived as an invaluable opportunity for the machine tool sector, only if the sector has a competent workforce capable of handling the implementation of new business models and technological developments. The main condition to create this highly qualified workforce is reskilling and upskilling of the current workforce. Once we define the expected evolution of skills requirements, we can clarify the skills mismatch between the workers and job profiles. Only then, we can reduce them by delivering well-developed trainings. For this purpose, this article identifies the current and foreseen skills requirements demanded by the machine tool industry workforce. To this end, we generated an integrated database for the sector with the present and prospective skills needs of the metal processing sector professionals. The presented sectoral database is a fundamental structure that will make the sector acquire targeted industrial reforms. It can also be an essential instrument for machine tool companies, policymakers, academics and education or training centers to build well-designed and effective training programs to enhance the skills of the labor forceThis research was partly funded by (a) the European Union through the Erasmus Plus Programme (Grant Agreement No. 2018-3019/001-001, Project No. 600886-1-2018-1-DE-EPPKA2-SSA-B). (b) the HAZITEK call of the Basque Government, project acronym Adit4All and (c) Accenture, Inzu Group, Fundación Telefónica and Fundación BBK, partners of the Deusto Digital Industry Chair

Skills Requirements for the European Machine Tool Sector Emerging from Its Digitalization

The machine tool industry, which is the starting point of all the metal producing activities, is presently undergoing rapid and continuous changes as a result of the fourth industrial revolution Industry 4.0. Manufacturing models are profoundly transforming with emerging digitalization. Smart technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twin, allow the machine tool companies to optimize processes, increase efficiency and reduce waste through a new phase of automation. These technologies, as well, enable the machine tool producers to reach the aim of creating products with improved performance, extended life, high reliability that are eco-efficient. Therefore, Industry 4.0 could be perceived as an invaluable opportunity for the machine tool sector, only if the sector has a competent workforce capable of handling the implementation of new business models and technological developments. The main condition to create this highly qualified workforce is reskilling and upskilling of the current workforce. Once we define the expected evolution of skills requirements, we can clarify the skills mismatch between the workers and job profiles. Only then, we can reduce them by delivering well-developed trainings. For this purpose, this article identifies the current and foreseen skills requirements demanded by the machine tool industry workforce. To this end, we generated an integrated database for the sector with the present and prospective skills needs of the metal processing sector professionals. The presented sectoral database is a fundamental structure that will make the sector acquire targeted industrial reforms. It can also be an essential instrument for machine tool companies, policymakers, academics and education or training centers to build well-designed and effective training programs to enhance the skills of the labor force

Review on Microfluidic Paper-based Analytical Devices towards Commercialisation

Paper-based analytical devices introduce an innovative platform technology for fluid handling andanalysis, with wide range of applications, promoting low cost, ease of fabrication/operation and equipment independence. This review gives a general overview on the fabrication techniques reported to date, revealing and discussing their weak points as well as the newest approaches in order to overtake current mass production limitations and therefore commercialisation. Moreover, this review aims especially to highlight novel technologies appearing in literature for the effective handling and controlling of fluids. The lack of flow control is the main problem of paper-based analytical devices, which generates obstacles for marketing and slows down the transition of paper devices from the laboratory into the consumers' hands.FBL acknowledges the Ram on y Cajal Programme (Ministerio de economía y Competitividad), Spain. FBL and TA acknowledge to Marian M. De Pancorbo for letting them to use her laboratory facilities at UPV/EHU. We acknowledge funding support from Gobierno de España, Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, with Grant No. BIO2016-80417-P and from Gobierno Vasco, Dpto. Industria, Innovación, Comercio y Turismo under ELKARTEK 2017 with Grant No. KK-2017/0000088. L. B-D. acknowledges funding support from Basque Government, under "Grupos Consolidados" with Grant No. IT998-16