Electrochemical analysis on compounds of the vitamin B6 family using glassy carbon electrodes

The electrochemical reduction of vitamin B6 group and related compounds has been performed at pH neutral using glassy carbon electrodes. Irreversible bi- or tetra-electronic processes controlled by diffusion on the top of the wave are observed for these substances by cyclic voltammetry. In most cases the first electron transfer was the rate determining step of the electrode process. In depth electroanalytical behaviour of the most important members of the vitamin-6 family, from a biological point of view, is also presented. Limits of detection (99, 59, 286 and 19 μM respectively), linearity ranges (200-1000, 100-800, 400-1600 and 40-200 μM respectively) precision as RSD(%) (0.45, 4.11, 6.45 and 4.98 % respectively) and recovery (%) values (99.7, 97.7, 104.4 and 98.9) for Pyridoxal, Pyridoxal-5’-Phosphate, Pyridoxamine and Pyridoxic Acid are presented. The use of glassy carbon electrodes for the analysis of urine samples gives an example of the potential use of these for the analysis of biological samples

Temperature effect on the electrooxidation of gamma hdroxybutyric acid (GHB) on platinum catalyst through cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, impedance spectroscopy and SERS spectroelectrochemistry

A study of the electro-oxidation of gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) on platinum electrode in acidic media has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range between 5 and 30ºC. The variation of the j-E curves allows the determination of activation energy in a wide interval of potentials where three characteristic oxidation peaks appear. The j-t curves were registered at the more positive potentials corresponding with the A and B peaks. Stationary current intensity measurements allowed the determination of the activation energy in pure kinetic region conditions. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy made also possible the study of the electrochemical behavior in the same potential region. Temperature dependence of the charge-transfer resistance (Rct) and the rate constant associated with the surface coverage by an adsorbed intermediate (-1=Ro/L) during the GHB electro-oxidation process were evaluated and discussed. In all cases, the values of activation energy, below 30 kJ/mol, suggest that a complex mechanism takes place for the GHB electro-oxidation free of strong interactions with the platinum surface. In situ Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectroelectrochemistry spectra corresponding to coadsorbed species, including intermediates of reaction, have been analyzed at several potentials

3D Digital techniques applied to new design products based on cultural heritage elements

The aim of this paper is to present the 3D digitalization and posterior treatment of complex heritage elements existing in the Alhambra Palace, so that they can be used as the starting point for the development of new products. Not only are the direct results of 3D digitalization exploitable and essential for the documentation, recording and research of heritage elements, but also these 3D files compiling the original elements are to be used as the blueprints for the future development of new products and designs, such as constructive elements regarding their application at interior design and architecture projects. The enrichment provided in new products is undeniable as they will depart from the same provenance as the heritage element, which allows the product to increase its market value, and the opening of new Market niches. It is very important to highlight that any new product creation process will be grounded in full respect and protection of cultural heritage. For this reason, under no circumstances will the original elements be completely reproduced, not even partial developments of them since this action could undergo the risk of a non-responsible reproduction of the heritage elements.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Implementation of learning by doing methods in the graphical engineering field

Regarding the different options to approaches with excessively theoretical contents that are applied in teaching, there are several innovative learning strategies for active students’ involvement. According to (1) most of the business look for professional profiles in which applicants not only have an academic background but also good personal skills, such as initiative, undertaking, communication skills, commercial vision, and so on. This paper presents the experiments that aim to achieve the objectives and catching skills by the Learning by doing technique (2), through a contextualization of the subject “Container and Packaging” in the Industrial Design Degree. Moreover, a close relation between university and business is achieved. In this way students acquire the requirements demanded by the company. A particularization of an industrial design methodology proposed by the Technological Institute of Packaging, Transport and Logistics (ITENE, Valencia) has been implemented for the design of packaging and packaging (4). Besides using this method, students take on a project-based learning (PBL) work under the role of company. Then, they realize the redesign of the container of a manufactured product close to his residence province, i.e. Ron Montero Winery, Granada. This practice will not only look for improving the student's ability to research and solve problems, but also to manage the professional and personal relationships that occur within each work group. These situations are necessary in the training process since they will be to be fought daily in their future professional life.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Diversity and Inclusion in Engineering Education: Looking Through the Gender Question

The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field in general, and Engineering, suffer from a lack of diversity. Yet there is growing evidence that more diverse organizations are more successful and effective. There is also a global shortage of STEM and engineering skills that can be tackled by addressing the lack of diversity in the field. One obvious way to view this problem is by looking at gender. Women make up 50% of the population, but in Engineering the number of female students and professionals is clearly less than this, often around 10 – 25% in many parts of the world. This underrepresentation of women leads us to think about other groups that are underrepresented in Engineering; these include Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and those from socially deprived backgrounds. This paper examines a number of approaches to support diversity and inclusion to encourage a greater uptake of engineering by underrepresented groups and to retain people in the sector

Health state perception of people close to retirement age: Relationship with lifestyle habits and subjects' characteristics

Aim: Societal ageing increases the need for correct and healthy ageing to ensure the well-being of older adults. Practical strategies are needed to acquire healthy habits for the ageing process. This study aims to analyse the lifestyle habits of subjects who are retired or close to retirement and identify factors that could influence their perceived health and that could be related to these habits. Methods: A Spanish observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study of subjects close to retirement-age. Socio-demographic, family, work, leisure, social, and clinical-psychological indicators were evaluated. Results: 1,700 participants (581 employed; 714 retirees; 405 other-status) were included, average age 63 years, 52% women. Most reported a satisfactory social life (90%), were in live-in relationships (74%), non-smoking (80%), followed a Mediterranean diet (73%), and took medicines daily (70%). Perceived health (EQ-VAS) was 75.9/100, with low disability (12-WHODAS) (7.4/100) and moderate/severe depression. Women reported higher disability (p < 0.001) and depression (p < 0.001), a better social life, and healthier lifestyle, but lower physical/work activity. Retirees reported less depression, better social life, healthier lifestyle, higher physical/work activity, and better sleeping habits. The multivariate model showed a significant association of health-status with disability level, number of chronic diseases, sleep habits, exercise, diet, and alcohol consumption. When depression level was introduced, age and being a woman were also related. Conclusions: Retirement does not mean worse health but rather an opportunity to reinforce favourable health activities and improve lifestyle factors. Incorporating the differences related to gender and employment status in health-perception will facilitate the design of healthy ageing strategies.S

Teaching practice for subject of graphic expression through project based learning

Comunicación presentada en el XXIII International Conference on Graphic Engineering- Madrid 2013.Project-based learning PBL (Aprendizaje Basado en Proyectos, ABP) is a participatory methodology which foments skills demanded by the company, in addition to being a teaching strategy which helps to achieve competence in the subjects of graphic expression at/in the different degrees of industrial engineering. This article presents the design, development, analysis and evaluation of results obtained in a project of computer-aided design, based on PBL, aimed to students in electrical engineering degree from Polytechnic School of Malaga during the biennium 2008/2010, developed in the educational innovation project, PIE08-056.PIE08-05

Paresia poscrítica durante estudios de monitorización de vídeo-EEG

To know the frequency of Todd s paralysis during the video EEG monitoring studies, to investigate in its pathophysiology, and to confirm its value to localise the epileptic focus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed 114 monitoring studies, in 102 patients. RESULTS: Sixty patients had epileptic seizures. An obvious paresis was noted in four seizures of two patients (3 and 1, respectively). Both patients had frontal epilepsy. During the paralysis, in the first patient the EEG showed ictal discharges on the contralateral centrotemporal area. In the second patient, the EEG demonstrated slow waves in the contralateral frontal region. The ictal onset was contralateral to the paresis in all cases. No patient with pseudoseizures had paralysis. CONCLUSIONS: Postconvulsive paralysis are not frequent in video EEG monitoring studies. However, if present it points out to a contralateral seizure onset. In our series it happened in patients with frontal seizures. The EEG may help to clarify if it correspond to a true postictal phenomenon or to a ictal paralysis

Comparativa y análisis de la Ingeniería Gráfica en el Grado en Ingeniería en Tecnologías Industriales

El grado constituye el primer nivel de los estudios universitarios. En él se incluyen las enseñanzas básicas junto con otras materias orientadas a la formación del futuro ingeniero. En este artículo se realiza un estudio de la participación académica del área de Expresión Gráfica en la Ingeniería en el Grado en Ingeniería en Tecnologías Indusriales a nivel nacional en universidades públicas y privadas. Como resultado se puede observar una diferencia en la participación de esta área en las universidades públicas con respecto a las privadas; así la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia realiza una mayor oferta mientras que alguna privada, como la Universidad de Navarra y Deusto, solo oferta 6 créditos. Finalmente, se muestra una comparativa mediante gráficos de la participación y situación en las distintas universidades. Por otra parte, a nivel local también se analiza la relación con diferentes materias del plan de estudios de la Universidad de Málaga, a través de su plan docente, teniendo en cuenta los itinerarios y temporización. Los resultados muestran como la mayor relación de las asignaturas del área de Expresión Gráfica en la Ingeniería están más vinculadas a itinerarios de Electricidad, Estructuras y Materiales y, por último, Mecánica y Máquinas.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Pandora: A new morphometric and statistical software for analysing and distinguishing cut marks on bones

Cut mark studies have experienced a useful development in the last few years. These studies have allowed us to obtain important information about human prehistory spanning from the origin of meat consumption for chronologies around 2.5 Ma, the detection of human hunting behavior during the lower Pleistocene, or even to determine the uses of diverse raw materials on carcases. Amongst the different analyses applied to the study of cut marks, there has been an increasing interest in using morphometry in order to differentiate and characterize the raw materials with which the effectors were made. These techniques have proven to be extremely useful. Nevertheless, this 3D methodology demands the use of expensive equipment and does not allow using an extensive sample, making it a complex and problematic technique. Maté-González et al. (2015) considered an alternative technique, by combining different disciplines involving geometric morphometrics, photogrammetry and multivariate statistics (multidisciplinary methodology). Here, we try to continue with this work presenting Pandora, a new open software capable of analysing a useful amount of variables from a statistical and morphometric view, accelerating and simplifying the process