97828 research outputs found
Sort by
Amphiphilic systems based on ionic liquids derived from amino acids and related materials: applications as therapeutic agents and drug delivery vehicles
No full textDoctorat internacionalEsta Tesis Doctoral, enmarcada en Química Supramolecular, explora líquidos iónicos (ILs) y sistemas anfifílicos como agentes bioactivos y vehículos de fármacos. Se diseñaron ILs derivados de aminoácidos y pseudoaminoácidos, evaluando su síntesis, propiedades fisicoquímicas y bioactividad. Inicialmente se estudiaron 17 ILs imidazólicos con actividad antitumoral en diferentes líneas celulares, junto a sus mecanismos de acción mediante ensayos con membranas y microscopía confocal. Asimismo, se desarrollaron mezclas de esos ILs con metotrexato, que mostraron sinergia antitumoral y afinidad por ADN. También se sintetizaron 14 sales de amonio cuaternarias con actividad antimicrobiana y sinergia con antibióticos. La investigación incluyó sistemas poliméricos anfifílicos sensibles a estímulos redox y un sistema tripodal derivado de L-valina para encapsulación y liberación controlada de antioxidantes, con eficacia antitumoral y baja toxicidad. Los resultados, publicados en revistas internacionales, evidencian el potencial de los ILs como plataformas multifuncionales en aplicaciones farmacológicas y biomédicas.Programa de Doctorat en Química Sostenibl
Variation in responses to N limitation in Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme and S. pimpinellifolium accessions and hybrids reveals genetic potential for improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in tomato breeding
No full textEnhancing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is critical in reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture. Wild relatives represent valuable underexploited genetic resources for improving NUE and ensuring sustainable tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production in response to global demand. This study presents an integrative physiological and transcriptomic analysis of four genetically and geographically diverse accessions of S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme (SLC) and S. pimpinellifolium (SP), along with four interspecific F1 hybrids grown under optimal and sub-optimal N supply levels. These materials were evaluated for their long-term responses, and specific adaptations to N limitation were identified across materials. Specifically, SLC3 displayed high NUE under sub-optimal N supply, primarily due to efficient N partitioning to the fruit, and transcriptional activation of genes associated with photosynthesis and responses to light. Furthermore, SP1 and SP3 accessions presented the highest N uptake efficiency across both N levels, likely linked to differential regulation of genes related to amino acid transport in SP1 and root cell wall growth responses in SP3. Transcriptomic analyses revealed distinct sets of root- and leaf-expressed genes among accessions regulated in response to N availability. Specific combinations of genes involved in N transport, like NPF, NRT2, and amino acid permease families, and C/N metabolism were identified. These results emphasize the potential of SLC and SP accessions as sources of NUE-related alleles, highlighting that their successful incorporation as founders in multiparent MAGIC populations could accelerate breeding for high-yielding, N-efficient tomato cultivars
Development of Teaching Competency in Physical Education Teacher Education Students Through Critical Pedagogy: A Mixed-Methods Analysis
No full textPurpose: This study aimed to analyze the benefits of critical pedagogy regarding the development of teaching competency (TC) of Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) students (n = 20). TC represents the complex processes and determinants of adjusting lesson planning and implementation to the diverse students’ needs. Method: Mixed methods with methodological triangulation were used. Quantitative analysis involved pre- and posttest comparisons implementing the TC/MSBLG-R (Teaching Competency while performing Motor Skills and Body Language Games Rubric). Qualitative analysis was undertaken analyzing 20 reflective journals. Results: Quantitative results provide significant evidence regarding the positive effect of critical pedagogy on developing PETEs’ TC, while qualitative interpretation complements this view, showing how this outcome was achieved. Discussion/Conclusion: These original results show that critical pedagogy appears to be effective to enhance the TC of the PETEs; thus, bringing forth an educational experience with great academic value representing a new benchmark in PE and Sports research. Personal features, such as motivation, confidence, and leadership were identified as supplementary outcomes
Mistborn: Project Coinshot, a study of how the novel would be adapted into a videogame
No full textTreball final de Grau en Disseny i Desenvolupament de Videojocs. Codi: VJ1241. Curs acadèmic: 2024-2025This final degree project is intended to show a point of view of what a hypothetical video game adaptation of Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn saga would be like. This Final Degree Project focuses on the translation of the mechanics of the magic system of this fantasy literary work to a system of mechanics focused mainly on frenetic and manoeuvrable movement through forces of attraction and repulsion and parabolic movement in a 2D environment with very low visibility. It also aims to show a way of adapting another medium to a video game while maintaining the defining characteristics of the work by making use of gameplay rather than narrative
Desafíos bioéticos en el pronóstico, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica: discriminación por enfermedad avanzada.
No full textDoctorat industrialLa ELA es una patología neurológica degenerativa de etiología desconocida, que afecta a la vía piramidal a lo largo de la primera motoneurona y segunda motoneurona. Produce una degeneración progresiva de las neuronas motoras situadas en la corteza cerebral, tronco del encéfalo y médula espinal, que conduce a una debilidad y a una atrofia progresiva de la musculatura de inervación bulbar, torácica, abdominal y de las extremidades. Produce debilidad muscular, espasticidad, labilidad emocional, atrofia muscular, fasciculaciones, pérdida gradual de la función motora, tetraparesia, tetraplejia, disartria, disfagia e insuficiencia respiratoria. Tiene carácter progresivo y pronóstico nefasto, sin tratamiento y que genera una dependencia absoluta. La ELA es una enfermedad avanzada puesto que genera un daño irreversible, sin tratamiento curativo, múltiples e intensos síntomas, pérdida de la autonomía o fragilidad progresiva y un pronóstico de vida limitado. La ELA genera múltiples y complejos conflictos éticos destacando la discriminación por enfermedad avanzada.Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative neurological disease of unknown origin that affects upper and lower motor neurons, causing progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. In Spain, it affects around 4,000 people. Neuronal degeneration leads to loss of motor function, spasticity, fasciculations, dysarthria, dysphagia, and respiratory failure, eventually progressing to tetraplegia and complete dependence. Its prognosis is unfavorable: only 20% of patients survive beyond 3–5 years after diagnosis. There is no curative treatment, so care must begin early through a multidisciplinary approach aimed at alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life. ALS is considered an advanced disease from the time of diagnosis, given its irreversible progression, emotional impact, and high demand on healthcare resources. In addition, it raises important ethical dilemmas related to communication, autonomy, assisted dying, and discrimination due to advanced disease—a challenge that the upcoming ALS Law seeks to address.Programa de Doctorat en Ètica i Democràci
Study and development of low-GWP mixtures for commercial condensing units and ultra-low temperature systems
No full textCompendi d'articles, Doctorat internacionalThis PhD thesis develops low- or negligible-GWP refrigerant mixtures to improve energy efficiency and reduce refrigerants’ GWP in two key areas: medium-capacity CO2 systems and ultra-low temperature (ULT) autocascade systems. For CO2 systems, small additions of secondary refrigerants enhance energy performance. Experimentally, the mixture CO2/R152a achieved up to 11.2% COP improvement in basic cycle, whereas with advanced configurations the improvements were around 3%. With parallel compression cycle, new separation phenomena are unveiled. In the ULT segment, the thesis presents the first full thermodynamic analysis of an autocascade system using a novel calculation method based on liquid density. The optimal mixture (R600a/R1150 [70/30%]) and system enhancements, such as a capillary optimization, compressor replacement and recuperative low-temperature heat exchanger, increased COP from 0.144 to 0.338. Overall, this work proposes efficient, lower-impact alternatives to high-GWP refrigerants in two critical application segments.Programa de Doctorat en Tecnologies Industrials i Material
Towards Selective Glycerol Electrooxidation: Mechanistic Insights, Solar-Driven Systems and Product Analysis
No full textCompendi d'articles, Doctorat internacionalThis thesis investigates the electrooxidation of glycerol (GEOR) as a sustainable alternative to the oxygen evolution reaction for hydrogen production and biomass valorization. The work integrates three complementary approaches: (i) studying the effect of applied current density on product selectivity and reaction kinetics using nickel electrodes, (ii) exploring silicon-based photoelectrodes modified with Ni, Au, and PdAu to enhance light-driven glycerol oxidation and enable bias-free operation in flow photoelectrochemical reactors, and (iii) developing and validating an HPLC analytical method for accurate identification and quantification of key oxidation products. Spectroelectrochemical and kinetic analyses reveal the interplay between surface oxidation states, charge transfer, and product distribution. Overall, this research provides mechanistic insight and methodological advances that contribute to the rational design of efficient (photo)electrochemical systems for concurrent hydrogen generation and production of high-value chemicals from glycerol.Programa de Doctorat en Cièncie
A Comprehensive Approach to Language-Related Episodes (LREs) in English-Medium Instruction: Typology, Multimodal Nature, and Lecturers’ Beliefs
No full textDoctorat internacionalThis study explores the use of Language-Related Episodes (LREs) in English-Medium Instruction (EMI) settings: spontaneous moments when attention shifts from content to language. Through a case study of two lecturers in Mechanical Engineering and Business Management at a Spanish university, it draws on audiovisual recordings and interview data. The study explores the LREs’ typologies, multimodal features, and the lecturers’ beliefs on their practices. Findings indicate that LREs are scarce and call for new categories in the classification of LREs, emphasizing their collaborative and context-specific nature. A multimodal lens highlights the significant role of gestures, gaze, and visuals in reinforcing meaning, while lecturers, however, showed partial awareness of their use of multimodality. The study highlights LREs’ potential to address language barriers, improve communication, and support students’ academic and linguistic development in EMI contexts, and thus, advocates for integrating LRE into EMI teacher training to foster alignment between language and content.Programa de Doctorat en Llengües Aplicades, Literatura i Traducci
Gestión del Cuidado en Chile: tendencia de indicadores sensibles a enfermería y perspectivas gerenciales
No full textCompendi d'articlesLa gestión del cuidado reconoce la autonomía de la enfermera en Chile. Objetivo: Estudiar la gestión del cuidado en la estructura hospitalaria chilena a través de la tendencia de indicadores sensibles a enfermería y de las perspectivas gerenciales de enfermeras. Se realizaron tres investigaciones cuantitativas sobre infecciones urinarias, torrente sanguíneo y lesiones por presión, analizando series temporales (2001-2019) en todas las regiones del país. Los datos provinieron de egresos hospitalarios. Se realiza análisis descriptivo, bivariante y modelos de regresión Prais-Winsten calculando el cambio porcentual anual. Paralelamente, se desarrolló una investigación cualitativa con enfermeras gerentes, aún en evaluación. El análisis cuantitativo muestra un aumento sostenido y significativo en los tres indicadores a lo largo del tiempo. Desde lo cualitativo, surgieron seis subcategorías que abordan los desafíos, procesos reflexivos y riesgos de la gestión del cuidado. Los resultados son preocupantes, se evidencia la necesidad de consolidar el cuidado mediante indicadores y estandarizaciónCare management in Chile, recognized since 1997, gave nurses a strategic role in the hospital structure, especially after the Health Reform of 2000. This thesis analyzed its influence through four studies. The first one evaluated the trend of catheter-associated urinary tract infections, showing an annual increase of 2%. The second examined bloodstream infections linked to central venous catheters, identifying a significant increasing trend at the national level. The third studied the prevalence of pressure ulcers, finding a year-on-year increase of 11.33%. Finally, the fourth, of a qualitative nature, explored the perceptions of nurse managers, highlighting challenges, risks and the need for standardization. Overall, the findings show a sustained increase in nursing-sensitive indicators, which demonstrates the importance of consolidating tools that strengthen the professional role and give greater visibility to care management in the hospital structure.Programa de Doctorat en Ciències de la Infermeri
Anatomía de un “sarampión travesti”. La categoría de transexualidad y las representaciones de mujeres trans en el discurso social de la Transición española
No full textDoctorat internacionalEl presente trabajo estudia la recepción de la categoría de transexualidad y las representaciones de mujeres trans en el discurso social de la Transición en español y catalán, un periodo en el que se dio una presencia masiva de estas identidades en lo que hemos calificado como el "sarampión travesti”. Desde la óptica de los estudios culturales y los estudios de género —más concretamente, los estudios trans—, nos centramos en analizar una serie de objetos culturales de carácter endógeno y exógeno que, entre 1976 y 1983, tematizaron la experiencia trans y en los que existe un diálogo explícito con la entonces “nueva” categoría médica. El trabajo concluye que su recepción en España se produjo en unas condiciones muy particulares, alejada generalmente de la institución médica en la que había nacido en otros contextos nacionales, lo que propició su transformación y, en consecuencia, una mayor ductilidad como término de identificación.This doctoral dissertation studies the reception of the category of transsexuality and the representations of trans women in the social discourse in Spanish and Catalan during the Transition period. This was a crucial time, as it marked the first mass presence of these identities in what we have termed the ‘sarampión travesti.’ From the perspective of cultural studies and gender studies –and more specifically, trans studies – it focuses on analysing a series of cultural objects -novels, films and newspapers-, both endogenous and exogenous, that between 1976 and 1983 addressed the trans experience in that period and explicitly engaged with the then “new” medical category. The thesis concludes that the reception of the medical category in Spain occurred under very particular conditions, generally removed from the medical institution where it had originated in other national contexts.Programa de Doctorat en Llengües Aplicades, Literatura i Traducci