Education and Training of Future Nuclear Engineers Through the use of an Interactive Plant Simulator

The successful experience of the Jose Cabrera Nuclear Power Plant Interactive Graphical Simulator implementation in the Nuclear Engineering Department in the Universidad Polite´cnica de Madrid, for the Education and Training of nuclear engineers is shown in this paper. The paper starts with the objectives and the description of the Simulator Aula, and the methodology of work following the recommendations of the IAEA for the use of nuclear reactor simulators for education. The practices and material prepared for the students, as well as the operational and accident situations simulated are provided.

Developmental Expression of Kv Potassium Channels at the Axon Initial Segment of Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Axonal outgrowth and the formation of the axon initial segment (AIS) are early events in the acquisition of neuronal polarity. The AIS is characterized by a high concentration of voltage-dependent sodium and potassium channels. However, the specific ion channel subunits present and their precise localization in this axonal subdomain vary both during development and among the types of neurons, probably determining their firing characteristics in response to stimulation. Here, we characterize the developmental expression of different subfamilies of voltage-gated potassium channels in the AISs of cultured mouse hippocampal neurons, including subunits Kv1.2, Kv2.2 and Kv7.2. In contrast to the early appearance of voltage-gated sodium channels and the Kv7.2 subunit at the AIS, Kv1.2 and Kv2.2 subunits were tethered at the AIS only after 10 days in vitro. Interestingly, we observed different patterns of Kv1.2 and Kv2.2 subunit expression, with each confined to distinct neuronal populations. The accumulation of Kv1.2 and Kv2.2 subunits at the AIS was dependent on ankyrin G tethering, it was not affected by disruption of the actin cytoskeleton and it was resistant to detergent extraction, as described previously for other AIS proteins. This distribution of potassium channels in the AIS further emphasizes the heterogeneity of this structure in different neuronal populations, as proposed previously, and suggests corresponding differences in action potential regulation.

System Engineering Approach to Initial Design of LEO Remote Sensing Missions

The satellite remote sensing missions are essential for long-term research around the condition of the earth resources and environment. On the other hand, in recent years the application of microsatellites is of interest in many space programs for their less cost and response time. In microsatellite remote sensing missions there are tight interrelations between different requirements such as orbital altitude, revisit time, mission life and spatial resolution. Also, all of these requirements can affect the whole system level design characteristics. In this work, the remote sensing microsatellite sizing process is divided into three major design disciplines; a) orbit design, b) payload sizing and c) bus sizing. Finally, some specific design cases are investigated inside the design space for evaluating the effect of different design variables on the satellite total mass. Considering the results of the work, it is concluded that applying a systematic approach at the initial design phase of such projects provides a good insight to the not clearly seen interactions inside their highly extended design space

Replication Data Management,needs and solutions: an initial evaluation of conceptual approaches for integrating heterogeneous replication study data

Replication Data Management (RDM) aims at enabling the use of data collections from several iterations of an experiment. However, there are several major challenges to RDM from integrating data models and data from empirical study infrastructures that were not designed to cooperate, e.g., data model variation of local data sources. [Objective] In this paper we analyze RDM needs and evaluate conceptual RDM approaches to support replication researchers. [Method] We adapted the ATAM evaluation process to (a) analyze RDM use cases and needs of empirical replication study research groups and (b) compare three conceptual approaches to address these RDM needs: central data repositories with a fixed data model, heterogeneous local repositories, and an empirical ecosystem. [Results] While the central and local approaches have major issues that are hard to resolve in practice, the empirical ecosystem allows bridging current gaps in RDM from heterogeneous data sources. [Conclusions] The empirical ecosystem approach should be explored in diverse empirical environments.

Los contenidos de expresión corporal en el titulo de grado en ciencias del deporte

La Expresión Corporal como materia educativa tiene su origen en España, de forma ligada a la Educación Física y su desarrollo en el ámbito universitario, durante la segunda mitad del siglo XX. Pero su corpus teórico no se encuentra definitivamente asentado, dando lugar a diferentes interpretaciones y consideraciones sobre cuáles deben ser considerados contenidos propios de la materia y sobre cómo deben ser estructurados. La presente tesis tiene por objeto de estudio precisamente los contenidos de la Expresión Corporal como materia perteneciente a las Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, tratando de dar una respuesta fundamentada al planteamiento anterior. Para lo cual se seleccionaron y analizaron las principales obras de referencia para la materia en base a las cuales establecer una estructura de bloques de contenido y categorías asociadas. Se analizó la oferta formativa que, desde las universidades públicas españolas, se realizaba sobre el título de licenciado en Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, comprobando por una parte la heterogeneidad en el tratamiento dado y por otra su adecuación a la estructura generada. Y en tercer lugar se examinó la normativa que articula y desarrolla el tratamiento de la Expresión Corporal en la Ley Orgánica de Educación, concretando el análisis en la etapa de Secundaria, en un proceso de triangulación sobre las fuentes documentales de mayor influencia, constatando una aparente falta de estructura en la selección y planteamiento de los contenidos a desarrollar dentro de la asignatura de Educación Física. En base a estas investigaciones, a la propia experiencia docente del doctorando y a la contribución de diferentes expertos en la materia se desarrolla una propuesta estructurada de contenidos de Expresión Corporal, la cual es implementada en el título de grado en Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte ofertado por la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, analizando finalmente el nivel de relevancia que perciben los alumnos respecto de los contenidos de la materia planteados, infiriendo de los resultados obtenidos que se produce un aprendizaje significativo por parte de los futuros titulados. Se organizó la investigación en torno a cinco fases, utilizando en las tres primeras como metodología principal en análisis de contenido de las principales fuentes documentales (obras de referencia, programas docentes universitarios y normativa educativa), la cual es apoyada por otras herramientas como el grupo de discusión. La cuarta fase consistente en la elaboración de una propuesta estructurada de contenidos, contó con la valoración de un grupo de expertos en la materia. Mientras que en la fase de implementación y evaluación se recurrió al formato de entrevista colectiva mediante el empleo de cuestionario auto cumplimentado. La principal contribución de este trabajo es por tanto la presentación de una propuesta de estructuración de contenidos en Expresión Corporal, como parte de las manifestaciones básicas de la motricidad humana y enmarcada en el ámbito de las Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte; que tiene respaldo en las obras de referencia de la materia, en la formación inicial de los licenciados en Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte y en el desarrollo normativo de la Ley Orgánica de Educación; y que ha sido implementada en el actual título de Grado en Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid con resultados satisfactorios. ABSTRACT Corporal Expression as an educational subject has it origin s in Spain, linked to physical education and its development at University context, during the second half of the twentieth century. But his academic corpus has not been definitively settled, leading to different interpretations and considerations about what should be considered as proper contents of subject and how they should be structured. This thesis aims to study precisely the contents of the Corporal Expression as a subject belonging to Sciences of Physical Activity and Sport, trying to give a reasoned response to the previous approach. Taking this objective into consideration, main reference works were selected and analyzed to set a content structure and associated categories. The training offer of Spanish public universities in the Science of Physical Activity and Sport degree was analyzed, checking on the one hand the heterogeneity in the treatment and on the other their suitability to the structure generated. Thirdly, normative related to the treatment of Corporal Expression in the Ley Orgánica de Educación was examined paying special attention to the Secondary School stage. The process of triangulation which was performed using the most influential documentary sources suggested an apparent lack of structure and approach in the selection of contents to be developed in the subject of Physical Education. Based on these investigations, on the own teaching experience of the candidate and on the contribution of various experts in the field, a structured proposal of Corporal Expression contents is offered. This proposal has been implemented in the bachelor's degree in Sports Science offered by the Technical University of Madrid. Level of importance of the implemented contents perceived by students was analyzed and results suggested the presence of meaningful learning among graduates. Research was split into five phases. In the first three phases content analysis of the main documentary sources (reference books, university programs and educational standards), which was supported by other tools like the discussion group was the principal methodology. The fourth phase consisted in the development of a proposal structured content, involving the assessment of a group of experts in the field. In the implementation and evaluation phase collective interview using self-completed questionnaire was conducted The main contribution of this work is therefore presenting a proposal for structuring content in Corporal Expression, as a part of the basic manifestations of human motorskill and framed in the field of Sciences of Physical Activity and Sport; which draws on the support of reference works, initial training of graduates in Science of Physical Activity and Sport and the development of the normative of the Ley Orgánica de Educación; and has been implemented in the current Degree in Sports Science of the Technical University of Madrid with satisfactory results.