La Autogestión del aprendizaje fuera del aula

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo identificar los procesos de cambio que se producen en el alumnado, en una salida a terreno de dos días. Para ello, se realizo un seguimiento de observación no participante, a dos curso de grado de primaria, en el que se realizo un estudio etnográfico, tanto de alumnos como docentes. Después del análisis de los datos se pudo concluir que esta actividad promueve a través de los espacios vividos, (I) un mayor vínculo entre el alumnado y entre el alumnado y los docentes, (II) las actividades realizadas por los alumnos evidencian un desarrollo de autogestión de su aprendizaje, (III) El tiempo, se dilata en cuanto a los períodos dedicados a las actividades que realizan los alumnos, esto permite que emerja eficazmente la auto-gestión del aprendizaje por parte del alumnado

La Aplicación Adobe® Connect T.M. 8 como recurso del b- learning o aprendizaje mixto para asignaturas de grado o en fase de extinción

La utilización de recursos electrónicos como el Adobe® Connect T.M. 8 en un tipo de aprendizaje denominado mixto es de notable importancia práctica y no sólo respecto de la docencia de las asignaturas de Grado, sino también para aquellas otras que se encuentran en proceso de extinción y de las que no se imparte docencia a los alumnos que no las han superado todavía. Más aún si se tiene presente que el B- Learning o aprendizaje mixto hace que el docente no sólo continúe ejerciendo su papel como formador tradicional, sino que también utilice en su proceso el material didáctico que la informática e Internet, en particular, le proporcionan. Convirtiéndose de este modo en tutor on line y formador mediante las clases presenciales

Revista dc: una experiencia en el campo de la autogestión de los estudios de postgrado universitario

Un proyecto que abarca desde la estrategia de fundación de una revista, hasta su edición, dirección y distribución, no sólo en un estricto ámbito universitario, sino también como buen ejemplo de vinculación de la investigación universitaria con los actuales requerimientos de difusión e indexación en los que se desarrolla la excelencia científica

Prediction of postprandial blood glucose under intra-patient variability and uncertainty and its use in the design of insulin dosing strategies for type 1 diabetic patients

In this thesis I propose a novel method to estimate the dose and injection-to-meal time for low-risk intensive insulin therapy. This dosage-aid system uses an optimization algorithm to determine the insulin dose and injection-to-meal time that minimizes the risk of postprandial hyper- and hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetic patients. To this end, the algorithm applies a methodology that quantifies the risk of experiencing different grades of hypo- or hyperglycaemia in the postprandial state induced by insulin therapy according to an individual patient’s parameters. This methodology is based on modal interval analysis (MIA). Applying MIA, the postprandial glucose level is predicted with consideration of intra-patient variability and other sources of uncertainty. A worst-case approach is then used to calculate the risk index. In this way, a safer prediction of possible hyper- and hypoglycaemic episodes induced by the insulin therapy tested can be calculated in terms of these uncertainties.

Biological nutrient removal in SBR technology: from floccular to granular sludge

Biological nutrient removal has been studied and applied for decades in order to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. However, more anthropogenic uses and the continued demand for water have forced the facilities to operate at their maximum capacity. Therefore, the goal of this thesis is to obtain more compact systems for nutrient removal from domestic wastewater. In this sense, optimization and long-term stabilization of high volume exchange ratios reactors, treating higher volumes of wastewater, have been investigated. With the same target, aerobic granular sludge was proposed as a reliable alternative to reduce space and increase loading rates in treatment plants. However, the low organic loading rate from low-strength influents (less than 1 Kg COD•m-3d-1) results in slower granular formation and a longer time to reach a steady state. Because of that, different methodologies and operational conditions were investigated in order to enhance granulation and nutrient removal from domestic wastewater.

Development of an air-scour control system for membrane bioreactors

The thesis involves the development and implementation of a new and robust control system based on permeability trends but at the same time capable of reducing aeration proportionally to permeate flux. Permeability was made a key parameter for directly comparing temporary changes in membrane performance. Transmembrane pressure and flux were gathered every 10 seconds and permeability values were automatically calculated; different mathematical algorithms were applied for the signal filtering of on-line data. Short term and long term permeability trends were compared once a day, and a control action was applied proportionally to the short term/long term permeability ratio without exceeding the aeration flow recommended by the membrane suppliers.

Integrated management of urban wastewater systems: a model-based approach

The main objective pursued in this thesis targets the development and systematization of a methodology that allows addressing management problems in the dynamic operation of Urban Wastewater Systems. The proposed methodology will suggest operational strategies that can improve the overall performance of the system under certain problematic situations through a model-based approach. The proposed methodology has three main steps: The first step includes the characterization and modeling of the case-study, the definition of scenarios, the evaluation criteria and the operational settings that can be manipulated to improve the system’s performance. In the second step, Monte Carlo simulations are launched to evaluate how the system performs for a wide range of operational settings combinations, and a global sensitivity analysis is conducted to rank the most influential operational settings. Finally, the third step consists on a screening methodology applying a multi-criteria analysis to select the best combinations of operational settings.

Procesos secuenciales de adsorción/oxidación con H2O2 para la eliminación de compuestos orgánicos volátiles

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are one of the main groups of odour causing compounds in Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP). Adsorption technology is already established, in recent years the interest for the optimization of the costs associated with this technique has grown significantly. In particular, there are different options, from the use of low cost adsorbents, to reducing costs associated with carbon regeneration process. In this thesis, the adsorption of the three VOCs on sewage sludge based adsorbents was studied. It was proved that adsorbents obtained by chemical activation of sewage sludge with alkaline hydroxides are comparable to commercial activated carbons (ACs). Likewise, the adsorption of multicomponent gaseous streams was also studied. Related to the ACs regeneration, it was proposed a regeneration treatment of VOC saturated ACs with H2O2 based on advanced oxidation processes (AOP). The influence of the surface chemistry of ACs in this regeneration process was also studied.

Treatment of mature urban landfill leachates by anammox process

This thesis results from the collaborative projects between the LEQUIA-UdG group and Cespa (a company in charge of several landfill sites in Spain). The aim of the work was the development of a suitable alternative treatment for nitrogen removal from mature landfill leachates. The thesis presents the application of the anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation process) process to treat ammonium rich leachates as the second step of the PANAMMOX® process. The work deals with preliminary studies about the characteristics of the anammox process in a SBR, with special focus on the response of the biomass to nitrite exposure. The application of the anammox process with leachate was first studied in a lab-scale reactor, to test the effect of the leachate matrix on anammox biomass and its progressive adaptation. Finally, a start-up strategy is developed and applied for the successful start-up of a 400L anammox SBR in less than 6 months.

The use of pulse amplitude modulated fluorescence techniques for metal toxicity assessment in fluvial biofilms

Metal pollution in rivers is in great concern with human activities in the fluvial watershed. This thesis aims to investigate the potential use of chl-a fluorescence parameters as biomarkers of metal toxicity, and to find cause-effect relationships between metal exposures, other environmental factor (i.e. light), and functional and structural biofilm responses. This thesis demonstrates that the use of chl-a fluorescence parameters allows detect early effects on biofilms caused by zinc toxicity, both in the laboratory as in polluted rivers. In microcosm experiments, the use of chl-a fluorescence parameters allows evaluates structural changes on photosynthetic apparatus and in algal groups’ composition of biofilms long-term exposed to zinc. In order to evaluate the effects of chronic metal pollution in rivers, it is recommended the use of biofilm translocation experiments and the use of a multi-biomarker approach.

La particularitat rossellonesa a través de Carles Grandó

The Clara Vilarrasa Ruiz’s doctoral thesis entitled La particularitat rossellonesa a través de Carles Grandó is directed by Francesc Feliu Torrent. This thesis seeks to discover the essence of Roussillon world through the production and character of Carles Grandó, writer, playwright, poet, folklorist, grammar and cultural activist unknown in academic circles. This approach to Roussillon revolves around three main areas: inventory and classification of the Fons Grandó of Perpignan University Library, the publication of a grammar dialect unpublished El sota-dialecte català de Perpinyà i de la plana de Rosselló and, finally, presenting a documentation that will help contextualize and understand the society of the early twentieth century in Roussillon.

Manuel Brunet i Solà (1889-1956). El periodisme d'idees al servei de la "veritat personal"

This doctoral thesis deals with the intellectual biography of the writer and journalist Manuel Brunet (Vic, 1889, Figueres, 1956). It reconstructs the life and professional studies of the author, and the most important facets of his literature and journalism. In addition, it examines his literary texts. A special emphasis has been placed on the study of journalistic production of Brunet and on the analysis of the professional profile of the author. Examination and assessment of its production has been accurate, including a classification of the items and a comparison of his journalistic style with that of other contemporary authors, both Catalan (Josep Pla and Joseph M. de Sagarra), French (Charles Maurras and Léon Daudet) and English (GK Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc). The latter part of the work analysises the condition of "victor won" of Manuel Brunet after the Spanish Civil War, and how this author is an example of a whole generation of conservative Catalan nationalist witers who lived a difficult situation after the conflict.

Environmental governance from a gender perspective. Theoretical reflections and case studies

In the second half of the twentieth century we saw the environmental debate escalate into one of the most challenging and complex issues that authorities at international, national, regional and municipal levels have to deal with. The inherent complexity of environmental problems, which brings out the interconnections between the economic, socio-cultural and ecological dimensions of the territory, is increased by the social, scientific and political focuses of the debate, and their interdependencies. In the framework of governance, scientific and technical assessments are a relevant but not “unique” source for legitimating environmental policymaking. The discussion is opened towards the consideration of different existing perspectives on the environment. The main objective of the present study is to systematize and explore in-depth the perspectives brought by feminism and gender to environmental governance. What is the specificity of a feminist and gender outlook? In what sense does it bring new light to environmental governance processes? Such questions are explored empirically and theoretically.

Les polítiques de paisatge a Europa en el marc del Conveni Europeu del Paisatge. Els casos d'Espanya, Alemanya i Eslovàquia

En aquesta tesi doctoral es pretén estudiar les diferents polítiques de paisatge a Europa, centrant-se en l’estudi a fons del Conveni Europeu del Paisatge, únic instrument dedicat exclusivament al paisatge. Mitjançant l’anàlisi de tres casos d’estudi, Espanya, Alemanya i Eslovàquia, més l’estudi de respectives regions dels mateixos, s’explicaran les eines i instruments existents avui per protegir, gestionar i ordenar el paisatge, afegint, però, l’element social, indiscutiblement lligat a la manera de veure, pensar i viure el paisatge. Es respon així a la hipòtesis de si ens trobem davant un canvi de paradigma, davant una nova sensibilitat respecte del paisatge. Indirectament es responen a dues preguntes més: demostrar si després de 10 anys de funcionament del Conveni Europeu del Paisatge aquest es perfila com a instrument per excel•lència per protegir, gestionar i ordenar el paisatge a Europa i si és possible l’existència de polítiques de paisatge efectives al marge del Conveni Europeu del Paisatge.

Analysis of chemical bonding and aromaticity from electronic delocalization descriptors

Interactions between electrons determine the structure and properties of matter from molecules to solids. Therefore, the understanding of the electronic structure of molecules will enable us to extract relevant chemical information. In the first part of this thesis, we focus our attention on the analysis of chemical bonding by means of the Electron Localization Function (ELF) and the Domain-Averaged Fermi Hole analysis (DAFH). In the second part, we assess the performance of some indicators of aromaticity by analyzing their advantages and drawbacks. We propose a series of tests based on well-known aromaticity trends that can be applied to evaluate the aromaticity of current and future indicators of aromaticity in both organic and inorganic species. Moreover, we investigate the nature of electron delocalization in both aromatic and antiaromatic systems in the light of Hückel’s (4n + 2) rule. Finally, we analyze the phenomenon of multiple aromaticity in all-metal clusters.