Escuela de Politécnica Superior

Light profoundly impacts many aspects of human physiology and behaviour, including the synchronization of the circadian clock, the production of melatonin, and cognition. These effects of light, termed the non-visual effects of light, have been primarily investigated in laboratory settings, where light intensity, spectrum and timing can be carefully controlled to draw associations with physiological outcomes of interest. Recently, the increasing availability of wearable light loggers has opened the possibility of studying personal light exposure in free-living conditions where people engage in activities of daily living, yielding findings associating aspects of light exposure and health outcomes, supporting the importance of adequate light exposure at appropriate times for human health. However, comprehensive protocols capturing environmental (e.g., geographical location, season, climate, photoperiod) and individual factors (e.g., culture, personal habits, behaviour, commute type, profession) contributing to the measured light exposure are currently lacking. Here, we present a protocol that combines smartphone-based experience sampling (experience sampling implementing Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, KSS ratings) and high-quality light exposure data collection at three body sites (near-corneal plane between the two eyes mounted on spectacle, neck-worn pendant/badge, and wrist-worn watch-like design) to capture daily factors related to individuals’ light exposure. We will implement the protocol in an international multi-centre study to investigate the environmental and socio-cultural factors influencing light exposure patterns in Germany, Ghana, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey (minimum n = 15, target n = 30 per site, minimum n = 90, target n = 180 across all sites). With the resulting dataset, lifestyle and context-specific factors that contribute to healthy light exposure will be identified. This information is essential in designing effective public health interventions.

The acquisition of transversal competences has been proved to be vital for success in today's context. The different courses that a student of a degree in Architecture is taking are tools that he/she is acquiring to become a professional. However, it is the ability to interrelate and use them together that will provide students with the competences and skills they will need professionally in the near future. This ability requires training, the aim of carrying out transversal activities between subjects of the same grade is to promote the student's natural incorporation of this skill. For the success of this type of activity, collaboration between teachers is the driving force for cross-curricular teaching. This paper presents the results of a cross-disciplinary activity carried out between the courses of Mechanical Systems and Building Construction Analysis of the 4th of the Degree in Architecture at the Institute of Techonology (Universidad San Pablo-CEU). Four groups of students and six teachers have been involved.

Slightly more than half of the solar radiation that passes through the atmosphere and reaches the Earth's surface is infrared. Over the past few years, many papers have been published on the possible positive effects of receiving this part of the electromagnetic spectrum. In this article we analyse the role of mitochondria in the supposed effects of infrared light based on the published literature. It is claimed that ATP synthesis is stimulated, which has a positive effect on the skin by increasing fibroblast proliferation, anchorage and production of collagen fibres, procollagen, and various cytokines responsible for the wound healing process, such as keratinocyte growth factor. Currently there are infrared light emitting equipment whose manufacturers and the centres where this service or treatment is offered claim that they are used for skin rejuvenation among other positive effects. Based on the literature review, it is necessary to deepen the scientific study of the mechanism of absorption of infrared radiation through the skin to better understand its possible positive effects, the risks of overexposure and to improve consumer health protection.

Progress in composite materials is leading to new research lines in this field, creating analytical models to study their mechanical behaviour, improving manufacturing procedures or trying to improve the problems that appear at the matrix-particle interface. The material to be studied consists of a nickel alloy-based metal matrix reinforced with Silicon Nitride particles (Si3N4). According to the manufacturer's data, the particle fraction is 12% of the total volume of the material. The data used are the results of a microscopic analysis carried out on a series of specimens to establish the following concepts: mean size, size distribution and generic dimensions of the particles; distribution, orientation and orientation trends of the particles in the matrix; existence or not of clusters and probability of breakage, among others. The main objective of the research, to determine the influence of the geometry of the reinforcement particles on the mechanical behaviour of a composite material. It is concluded that the slenderness of the reinforcement particles influences the material properties by making these particles break more easily. In addition, the stress–strain graphs also show that their slenderness influences the stress and strain field, the elongated shape means that the reinforcement is located closer to the point of load application and, consequently, is subject to higher stresses due to the smaller amount of matrix it possesses.