This research focuses on the need to clearly define the lateral design force distribution shape for the seismic design of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. It specifically looks at the effects of soil-structure interaction (SSI) and inelastic structural behavior. Traditional seismic design methods usually assume fixed-base conditions and overlook SSI. This can result in inaccurate predictions of how much the structure will deform. To create a more reliable, data-driven seismic design framework, the study conducted extensive nonlinear time-history analyses on various regular RC buildings using OpenSeesPy both for generating a building database based on current code provisions and for assessing their dynamic response. These models vary across important factors, including fundamental periods, slenderness ratios, lambda(str), and soil conditions. The spectral acceleration at the first mode period (S) over tilde (a(T1)) served as the measure of ground motion intensity (IM). The collected data were used to derive classical regression equations and to train machine learning models, including Neural Network Regression and Gradient-Boosting Regression Trees, to predict the optimal lateral force profile shape. These methods are essential for understanding the complex, nonlinear relationships between seismic input factors and the dynamic char acteristics of a building, as well as engineering demand parameters (EDPs) such as storey drift. The study found that the key factors affecting nonlinear lateral displacement and force-shape profile include the structure's slenderness ratio lambda(str) , the fixed-base and flexible-base fundamental periods, T-n and (T) over bar (n), and the IM, (S)over tilde>(a(T1)). By providing a probabilistic assessment, this methodology seeks to improve the outcomes of seismic design codes and enhance performance-based design for RC buildings.
This work presents an interdisciplinary university outreach experience focused on the development of therapeutic creams based on local essential oils, mainly eucalyptus, to support physiotherapy treatments for low-income older adults in the neighbourhood of La Vicentina (Quito, Ecuador). The project was part of PUCE Solidaria, with the participation of Chemistry and Physiotherapy students who prepared and applied the products in a socially vulnerable community context. The distillation method was used to obtain essential oils, and creams with a warming effect were subsequently formulated. More than fifty people benefited, reporting improvements in mobility as well as relief of muscular and joint pain. Furthermore, the experience enabled students to apply scientific knowledge in a socially relevant environment, strengthening their commitment to chemistry in the social sphere and to community hope. This study combines scientific rigor and social engagement, in line with the university’s mission to contribute to justice and collective well-being.
This work presents the statistical analysis of Tseltal language, and the results are based on the Bible books. It constitutes one of the first systematic efforts to characterize the linguistic structure of Tseltal and to quantitatively assess its similarity with other dialects. The corpus is analyzed by ordering words according to their frequency of occurrence, fitting the resulting distributions to Zipf’s law and Zipf-Mandelbrot law, by linear regression and maximum likelihood method. The results indicate that the Zipf exponent for Tseltal is close to one, a behavior consistent with reported exponent values for other languages, including some within the Mayan family, finally, the calculated parameters are discussed.
Loneliness among older adults represents a complex and growing challenge, with significant emotional and social repercussions. In this context, the Co-bien project adopts a co-design approach to address this issue through empathy, active listening, and socially meaningful technology. The aim of this study is to develop an adapted engagement protocol that enables the exploration of experiences, needs, and expectations of older adults at risk of experiencing loneliness. Qualitative methods such as Cultural Probes and in-depth interviews were employed within participatory workshops involving older adults from diverse contexts. Preliminary findings suggest that these tools foster self-reflection, build trust, and facilitate access to subjective meanings that are difficult to capture through traditional methods. Preliminary results suggest that combining Cultural Probes and in-depth interviews not only enables access to intimate experiences usually inaccessible to traditional methods, but also increases motivation, trust and participants’ sense of agency—laying the groundwork for co-design processes that are ethically stronger and more operationally robust.
This paper presents a teaching experience in Biomedical Engineering based on Ignatian Pedagogy, seeking deep learning committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project integrates the development of Embedded Systems (using Arduino) with training in key transversal learning outcomes (teamwork, communication, and critical learning). The use of an active methodology and the focus on real challenges in the field of health have proven to be effective, motivating students to apply technical knowledge and principles of responsibility. The results confirm that by aligning technology with social commitment, a comprehensive education is achieved that prepares future professionals to address complex problems in a sustainable manner.
This paper describes the collaboration between the EKI Foundation and the University of Deusto. The EKI Foundation develops photovoltaic solar energy projects in communities in sub-Saharan Africa, and the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Deusto integrates this experience into the academic training of its students under the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, combining academic excellence with social responsibility and ethical training. The experience is developed through student participation in the context of their Final Degree Project and through a seminar in the Professional Ethics course, in which EKI members actively participate. In this way, it demonstrates how institutional alliances can address global challenges from a comprehensive perspective: technology, ethics and commitment to service make possible the Jesuit ideal of educating individuals who contribute to a more just and sustainable world. This collaboration promotes critical reflection on the role of engineers in society and opens the door to future collaborative activities.
This article presents the case study “Design with Purpose: A Humanistic Strategic Proposal for Diocesan Commerce”, developed within the academic framework of the University of Deusto. The study responds to a commission from the Diocese of Bilbao to reimagine Jakinbide bookstore in the context of declining profitability and social disengagement. Applying the Design Council’s Double Diamond methodology, the project conducted a comprehensive diagnostic and identified strategic opportunities that transcend purely commercial considerations. The resulting value proposition seeks to reposition the bookstore as a cultural and social hub aligned with the diocesan mission, emphasizing three pillars: the democratization of the Catholic mission, the fostering of cultural community, and the fight against disinformation and despair. The case demonstrates how design, understood as a human-centered process, can serve as a lever for transformation within religious and social institutions, while also highlighting the role of the Jesuit university as an agent of hope.
This study evaluated the performance of high-traffic asphalt mixtures incorporating 1.5% aircraft tire powder, in compliance with the MOP-001F-2002 standard. An experimental program was conducted comparing conventional mixtures with modified mixtures, assessing stability, flow, void content, and adhesion through standardized laboratory tests. Results indicated that the addition of tire powder increased dry stability (2,200 lb vs. 1,950 lb), limited stability loss under immersion to less than 50%, and maintained values within regulatory flow ranges. Furthermore, residual adhesion improved and void content remained within acceptable limits. These findings demonstrate that incorporating aircraft tire powder enhances the mechanical stability and cohesion of asphalt mixtures without compromising workability or compaction, offering a sustainable alternative for heavy-traffic pavement applications under critical rainfall conditions.
The R3 Project (https://proyecto-r3.ingenieria.deusto. es/) was created from the motivation of a group of professors and researchers at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Deusto to foster scientific vocations in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) among young people from rural areas-that is, to democratize access to experimental science and technology. Its objective is to reduce the educational gap between rural and urban schools by promoting interest in STEM disciplines and ensuring educational equity (SDG 4). Through collaboration between technologists and experts from other disciplines, the project offers an innovative solution that allows students to interact with science without the need for expensive infrastructure. The University of Deusto, a leader in remote laboratories, works with LabsLand to develop this technology, facilitating its implementation in rural schools and enabling teachers and students to carry out real experiments via the Internet. Moreover, the R3 Project promotes sustainability, as experiments are shared among educational centers, optimizing economic resources and reducing environ
This paper integrates graph-theoretic methods and computational geometry to model sensor deployments as weighted Delaunay graphs, capturing spatial proximity and communication costs. Several strategies are proposed to address different and common problems related to the management of sensor networks, including battery management, reconfiguration of network communication topologies, efficient data collection, etc. In particular, six algorithmic methods are presented, combining minimum spanning trees (MST), shortest path computations, edge contraction, graph labeling, Voronoi diagram segmentation, and Delaunay triangulation. These methods are theoretically supported by some novel results on the hamiltonicity and chromatic properties of Delaunay graphs, ensuring complete traversal routes. The performance and scalability of the framework are shown with a real deployment of a sensor network for the monitoring of a suger cane field, where the performance and computational requirements of the proposed methods are assessed.
Single crystalline carbon dots were synthesised using green techniques. Morphological and optical studies of the synthesised system was done by using UV-visible absorption spectrum, photo luminescence spectrum, Raman analysis, High resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrum analysis. A detailed thermo-optic property of the system was carried out using dual beam mode matched thermal lensing technique. The calculated values of thermo-optic parameters are utilised in evaluating the application potential of the material as heat carriers. The present analysis revealed that this novel system has the optimum value of thermal diffusivity (0.084×10-3 cm2/s), which is required for a high-performance coolant material.
Education has evolved towards student-centred approaches such as Problem Based Learning (PBL), which promotes active, practical and autonomous learning. In this context, the assignment of roles within working groups has proven to be an effective tool to encourage active participation in practical activities. This approach applied to undergraduate students of the Degree in Food Science and Technology has not only served to increase students' motivation towards the subject, but has also improved their academic performance, favouring learning and the development of key competences such as effective communication and decision making. Thus, the combination of PBL and role-placement has been consolidated as an effective educational strategy that enriches the teaching-learning process and prepares students for professional challenges.
Starting from 8-fluoro-1-benzosuberone 1, a new series of benzocyclohepten-6,4'-pyrazol-5(7H)-one derivatives 4a-c, benzo[3,4]cyclohepta[1,2-d]isoxazole 6, and benzo[6,7]-cyclohepta[1,2-c]pyrazole 7 were synthesized. On the other hand, substituted-2,3-diazaspiro[4,6]undec-1-en-6-ones 10a,b, 13, 14a-c were synthesized from cycloheptanone 8. The aminopyrimidine thiones 16 and amino pyrimidine derivative 18 were afforded from the corresponding benzylidines of cycloheptanone 12 and 17 with thiosemicarbazide and guanidine hydrochloride, respectively. The structures of the isolated products were established by analytical analyses and spectroscopic data (MS, IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR). The antimicrobial activity of the isolated products has been evaluated against two bacterial strains in addition to two fungal strains. The results showed that compounds 6, 14c, 18 showed moderate potency against both two bacterial strains.
This research report presents a comprehensive investigation into the accuracy, safety, and pedagogical integrity of "DIY science" videos circulating on Chinese short-video platforms, specifically Douyin and Bilibili. With a specific focus on the viral trends of polystyrene dissolution (often framed as "green recycling") and natural pH indicators, this study analyzes a sample of N=500 videos to evaluate their alignment with the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry. Utilizing the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and a modified DISCERN instrument, the analysis reveals a critical bifurcation in the digital science ecosystem. While Bilibili's unique interface features, particularly danmu (bullet comments), foster a rudimentary form of peer review and correction, Douyin’s algorithmic architecture prioritizes visual spectacle, leading to the widespread propagation of the "naturalistic fallacy" and hazardous home laboratory practices. The findings indicate that 78% of videos purporting to demonstrate "green recycling" violate fundamental waste prevention principles, often instructing viewers to generate hazardous, flammable solvent mixtures under the guise of environmental sustainability. This report argues that the current landscape of short-form science content constitutes a significant vector for "pedagogical greenwashing," necessitating urgent educational and platform-level interventions.
African Cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) is a begomovirus belonging to the Geminiviridae family. This single stranded DNA (ssDNA) virus severely impacts cassava production, causing significant yield losses. The Rep protein is an essential component of ACMV replication, which initiates viral DNA replication. Unfortunately, the Rep protein has not yet been crystallized, and its full three-dimensional structure remains unknown. Current computational chemistry methodologies enable the generation of reliable structural models, paving the way for rational drug design and inhibitor screening. Particularly, in this study, we compare the application of RoseTTAFold and AlphaFold in the generation of a three-dimensional model of Rep protein. Given the absence of an experimentally resolved structure, in silico validation of the generated models was performed using ERRAT, Verify3D, Whatcheck and Procheck. Results suggest that the RoseTTAFold model produced a stable model (GDT=0.78, instability index=38.13) with predominantly hydrophilic characteristics and it exhibited superior non-bounded interaction quality (ERRAT score: 95.7%). Conversely, the AlphaFold model showed a high-confident prediction (pTM=0.5 and ipTM=0.8) featuring well-defined functional sites with slightly better stereochemical accuracy (91.8% residues in favoured Ramachandran regions). These validated models provide a robust foundation for future studies on ACMV replication and the rational design of antiviral compounds targeting the Rep protein.
The drying kinetics and quality attributes of convectively dried pumpkin cubes were evaluated. Convective drying at 50, 60, and 70 °C required 300, 180, and 165 minutes, respectively, to reduce the moisture content from 87.37% (w/w) to 5% (w/w), resulting in a final yield of 9.2% (w/w). Among the tested models, the Wang and Singh model provided the best fit for describing the drying kinetics of pumpkin cubes. The effective moisture diffusivity values were 1.216 × 10⁻⁸, 1.621 × 10⁻⁸, and 2.026 × 10⁻⁸ m²/s at 50, 60, and 70 °C, respectively. The activation energy of the drying process was 23.54 kJ/mol, which falls within the typical range reported for food materials. Moisture content was not significantly influenced by drying temperature; however, colorimetric parameters were affected. Changes in color confirm the occurrence of Maillard reactions during drying.
This research aimed to compare ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and Soxhlet solvent extraction of the essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia, commonly known as lavender, in terms of extraction yield and the chemical composition of the oils. After using both extraction methods, the samples were analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy. The presence of important metabolites such as monoterpenes (linalool, myrcene, pinene, etc.) was confirmed by examining their characteristic absorption bands, indicating the effective extraction of the main bioactive compound in lavender oil, linalool. The findings of this work clearly demonstrate that ultrasound-assisted extraction offers significant advantages, including a reduction in treatment time and better preservation of extracted compounds using principles applied within green chemistry and sustainability. Soxhlet extraction is known to have higher efficiency in terms of yield; however, it produces a larger environmental footprint due to its excessive solvent consumption and energy use. Overall, this comparative study is encouraging in the context of more environmentally friendly synthetic methodologies used for the preparation of plant-based extracts that may be very useful in future pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and therapeutic applications.
This study used HPLC and real samples to quantify and identify the twenty-two phenolic acids that make up the phenolic pattern of Asparagus aphyllus. Using various chromatographic techniques, five flavonoid compounds—apigenin, quercetin, apigenin-4'-o-rhamnoside, quercitin-3'-o-rutinoside, and quercetin-7-methoxide—were extracted from the plant's aerial portions. The chromatographic methods of thin layer chromatography (TLC), paper chromatography (PC), and column chromatography (CC) are used to separate the flavonoid components. The structure elucidation of the pure compounds was done by different chemical and physical methods such as UV-spectrophotometer, 1H & 13C NMR. Using the MCF7 (breast carcinoma cell line) and HCT (colon carcinoma cell line), the cytotoxic activity of the plant's successive extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, and 70% ethanol) was determined; the IC50 values varied. The highest activity was achieved by chloroform extract against breast carcinoma cell line (12.1 µg/ml), while ethanol extract (70%) had the most promising result at colon carcinoma cell line (16.2 µg/ml).
Rice husk (RH), a major byproduct of rice production, represents a significant environmental burden due to its high volume and common disposal through open burning. This study explores the potential of alkali-extracted lignin from Dominican rice husk (RHL) as a value-added bioproduct, with a focus on its characterization and antibacterial properties. Lignin was extracted using alkaline digestion from two rice varieties (Juma 69-20 and Prosequisa 4), and characterized via UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy. Extraction yields ranged from 18–23%, with no significant differences among varieties. Further optimization using Juma 69-20 showed that higher temperature (100°C) and smaller particle size (850–425 µm) significantly enhanced lignin recovery, with a maximum yield of 37.6%. Pretreatment had no significant effect. Spectroscopic analysis confirmed the presence of key lignin functional groups, although high oxidation levels and a predominance of ether bonds were noted. Despite literature reports of antimicrobial activity in lignin, RHL showed no inhibitory effects against ten bacterial strains. This may be due to unfavorable structural traits or particle size heterogeneity. Future work should focus on alternative extraction techniques and improved control over lignin structure to enhance its functional potential. This research supports the valorization of RH as a sustainable resource in biotechnological applications.
