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- Peptide obtention with taste and/or taste-enhancing potential from by-products of porcine meat industry(2026) López Martínez, Manuel Ignacio; Toldrá Vilardell, Fidel; Mora Soler, Leticia; Escola de DoctoratThe population growth has led to an increase in demand for high-biological-value proteins. Meat is one of the primary sources, which is why its production, especially pork, has risen to over 300 million tons globally. This results in tons of byproducts, which, if not properly managed, can have a very negative environmental and economic impact. Among edible byproducts, so called co-products, porcine organs stand out for their excellent nutritional value, being rich in minerals, vitamins, and high-biological-value proteins. Therefore, due to this high protein content, enzymatic hydrolysis of these proteins could be an interesting technique to promote their valorization, as it is a sustainable, selective, and reproducible method. Enzymatic hydrolyzates contain substances that can promote health, such as bioactive peptides, as well as others like free amino acids and nucleotides, which can influence taste. Taste is a key factor in the acceptance of a food product; for this reason, pre- and post-treatment techniques are being developed to optimize the hydrolytic performance of enzymes and reduce bitterness, thereby promoting their use as functional ingredients that provide added value without negatively affecting palatability. For all these reasons, the main objective of this thesis was to develop enzymatic hydrolysates from porcine organs rich in antioxidants and taste-related substances, with a view to repurposing them as functional taste-enhancing ingredients. According to the results obtained, porcine liver, kidney, lung, brain, and heart proved to be excellent raw materials for the development of hydrolyzates with taste-enhancing potential, due to their high content of free amino acids and nucleotides. Furthermore, following an evaluation of various pretreatment techniques (thermal, ultrasonic, etc.) to optimize hydrolytic yield, as well as post-treatment methods to reduce bitterness, such as sequential hydrolysis or the addition of gamma-glutamyl transferases, it was observed that pretreatment with probe ultrasound significantly improved the antioxidant and ferrous-chelating capacity, as well as the release of taste-related amino acids, in porcine liver, heart, and lung hydrolyzates. In addition, the application of Protana Uboost gamma-glutamyl transferase in sequential hydrolyzates of porcine liver enabled the generation of gamma-glutamyl peptides associated with koku, an oral sensation that enhances fullness, complexity, and aftertaste, thereby promoting increased palatability. Peptidomic analysis and in silico tools determined that the peptide fractions containing more than 7 amino acids in porcine liver and lung hydrolyzates had both bioactive and taste-enhancing potential, due to a higher content of umami peptides than bitter ones. In conclusion, this thesis has successfully developed a comprehensive evaluation of the taste-related compounds in porcine organ hydrolyzates, promoting their valorization as functional taste-enhancers, which could be applied in healthier formulations with reduced fat, salt, and sugar content, without compromising their organoleptic properties.
- Radiobiology studies of gold nanoparticle-enhanced radiosensitization in proton therapy(2026) Fuster Martínez, Nuria; Saucedo Cuberes, D. H.; Jiménez Ramos, M. C.; Esperante Pereira, Daniel; Espino, J. M.; Fuster, J.; Belén Aguilar, Juan F.; González López, L.; Huertas, P.; Jimeno, S.; Mingarro Muñoz, Ismael; Pascual, D.; Suárez García, D.; García Murria, María JesúsBackground: Approximately 50% of newly diagnosed cancer patients world-wide receive radiotherapy, most commonly with X-rays. Proton therapy hasemerged as a promising alternative, offering complementary advantages overconventional X-rays due to its highly localized energy deposition at the Braggpeak, thereby reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. Inrecent years, advances in both technology and biomedicine have driven sig-nificant progress in proton therapy, with ongoing research aiming to minimizetoxicity and long-term side effects while improving patients' quality of life. Anemerging research direction investigates the combination of proton therapy withirradiated nanoparticles acting as radiosensitizers. This approach seeks syn-ergistic effects that could further improve therapeutic outcomes. These effectsarise from a complex interplay of physical,chemical,and biological mechanisms.Although previous in vitro and in vivo studies report promising radiosensitizationeffects of nanoparticles, the literature also includes contradictory results, andthe underlying mechanisms remain under debate. This highlighting the needfor systematic studies under well-controlled irradiation conditions of differentnanoparticles and beam parameters, which are often difficult to perform due tothe limited availability of particle accelerators and facilities suitably adapted forsuch experiments. Purpose: This work investigates the radiosensitizing effect of gold nanoparti-cles under proton irradiation and optimizes the irradiation setup to enable moreefficient and reproducible future experiments.
- Semantic technologies for cross-border traffic management in the EU context: interoperability, scalability, and compliance(2026) Samper Zapater, José Javier; Gutiérrez Moret, Julián; Castillo, Sergio F.; Macario de Siqueira Rocha, Jose; García Calderaro, José F.; Delgado, Ana M.Effective traffic information management is crucial in an increasingly interconnected world, where real-time data integration, interoperability, and accessibility represent fundamental challenges. Traditional traffic-information systems are often hindered by data fragmentation, heterogeneous formats, and limited interoperability across organisations and countries. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a semantic-driven architecture that leverages Linked Open Data, ontologies, GeoSPARQL, and semantic reasoning technologies to enable interoperable, federated, and AI-ready traffic information management. This architecture was deployed within the operational National Access Point (NAP) infrastructure of the Spanish General Directorate of Traffic. It integrates ontology-guided semantic transformation, cross-domain semantic enrichment, SWRL-based contextual reasoning, federated SPARQL interoperability, and geospatial semantic integration. The experimental evaluation covered local SPARQL performance analysis, cross-border federated interoperability between Spain and the Czech Republic, federated GeoSPARQL queries with external Linked Open Data sources, and controlled RDF graph-growth scalability experiments. The results demonstrated stable local SPARQL execution under workloads of up to 200 concurrent users and successful runtime federation across independent semantic infrastructures. Query response times remained stable as the RDF graph grew from approximately 4 k to 400 k triples. Federated GeoSPARQL experiments further showed the feasibility of dynamically enriching traffic incidents with external geospatial Linked Open Data at runtime. The deployed architecture illustrates how semantic technologies can improve interoperability, contextual information integration, explainable reasoning, and dynamic data federation in Intelligent Transportation Systems. Moreover, a real-time decision-support dashboard demonstrates the operational applicability of the generated semantic knowledge, providing a foundation for next-generation traffic information platforms and AI-ready mobility services.
- Presentacions de la XVII Jornada d’intercanvi d’experiències d’innovació docent E4TSE(Universitat de València, 2026) Benavent García, Maria Roser; García Pineda, Miguel; Loras Giménez, Sonia; Magdalena Benedicto, José Rafael; Martínez Sober, Marcelino; Robles Martínez, Ángel; Vila Francés, JoanLlibre amb les presentacions de la XVII jornada d'experiències d'intercanvi d'experiències d'innovació docent E4TSE celebrada a la ETSE-UV el 15 de juliol de 2026. Activitat del Pla d'innovació de Centre (PIC) del SFPIE de la Universitat de València.
- Model-Based Design of Sustained-Release Formulations of Anti-TNF-α Monoclonal Antibodies for Intravitreal Administration(2026) Reig López, Javier; Cuquerella-Gilabert, Marina; Zarzoso-Foj, Javier; Mangas Sanjuan, Victor; Merino, Virginia; Merino Sanjuán, MatildesettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Model-Based Design of Sustained-Release Formulations of Anti-TNF-α Monoclonal Antibodies for Intravitreal Administration by Javier Reig-López 1,2, ,Marina Cuquerella-Gilabert 1,2, ,Javier Zarzoso-Foj 1,2ORCID,Víctor Mangas-Sanjuán 1,2,*ORCID,Virginia Merino 1,2, ORCID andMatilde Merino-Sanjuán 1,2, ORCID 1 Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, University of Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain 2 Interuniversity Research Institute for Molecular Recognition and Technological Development, University of Valencia-Polytechnic University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. These authors contributed equally to this work. These authors contributed equally to the paper seniorship. Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(4), 445; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18040445 Submission received: 20 February 2026 / Revised: 31 March 2026 / Accepted: 2 April 2026 / Published: 4 April 2026 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Biologic Drug Development Through Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modelling and Simulations) Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract Background/Objectives: While intravitreal administration allows for increased ocular exposure to anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibodies, there is still a need for developing delivery systems able to prolong ocular drug exposure and alleviate patient compliance and safety concerns because of repeated injections. Therefore, the objective of this work was to guide the design of sustained-release formulations of anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibodies for intravitreal administration through a model-based strategy in non-infectious uveitis in the preclinical setting. Methods: Using an in-house-developed anterior uveitis disease model in rats, an intravenous reference dose reducing free TNF-α by 90% at the biophase was established. Intravitreal administrations of sustained-release formulations every 24 weeks were then simulated for adalimumab, golimumab and infliximab to evaluate TNF-α kinetics in the anterior chamber of the eye at different release rates. The selected sustained-release formulation was further evaluated for possible formulation issues causing device emptying before the next administration. Results: Intravitreal administration of sustained-release formulations releasing adalimumab, golimumab or infliximab at 1.802, 0.979 and 1.442 μg/week, respectively, met the predefined criteria of ≥90% reduction in free TNF-α at the biophase. TNF-α levels in aqueous humour were anticipated to be the most sensitive to detect possible formulation issues. Formulation emptying 10, 4 or 8 weeks for adalimumab, golimumab and infliximab, respectively, before next administration triggered TNF-α reaching pathological levels at week 24 post-dose. Conclusions: This work underscores the potential of new approach methodologies in the preclinical drug development of sustained-release formulations for intravitreal administration in ocular inflammatory disorders with less animal testing and without compromising the accuracy of model-informed predictions for human translation
- Impact of shelf-life on the pharmaceutical equivalence assessment of a hydrocortisone semisolid W/O emulsion: Evaluation of rheological, structural, and release properties(2026) Mañez Asensi, Andreu; Hernández Lucas, María Jesús; Mangas Sanjuan, Victor; Salvador, Ana; Merino Sanjuán, Matilde; Merino, VirginiaEDeveloping generic topical medicines is particularly challenging because of pharmaceutical equivalence criteria at microstructure level. The EMA guideline on bioequivalence of topical products introduced flexibility, acknowledging the high variability inherent to topical formulations. This study evaluated the evolution of rheological parameters (yield stress, viscous modulus in LVR, elastic modulus in LVR, zero shear viscosity and viscosity at 100 s−1), droplet size, and hydrocortisone release in 5 batches of a commercial semisolid W/O hydrocortisone buteprate cream over the 3-year shelf-life. Despite high intrinsically variability, rheological parameters remained stable over time. In contrast, droplet size and release parameters fluctuated over time, although without a distinct temporal pattern. All rheological parameters met equivalence as per the EMA guideline requirements, while droplet size and release parameters only did so in some comparisons. Principal Component Analysis revealed that rheological parameters were strongly interrelated but minimally correlated with release behavior, suggesting that rheological parameters could be redundant and have limited influence on drug release. Overall, the findings indicate that EMA's equivalence criteria with extended limits better reflect the natural variability of dispersed systems, although limits may need to be further broadened for some topical products. The results warrant further research to clarify the role of rheology in topical bioequivalence assessment.
- Propuesta de un modelo de informe psicológico forense para casos de incapacidad permanente(2026) Gutiérrez Jurado, José Enrique; Tortosa Gil, FranciscoEste trabajo plantea una estructura básica para elaborar informes psicológicos forenses en procedimientos de incapacidad permanente cuando la limitación alegada o examinada presenta un componente psicológico relevante. Desde una perspectiva aplicada, se revisan los elementos normativos, funcionales, clínicos y psicométricos que conviene tener presentes en este tipo de actuación pericial. El texto diferencia el diagnóstico psicopatológico de la valoración de la capacidad laboral residual, ya que ambos planos suelen confundirse en la práctica. La propuesta adopta un enfoque técnico-documental y se apoya en literatura reciente sobre informe pericial psicológico, evaluación forense, funcionamiento y validez de respuesta. Como resultado, se ofrece un modelo flexible de apartados que permite ordenar la información procedente del estudio documental, la entrevista, la exploración psicopatológica y las pruebas psicológicas. Se concluye que el informe debe ser claro, prudente, trazable y útil para los operadores jurídicos, delimitando el alcance de la opinión psicológica forense y evitando inferencias categóricas que no estén suficientemente justificadas.
- Real-time Spectral dynamics of Kerr-effect all-optical switching in long-period fiber gratings(2026) Rivera-Pérez, E.; Castelló-Lurbe, David; Cuadrado-Laborde, Christian; Díez, Antonio; Cruz, José Luis; Andrés, Miguel V.We report the first direct experimental measurement of the time-resolved transmission spectrum of an long-period fiber grating (LPG) during nonlinear Kerr-effect switching, enabling simulta- neous temporal and spectral reconstruction of the full transmission dynamics. Using a pump- probe technique, we directly record the temporal evolution of the LPG transmission spectrum as intense pump pulses propagate through the grating, enabling visualization of the switching process with unprecedented combined temporal and spectral resolution. Analytical expressions derived from coupled-mode theory accurately reproduce the measured probe dynamics, providing quan- titative insight into the dependence of the switching behavior on pump and grating parameters. Experiments performed with both short (40 ps) and long (700 ps) pump pulses reveal compara- ble switching performance, achieving an ON-OFF contrast ratio of 18 dB and an insertion loss of 3 dB in the ON state around 1556 nm for a pump peak intensity of 9.4 GW cm−2 at 1064 nm. In the short-pulse regime, transient probe transmittance values exceeding unity are observed within a limited spectral and time windows; this behavior, which does not imply optical gain, is fully explained by the model and originates from ultrafast pump-induced power redistribution. This transient phenomenon, together with the spectral reshaping of the LPG transmittance that induces a short-lived blue-shift of the −3 dB point, constitutes a dynamical signature not captured by prior models of Kerr-LPG switching. These results demonstrate the robustness of Kerr-based LPG switching across distinct temporal regimes and establish real-time spectral characterization as a powerful tool for the optimization of ultrafast fiber-grating devices.
- Modeling Atrial Fibrillation: from Fast Simulations to Risk Stratification and Therapy(2026) Romitti, Giada S.; Rodrigo Bort, Miguel; Liberos, Alejandro; Escola de DoctoratAtrial fibrillation (AF) remains one of the most challenging conditions in contemporary cardiovascular medicine, primarily due to the high variability in patient response to standard therapeutic strategies such as catheter ablation. While pulmonary veins isolation (PVI) has become a cornerstone of rhythm control, its effectiveness, particularly in patients with persistent AF, is often limited and difficult to predict. This variability is driven by a complex and highly individual interplay between atrial anatomy, structural remodeling, and underlying electrophysiological properties, which are not fully captured by current clinical approaches. In this context, computational modeling offers a promising pathway toward more personalized therapies. However, its translation into clinical practice is still hindered by a fundamental limitation: the trade-off between the high computational cost of detailed biophysical simulations and the need for rapid, patient-specific predictions that can be used in real clinical workflows. This thesis investigates the hypothesis that computational models can evolve into effective clinical decision-support tools by integrating two complementary research directions: on the one hand, the development of high-speed rule-based simulation frameworks, and on the other, the systematic exploration of inter-patient variability using high-fidelity biophysical models at the population level. The first part of this work focuses on the development and validation of a novel cellular automaton (CA) framework designed for high-throughput simulations of atrial electrophysiology. In contrast to traditional biophysical models based on systems of ordinary and partial differential equations, which are computationally expensive and difficult to scale, the proposed approach relies on a rule-based formulation informed by local electrophysiological restitution properties. By discretizing the atrial tissue into a grid of interacting cells, the model reproduces wave propagation through transitions between discrete excitation and recovery states. The framework was validated against the well-established Koivumäki et al. model, showing strong agreement in total activation times (122 ms vs. 124 ms) and high predictive accuracy in inducibility tests (96%). Importantly, the model achieved speed-ups of up to 65× in full 3D bi-atrial simulations and over 1260× in reduced-resolution configurations, enabling faster-than-real-time performance and making it suitable for scenarios where rapid iterative simulations are required. The second part of the thesis addresses inter-patient variability through the construction and analysis of large cohorts of virtual patients. In this context, high-fidelity biophysical simulations were employed to ensure sufficient resolution to capture the effects of electrical and structural remodeling. Using statistical shape modeling of bi-atrial anatomies derived from clinical data, we generated populations of virtual models incorporating variability in anatomy, electrical remodeling, fibrosis distribution, and diffusion properties to investigate how these factors influence AF dynamics. This analysis identified key structural biomarkers, including lateral atrial extent, right atrial volume, and Bachmann’s bundle length, as important determinants of arrhythmia maintenance. These findings suggest that a comprehensive characterization of the arrhythmic substrate requires a global bi-atrial perspective, rather than an exclusive focus on the left atrium. Building on these results, the thesis further evaluates the response to different catheter ablation strategies using in silico experiments. A comparison between PVI and a more advanced substrate-based strategy combining PVI with spatiotemporal dispersion-guided ablation (PVI+D) demonstrated a substantial improvement in treatment outcomes in models with advanced remodeling. In a cohort of highly inducible models, the addition of dispersion-guided lesions increased the AF termination rate from 59.5% to 97.6%, providing mechanistic support for emerging clinical approaches based on substrate modification. Finally, a multi-level stratification framework is proposed to identify patients less likely to respond to standard ablation and to guide the selection of more targeted therapeutic strategies. In conclusion, by developing a high-speed CA-based simulator on one hand and exploring population-level variability with detailed biophysical models on the other, this work establishes both the necessary tools and the conceptual foundation for future advancements in AF modeling. While virtual cohorts currently provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying treatment failure, the proposed CA framework lays the ground-work for the future integration of these insights into patient-specific, real-time decision support. Together, these contributions move the field toward a data-driven paradigm, bringing computational medicine closer to tangible clinical applicability.
- ANISE: an application to design mechanobiology simulations of planar epithelia(2022) Rodriguez Cerro, Angel; Sancho, Sergio; Rodríguez, Míriam; Gamón-Giménez, Miguel A.; Guitou, Léna; Martínez Durá, Rafael J.; Buceta, JavierTiFoSi is an efficient computational tool for performing mechanobiology simulations of planar epithelia. A drawback of this tool is that it relies on an XML configuration file (input data) that can be cumbersome to set up and/or decode due to the endless possibilities of the software. Moreover, some modeling know-how is needed in order to provide equations that describe gene regulatory interactions. These factors limit the usability of this tool for users with a weak computational and/or mathematical background. Here we introduce ANISE, a web-app that allows to easily setup the configuration of mechanobiology simulations using TiFoSi. The application covers all the configuration modules in TiFoSi comprehensively (from basic to advanced editing options) and uses a graphical approach (e.g., to build the modeling equations of gene regulatory networks).
- Metodología para el desarrollo de interfaces inteligentes de usuario(2026) Gaspar Villalba, Alberto; Panach Navarrete, José Ignacio; Gil Pascual, Miriam; Escola de DoctoratLas Interfaces Inteligentes de Usuario son sistemas altamente especializados en contextos de aplicación específicos. Esto dificulta considerablemente su proceso de creación, ya que cada sistema debe analizar características y comportamientos de usuario muy diversos. Además, existe una amplia variedad de lenguajes de programación para implementarlas, lo que dificulta su desarrollo. Con el objetivo de superar esta dificultad, se propone una metodología para el desarrollo de estos sistemas basada en tres fases: (1) la definición de las características del usuario, (2) la especificación de las métricas destinadas a estimar dichas características y (3) la determinación de los comportamientos que deben adoptar los elementos gráficos de la interfaz de usuario para adaptarse a dichas características. En la primera fase, se define un modelo de usuario que puede representar de forma abstracta un amplio conjunto de características de los usuarios en cualquier contexto de interacción. Este modelo de usuario contiene 19 características utilizadas para definir al usuario que interactúa con el sistema. El modelo se basa en una síntesis de trabajos anteriores que han propuesto modelos de usuario específicos. Esta primera fase constituye el primer paso hacia la creación de una metodología capaz de generar interfaces de usuario inteligentes que puedan adaptar las interacciones a usuarios con características y preferencias similares en contextos similares. Cabe destacar que se ofrece la posibilidad de añadir o suprimir las clases del modelo de usuario que se consideren necesarias. En la segunda fase, se ha definido un conjunto de métricas de usuario destinadas a estimar las características de usuario identificadas en la fase anterior. Para ello, se han especificado los parámetros asociados a cada métrica y se ha establecido una clasificación de valores que permite normalizar sus resultados y, así, estimar cada característica de usuario. Estas métricas se han clasificado en automáticas y manuales, según si los valores de sus parámetros se obtienen sin intervención del usuario o requieren su introducción explícita. Además, se ha llevado a cabo un proceso de abstracción de las métricas de usuario propuestas mediante una metodología Model-Driven Development, empleando UsiXML. En la tercera fase, y tomando como punto de partida los valores estimados de las características del usuario obtenidos en la etapa anterior, el sistema plantea un conjunto de personalizaciones orientadas a adaptar la interfaz gráfica a las necesidades individuales. Para ello, las adaptaciones se organizan en cinco módulos principales: entradas, comandos, opciones, resultados y disposición, tamaño y descripciones. Cada uno de estos módulos se define con detalle, especificando su finalidad en la interacción y los distintos valores que puede adoptar, con el objetivo de ajustar dinámicamente la presentación y el comportamiento de la interfaz a los diferentes perfiles de usuario identificados. De este modo, se busca mejorar la usabilidad, la accesibilidad y la eficiencia de la interacción mediante configuraciones acordes con las características previamente estimadas. Todas las fases presentadas han sido evaluadas. En la primera de ellas se llevó a cabo un estudio con 62 participantes, a quienes se les presentaron 15 escenarios y se les pidió que seleccionaran las características de usuario que consideraban más relevantes en cada caso. Los resultados obtenidos muestran un alto grado de coincidencia entre las características contempladas en el modelo de usuario propuesto y las que los participantes identificaron como relevantes en los distintos escenarios. Para validar la segunda fase se llevó a cabo un estudio con 60 participantes, quienes realizaron un total de 12 tareas. Para el análisis se empleó un modelo mixto en el que se compararon los valores obtenidos a partir de las métricas de usuario definidas con la valoración que los propios participantes atribuían a sus características. Los resultados evidencian que las métricas propuestas permiten estimar las características de usuario a partir de sus preferencias percibidas, especialmente en lo relativo a los conocimientos, las habilidades y los objetivos. Para validar la tercera fase, se llevó a cabo un estudio con 47 participantes, quienes realizaron un total de 25 tareas organizadas en dos etapas: una primera orientada a la estimación de sus características de usuario y una segunda destinada a la presentación de las personalizaciones de la interfaz. Para el análisis de los resultados se empleó un modelo lineal general MLG con el fin de determinar si la eficiencia y la eficacia variaban en función de las personalizaciones aplicadas, así como el cuestionario UEQ+ para evaluar posibles cambios en la experiencia de usuario. Los resultados evidencian un incremento generalizado en las tres variables analizadas al aplicar las personalizaciones propuestas. Los resultados obtenidos en la fase experimental muestran que el modelo de usuario propuesto incluye características relevantes para una amplia variedad de contextos de aplicación; asimismo, las métricas de usuario estiman dichas características de forma coherente con la percepción de los propios usuarios. Por último, el conjunto de personalizaciones ofrecidas mejora la experiencia de usuario y la usabilidad de los sistemas que las incorporan. Finalmente, se proponen diversas líneas de investigación futura orientadas a mejorar la escalabilidad de los sistemas desarrollados y a ampliar sus capacidades de personalización. En particular, se contempla la incorporación progresiva de nuevas características de usuario, así como de las métricas necesarias para su estimación y validación. En conjunto, esta tesis doctoral constituye una contribución relevante al avance de las interfaces de usuario inteligentes y sienta las bases para una posible estandarización de los procesos de diseño y adaptación centrados en el usuario.
- Real-Time Microwave Spectral Analysis at GHz Rates With a Low-Complexity DD-MZM-Based Time-Lens Fourier Transformer(2026) Hernández, Adriana Arrechea; Fernández, Manuel P.; Cruz, José L.; Andrés, Miguel V.; Costanzo Caso, Pablo A.; Bulus Rossini, Laureano A.We present a real-time microwave photonic spectrum analyzer with GHz measurement rates that exploits optical Fourier transformation using a single-stage, sinusoidally driven dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator (DD-MZM). We show that the DD-MZM enables a simple, low-cost, and easily reconfigurable implementation of a time-lens, in which phase aberrations arising from deviations of the sinusoidal modulation from its local parabolic approximation can be effectively mitigated through appropriate choices of drive and bias voltages. The concept is experimentally validated through the implementation of a microwave spectrum analyzer with an analysis bandwidth exceeding 20 GHz and a spectral measurement rate of 2.8 GHz. The system is further evaluated by computing, in real time, the spectrogram of fast frequency-hopping signals with hopping periods as short as 4.1 ns. We demonstrate that both frequency resolution and dynamic range can be optimized by suitable selection of the drive conditions and bias voltages. Owing to its compact footprint and low implementation complexity, the proposed DD-MZM architecture constitutes an attractive solution for time-lens-based microwave and optical signal processing applications.
- Modeling-shortcomings due to dismissing the multifrequency character of nonlinearities(2026) Bosch-García, M. A; Silvestre, Enrique; Andrés, Miguel V.; Castelló-Lurbe, DavidThe striking behavior of optical pulses propagating under dispersive nonlinearities reported theoretically in the last years is fueling the interest in these new phenomena to enhance the state-of-the-art control of light. To explore these effects properly, the full frequency dependence of nonlinearities should be incorporated into the pulse propagation equation so that accurate guidelines for engineering nonlinear dispersion could be derived. Nevertheless, this goal comes at the expense of some approximation about the truly multifrequency nature of nonlinearities, and hence of additional uncertainty in the theoretical predictions. Using the cancellation of instabilities during the spectral broadening of long pulses ¿one major practical consequence of a suitable design of nonlinear dispersion¿ as test bed, in this Letter we demonstrate analytically and numerically how an incomplete description of multifrequency nonlinearities may translate into substantial deviations compared to more rigorous treatments.
- Diseño de sistemas autónomos auto-explicables con participación humana(2026) Peña-Cáceres, Oscar; Gil Pascual, Miriam; Albert Albiol, Manuela; Escola de DoctoratDiseñar sistemas autónomos capaces de convivir con las personas, comprender sus necesidades, adaptarse a ellas y ofrecer explicaciones claras no representa únicamente un desafío técnico, sino un compromiso profundo con la manera en que la tecnología debe integrarse en la vida cotidiana. Este trabajo propone un método para el diseño de sistemas autónomos auto-explicables con participación humana, basándose en técnicas de inteligencia artificial que permiten adaptar, en tiempo de ejecución, tanto la cantidad como la calidad y la forma en que se presentan las explicaciones. A través de un marco conceptual y un modelo predictivo, se busca que los sistemas no solo respondan, sino que se expliquen considerando el contexto, el perfil y el comportamiento del usuario. Esta propuesta se aleja de enfoques rígidos o diseñados artesanalmente, ofreciendo una arquitectura sistemática y flexible para una interacción comprensible, no intrusiva y personalizada. Los experimentos realizados en un entorno de hogar inteligente evidencian mejoras sustanciales en la comprensión, no intrusión e implicación del usuario, reafirmando que la explicabilidad debe ser tratada como una propiedad estructural del sistema, y no como un añadido posterior. En paralelo, se exploró el uso del reconocimiento de voz como canal natural para registrar e interpretar acciones humanas. A través de un modelo de clasificación basado en técnicas de aprendizaje automático, fue posible identificar categorías, subcategorías y acciones a partir de comandos hablados, con altos niveles de precisión. Esta funcionalidad no solo facilitó una interacción más intuitiva, sino que enriqueció el ciclo explicativo del sistema, al convertir los actos del usuario en señales que retroalimentan la generación de explicaciones. El reconocimiento de voz dejó de ser solo una interfaz y se convirtió en un puente para conectar intenciones, lenguaje y respuestas inteligentes. Esta dimensión simbólica de la interacción fortalece la idea de que el usuario debe ser considerado como un colaborador activo y no como un simple destinatario de información, permitiendo una relación más empática, adaptable y significativa entre el humano y la máquina. Asimismo, se aprovechó el potencial de un modelo de lenguaje de gran escala, implementado mediante ChatGPT, y adaptado específicamente al entorno del hogar inteligente, con el propósito de generar explicaciones personalizadas de manera dinámica y en tiempo real. Este modelo permitió articular respuestas en lenguaje natural que integran no solo los datos del sistema, sino también el perfil del usuario, su historial de interacción y el estado contextual del entorno. Esta capacidad de adaptación discursiva abre nuevas posibilidades para construir sistemas autónomos que dialoguen en lugar de simplemente informar. La validación realizada en simulaciones funcionales mostró que el sistema es capaz de operar de forma continua y coherente, generando explicaciones oportunas y ajustadas a cada situación. Aunque el despliegue en contextos reales se plantea como una siguiente fase, los resultados alcanzados evidencian un avance relevante hacia sistemas autónomos que no solo automaticen tareas, sino que también comprenden, se explican y evolucionan con los seres humanos que las utilizan.
- Bifunctionalized gold nanoparticles for the colorimetric detection of the drug γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in beverages(2021) Rodríguez Nuévalos, Silvia; Costero Nieto, Ana María; Gil Grau, Salvador; Parra Álvarez, Margarita; Gaviña Costero, PabloThe increase in the number of drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases in recent years has become a major concern. Consequently, there is a need to develop methods for the real-time detection of these substances. We report herein a colorimetric chemosensor for the real-time in situ detection of the 'date rape' drug GHB. The sensor is based on gold nanoparticles functionalized with both a 2-aminonaphthoxazole and phenanthroline derivative. Its ability to act as 'naked-eye' colorimetric sensor for the detection of the drug in soft drinks and alcoholic beverages was studied. The detection process is based on the double recognition of both the hydroxyl and the carboxylate groups present in GHB, which triggers the aggregation of the AuNPs, with the resulting change in the color of the solution.
- Cómo publicar en Gaceta de Optometría y Óptica Oftálmica: orientaciones para nuevos autores(2025) Gené Sampedro, Andrés; Villa Collar, CésarEste artículo tiene como objetivo proporcionar una guía práctica y accesible para autores noveles en el ámbito de la optometría, con el fin de facilitar su iniciación en el proceso de publicación científica. Se abordan tres aspectos fundamentales: cómo comunicar con rigor y claridad, cómo estructurar y redactar correctamente artículos de investigación, revisiones y casos clínicos, y cómo responder eficazmente al proceso de revisión por pares. A partir de una revisión narrativa y la experiencia editorial de los autores, se ofrecen recomendaciones concretas adaptadas a las normas de Gaceta de Optometría y Óptica Oftálmica. Este trabajo pretende contribuir al fortalecimiento de la cultura científica en optometría, promoviendo la producción de manuscritos de mayor calidad, mejor estructurados y alineados con los principios de la práctica basada en la evidencia.
- Relationship Between Refractive Error, Visual Acuity, and Postural Stability in Elite Football Players(2025) Oliveira, Miguel; Fuste, Rui; Gené Morales, Javier; Gené Sampedro, Andrés; Jorge, JorgeThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between visual system parameters (visual acuity and refractive error) and postural balance under controlled conditions in elite football players. Visual acuity (monocular and binocular) and refractive errors were assessed in 34 male athletes using retinoscopy and subjective refraction. Postural stability was assessed with the Cyber-Sabots¿ platform, recording the center of pressure (CoP) metrics, including sway amplitude, velocity, and distribution area. Visual and postural parameter correlations were assessed using Pearson's test (p < 0.05). Athletes demonstrated good binocular visual acuity (−0.03 ± 0.09 logMAR) and were predominantly emmetropic. Visual acuity and postural parameters showed significant negative correlations, whereby visual acuity was associated with reduced CoP displacement (r = −0.352) and sway area (r = −0.367), indicating enhanced stability. Hyperopia and oblique astigmatism were moderately correlated with increased sway (r = 0.343) and antero-posterior sway amplitude in the sagittal plane (r = 0.324). Anisometropia showed moderately negative correlations with antero-posterior control (r = −0.421), suggesting a disruptive effect on postural stability. The postural analysis showed adaptations characteristic of football players, including anterior body inclination, increased forefoot loading, and medio-lateral sway. Romberg's quotients highlighted significant visual input reliance for maintaining postural balance. Visual acuity, refractive errors, and interocular refractive asymmetries significantly influence postural stability in elite football players. These results support incorporating visual function assessment into training and injury prevention in elite sports.
- Combined Dietary Education and High-Intensity Interval Resistance Training Improve Health Outcomes in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease(2022) Deka, Pallav; Blesa Jarque, Jesús; Pathak, Dola; Sempere Rubio, Núria; Iglesias, Paula; Micó Pascual, Lydia; Soriano del Castillo, José Miguel; Klompstra, Leonie; Marqués Sulé, ElenaBackground: Reducing cardiovascular risk through lifestyle changes that include a hearthealthy diet and regular exercise is recommended in the rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We pilot-tested the effectiveness of a dietary-education and high-intensity interval resistance training (DE-HIIRT) program on healthy food choices and associated anthropometric variables in patients with established CAD. Methods: A total of 22 participants, aged 60.0 7.2 years, were enrolled in the study. Over 3 months, under the guidance and supervision of a physiotherapist, participants performed the resistance exercises 2 /week in a group setting (cohort of 11). Participants additionally attended three sessions of dietary education led by a dietician. Participants demonstrated their knowledge and understanding of dietary education by picking heart-healthy foods by reading food labels. Outcomes included change in diet (measured using the tricipital skinfold thickness Mediterranean Diet Adherence questionnaire (MEDAS-14) and the Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire (FCFQ)) and anthropometric measurements (body composition, body circumference, and tricipital skinfold thickness). A paired t-test was performed to analyze the differences between the baseline and post-intervention results. Results: Participants significantly increased their consumption of vegetables (p = 0.04) and lowered their consumption of sweet snacks (p = 0.007), pastries (p = 0.02), and processed food (p = 0.05). Significant improvements in body mass index (p = 0.001), waist circumference (p = 0.0001), hip circumference (p = 0.04), and body fat (p = 0.0001) were also achieved. Conclusion: Making lifestyle changes that include both diet and exercise is essential in the management of CAD. The HIIRT program combined with dietary changes shows promise in achieving weight-loss goals in this population and needs to be further investigated with appropriate study designs.
- Nutrimetry and evaluation of intestinal parasites and anemia in malnourished schoolchildren from Toliara (Madagascar)(2025) Alfano, Maria Valentina; Gozalbo, Mónica M.; Tapia-Veloz, Gabriela; Guirao, Venny; Soriano del Castillo, José Miguel; Trelis Villanueva, MaríaBackground/Objectives: This study aimed to determine the malnutrition status, prevalence of intestinal parasites and anaemia, and the hygiene and sanitation conditions of children participating in the nutritional recovery programme at Las Salinas school of the ONG Bel Avenir in Toliara (Madagascar). The ultimate goal of the ONG Bel Avenir is to apply synergistic strategies to effectively combat malnutrition. Methods: A total of 49 schoolchildren aged 6 to 17 years enrolled in the nutritional recovery programme were studied. Data collection included sociodemographic information, hygiene and sanitation practices, and haematological and anthropometric measurements. Results: All participants were found to have anaemia. Regarding intestinal parasites, Giardia intestinalis was detected in 93.9% of cases, and Trichuris trichiura was identified in 28.6% of cases. Nutritional assessments revealed that 100% of the participants experienced thinness or acute malnutrition, while 32.6% exhibited stunting or impaired growth. Conclusions: The findings underscore the critical relationship between nutritional status and factors such as parasitology, haematology, and hygiene. Tools like the Nutrimetry assessment enable more specific diagnostics, guiding targeted interventions to address malnutrition. This study highlights the urgent need for policies and collaborative actions to improve the health conditions of the children in Madagascar.
- Extracellular vesicles in food: Experimental evidence of their secretion in grape fruits(2017) Pérez-Bermúdez, Pedro; Blesa Jarque, Jesús; Soriano del Castillo, José Miguel; Marcilla Díaz, AntonioIn the last decade, the number of studies related with extracellular vesicles (EVs) has dramatically grown since their role as key part of intercellular communication has been confirmed. EVs, as transporter of distinct bioactive molecules, can take part in different physiological mechanisms and have been gaining attention as potential tools with a wide range of therapeutic effects. Whereas a high number of studies have been published related to mammalian derived EVs, including products as food source, the existence of EVs in plants still is controversial. Recent descriptions of vesicles derived from edible plants show that they might contain pharmacological active molecules. In this context, EVs from food are attracting increasing interest due to their relevance in modulating cellular processes (involved in health and disease), as well as therapeutic vehicles. The present work aims to summarize the current knowledge on exosomes in foods, actually limited to only four FAO groups (Milk, Starchy roots and tubers, Nuts and seeds, and Fruits). In addition, we have further characterized EVs isolated from grape berry juice by classical differential centrifugation, and described a preliminary dissection of their secretion in vivo.
