Are Sunscreen a New Environmental Risk Associated with Coastal Tourism?

The world coastal-zone population and coastal tourism are expected to grow during this century. Associated with that, there will be an increase in the use of sunscreens and cosmetics with UV-filters in their formulation, which will make coastal regions worldwide susceptible to the impact of these cosmetics. Recent investigations indicate that organic and inorganic UV-filters, as well as many other components that are constituents of the sunscreens, reach the marine environment - directly as a consequence of water recreational activities and/or indirectly from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) effluents. Toxicity of organic and inorganic UV filters has been demonstrated in aquatic organism. UV-filters inhibit growth in marine phytoplankton and tend to bioaccumulate in the food webs. These findings together with coastal tourism data records highlight the potential risk that the increasing use of these cosmetics would have in coastal marine areas. Nevertheless, future investigations into distribution, residence time, aging, partitioning and speciation of their main components and by-products in the water column, persistence, accumulation and toxicity in the trophic chain, are needed to understand the magnitude and real impact of these emerging pollutants in the marine system. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.D.S.-Q. was supported by the JAE-predoc program of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)Peer Reviewe

Distribution and transport of dissolved trace metals in the Gulf of Cádiz, Spain

Trabajo presentado en el XVIII Seminario Ibérico de Química Marina, celebrado en Alicante (España) de 20 al 22 de julio de 2016.The Gulf of Cadiz plays a key role in the exchange of biogeochemical fluxes between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar. Oceanographers have carried out many investigations in the Gulf of Cádiz on water mass circulation and mass balance of nutrients and carbon. However, despite its importance in the global ocean functioning, studies on trace metals in the Gulf of Cádiz and Strait of Gibraltar waters are very scarce. Here we show the concentrations of dissolved trace metal composition (i.e. Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the Gulf of Cádiz and Mediterranean Sea surface waters as obtained from 5 oceanographic campaigns. Our results indicate that the Gulf of Cádiz surface water mass is receiving large amounts of trace metals transported by the different rivers that flow into the Gulf of Cádiz. Thus, dissolved trace metals in these waters were highly variable with the highest ranges measured for Co (0.06 – 3.1 nM), Fe (0.6 – 392 nM) and Pb (0.04 – 512 nM).This work was financed by the MICCIN grants MEGOCA (CTM2014-59244-C3-3-R).N

Giant Optical Polarization Rotation Induced by Spin-Orbit Coupling in Polarons

We have uncovered a giant gyrotropic magneto-optical response for doped ferromagnetic manganite La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 around the near room-temperature paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition. At odds with current wisdom, where this response is usually assumed to be fundamentally fixed by the electronic band structure, we point to the presence of small polarons as the driving force for this unexpected phenomenon. We explain the observed properties by the intricate interplay of mobility, Jahn-Teller effect and spin-orbit coupling of small polarons. As magnetic polarons are ubiquitously inherent to many strongly correlated systems, our results provide an original, general pathway towards the generation of gigantic gyrotropic responses that can be harnessed for nonreciprocal devices that exploit the polarization of light

Density estimation of the main structuring sessile species in underwater marine caves with a deep learning approach

Monitoring marine biodiversity is a challenge in some vulnerable and difficult-to-access habitats, such as underwater caves. Underwater caves are a great focus of biodiversity, concentrating a large number of species in their environment. However, most of the sessile species that live on the rocky walls are very vulnerable, and they are often threatened by different pressures. The use of these spaces as a destination for recreational divers can cause different impacts on the benthic habitat. In this work, we propose a methodology based on video recordings of cave walls and image analysis with deep learning algorithms to estimate the spatial density of structuring species in a study area. We propose a combination of automatic frame overlap detection, estimation of the actual extent of surface cover, and semantic segmentation of the main 10 species of corals and sponges to obtain species density maps. These maps can be the data source for monitoring biodiversity over time. In this paper, we analyzed the performance of three different semantic segmentation algorithms and backbones for this task and found that the Mask R-CNN model with the Xception101 backbone achieves the best accuracy, with an average segmentation accuracy of 82%.This work was supported by the Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales, Ministerio para Figure 7. Relative abundance of species. 10 la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico, Gobierno de España, Project VirtualMAR (codes 2470-S/2017 and 2493-S/2017); by IP INTEMARES project (LIFE15 IPE/ES/000012); by the R+D project PID2019-107270RB-C21 (funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033); by Plan Nacional de I+D+I; and by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades

¿Por qué es importante aplicar Docencia Inversa? ¿Cómo hacerlo?

[EN] The Flipped Learning methodology is so called because it is based on reversing the traditional scheme of the learning process. It offers a host of potential benefits, such as having more time to attend individually each student during their own class time, the opportunity to develop an active and collaborative learning, or the possibility that the student is who sets his own pace in the learning process, among many others. But it is also true that, like any other change, the application of this new methodology will imply the realization of an initial effort based on the replanning of the classes and the topics, as well as the preparation or reconversion of the teaching materials. The objective of this paper is to present methods, tools and technological resources used successfully in the application of the Flipped Learning methodology, in a subject of the Industrial Design Engineering and Product Development Degree, taught at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). At the same time it also shows how it is possible to combine the application of the Flipped Learning methodology with the development and work of certain transversal competences of the UPV[ES] La aplicación de la metodología de Docencia Inversa, llamada así porque se basa en invertir el esquema tradicional del proceso de aprendizaje, ofrece un sinfín de beneficios potenciales, como por ejemplo disponer de más tiempo para atender individualmente a cada alumno durante el propio espacio de clase, la oportunidad de desarrollar un aprendizaje activo y colaborativo, o la posibilidad de que sea el alumno el que marque su propio ritmo en el proceso de aprendizaje, entre otros muchos. Pero también es cierto que, como cualquier cambio, la aplicación de esta nueva metodología va a llevar implícito la realización de un esfuerzo inicial en base a la replanificación de las clases y los temarios, así como en la preparación o reconversión de determinados materiales docentes. El objetivo del presente trabajo es presentar métodos, herramientas y recursos tecnológicos utilizados con éxito en la aplicación de la metodología de Docencia Inversa, en una asignatura del Grado en Ingeniería en Diseño Industrial y Desarrollo de Productos, impartida en la Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). Al mismo tiempo también se expone cómo es posible combinar la aplicación de la metodología de Docencia Inversa con el desarrollo y trabajo de determinadas competencias transversales de la UPV.Este trabajo es fruto del esfuerzo que está realizando el Grupo de Innovación de Prácticas Académicas (GIPA) de la UPV en pro de la mejora docente. Los autores quieren mostrar su agradecimiento a la UPV y al Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (ICE) de la UPV por su ayuda y colaboración en la formación del Equipo de Innovación y Calidad Educativa (EICE) denominado GIPA.Montañés Muñoz, N.; Sánchez Nacher, L.; Fenollar Gimeno, OÁ.; García Sanoguera, D.; Quiles Carrillo, LJ. (2018). ¿Por qué es importante aplicar Docencia Inversa? ¿Cómo hacerlo?. En IN-RED 2018. IV Congreso Nacional de Innovación Educativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 551-562. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2018.2018.8596OCS55156

Phillips 66, debates, artículos docentes, polimedias y visitas de campo: experiencia y valoración por parte del alumnado de grado y máster

[EN] The main objective of this communication is to share the experience and appreciation by students of different subjects of degree and master in reference to different teaching methods including activities as diverse as the Phillips 66 method, discussion, use of polymedias and teaching articles and field visits. By means of surveys to the completion of the subjects, the satisfaction and usefulness of each of the new teaching activities applied is valued.[ES] El principal objetivo de la presente comunicación es compartir la experiencia y valoración por parte del alumnado de diferentes asignaturas de grado y de máster en referencia a diferentes métodos docentes entre los que se incluyen actividades tan diversas como el método Phillips 66, debates, uso de polimedias y artículos docentes y visitas de campo. Por medio de unas encuestas a la finalización de las asignaturas se valora la satisfacción y utilidad de cada uno de las nuevas actividades docentes aplicadas.Este trabajo es fruto del esfuerzo que está realizando el Grupo de Innovación de Prácticas Académicas (GIPA) de la UPV en pro de la mejora docente. Los autores quieren mostrar su agradecimiento a la UPV y al Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (ICE) de la UPV por su ayuda y colaboración en la formación del Equipo de Innovación y Calidad Educativa (EICE) denominado GIPA. Así mismo los autores quieren agedecer al Vicerrectorado de Estudios, Calidad y Acreditación de la Universitat Politècnica de València la concesión del Proyecto de Innovacion y Mejora Educativa (PIME) referencia B18/18, dentro del cual se enmarca el presente trabajo.Fombuena Borrás, V.; Quiles Carrillo, LJ.; Sánchez Nacher, L.; Fenollar Gimeno, OÁ.; García Sanoguera, D. (2019). Phillips 66, debates, artículos docentes, polimedias y visitas de campo: experiencia y valoración por parte del alumnado de grado y máster. En IN-RED 2019. V Congreso de Innovación Educativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 872-882. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2019.2019.10456OCS87288

Combined kinetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia, N-antigenemia and virus-specific antibodies in critically ill adult COVID-19 patients

Combined kinetic analysis of plasma SARS‐CoV‐2 RNAemia, Nucleocapsid (N)‐antigenemia and virus‐specific antibodies may help ascertain the role of antibodies in preventing virus dissemination in COVID‐19 patients. We performed this analysis in a cohort of 71 consecutive critically ill COVID‐19 patients (49 male; median age, 65 years) using RT‐PCR assay, lateral flow immunochromatography method and receptor binding domain (RBD) and N‐based immunoassays. A total of 338 plasma specimens collected at a median of 12 days after symptoms onset were available for analyses. SARS‐ CoV‐2 RNAemia and N‐antigenemia were detected in 37 and 43 specimens from 26 (36.5%) and 30 (42.2%) patients, respectively. Free RNA was the main biological form of SARS‐CoV‐2 found in plasma. The detection rate for both viral components was associated with viral load at the upper respiratory tract. Median time to SARS‐CoV‐2‐RBD antibody detection was 14 days (range, 4-38) from onset of symptoms. Decreasing antibody levels were observed in parallel to increasing levels of both RNAemia and N‐antigenemia, yet overall a fairly modest inverse correlation (Rho = −0.35; P < 0.001) was seen between virus RNAemia and SARS‐CoV‐2‐RBD antibody levels. The data cast doubts on a major involvement of antibodies in virus clearance from the bloodstream within the timeframe examined

Monitoring the complex benthic habitat on semi-dark underwater marine caves using photogrammetry-based 3D reconstructions

Marine caves are dark environments considered a priority habitat for conservation included in the EU Habitats Directive (H8330). They harbor fragile benthic communities and represent a major reservoir of marine biodiversity. However, there is a lack of knowledge of these habitats due to the difficulties of creating detailed benthic maps and characterizing the biodiversity, structure, and dynamics of their communities. The uniqueness of marine caves fosters their popularity among recreational divers, who can cause disturbances through abrasion of the biota, resuspension of sediment, and accumulation of exhaled air bubbles in the caves' ceilings. This study aims to build a monitoring framework to characterize the structure and temporal dynamics of this complex habitat using Structurefrom- Motion (SfM) photogrammetry. SfM is a novel, non-invasive technique that allows a major advancement in the monitoring of changes in the cave’s community assemblages. This method relies on images acquired by 4K video footage to build fine-scaled 3D digital models of the substrate using overlapping imagery. For this study, we combined SfM photogrammetry and photo quadrats extracted from the video recordings. We evaluate the effectiveness of this methodology in a marine cave highly frequented by divers, located in Illa de l’Aire (Balearic Islands, Spain), and carried out two surveys before and after the diving season (2019-2021). As a result, we found a loss of 25 colonies of bryozoans with fragile skeletons, like Schizoretepora sp., and 8 individual sponges with globose morphotypes. Our results indicate that this methodology enables accurate and efficient monitoring of benthic communities in underwater caves that allow us to better understand their dynamics and, therefore, to develop the need management measures

MAPPING COMMUNITY INTEREST HABITATS IN THE COLUMBRETES ARCHIPELAGO, AN EXTRAORDINARY HOT SPOT OF BIODIVERSITY

The Columbretes Archipelago and their submerged surroundings are part of an unusual, Pleistocene volcanic field located in the Western Mediterranean designated as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) of the Natura 2000 Network. In the present study, 4 benthic habitats of community interest (1110, 1170, 1180 and 8330) have been identified by analyzing several sources of information. Generalized additive models (GAMs) have been used to model the potential distribution of reefs (1170) and maërl beds (1110). Our results highlight the diversity and extent of these habitats and allow comparisons to other marine SCIs of Spain. This can be attributed to the variability of the environment of this site. The Columbretes Islands combine a relatively shallow environment with volcanic structures, hydrothermalism with active degassing, current-driven sedimentary lobes and the influence of inland flows. Understanding high biodiversity spots is crucial as they offer natural laboratories to describe how ecosystems respond to the effects of global change. The knowledge obtained will be of paramount importance for the conservation of species and habitats. Furthermore, it will establish a baseline for future monitoring and assist in the development of effective management plans