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

Precipitation in the Mediterranean basin as seen from the 2000-2010 TRMM-3B42-v6 database

Sarrand, B. et al.Trabajo presentado en la EGU General Assemby 2012, celebrada del 22 al 27 de septiembre de 2012 en Viena (Austria)This work presents a detailed analysis of 11 yrs of the version 6 of the TRMM-3B42 multi-sensor precipitation product (3-h and 0.25° resolution) from March 2000 to February 2011 over the whole Mediterranean basin and surrounding areas including the Black Sea (25°N-50°N, 10°W-43°E). We first discuss some issues in the data set regarding spatial and temporal discontinuities in coastal areas, and further illustrate a critical underestimation of light rains at latitudes higher than 36-37° that somewhat improves from 2007 on and is associated to the absence of coverage by the Precipitation Radar. North of the radar field of view, it seems that the marine coastal band is subject to a significant under detection of precipitation, whereas, on the opposite, the terrestrial coastal band south of 35°N in North Africa and the Near East shows unrealistic over detection of precipitation. We then evaluate the product against rain gauges with a focus on the western Mediterranean basin and the Adriatic. Our reference rain gauge data set includes about 1 million daily rain reports from more than 260 Mediterranean surface stations from Croatia, France, Italy, Malta, Spain (including 2 stations on the northern coast of Africa) and Tunisia, and from 9 additional non-Mediterranean stations from a flat region in France. It includes stations from almost 20 small Mediterranean islands. The comparison shows a significant correlation between TRMM-3B42v6 and rain gauges but with an overall tendency to underestimation. The average ratio of daily rates between surface stations and TRMM product is ~0.63 with significant regional variations, Corsica showing the poorest results and Spain the best. Over the Mediterranean stations considered, the average rate of success on the occurrence of precipitation (~0.75) is enhanced by the high proportion of dry days in the Mediterranean climate (~4 over 5 on average in the rain gauge data set) and drops off when only days with precipitation recorded at surface stations are considered. Averaging fallout at monthly and annual time scales somewhat improves the comparison to rain gauges. We find that results are better in summer and likely more generally in unstable conditions, as illustrated by a subset of data composed of days with high African dust load over the basin. Using a few TRMM pixels that cover 3 or even 5 surface stations, we further illustrate how the small scale heterogeneity of precipitation is a limitation in the comparison between the integrated view of precipitation from space and the local surface measurements. Finally we integrate the variability of the rainfall geographical distribution at seasonal and annual scales over 5 sub-basins (western and eastern Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, and Black Sea). An increasing trend in annual precipitation in the Mediterranean basin is observed over the decade that is also found at the global scale and appears related to the improving performance of the product with time regarding the detection of light rains, especially over Europe and the Mediterranean. Finally we compare the TRMM-3B42v6 precipitation budget over the basin with comparable budgets from ERA-Interim, HOAPS and CMAP data setsPeer Reviewe

Cobertura de áreas por medio de la interacción de una flota de vehículos autónomos

El principal objetivo de este trabajo de grado fue crear las condiciones que garanticen la interacción de dos robots terrestres móviles que comparten una misma región destino, sin colisionar entre ellos. Para ello se implementó la técnica de control por Modos Deslizantes o Sliding Mode Control (SMC). La implementación del Control SMC se efectuó sobre dos plataformas móviles Starter kit 2.0 (DaNI) de National Instrument, adecuados con instrumentación adicional para la adquisición de posición (GPS) y orientación (compas electrónico). Se planteó como etapa inicial conformar una red de datos que permitiera el envío y recepción de información entre un computador y las plataformas móviles, por lo cual se instalaron y configuraron equipos necesarios para lograr este fin. Posterior a ello se implementó el Control de modo deslizante empleando un solo robot, con el objetivo de garantizar el desplazamiento del agente móvil de un punto a otro en un área libre de obstáculos fijos y/o móviles. Después se adicionó al control un módulo de fuerzas repulsivas, que considera la posición actual de un agente vecino (otro robot) para evitar colisiones y cumplir con su objetivo al dirigirse a su región destino. Se diseñaron e implementaron pruebas que tenían como fin verificar la respuesta del Control por Modos Deslizantes en tres aspectos: Desplazamiento de un robot desde un punto inicial a un punto destino; ingreso y permanencia del robot en una región destino; y la navegación libre de colisiones entre robots en sus trayectorias hacia un punto destino en común. Los resultados obtenidos en la ejecución del Control por Modos Deslizantes demuestran la llegada de los robots a su destino de forma segura. Al ser comparado con otra técnica de control para el desplazamiento de un robot de un punto a otro, conocida como el control proporcional, muestran que el control SMC tiene un mejor desempeño, representado principalmente por la robustez frente a la variabilidad del sistema de sensado GPS. Adicional a esto, la inclusión de fuerzas repulsivas garantiza una navegación libre de colisiones entre dos o más robots en regiones compartidas.The main objective of this thesis was to create conditions that ensure the interaction of two mobile ground robots that share a regional destination without colliding with each other. For this control technique it is implemented Sliding Mode Control (SMC). The implementation of SCM Control was conducted on two mobile platforms Starter Kit 2.0 (Dani) of National Instrument, with additional instrumentation suitable for the acquisition of position (GPS) and direction (electronic compass). He was raised as an initial form a data network to enable sending and receiving information between a computer and mobile platforms, which were installed and configured equipment necessary to achieve this end stage. Following this, the sliding mode control is implemented using a single robot, in order to ensure the displacement of the mobile agent from one point to another in an area free of obstacles fixed and / or mobile. Then he added to the control module repulsive forces, which considers the current position of a neighboring agent (another robot) to avoid collisions and meet its goal to contact your target region. They were designed and implemented tests were designed to verify the response of sliding mode control in three aspects: Moving a robot from a starting point to a destination point; entry and stay of the robot in a target region; and free shipping collisions between robots in their paths towards a common destination point. The results obtained in implementing the Control Modes Slide show the arrival of the robots to their destination safely. When compared with another control technique for moving a robot from one point to another, known as proportional control, show that the SMC control has better performance, represented mainly by the robustness against variability sensing GPS system. In addition to this, the inclusion of repulsive forces ensuring free navigation of collisions between two or more robots in shared region

Research on Technology Competencies in EFL Language Instructors: Technology-Pedagogy-Content in Language Teaching

Background:Living in the digital era where the information and communication technologies (ICTs) have extensively changed the way of teaching, language instructors, in particular, should be computer literate to put their technical knowledge into practice in such a way they effectively integrate technology into language learning classrooms.Methodology:The research contextualizes teachers’ beliefs and competencies of using the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK) in teaching English as a foreign language. The study is an extension of previous research carried out by Tovar et at., (2019), and Tovar (2019). It applied a survey-based questionnaire, an unstructured interview, and classroom observations for data collection. The assessment instruments were administrated to EFL language instructors, who work in the Language Center at the Technical University of Cotopaxi.Findings:Results revealed that a high percentage of the EFL language instructors are not familiar with the use of the TPCK model and its integration into their classroom practices. This support the claim that teachers probably have technological knowledge, but they are not well-prepared to combine teaching resources and appropriate pedagogical methods for language teaching and learning.Conclusions:The study hopes that research outcomes arise linguistic implications and pedagogical applications for developing teachers’ TPCK competencies when integrating technology in EFL classroom settings. Limitations, as well as considerations for further research, are discussed

Estilos de vida y revitalización del espacio urbano

Este trabajo trata de profundizar en los distintos elementos que configuran los estilos de vida, tanto hacia dentro -a través de la búsqueda de la calidad de vida- como hacia fuera, en la configuración del espacio urbano. Está referido a un centro histórico -que además es Patrimonio de la Humanidad: el Albaicín de Granada-, donde el efecto de esta confluencia es la revitalización del mismo, según patrones diferenciados que afectan al modo de entender las relaciones con los distintos elementos que organizan ese espacio, como las relaciones interpersonales, las infraestructuras, el turismo, el papel de la Administración, etc. Se parte de un enfoque cualitativo, orientado a profundizar en la significación de los estilos de vida para los propios residentes, y se proponen algunas posibles repercusiones para la reproducción del espacio urbano, con carácter general.This piece of research work deals with different elements of life styles, internal (through life quality) and external (towards urban space constitution. It refers to a historical urban centre: the Albaicín of Granada world Heritage. The different elements that organize the space, the interpersonal relations, the role of the Administration, among other factors, are analysed in qualitative terms. So, the importance of life styles for residents and the consequences of the reproduction of the urban space are presented in the article

Informalidad del mercado de crédito para la vivienda de interés social

Se trata de un documento dedicado a revelar los principales rasgos del mercado de crédito para Vivienda de Interés Social, VIS, para la población pobre en Colombia y a analizar los resultados de la política durante lo corrido del presente milenio. La primera mitad del estudio estudia la oferta VIS sobre los resultados de 70 encuestas aplicadas a oferentes de crédito VIS en 17 ciudades, diseñadas según entrevistas a expertos que recogen los principales rasgos, productos, requisitos de acceso y aspectos relacionados con la administración y rentabilidad de la cartera VIS. La segunda mitad analiza la demanda por subsidios y crédito VIS, con base en una encuesta realizada a familias en las mismas ciudades y su posterior análisis estadístico y econométrico, allí se muestran los principales obstáculos para el acceso y una estimación de los efectos sobre el bienestar. Finalmente una sección dedicada a conclusiones y recomendaciones., vivienda, pobreza, mercado de crédito, informalidad

The Role of Biopolymers in Obtaining Environmentally Friendly Materials

Polymeric materials have had a boom in the global industry over the past two decades, because of its adaptability, durability, and price so much so that now we cannot imagine a product that does not contain it. However, many synthetic polymers that have been developed are mainly derived from petroleum and coal as raw material, which make them incompatible with the environment, since they cannot be included in what is a natural recycling system. Aware of the environmental impacts that produce synthetic polymers, a solution could be the mixtures with different types and sources of biological materials, called biopolymers, such as starch, cellulose, chitosan, zein, gelatin among others and that gradually replace synthetic polymers to address and resolve these problems. The development of new applications, such as composite materials by incorporation of alternative materials, found in nature that has similar properties to oil‐based polymers, but its main feature is its biodegradability and offering competitive to current material costs. In this sense, various investigations are aimed at decreasing the amounts of plastic waste and to manufacture products with less aggressive environment since the synthetic plastics are difficult to recycle and can remain in nature for over a century