Grand Unification and the Principle of Minimal Flavor Violation

Minimal Flavor Violation is an attractive approach to suppress unacceptably large flavor changing neutral currents from beyond the standard model physics at the TeV scale. It can be used in theories with low energy supersymmetry, multi Higgs doublet theories and other extensions of the minimal standard model. We show how minimal flavor violation can be implemented in Grand Unified theories.Comment: 15 pages, no figure

Cobertura y estado de los arrecifes de coral e ictiofauna asociada en Playa Cacique e Isla Mamey, Portobelo, Colón

Coral reefs are communities of protection of the coastal zone and feeding of many species. It is important to evaluate the state of coral reefs, in order to protect and maintain the health of these important ecosystems. This work was carried out in Playa Cacique and Isla Mamey in Colón (Caribbean cost of Panama), in two locations with different human activities. Two field trips were made with four field days with a total of 12 hours. At each station, 10-meter-long random transects were established perpendicular to the coast. The results yielded good percentages of live coral for both study areas, there was a diversity of 14 coral species and Faviidae being the most diverse family, and a comparison made 41% of live coral was noticed in the Mamey station, but Cacique has more vegetation, and Cacique has 13 of the 14 coral species. The reefs were mostly represented by fire corals in transects three and four in Cacique and transects one and two in Mamey, represented by shallow water. In addition, transect four in Mamey and one in Cacique presented a greater diversity of coral species. Regarding the abundance and diversity of associated ichthyofauna, there was no significant difference between the two study areas, presenting a diversity of 21 species and 11 families, Halichoeres pictus being the most common species, and Labridae the most diverse family. We performed the Simpson Index for fish diversity in the two study areas, resulting in: Cacique Beach (0.745) and Mamey Island (0.812), and the variance was 1.01, with Mamey having the greatest diversity of fish species. As conclusions, the Fire Coral species are presented and colonize the shallow waters of Cacique Beach and Mamey Island, and this last area presented a high diversity of coral species.  However, Cacique corals are maintained in a better state, having a Mangrove ecosystem that mitigates sediment towards corals. The Halichoeres pictus species was present in most of the transects, due to its adaptation to waters with strong waves. An effort must be made to mitigate the anthropogenic activities of these two localities and to increase research on corals and associated fish in the area.Los arrecifes de coral son comunidades de protección de la zona costera y alimentación de muchas especies. Es importante evaluar el estado de estos, para así poder proteger y mantener la salud de estos ecosistemas tan importantes. Este trabajo se realizó en Playa Cacique e Isla Mamey en Colón (Caribe Panameño), en dos localidades con actividades humanas diferentes. Se realizaron dos salidas al campo con cuatro días de campo con 12 horas en total. En cada estación se establecieron transectos al azar de 10 m de largo perpendiculares a la costa. Los resultados arrojaron buenos porcentajes de coral vivo para ambas áreas de estudio, hubo una diversidad de 14 especies de corales, siendo la familia Faviidae la más diversa. En comparación realizada se notó un 41% de coral vivo en la estación de Mamey, pero Cacique posee más vegetación.  Además, Cacique posee 13 de las 14 especies de corales. Los arrecifes, en su mayoría estaban representados por corales fuego en los transectos tres y cuadro de Cacique y uno y dos de Mamey, representadas por aguas someras. Además, el transecto cuatro de Mamey y uno de Cacique presentaron mayor diversidad de especies de corales. En cuanto a la abundancia y diversidad de ictiofauna asociada, no presentó una diferencia significativa entre las dos áreas de estudio, presentando una diversidad de 21 especies y 11 familias, siendo Halichoeres pictus la especie más común, y Labridae la familia más diversa. Realizamos el índice de Simpson para la diversidad de peces en las dos áreas de estudio, dando como resultado: Playa Cacique (0.745) e Isla Mamey (0.812), y la varianza fue de 1.01, teniendo Mamey la mayor diversidad de especies de peces. Como conclusiones, las especies de Coral de fuego se presentan y colonizan las aguas someras de Playa Cacique e Isla Mamey, y esta última zona presentó una alta diversidad de especies de coral, pero los corales de Cacique se mantienen en mejor estado, al tener un ecosistema de manglares que mitiga el sedimento hacia los corales. La especie Halichoeres pictus se presentó en la mayoría de los transectos, debido a su adaptación a aguas con fuertes oleajes. Se debe hacer un esfuerzo para mitigar las actividades antropogénicas de estas dos localidades y aumentar el estudio de los corales y peces asociados en el area

Influencia de los videojuegos educativos en el desarrollo de aprendizajes significativos en adolescentes en el área de Matemática

La investigación ha sido llevada a cabo mediante un proceso cuasi-experimental y un reforzamiento teórico de fuentes secundarias sobre el proceso de desarrollo del aprendizaje significativo en los videojuegos en el área de Matemática. De acuerdo al problema de investigación: ¿En qué medida los videojuegos educativos influyen en el aprendizaje significativo de los adolescentes de 14 a 16 años en el área de matemáticas? El objetivo fue determinar el nivel de influencia de los videojuegos en el desarrollo de aprendizajes significativos en el área de matemática. A través de un proceso cuasi-experimental mediante dos evaluaciones (Pre-Test y Post Test), en el cual se predeterminó un intervalo de tiempo de un mes con 15 días para la implementación de 3 videojuegos, cada uno basado en una característica educativa en especial (Estrategia, Aventura y Simulación). Por lo tanto, se separó a un grupo de muestra, el cual fue de 40 adolescentes en 4 grupos (3 grupos de experimentación y un grupo control de 10 estudiantes respectivamente). De la misma manera, se analizaron los datos mediante histogramas, polígonos de frecuencias y un gráfico de dispersión para resaltar la variación de los datos tras la implicancia de los videojuegos. Finalmente, se pudo determinar que el aprendizaje significativo influye elocuentemente en los videojuegos pero como un eje complementario y no como un medio pedagógico absoluto porque carece de confiabilidad al no poder controlar el ritmo de aprendizaje de cada estudiante y por tener impactos éticos implícitos en la educación

El Extracto Acuoso de Orégano (Lippia graveolens HBK) del Norte de México Tiene Actividad Antioxidante sin Mostrar un Efecto Tóxico in vitro e in vivo

Desde tiempos antiguos la medicina tradicional ha usado extensamente las especies del género Lippia como analgésicos, antiinflamatorios, antipiréticos, antifúngicos, etc. Numerosos estudios describen diversos compuestos presentes en extractos acuosos, metanólicos, o aceites esenciales de estas plantas, siendo los flavonoides los compuestos más abundantes. Sin embargo, la composición y cantidad de los metabolitos secundarios dependen de la zona geográfica, factores climáticos, altitud, época de cosecha y estado de crecimiento de estas plantas. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la actividad antioxidante del extracto acuoso de orégano (Lippia graveolens HBK) del Norte de México y su efecto tóxico in vitro e in vivo. La capacidad antioxidante del extracto acuoso se midió por el método de DPPH en seis diluciones del extracto (5-160 mg/mL) y se utilizó Trolox como referencia; para el efecto tóxico in vitro se usó el ensayo de citotoxicidad con larvas de Artemia salina. Para el efecto in vivo se emplearon 24 ratones árabes machos divididos en 6 grupos de animales (n=4): 4 grupos experimentales con 10, 100, 1000 y 5000 mg del extracto/ kg de peso administrados vía oral respectivamente, además de un grupo control positivo (5 mg de colchicina/kg de peso vía i.p) y un grupo control negativo (solo agua destilada). Después del tratamiento los ratones se sacrificaron y se colectaron muestras de hígado y riñón que se sometieron a estudios histológicos e histoquímicos, además se realizó un análisis cuantitativo. La actividad antioxidante del extracto acuoso de orégano se presentó a 160 mg/mL. La CL50 fue mayor a 1,000 µg/mL por lo que el extracto se considera no tóxico. En el análisis morfológico in vivo con distintas dosis del extracto acuoso de orégano no se observó un efecto tóxico. Los resultados obtenidos validan el uso del orégano en la medicina tradicional

Fixed and drifting buoys around the national Spanish waters

Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) Marine Technical Conference, The Technical Conference (TECO) Toward an Integrated Met-ocean Monitoring, Forecasting and Services System, 25-29 October 2017, Geneva, SwitzerlandImproving the knowledge of the ocean and seas surrounding the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic and Canary islands is an objective of the Spanish oceanography. For that purpose, a number of fixed and drifting floats have been established in the last 25 years. Data buoys measure sea surface temperature and salinity, ocean current velocity, air temperature, humidity, wave characteristic and wind velocity across seas and ocean. The objective is increase the quantity, quality, coverage and timeliness of atmospheric and oceanographic data. These observations are used immediately to improve forecast and therefore increase marine safety. The main group of fixed buoys is formed by the Puertos del Estado deep and shallow buoy networks, but a series of well instrumented new platforms has been established in later times. The RAIA Project (Xunta de Galicia), PLOCAN, SOCIB, IEO, Euskalmet-AZTI, ICM and UTM (CSIC) and University and Polytechnic of Barcelona have completed the Observing System. Most of the buoys are transmitting data by GTS for using in atmospheric and ocean prediction models. Multidisciplinary sensors as Dissolved Oxygen, Fluorescence Chlorophyll or pCO2 has been mounted in the buoys and calibration/validation procedures has been developed for improve data quality. Antifouling systems recently developed have also been included and quality of the optical sensors measurements has improved. Drifting floats has increase its number and importance, from Argo floats to traditional deriving ones improving the Spanish contribution to IOC and WWO and JCOMM. Spain is member of EuroArgo ERIC. SOCIB and IEO are the main contributors. Also multidisciplinary work has been done associated to Argo buoys. BGQ ARGO incorporate O2 sensor. ICM, SMOS Barcelona Expert Center, and SOCIB are the main contributors to the drifting buoys group. Main objectives are improving Technological development as well as data management. Tropical and Southern Atlantic Ocean are the main studying areasPeer Reviewe

Scientific management of Mediterranean coastal zone: A hybrid ocean forecasting system for oil spill and search and rescue operations

Jordi, Antoni et al.The oil spill from Prestige tanker showed the importance of scientifically based protocols to minimize the impacts on the environment. In this work, we describe a new forecasting system to predict oil spill trajectories and their potential impacts on the coastal zone. The system is formed of three main interconnected modules that address different capabilities: (1) an operational circulation sub-system that includes nested models at different scales, data collection with near-real time assimilation, new tools for initialization or assimilation based on genetic algorithms and feature-oriented strategic sampling; (2) an oil spill coastal sub-system that allows simulation of the trajectories and fate of spilled oil together with evaluation of coastal zone vulnerability using environmental sensitivity indexes; (3) a risk management sub-system for decision support based on GIS technology. The system is applied to the Mediterranean Sea where surface currents are highly variable in space and time, and interactions between local, sub-basin and basin scale increase the non-linear interactions effects which need to be adequately resolved at each one of the intervening scales. Besides the Mediterranean Sea is a complex reduced scale ocean representing a real scientific and technological challenge for operational oceanography and particularly for oil spill response and search and rescue operations. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe

Cruise Plan: Fine-Scale ocean currents from integrated multi-platform experiments and numerical simulations: contribution to the new SWOT satellite mission (FaSt-SWOT, PID2021-122417NB-I00)

The FaSt-SWOT project is funded by the Spanish Research Agency and the European Regional Development Fund (AEI/FEDER, UE) under Grant Agreement (PID2021-122417NB-I00). The present research is conducted within the framework of the activities of the Spanish Government through the "María de Maeztu Centre of Excellence'' accreditation to IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) (CEX2021-001198). The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the Regional Government of the Balearic Islands and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) are acknowledged for their support to the ICTS SOCIB. A. P., B. M. and B. B. L. thank the European Union funding through the EuroSea project an Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 862626.With funding from the Spanish government through the "Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence" accreditation (CEX2021-001198).Peer reviewe

SOCIB: the impact of new marine infrastructures in understanding and forecasting the coastal oceans: some examples from the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea

New monitoring technologies are being progressively implemented in coastal ocean observatories. As an example, gliders allow high resolution sampling, showing the existence of new features, such as submesoscale eddies with intense vertical motions that significantly affect upper ocean biogeochemical exchanges, an issue of worldwide relevance in a climate change context. SOCIB, is one of such systems, a new facility of facilities (covering from the coast to the open sea, and including among others a nearshore beach monitoring facility, HF radar, gliders and AUV’s, moorings, satellite, drifters and ARGO profilers, modelling), a scientific and technological infrastructure which is providing free, open, quality controlled and timely streams of oceanographic and coastal data and also modelling services. SOCIB takes profit of the strategic position of the Balearic Island at the Atlantic/Mediterranean transition area, one of the ‘hot spots’ of biodiversity in the world’s oceans. As an example of on-going SOCIB operations, since January 2011 sustained glider operations are in place in the Ibiza and Mallorca channels. The data centre is the core of SOCIB. The data management system created for gliders is an example of the new informatics capabilities for real time definition of mission planning, including adaptive sampling and real time monitoring using a Web tool that allows quick visualization and download. This type of new infrastructures, combined with new technologies and careful scientific analysis will allow new ways of international cooperation leading to major science breakthroughs in the very near future and new ways of science based coastal and ocean management.Peer Reviewe