Constraining New Physics with D meson decays

Latest Lattice results on $D$ form factors evaluation from first principles show that the standard model (SM) branching ratios prediction for the leptonic $D_s \to \ell \nu_\ell$ decays and the semileptonic SM branching ratios of the $D^0$ and $D^+$ meson decays are in good agreement with the world average experimental measurements. It is possible to disprove New Physics hypothesis or find bounds over several models beyond the SM. Using the observed leptonic and semileptonic branching ratios for the D meson decays, we performed a combined analysis to constrain non standard interactions which mediate the $c\bar{s}\to l\bar{\nu}$ transition. This is done either by a model independent way through the corresponding Wilson coefficients or in a model dependent way by finding the respective bounds over the relevant parameters for some models beyond the standard model. In particular, we obtain bounds for the Two Higgs Doublet Model Type-II and Type III, the Left-Right model, the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with explicit R-Parity violation and Leptoquarks. Finally, we estimate the transverse polarization of the lepton in the $D^0$ decay and we found it can be as high as $P_T=0.23$.Comment: 28 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables. Improved and extended analysis with updated form factors from Lattice QC

A near-IR line of Mn I as a diagnostic tool of the average magnetic energy in the solar photosphere

We report on spectropolarimetric observations of a near-IR line of Mn I located at 15262.702 A whose intensity and polarization profiles are very sensitive to the presence of hyperfine structure. A theoretical investigation of the magnetic sensitivity of this line to the magnetic field uncovers several interesting properties. The most important one is that the presence of strong Paschen-Back perturbations due to the hyperfine structure produces an intensity line profile whose shape changes according to the absolute value of the magnetic field strength. A line ratio technique is developed from the intrinsic variations of the line profile. This line ratio technique is applied to spectropolarimetric observations of the quiet solar photosphere in order to explore the probability distribution function of the magnetic field strength. Particular attention is given to the quietest area of the observed field of view, which was encircled by an enhanced network region. A detailed theoretical investigation shows that the inferred distribution yields information on the average magnetic field strength and the spatial scale at which the magnetic field is organized. A first estimation gives ~250 G for the mean field strength and a tentative value of ~0.45" for the spatial scale at which the observed magnetic field is horizontally organized.Comment: 42 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. Figures 1 and 9 are in JPG forma

Difference schemes with point symmetries and their numerical tests

Symmetry preserving difference schemes approximating second and third order ordinary differential equations are presented. They have the same three or four-dimensional symmetry groups as the original differential equations. The new difference schemes are tested as numerical methods. The obtained numerical solutions are shown to be much more accurate than those obtained by standard methods without an increase in cost. For an example involving a solution with a singularity in the integration region the symmetry preserving scheme, contrary to standard ones, provides solutions valid beyond the singular point.Comment: 26 pages 7 figure

Mejorando la docencia universitaria: Introducción de metodologías activas de aprendizaje en aspectos fisiológicos de la conducta

Antecedentes. Los actuales planes de estudio permiten superar la tradicional división entre teoría y práctica en la docencia universitaria, artificial en términos formativos. Para que esta integración sea efectiva en la dinámica del aula, se requieren actividades que efectivamente integren conocimientos teóricos con habilidades y destrezas y que estimulen el trabajo autónomo del estudiante. Objetivos/Hipótesis. Este estudio se centra en analizar la satisfacción y percepción subjetiva de logro de competencias del alumnado universitario tras la implementación de metodologías activas de aprendizaje en una asignatura centrada en aspectos fisiológicos de la conducta. Método. Se implementaron metodologías activas de aprendizaje a 54 estudiantes (edad media: 24.17 años), incluyendo la realización de una fase experimental en el aula, la aplicación del método del caso, el desarrollo de estrategias de ludificación y la potenciación del alineamiento docente. Al final de la asignatura, se administró al alumnado un cuestionario de satisfacción. Resultados. La metodología docente fue unos de los aspectos mejor valorados por el estudiantado, seguido de los resultados del aprendizaje y, en menor medida, de la adquisición de competencias. Conclusiones. La implementación de metodologías docentes innovadoras en el ámbito universitario ha resultado satisfactoria para el estudiantado, en diferente medida en función del aspecto considerado. Background. The current curricula allow to overcome the traditional division between theory and practice in higher education teaching, artificial in formative terms. For this integration to be effective in the classroom dynamic, activities are required that effectively integrate theoretical knowledge with skills and abilities and that stimulate the independent work of the student. Objectives/hypotheses. This study focuses on analysing the satisfaction and subjective perception of achievement of competencies of university students after the implementation of active learning methodologies in a subject focused on physiological aspects of behaviour. Method. Active learning methodologies were implemented for 54 students (mean age: 24.17 years), including an experiment in the classroom, the case method, the development of gamification strategies and the strengthening of constructive alignment. At the end of the course, a satisfaction questionnaire was administered to the students. Results. The learning methodology was one of the aspects most highly valued by the students, followed by learning outcomes and, to a lesser extent, the acquisition of competences. Conclusions. The implementation of innovative learning methodologies in the university environment has been satisfactory for the students, to a different extent depending on the aspect considered

New records of recently described chemosymbiotic bivalves for mud volcanoes within the European waters (Gulf of Cádiz)

Chemosymbiotic bivalves are important members of cold seep communities and information on their distribution in theEuropean waters is still quite scarce. This study reports the presence of living populations and shell remains of some recently described bivalves such as Lucinoma asapheus, Solemya elarraichensis and Acharax gadirae as well as Bathymodiolus sp. in the mud volcanoes of the Spanish Atlantic waters. Living populations of these species were thus far only found in Anastasya, Aveiro and Almazán mud volcanoes, together with other chemosymbiotic metazoa (Siboglinum spp.), suggesting the presence of moderate seepage activity. In other mud volcanoes (Albolote, Gazul), the benthic communities are dominated by sessile filter feeders on authigenic carbonates (chimneys, slabs) and only the shell remains of some chemosymbiotic bivalves were found, indicating earlier or very low seepage conditions. The present study elaborates on the known distribution of L. asapheus and S. elarraichensis to the European waters of the Gulf of Cádiz

A manifold learning approach for integrated computational materials engineering

Image-based simulation is becoming an appealing technique to homogenize properties of real microstructures of heterogeneous materials. However fast computation techniques are needed to take decisions in a limited time-scale. Techniques based on standard computational homogenization are seriously compromised by the real-time constraint. The combination of model reduction techniques and high performance computing contribute to alleviate such a constraint but the amount of computation remains excessive in many cases. In this paper we consider an alternative route that makes use of techniques traditionally considered for machine learning purposes in order to extract the manifold in which data and fields can be interpolated accurately and in real-time and with minimum amount of online computation. Locallly Linear Embedding is considered in this work for the real-time thermal homogenization of heterogeneous microstructures

Induction of auxin biosynthesis and WOX5 repression mediate changes in root development in Arabidopsis exposed to chitosan

[EN] Chitosan is a natural polymer with applications in agriculture, which causes plasma membrane permeabilisation and induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. Chitosan has been mostly applied in the phylloplane to control plant diseases and to enhance plant defences, but has also been considered for controlling root pests. However, the effect of chitosan on roots is virtually unknown. In this work, we show that chitosan interfered with auxin homeostasis in Arabidopsis roots, promoting a 2-3 fold accumulation of indole acetic acid (IAA). We observed chitosan dose-dependent alterations of auxin synthesis, transport and signalling in Arabidopsis roots. As a consequence, high doses of chitosan reduce WOX5 expression in the root apical meristem and arrest root growth. Chitosan also propitiates accumulation of salicylic (SA) and jasmonic (JA) acids in Arabidopsis roots by induction of genes involved in their biosynthesis and signalling. In addition, high-dose chitosan irrigation of tomato and barley plants also arrests root development. Tomato root apices treated with chitosan showed isodiametric cells respect to rectangular cells in the controls. We found that chitosan causes strong alterations in root cell morphology. Our results highlight the importance of considering chitosan dose during agronomical applications to the rhizosphere.This work was supported by AGL 2015 66833-R Grant from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness Grant AGL 2015. We would like to thank Drs Isabel Lopez-Diaz and Esther Carrera for plant hormone quantitation (IBMCP, Valencia, Spain). Part of this work was filed for a patent (P201431399) by L. V. Lopez-Llorca, F. Lopez-Moya and N. Escudero as inventors. We would like to thank Dr Michael Kershaw (University of Exeter) for his English revision and critical comments of the manuscript. 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Deformation quantization of linear dissipative systems

A simple pseudo-Hamiltonian formulation is proposed for the linear inhomogeneous systems of ODEs. In contrast to the usual Hamiltonian mechanics, our approach is based on the use of non-stationary Poisson brackets, i.e. corresponding Poisson tensor is allowed to explicitly depend on time. Starting from this pseudo-Hamiltonian formulation we develop a consistent deformation quantization procedure involving a non-stationary star-product $*_t$ and an ``extended'' operator of time derivative $D_t=\partial_t+...$, differentiating the $\ast_t$-product. As in the usual case, the $\ast_t$-algebra of physical observables is shown to admit an essentially unique (time dependent) trace functional $\mathrm{Tr}_t$. Using these ingredients we construct a complete and fully consistent quantum-mechanical description for any linear dynamical system with or without dissipation. The general quantization method is exemplified by the models of damped oscillator and radiating point charge.Comment: 14 pages, typos correcte