Enseñanza, nuevas tecnologías e innovación en la TISP: introducción al MOOC ¡Atrévete a traducir y a interpretar en los Servicios Públicos!

El vínculo entre las nuevas tecnologías y el aprendizaje toma forma con la llegada de los cursos MOOC (Massive Open Online Course). Configurados como herramientas formativas novedosas, ofrecen a estudiantes y docentes de todo el mundo la posibilidad de ampliar sus conocimientos sobre cualquier temática en cualquier momento y desde cualquier lugar. El objetivo del presente artículo es aproximar al lector a una experiencia MOOC concreta desarrollada en el contexto de la traducción y la interpretación de los servicios públicos (TISP) a través de la creación del curso '¡Atrévete a traducir y a interpretar en los Servicios Públicos!”. Con este objetivo, se describen los detalles técnicos y características principales del recurso, sus contenidos, fases de producción y metodología, además de las actividades desarrolladas y las vías de mejora y ampliación que se encuentran actualmente bajo desarrollo.MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are the connection between new technologies and learning. Configured as innovative training tools, MOOCs offer students and teachers all over the world the possibility to broaden their knowledge about any topic, from any location, at any time. Focussing on a particular MOOC experience in the Public Services and Interpreting and Translation field (PSIT), this paper aims to introduce the reader to the course “Challenge Yourself! Take Part in a PSIT Experience!”. With this objective, we will describe the technical details, main features, contents, production stages and methodology of the resource. We will also examine the activities created and the paths for improving and upgrading other courses that are currently being developed

Epigenetic variability in the genetically uniform forest tree species Pinus pinea L

There is an increasing interest in understanding the role of epigenetic variability in forest species and how it may contribute to their rapid adaptation to changing environments. In this study we have conducted a genome-wide analysis of cytosine methylation pattern in Pinus pinea, a species characterized by very low levels of genetic variation and a remarkable degree of phenotypic plasticity. DNA methylation profiles of different vegetatively propagated trees from representative natural Spanish populations of P. pinea were analyzed with the Methylation Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism (MSAP) technique. A high degree of cytosine methylation was detected (64.36% of all scored DNA fragments). Furthermore, high levels of epigenetic variation were observed among the studied individuals. This high epigenetic variation found in P. pinea contrasted with the lack of genetic variation based on Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) data. In this manner, variable epigenetic markers clearly discriminate individuals and differentiates two well represented populations while the lack of genetic variation revealed with the AFLP markers fail to differentiate at both, individual or population levels. In addition, the use of different replicated trees allowed identifying common polymorphic methylation sensitive MSAP markers among replicates of a given propagated tree. This set of MSAPs allowed discrimination of the 70% of the analyzed trees

The Thyroid Hormone Receptors Modulate the Skin Response to Retinoids

[Background]: Retinoids play an important role in skin homeostasis and when administered topically cause skin hyperplasia, abnormal epidermal differentiation and inflammation. Thyroidal status in humans also influences skin morphology and function and we have recently shown that the thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) are required for a normal proliferative response to 12-O-tetradecanolyphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in mice. [Methodology/Principal Findings]: We have compared the epidermal response of mice lacking the thyroid hormone receptor binding isoforms TRα1 and TRβ to retinoids and TPA. Reduced hyperplasia and a decreased number of proliferating cells in the basal layer in response to 9-cis-RA and TPA were found in the epidermis of TR-deficient mice. Nuclear levels of proteins important for cell proliferation were altered, and expression of keratins 5 and 6 was also reduced, concomitantly with the decreased number of epidermal cell layers. In control mice the retinoid (but not TPA) induced parakeratosis and diminished expression of keratin 10 and loricrin, markers of early and terminal epidermal differentiation, respectively. This reduction was more accentuated in the TR deficient animals, whereas they did not present parakeratosis. Therefore, TRs modulate both the proliferative response to retinoids and their inhibitory effects on skin differentiation. Reduced proliferation, which was reversed upon thyroxine treatment, was also found in hypothyroid mice, demonstrating that thyroid hormone binding to TRs is required for the normal response to retinoids. In addition, the mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-6 and the chemotactic proteins S1008A and S1008B were significantly elevated in the skin of TR knock-out mice after TPA or 9-cis-RA treatment and immune cell infiltration was also enhanced. [Conclusions/significance]: Since retinoids are commonly used for the treatment of skin disorders, these results demonstrating that TRs regulate skin proliferation, differentiation and inflammation in response to these compounds could have not only physiological but also therapeutic implications.This work was supported by grants BFU2007-62402 and SAF2008-00121 from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, RD06/0020/0036 and RD06/0020/0029 from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias and by the European Grant CRESCENDO (FP-018652).Peer reviewe

Las técnicas de Minería de datos, Imágenes 3D, Sistemas de Información Geográfica y Estadística espacial aplicadas a la Innovación Educativa [Techniques of Data Mining, 3D Images, Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Statistics applied to Educational Innovation ]

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar como las nuevas tecnologías: Minería de datos, Imágenes 3D o Videos digitales, Sistemas de Información Geográfica (datos georreferenciados) y Estadística espacial, han cambiado y mejorado la Innovación Educativa. Sin embargo, hay que destacar la “poca presencia” de aplicación de la Estadística espacial en España en los trabajos de investigación de Innovación Educativa. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido investigar las causas más importantes de la no aplicación de esta estadística, detectándose que hay una falta de formación en Secundaria y Bachillerato, así como en la etapa universitaria, tanto en alumnos, como en profesores. Y por ello, se proponen soluciones para la mejora en la utilización y aplicabilidad de la Estadística espacial en los trabajos de Innovación Educativa en España. [The aim of this work is to analyze how the new technologies: Data Mining, 3D Images or Digital Videos, Geographic Information Systems (georeferenced data) and Spatial Statistics, has changed and improved the current trends in Educational Innovation. Nevertheless, it is necessary to emphasize the "lack" of application of Spatial Statistics in Spanish researches focus on Educational Innovation. In this study the most important causes of non-application of this topic are investigated, and it has been detected an absence of this kind of education during Secondary and High School grades, which can also be extended university studies and affects both, students and teachers. Therefore, solutions are proposed for the improvement in the use and applicability of Spatial Statistics in the field of Educational Innovation in Spain.

In vivo trypanosomicidal activity of imidazole- or pyrazole-based benzo[ g ]phthalazine derivatives against acute and chronic phases of chagas disease

The in vivo trypanosomicidal activity of the imidazole-based benzo[g]phthalazine derivatives 1−4 and of the new related pyrazole-based compounds 5 and 6 has been studied in both the acute and chronic phases of Chagas disease. As a rule, compounds 1−6 were more active and less toxic than benznidazole in the two stages of the disease, and the monosubstituted derivatives 2, 4, and 6 were more effective than their disubstituted analogs. Feasible mechanisms of action of compounds 1−6 against the parasite have been explored by considering their inhibitory effect on the Fe-SOD enzyme, the nature of the excreted metabolites and the ultrastructural alterations produced. A complementary histopathological analysis has confirmed that the monosubstituted derivatives are less toxic than the reference drug, with the behavior of the imidazole-based compound 4 being especially noteworthy.The authors thank the Santander-Universidad Complutense Research Program (Grant GR58/08-921371-891), the Spanish MEC Project (Grant CGL2008-03687-E/BOS), and the MCINN Projects (CTQ2009-14288-C04-01 and Consolider CSD2010-00065) for financial support

Nitric oxide prevents mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation through regulation of gene expression, cell signaling, and control of cell proliferation

Nitric oxide (NO) delays mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) differentiation by regulating genes linked to pluripotency and differentiation. Nevertheless, no profound study has been conducted on cell differentiation regulation by this molecule through signaling on essential biological functions. We sought to demonstrate that NO positively regulates the pluripotency transcriptional core, enforcing changes in the chromatin structure, in addition to regulating cell proliferation, and signaling pathways with key roles in stemness. Culturing mESCs with 2 μM of the NO donor diethylenetriamine/NO (DETA/NO) in the absence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) induced significant changes in the expression of 16 genes of the pluripotency transcriptional core. Furthermore, treatment with DETA/NO resulted in a high occupancy of activating H3K4me3 at the Oct4 and Nanog promoters and repressive H3K9me3 and H3k27me3 at the Brachyury promoter. Additionally, the activation of signaling pathways involved in pluripotency, such as Gsk3-β/β-catenin, was observed, in addition to activation of PI3 K/Akt, which is consistent with the protection of mESCs from cell death. Finally, a decrease in cell proliferation coincides with cell cycle arrest in G2/M. Our results provide novel insights into NO-mediated gene regulation and cell proliferation and suggest that NO is necessary but not sufficient for the maintenance of pluripotency and the prevention of cell differentiation.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Secretaria de Estado de Investigacion Desarrollo e Innovacion co-funded by Fondos FEDER; Grant number: SAF2005-08014, SAF2006-06673, SAF2007/60105, CYT-836, IPT-2011-1615-900000; Grant sponsor: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III co-funded by Fondos FEDER; Grant number: RED-TERCEL RD06/0010/0025, FIS-052106 and CIBERDEM initiative; Grant sponsor: Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Economía, Innovacion, Ciencia y Empleo-CEICE; Grant number: PAI/CTS576, PI-0022/2008, Proyecto Motriz/CTS-7127/2011; Grant sponsor: Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Salud; Grant number: PI-0105/2010, PI-0095/2007; Grant sponsor: Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Salud, Servicio Andaluz de Salud; Grant number: SAS 11245.Peer Reviewe

Conservation Genetics and Gut Microbial Communities’ Variability of the Critically Endangered European Mink Mustela Lutreola: Implications for Captive Breeding Programs

peer reviewedAbstract Host’s fitness can be affected by its genotype and gut microbiota, defined as the microbes living in the host’s intestinal tract. This study explored how the genetic diversity of the host influences its bacterial communities in the context of captive breeding programs, for the critically endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola). As stated by the ecosystem on a leash model, loss of host genetic diversity may lead to changes in immunomodulation and will therefore induce modifications of the gut microbiota. We investigated variation in the gut bacteria through 16S rRNA metabarcoding, related to the genetic diversity of European mink held in captivity in two breeding centers representing separate breeding stocks originating from the western and eastern populations. The genetic diversity of the host was assessed through diversity analysis of the adaptive MHC class I and II genes as well as neutral microsatellite markers. Results indicate lower diversity in neutral and MHC class I genes for the western population, and the opposite for MHC class II. A lower MHC class II gene variability led to an increase in microbial phylogenetic diversity and in abundance depending on the presence of specific MHC-II motifs. Those results seem to be linked to management practices that differs between the two programs, especially the number of generations in captivity. Long term Ex situ conservation practices can thus modulate gut microbial communities, that might potentially have consequences on the survival of reintroduced animals. We suggest strategies to foster genetic diversity in captive breeding program to mitigate the effects of genetic drift on those small, isolated populations