Description of a new species of Mesochaetopterus (Annelida, Polychaeta, Chaetopteridae), with re-description of M. xerecus and an approach to the phylogeny of the family.

A large chaetopterid polychaete, Mesochaetopterus rogeri sp. nov. is described as new from the Mediterranean Sea. The analyses of partial sequences from the nuclear 18S rRNA (643bp) and the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (577bp) genes of representative individuals of all known chaetopterid genera indicated the initial assignment of the new species into Mesochaetopterus. These analyses also supported the monophyly of the family and revealed two well-supported clades: Chaetopterus / Mesochaetopterus and Spiochaetopterus / ,Phyllochaetopterus. Mesochaetopterus rogeri sp. nov. was close to M. xerecus, here re-described from newly collected material. Mesochaetopterus rogeri sp. nov. was characterized by: 1) two long tentacles with dorsal transversal black bands with alternating widths (sometimes with two additional longitudinal light-brown bands); 2) A region with nine chaetigers (up to 12), with 13 - 19 modified chaetae in the 4th; 3) B region with three flat segments, with accessory feeding organs in the 2nd and 3rd; 4) sandy straight tubes, 2.5 m long or more, vertically embedded in the sand. In the Bay of Blanes, M. rogeri sp. nov. occurs between 6 and 9 (up to 30) m deep, with a patchy distribution (< 1 ind. m-2), maximum densities in April/June (likely due to recruitment events) and minimum in September/November (likely a behavioural response to increasing sediment dynamics). Although it was originally thought that M. rogeri sp. nov. could be an introduced species, we argue that it is probably a native of the Mediterranean, which has been overlooked by scientists up to now.Peer reviewe

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers for peacock wrasse (Symphodus tinca)

Eight polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for the peacock wrasse (Symphodus tinca), a labrid fish inhabiting the Mediterranean and Black seas. Characterization of 35 individuals from the western Mediterranean indicated a relatively high allelic diversity (mean = 12.4, range 9-17), and observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.65 to 0.91. We found no evidence of linkage disequilibrium between pairs of loci. Two loci showed significant departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These polymorphic markers can be useful in most basic population genetic applications. © 2006 The Authors.Peer Reviewe

Larval development and allometric growth of the black-faced blenny Tripterygion delaisi

Larval development and allometric growth patterns of the black-faced blenny Tripterygion delaisi are described from a larval series (body length, L-B = 3.30-12.10 mm) caught by light traps at the Arrabida Marine Park, Portugal. Larvae of T. delaisi possess distinctive morphometric and meristic characteristics which can be used to identify this species from related taxa. Pigmentation is sparse but characteristic, consisting of pigmented eyes, gas bladder pigmentation in the dorsal region, anal pigmentation and a row of regularly spaced postanal ventral melanophores. This pattern is present from as early as the yolk-sac stage and persists throughout all stages with just the addition of head and caudal pigmentation during the flexion and postflexion stages, respectively. The majority of fin development (with the exception of the caudal fin), occurs in the later stages of development. Myomere counts range between 37 and 45 for all stages. Growth is allometric during larval development. When inflexion points of growth were detected, growth was found to be biphasic with the inflexion points occurring within a very narrow range of L-B (8.70-8.90 mm) close to the mean +/- S.D. (9.44 +/- 1.48 mm LB) of postflexion larvae. Considering allometric growth patterns and ontogenetic descriptions together, the first developmental phase includes the preflexion and flexion stage larvae, while the second phase characterises the postflexion larvae prior to the transition from larvae to juvenile. (C) 2017 The Fisheries Society of the British IslesMARES; Erasmus Mundus [FPA 2011-0016]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) [POCTI/MAR/57934/2004, PTDC/MAR/115226/2009, PTDC/MAR-EST/4356/2012, 331/94, PEST-OE/MAR/UI0331/2011, UID/MAR/04292/2013, Multi/04326/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

La perspectiva de género en la docencia universitaria de Economía e Historia

La perspectiva de gènere en la docència universitària implica sotmetre a reflexió els conceptes i anàlisi de les corrents acadèmiques dominants, identificar els biaixos de gènere, promoure una interpretació més àmplia i completa de la realitat i afavorir la sensibilització i conscienciació de les i els estudiants. Vol dir, essencialment, una reorganització de continguts, una reflexió sobre els conceptes, models, teories i perspectiva d'anàlisi, així com la introducció de nous casos, exemples pràctics, fonts de referència, etc. Aquest estudi mostra els resultats d'un projecte d'innovació docent que pretén donar les primeres passes per aconseguir la incorporació transversal de la perspectiva de gènere en la docència. L'aplicació del mateix s'ha efectuat en el grau d'Administració i Direcció d'Empreses i el grau de Ciències Polítiques de la Universitat de Barcelona.  Es van estudiar els plans docents, es va identificar el biaix sistemàtic en la majoria de les assignatures, es van dissenyar activitats de reflexió i sensibilització i es va proposar un qüestionari de validació de l'aprenentatge. En conjunt es va comptar amb la participació de 480 estudiants. Els resultats mostren que, tot i els avenços aconseguits en termes legals i administratius, la posició i el paper de la dona en l'economia i la història contínua, en general, invisibilitzat. S'aprecia, també, que les dones són més conscients de l'existència de desigualtats i més permeables a les actuacions docents que incorporen reflexions i anàlisi d'aquesta índole. Finalment, s'observa que les accions docents que incorporen la perspectiva de gènere contribueixen a canviar les percepcions de les / us estudiants i tenen efectes positius sobre la seva conscienciació i sensibilització.The introduction of a gender perspective into university teaching needs a deep rethinking about the concepts and analysis of the academic mainstream, identifying gender biases, promoting a broader and more complete interpretation of reality and easing gender awareness among students. It means, essentially, a reorganization of contents, a critical review on the concepts, models, theories and approaches of analysis, as well as the introduction of new cases, practical examples, reference sources, etc. This article shows the results of a teaching innovation project that aims to take the first steps into that direction. It has been implemented in the degree of Business Administration and Management and the degree of Political Science of the University of Barcelona. The main action consisted on a study of the teaching plans where a systematic bias was identified in most of the subjects, reflexion and sensitization activities in class and a validation of learning questionnaires. Altogether, 480 students participated. The results show that, despite the progress made in legal and administrative terms, the position and role of women in the economy and history continues, in general, to be invisible. It is also apparent that women are more aware of the existence of inequalities and more permeable to teaching activities that incorporate gender as an issue. Finally, it is stated that the teaching actions that incorporate the gender perspective do contribute to change the perceptions of the students and have positive effects on their awareness on it.Introducir la perspectiva de género en la docencia universitaria implica someter a reflexión los conceptos y análisis de las corrientes académicas dominantes, identificar los sesgos de género, promover una interpretación más amplia y completa de la realidad y favorecer la sensibilización y concienciación de las y los estudiantes. Significa, esencialmente, una reorganización de contenidos, una reflexión sobre los conceptos, modelos, teorías y perspectiva de análisis, así como la introducción de nuevos casos, ejemplos prácticos, fuentes de referencia, etc. Este estudio muestra los resultados de un proyecto de innovación docente que pretende dar los primeros pasos para lograr la incorporación transversal de la perspectiva de género en la docencia. La aplicación del mismo se ha efectuado en el grado de Administración y Dirección de Empresas y el grado de Ciencias Políticas de la Universidad de Barcelona. Se estudiaron los planes docentes, se identificó el sesgo sistemático en la mayoría de las asignaturas, se diseñaron actividades de reflexión y sensibilización y se propuso un cuestionario de validación del aprendizaje. En conjunto se contó con la participación de 480 estudiantes. Los resultados muestran que, pese a los avances conseguidos en términos legales y administrativos, la posición y el papel de la mujer en la economía y la historia continua, en general, invisibilizado. Se aprecia, también, que las mujeres son más conscientes de la existencia de desigualdades y más permeables a las actuaciones docentes que incorporan reflexiones y análisis de esta índole. Finalmente, se observa que las acciones docentes que incorporan la perspectiva de género contribuyen a cambiar las percepciones de las/os estudiantes y tienen efectos positivos sobre su concienciación y sensibilización

Piezoelectric energy harvesting system for volcanic seismic acquisition equipment

–In this paper it is presented a volcanic seismic acquisition equipment that has been developed together with an energy harvesting system, based on piezoelectric elements, in order to work in autonomous conditions. The energy harvesting system has been developed to convert the wind or marine currents energy into electrical energy through a new method based on piezoelectrics. For the deployment of the volcanic seismic acquisition equipment in marine environments, this power generator produces energy obtained from harnessing of the kinetic energy of marine currents. The first results have shown that the system is capable to provide a small amount of energy that can be used to extend the deployment time of the volcanic seismic acquisition equipment.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Gestation and COVID-19 : clinical and microbiological observational study (Gesta-COVID19)

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel disease which has been having a worldwide affect since December 2019. Evidence regarding the effects of SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy is conflicting. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated in biological samples during pregnancy (placenta, umbilical cord or amniotic fluid); however, maternal and fetal effects of the virus are not well known. Descriptive, multicentre, longitudinal, observational study in eight tertiary care hospitals throughout Spain, that are referral centres for pregnant women with COVID-19. All pregnant women with positive SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction during their pregnancy or 14 days preconception and newborns born to mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2 will be included. They will continue to be followed up until 4 weeks after delivery. The aim of the study is to investigate both the effect of COVID-19 on the pregnancy, and the effect of the pregnancy status with the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 disease. Other samples (faeces, urine, serum, amniotic fluid, cord and peripheral blood, placenta and breastmilk) will be collected in order to analyse whether or not there is a risk of vertical transmission and to describe the behaviour of the virus in other fluids. Neonates will be followed until 6 months after delivery to establish the rate of neonatal transmission. We aim to include 150 pregnant women and their babies. Ethics approval will be obtained from all the participating centres. There is little information known about COVID-19 and its unknown effects on pregnancy. This study will collect a large number of samples in pregnant women which will allow us to demonstrate the behaviour of the virus in pregnancy and postpartum in a representative cohort of the Spanish population

Piezoelectric energy harvesting system for volcanic seismic acquisition equipment

In this paper it is presented a volcanic seismic acquisition equipment that has been developed together with an energy harvesting system, based on piezoelectrics elements, in order to work in autonomous conditions. The energy harvesting system it has been developed to convert the wind or marine currents energy into electrical energy through a new method based on piezoelectrics. For the deployment of the volcanic seismic acquisition equipment in marine environments, this power generator produces energy obtained from harnessing of the kinetic energy of marine currents. The first results have shown that the system it is capable to provide a small amount of energy that can be used to extend the deployment time of the volcanic seismic acquisition equipment.Peer Reviewe

Estimating connectivity in marine populations : an empirical evaluation of assignment tests and parentage analysis under different gene flow scenarios

Author Posting. © Blackwell Publishing, 2009. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Blackwell Publishing for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Molecular Ecology 18 (2009): 1765-1776, doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04109.x.The application of spatially explicit models of population dynamics to fisheries management and the design marine reserves network systems has been limited due to a lack of empirical estimates of larval dispersal. Here we compared assignment tests and parentage analysis for examining larval retention and connectivity under two different gene flow scenarios using panda clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus) in Papua New Guinea. A metapopulation of panda clownfish in Bootless Bay with little or no genetic differentiation among 5 spatially discrete locations separated by 2-6km provided the high gene flow scenario. The low gene flow scenario compared the Bootless Bay metapopulation with a genetically distinct population (Fst = 0.1) located at Schumann Island, New Britain, 1,500km to the north-east. We used assignment tests and parentage analysis based on microsatellite DNA data to identify natal origins of 177 juveniles in Bootless Bay and 73 juveniles at Schumann Island. At low rates of gene flow, assignment tests correctly classified juveniles to their source population. On the other hand, parentage analysis led to an overestimate of self-recruitment within the two populations due to the significant deviation from panmixia when both populations were pooled. At high gene flow (within Bootless Bay), assignment tests underestimated self-recruitment and connectivity among subpopulations, and grossly overestimated self-recruitment within the overall metapopulation. However, the assignment tests did identify immigrants from distant (genetically distinct) populations. Parentage analysis clearly provided the most accurate estimates of connectivity in situations of high gene flow.We thank ARC Centre of Excellence, the National Science Foundation (OCE 0424688), the Coral Reef Initiatives for the Pacific (CRISP), the TOTAL Foundation, Populations Fractionées et Insulaires (PPF EPHE) and GEF/World bank’s CRTR program (Connectivity working group) for financial support

Detecting immigrants in a highly genetically homogeneous spiny lobster population (Palinurus elephas) in the northwest Mediterranean Sea

Publicado

Design and Implementation of Degenerate Microsatellite Primers for the Mammalian Clade

Microsatellites are popular genetic markers in molecular ecology, genetic mapping and forensics. Unfortunately, despite recent advances, the isolation of de novo polymorphic microsatellite loci often requires expensive and intensive groundwork. Primers developed for a focal species are commonly tested in a related, non-focal species of interest for the amplification of orthologous polymorphic loci; when successful, this approach significantly reduces cost and time of microsatellite development. However, transferability of polymorphic microsatellite loci decreases rapidly with increasing evolutionary distance, and this approach has shown its limits. Whole genome sequences represent an under-exploited resource to develop cross-species primers for microsatellites. Here we describe a three-step method that combines a novel in silico pipeline that we use to (1) identify conserved microsatellite loci from a multiple genome alignments, (2) design degenerate primer pairs, with (3) a simple PCR protocol used to implement these primers across species. Using this approach we developed a set of primers for the mammalian clade. We found 126,306 human microsatellites conserved in mammalian aligned sequences, and isolated 5,596 loci using criteria based on wide conservation. From a random subset of ∼1000 dinucleotide repeats, we designed degenerate primer pairs for 19 loci, of which five produced polymorphic fragments in up to 18 mammalian species, including the distinctly related marsupials and monotremes, groups that diverged from other mammals 120–160 million years ago. Using our method, many more cross-clade microsatellite loci can be harvested from the currently available genomic data, and this ability is set to improve exponentially as further genomes are sequenced