Influencia de los profesores en la percepción de los alumnos de primer curso de actividades relacionadas con competencias transversales

[EN] Soft skills have become part of the curriculum of content courses at the Universities. Evaluating those skills requires working in small groups run by various lecturers and those groups might become biased by the lecturer’s perception of the activities. In this study our hypothesis was that lecturers’ prejudices influence student perception of the course activities and that misguidance from lecturers can be amended with motivating coordination of the lecturers. Two team-based activities were assessed for lab evaluation. Besides, self- and peer-evaluation were carried out to mark students’ soft skills related to teamwork and leadership in relation to these activities. Perception of the activities and their assessment by students and lecturers were analysed. We concluded that lecturer prejudices bias students’ perception of the activities they carry out and that lecturers need to work as a close team for the course to become a successful project.[ES] Las competencias transversales se han convertido en parte del programa de las asignaturas en las Universidades. La evaluación de competencias requiere que los grupos de estudiantes sean reducidos, con lo que intervienen varios profesores en una misma actividad programada. Estas actividades pueden resultar influidas por la percepción que de ellas tenga cada profesor. Partimos de la hipótesis de que los prejuicios de los profesores influyen en la percepción que tiene el alumno de las actividades y que las desviaciones debidas a esos prejuicios pueden ser corregidas mediante una coordinación motivadora entre profesores. Se valoró la adecuación como evaluación de prácticas de laboratorio de dos actividades que los alumnos realizaron en equipos de tres. Además, se llevó a cabo un sistema de autoevaluación y evaluación entre pares para evaluar a los alumnos en la competencia “trabajo en equipo y liderazgo” en relación con esas dos actividades. Analizamos la valoración de alumnos y profesores respecto a las actividades propuestas y al sistema de evaluación en una encuesta abierta. Se concluye que los profesores influimos en la apreciación que los alumnos tienen de las actividades y que los profesores necesitaríamos trabajar estrechamente en equipo para que la asignatura sea un proyecto con éxito.Este estudio ha sido financiado por la Universitat Politècnica de València mediante el proyecto ref. PIME/2014/A/001/A. Los autores desean agradecer a los alumnos de la asignatura de Biología Celular (ref. 11112) del curso 2014-15 su inestimable colaboración en la realización del proyecto.Fornes Sebastiá, F.; Belda Navarro, RM.; González Nebauer, S.; Pallotti Sagripanti, CG.; Saz Rubio, MMD.; Mac Donald Lightbound, P.; Westall Pixton, DL. (2015). Influencia de los profesores en la percepción de los alumnos de primer curso de actividades relacionadas con competencias transversales. En In-Red 2015 - CONGRESO NACIONAL DE INNOVACIÓN EDUCATIVA Y DE DOCENCIA EN RED. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2015.2015.1603OC

Microsatellite instability analysis in hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer using the Bethesda consensus panel of microsatellite markers in the absence of proband normal tissue

BACKGROUND: Hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant syndrome predisposing to the early development of various cancers including those of colon, rectum, endometrium, ovarium, small bowel, stomach and urinary tract. HNPCC is caused by germline mutations in the DNA mismatch repair genes, mostly hMSH2 or hMLH1. In this study, we report the analysis for genetic counseling of three first-degree relatives (the mother and two sisters) of a male who died of colorectal adenocarcinoma at the age of 23. The family fulfilled strict Amsterdam-I criteria (AC-I) with the presence of extracolonic tumors in the extended pedigree. We overcame the difficulty of having a proband post-mortem non-tumor tissue sample for MSI testing by studying the alleles carried by his progenitors. METHODS: Tumor MSI testing is described as initial screening in both primary and metastasis tumor tissue blocks, using the reference panel of 5 microsatellite markers standardized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for the screening of HNPCC (BAT-25, BAT-26, D2S123, D5S346 and D17S250). Subsequent mutation analysis of the hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes was performed. RESULTS: Three of five microsatellite markers (BAT-25, BAT-26 and D5S346) presented different alleles in the proband's tumor as compared to those inherited from his parents. The tumor was classified as high frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H). We identified in the HNPCC family a novel germline missense (c.1864C>A) mutation in exon 12 of hMSH2 gene, leading to a proline 622 to threonine (p.Pro622Thr) amino acid substitution. CONCLUSION: This approach allowed us to establish the tumor MSI status using the NCI recommended panel in the absence of proband's non-tumor tissue and before sequencing the obligate carrier. According to the Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD) and the International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumors (InSiGHT) Database this is the first report of this mutation

Composted organic wastes from the pharmaceutical and agro-food industries induce soil bioactivity and nodulation in alfalfa

BACKGROUND: Environmentally friendly agriculture needs toreduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and to reclaim nutrients from organic wastes. In this study the effect of five doses (0, 12, 24, 48 and 96 t ha(-1)) of two two-phase olive mill waste (TPOMW)-based composts on the bioactivity and chemical characteristics of an agricultural soil and their potential to fertilize alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and stimulate nodulation were assessed during a two-year incubation experiment. The two composts were prepared either with the olive mill waste alone (compost A), which served as control, or mixed with a liquid fatty-proteinaceous hydrolyzate waste (FPH) from the pharmaceutical industry (compost AH). RESULTS: Compost AH resulted in greater N immobilization than compost A because the former supplied the soil with easily degradable C and N, which increased microbial biomass and activity. Both compost mineralizations during the first year of incubation supplied the soil with more nutrients (mainly N), more so with A than with AH. Nevertheless, plant growth was similar in soils amended with either A or AH. Both composts induced nodulation similarly and the highest dose (96 t ha-1) increased the formation of nodules by a factor of 11 compared with the four lower doses. CONCLUSION: TPOMW serves as an effective ground material for co-composting with liquid wastes such as FPH. TPOMW supplies key nutrients and stimulates nodulation in alfalfa. (C) 2014 Society of Chemical IndustryThis research was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia through the PETRI Programme (PTR1995-0894-OP-02-02). Rosana Garcia-de-la-Fuente thanks the Valencian Government for awarding her a pre-doctoral grant (BFPI/2007/055) and Profs Paolo Nanipieri, Loretta Landi and Giancarlo Renella from the Universita degli Studi de Firenze for their assistance in developing the N dynamics experiment. Claudia X Jaramillo thanks COOPEN European Commission for awarding her an exchange grant (2009-5124\001-001-ECW). The authors also thank Dr Debra Westall for revising the English and Mrs Joana Oliver for her technical assistance.Fornes Sebastiá, F.; Jaramillo, CX.; García De La Fuente, R.; Belda Navarro, RM.; Lidón Cerezuela, AL. (2014). Composted organic wastes from the pharmaceutical and agro-food industries induce soil bioactivity and nodulation in alfalfa. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 94(14):3030-3037. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.6651S30303037941

Fibronectin From Oviductal Cells Fluctuates During the Estrous Cycle and Contributes to Sperm-Oviduct Interaction in Cattle

During the passage of sperm through the oviduct, spermatozoa bind to the oviductal epithelium and form the oviductal reservoir. This interaction keeps the fertilizing capacity of sperm until ovulation-associated signals induce sperm release from the oviductal epithelium, allowing the transit of spermatozoa to the fertilization site. Fibronectin is a glycoprotein from the extracellular matrix that binds to α5β1 receptors. Fibronectin has been found to be expressed in the oviduct, whereas α5β1 has been found to be expressed in the sperm of different species. Fibronectin is involved through α5β1 in sperm functions. The aim of this work was to study the participation of oviductal fibronectin in the regulation of the sperm-oviduct interaction in cattle. We found that oviductal epithelial cells differentially expressed all mRNA splice variants of fibronectin during the estrous cycle. Fibronectin was localized in the apical region of oviductal epithelial cells and fibronectin levels in the oviductal fluid fluctuated during the estrous cycle. Also, bovine spermatozoa expressed α5β1. Using in vitro sperm-oviduct co-cultures, we found that spermatozoa were attached to the oviductal epithelium through α5β1. The incubation of co-cultures with fibronectin induced sperm release from the oviductal cells through α5β1. The sperm population released from oviductal cells by fibronectin was enriched in motile and capacitated spermatozoa. Based on our in vitro culture system results, we propose that fibronectin and α5β1 are involved in the sperm-oviduct interaction. Also, an increase in fibronectin levels in the oviductal fluid during the pre-ovulatory period may promote sperm release from the oviductal epithelium in cattle.Fil: Osycka Salut, Claudia Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Castellano, Luciana Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Fornes, Daiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Beltrame, Jimena Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Alonso, Carlos Agustín Isidro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Jawerbaum, Alicia Sandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Franchi, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, Emilce S.. Universidad de Antofagasta; ChileFil: Perez Martinez, Silvina Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentin

Consumption of oil macerated with garlic produces renovascular protective effects in adult apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory conditions contribute as key determinants in the development of vascular and renal diseases. Organosulfur compounds (OSCs) of oil macerated with garlic (OMG) are promising phytochemicals which could protect us from hyper-inflammation and oxidative stress-induced organ damage. The present work evaluated the effect of OMG intake in apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE-KO) mice. Adult female ApoE-KO mice were randomly divided into three groups and fed with control chow, oil-supplemented diet and OMG-supplemented diet. After 8 weeks, the animals were euthanized and blood, aorta, kidneys, liver and abdominal adipose tissues were obtained for further analysis. Biochemical parameters were measured in plasma, lipid peroxidation as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels was determined in the adipose tissue, oil red O was used to stain atherosclerotic lesions, and histological and ultrastructural analyses of the kidneys were performed. Renal expression levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Wilms’ Tumor Protein (WT-1) were determined by western blotting and the co-immunoprecipitation assay (p53/WT-1). Also, transmission electron microscopy for studying the expression of mitofusin 2 (Mfn-2) was used to assess mitochondrial damage. The results showed that long-term moderate intake of OMG improved serum triglyceride levels, diminished the atheroma plaque area, and reduced lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, we found a decrease in oxidative and inflammatory markers, less apoptosis and reduced WT-1 expression in the kidneys. Also, OMG increased p53/WT-1 protein interactions and reduced mitochondrial damage. Our findings suggest that OMG intake would produce anti-atherosclerotic, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects in adult ApoE-KO mice, conferring significant renovascular protective actions in a mechanism mediated, at least in part, by WT-1.Fil: Torres Palazzolo, Carolina Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Martín Giménez, Virna Margarita. Universidad Catolica de Cuyo - Sede San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mazzei, Luciana Jorgelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: de Paola, Maria Matilde. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Quesada, Isabel María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Cuello Carrión, Fernando Darío. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Fornes, Miguel Walter. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Camargo, Alejandra Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Castro, Claudia Magdalena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Manucha, Walter Ariel Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentin

An Introduction to the Application and Future Use of 234Th in Aquatic Systems

234Th is an extremely useful radiotracer of particle dynamics in aquatic systems.Its use, however, is still limited to a relatively small number of investigators. The reasons for this may in part be due to a lack of knowledge of how this nuclide has been used in the past as well as how and where 234Th might be profitably applied in future research. The purpose of this paper, then, is to examine the variety of 234Th applications that have been used to understand natural aquatic processes in four major areas: vertical transport,particle cycling, horizontal transport, and sediment dynamics. We provide a general overview of the possible applications of 234Th in the hopes of provoking an increased interest in the inherent potential and future application of 234Th in these systems. We end this paper with a discussion of future research avenues in the context of three specific regimes: i) the upper 1000 m of the open ocean, ii) coastal sediment/water processes and iii) large freshwater lakes

Subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin for prevention of disease in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trialResearch in context

Summary: Background: Anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin (hIG) can provide standardized and controlled antibody content. Data from controlled clinical trials using hIG for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 outpatients have not been reported. We assessed the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin 20% (C19-IG20%) compared to placebo in preventing development of symptomatic COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We did a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, in asymptomatic unvaccinated adults (≥18 years of age) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within 5 days between April 28 and December 27, 2021. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a blinded subcutaneous infusion of 10 mL with 1 g or 2 g of C19-IG20%, or an equivalent volume of saline as placebo. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants who remained asymptomatic through day 14 after infusion. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of individuals who required oxygen supplementation, any medically attended visit, hospitalisation, or ICU, and viral load reduction and viral clearance in nasopharyngeal swabs. Safety was assessed as the proportion of patients with adverse events. The trial was terminated early due to a lack of potential benefit in the target population in a planned interim analysis conducted in December 2021. ClinicalTrials.gov registry: NCT04847141. Findings: 461 individuals (mean age 39.6 years [SD 12.8]) were randomized and received the intervention within a mean of 3.1 (SD 1.27) days from a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. In the prespecified modified intention-to-treat analysis that included only participants who received a subcutaneous infusion, the primary outcome occurred in 59.9% (91/152) of participants receiving 1 g C19-IG20%, 64.7% (99/153) receiving 2 g, and 63.5% (99/156) receiving placebo (difference in proportions 1 g C19-IG20% vs. placebo, −3.6%; 95% CI -14.6% to 7.3%, p = 0.53; 2 g C19-IG20% vs placebo, 1.1%; −9.6% to 11.9%, p = 0.85). None of the secondary clinical efficacy endpoints or virological endpoints were significantly different between study groups. Adverse event rate was similar between groups, and no severe or life-threatening adverse events related to investigational product infusion were reported. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that administration of subcutaneous human hyperimmune immunoglobulin C19-IG20% to asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection was safe but did not prevent development of symptomatic COVID-19. Funding: Grifols