Endocardial-mesenchymal transition underlies fusion of the conotruncal ridges during embryonic cardiac outflow tract septation

The embryonic cardiac outflow tract (conotruncus) is a single tubular chamber that connects the right ventricle with the aortic arch arteries. It contains two opposite, long and helical mesenchymal cushions covered by endocardial cells (conotruncal ridges). Conotruncal division (septation) gives rise to the adult right and left outflows together with the aortic and pulmonary valves. It takes place by fusion of the two opposite ridges and formation of the conotruncal septum. Although the participation of neural crest cells in septation is well established, the mechanism of fusion of the conotruncal ridges remains unknown. Defects in fusion have been shown to produce bicuspid aortic valve, the most prevalent human congenital cardiac malformation, in a hamster model. Three fusion mechanisms have been proposed to operate during embryonic development: epithelial adhesion, epithelial apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The first mechanism entails the expression of adhesion molecules and the maintenance of the identity of cells in contact, whereas in the other two, epithelial cells covering the fusing structures disappear by apoptosis or by transforming into mesenchymal cells. The objective of this study is to elucidate the mechanism involved in the fusion of the conotruncal ridges. Immunofluorecence techniques were used in ED 11-12 hamster embryos. The results indicate that the mechanism of EMT, but not epithelial adhesion or apoptosis, is involved in the process of fusion of the conotruncal ridges. The EMT mechanism associated with conotruncal septation seems to be uncoupled from the process of formation of the endocardial cushions, which takes place at early stages. With these results, we can raise the hypothesis that defects in the EMT process may lead to different morphological types of bicuspid aortic valve.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This study was supported by P10-CTS-6068 (Junta de Andalucía), CGL2014-52356-P and CGL2017-85090-P (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad), contract UMAJI75 (Junta de Andalucía, European Social Fund), and Universidad de Málaga

Is the bulbus arteriosus of fish homologous to the mamalian intrapericardial thoracic arteries?

El resumen aparece en el Program & Abstracts of the 10th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Barcelona 2013.Anatomical Record, Volume 296, Special Feature — 1: P-089.Two major findings have significantly improved our understanding of the embryology and evolution of the arterial pole of the vertebrate heart (APVH): 1) a new embryonic presumptive cardiac tissue, named second heart field (SHF), forms the myocardium of the outflow tract, and the walls of the ascending aorta (AA) and the pulmonary trunk (PT) in mammals and birds; 2) the bulbus arteriosus (BA), previously thought to be an actinopterygian apomorphy, is present in all basal Vertebrates, and probably derives from the SHF. We hypothesized that the intrapericardial portions of the AA and the PT of mammals are homologous to the BA of basal vertebrates. To test this, we performed 1) a literature review of the anatomy and embryology of the APVH; 2) novel anatomical, histomorphological, and embryological analyses of the APVH, comparing basal (Galeus atlanticus), with apical (Mus musculus and Mesocricetus auratus) vertrebrates. Evidence obtained: 1) Anatomically, BA, AA, and PT are muscular tubes into the pericardial cavity, which connect the distal myocardial outflow tracts with the aortic arch system. Coronary arteries run through or originate at these anatomical structures; 2) Histologically, BA, AA, and PT show an inner layer of endothelium covered by circumferentially oriented smooth muscle cells, collagen fibers, and lamellar elastin. The histomorphological differences between the BA and the ventral aorta parallel those between intrapericardial and extrapericardial great arteries; 3) Embryologically, BA, AA, and PT are composed of smooth muscle cells derived from the SHF. They show a similar mechanism of development: incorporation of SHF‐derived cells into the pericardial cavity, and distal‐to‐proximal differentiation into an elastogenic cell linage. In conclusion, anatomical, histological and embryological evidence supports the hypothesis that SHF is a developmental unit responsible for the formation of the APVH. The BA and the intrapericardial portions of the great arteries must be considered homologous structures.Proyecto P10-CTS-6068 (Junta de Andalucía); proyecto CGL-16417 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación); Fondos FEDER

Loss of diversity in the community of small mammals of Doñana National Park (SW Spain): another effect of the local climate change ?

Doñana National Park is an important wetland located in the southwest Spain forming part of the Mediterranean Basin, a "biodiversity hotspot" especially vulnerable to climate change. In this study, we investigate changes in diversity and abundance occurred between 1978 and 2016 in the community of small mammals of Doñana and their relationship with local climate changes. Capture-mark-recapture methods were carried out for a total of 16 years, unevenly distributed over four decades. Our findings show a consistent loss of diversity and abundance decline in the community of small mammals. Eliomys quercinus and Rattus rattus have almost disappeared from the area and Apodemus sylvaticus has sharply reduced its abundance parallel to the progressive increase of Mus spretus. Such a process is worrying for conservation as small mammals represent, after rabbits, the most important prey for carnivores and raptors in Doñana. The detected changes could be at least partially explained by the progressive increase in local temperature observed during the study period. In line with this, the species that have suffered a greater decline are those of Eurasian origin and northern distribution as is the case for E. quercinus and R. rattus while the current dominant species, M. spretus, proceeds from Africa and has a Mediterranean distribution. A non-exclusive alternative is that the extreme rarefaction of rabbits may have caused a trophic cascade effect enhancing predation by carnivores and raptors towards gradually smaller species.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

La Integraciòn de los medios y nuevas tecnologías en los centros y prácticas docentes

El artículo que presentamos recoge las aportaciones más relevantes de un investigación de corte descriptivo que realizamos recientemente: "Los medios audiovisuales, informáticos y nuevas tecnologías en los centros educativos gallegos: presencia y usos". Este estudio se inscribe dentro de la línea de investigación didáctico-curricular sobre los medios. Sus principales aportaciones constituyen -a nuestro juicio- referentes ineludibles para el diseño de políticas educativas para la integración de los medios en la educación en un contexto en que este tipo de acciones constituyen un objetivo prioritario. Se abordan los principales aspectos didácticos ligados a la integración de los medios y nuevas tecnologías en la educación: formación de profesores, aspectos organizativos para su integración, usos en las prácticas y aspectos relevantes en relación a la adquisición y dotación de medios de los centros.The article that we present picks up the most excellent contributions from a descriptive research that we carry out recently: "The audiovisual media, computer and new technologies in galician educational centers: avaliability and uses". This study tried to know audiovisual media, computer and New Technologies that the professors use in the centers of primary and secondary of Galician community: How they use them and from what previous ideas on the means makes it. It not only approaches the problem in relation to the means in general, but also in relation to each one of the main audiovisual, computer media and NTIC applied to the education. It not only assumes the perspective of the lacks, but also that of the media that the professors prefer and they consider more useful in their practices. It approaches indispensable aspects for the design of formation plans in media because not being limited to the formative deficits, but also considering the vision of the professors the formation should be

Organizadores Gráficos: los Mapas Mentales como herramienta para potenciar las habilidades de comprensión lectora

Reading comprehension in L2 is perhaps the skill whose requirements have changed most and most rapidly due to the demand of the information society. Readers not only need to interpret words and sentences in articles or books: sometimes they have to make a meaning out of disconnected pieces of information in pouring messages on websites, and social networks. The purpose of the present study is to explore the possibilities of mind-mapping techniques in order to foster the reading comprehension abilities in students of English as L2 by working under the assumption that the latter can be improved when apparently loose pieces of written information are connected by means of images and lines. The experiment in the project involved a total of 84 participants of two consecutive academic levels: first and second year of post-compulsory secondary education. Different sessions and two parallel procedures were scheduled in order to provide us with contrasting data that could be systematized numerically. Even though the sessions that could be scheduled were limited in number, the analysis of the data suggests some noticeable improvement in the reading comprehension abilities in most participants and some perception of progress in a majority of them. Their positive feedback, suggests that sustained work in this field could improve their reading comprehension skills in a significant way.La comprensión lectora en L2 es quizás la habilidad cuyos requisitos han cambiado más y más rápidamente debido a la demanda de la sociedad de la información. Los lectores no solo necesitan interpretar palabras y oraciones en artículos o libros. A veces tienen que encontrar un significado de piezas desconectadas de información en el vertido de mensajes en sitios web y redes sociales. El propósito de presente estudio es explorar las posibilidades de los mapas mentales como técnicas de aprendizaje para fomentar la comprensión lectora bajo la suposición de que mejoran. Se analizan las habilidades de comprensión en estudiantes de inglés como L2 cuando se enfrentan con fragmentos aparentemente sueltos de información escrita conectados por medio de imágenes y líneas. La experiencia en el proyecto involucró a un total de 84 participantes de dos niveles académicos consecutivos: primero y segundo año de la educación secundaria postobligatoria. Se programaron diferentes sesiones y dos procedimientos paralelos para proporcionar datos contrastantes que pudieran ser sistematizados numéricamente. Aunque las sesiones que podrían programarse eran limitados en número, el análisis de los datos sugiere alguna mejora notable en las habilidades de comprensión lectora en la mayoría de los participantes y cierta percepción de progreso en la mayoría de ellos. La retroalimentación positiva de este alumnado sugiere que el trabajo sostenido en este campo podría mejorar las habilidades de comprensión lectora de manera significativ

Skills for Learning Network of High School Students in Galicia

El objetivo del presente trabajo radica en identificar las necesidades formativas para el trabajo en red de los alumnos de secundaria de Galicia. Se presenta un análisis exploratorio de sus niveles de competencia en esta materia valorados autopercibidos por los propios alumnos y percibidos por sus profesores. Los resultados muestran niveles de preparación superiores en competencias instrumentales, e insuficientes en otras mas directamente relacionadas con el aprendizaje autónomo y orientado a la creación de conocimiento, sugiriendo la necesidad de propuestas de formación que mejoren la explotación y el uso de las TIC para la optimización de los procesos de aprendizaje.The aim of the present study is to identify the training needs for educational network of secondary education students in Galicia. An exploratory analysis of the competence levels in educational network assessed by the own students and by their teachers. The results show higher levels in instrumental competences, and insufficient in those competences related to autonomous learning and knowledge development. Therefore, these data suggest the need of curricular and systematic training to improve the exploitation and management of the ICT in order to optimize the learning process

Trace elements and C and N isotope composition in two mushroom species from a mine-spill contaminated site

Fungi play a key role in the functioning of soil in terrestrial ecosystems, and in particular in the remediation of degraded soils. The contribution of fungi to carbon and nutrient cycles, along with their capability to mobilise soil trace elements, is well-known. However, the importance of life history strategy for these functions has not yet been thoroughly studied. This study explored the soil-fungi relationship of two wild edible fungi, the ectomycorrhizal Laccaria laccata and the saprotroph Volvopluteus gloiocephalus. Fruiting bodies and surrounding soils in a mine-spill contaminated area were analysed. Isotope analyses revealed Laccaria laccata fruiting bodies were 15N-enriched when compared to Volvopluteus gloiocephalus, likely due to the transfer of 15N-depleted compounds to their host plant. Moreover, Laccaria laccata fruiting bodies δ13C values were closer to host plant values than surrounding soil, while Volvopluteus gloiocephalus matched the δ13C composition to that of the soil. Fungal species presented high bioaccumulation and concentrations of Cd and Cu in their fruiting bodies. Human consumption of these fruiting bodies may represent a toxicological risk due to their elevated Cd concentrations

Evaluación de la enseñanza con TIC

Las posibilidades que ofrecen las TIC para el desarrollo de una enseñanza flexible son diversas, pero el desarrollo de sus aplicaciones en los distintos componentes de proceso de enseñanza no ha avanzado por igual. En este sentido, actualmente se puede hablar de una escasa tradición en el uso de las TIC para la evaluación de los procesos de enseñanza. Las aplicaciones más frecuentes se relacionan con el diseño y aplicación de exámenes (fundamentalmente pruebas objetivas) o con la evaluación del proceso de aprendizaje diseñado exclusivamente con las TIC (cursos informatizados con un sistema de evaluación propio). Las TIC, por sus rasgos definitorios, ofrecen posibilidades para diseñar múltiples instrumentos; organizar la información recogida en el proceso evaluador e interpretarla, facilitando así la comprensión del proceso de aprendizaje. En este trabajo planteamos algunas posibilidades que ofrecen la TIC en el campo de la evaluación.The possibilities that ICT offer for the development of a flexible teaching are diverse, but the development of their applications in the different components of teaching process has not advanced equally. In this sense, at the moment one can speak of a scarce tradition in the use of the ICT for the evaluation of the teaching processes. The most frequent applications are related with the design and application of exams (fundamentally objective tests) or with the evaluation of the learning process designed exclusively with the ICT (courses computerized with an own evaluation system). The ICT offer possibilities to design multiple instruments; to organize the information picked up in the process appraiser and to interpret it, facilitating this way the understanding of the learning process. In this work we outline some possibilities that ICT offer in the field of the evaluation