5 research outputs found

    The Interactive Role of Hydrocarbon Seeps, Hydrothermal Vents and Intermediate Antarctic/MediterraneanWater Masses on the Distribution of Some Vulnerable Deep-Sea Habitats in Mid Latitude NE Atlantic Ocean

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    In this work, we integrate five case studies harboring vulnerable deep-sea benthic habitats in different geological settings from mid latitude NE Atlantic Ocean (24–42º N). Data and images of specific deep-sea habitats were acquired with Remoted Operated Vehicle (ROV) sensors (temperature, salinity, potential density, O2, CO2, and CH4). Besides documenting some key vulnerable deep-sea habitats, this study shows that the distribution of some deep-sea coral aggregations (including scleractinians, gorgonians, and antipatharians), deep-sea sponge aggregations and other deep-sea habitats are influenced by water masses’ properties. Our data support that the distribution of scleractinian reefs and aggregations of other deep-sea corals, from subtropical to north Atlantic could be dependent of the latitudinal extents of the Antarctic IntermediateWaters (AAIW) and the Mediterranean Out- flow Waters (MOW). Otherwise, the distribution of some vulnerable deep-sea habitats is influenced, at the local scale, by active hydrocarbon seeps (Gulf of Cádiz) and hydrothermal vents (El Hierro, Canary Island). The co-occurrence of deep-sea corals and chemosynthesis-based communities has been identified in methane seeps of the Gulf of Cádiz. Extensive beds of living deep-sea mussels (Bathymodiolus mauritanicus) and other chemosymbiotic bivalves occur closely to deep-sea coral aggregations (e.g., gorgonians, black corals) that colonize methane-derived authigenic carbonates

    New discoveries of mud volcanoes on the Moroccan Atlantic continental margin (Gulf of Cádiz): morpho-structural characterization

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    10th International Conference on Gas in Marine Sediments, 6-11 September 2010, Listvyanka, RussiaDuring the MVSEIS-08 cruise of 2008, ten new mud volcanoes (MVs) were discovered on the offshore Moroccan continental margin (Gulf of Cádiz) at water depths between 750 and 1,600 m, using multibeam bathymetry, backscatter imagery, high-resolution seismic and gravity core data. Mud breccias were recovered in all cases, attesting to the nature of extrusion of these cones. The mud volcanoes are located in two fields: the MVSEIS, Moundforce, Pixie, Las Negras, Madrid, Guadix, Almanzor and El Cid MVs in the western Moroccan field, where mud volcanoes have long been suspected but to date not identified, and the Boabdil and Al Gacel MVs in the middle Moroccan field. Three main morphologies were observed: asymmetric, sub-circular and flat-topped cone-shaped types, this being the first report of asymmetric morphologies in the Gulf of Cádiz. Based on morpho-structural analysis, the features are interpreted to result from (1) repeated constructive (expulsion of fluid mud mixtures) and destructive (gravity-induced collapse and submarine landsliding) episodes and (2) interaction with bottom currentsDivisión de Geología Marina, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaCentro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, EspañaFacultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Cádiz, EspañaFacultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Españ

    Population-based multicase-control study in common tumors in Spain (MCC-Spain): rationale and study design

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    Introduction: We present the protocol of a large population-based case-control study of 5 common tumors in Spain (MCC-Spain) that evaluates environmental exposures and genetic factors. Methods: Between 2008-2013, 10,183 persons aged 20-85 years were enrolled in 23 hospitals and primary care centres in 12 Spanish provinces including 1,115 cases of a new diagnosis of prostate cancer, 1,750 of breast cancer, 2,171 of colorectal cancer, 492 of gastro-oesophageal cancer, 554 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and 4,101 population-based controls matched by frequency to cases by age, sex and region of residence. Participation rates ranged from 57% (stomach cancer) to 87% (CLL cases) and from 30% to 77% in controls. Participants completed a face-to-face computerized interview on sociodemographic factors, environmental exposures, occupation, medication, lifestyle, and personal and family medical history. In addition, participants completed a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire and telephone interviews. Blood samples were collected from 76% of participants while saliva samples were collected in CLL cases and participants refusing blood extractions. Clinical information was recorded for cases and paraffin blocks and/or fresh tumor samples are available in most collaborating hospitals. Genotyping was done through an exome array enriched with genetic markers in specific pathways. Multiple analyses are planned to assess the association of environmental, personal and genetic risk factors for each tumor and to identify pleiotropic effects. Discussion: This study, conducted within the Spanish Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), is a unique initiative to evaluate etiological factors for common cancers and will promote cancer research and prevention in Spain.The study was partially funded by the “Accion Transversal del Cancer”, approved on the Spanish Ministry Council on the 11th October 2007, by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FEDER (PI08/1770, PI08/0533, PI08/1359, PS09/00773, PS09/01286, PS09/01903, PS09/02078, PS09/01662, PI11/01403, PI11/01889, PI11/00226, PI11/01810, PI11/02213, PI12/00488, PI12/00265, PI12/01270, PI12/00715, PI12/00150), by the Fundación Marqués de Valdecilla (API 10/09), by the ICGC International Cancer Genome Consortium CLL, by the Junta de Castilla y León (LE22A10-2), by the Consejería de Salud of the Junta de Andalucía (PI-0571), by the Conselleria de Sanitat of the Generalitat Valenciana (AP 061/10), by the Recercaixa (2010ACUP 00310), by the Regional Government of the Basque Country by European Commission grants FOOD-CT- 2006-036224-HIWATE, by the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) Scientific Foundation, by the The Catalan Government DURSI grant 2009SGR1489

    Experiencias y reflexiones tras el desarrollo del MOOC "Sistemas Coloidales, del laboratorio a la cocina"

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    In a globalized world, Universities and Higher Education Postgraduate Centers seek strategies for publicizing their teaching offer beyond their frontiers. One of these is to develop MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), which philosophy is spreading education all over the world. Moreover, this provides access to higher education training even to people that traditionally would have difficulties, whether financial or cultural. The present work describes the experiences and reflections collected by the teaching team of the MOOC “Colloidal Systems: from the laboratory to the kitchen” after its first edition. It was offered by the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) on the Miríada X platform. In order to gather information, students had to fill a mandatory satisfaction survey at the end of the course. Teachers´ survey results together with data provided by the platform were analyzed through a SWOT matrix. Overall, the evaluation of the course turned out to be very positive. However, an increase in the dropout rate was observed in those modules with peer to peer (P2P) activities, showing a strong relationship between these two events. Likewise, the use of Spanish in the course limited its expansion to other countries in which this is not the first language. Among the strengths of the course respondents highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of the teaching team, the great knowledge in virtual environments and the quality of the audiovisual material provided by the UCM. The inclusion of a Facebook group link encouraged students to interact with each other and share their tasks. Thus, social networks are an added value to the dissemination and success of this kind of courses. All these aspects must be taken into account in order to implement future editions of this and other MOOC courses.En un mundo globalizado, las Universidades y los Centros de Educación Superior de Postgrado buscan estrategias que les permiten publicitar su oferta docente más allá de sus fronteras nacionales. Una de estas estrategias es la elaboración de cursos MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), cuya filosofía persigue llegar a un público lo más amplio posible, incluyendo aquel que tradicionalmente tendría más dificultades para acceder a la formación de nivel superior. En el presente trabajo, se describen las experiencias y reflexiones recopiladas por el equipo docente del MOOC “Sistemas Coloidales: del laboratorio a la cocina” (ofertado por la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, UCM), tras su primera edición en la plataforma Miríada X. Para ello, los datos recogidos a través de una encuesta de satisfacción elaborada por los docentes ad hoc y obligatoria al finalizar el curso, junto con los proporcionados por la plataforma, se analizaron a través de una matriz DAFO. Globalmente, la valoración del curso resultó ser muy positiva entre los encuestados. Se observó sin embargo un aumento de la tasa de abandono que coincidía con aquellos módulos que incluían actividades de revisión por pares (P2P). Asimismo, la utilización del español como lengua vehicular limitó su expansión más allá de España y Latinoamérica. Entre las fortalezas del curso, los encuestados destacaron el carácter multidisciplinar el equipo docente, los conocimientos en entornos virtuales y el material audiovisual proporcionado por la UCM. La inclusión de un enlace a un grupo de Facebook en el MOOC, fomentó la participación de los alumnos y su interacción. Así, las redes sociales podrían dar un valor añadido a la difusión y éxito de estos cursos. Todos estos aspectos deberán tenerse en cuenta de cara a implementar futuras ediciones de este y otros cursos MOOC
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