Influence of relative NK-DC abundance on placentation and its relation to epigenetic programming in the offspring

Normal placentation relies on an efficient maternal adaptation to pregnancy. Within the decidua, natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DC) have a critical role in modulating angiogenesis and decidualization associated with pregnancy. However, the contribution of these immune cells to the placentation process and subsequently fetal development remains largely elusive. Using two different mouse models, we here show that optimal placentation and fetal development is sensitive to disturbances in NK cell relative abundance at the fetal–maternal interface. Depletion of NK cells during early gestation compromises the placentation process by causing alteration in placental function and structure. Embryos derived from NK-depleted dams suffer from intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a phenomenon that continued to be evident in the offspring on post-natal day 4. Further, we demonstrate that IUGR was accompanied by an overall reduction of global DNA methylation levels and epigenetic changes in the methylation of specific hepatic gene promoters. Thus, temporary changes within the NK cell pool during early gestation influence placental development and function, subsequently affecting hepatic gene methylation and fetal metabolism.Fil: Freitag, Nancy. Medicine University of Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Zwier, M. V.. University of Groningen; Países BajosFil: Barrientos, Gabriela Laura. Medicine University of Berlin; Alemania. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Tirado González, Irene. Medicine University of Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Conrad, Melanie L.. Medicine University of Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Rose, Matthias. Medicine University of Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Scherjon, S. A.. University of Groningen; Países BajosFil: Plösch, T.. University of Groningen; Países BajosFil: Blois, Sandra M.. Medicine University of Berlin; Alemani

Empowering whose future? A European policy analysis of children in energy poverty.

Children experience distinct impacts on their mental and physical health as well as their educational attainment as a result of living in energy poverty, according to multiple sources. International guidelines, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, underline the right of every child to an adequate standard of living and the need for all policies to consider the specific needs of children. This paper aims to understand the extent to which energy policies take explicit account of children in energy poverty and endeavour to address their distinct needs and the impacts they experience. The investigation is based on an analysis of EU-SILC data and policy documents across the 28 countries that (at the end of 2019) formed the European Union. The analysis reveals that children are mostly only considered within the wider family context, with larger families tending to receive greater support, despite evidence that single-parent families are at higher risk of energy poverty. Children are characterised as passive subjects in energy policy; their perspectives and needs are not considered in policy development

Uterine NK cells are critical in shaping DC immunogenic functions compatible with pregnancy progression.

Dendritic cell (DC) and natural killer (NK) cell interactions are important for the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity, but their relevance during early pregnancy remains elusive. Using two different strategies to manipulate the frequency of NK cells and DC during gestation, we investigated their relative impact on the decidualization process and on angiogenic responses that characterize murine implantation. Manipulation of the frequency of NK cells, DC or both lead to a defective decidual response characterized by decreased proliferation and differentiation of stromal cells. Whereas no detrimental effects were evident upon expansion of DC, NK cell ablation in such expanded DC mice severely compromised decidual development and led to early pregnancy loss. Pregnancy failure in these mice was associated with an unbalanced production of anti-angiogenic signals and most notably, with increased expression of genes related to inflammation and immunogenic activation of DC. Thus, NK cells appear to play an important role counteracting potential anomalies raised by DC expansion and overactivity in the decidua, becoming critical for normal pregnancy progression

Effect of THI, NDF and rumination in milk production by Holstein cows

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the THI, NDF and rumination rate (RR) on milk production in Holstein cows in a dairy farm located in Bajío de San José, Jalisco Design/methodology/approach: The temperature-humidity index (THI) is an indicator of the effect of the environmental climate can have on milk production, likewise nutritional content of forage is affected by weather conditions, as the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) is related with rumination activity of cows, increasing THI has shown a direct effect on milk production in cows. HealthyCow 24 ® CSR was used (SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel), to monitor rumination, from a total record of 284 cows with 2, 3, and 4 lactacion through august to december 2020 period, analysing NDF content from total mixed ration and monitoring THI. Results: The results showed there was no effect of THI on milk production (p>0.05), despite having reached 76 THI score, instead NDF (p<0.05) and RR (p<0.001) affected milk production, it was not found effect of THI on RR (p>0.05), and NDF had trend (p<0.1). Limitations on study/implications: There were no limitations for this report. Findings/conclusions: According to the results obtained, THI threshold should be reconsidered according to the resistance of productively active cattle on dairy farms.  Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the temperature-humidity index (THI), the content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and rumination rate (RR) on milk production in Holstein cows in a dairy farm located in Bajío de San José, Jalisco, Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: The THI is an indicator of the effect of the environmental climate can have on milk production, and likewise the nutritional content of forage is affected by weather conditions, such as the NDF is related with rumination activity of cows; increasing THI has shown a direct effect on milk production in cows. The HealthyCow 24 ® CSR remote equipment was used (SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel), to monitor rumination, from a total registry of 284 cows with 2, 3, and 4 lactations distributed between August and December 2020 period, analyzing the NDF content from total mixed portion and monitoring the THI. Results: The results showed there was no effect of THI on milk production (p>0.05), despite having reached a THI score of 76, while NDF (p<0.05) and RR (p<0.001) affected milk production; an effect of THI on RR (p>0.05) was not found, and the NDF only had a trend (p<0.1). Limitations on study/implications: There were no limitations for the study. Findings/conclusions: According to the results obtained, the THI threshold should be reconsidered according to the resistance of the productively active cattle on dairy farms

Early expression of pregnancy-specific glycoprotein 22 (PSG22) by trophoblast cells modulates angiogenesis in mice.

Mouse and human pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSG) are known to exert immunomodulatory functions during pregnancy by inducing maternal leukocytes to secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines that promote a tolerogenic decidual microenvironment. Many such anti-inflammatory mediators also function as proangiogenic factors, which, along with the reported association of murine PSG with the uterine vasculature, suggest that PSG may contribute to the vascular adaptations necessary for successful implantation and placental development. We observed that PSG22 is strongly expressed around the embryonic crypt on Gestation Day 5.5, indicating that trophoblast giant cells are the main source of PSG22 during the early stages of pregnancy. PSG22 treatment up-regulated the secretion of transforming growth factor beta 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in murine macrophages, uterine dendritic cells, and natural killer cells. A possible role of PSGs in uteroplacental angiogenesis is further supported by the finding that incubation of endothelial cells with PSG22 resulted in the formation of tubes in the presence and absence of VEGFA. We determined that PSG22, like human PSG1 and murine PSG17 and PSG23, binds to the heparan sulfate chains in syndecans. Therefore, our findings indicate that despite the independent evolution and expansion of human and rodent PSG, members in both families have conserved functions that include their ability to induce anti-inflammatory cytokines and proangiogenic factors as well as to induce the formation of capillary structures by endothelial cells. In summary, our results indicate that PSG22, the most abundant PSG expressed during mouse early pregnancy, is likely a major contributor to the establishment of a successful pregnancy.Fil: Blois, Sandra M.. University Medicine of Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Tirado González, Irene. University Medicine of Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Wu, Julie. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Barrientos, Gabriela Laura. University Medicine of Berlin; Alemania. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Johnson, Briana. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Warren, James. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Freitag, Nancy. University Medicine of Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Klapp, Burghard F.. University Medicine of Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Irmak, Ster. University of Duisburg Essen; AlemaniaFil: Ergun, Suleyman. Julius Maximilians Universitat Wurzburg. Biozentrum; AlemaniaFil: Dveskler, Gabriela S.. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Estados Unido

Diffusion and interaction effects on molecular release from collapsed microgels

The transport of biomolecules, drugs, or reactants in stimuli-responsive polymer networks in aqueous media is fundamental for many material and environmental science applications, including drug delivery, biosensing, catalysis, nanofiltration, water purification, and desalination. The transport is particularly complex in dense polymer media, such as collapsed hydrogels, where the molecules strongly interact with the polymer network and diffuse via the hopping mechanism. In this study, we employ the Dynamical Density Functional Theory (DDFT) to investigate the non-equilibrium release kinetics of non-ionic subnanometer-sized molecules from collapsed microgel particles. The theory is consistent with previous molecular dynamics simulations of collapsed poly($N$-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) polymer matrices, accommodating molecules of varying shapes and sizes. We found that, despite the intricate physico-chemical properties involved in the released process, the kinetics is predominantly dictated by two material parameters: the diffusion coefficient of the molecules inside the microgel ($D^*$) and the interaction free energy of the molecules with the microgel ($\Delta G$). Our results reveal two distinct limiting regimes. For large, slowly diffusing molecules weakly attracted to the polymer network, the release is primarily driven by diffusion, with a release time scaling as $\tau_{1/2} \sim 1/D^*$. Conversely, for small molecules strongly attracted to the polymer network, the release time is dominated by the interaction, scaling as $\tau_{1/2} \sim \exp(-\Delta G/k_{\textrm{B}} T)$. Our DDFT calculations are directly compared with an analytical equation for the half-release time, demonstrating excellent quantitative agreement. This equation represents a valuable tool for predicting release kinetics from collapsed microgels of non-ionic molecules.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

Tackling Energy Poverty through Collective Advisory Assemblies and Electricity and Comfort Monitoring Campaigns

The present work aims to describe and analyze the results of the interventions carried out in the Barcelona pilot site of the EmpowerMed project. The overall objective of EmpowerMed is to tackle energy poverty and to help improve the health of people in coastal areas of Mediterranean countries, with a particular focus on women. The main support approach implemented in Barcelona is Collective Advisory Assemblies (CAA), in the framework of Alliance against Energy Poverty. CAA is an innovative, collaborative empowering engagement tool that offers an alternative to the more traditional one-off individual household advice and support approaches. CAAs take place together with a monitoring campaign where: electricity consumption is analyzed to optimize the supply contracts, and indoor environmental comfort to provide recommendations for wellbeing improvement. Through the different approaches, a characterization of the people that have participated in the Barcelona pilot site was completed, from a socioeconomic, energy, thermal comfort and air quality perspective. Additionally, it was compared with a group of energy poverty non-affected households, which are involved in the monitoring campaign. Finally, the impact was quantified in terms of empowerment of energy poverty population and, potential economic savings

Acceleration of TAA-Induced liver fibrosis by stress exposure is associated with upregulation of nerve growth factor and glycopattern deviations

Liver fibrosis results from many chronic injuries and may often progress to cirrhosis andhepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In fact, up to 90% of HCC arise in a cirrhotic liver. Conversely,stress is implicated in liver damage, worsening disease outcome. Hence, stress could play a role indisrupting liver homeostasis, a concept that has not been fully explored. Here, in a murine modelof TAA-induced liver fibrosis we identified nerve growth factor (NGF) to be a crucial regulatorof the stress-induced fibrogenesis signaling pathway as it activates its receptor p75 neurotrophinreceptor (p75NTR), increasing liver damage. Additionally, blocking the NGF decreased liver fibrosiswhereas treatment with recombinant NGF accelerated the fibrotic process to a similar extent thanstress challenge. We further show that the fibrogenesis induced by stress is characterized by specificchanges in the hepatoglycocode (increased β1,6GlcNAc-branched complex N-glycans and decreasedcore 1 O-glycans expression) which are also observed in patients with advanced fibrosis compared topatients with a low level of fibrosis. Our study facilitates an understanding of stress-induced liverinjury and identify NGF signaling pathway in early stages of the disease, which contributes to theestablished fibrogenesis.Fil: Atorrasagasti, María Catalina. Universidad Austral. Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional; ArgentinaFil: Piccioni, Flavia Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Borowski, Sophia. Universitat Hamburg; Alemania. Max Delbruk Center For Molecular Medicine In The Helmholtz Association (mdc); Alemania. Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Tirado González, Irene. Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Alemania. Max Delbruk Center For Molecular Medicine In The Helmholtz Association (mdc); Alemania. Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy; AlemaniaFil: Freitag, Nancy. Universitat Hamburg; Alemania. Max Delbruk Center For Molecular Medicine In The Helmholtz Association (mdc); Alemania. Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Cantero, María José. Universidad Austral. Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional; ArgentinaFil: Bayo Fina, Juan Miguel. Universidad Austral. Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional; ArgentinaFil: Mazzolini Rizzo, Guillermo Daniel. Universidad Austral. Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional; ArgentinaFil: Alaniz, Laura Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Blois, Sandra M.. Universitat Hamburg; AlemaniaFil: García, Mariana Gabriela. Universidad Austral. Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional; Argentin

Genealogies. Identitats tèxtils

Del 28 de gener al 25 de març de 2018. Espai Zero, Centre de Documentació i Museu Tèxtil de TerrassaLa present mostra està formada per un conjunt d’obres que parteixen de la matèria tèxtil per fer arribar visions plurals sobre les relacions de gènere a la nostra societat, desenvolupades dins de la Facultat de Belles Arts de la Universitat de Barcelona. Aquest tèxtil, que es confereix a l’entrellaçar fils independents, s’ubica en l’àmbit domèstic i l’engendra un sector femení durant molts segles; només des d’algunes dècades ençà s’inclou com a matèria partícip i reivindicada en l´art. Aquest canvi es produeix críticament amb la flongesa d’una roba que no encaixa amb els materials rígids ni amb els cànons tradicionals que aquest art havia establert fins aleshores; la seva aparició en una sala expositiva qüestiona, així, les bases dels seus estàndards històrics. Sense exaltar la seducció pel material, el punt de partida de la proposta es centra en el tèxtil com a recurs per posar en comú enfocaments antagònics sobre les necessitats de reconèixer identitats que es troben als marges d´un camí social comú; per treure a la llum aquestes presències implícites, o bé per esquerdar les jer arquies ja assentades sobre el gènere o la sexualitat. En totes les seves possibilitats apareixerà, el tèxtil, ajustat o amorf, fràgil o robust, tensat o tan alliberat com ho són els plantejaments conceptuals i artístics amb els quals s’enfilen les obres d’aquesta exposició

Precariedad, exclusión social y diversidad funcional (discapacidad): lógicas y efectos subjetivos del sufrimiento social contemporáneo (II). Innovación docente en Filosofía

El PIMCD "Precariedad, exclusión social y diversidad funcional (discapacidad): lógicas y efectos subjetivos del sufrimiento social contemporáneo (II). Innovación docente en Filosofía" se ocupa de conceptos generalmente eludidos por la tradición teórica (contando como núcleos aglutinantes los de la precariedad laboral, la exclusión social y diversidad funcional o discapacidad), cuyo análisis propicia nuevas prácticas en la enseñanza universitaria de filosofía, adoptando como meta principal el aprendizaje centrado en el estudiantado, el diseño de nuevas herramientas de enseñanza y el fomento de una universidad inclusiva. El proyecto cuenta con 26 docentes de la UCM y otros 28 docentes de otras 17 universidades españolas (UV, UNED, UGR, UNIZAR, UAH, UC3M, UCA, UNIOVI, ULL, EHU/UPV, UA, UAM, Deusto, IFS/CSIC, UCJC, URJC y Univ. Pontificia de Comillas), que permitirán dotar a las actividades programadas de un alcance idóneo para consolidar la adquisición de competencias argumentativas y dialécticas por parte de lxs estudiantes implicados en el marco de los seminarios previstos. Se integrarán en el PIMCD, aparte de PDI, al menos 26 estudiantes de máster y doctorado de la Facultad de Filosofía, a lxs que acompañarán durante el desarrollo del PIMCD 4 Alumni de la Facultad de Filosofía de la UCM, actualmente investigadores post-doc y profesorxs de IES, cuya experiencia será beneficiosa para su introducción en la investigación. Asimismo, el equipo cuenta con el apoyo de varixs profesorxs asociadxs, que en algunos casos son también profesores de IES. Varixs docentes externos a la UCM participantes en el PIMCD poseen una dilatada experiencia en la coordinación de proyectos de innovación de otras universidades, lo que redundará en beneficio de las actividades a desarrollar. La coordinadora y otrxs miembros del PIMCD pertenecen a la Red de Innovación Docente en Filosofia (RIEF), puesta en marcha desde la Universitat de València (http://rief.blogs.uv.es/encuentros-de-la-rief/), a la que mantendremos informada de las actividades realizadas en el proyecto. Asimismo, lxs 6 miembros del PAS permitirán difundir debidamente las actividades realizadas en el PIMCD entre lxs estudiantes Erasmus IN del curso 2019/20 en la Facultad de Filosofía, de la misma manera que orientar en las tareas de maquetación y edición que puedan ser necesarias de cara a la publicación de lxs resultados del PIMCD y en las tareas de pesquisa bibliográfica necesarias para el desarrollo de los objetivos propuestos. Han manifestado su interés en los resultados derivados del PIMCD editoriales especializadas en la difusión de investigaciones predoctorales como Ápeiron y CTK E-Books