Estudo do funcionamento diferencial do item para a Escala de Competência de Estudo - ECE (Sup)

Este estudo visou verificar o ajuste da Escala de Competência em Estudo – ECE (Sup) ao modelo Rasch e se os seus itens sofrem um viés relacionado à área de conhecimento na qual se insere o curso que frequentam, considerando tanto os estudantes portugueses, quanto os brasileiros. Participaram 1304 estudantes, sendo 56,7% portugueses e 43,3% brasileiros, que cursavam as áreas de Ciências e Tecnologias (58,9%) e Sociais e Humanidades (41,1%) em universidades brasileiras e portuguesas. As idades variaram de 17 a 58 anos, com média igual a 24,16 anos (DP = 6,93), sendo 54,6% do gênero feminino e 45,4% do masculino. Foi aplicado de forma coletiva a ECE, com duração média de 20 minutos. Os resultados quanto ao ajuste ao modelo de Rasch, tanto para o infit (M = 1,00; DP = 0,30), quanto para o outfit (M = 1,02; DP = 0,32) revelaram que 35 itens estavam ajustados à escala. Contudo, 12 itens apresentaram valores acima de 1,30, e oito abaixo de 0,70, revelando serem itens com problemas de ajustamento à escala. Em relação ao Funcionamento Diferencial dos Itens (DIF), os resultados evidenciaram que, dos 55 itens da escala, 24 indicaram diferenciarem-se quanto à área estudada, sendo que desses itens, 12 favorecem a adesão de resposta pelos estudantes da área de Sociais e Humanidades

Epigenetic and physiological alterations in zebrafish subjected to hypergravity [Dataset]

1 dataset, 16 videosVideos exhibiting every morphological characteristic observed in both the control and hypergravity groups of zebrafish larvaWith the institutional support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S)Characteristic, Abbreviation, Number of the video file control group, Number of the video file hypergravity group / Position, Movement frequency, Swimming behaviorPeer reviewe

Comparative analysis of full and reduced versions of Competence Scale Study using Rasch with brazilian college students

Este estudo objetivou comparar as duas versões da Escala de Competência de Estudo -ECE(C&T), uma a original com 54 itens e outra reduzida com 19 itens, por meio da Teoria de Resposta ao Item (modelo Rasch). Participaram 129 universitários de ambos os sexos, com idades variando de 17 a 48 anos (M = 24.65, DP = 6.54). Os coeficientes de precisão obtidos foram de .91 para escala com 54 itens e de .90 para a de 19, indicando um alto nível de precisão para ambas. Ao ajustar os dados ao modelo Rasch, o erro médio da medida dos itens foi de 0.11 (DP = 0.02). As médias do infit dos itens foram de 1,00 (DP = 0.18) para a escala com 54 itens e de 1.01 (DP = 0.20) para a de 19 itens, e o valor médio do outfit foi de 1,02 (DP = 0.41). A dificuldade dos itens foi semelhante nas duas escalas. Constatou-se que a escala de 19 itens apresentou melhor ajuste, pois diminuíram os itens que estavam desajustados , tanto na quantidade como no valor.The aim of this study was to compare the original version of Escala de Competência de Estudo – ECE (C&T), with the reduced one by using the Item Response Theory. A sample of 126 college students, male and female, between 17 and 48 years old (M = 24.65, SD = 6.54) answered the test. The precision coefficients obtained were .91 for the original scale and .90 for the reduced one, indicating a good level of precision for both. The scale’s adjustment to the Rasch Model was analyzed, resulting an average error of 0.11 (SD = 0.02). The scale with 54 items presents an item’s infit mean of 1.00 (SD = .18), and the reduced scale presents an item’s infit mean of 1.01 (SD = .20), and the outfit’s mean value is 1,02 (SD = 0.41). The difficulty of the items was similar in the two scales. The results presented a better adjustment for the reduced scale, seeing that there were less misfit items, in terms of quantity and value.Universidade do MinhoUniversidade de BrasíliaUniversidade de São FranciscoUniversidade Estadual PaulistaUniversidade do Vale do Sapuca

In vitro functional analysis of the expression of RA signaling pathway genes during meiosis in European sea bass males

12th Congress of the Iberian Association of Comparative Endocrinology (AIEC), 26-28 September 2019, Faro, PortugalIn mouse, chicken and newts, RA has been established as a paracrine signal involved in the onset of meiosis, however, in fish, the role of RA in this process is still far from being understood. To gain a better understanding of the influence of RA in the onset of meiosis of the European sea bass, we have studied the in vitro functional responses to the RA signaling pathway agonist, all-trans retinoic acid (atRA), and to the RA synthase inhibitor (aldh inhibitor) 4-diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB) in two meiosis scenarios. The first one is represented by an increase of 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) that takes place during the transition from immature differentiated testis to early recrudescent testis. The second one is represented by an increase of follicle-stimulating hormone (Fsh) that takes place during early stages of meiosis. Among the studied genes, we focused our attention on those involved in RA synthesis (aldh1a2 and aldh1a3) and degradation (cyp26a1). The results show gene expression responses the increase of exogenous RA and to the different meiosis scenarios, confirming the functionality of the RA signaling pathway during this developmental stage. In particular, the upregulation of cyp26a1 as a result of increased RA levels, suggest that it could be used as a suitable molecular marker for the onset of meiosis in European sea bass male

Immune genes, IL1β and Casp9, show sexual dimorphic methylation patterns in zebrafish gonads

8 pages, 6 figures, supplementary data https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2019.12.013There is crosstalk between the immune and reproductive systems in which sexual dimorphism is a common pattern in vertebrates. In recent years, epigenetics has emerged as a way to study the molecular mechanisms involved in gonadal development, those responsible for integrating environmental information that contribute to assigning a specific sexual phenotype (either an ovary or a testis). The knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms in certain molecular processes allows the development of epigenetic markers. In fish gonads, the existence of reproduction-immune system interactions is known, although the epigenetic mechanisms involved are far from clear. Here, we used the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model to study the DNA methylation patterns in gonads of two well-known innate immune genes: IL1β and Casp9. DNA methylation levels were studied by a candidate gene approach at single nucleotide resolution and gene expression analyses were also carried out. Results showed that there was clear sexual dimorphism in the DNA methylation levels of the two immune genes studied, being significantly higher in the testes when compared to the ovaries. In summary, and although further research is needed, this paper presents sexual dimorphic methylation patterns of two immune-related genes, thus sex-biased differences in methylation profiles should considered when analyzing immune responses in fish. Data showed here can help to develop epimarkers with forthcoming applications in livestock and fish farming production, for example, in immune fish diseases or sexual control programs as epigenetic molecular tools to predict environmental pressure in the gonadsThis study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) grant AGL2015-73864-JIN “Ambisex” to LR. LR and JM were supported by “Ambisex” contractsWith the funding support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S), of the Spanish Research Agency (AEI

Hypergravity induces changes in physiology, gene expression and epigenetics in zebrafish

4th Symposium on Space Educational Activities (SSAE), 27-29 April 2022, Barcelona.-- 6 pages, 5 figuresAll living organisms that inhabit Earth have evolved under a common value of gravity, which amounts to an acceleration of 9.81 m/s2 at mean sea level. Changes on it could cause important alterations that affect vital biological functions. The crescent interest in spatial exploration has opened the question of how exactly these changes in gravity would affect Earth life forms on space environments. This work is the result of a collaborative co-supervision of a master thesis between experts in the area of space sciences and biology, and it can serve as a case study for training experts in such interdisciplinary environments. In particular, we focus on the effect of gravity as a pressure factor in the development of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in the larval stage as a model organism using up-to-date (genomic and epigenetic) techniques. Given the high cost of any experiment in true low gravity (which would require a space launch), we performed an initial experiment in hypergravity to develop the methodologies and identify good (epi)genetic markers of the effect of gravity in our model organism. Previous studies in zebrafish have shown how alteration in gravity effects the development and the gene expression of important regulatory genes. For this study, we firstly customized a small laboratory scale centrifuge to study changes in fish physiology together with changes at molecular levels. We exposed zebrafish larvae from 0 to 6 days post fertilization to the simulated hypergravity (SHG) (100 rpm 3g). After 6 days of hypergravity exposition the larvae showed changes in their swimming and flotation patterns, and presented corporal alterations. Then, we assessed gene expression of genes implicated in important biological processes, (e.g., epigenetics), and an upregulation were observed when compared to the control. Taken together, these preliminary findings show how gravity alterations could affect some basic biological responses, and illustrate the potential of developing new science cases to be developed by students at postgraduate level (MSc and beyond) in a multidisciplinary environmentThis research is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science grant, PID2020-113781RB-I00 and 202030E004 grant from Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) to LR, and through the JAE-ICU fellowship programme at ICE-CSIC 202

Hypergravity effects on early development and gene expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Gravity is constant across the entire Earth and thus living organisms are adapted to this force. However, gravity is not the same beyond Earth. The expanding interest in spatial exploration has captured attention in studying biological changes that occurred by gravity in animal and human bodies. However, physiological alterations in animal development and gene molecular pathways altered by gravity are not fully understood. The aim of this work is to increase comprehension of the effects of hypergravity on early development and gene expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio), a popular worldwide animal model. First, a homemade centrifuge with a large diameter and with a speed of 100 rpm (~3 g) was built. Next, zebrafish embryos were subjected to simulated hypergravity (SHG) during 6 days post fertilization (dpf). Every day, survival, hatching rate, and teratology was recorded. At the end of the treatment, zebrafish larvae were collected and gene expression for a battery of genes related to stress, growth, epigenetics, and immune system was studied. Results showed alterations in swimming, flotation, and tail shape but not in hatching rate and fish survival. Current analysis in gene expression has shown a significant upregulation of dnmt3, a gene involved in the novo DNA methylation synthesis. Taken together, these findings shed some light in (epi)genetic-gravity interactions and might help to elucidate gravity effects in living organisms on spac

Epigenetic crosstalk between immune and reproduction systems in zebrafish

12th Congress of the Iberian Association of Comparative Endocrinology (AIEC), 26-28 September 2019, Faro, Portuga