Behavioural responses of white sharks to specific baits during cage diving ecotourism

This study describes the effect of different baits on the attraction, surface behaviour and conditioning of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias during local ecotourism activities. The sightings, behaviours, and pictures used for photographic identification were obtained during August to November 2012-2014 onboard tourist boats in Guadalupe Island, Mexico. Four types of baits were used: (1) frozen bait; (2) frozen bait and natural chum; (3) fresh fish bait; and (4) mackerel bags. Data were analysed according to sex, maturity and the total of sharks using 6,145 sightings of 121 white sharks. The type of bait showed no significant difference on the effectiveness to attracting sharks. Ethological analysis showed that the type of bait had a significant effect on the shark's surface behaviour during its interactions with boats. Natural chum and fresh baits showed short term behavioural patterns constituted by increased number of violent interactions with the bait, while the frozen bait did not generate a defined behavioural pattern. Conditioning of white sharks was determined by the number of interactions and the consumption frequency of the bait. Fifty nine percent of sharks (n=41) showed no conditioning, 36% (n=25) showed a low risk and only 5% (n=3) were found to have a high risk of conditioning. The results suggest that current ecotourism has no effect on the conditioning of the white sharks, and that all baits have a similar effectiveness for attracting the sharks. However, a different behavioural pattern was observed when fresh bait and chum were used, which could increase the potential of accidents during ecotourism

A complex storm system in Saturn’s north polar atmosphere in 2018

Producción CientíficaSaturn’s convective storms usually fall in two categories. One consists of mid-sized storms ∼2,000 km wide, appearing as irregular bright cloud systems that evolve rapidly, on scales of a few days. The other includes the Great White Spots, planetary-scale giant storms ten times larger than the mid-sized ones, which disturb a full latitude band, enduring several months, and have been observed only seven times since 1876. Here we report a new intermediate type, observed in 2018 in the north polar region. Four large storms with east–west lengths ∼4,000–8,000 km (the first one lasting longer than 200 days) formed sequentially in close latitudes, experiencing mutual encounters and leading to zonal disturbances affecting a full latitude band ∼8,000 km wide, during at least eight months. Dynamical simulations indicate that each storm required energies around ten times larger than mid-sized storms but ∼100 times smaller than those necessary for a Great White Spot. This event occurred at about the same latitude and season as the Great White Spot in 1960, in close correspondence with the cycle of approximately 60 years hypothesized for equatorial Great White Spots.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad - Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (project AYA2015-65041-P)Gobierno Vasco (project IT-366-19

Interstitial Cells of Cajal and Enteric Nervous System in Gastrointestinal and Neurological Pathology, Relation to Oxidative Stress

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is organized into two plexuses-submucosal and myenteric-which regulate smooth muscle contraction, secretion, and blood flow along the gastrointestinal tract under the influence of the rest of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are mainly located in the submucosa between the two muscle layers and at the intramuscular level. They communicate with neurons of the enteric nerve plexuses and smooth muscle fibers and generate slow waves that contribute to the control of gastrointestinal motility. They are also involved in enteric neurotransmission and exhibit mechanoreceptor activity. A close relationship appears to exist between oxidative stress and gastrointestinal diseases, in which ICCs can play a prominent role. Thus, gastrointestinal motility disorders in patients with neurological diseases may have a common ENS and central nervous system (CNS) nexus. In fact, the deleterious effects of free radicals could affect the fine interactions between ICCs and the ENS, as well as between the ENS and the CNS. In this review, we discuss possible disturbances in enteric neurotransmission and ICC function that may cause anomalous motility in the gut.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Interstitial cells of Cajal and enteric nervous system in gastrointestinal and neurological pathology. Relation to oxidative stress

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is organized into two plexuses—submucosal and myenteric—which regulate smooth muscle contraction, secretion, and blood flow along the gastrointestinal tract under the influence of the rest of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are mainly located in the submucosa between the two muscle layers and at the intramuscular level. They communicate with neurons of the enteric nerve plexuses and smooth muscle fibers and generate slow waves that contribute to the control of gastrointestinal motility. They are also involved in enteric neurotransmission and exhibit mechanoreceptor activity. A close relationship appears to exist between oxidative stress and gastrointestinal diseases, in which ICCs can play a prominent role. Thus, gastrointestinal motility disorders in patients with neurological diseases may have a common ENS and central nervous system (CNS) nexus. In fact, the deleterious effects of free radicals could affect the fine interactions between ICCs and the ENS, as well as between the ENS and the CNS. In this review, we discuss possible disturbances in enteric neurotransmission and ICC function that may cause anomalous motility in the gut

A responsabilidade extracontratual do Estado: a jurisdição contenciosa e sua relevância na construção de paz quanto aos direitos fundamentais das vítimas

This paper seeks to review the way in which the protection conditions of fundamental rights could be established through the extra-contractual liability of the State within the context of the peace treaty between the Colombian State and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army. Beyond the discussion regarding the nature of the internal armed conflict, it is shown that Colombian institutionality has outlined a series of actions in order to provide assurances and protection for victims, especially at the Constitutional Court and the Council of State. The various points of analysis set at this level must be observed to strengthen institutional capacities based on direct-reparation actions in matters related to the extra-contractual liability of the State. These elements are a must if the successful implementation of the post-agreement is to be reached.Este artículo busca revisar cómo a través de la responsabilidad extracontractual del Estado pueden determinarse las condiciones de protección para los derechos fundamentales a partir del acuerdo de paz logrado entre el Estado de Colombia y las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército Popular. Se muestra que más allá de la discusión sobre la naturaleza del conflicto armado interno, la institucionalidad ha determinado unas acciones de garantía y protección de las víctimas, en especial, en cabeza de la Corte Constitucional y el Consejo de Estado. Allí se fijan puntos de análisis que deben ser observados en el fortalecimiento institucional a partir de las acciones de reparación directa en materia de responsabilidad extracontractual del Estado. Estos elementos deben darse para garantizar con éxito la implementación del posacuerdo.Neste artigo, pretende-se averiguar como, por meio da responsabilidade extracontratual do Estado, podem ser determinadas as condições de proteção para os direitos fundamentais a partir do acordo de paz alcançado entre o Estado da Colômbia e as Forças Armadas Revolucionárias da Colômbia-Exército do Povo. É mostrado que, mais além da discussão sobre a natureza do conflito armado interno, a institucionalidade determina ações de garantia e proteção das vítimas, em especial, liderada pela Corte Constitucional e pelo Conselho do Estado. Nisso são fixados pontos de análises que devem ser observados no fortalecimento institucional a partir das ações de reparação direta em matéria de responsabilidade extracontratual do Estado. Esses elementos devem ser dados para garantir uma implementação bem-sucedida do pós-acordo

The impact of a large object with Jupiter in July 2009

On 2009 July 19, we observed a single, large impact on Jupiter at a planetocentric latitude of 55^{\circ}S. This and the Shoemaker-Levy 9 (SL9) impacts on Jupiter in 1994 are the only planetary-scale impacts ever observed. The 2009 impact had an entry trajectory opposite and with a lower incidence angle than that of SL9. Comparison of the initial aerosol cloud debris properties, spanning 4,800 km east-west and 2,500 km north-south, with those produced by the SL9 fragments, and dynamical calculations of pre-impact orbit, indicate that the impactor was most probably an icy body with a size of 0.5-1 km. The collision rate of events of this magnitude may be five to ten times more frequent than previously thought. The search for unpredicted impacts, such as the current one, could be best performed in 890-nm and K (2.03-2.36 {\mu}m) filters in strong gaseous absorption, where the high-altitude aerosols are more reflective than Jupiter's primary cloud.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

On-line tools to improve the presentation skills of scientific results

[EN] In experimental sciences and engineering it is essential to communicate and present the results effectively. The authors have participated in several educational innovation projects since 2016, aimed at developing of materials to improve the communication skills of scientific results. An exhaustive and updated compilation of the international rules that constitute the basis for the writted and oral scientific presentations was carried out. The good teaching practices in these fields were also identified. The results of those previous projects have shown the need to incorporate web questionnaires and other interactive content into the educational program. These are adapted to the demands of the students and provide a training feeback. In this contribution, the new materials that are being developed within the innovation project UV-SFPIE_PID19-1096780, funded by the University of Valencia, are presented. They are devoted to facilitate the acquisition of communication skills of scientific results. In particular, these tools combine ICT self-learning environments with traditional classroom teaching (blended learning). The project methodology includes educational data mining aimed at identifying the most effective materials and activities to achieve its objectives. The aim of these mixed learning tools is to facilitate the acquisition by the students of the necessary skills of oral and written communication, improve their presentation skills and, consequently, also their employability as university graduates.This work has been supported by the University of Valencia through project SFPIE_PID19-1096780.Campos-Taberner, M.; Gilabert, M.; Manzanares, J.; Mafé, S.; Cervera, J.; García-Haro, F.; Martínez, B.... (2020). On-line tools to improve the presentation skills of scientific results. IATED. 4907-4910. https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2020.1342S4907491

Middle Miocene paleokarst in the Madrid basin Spain). A complex karstic system.

Depto. de Mineralogía y PetrologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: The Emerging Cornerstone in Cholangiocarcinoma Therapy?

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) encompasses a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors with dismal prognosis and increasing incidence worldwide. Both late diagnosis due to the lack of early symptoms and the refractory nature of these tumors seriously compromise patients' welfare and outcomes. Summary: During the last decade, immunotherapy and, more specifically, modulation of immune checkpoints-mediated signaling pathways have been under the spotlight in the field of oncology, emerging as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of several cancers, including CCA. Generally, high expression levels of immune checkpoints in patients with CCA have been associated with worse clinical outcomes, particularly with shorter overall survival and relapse-free survival. Thus, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which mainly constitute different monoclonal antibodies, have been developed in order to hamper the immune checkpoint-mediated pathways. Interestingly, chemotherapy may increase the expression of immune checkpoints, while other therapeutic approaches such as ablative and targeted therapies may enhance their antitumor activity. In this sense, several clinical trials evaluated the safety and efficacy of ICIs for CCA, both as a monotherapy and in combination with other ICIs or loco-regional and systemic therapies. Additionally, many other clinical trials are currently ongoing and results are eagerly awaited. Here, we summarize the key aspects of immune checkpoint molecules as prognostic factors and therapeutic targets in CCA, highlighting the most recent advances in the field and future research directions. Key messages: (1) Effective therapeutic approaches for CCA are urgently needed. (2) Expression levels of immune checkpoints in patients with CCA have been proposed to be related with clinical outcomes. (3) Combination of different ICIs may outperform the efficacy of ICI monotherapy for CCA treatment. (4) Recent studies point toward the combination of ICIs and other common therapies, especially chemotherapy, as a promising strategy for treatment of CCA patients