Science and Humor = popularization through laughs

A pesar de que sabemos que la información que recibimos se traduce en toma de decisiones que afectan nuestra realidad, la relación entre la ciencia y la sociedad continúa sin afianzarse. Esto crea la necesidad de buscar métodos de comunicación de la ciencia alternativos para que los contenidos científicos puedan ser apreciados, entendidos eficientemente e incorporados a la cultura. A través de la popularización de la ciencia, se busca fomentar la formación de ciudadanos con pensamiento crítico, desmitificar a los científicos y despertar curiosidad. El stand up es un estilo de comedia donde el intérprete se dirige directamente a una audiencia en vivo. A diferencia del teatro tradicional, el comediante debe generar una conexión con el público estableciendo incluso diferentes tipos de diálogos. En el año 2015, el Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva dictó un curso mediante el cual estudiantes y egresados de carreras científicas pudieron formarse en técnicas de stand up para hacer llegar a la población contenidos científicos mediante el humor. Participamos también de charlas de especialistas renombrados en popularización de la ciencia. Una vez finalizado el curso algunos conformamos el grupo “Poper” (POPularización Entre Risas), el primer grupo de stand up científico de Latinoamérica, formado por científicos y estudiantes de diferentes áreas. Nuestro objetivo es comunicar la ciencia mediante el humor, logrando hablar de la misma de manera desestructurada. La hipótesis es que de ese modo se pueden acercar algunos contenidos científicos y despertar curiosidad de una forma eficiente a un público amplio, haciendo hincapié en los adolescentes. Como resultado de esta iniciativa, la propuesta fue recibida con gran entusiasmo por autoridades públicas y privadas, así como también medios masivos de comunicación y escuelas. En los últimos años los integrantes de Poper realizamos shows en Tecnópolis y el Centro Cultural de la Ciencia; también nos presentamos en instituciones educativas (colegios y universidades), festivales, congresos y semanas de las ciencias, entre otros, de Buenos Aires y del interior del país. Llegamos incluso a dictar talleres en el exterior y formar parte de los oradores TEDx Río de la Plata, evento que reúne a más de 10.000 asistentes.Although we know that the information we receive translates into decision-making that affects our reality, the relationship between science and society continues to fail. This creates the imperative need to look for alternative methods of communication so that the scientific contents can be appreciated, efficiently understood and incorporated into the culture. The aim of scientific communication is to encourage the formation of citizens with critical thinking, demystify the scientist character and to generate curiosity. Stand up comedy or live comedy is a comedy style in which the performer must address directly to a broad live audience. Unlike traditional theater, the comedian must generate a connection with the audience by establishing different types of dialogues. In 2015, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation of Argentina gave a course through which students and graduates of scientific careers were able to train in stand-up techniques in order to get the people scientific content through humor. The attendees also participated in talks by renowned specialists in scientific communication. Once the course was completed, the Poper group was formed, the first scientific stand up group in Latin America. Made up of scientists and students from different areas, our main goal is to communicate science through humor, managing to talk about science in an unstructured way. The hypothesis is that in this way we can reach science contents and generate curiosity in an efficient way to a broad audience, emphasizing adolescents. As a result of this initiative, the proposal was received with great enthusiasm by public and private authorities, as well as mass media. In recent years the members of Poper gave shows at Tecnópolis and the Cultural Center of Science; we also performed in educational institutions, festivals, provincial Science Weeks, Congresses, among others, in Buenos Aires and in the whole country. We even dictated workshops abroad and were included as speakers in TEDx Rio de la Plata, an event that brings together more than 10,000 attendees.Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet"Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomí

Investigation of the impact of feeding Lactobacillus plantarum CRL 1815 encapsulated in microbially derived polymers on the rat faecal microbiota

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the administration of microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum CRL 1815 with two combinations of microbially derived polysaccharides, xanthan : gellan gum (1%:0·75%) and jamilan : gellan gum (1%:1%), on the rat faecal microbiota. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 10-day feeding study was performed for each polymer combination in groups of 16 rats fed either with placebo capsules, free or encapsulated Lact. plantarum or water. The composition of the faecal microbiota was analysed by fluorescence in situ hybridization and temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis. Degradation of placebo capsules was detected, with increased levels of polysaccharide-degrading bacteria. Xanthan : gellan gum capsules were shown to reduce the Bifidobacterium population and increase the Clostridium histolyticum group levels, but not jamilan : gellan gum capsules. Only after administration of jamilan : gellan gum-probiotic capsules was detected a significant increase in Lactobacillus-Enterococcus group levels compared to controls (capsules and probiotic) as well as two bands were identified as Lact. plantarum in two profiles of ileum samples. CONCLUSIONS: Exopolysaccharides constitute an interesting approach for colon-targeted delivery of probiotics, where jamilan : gellan gum capsules present better biocompatibility and promising results as a probiotic carrier. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: This study introduces and highlights the importance of biological compatibility in the encapsulating material election, as they can modulate the gut microbiota by themselves, and the use of bacterial exopolysaccharides as a powerful source of new targeted-delivery coating material

Carbon balance under a changing light environment

The natural environment of Antarctic seaweeds is characterized by changing seasonal light conditions. The ability to adapt to this light regime is one of the most important prerequisites for their ecological success. Thus, the persistence of seaweeds depends on their capacity to maintain a positive carbon balance (CB)for buildup of biomass over the course of the year. A positive CB in Antarctica occurs only during the ice-free period in spring and summer, when photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400–700 nm) penetrates deeply into the water column. The accumulated carbon compounds during this period are stored and remobilized to support metabolism for the rest of the year. Over the last decades climate warming has induced a severe glacial retreat in Antarctica and has opened newly ice-free areas. Increased sediment runoff, and reduced light penetration due to melting during the warmer months, may lead to a negative CB with changes in the vertical distribution of seaweeds. Furthermore, warmer winters and springs result in earlier sea-ice melt, causing an abrupt increase in light, compensating the reduction in PAR in summer or increasing the annual light budget. Studies performed in Potter Cove, Isla 25 de Mayo/King George Island, reveal that algae growing in newly ice-free areas did not acclimate to the changing light conditions. Lower or even negative CB values in areas close to the glacier runoff seem to be primarily dependent on the incoming PAR that finally determines the lower distribution limit of seaweeds. The present chapter discusses how carbon balance respond to the changing Antarctic light environment and its potential implications for the fate of benthic algal communities