CeLaVi: an interactive cell lineage visualization tool

Recent innovations in genetics and imaging are providing the means to reconstruct cell lineages, either by tracking cell divisions using live microscopy, or by deducing the history of cells using molecular recorders. A cell lineage on its own, however, is simply a description of cell divisions as branching events. A major goal of current research is to integrate this description of cell relationships with information about the spatial distribution and identities of the cells those divisions produce. Visualizing, interpreting and exploring these complex data in an intuitive manner requires the development of new tools. Here we present CeLaVi, a web-based visualization tool that allows users to navigate and interact with a representation of cell lineages, whilst simultaneously visualizing the spatial distribution, identities and properties of cells. CeLaVi's principal functions include the ability to explore and manipulate the cell lineage tree; to visualise the spatial distribution of cell clones at different depths of the tree; to colour cells in the 3D viewer based on lineage relationships; to visualise various cell qualities on the 3D viewer (e.g. gene expression, cell type) and to annotate selected cells/clones. All these capabilities are demonstrated with four different example data sets. CeLaVi is available at http://www.celavi.pro

Is it possible to reconstruct an accurate cell lineage using CRISPR recorders?

Cell lineages provide the framework for understanding how multicellular organisms are built and how cell fates are decided during development. Describing cell lineages in most organisms is challenging, given the number of cells involved; even a fruit fly larva has ~50,000 cells and a small mammal has more than 1 billion cells. Recently, the idea of using CRISPR to induce mutations during development as heritable markers for lineage reconstruction has been proposed and trialled by several groups. While an attractive idea, its practical value depends on the accuracy of the cell lineages that can be generated by this method. Here, we use computer simulations to estimate the performance of this approach under different conditions. Our simulations incorporate empirical data on CRISPR-induced mutation frequencies in Drosophila. We show significant impacts from multiple biological and technical parameters - variable cell division rates, skewed mutational outcomes, target dropouts and different mutation sequencing strategies. Our approach reveals the limitations of recently published CRISPR recorders, and indicates how future implementations can be optimised to produce accurate cell lineages

Impact of cooperative learning on physical education in basic psychological needs

El Aprendizaje Cooperativo (AC) se perfila como una herramienta que centra a los estudiantes en el foco principal del proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje en el área de Educación Física (EF). El objetivo de la presente investigación fue analizar el impacto del AC en la satisfacción de las Necesidades Psicológicas Básicas (BPNES) frente a un modelo de enseñanza tradicional en estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO). Para el análisis, se tomó una muestra total formada por 185 participantes, en el que se empleó un método cuantitativo con un diseño cuasi-experimental. Se desarrollaron seis sesiones a través retos cooperativos. Se utilizó como instrumento la Escala de Medición de las BPNES adaptada a la EF. Los resultados mostraron una mejora estadísticamente significativa en la autonomía, competencia y relaciones sociales en el grupo experimental. Una metodología activa basada en el aprendizaje cooperativo en las clases de EF mejora la satisfacción de las BPNES.Cooperative Learning (AC) is emerging as a tool that places students at the centre of the teaching and learning process in the area of Physical Education (PE). The objective of the present investigation was to analyse the impact of AC on the satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs (BPNES) against a traditional teaching model in students of Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO). For the analysis, a total sample consisting of 185 participants was taken, and a quantitative method with a quasi-experimental design was used. Participants experienced six sessions through cooperative challenges. The BPNES Measurement Scale adapted to PE was used as an instrument. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in autonomy, competence and social relations in the experimental group. An active methodology based on cooperative learning in PE classes improves the satisfaction of BPNES

Construcción del concepto múltiplo común en el dominio de los números naturales

El objetivo de esta investigación fue caracterizar el proceso de construcción del concepto de múltiplo común de dos números naturales como parte del esquema de divisibilidad en estudiantes de educación secundaria. A partir de un análisis cualitativo de entrevistas clínicas en las que los estudiantes resolvían y justificaban su proceso de resolución de un problema, identificamos dos momentos cognitivos en el proceso constructivo del concepto de múltiplo común generado durante la resolución del problema. Estos momentos fueron caracterizados teniendo en cuenta cómo los estudiantes generaban casos particulares y coordinaban o no la información procedente de éstos. Esta caracterización proporciona información sobre cómo los estudiantes empiezan a concebir que un número pueda adoptar diferentes papeles en las relaciones multiplicativas del esquema de divisibilidad como parte constituyente del aprendizaje de los números.The purpose of this research was to characterize the construction process of common multiple of two whole numbers as a part of divisibility scheme in Secondary School students. From the analysis of clinical interviews with Secondary School students when solving a word-problem and justifying their decisions, we identify two cognitive moments in the constructive process generated in some cases in the context of problem solving. These cognitive moments were characterized regarding how students generated particular cases and were or were not able to coordinate the information arising from them. The characterization provides us with information about the way in which students begin to conceive that a number can play different roles in the divisibility scheme

Red nucleus and rubrospinal tract disorganization in the absence of Pou4f1

The red nucleus (RN) is a neuronal population that plays an important role in forelimb motor control and locomotion. Histologically it is subdivided into two subpopulations, the parvocellular RN (pRN) located in the diencephalon and the magnocellular RN (mRN) in the mesencephalon. The RN integrates signals from motor cortex and cerebellum and projects to spinal cord interneurons and motor neurons through the rubrospinal tract (RST). Pou4f1 is a transcription factor highly expressed in this nucleus that has been related to its specification. Here we profoundly analyzed consequences of Pou4f1 loss-of-function in development, maturation and axonal projection of the RN. Surprisingly, RN neurons are specified and maintained in the mutant, no cell death was detected. Nevertheless, the nucleus appeared disorganized with a strong delay in radial migration and with a wider neuronal distribution; the neurons did not form a compacted population as they do in controls, Robo1 and Slit2 were miss-expressed. Cplx1 and Npas1, expressed in the RN, are transcription factors involved in neurotransmitter release, neuronal maturation and motor function processes among others. In our mutant mice, both transcription factors are lost, suggesting an abnormal maturation of the RN. The resulting altered nucleus occupied a wider territory. Finally, we examined RST development and found that the RN neurons were able to project to the spinal cord but their axons appeared defasciculated. These data suggest that Pou4f1 is necessary for the maturation of RN neurons but not for their specification and maintenance.Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe

A New Environmentally-Friendly Colorimetric Probe for Formaldehyde Gas Detection under Real Conditions

[EN] A new environmentally-friendly, simple, selective and sensitive probe for detecting formaldehyde, based on naturally-occurring compounds, through either colorimetric or fluorescence changes, is described. The probe is able to detect formaldehyde in both solution and the gas phase with limits of detection of 0.24 mM and 0.7 ppm, respectively. The probe has been tested to study formaldehyde emission in contaminated real atmospheres. The supported probe is easy to use and to dispose, and is safe and suitable as an individual chemodosimeter.This research was funded by the Spanish Government (projects MAT2015-64139-C4-4-R and AGL2015-70235-C2-2-R (MINECO/FEDER)) and the Generalitat Valenciana (project PROMETEOII/2014/047).Martínez-Aquino, C.; Costero, AM.; Gil Grau, S.; Gaviña, P. (2018). A New Environmentally-Friendly Colorimetric Probe for Formaldehyde Gas Detection under Real Conditions. 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Development of a Two-Photon Fluorescent Probe for Imaging of Endogenous Formaldehyde in Living Tissues. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 55(10), 3356-3359. doi:10.1002/anie.201510373He, L., Yang, X., Liu, Y., Kong, X., & Lin, W. (2016). A ratiometric fluorescent formaldehyde probe for bioimaging applications. Chemical Communications, 52(21), 4029-4032. doi:10.1039/c5cc09796gSingha, S., Jun, Y. W., Bae, J., & Ahn, K. H. (2017). Ratiometric Imaging of Tissue by Two-Photon Microscopy: Observation of a High Level of Formaldehyde around Mouse Intestinal Crypts. Analytical Chemistry, 89(6), 3724-3731. doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.7b00044Song, H., Rajendiran, S., Kim, N., Jeong, S. K., Koo, E., Park, G., … Yoon, S. (2012). A tailor designed fluorescent ‘turn-on’ sensor of formaldehyde based on the BODIPY motif. Tetrahedron Letters, 53(37), 4913-4916. doi:10.1016/j.tetlet.2012.06.117Zhou, Y., Yan, J., Zhang, N., Li, D., Xiao, S., & Zheng, K. (2018). A ratiometric fluorescent probe for formaldehyde in aqueous solution, serum and air using aza-cope reaction. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 258, 156-162. doi:10.1016/j.snb.2017.11.043Chaiendoo, K., Sooksin, S., Kulchat, S., Promarak, V., Tuntulani, T., & Ngeontae, W. (2018). A new formaldehyde sensor from silver nanoclusters modified Tollens’ reagent. Food Chemistry, 255, 41-48. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.02.030Fauzia, V., Nurlely, Imawan, C., Narayani, N. M. M. S., & Putri, A. E. (2018). A localized surface plasmon resonance enhanced dye-based biosensor for formaldehyde detection. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 257, 1128-1133. doi:10.1016/j.snb.2017.11.031El Sayed, S., Pascual, L., Licchelli, M., Martínez-Máñez, R., Gil, S., Costero, A. M., & Sancenón, F. (2016). Chromogenic Detection of Aqueous Formaldehyde Using Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 8(23), 14318-14322. doi:10.1021/acsami.6b03224Li, Z., Xue, Z., Wu, Z., Han, J., & Han, S. (2011). Chromo-fluorogenic detection of aldehydes with a rhodamine based sensor featuring an intramolecular deoxylactam. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 9(22), 7652. doi:10.1039/c1ob06448gGuglielmino, M., Allouch, A., Serra, C. A., & Calvé, S. L. (2017). Development of microfluidic analytical method for on-line gaseous Formaldehyde detection. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 243, 963-970. doi:10.1016/j.snb.2016.11.093Xia, H., Hu, J., Tang, J., Xu, K., Hou, X., & Wu, P. (2016). A RGB-Type Quantum Dot-based Sensor Array for Sensitive Visual Detection of Trace Formaldehyde in Air. Scientific Reports, 6(1). doi:10.1038/srep36794Feng, L., Musto, C. J., & Suslick, K. S. (2010). A Simple and Highly Sensitive Colorimetric Detection Method for Gaseous Formaldehyde. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 132(12), 4046-4047. doi:10.1021/ja910366pGuo, X.-L., Chen, Y., Jiang, H.-L., Qiu, X.-B., & Yu, D.-L. (2018). 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Mathematical models of Leukaemia and its treatment: A review

Leukaemia accounts for around 3% of all cancer types diagnosed in adults, and is the most common type of cancer in children of paediatric age. There is increasing interest in the use of mathematical models in oncology to draw inferences and make predictions, providing a complementary picture to experimental biomedical models. In this paper we recapitulate the state of the art of mathematical modelling of leukaemia growth dynamics, in time and response to treatment. We intend to describe the mathematical methodologies, the biological aspects taken into account in the modelling, and the conclusions of each study. This review is intended to provide researchers in the field with solid background material, in order to achieve further breakthroughs in the promising field of mathematical biology