74 research outputs found
Monitoring of marine benthic communities and taxonomic resolution: an approach through diverse habitats and substrates along the Southern Iberian coastline
Studies conducted along the southern Iberian
coastline validate macrobenthic community analyses at
taxonomic levels higher than that of species. Twelve
studies on littoral benthic communities, carried out by
the same research team, were selected spanning both a
variety of sampling strategies (spatial, temporal, spatiotemporal) and substrate/habitat types (sediment, rock,
algae). In order to establish differences between the results obtained at the taxonomic levels of species, family
and order, similarities among stations were calculated
using Spearman’s coefficient for ranges. A subset of
three studies was selected to investigate possible differences in ‘best-explaining’ environmental variables with
taxonomic level. The environmental variables selected at
species level were the same as those found at levels of
family and order. It is concluded that studies at the
different levels of taxonomic resolution (species, family,
order) lead to similar results both with regard to relative
community distributions and the environmental variables associated with these. The importance of this result
for monitoring similar benthic communities is discussed
Dredging impact on the benthic community of an unaltered inlet in southern Spain
The impact of dredging on macrobenthic
communities was studied in an unaltered zone, the
Getares inlet of Algeciras Bay (SW Spain). The data
obtained before, during and after dredging in a time series
spanning 5 years revealed the re-establishment of directly
affected communities and of physicochemical substrate
characteristics within 1 month of the end of dredging,
although 2 years later there was a confusing biological
impoverishment of the whole inlet. After 4 years, there
was a high degree of population re-establishment, both on
the bottoms directly affected by the works and on
neighbouring areas, that was partly due to the hydrodynamic conditions. Before this type of activity is undertaken, each case should be studied regarding viability, the
environmental medium where it will take place, the best
time of year, and the type of dredging to be used
The abundances and distributions of molluscs in the southern Iberian Peninsula: A comparison of marine and terrestrial systems
Molluscs are the second most diverse of all animal phyla, and occur in many habitat types.
They are, therefore, a particularly good phylum with which to compare and contrast differences
between ecosystems. Mollusc data from a number of sites along the southern coast of the Iberian
Peninsula are analysed to study patterns of diversity and distribution using a range of multivariate
techniques. Within each site, data are presented from three locations -fully terrestrial, rocky
intertidal and soft bottom benthic (10 m and 20 m depths)- all in close proximity. The species are
then classified in relation to morphology and size, and analysed at supraspecific levels to elucidate
underlying patterns. The observed patterns are briefly discussed, with particular reference
to the differential scope and importance of controlling factors in each ecosystem, such as dispersal
processes. The results from the systems are compared and discussed in the context of ecological
and evolutionary constraints in MolluscaLos moluscos constituyen el segundo filo animal más diverso y se encuentran en muchos tipos de hábitat,
por lo que son idóneos para establecer comparaciones entre distintos ecosistemas.
Se han analizado los datos de los moluscos obtenidos en una serie de emplazamientos que cubrían el sur
de la península Ibérica para determinar, empleando distintas técnicas multivariantes, los patrones de diversidad
y distribución de estos organismos. Los datos se tomaron de ejemplares capturados en lugares del medio
terrestre próximos a la línea de costa, de la franja intermareal rocosa y de sedimentos de fondos marinos situados
a 10 y 20 m de profundidad. Las especies fueron clasificadas atendiendo a la morfología y el tamaño,
y se analizaron a nivel supraespecífico para elucidar los patrones generales, que se discuten aquí, brevemente,
con especial énfasis en las diferencias según la importancia de los factores que controlan cada
ecosistema, como, por ejemplo, los procesos de dispersión. Los resultados de los distintos sistemas se comparan
y discuten en el contexto de las tendencias ecológicas y evolutivas de los molusco
Microtubule stabilization reduces amyloid pathology and improves synaptic/memory deficits in APP/PS1 mice
Aims: Cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is highly related to synaptic/neuronal loss. Tau hyperphosphorylation destabilizes microtubules leading to axonal transport failure and generation of dystrophic neurites, thus contributing to synaptic dysfunction. The effect of microtubule stabilization on amyloid-beta pathology has not been assessed in vivo yet. This study evaluated the effect of the microtubule-stabilizing agent, Epothilone D (EpoD) in the pathology of an amyloidogenic mouse model.
Methods: APP751SL/PS1M146L mice (3-month-old) were treated weekly with intraperitoneal injections of EpoD (2 mg/kg) or vehicle for 3 months. For memory performance, animals were tested on the objectrecognition, Y-maze and Morris water maze. Hippocampal proteinopathies were quantified by image analysis after immunostaining. Somatostatin (SOM)-numerical density was calculated by stereology. APPswe-N2a cells were treated with EpoD 100nM for 12/24 hours. Protein levels were analysed by
Western/dot-blot. Results: EpoD-treated mice improved their performance of cognitive tests, while hippocampal phospho-tau and Ab (especially oligomers) accumulation decreased, together with synaptic/neuritic pathology. Remarkably, EpoD exerted a neuroprotective effect on SOM-interneurons, a highly AD-vulnerable GABAergic subpopulation. Conclusions: EpoD improved microtubule dynamics and axonal transport in an AD-like context, reducing tau and Ab accumulation and promoting neuronal and cognitive protection, underlining the cross-talk between cytoskeleton pathology and proteinopathy. Therefore, microtubule-stabilizing drugs could be candidates for slowing AD at both tau and Ab pathologies.Supported by PI18/01557 (to AG) and PI18/01556 (to JV) grants from ISCiii of Spain, co-financed by FEDER funds (European Union), CIBERNED collaborative grant (to AG and JV), and by PPIT.UMA.B1.2017/26 grant (to RSV). Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech
Mucoidy, Quorum Sensing, Mismatch Repair and Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Cystic Fibrosis Chronic Airways Infections
Survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF) chronic infections is based on a genetic adaptation process consisting of mutations in specific genes, which can produce advantageous phenotypic switches and ensure its persistence in the lung. Among these, mutations inactivating the regulators MucA (alginate biosynthesis), LasR (quorum sensing) and MexZ (multidrug-efflux pump MexXY) are the most frequently observed, with those inactivating the DNA mismatch repair system (MRS) being also highly prevalent in P. aeruginosa CF isolates, leading to hypermutator phenotypes that could contribute to this adaptive mutagenesis by virtue of an increased mutation rate. Here, we characterized the mutations found in the mucA, lasR, mexZ and MRS genes in P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from Argentinean CF patients, and analyzed the potential association of mucA, lasR and mexZ mutagenesis with MRS-deficiency and antibiotic resistance. Thus, 38 isolates from 26 chronically infected CF patients were characterized for their phenotypic traits, PFGE genotypic patterns, mutations in the mucA, lasR, mexZ, mutS and mutL gene coding sequences and antibiotic resistance profiles. The most frequently mutated gene was mexZ (79%), followed by mucA (63%) and lasR (39%) as well as a high prevalence (42%) of hypermutators being observed due to loss-of-function mutations in mutL (60%) followed by mutS (40%). Interestingly, mutational spectra were particular to each gene, suggesting that several mechanisms are responsible for mutations during chronic infection. However, no link could be established between hypermutability and mutagenesis in mucA, lasR and mexZ, indicating that MRS-deficiency was not involved in the acquisition of these mutations. Finally, although inactivation of mucA, lasR and mexZ has been previously shown to confer resistance/tolerance to antibiotics, only mutations in MRS genes could be related to an antibiotic resistance increase. These results help to unravel the mutational dynamics that lead to the adaptation of P. aeruginosa to the CF lung
Individual strategy update and emergence of cooperation in social networks
In this paper, we critically study whether social networks can explain the emergence of cooperative behavior. We carry out an extensive simulation program in which we study the most representative social dilemmas. For the Prisoner’s Dilemma, it turns out that the emergence of cooperation is very dependent on the micro-dynamics. On the other hand, network clustering mostly facilitates global cooperation in the Stag Hunt game, whereas degree heterogeneity promotes cooperation in Snowdrift dilemmas. Thus, social networks do not promote cooperation in general, because the macrooutcome is not robust under change of dynamics. Therefore, having specific applications of interest in mind is crucial to include the appropriate microdetails in a good model.This work has been supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain) through grant MOSAICO, and by Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) through grant MODELICO-CM.Publicad
Concern with COVID-19 pandemic threat and attitudes towards immigrants: The mediating effect of the desire for tightness
Tightening social norms is thought to be adaptive for dealing with collective threat yet it may have negative consequences for increasing prejudice. The present research investigated the role of desire for cultural tightness, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, in increasing negative attitudes towards immigrants. We used participant-level data from 41 countries (N = 55,015) collected as part of the PsyCorona project, a crossnational longitudinal study on responses to COVID-19. Our predictions were tested through multilevel and SEM models, treating participants as nested within countries. Results showed that people’s concern with COVID19 threat was related to greater desire for tightness which, in turn, was linked to more negative attitudes towards immigrants. These findings were followed up with a longitudinal model (N = 2,349) which also showed that people’s heightened concern with COVID-19 in an earlier stage of the pandemic was associated with an increase in their desire for tightness and negative attitudes towards immigrants later in time. Our findings offer insight into the trade-offs that tightening social norms under collective threat has for human groups
4to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica
Este volumen acoge la memoria académica de la Cuarta edición del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2017, desarrollado entre el 29 de noviembre y el 1 de diciembre de 2017 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS) en su sede de Guayaquil.
El Congreso ofreció un espacio para la presentación, difusión e intercambio de importantes investigaciones nacionales e internacionales ante la comunidad universitaria que se dio cita en el encuentro. El uso de herramientas tecnológicas para la gestión de los trabajos de investigación como la plataforma Open Conference Systems y la web de presentación del Congreso http://citis.blog.ups.edu.ec/, hicieron de CITIS 2017 un verdadero referente entre los congresos que se desarrollaron en el país.
La preocupación de nuestra Universidad, de presentar espacios que ayuden a generar nuevos y mejores cambios en la dimensión humana y social de nuestro entorno, hace que se persiga en cada edición del evento la presentación de trabajos con calidad creciente en cuanto a su producción científica.
Quienes estuvimos al frente de la organización, dejamos plasmado en estas memorias académicas el intenso y prolífico trabajo de los días de realización del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad al alcance de todos y todas
Trust in government regarding COVID-19 and its associations with preventive health behaviour and prosocial behaviour during the pandemic: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study
Background. The effective implementation of government policies and measures for controlling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires compliance from the public. This study aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of trust ingovernment regarding COVID-19 control with the adoption of recommended health behaviours and prosocial behaviours, and potential determinants of trust in government duringthe pandemic.Methods. This study analysed data from the PsyCorona Survey, an international project onCOVID-19 that included 23 733 participants from 23 countries (representative in age andgender distributions by country) at baseline survey and 7785 participants who also completedfollow-up surveys. Specification curve analysis was used to examine concurrent associationsbetween trust in government and self-reported behaviours. We further used structural equation model to explore potential determinants of trust in government. Multilevel linear regressions were used to examine associations between baseline trust and longitudinal behavioural changes.Results. Higher trust in government regarding COVID-19 control was significantly associatedwith higher adoption of health behaviours (handwashing, avoiding crowded space, self-quarantine) and prosocial behaviours in specification curve analyses (median standardised β =0.173 and 0.229, p < 0.001). Government perceived as well organised, disseminating clear messages and knowledge on COVID-19, and perceived fairness were positively associated withtrust in government (standardised β = 0.358, 0.230, 0.056, and 0.249, p < 0.01). Higher trustat baseline survey was significantly associated with lower rate of decline in health behavioursover time ( p for interaction = 0.001).Conclusions. These results highlighted the importance of trust in government in the control of Covid-19
- …