Potentiation of learning in Ecology through the use of videos

El proyecto de innovación docente que se presenta utiliza la herramienta de los vídeos para mejorar la comprensión de distintos aspectos de la Ecología. Este proyecto de innovación docente se ha realizado en el marco de la asignatura de Ecología de grado de Ciencias Ambientales (2º curso) en la Universidad de Córdoba durante el curso 2016-17. Se han usado los vídeos en distintas actividades para reforzar el aprendizaje de los alumnos. Entre ellas están: a) la grabación en clase de las clases magistrales y su difusión a traves del portal de la asignatura en Moodle; b) la realización de un vídeo demostrativo de una práctica de Ecología; c) la realización de una práctica en la que los alumnos han realizado un vídeo sobre temas de Ecología y d) la realización de varios debates de problemas ambientales. Este proyecto ha demostrado que el uso de vídeos ha incrementado el interés y el aprendizaje de los alumnos, lo cual puede servir como experiencia piloto para otras asignaturas de la Universidad.This project of teaching innovation uses the videos tool to improve the understanding of different aspects of Ecology. This project has been carried out within the framework of Ecology degree in Environmental Sciences (2nd year) at the University of Córdoba during the 2016-17 academic year. The videos have been used in different activities to reinforce the students' learning. Among them are: a) the recording in class of the master classes and their diffusion through the portal of the subject in Moodle; b) the realization of a demonstrative video of an Ecology practice; c) the realization of a practice in which the students have made a video on Ecology subjects and d) the accomplishment of several debates of environmental problems. This project has demonstrated that the use of videos has increased the interest and learning of students, which can serve as a pilot experience for other subjects in the University

Altered calcium signaling in platelets from nitric oxide-deficient hypertensive rats

BACKGROUND: In the present study we have analyzed the mechanisms of calcium entry and mobilization in platelets obtained from rats chronically treated with the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor, N-nitro L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME, 40 mg/kg/day, 5 days). The platelets were obtained the day of the experiment, washed and loaded with fura-2. The intracellular calcium levels were determined in suspension of cells by means of fluorescence spectroscopy. RESULTS: Basal calcium levels were always elevated in the platelets of the L-NAME-treated rats, both in the presence and in the absence of extracellular calcium. The administration of thrombin in the absence and in the presence of extracellular calcium induced important elevations in calcium levels that were always of greater magnitude in the platelets of the L-NAME-treated rats than in those of the controls. The addition of calcium to thapsigargin-treated platelets produced a massive elevation in calcium levels in both groups that was significantly greater in the platelets obtained from the hypertensive rats than in those of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the arterial hypertension induced by the reduction of nitric oxide alters the regulation of platelet calcium levels so that elevated baseline levels and calcium entry and mobilization are enhanced. This could be the result of direct or indirect effects of the lack of nitric oxide synthesis in platelets or in other tissues

A Concise Synthesis of a BODIPY-Labeled Tetrasaccharide Related to the Antitumor PI-88

A convergent synthetic route to a tetrasaccharide related to PI-88, which allows the incorporation of a fluorescent BODIPY-label at the reducing-end, has been developed. The strategy, which features the use of 1,2-methyl orthoesters (MeOEs) as glycosyl donors, illustrates the usefulness of suitably-designed BODIPY dyes as glycosyl labels in synthetic strategies towards fluorescently-tagged oligosaccharides.This research was funded by Spanish MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y COMPETITIVIDAD, GOBIERNO DE ESPAÑA (projects MAT2017–83856-C3-1-P and 3-P, PiD2020-1147555GB-C33), the MINISTERIO DE CIENCIA INNOVACION Y UNIVERSIDADES (project RTI2018-094862-B-I00), and the GOBIERNO VASCO (project IT912-16)

Percepción sobre factores de riesgo del cáncer de colon

Introducción: un tipo de cáncer, que resulta fácil de detectar, con un alto grado de curación y que tarda en desarrollarse, es el cáncer de colon. Objetivo: determinar la percepción de riesgo del cáncer de colon en el policlínico Hermanos Cruz del municipio de Pinar del Río en los años 2015 y 2016. Método: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo. El universo fue constituido por 652 pacientes de 50 años y más de los consultorios seis, 10 y 20. Se seleccionó una muestra intencionada de 118 pacientes. Se utilizaron métodos teóricos, empíricos y estadísticos, los datos fueron recogidos a través de una encuesta. Resultados: el 55 % pertenece al grupo de edad entre 50 a 54 años, el 51 % al sexo femenino y un 73 % con nivel escolar de primaria terminado;  el 50  % considera poco probable ser diagnosticados con cáncer de colon; un 71,2 % declaró no estar en edad de riesgo, como principal causa de no ser diagnosticados con la enfermedad; la mayoría perciben los antecedentes patológicos familiares y personales de cáncer como factores de riesgo en la aparición de la enfermedad; el 80,5 % percibe el tabaquismo como un hábito asociado al cáncer de colon. Conclusiones: la población estudiada no tiene percepción de riesgo para padecer cáncer de colon. Hay que crear una estrategia educativa encaminada a trabajar sobre los factores de riesgo desde edades tempranas, y así modificar estilos de vida inadecuados y poder garantizar una salud integral en la población

4,4′-Dicyano- versus 4,4′-Difluoro-BODIPYs in Chemoselective Postfunctionalization Reactions: Synthetic Advantages and Applications

The presence of F or CN substituents at boron in BODIPYs causes a dramatic effect on their reactivity, which allows their chemoselective postfunctionalization. Thus, whereas 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl B(CN)2-BODIPYs displayed enhanced reactivity in Knoevenagel condensations with aldehydes, the corresponding BF2-BODIPYs can experience selective aromatic electrophilic substitution (SEAr) reactions in the presence of the former. These (selective) reactions have been employed in the preparation of BODIPY dimers and tetramers, with balanced fluorescence and singlet oxygen formation, and all-BODIPY trimers and heptamers, with potential application as light-harvesting systems.The authors gratefully acknowledge Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN)/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) Grant PID2021-122504NB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ERDF A way of making Europe and Grants PID2020-114755GB-C31 and -C33 funded by MCIN/AEI. The authors thank the Gobierno Vasco (Project IT1639-22) for financial support. The authors are indebted to Ms. Marina Rodríguez (IQOG-CSIC) for skillful technical support

Raman semi-quantification on Mars: ExoMars RLS system as a tool to better comprehend the geological evolution of martian crust

Producción CientíficaThis work presents the latest chemometric tools developed by the RLS science team to optimize the scientific outcome of the Raman system onboard the ExoMars 2022 rover. Feldspar, pyroxene and olivine samples were first analyzed through the RLS ExoMars Simulator to determine the spectroscopic indicators to be used for a proper discrimination of mineral phases on Mars. Being the main components of Martian basaltic rocks, lepidocrocite, augite and forsterite were then used as mineral proxies to prepare binary mixtures. By emulating the operational constraints of the RLS, Raman datasets gathered from laboratory mixtures were used to build external calibration curves. Providing excellent coefficients of determination (R2 0.9942÷0.9997), binary curves were finally used to semi-quantify ternary mixtures of feldspar, pyroxene and olivine minerals. As Raman results are in good agreement with real concentration values, this work suggests the RLS could be effectively used to perform semi-quantitative mineralogical studies of the basaltic geological units found at Oxia Planum. As such, crucial information about the geological evolution of Martian Crust could be extrapolated. In light of the outstanding scientific impact this analytical method could have for the ExoMars mission, further methodological improvements to be discussed in a dedicated work are finally proposed.Consejo Europeo de Investigación (grant 687302)Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (grants PID2019-107442RB-C31 and RDE2018-102600-T

Growing Up With Terrorism: The Age at Which a Terrorist Attack Was Suffered and Emotional Disorders in Adulthood

Abundant scientific literature shows that exposure to traumatic situations during childhood or adolescence has long-term psychopathological consequences, for example, in the form of a higher prevalence of emotional disorders in adulthood. However, an evolutionary perspective suggests that there may be differential vulnerabilities depending on the age at which the trauma was suffered. As there are no studies on the psychopathological impact in adulthood of attacks suffered during childhood or adolescence, the objective of this study was to analyze the influence of the age at which a terrorist attack was suffered in the presence of emotional disorders many years after the attack. A sample of 566 direct and indirect victims of terrorist attacks in Spain was recruited, of whom 50 people were between the age of 3 and 9 when they suffered the attack, 46 were between 10 and 17 years old, and 470 were adults. All of them underwent a structured diagnostic interview (SCID-I-VC) an average of 21 years after the attacks. No significant differences were found between the three age groups at which the attack occurred in terms of the current prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, or anxiety disorders. The results of several multiple binary logistic regression analyses also indicated that, after controlling for the effect of sex, current age, the type of victims, and the time since the attack, the age at which the attack was suffered was not related to the current prevalence of those emotional disorders. The results are discussed concerning the differences between various types of trauma and in the context of the theories that propose that traumatic experiences are processed differently at different ages and can lead to differences in the likelihood of developing different emotional disorders

Hemadsorption as a Treatment Option for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated With COVID-19: A Case Report

Hemoadsorció; Síndrome multisistèmica inflamatòria; Lesió del miocardi; Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoVHemoadsorción; Síndrome multisistémico inflamatorio; Lesión del miocardio; Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoVHemoadsorption; Inflammatory multisystemic syndrome; Myocardial injury; Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoVMultisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 is characterized by hypercytokinemia leading to overwhelming inflammation. We describe the use of a hemadsorption device as part of the supportive treatment for cytokine storm