A preliminary study about gender gap perception in informatics studies in Spain

The gender gap in STEM is an issue that affects regions and countries worldwide. Furthermore, the percentage of women in these areas depends on a range of different factors. In particular, the gender gap is critical in technology in general and, more specifically, in informatics. This problem affects not only the business sector but also society. Informatics is part of our lives; however, 50% of the world population is not represented in the teams that are developing solutions for solving society's problems. In Spain, the number of women with informatics degrees is around 15%. This work describes a case study developed by the committee of Women in Informatics at the Scientific Society of Spanish Informatics (SCIE) to analyse the perception of informatics scientists on the gender gap in informatics

Activation of Type 1 Cannabinoid Receptor (CB1R) promotes neurogenesis in murine subventricular zone cell cultures

The endocannabinoid system has been implicated in the modulation of adult neurogenesis. Here, we describe the effect of type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) activation on self-renewal, proliferation and neuronal differentiation in mouse neonatal subventricular zone (SVZ) stem/progenitor cell cultures. Expression of CB1R was detected in SVZ-derived immature cells (Nestin-positive), neurons and astrocytes. Stimulation of the CB1R by (R)-(+)-Methanandamide (R-m-AEA) increased self-renewal of SVZ cells, as assessed by counting the number of secondary neurospheres and the number of Sox2+/+ cell pairs, an effect blocked by Notch pathway inhibition. Moreover, R-m-AEA treatment for 48 h, increased proliferation as assessed by BrdU incorporation assay, an effect mediated by activation of MAPK-ERK and AKT pathways. Surprisingly, stimulation of CB1R by R-m-AEA also promoted neuronal differentiation (without affecting glial differentiation), at 7 days, as shown by counting the number of NeuN-positive neurons in the cultures. Moreover, by monitoring intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+](i)) in single cells following KCl and histamine stimuli, a method that allows the functional evaluation of neuronal differentiation, we observed an increase in neuronal-like cells. This proneurogenic effect was blocked when SVZ cells were co-incubated with R-m-AEA and the CB1R antagonist AM 251, for 7 days, thus indicating that this effect involves CB1R activation. In accordance with an effect on neuronal differentiation and maturation, R-m-AEA also increased neurite growth, as evaluated by quantifying and measuring the number of MAP2-positive processes. Taken together, these results demonstrate that CB1R activation induces proliferation, self-renewal and neuronal differentiation from mouse neonatal SVZ cell cultures.Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia - Portugal [POCTI/SAU-NEU/68465/2006, PTDC/SAU-NEU/104415/2008, PTDC/SAU-NEU/101783/2008, POCTI/SAU-NEU/110838/2009]; Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian [96542]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologiainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Interplay between n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and the endocannabinoid system in brain protection and repair.

The brain is enriched in arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) of the n-6 and n-3 series, respectively. Both are essential for optimal brain development and function. Dietary enrichment with DHA and other long-chain n-3 PUFA, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have shown beneficial effects on learning and memory, neuroinflammatory processes and synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis. ARA, DHA and EPA are precursors to a diverse repertoire of bioactive lipid mediators, including endocannabinoids. The endocannabinoid system comprises cannabinoid receptors, their endogenous ligands, the endocannabinoids, and their biosynthetic and degradation enzymes. Anandamide (AEA) and 2-archidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are the most widely studied endocannabinoids, and are both derived from phospholipid-bound ARA. The endocannabinoid system also has well established roles in neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis, suggesting an overlap in the neuroprotective effects observed with these different classes of lipids. Indeed, growing evidence suggests a complex interplay between n-3 and n-6 LCPUFA and the endocannabinoid system. For example, long-term DHA and EPA supplementation reduces AEA and 2-AG levels, with reciprocal increases in levels of the analogous endocannabinoid-like DHA and EPA-derived molecules. This review summarises current evidence of this interplay and discusses the therapeutic potential for brain protection and repair

Desarrollo y aplicación de metodologías analíticas para la determinación y especiación de elementos contaminantes en deposiciones atmosféricas

El desarrollo, optimización y validación de métodos analíticos para la determinación de contaminantes químicos en muestras atmosféricas, y la aplicación de procedimientos quimiométricos para la interpretación de los resultados son líneas de investigación de gran interés, ya que constituyen herramientas indispensables para la caracterización de la contaminación atmosférica, tanto en cuanto a la identificación de los contaminantes como al estudio de su origen, distribución, concentración y evolución. En esta tesis, se abordó en primer lugar una caracterización por ICP-MS del perfil de elementos en distintos tipos de muestras de deposición atmosférica recogidas en una zona industrial, en concreto el área de Puchuncaví-Ventanas en Chile, interpretándose el impacto de la contaminación mediante herramientas quimiométricas de asignación de fuentes y series temporales. En esta parte del trabajo se validó el empleo de un nuevo tipo de colector pasivo de deposición total atmosférica para la especiación de las fracciones soluble e insoluble de la deposición. Seguidamente, se abordó el desarrollo de diversos tipos de metodologías electroanalíticas basadas en electrodos serigrafiados y potenciostatos portátiles para la medida “in situ” de la deposición atmosférica de metales pesados, tanto en la zona de estudio como en otras potencialmente afectadas por la contaminación atmosférica. Se evaluó su aplicabilidad sobre la deposición total. Finalmente, se exploró la conexión de dispositivos electroanalíticos basados en electrodos serigrafiados y potenciostatos portátiles, a los colectores pasivos de deposición atmosférica, con el objetivo de disponer de sistemas automatizados de medida potencialmente útiles para monitorización autónoma de metales pesados en la deposición atmosférica soluble.The development, optimization and validation of analytical methods for determination of chemical contaminants in air samples and the application of chemometric procedures for the interpretation of results are research lines of great interest because they are indispensable tools for the characterization of air pollution, both in terms of identification of pollutants and the study of their origin, distribution, concentration and evolution. In this thesis, an ICP-MS characterization of the profile of elements has been conducted in different types of atmospheric deposition samples collected in an industrial zone, specifically the area of Puchuncaví-Ventanas in the V Region of Chile. The impact of pollution has been assessed by chemometric tools for source assignment and time series, correlating the measurements performed in each sample type. In this part of the work, a new type of passive collector of total atmospheric deposition, modified with a quartz fiber filter for the speciation of soluble and insoluble fractions of deposition was validated Next, the development of different types of electroanalytical methodologies based of screen-printed electrodes and portable potentiostat has been addressed for “in situ” measurement of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals, both in the study area as in others potentially affected by air pollution. Finallly, we have explored the connection of electroanalytical devices based on screen-printed electrodes and portable potentiostat, with the atmospheric total deposition collectors, with the objective of developing automated systems, potentially useful for autonomous monitoring of heavy metals in soluble atmospheric deposition

Determination of Trace Elements in Atmospheric Samples by Ultrasonic Probe Microextraction and ICP-MS

Pb is a relevant atmospheric pollutant, mainly associated to particulate matter (PM). In this work, an ultrasound probe-assisted microextraction (UAME) pretreatment methodology has been optimized and validated for the extraction of Pb from atmospheric particulate matter samples before determination by ICP-MS. Factors that influence the ultrasonic extraction procedure were evaluated and optimized using a Box-Behnken design in conjunction with a response surface methodology, by assaying a PM certified reference material. The optimum conditions obtained for the Pb extraction are 62.5% of sonication amplitude, 200 s of sonication time, 47.5% v/v HNO3 as extracting medium, and sample/solvent ratio of 35 mg/mL. The US-probe assisted extraction methodology was applied to real PM from active and passive sampling for the extraction of Pb and other relevant elements such As, Cd and Cu. Analytical results demonstrated that ultrasonic microextraction is an efficient tool for the extraction of Pb and Cu from atmospheric samples, faster and greener than standard high temperature acid digestion

Neuroimmmune interactions of cannabinoids in neurogenesis: focus on interleukin-1β (IL-1β) signalling

Neuroimmune networks and the brain endocannabinoid system contribute to the maintenance of neurogenesis. Activation of cannabinoid receptors suppresses chronic inflammatory responses through the attenuation of pro-inflammatory mediators. Moreover, the endocannabinoid system directs cell fate specification of NSCs (neural stem cells) in the CNS (cen tral nervous sytem). The aim of our work is to understand better the relationship between the endocannabinoid and the IL-1β (interleukin-1β) associated signalling pathways and NSC biology, in order to develop therapeutical strategies on CNS diseases that may facilitate brain repair. NSCs express functional CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, DAGLα (diacylglycerol lipase α) and the NSC markers SOX-2 and nestin. We have investigated the role of CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the control of NSC proliferation and in the release of immunomodulators [IL-1β and IL-1Ra (IL-1 receptor antagonist)] that control NSC fate decisions. Pharmacological blockade of CB1 and/or CB2 cannabinoid receptors abolish or decrease NSC proliferation, indicating a critical role for both CB1 and CB2 receptors in the proliferation of NSC via IL-1 signalling pathways. Thus the endocannabinoid system, which has neuroprotective and immunomodulatory actions mediated by IL-1 signalling cascades in the brain, could assist the process of proliferation and differentiation of embryonic or adult NSCs, and this may be of therapeutic interest in the emerging field of brain repair. © 2013 Biochemical Society