Spatial genetic structure in the saddled sea bream (Oblada melanura [Linnaeus, 1758]) suggests multi-scaled patterns of connectivity between protected and unprotected areas in the Western Mediterranean Sea

Marine protected areas (MPAs) and networks of MPAs are advocated worldwide for the achievement of marine conservation objectives. Although the knowledge about population connectivity is considered fundamental for the optimal design of MPAs and networks, the amount of information available for the Mediterranean Sea is currently scarce. We investigated the genetic structure of the saddled sea bream ( Oblada melanura) and the level of genetic connectivity between protected and unprotected locations, using a set of 11 microsatellite loci. Spatial patterns of population differentiation were assessed locally (50-100 km) and regionally (500-1000 km), considering three MPAs of the Western Mediterranean Sea. All values of genetic differentiation between locations (Fst and Jost's D) were non-significant after Bonferroni correction, indicating that, at a relatively small spatial scale, protected locations were in general well connected with non-protected ones. On the other hand, at the regional scale, discriminant analysis of principal components revealed the presence of a subtle pattern of genetic heterogeneity that reflects the geography and the main oceanographic features (currents and barriers) of the study area. This genetic pattern could be a consequence of different processes acting at different spatial and temporal scales among which the presence of admixed populations, large population sizes and species dispersal capacity, could play a major role. These outcomes can have important implications for the conservation biology and fishery management of the saddled sea bream and provide useful information for genetic population studies of other coastal fishes in the Western Mediterranean Sea

Modeling the Effects of Hyaluronic Acid Degradation on the Regulation of Human Astrocyte Phenotype Using Multicomponent Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (mIPNs)

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a highly abundant component in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and a fundamental element to the architecture and the physiology of the central nervous system (CNS). Often, HA degradation occurs when an overreactive inflammatory response, derived from tissue trauma or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, causes the ECM in the CNS to be remodeled. Herein, we studied the effects of HA content as a key regulator of human astrocyte (HAf) reactivity using multicomponent interpenetrating polymer networks (mIPNs) comprised of Collagen I, HA and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate. The selected platform facilities the modulation of HA levels independently of matrix rigidity. Total astrocytic processes length, number of endpoints, the expression of the quiescent markers: Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family Member L1 (ALDH1L1) and Glutamate Aspartate Transporter (GLAST); the reactive markers: Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and S100 Calcium-Binding Protein β (S100β); and the inflammatory markers: Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS), Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFα), were assessed. Cumulatively, our results demonstrated that the decrease in HA concentration elicited a reduction in the total length of astrocytic processes and an increase in the expression of HAf reactive and inflammatory markers

Characterization of Sequential Collagen-Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Diacrylate Interpenetrating Networks and Initial Assessment of Their Potential for Vascular Tissue Engineering

Collagen hydrogels have been widely investigated as scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering due in part to the capacity of collagen to promote robust cell adhesion and elongation. However, collagen hydrogels display relatively low stiffness and strength, are thrombogenic, and are highly susceptible to cell-mediated contraction. In the current work, we develop and characterize a sequentially-formed interpenetrating network (IPN) that retains the benefits of collagen, but which displays enhanced mechanical stiffness and strength, improved thromboresistance, high physical stability and resistance to contraction. In this strategy, we first form a collagen hydrogel, infuse this hydrogel with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), and subsequently crosslink the PEGDA by exposure to longwave UV light. These collagen-PEGDA IPNs allow for cell encapsulation during the fabrication process with greater than 90% cell viability via inclusion of cells within the collagen hydrogel precursor solution. Furthermore, the degree of cell spreading within the IPNs can be tuned from rounded to fully elongated by varying the time delay between the formation of the cell-laden collagen hydrogel and the formation of the PEGDA network. We also demonstrate that these collagen-PEGDA IPNs are able to support the initial stages of smooth muscle cell lineage progression by elongated human mesenchymal stems cells

Propuesta para la formulación de un plan de ordenamiento territorial para la zona de Valle de San Nicolás subregión oriente de Antioquia

El trabajo que aquí presentamos es la propuesta para la formulación de un Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial para la Zona del Altiplano de la Subregión del Oriente de Antioquia, zona conformada por los municipios del Oriente Cercano: Rionegro, San Vicente, Marinilla, El Carmen de Viboral, La Ceja del Tambo, Guarne y La Unión, El Santuario y El Retiro. El Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial aquí propuesto estará formulado en una metodología que recoge los lineamientos sugeridos a los municipios por el Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial MAVDT para la formulación de los POT locales, así como los contenidos sugeridos agrupados por componentes: Dimensión Contextual, Dimensión Geográfica y Ambiental, Dimensión Físico Espacial y la Dimensión socio económica e institucional

Propuesta para la formulación de un plan de ordenamiento territorial para la zona de Valle de San Nicolás subregión oriente de Antioquia

El trabajo que aquí presentamos es la propuesta para la formulación de un Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial para la Zona del Altiplano de la Subregión del Oriente de Antioquia, zona conformada por los municipios del Oriente Cercano: Rionegro, San Vicente, Marinilla, El Carmen de Viboral, La Ceja del Tambo, Guarne y La Unión, El Santuario y El Retiro. El Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial aquí propuesto estará formulado en una metodología que recoge los lineamientos sugeridos a los municipios por el Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial MAVDT para la formulación de los POT locales, así como los contenidos sugeridos agrupados por componentes: Dimensión Contextual, Dimensión Geográfica y Ambiental, Dimensión Físico Espacial y la Dimensión socio económica e institucional

Training and support for inclusive practices: Transformation from cooperation in teaching and learning

Indexación ScopusIn this article, we present the four-year actions carried out at a public school in Meco (Madrid, Spain). Through the research contract (LOU, Art. 83) “Cooperative teaching and learning to respond to the diversity of students”, during the years 2014 and 2018, various actions were carried out by the school in its process of methodological and organizational transformation towards a more inclusive model based on the cooperation of teachers and students. A journey was made from the actions aimed at traditional training through courses and seminars to the accompaniment actions in the classroom to implement the cooperative learning methodology. Results of the actions and analysis of the interviews carried out with teachers participating in the process during the four years of work as well as field observation notes are presented. The results show the transformation and improvement of teaching practices based on inclusion and the cooperative learning methodology. Among the central conclusions, there is evidence of internal improvement in organizational management and inclusive teaching practices from the involvement, support, and continuous training of teachers in educational quality towards students. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/258

A Bioinspired Astrocyte-Derived Coating Promotes the In Vitro Proliferation of Human Neural Stem Cells While Maintaining Their Stemness

The repair of neuronal tissue is a challenging process due to the limited proliferative capacity of neurons. Neural stem cells (NSCs) can aid in the regeneration process of neural tissue due to their high proliferation potential and capacity to differentiate into neurons. The therapeutic potential of these cells can only be achieved if sufficient cells are obtained without losing their differentiation potential. Toward this end, an astrocyte-derived coating (HAc) was evaluated as a promising substrate to promote the proliferation of NSCs. Mass spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the HAc. The proliferation rate and the expression of stemness and differentiation markers in NSCs cultured on the HAc were evaluated and compared to the responses of these cells to commonly used coating materials including Poly-L-Ornithine (PLO), and a Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (HiPSC)-based coating. The use of the HAc promotes the in vitro cell growth of NSCs. The expression of the stemness markers Sox2 and Nestin, and the differentiation marker DCX in the HAc group was akin to the expression of these markers in the controls. In summary, HAc supported the proliferation of NSCs while maintaining their stemness and neural differentiation potential

Collagen Based Multicomponent Interpenetrating Networks as Promising Scaffolds for 3D Culture of Human Neural Stem Cells, Human Astrocytes, and Human Microglia

This work describes for the first time the fabrication and characterization of multicomponent interpenetrating networks composed of collagen I, hyaluronic acid, and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate for the 3D culture of human neural stem cells, astrocytes, and microglia. The chemical composition of the scaffolds can be modulated while maintaining values of complex moduli within the range of the mechanical performance of brain tissue (∼6.9 kPa) and having cell viability exceeding 84%. The developed scaffolds are a promising new family of biomaterials that can potentially serve as 3D in vitro models for studying the physiology and physiopathology of the central nervous system

Growth Factor Binding Peptides in Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Diacrylate (PEGDA)-Based Hydrogels for an Improved Healing Response of Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Growth factors (GF) are critical cytokines in wound healing. However, the direct delivery of these biochemical cues into a wound site significantly increases the cost of wound dressings and can lead to a strong immunological response due to the introduction of a foreign source of GFs. To overcome this challenge, we designed a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel with the potential capacity to sequester autologous GFs directly from the wound site. We demonstrated that synthetic peptide sequences covalently tethered to PEGDA hydrogels physically retained human transforming growth factor beta 1 (hTGFβ1) and human vascular endothelial growth factor (hVEGF) at 3.2 and 0.6 ng/mm2, respectively. In addition, we demonstrated that retained hTGFβ1 and hVEGF enhanced human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa) average cell surface area and proliferation, respectively, and that exposure to both GFs resulted in up to 1.9-fold higher fraction of area covered relative to the control. After five days in culture, relative to the control surface, non-covalently bound hTGFβ1 significantly increased the expression of collagen type I and hTGFβ1 and downregulated vimentin and matrix metalloproteinase 1 expression. Cumulatively, the response of HDFa to hTGFβ1 aligns well with the expected response of fibroblasts during the early stages of wound healing

Endeudamineto de las familia en la ciudad de Talca

161 p.Utilizando los resultados de una entrevista realizada en octubre de 2007 a 431 personas de la ciudad de Talca, analizamos el grado de endeudamiento de la población y su dependencia de variables demográficas, sociales y económicas. Nuestros resultados muestran que la carga financiera de más de la mitad de las familias encuestadas es superior a un 30% de sus ingresos y que la clase media es la más endeudada. Aún más: una de cada tres familias en Talca “no llega a fin de mes” y el 57 por ciento dice haber incumplido alguna obligación económica. Consistente con la Teoría del Ciclo de Vida de Ando & Modigliani, los jóvenes en Talca se muestran más endeudados