Academic Networks in University Teaching

La relevante investigación en docencia universitaria de las académicas, en el marco del Programa de Redes de la Universidad de Alicante, ilustra con claridad lo significativo que es el trabajo colaborativo para las mujeres. La investigación en red es un modelo organizativo que favorece una auténtica constitución de la identidad profesional de las académicas en el contexto universitario. Como contrapunto, los datos estadísticos muestran que aún existe una alta predominancia de coordinadores varones en las distintas redes. Por primera vez, en el citado programa, en el curso 2009-2010 se constituye una red con el objetivo de indagar qué modificaciones deben implementarse para lograr la equidad de género en el ámbito de la educación terciaria. La misión de la nueva red Red Coeduca se basa en el análisis y discusión de los factores capaces de promover el desarrollo e interiorización de la igualdad de oportunidades en las estudiantes de Educación Infantil a través de la coeducación.The important research on university teaching of the academic women, in the context of the Network Program from Universidad de Alicante, clearly shows how meaningful collaborative work is for women. The network research is an organization model that favors the real creation of professional identity of academic women in the university context. In contrast, statistical data show that there is still a high presence of male coordinators in different networks. For the first time, this program, during 2009-2010, created a network in order to investigate what modifications must be done to achieve gender equality in higher education. The mission of the new Red Coeduca network is based on the analysis and discussion of factors capable of promoting development and internalization of equality of opportunities of students of Child Education through coeducation.Artículo de reflexión que presenta los resultados de la investigación desarrollada en el contexto del Grupo de Estudios sobre las Mujeres, el Género y las Feministas y que hace parte del Programa de Redes de la Universidad de Alicante (España)

Epitype-inducing temperatures drive DNA methylation changes during somatic embryogenesis in the long-lived gymnosperm Norway spruce

An epigenetic memory of the temperature sum experienced during embryogenesis is part of the climatic adaptation strategy of the long-lived gymnosperm Norway spruce. This memory has a lasting effect on the timing of bud phenology and frost tolerance in the resulting epitype trees. The epigenetic memory is well characterized phenotypically and at the transcriptome level, but to what extent DNA methylation changes are involved have not previously been determined. To address this, we analyzed somatic epitype embryos of Norway spruce clones produced at contrasting epitype-inducing conditions (18 and 28°C). We screened for differential DNA methylation in 2744 genes related mainly to the epigenetic machinery, circadian clock, and phenology. Of these genes, 68% displayed differential DNA methylation patterns between contrasting epitype embryos in at least one methylation context (CpG, CHG, CHH). Several genes related to the epigenetic machinery (e.g., DNA methyltransferases, ARGONAUTE) and the control of bud phenology (FTL genes) were differentially methylated. This indicates that the epitype-inducing temperature conditions induce an epigenetic memory involving specific DNA methylation changes in Norway spruce

Epitype-inducing temperatures drive DNA methylation changes during somatic embryogenesis in the long-lived gymnosperm Norway spruce

An epigenetic memory of the temperature sum experienced during embryogenesis is part of the climatic adaptation strategy of the long-lived gymnosperm Norway spruce. This memory has a lasting effect on the timing of bud phenology and frost tolerance in the resulting epitype trees. The epigenetic memory is well characterized phenotypically and at the transcriptome level, but to what extent DNA methylation changes are involved have not previously been determined. To address this, we analyzed somatic epitype embryos of Norway spruce clones produced at contrasting epitype-inducing conditions (18 and 28°C). We screened for differential DNA methylation in 2744 genes related mainly to the epigenetic machinery, circadian clock, and phenology. Of these genes, 68% displayed differential DNA methylation patterns between contrasting epitype embryos in at least one methylation context (CpG, CHG, CHH). Several genes related to the epigenetic machinery (e.g., DNA methyltransferases, ARGONAUTE) and the control of bud phenology (FTL genes) were differentially methylated. This indicates that the epitype-inducing temperature conditions induce an epigenetic memory involving specific DNA methylation changes in Norway spruce.publishedVersio

Major transcriptomic differences are induced by warmer temperature conditions experienced during asexual and sexual reproduction in Fragaria vesca ecotypes

A major challenge for plants in a rapidly changing climate is to adapt to rising temperatures. Some plants adapt to temperature conditions by generating an epigenetic memory that can be transmitted both meiotically and mitotically. Such epigenetic memories may increase phenotypic variation to global warming and provide time for adaptation to occur through classical genetic selection. The goal of this study was to understand how warmer temperature conditions experienced during sexual and asexual reproduction affect the transcriptomes of different strawberry (Fragaria vesca) ecotypes. We let four European F. vesca ecotypes reproduce at two contrasting temperatures (18 and 28°C), either asexually through stolon formation for several generations, or sexually by seeds (achenes). We then analyzed the transcriptome of unfolding leaves, with emphasis on differential expression of genes belonging to the epigenetic machinery. For asexually reproduced plants we found a general transcriptomic response to temperature conditions but for sexually reproduced plants we found less significant responses. We predicted several splicing isoforms for important genes (e.g. a SOC1, LHY, and SVP homolog), and found significantly more differentially presented splicing event variants following asexual vs. sexual reproduction. This difference could be due to the stochastic character of recombination during meiosis or to differential creation or erasure of epigenetic marks during embryogenesis and seed development. Strikingly, very few differentially expressed genes were shared between ecotypes, perhaps because ecotypes differ greatly both genetically and epigenetically. Genes related to the epigenetic machinery were predominantly upregulated at 28°C during asexual reproduction but downregulated after sexual reproduction, indicating that temperature-induced change affects the epigenetic machinery differently during the two types of reproduction.publishedVersio

Leveraging electronic healthcare record standards and semantic web technologies for the identification of patient cohorts

Introduction The secondary use of Electronic Healthcare Records (EHRs) often requires the identification of patient cohorts. In this context, an important problem is the heterogeneity of clinical data sources, which can be overcome with the combined use of standardized information models, Virtual Health Records, and semantic technologies, since each of them contributes to solving aspects related to the semantic interoperability of EHR data. Our main objective is to develop methods allowing for a direct use of EHR data for the identification of patient cohorts leveraging current EHR standards and semantic web technologies. Materials and Methods We propose to take advantage of the best features of working with EHR standards and ontologies. Our proposal is based on our previous results and experience working with both technological infrastructures. Our main principle is to perform each activity at the abstraction level with the most appropriate technology available. This means that part of the processing will be performed using archetypes (i.e., data level) and the rest using ontologies (i.e., knowledge level). Our approach will start working with EHR data in proprietary format, which will be first normalized and elaborated using EHR standards and then transformed into a semantic representation, which will be exploited by automated reasoning. Results We have applied our approach to protocols for colorectal cancer screening. The results comprise the archetypes, ontologies and datasets developed for the standardization and semantic analysis of EHR data. Anonymized real data has been used and the patients have been successfully classified by the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Conclusion This work provides new insights in how archetypes and ontologies can be effectively combined for EHR-driven phenotyping. The methodological approach can be applied to other problems provided that suitable archetypes, ontologies and classification rules can be designed.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad and the FEDER program through grants TIN2010-21388-C01 and TIN2010-21388-C02. MCLG was supported by the Fundacion Seneca through grant 15555/FPI/2010.Fernández-Breis, JT.; Maldonado Segura, JA.; Marcos, M.; Legaz-García, MDC.; Moner Cano, D.; Torres-Sospedra, J.; Esteban-Gil, A.... (2013). Leveraging electronic healthcare record standards and semantic web technologies for the identification of patient cohorts. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 20(E2):288-296. https://doi.org/10.1136/amiajnl-2013-001923S28829620E2Cuggia, M., Besana, P., & Glasspool, D. (2011). Comparing semi-automatic systems for recruitment of patients to clinical trials. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 80(6), 371-388. doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2011.02.003Sujansky, W. 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Short-term effectiveness of a mobile phone app for increasing physical activity and adherence to the mediterranean diet in primary care: A randomized controlled trial (EVIDENT II study)

Background: The use of mobile phone apps for improving lifestyles has become generalized in the population, although little is still known about their effectiveness in improving health. Objective: We evaluate the effect of adding an app to standard counseling on increased physical activity (PA) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 3 months after implementation. Methods: A randomized, multicenter clinical trial was carried out. A total of 833 participants were recruited in six primary care centers in Spain through random sampling: 415 in the app+counseling group and 418 in the counseling only group. Counseling on PA and the Mediterranean diet was given to both groups. The app+counseling participants additionally received training in the use of an app designed to promote PA and the Mediterranean diet over a 3-month period. PA was measured with the 7-day Physical Activity Recall (PAR) questionnaire and an accelerometer; adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener questionnaire. Results: Participants were predominantly female in both the app+counseling (249/415, 60.0%) and counseling only (268/418, 64.1%) groups, with a mean age of 51.4 (SD 12.1) and 52.3 (SD 12.0) years, respectively. Leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by 7-day PAR increased in the app+counseling (mean 29, 95% CI 5-53 min/week; P=.02) but not in the counseling only group (mean 17.4, 95% CI ''18 to 53 min/week; P=.38). No differences in increase of activity were found between the two groups. The accelerometer recorded a decrease in PA after 3 months in both groups: MVPA mean ''55.3 (95% CI ''75.8 to ''34.9) min/week in app+counseling group and mean ''30.1 (95% CI ''51.8 to ''8.4) min/week in counseling only group. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased in both groups (8.4% in app+counseling and 10.4% in counseling only group), with an increase in score of 0.42 and 0.53 points, respectively (P<.001), but no difference between groups (P=.86). Conclusions: Leisure-time MVPA increased more in the app+counseling than counseling only group, although no difference was found when comparing the increase between the two groups. Counseling accompanied by printed materials appears to be effective in improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet, although the app does not increase adherence

EVIDENT 3 Study: A randomized, controlled clinical trial to reduce inactivity and caloric intake in sedentary and overweight or obese people using a smartphone application: Study protocol

Introduction: Mobile technology, when included within multicomponent interventions, could contribute to more effective weight loss. The objective of this project is to assess the impact of adding the use of the EVIDENT 3 application, designed to promote healthy living habits, to traditional modification strategies employed for weight loss. Other targeted behaviors (walking, caloric-intake, sitting time) and outcomes (quality of life, inflammatory markers, measurements of arterial aging) will also be evaluated. Methods: Randomized, multicentre clinical trial with 2 parallel groups. The study will be conducted in the primary care setting and will include 700 subjects 20 to 65 years, with a body mass index (27.5-40kg/m2), who are clinically classified as sedentary. The primary outcome will be weight loss. Secondary outcomes will include change in walking (steps/d), sitting time (min/wk), caloric intake (kcal/d), quality of life, arterial aging (augmentation index), and pro-inflammatory marker levels. Outcomes will be measured at baseline, after 3 months, and after 1 year. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG). Both groups will receive the traditional primary care lifestyle counseling prior to randomization. The subjects in the IG will be lent a smartphone and a smartband for a 3-month period, corresponding to the length of the intervention. The EVIDENT 3 application integrates the information collected by the smartband on physical activity and the self-reported information by participants on daily food intake. Using this information, the application generates recommendations and personalized goals for weight loss. Discussion: There is a great diversity in the applications used obtaining different results on lifestyle improvement and weight loss. The populations studied are not homogeneous and generate different results. The results of this study will help our understanding of the efficacy of new technologies, combined with traditional counseling, towards reducing obesity and enabling healthier lifestyles. Ethicsanddissemination: The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Health Area of Salamanca ("CREC of Health Area of Salamanca") on April 2016. A SPIRIT checklist is available for this protocol. The trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov provided by the US National Library of Medicine-number NCT03175614

EVIDENT 3 study: A randomized, controlled clinical trial to reduce inactivity and caloric intake in sedentary and overweight or obese people using a smartphone application study protocol

FUNDAMENTOS: La tecnología móvil, cuando se incluye dentro de las intervenciones de componentes múltiples, podría contribuir a una pérdida de peso más efectiva. El objetivo de este proyecto es evaluar el impacto de añadir el uso de la aplicación EVIDENT 3, diseñada para promover la salud a los hábitos de vida, a las estrategias de modificación tradicionales empleadas para la pérdida de peso. También se evaluarán otras conductas específicas (caminar, ingesta de calorías, tiempo sentado) y resultados (calidad de vida, marcadores inflamatorios, mediciones del envejecimiento arterial). MÉTODOS: Ensayo clínico aleatorio y multicéntrico con 2 grupos paralelos. El estudio se llevará a cabo en el ámbito de la atención primaria e incluirá 700 sujetos de 20 a 65 años, con un índice de masa corporal (27,5-40kg/m2), que están clínicamente clasificados como sedentarios. El resultado primario será la pérdida de peso. Los resultados secundarios incluirán cambios en la forma de caminar (pasos/d), el tiempo de permanencia sentado (min/sem), la ingesta calórica (kcal/d), la calidad de vida, el envejecimiento arterial (índice de aumento) y los niveles de marcadores proinflamatorios. Los resultados se medirán en la línea de base, después de 3 meses y después de 1 año. Los participantes serán asignados aleatoriamente al grupo de intervención (IG) o al grupo de control (CG). Ambos grupos recibirán el asesoramiento tradicional de estilo de vida de atención primaria antes de la asignación al azar. A los sujetos del IG se les prestará un teléfono inteligente y una banda inteligente por un período de 3 meses, correspondiente a la duración de la intervención. La aplicación del EVIDENTE 3 integra la información recogida por la banda inteligente sobre la actividad física y la información autodeclarada por los participantes sobre la ingesta diaria de alimentos. Utilizando esta información, la aplicación genera recomendaciones y objetivos personalizados para la pérdida de peso. DISCUSIÓN: Hay una gran diversidad en las aplicaciones utilizadas obteniendo diferentes resultados en la mejora del estilo de vida y la pérdida de peso. Las poblaciones estudiadas no son homogéneas y generan resultados diferentes. Los resultados de este estudio ayudarán a nuestra comprensión de la eficacia de las nuevas tecnologías, combinadas con el asesoramiento tradicional, para reducir la obesidad y permitir estilos de vida más saludables.INTRODUCTION: Mobile technology, when included within multicomponent interventions, could contribute to more effective weight loss. The objective of this project is to assess the impact of adding the use of the EVIDENT 3 application, designed to promote healthy living habits, to traditional modification strategies employed for weight loss. Other targeted behaviors (walking, caloric-intake, sitting time) and outcomes (quality of life, inflammatory markers, measurements of arterial aging) will also be evaluated. METHODS: Randomized, multicentre clinical trial with 2 parallel groups. The study will be conducted in the primary care setting and will include 700 subjects 20 to 65 years, with a body mass index (27.5–40kg/m2), who are clinically classified as sedentary. The primary outcome will be weight loss. Secondary outcomes will include change in walking (steps/d), sitting time (min/wk), caloric intake (kcal/d), quality of life, arterial aging (augmentation index), and pro-inflammatory marker levels. Outcomes will be measured at baseline, after 3 months, and after 1 year. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG). Both groups will receive the traditional primary care lifestyle counseling prior to randomization. The subjects in the IG will be lent a smartphone and a smartband for a 3-month period, corresponding to the length of the intervention. The EVIDENT 3 application integrates the information collected by the smartband on physical activity and the self-reported information by participants on daily food intake. Using this information, the application generates recommendations and personalized goals for weight loss. DISCUSSION: There is a great diversity in the applications used obtaining different results on lifestyle improvement and weight loss. The populations studied are not homogeneous and generate different results. The results of this study will help our understanding of the efficacy of new technologies, combined with traditional counseling, towards reducing obesity and enabling healthier lifestyles.• Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y el Instituto de Salud Carlos III/Europa y Fondo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). Proyectos PI16/00101, PI16/00952, PI16/00765, PI16/00659, PI16/00421, PI16/00170 • Junta de Castilla y León. Ayuda GRS 1277/B/16peerReviewe

Effectiveness of a smartphone application for improving healthy lifestyles, a randomized clinical trial (EVIDENT II) : study protocol

Background: New technologies could facilitate changes in lifestyle and improve public health. However, no large randomized, controlled studies providing scientific evidence of the benefits of their use have been made. The aims of this study are to develop and validate a smartphone application, and to evaluate the effect of adding this tool to a standardized intervention designed to improve adherence to the Mediterranean diet and to physical activity. An evaluation is also made of the effect of modifying habits upon vascular structure and function, and therefore on arterial aging. Methods/Design: A randomized, double-blind, multicenter, parallel group clinical trial will be carried out. A total of 1215 subjects under 70 years of age from the EVIDENT trial will be included. Counseling common to both groups (control and intervention) will be provided on adaptation to the Mediterranean diet and on physical activity. The intervention group moreover will receive training on the use of a smartphone application designed to promote a healthy diet and increased physical activity, and will use the application for three months. The main study endpoints will be the changes in physical activity, assessed by accelerometer and the 7-day Physical Activity Recall (PAR) interview, and adaptation to the Mediterranean diet, as evaluated by an adherence questionnaire and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Evaluation also will be made of vascular structure and function based on central arterial pressure, the radial augmentation index, pulse velocity, the cardio-ankle vascular index, and carotid intima-media thickness. Discussion: Confirmation that the new technologies are useful for promoting healthier lifestyles and that their effects are beneficial in terms of arterial aging will have important clinical implications, and may contribute to generalize their application in favor of improved population health. Trial registration: Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT0201601