Erasmus experience between the University of Cadiz (Spain) and the University of Algarve (Portugal)

A mobility program was carried out during the last two years between the Universities of Cadiz (Spain) and Algarve (Portugal) under the EU funded Erasmus+ Mobility for Teaching. The objective of the mobility was twofold: on one hand, it included the strengthening of the existing scientific cooperation between the University of Cadiz (home institution) and the University of Algarve (host institution) in the field of the Gulf of Cadiz Physical Oceanography; on the other hand, it pretended to improve the teaching quality, focusing on both the lecturers and the students. Both institutions have long ties of cooperation that have recently been intensified under the umbrella of the International Campus of Marine Excellence (CeiMar). Specific objectives oriented towards the lecturers included the exchange of teaching experiences among them as well as the comparison of teaching strategies and methodologies between the host and home institutions at the Master level in order to evaluate and enhance the best teaching practices with the aim of improving the students learning process. Specific objectives oriented towards the students included: (1) to provide local students that cannot afford studying a Master degree abroad with a foreign teacher in the discipline that will offer them different added expectations; (2) to teach students different subjects from those taught at the host institution, thus benefitting from new scientific knowledge and experiences. It must be pointed out that the subject taught by the home institution lecturer represents a competence lacking at the host institution, hence complementing the program of the discipline and providing an added value to the Master degree. Informal questionnaires carried out among students by the host institution revealed that they evaluated having a foreign teacher as a very positive experience. In terms of research, collaboration among both institutions is of great importance because they are both located within the same geographic region and hence, they share common interests. The mobility promoted finishing on-going collaborative publications as well as sharing new research experiences, data and knowledge, hence leading to an improvement of the Physical Oceanography state-of-the-art in the Gulf of Cadiz. In fact, two scientific papers on the Gulf of Cadiz circulation system and two on the storm climate along the Gulf of Cadiz and its relation with coastal hazards have been recently published as a direct result of the mobility program.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Laboratory and in situ assays of digital image analysis based protocols for biodeteriorated rock and mural paintings recording

8 pages, 8 figures, 43 references.Rock art paintings, and in general mural paintings, are one of the many elements of cultural heritage complex systems. As the different elements of a system have diverse spatial positions, spatial recording allows understanding their interactions. Thus, a useful approach to mural paintings recording is to understand it as a microcartography issue, managing each element of the system as a cartographic coverage. The approach implemented emphasizes the utilization of data obtained by remote sensing techniques for extracting different kinds of information susceptible of being analysed, classified and plotted in a differentiate way by means of the possibility of reducing redundant data by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the elaboration of false-colour images from uncorrelated bands. A laboratory model was prepared in order to simulate biodeterioration of rock art. The samples were photographically recorded thereafter under different lighting conditions, and PCA applied to the resulting images. False-colour images obtained by combining Principal Component bands allowed us to reach results similar to those of an unsupervised classification. The method has been applied to Roman mural paintings from one of the tombs of Carmona Necropolis, obtaining good results.Peer reviewe

Validation of Sentinel-3a Sral Coastal Sea Level Data at High Posting Rate: 80Hz

Altimetry data of two and a half years (June 2016-November 2018) of Sentinel 3A SRAL were validated at the sampling frequency of 80 Hz. The study areas are three coastal sites in Spain: Huelva (HU) (Gulf of Cadiz), Barcelona (BA), and Bilbao (BI). Two tracks were selected in each site: one ascending and one descending. Data were validated using in situ tide gauge (TG) data provided by the Spanish Puertos del Estado. In the 5 to 20 km segment, the results were 6-8 cm (rmse) and 0.7-0.8 (r) for all the tracks. The 0 to 5 km segment was also analyzed in detail to study the land effect on the altimetry data quality. The results showed that the track orientation, the angle of intersection with the coast, and the land topography concur to determine the nearest distance to the coast at which the data retain a similar level of accuracy than in the 5 to 20 km segment. This distance of good quality to shore reaches a minimum of 3 km for the tracks at HU and the descending track at BA

Effects of Protein-Coated Nanofibers on Conformation of Gingival Fibroblast Spheroids: Potential Utility for Connective Tissue Regeneration

Deep wounds in the gingiva caused bytrauma or surgery require a rapid and robust healing of connective tissues. Wepropose utilizing gas-brushed nanofibers coated with collagen and fibrin for that purpose. Our hypotheses are that protein-coated nanofibers will: (i) attract and mobilize cells in various spatial orientations, and (ii) regulate the expression levels ofspecific extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated proteins, determining the initial conformational nature ofdense and soft connective tissues. Gingival fibroblast monolayers and3D spheroids were cultured onECMsubstrate and covered with gas-blown poly-(DL-lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA) nanofibers (uncoated/coated with collagen and fibrin). Cell attraction and rearrangement was followed byF-actin staining and confocal microscopy. Thicknesses ofthe cell layers, developed within the nanofibers, were quantified byImageJ software. The expression ofcollagen1α1 chain (Col1α1), fibronectin, and metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) encoding genes was determined byquantitative reverse transcription analysis. Collagen- and fibrin- coated nanofibers induced cell migration toward fibers and supported cellular growth within the scaffolds. Both proteins affected the spatial rearrangement offibroblasts byfavoring packed cell clusters or intermittent cell spreading. These cell arrangements resembled the structural characteristic ofdense and soft connective tissues, respectively. Within three days ofincubation, fibroblast spheroids interacted with the fibers, and grew robustlybyincreasing their thickness compared to monolayers. While theECMkeycomponents, such as fibronectin andMMP2encoding genes, were expressed in both protein groups, Col1α1 was predominantlyexpressed in bundled fibroblasts grown on collagen fibers. This enhanced expression ofcollagen1 is typical for dense connective tissue. Based on results ofthis study, our gas-blown, collagen- and fibrin-coated PLGA nanofibers are viable candidates for engineering soft and dense connective tissues with the required structural characteristics and functions needed for wound healing applications. Rapid regeneration of these layers should enhance healing ofopen wounds in a harsh oral environment

Plasticidad del crecimiento larvario entre atún rojo y melva modulado por sus interacciones tróficas.

ECOlogía trófica comparativa de LArvas de aTUN rojo atlántico (Thunnus thynnus) de las áreas de puesta del Medterraneo-NO y el Golfo de México.ECOLATU

Maternal transference of isotopic signature (δ15N, δ13C) and Its evolution during ontogenic development of reared bluefin larvae (Thunnus thynnus)

An experimental rearing experiment of bluefin tuna larvae was undertaken in the Spanish Oceanographic Institution (IEO) based in the aquaculture plant of Murcia that started June 24, 2013 when caged bluefin spawned naturally. Bluefin tuna eggs were transferred to rearing tanks and where hatched larvae were sampled regularly every 2 days till 15dph. After this period, larvae were sampled every 3 days till 37dph (Temperature range 22-26ºC). The standard length (SL) of larvae were measured after frozen and conserved deep-frozen in a -80ºC for undertaking posterior nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) stable isotope analysis. The results of the experiment showed very high initial values of δ15N and δ13C in the eggs and lecitotrophic larvae till 4dph, explaining a transgenerational transference of the heavy isotopes through maternal inheritance. After this time lapse, the stable isotope values declined progressively till 12dph and maintained this low level till 15dph. This period coincides with the notochord post-flexion development established at a mean SL of 6,7mm (±0,57) measured. Coinciding with this ontogenic stage, larvae were started to be fed with newly hatched larvae of aquaculture-bred gilt-head seabream whose δ15N and δ13C values were consequently enriched. This diet produced an increasing trend in the δ15N and δ13C values till 24dph reaching similar values of the initial developmental times. The results show that pre-flexion larvae of bluefin have high δ15N and δ13C signature as a result of their maternal transference. A similar decreasing pattern was also observed in field-based research on bluefin larvae which justified the need to carry out this rearing experiment. The data acquired in this experiment allows to formulate an estimate of the maternal δ15N and δ13C signatures from larvae between 3-6mm SL which opens research horizons in the estimation of maternal trophic qualities that may relate to larval growth and condition potentials. This work was financed by the project ATAME CTM2011-29525-C04-02

Exercise Interventions for Improving Flexibility in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and objectives: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience limitations in joint range of motion, which is linked to spasticity and continued inactivity. Low flexibility levels in this population have been linked to postural problems and muscular pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review and a meta-analysis aimed at identifying the characteristics and methodological quality of investigations studying the effects of exercise interventions on the flexibility levels of people with MS. Materials and Methods: Three electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Scopus) were systematically searched up to May 2019 for intervention studies focused on the effects of exercise on the flexibility levels of people with MS. A meta-analysis, including randomized controlled trials (RCT), which reported information regarding the effects of exercise on flexibility, was also conducted. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and the Quality Assessment Tool for Before–After Studies, with no control group. The quality of the information reported, regarding the programs conducted, was assessed by means of the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT) scale. Results: Seven studies, four RCTs and three uncontrolled investigations were finally selected. The methodological quality of the RCTs was considered “poor” in one study, and “good” and “excellent” in two studies and one investigation, respectively. The three uncontrolled studies showed a methodological quality between “fair” and “poor”. Following the CERT scale, four studies were graded as “high” and three as “low”. Findings from the meta-analysis indicated no significant effects on hamstring flexibility, or the range of motion in the hips, knees or ankles. Conclusions: There is preliminary evidence from individual studies which indicates that people with MS can improve their lower limb flexibility following participation in physical exercise programs, but the meta-analysis did not confirm these findings.post-print1388 K

Predictive and criterion validity of the Cervantes-SF menopause quality of life questionnaire.

pre-print384 K