Creación de página Web para promover aprendizaje colaborativo en alumnos de máster

[EN] A Web page has been designed by master students in order to engage them in collaborative and cooperative learning, thus improving their learning and comprehension of relevant concepts and topics. To that purpose, topics included in the subject Advanced Techniques in Chemistry which is part of the Master in Sustainable Chemistry of the University of Valencia have been included in the Webpage with the help of WIX software. This approach makes intensive use of the Web as a key technological resource for learning, where the information seen in the subject is summarized and given in an applicative and pertinent context that is easy to understand for all public interested in the topics discussed in there. This tool allows the development of a key digital competence in the Spanish educational system, articulating the development of the Website with the management of multimedia content. It also allows a sense of initiative and entrepreneurship, since it is of total freedom on the part of the students working in group, the uploaded content, always following the knowledge developed and acquired in the subject.[ES] Se ha diseñado una página web para involucrar a los estudiantes de máster en el aprendizaje colaborativo y cooperativo, mejorando así su aprendizaje y comprensión de los temas y conceptos relevantes. Para ello, los temas incluidos en la asignatura Técnicas Avanzadas en Química que forma parte del Máster en Química Sostenible de la Universidad de Valencia se han incluido en la página web con la ayuda del software WIX. Este enfoque hace un uso intensivo de la web como recurso tecnológico clave de aprendizaje, donde se resume la información vista en la asignatura y se le da un contexto aplicativo y pertinente fácil de entender para todo el público interesado en los temas allí tratados. Esta herramienta permite el desarrollo de una competencia digital clave en el sistema educativo español, articulando el desarrollo de la página web con el manejo de contenido multimedia. Además permite un sentido de iniciativa y emprendimiento, ya que hay libertad por parte de los estudiantes trabajando en grupo, para sellecionar el contenido de la página, siempre siguiendo el conocimiento desarrollado y adquirido en la asignatura y el asesoramiento de la profesora.González Béjar, M.; Cuaran Acosta, D.; Andrés Olmos, L.; Rosa Pardo, I.; Del Rincón, R.; Zaballos García, E.; Perez Prieto, J. (2018). Creación de página Web para promover aprendizaje colaborativo en alumnos de máster. En IN-RED 2018. IV Congreso Nacional de Innovación Educativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 348-355. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2018.2018.8756OCS34835

Influence of Neospora caninum intra-specific variability in the outcome of infection in a pregnant BALB/c mouse model

Previous assays in pregnant animals have demonstrated the effect of different host factors and timing of infection on the outcome of neosporosis during pregnancy. However, the influence of Neospora caninum isolate itself has been poorly investigated. Here, we compared the effects on clinical outcome and vertical transmission observed in a pregnant mouse model following infection with 10 different N. caninum isolates. The isolates in our study included the Nc-Liv isolate and nine N. caninum isolates obtained from calves. Female BALB/c mice were inoculated with 2 × 106 tachyzoites at day 7 of pregnancy. Morbidity and mortality, in both dams and offspring during the course of infection, and transmission to progeny at day 30 postpartum were evaluated. The serum IgG1 and IgG2a production in dams were also examined. All dams showed elevated IgG1 and IgG2a responses, confirming N. caninum infection, although signs of disease were only exhibited in dams infected with 4 of the 10 isolates (Nc-Spain 4H, Nc-Spain 5H, Nc-Spain 7 and Nc-Liv). In neonates, clinical signs were observed in all N. caninum-infected groups, and neonatal mortality rates varied from greater than 95% with the isolates mentioned above to less than 32.5% with the other isolates. Vertical transmission rates, as assessed by parasite PCR-detection in neonate brains, also varied from 50% to 100% according to the isolate implicated. These results confirm the wide pathogenic and transmission variability of N. caninum. The intra-specific variability observed herein could help us explain the differences in the outcome of the infection in the natural host

Involvement of the TPR2 subdomain movement in the activities of ϕ29 DNA polymerase

The polymerization domain of ϕ29 DNA polymerase acquires a toroidal shape by means of an arch-like structure formed by the specific insertion TPR2 (Terminal Protein Region 2) and the thumb subdomain. TPR2 is connected to the fingers and palm subdomains through flexible regions, suggesting that it can undergo conformational changes. To examine whether such changes take place, we have constructed a ϕ29 DNA polymerase mutant able to form a disulfide bond between the apexes of TPR2 and thumb to limit the mobility of TPR2. Biochemical analysis of the mutant led us to conclude that TPR2 moves away from the thumb to allow the DNA polymerase to replicate circular ssDNA. Despite the fact that no TPR2 motion is needed to allow the polymerase to use the terminal protein (TP) as primer during the initiation of ϕ29 TP–DNA replication, the disulfide bond prevents the DNA polymerase from entering the elongation phase, suggesting that TPR2 movements are necessary to allow the TP priming domain to move out from the polymerase during transition from initiation to elongation. Furthermore, the TPR2-thumb bond does not affect the equilibrium between the polymerization and exonuclease activities, leading us to propose a primer-terminus transference model between both active sites

Glossary of Geography

El Glosario de Geografía que a continuación se presenta constituye la primera parte de un proyecto más amplio. La idea fundamental de este proyecto plurianual es proporcionar a los alumnos del Grado de Geografía y Ordenación del Territorio de la Universidad Complutense una herramienta que pueda ser útil y de fácil manejo para la comprensión de los principales conceptos de Geografía, en las diferentes materias que se abordan, y a la vez que también pueda ser de utilidad para los profesores, porque la información gráfica que acompaña a casi todos los términos del Glosario puede ayudar a la explicación de esos conceptos. Esta primera parte del Glosario se ha centrado en los términos de las materias de Climatología, Cartografía y Geomorfología, por considerar que tanto el volumen de términos propios de las mismas, como su posición en los primeros cursos del Plan de Estudios, lo justifican. Evidentemente, no se pretende abarcar todos los términos propios de estas ciencias, sino los de mayor uso en cada materia concreta. Se ampliará en cursos próximos abarcandoThe Geography Glossary that follows is the first part of a larger project. The fundamental idea of ​​this multiannual project is to provide students of the Degree in Geography and Territorial Planning of the Complutense University with a tool that can be useful and easy to use for understanding the main concepts of Geography, in the different subjects that are address, and at the same time may be useful for teachers, because the graphic information that accompanies almost all the terms of the Glossary can help explain those concepts. This first part of the Glossary has focused on the terms of the subjects of Climatology, Cartography and Geomorphology, considering that both the volume of their own terms and their position in the first courses of the Study Plan justify it. Obviously, it is not intended to cover all the terms of these sciences, but those of greater use in each specific subject. It will be expanded in upcoming courses covering other subjects or increasing the number of terms already addressed.Depto. de GeografíaFac. de Geografía e HistoriaFALSEsubmitte

Polyclonality of Concurrent Natural Populations of Alteromonas macleodii

We have analyzed a natural population of the marine bacterium, Alteromonas macleodii, from a single sample of seawater to evaluate the genomic diversity present. We performed full genome sequencing of four isolates and 161 metagenomic fosmid clones, all of which were assigned to A. macleodii by sequence similarity. Out of the four strain genomes, A. macleodii deep ecotype (AltDE1) represented a different genome, whereas AltDE2 and AltDE3 were identical to the previously described AltDE. Although the core genome (∼80%) had an average nucleotide identity of 98.51%, both AltDE and AltDE1 contained flexible genomic islands (fGIs), that is, genomic islands present in both genomes in the same genomic context but having different gene content. Some of the fGIs encode cell surface receptors known to be phage recognition targets, such as the O-chain of the lipopolysaccharide, whereas others have genes involved in physiological traits (e.g., nutrient transport, degradation, and metal resistance) denoting microniche specialization. The presence in metagenomic fosmids of genomic fragments differing from the sequenced strain genomes, together with the presence of new fGIs, indicates that there are at least two more A. macleodii clones present. The availability of three or more sequences overlapping the same genomic region also allowed us to estimate the frequency and distribution of recombination events among these different clones, indicating that these clustered near the genomic islands. The results indicate that this natural A. macleodii population has multiple clones with a potential for different phage susceptibility and exploitation of resources, within a seemingly unstructured habitat

Forty years of carabid beetle research in Europe - from taxonomy, biology, ecology and population studies to bioindication, habitat assessment and conservation

Volume: 100Start Page: 55End Page: 14

The Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: Estimates, Patterns, and Threats

The Mediterranean Sea is a marine biodiversity hot spot. Here we combined an extensive literature analysis with expert opinions to update publicly available estimates of major taxa in this marine ecosystem and to revise and update several species lists. We also assessed overall spatial and temporal patterns of species diversity and identified major changes and threats. Our results listed approximately 17,000 marine species occurring in the Mediterranean Sea. However, our estimates of marine diversity are still incomplete as yet—undescribed species will be added in the future. Diversity for microbes is substantially underestimated, and the deep-sea areas and portions of the southern and eastern region are still poorly known. In addition, the invasion of alien species is a crucial factor that will continue to change the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, mainly in its eastern basin that can spread rapidly northwards and westwards due to the warming of the Mediterranean Sea. Spatial patterns showed a general decrease in biodiversity from northwestern to southeastern regions following a gradient of production, with some exceptions and caution due to gaps in our knowledge of the biota along the southern and eastern rims. Biodiversity was also generally higher in coastal areas and continental shelves, and decreases with depth. Temporal trends indicated that overexploitation and habitat loss have been the main human drivers of historical changes in biodiversity. At present, habitat loss and degradation, followed by fishing impacts, pollution, climate change, eutrophication, and the establishment of alien species are the most important threats and affect the greatest number of taxonomic groups. All these impacts are expected to grow in importance in the future, especially climate change and habitat degradation. The spatial identification of hot spots highlighted the ecological importance of most of the western Mediterranean shelves (and in particular, the Strait of Gibraltar and the adjacent Alboran Sea), western African coast, the Adriatic, and the Aegean Sea, which show high concentrations of endangered, threatened, or vulnerable species. The Levantine Basin, severely impacted by the invasion of species, is endangered as well