Effects of Uniaxial Cyclic Strain on Endothelial Progenitor Cells

Despite the high prevalence of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis have not been found yet. Therefore, it is extremely important to study CAVD and understand how it develops. For this matter, we decided to study the potential of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) for use in tissue-engineered models of heart valves. EPCs were chosen as the cell source of interest for this study due to their high neovascularization potential and use in regenerative medicine and cardiovascular tissue engineering. In this project, we aimed to engineer the microenvironment of cells that are involved in the formation of heart valves. We hypothesized that cyclic strain induces EPCs to undergo differentiation, which will depend on the applied strain, culture media components and culture duration. EPCs isolated from human umbilical cord blood expressed endothelial cell markers CD31 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), and the progenitor cell marker CD34. The cells did not express the mesenchymal marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). EPCs showed an endothelial behavior demonstrated by the uptake of acetylated-low density lipoprotein (Dil-Ac-LDL), and a vasculogenic potential demonstrated by tube formation. The cells were subjected to 20% strain rates by utilizing a cyclic uniaxial biostretcher for 7 days and showed a mild expression of α-SMA. Considering these events, EPCs were subjected to 20% strain for longer periods of time (1, 2, and 3 weeks) and showed maintained CD31 expression, no α-SMA expression, and increased CD34 expression suggesting an increased vascular-like behavior after strain

Attitudes of Retailers and Consumers toward the EU Traceability and Labeling System for Beef

The spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Europe has induced EU policy makers to implement a mandatory traceability and labeling system in the beef supply chain. This paper analyzes consumer and retailer attitudes toward this system. Data used in the study were collected through two surveys of consumers and retailers in the province of Aragón, Spain, in 2002. Consumer and retailer attitudes toward beef traceability are examined to identify main underlying factors. Using these factors, consumers and retailers are segmented into homogenous groups according to their attitudes toward traceability for beef. Results indicate that both consumers and retailers highly value the positive aspects related to the traceability and labeling system for beef, and they value the possible disadvantages to a lesser extent.Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

The MRPC-based ALICE Time-Of-Flight detector: status and performance

The large Time-Of-Flight (TOF) array is one of the main detectors devoted to charged hadron identification in the mid-rapidity region of the ALICE experiment at the LHC. It allows separation among pions, kaons and protons up to a few GeV/c, covering the full azimuthal angle and -0.9 < eta < 0.9. The TOF exploits the innovative MRPC technology capable of an intrinsic time resolution better than 50 ps with an efficiency close to 100% and a large operational plateau; the full array consists of 1593 MRPCs covering a cylindrical surface of 141 m2. The TOF detector has been efficiently taking data since the first pp collisions recorded in ALICE in December 2009. In this report, the status of the TOF detector and the performance achieved for both pp and Pb--Pb collisions are described.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

Diversity and composition of cactus species along an altitudinal gradient in the Sierras del Norte Mountains (Córdoba, Argentina)

Cacti are important elements of the flora in many ecosystems of the Americas. However, the factors that determine their richness and composition are not well known, particularly at the regional scale. The aim of this work was to study the patterns of cactus richness (both species and growth forms) and composition in the Sierras del Norte mountain range (Córdoba Province, Argentina). Species presence was recorded at 55 sites covering an altitudinal gradient from 203 to 970 m. Twenty four species from eight genera were recorded in the area. Total species richness and growth form richness decreased with increasing altitude. The richness of columnar and short columnar species decreased with increasing altitude, whereas richness of globose species increased. Opuntioid richness did not respond to altitude. Species composition was strongly related to altitude. Gymnocalycium bruchii and Parodia erinacea occurred at sites located at higher altitudes, whereas at sites at lower altitudes, Gymnocalycium schickendantzii, Stetsonia coryne and Cleistocactus baumannii, among other species, were present. Our results highlight the importance of altitude in shaping the distribution of species and growth forms in the Sierras del Norte Mountains.Fil: Gurvich, Diego Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Zeballos, Sebastián Rodolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Demaio, Pablo Horacio. NGO Ecosistemas Argentinos; Argentin

Changes in Species Richness and Composition of Tiger Moths (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) among Three Neotropical Ecoregions

Paraná, Yungas and Chaco Serrano ecoregions are among the most species-richterrestrial habitats at higher latitude. However, the information for tiger moths, one of the most speciose group of moths, is unknown in these ecoregion. In this study, we assess the species richness and composition on these three ecoregion. Also we investigated whether tiger moths species composition is influenced by climatic factors and altitude. Tiger moths species were obtained with samples from 71 sites using standardized protocols (21 sites were in Yungas, 19 in Paraná and 31 in Chaco Serrano). Rarefaction-extrapolation curves, non-parametric estimators for incidence and sample coverage indices were performed to assess species richness in the ecoregions studied. Non metric multidimensional scaling and adonis test were performed to compare the species composition of tiger moths among ecoregions. Permutest analysis and Pearson correlation were used to evaluate the relationship among species composition and annual mean temperature, annual temperature range, annual precipitation, precipitation seasonality and altitude. Among ecoregions Paraná was the richest with 125 species, followed by Yungas with 63 species and Chaco Serrano with 24 species. Species composition differed among these ecoregions, although Yungas and Chaco Serrano were more similar than Paraná. Species composition was significantly influenced by climatic factors and altitude. This study showed that species richness and species composition of tiger moths differed among the three ecoregions assessed. Furthermore, not only climatic factors and altitude influence the species composition of tiger moths among ecoregions, but also climatic seasonality at higher latitude in Neotropical South America region becomes an important factor.Fil: Beccacece, Hernán Mario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Zeballos, Sebastián Rodolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Zapata, Adriana Inés. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Cátedra de Diversidad Animal I; Argentin

Diversidad de aves y mamíferos de la Zona Reservada Península de Illescas

An assessment of the diversity of birds and mammals was made in Illescas Reserved Area during May 2015 in 4 areas: Bahía Nonura, Punta Aguja, Punta El Faro and Punta Blanca. During the assessment, 3 orders, 8 families and 18 species of birds were found. The most abundant species in the 4 areas was Sula nebouxii, only 30 adult penguins were found at Punta Aguja. For marine mammals, more sea lions (497) were found in Punta Aguja and 209 in Punta El Faro. Punta El Faro was the area with the greatest species richness (17) and Bahía Nonura had the lowest species richness (9). The greatest abundance of species was found in Punta Blanca, with 8274 individuals and the lowest abundance of species was found in Bahia Nonura with 270 individuals. Of the 4 areas, Punta Aguja recorded the greatest dominance with 0.7418. Punta El Faro had the highest Shannon-Weaver index value (1.688). This index was statistically compared among the 4 zones and significant differences between the four areas were found.La diversidad de aves y mamíferos fue analizada en la Zona Reservada Illescas durante el mes de mayo del 2015,  en 4 zonas: Bahía Nonura, Punta Aguja, Punta El Faro y Punta Blanca. Durante la evaluación se encontró para aves 3 órdenes, 8 familias y 18 especies, siendo Sula nebouxii la especie más abundante en los 4 puntos, además sólo se encontraron 30 pingüinos adultos en Punta Aguja. Para mamíferos marinos, se encontró mayor cantidad de lobos marinos en Punta Aguja: 497 y Punta El Faro: 209. La zona que presentó mayor riqueza de especies fue Punta el Faro, con 17 y la que presentó menor cantidad de especies fue Bahía Nonura con 9. La mayor abundancia fue para Punta Blanca, con 8274 individuos y la menor fue Bahia Nonura con 270 individuos. De las 4 zonas, el que registró mayor dominancia fue Punta Aguja con 0.7418. Para el índice de Shannon-Weaver el mayor valor fue para Punta el Faro con 1.688. Para este índice se comparó estadísticamente entre las 4 zonas, se encontró diferencias significativas entre las 4 zonas

The Importance of Visual Design and Aesthetics in the Design of Online Learning Courseware.

Creating effective online learning courseware requires instructional and pedagogical approaches (Quinton, 2009), but also working knowledge in visual design and aesthetics (Hashimoto & Clayton, 2009). Research has demonstrated that aesthetics plays a significant role in shaping user responses to products and websites (Lavie & Tractinsky, 2004; Lindgaard, 2007). Users also draw on aesthetic factors to judge usability and credibility (Malamed, 2015). From the usability and accessibility perspective, visual design can be considered an essential component of the online learning experience. For example, students with colour impairment will not be able to distinguish between red and green colours (Reyna et al., 2016). In online learning, it is, therefore important for educational institutions and faculty to consider the educational function of visual content and the aesthetic judgments that are being made by students (Reyna, 2013). The rules that govern aesthetics are supported by different disciplines such as visual design (Kimball, 2013), neuroscience (LeDoux, 1989, 1992), psychology (Chang et al., 2002), and multimedia learning principles (Mayer, 2008). Including visual content and applying aesthetic standards during online course development can ultimately improve not only the visual appearance of course content but can also improve how students react to and interact with those courses (Reyna, 2013). The aim of this paper is to discuss the importance of visual design enablers for online learning such as layout design, colour theory, typography, and use of images. The link between the enablers and multimedia learning principles is examined. The implications of visual design on usability, accessibility and online learning are discussed

Student’s Experience in Online Intensive Mode (IM) Units at The Faculty of Business and Economics.

The Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) at Macquarie University conducted a pilot to explore online Intensive Mode (IM) as a delivery option. A project team was assembled to carry out the pilot. The aims were to support academics to introduce pedagogical innovation, address internationalisation, and create new opportunities for students that cannot enrol in full session units due to competing schedules. Additionally, IM units would give students a chance to fast-track their degree and increase flexibility. This paper is a discussion of students’ experience undertaking online IM units that will inform on good learning designs

Using Qualtrics Offline Surveys App for Peer Marking in Remote Areas and Classrooms

This poster highlights the experience using Qualtrics Survey tool as a way to implement peer-review marking for an Advanced Environmental Earth Science Unit at Macquarie University