La igualtat d'oportunitats a la universitat: les percepcions del PDI

L'article que presentem facilita els resultats principals de la recerca La igualtat d'oportunitats per raó de gènere a la Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Concretament, aquells que fan referència a l'anàlisi de les percepcions de gènere del col·lectiu del personal docent investigador en igualtat d'oportunitats, mitjançant les dades obtingudes dels índexs de funcionament paritari, d'igualtat formal, de sensibilització en gènere i el general de percepció de gènere, que aglutina els anteriors i que proporciona el posicionament dels col·lectius femení i masculí sobre el conjunt de mesures proposades d'acció positiva i de transversalitat. Seguidament, hem abordat la presència de la temàtica de gènere en els plans d'estudiEl artículo que presentamos facilita los principales resultados de la investigación La igualdad de oportunidades por razón de género en la Universidad Rovira i Virgili. Concretamente, aquellos que hacen referencia al análisis de las percepciones de género del colectivo del personal docente investigador en igualdad de oportunidades, mediante los datos obtenidos de los índices de funcionamiento paritario, de igualdad formal, de sensibilización de género y el general de percepción de género, que aglutina a los anteriores y proporciona el posicionamiento de los colectivos femenino y masculino sobre el conjunto de medidas propuestas de acción positiva y de transversalidad. Seguidamente, hemos abordado la presencia de la temática de género en los planes de estudioThe following article provides the main results of the research project Equality of opportunities related to gender at the University Rovira i Virgili. Especifically, it analyzes an analysis of the gender-related perceptions of equal opportunities by the Teaching and Research Staff based on data from the following indexes: Joint Functioning, Formal Equality, Gender Sensitizing, and General Gender Perception which agglutinates the previous ones and provides the positioning of feminine and masculine groups with respect to the set of proposed instruments or measures of positive action and mainstreaming. Finally, we have examined the presence of gender-related subjects within the degree program at the Universit

Cuestiones sin resolver en la Ley integral de medidas contra la violencia de género : las distinciones entre sexo y género, y entre violencia y agresión

El siguiente artículo presenta dos debates teóricos, la distinción entre sexo y género, y entre violencia y agresión, para analizar el modo en el que éstos se encuentran presentes en la Ley integral de medidas contra la violencia de género. Desgranaremos las consecuencias que comportan las concepciones de violencia y género implícitas en la Ley, así como el modelo de relaciones que contribuye a reproducir.This article introduces two theoretical discussions, the distinction between sex and gender and between violence and aggression, in order to analyse them in the Framework Law on integrated protection measures against gender violence. We show the consequences of the definitions of violence and gender in that law, which contribute to reproduce the present relationship system

Temozolomide treatment inhibits spontaneous motivation for exploring a complex object in mice: a potential role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in ‘curiosity’.

Intrinsic exploratory biases are an innate motivation for exploring certain types of stimuli or environments over others, and they may be associated with cognitive, emotional, and even personality-like traits. However, their neurobiological basis has been scarcely investigated. Considering the involvement of the hippocampus in novelty recognition and in spatial and pattern separation tasks, this work researched the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) in intrinsic exploratory bias for a perceptually complex object in mice. Spontaneous object preference tasks revealed that both male and female C57BL/6J mice showed a consistent unconditioned preference for exploring “complex”—irregular—objects over simpler ones. Furthermore, increasing objects’ complexity resulted in an augmented time of object exploration. In a different experiment, male mice received either vehicle or the DNA alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) for 4 weeks, a pharmacological treatment that reduced AHN as evidenced by immunohistochemistry. After assessment in a behavioral test battery, the TMZ-treated mice did not show any alterations in general exploratory and anxiety-like responses. However, when tested in the spontaneous object preference task, the TMZ-treated mice did not display enhanced exploration of the complex object, as evidenced both by a reduced exploration time—specifically for the complex object—and a lack of preference for the complex object over the simple one. This study supports a novel role of AHN in intrinsic exploratory bias for perceptual complexity. Moreover, the spontaneous complex object preference task as a rodent model of “curiosity” is discussed.This study was funded by Grant PID2020-114374RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (to C.R.-P. and E.C.-O.). Author P.R. holds a “Miguel Servet I” research contract from the National System of Health, EU-ERDF-ISCIII (CP19/00068). Authors M.C.M.-P. and S.G.-R. hold predoctoral grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (FPU17/00276 to M.C.M.-P. and FPU18/00941 to S.G.-R.). The authors acknowledge the IBIMA's common research support structure—ECAI—of animal experimentation and behavior (“Centro de Experimentación y Conducta Animal”; University of Malaga) for maintenance of the mice and the ECAI of Image for the use of the microscope. We are especially thankful to María Visitación Jacinto Hernández and Vanesa Jiménez Gálvez for their valuable contribution to the behavioral experiments and to Lourdes Sánchez Salido and Ana Mar Gálvez Callejón for their technical support. Open access funding provided by University of Málaga CBUA

Self-assembly in magnetic supramolecular hydrogels

Most recent advances in the synthesis of supramolecular hydrogels based on low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) have focused on the development of novel hybrid hydrogels, combining LMWGs and different additives. The dynamic nature of the noncovalent interactions of supramolecular hydrogels, together with the specific properties of the additives included in the formulation, allow these novel hybrid hydrogels to present interesting features, such as stimuli-responsiveness, gel-sol reversibility, self-healing and thixotropy, which make them very appealing for multiple biomedical and biotechnological applications. In particular, the inclusion of magnetic nanoparticles in the hydrogel matrix results in magnetic hydrogels, a particular type of stimuli-responsive materials that respond to applied magnetic fields. This review focuses on the recent advances in the development of magnetic supramolecular hydrogels, with special emphasis in the role of the magnetic nanoparticles in the self-assembly process, as well as in the exciting applications of these materials

Remote memory of drug experiences coexists with cognitive decline and abnormal adult neurogenesis in an animal model of cocaine-altered cognition

Author manuscriptCocaine addiction is a chronic disorder in which the person loses control over drug use. The past memories of the stimuli associated with the drug are a relevant clinical problem, since they trigger compulsive drug seeking and taking habits. Furthermore, these persistent drug-related memories seemingly coexist with cognitive decline that predicts worse therapeutic output. Here we use a new animal model of cocaine-altered cognition that allowed to observe these events in the same individual and study their relationship. Mice were chronically administered cocaine in a conditioned place preference (CPP) apparatus for 14 days, and control mice received saline. After 28 days of cocaine withdrawal, animals were tested for retrieval of remote drug-associated memory as well as for cognitive performance in a battery of tests, including novel object and place recognition and spatial memory. The cocaine-withdrawn mice showed persistent CPP memory while impaired in the cognitive tasks, displaying deficits in reference memory acquisition and working memory. However, the CPP expression was not associated to the defective cognitive performance, indicating that they were concomitant but independent occurrences. After completion of the experiment, adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) was studied as a relevant neurobiological correlate due to its potential role in both learning and drug addiction. Results suggested a preserved basal AHN in the cocaine-withdrawn mice, but an aberrant learning-induced regulation of these neurons. This paradigm may be useful to investigate maladaptive cognition in drug addiction as well as related therapies.Authors M.C.M-P., S. G-R. and F. A-G. hold predoctoral grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (FPU17/00276 to M.C.M-P.; FPU18/00941 to S.G-R. and PRE2018-085673 to F.A-G.) and from the University of Málaga (Plan Propio 2017 –‘Contratos predoctorales’ to M.C.M-P.). Author F.A-G held a ‘Garantía Juvenil’ research contract from the University of Málaga co-funded by the Regional Government of Andalusia and the European Social Fund. Author P.S-P. holds a ‘Juan de la Cierva- Formación’ grant (FJCI-2015-23925) from MINECO-AEI/FEDER, UE. Author E.C-O. holds a ‘Jóvenes Investigadores’ grant (code: PSI2015-73156-JIN) from MINECO- AEI/FEDER, UE

Estrategia MOOC en la Universidad de Alicante para la Educación Digital del Futuro. UA|edf

La Universidad de Alicante es una de las instituciones de educación superior que ha querido recoger el guante lanzado por la reciente aparición de los cursos en abierto, en línea y masivos (MOOC — Massive Open Online Course) para emprender una iniciativa propia que hemos denominado Educación Digital para el Futuro (UA|edf). Pero antes de tomar decisiones, había que analizar el estado de la situación y, sobre todo, su posible evolución. En este trabajo se expone de forma sintetizada el estudio realizado, se describe la estrategia de implementación adoptada en nuestra institución junto con las decisiones funcionales, técnicas y tecnológicas empleadas para su rápida puesta en marcha y, para finalizar, se discute una política de federación con otras instituciones cuya finalidad es alcanzar una propuesta realista y sostenible

EL POBLAMIENTO RURAL ROMANO EN TORNO A FLORENTIA ILIBERRITANA. RESULTADOS DE LAS RECIENTES INTERVENCIONES DE LA VILLA DE LA C/PRIMAVERA O DE LOS VERGELES (GRANADA)

We present the preliminary results of the archaeological intervention carried out in the villa of the Primavera Street in Granada. This housing complex and, partly productive, has been known since the 90s, however, the data we had was partial. A recent impulse, in line with the generation of a square in which recreation and leisure spaces coexist with integrated archaeological remains, has forced the development of new archaeological interventions. In them, in addition to locating new rooms, a large monumentalized pond has been found, as well as some underground rooms that we consider to be associated with cults of oriental origin. In the same way, up to 4 new mosaics have been located that confirm, together with the complex architectural project, the sumptuousness of the place.Presentamos los resultados preliminares de la intervención arqueológica desarrollada en la conocida como villa de la c/ Primavera en Granada. Este complejo habitacional y, en parte productivo, se conoce desde los años 90, sin embargo, los datos con los que contábamos eran parciales. Un reciente impulso, al hilo de la generación de una plaza en la que convivan espacios de esparcimiento y ocio con restos arqueológicos integrados, ha forzado el desarrollo de nuevas intervenciones arqueológicas. En ellas, además de localizar nuevas dependencias, se ha hallado un gran estanque monumentalizado, así como unas estancias subterráneas que planteamos como asociadas a cultos de origen oriental. De igual modo, se han localizado hasta 4 nuevos mosaicos que vienen a confirmar, junto con el complejo proyecto arquitectónico, la suntuosidad del lugar

Where to place the rewards? Exploration bias in mice influences performance in the classic hole-board spatial memory test

Author manuscriptThe classic hole-board paradigm (a square arena with 16 holes arranged equidistantly in a 4x4 pattern) assesses both exploration and spatial memory in rodents. For spatial memory training, food rewards are hidden in a fixed set of holes. The animal must not visit (i.e. nose-poke) the holes that are never baited (reference memory; RM) nor re-visit a baited hole within a session (working memory; WM). However, previous exploratory bias may affect performance during reward searching. During habituation sessions with either all holes rewarded or all holes empty, mice intrinsically preferred poking peripheral holes (especially those located in the maze’s corners) over centre holes. During spatial memory training, mice progressively shifted their hole pokes and staying time to the central area that contained hidden rewards, while mice exposed to the empty apparatus still preferred the periphery. A group of pseudotrained mice, for whom rewards were located randomly throughout the maze, also increased their central preference. Furthermore, reward location influenced memory measures. Most repeated pokes (WM-errors) were scored in the locations that were most intrinsically appealing to mice (i.e. the corner and wall baited holes), supporting a strong influence of previous exploratory bias. Regarding RM, finding rewards located in the centre holes, which were initially less preferred, entailed more difficulty and required more trials to learn. This outcome was confirmed by a second experiment that varied the pattern of rewarded holes, as well as the starting positions. Therefore, reward location is a relevant aspect to consider when designing a hole-board memory task.This study was funded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO, Agencia Estatal de Investigación) cofounded by the European Research Development Fund -AEI/FEDER, UE- (PSI2015-73156-JIN to E.C.O.; PSI2017-82604R to L.J.S.) and from University of Malaga (Plan Propio 2017 – ‘Ayudas para proyectos dirigidos por jóvenes investigadores’, PPIT.UMA.B1.2017/38 to P.S.P). Author P.S.P. holds a ‘Juan de la Cierva-formación’ grant from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (code: FJCI-2015-23925). Author M.M.P. holds Predoctoral contract from University of Malaga (Plan Propio 2017). Author F.A.G holds Young researchers contract from the University of Malaga co-funded by the Regional Government of Andalusia and the European Social Fund. Author E.C.O holds a ‘Jóvenes Investigadores’ grant (code: PSI2015-73156-JIN) from MINECO-AEI/FEDER, UE

Cognitive impairment and persistent changes in exploration and hyperactivity in mice after withdrawn from chronic cocaine

PSI2017-82604; PRE2018-085673; I Plan Propio de Investigación, Transferencia y Divulgación Científica de la Universidad de MálagaLasting neurobehavioral adaptations such as cognitive decline are induced by chronic cocaine exposure in animal models. However, persistent changes in motor and exploratory responses are rarely reported. In this study, mice were administered a cocaine dose (COC, 20 mg/kg/day) or saline (SAL) repeatedly for 12 consecutive days in their home cage. After 24 days of drug withdrawal, they were submitted to a behavioral test battery to assess motor/exploratory activity and anxiety-like behavior (elevated plus maze and open field tests), behavioral despair (forced swimming test), working and reference memory (spontaneous alternation behavior –SAB- and novel place recognition memory tests). This behavioral assessment was carried out in drug-free conditions and in unfamiliar environments, so no cocaine-associated stimuli were presented. The cocaine-withdrawn mice showed cognitive deficits in spontaneous alternation behavior and place recognition memory. Importantly, they also displayed hyperlocomotion, increased rearing activity and altered exploratory patterns in different tasks. In the forced swimming test, they were more active (struggled/climbed more) when trying to escape from the water albeit showing similar immobility behavior than controls. In conclusion, in addition to cognitive deficits, chronic cocaine may induce lasting changes in psychomotor activation even in unfamiliar environments not associated to the drug. This outcome may be influenced by factors related to exploration, energy or emotionality.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech