Developing documents for practical sessions in Zoology

La implantación del sistema unificado de créditos (E.C.T.S.) implica nuevos planteamientos por parte del profesorado al elaborar la programación teórico-práctica de las diferentes asignaturas. Con la elaboración de los protocolos prácticos de zoología pretendemos alcanzar los objetivos siguientes: 1. Proveer a los alumnos de material didáctico básico y complementario a la información impartida en las sesiones prácticas. 2. Proporcionar una perspectiva amplia de diferentes aspectos prácticos de la zoología. 3. Familiarizar a los alumnos con las fuentes (complementarias) de información y los procedimientos de acceso a diferentes tipos de material biológico. 4. Favorecer el trabajo personal y de grupo, enfatizando diferentes aspectos biológicos necesarios para la asimilación de los contenidos prácticos de la asignatura. 5. Facilitar la preparación de las pruebas prácticas que los alumnos han de realizar. En el curso académico 2003/2004 nos fue concedido un primer proyecto docente que nos permitió preparar contenidos correspondientes a la práctica “Introducción a las técnicas de campo y de laboratorio en Zoología”. A partir de esta primera experiencia hemos desarrollado varios proyectos docentes que nos han permitido preparar materiales y contenidos prácticos de los principales taxones de animales invertebrados: Poríferos y Cnidarios. Platelmintos, Nematodos y Anélidos. Artrópodos. Moluscos. Equinodermos. La preparación de estos contenidos nos ha obligado a realizar desplazamientos así como a solicitar colaboraciones de diversas instituciones, por ejemplo, al Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid. Los protocolos están diseñados de forma que fomentan la labor individual y auto-formativa del alumnado, así como el estudio en grupo. Todo está encaminado hacia una completa preparación y correcta adecuación al nuevo sistema educativo. Las presentaciones multimedia están a disposición del alumnado gracias a las posibilidades que ofrece la web de la Universidad de Córdoba.The implementation of the unified credit system (ECTS) involves new approaches by teachers in the development of both theoretical and practical curricula of different subjects. With the development of practical zoology documents we aim to achieve the following objectives: 1. To provide the students with basic educational materials, and complementary information to the practical sessions. 2. To provide a broad overview of different practical aspects of zoology. 3. To familiarize students with additional sources of information and procedures for access to different types of biological material. 4. To encourage personal and group work, emphasizing different biological aspects, which are necessary for the understanding of the practical contents of the subjects. 5. To assist in the preparation of exams that students must perform. In the academic course 2003/2004 we were awarded with a first educational project that allowed us to prepare content for the practice "Introduction to field and lab techniques in Zoology". From this first experience we have developed several educational projects that have allowed us to prepare materials and practical content of the main taxa of invertebrates: Sponges and Cnidarians. Flatworms, Nematodes and Annelids. Arthropods. Molluscs. Echinoderms. The preparation of these materials has lead us to make trips and to request contributions from various institutions, for example, the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid. The protocols are designed in ways that encourage individual work and selftraining of students, and study groups. Everything is aimed to the complete preparation and fair adaptation to the new educational system. Multimedia presentations are available to students thanks to the possibilities offered by the website of the University of Cordoba

n-Hexadecane hydrocracking Single-Event MicroKinetics on Pt/H-beta

[EN] The Single-Event MicroKinetic (SEMK) model constructed for gas-phase hydroconversion of light n-alkanes on large-pore USY zeolites was applied, for the first time, to the hydrocracking of n-hexadecane on a Pt/H-Beta catalyst. Despite the 12-ringed pore channels, shape selectivity was observed in the formation of ethyl side chains. Additionally, heavy feed molecules such as n-hexadecane lead to physisorption saturation of the catalyst pores by strong Van der Waals interactions of the long alkyl chains with the zeolite framework. Intermolecular interactions and packing efficiencies in the pores induce deviations from typical Henry-regime physisorption characteristics as the physisorption selectivity, which is expected to increase with increasing carbon number, appeared to be independent of the latter. Micropore saturation effects were described by the 'size entropy' which quantifies the difference in standard entropy loss between physisorption in the Henry regime and hindered physisorption on a saturated surface. The size entropy is proportional to the catalyst loading with physisorbed species and the adsorbate carbon number. The addition of a size entropy term in the SEMK model, amounting to 102J mol(-1) K-1 for a hexadecane molecule at full saturation, allowed accurately reproducing the contribution of secondary isomerization and cracking reactions, as quantified by means of a contribution analysis. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This work was funded by the European Research Institute of Catalysis and the European Community’s Sixth Framework Programme. This work was also supported by the Research Board of Ghent University (BOF), the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme–Belgian State–Belgian Science Policy and the Long Term Structural Methusalem Funding by the Flemish Government. Financial support by the Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (CICYT) of Spain through the Project CTQ2010-17988/PPQ is also gratefully acknowledged.Vandegehuchte, BD.; Thybaut, JW.; Martinez Feliu, A.; Arribas Viana, MDLD.; Marin, GB. (2012). n-Hexadecane hydrocracking Single-Event MicroKinetics on Pt/H-beta. Applied Catalysis A General. 441:10-20. doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2012.06.054S102044

Phosphorylation of SOS1 on tyrosine 1196 promotes its RAC GEF activity and contributes to BCR-ABL leukemogenesis

Son of Sevenless 1 (SOS1) is a dual guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that activates the small GTPases RAC and RAS. Although the molecular mechanisms of RAS GEF catalysis have been unveiled, how SOS1 acquires RAC GEF activity and what is the physio-pathological relevance of this activity is much less understood. Here we show that SOS1 is tyrosine phosphorylated on Y1196 by ABL. Phosphorylation of Y1196 controls SOS1 inter-molecular interaction, is required to promote the exchange of nucleotides on RAC in vitro and for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) activation of RAC- and RAC-dependent actin remodeling and cell migration. SOS1 is also phosphorylated on Y1196 by BCR-ABL in chronic myelogenous leukemic cells. Importantly, in these cells, SOS1 is required for BCR-ABL-mediated activation of RAC, cell proliferation and transformation in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model. Finally, genetic removal of Sos1 in the bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) from Sos1fl/flmice and infected with BCR-ABL causes a significant delay in the onset of leukemogenesis once BMDCs are injected into recipient, lethally irradiated mice. Thus, SOS1 is required for full transformation and critically contribute to the leukemogenic potential of BCR-ABL

Comprehensive dissection of prevalence rates, sex differences, and blood level-dependencies of clozapine-associated adverse drug reactions

Clozapine is often underused due to concerns about adverse drug reactions (ADRs) but studies into their prevalences are inconclusive. We therefore comprehensively examined prevalences of clozapine-associated ADRs in individuals with schizophrenia and demographic and clinical factors associated with their occurrence. Data from a multi-center study (n = 698 participants) were collected. The mean number of ADRs during clozapine treatment was 4.8, with 2.4 % of participants reporting no ADRs. The most common ADRs were hypersalivation (74.6 %), weight gain (69.3 %), and increased sleep necessity (65.9 %), all of which were more common in younger participants. Participants with lower BMI prior to treatment were more likely to experience significant weight gain (>10 %). Constipation occurred more frequently with higher clozapine blood levels and doses. There were no differences in ADR prevalence rates between participants receiving clozapine monotherapy and polytherapy. These findings emphasize the high prevalence of clozapine-associated ADRs and highlight several demographic and clinical factors contributing to their occurrence. By understanding these factors, clinicians can better anticipate and manage clozapine-associated ADRs, leading to improved treatment outcomes and patient well-being

Determinants of patient satisfaction in clozapine users: results from the Clozapine International Consortium (CLOZIN)

Clozapine is highly effective for treatment-resistant schizophrenia but is underutilized due to patient and clinician-related concerns. Little is known about the general level of patient satisfaction with clozapine and determinants thereof. We therefore explored determinants of patient satisfaction with clozapine in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). Cross-sectional data from 480 clozapine users were used to examine demographic and clinical factors, including symptom severity, treatment response, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Patient satisfaction was self-rated on a scale of 1 to 10. Results showed a mean satisfaction score of 7.4 (SD = 1.9), with significant associations between satisfaction and treatment response (B = 0.42, R2 = 0.19, p = 3.9 × 10−18), symptom severity (B = 0.10, R2 = 0.05, p = 2.06 × 10-9), occurrence of ADRs (B = −0.16, R2 = 0.06, p = 3.2 × 10-5), and recreational drug use (B = −1.32, R2 = 0.05, p = 2.09 × 10-4). Hypersalivation and prolonged sleep duration were the only ADRs linked to lower satisfaction (B = −0.72, R2 = 0.06, p = 3.5 × 10-5 and B = −0.57, R2 = 0.04, p = 1.4 × 10-3, respectively). Despite concerns about ADRs, treatment effectiveness showed a stronger association with patient satisfaction among clozapine users than the occurrence of ADRs. In conclusion, our findings suggest that strategies aimed at bolstering clozapine’s effectiveness may help counter worldwide underprescription rates of clozapine in patients with SSDs

RICORS2040 : The need for collaborative research in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a silent and poorly known killer. The current concept of CKD is relatively young and uptake by the public, physicians and health authorities is not widespread. Physicians still confuse CKD with chronic kidney insufficiency or failure. For the wider public and health authorities, CKD evokes kidney replacement therapy (KRT). In Spain, the prevalence of KRT is 0.13%. Thus health authorities may consider CKD a non-issue: very few persons eventually need KRT and, for those in whom kidneys fail, the problem is 'solved' by dialysis or kidney transplantation. However, KRT is the tip of the iceberg in the burden of CKD. The main burden of CKD is accelerated ageing and premature death. The cut-off points for kidney function and kidney damage indexes that define CKD also mark an increased risk for all-cause premature death. CKD is the most prevalent risk factor for lethal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the factor that most increases the risk of death in COVID-19, after old age. Men and women undergoing KRT still have an annual mortality that is 10- to 100-fold higher than similar-age peers, and life expectancy is shortened by ~40 years for young persons on dialysis and by 15 years for young persons with a functioning kidney graft. CKD is expected to become the fifth greatest global cause of death by 2040 and the second greatest cause of death in Spain before the end of the century, a time when one in four Spaniards will have CKD. However, by 2022, CKD will become the only top-15 global predicted cause of death that is not supported by a dedicated well-funded Centres for Biomedical Research (CIBER) network structure in Spain. Realizing the underestimation of the CKD burden of disease by health authorities, the Decade of the Kidney initiative for 2020-2030 was launched by the American Association of Kidney Patients and the European Kidney Health Alliance. Leading Spanish kidney researchers grouped in the kidney collaborative research network Red de Investigación Renal have now applied for the Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) call for collaborative research in Spain with the support of the Spanish Society of Nephrology, Federación Nacional de Asociaciones para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades del Riñón and ONT: RICORS2040 aims to prevent the dire predictions for the global 2040 burden of CKD from becoming true

Reproductive modes and taxonomy

Nomenclature, taxonomy and species concepts of clonal (asexual) lineages have for a long time been hotly debated subjects. We argue that separating the 'asexuals' into different types, facilitates the discussion. In ancient asexuals, separate lineages have low intraspecific genetic and morphological variability and clear interspecific genetic and morphological gaps. Their taxonomy is thus (relatively) straightforward, species are conform to morphological, genetic and evolutionary species concepts. No special species concept for these taxa is necessary. In species with mixed reproduction, bisexual and asexual populations cluster amongst each other and form an inclusive species, with large intraspecific genetic and morphological variability. Accepting an inclusive approach, such species with mixed reproduction are again conform to morphological, genetic and evolutionary species concepts. Many problems remain, however,with the asexual spin-offs from species with sexual roots, be they advanced mutational lineages or interspecific hybrids. Congeneric lineages are often difficult to identifY unambiguously and, for several reasons, most of these clusters must be regarded as evolutionary species complexes for which a separate (theoretical) species concept (e.g. the agamospecies) must be invoked. Subspecies in clonal taxonomy should be avoided in all categories of asexuals, and this for different reasons. Possible exceptions are identifiable sib clones with special ecological preference