Using CRISPR/Cas9 to identify genes required for mechanosensory neuron development and function.

Tunicates are marine, non-vertebrate chordates that comprise the sister group to the vertebrates. Most tunicates have a biphasic lifecycle that alternates between a swimming larva and a sessile adult. Recent advances have shed light on the neural basis for the tunicate larva's ability to sense a proper substrate for settlement and initiate metamorphosis. Work in the highly tractable laboratory model tunicate Ciona robusta suggests that sensory neurons embedded in the anterior papillae transduce mechanosensory stimuli to trigger larval tail retraction and initiate the process of metamorphosis. Here, we take advantage of the low-cost and simplicity of Ciona by using tissue-specific CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis to screen for genes potentially involved in mechanosensation and metamorphosis, in the context of an undergraduate 'capstone' research course. This small screen revealed at least one gene, Vamp1/2/3, which appears crucial for the ability of the papillae to trigger metamorphosis. We also provide step-by-step protocols and tutorials associated with this course, in the hope that it might be replicated in similar CRISPR-based laboratory courses wherever Ciona are available.

Using CRISPR/Cas9 to identify genes required for mechanosensory neuron development and function.

Tunicates are marine, non-vertebrate chordates that comprise the sister group to the vertebrates. Most tunicates have a biphasic lifecycle that alternates between a swimming larva and a sessile adult. Recent advances have shed light on the neural basis for the tunicate larva's ability to sense a proper substrate for settlement and initiate metamorphosis. Work in the highly tractable laboratory model tunicate Ciona robusta suggests that sensory neurons embedded in the anterior papillae of transduce mechanosensory stimuli to trigger larval tail retraction and initiate the process of metamorphosis. Here, we take advantage of the low-cost and simplicity of Ciona by using tissue-specific CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis to screen for genes potentially involved in mechanosensation and metamorphosis, in the context of an undergraduate "capstone" research course. This small screen revealed at least one gene, Vamp1/2/3 , that appears crucial for the ability of the papillae to trigger metamorphosis. We also provide step-by-step protocols and tutorials associated with this course, in the hope that it might be replicated in similar CRISPR-based laboratory courses wherever Ciona are available.

Effects of Acute Stress on Rigid Learning, Flexible Learning, and Value-Based Decision-Making in Spatial Navigation.

The current study investigated how stress affects value-based decision-making during spatial navigation and different types of learning underlying decisions. Eighty-two adult participants (42 females) first learned to find object locations in a virtual environment from a fixed starting location (rigid learning) and then to find the same objects from unpredictable starting locations (flexible learning). Participants then decided whether to reach goal objects from the fixed or unpredictable starting location. We found that stress impairs rigid learning in females, and it does not impair, and even improves, flexible learning when performance with rigid learning is controlled for. Critically, examining how earlier learning influences subsequent decision-making using computational models, we found that stress reduces memory integration, making participants more likely to focus on recent memory and less likely to integrate information from other sources. Collectively, our results show how stress impacts different memory systems and the communication between memory and decision-making.

Episodic memory integration shapes value-based decision-making in spatial navigation.

Valued-based decision-making has been studied for decades in myriad topics such as consumer spending and gambling, but very rarely in spatial navigation despite the link between the two being highly relevant to survival. Furthermore, how people integrate episodic memories, and what factors are related to the extent of memory integration in value-based decision-making, remain largely unknown. In the current study, participants learned locations of various objects in a virtual environment and then decided whether to reach goal objects from familiar starting locations or unpredictable ones, with different penalties associated with each option. We developed computational models to test whether, when given an object to find, participants' starting location decisions reflected their past performance specific to that goal (Target-specific model) or integrated memory from performance with all goals in the environment (Target-common model). Because participants' wayfinding performance improved throughout the experiment, we were able to examine what factors related to the generalization of past experience. We found that most participants' decisions were better fit by the Target-common model, and for the people whose decisions were better fit by the Target-common model this integrative tendency may be tied to their concurrently greater performance variability with individual targets. Moreover, greater success on our task was predicted by an interaction between the ability to estimate probabilities relevant to decision-making and self-report general task ability. Collectively, our results show how related navigational episodic memories can be reflected in decision-making, and uncover individual differences contributing to such processes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluación del proceso educativo hacia la madre sobre los cuidados en el puerperio y del recién nacido en ASSBASALUD E. S. E Manizales (Colombia), 2016 / Evaluation of the educational process towards the mother regarding puerperal and newborn care in ASSBASALUD E. S. E Manizales (Colombia), 2016

Objetivo: evaluar el proceso educativo realizado por la entidad prestadora de servicios de salud, ASSBASALUD ESE en la ciudad de Manizales [Caldas ­Colombia] para puérperas. Los procesos educativos en salud, anteriormente han mostrado grandes beneficios en los receptores. Materiales y métodos: estudio cuasiexperimental. Participaron 155 mujeres. Se les aplicó una pre-prueba en el puerperio inmediato y una pos-prueba un mes después. Las pruebas contaban con preguntas sobre aspectos demográficos, cuidados básicos del recién nacido y mitos. Resultados: la nota obtenida en la preprueba fue de 3,6, y en la posprueba de 3,79 [p=0,000]. Se evidenció aprendizaje por parte de las madres sobre todo en lo referente a lactancia materna, y cuidados básicos de cambio de pañal, exposición al sol y sueño del bebé. Referente a los mitos se demostró creencias minoritarias en las madres, sin embargo la mayoría cree en el consumo de sustancias para estimular la lactancia materna y en ciertos alimentos que se deben suspender durante la misma. Conclusión: se demuestra, una vez más la importancia de los procesos educativos en el campo de la salud. Si bien se demostró aprendizaje de las madres en el proceso educativo de ASSBASALUD ESE, se evidencia necesidad de mejorarlo..(AU)

Objective: to evaluate the educational process carried out by ASSBASALUD ESE in the city of Manizales [Caldas-Colombia] for the education of postpartum women. The educational processes in health, have previously shown great benefits in the receptors Materials and methods: quasi-experimental study. In total, a sample of 155 women were selected, who were given a pre-test in the immediate postpartum period and posttest one month after discharge. The tests had questions about demographics, basic newborn care and myths. Results: the score obtained by the mothers in the pre-test was 3.6, and 3.79 in the posttest [p = 0.000]. It was evidenced learning by the mothers,especially in relation to breastfeeding, and basic care of diaper changes, exposure to the sun and sleep of the baby. Regarding the myths showed minority beliefs in mothers, however, most believed in the use of substances to stimulate breastfeeding,and certain foods that should be discontinued during it as it could be harmful to the baby. Conclusion: once again, the importance of educational processes in the field of health is demonstrated. Although learning of mothers in the educational process of ASSBASALUD ESE was demonstrated, there is a need to improve it..(AU)