SUMMARY: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up society, having a significant impact on the field of health and research. Given its relevance, studies have been performed on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on human physiology. In particular, the possible presence and transmission of the virus through the male reproductive system could affect reproductive success. Knowing if the presence of the virus disrupts the organs responsible for the development and maturation of the cell lines involved in spermatogenesis could reveal its implications in sperm quality. For that reason, we proposed this review, in order to analyze the main scientific evidence on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the histophysiology of the male reproductive system and sperm fertilizing capacity.

RESUMEN: La reciente pandemia de la COVID-19 ha sacudido a la sociedad teniendo una importante repercusión en el campo de la salud y de la investigación. Dada su relevancia, se han llevado a cabo estudios sobre los efectos del SARS-CoV-2 en la fisiología humana. En concreto, sobre la posible presencia y transmisión del virus a través del sistema reproductor masculino y su posible efecto en el éxito reproductivo. Conocer si la presencia del virus altera los órganos responsables del desarrollo y maduración de las células de la serie espermatogénica podría revelarnos su implicación en la calidad seminal. Por ello, nos planteamos esta revisión, con el fin de analizar las principales evidencias científicas sobre los efectos del SARS-CoV-2 en la histofisiología del sistema reproductor masculino y sobre la capacidad fecundante de los espermatozoides.

SUMMARY: One of the challenges in the use of new methodologies and technologies during the health crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been to keep students motivated in virtual environments. Therefore, the objective of this work was to assess the usefulness of audiovisual materials created with chroma key in the flipped classroom methodology to teach some theoretical concepts in the subject of Developmental Biology in the Degree in Biology at the University of Alicante. For this, the teaching staff of the subject produced videos using chroma key technology, which were viewed by the students before the online theoretical sessions. During these sessions, the students put into practice the concepts discussed in the videos by carrying out activities. The students' perception of the methodology used was obtained through an opinion questionnaire, in which 90 % of the respondents stated that the combined use of the flipped classroom with chroma key facilitated learning by adapting to the rhythm and educational needs of each student. They also highlighted that the use of virtual scenery with chroma key made online teaching more enjoyable and attractive. In conclusion, the chroma key is an effective tool for creating educational materials in the flipped classroom that is also attractive and motivating for students.

RESUMEN: Uno de los retos en el uso de nuevas metodologías y tecnologías durante la crisis sanitaria causada por el virus SARS-CoV-2 ha sido mantener la motivación del alumnado en entornos virtuales. Por ello, el objetivo de este trabajo fue valorar la utilidad de materiales audiovisuales creados con chroma key en la metodología flipped classroom para impartir algunos conceptos teóricos en la asignatura de Biología del Desarrollo en el Grado en Biología de la Universidad de Alicante. Para ello, el profesorado de la asignatura elaboró vídeos utilizando la tecnología chroma key, los cuales fueron visualizados por parte del alumnado antes de las sesiones teóricas online. Durante dichas sesiones, el alumnado puso en práctica los conceptos comentados en los vídeos a través de la realización de actividades. La percepción del estudiantado sobre la metodología empleada se obtuvo mediante un cuestionario de opinión, en el cual el 90 % de los encuestados/as manifestaron que el uso combinado del flipped classroom con chroma key facilitaba el aprendizaje al adaptarse al ritmo y necesidades educativas de cada estudiante. Asimismo, destacaron que el uso de escenografía virtual con chroma key hizo más amena y atrayente la docencia online. En conclusión, el chroma key constituye una herramienta eficaz para realizar materiales educativos en flipped classroom que, además, resulta llamativo y motivador para el alumnado.

Resumen Introducción. El presente estudio se centra, desde la perspectiva de género, en la disponibilidad hacia el trabajo de un sector de la población universitaria. Es una aportación más al Proyecto I+D+i Retos investigación: RTI2018-098794-B-C31 DINARISK XXI, orientado a los retos de la sociedad, y del Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) de la Unión Europea. Objetivo. Tiene dos objetivos básicos: por una parte, conocer la predisposición hacia el trabajo de estudiantes de postgrado y, por otra, realizar un perfil de las personas participantes a través de sus características personales, formativas y laborales. Metodología. Se ha contado con la participación de 176 estudiantes de postgrado, la mayoría mujeres con una frecuencia de 109 personas (61,9%) frente a 67 hombres (38,1%). Se ha hecho uso de una metodología basada en el análisis comparativo de datos de diferentes grupos, a través de puntuaciones medias, desviaciones típicas y T-Student, para establecer relaciones entre estos y explicar las variaciones manifestadas. Resultados y conclusiones. Los resultados destacan la preferencia de las mujeres frente a los hombres por empleos que impliquen un tenderete en la calle, que sean a jornada partida y que requieran formación continua. El instrumento usado permite caracterizar la muestra respecto a su predisposición al empleo y al área de conocimiento del máster que cursan, por lo que puede ser utilizado en otros estudios.

Resumo Introdução. Este estudo centra-se, numa perspectiva de género, na disponibilidade para trabalhar de um sector da população universitária. Trata-se de mais uma contribuição para o projeto de I+D+i “Desafios da Investigação”: RTI2018-098794-B-C31 DINARISK XXI, orientado para os desafios da sociedade, e do Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) da União Europeia. Objetivo. Possui dois objetivos básicos, por um lado, conhecer a predisposição para o trabalho do grupo de estudantes de pós-graduação e, por outro, fazer um perfil das pessoas participantes através das suas características pessoais, formativas e laborais. Metodologia. Participaram 176 estudantes de pós-graduação, na sua maioria mulheres, com uma frequência de 109 pessoas (61,9%) contra 67 homens (38,1%). Foi utilizada uma metodologia baseada na análise comparativa de dados de diferentes grupos, através de notas médias, desvios padrão e T-Student, para estabelecer relações entre estudantes e explicar as variações que aí se manifestam. Resultados e conclusão. Os resultados destacam a preferência das mulheres em relação aos homens por empregos que envolvem um espaço o posto na rua, que são a tempo parcial e que requerem formação contínua. O instrumento utilizado permite-nos caracterizar a amostra no que diz respeito à sua predisposição para o emprego e à área de conhecimento do mestrado em questão, para que possa ser utilizado em outros estudos.

Abstract Introduction. This study focuses on the availability to work of a sector of the university population from a gender perspective. It is a new contribution to the R+D+i Project “Research Challenges: RTI2018-098794-B-C31 DINARISK XXI,” oriented to society’s challenges; It is also a contribution of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union. Objective. The study has two basic objectives. On the one hand, to know the predisposition towards work of the postgraduate students and, on the other hand, to create a profile of the participants through their personal, formative, and working characteristics. Method. To this end, 176 postgraduate students have participated; most of them were women, 109 (61.9%), and 67 were men (38.1%). The methodology based on the comparative analysis (through mean scores, standard deviations, and T-Student) of data from different groups has been used to establish relationships between these groups and explain the variations that occur in them. Results and conclusions. The results highlight women’s preference over men for jobs involving a market stand, part-time jobs, and jobs requiring continuous training. The instrument used allows us to characterize the sample regarding its predisposition to employment and the area of knowledge of the Master’s degree the participants are studying. Therefore, this instrument can be used in other studies.

Abstract Spermatozoa interactions with the female reproductive tract and oocyte are regulated by surface molecules such as glycocalyx. The capacitation process comprises molecular and structural modifications which increase zona pellucida binding affinity. Lectins allowed us to describe glycocalyx changes during maturation, capacitation and acrosome reaction. This study had as its aim to identify lectin binding patterns using four lectins with different carbohydrate affinity in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) spermatozoa both before and after in vitro capacitation. Two semen samples from the same dolphin obtained on consecutive days were used, with four different lectin binding patterns becoming visible in both samples before and after capacitation. A highly stained equatorial segment with prolongations at the edges appeared as the most frequent pattern with Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) in uncapacitated spermatozoa. However, it was homogeneously distributed over the acrosomal region after capacitation. Instead, the use of Peanut agglutinin (PNA) resulted in most spermatozoa showing high labelling in the acrosomal periphery region before capacitation and a homogeneous staining in the acrosomal region within the population of capacitated spermatozoa. Nevertheless, the most representative patterns with Concavalin A (ConA) and Aleuria aurantia agglutinin (AAA) lectins did not change before and after capacitation, labelling the acrosomal region periphery. These findings could contribute to the understanding of the reproductive biology of cetaceans and the improvement of sperm selection techniques.

To know the molecular aspects that occur in the process of human sperm binding to the human zona pellucida (ZP) is one of the great challenges of reproduction biology. Moreover knowing if the fertilization process may be affected by cryopreservation of female gametes is still another issue discussed in the literature. Based on this, the main objective of this study was to determine whether the oocyte vitrification may alter the interaction of sperm with the glycocalyx of ZP and show whether these oocytes lost the ability to induce the acrosome reaction in sperm. According to our results the oocyte closed vitrification method (S3) does not alter the ability of the sperm binding to the zona pellucida, and their ability to induce the acrosome reaction.

Conocer los aspectos moleculares que acontecen en el proceso de unión de los espermatozoides humanos a la zona pelúcida (ZP) humana es uno de los grandes retos de la biología de la Reproducción. Por otra parte conocer si el proceso de fecundación puede verse afectado por la criopreservación de los gametos femeninos sigue siendo otra cuestión debatida en la literatura. En base a esto, el objetivo principal de este trabajo fue conocer si la vitrificación ovocitaria puede alterar la interacción de los espermatozoides con el glicocáliz de la ZP y demostrar si la ZP de estos ovocitos pierde la capacidad de inducir la reacción acrosómica en los espermatozoides. Según nuestros resultados el método de vitrificación ovocitaria cerrado (S3) no altera la capacidad de unión de los espermatozoides a la zona pelúcida, ni la capacidad de ésta para inducir la reacción acrosómica.