New approaches to Mediterranean fluvial communities

The organization of fluvial benthic communities in the Iberian Mediterranean system shows a series of factors which differ in part from present models suggested in the current literature. The effects of disturbances can be observed in models including the gradient of organization (WARD & STANFORD, 1 983; VANNOTE et al. , 1 980; SABATER et al, . in press) in the major and permanent northwest basins, but not in temporary systems. Temporality does usual1y not represent a handicap as far as the organization of the algae communities and the macroinvertebrates communities is concemed,: equivalent diversities have been observed in temporary and permanent systems. But a latitudinal gradient is observed among the temporary systems, with an increment to the south of the diversity. Mediterranean fluvial systems have integrated floods as periodical perturbations in the dynamics of benthic communities, which have a high resistance to flood-related disturbance and a high subsequent resilience.The organization of fluvial benthic communities in the Iberian Mediterranean system shows a series of factors which differ in part from present models suggested in the current literature. The effects of disturbances can be observed in models including the gradient of organization (WARD & STANFORD, 1 983; VANNOTE et al. , 1 980; SABATER et al, . in press) in the major and permanent northwest basins, but not in temporary systems. Temporality does usual1y not represent a handicap as far as the organization of the algae communities and the macroinvertebrates communities is concemed,: equivalent diversities have been observed in temporary and permanent systems. But a latitudinal gradient is observed among the temporary systems, with an increment to the south of the diversity. Mediterranean fluvial systems have integrated floods as periodical perturbations in the dynamics of benthic communities, which have a high resistance to flood-related disturbance and a high subsequent resilience

Differences in Free-Living Patterns of Sedentary Behaviour between Office Employees with Diabetes and Office Employees without Diabetes: A Principal Component Analysis for Clinical Practice

Aims: To identify principal components of free-living patterns of sedentary behaviour in office employees with type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to normal glucose metabolism (NGM) office employees, using principal component analysis (PCA). Methods: 213 office employees (n = 81 with T2D; n = 132 with NGM) wore an activPAL inclinometer 24 h a day for 7 consecutive days. Comparions of sedentary behaviour patterns between adults with T2D and NGM determined the dimensions that best characterise the sedentary behaviour patterns of office employees with T2D at work, outside work and at weekends. Results: The multivariate PCA technique identified two components that explained 60% of the variability present in the data of sedentary behaviour patterns in the population with diabetes. This was characterised by a fewer number of daily breaks and breaks in time intervals of less than 20 min both at work, outside work and at weekends. On average, adults with T2D took fewer 31 breaks/day than adults without diabetes. Conclusion: Effective interventions from clinical practice to tackle prolonged sedentary behaviour in office employees with T2D should focus on increasing the number of daily sedentary breaks.The study was funded by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI17/01788), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (DEP2021-37169), grant Jose Luís Torres from redGDPS Foundation (redgdps/BJLTB/02/2022), the predoctoral research grant Isabel Fernández 2020 from the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC) and another grant from the Càtedra Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)—Novartis for research in Family and Community Medicine. The funders had no role in the design, analysis, data interpretation or writing of the manuscript

Effect of Theobroma cacao flavonoids on immune activation of a lymphoid cell line

We analysed the effect of (-)-epicatechin and cocoa extract on the activation of a lymphoid cell line. Particularly the expression of IL-2 receptor alpha (IL-2Ralpha or CD25) and, the secretion of IL-2 and IL-4 were established after flavonoid treatment. Two media culture conditions (1 and 10 % of fetal calf serum supplementation) and the different moments of flavonoid addition (simultaneously or 2 h before cell-activation) were compared. IL-2Ralpha (CD25) expression on activated cells was significantly reduced by epicatechin and cocoa extract in a dose-dependent manner, achieving the highest inhibition of about 50 % when flavonoids were added 2 h before stimulation. IL-2 secretion was also inhibited by the presence of both epicatechin and cocoa extract, displaying 60 and 75 % of inhibition, respectively. Cocoa flavonoids were also able to enhance 3-4.5-fold IL-4 release. In summary, cocoa extract down-modulated T lymphocyte activation and therefore the acquired immune response. This fact could be important in some states of the immune system hyperactivity such as autoimmune or chronic inflammatory diseases

Effectiveness of a healthcare-based mobile intervention on sedentary patterns, physical activity, mental well-being and clinical and productivity outcomes in office employees with type 2 diabetes: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Prolonged sedentary time is associated with an increased incidence of chronic disease including type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Given that occupational sedentary time contributes signifcantly to the total amount of daily sedentariness, incorporating programmes to reduce occupational sedentary time in patients with chronic disease would allow for physical, mental and productivity benefts. The aim of this study is to evaluate the short-, medium- and long-term efectiveness of a mHealth programme for sitting less and moving more at work on habitual and occupational sedentary behaviour and physical activity in ofce staf with DM2. Secondary aims. To evaluate the efectiveness on glycaemic control and lipid profle at 6- and 12-month follow-up; anthropometric profle, blood pres‑ sure, mental well-being and work-related post-intervention outcomes at 3, 6 and 12months. Methods: Multicentre randomized controlled trial. A sample size of 220 patients will be randomly allocated into a control (n=110) or intervention group (n=110), with post-intervention follow-ups at 6 and 12months. Health professionals from Spanish Primary Health Care units will randomly invite patients (18–65 years of age) diagnosed with DM2, who have sedentary ofce desk-based jobs. The control group will receive usual healthcare and information on the health benefts of sitting less and moving more. The intervention group will receive, through a smartphone app and website, strategies and real-time feedback for 13weeks to change occupational sedentary behaviour. Variables: (1) Subjective and objective habitual and occupational sedentary behaviour and physical activity (Workforce Sit‑ ting Questionnaire, Brief Physical Activity Assessment Tool, activPAL3TM); 2) Glucose, HbA1c; 3) Weight, height, waist circumference; 4) Total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides; (5) Systolic, diastolic blood pressure; (6) Mental well being (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being); (7) Presenteeism (Work Limitations Questionnaire); (8) Impact of work on employees´ health, sickness absence (6th European Working Conditions Survey); (9) Job-related mental strain (Job Content Questionnaire). Diferences between groups pre- and post- intervention on the average value of the vari‑ ables will be analysed. Discussion: If the mHealth intervention is efective in reducing sedentary time and increasing physical activity in ofce employees with DM2, health professionals would have a low-cost tool for the control of patients with chronic disease.The study was funded by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI17/01788) and the predoctoral research grant Isabel Fernández 2020 from the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC). The funders had no role in the design, analysis, data interpretation or writing of the manuscript

STUDY AND MODELING OF THE DISINTEGRATION KINETICS OF COATED PAPER

The disintegration of recovered paper is the first operation in the preparation of recycled pulp. It is known that the defibering process follows a first order kinetics from which it is possible to obtain the disintegration kinetic constant (KD) by means of different ways. The disintegration constant can be obtained from the Somerville index results (%ISV) and from the dissipated energy per volume unit (SS). The %ISV is related to the quantity of non-defibrated paper, as a measure of the non-disintegrated fiber residual (percentage of flakes), which is expressed in disintegration time units. In this work, disintegration kinetics from recycled coated paper has been evaluated, working at 20 rev/s rotor speed and for different fiber consistency (6, 8, 10, 12, and 14%). The results showed that the values of experimental disintegration kinetic constant, KD, through the analysis of Somerville index, as function of time, increased with the disintegration consistency. Therefore, as consistency increased, the disintegration time was drastically reduced. The calculation of the disintegration kinetic constant (modeled KD), extracted from the Rayleigh’s dissipation function, showed a good correlation with the experimental values using the evolution of the Somerville index or with the dissipated energy

T-type calcium channels drive migration/invasion in BRAFV600E melanoma cells through Snail1

Melanoma is a malignant tumor derived from melanocytes. Once disseminated, it is usually highly resistant to chemotherapy and is associated with poor prognosis. We have recently reported that T-type calcium channels (TTCCs) are overexpressed in melanoma cells and play an important role in melanoma progression. Importantly, TTCC pharmacological blockers reduce proliferation and deregulate autophagy leading to apoptosis. Here, we analyze the role of autophagy during migration/invasion of melanoma cells. TTCC Cav3.1 and LC3-II proteins are highly expressed in BRAFV600E compared with NRAS mutant melanomas, both in cell lines and biopsies. Chloroquine, pharmacological blockade, or gene silencing of TTCCs inhibit the autophagic flux and impair the migration and invasion capabilities, specifically in BRAFV600E melanoma cells. Snail1 plays an important role in motility and invasion of melanoma cells. We show that Snail1 is strongly expressed in BRAFV600E melanoma cells and patient biopsies, and its expression decreases when autophagy is blocked. These results demonstrate a role of Snail1 during BRAFV600E melanoma progression and strongly suggest that targeting macroautophagy and, particularly TTCCs, might be a good therapeutic strategy to inhibit metastasis of the most common melanoma type (BRAFV600E)

Compartir ideas, la universidad va al instituto. Análisis de la primera edición de un proyecto de aprendizaje servicio transversal a la Universidad de Barcelona

Esta comunicación presenta las principales claves de análisis y evaluación de la 1a edición del proyecto Compartir Ideas. La Universidad va al instituto. Este es un proyecto de aprendizaje servicio transversal que consiste en un ciclo de conferencias-taller impartidas por estudiantes de la UB sobre temes de interés general relacionados con sus estudios. El objetivo es compartir conocimientos y conversar sobre un tema que la universidad trabaja y que será relevante para la formación del alumnado de secundaria.El proyecto cuenta con el apoyo del Vicerectorado de Política Docente y Lingüística de la Universitat de Barcelona