Efectos agudos de las vibraciones mecánicas sobre el salto vertical

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar el efecto agudo de una exposición a vibraciones mecánicas sobre la fuerza desarrollada en un salto vertical. Un total de 15 sujetos sanos y activos (11 hombres y 4 mujeres) se sometieron a 60 s de estimulación sobre una plataforma vibratoria que indujo oscilaciones verticales (frecuencia: 50 Hz; amplitud: 2 mm). Antes del periodo de estimulación vibratoria así como 30 s y 2 min después del mismo, los sujetos realizaron un salto vertical (squat jump) sobre una plataforma de contactos, a partir de la cual se registró el tiempo de vuelo (tv) y la altura (h) de cada salto. Los resultados obtenidos muestran un efecto positivo del estímulo vibratorio sobre la fuerza desarrollada en el salto vertical realizado 2 min después de la vibración, ya que tanto tv como h aumentaron significativamente respecto a los valores obtenidos en el primer salto. Se puede concluir, por tanto, que una estimulación de 60 s sobre plataforma vibratoria combinando altas frecuencias y bajas amplitudes en su oscilación, genera un efecto residual positivo en la capacidad de salto vertical

Acute residual effects of mechanic vibrations on vertical jump

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar el efecto agudo de una exposición a vibraciones mecánicas sobre la fuerza desa-rrollada en un salto vertical. Un total de 15 sujetos sanos y activos (11 hombres y 4 mujeres) se sometieron a 60 s de estimulación sobre una plataforma vibratoria que indujo oscilaciones verticales (frecuencia: 50 Hz; amplitud: 2 mm). Antes del periodo de estimu-lación vibratoria así como 30 s y 2 min después del mismo, los sujetos realizaron un salto vertical (squat jump) sobre una plataforma de contactos, a partir de la cual se registró el tiempo de vuelo (tv) y la altura (h) de cada salto. Los resultados obtenidos muestran un efecto positivo del estímulo vibratorio sobre la fuerza desarrollada en el salto vertical realizado 2 min después de la vibración, ya que tanto tv como h aumentaron significativamente respecto a los valores obtenidos en el primer salto. Se puede concluir, por tanto, que una estimulación de 60 s sobre plataforma vibratoria combinando altas frecuencias y bajas amplitudes en su oscilación, genera un efecto residual positivo en la capacidad de salto vertical.The aim of this study was to determine the acute effect of a mechanical vibrations exposure on power during vertical jump. A total of 15 active and healthy subjects (11 males and 4 females) were exposed to a 60 s period of stimulation on a vibratory platform that induced vertical oscillations (frequency: 50 Hz; amplitude: 2 mm). Subjects were asked to perform three vertical jumps (before vibratory stimulation and 30 s and 2 min. after this period) on a resistive platform where the flight time (tv) and height (h) of each single jump were recorded. The results show a positive effect of vibratory stimulus on power during vertical jump performed 2 min. after vibratory stimulation period, since tv and h were significantly highly than those registered in the first jump. It can be conclu-ded that 60 s of whole body stimulation on a vibratory platform based on high-frequency and low-amplitude oscillations generate a positive residual effect on vertical jump

VR-assisted architectural design in a heritage site: the Sagrada Família case study

Virtual Reality (VR) simulations have long been proposed to allow users to explore both yet-to-built buildings in architectural design, and ancient, remote or disappeared buildings in cultural heritage. In this paper we describe an on-going VR project on an UNESCO World Heritage Site that simultaneously addresses both scenarios: supporting architects in the task of designing the remaining parts of a large unfinished building, and simulating existing parts that define the environment that new designs must conform to. The main challenge for the team of architects is to advance towards the project completion being faithful to the original Gaudí’s project, since many plans, drawings and plaster models were lost. We analyze the main requirements for collaborative architectural design in such a unique scenario, describe the main technical challenges, and discuss the lessons learned after one year of use of the system.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

The altered transcriptome and DNA methylation profiles of docetaxel resistance in breast cancer PDX models

Taxanes are standard therapy in clinical practice for metastatic breast cancer; however, primary or acquired chemoresistance are a common cause of mortality. Breast cancer patient-derived xenografts (PDX) are powerful tools for the study of cancer biology and drug treatment response. Specific DNA methylation patterns have been associated to different breast cancer subtypes but its association with chemoresistance remains unstudied. Aiming to elucidate docetaxel resistance mechanisms, we performed genome-wide DNA methylation in breast cancer PDX models, including luminal and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models sensitive to docetaxel, their matched models after emergence of chemoresistance and residual disease after short-term docetaxel treatment. We found that DNA methylation profiles from breast cancer PDX models maintain the subtype-specific methylation patterns of clinical samples. Two main DNA methylation clusters were found in TNBC PDX and remain stable during the emergence of docetaxel resistance; however, some genes/pathways were differentially methylated according to docetaxel response. A DNA methylation signature of resistance able to segregate TNBC based on chemotherapy response was identified. Transcriptomic profiling of selected sensitive/resistant pairs and integrative analysis with methylation data demonstrated correlation between some differentially methylated and expressed genes in docetaxel-resistant TNBC PDX models. Multiple gene expression changes were found after the emergence of docetaxel resistance in TNBC. DNA methylation and transcriptional changes identified between docetaxel-sensitive and -resistant TNBC PDX models or residual disease may have predictive value for chemotherapy response in TNBC. IMPLICATIONS: Subtype-specific DNA methylation patterns are maintained in breast cancer PDX models. While no global methylation changes were found, we uncovered differentially DNA methylated and expressed genes/pathways associated with the emergence of docetaxel resistance in TNBC

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

Descripción de un nuevo género y de una nueva especie Iberocypris palaciosi N.GEN.N.SO (Pisces, cyprinidae).Resultados de los censos d e aves acuáticas en Andalucía Occidental durante el invierno1978-79Interacciones en la alimentación de las larvas de dos especies de tritones. (Triturus marmoratus y Triturus boscai).Utilización del espacio en una comunidad de lacertidos del matorral mediterráneo en la Reserva Biológica de DoñanaMorfología dentaria de las liebres europeas (Lagomorpha, leporidae).El conejo, Oryctolagus cuniculus en Andalucía Occidental: Parámetros corporales y curva de crecimientoObservaciones de foca monje (Monachus monachus Herm.) en las costas del sureste de la Península Ibérica.Presencia de pejerrey Atherina (Hepsetia) boyeri, Risso 1810; Pisces ( Atherinidae) en la laguna de Zoñar (Córdoba, SO de España).Nuevas citas de la "loina" Chondrostoma (Machaerochilus) toxostoma arrigonis Stein. (pisces, cyprinidae) en EspañaRelativa subalimentación de Falco naumanni durante el periodo no reproductor en el valle del GuadalquivirComadrejas alimentandose de carroña.Agrupamientos de Alytes cisternasii bajo el mismo refugioDescripción de un nuevo género de quiróptero neotropical de la familia MolossidaeAlgunas notas sobre Platalea leucorodia en GaliciaInicidencia del murciélago hematófago Desmodus rotundus sobre los indígenas Yanomani de VenezuelaRitmo de actividad de algunos ratones de los llanos de Apure (Venezuela)Presencia del topillo campesino ibérico, Microtus arvalis asturianus Miller, 1908 en la meseta del DueroFalco columbarius EsmerejónCiconia ciconia CigüeñaNycticorax nycticorax MartinetePeer reviewe

Trajectories of alcohol consumption during life and the risk of developing breast cancer

Background Whether there are lifetime points of greater sensitivity to the deleterious effects of alcohol intake on the breasts remains inconclusive. Objective To compare the influence of distinctive trajectories of alcohol consumption throughout a woman's life on development of breast cancer (BC). Methods 1278 confirmed invasive BC cases and matched (by age and residence) controls from the Epi-GEICAM study (Spain) were used. The novel group-based trajectory modelling was used to identify different alcohol consumption trajectories throughout women's lifetime. Results Four alcohol trajectories were identified. The first comprised women (45%) with low alcohol consumption (= 15 g/day), never having a low alcohol consumption. Comparing with the first trajectory, the fourth doubled BC risk (OR 2.19; 95% CI 1.27, 3.77), followed by the third (OR 1.44; 0.96, 2.16) and ultimately by the second trajectory (OR 1.17; 0.86, 1.58). The magnitude of BC risk was greater in postmenopausal women, especially in those with underweight or normal weight. When alcohol consumption was independently examined at each life stage, >= 15 g/day of alcohol consumption in adolescence was strongly associated with BC risk followed by consumption in adulthood. Conclusions The greater the alcohol consumption accumulated throughout life, the greater the risk of BC, especially in postmenopausal women. Alcohol consumption during adolescence may particularly influence BC risk.This study was funded by the Fundacion Cientifica Asociacion Espanola Contra el Cancer (AECC) (Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association against Cancer 2006 & 2016) (Marina Pollan), Sociedad Espanola de Oncologia Medica (SEOM) (Spanish Society of Medical Oncology) (Miguel Martin), Scholarship 'Contrato de atraccion de talento' from Community of Madrid (Carolina Donat-Vargas), Fundacion Cerveza y Salud 2005 (Beer and Health Foundation 2005) (Miguel Martin) and Federacion de Asociaciones de Mujeres con Cancer de Mama (FECMA) (Spanish Federation of Associations of Women with Breast Cancer) (Miguel Martin, Marina Pollan)

Patterns of Diversity in Soft-Bodied Meiofauna: Dispersal Ability and Body Size Matter

Background: Biogeographical and macroecological principles are derived from patterns of distribution in large organisms, whereas microscopic ones have often been considered uninteresting, because of their supposed wide distribution. Here, after reporting the results of an intensive faunistic survey of marine microscopic animals (meiofauna) in Northern Sardinia, we test for the effect of body size, dispersal ability, and habitat features on the patterns of distribution of several groups.Methodology/Principal Findings: As a dataset we use the results of a workshop held at La Maddalena (Sardinia, Italy) in September 2010, aimed at studying selected taxa of soft-bodied meiofauna (Acoela, Annelida, Gastrotricha, Nemertodermatida, Platyhelminthes and Rotifera), in conjunction with data on the same taxa obtained during a previous workshop hosted at Tjärnö (Western Sweden) in September 2007. Using linear mixed effects models and model averaging while accounting for sampling bias and potential pseudoreplication, we found evidence that: (1) meiofaunal groups with more restricted distribution are the ones with low dispersal potential; (2) meiofaunal groups with higher probability of finding new species for science are the ones with low dispersal potential; (3) the proportion of the global species pool of each meiofaunal group present in each area at the regional scale is negatively related to body size, and positively related to their occurrence in the endobenthic habitat.Conclusion/Significance: Our macroecological analysis of meiofauna, in the framework of the ubiquity hypothesis for microscopic organisms, indicates that not only body size but mostly dispersal ability and also occurrence in the endobenthic habitat are important correlates of diversity for these understudied animals, with different importance at different spatial scales. Furthermore, since the Western Mediterranean is one of the best-studied areas in the world, the large number of undescribed species (37%) highlights that the census of marine meiofauna is still very far from being complete

Primary breast cancer and health related quality of life in Spanish women: The EpiGEICAM case-control study

This study evaluates the impact of breast cancer (BC) in health related quality of life (HRQL) and in psychological distress (PD) during the initial phases of the disease and looks for contributing factors. A multicentric case-control study, EpiGEICAM, was carried out. Incident BC cases and age- and residence- matched controls were included. Clinical, epidemiological, HRQL (SF-36) and PD information (GHQ-28) was collected. We used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate OR of low HRQL and of PD in cases compared to controls, and to identify factors associated with low HRQL and with PD. Among 896 BC cases and 890 control women, cases had poorer scores than both, the reference population and the control group, in all SF-36 scales. BC women with lower education, younger, active workers, never smokers, those with comorbidities, in stage IV and with surgical treatment had lower physical HRQL; factors associated with low mental HRQL were dissatisfaction with social support, being current smoker and having children. Cases had a fivefold increased odds of PD compared to controls. Managing comorbidities and trying to promote social support, especially in younger and less educated women, could improve well-being of BC patients

Modification of BRCA1-associated breast cancer risk by HMMR overexpression

Breast cancer risk for carriers of BRCA1 pathological variants is modified by genetic factors. Genetic variation in HMMR may contribute to this effect. However, the impact of risk modifiers on cancer biology remains undetermined and the biological basis of increased risk is poorly understood. Here, we depict an interplay of molecular, cellular, and tissue microenvironment alterations that increase BRCA1-associated breast cancer risk. Analysis of genome-wide association results suggests that diverse biological processes, including links to BRCA1-HMMR profiles, influence risk. HMMR overexpression in mouse mammary epithelium increases Brca1-mutant tumorigenesis by modulating the cancer cell phenotype and tumor microenvironment. Elevated HMMR activates AURKA and reduces ARPC2 localization in the mitotic cell cortex, which is correlated with micronucleation and activation of cGAS-STING and non-canonical NF-kappa B signaling. The initial tumorigenic events are genomic instability, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and tissue infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages. The findings reveal a biological foundation for increased risk of BRCA1-associated breast cancer. The effect of hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (HMMR) expression in BRCA1-associated breast cancer risk remains unknown. Here, HMMR overexpression induces the activation of cGAS-STING and non-canonical NF-kappa B signalling, instigating an immune permissive environment for breast cancer development

Biological basis of extensive pleiotropy between blood traits and cancer risk

Background: The immune system has a central role in preventing carcinogenesis. Alteration of systemic immune cell levels may increase cancer risk. However, the extent to which common genetic variation influences blood traits and cancer risk remains largely undetermined. Here, we identify pleiotropic variants and predict their underlying molecular and cellular alterations. Methods: Multivariate Cox regression was used to evaluate associations between blood traits and cancer diagnosis in cases in the UK Biobank. Shared genetic variants were identified from the summary statistics of the genome-wide association studies of 27 blood traits and 27 cancer types and subtypes, applying the conditional/conjunctional false-discovery rate approach. Analysis of genomic positions, expression quantitative trait loci, enhancers, regulatory marks, functionally defined gene sets, and bulk- and single-cell expression profiles predicted the biological impact of pleiotropic variants. Plasma small RNAs were sequenced to assess association with cancer diagnosis. Results: The study identified 4093 common genetic variants, involving 1248 gene loci, that contributed to blood-cancer pleiotropism. Genomic hotspots of pleiotropism include chromosomal regions 5p15-TERT and 6p21-HLA. Genes whose products are involved in regulating telomere length are found to be enriched in pleiotropic variants. Pleiotropic gene candidates are frequently linked to transcriptional programs that regulate hematopoiesis and define progenitor cell states of immune system development. Perturbation of the myeloid lineage is indicated by pleiotropic associations with defined master regulators and cell alterations. Eosinophil count is inversely associated with cancer risk. A high frequency of pleiotropic associations is also centered on the regulation of small noncoding Y-RNAs. Predicted pleiotropic Y-RNAs show specific regulatory marks and are overabundant in the normal tissue and blood of cancer patients. Analysis of plasma small RNAs in women who developed breast cancer indicates there is an overabundance of Y-RNA preceding neoplasm diagnosis. Conclusions: This study reveals extensive pleiotropism between blood traits and cancer risk. Pleiotropism is linked to factors and processes involved in hematopoietic development and immune system function, including components of the major histocompatibility complexes, and regulators of telomere length and myeloid lineage. Deregulation of Y-RNAs is also associated with pleiotropism. Overexpression of these elements might indicate increased cancer risk