Bacteriophage MS2 displays unreported capsid variability assembling T = 4 and mixed capsids

Bacteriophage MS2 is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus encapsulated in an asymmetric T = 3 pseudo-icosahedral capsid. It infects Escherichia coli through the F-pilus, which it binds through a maturation protein incorporated into its capsid. Cryogenic electron microscopy has previously shown that its genome is highly ordered within virions, and that it regulates the assembly process of the capsid. In this study we have assembled recombinant MS2 capsids with non-genomic RNA containing the capsid incorporation sequence, and investigated the structures formed, revealing that T = 3, T = 4 and mixed capsids between these two triangulation numbers are generated, and resolving structures of T = 3 and T = 4 capsids to 4 Å and 6 Å respectively. We conclude that the basic MS2 capsid can form a mix of T = 3 and T = 4 structures, supporting a role for the ordered genome in favouring the formation of functional T = 3 virions

Utilidad de los agonistas, moduladores selectivos y antagonistas puros del receptor de estrógenos en estudios morfofuncionales del útero de la rata

De acuerdo con el Instituto Nacional de la Salud, la especie murina es una de las especies más importantes en el estudio de la fisiología y de un gran número de procesos que tienen lugar en el organismo, tanto en la especie humana como en los animales. Se estima que en el 90-95 % de los estudios realizados en biomedicina se utilizan ratones y ratas. En la rata, la función reproductora es debida a las hormonas esteroideas ováricas, estrógenos (E) y progesterona (P). Durante las distintas fases del ciclo estral, el útero sufre cambios morfológicos y funcionales que dependen de la acción de los E y la P y que incluyen la proliferación celular y la síntesis de receptores de progesterona en el epitelio, y la proliferación celular del estroma y su consecuente decidualización, respectivamente. La acción de los E y la P en el útero está mediada por receptores intracelulares, los receptores de E (RE) y los receptores de P (RP). Ambos receptores tienen dos isofomas, α y β para los RE y A y B para los RP. Estudios previos realizados tanto en ratones knock-out (KO) para una de las isoformas del RE y las dos del RP, como en ratas ovariectomizadas (OVX) a las que se administran agonistas estrogénicos selectivos para una de las isoformas del RE, han revelado que la mayoría de las acciones de los E en el útero son mediadas por la isoforma α del RE, aunque en la actualidad el papel específico de cada una de las isoformas se conoce solo parcialmente. Tanto el conocimiento molecular del RE como los avances farmacológicos han permitido el desarrollo de nuevos agentes agonistas y antagonistas para las distintas isoformas del RE que hacen posible estudiar la acción que desempeña en el útero cada una de las isoformas del RE

La sostenibilitat dels productes locals agroalimentaris de l'illa de Menorca

Per conservar la reserva de la biosfera de Menorca, es necessari potenciar el consum de productes locals, les bones pràctiques agrícoles i la preservació de les tradicions de l'illa. La finalitat d'aquest projecte és fer una anàlisi ambiental, social i econòmic integrant diferents eines i analitzant-les des d'una visió interdisciplinària per tal de poder tenir una visió global i detallada de l'estat actual del producte local a l'illa de Menorca. Per assolir aquests objectius s'ha organitzat una metodologia diversa i separada entre els diversos blocs dels treball (Ambiental, Econòmic, Ecoeficiència i Social). Per dur a terme l'anàlisi del bloc ambiental d'aquest treball i per tal d'avaluar l'impacte ambiental del transport associat als productes que són importats a l'illa, és necessari recopilar la informació sobre l'origen de producció dels productes seleccionats. De cara a realitzar l'anàlisi d'ecoeficiència dels productes, es tracten les dades econòmiques i ambientals recopilades a l'estudi. Del bloc econòmic s'utilitzen els diferents preus de cada producte en els diversos llocs d'estudi (supermercats i mercats locals) i del bloc ambiental s'utilitza el càlcul de la petjada de carboni per a cadascun d'aquests productes. Per a dur a terme l'anàlisi de la percepció social es realitzen enquestes als consumidors (mercats i supermercats) i entrevistes a diferents actors del cicle del producte local. Els resultats més importants assolits són: que els productes importats elaborats sempre són més econòmics que els locals, en contraposició en el cas dels productes frescos el 71% són més econòmics els locals. En l'àmbit ambiental, cal destacar que els productes importats tenen un increment del impacte ambiental en el transport entre el 13-592% sobre els locals. La informació que proporcionen els nivells de coneixements de les etiquetes agroalimentàries, en relació a l'ecoeficiència dels productes elaborats dona conclusions correlatives. L'etiqueta més coneguda per un 96% enquestats, és la del formatge DO Maó-Menorca; aquest producte és juntament amb la llet, el producte més ecoeficient dels elaborats. Pel que fa a les respostes obtingudes amb les entrevistes cal destacar que, la definició més completa de producte local és proporcionada pels productors i l'OBSAM, en canvi, l'administració és l'actor que defineix producte local de manera menys precisa. Per tant, al ser tots aquests actors claus en el cicle del producte local, es pot afirmar que és completament necessària una definició única i compartida del que és producte local per tal de poder dur a terme una bona promoció del producte local de l'illa. Per acabar, la majoria d'entrevistats consideren que els actors més importants són els productors i l'administració, i els consumidors enquestats consideren que la barrera principal per no comprar producte local és el preu. Per últim, es proposen un seguit de línies estratègiques, programes i accions per tal d'augmentar l'oferta i la demanda de producte local agroalimentari, enfortint el sector agroalimentari menorquí i progressant cap a una major sobirania alimentària.To preserve the biosphere reserve of Menorca is necessary to promote the consumption of local produce, good agricultural practices and the preservation of the traditions of the island. The purpose of this project is to make an environmental, social and economic project integrating different tools and analysing them from an interdisciplinary approach in order to have a detailed overview of the current state of the local product on the island Menorca. To achieve these goals has organized a diverse methodology and separated between different blocks of work (Environmental, Economic, Social and eco-efficiency). To perform the analysis of the environmental unit of this work and to evaluate the environmental impact of transport associated with the products that are imported to the island, it is necessary to gather information on the origin of production of the products selected. Facing the analysis of ecoefficiency of products, treated the economic and environmental data collected in the study. The economic bloc used different prices for each product in the different study sites (supermarkets and local markets) and environmental block is used to calculate the carbon footprint for each of these products. Finally, to carry out the social block, are made surveys to the consumers (market and supermarkets) and interviews for different key participants of the cycle of local products of the island. The most important results are achieved; that imported products are always made cheaper than local, as opposed to the case of fresh products are 71% cheaper premises. In the environmental field, note that imported products have increased the environmental impact in transportation between 13 to 592% of the premises. The information you provide levels of knowledge of agro tags in relation to the eco-efficiency of products made woman correlative conclusions. The label best known for 96% respondents, is the DO Mahon-Menorca cheese; this product with milk, products made of more eco-efficient. Regarding the responses obtained with the interviews should be noted that the complete product definition is provided by local producers and OBSAM, however, the administration is the actor who defines local produce way less precise. Therefore, these being key players in the local product cycle, we can say that it is completely necessary and shared single definition of what local products in order to perform a good promotion of local products of the island . Finally, the majority of respondents consider that the most important players are the producers and directors, and consumers polled believe the main barrier for not buying local products is price. Finally, we propose a series of strategic programs and actions to increase the supply and demand for local food products, strengthening the food industry Menorcan progress towards greater food sovereignty.Para conservar la reserva de la biosfera de Menorca, es necesario potenciar el consumo de productos locales, las buenas prácticas agrícolas y la preservación de las tradiciones de la isla. La finalidad de este proyecto es realizar un análisis ambiental, social y económico integrando diferentes herramientas y analizándolas desde una visión interdisciplinaria para poder tener una visión global y detallada del estado actual del producto local en la isla de Menorca. Para alcanzar estos objetivos se ha organizado una metodología diversa y separada entre los diversos bloques de trabajo (Ambiental, Económico, Ecoeficiencia y Social). Para llevar a cabo el análisis del bloque ambiental de este trabajo y para evaluar el impacto ambiental del transporte asociado a los productos que son importados en la isla, es necesario recopilar la información sobre el origen de producción de los productos seleccionados. De cara a realizar el análisis de ecoeficiencia de los productos, se tratan los datos económicos y ambientales recopilados en el estudio. Del bloque económico se utilizan los diferentes precios de cada producto en los diversos lugares de estudio (supermercados y mercados locales) y del bloque ambiental se utiliza el cálculo de la huella de carbono para cada uno de estos productos. Finalmente, para llevar a cabo el análisis de la percepción social se realizan encuestas a los consumidores (mercados y supermercados) y entrevistas a diferentes actores del ciclo del producto local. Los resultados más importantes alcanzados son; que los productos importados elaborados siempre son más económicos que los locales, en contraposición en el caso de los productos frescos 71% son más económicos los locales. En el ámbito ambiental, cabe destacar que los productos importados tienen un incremento del impacto ambiental en el transporte entre el 13-592% sobre los locales. La información que proporcionan los niveles de conocimientos de las etiquetas agroalimentarias, en relación a la ecoeficiencia de los productos elaborados mujer conclusiones correlativas. La etiqueta más conocida por un 96% encuestados, es la del queso DO Mahón-Menorca; este producto es junto con la leche, el producto más ecoeficiente de los elaborados. En cuanto a las respuestas obtenidas con las entrevistas hay que destacar que, la definición más completa de producto local es proporcionada por los productores y el OBSAM, en cambio, la administración es el actor que define producto local de manera menos precisa. Por tanto, al ser todos estos actores claves en el ciclo del producto local, se puede afirmar que es completamente necesaria una definición única y compartida de lo que es producto local para poder llevar a cabo una buena promoción del producto local de la isla. Por último, la mayoría de entrevistados consideran que los actores más importantes son los productores y la administración, y los consumidores encuestados consideran que la barrera principal para no comprar el producto local es el precio. Por último, se proponen una serie de líneas estratégicas, programas y acciones para aumentar la oferta y la demanda de producto local agroalimentario, fortaleciendo el sector agroalimentario menorquín y progresando hacia una mayor soberanía alimentaria

Measurement of the Crab Nebula spectrum over three decades in energy with the MAGIC telescopes

The MAGIC stereoscopic system collected 69 hours of Crab Nebula data between October 2009 and April 2011. Analysis of this data sample using the latest improvements in the MAGIC stereoscopic software provided an unprecedented precision of spectral and night-by-night light curve determination at gamma rays. We derived a differential spectrum with a single instrument from 50 GeV up to almost 30 TeV with 5 bins per energy decade. At low energies, MAGIC results, combined with Fermi-LAT data, show a flat and broad Inverse Compton peak. The overall fit to the data between 1 GeV and 30 TeV is not well described by a log-parabola function. We find that a modified log-parabola function with an exponent of 2.5 instead of 2 provides a good description of the data ($\chi^2=35/26$). Using systematic uncertainties of red the MAGIC and Fermi-LAT measurements we determine the position of the Inverse Compton peak to be at (53 $\pm$ 3stat + 31syst -13syst) GeV, which is the most precise estimation up to date and is dominated by the systematic effects. There is no hint of the integral flux variability on daily scales at energies above 300 GeV when systematic uncertainties are included in the flux measurement. We consider three state- of-the-art theoretical models to describe the overall spectral energy distribution of the Crab Nebula. The constant B-field model cannot satisfactorily reproduce the VHE spectral measurements presented in this work, having particular difficulty reproducing the broadness of the observed IC peak. Most probably this implies that the assumption of the homogeneity of the magnetic field inside the nebula is incorrect. On the other hand, the time-dependent 1D spectral model provides a good fit of the new VHE results when considering a 80 {\mu}G magnetic field. However, it fails to match the data when including the morphology of the nebula at lower wavelengths.Comment: accepted by JHEAp, 9 pages, 6 figure

Self-Reported Health Status in Primary Health Care: The Influence of Immigration and Other Associated Factors

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study are to compare self-reported health status between Spanish-born and Latin American-born Spanish residents, adjusted by length of residence in the host country; and additionally, to analyse sociodemographic and psychosocial variables associated with a better health status. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional population based study of Latin American-born (n = 691) and Spanish-born (n = 903) in 15 urban primary health care centres in Madrid (Spain), carried out between 2007 and 2009. The participants provided information, through an interview, about self-reported health status, socioeconomic characteristics, psychosocial factors and migration conditions. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The Spanish-born participants reported a better health status than the Latin America-born participants (79.8% versus 69.3%, p<0.001). Different patterns of self-reported health status were observed depending on the length of residence in the host country. The proportion of immigrants with a better health status is greater in those who have been in Spain for less than five years compared to those who have stayed longer. Better health status is significantly associated with being men, under 34 years old, being Spanish-born, having a monthly incomes of over 1000 euros, and having considerable social support and low stress. CONCLUSIONS: Better self-reported health status is associated with being Spanish-born, men, under 34 years old, having an uppermiddle-socioeconomic status, adequate social support, and low stress. Additionally, length of residence in the host country is seen as a related factor in the self-reported health status of immigrants

Differential branching fraction and angular analysis of the decay B0→K∗0μ+μ−

The angular distribution and differential branching fraction of the decay B 0→ K ∗0 μ + μ − are studied using a data sample, collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at s√=7 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1. Several angular observables are measured in bins of the dimuon invariant mass squared, q 2. A first measurement of the zero-crossing point of the forward-backward asymmetry of the dimuon system is also presented. The zero-crossing point is measured to be q20=4.9±0.9GeV2/c4 , where the uncertainty is the sum of statistical and systematic uncertainties. The results are consistent with the Standard Model predictions

OBSERVATORIO TERRITORIAL Y AMBIENTAL ALENTEJO, EXTREMADURA, CENTRO (OTALEX C): DE GIS A IDE.

In the scope of the Spain-Portugal INTERREG projects and FEDER funded POCTEP program, OTALEX C (Territorial and Environmental Monitoring Alentejo Extremadura Center) project aims at studying of various territorial, socioeconomic and environmental indicators. It is the fundamental objective of this project, to develop a geo-portal accessible via internet, for anyone, so that the information will be useful in making decisions related to land use and therefore sustainable development of the environment. Under this general framework over the past fifteen years, we have developed different projects that have set the standardization of data between Portugal and Spain, also was designed GIS systems, and developed regional models and indicator systems, culminating in the current Spatial Data Infrastructure SDI-OTALEX C

Controlling Groundwater Exploitation Through Economic Instruments: Current Practices, Challenges and Innovative Approaches

Groundwater can be considered as a common-pool resource, is often overexploited and, as a result, there are growing management pressures. This chapter starts with a broad presentation of the range of economic instruments that can be used for groundwater management, considering current practices and innovative approaches inspired from the literature on Common Pool Resources management. It then goes on with a detailed presentation of groundwater allocation policies implemented in France, the High Plains aquifer in the USA, and Chile. The chapter concludes with a discussion of social and political difficulties associated with implementing economic instruments for groundwater management

Opposite-side flavour tagging of B mesons at the LHCb experiment

The calibration and performance of the oppositeside flavour tagging algorithms used for the measurements of time-dependent asymmetries at the LHCb experiment are described. The algorithms have been developed using simulated events and optimized and calibrated with B + →J/ψK +, B0 →J/ψK ∗0 and B0 →D ∗− μ + νμ decay modes with 0.37 fb−1 of data collected in pp collisions at √ s = 7 TeV during the 2011 physics run. The oppositeside tagging power is determined in the B + → J/ψK + channel to be (2.10 ± 0.08 ± 0.24) %, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic

Observation of associated production of a ZZ boson with a DD meson in the~forward region

A search for associated production of a $Z$ boson with an open charm meson is presented using a data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $1.0\,\mathrm{fb}^{-`}$ of proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7\,TeV, collected by the LHCb experiment. %% Seven candidate events for associated production of a $Z$ boson with a $D^0$ meson and four candidate events for a $Z$ boson with a $D^+$ meson are observed with a combined significance of 5.1standard deviations. The production cross-sections in the forward region are measured to be $$\sigma_{Z\rightarrow\mu^+\mu^-\!,D^0} = 2.50\pm1.12\pm0.22pb$$ $$\sigma_{Z\rightarrow\mu^+\mu^-\!,D^+} = 0.44\pm0.23\pm0.03pb,$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figure