Deporte y espectáculo en la narrativa de los 'e-sports': el caso de 'League of Legends'

e-sports have stablished themselves in the leisure and entertainment digital market with similar number of followers, turnover and advertising to those of traditional mass sports. In addition to fostering individual fantasy without space-time limitations as it happens with video games, esports are articulated on discursive strategies and techniques that expand the emotional bond between the player, the sport and the audience. This article identifies and describes the evolution of video games throughout their history, the conversion of many of them into e-sports —clarifying the elements that make a discipline such us a videogame becomes a spectacle—, and focuses on the ludic proporsal of e-sports from a case study on League of Legends, the world's most popular title, whose unique narrative strategy has made it a game, sport and spectacle hybrid.Los deportes electrónicos se han consolidado en el mercado del ocio y entretenimiento digital con cifras de seguidores, facturación y publicidad similares a las de los tradicionales deportes masivos. Además de fomentar la fantasía individual sin limitaciones espacio-temporales como sucede con los videojuegos, los deportes electrónicos se articulan sobre estrategias discursivas y técnicas que amplían el vínculo emocional entre el jugador, el deporte y la audiencia. Este artículo identifica y describe la evolución de los videojuegos a lo largo de su historia, la conversión de muchos de ellos en deportes electrónicos —clarificando los elementos que hacen que una disciplina como un videojuego pueda convertirse en un espectáculo—, y se centra en la propuesta lúdica de los deportes electrónicos a partir de un estudio de caso sobre League of Legends, el título más popular a nivel mundial, cuya singular estrategia narrativa le ha convertido en un híbrido de juego, deporte y espectáculo

Implicación de la matriz extracelular de biofilms de Bacillus subtilis en la interacción beneficiosa con la planta

Los biofilms bacterianos están constituidos por comunidades de células unidas entre sí por una matriz extracelular polimérica. Los componentes de la matriz extracelular pueden variar dependiendo de la cepa bacteriana, pero en general se puede decir que está constituida por proteínas, exopolisacáridos y/o ácidos nucleicos. La matriz extracelular es un tejido multifuncional que contribuye a: la arquitectura final del biofilm, la regulación del flujo de nutrientes y gases dentro del biofilm, la interacción con las superficies, y la protección de las células frente a agentes tóxicos externos. Aunque son numerosos los estudios que se han centrado en el papel de la matriz en la virulencia de bacterias patógenas de humanos, este tejido polimérico puede ser igualmente importante en la interacción beneficiosa de un agente de biocontrol con la planta. Tanto para el desarrollo de la actividad de biocontrol como para la promoción del crecimiento radicular es necesaria la colonización y persistencia del microorganismo sobre la superficie de la planta, y la pregunta es hasta qué punto es importante la formación de biofilms. En este estudio trabajamos con cepas de Bacillus como agentes de control biológico (BCA) frente a enfermedades de cucurbitáceas y a su vez promotoras del crecimiento radicular (PGPR por sus siglas en inglés plant growth promoting rhizobacteria). Valiéndonos de una batería de mutantes en distintos elementos estructurales y funcionales de la matriz extracelular, estudiamos los patrones de colonización y persistencia de estas cepas en filosfera y rizosfera y evaluamos su efecto sobre la actividad PGPR. Las diferencias observadas entre algunos mutantes de matriz en cuanto a la dinámica de población y la distribución espacial en los dos nichos de estudio, así como en su actividad PGPR, apuntan a su relevancia en la ecología y funcionalidad de estos agentes de biocontrol.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Commissioning of a synchrotron-based proton beam therapy system for use with a Monte Carlo treatment planning system

This work tackles the commissioning and validation of a novel combination of a synchrotron-based proton beam therapy system (Hitachi, Ltd.) for use with a Monte Carlo treatment planning system (TPS). Four crucial aspects in this configuration have been investigated: (1) Monte Carlo-based correction performed by the TPS to the measured integrated depth-dose curves (IDD), (2) circular spot modelling with a single Gaussian function to characterize the synchrotron physical spot, which is elliptical, (3) the modelling of the range shifter that enables using only one set of measurements in open beams, and (4) the Monte Carlo dose calculation model in small fields. Integrated depth-dose curves were measured with a PTW Bragg peak chamber and corrected, with a Monte Carlo model, to account for energy absorbed outside the detector. The elliptical spot was measured by IBA Lynx scintillator, EBT3 films and PTW microDiamond. The accuracy of the TPS (RayStation, RaySearch Laboratories) at spot modelling with a circular Gaussian function was assessed. The beam model was validated using spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) fields. We took single-point doses at several depths through the central axis using a PTW Farmer chamber, for fields between 2 × 2cm and 30 × 30cm. We checked the range-shifter modelling from open-beam data. We tested clinical cases with film and an ioni- zation chamber array (IBA Matrix). Sigma differences for spots fitted using 2D images and 1D profiles to elliptical and circular Gaussian models were below 0.22 mm. Differences between SOBP measurements at single points and TPS calculations for all fields between 5 × 5 and 30 × 30cm were below 2.3%. Smaller fields had larger differences: up to 3.8% in the 2 × 2cm field. Mean differences at several depths along the central axis were generally below 1%. Differences in range- shifter doses were below 2.4%. Gamma test (3%, 3 mm) results for clinical cases were generally above 95% for Matrix and film. Approaches for modelling synchrotron proton beams have been validated. Dose values for open and range- shifter fields demonstrate accurate Monte Carlo correction for IDDs. Elliptical spots can be successfully modelled using a circular Gaussian, which is accurate for patient calculations and can be used for small fields. A double-Gaussian spot can improve small-field calculations. The range-shifter modelling approach, which reduces clinical commissioning time, is adequat

Reframing the link between metabolism and NLRP3 inflammasome: therapeutic opportunities

Inflammasomes are multiprotein signaling platforms in the cytosol that senses exogenous and endogenous danger signals and respond with the maturation and secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 and pyroptosis to induce inflammation and protect the host. The inflammasome best studied is the Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat-containing family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. It is activated in a two-step process: the priming and the activation, leading to sensor NLRP3 oligomerization and recruitment of both adaptor ASC and executioner pro-caspase 1, which is activated by cleavage. Moreover, NLRP3 inflammasome activation is regulated by posttranslational modifications, including ubiquitination/deubiquitination, phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, acetylation/deacetylation, SUMOylation and nitrosylation, and interaction with NLPR3 protein binding partners. Moreover, the connection between it and metabolism is receiving increasing attention in this field. In this review, we present the structure, functions, activation, and regulation of NLRP3, with special emphasis on regulation by mitochondrial dysfunction-mtROS production and metabolic signals, i.e., metabolites as well as enzymes. By understanding the regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, specific inhibitors can be rationally designed for the treatment and prevention of various immune- or metabolic-based diseases. Lastly, we review current NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors and their mechanism of action

Practice-oriented solutions integrating intraoperative electron irradiation and personalized proton therapy for recurrent or unresectable cancers: Proof of concept and potential for dual FLASH effect

BackgroundOligo-recurrent disease has a consolidated evidence of long-term surviving patients due to the use of intense local cancer therapy. The latter combines real-time surgical exploration/resection with high-energy electron beam single dose of irradiation. This results in a very precise radiation dose deposit, which is an essential element of contemporary multidisciplinary individualized oncology.MethodsPatient candidates to proton therapy were evaluated in Multidisciplinary Tumor Board to consider improved treatment options based on the institutional resources and expertise. Proton therapy was delivered by a synchrotron-based pencil beam scanning technology with energy levels from 70.2 to 228.7 MeV, whereas intraoperative electrons were generated in a miniaturized linear accelerator with dose rates ranging from 22 to 36 Gy/min (at Dmax) and energies from 6 to 12 MeV.ResultsIn a period of 24 months, 327 patients were treated with proton therapy: 218 were adults, 97 had recurrent cancer, and 54 required re-irradiation. The specific radiation modalities selected in five cases included an integral strategy to optimize the local disease management by the combination of surgery, intraoperative electron boost, and external pencil beam proton therapy as components of the radiotherapy management. Recurrent cancer was present in four cases (cervix, sarcoma, melanoma, and rectum), and one patient had a primary unresectable locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In re-irradiated patients (cervix and rectum), a tentative radical total dose was achieved by integrating beams of electrons (ranging from 10- to 20-Gy single dose) and protons (30 to 54-Gy Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE), in 10–25 fractions).ConclusionsIndividual case solution strategies combining intraoperative electron radiation therapy and proton therapy for patients with oligo-recurrent or unresectable localized cancer are feasible. The potential of this combination can be clinically explored with electron and proton FLASH beams

Observació i estudis. Productes i usuaris

Facultat de Belles Arts, Universitat de Barcelona. Assignatura: Artefactes i usos: disseny inclusiu, Curs: 2022-2023, Coordinador: Miquel Mallol Esquef