Changes in heart rate variability (HRV) in field hockey players during the 2006 World Cup

The aim of this study is to determine the changes in heart rate variability (HRV) in field hockey players during the course of a world championship. The Spanish national team took part in the study by making daily records of the R-R interval (Omegawave System) on the days when matches took place. The baseline heart rate (HR) and several parameters of HRV were measured. The evolution of the average values of the HR and the various parameters of HRV during the 7 matches was compared using a MANOVA, the contrasts regarding the last match being analysed. The HR increases progressively during the seven matches, with an especially significant increase in the last match (F(18.6) = 3.27; p=.024). RMSSD and pNN50 parameters progressively decrease throughout the tournament, with an especially significant decrease for pNN50 (F(18.6) = 2.96; p=.034). Regarding the parameters of the frequency spectrum, LF and LF/HF show an increase throughout the 7 matches (for LF, F(18.6) = 2.72; p=.046), and HF presented lower values. HRV decreases progressively and the values of the parameters related to parasympathetic system activity (RMSSD and HF) reduce, which are indicative of good psychic-physical adaptability to the workload. At the same time, the value of the parameters related to sympathetic system activity (LF and LF/HF) increases, suggesting an increase in fatigue, tiredness and poor adaptability in general. Consequently, the analysis of HRV may be a good marker for monitoring the psychic-physical state, cardiovascular adaptability during exercise and a possible state of physical overload in athletes participating in competitions.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Use of residual diatomaceous earth as a silica source in geopolymer production

[EN] The use of binders as an alternative to Portland cement has gained importance in recent years. Among them, geopolymeric binders, developed by the reaction between an aluminosilicate precursor and a high alkalinity solution, have become one of the most promising alternatives. The activating solution generally comprises waterglass and sodium hydroxide. Since waterglass is the most expensive material and has a high environmental impact, using alternative silica sources will lead to more sustainable binders. Previous studies have successfully used rice husk ash (RHA) as a silica source. This research aims to assess the possibility of using diatomaceous earth (or diatomite) as an alternative silica source, like the previous studies with RHA. Diatomite is a sedimentary rock with a high amorphous silica content formed by fossilized diatom remains. In this work, the geopolymer was obtained using a fluid cracking catalyst residue as the precursor and six different activating solution types prepared with commercial products, residual diatomite (from beer and wine industries) and RHA. The results open a new possible route for the reuse and recovery of diatomaceous earth residue, although the compressive strength results of the mortars were slightly lower than those for mortars prepared with RHA or commercial reagents.This work has been financially supported by the Spanish education, culture and sport ministry through the project BIA 2015-70107-R. Thanks are given to Heineken, Bodegas Vicente Gandia, OMYA, Dacsa and JJ Minerals for providing the materials.Font-Pérez, A.; Soriano Martinez, L.; Reig, L.; Tashima, M.; Borrachero Rosado, MV.; Monzó Balbuena, JM.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ. (2018). Use of residual diatomaceous earth as a silica source in geopolymer production. Materials Letters. 223:10-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2018.04.010S101322

Innovation, Creativity and Entreprenaeurship Learning Outcomes in Higher Education

A major trend in higher education is the current shift towards improving students’ creativity and individual thinking. The aim of this shift is to bring students closer to the real world and the complex problems they will encounter outside formal education. Competencies describe what training participants should be able to do at the end of such training. This paper defines the learning outcomes associated with the innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship competency. This proposal draws on a review of the innovation and competencies literature and the expertise of selected staff. According to the literature review and the following analysis by the authors, the main indicators (key aspects) associated with the competency are as follows: seek opportunities, generate ideas, execute plans and add value. These indicators vary by educational level to reflect increasing complexity and difficulty in the learning outcomes at each stage of university education. This paper proposes learning outcomes and indicators associated with the competencies of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. It corresponds to the first essential step associated with the definition of a competency assessment.This research has been partially supported by: Project for educational improvement B019/14. Integrating teamwork and leadership in class, funded by School of Higher Technical Studies in Engineering and Design and the Vice-Rector of Studies, Quality and Accreditation. Project for educational improvement (PIME/2014/A09). Students' perceptions and motivations in the development and assessment of competencies at the UPV, funded by the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Informática and the Vice-Rector of Studies, Quality and Accreditation. European Union [FINCODA 554493-EPP-1-2014-1-FI-EPPKA2-KA] and Universitat Politècnica de València [PIME/2014/A/013/A - Barómetro INCODE: Evaluación de Competencias de lnnovación en la Empresa y en la Universidad]. (The European Commission’s support for this publication does not constitute an endorsement of its contents, which reflect the views of the authors only. The European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use of the information contained herein). Project for educational improvement (PIME/2013/A/016/B) RECICRE - Rubric for evaluating competence of innovation and Tempus IDEA Inter Disciplinary Education Agenda.Cuenca, L.; Bonet Espinosa, MP.; Boza García, A.; Fuentes-Durá, P.; Lajara-Camilleri, N.; Marín García, JA.; Peris-Ortiz, M.... (2015). Innovation, Creativity and Entreprenaeurship Learning Outcomes in Higher Education. IATED, International Association of Technology, Education and Development. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/7284

REGULATION OF BETA-ADRENOCEPTORS ACTIVITYUSING SYNTHETIC LIGHT-REGULATED MOLECULES

Beta-adrenoceptors (ß-AR) are prototypical G proteincoupled receptors and important pharmacological targets for many diseases. Indeed, a number of approved drugs target these receptors due to their key role on many physiological functions. Among other examples, we encounter ß1-AR antagonists (ß- Blockers), which constitute the first-line therapy for the treatment of heart diseases, and ß2-AR agonists, which act as bronchodilators for the treatment of breathing pathologies. Considering the relevance of these receptors, achieving a reversible and localised control of their activity would provide a powerful tool, both for its research applications and its clinical potential. In this context, photopharmacology arises as a potent approach. Photopharmacology is an emerging field based on the use of synthetic light-regulated molecules to allow reversible spatiotemporal control of target receptors in native tissues. These ligands have the potential to provide a precise and controllable therapeutic action with increased efficacy and reduced side effects. Moreover, the fine regulation on demand of the receptor activation state is of great interest for their study in non-modified cells, tissues and organisms. The present project provides the first proof of concept for beta-adrenoceptor photopharmacology. We first designed and synthesised libraries of lightregulated compounds in order to regulate ß-AR activity with spatiotemporal precision. Subsequent testing highlighted the successful development of compounds with promising pharmacological properties which can be reversibly and irreversibly controlled by light. The discovered molecules enable a fine control of ß-AR in their native environment that will certainly open the door to innovative research procedures and may inspire future personalized therapies targeting these receptors

In vitro and in vivo regulation of ß-Adrenoceptors signaling using synthetic light-regulated molecules

Beta-adrenoceptors (ß-AR) are prototypical G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and important pharmacological targets for numerous diseases. Indeed, a number of approved drugs target ß-AR, which are key regulators of many physiological functions. Among other examples, ß1-AR antagonists (known as ß-Blockers) are first-line therapies for the treatment of heart failure, and ß2-AR agonists, which act as bronchodilators, are widely used for the treatment of breathing pathologies. Considering the medical relevance of these receptors, achieving a reversible and localized control of their activity would provide a powerful research and clinical tool. GPCR signaling is currently recognized as a multidimensional process governed by molecular, spatial and temporal components. Uncovering the role of each of these dimensions is crucial to improve our knowledge on cell communication, to understand how different pathways give rise to cellular and physiological effects, and to know how can we interact with biological systems with precision using drugs. Photopharmacology is an emerging field in which light-sensitive molecules are used to control the function of a given target protein in native tissues. The modulation of the target activity is achieved by small, drug-like, photoregulated ligands. By the use of light, both spatial and temporal control of the compound activity can be achieved in unprecedented manners compared to conventional pharmacology. These ligands have the potential to provide highly precise and controllable therapeutic actions that may result in increased efficacies and reduced side effects. Importantly, photopharmacology may allow to gain mechanistic insight on the interplay between the activation time and the receptor location during signaling processes in non-modified cells, tissues and whole organisms. Our research focused on the generation of new molecular tools for beta-adrenoceptors photopharmacology will be presented in this communication. First, several libraries of light-sensitive compounds with the aim to regulate ß-AR activity with spatiotemporal precision were designed and synthesized. Subsequent testing in cell preparations demonstrated the successful development of compounds with promising pharmacological properties, which can be reversibly and irreversibly controlled by light. Among those, several hit compounds were identified as ligands for beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors with low nanomolar activities. These libraries compounds were found to be active enough to become useful photopharmacological tools, so we also performed in vivo experiments to determine their research potential in physiological environments. Indeed, the discovered molecules enabled a fine control of ß-AR in their native environment. We believe that the results of these studies will certainly open the door to innovative research procedures and may inspire future therapies targeting ß-AR

On numerical relativistic hydrodynamics and barotropic equations of state

The characteristic formulation of the relativistic hydrodynamic equations (Donat et al 1998 J. Comput. Phys. 146 58), which has been implemented in many relativistic hydro-codes that make use of Godunov-type methods, has to be slightly modified in the case of evolving barotropic flows. For a barotropic equation of state, a removable singularity appears in one of the eigenvectors. The singularity can be avoided by means of a simple renormalization which makes the system of eigenvectors well defined and complete. An alternative strategy for the particular case of barotropic flows is discussed.Comment: 7 pages, no figures. Accepted for publication in Class. Quantum Gra

New symmetrical quinazoline derivatives selectively induce apoptosis in human cancer cells

In the search of new symmetrical derivatives with anticancer activity, we have looked for novel compounds able to induce a selective proapoptotic mechanism in cancer cells. The potential antitumoral activity of several quinazoline derivatives was evaluated in vitro examining their cytotoxic effects against human breast, colon and bladder cancer cell lines. The IC(50) value of the compounds that showed cytotoxic activity was calculated. These compounds were tested for their ability to induce caspase-3 activation and nuclear chromatin degradation. Non-tumoral human cell lines were used to test the selectivity of the cytotoxic compounds against cancer cells. Several compounds showed no cytotoxicity in these cell lines. Finally, JRF12 (2,4-dibenzylaminoquinazoline) was chosen as the best candidate and its mechanism of action was studied in more detail. A time dependent evaluation of apoptosis was performed in the three cancer cell lines, followed by an evaluation of the cell cycle regulation involvement that showed a decrease of cells in G(1) phase and increase of cells in G(2) phase before cell death. 2,4-dibenzylaminoquinazoline treatment produces few changes in the expression of genes as evaluated by using oligonucleotide microarrays and Q-RT-PCR assays. In conclusion, 2,4-dibenzylaminoquinazoline is a promising anticancer drug showing cytostatic and apoptotic effects mainly in a transcription independent manner

Argentine plant extracts active against polymerase and ribonuclease H activities of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

Lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts of four Argentine plants (Gamochaeta simplicaulis Cabr. 1, Achyrocline flaccida Wein. D. C. 2, Eupatorium buniifolium H. et A. 3, and Phyllanthus sellowianus Muell. Arg. 4) were examined in vitro for their ability to inhibit the polymerase and ribonuclease H (RNase H) activities of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) (wild and Y181C mutant types). The active extracts were also examined as inhibitors of viral replication in HLT4LacZ-1IIIB cell cultures, evaluating their cytotoxicity in parallel. Infusions 2I and 4I, among the crude extracts, showed the highest activity. These extracts were refractioned into four fractions; 2I4 and 4I4 were active as inhibitors of DNA-polymerase (wild and Y181C types) and RNase H activities. These fractions were potent as inhibitors of viral replication and were not cytotoxic. Refractionation of 2I4 yielded five new fractions, two of which, 2I4-4 and 2I4-5, showed notable activity. Refractionation of 4I4 yielded for new fractions; of these, 4I4-3 and 4I4-4 were active. The marked biological activity found in the infusion of A. flaccida and P. sellowianus makes them sufficiently attractive to be considered in the combined chemotherapy of the disease

Phosphorylation of AIB1 at Mitosis Is Regulated by CDK1/CYCLIN B

Although the AIB1 oncogene has an important role during the early phase of the cell cycle as a coactivator of E2F1, little is known about its function during mitosis.Mitotic cells isolated by nocodazole treatment as well as by shake-off revealed a post-translational modification occurring in AIB1 specifically during mitosis. This modification was sensitive to the treatment with phosphatase, suggesting its modification by phosphorylation. Using specific inhibitors and in vitro kinase assays we demonstrate that AIB1 is phosphorylated on Ser728 and Ser867 by Cdk1/cyclin B at the onset of mitosis and remains phosphorylated until exit from M phase. Differences in the sensitivity to phosphatase inhibitors suggest that PP1 mediates dephosphorylation of AIB1 at the end of mitosis. The phosphorylation of AIB1 during mitosis was not associated with ubiquitylation or degradation, as confirmed by western blotting and flow cytometry analysis. In addition, luciferase reporter assays showed that this phosphorylation did not alter the transcriptional properties of AIB1. Importantly, fluorescence microscopy and sub-cellular fractionation showed that AIB1 phosphorylation correlated with the exclusion from the condensed chromatin, thus preventing access to the promoters of AIB1-dependent genes. Phospho-specific antibodies developed against Ser728 further demonstrated the presence of phosphorylated AIB1 only in mitotic cells where it was localized preferentially in the periphery of the cell.Collectively, our results describe a new mechanism for the regulation of AIB1 during mitosis, whereby phosphorylation of AIB1 by Cdk1 correlates with the subcellular redistribution of AIB1 from a chromatin-associated state in interphase to a more peripheral localization during mitosis. At the exit of mitosis, AIB1 is dephosphorylated, presumably by PP1. This exclusion from chromatin during mitosis may represent a mechanism for governing the transcriptional activity of AIB1

Acute health effects after accidental exposure to styrene from drinking water in Spain

OBJECTIVES: We studied subjective health symptoms in a population accidentally exposed to high styrene concentrations in drinking tap water. The contamination occurred during the reparation of a water tank. METHODS: Residents of 27 apartments in two buildings using the contaminated water were contacted. A questionnaire on subjective symptoms was administered to 84 out of 93 persons living in the apartments at the time of the accident. Styrene concentration was measured in samples of water collected two days after the accident. The means of exposure associated with appearance of symptoms were examined through case-control analyses. RESULTS: Styrene in water reached concentrations up to 900 μg/L. Symptoms were reported by 46 persons (attack rate 55 %). The most frequent symptoms were irritation of the throat (26%), nose (19%), eyes (18%) and the skin (14%). General gastrointestinal symptoms were observed with 11% reporting abdominal pain and 7% diarrhea. The factors most strongly associated with symptoms were drinking tap water (OR = 7.8, 95% CI 1.3–48), exposure to vapors from the basement (OR = 10.4, 2.3–47) and eating foods prepared with tap water (OR = 8.6, 1.9–40). All residents in the ground floor reported symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This accidental contamination led to very high styrene concentrations in water and was related to a high prevalence of subjective symptoms of the eyes, respiratory tract and skin. Similar exposures have been described in workers but not in subjects exposed at their residence. Various gastrointestinal symptoms were also observed in this population probably due to a local irritative effect