Classification of fold/hom and fold/Hopf spike-adding phenomena

The Hindmarsh-Rose neural model is widely accepted as an important prototype for fold/hom and fold/Hopf burstings. In this paper, we are interested in the mechanisms for the production of extra spikes in a burst, and we show the whole parametric panorama in an unified way. In the fold/hom case, two types are distinguished: a continuous one, where the bursting periodic orbit goes through bifurcations but persists along the whole process and a discontinuous one, where the transition is abrupt and happens after a sequence of chaotic events. In the former case, we speak about canard-induced spike-adding and in the second one, about chaos-induced spike-adding. For fold/Hopf bursting, a single (and continuous) mechanism is distinguished. Separately, all these mechanisms are presented, to some extent, in the literature. However, our full perspective allows us to construct a spike-adding map and, more significantly, to understand the dynamics exhibited when borders are crossed, that is, transitions between types of processes, a crucial point not previously studied. © 2021 Author(s)

What characteristics of smart home speakers should companies invest in? Differences between actual and potential users

The aim of the research is double. First, it aims to examine the importance of smart product features on users'' satisfaction and adopters'' purchasing intentions. Second, we want to analyse the possible quadratic effect of three features, autonomy, personality and human interaction on the two outcomes. The results show that the features of smart products that influence users'' satisfaction differ from those of adopters'' purchasing intentions. Finally, interesting managerial implications for smart product producers and dealers are offered

On the use of nestedness-based similarity functions (NBSF) to classify and/or order operational geographic units (OGUs)

Abstract In this paper, we want to support the idea of using a family of indices of similarity, that we call the Simpson's family indices or nestedness-based similarity functions (NBSF) for comparing operational geographic units (OGUs) (phytosociological relevés, animal traps, watersheds, administrative units, industrial areas, islands etc.). In these cases, similarity-dissimilarity depends, in addition to factors that induce replacement, also on factors that produce reduction or increment in the number of features within the same typology of OGUs (e.g., extent, reduction of fertility, anthropogenic pressure etc.). To keep into consideration this aspect, the indices are defined to be equal to 1 when the OGUs are completely nested. The results of the application to four simulated data sets prove that, when the data set does not show clear nested pattern, the use of NBSF produces results similar to the nestedness-free similarity functions, however since NBSF clearly detect nested situations, we should prefer their use in the circumstances where we think important to put in evidence nestedness. In conclusion, we support the idea of using both types of indices in order to improve the knowledge about the structure of any data set

Antibody-based immunotoxins for colorectal cancer therapy

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are included among the treatment options for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). However, while these mAbs effectively target cancer cells, they may have limited clinical activity. A strategy to improve their therapeutic potential is arming them with a toxic payload. Immunotoxins (ITX) combining the cell-killing ability of a toxin with the specificity of a mAb constitute a promising strategy for CRC therapy. However, several important challenges in optimizing ITX remain, including suboptimal pharmacokinetics and especially the immunogenicity of the toxin moiety. Nonetheless, ongoing research is working to solve these limitations and expand CRC patients’ therapeutic armory. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of targets and toxins employed in the design of ITX for CRC and highlight a wide selection of ITX tested in CRC patients as well as preclinical candidates. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Genetic variation and association analyses identify genes linked to fruit set-related traits in grapevine

Grapevine is one of the most valuable fruit crops in the world. Adverse environmental conditions reduce fruit quality and crop yield, so understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms determining crop yield components is essential to optimize grape production. The analysis of a diverse collection of grapevine cultivars allowed us to evaluate the relationship between fruit set-related components of yield, including the incidence of reproductive disorders such as coulure and millerandage. The collection displayed a great phenotypic variation that we surveyed in a genetics association study using 15, 309 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected in the sequence of 289 candidate genes scattered across the 19 grapevine linkage groups. After correcting statistical models for population structure and linkage disequilibrium effects, 164 SNPs from 34 of these genes were found to associate with fruit set-related traits, supporting a complex polygenic determinism. Many of them were found in the sequence of different putative MADS-box transcription factors, a gene family related with plant reproductive development control. In addition, we observed an additive effect of some of the associated SNPs on the phenotype, suggesting that advantageous alleles from different loci could be pyramided to generate superior cultivars with optimized fruit production

Lacunarity of the Spatial Distributions of Soil Types in Europe.

Lacunarity as a means of quantifying textural properties of spatial distributions suggests a classification into three main classes of the most abundant soils that cover 92% of Europe. Soils with a well-defined self-similar structure of the linear class are related to widespread spatial patterns that are nondominant but ubiquitous at continental scale. Fractal techniques have been increasingly and successfully applied to identify and describe spatial patterns in natural sciences. However, objects with the same fractal dimension can show very different optical properties because of their spatial arrangement. This work focuses primary attention on the geometrical structure of the geographical patterns of soils in Europe. We made use of the European Soil Database to estimate lacunarity indexes of the most abundant soils that cover 92% of the surface of Europe and investigated textural properties of their spatial distribution. We observed three main classes corresponding to three different patterns that displayed the graphs of lacunarity functions, that is, linear, convex, and mixed. They correspond respectively to homogeneous or self-similar, heterogeneous or clustered and those in which behavior can change at different ranges of scales. Finally, we discuss the pedological implications of that classification

In vivo potential of recombinant granulysin against human melanoma

9-kDa granulysin is a protein expressed into the granules of human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells. It has been shown to exert cytolysis on microbes and tumors. We showed previously that 9-kDa granulysin exerted cell death by apoptosis in vitro on hematological tumor cell lines and also on cells from B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) patients. In addition, we have shown the anti-tumor efficiency of granulysin as a single agent in two in vivo models of human tumor development in athymic mice, the MDA-MB-231 mammary adenocarcinoma and the NCI-H929 multiple myeloma, without signs of overt secondary effects by itself. In this work, we have tested recombinant 9-kDa granulysin in an in vivo and especially aggressive model of melanoma development, xenografted UACC62 cells in athymic mice. Recombinant granulysin was administered once UACC62-derived tumors were detectable and it substantially retarded the in vivo development of this aggressive tumor. We could also detect apoptosis induction and increased NK cell infiltration inside granulysin-treated tumor tissues. These observations are especially interesting given the possibility of treating melanoma by intra-tumor injection

Conjugation of the 9-kDa isoform of Granulysin with liposomes potentiates its cytotoxicity

Nine kDa granulysin (GRNLY) is a human cytolytic protein secreted by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and NK cells of the immune system whose demonstrated physiological function is the elimination of bacteria and parasites. In previous studies by our group, the anti-tumor capacity of recombinant granulysin was demonstrated, both in vitro and in vivo. In the present work, we developed lipid nanoparticles whose surfaces can bind recombinant granulysin through the formation of a complex of coordination between the histidine tail of the protein and Ni2+ provided by a chelating lipid in the liposome composition and termed them LUV-GRNLY, for granulysin-bound large unilamellar vesicles. The objective of this formulation is to increase the granulysin concentration at the site of contact with the target cell and to increase the cytotoxicity of the administered dose. The results obtained in this work indicate that recombinant granulysin binds to the surface of the liposome with high efficiency and that its cytotoxicity is significantly increased when it is in association with liposomes. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the main mechanism of death induced by both granulysin and LUV-GRNLY is apoptosis. Jurkat-shBak cells are resistant to GRNLY and also to LUV-GRNLY, showing that LUV-GRNLY uses the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway to induce cell death. On the other hand, we show that LUV-GRNLY induces the expression of the pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family Bim and especially PUMA, although it also induced the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL. In conclusion, we demonstrate that binding of GRNLY to the surfaces of liposomes clearly augments its cytotoxic potential, with cell death executed mainly by the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

Calidad de liderazgo en la formación inicial

The aim of the article is to identify the kind of leadership in first-year students in the Degree of Sport and Exercise Sciences, who will become leaders of human team-groups. The sample is constitute by 112 students; 76 (67.9 %) are men and 36 (32.1 %) are women. The spanish version of Cuestionario de Liderazgo Multifactorial was provided to them. The results show a greatest idealized influence (attribution) with the average of 2.86, while the Laissez Faire behavior got 1.29 which can be categorize as merely symbolic. It determines that the sample students use preferably the transformational model, closely followed by the transactional one. The later fact will have an effect on the human team-groups they could lead, answering then, to the rising organizational contexts that mainly demand actions-qualities-attributes to be present in this model.  El objetivo del artículo es identificar el estilo de liderazgo de los alumnos de primer curso de Grado en Ciencias de la Actividad Física y Deporte, futuros líderes de grupos-equipos humanos. La muestra está formada por 112 alumnos, de los que 76 (67,9%) son hombres y 36 (32,1%) mujeres. Se administró la versión española del Cuestionario de Liderazgo Multifactorial. Los resultados muestran una mayor influencia idealizada (atribución) con una media de 2,86, mientras que la conducta Laissez Faire obtuvo unos valores casi testimoniales de 1,29 puntos.  Determinar que los alumnos de la muestra utilizan preferentemente el modelo transformacional, seguido muy de cerca por el transaccional. Este hecho repercutirá positivamente en los grupos-equipos humanos que puedan dirigir, respondiendo así, a los emergentes contextos organizativos que demandan principalmente acciones-cualidades-atributos presentes en dicho modelo

Cuantificación de carga interna del entrenamiento en jugadores profesionales de fútbol sala

The objective was to know the existing differences in how the intensity of training affects professional futsal players, taking into account the position occupied on the pitch, and compare the heart rate parameters between training and competition. The investigation was carried out to the Romero Cartagena F.S. Plastics team, recording the maximum heart rate means with heart rate monitors and the collection of the Subjective Perception of Effort, through the Borg scale. The results obtained did not show significant differences with respect to the quantified load in the three positions, in addition the internal load manifested itself in a more demanding way in players who occupied the position of “Wing” and “Pivot”. The heart rate parameters recorded in training were very distant from the competition data collected by other studies and the subjective perception of effort was shown as a valid method for the quantification of the load.El objetivo era conocer las diferencias existentes de cómo afecta la intensidad del entrenamiento a jugadores profesionales de Fútbol Sala, atendiendo a la posición ocupada en el terreno de juego, y comparar los parámetros de frecuencia cardiaca entre entrenamientos y competición. La investigación se realizó al equipo Plásticos Romero Cartagena F.S., registrando las medias de frecuencia cardiaca máxima con pulsómetros y la recogida de la Percepción Subjetiva del Esfuerzo, a través de la escala de Borg. Los resultados obtenidos no mostraron diferencias significativas respecto a la carga cuantificada en las tres posiciones, además la carga interna se manifestó de forma más exigente en jugadores que ocupaban la posición de “Ala” y “Pívot”. Los parámetros de frecuencia cardiaca registrados en entrenamientos se encontraban muy distanciados de los datos de competición recogidos por otros estudios y la percepción subjetiva del esfuerzo se mostró como un método válido para la cuantificación de la carga