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    Wellbeing indicators affecting female entrepreneurship in OECD countries

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    [EN] The objective of this research is to know which wellbeing indicators, such as work-life balance, educational level, income or job security, are related to the rate of female entrepreneurship in 29 OECD countries. In addition, these countries have been classified according to the motivation of the entrepreneur either by necessity or by opportunity. The empiric study is focused on 29 OECD countries covering the different geographic areas (Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, etc.) Due to the fact that the sample is relatively small, it is essential to use a selective approach when selecting the causal conditions. To this end, fsQCA is the most appropriate methodology for such a small data set. A total of 5 variables have been used: an independent variable (female TEA ratio), and four dependent variables (work life balance, educational level, sustainable household income and job security). Data measuring female TEA ratio have been obtained from Global Entrepreneur Monitor (GEM in Global report, 2015) data base, while data measuring wellbeing dimensions were taken from the Better Life Index (OECD in How¿s life? Measuring wellbeing, 2015. http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org). The results of this piece of research show that countries with high sustainable household income together with high level of education achieves high female entrepreneurship ratio with both, a good work-life balance (despite of a high unemployment probability), or a high labour-personal imbalance (in this latter, with a low probability of unemployment).This work has been funded by the R + D project for emerging research groups with reference (GVA) GV/2016/078.Ribes-Giner, G.; Moya Clemente, I.; Cervelló Royo, RE.; Perelló Marín, MR. (2019). Wellbeing indicators affecting female entrepreneurship in OECD countries. 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    Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for extraversion:Findings from the Genetics of Personality Consortium

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    Extraversion is a relatively stable and heritable personality trait associated with numerous psychosocial, lifestyle and health outcomes. Despite its substantial heritability, no genetic variants have been detected in previous genome-wide association (GWA) studies, which may be due to relatively small sample sizes of those studies. Here, we report on a large meta-analysis of GWA studies for extraversion in 63,030 subjects in 29 cohorts. Extraversion item data from multiple personality inventories were harmonized across inventories and cohorts. No genome-wide significant associations were found at the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) level but there was one significant hit at the gene level for a long non-coding RNA site (LOC101928162). Genome-wide complex trait analysis in two large cohorts showed that the additive variance explained by common SNPs was not significantly different from zero, but polygenic risk scores, weighted using linkage information, significantly predicted extraversion scores in an independent cohort. These results show that extraversion is a highly polygenic personality trait, with an architecture possibly different from other complex human traits, including other personality traits. Future studies are required to further determine which genetic variants, by what modes of gene action, constitute the heritable nature of extraversion

    Case Reports1. A Late Presentation of Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: Beware of TGFβ Receptor Mutations in Benign Joint Hypermobility

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    Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) and dissections are not uncommon causes of sudden death in young adults. Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a rare, recently described, autosomal dominant, connective tissue disease characterized by aggressive arterial aneurysms, resulting from mutations in the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) receptor genes TGFBR1 and TGFBR2. Mean age at death is 26.1 years, most often due to aortic dissection. We report an unusually late presentation of LDS, diagnosed following elective surgery in a female with a long history of joint hypermobility. Methods: A 51-year-old Caucasian lady complained of chest pain and headache following a dural leak from spinal anaesthesia for an elective ankle arthroscopy. CT scan and echocardiography demonstrated a dilated aortic root and significant aortic regurgitation. MRA demonstrated aortic tortuosity, an infrarenal aortic aneurysm and aneurysms in the left renal and right internal mammary arteries. She underwent aortic root repair and aortic valve replacement. She had a background of long-standing joint pains secondary to hypermobility, easy bruising, unusual fracture susceptibility and mild bronchiectasis. She had one healthy child age 32, after which she suffered a uterine prolapse. Examination revealed mild Marfanoid features. Uvula, skin and ophthalmological examination was normal. Results: Fibrillin-1 testing for Marfan syndrome (MFS) was negative. Detection of a c.1270G > C (p.Gly424Arg) TGFBR2 mutation confirmed the diagnosis of LDS. Losartan was started for vascular protection. Conclusions: LDS is a severe inherited vasculopathy that usually presents in childhood. It is characterized by aortic root dilatation and ascending aneurysms. There is a higher risk of aortic dissection compared with MFS. Clinical features overlap with MFS and Ehlers Danlos syndrome Type IV, but differentiating dysmorphogenic features include ocular hypertelorism, bifid uvula and cleft palate. Echocardiography and MRA or CT scanning from head to pelvis is recommended to establish the extent of vascular involvement. Management involves early surgical intervention, including early valve-sparing aortic root replacement, genetic counselling and close monitoring in pregnancy. Despite being caused by loss of function mutations in either TGFβ receptor, paradoxical activation of TGFβ signalling is seen, suggesting that TGFβ antagonism may confer disease modifying effects similar to those observed in MFS. TGFβ antagonism can be achieved with angiotensin antagonists, such as Losartan, which is able to delay aortic aneurysm development in preclinical models and in patients with MFS. Our case emphasizes the importance of timely recognition of vasculopathy syndromes in patients with hypermobility and the need for early surgical intervention. It also highlights their heterogeneity and the potential for late presentation. Disclosures: The authors have declared no conflicts of interes

    Insertion Depth Modulates Protein Kinase C-δ-C1b Domain Interactions with Membrane Cholesterol as Revealed by MD Simulations

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    Protein kinase C delta (PKC-δ) is an important signaling molecule in human cells that has both proapoptotic as well as antiapoptotic functions. These conflicting activities can be modulated by two classes of ligands, phorbol esters and bryostatins. Phorbol esters are known tumor promoters, while bryostatins have anti-cancer properties. This is despite both ligands binding to the C1b domain of PKC-δ (δC1b) with a similar affinity. The molecular mechanism behind this discrepancy in cellular effects remains unknown. Here, we have used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structure and intermolecular interactions of these ligands bound to δC1b with heterogeneous membranes. We observed clear interactions between the δC1b-phorbol complex and membrane cholesterol, primarily through the backbone amide of L250 and through the K256 side-chain amine. In contrast, the δC1b-bryostatin complex did not exhibit interactions with cholesterol. Topological maps of the membrane insertion depth of the δC1b-ligand complexes suggest that insertion depth can modulate δC1b interactions with cholesterol. The lack of cholesterol interactions suggests that bryostatin-bound δC1b may not readily translocate to cholesterol-rich domains within the plasma membrane, which could significantly alter the substrate specificity of PKC-δ compared to δC1b-phorbol complexes

    Insertion Depth Modulates Protein Kinase C-δ-C1b Domain Interactions with Membrane Cholesterol as Revealed by MD Simulations

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    Protein kinase C delta (PKC-δ) is an important signaling molecule in human cells that has both proapoptotic as well as antiapoptotic functions. These conflicting activities can be modulated by two classes of ligands, phorbol esters and bryostatins. Phorbol esters are known tumor promoters, while bryostatins have anti-cancer properties. This is despite both ligands binding to the C1b domain of PKC-δ (δC1b) with a similar affinity. The molecular mechanism behind this discrepancy in cellular effects remains unknown. Here, we have used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structure and intermolecular interactions of these ligands bound to δC1b with heterogeneous membranes. We observed clear interactions between the δC1b-phorbol complex and membrane cholesterol, primarily through the backbone amide of L250 and through the K256 side-chain amine. In contrast, the δC1b-bryostatin complex did not exhibit interactions with cholesterol. Topological maps of the membrane insertion depth of the δC1b-ligand complexes suggest that insertion depth can modulate δC1b interactions with cholesterol. The lack of cholesterol interactions suggests that bryostatin-bound δC1b may not readily translocate to cholesterol-rich domains within the plasma membrane, which could significantly alter the substrate specificity of PKC-δ compared to δC1b-phorbol complexes.ISSN:1422-006

    Electron-decoupled MAS DNP with N@C60

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    Frequency-chirped microwaves decouple electron- and 13C-spins in magic-angle spinning N@C60:C60 powder, improving DNP-enhanced 13C NMR signal intensity by 12% for 7 s polarization, and 5% for 30 s polarization. This electron decoupling demonstration is a step toward utilizing N@C60 as a controllable electron-spin source for magic-angle spinning magnetic resonance experiments.ISSN:1463-9084ISSN:1463-907
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