Caveolin-1 Modulates Mechanotransduction Responses to Substrate Stiffness through Actin-Dependent Control of YAP

The transcriptional regulator YAP orchestrates many cellular functions, including tissue homeostasis, organ growth control, and tumorigenesis. Mechanical stimuli are a key input to YAP activity, but the mechanisms controlling this regulation remain largely uncharacterized. We show that CAV1 positively modulates the YAP mechanoresponse to substrate stiffness through actin-cytoskeleton-dependent and Hippo-kinase-independent mechanisms. RHO activity is necessary, but not sufficient, for CAV1-dependent mechanoregulation of YAP activity. Systematic quantitative interactomic studies and image-based small interfering RNA (siRNA) screens provide evidence that this actin-dependent regulation is determined by YAP interaction with the 14-3-3 protein YWHAH. Constitutive YAP activation rescued phenotypes associated with CAV1 loss, including defective extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. CAV1-mediated control of YAP activity was validated in vivo in a model of pancreatitis-driven acinar-to-ductal metaplasia. We propose that this CAV1-YAP mechanotransduction system controls a significant share of cell programs linked to these two pivotal regulators, with potentially broad physiological and pathological implications. Moreno-Vicente et al. report that CAV1, a key component of PM mechanosensing caveolae, mediates adaptation to ECM rigidity by modulating YAP activity through the control of actin dynamics and phosphorylation-dependent interaction of YAP with the 14-3-3-domain protein YWHAH. Cav1-dependent YAP regulation drives two pathophysiological processes: ECM remodeling and pancreatic ADM. © 2018 The Author

Environmental enrichment results in both brain connectivity efficiency and selective improvement in different behavioral tasks

Exposure to environmental enrichment (EE) has been a useful model for studying the effects of experience on brain plasticity, but to date, few is known about the impact of this condition on the brain functional networks that probably underlies the multiple behavioral improvements. Hence, we assessed the effect of an EE protocol in adult Wistar rats on the performance in several behavioral tasks testing different domains (Open field (OP): locomotor activity; Elevated-zero maze (EZM): anxiety-related behaviors; 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT): attentional processes; 4-arm radial water maze (4-RAWM): spatial memory) in order to check its effectiveness in a wide range of functions. After this, we analyzed the functional brain connectivity underlying each experimental condition through cytochrome C oxidase (COx) histochemistry. Our EE protocol reduced both locomotor activity in the OP and anxiety-related behaviors in the EZM. On the other hand, enriched rats showed more accuracy in the 4-RAWM, whereas 5-CSRTT performance was not significantly ameliorated by EE condition. In relation to COx functional connectivity, we found that EE reduced the number of strong positive correlations both in basal and training conditions, suggesting a modulating effect on specific brain connections. Our results suggest that EE seems to have a selective effect on specific brain regions, such as prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, leading to a more efficient brain connectivity.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. PPIT.UMA.B1.2017/3

Investigating Piezochromic Properties of πconjugated Materials: a combined Raman and DFT Study

Π-conjugated materials have been studied for decades due to their great interest in organic electronics. Among them, piezochromic materials, which exhibit color changes resulting from external pressure or mechanical grinding, become very attractive from a scientific viewpoint owing to their potential applications as pressure-sensing and opticalrecording systems1. The main target of the present work is to develop a joint experimental and theoretical approach able to deliver crucial information for the understanding of the structural effects causing piezochromic changes. To this end, we will focus our attention on two families of -conjugated materials with potential application as sensors. The first one is a family of 9,10-Bis((E)-n(pyrid-2-yl)vinyl) anthracene, BPnVA (n=2 orto-,3 metha- and 4 para-) compounds, see Figure 1. Interestingly, these three compounds with varying position of the nitrogen on the external pyridyl group exhibit different molecular packing modes. Grinding and the application of external pressure on the powder also led to a strong change in their photoluminescence color.2 The second familiy is based on the N,N’-Bis-Boc-3,3’-di(pyren-1yl)-2,2’-biindole compound (compound 1c in Figure 1) which also shows photoluminescence under pressure application. However, the molecular packing induced by this phenomenon is still under study 3. In both cases, it will be also very interesting to determine how temperature affects the vibrational structure of these systems.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Intervención en la toma de decisiones en jugadores de voleibol en etapas de formación

The aim of this study is to analyse the influence of a mentoring through reflection programme on decisionmaking during attacks in volleyball players' formative stages. The participants were 8 players from the same team, divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 4) and a control group (n = 4). The programme consisted of viewing and later reflecting in different individual mentoring meetings on the players' appropriate and inappropriate attack actions during competition. The results of this study found that players who were exposed to the treatment significantly improved after the mentoring protocol intervention. Research based on reflective mentoring protocols in sports actions may be a complementary tool to improve the cognitive and decision-making skills of players in formative stages

Estratègies cognitives desenvolupades durant el joc per tennistes de diferent nivell de perícia

L’objectiu d’aquest estudi ha estat analitzar les estratègies cognitives utilitzades per jugadors de tennis durant el joc real de competició, tot comparant la planificació tàctica desenvolupada en funció del nivell de perícia dels subjectes. La investigació va ser realitzada amb 6 tennistes, 3 jugadors novells i 3 jugadors experts. Els esportistes van ser entrevistats tot just acabar l’acció de joc, perquè verbalitzessin allò que estaven pensant en aquell moment. L’anàlisi de contingut dels informes verbals s’ha realitzat mitjançant un sistema de categories proposat originalment per McPherson (1999, 2000). Els resultats mostren que els experts tenen una estructura de coneixement més gran, més complexa i més sofisticada, cosa que els permet de planificar millor les seves decisions posteriors durant el joc

Gamow-Teller strength distributions in Xe isotopes

The energy distributions of the Gamow-Teller strength are studied for even-even Xe isotopes with mass numbers from 124 to 142. A self-consistent microscopic formalism is used to generate the single particle basis, using a deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock mean field with pairing correlations in BCS approximation. The Gamow-Teller transitions are obtained within a quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) approach using a residual spin-isospin interaction in the particle-hole and particle-particle channels. We then discuss the pairing BCS treatment and the determination of the ph and pp residual interaction coupling constants. We study the GT+ and GT- strength distributions for the equilibrium nuclear shapes, which are an essential information for studies of charge-exchange reactions and double-beta processes involving these isotopes.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures. To appear in Phys Rev

Estrategias cognitivas desarrolladas durante el juego por tenistas de diferente nivel de pericia

El objetivo de este estudio ha sido analizar las estrategias cognitivas utilizadas por jugadores de tenis durante el juego real de competición, comparando la planificación táctica desarrollada en función del nivel de pericia de los sujetos. La investigación fue realizada con 6 tenistas, 3 jugadores noveles y 3 jugadores expertos. Los deportistas fueron entrevistados nada más terminar la acción de juego para que verbalizaran sobre qué estaban pensando en ese momento. El análisis de contenido de los informes verbales se ha realizado mediante un sistema de categorías propuesto originalmente por McPherson (1999, 2000). Los resultados muestran que los expertos poseen una estructura de conocimiento mayor, más compleja y más sofisticada, que les permite planificar mejor sus posteriores decisiones durante el juego

¿Cómo hemos adaptado las recomendaciones de los Proyectos Zero durante la pandemia?

El impacto negativo de la pandemia sobre las tasas de infecciones controladas ha evidenciado la necesidad de reanudar la aplicación de las recomendaciones de los Proyectos Zero (PZ). En este artículo, en primer lugar, se realiza un análisis de la situación de las unidades de cuidados intensivos de España durante la pandemia. A continuación se presenta la adaptación de las recomendaciones de cada uno de los cuatro PZ y su grado de cumplimiento y riesgo de que existan infecciones relacionadas con dispositivos invasivos y/o bacteriemias multirresistentes. Para ello, se han tenido en cuenta: 1) el documento publicado en octubre de 2020 por el Consejo Asesor del Programa de Seguridad de pacientes críticos, y 2) el estudio exploratorio realizado, un año después, por el Consejo Asesor de los PZ, junto con los líderes de los proyectos de las unidades participantes del registro ENVIN. Por último, y en base a los hallazgos encontrados, se formulan cinco recomendaciones tentativas y prioritarias.The negative impact of the pandemic on infection control rates has highlighted the need to resume the implementation of Project Zero (PZ) recommendations. This article first analyses the situation of intensive care units in Spain during the pandemic. Subsequently, it presents the adaptation of the recommendations of each of the four PZs and their degree of compliance and the risk of invasive device-related infections and/or multidrug-resistant bacteraemias. For this purpose, we have taken into account: (i) the document published in October 2020 by the Advisory Board of the Critical Patient Safety Programme, and (ii) the exploratory study conducted, one year later, by the Advisory Board of the PZs, on the leaders of the Projects of the units participating in the ENVIN registry. Finally, based on the findings, five tentative and priority recommendations are formulated

La función en juego: ¿afecta a la percepción de habilidad y al perfil decisional en jugadores en etapas de formación?

El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la influencia de la variable función en juego sobre la percepción de habilidad táctica y el perfil decisional en jóvenes jugadores de fútbol. Para ello, la muestra de estudio seleccionada cuenta con un total de 247 sujetos que participaron en liga cadete de la Primera División de los Juegos Deportivos de Extremadura (JUDEX), de los cuales 106 pertenecen a la categoría infantil y 141 a la categoría cadete, y con edades comprendidas entre los 13 y 16 años. Como variable independiente se consideró la función en juego, entendida como el rol que suele ocupar o desempeñar el jugador en el terreno de juego, durante el último año, siguiendo la estructura de juego marcada por el entrenador en la competición. En este estudio se han diferenciado las siguientes posiciones para ambas categorías: portero, defensa, centrocampista y delantero. Como variables independientes se contemplaron la percepción de habilidad táctica y las tres variables del perfil decisional del jugador: competencia decisional percibida (CDP), compromiso en el aprendizaje decisional (CAD), ansiedad y agobio al decidir (AAD). Para la medida de dichas variables se administraron el Tactical Skills Inventory for Sports (TACSIS) (Elferink-Gemser, Viisscher, Richart & Lemmink, 2004) y el Cuestionario de Estilo de Toma de Decisiones en el Deporte (CETD) (Ruiz y Graupera, 2005). Los resultados obtenidos muestran que no existen diferencias significativas entre los jugadores que ocupan diferentes posiciones en el campo, ni en la variable percepción de habilidad táctica ni en las tres subvariables del estilo de toma de decisiones. Es decir, la función en juego no afectará ni a la percepción que los jugadores muestran sobre su habilidad táctica ni a su estilo de toma de decisiones