Solvents derived from glycerol modify classical regioselectivity in the enzymatic synthesis of disaccharides with Biolacta β-galactosidase

Green solvents made from glycerol change the classical regioselectivity of Biolacta No 5 β-galactosidase, from β(1→4) to β(1→6) linkages when a 2 M concentration was used. In order to explain these results, the non-proteic compounds present in the Biolacta preparation were separated by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and the remaining protein extract was used to set reactions with appropriate organic solvents to find that the regioselectivity towards the β(1→6) isomer is retained. According to proteomic analysis, a 98% homology between Streptococcus pneumoniae and Biolacta β-galactosidase preparation was found. With these data, molecular modelling was done which predicts a tridimensional interaction in the enzyme active site with the donor (GlcNAc) and the water-solvent mixture which explains this phenomenon. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.This work was supported by two research projects of the Spanish MICINN (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España) CTQ2009-11801 and CTQ2008-05138, and one European project (FP-62003-NMP-SMF-3, proposal 011774-2).Peer Reviewe

Ready Access to Molecular Rotors Based on Boron Dipyrromethene Dyes-Coumarin Dyads Featuring Broadband Absorption

Herein we report on a straightforward access method for boron dipyrromethene dyes (BODIPYs)-coumarin hybrids linked through their respective 8- and 6- positions, with wide functionalization of the coumarin fragment, using salicylaldehyde as a versatile building block. The computationally-assisted photophysical study unveils broadband absorption upon proper functionalization of the coumarin, as well as the key role of the conformational freedom of the coumarin appended at the meso position of the BODIPY. Such free motion almost suppresses the fluorescence signal, but enables us to apply these dyads as molecular rotors to monitor the surrounding microviscosity.This research was funded by Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (project MAT2017-83856-C3-3-P), Gobierno Vasco (project IT912-16), CONACyT (grants 253623, 123732) and Dirección de Apoyo a la Investigación (DAIP-UG CIIC318/2019)

The ALHAMBRA survey: Evolution of galaxy clustering since z∼1

We study the clustering of galaxies as function of luminosity and redshift in the range 0.35< z < 1.25 using data from the Advanced Large Homogeneous Area Medium-Band Redshift Astronomical (ALHAMBRA) survey. The ALHAMBRA data used in this work cover 2.38 deg2 in seven independent fields, after applying a detailed angular selection mask, with accurate photometric redshifts,σz≲ 0.014(1 + z), down to IAB < 24. Given the depth of the survey, we select samples in B-band luminosity down to Lth ≃ 0.16L* at z=0.9. We measure the real-space clustering using the projected correlation function, accounting for photometric redshifts uncertainties. We infer the galaxy bias, and study its evolution with luminosity. We study the effect of sample variance, and confirm earlier results that the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) and European Large Area ISO Survey North 1 (ELAIS-N1) fields are dominated by the presence of large structures. For the intermediate and bright samples, Lmed ≳ 0.6L*, we obtain a strong dependence of bias on luminosity, in agreement with previous results at similar redshift. We are able to extend this study to fainter luminosities, where we obtain an almost flat relation, similar to that observed at low redshift. Regarding the evolution of bias with redshift, our results suggest that the different galaxy populations studied reside in haloes covering a range in mass between log10[Mh( h-1M{bull's eye})] ≳ 11.5 for samples with Lmed = 0.3L* and log10[Mh( h-1M⊙)] ≳ 13.0 for samples with Lmed = 2L*, with typical occupation numbers in the range of 1-3 galaxies per halo.Junta de Andalucía P08-TIC-3531Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación AYA2010-22111- C03-01 CSD2007-0006

Vascular Accesses for Haemodialysis in the Upper Arm Cause Greater Reduction in the Carotid-Brachial Stiffness than Those in the Forearm: Study of Gender Differences

Purpose. To evaluate in chronically haemodialysed patients (CHPs), if: (1) the vascular access (VA) position (upper arm or forearm) is associated with differential changes in upper limb arterial stiffness; (2) differences in arterial stiffness exist between genders associated with the VA; (3) the vascular substitute (VS) of choice, in biomechanical terms, depends on the previous VA location and CHP gender. Methods. 38 CHPs (18 males; VA in upper arm: 18) were studied. Left and right carotid-brachial pulse wave velocity (PWVc-b) was measured. In in vitro studies, PWV was obtained in ePTFE prostheses and in several arterial and venous homografts obtained from donors. The biomechanical mismatch (BM) between CHP native vessel (NV) and VS was calculated. Results/Conclusions. PWVc-b in upper limbs with VA was lower than in the intact contralateral limbs (P < 0.05), and differences were higher (P < 0.05) when the VA was performed in the upper arm. Differences between PWVc-b in upper limbs with VA (in the upper arm) with respect to intact upper limbs were higher (P < 0.05) in males. Independently of the region in which the VA was performed, the homograft that ensured the minimal BM was the brachial artery. The BM was highly dependent on gender and the location in the upper limb in which the VA was performed

Burnout and Professional Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Nursing Students without Clinical Experience: A Cross-Sectional Study

Burnout affects many healthcare professionals, especially nurses, causing serious health problems and disrupting the work environment. Academic burnout may also be experienced, leading students to feel unable to cope with their education. As a result, they may lose interest and even consider abandoning their studies. Hence, burnout syndrome can affect both the mental health and the professional future of those affected. To evaluate academic burnout in nursing students who had no clinical experience before starting their practical training, a cross-sectional study involving 212 third-year nursing students at the University of Granada was conducted. Data were collected using the Granada Burnout Questionnaire, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Fear of CoronaVirus-19 Scale. High levels of burnout were present in 37.8% of the students. Moreover, 21.5% and 8.7% had borderline cases of anxiety or depression, respectively. Another 30.8% and 9.2%, respectively, were considered likely to present these conditions. According to the predictive models of burnout dimensions obtained, neuroticism is a predictor of all three burnout dimensions. Furthermore, anxiety, depression, extraversion, responsibility and engagement are predictors of some dimensions of the syndrome. Many nursing students present high levels of burnout, which is related to certain personality variables and to the presence of anxiety and/or depression. The level of professional engagement is inversely associated with the impact of burnout. The participants in this study have normalised their return to the pre-pandemic study routine (in-person classes), and fear of COVID-19 was not a significant predictor of any dimension of burnout.FEDER/Consejeria de Universidad, Investigacion e Innovacion de la Junta de Andalucia P20-0062

Normal, and lognormal: two frequency distributions, and one Unified Neutral Theory for studying Tropical forests

Los inventarios de biodiversidad en sitios contrastantes obtienen datos con distribuciones normales y lognormales, útiles para cuantificar cómo el cambio climático afecta a los bosques del mundo. Sin embargo, casi todos los biólogos están familiarizados con la normal, pero menos discuten el por qué la distribución lognormal de frecuencias relativas de especies ocurre en tantas comunidades bióticas. Pretendemos incorporar a más estudiosos a dicha discusión. Tanto la normal como la lognormal tienen medias y valores extremos. Ello es consistente con el teorema del límite central; válido cuando los datos de un muestreo provienen de procesos aleatorios y el muestreo ha sido estocástico y representativo. Según la Teoría Neutral Unificada de la Biodiversidad y la Biogeografía de Steve Hubbell, basta considerar que la natalidad, mortalidad, migraciones y especiación en una comunidad, y desde la metacomunidad circundante, ocurren al azar y simétricamente entre especies, para explicar que las frecuencias relativas de la comunidad sigan una distribución lognormal. Ello es consistente con la Biogeografía de Islas, y se puede aplicar –por tanto a la articulación de abundancias relativas de especies arbóreas en bosques que se regeneran por sucesión secundaria, donde el sitio talado constituye una isla que luego es colonizada. En el sofisticado siglo XXI, conocimientos numéricos tan simples, como la normal y la lognormal, siguen siendo necesarios para mover las fronteras de la ciencia afrontando temas permanentes: por qué en tantos lugares hay especies más abundantes que otras, y cómo se puede contrarrestar la pérdida de las especies en dificultad.Biodiversity surveys among contrasting sites get normal, and lognormal distributed data used for quantifying how Climate Change affects forests around the world. Yet most biologists are familiarized with the normal distribution, while few discuss why the lognormal distribution of relative frequencies of species is so common in many communities of living beings. We aim to add more researchers into such a discussion. Both normal and lognormal have mean and extreme values –which is consistent with the Central Limit Theorem. Such a theorem is valid when the data come from random processes, and when the sampling excercise of collecting the data has been stocastic and representative. According to Steve Hubbell’s Unified Neutral Theory of Biodiversity and Biogeography, random birth, death, migration and speciation in a community –and from the surrounding metacomunity are enough for generating lognormal distributions of relative frequencies of co-existing species. That is consistent with Island Biogography, and is applicable to the assembly of relative abundances of tree species during secondary succession, where the clear-cut site is an island further colonized by tree species. Deep into the sophisticated 21st century, simple numerical knowledge like the normal and lognormal are still needed for moving the borders of science by facing permanent subjects: why in so many places some species are more abundant than others, and how to tackle the loss of endangered species

Lyman break and ultraviolet-selected galaxies at z ̃ 1-I. Stellar populations from the ALHAMBRA survey

We take advantage of the exceptional photometric coverage provided by the combination of GALEX data in the ultraviolet (UV) and the ALHAMBRA survey in the optical and near-infrared to analyse the physical properties of a sample of 1225 GALEX-selected Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at 0.8 ≲ z ≲ 1.2 that are located in the COSMOS field. This is the largest sample of LBGs studied in this redshift range to date. According to a spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting with synthetic stellar population templates, we find that LBGs at z ̃ 1 are mostly young galaxies with a median age of 341 Myr and have intermediate dust attenuation, (Es(B - V)) ̃ 0.20. Owing to the selection criterion, LBGs at z ̃ 1 are UV-bright galaxies and have a high dust-corrected total star formation rate (SFR), with a median value of 16.9M⊙ yr-1. Their median stellar mass is log (M*/M⊙) = 9.74. We find that the dustcorrected total SFR of LBGs increases with stellar mass and that the specific SFR is lower for more massive galaxies (downsizing scenario). Only 2 per cent of the galaxies selected through the Lyman break criterion have an active galactic nucleus nature. LBGs at z ̃ 1 are located mostly over the blue cloud of the colour-magnitude diagram of galaxies at their redshift, with only the oldest and/or the dustiest deviating towards the green valley and red sequence. Morphologically, 69 per cent of LBGs are disc-like galaxies, with the fractions of interacting, compact, or irregular systems being much lower, below 12 per cent. LBGs have a median effective radius of 2.5 kpc, and larger galaxies have a higher total SFR and stellar mass. Compared with their high-redshift analogues, we find evidence that LBGs at lower redshifts are larger, redder in the UV continuum, and have a major presence of older stellar populations in their SEDs. However, we do not find significant differences in the distributions of stellar mass or dust attenuation.NASA NAS5-26555NASA Office of Space Science NNX09AF08GEuropean Southern Observatory LP175.A-0839.Junta de Andalucia TIC-114, P08-TIC03531Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad AYA2011-29517-C03- 01, AYA2010-1516

Training in Spanish organizations : trends and future perspectives

Purpose: This study aims to identify training trends in Spanish organizations. Design/methodology/approach: A survey methodology is conducted and the questionnaire is the strategy to collect information. In order to construct the sample, a previous selection of enterprises was done out of the 50 000 enterprises registered at DICODI (Data base of main Spanish societies 2004/2005). The sampling was done by quotas. The quotas or categories selected were: the enterprises' activity sector, gender and job position. Findings: The research describes the actual state of training trends and the changes that seem to glimpse out of the considered dimensions: training planning, goals, recipients, modalities, resources, evaluation, training professionals and outsourcing. Research limitations: The study was carried out through a not randomized sample, so the results cannot be generalized. Practical implications: Organizations can make future proposals from the facts exposed in our research. Originality/value: Is the first time in our context that a research of this type is performed, showing significant matches in the results with other studies of international reference

Lyman break and ultraviolet-selected galaxies at z ~ 1 - II. PACS 100μm/160μm FIR detections

In this work, we report the Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) 100 μm/160 μm detections of a sample of 42 GALEX-selected and far-infrared (FIR)-detected Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at z ~ 1 located in the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) field and analyse their ultraviolet (UV) to FIR properties. The detection of these LBGs in the FIR indicates that they have a dust content high enough so that its emission can be directly detected. According to a spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting with stellar population templates to their UV-to-near-IR observed photometry, PACS-detected LBGs tend to be bigger (Reff ~ 4.1 kpc), more massive [log (M*/M⊙) ~ 10.7], dustier [Es(B - V) ~ 0.40], redder in the UV continuum (β ~ -0.60) and UV-brighter [log (LUV/L⊙) ~ 10.1] than PACSundetected LBGs. PACS-detected LBGs at z ~ 1 are mostly disc-like galaxies and are located over the green valley and red sequence of the colour-magnitude diagram of galaxies at their redshift. By using their UV and IR emission, we find that PACS-detected LBGs tend to be less dusty and have slightly higher total star formation rates (SFRs) than other PACS-detected UV-selected galaxies within the same redshift range. As a consequence of the selection effect due to the depth of the FIR observations employed, all our PACS-detected LBGs have total IR luminosities, LIR, higher than 1011 L⊙ and thus are luminous IR galaxies. However, none of the PACS-detected LBGs are in the ultra-luminous IR galaxy (ULIRG) regime, LIR =1012 L⊙, where the FIR observations are complete. The finding of ULIRGs-LBGs at higher redshifts (z ~ 3) suggests an evolution of the FIR emission of LBGs with cosmic time. In an IRX-β diagram, PACS-detected LBGs at z~1 tend to be located around the relation for local starburst similarly to other UV-selected PACS-detected galaxies at the same redshift. Consequently, the dust-correction factors obtained with theirUVcontinuum slope allowus to determine their total SFR, unlike at higher redshifts. However, the dust attenuation derived from UV to NIR SED fitting overestimates the total SFR for most of our PACS-detected LBGs in an age-dependent way: the overestimation factor is higher in younger galaxies. This is likely due to the typical degeneracy between dust attenuation and age in the SED fitting with synthetic templates and highlights the importance of the FIR measurements in the analysis of star-forming galaxies at intermediate redshifts.Generalitat Valenciana PROMETEO-2008/132NASA Office of Space Science NNX09AF08GEuropean Southern Observatory LP175.A-0839Junta de Andalucía TIC-114, P08-TIC-03531Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad AYA2011- 29517-C03-01, AYA2010-22111-C03-02, AYA2010-1516

Addressing the disparities in dementia risk, early detection and care in Latino populations: Highlights from the second Latinos & Alzheimer\u27s Symposium

The Alzheimer\u27s Association hosted the second Latinos & Alzheimer\u27s Symposium in May 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held online over 2 days, with virtual presentations, discussions, mentoring sessions, and posters. The Latino population in the United States is projected to have the steepest increase in Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) in the next 40 years, compared to other ethnic groups. Latinos have increased risk for AD and other dementias, limited access to quality care, and are severely underrepresented in AD and dementia research and clinical trials. The symposium highlighted developments in AD research with Latino populations, including advances in AD biomarkers, and novel cognitive assessments for Spanish-speaking populations, as well as the need to effectively recruit and retain Latinos in clinical research, and how best to deliver health-care services and to aid caregivers of Latinos living with AD