Structural and energy determinants in protein-RNA docking

Deciphering the structural and energetic determinants of protein-RNA interactions harbors the potential to understand key cell processes at molecular level, such as gene expression and regulation. With this purpose, computational methods like docking aim to complement current biophysical and structural biology efforts. However, the few reported docking algorithms for protein-RNA interactions show limited predictive success rates, mainly due to incomplete sampling of the conformational space of both the protein and the RNA molecules, as well as to the difficulties of the scoring function in identifying the correct docking models. Here, we have tested the predictive value of a variety of knowledge-based and energetic scoring functions on a recently published protein-RNA docking benchmark and developed a scoring function able to efficiently discriminate docking decoys. We first performed docking calculations with the bound conformation, which allowed us to analyze the problem in optimal conditions. We found that geometry-based terms and electrostatics were the most important scoring terms, while binding propensities and desolvation were much less relevant for the scoring of protein-RNA models. This is in contrast with what we observed for protein-protein docking. The results also showed an interesting dependence of the predictive rates on the flexibility of the protein molecule, which arises from the observed higher positive charge of flexible interfaces and provides hints for future development of more efficient protein-RNA docking methods.This work is supported by grant BIO2013-48213-R from Plan Nacional I+D+i (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness). LP-C was recipient of an FPU fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Science.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Music therapy in palliative care

Trabajo fin de grado en EnfermeríaIntroducción: La música siempre ha estado presente en la vida del ser humano desde el nacimiento hasta la muerte. Ésta tiene la cualidad de entretener pero también se le reconocen propiedades fisiológicas y psicológicas, esto se ve reflejado en el auge de su utilización como terapia complementaria en el ámbito sanitario. Por ello su implementación en las unidades de cuidados paliativos orientadas al bienestar del paciente y a la mejora de su calidad de vida en sus últimos momentos, es un espacio ideal para impartir esta terapia. Objetivo: Analizar la evidencia existente de los beneficios de la musicoterapia en cuidados paliativos. Método: Revisión narrativa en la que se utilizaron las bases de datos Pubmed, Cinahl, Scielo, Cuiden, Cochrane Library y PsycINFO. La búsqueda se limitó a artículos publicados en los últimos 5 años, escritos en inglés o español y resumen disponible. Resultados: Se escogieron un total de 20 artículos. Tratan los beneficios de la musicoterapia, las distintas perspectivas y los principales temas a abordar mediante la intervención con la musicoterapia. También se hace referencia a la diferencia existente entre musicoterapia y música en medicina, y se exponen sus beneficios. Conclusiones: La musicoterapia tiene efectos beneficiosos sobre el manejo de la sintomatología y mejora la calidad de vida de los pacientes en cuidados paliativos. Tanto la musicoterapia como la música en medicina producen una mejoría sobre los pacientes tratados. Se precisa de un aumento de la muestra y de los estudios para obtener una evidencia más sólida.Introduction: Since the beginning of time, music has been present in human’s life, being part of celebrations and rituals from birth to death. Music has the quality of entertaining but it is also related to physiological and psychological properties. This reflects in the increase of its usage as a complementary therapy in the sanitary environment. That is why its implementation in palliative care units, focused on the patients well being and the improvement of their quality of life during the last stages, is the perfect space to apply this therapy. Purpose: Analyze the existing evidence of the benefits of music therapy in palliative care. Methods: Various databases were used for this narrative review: Pubmed, Cinahl, Scielo, Cuiden, Cochrane library and PsycINFO. The search was limited to articles published within the last 5 years (2013-2018), written in English, or Spanish and in which abstract text was available. Results: A total of 20 articles were chosen. These approach the benefits of music therapy, the patients, family and sanitary professionals perspectives, and the main themes that can be treated through music therapy. The difference between music therapy and music medicine, as well as their benefits are exposed in this review. Conclusion: Music therapy has beneficial effects on the treatment of both physical and psychological symptomatology and improves palliative care patient’s quality of life. Both music therapy and music medicine result in an improvement among the treated patients. Further investigation is needed in order to obtain more solid evidence on this topic. Indeed Spanish researches on this field are considered scarce

Dangerous Worldview and Perceived Sociopolitical Control: Two Mechanisms to Understand Trust in Authoritarian Political Leaders in Economically Threatening Contexts

This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness for the R&D project “Macrosocial realities (economic crisis and social class) and psychosocial processes: Trust, welfare, altruism, and politics” [PSI-2017- 83966-R (MINECO/AEI/FEDER/UE)]. We have not received funds for open access publication fees.The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article can be found online at: https://osf.io/pm8u4/?view_only= 81c56cebeb2f43a4b7d4f3dae1907329The two studies in this research were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee in Human Research (CEIH) of the University of Granada and carried out in compliance with the Ethical Standards of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg. 2021.603116/full#supplementary-materialIn this research we analyzed the relationship between threatening economic contexts (i.e., undergoing the economic crisis and having low socioeconomic status) and trust in authoritarian ideologies and leaders, regardless of the left-right political axis. Based on two theoretical approaches (i.e., the dual-process model and the compensatory control model), we argue that this relationship is mediated by dangerous worldview and low perceived sociopolitical control. We conducted two correlational studies with samples of the general population. In Study 1 (N = 185), we found that perceived threat from the economic crisis and low socioeconomic status were correlated with a higher dangerous worldview, which resulted in a more authoritarian ideology (i.e., authoritarianism) and finally in greater trust in an authoritarian political leader. In Study 2 (N = 413), we replicated the findings of Study 1 and demonstrated that low perceived sociopolitical control was associated with higher authoritarianism. Moreover, low perceived sociopolitical control partially mediated the relationship between dangerous worldview and authoritarianism. Overall, our results show that two economically threatening contexts (i.e., the economic crisis and low socioeconomic status) promote authoritarianism and trust in authoritarian leaders (with unspecified political orientation) through psychological processes (i.e., perception of the social world and perceived control). These results are useful to understand and combat the rise of authoritarianism in our societies during financially difficult times such as economic crises.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness PSI-2017-83966-

Efecto del methoprene sobre <i>Musca domestica</i>: ensayos de laboratorio

To determine methoprene's (MTP) effect on fly Musca domestica emergence were performed laboratory bioassays using a technical formulation identified as MK55, in the form of a granulated insoluble in water. Concentrations of 1.625, 4.5 and 10 ppm of MTP were mixed directly with poultry manure, and larvae I of Musca domestica were fed (test 1). The same MTP concentrations (1.625, 4.5 and 10 ppm) were added to chicken feed and then, the manure produced by the chicken was used as feed to M. domestica larvae I ( test 2); each test involved five assays and one untreated check, in both larvae II and III were grown by feeding manure. Pupae were controlled until fly adults emergence. The percentage of fly growth in each assay decreased in relation to the increase of MTP concentrations and 77.1% of efficacy was shown when 10 ppm was used directly mixed with manure. And 83.7% of efficacy was demonstrated when used as a feed additive. However, a high variability of results was observed in low concentrations. MTP should be used at the highest doses and integrated with other methods to control M. domestica fly in poultry farms.Con el propósito de evaluar el efecto del methoprene (MTP) sobre la emergencia de adultos de Musca domestica, se realizaron ensayos bajo condiciones de laboratorio con una formulación granulada insoluble en agua, identificada como MK55. Concentraciones de 1.625, 4.5 y 10 ppm de MTP fueron mezcladas directamente con estiércol de gallina y ofrecidas como alimento a larvas I de M. domestica (test 1). Las mismas concentraciones de MTP (1.625, 4.5 y 10 ppm) fueron adicionadas al alimento balanceado para gallinas y luego la materia fecal producida por esos animales se usó como fuente alimenticia de larvas I de M. domestica (test 2); cada test involucró cinco ensayos y un control sin tratar, en ambos, larvas II y III se desarrollaron alimentándose con estiércol de gallina. Las pupas fueron controladas hasta la emergencia de los adultos. El porcentaje de moscas nacidas en cada ensayo disminuyó en relación al aumento de la concentración de MTP y se demostró una eficacia del 77,1% y del 83,7% cuando se utilizó 10 ppm mezclado directamente en las heces, y como aditivo en el alimento, respectivamente. No obstante, en bajas concentraciones se observó gran variabilidad en los resultados. El methoprene debería ser usado en concentraciones elevadas y en combinación con otros métodos para un control óptimo de adultos de M. domestica en explotaciones avícolas

Medicina defensiva en el mundo

Comunicación oral presentada en el 3er Congreso Internacional de Comunicación en Salud (3ICHC), celebrado los días 19 y 20 de octubre de 2017 en la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.En este trabajo, a partir de los estudios previos analizados, se realizará una actualización sobre la situación de la medicina defensiva

Valoración de la competencia para una buena comunicación

Comunicación oral presentada en el 3er Congreso Internacional de Comunicación en Salud (3ICHC), celebrado los días 19 y 20 de octubre de 2017 en la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. .El objetivo es hacer una revisión de la literatura para describir la valoración de la competencia y los métodos de evaluación de la mism

Medicina defensiva: situación actual en nuestro medio

Comunicación oral presentada en el 3er Congreso Internacional de Comunicación en Salud (3ICHC), celebrado los días 19 y 20 de octubre de 2017 en la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.El objetivo del trabajo es conocer, a través de encuestas, la situación actual de la práctica médica basada en la medicina defensiva

Medicina asertiva

Comunicación oral presentada en el 3er Congreso Internacional de Comunicación en Salud (3ICHC), celebrado los días 19 y 20 de octubre de 2017 en la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.El objetivo del trabajo es dar a conocer una práctica médica que contrarresta la medicina defensiva: la medicina asertiva

Medicina defensiva

Comunicación oral presentada en el 3er Congreso Internacional de Comunicación en Salud (3ICHC), celebrado los días 19 y 20 de octubre de 2017 en la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.El objetivo del trabajo es dar a conocer los problemas de la medicina defensiv

Comunicando malas noticias

Comunicación oral presentada en el 3er Congreso Internacional de Comunicación en Salud (3ICHC), celebrado los días 19 y 20 de octubre de 2017 en la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.El objetivo de este trabajo es dar a conocer los artículos escritos en nuestro país sobre la comunicación de malas noticias en los últimos 10 años