Quinoidization of regioregular oligo(THIENO[3,4-b]THIOPHENE)s

Caracterización de oligotiofenosUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Stabilization of a Large Paleo-Landslide Reactivated Because of the Works to Install a New Ski Lift in Formigal Skiing Resort

The paper presents the study and stabilization of a paleo-landslide reactivated because of the excavation works carried out at its foot to construct a new lift in Formigal skiing resort. Inclinometers were installed and surface movements were controlled by GPS techniques in order to analyse the sliding surface and to define the stabilization measures to undertake. The data obtained from the instrumentation was used to perform a back-analysis that allowed to determine the kinematics of the movement as well as to define the appropriate stabilization measures. Presently, the evolution of the movement is controlled by GPS

Endoplasmic Reticulum Lumenal Indicators in Drosophila Reveal Effects of HSP-Related Mutations on Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Dynamics

Genes for endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-shaping proteins are among the most commonly mutated in hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). Mutation of these genes in model organisms can lead to disruption of the ER network. To investigate how the physiological roles of the ER might be affected by such disruption, we developed tools to interrogate its Ca2+ signaling function. We generated GAL4-driven Ca2+ sensors targeted to the ER lumen, to record ER Ca2+ fluxes in identified Drosophila neurons. Using GAL4 lines specific for Type Ib or Type Is larval motor neurons, we compared the responses of different lumenal indicators to electrical stimulation, in axons and presynaptic terminals. The most effective sensor, ER-GCaMP6-210, had a Ca2+ affinity close to the expected ER lumenal concentration. Repetitive nerve stimulation generally showed a transient increase of lumenal Ca2+ in both the axon and presynaptic terminals. Mutants lacking neuronal reticulon and REEP proteins, homologs of human HSP proteins, showed a larger ER lumenal evoked response compared to wild type; we propose mechanisms by which this phenotype could lead to neuronal dysfunction or degeneration. Our lines are useful additions to a Drosophila Ca2+ imaging toolkit, to explore the physiological roles of ER, and its pathophysiological roles in HSP and in axon degeneration more broadly

PRODUCCIÓN Y CARACTERIZACIÓN DE BIOCHAR DERIVADO DE SARMIENTO DE VIÑA (Vitis vinifera). ESTUDIO PRELIMINAR DE SU APLICACIÓN SOBRE EL DESARROLLO DE PLANTAS GRAMÍNEAS.

La utilización de biochar como enmienda orgánica en el suelo es una de las aplicaciones que ofrece este material. Muchos trabajos de investigación han confirmado la mejora de las propiedades del suelo con la adición de biochar, estimulando el desarrollo de los cultivos y el secuestro de carbono en el suelo. Se requiere todavía de mucha investigación y desarrollo para conocer las características específicas de cada biomasa de biochar y su posible influencia sobre el sistema suelo-planta-microorganismos. El presente estudio realiza un análisis sobre las características físico-químicas básicas y mecánicas del biochar de sarmiento, y un primer acercamiento sobre su aplicación e influencia sobre cultivos de gramíneas. La caracterización mecánica pretende conocer su comportamiento en el momento de su aplicación sobre el suelo mediante el uso de maquinaria agraria. Destacar que esta caracterización es novedosa, debido a que no existe otro estudio que presente este tipo de información. De los resultados obtenidos, lo más relevante ha sido que la temperatura de pirólisis afecta a los factores físicos del biochar, haciendo que sus características, tales como tamaño, longitud y factor de forma, varíen y tengan un comportamiento diferente en el momento de su aplicación

Changes in compliance with school-based physical activity recommendations in Spanish youth: The UP&DOWN longitudinal study

The study aimed (a) to examine changes in physical activity (PA) during the whole day, school hours, recess, and physical education classes (PEC) during a 2-year period in primary and secondary students; (b) to identify changes in the proportion of compliance with specific PA recommendations for these periods; and (c) to examine whether PA levels at baseline are associated with PA levels 2 years later. Eight hundred and fourteen (51.8% boys) children and 658 (50.1% boys) adolescents from 41 Spanish schools participated in the study. Hip-worn accelerometers were used to assess PA during different time periods. Light PA (LPA) declined during the whole day, school hours, recess (all P < 0.001, except child girls for recess), and PEC (all, P < 0.05) in children and adolescents. Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) during the whole day and recess declined in child boys (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) and adolescent boys (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). MVPA during PEC declined in adolescent boys (P < 0.001) and adolescent girls (all P < 0.05). The proportion of compliance with the specific PA recommendations for these periods declined (P < 0.05), except for PEC in adolescent girls. PA during the whole day at baseline was moderately associated with PA during the whole day years later (ICCs = 0.210-0.544, with one exception), but this association was lower for the school-based PA. In conclusion, time spent in MVPA and LPA during the whole day and recess declined over time in child and adolescent boys and during PEC in adolescents. These findings highlight the need to promote PA interventions in these settings

The exonuclease Xrn1 activates transcription and translation of mRNAs encoding membrane proteins

The highly conserved 5'-3' exonuclease Xrn1 regulates gene expression in eukaryotes by coupling nuclear DNA transcription to cytosolic mRNA decay. By integrating transcriptome-wide analyses of translation with biochemical and functional studies, we demonstrate an unanticipated regulatory role of Xrn1 in protein synthesis. Xrn1 promotes translation of a specific group of transcripts encoding membrane proteins. Xrnl-dependence for translation is linked to poor structural RNA contexts for translation initiation, is mediated by interactions with components of the translation initiation machinery and correlates with an Xrnl-dependence for mRNA localization at the endoplasmic reticulum, the translation compartment of membrane proteins. Importantly, for this group of mRNAs, Xrn1 stimulates transcription, mRNA translation and decay. Our results uncover a crosstalk between the three major stages of gene expression coordinated by Xrn1 to maintain appropriate levels of membrane proteins

Tumor-Associated Microbiome: Where Do We Stand?

The study of the human microbiome in oncology is a growing and rapidly evolving field. In the past few years, there has been an exponential increase in the number of studies investigating associations of microbiome and cancer, from oncogenesis and cancer progression to resistance or sensitivity to specific anticancer therapies. The gut microbiome is now known to play a significant role in antitumor immune responses and in predicting the efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients. Beyond the gut, the tumor-associated microbiome-microbe communities located either in the tumor or within its body compartment-seems to interact with the local microenvironment and the tumor immune contexture, ultimately impacting cancer progression and treatment outcome. However, pre-clinical research focusing on causality and mechanistic pathways as well as proof-of-concept studies are still needed to fully understand the potential clinical utility of microbiome in cancer patients. Moreover, there is a need for the standardization of methodology and the implementation of quality control across microbiome studies to allow for a better interpretation and greater comparability of the results reported between them. This review summarizes the accumulating evidence in the field and discusses the current and upcoming challenges of microbiome studies

Integrated metamaterial surface-emitting antenna for beam steering applications

Integrated optical antennas are relevant devices for the development of next-generation LIDAR systems. Here we experimentally demonstrate a new topology to implement long antennas in silicon-on-insulator platform. The designed 2-millimeter-long antenna presents a measured far-field beam divergence of 0.1° and a wavelength sensitivity of 0.13°/nm.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. HTSN Challenge Program at the NRC of Canada; Junta de Andalucía (P18-RT-1453, P18-RT-793, UMA18-FEDERJA-219); Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (FPU16/03401, PID2019-106747RBI00)

Sex Hormone Receptor Expression in Craniopharyngiomas and Association with Tumor Aggressiveness Characteristics

Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are rare tumors of the sellar and suprasellar regions of embryonic origin. The primary treatment for CPs is surgery but it is often unsuccessful. Although CPs are considered benign tumors, they display a relatively high recurrence rate that might compromise quality of life. Previous studies have reported that CPs express sex hormone receptors, including estrogen and progesterone receptors. Here, we systematically analyzed estrogen receptor α (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression by immunohistochemistry in a well-characterized series of patients with CP (n = 41) and analyzed their potential association with tumor aggressiveness features. A substantial proportion of CPs displayed a marked expression of PR. However, most CPs expressed low levels of ERα. No major association between PR and ERα expression and clinical aggressiveness features was observed in CPs. Additionally, in our series, β-catenin accumulation was not related to tumor recurrence. View Full-TextThis work was supported by grants from the ISCIII-Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación co-funded with Fondos FEDER (PI16/00175 to A.S-M. and D.A.C.) and the Sistema Andaluz de Salud (A-0006-2017 and A-0055-2018 to A.S-M, RC-0006-2018 to D.A.C.)