Recognition motifs rather than phylogenetic origin influence the ability of targeting peptides to import nuclear-encoded recombinant proteins into rice mitochondria

Mitochondria fulfil essential functions in respiration and metabolism as well as regulating stress responses and apoptosis. Most native mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and are imported into mitochondria via one of several receptors that recognize N-terminal signal peptides. The targeting of recombinant proteins to mitochondria therefore requires the presence of an appropriate N-terminal peptide, but little is known about mitochondrial import in monocotyledonous plants such as rice (Oryza sativa). To gain insight into this phenomenon, we targeted nuclear-encoded enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) to rice mitochondria using six mitochondrial pre-sequences with diverse phylogenetic origins, and investigated their effectiveness by immunoblot analysis as well as confocal and electron microscopy. We found that the ATPA and COX4 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), SU9 (Neurospora crassa), pFA (Arabidopsis thaliana) and OsSCSb (Oryza sativa) peptides successfully directed most of the eGFP to the mitochondria, whereas the MTS2 peptide (Nicotiana plumbaginifolia) showed little or no evidence of targeting ability even though it is a native plant sequence. Our data therefore indicate that the presence of particular recognition motifs may be required for mitochondrial targeting, whereas the phylogenetic origin of the pre-sequences probably does not play a key role in the success of mitochondrial targeting in dedifferentiated rice callus and plants.This work was supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grant OPP1143172. CB was supported by a doctoral fellowship from AGAUR. XJ was supported by a doctoral fellowship from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid

Cycling evolution in province of Alicante and her media coverage

El ciclismo es uno de los deportes con mayor número de practicantes en España. Cada fin de semana la bicicleta congrega a miles de personas entorno a una actividad que aúna la naturaleza y los hábitos saludables, según la Encuesta de Hábitos Deportivos (2017). Además, durante los últimos años la provincia de Alicante ha sufrido una evolución en el número de competiciones (148) y clubs federados (147), convirtiéndose en un referente a nivel nacional, según datos de la Federación de Ciclismo de la Comunidad Valenciana. A pesar de ello, el espacio que dedican los medios de comunicación sobre el deporte de las dos ruedas dista mucho de la masa social que soporta a sus espaldas. Por ello, este trabajo estudia la repercusión mediática que tiene el ciclismo en diferentes productos periodísticos de referencia de la provincia de Alicante como son los diarios digitales Información y Alicante Plaza, así como las emisoras Radio Alicante y Cope Alicante. El análisis utiliza una metodología tanto cuantitativa como cualitativa, pues no se estudia única y exclusivamente la trascendencia del ciclismo en los diferentes medios, sino detallar el tratamiento periodístico que se realiza acerca de deporte y centrándose, especialmente, en el ciclismo de Alicante. Para ello, se realiza un estudio sobre el contenido, las fuentes y los géneros utilizados. Asimismo, se completa este análisis con la realización de entrevistas con profesionales directamente relacionados con el ciclismo para conocer sus opiniones respecto a su tratamiento informativo. Los resultados más relevantes permiten concluir que la evolución que se ha vivido en la provincia de Alicante durante los últimos años no se encuentra reflejada de forma directa en los medios de comunicación. Gran parte de las publicaciones son de elementos externos al ciclismo de competición –atropellos y economía, principalmente– y en contadas ocasiones los medios analizados hacen referencia al ciclismo de la provincia.Cycling is one of the sports with the highest number of practitioners in Spain. Every weekend the bicycle brings together thousands of people around an activity that combines nature and healthy habits, according to the Sports Habits Survey (2017). In addition, during the last years the province of Alicante has undergone an evolution in the number of federated competitions (148) and clubs (147), becoming a benchmark at a national level. In spite of this, the space that the media dedicate to the sport of two wheels is far from the social mass that it supports. For this reason, this work studies the media impact that cycling has on different journalistic products in the province of Alicante such as the digital newspapers Información and Alicante Plaza, as well as Radio Alicante and Cope Alicante stations. The analysis uses a quantitative as well as a qualitative methodology, since the importance of cycling in the different media is not studied solely, but rather the journalistic treatment that is carried out about sport and focusing, especially, on cycling in Alicante. For this, a study is made on the content, sources and genres used. Furthermore, this analysis is completed with interviews with professionals directly related to cycling to find out their opinions regarding her information treatment. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the evolution that has been experienced in the province of Alicante in recent years is not reflected directly in the media. Most of the publications are of elements external to competitive cycling –trokes and economy, mainly– and in rare cases the media analyzed make reference to the cycling of the province

Tour virtual: una forma eficiente de realizar evaluaciones tempranas en aplicaciones de paciente

Tradicionalmente, los sistemas de ayuda a la decisión (Decision Support Systems, DSS) han estado dirigidos a los profesionales médicos; sin embargo también pueden ayudar a aquellos pacientes que desean tener un papel más activo en el cuidado de su salud. Además, los pacientes quieren ser tratados en el momento en que su estado de salud lo requiera, sin importar el lugar en el que se encuentren. El sistema MobiGuide proporciona un soporte personalizado y basado en evidencia clínica tanto a profesionales médicos como a pacientes en todo momento y en todo lugar. La aplicación móvil del paciente representa el punto de acceso al servicio y, por tanto, es responsable en gran medida del éxito o fracaso del sistema. En MobiGuide, se ha incorporado a los pacientes desde el comienzo en el proceso de diseño y evaluación de la aplicación para garantizar una adecuada funcionalidad y usabilidad del sistema. En este trabajo presentamos la primera evaluación realizada por los pacientes mediante un tour virtual por la Aplicación de Paciente. Los resultados son altamente positivos y útiles para mejorar la aplicación, corregir defectos y conseguir la aplicación final esperada por los pacientes

Exceptional spectral phase in a dissipative collective spin model

We study a model of a quantum collective spin weakly coupled to a spin-polarized Markovian environment and find that the spectrum is divided into two regions that we name normal and exceptional Liouvillian spectral phases. In the thermodynamic limit, the exceptional spectral phase displays the unique property of being made up exclusively of second-order exceptional points. As a consequence, the evolution of any initial density matrix populating this region is slowed down and cannot be described by a linear combination of exponential decays. This phase is separated from the normal one by a critical line in which the density of Liouvillian eigenvalues diverges, a phenomenon analogous to that of excited-state quantum phase transitions observed in some closed quantum systems. In the limit of no bath polarization, this criticality is transferred onto the steady state, implying a dissipative quantum phase transition and the formation of a boundary time crystal.MCIN/AEI PGC2018-094180-B-I00 PID2019-104002GB-C21European CommissionCAM/FEDER Project S2018/TCS-4342Junta de Andalucia UHU-1262561 P20-00764CSIC Research Platform on Quantum Technologies PTI-001La Caixa Foundation 100010434 LCF/BQ/DR21/1188002

Mathematical models of Leukaemia and its treatment: A review

Leukaemia accounts for around 3% of all cancer types diagnosed in adults, and is the most common type of cancer in children of paediatric age. There is increasing interest in the use of mathematical models in oncology to draw inferences and make predictions, providing a complementary picture to experimental biomedical models. In this paper we recapitulate the state of the art of mathematical modelling of leukaemia growth dynamics, in time and response to treatment. We intend to describe the mathematical methodologies, the biological aspects taken into account in the modelling, and the conclusions of each study. This review is intended to provide researchers in the field with solid background material, in order to achieve further breakthroughs in the promising field of mathematical biology

En busca de restos humanos en los niveles de un dolmen de corredor: uso combinado del ICP-MS, fluorescencia de rayos x (FRX) y microscopio electrónico (SEM) en la Cobertoria (Salas, Asturias, España)

Este artículo resume los resultados de la primera investigación dentro del megalitismo asturiano sobre composiciones químicas de los horizontes funerarios. La combinación de tres técnicas analíticas permitió una caracterización detallada de los niveles del dolmen de la Cobertoria (Salas, Asturias), monumento datado sobre el 3500 a.C. En el texto se describen las técnicas utilizadas para analizar estos niveles, así como los resultados obtenidos y su relación con el contexto arqueológico. La presencia de algunos componentes corresponde a la naturaleza geológica del sitio mientras que otros, como el fósforo, deben ser explicados por otros motivos. El uso de FRX y de ICP-MS mostró cifras elevadas de este componente que no pueden ser entendidas sin tener en cuenta el uso funerario que tuvo esta entrada. La descomposición de cadáveres, o de elementos orgánicos asociados a estos, es aquí la razón más probable para explicar estos altos índices de fósforo.Fundación Valdés-Salas. Programa de apoyo a la investigación, Universidad de Oviedo: Papi20-Puente1

PREDIRCAM eHealth platform for individualized telemedical assistance for lifestyle modification in the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and cardiometabolic risk prevention: a pilot study (PREDIRCAM 1)

Background: Healthy diet and regular physical activity are powerful tools in reducing diabetes and cardiometabolic risk. Various international scientific and health organizations have advocated the use of new technologies to solve these problems. The PREDIRCAM project explores the contribution that a technological system could offer for the continuous monitoring of lifestyle habits and individualized treatment of obesity as well as cardiometabolic risk prevention. Methods: PREDIRCAM is a technological platform for patients and professionals designed to improve the effectiveness of lifestyle behavior modifications through the intensive use of the latest information and communication technologies. The platform consists of a web-based application providing communication interface with monitoring devices of physiological variables, application for monitoring dietary intake, ad hoc electronic medical records, different communication channels, and an intelligent notification system. A 2-week feasibility study was conducted in 15 volunteers to assess the viability of the platform. Results: The website received 244 visits (average time/session: 17 min 45 s). A total of 435 dietary intakes were recorded (average time for each intake registration, 4 min 42 s ± 2 min 30 s), 59 exercises were recorded in 20 heart rate monitor downloads, 43 topics were discussed through a forum, and 11 of the 15 volunteers expressed a favorable opinion toward the platform. Food intake recording was reported as the most laborious task. Ten of the volunteers considered long-term use of the platform to be feasible. Conclusions: The PREDIRCAM platform is technically ready for clinical evaluation. Training is required to use the platform and, in particular, for registration of dietary food intake

In Search of Human Remains in the Layers of a Passage Tomb: The Combination of ICP-MS, Fluorescence (XRF) and SEM Methods at the Cobertoria Dolmen (Salas, Asturias, Spain)

Este artículo resume los resultados de la primera investigación dentro del megalitismo asturiano sobre composiciones químicas de los horizontes funerarios. La combinación de tres técnicas analíticas permitió una caracterización detallada de los niveles del dolmen de la Cobertoria (Salas, Asturias), monumento datado sobre el 3500 a.C. En el texto se describen las técnicas utilizadas para analizar estos niveles, así como los resultados obtenidos y su relación con el contexto arqueológico. La presencia de algunos componentes corresponde a la naturaleza geológica del sitio mientras que otros, como el fósforo, deben ser explicados por otros motivos. El uso de FRX y de ICP-MS mostró cifras elevadas de este componente que no pueden ser entendidas sin tener en cuenta el uso funerario que tuvo esta entrada. La descomposición de cadáveres, o de elementos orgánicos asociados a estos, es aquí la razón más probable para explicar estos altos índices de fósforo

Understanding the role of B cells in CAR T-cell therapy in leukemia through a mathematical model

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has been proven to be successful against different leukaemias and lymphomas. This paper makes an analytical and numerical study of a mathematical model describing the competition of CAR-T, leukaemias tumor and B cells. Considering its significance in sustaining anti-CD19 CAR T-cell stimulation, we integrate a B-cell source term into the model. Through stability and bifurcation analyses, we reveal the potential for tumor eradication contingent on the continuous influx of B-cells, uncovering a transcritical bifurcation at a critical B-cell input. Additionally, we identify an almost heteroclinic cycle between equilibrium points, providing a theoretical basis for understanding disease relapse. Analyzing the oscillatory behavior of the system, we approximate the time-dependent dynamics of CAR T-cells and leukemic cells, shedding light on the impact of initial tumor burden on therapeutic outcomes. In conclusion, our study provides insights into CAR T-cell therapy dynamics for acute lymphoblastic leukemias, offering a theoretical foundation for clinical observations and suggesting avenues for future immunotherapy modeling research

Ultrasonic Device-Free Localization System Using Orthogonal Chirp-Based Multistatic Sonar

Indoor device-free localization (DFL) systems offer an alternative paradigm to traditional location, in which the target to be located does not need to carry any sensor, tag, or electronic device. In contrast to most popular DFL systems, which are based on radio frequency technologies, ultrasonic signals have been used in this work, due to their good accuracy results, to estimate the 3-D position of a person's head. For this purpose, a four-emitter and a single-receiver multistatic sonar installed overhead has been employed. The emission signals follow a time division orthogonal chirp division multiplexing (TD-OCDM) access technique to obtain a 300 ms update time and asynchronous operation. The signals propagated in the indoor space are acquired by the receiver and processed. A sign-data least mean square (SD-LMS) adaptive filter algorithm has been applied in order to remove the background components on the received signal. Then, a specific window from the resulting clean signal is employed to determine the reflected signal at the target time-of-arrival (ToA) by using an adaptive threshold. The ToA obtained, together with the direct path ToA between emitters and the receiver, provide ranges to compute the target location using a localization algorithm. A simulator was used to analyze the proposal, estimating the coverage area of the system at 3.14 m(2). Several experiments have been performed with a single user placing the multistatic sonar at heights of 2.60 and 2.80 m above the floor within the coverage area. The results achieved positioning errors lower than 9 cm for the 2.60-m height and 11.6 cm at 2.80 m in 90% of the cases