Contribution of the Myosin Binding Protein C Motif to Functional Effects in Permeabilized Rat Trabeculae

Myosin binding protein C (MyBP-C) is a thick-filament protein that limits cross-bridge cycling rates and reduces myocyte power output. To investigate mechanisms by which MyBP-C affects contraction, we assessed effects of recombinant N-terminal domains of cardiac MyBP-C (cMyBP-C) on contractile properties of permeabilized rat cardiac trabeculae. Here, we show that N-terminal fragments of cMyBP-C that contained the first three immunoglobulin domains of cMyBP-C (i.e., C0, C1, and C2) plus the unique linker sequence termed the MyBP-C “motif” or “m-domain” increased Ca2+ sensitivity of tension and increased rates of tension redevelopment (i.e., ktr) at submaximal levels of Ca2+. At concentrations ≥20 μM, recombinant proteins also activated force in the absence of Ca2+ and inhibited maximum Ca2+-activated force. Recombinant proteins that lacked the combination of C1 and the motif did not affect contractile properties. These results suggest that the C1 domain plus the motif constitute a functional unit of MyBP-C that can activate the thin filament

Subspecialty training in Europe:a report by the European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists

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Essays on environmental regulation, environmental innovation and competitiveness in the hotel sector

[spa] Esta tesis identifica y analiza algunas cuestiones no estudiadas en el marco del medio ambiente y la competitividad de las empresas turísticas, con especial atención a la Hipótesis de Porter, la innovación ambiental y la regulación ambiental. La Hipótesis de Porter ha desafiado la opinión tradicional de que los objetivos ambientales y el crecimiento económico son incompatibles. Por el contrario, la Hipótesis de Porter sostiene que una regulación ambiental eficaz ayuda a las empresas a encontrar oportunidades para las innovaciones ambientales y, así, mejora la calidad del medio ambiente y aumenta la competitividad de las empresas en los mercados internacionales. En esta tesis se analiza la aplicabilidad de la Hipótesis de Porter al caso turístico, dando especial importancia a la relación específica entre el producto turístico y la calidad ambiental, así como a las peculiaridades del proceso de innovación y transferencia de conocimientos en este sector. Comprobamos empíricamente el efecto de la regulación ambiental en la implementación de las innovaciones medioambientales en el sector hotelero, así como también el efecto de otros factores considerados por la Hipótesis de Porter como los principales obstáculos a la adopción de innovaciones, por ejemplo, la ineficiencia de la organización y la falta de experiencia en cuestiones ambientales. También hacemos algunas contribuciones al problema de la medición de la severidad de las regulaciones ambientales

Measuring risks and vulnerability of tourism to the COVID-19 crisis in the context of extreme uncertainty: The case of the Balearic Islands

[eng] The COVID-19 crisis is dramatically affecting the world economy and, particularly, the tourism sector. In the context of extreme uncertainty, the use of probabilistic forecasting models is especially suitable. We use Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the outcomes of four possible tourism demand recovery scenarios in the Balearic Islands, which are further used to measure the risks and vulnerability of Balearic economy to the COVID-19 crisis. Our results show that fear of contagion and loss of income in tourism emitting countries will result in a maximum 89% drop in arrivals in the Balearic Islands in 2020.Given that most tourism-related occupations are not highly skilled and are characterized by lower salaries, there are greater risks of loss of welfare, especially for women, who are a major share of the tourism labour force.The model shows important differences among minimum, average and maximum estimates for tourism sector production in 2021, reflecting considerable uncertainty regarding the speed of the sector's recovery. The results serve as a basis to prepare a range of policies to reduce destination vulnerability under different crisis outcomes

Nonlinear Myofilament Regulatory Processes Affect Frequency-Dependent Muscle Fiber Stiffness

To investigate the role of nonlinear myofilament regulatory processes in sarcomeric mechanodynamics, a model of myofilament kinetic processes, including thin filament on–off kinetics and crossbridge cycling kinetics with interactions within and between kinetic processes, was built to predict sarcomeric stiffness dynamics. Linear decomposition of this highly nonlinear model resulted in the identification of distinct contributions by kinetics of recruitment and by kinetics of distortion to the complex stiffness of the sarcomere. Further, it was established that nonlinear kinetic processes, such as those associated with cooperative neighbor interactions or length-dependent crossbridge attachment, contributed unique features to the stiffness spectrum through their effect on recruitment. Myofilament model-derived sarcomeric stiffness reproduces experimentally measured sarcomeric stiffness with remarkable fidelity. Consequently, characteristic features of the experimentally determined stiffness spectrum become interpretable in terms of the underlying contractile mechanisms that are responsible for specific dynamic behaviors