Glycomimetic Ligands for C-type Lectin Recognition.

C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) represent pivotal sensory mechanisms orchestrating the primary immune response via dendritic cells.1 The exploration of non-native ligands as molecular tools for the manipulation of CLRs has emerged as a highly interesting research area. In the case of DC-SIGN, one of the most extensively investigated CLRs, glycomimetics have been formulated as principal compounds with a demonstrated capacity to proficiently engage DC-SIGN (Figure 1 and 2). The principal problem encountered refers to the structural complexity and challenging synthetic processes associated with these glycomimetics. In this context, we introduce a novel class of glycomimetic ligands designed for DC-SIGN that exhibit a simpler structural composition and can be readily synthesized. These ligands hold significant promise for potential applications in the field of immune regulation therapeutic (Figure 3).Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Inteligencia general y conducta delictiva en adolescentes sentenciados por delito de homicidio

Este estudio tiene como objeto principal determinar la relación entre la inteligencia general y la conducta delictiva, en una muestra integrada por 26 adolescentes sentenciados penalmente por el delito de homicidio, en el año 2016, que cumplen sentencia que van desde los 2 ½ años hasta los 12 años de privación de libertad, bajo la supervisión del Juzgado de Cumplimiento, de la Jurisdicción de Niñez y Adolescencia de la República de Panamá. El diseño metodológico investigativo, es de tipo correlacional de corte trasversal, se ha estudiado en un solo momento y lugar. Para la recolección de datos se examinaron 26 expedientes judiciales sobre el delito de homicidio en diversas modalidades; los puntajes de inteligencia general se lograron mediante el Test de Matrices Progresivas de Raven, forma general y para los puntajes de conducta delictiva, se utilizó la Escala Conducta Delictiva del Cuestionario de conducta Antisocial y Delictiva. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que existe una relación entre la inteligencia y la conducta delictiva. También se identificaron una serie de factores psicológicos y sociales presentes en los adolescentes, tales como disfuncionalidad familiar, ausencia de figura paterna en la crianza de los hijos, bajos niveles educativos, problemas socioeconómicos (pobreza, desempleo), abandono o deserción del sistema educativo en el nivel primario, residencia en comunidades de alta incidencia delictiva, exposición a experiencias de violencia, alcoholismo, consumo de drogas licitas e ilícitas con inicio desde los 10 a 12 años de edad, disponibilidad de armas de fuego, pertenencia a pandillas o interaccionar con otros delincuentes. Los motivos para la ejecución de actos homicidas son principalmente la obtención de dinero fácil (robo), actos de venganza, rencillas o rivalidad entre pandillas

Individual differences in arithmetic fluency

Este estudio contrasta la hipótesis de que las dificultades que tienen algunos sujetos en el dominio de las tablas de multiplicar se deban a su incapacidad para afrontar la interferencia. Los resultados no muestran diferencias en medidas de interferencia en un tarea de recuerdo serial entre sujetos con alta y baja habilidad en la resolución de multiplicaciones. Sin embargo, se encuentran diferencias asociadas a su dominio de las representaciones numéricas.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Proyecto PSI-2012-38423

Isolation, characterization, and localization of AgaSGNH cDNA: a new SGNH-motif plant hydrolase specific to Agave americana L. leaf epidermis.

GDSL and SGNH hydrolases are lipases involved in a wide range of functions, behaving in many cases as bifunctional enzymes. In this work, the isolation and characterization of AgaSGNH, a cDNA encoding a member of the SGNH-hydrolase superfamily from young leaf epidermis of the monocot Agave americana L., is reported. The protein possesses a typical signal peptide at its N-terminus that allows its secretion to the epidermis cell wall, as verified by immunolocalization experiments. In addition, the AgaSGNH sequence contains a His-Leu-Gly-Ala-Glu (HLGAE) motif which is similar to that observed in other plant acyltransferases. Expression levels by northern blot and in situ localization of the corresponding mRNA, as well as the immunolocalization of the protein in Agave young leaves indicate that the protein is specifically present in the epidermal cells. The detailed study performed in different parts of the Agave leaf confirms two aspects: first, the expression of AgaSGNH is limited to the epidermis, and second, the maximum mRNA levels are found in the epidermis of the youngest zones of the leaf which are especially active in cutin biosynthesis. These levels dramatically decrease in the oldest zone of the leaf, where the presence of AgaSGNH mRNA is undetectable, and the biosynthesis of different cuticle components is severely reduced. These data could be compatible with the hypothesis that AgaSGNH could carry out both the hydrolysis and the transfer, from an activated acyl-CoA to a crescent cutin in Agave americana leaves and, therefore, be involved in the still unknown mechanism of plant cutin biosynthesis

Evolution of relaxation properties of callus tissue during bone transport

Callus tissue exhibits a viscoelastic behavior that has a strong influence on the distribution of stresses and their evolution with time and, thus, it can affect tissue differentiation during distraction procedures. For this reason, a deep knowledge of that viscoelastic behavior can be very useful to improve current protocols of bone distraction and bone transport. Monitoring stress relaxation of the callus during distraction osteogenesis allows characterizing its viscoelastic behavior. Different procedures have been used in the literature to fit the response of a given viscoelastic model to the force relaxation curve. However, these procedures do not ensure the uniqueness of that fit, which is of the utmost importance for statistical purposes. This work uses a fitting procedure already validated for other tissues that ensures that uniqueness. Very importantly too, the procedure presented here allows obtaining more information from the stress relaxation tests, distinguishing relaxation in different time scales, which provides a deeper insight into the viscoelastic behavior and its evolution over time. As it was observed in the results, relaxation is faster at the first days after osteotomy and becomes slower and more gradual with time. This fact can be directly linked to the temporal evolution of the callus composition (water, organic phase, and mineral content) and also to the progression of tissue differentiation, with a prevalence of hard tissues as time passes

Time-Dependent Collagen Fibered Structure in the Early Distraction Callus: Imaging Characterization and Mathematical Modeling

Collagen is a ubiquitous protein present in regenerating bone tissues that experiences multiple biological phenomena during distraction osteogenesis until the deposition of phosphate crystals. This work combines fluorescence techniques and mathematical modeling to shed light on the mechano-structural processes behind the maturation and accommodation-to-mineralization of the callus tissue. Ovine metatarsal bone calluses were analyzed through confocal images at different stages of the early distraction osteogenesis process, quantifying the fiber orientation distribution and mean intensity as fiber density measure. Likewise, a mathematical model based on the experimental data was defined to micromechanically characterize the apparent stiffening of the tissue within the distracted callus. A reorganization of the fibers around the distraction axis and increased fiber density were found as the bone fragments were gradually separated. Given the degree of significance between the mathematical model and previous in vivo data, reorganization, densification, and bundle maturation phenomena seem to explain the apparent mechanical maturation observed in the tissue theoretically.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness [Grant No. DPI2017-82501-P]; the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) [Grant No. PID2020-113790RB-I00/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033]; and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) with the Junta de Andalucı ´a [Grant No. US-1261691]

Multiscale characterisation of cortical bone tissue

Multiscale analysis has become an attractive technique to predict the behaviour of materials whose microstructure strongly changes spatially or among samples, with that microstructure controlling the local constitutive behaviour. This is the case, for example, of most biological tissues-such as bone. Multiscale approaches not only allow, not only to better characterise the local behaviour, but also to predict the field-variable distributions (e.g., strains, stresses) at both scales (macro and micro) simultaneously. However, multiscale analysis usually lacks sufficient experimental feedback to demonstrate its validity. In this paper an experimental and numerical micromechanics analysis is developed with application to cortical bone. Displacement and strain fields are obtained across the microstructure by means of digital image correlation (DIC). The other mechanical variables are computed following the micromechanics theory. Special emphasis is given to the differences found in the different field variables between the micro- and macro-structures, which points out the need for this multiscale approach in cortical bone tissue. The obtained results are used to establish the basis of a multiscale methodology with application to the analysis of bone tissue mechanics at different spatial scales

Revisiting requirements in web modelling languages

As a consequence of the great number of web modelling languages arisen in the last few years, some criteria to compare them have to be given. Thus, a few authors have made a recollection of the requirements that these languages should address, but, due to technological changes some new requirements have arisen and others haven’t been addressed by modelling languages, yet. This paper wants to be a stop to review which of the requirements proposed have been overcome, and which ones haven’t been yet. On the other hand, we also want to propose some new requirements in order to adapt the languages to the current technological state

Study of mandibular growth in patients treated with Fränkel ?s functional regulator (1b)

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess mandibular growth in patients with Class II division 1 malocclusions when treated with Fränkel ?s functional regulator 1b. Study Design: The treatment group was made up of 43 patients that were divided into two groups: prepubescent (n:28), and pubescent (n:15). The control group included 40 patients who did not receive any kind of treatment and were likewise divided into a prepubescent group (n:19), and a pubescent group (n:21). A computerized cephalometric study was carried out and superimpositions were done in order to assess the antero-posterior, vertical and rotational movements of the mandible. A two-way ANOVA with interaction was done to compare the changes between the control group and the treatment group, while the Student t for independent samples was used to compare each age group. Results: The Gnathion and Gonion points showed significant differences in the whole sample (p0.05). Conclusion: The results show that the FR produces vertical orthopedic growth in the mandible but not horizontal growth compared to non-treated Class II-type I malocclusion patients. No rotational changes were found in the mandible, but we did record mandibular growth along the inclination of the facial axi

Influencia de las características superficiales de un sustrato en la resistencia de una unión adhesiva

Uno de los objetivos que se plantean cuando se realiza una unión adhesiva es que su resistencia sea lo más elevada posible para los esfuerzos a los que va a estar solicitada. Además de las propias características del adhesivo empleado, está la resistencia que se genera en la interfase. En trabajos anteriores se ha caracterizado la topografía de la superficie del sustrato. En este trabajo se han realizado ensayos de resistencia de la unión adhesiva sometida a ensayos de tracción pura, buscando la relación con las características de las superficies tratadas con diferentes tratamientos mecánicos y químicos. Se ha comprobado que el valor de la rugosidad influye en la resistencia, pero condicionado por el tratamiento aplicado