Pores Formed by Baxα5 Relax to a Smaller Size and Keep at Equilibrium

AbstractPores made by amphipathic cationic peptides (e.g., antimicrobials and fragments of pore-forming proteins) are typically studied by examining the kinetics of vesicle leakage after peptide addition or obtaining structural measurements in reconstituted peptide-lipid systems. In the first case, the pores have been considered transient phenomena that allow the relaxation of the peptide-membrane system. In the second, they correspond to equilibrium structures at minimum free energy. Here we reconcile both approaches by investigating the pore activity of the α5 fragment from the proapoptotic protein Bax (Baxα5) before and after equilibrium of peptide/vesicle complexes. Quenching assays on suspensions of large unilamellar vesicles suggest that in the presence of Baxα5, the vesicles maintain a leaky state for hours under equilibrium conditions. We proved and analyzed stable pores on single giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) in detail by monitoring the entrance of dyes added at different times after incubation with the peptide. When the GUVs came in contact with Baxα5, leakage started stochastically, was delayed for various periods of time, and in the majority of cases proceeded rapidly to completion. After hours in the presence of the peptide, the same individual GUVs that refilled completely at first instance maintained a porated state, which could be observed in subsequent leak-in events for serially added dyes. However, these long-term pores were smaller in size than the initial equilibration pores. Stable pores were also detected in GUVs made in the presence of Baxα5. The latter pores can be considered equilibrium states and may correspond to structures measured previously in bilayer stacks. Although pore formation may occur as a kinetic process, equilibrium pores may also be functionally relevant structures, especially in highly regulated systems such as the apoptotic mitochondrial pores induced by Bax

Local wind speed forecasting based on WRF-HDWind coupling

Wind speed forecasts obtained by Numerical Weather Prediction models are limited for fine interpretation in heterogeneous terrain, in which different roughnesses and orographies occur. This limitation is derived from the use of low-resolution and grid-box averaged data. In this paper a dynamical downscaling method is presented to increase the local accuracy of wind speed forecasts. The proposed method divides the wind speed forecasting into two steps. In the first one, the mesoscale model WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) is used for getting wind speed forecasts at specific points of the study domain. On a second stage, these values are used for feeding the HDWind microscale model. HDWind is a local model that provides both a high-resolution wind field that covers the entire study domain and values of wind speed and direction at very located points. As an example of use of the proposed method, we calculate a high-resolution wind field in an urban-interface area from Badajoz, a South-West Spanish city located near the Portugal border. The results obtained are compared with the values read by a weathervane tower of the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) in order to prove that the microscale model improves the forecasts obtained by the mesoscale model

Glacial geomorphology of the High Gredos Massif: Gredos and Pinar valleys (Iberian Central System, Spain)

We present a detailed geomorphological map of the landform assemblages originated by the two major paleoglaciers of the Sierra de Gredos mountain range in the Spanish Iberian Central System. Based on previous works, our map focused on the features formed by Gredos and Pinar paleoglaciers during the last glaciation and subsequent glacial events. Based on a remote sensing analysis and exhaustive field surveys, we identified with great accuracy the local distribution of glacial, periglacial, mass movement, structural, fluvial, and lacustrine features. We recognized three main glacial geomorphological formations representing: (i) the maximum glacial extension reached (peripheral deposits); (ii) the culmination of glacial conditions (principal moraines) and (iii) the local glacial withdrawal (internal deposits). Our map offers a renewed spatial framework on which to conduct higher-resolution glacial chronologies, especially of Late Glacial and Holocene glacial activity, providing key information for performing future paleoclimatic reconstructions of the northern hemisphere mid-latitudes

Obtaining cloud top height from WRF model vertical profiles: application to the EUSO program

The objective of the Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO) program is detection and measurement of high-energy particles that reach earth?s atmosphere from space. Clouds at mid and upper levels of the troposphere can interfere with such detection. Therefore, determining cloud top height with high accuracy is crucial to estimating the effect of clouds on these measurements.With this aim, we developed a method to extract that height using cloud temperature via vertical profiles predicted by the WRF model

A feasibility study for implementation 'Health Arcade': a study protocol for prototype of multidomain intervention based on gamification technologies in acutely hospitalized older patients

The aim of this article is to present the research protocol for a study that will evaluate the feasibility of implementation of Health Arcade prototype multidomain intervention based on physical and cognitive training using gamification technologies at improving care for older people hospitalized with an acute illness. A total of 40 older people will be recruited in a tertiary public hospital at Pamplona, Spain. The intervention duration will be four to nine consecutive days. Additionally, the patients will receive encouragement for maintaining active during hospital stay and for reducing sedentary time. Primary implementation-related outcomes will be the adherence to treatment (i.e., number of games and days completed during the intervention period), reaction or response time, and number of success and failures in each game per day. Secondary implementation-related outcomes will be self-perceived grade of difficulty, satisfaction, enjoyment per game and session, and self-perceived difficulties in handling the prototype hardware. Other health-related outcomes will also be assessed such as functional capacity in activities of daily living, mood status, quality of life, handgrip strength, physical activity levels, and mobility. The current study will provide additional evidence to support the implementation of multidomain interventions designed to target older persons with an acute illness based on friendly technology. The proposed intervention will increase accessibility of in-clinical geriatrics services, improve function, promote recovery of the health, and reduce economic costs.This study has been funded by a Gobierno de Navarra project grant (Resolucion 81E/2019, de 19 de junio). Expediente: 0011-1365-2019-000139; Sistema piloto de entrenamiento fisico multicomponente basado en tecnologias de gamificacion para la prevencion del deterioro funcional en ancianos hospitalizados 'HEALTH ARCADE'. N.M.-V. received funding from 'la Caixa' Foundation (ID 100010434), under agreement LCF/PR/PR15/51100006. R.R.-V. is funded in part by a Postdoctotal fellowship grant ID 420/2019 of the Universidad Publica de Navarra, Spain. A.G.-H. is a Miguel Servet Fellow (Instituto de Salud Carlos III -FSE, CP18/0150)

Local wind speed forecasting based on WRF-HDWind coupling

[EN] Wind speed forecasts obtained by Numerical Weather Prediction models are limited for fine interpretation in heterogeneous terrain, in which different roughnesses and orographies occur. This limitation is derived from the use of low-resolution and grid-box averaged data. In this paper a dynamical downscaling method is presented to increase the local accuracy of wind speed forecasts. The proposed method divides the wind speed forecasting into two steps. In the first one, the mesoscale model WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) is used for getting wind speed forecasts at specific points of the study domain. On a second stage, these values are used for feeding the HDWind microscale model. HDWind is a local model that provides both a high-resolution wind field that covers the entire study domain and values of wind speed and direction at very located points. As an example of use of the proposed method, we calculate a high-resolution wind field in an urban-interface area from Badajoz, a South-West Spanish city located near the Portugal border. The results obtained are compared with the values read by a weathervane tower of the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) in order to prove that the microscale model improves the forecasts obtained by the mesoscale model

Red de coordinación de la implantación del primer curso del Grado en Ingeniería en Sonido e Imagen

El profesorado de la red docente realizó durante el curso 2009/10 un proyecto para la planificación de las asignaturas del primer curso del Grado en Ingeniería en Sonido e Imagen de la Escuela Politécnica Superior, y nos toca ahora la puesta a punto del primer curso del Grado. En el marco creado por los nuevos estudios dentro del EEES, el proyecto tiene como objetivo principal es el seguimiento, coordinación, evaluación, y mejora de la planificación realizada el curso anterior ya con las nuevas experiencias.Los autores desean agradecer las ayudas institucionales recibidas tanto por parte de la Universidad de Alicante y la Escuela Politécnica Superior (a través del instituto de Ciencias de la Educación y del Vicerrectorado de Planificación Estratégica y Calidad) y el Grupo de Innovación Tecnológica y Educativa de la Universidad de Alicante (GITE-09006-UA)

Satisfaction rating in a group of women from Granada on birthing care, support and breastfeeding lenght

Introducción: El análisis de la satisfacción se está utilizando como instrumento para crear diferentes reformas sanitarias para la mejora de la calidad y numerosos estudios apuntan al incremento de la satisfacción de la madre en relación directa con el cuidado en la maternidad. Objetivos: Identificar el grado de satisfacción de la mujer sobre la atención al parto, el acompañamiento durante el nacimiento y la duración de la lactancia materna. Objetivos: Identificar el grado de satisfacción de la mujer sobre la atención al parto, el acompañamiento durante el nacimiento y la duración de la lactancia materna. Material y método: Estudio descriptivo transversal en el Hospital Universitario San Cecilio de Granada (España), durante el periodo de tiempo agosto del 2011 al 2012, se realizo con una segunda fase de seguimeinto prospectivo a una N= 60 madres. Se utilizó un protocolo (anexo 1) a las 24 horas en el hospital y a los 14 días por teléfono. A los 3 meses, se realizó un seguimeinto relacionado con la alimentación del bebe. Resultados: El nivel de satisfacción global sobre el parto es alto en la población estudiada. Se ha demostrado que la lactancia materna (P=0,514) y el parto vía vaginal sin epidural (P=0,320) crea una mayor satisfacción en la madre. Por otro lado, la satisfacción sobre el parto guarda relación con la duración de la lactancia materna. Conclusión: La opinión satisfactoria de las madres relacionadas con la atención al parto y el acompañamiento durante el nacimiento se incrementa en aquellas mujeres cuyo parto ocurrió de forma eutócica sin epidural e iniciaron la lactancia materna precoz

The use of fluoroproline in MUC1 antigen enables efficient detection of antibodies in patients with prostate cancer

A structure-based design of a new generation of tumor-associated glycopeptides with improved affinity against two anti-MUC1 antibodies is described. These unique antigens feature a fluorinated proline residue, such as a (4S)-4-fluoro-l-proline or 4,4-difluoro-l-proline, at the most immunogenic domain. Binding assays using biolayer interferometry reveal 3-fold to 10-fold affinity improvement with respect to the natural (glyco)peptides. According to X-ray crystallography and MD simulations, the fluorinated residues stabilize the antigen-antibody complex by enhancing key CH/π interactions. Interestingly, a notable improvement in detection of cancer-associated anti-MUC1 antibodies from serum of patients with prostate cancer is achieved with the non-natural antigens, which proves that these derivatives can be considered better diagnostic tools than the natural antigen for prostate cancer.We thank the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (projects CTQ2015-67727-R, UNLR13-4E-1931, CTQ2013-44367-C2-2-P, CTQ2015-64597-C2-1P, and BFU2016-75633-P). I.A.B. thanks the Asociación Española Contra el Cancer en La Rioja for a grant. I.S.A. and G.J.L.B. thank FCT Portugal (Ph.D. studentship and FCT Investigator, respectively) and EPSRC. G.J.L.B. holds a Royal Society URF and an ERC StG (TagIt). F.C. and G.J.L.B thank the EU (Marie-Sklodowska Curie ITN, Protein Conjugates). R.H-G. thanks Agencia Aragonesa para la Investigación y Desarrollo (ARAID) and the Diputación General de Aragón (DGA, B89) for financial support. The research leading to these results has also received funding from the FP7 (2007-2013) under BioStruct-X (grant agreement no. 283570 and BIOSTRUCTX_5186). We thank synchrotron radiation source DIAMOND (Oxford) and beamline I04 (number of experiment mx10121-19). The Hokkaido University group acknowledges JSPS KAKENHI grant no. 25220206 and JSPS Wakate B KAKENHI grant no. 24710242. We also thank CESGA (Santiago de Compostela) for computer support.Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe

The Spanish Infrared Camera onboard the EUSO-BALLOON (CNES) flight on August 24, 2014

The EUSO-Balloon (CNES) campaign was held during Summer 2014 with a launch on August 24. In the gondola, next to the Photo Detector Module (PDM), a completely isolated Infrared camera was allocated. Also, a helicopter which shooted flashers flew below the balloon. We have retrieved the Cloud Top Height (CTH) with the IR camera, and also the optical depth of the nonclear atmosphere have been inferred with two approaches: The first one is with the comparison of the brightness temperature of the cloud and the real temperature obtained after the pertinent corrections. The second one is by measuring the detected signal from the helicopter flashers by the IR Camera, considering the energy of the flashers and the location of the helicopter