Purification of Starch Granules from Arabidopsis Leaves and Determination of Granule-Bound Starch Synthase Activity

Starch constitutes the most important carbon reserve in plants and is composed of branched amylopectin and linear amylose. The latter is synthesized exclusively by the Granule-Bound Starch Synthase (GBSS, EC 2.4.1.21). Here we report a readily reproducible, specific and highly sensitive protocol, which includes the isolation of intact starch granules from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and the subsequent determination of GBSS activity. We have applied this method to study GBSS activity in diurnal cycles in vegetative growth and during the photoperiodic transition to flowering in Arabidopsis (Tenorio et al., 2003; Ortiz-Marchena et al., 2014).España,MINECO CSD2007-00057, BIO2008-02292, and BIO2011-28847-C02-00España, Junta de Andalucía P06-CVI-01450 and P08-AGR-0358

Structural stability of SiGe nanoparticles under "in situ" electron beam irradiation in TEM

The structure of amorphous and crystalline SiGe nanoparticles, embedded in a dielectric medium, SiO2, and its stability under “in situ” electron beam irradiation is reported. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron-diffraction pattern simulation by fast Fourier transform was used to analyze the crystal structure of the SiGe nanoparticles. Electron beam irradiation induces structural alternate order-disorder transitions in the nanoparticles for irradiation effects are mainly associated to the density of current. For irradiation with current densities < 7 A·cm-2 no effects are observed in the as-deposited amorphous samples, whereas in the crystallized samples, SiGe nanocrystals show higher stability and no effects are observed for irradiation densities of current < 50 A·cm-2. Irradiation with densities of current greater than these thresholds cause consecutive amorphous-crystalline or crystalline-amorphous structure transitions respectively for both amorphous and crystallized nanoparticles. A hexagonal structure is proposed for those nanocrystals obtained after irradiation in the as deposited amorphous samples

Feedback 360º en el aprendizaje de competencias clínicas en Fisioterapia: experiencia en la Universidad Miguel Hernández. Póster

[SPA]En la actualidad y bajo los preceptos del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior la evaluación debe recuperar un papel importante como estrategia formativa y didáctica, y no limitarse única y exclusivamente a una función sumativa o discriminante (Broadfoot & Black, 2004). Por este motivo, exponemos a continuación, el feedback 360º una metodología que permite evaluar tanto la educación emocional como las competencias del alumno de una manera mas global, que incluye, además del punto de vista del profesor también las aportaciones de otros agentes como los compañeros (coevaluación), agentes externos (paciente) incluso del propio alumno en cuestión (autoevaluación). [ENG]Currently, under the provisions of the European Higher Education evaluation should recover an important role in training and teaching strategy, not exclusively limited to a summative or discriminant function (Broadfoot & Black, 2004). For this reason, we show the 360 º feedback tecnique as a methodology to assess both the emotional education and skills of students which includes, the point of view of the teacher and also the contributions of other agents such as peers (peer-assessment), external stakeholders (patient), even from the student in question (selfassessment).Campus Mare Nostrum, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Universidad de Murcia, Región de Murci

Effect of rowing on mobility, functionality, and quality of life in women with and without breast cancer: a 4-month intervention

Purpose: Of the different modalities of rowing, dragon boat training is the most analyzed in breast cancer (BC). However, other types of boats, such as the felucca, use different biomechanical techniques, which have not been studied in the scientific literature. Consequently, in this study, we sought to determine the benefits of felucca rowing on the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of patients with BC and healthy persons. Methods: A pre- and post-intervention, single-arm study without a control group with a 4-month intervention was carried out in Spain in 2019. The study sample included six women with BC and 15 healthy women. The following questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention: Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), Constant-Murley score (CMS), and the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D, rate your health today). Differences were determined before and after the intervention using the paired t test. Results: Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the results of all the questionnaires for the women with BC and for the healthy women: DASH (- 13.8 BC and - 6.7 healthy), CMS (+ 12.0 BC and 9.2 healthy), and EQ-5D (+ 8.5 BC and 10.5 healthy). Conclusion: Felucca rowing showed benefits in health and quality of life in both women with BC and healthy women. In future studies with controlled design, values regarding clinical relevance, such as effect sizes/confidence intervals, are needed to corroborate our results

Tear film inflammatory mediators during continuous wear of contact lenses and corneal refractive therapy

OBJECTIVES: To study changes in tear film inflammatory mediators following continuous wear of silicone-hydrogel lenses and corneal refractive therapy with reverse geometry contact lenses. DESIGN: A prospective, case-control study. METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects had worn silicone-hydrogel lenses on a 30-night continuous wear basis. Thirty-two subjects had worn corneal refractive therapy lenses on an overnight basis. Thirty-two matched control subjects were also recruited. Tear samples were obtained 12 months after initial fitting and assayed using ELISA for cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). RESULTS: EGF was significantly increased 12 months after both interventions. IL-6, IL-8 and MMP-9 were significantly increased only after corneal refractive therapy. The inflammatory response for the corneal refractive therapy patients was found to be associated with the degree of myopia corrected and the presence of corneal staining. Moreover, an increased level of MMP-9 and EGF was found to be associated with the presence of corneal-pigmented arc in the corneal refractive therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: This research showed long-term increased tear levels of inflammatory markers in subjects wearing corneal refractive therapy lenses when compared with continuous wear of silicone-hydrogel lenses or no lens wear.This research was financed by a grant (PI-081380) from the National Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain, Ministry of Health and Consume (General Division for Health Research Funding)

El proceso de coevaluación y autoevaluación de las prácticas de laboratorio de fisioterapia y su correlación con la evaluación del profesor. Póster

[SPA] Una de estas estrategias diferentes a la metodología clásica de enseñanza es el conocido como proceso de coevaluación entre alumnos, lo que permite un sistema de retroalimentación derivado de la evaluación entre iguales. Este sistema se constituye como un complemento perfecto a las clases prácticas tradicionales de fisioterapia. En este trabajo, después de plantear la organización de esta metodología como una simulación del examen práctico de laboratorio, se analizan los resultados derivados de la coevaluación y autoevaluación de los alumnos para, posteriormente, poder comparar los resultados con los derivados de la evaluación del profesor. Finalmente, se discuten las ventajas y desventajas que esta metodología presenta en relación a la anterior y tradicional forma de trabajo.[ENG] One of these strategies different from the classic methodology of teaching is known as peer assessment process, including students, laboratory practices physical therapy, allowing a feedback system derived from the peer evaluation. This system is a perfect complement to the traditional practice of physical therapy classes. In this paper, after fully discussing the organization of this methodology as a practical exam simulation laboratory, analyze the results from the co-evaluation and self-evaluation of the students to then be able to compare the results with those derived from teacher assessment. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the methodology presented in relation to the previous and traditional way of working.Campus Mare Nostrum, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Universidad de Murcia, Región de Murci

Biological evaluation of water soluble arene Ru(II) enantiomers with amino-oxime ligands

New water soluble, enantiopure arene ruthenium compound SRuSN-(1R,4S)-[(η6-p-cymene)Ru{ĸNH(Bn),ĸNOH}Cl]Cl (Bn = benzyl, 1a′) has been synthesized. The novel compound along with that previously described RRuRN-(1S,4R)-[(η6-p-cymene)Ru{ĸNH(Bn),ĸNOH}Cl]Cl (1a) was evaluated by polarimetry, ultra-violet and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The structure of novel ruthenium derivative 1a′ was determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Both enantiomers have been tested against several cancer cell lines in vitro: prostate PC-3, lung A-549, pancreas MIA PaCa-2, colorectal HCT-116, leukemia Jurkat and cervical HeLa. Both enantiomers are active and versatile cytotoxic agents, showing IC50 values from 2 to 12 times lower than those found for cisplatin in the different cell lines evaluated. The mechanism of cell death induced by the metal compounds was analyzed in A-549 and Jurkat cell lines. Derivatives 1a and 1a′ induced apoptotic cell death of A-549 cells while dose-dependent cell death mechanisms have been found in the Jurkat cell line. Compound-DNA interactions have been investigated by equilibrium dialysis, Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) melting assays and viscometric titrations, revealing moderate binding affinity of 1a and 1a′ towards duplex DNA. Finally, the efficacy of 1a in a preliminary in vivo assay of PC-3 xenografts in nude mice has been evaluated, resulting in a promising inhibition of tumor growth by 45%. Analysis of tumor tissue also showed a significant decrease of levels of crucial molecules in the invasive phenotype of PC-3 cells.Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadComunidad Autónoma de MadridUniversidad de Alcal

Las "Piedras del agua". Punto de partida e investigaciones iniciales del G.I. Arte y Entorno de la ULL

Póster en Día Mundial del Agua. Debates y charlas para la ciudadanía, del 22 de febrero al 22 de marzo. Organiza: Consejo Insular de Aguas de Tenerife, 2019

Carbon Supported Gold Nanoparticles for the Catalytic Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol

This work is a detailed study on how to optimize gold colloids preparation and their deposition to very different in nature carbon materials. The change of the continuous phase and its dielectric constant is used to assure the good dispersion of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic carbons and the successful transfer of the preformed small size colloids to their surface. The sintering behavior of the particles during the calcination step is also studied and the optimal conditions to reduce to a minimum the particle size increase during the protecting agent removal phase are found. The as prepared catalysts have been tested in a relevant reaction in the field of environmental catalysis such as the reduction of 4-nitrophenol leading to promising results. Overall, this work proposes an important methodology to follow when a carbonaceous material are selected as catalyst supports for green chemistry reactions.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades ENE2017-82451-C3-3-RFEDE

Water soluble, optically active monofunctional Pd(II) and Pt(II) compounds: promising adhesive and antimigratory effects on human prostate PC-3 cancer cells

New water soluble, enantiopure palladium and platinum compounds R-N-[M{(1S, 4R)-kappa NOH,kappa(NH)-N-2(2-pic)} Cl]Cl and S-N-[M{(1R, 4S)-kappa NOH,kappa(NH)-N-2(2-pic)}Cl]Cl (2-pic = 2-picolyl, M = Pd 1 and 1', Pt 2 and 2', respectively), and heterometallic Pd/Ti [(eta(5)-C5H5)(2)Ti{(1S, 4R)-kappa ON,kappa(NH)-N-2(2-pic)}(PdCl)] Cl (3) have been synthesized. These novel compounds were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and CHN elemental analysis and 1, 1', 2 and 2' were further evaluated by polarimetry, ultra-violet and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The aqueous stability of novel compounds was studied by NMR spectroscopy under physiological conditions and the new species detected under such conditions have been characterized by NMR techniques and HR-ESI-MS (High-Resolution Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry). CompoundDNA interactions have been investigated for the palladium and platinum compounds by equilibrium dialysis, Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) DNA melting assays and viscometric titrations, revealing a better binding affinity and ability to affect duplex DNA of the palladium compounds. Metal derivatives have been tested in vitro against three cancer (prostate PC-3, cervical HeLa and breast MCF-7) and one non-tumorigenic (human prostate RWPE-1) cell lines. The highest anticancer activities were shown by palladium compounds 1 and 1' in all cancer lines, although their toxicity was lower than that found for cisplatin. Most importantly, the effect of the compounds on the cell adhesion and migration of the androgen- independent prostate cancer PC-3 cells has been assessed, and the efficacy of Pd enantiomers to affect the invasive phenotype of PC-3 cells has been demonstrated.Universidad de AlcaláComunidad de Madri