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Surface reconstituted metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer appealing properties for electrocatalysis due to their unique structural and compositional advantages. In this work, a controlled potential-induced reconstruction of a two-dimensional cobalt metal-organic framework for boosting oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media is reported. The current MOF is shown to undergo a partial structural transformation that generates a heterogeneous system, where the original MOF coexists with an oxyhydroxide phase. In fact, the potential-induced stabilization of Co(III) metal centers in the MOF is crucial for delaying its full degradation in alkaline media. This partial retention of the Co(III)MOF phase in the so-derived heterogeneous catalyst has been demonstrated to be decisive for boosting the alkaline electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), displaying superior OER activity in terms of both thermodynamic and kinetic merits compared to the benchmark IrO2 and RuO2 electrocatalysts and the prototypical cobalt (oxy)hydroxides, with a Tafel slope of 52 mV dec−1 and a turnover frequency (TOF) of 6.8 s−1 at 450 mV. Remarkably, the generated final product is stable, exhibiting high robustness and long durability for long-term OER electrolysis. This work provides new insight into the impact of the reconstruction of a MOF for alkaline OER under typical electrochemical conditions, which ultimately benefits the rational design of MOF-based catalysts with high electrocatalytic activity for oxidation reactions.

By applying a singular perturbation approach, canard explosions exhibited by a general family of singularly perturbed planar Piecewise Linear (PWL) differential systems are analyzed. The performed study involves both hyperbolic and non-hyperbolic canard limit cycles appearing after both, a supercritical and a subcritical Hopf bifurcation. The obtained results are comparable with those obtained for smooth vector fields. In some sense, the manuscript can be understood as an extension towards the PWL framework of the results obtained for smooth systems by Dumortier and Roussarie in Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 1996, and Krupa and Szmolyan in J. Differ. Equ. 2001. In addition, some novel slow–fast behaviors are obtained. In particular, in the supercritical case, and under suitable conditions, it is proved that the limit cycles are organized along a curve exhibiting two folds. Each of these folds corresponds to a saddle–node bifurcation of canard limit cycles, one involving headless canard cycles, and the other involving canard cycles with head. This configuration also occurs in smooth systems with N-shaped fast nullcline. However, it has not been previously reported in the Van der Pol system. Our results provide justification for this observation.

Strain engineering, as a powerful strategy to tune the optical and electrical properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials by deforming their crystal lattice, has attracted significant interest in recent years. 2D materials can sustain ultra-high strains, even up to 10%, due to the lack of dangling bonds on their surface, making them ideal brittle solids. This remarkable mechanical resilience, together with a strong strain-tunable band structure, endows 2D materials with a broad optical and electrical response upon strain. However, strain engineering based on 2D materials is restricted by their nanoscale and strain quantification troubles. In this study, we have modified a homebuilt three-points bending apparatus to transform it into a four-points bending apparatus that allows for the application of both compressive and tensile strains on 2D materials. This approach allows for the efficient and reproducible construction of a strain system and minimizes the buckling effect caused by the van der Waals interaction by adamantane encapsulation strategy. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of introducing compressive strain on 2D materials and the potential for tuning their optical and physical properties through this approach.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation harms the skin, causing oxidative damage, inflammation, and disruption of the skin’s barrier function. There is considerable interest in identifying new natural ingredients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to serve as adjuvants in sunscreens. The flavonoid morin (1) can undergo structural modifications to enhance its biological properties. The aim of this study was to synthesize two new morin-Schiff base derivatives, morin oxime (2) and morin semicarbazone (3), comparing their photoprotective effects with that of the parent compound on UVB-exposed HaCaT keratinocytes. The chemical structure of the novel compounds was revealed based on spectroscopic data analysis. Our findings demonstrated that derivatives 2 and 3 enhanced the light absorption capability in the UV–visible (vis) range compared to 1. Tested compounds exhibited a higher scavenger capacity than Trolox. Moreover, pre-treatment with all compounds protected HaCaT cells from UVB-induced cell death. Compound 3 demonstrated the strongest antioxidant effect, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and, subsequently, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Additionally, compounds 2 and 3 exhibited greater anti-inflammatory effects than compound 1, significantly reducing interleukin (IL)-6 production levels at all tested concentrations. These findings have demonstrated, for the first time, a promising photoprotective activity of two new Schiff base derivatives and suggest their use as natural sunscreen ingredients.

The incorporation of novel, functional, and sustainable foods in human diets is increasing because of their beneficial effects and environmental-friendly nature. Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) has proved to be a suitable source of bioactive peptides via enzymatic hydrolysis. These peptides could be responsible for modulating several physiological processes if able to reach the target organ. The bioavailable peptides contained in a hydrolysate obtained with Alcalase, as functional foods, were identified using a transwell system with Caco-2 cell culture as the absorption model. Furthermore, 20 unique peptides with a molecular weight lower than 1000 Da and the higher statistical significance of the peptide-precursor spectrum match (−10 log P) were assessed by in silico tools to suggest which peptides could be those exerting the demonstrated bioactivity. From the characterized peptides, considering the molecular features and the results obtained, the peptides AGDAHWTY, VDAHPIKAM, PNYHPNPR, and ALPPGAVHW are anticipated to be contributing to the antioxidant and/or ACE inhibitor activity of the chia protein hydrolysates.

The incorporation of novel, functional, and sustainable foods in human diets is increasing because of their beneficial effects and environmental-friendly nature. Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) has proved to be a suitable source of bioactive peptides via enzymatic hydrolysis. These peptides could be responsible for modulating several physiological processes if able to reach the target organ. The bioavailable peptides contained in a hydrolysate obtained with Alcalase, as functional foods, were identified using a transwell system with Caco-2 cell culture as the absorption model. Furthermore, 20 unique peptides with a molecular weight lower than 1000 Da and the higher statistical significance of the peptide-precursor spectrum match (−10 log P) were assessed by in silico tools to suggest which peptides could be those exerting the demonstrated bioactivity. From the characterized peptides, considering the molecular features and the results obtained, the peptides AGDAHWTY, VDAHPIKAM, PNYHPNPR, and ALPPGAVHW are anticipated to be contributing to the antioxidant and/or ACE inhibitor activity of the chia protein hydrolysates.

The Casimir-Lifshitz force, FC − L, has become a subject of great interest to both theoretical and applied physics communities due to its fundamental properties and potential technological implications in emerging nano-scale devices. Recent cutting-edge experiments have demonstrated the potential of quantum trapping at the nano-scale assisted by FC − L in metallic planar plates immersed in fluids through appropriate stratification of the inner dielectric media, opening up new avenues for exploring physics at the nano-scale. This review article provides an overview of the latest results in Casimir-Lifshitz based-optical resonator schemes and their potential applications in fields such as microfluidic devices, bio-nano and micro electromechanical systems (NEMS and MEMS), strong coupling, polaritonic chemistry, photo-chemistry, sensing, and metrology. The use of these optical resonators provides a versatile platform for fundamental studies and technological applications at the nano-scale, with the potential to revolutionize various fields and create new opportunities for research.

Genome integrity relies on the accuracy of DNA metabolism, but as appreciated for more than four decades, transcription enhances mutation and recombination frequencies. More recent research provided evidence for a previously unforeseen link between RNA and DNA metabolism, which is often related to the accumulation of DNA–RNA hybrids and R-loops. In addition to physiological roles, R-loops interfere with DNA replication and repair, providing a molecular scenario for the origin of genome instability. Here, we review current knowledge on the multiple RNA factors that prevent or resolve R-loops and consequent transcription–replication conflicts and thus act as modulators of genome dynamics.

Neural precursor cells (NPCs) that persist in the postnatal/adult subventricular zone (SVZ) express connexins that form hemichannels and gap junctions. Gap junctional communication plays a role in NPC proliferation and differentiation during development, but its relevance on postnatal age remains to be elucidated. In this work we aimed to evaluate the effect of the blockade of gap junctional communication on proliferation and cell fate of NPCs obtained from the SVZ of postnatal rats. NPCs were isolated and expanded in culture as neurospheres. Electron microscopy revealed the existence of gap junctions among neurosphere cells. Treatment of cultures with octanol, a broad-spectrum gap junction blocker, or with Gap27, a specific blocker for gap junctions formed by connexin43, produced a significant decrease in bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Octanol treatment also exerted a dose-dependent antiproliferative effect on glioblastoma cells. To analyze possible actions on NPC fate, cells were seeded in the absence of mitogens. Treatment with octanol led to an increase in the percentage of astrocytes and oligodendrocyte precursors, whereas the percentage of neurons remained unchanged. Gap27 treatment, in contrast, did not modify the differentiation pattern of SVZ NPCs. Our results indicate that general blockade of gap junctions with octanol induces significant effects on the behavior of postnatal SVZ NPCs, by reducing proliferation and promoting glial differentiation.

The parallel simulation of Spiking Neural P systems is mainly based on a matrix representation, where the graph inherent to the neural model is encoded in an adjacency matrix. The simulation algorithm is based on a matrix-vector multiplication, which is an operation efficiently implemented on parallel devices. However, when the graph of a Spiking Neural P system is not fully connected, the adjacency matrix is sparse and hence, lots of computing resources are wasted in both time and memory domains. For this reason, two compression methods for the matrix representation were proposed in a previous work, but they were not implemented nor parallelized on a simulator. In this paper, they are implemented and parallelized on GPUs as part of a new Spiking Neural P system with delays simulator. Extensive experiments are conducted on high-end GPUs (RTX2080 and A100 80GB), and it is concluded that they outperform other solutions based on state-of-the-art GPU libraries when simulating Spiking Neural P systems.

Los datos presentados se corresponden con distintas campañas experimentales llevadas a cabo por el grupo de investigación de dinámica ferroviaria de la Universidad de Sevilla, RAILDYNUS. Los ensayos se corresponden con el recorrido de un vehículo ferroviario denominado "Bogie 2018", a lo largo de una vía a escala que posee el grupo de investigación. Todos los datos tanto de la vía a escala como del vehículo utilizado se pueden consultar en https://grupo.us.es/raildynus/infrastructure

Background Sulforaphane (SFN) is a dietary isothiocyanate, derived from glucoraphanin, present in cruciferous vegetables belonging to the Brassica genus. It is a biologically active phytochemical that acts as a nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) inducer. Thus, it has been reported to have multiple protective functions including anticancer responses and protection against a toxic agent's action. Purpose The present work systematically reviewed and synthesised the protective properties of sulforaphane against a toxic agent. This review reveals the mechanism of the action of SFN in each organ or system. Methods The PRISMA guideline was followed in this sequence: researched literature, organised retrieved documents, abstracted relevant information, assessed study quality and bias, synthesised data, and prepared a comprehensive report. Searches were conducted on Science Direct and PubMed using the keywords "Sulforaphane" AND (“protective effects” OR “protection against”). Results Reports showed that liver and the nervous system are the target organs on which attention was focused, and this might be due to the key role of oxidative stress in liver and neurodegenerative diseases. However, protective activities have also been demonstrated in the lungs, heart, immune system, kidneys, and endocrine system. SFN exerts its protective effects by activating the Nrf2 pathway, which enhances antioxidant defenses and reduces oxidative stress. It also suppresses inflammation by decreasing interleukin production. Moreover, SFN inhibits apoptosis by preventing caspase 3 cleavage and increasing Bcl2 levels. Overall, SFN demonstrates multifaceted mechanisms to counteract the adverse effects of toxic agents. Conclusion SFN has potential clinical applications as a chemoprotective agent. Nevertheless, more studies are necessary to set the safe doses of SFN in humans.

Two-neutron halo nuclei, such as 6He, 11Li or 14Be, are known to have a marked (core + n + n) three-body character, which is reflected in breakup, transfer or knockout reactions channels in nucleon-nucleon collisions. Their Borromean nature implies that the correlation between the valence halo neutrons is key to understand their properties, and their structure is also linked to spectra of the unbound core + n systems. Among other phenomena, the role of core collective excitations may be crucial to understand exotic properties such as parity inversion or shell gap quenching in the vicinity of nuclear halos and related systems. In this contribution it is shown that dineutron correlations can be succesfully probed in proton-target knockout reactions, and that core excitation may be an important ingredient for a proper understanding of experimental observations.Two-neutron halo nuclei, such as 6He, 11Li or 14Be, are known to have a marked (core + n + n) three-body character, which is reflected in breakup, transfer or knockout reactions channels in nucleon-nucleon collisions. Their Borromean nature implies that the correlation between the valence halo neutrons is key to understand their properties, and their structure is also linked to spectra of the unbound core + n systems. Among other phenomena, the role of core collective excitations may be crucial to understand exotic properties such as parity inversion or shell gap quenching in the vicinity of nuclear halos and related systems. In this contribution it is shown that dineutron correlations can be succesfully probed in proton-target knockout reactions, and that core excitation may be an important ingredient for a proper understanding of experimental observations.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented psychological effect on young people. The current study aimed to examine the associations between parent-child relationships (parental involvement and parental warmth) and, depression, anxiety, stress and flourishing during emerging adulthood in Spain before (2015) and during (2020) the COVID-19 pandemic. The research compares 2828 emerging adults aged between 18 and 29 years from two different cohorts. Every cohort was comprised for two samples. Sample 1-Cohort 1 and Sample 1-Cohort 2 were collected at U. Osuna and Sample2-Cohort 1 and Sample 2-Cohort 2 were collected at U. Sevilla. Regarding the Sample 1-Cohort 2 was recruited in spring 2020, before the lockdown and Sample 2-Cohort 2 on autumn 2020 during Covid crisis. In the Cohort 1 participants were 1301 emerging adults (59.1% women, 40.9% men; M = 20.06, SD = 2.03) and Cohort 2 participants were 1527 emerging adults (64% women, 35.4% men and 0.6% others; M = 20.48, SD = 2.48). Result showed stability in family relationships variables between 2015 and 2020 pre-pandemic sample (both samples 1) but a decrease in parental involvement and parental warmth between 2015 and 2020 covid-19 sample (samples 2). Parental involvement and parental warmth showed negative and significantly associations with depression, anxiety and stress and positive one with flourishing for both cohorts. Furthermore, the associations between parent-child variables and depression, anxiety, stress and flourishing were generally stronger in Cohort2 (2020) than in Cohort1 (2015), both for Samples 1 and Samples 2. These findings revealed that high-quality parent-child relations continued to be a protective factor against mental illness among emerging adults even under adverse conditions as those experienced during COVID-19 pandemic when family relationships is deteriorated. It is necessary to develop psychological interventions aimed at fostering the protecting role of family to promote the eme

In this work we propose new structure-preserving multiple time stepping methods for numerical simulation of charge transfer by intrinsic localized modes in nonlinear crystal lattice models. We consider, without loss of generality, one-dimensional crystal lattice models described by classical Hamiltonian dynamics, whereas charge (electron or hole) is modeled as a quantum particle within the tight-binding approximation. Proposed multiple time stepping schemes are based on symplecticity-preserving symmetric splitting methods recently developed by the authors. Originally developed explicit splitting methods do not exactly conserve total charge probability, thus, to improve charge probability conservation and to better resolve high frequency oscillations of the charge in numerical simulations with large time steps we incorporate multiple time stepping approach when solving split charge equations. Improved numerical results with multiple time stepping methods of charge transfer by mobile discrete breathers are demonstrated in a crystal lattice model example.

El objetivo principal de este estudio fue examinar las asociaciones de las relaciones familiares (implicación parental y apoyo de la autonomía) y los ingresos familiares con el florecimiento durante la adultez emergente. Este objetivo se analizó desde una perspectiva longitudinal. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 400 jóvenes (n = 132 hombres, 268 mujeres en T1; n = 132 hombres, 266 mujeres en T2) de edades comprendidas entre los 18 y 29 años (M = 20.31, DT = 2.04 en T1; M = 23.66, DT = 2.08 en T2) que participaron en el Proyecto Transición a la Adultez en España (TAE). Los resultados indicaron que existe una asociación significativa y positiva entre florecimiento en T2 y las variables familiares (implicación parental y apoyo de la autonomía) analizadas en T1. Asimismo, los resultados indicaron que la implicación parental en los años iniciales de este periodo (T1) juega un rol predictor en el florecimiento de las personas adultas emergentes durante los años intermedios de la etapa (T2) y también predice el cambio en el florecimiento entre los dos tiempos analizados (T1 y T2). Finalmente, los resultados sugieren que los ingresos familiares y el apoyo de la autonomía en los años intermedios de la adultez emergente (T2) son variables predictoras del florecimiento de las personas adultas emergentes en esos mismos años (T2). El presente estudio presenta un trabajo longitudinal escasos en países como España. Nuestros resultados ofrecen un punto de partida acerca de cómo promocionar el florecimiento de las personas adultas emergentes y comprender las relaciones parento-filiales teniendo en cuenta el papel que desempeña la situación económica de las familias durante esta etapa de desarrollo en el territorio español

DNA replication faces challenges from DNA lesions originated from endogenous or exogenous sources of stress, leading to the accumulation of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) that triggers the activation of the ATR checkpoint response. To complete genome replication in the presence of damaged DNA, cells employ DNA damage tolerance mechanisms that operate not only at stalled replication forks but also at ssDNA gaps originated by repriming of DNA synthesis downstream of lesions. Here, we demonstrate that human cells accumulate post-replicative ssDNA gaps following replicative stress induction. These gaps, initiated by PrimPol repriming and expanded by the long-range resection factors EXO1 and DNA2, constitute the principal origin of the ssDNA signal responsible for ATR activation upon replication stress, in contrast to stalled forks. Strikingly, the loss of EXO1 or DNA2 results in synthetic lethality when combined with BRCA1 deficiency, but not BRCA2. This phenomenon aligns with the observation that BRCA1 alone contributes to the expansion of ssDNA gaps. Remarkably, BRCA1-deficient cells become addicted to the overexpression of EXO1, DNA2 or BLM. This dependence on long-range resection unveils a new vulnerability of BRCA1-mutant tumors, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets for these cancers.

A new procedure for the bioactivation of alumina-based porous ceramic constructs was introduced. The constructs were built with the aim of mimicking the structural and mechanical properties of the human cortical bone. Bioactivation was achieved by adding wollastonite and acidic surface treatment (piranha solution). Structural studies (SEM, CAT) confirmed that adequate pore size and interconnectivity were obtained. Uniaxial compression tests showed that the values of Young's moduli and compressive strength were reduced, from 5 to 1 GPa, and from 45 to 15 MPa, respectively, as the wollastonite content increased from 0 to 40 wt.%. Proliferative, histological and fluorescence results confirmed that cell proliferation rate of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were significantly enhanced by increasing wollastonite content. No cytotoxic effect was observed. In summary, the fabricated bioceramics exhibited suggestive structural and mechanical properties and they could be useful for the practical bone tissue engineering applications without any adverse biological effects.

Background The increasing incidence of coeliac disease is leading to a growing interest in active search for associated factors, even the intrauterine and early life. The exposome approach to disease encompasses a life course perspective from conception onwards has recently been highlighted. Knowledge of early exposure to gluten immunogenic peptides (GIP) in utero could challenge the chronology of early prenatal tolerance or inflammation, rather than after the infant’s solid diet after birth. Methods We developed an accurate and specific immunoassay to detect GIP in amniotic fluid (AF) and studied their accumulates, excretion dynamics and foetal exposure resulting from AF swallowing. One hundred twenty-five pregnant women with different gluten diets and gestational ages were recruited. Results GIP were detectable in AF from at least the 16th gestational week in gluten-consuming women. Although no significant differences in GIP levels were observed during gestation, amniotic GIP late pregnancy was not altered by maternal fasting, suggesting closed-loop entailing foetal swallowing of GIP-containing AF and subsequent excretion via the foetal kidneys. Conclusions The study shows evidence, for the first time, of the foetal exposure to gluten immunogenic peptides and establishes a positive correlation with maternal gluten intake. The results obtained point to a novel physiological concept as they describe a plausible closed-loop circuit entailing foetal swallowing of GIP contained in AF and its subsequent excretion through the foetal kidneys. The study adds important new information to understanding the coeliac exposome.

The volume average of the constituting properties of a textured polycrystalline aggregate (the Voigt average) provides a simple way to estimate the effective properties of such an aggregate in terms of its crystallographic symmetry, texture symmetry, and the properties of the constituting crystallites. Despite the interest in estimate or characterizing flexoelectric properties, few studies have addressed the problem of finding effective flexoelectric properties from the continuum phases of the constituents. Instead, most of them focus on single-crystals at the atomic level. This study provides, for the first time, closed-form expressions that allow the direct flexoelectric coefficients to be computed for textured polycrystalline dielectrics. Crystallites can belong to any class of cubic symmetry or to the tetragonal TI Laue group, while no restriction is imposed on texture symmetry. These expressions are reduced to very simple ones when cubic crystallites with fiber texture are considered. The proposed formulation provides information on the matrix structure of the homogenized material related to the crystallographic symmetry and texture. We close with some illustrative examples.

Introduction: Effective implementation of strategies to promote health and prevent noncommunicable illnesses requires a profound understanding of the interaction between the individual and society. This study brings to health research the consideration of psychosocial factors that influence the maintenance and change of health behaviors and conduct. From a primary care perspective, it is crucial to propose a biopsychosocial approach for the development of health promotion and self-care programs that embrace personal aptitudes as a relevant individual aspect. Objectives: To explore experiences related to personal aptitudes and personality traits that influence health behaviors and conduct, taking into account the social determinants of health, through a thematic analysis based on the capability-opportunity-motivation and behavior (COM-B) system. Methods and analysis: This qualitative research is carried out from a descriptive phenomenological perspective, based on 17 focus groups in which 156 people participated. Inductive and deductive analysis techniques were used following Lincoln and Guba’s criteria of methodological rigor. In addition to 7 different triangulations of analysts, 6 main categories were identified based on the COM-B system: psychological capacity, physical capacity, physical opportunity, social opportunity, reflective motivation, and automatic motivation. The importance of considering these factors to promote healthy behaviors was stressed. Discussion: This study examined how personal experiences related personal aptitudes and personality traits influence health behaviors and conduct in Spain. It was found that personality traits such as health literacy, self-efficacy, activation, and self-determination can influence the adoption of healthy behaviors. Likewise, the need for control, overthinking, and ambivalence made it impossible. Furthermore, social determinants of health and interpersonal relationships also play an important role.

This study examines the intensity of grieving experienced by volunteers from animal protection organizations in southern Spain. A total of 130 volunteers (86% female; M = 42.0 years) reported on their reactions to loss following the death of animals under their care, levels of empathy, anthropomorphism, and attachment experienced toward these animals, received social support, and overall health status. The results showed that 65.5% of participants displayed signs of general complicated grieving (83% on the grief scale; 40% on the anger scale; 47% on the guilt scale). The intensity of grief was associated with higher symptomatology (linear polynomial ANOVA, **p < .01). The linear regression analysis revealed a relationship between attachment levels, anthropomorphism, empathy, family support (inverse), and the intensity of grieving experienced (*p < .05). Taken together, these findings indicate the existence of complicated mourning reactions among volunteer staff in animal protection organizations, justifying the development of specific prevention programs., Este estudio examina la intensidad del duelo experimentado por voluntarios de organizaciones protectoras de animales en el sur de España. Un total de 130 voluntarios (86% mujeres; M = 42,0 años) informaron sobre sus reacciones ante la pérdida tras la muerte de los animales bajo su cuidado, los niveles de empatía, antropomorfismo y apego experimentado hacia estos animales, el apoyo social recibido y la salud en general. estado. Los resultados mostraron que el 65,5% de los participantes mostraban signos de duelo general complicado (83% en la escala de tristeza; 40% en la escala de ira; 47% en la escala de culpa). La intensidad del duelo se asoció con una mayor sintomatología (ANOVA polinómico lineal, **p < .01). El análisis de regresión lineal reveló una relación entre los niveles de apego, el antropomorfismo, la empatía, el apoyo familiar (inverso) y la intensidad del duelo experimentado (*p < .05). En conjunto, estos hallazgos indican la existencia de reacciones de duelo complicado entre el personal voluntario de las organizaciones de protección animal, lo que justifica el desarrollo de programas de prevención específicos.

Human antigen R (HuR) is an RNA binding protein mainly involved in maintaining the stability and controlling the translation of mRNAs, critical for immune response, cell survival, proliferation and apoptosis. Although HuR is a nuclear protein, its mRNA translational-related function occurs at the cytoplasm, where the oligomeric form of HuR is more abundant. However, the regulation of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of HuR and its connection with protein oligomerization remain unclear. In this work, we describe the phosphorylation of Tyr5 as a new hallmark for HuR activation. Our biophysical, structural and computational assays using phosphorylated and phosphomimetic HuR proteins demonstrate that phosphorylation of Tyr5 at the disordered N-end stretch induces global changes on HuR dynamics and conformation, modifying the solvent accessible surface of the HuR nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling (HNS) sequence and releasing regions implicated in HuR dimerization. These findings explain the preferential cytoplasmic accumulation of phosphorylated HuR in HeLa cells, aiding to comprehend the mechanisms underlying HuR nucleus-cytoplasm shuttling and its later dimerization, both of which are relevant in HuR-related pathogenesis.

The "time-and-band limiting" commutative property was found and exploited by D. Slepian, H. Landau and H. Pollak at Bell Labs in the 1960's, and independently by M. Mehta and later by C. Tracy and H. Widom in Random matrix theory. The property in question is the existence of local operators with simple spectrum that commute with naturally appearing global ones. Here we give a general result that insures the existence of a commuting differential operator for a given family of exceptional orthogonal polynomials satisfying the "bispectral property". As a main tool we go beyond bispectrality and make use of the notion of Fourier Algebras associated to the given sequence of exceptional polynomials. We illustrate this result with two examples, of Hermite and Laguerre type, exhibiting also a nice Perline's form for the commuting differential operator.

Se presenta los resultados obtenidos tras la medida geométrica de la vía a escala. Tras un procedimiento experimental que comprende el uso de una estación total, inclinómetro y sensor de distancia, se ha obtenido la medida de referencia de la vía, así como las irregularidades asociadas. Todos los datos de la vía a escala se pueden consultar en https://grupo.us.es/raildynus/infrastructure

Water contamination in extensive aquatic resources is a pressing issue, especially during current drought conditions across the world. To adress this, a novel approach involving a heterogeneous sensing capabilities fleet of four autonomous surface vehicles is introduced for efficient contamination mapping. To reduce costs, vehicles may be equipped with low quality sensors meaning measurements reliability differs between vehicles and affects model accuracy. The diverse sensing capabilities are characterized by a wide range of sensor standard deviations, addressing the applicability of the framework in real-world scenarios with commercial sensors. This research leverages Gaussian Processes to accurately model spatial distribution of contamination, integrating measurements from the vehicles to understand contamination patterns comprehensively. Additionally, an informative path planning strategy is introduced based on a centralized neural network which implements a Double Deep Q-Learning algorithm, driving the decision-making process of all agents. Effective learning hinges on accurately defining the observation and reward functions, for which several proposals will be compared. These tailored definitions are essential for guiding the learning process, and minimizing the error towards the main goal: to obtain the best possible contamination model. Remarkably, the proposed system demonstrates superior performance in Ypacaraí Lake scenario, surpassing traditional heuristics like lawn mower or particle swarm optimization by up to 82% in reducing mean squared error in highly contaminated regions for several combinations of agents.

Primary mitochondrial diseases (PMDs) are associated with pediatric neurological disorders and are traditionally related to oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) defects in neurons. Interestingly, both PMD mouse models and patients with PMD show gliosis, and pharmacological depletion of microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain, ameliorates multiple symptoms in a mouse model. Given that microglia activation correlates with the expression of OXPHOS genes, we studied whether OXPHOS deficits in microglia may contribute to PMDs. We first observed that the metabolic rewiring associated with microglia stimulation in vitro (via IL-33 or TAU treatment) was partially changed by complex I (CI) inhibition (via rotenone treatment). In vivo, we generated a mouse model deficient for CI activity in microglia (MGcCI). MGcCI microglia showed metabolic rewiring and gradual transcriptional activation, which led to hypertrophy and dysfunction in juvenile (1-month-old) and adult (3-month-old) stages, respectively. MGcCI mice presented widespread reactive astrocytes, a decrease of synaptic markers accompanied by an increased number of parvalbumin neurons, a behavioral deficit characterized by prolonged periods of immobility, loss of weight and premature death that was partially rescued by pharmacologic depletion of microglia. Our data demonstrate that microglia development depends on mitochondrial CI and suggest a direct microglial contribution to PMDs.

Emerging adulthood is a particularly vulnerable period with higher rates of health-related symptoms and mental disorders. The main aim of the present study was to explore the depression, anxiety and stress levels in a sample of Spanish emerging adults from a longitudinal perspective and taking gender differences into account. The analysis was conducted at two different moments in 2015 (W1) and three years later in 2018 (W2). Participants were Spanish emerging adults (n = 132 men, 268 women at W1; n = 132 men, 266 women at W2) aged between 18 and 29 years (M = 20.31, SD = 2.04 at W1; M = 23.66, SD = 2.08 at W2) participated in the TAE (Transición a la Adultez en España) research project. The validated Spanish version of the DASS-21 was used to measure depression, anxiety and stress levels. Results indicated continuity (mean-level) and high stability (rank-order) in depression, anxiety and stress levels during the initial and intermediate years of emerging adulthood without gender moderation. Results also indicated that there are no differences in depression and anxiety between men and women in both W1 and W2 but women reported higher levels of stress than men specially at W2. The findings highlight that it is crucial to take steps to mitigate the internal symptoms suffered by emerging adults and, particularly, stress suffered by emerging adult women. In this sense, these findings underline that it is crucial that more comprehensive public services and policies are provided to support emerging adults with mental health concerns based on empirical knowledge.

Since December 2015, Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) onboard Akatsuki has been observing Venus clouds at the wavelengths of 283 and 365 nm. Horizontal winds near the cloud top derived from the UVI images over ∼7 earth years are analyzed to elucidate spatial and temporal variability of the superrotation and planetary-scale waves. Zonal winds averaged over the analysis period are asymmetric with respect to the equator, being faster in the southern hemisphere. This asymmetry varied temporarily and was occasionally reverted. Comparison of the winds from the two wavelengths suggests that it is uncertain whether the asymmetry is in the wind distribution or in the sensing altitude for winds. Mean zonal winds representing the superrotation exhibited broad low-frequency variability with spectra resembling the red noise spectra. This is indicative of the presence of internal variability rather than responses to periodical external forcing. Planetary-scale waves with zonal-wavenumber 1 at periods around 4 and 5 days, which have been interpreted as equatorial Kelvin and Rossby waves, respectively, are quantified. While the ∼5-day waves have nearly constant frequencies, the ∼4-day waves have variable phase speeds that follow the superrotation speed. This result indicates that the ∼5-day waves are likely to extend over a large depth below the cloud top and that the ∼4-day waves are likely to be confined near the cloud top. Their possible generation mechanism through the coupling of Kelvin and Rossby waves is discussed. This study further reports wind variability of 10 to 15-day periodicity, thermal-tide structure, and comparison with minor species observations.

Rammed earth is a traditional construction technique that has recently gained attention because of its benefits from an ecological perspective. The conservation of the existing valuable cultural heritage sites and the quality control of new constructions built with this material require the development and application of practical inspection techniques. This paper explores the application of sonic tests and sonic tomography as practical tools for monitoring the state of conservation of existing structures and the identification of heterogeneities or damaged areas. Two groups of 6 rammed earth specimens were manufactured and tested. The manufacturing process of each group allowed the application of compression loads and the identification of the Sonic Wave Propagation Velocities along directions parallel and perpendicular to the compaction forces during manufacturing. The SWPV were identified for the different paths between 9 measuring points located at two opposite sides of the specimens, leading to up to 6 different planes for each specimen. The SWPV are identified by identifying the Time-of-Flight of the elastic wave between each pair of excitation and receiver points. A discretized coloured map of the SWPV distribution for each plane defined by the measurement points array is obtained by the application of an algorithm already developed by the authors to obtain tomographic images for other materials and applications. The SWPV are identified after 2 different increasing values of a uniform compressive load is applied to each specimen. The results show that the analysis of the SWPV and tomographic images is sensitive to heterogeneities, such as compaction gradients from the manufacturing process, and also to the accumulated damage in the solid. The paper demonstrates that the proposed technique can be potentially used for a qualitative inspection of the state of conservation of specific rammed earth constructions.

Según la Directiva Marco del Agua 2000/60/EC, el aforo del caudal en riego de cultivos es fundamental. En arrozales, esta tarea ha de ser precisa dada su repercusión a nivel mundial. Estructuras típicas de suministro de caudal en arrozales son tubos casi horizontales controlados por compuertas, las cuales son habitualmente aforadas por las comunidades de regantes mediante el uso de ecuaciones generales que pueden no ser válidas para cualquier tipo de condiciones. En este trabajo, se estudia el ajuste de expresiones empíricas tradicionales para el aforo del caudal en estas estructuras usando el caso de la comunidad sección 1ª de marismas del Guadalquivir (Sevilla) a través de una campaña experimental mixta de laboratorio y campo. El análisis de los datos revela que el uso de la ecuación habitual podría no ser adecuada para los casos de control a la salida, los más operativos en riego de arroz.

Background & aims: It has been reported that specific killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and HLA genotype combinations, such as KIR2DS4/HLA-C1 with presence of KIRDL2 or KIRDL3, homozygous KIRDL3/ HLA-C1 and KIR3DL1/≥2HLA-Bw4, are strongly associated with the lack of active infection and seroconversion after exposition to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Objective: To determine whether these KIR-HLA combinations are relevant factors involved in that phenotype. Patients and methods: In this retrospective case-control study, genotype data from a genome-wide association study previously performed on low susceptibility to HCV-infection carried out on 27 high-risk HCV-eronegative (HRSN) individuals and 743 chronically infected (CI) subjects were used. HLA alleles were imputed using R package HIBAG v1.2223 and KIR genotypes were imputed using the online resource KIR*IMP v1.2.0. Results: It was possible to successfully impute at least one KIR-HLA genotype combination previously associated with the lack of infection and seroconversion after exposition to HCV in a total of 23 (85.2%) HRSN individuals and in 650 (87.5%) CI subjects. No KIR-HLA genotype combination analyzed was related to the HRSN condition. Conclusions: Our results suggest that those KIR-HLA genotype combinations are not relevant factors involved in the lack of infection and seroconversion after exposition to HCV. More studies will be needed to completely understand this phenotype.

Deficiencies in the BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene are the main cause of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1 is involved in the Homologous Recombination DNA repair pathway and, together with BARD1, forms a heterodimer with ubiquitin E3 activity. The relevance of the BRCA1/BARD1 ubiquitin E3 activity for tumor suppression and DNA repair remains controversial. Here, we observe that the BRCA1/BARD1 ubiquitin E3 activity is not required for Homologous Recombination or resistance to Olaparib. Using TULIP2 methodology, which enables the direct identification of E3-specific ubiquitination substrates, we identify substrates for BRCA1/BARD1. We find that PCNA is ubiquitinated by BRCA1/BARD1 in unperturbed conditions independently of RAD18. PCNA ubiquitination by BRCA1/BARD1 avoids the formation of ssDNA gaps during DNA replication and promotes continuous DNA synthesis. These results provide additional insight about the importance of BRCA1/BARD1 E3 activity in Homologous Recombination.

The genome of living cells is constantly challenged by DNA lesions that interfere with cellular processes such as transcription and replication. A manifold of mechanisms act in concert to ensure adequate DNA repair, gene expression, and genome stability. Bulky DNA lesions, such as those induced by UV light or the DNA-damaging agent 4-nitroquinoline oxide, act as transcriptional and replicational roadblocks and thus represent a major threat to cell metabolism. When located on the transcribed strand of active genes, these lesions are handled by transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER), a yet incompletely understood NER sub-pathway. Here, using a genetic screen in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we identified histone variant H2A.Z as an important component to safeguard transcription and DNA integrity following UV irradiation. In the absence of H2A.Z, repair by TC-NER is severely impaired and RNA polymerase II clearance reduced, leading to an increase in double-strand breaks. Thus, H2A.Z is needed for proficient TC-NER and plays a major role in the maintenance of genome stability upon UV irradiation.

DNA replication faces challenges from DNA lesions originated from endogenous or exogenous sources of stress, leading to the accumulation of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) that triggers the activation of the ATR checkpoint response. To complete genome replication in the presence of damaged DNA, cells employ DNA damage tolerance mechanisms that operate not only at stalled replication forks but also at ssDNA gaps originated by repriming of DNA synthesis downstream of lesions. Here, we demonstrate that human cells accumulate post-replicative ssDNA gaps following replicative stress induction. These gaps, initiated by PrimPol repriming and expanded by the long-range resection factors EXO1 and DNA2, constitute the principal origin of the ssDNA signal responsible for ATR activation upon replication stress, in contrast to stalled forks. Strikingly, the loss of EXO1 or DNA2 results in synthetic lethality when combined with BRCA1 deficiency, but not BRCA2. This phenomenon aligns with the observation that BRCA1 alone contributes to the expansion of ssDNA gaps. Remarkably, BRCA1-deficient cells become addicted to the overexpression of EXO1, DNA2 or BLM. This dependence on long-range resection unveils a new vulnerability of BRCA1-mutant tumors, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets for these cancers.

Primary mitochondrial diseases (PMDs) are associated with pediatric neurological disorders and are traditionally related to oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) defects in neurons. Interestingly, both PMD mouse models and patients with PMD show gliosis, and pharmacological depletion of microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain, ameliorates multiple symptoms in a mouse model. Given that microglia activation correlates with the expression of OXPHOS genes, we studied whether OXPHOS deficits in microglia may contribute to PMDs. We first observed that the metabolic rewiring associated with microglia stimulation in vitro (via IL-33 or TAU treatment) was partially changed by complex I (CI) inhibition (via rotenone treatment). In vivo, we generated a mouse model deficient for CI activity in microglia (MGcCI). MGcCI microglia showed metabolic rewiring and gradual transcriptional activation, which led to hypertrophy and dysfunction in juvenile (1-month-old) and adult (3-month-old) stages, respectively. MGcCI mice presented widespread reactive astrocytes, a decrease of synaptic markers accompanied by an increased number of parvalbumin neurons, a behavioral deficit characterized by prolonged periods of immobility, loss of weight and premature death that was partially rescued by pharmacologic depletion of microglia. Our data demonstrate that microglia development depends on mitochondrial CI and suggest a direct microglial contribution to PMDs.

A recent study about the ''edge effect'' phenomenon in cross-ply laminates made of ultrathin plies composites has shown the presence of a relevant stress component through the laminate thickness. This fact implies that there is a biaxial stress state in the 90° ply block, which is present both before and after the cyclic loading tests. 4 cross-ply laminates were analysed, only varying the 90° ply block thickness. In each case, the biaxial stress state was obtained, selecting the most detrimental one to analyse the Energy Release Rate (G) with respect to the fibre/matrix interface crack growth. This analysis is performed using a BEM model from a previous study of the authors. An exhaustive microscopic revision is performed both before (only sanded and polished after curing process) and after cyclic testing, corroborating the occurrence of different crack growth of the present longitudinal fibre/matrix interface debonds. In conclusion, the single fibre numerical model using BEM and the experimental microscopic observations shed light on the micromechanical behaviour of the interface cracks which are subjected to a biaxial stress state.

The volume average of the constituting properties of a textured polycrystalline aggregate (the Voigt average) provides a simple way to estimate the effective properties of such an aggregate in terms of its crystallographic symmetry, texture symmetry, and the properties of the constituting crystallites. Despite the interest in estimate or characterizing flexoelectric properties, few studies have addressed the problem of finding effective flexoelectric properties from the continuum phases of the constituents. Instead, most of them focus on single-crystals at the atomic level. This study provides, for the first time, closed-form expressions that allow the direct flexoelectric coefficients to be computed for textured polycrystalline dielectrics. Crystallites can belong to any class of cubic symmetry or to the tetragonal TI Laue group, while no restriction is imposed on texture symmetry. These expressions are reduced to very simple ones when cubic crystallites with fiber texture are considered. The proposed formulation provides information on the matrix structure of the homogenized material related to the crystallographic symmetry and texture. We close with some illustrative examples.

We perform a survey of the Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer-Mapper (VIRTIS-M) images onboard the Venus Express space mission, at four narrow wavelength bands that target different altitude regions on the cloud deck of Venus’ atmosphere (280–320, 365–400, 580–600, 900–920 nm). Our goal was to detect and characterize atmospheric gravity waves, using several processing techniques based on high-pass filtering to enhance features in low-contrast images. The period of our selected dataset was between August 2007–October 2008 on the dayside hemisphere, identical to a previous study of waves located on the nightside lower cloud, so that a temporally overlapped comparison could be established, although over different longitudinal locations. We retrieved the morphological properties of these waves including horizontal wavelength and packet width along with several orientations of the identified waves. We retrieved properties for 69 wave packets across all analysed wavelength ranges, and dynamical parameters for 16 wave packets. Waves observed across the four wavelength ranges examined here have similar properties, with horizontal wavelengths of a few hundred kilometres and full length of wave-trains going up to 1000 km. Although these wave properties do not seem to depend on latitude, we notice an increase in the values of several of these parameters close to the evening terminator. Considering our results and a comparison with previous studies of stationary features interpreted as gravity waves, we argue that forcing from topography is not the main cause of the wave packets observed here, whose properties are better supported by a convective generation scenario. The retrieved properties show a consistent agreement between waves on the upper and lower cloud, suggesting a similar forcing mechanism based on convection from a neutral stability layer between the lower and middle-upper cloud. Despite the similar properties, we find no evidence of any correlation b

Los profundos cambios sociales surgidos en los países occidentales en las últimas décadas han retrasado la adquisición de los roles adultos, e hitos que generaciones anteriores alcanzaban en la década de los 20, se adquieren ahora cerca de los 29. Así, ha surgido un nuevo periodo evolutivo denominado adultez emergente, que transcurre entre los 18 y los 30 años, que tiene características únicas y distintivas y que exige un análisis profundo y singular. Los proyectos de investigación Transición a la Adultez en España TAE I y TAE II o, lo que es lo mismo, La Transición a la Adultez en España: Estudio Sobre las Claves del Ajuste Psicosocial y Fundamentos para su Intervención Preventiva (EDU201345687-R; Estudio Longitudinal Secuencial Sobre la Transición a la Adultez en España (RTI2018-097405-B-I00); y Factores de Riesgo y Protección en la Adultez Emergente. Un estudio longitudinal-secuencial (PROYEXCEL_00766) han supuesto un primer acercamiento en nuestro país al estudio del desarrollo de las personas durante su adultez emergente, paliando la ausencia de investigaciones en España que, desde un punto de vista psicológico, estudiaran esta etapa. Los proyectos TAE tienen como objetivo principal la identificación de los factores de riesgo y protección que intervienen en el desarrollo de las personas jóvenes desde una perspectiva de género. En concreto esta Base de Datos contiene aquellos utilizados en el artículo que se reseña más adelante, y hace referencia a variables de funcionamiento familiar y de ajuste personal. En este artículo se seleccionó a la muestra de la provincia de Sevilla y se comparó a quienes estudian en la US y quienes lo hacen en la EU Osuna. Así pudimos comparar a el estudiantado de Osuna, que realizó la recogida de datos de 2020 ANTES de que se decretara la pandemia y el confinamiento con el estudiantado de Osuna de 2015 y el de la US de 2020, cuyos datos se recogieron en otoño de 2020, tras confinamiento y EN PLENA pandemia con sus homólogos de 2015.

When proposing the most suitable strategies for retrofitting the residential stock it is essential to consider energy vulnerability, the current state of stock, users’ economic capacity and climate. This work analyses energy vulnerability on regional and neighbourhood scale, applied to the social housing stock in southern Spain. Three key vulnerability indicators are assessed through extensive public databases and validated parametric energy simulation models: 1) buildings energy performance, based on simulated indoor thermal comfort; 2) users’ socio-economic vulnerability, based on their income levels; and 3) climate influence, implementing future climate data into the simulations. The different energy vulnerability levels identified in the research are of great interest for retrofitting the existing stock as they help establish priority action guidelines. It is concluded that social housing in Andalusia currently exhibits a noticeable level of energy vulnerability in winter, with a greater severity of undercooling compared to overheating. In 2050, overheating in summer will significantly worsen, generally surpassing cooling. Despite of the Mediterranean climate, there are noticeable comfort differences between the cities analysed, with Cordoba and Granada being particularly relevant. Finally, a worse thermal performance in winter of the H-block typology was observed, which in summer occur for the linear block buildings.

The aim of this study is twofold. First, to assess the effect of the sonication process on the optimal dispersion of GO sheets for nanostructural reinforcement of cement pastes, as there is currently no clear criterion on this effect in the literature. For this purpose, in the first stage, the GO content in distilled water was fixed at 0.03% by weight, and the sheets were dispersed using different levels of ultrasonic energy, ranging from 0 J/mL to 2582 J/mL. In the second stage, to analyze the modification of pore structure due to the addition of GO sheets in different ratios (0–0.06% by weight) and its relationship with the mechanical and fracture properties of reinforced cement pastes. According to the results, it has been determined that the incorporation of GO sheets into the matrix alters the mechanical and fracture behavior, varying depending on matrix pore size and GO particle size. The addition of GO leads to a reduction in the average size of macropores (greater than 8 µm) of 13% for a dosage of 0.45% in weight and micropores (between 8 and 0.5 µm) in a 64% for the same composition with non-sonicated GO, although the total volume of pores in these ranges only decreased slightly. This reduction is more pronounced when the GO has not been sonicated and has larger particle size. Sonicated GO primarily modifies the range of capillary pores (<0.5 µm). The addition of GO with the highest degree of dispersion (465 nm) did not show significant improvements in compressive strength or Young’s modulus, as the cement used contains a significant volume of macropores that are not substantially reduced in any composition. Adding 0.030% ultrasonicated GO achieved a 7.8% increase in fracture energy, while an addition of 0.045% resulted in a 13.3% decrease in characteristic length, primarily due to the effect of capillary and micropores.