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In assisted ambulation, the user’s psychological comfort has a significant impact not only on acceptability of mobility aids but also on overall gait performance. Specifically, in the case of rollators, negative states such as distress may result in balance loss, inefficient manoeuvres, and an increased risk of falling. This paper presents a pilot study to investigate the effect of distress on rollator assisted navigation. To achieve this goal, a novel test protocol is proposed to assess distress while walking with a rollator, using the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) questionnaire. First, the participant completes a standardised visual stress induction test and fills in a SAM questionnaire on the dimensions of arousal and valence, to establish personal benchmarks. Then, they complete a course consisting of four navigation tasks with different levels of difficulty that affect the rollator manoeuvrability, filling in a SAM questionnaire after each task. An experiment including 25 healthy volunteers has been completed. Our preliminary results show that stressors like uneven or sloping surfaces increase perceived stress, whereas the shape of the trajectory does not significantly affect stress. The ultimate purpose of this work is to validate a performance-oriented protocol to investigate the dynamics of stress response in assisted walk and to train automatic stress detection systems., The work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación [RTI2018-096701-B-C22]; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades [RTI2018-096701-B-C21 (SAVIA:]; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades [RTI2018-096701-B-C21]; Universidad de Málaga [E3-PROYECTOS DE PRUEBA DE CONCEPTO (E3/02/18)]., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

A new bacterial strain has been isolated from the microbiome of solar panels and classified as Arthrobacter sp. Helios according to its 16S rDNA, positioning it in the “Arthrobacter citreus group.” The isolated strain is highly tolerant to desiccation, UV radiation and to the presence of metals and metalloids, while it is motile and capable of growing in a variety of carbon sources. These characteristics, together with observation that Arthrobacter sp. Helios seems to be permanently prepared to handle the desiccation stress, make it very versatile and give it a great potential to use it as a biotechnological chassis. The new strain genome has been sequenced and its analysis revealed that it is extremely well poised to respond to environmental stresses. We have analyzed the transcriptional response of this strain to PEG6000-mediated arid stress to investigate the desiccation resistance mechanism. Most of the induced genes participate in cellular homeostasis such as ion and osmolyte transport and iron scavenging. Moreover, the greatest induction has been found in a gene cluster responsible for biogenic amine catabolism, suggesting their involvement in the desiccation resistance mechanism in this bacterium., Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Depto. de Química Analítica, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Background: Different bacteria have been reported so far that link selenite resistance to the production of metal‑ lic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). Although SeNPs have many biotechnological applications in diverse areas, the molecular mechanisms involved in their microbial genesis are not fully understood. The Azoarcus genus is a physi‑ ologically versatile group of beta-proteobacteria of great environmental relevance. Azoarcus sp. CIB is a facultative anaerobe that combines the ability to degrade under aerobic and/or anaerobic conditions a wide range of aromatic compounds, including some toxic hydrocarbons such as toluene and m-xylene, with an endophytic life style in the root of rice. We unravel here an additional physiological feature of the strain CIB that is related to its resistance to sele‑ nium oxyanions and the formation of SeNPs. Results: This work is the first report of a member of the Azoarcus genus that is able to anaerobically grow in the pres‑ ence of selenite. Electron microscopy preparations and X-ray spectroscopy analyses demonstrate the reduction of sel‑ enite to spherical electron-dense SeNPs whose average size was 123 ± 35 nm of diameter. Our data suggest that the main molecular mechanism of selenite resistance resides on an energy-dependent selenite exporter. Azoarcus cells trigger the synthesis of SeNPs when they reach the stationary-phase of growth, and either the exhaustion of electron donor or acceptor, both of which lead to starvation conditions, produce the reduction of selenite to red elemental selenium. Azoarcus becomes a promising biocatalyst, either as whole cells or cellular extracts, for the anaerobic and/or aerobic green synthesis of SeNPs. Conclusions: Azoarcus turns out to be a new eco-friendly system to reduce selenite and produce spherical SeNPs. Moreover, this is the first report of a rice endophyte able to produce SeNPs. Since Azoarcus is also able to degrade both aerobically and anaerobically toxic aromatic compounds of g, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Current intralogistics services require keeping up with e-commerce demands, reducing delivery times and waste, and increasing overall flexibility. As a consequence, the use of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and, more recently, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for logistics operations is steadily increasing.

[Background] In 2014, germline signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 gain-of-function (GOF) mutations were first described to cause a novel multisystem disease of early-onset lymphoproliferation and autoimmunity., [Objective] This pivotal cohort study defines the scope, natural history, treatment, and overall survival of a large global cohort of patients with pathogenic STAT3 GOF variants., [Methods] We identified 191 patients from 33 countries with 72 unique mutations. Inclusion criteria included symptoms of immune dysregulation and a biochemically confirmed germline heterozygous GOF variant in STAT3., [Results] Overall survival was 88%, median age at onset of symptoms was 2.3 years, and median age at diagnosis was 12 years. Immune dysregulatory features were present in all patients: lymphoproliferation was the most common manifestation (73%); increased frequencies of double-negative (CD4−CD8−) T cells were found in 83% of patients tested. Autoimmune cytopenias were the second most common clinical manifestation (67%), followed by growth delay, enteropathy, skin disease, pulmonary disease, endocrinopathy, arthritis, autoimmune hepatitis, neurologic disease, vasculopathy, renal disease, and malignancy. Infections were reported in 72% of the cohort. A cellular and humoral immunodeficiency was observed in 37% and 51% of patients, respectively. Clinical symptoms dramatically improved in patients treated with JAK inhibitors, while a variety of other immunomodulatory treatment modalities were less efficacious. Thus far, 23 patients have undergone bone marrow transplantation, with a 62% survival rate., [Conclusion] : STAT3 GOF patients present with a wide array of immune-mediated disease including lymphoproliferation, autoimmune cytopenias, and multisystem autoimmunity. Patient care tends to be siloed, without a clear treatment strategy. Thus, early identification and prompt treatment implementation are lifesaving for STAT3 GOF syndrome.

The demand of rare earth elements (REE) has grown over the past decades due to their importance in high technology devices such as wind turbines, superconductors, rechargeable batteries, autocatalytic converters, magnets, or LED lighting. The development of clean mining processes is gaining interest and the biomining of REE is mainly focused on monazite using phosphate solubilizing microorganisms. The members of the genus Burkholderia can dissolve phosphorous from inorganic rocks. Furthermore, several species of Burkholderia are able to produce biosurfactants named rhamnolipids. Nevertheless, rhamnolipid interactions with REE have been poorly investigated. The aim of the present work is the study of the solubilization of monazite and the recovery of REE using the bacterium Burkholderia thailandensis, and the influence of the rhamnolipids produced by the bacteria in the REE mobilization. B. thailandensis grown in nutrient broth with 1% monazite (w/v) reached 8.3 mg·l−1 REE after 15 days. To produce rhamnolipids, B. thailandensis was grown in medium supplemented with 10% glycerol and the biosurfactants were extracted. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was determined: 94.45 mg·l−1 for commercial rhamnolipids and 60.41 mg·l−1 for purified rhamnolipids. The maximum REE solubilization was obtained at CMC reaching 9.36 mg·l−1 with commercial rhamnolipids and 5.13 mg·l−1 with rhamnolipids produced by B. thailandensis E264., Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Exiguobacterium sp.Helios,una bacteria altamente xerotolerante aislada de un panel solar en Valencia (España) presenta una relación filogenética cercana con Exiguobacterium sibiricum 255-15, aislada del permafrost en Siberia. La xerotolerancia no había sido descrita como una característica de este género extremadamente diverso, pero ambas cepas Helios y 255-15 han mostrado una resistencia a la desecación superior a la cepa modelo Deinococcus radiodurans, referencia de xerotolerancia. Se han observado cambios significativos en la morfología de las células de Helios después de la desecación, lo que sugiere que la estructura de la superficie celular juega un papel importante en su xerotolerancia. Además de esta notable resistencia a la desecación, la cepa Helios muestra varias características poliextremófilas que la convierten en un chasis prometedor para aplicaciones biotecnológicas. Helios produce nanopartículas de selenio en presencia de selenito debido a su mecanismo de resistencia, y hemos desarrollado un protocolo de transformación utilizando el plásmido de Lactobacillus pRCR12 marcado con un gen cherry, siendo la primera vez que una bacteria de este género ha sido transformada. La comparación de los genomas de Helios y 255-15 ha revelado varias similitudes y diferencias interesantes. Ambas cepas contienen un conjunto de genes de transformación relacionados con competencia, sugiriendo que podrían tener competencia natural, y un set incompleto de genes involucrados en la esporulación, pese a que estas cepas no producen esporas, sugiriendo que podrían estar implicados en la xerotolerancia.

Arthrobacter sp. Helios es una actinobacteria aislada de unos paneles solares de Valencia, España. Su estudio ha revelado que es altamente resistente a la desecación comparado con Deinococcus radiodurans, la cepa xerotolerante modelo. Esta bacteria no solo destaca por su tolerancia a la falta de agua sino por su resistencia a otras condiciones extremas, ya que es capaz de crecer en medios hipertónicos con una alta concentración de sales y también en presencia de altas concentraciones de PEG 6000, aparte de poder sobrevivir a grandes dosis de radiación ultravioleta.Cabe destacar que Arthrobacter sp. Helios es capaz de producir nanopartículas de selenio y que presenta una gran versatilidad nutricional, de manera que tiene la capacidad de degradar distintos compuestos recalcitrantes a la biodegradación, como puede ser el colesterol. Esta bacteria también presenta algunas propiedades potencialmente promotoras del crecimiento de plantas, puesto que hemos observado que puede producir ácido indolacético y solubilizar fosfatos inorgánicos. Estas cualidades son propias de bacterias que presentan un estilo de vida endofítico y son muy útiles para conseguir distintas aplicaciones agrícolas. Además, hemos conseguido utilizar herramientas para modificar genéticamente esta bacteria mediante la colección de plásmidos pSEVA. De esta forma, planteamos que Arthrobacter sp. Helios podría convertirse en un chasis xerotolerante que puede ser ampliamente utilizado para numerosas aplicaciones biotecnológicas, como pueden ser biofiltros o como promotor del crecimiento de plantas.

ESPACOV II trata de captar la evolución de las opiniones de los ciudadanos en un tiempo en el que ha aumentado extraordinariamente el nivel de información y conocimiento de la sociedad sobre la pandemia; en el que la población ha tenido que seguir limitando de forma más o menos severa sus relaciones sociales y acatar diversas normas y restricciones para tratar de evitar la propagación del virus, paliar el colapso del sistema sanitario y reducir el número de fallecimientos. No obstante, aun así, se han sufrido tres importantes olas de contagios. Precisamente, porque la pandemia persiste, pero el contexto social ha cambiado, ESPACOV II recoge también en esta edición información sobre nuevas situaciones derivadas de la crisis como la fatiga pandémica, el coste personal y el futuro de las medidas y restricciones, o las actitudes hacia las vacunas y el proceso de vacunación frente a la COVID-19. La recogida de datos se ha realizado del 18 al 25 de enero de 2021 y se ha llevado a cabo utilizando tres procedimientos de muestreo simultáneamente: 1º: Generación aleatoria de números de teléfono móviles a partir de los rangos de números de teléfono asignados a los distintos operadores móviles por la CNMC. A los números generados se les envió un SMS. 2º: Publicidad segmentada en Facebook. Se ha colocado como anuncio en Facebook e Instagram. 3º: Publicidad segmentada a través del sistema de anuncios emplazados mediante Google Ads, en la World Wide Web y en aplicaciones de móviles. Las tres ramas de muestreo proporcionaron enlaces no paramétricos al sitio web de la encuesta. La muestra obtenida asciende a N = 1.644 (1.012 de los cuales proceden de la rama de SMS y 414 de la rama de anuncios en Facebook y 218 de la rama de Google Ads). Los datos brutos fueron ponderados por ajustes iterativos (rake) con respecto al tamaño del municipio, área geográfica (NUTS-1), grupo de edad, sexo y nivel educativo. Los primeros resultados se publicaron el 19 de febrero en el sitio web del CSIC (