Search

Summary: Emotions are commonly associated with bodily sensations, e.g., boiling with anger when overwhelmed with rage. Studies have shown that emotions are related to specific body parts, suggesting that somatotopically organized cortical regions that commonly respond to somatosensory and motor experiences might be involved in the generation of emotions.We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate whether the subjective feelings of emotion are accompanied by the activation of somatotopically defined sensorimotor brain regions, thus aiming to reconstruct an “emotional homunculus.” By defining the convergence of the brain activation patterns evoked by self-generated emotions during scanning onto a sensorimotor map created on participants’ tactile and motor brain activity, we showed that all the evoked emotions activated parts of this sensorimotor map, yet with considerable overlap among different emotions. Although we could not find a highly specific segmentation of discrete emotions over sensorimotor regions, our results support an embodied experience of emotions.

Summary: The becoming of the human being is a multisensory process that starts in the womb. By integrating spontaneous neuronal activity with inputs from the external world, the developing brain learns to make sense of itself through multiple sensory experiences. Over the past ten years, advances in neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques have allowed the exploration of the neural correlates of multisensory processing in the newborn and infant brain, thus adding an important piece of information to behavioral evidence of early sensitivity to multisensory events. Here, we review recent behavioral and neuroimaging findings to document the origins and early development of multisensory processing, particularly showing that the human brain appears naturally tuned to multisensory events at birth, which requires multisensory experience to fully mature. We conclude the review by highlighting the potential uses and benefits of multisensory interventions in promoting healthy development by discussing emerging studies in preterm infants.

Abstract Cooperation is one of the most advantageous strategies to have evolved in small- and large-scale human societies, often considered essential to their success or survival. We investigated how cooperation and the mechanisms influencing it change across the lifespan, by assessing cooperative choices from adolescence to old age (12–79 years, N = 382) forcing participants to decide either intuitively or deliberatively through the use of randomised time constraints. As determinants of these choices, we considered participants’ level of altruism, their reciprocity expectations, their optimism, their desire to be socially accepted, and their attitude toward risk. We found that intuitive decision-making favours cooperation, but only from age 20 when a shift occurs: whereas in young adults, intuition favours cooperation, in adolescents it is reflection that favours cooperation. Participants’ decisions were shown to be rooted in their expectations about other people’s cooperative behaviour and influenced by individuals’ level of optimism about their own future, revealing that the journey to the cooperative humans we become is shaped by reciprocity expectations and individual predispositions.

Recent constructionist theories have suggested that language and sensory experience play a crucial role not only in how individuals categorise emotions but also in how they experience and shape them, helping to acquire abstract concepts that are used to make sense of bodily perceptions associated with specific emotions.Here, we aimed to investigate the role of sensory experience in conceptualising bodily felt emotions by asking 126 Italian blind participants to freely recall in which part of the body they commonly feel specific emotions (N = 15). Participants varied concerning visual experience in terms of blindness onset (i.e., congenital vs late) and degree of visual experience (i.e., total vs partial sensory loss). Using an Italian semantic model to estimate to what extent discrete emotions are associated with body parts in language experience, we found that all participants' reports correlated with the model predictions. Interestingly, blind – and especially congenitally blind - participants’ responses were more strongly correlated with the model, suggesting that language might be one of the possible compensative mechanisms for the lack of visual feedback in constructing bodily felt emotions.Our findings present theoretical implications for the study of emotions, as well as potential real-world applications for blind individuals, by revealing, on the one hand, that vision plays an essential role in the construction of felt emotions and the way we talk about our related bodily (emotional) experiences. On the other hand, evidence that blind individuals rely more strongly on linguistic cues suggests that vision is a strong cue to acquire emotional information from the surrounding world, influencing how we experience emotions.While our findings do not suggest that blind individuals experience emotions in an atypical and dysfunctional way, they nonetheless support the view that promoting the use of non-visual emotional signs and body language since early on might help the blind child to develop a good emotional awareness as well as good emotion regulation abilities.

In this study we investigated, both in childhood and adulthood, the role of action in promoting and shaping the sense of body ownership, which is traditionally viewed as dependent on multisensory integration. By means of a novel action-based version of the rubber hand illusion (RHI), in which participants could actively self-stroke the rubber hand, with (Version 1) or without visual feedback (Version 2) of their own actions, we showed that self-generated actions promote the emergence of a sense of ownership over the rubber hand in children, while it interferes with the embodiment of the rubber hand in adults. When the movement is missing (Version 3, i.e., mere view of the rubber hand being stroked concurrently with one’s own hand), the pattern of results is reversed, with adults showing embodiment of the rubber hand, but children lacking to do so. Our novel findings reveal a dynamic and plastic contribution of the motor system to the emergence of a coherent bodily self, suggesting that the development of the sense of body ownership is shaped by motor experience, rather than being purely sensory.

In this article I explore the practices of Zapoteco youth associated with Radio Totopo in order to understand the processes of their resistance. Radio Totopo, which operates in the municipality of Juchitán de Zaragoza (Oaxaca, Mexico) turned out to be a community institution that is profoundly linked to the people of the neighborhood where it is located. This community radio station, which we have approached ethnographically, provides us with some core topics for analysis, including indigenous youth, community media, the paradoxical laws referring to the administration of radio broadcasting space in Mexico, the megaprojects for development that threaten the life of indigenous peoples, and the sophisticated forms of political and cultural resistance of the Zapotecos.

Emotions are commonly recognized by combining auditory and visual signals (i.e., vocal and facial expressions). Yet it is unknown whether the ability to link emotional signals across modalities depends on early experience with audio-visual stimuli. In the present study, we investigated the role of auditory experience at different stages of development for auditory, visual, and multisensory emotion recognition abilities in three groups of adolescent and adult cochlear implant (CI) users. CI users had a different deafness onset and were compared to three groups of age- and gender-matched hearing control participants. We hypothesized that congenitally deaf (CD) but not early deaf (ED) and late deaf (LD) CI users would show reduced multisensory interactions and a higher visual dominance in emotion perception than their hearing controls. The CD (n = 7), ED (deafness onset: 3 years; n = 13) CI users and the control participants performed an emotion recognition task with auditory, visual, and audio-visual emotionally congruent and incongruent nonsense speech stimuli. In different blocks, participants judged either the vocal (Voice task) or the facial expressions (Face task). In the Voice task, all three CI groups performed overall less efficiently than their respective controls and experienced higher interference from incongruent facial information. Furthermore, the ED CI users benefitted more than their controls from congruent faces and the CD CI users showed an analogous trend. In the Face task, recognition efficiency of the CI users and controls did not differ. Our results suggest that CI users acquire multisensory interactions to some degree, even after congenital deafness. When judging affective prosody they appear impaired and more strongly biased by concurrent facial information than typically hearing individuals. We speculate that limitations inherent to the CI contribute to these group differences.

Several studies conducted in mammals and humans have shown that multisensory processing may be impaired following congenital sensory loss and in particular if no experience is achieved within specific early developmental time windows known as sensitive periods. In this study we investigated whether basic multisensory abilities are impaired in hearing-restored individuals with deafness acquired at different stages of development. To this aim, we tested congenitally and late deaf cochlear implant (CI) recipients, age-matched with two groups of hearing controls, on an audio-tactile redundancy paradigm, in which reaction times to unimodal and crossmodal redundant signals were measured. Our results showed that both congenitally and late deaf CI recipients were able to integrate audio-tactile stimuli, suggesting that congenital and acquired deafness does not prevent the development and recovery of basic multisensory processing. However, we found that congenitally deaf CI recipients had a lower multisensory gain compared to their matched controls, which may be explained by their faster responses to tactile stimuli. We discuss this finding in the context of reorganisation of the sensory systems following sensory loss and the possibility that these changes cannot be "rewired" through auditory reafferentation.

A number of studies have documented that changes in visual cognition following profound deafness are highly specific. Among these, deaf individuals have proved to have enhanced visual ability compared with hearing controls when asked to rapidly detect the onset of abrupt visual stimuli, particularly when presented towards the periphery of the visual field. However, no study to date has addressed the question of whether visual compensatory changes may be reversed after reafferentation of the auditory system through a cochlear implant. To address this question, we measured reaction times to visually presented stimuli appearing in central and peripheral locations in two groups of adult cochlear implant recipients, who experienced auditory loss either early or late in life. Results showed that prelingually deafened recipients were faster than postlingually deafened recipients for stimuli appearing in the periphery of the visual field. On the contrary, postlingually deafened individuals paid a cost for stimuli presented in the periphery of the visual field, as typically found in hearing controls adopting identical task and stimuli. These findings lead to the suggestion that compensatory changes that occur early in life cannot be reversed in adulthood in case of sensory reafferentation.

This article discusses how comunalidad, a category created in the 1980s by two indigenous intellectuals in the state of Oaxaca (Mexico), does not remain static over time, but passes through generations and emerges as a guiding axis of new educational and cultural projects. By way of two examples, the Autonomous Communal University of Oaxaca and the Itinerant Audiovisual Camp, the article shows how comunalidad has been taken up by new voices, has promoted grassroot and local systematization of knowledge and helped to establish diverse relationships with State institutions.

IntroductionHistorically, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)-related pituitary adenomas (PAs) were considered more aggressive and treatment-resistant than sporadic PAs. However, recent studies suggest similarities in their behavior. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of MEN1 PAs and identify predictive factors.MethodsNationwide multicenter retrospective cohort study of MEN1-related PAs with a minimum 1-year follow-up, collecting patient demographics, germline MEN1 pathogenic variants (PV), PA size, secretory profile, radiological characteristics, treatments, and outcomes.ResultsWe analyzed 84 PAs, 69%in females and 31% in males (P

IntroductionHow to make work life increasingly meaningful and ensuring that business actions aim at improving quality of life is a trending topic. Yet, it has not often been studied within architectural firms, that play a crucial role in achieving sustainable development goals, especially those related to equity, equality, and the creation of pleasant work environments. This study aims to identify whether there are gender differences in the perception and levels of workplace happiness of individuals working within architectural companies in Valencia (Spain).MethodsA mixed methodology based on qualitative and quantitative data has been applied with a sample of 201 workers from 60 practices.ResultsParticipants perceive themselves as flourishing and quite happy at work. Yet, there are gender differences in the factors that motivate workplace happiness. While women prioritize the work environment, their colleagues and teams, men point out to career development. Thus, recognition, appreciation, feeling valued and goals and achievements are among the main drivers of men’s workplace happiness. In addition, women tend to experience negative emotions such as anxiety, anger, or sadness more frequently than men. Given these results, architectural companies face a considerable challenge.DiscussionThe research examines the relationship between workplace happiness and social sustainability in architectural firms, highlighting the importance of human capital for competitiveness. To promote sustainability and well-being at work, it is crucial to understand how organizational decisions impact employee well-being and to know the differences in perceptions of workplace happiness between men and women. This analysis may be of interest to the architectural firms object of this research.

Objectives: Identifying patients with COVID-19 who are at risk of poor evolution is key to early decide on their hospitalization. We evaluated the combined impact of nucleocapsid (N)-antigenemia profiled by a rapid test and antibodies against the S1 subunit of the SARS-CoV S protein (S1) on the hospitalization risk of patients with COVID-19. Methods: N-antigenemia and anti-S1 antibodies were profiled at admission to the emergency department in 146 patients with COVID-19 using the Panbio® antigen Rapid Test and the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G II Quant/SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G assay from Abbott. A multivariable analysis was used to evaluate the impact of these factors on hospitalization. Results: Patients with a positive N-antigen test in plasma and anti-S1 levels

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a master regulator of the cell metabolism which impacts numerous signaling involved in cell proliferation and death and recycling cell constituents to readapt to new physiological or pathological environments. mTOR is constituted by two structural and functional different complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. Both can be independently regulated, which has a great impact on the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions in different clinical and experimental situations. Furthermore, mTORC1 interacts with specific chaperones or immunophilins which are intracellular receptors of the immunosuppressive drugs. Low and high molecular weights of immunophilins have different intracellular functions. The present review updates the molecular structure and signaling of mTOR as well as their regulation by immunophilins and upstream and downstream signaling events, highlighting the potential therapeutic intervention of mTOR in cancer, metabolic disturbances, and aging.

Summary: Here, we present a protocol for lentiviral delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 to human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived macrophages using co-incubation with VPX virus-like particles (VPX-VLPs). We describe steps for producing polybrene and puromycin kill curves, VPX viral production, and VPX-VLP titration by western blotting. We then detail procedures for iPSC macrophage precursor lentiviral transduction and lentiviral CRISPR-Cas9-based knockout in iPSC-derived macrophages. This protocol uses efficient genome-editing techniques to explore macrophage involvement in immune response, chronic inflammation, neurodegenerative disease, and cancer progression.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Navarro-Guerrero et al.1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

This work introduces a methodology for the design of X-band microwave absorbers using carbon-graphite powder composites. The reflection loss (RL) is adjusted through variations in sample thickness, mono/bi-slab geometries, and effective dielectric constant. The impact of the particle size of the powders and the volume fraction (v.f.) of the composites on the effective dielectric permittivity has been systematically investigated. The Nicolson-Ross-Weir (NRW) conversion and the Birchak dielectric mixing model were employed. Optimal absorption conditions predicted by RL simulations were validated through experimental waveguide measurements for mono/bi-slab systems of paraffin-carbon composite samples. The mono-slabs with a particle size of 3.5 μm showed the best versatility for tailoring the RL in the X-band through v.f. variations while maintaining a fixed thickness of 2 mm. In addition, a bi-slab system (powder-paraffin/paraffin) for such powder size, at 18.0 % of v.f., showed an enhanced RL with a bandwidth of 2.6 GHz and a minimum of − 40 dB (at 11 GHz). Other dielectrics based on resin:paint mixtures were tested to replace the paraffin-matrix, revealing a strong powder-matrix interaction capable of modulating the effective dielectric permittivity. Finally, experimental antenna RL measurements conducted in free space were corroborated by theoretical simulations based on the waveguide characterizations.

BackgroundBehavioral and substance addictions are prevalent health problems that, alongside obesity, are linked to reduced physical activity and increased sedentary time. Similarly, arterial stiffness and vascular aging are processes that begin gradually at an early age and are closely associated with morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. The main objective of this study is to analyze how addictions are related to obesity and body fat distribution, physical activity, sedentary time, arterial stiffness and vascular aging, as well as sleep quality, cognitive function and gender differences in young adults aged between 18 and 34 years.MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive observational study will analyze data from 500 subjects (250 men and 250 women) aged 18–34 without cardiovascular disease, selected by simple random sampling with replacement from the urban population of the city center of Salamanca (34,044 people aged 18–34, with 18,450 women and 15,594 men). Behavioral and substance addictions, as well as sleep quality and cognitive impairment will be assessed using questionnaires. The Pittisburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) will be used to measure sleep quality and the Ford questionnaire will be used to measure insomnia in response to stress. For obesity, weight, height, waist and hip circumference, body composition will be measured with the Inbody 230® impedance meter. For physical activity and sedentary time, we will use the Actigraph® accelerometer alongside the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Marshall questionnaire. The Sphygmocor System® will be used for pulse wave analysis and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), while the Vasera VS-2000® will measure cardio ankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Vascular aging will be calculated with the 10th and 90th percentiles of cfPWV or baPWV. Demographic, analytical variables will be collected, as will data to assess vascular, cardiac, renal, and brain injury.DiscussionAddictions are on the rise in today’s society, affecting the mental health and well-being of those who suffer from them, generating important social problems such as job loss, family dysfunction, debt and social isolation. Together with obesity, they are prevalent health problems in young adults and are associated with lower physical activity and higher sedentary time. Meanwhile, arterial stiffness and vascular aging are processes that begin gradually at an early age and determine morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases. The results of this project will allow us to understand the situation regarding behavioral and substance addictions in young adults. Better understanding of these addictions will in turn facilitate the development of more effective prevention strategies and intervention programs, which can then reduce the negative impact at both the individual and societal levels.Clinical trial registration[ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT05819840].

Abstract Background Dynamic chromatin remodeling is associated with changes in the epigenetic pattern of histone acetylations and methylations required for processes based on dynamic chromatin remodeling and implicated in different nuclear functions. These histone epigenetic modifications need to be coordinated, a role that may be mediated by chromatin kinases such as VRK1, which phosphorylates histones H3 and H2A. Methods The effect of VRK1 depletion and VRK1 inhibitor, VRK-IN-1, on the acetylation and methylation of histone H3 in K4, K9 and K27 was determined under different conditions, arrested or proliferating cells, in A549 lung adenocarcinoma and U2OS osteosarcoma cells. Results Chromatin organization is determined by the phosphorylation pattern of histones mediated by different types of enzymes. We have studied how the VRK1 chromatin kinase can alter the epigenetic posttranslational modifications of histones by using siRNA, a specific inhibitor of this kinase (VRK-IN-1), and of histone acetyl and methyl transferases, as well as histone deacetylase and demethylase. Loss of VRK1 implicated a switch in the state of H3K9 posttranslational modifications. VRK1 depletion/inhibition causes a loss of H3K9 acetylation and facilitates its methylation. This effect is similar to that of the KAT inhibitor C646, and to KDM inhibitors as iadademstat (ORY-1001) or JMJD2 inhibitor. Alternatively, HDAC inhibitors (selisistat, panobinostat, vorinostat) and KMT inhibitors (tazemetostat, chaetocin) have the opposite effect of VRK1 depletion or inhibition, and cause increase of H3K9ac and a decrease of H3K9me3. VRK1 stably interacts with members of these four enzyme families. However, VRK1 can only play a role on these epigenetic modifications by indirect mechanisms in which these epigenetic enzymes are likely targets to be regulated and coordinated by VRK1. Conclusions The chromatin kinase VRK1 regulates the epigenetic patterns of histone H3 acetylation and methylation in lysines 4, 9 and 27. VRK1 is a master regulator of chromatin organization associated with its specific functions, such as transcription or DNA repair.

Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized via a solvothermal method. Their structural, compositional, morphological, optoelectronic, and electrochemical properties have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Porosimetry and specific surface area in terms of the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) technique have also been studied. XRD indicates the formation of a polycrystalline kesterite CZTSe phase. Raman peaks at 173 and 190 cm−1 confirm the formation of a pure phase. TEM micrographs revealed the presence of nanoparticles with average sizes of ~90 nm. A BET surface area of 7 m2/g was determined. The CZTSe NPs showed a bandgap of 1.0 eV and a p-type semiconducting behavior. As a proof of concept, for the first time, the CZTSe NPs have been used as a visible-light-driven photocatalyst to Congo red (CR) azo dye degradation. The nanophotocatalyst material under simulated sunlight results in almost complete degradation (96%) of CR dye after 70 min, following a pseudo-second-order kinetic model (rate constant of 0.334 min−1). The prepared CZTSe was reusable and can be repeatedly used to remove CR dye from aqueous solutions.

Background: Up to 30% of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) will develop advanced-stage disease (aDTC) with reduced overall survival (OS). Objective: The aim of this study is to characterize initial diagnosis of aDTC, its therapeutic management, and prognosis in Spain and Portugal. Methods: A multicentre, longitudinal, retrospective study of adult patients diagnosed with aDTC in the Iberian Peninsula was conducted between January 2007 and December 2012. Analyses of baseline characteristics and results of initial treatments, relapse- or progression-free survival ((RP)FS) from first DTC diagnosis, OS, and prognostic factors impacting the evolution of advanced disease were evaluated. Results: Two hundred and thirteen patients (median age: 63 years; 57% female) were eligible from 23 hospitals. Advanced disease presented at first diagnosis (de novo aDTC) included 54% of patients, while 46% had relapsed from early disease (recurrent/progressive eDTC). At initial stage, most patients received surgery (98%) and/or radioiodine (RAI) (89%), with no differences seen between median OS (95% CI) (10.4 (7.3–15.3) years) and median disease-specific-survival (95% CI) (11.1 (8.7–16.2) years; log-rank test P = 0.4737). Age at diagnosis being

Purpose: The arrival of new companies that are more technological and scalable to the real estate sector has caused a revolution in a very conservative and not very innovative industry. The main objective of this research is to characterize the business model of proptech online brokerage companies in home sales in Spain, based on the traditional agency model. Design/methodology: Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with the CEOs and managers of six proptech online real estate brokerage agencies in Spain. Their content was analyzed by means of the study and comparison of common patterns. Findings: During the digitalization process of the brokerage, a regression was detected back to more classic procedures typically found in traditional agencies, thus establishing an important difference as compared to other more transparent markets. Accordingly, a convergence occurs between the different real estate brokerage models (online and traditional), resulting in a hybrid model. Research limitations: The limited number of agencies that operate in the online mode in Spain makes the sample size quite small. Practical implications: The results contribute greater transparency to a traditional sector characterized by its opacity, and they give visibility to the changes that are currently taking place, facilitating information to both professionals and users. Social implications: It contributes to the fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goal number 9, concerning the promotion of development-oriented policies that support the creation of decent jobs, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. Originality/value: It expands the scientific literature dedicated to online real estate brokerage in Spain, given that as of today, we have no knowledge of any other published academic work on this topic. The research contributes to the vision that new sector agents have of it and those changes that are occurring within it.

Abstract Bone is the second most common distant metastasis site in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and is normally associated with the presence of other metastases, which are usually radioiodine‐resistant. The presence of bone metastasis (BM) determines low survival and greater morbidity due to the frequency of skeletal‐related events (SREs), which can be a serious complication of BM. There is evidence that antiresorptive therapy (AT) reduces SREs in other solid tumors, but not yet in DTC BM, for which data are scant. The same is true for systemic therapy with multikinase inhibitors (MKIs). In general, the results for MKI use are well known, although the effect on BM has rarely been evaluated. While MKIs are indicated in current clinical practice guidelines, studies evaluating the benefits and risks of concomitant treatment with MKIs and AT are lacking, and the available data come from small samples in retrospective studies. The objective of this article is to review the latest evidence for concomitant MKIs and AT.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection affects the vascular endothelium, which mediates the inflammatory and thrombotic cascade. Moreover, alterations in the endothelium are related to arterial stiffness, which has been established as a marker of cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study is to analyse how the structure, vascular function, vascular ageing and endothelial damage are related to the biopsychological situation in adults diagnosed with persistent COVID and the differences by gender.Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study will be carried out in the Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL) and in the BioSepsis laboratory of the University of Salamanca. The sample will be selected from the persistent COVID monographic office at the Internal Medicine Service of the University Hospital of Salamanca, and from the population of subjects diagnosed with persistent COVID in the clinical history of Primary Care. Through consecutive sampling, the study will include 300 individuals diagnosed with persistent COVID who meet the diagnosis criteria established by the WHO, after they sign the informed consent. Endothelial damage biomarkers will be measured using ELLA-SimplePlexTM technology (Biotechne). Their vascular structure and function will be analysed by measuring the carotid intima-media thickness (Sonosite Micromax); the pulse wave and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) will be recorded with Sphygmocor System®. Cardio Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle-brachial index will be analysed with Vasera VS-2000®. The integral assessment of the subjects with persistent COVID will be conducted with different scales that evaluate fatigue, sleep, dyspnea, quality of life, attention, nutrition state, and fragility. We will also evaluate their lifestyles (diet, physical activity, smoking habits and alcohol consumption), psychological factors, and cognitive deterioration, which will be gathered through validated questionnaires; moreover, physical activity will be objectively measured using a pedometer for 7 days. Body composition will be measured through impedance using an Inbody 230. Vascular ageing will be calculated with 10 and 90 percentiles of cfPWV and baPWV. Furthermore, we will analyse the presence of vascular injury in the retina, heart, kidneys and brain, as well as cardiovascular risk. Demographic and analytical variables will also be gathered.Discussion: Arterial stiffness reflects the mechanic and functional properties of the arterial wall, showing the changes in arterial pressure, blood flow, and vascular diameter that occur with each heartbeat. SARS-CoV-2 affects the endothelial cells that are infected with this virus, increasing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and pro-thrombotic factors, which can cause early vascular ageing and an increase of arterial stiffness. Persistent COVID is a complex heterogeneous disorder that affects the lives of millions of people worldwide. The identifications of potential risk factors to better understand who is at risk of developing persistent COVID is important, since this would enable early and appropriate clinical support. It is unknown whether vascular alterations caused by COVID-19 resolve after acute infection or remain over time, favouring the increase of arterial stiffness and early vascular ageing. Therefore, it is necessary to propose studies that analyse the evolution of persistent COVID in this group of patients, as well as the possible variables that influence it.Clinical Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05819840

Cysteine residues can undergo multiple posttranslational modifications with diverse functional consequences, potentially behaving as tunable sensors. The intermediate filament protein vimentin has important implications in pathophysiology, including cancer progression, infection, and fibrosis, and maintains a close interplay with other cytoskeletal structures, such as actin filaments and microtubules. We previously showed that the single vimentin cysteine, C328, is a key target for oxidants and electrophiles. Here, we demonstrate that structurally diverse cysteine-reactive agents, including electrophilic mediators, oxidants and drug-related compounds, disrupt the vimentin network eliciting morphologically distinct reorganizations. As most of these agents display broad reactivity, we pinpointed the importance of C328 by confirming that local perturbations introduced through mutagenesis provoke structure-dependent vimentin rearrangements. Thus, GFP-vimentin wild type (wt) forms squiggles and short filaments in vimentin-deficient cells, the C328F, C328W, and C328H mutants generate diverse filamentous assemblies, and the C328A and C328D constructs fail to elongate yielding dots. Remarkably, vimentin C328H structures resemble the wt, but are strongly resistant to electrophile-elicited disruption. Therefore, the C328H mutant allows elucidating whether cysteine-dependent vimentin reorganization influences other cellular responses to reactive agents. Electrophiles such as 1,4-dinitro-1H-imidazole and 4-hydroxynonenal induce robust actin stress fibers in cells expressing vimentin wt. Strikingly, under these conditions, vimentin C328H expression blunts electrophile-elicited stress fiber formation, apparently acting upstream of RhoA. Analysis of additional vimentin C328 mutants shows that electrophile-sensitive and assembly-defective vimentin variants permit induction of stress fibers by reactive species, whereas electrophile-resistant filamentous vimentin structures prevent it. Together, our results suggest that vimentin acts as a break for actin stress fibers formation, which would be released by C328-aided disruption, thus allowing full actin remodeling in response to oxidants and electrophiles. These observations postulate C328 as a “sensor” transducing structurally diverse modifications into fine-tuned vimentin network rearrangements, and a gatekeeper for certain electrophiles in the interplay with actin.

Background: The harmful effect of alcohol on the immune system may be due to both a direct action of the alcohol or its metabolites on immune cells as an indirect action modifying the different mechanisms of intercellular interaction. The interplay between stimulatory (aKIR) and inhibitory (iKIR) natural killer (NK) cell receptors and their corresponding human leukocyte antigen (HLA) ligands influences the outcome of virus infection. The aim was to analyze the influence of the KIR/HLA pair genetic profile in male alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) patients with and without viral infections to find susceptibility biomarkers that can help establish the risks and prevent viral infections. Methods: A total of 281 male AC patients were analyzed. The sociodemographic characteristics, viral hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections were analyzed. Genomic DNA was extracted, and genetic the KIR/HLA profiles were investigated. A total of 6 KIR genes and their corresponding ligands (HLA-C) were analyzed. Patients were grouped into two groups: with and without associated viral infection. Results: A statistically significant increase in the combination of KIR2DL2+/C1C1 was observed in male AC patients with viral infection compared to those without viral infection (45.9% vs. 24.5%, p = 0.021). The analysis of KIR2DL3+/C1+ showed a high frequency comparing healthy controls and male AC patients without virus infection (85% vs. 76.4%; p = 0.026). The analysis of KIR2DL3+/C2C2 frequency showed a statistically significant increase comparing male AC patients without viral infection and healthy controls (23.6% vs. 15%; p = 0.026). Conclusions: The genetic KIR2DL2+/C2C2 profiles may play a significant role in determining the vulnerability of male AC patients to viral infections, providing valuable insights for future research and potential therapeutic interventions.

This work focuses on the synthesize of nanostructured (Fe65Co35)100-x (Pr6O11)x (x = 0, 5) powders using high energy ball milling. The influence of Pr6O11 on structural, morphological and magnetic properties of Fe65Co35 nanoparticles were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with a dispersive energy analyzer (EDS), vibratory sample magnetometer (VSM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results show that the praseodymium oxide addition increased the decrement rate of the crystallite size with milling time of about 27 % and decreased the increment rate of the internal micro-strain of 50 %. Moreover, because of its high grain fragmentation tendency, Pr6O11 increases the hardness and brittleness of Fe-Co powders. Moreover, it minimized the cold welding between Fe-Co ductile particles leading to a significant decrease in the average particle size (~1�m). The magnetic measurements conducted at room temperature show that the saturation magnetisation (Ms) and the coercivity (Hc) increased with milling time in both compositions. A low Ms and high Hc values were detected in (Fe65Co35)95 (Pr6O11)5 nanoparticles. The results demonstrated a soft ferromagnetic nature in all of the synthesized nanoparticles with Ms in the range 207 � 216 emu/g and Hc is found to be 113 Oe.

This dataset contains the full results of a survey on mobility patterns after the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey was conducted in the second trimester of 2021 and collected information from 10000 respondents across 20 urban areas. The questions covered demographic and socio-economic characteristics, employment and job related situation, the use of technological alternatives in daily activities, mobility patterns (trip frequency, purpose, destination, mode, level of comfort), and perceptions as regards the usability of each transport option. Particular emphasis was given to the comparison of current activity to that before the pandemic. The survey combined an online (Computer-Assisted Web Interviews, CAWI) approach with telephone (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews, CATI) interviews. The sample in each city was representative of the local demographic and socio-economic profile according to age, sex, employment situation, education and urbanization.

Abstract Background Saliva is being increasingly used as a sample for measuring biomarkers in several species and shows a high potential of use to detect and monitor stress. The weaning and grouping in dairy calves are a particularly stressful time. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate a panel of antioxidant and oxidant biomarkers in the saliva of calves on the day of weaning (W0), 2 days after weaning or milk withdrawal (W + 2), and 4 days after grouping (G + 4). In addition, to verify if cortisol and oxytocin concentrations are related to the biomarkers measured. Results Salivary cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing ability of saliva (FRAS), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange (FOX) were significantly higher (P

IntroductionObesity, an increasing global health problem, can affect people with other disease conditions. The prevalence of obesity in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is not well known. The aim of this study was to describe extensively the characteristics and prevalence of different classes of obesity according to BMI (body mass index) categories in a large cohort of patients with T1D.Material and methodsThis was a retrospective, cross-sectional study in Catalonia. We reviewed all patients with T1D diagnosis, ≥ 18 years old and with BMI data from the SIDIAP database. Sociodemographic and clinical data, cardiovascular risk factors, laboratory parameters and concomitant medications were collected.ResultsA total of 6,068 patients with T1D were analyzed. The prevalence of obesity in the total sample was 18% (13.8% with class 1 obesity [BMI 30-34.9 kg/m2]). Patients with obesity had a higher prevalence of other cardiovascular risk factors (i.e. hypertension was 61.4% vs. 37.5%; dyslipidemia 63.6% vs 44%, and chronic kidney disease 38.4% vs. 24.4%; p 25 kg/m2. Patients with obesity did not have poorer glycemic control.ConclusionThe presence of obesity in people with T1D is frequent and cardiovascular risk factors are more common and more poorly controlled in T1D patients with obesity.

Teamwork is a fundamental employability skill and, as such, is fostered in professional programmes. This study presents a comparative analysis of higher education students' perceptions, development, and experiences of teamwork at two universities: one in South Africa and the other in Spain. These study sites provided a fruitful opportunity for comparison, given their contextual similarities. Through a survey of 395 3rd and 4th-year students of professional degrees, the authors explored how these students developed the teamwork skills required within their curricula. The findings showed that respondents from both institutions perceive teamwork similarly, but there are significant differences in how these skills are developed. While most South African respondents had participated in courses focused on team functioning, the Spanish had learnt to function in teams during project work. Furthermore, the South African sample was more aware of the impact of socio-cultural factors on team functioning than the Spanish one. The former reported feeling marginalised due to their race, gender and language to a greater extent than the Spanish. The paper outlines the potential benefits of successful teamwork, such as improving social cohesion. The results could be useful to policymakers and lecturers designing context-specific interventions to develop students' teamwork skills.

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the leading chronic diseases globally and one of the most common causes of death, morbidity, and poor quality of life. According to the WHO, DM is also one of the main risk factors for developing active tuberculosis (TB). Subjects with DM are at a higher risk of infections, in addition to frequent micro and macrovascular complications, and therefore sought to determine whether poor glycemic control is linked to a higher risk of developing TB.MethodsWe used a retrospective cohort of diabetic subjects to predict the incidence of TB. All DM patients were recruited from Ciutat Vella (the inner-city of Barcelona) from January 2007 until December 2016, with a follow-up period until December 2018 (≥2 years). Data were extracted from Barcelona's Primary Care medical record database - SIDIAP, and linked to the Barcelona TB Control Program. The incidence of TB and the impact of glycemic control were estimated using time-to-event curves analyzed by Cox proportional hazard regression. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), unadjusted and adjusted by potential confounding variables, were also assessed, which included age, sex, diabetes duration, macrovascular and microvascular signs, BMI, smoking habit, alcohol consumption and geographical origin.ResultsOf 8,004 DM patients considered for the study (equating to 68,605 person-years of follow-up), 84 developed TB [incidence rate = 70 (95% CI: 52–93) per 100,000 person-years]. DM subjects with TB were younger (mean: 52.2 vs. 57.7 years old), had higher values of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (7.66 vs. 7.41%) and total triglycerides (122 vs. 105 mg/dl), and had twice the frequency of diabetic nephropathy (2.08 vs. 1.18%). The calculated incidence rate increased with increasing HbA1c: 120.5 (95% CI 77.2–179.3) for HbA1c ≥ 7.5%, 143 (95% CI 88.3–218.1) for HbA1c ≥ 8% and 183.8 (95% CI 105–298) for HbA1c ≥ 9%. An increase in the risk of TB was also observed according to a poorer optimization of glycemic control: adjusted HR 1.80 (95% CI 0.60–5.42), 2.06 (95% CI 0.67–6.32), and 2.82 (95% CI 0.88–9.06), respectively.ConclusionDiabetic subjects with worse glycemic control show a trend toward a higher risk of developing TB.

Nuclear architecture and functions depend on dynamic interactions between nuclear components (such as chromatin) and inner nuclear membrane (INM) proteins. Mutations in INM proteins interfering with these interactions result in disease. However, mechanisms controlling the levels and turnover of INM proteins remain unknown. Here, we describe a mechanism of regulated degradation of the INM SUN domain-containing protein 2 (SUN2). We show that Casein Kinase 2 and the C-terminal domain Nuclear Envelope Phosphatase 1 (CTDNEP1) have opposing effects on SUN2 levels by regulating SUN2 binding to the ubiquitin ligase Skp/Cullin1/F-BoxβTrCP (SCFβTrCP). Upon binding to phosphorylated SUN2, SCFβTrCP promotes its ubiquitination. Ubiquitinated SUN2 is membrane extracted by the AAA ATPase p97 and delivered to the proteasome for degradation. Importantly, accumulation of non-degradable SUN2 results in aberrant nuclear architecture, vulnerability to DNA damage and increased lagging chromosomes in mitosis. These findings uncover a central role of proteolysis in INM protein homeostasis.

This paper explores the key factors influencing mental health professionals' behavioral intention to adopt virtual humans as a means of affect recognition training. Therapies targeting social cognition deficits are in high demand given that these deficits are related to a loss of functioning and quality of life in several neuropsychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, affective disorders, and acquired brain injury. Therefore, developing new therapies would greatly improve the quality of life of this large cohort of patients. A questionnaire based on the second revision of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) questionnaire was used for this study. One hundred and twenty-four mental health professionals responded to the questionnaire after viewing a video presentation of the system. The results confirmed that mental health professionals showed a positive intention to use virtual reality tools to train affect recognition, as they allow manipulation of social interaction with patients. Further studies should be conducted with therapists from other countries to reach more conclusions.