Relationship Between Jump Capacity and Performance in BMX Cycling

The objective of this study is to assess the relationship between the results obtained on different vertical jump tests and the top score recorded during a BMX (Bicycle Moto-Cross) test and the rider''s performance. To do so, 10 BMX pilots participated in this study; 5 regarded as the elite group (EG) (age: 18.8 +/- 3.7, weight: 68.4 +/- 8.5 kg, height: 174 +/- 9 cm and previous BMX experience: 8 +/- 3.8 years) and 5 regarded as the recreational group (RG) (age: 19.8 +/- 4.8, weight: 69.2 +/- 11.7 kg, height: 170 +/- 9 cm, previous BMX experience: 4.2 +/- 1.3 years). Vertical jump capacity was obtained using the Bosco protocol, i.e. vertical squat jump (SJ), vertical countermovement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ) and repetitive jump (RJ), and time in race in a BMX circuit was determined. The results indicate a direct relationship between the time used to complete the circuit and the height of the jump reached in SJ (r: -.801; p:.017), CMJ (r : -.798; p :.018) and DJ (r : -.782; p:.022). This all suggests that assessing jump capacity using the Bosco test may be a useful tool for assessing BMX performance

Uptake-leak balance of SR Ca2+ determines arrhythmogenic potential of RyR2R420Q+/- cardiomyocytes.

Mutations of the RyR2 are channelopathies that can predispose to life threatening catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardias (CPVTs) during exercise or stress. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that are causal for the arrhythmias downstream of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) activation are not defined. They may be specific and different for each particular RyR2 mutation. Obvious possibilities are the phosphorylation of the mutated RyR2s or the stimulation of the SR Ca2+ pump (SERCA), which could increase SR Ca2+ loading. Potentially arrhythmogenic Ca2+ signals, such as Ca2+ waves, were recorded and analyzed from WT and RyR2R420Q+/- mouse cardiomyocytes with confocal microscopy after field stimulation at 1 Hz. In RyR2R420Q+/- cardiomyocytes we found a higher occurrence and frequency of Ca2+ waves, particularly upon β-AR stimulation with isoproterenol. This was accompanied by a shorter latency to the first spontaneous wave. Wave velocity from raw traces, as well as amplitude and decay time constant (τ) analyzed in de-skewed traces were comparable in both cell types. To obtain further insight into the role of the SERCA we selectively stimulated SERCA in permeabilized myocytes using Fab fragments of a PLB antibody (2D12). Surprisingly, SERCA stimulation alone resulted in considerably higher wave frequencies than when mimicking β-AR stimulation with cAMP, particularly in RyR2R420Q+/- cardiomyocytes. This may be a consequence of some protective SR Ca2+ unloading resulting from the SR Ca2+ leak via phosphorylated RyR2s in cAMP. Spark-to-spark recovery analysis suggested a remarkably higher Ca2+ release sensitivity in RyR2R420Q+/- cells, both in control and upon β-AR stimulation. Together these findings suggest that the fine balance between SR Ca2+ loading via SERCA and the Ca2+ leak via mutated and phosphorylated RyR2s is an important determinant for the overall cellular arrhythmogenicity prevailing in the RyR2R420Q+/- myocytes

Admission tools and academic performance: evidence from a first course in a bachelor’s degree in business administration

[EN] Admission tools have become imperative means for private schools to handle both limited space and the search of excellence. We use a supervised algorithm to predict the score of admitted students in a private-run Spanish business school. The main target is understanding the effects of the features defined in the admission process to assess both the validity of the process and the final ranking of the student after one year in the school, trying to ascertain what is the best mix of the variables in place to forecast the final score of the students when ending their first year in the BBA; along with the mix, we also want to define the decision rules allowing the best prediction. The results will prove that the present admission process in place is working properly even if some fine tuning could be set in place for an even better performance.Lopez-Zafra, J.; Queralt-Sanchez De Las Matas, R.; De Paz-Cobo, S. (2019). Admission tools and academic performance: evidence from a first course in a bachelor’s degree in business administration. En HEAD'19. 5th International Conference on Higher Education Advances. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 573-581. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD19.2019.9301OCS57358

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Famílies botàniques de plantes medicinals

Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Ensenyament: Grau de Farmàcia, Assignatura: Botànica Farmacèutica, Curs: 2013-2014, Coordinadors: Joan Simon, Cèsar Blanché i Maria Bosch.Els materials que aquí es presenten són els recull de 175 treballs d’una família botànica d’interès medicinal realitzats de manera individual. Els treballs han estat realitzat per la totalitat dels estudiants dels grups M-2 i M-3 de l’assignatura Botànica Farmacèutica durant els mesos d’abril i maig del curs 2013-14. Tots els treballs s’han dut a terme a través de la plataforma de GoogleDocs i han estat tutoritzats pel professor de l’assignatura i revisats i finalment co-avaluats entre els propis estudiants. L’objectiu principal de l’activitat ha estat fomentar l’aprenentatge autònom i col·laboratiu en Botànica farmacèutica

Validez y fiabilidad de la batería reducida para la evaluación de la competencia motora (MABC-2) en escolares españoles de 4 a 7 años

Antecedentes. Una competencia motriz adecuada durante la infancia influye en la actividad física, la condición física y el desarrollo general, lo que resalta la importancia de una detección temprana. A pesar de la falta de una herramienta de evaluación universal, la Batería de Evaluación del Movimiento para Niños–segunda edición (MABC-2) es ampliamente utilizada, aunque requiere de mucho tiempo para su evaluación. Objetivos. Este estudio transversal, realizado con 147 niños españoles de 4 a 7 años (edad 5,41±0,55; 47,62% niñas; etnia blanca), tuvo como objetivo examinar la validez y fiabilidad de la versión breve de la Batería de Evaluación del Movimiento para Niños–segunda edición (MABC-2-SF) en niños. Métodos y procedimientos. La validez se evaluó mediante análisis factorial exploratorio y análisis de validez convergente, y la fiabilidad se analizó a través del análisis de concordancia y el rendimiento en las pruebas. Resultados. Los resultados mostraron que la MABC-2-SF, compuesta por tres subpruebas, es válida, fiable y útil para la detección preliminar de la competencia motriz en niños españoles de 4 a 7 años, con una probabilidad del 94,16% de identificar correctamente a aquellos que no están en riesgo de trastorno del desarrollo de la coordinación motriz. Conclusiones e implicaciones. La MABC-2-SF permite realizar una detección preliminar de la competencia motriz infantil de una manera más rentable y ajustada, facilitando la recogida de datos a gran escala. Esto podría favorecer la implementación de pruebas masivas de preselección, beneficiando a clínicos, educadores e investigadores que trabajan con niños pequeños

Translocation and Functional Analysis of Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi NCPPB 3335 Type III Secretion System Effectors Reveals Two Novel Effector Families of the Pseudomonas syringae Complex

Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi NCPPB 3335 causes olive knot disease and is a model pathogen for exploring bacterial infection of woody hosts. The type III secretion system (T3SS) effector repertoire of this strain includes 31 effector candidates plus two novel candidates identified in this study which have not been reported to translocate into plant cells. In this work, we demonstrate the delivery of seven NCPPB 3335 effectors into Nicotiana tabacum leaves, including three proteins from two novel families of the P. syringae complex effector super-repertoire (HopBK and HopBL), one of which comprises two proteins (HopBL1 and HopBL2) that harbor a SUMO protease domain. When delivered by P. fluorescens heterologously expressing a P. syringae T3SS, all seven effectors were found to suppress the production of defense-associated reactive oxygen species. Moreover, six of these effectors, including the truncated versions of HopAA1 and HopAZ1 encoded by NCPPB 3335, suppressed callose deposition. The expression of HopAZ1 and HopBL1 by functionally effectorless P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000D28E inhibited the hypersensitive response in tobacco and, additionally, expression of HopBL2 by this strain significantly increased its competitiveness in N. benthamiana. DNA sequences encoding HopBL1 and HopBL2 were uniquely detected in a collection of 31 P. savastanoi pv. savastanoi strains and other P. syringae strains isolated from woody hosts, suggesting a relevant role of these two effectors in bacterial interactions with olive and other woody plants

Factores asociados a la infección por el virus del papiloma humano en mujeres del noroeste de México

Research on the association between risk factors and HPV infection in adult women from Hermosillo does not exist, so a study of cases and controls (1: 2) matched by age was designed to analyze this public health problem at local level. Participants were 33 and 66 women with and without HPV, respectively (mean age = 41.8 ± 7.9 years). The difference in characteristics between groups was tested with conditional logistic regression (univariate). Antioxidant intake was adjusted by total energy using the residual method. Two multivariate logistic regression models were generated to identify factors associated with HPV. In both models, the higher consumption of lycopene (OR = 0.96, CI =0.95-0.99, p = 0.019) and the higher Plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity (TACp) (OR = 0.05, CI 95% = 0.03-0.7, p = 0.024), even adjusted by the number of pregnancies, number of sexual partners, and total number of sexual partners per year, reduced the risk of HPV. Multiple pregnancies and sexual behavior increased the risk of HPV, and higher consumption of lycopene and CATp reduced it in the women in this study. Sex education should be strengthened, as well as the consumption of antioxidants in women from Hermosillo to prevent the development of cervical cancer.Investigaciones sobre la asociación entre factores de riesgo y la infección por VPH en mujeres adultas hermosillenses no existen, y por ello se diseñó un estudio de casos y controles (1: 2) pareado por edad para analizar este problema de salud pública a nivel local. Participaron 33 y 66 mujeres con y sin VPH respectivamente (edad media = 41,8 ± 7,9 años). La diferencia de características entre grupos se probó con regresión logística condicional (univariada). La ingesta de antioxidantes se ajustó por energía total utilizando el método residual. Se generaron dos modelos de regresión logística multivariada para identificar los factores asociados con VPH. En ambos modelos, el mayor consumo de licopeno (OR = 0,96, IC =0,95- 0,99, p = 0,019) y la mayor Capacidad Antioxidante Total plasmática (CATp) (OR = 0,05, IC 95% = 0,03-0,7, p = 0,024), ajustados aún con el número de embarazos, número de parejas sexuales, y total de parejas sexuales por año, redujeron el riesgo a VPH.  Los embarazos múltiples y la conducta sexual incrementaron el riesgo a VPH, y los mayores consumos de licopeno y CATp la redujeron en las mujeres de este estudio. Debe fortalecerse la educación sexual, así como el consumo de antioxidantes en las mujeres hermosillenses para prevenir el desarrollo del cáncer de cuello uterino

KCNQ1 suppression-replacement gene therapy in transgenic rabbits with type 1 long QT syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Type 1 long QT syndrome (LQT1) is caused by pathogenic variants in the KCNQ1-encoded Kv7.1 potassium channels, which pathologically prolong ventricular action potential duration (APD). Herein, the pathologic phenotype in transgenic LQT1 rabbits is rescued using a novel KCNQ1 suppression-replacement (SupRep) gene therapy. METHODS KCNQ1-SupRep gene therapy was developed by combining into a single construct a KCNQ1 shRNA (suppression) and an shRNA-immune KCNQ1 cDNA (replacement), packaged into adeno-associated virus serotype 9, and delivered in vivo via an intra-aortic root injection (1E10 vg/kg). To ascertain the efficacy of SupRep, 12-lead electrocardiograms were assessed in adult LQT1 and wild-type (WT) rabbits and patch-clamp experiments were performed on isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes. RESULTS KCNQ1-SupRep treatment of LQT1 rabbits resulted in significant shortening of the pathologically prolonged QT index (QTi) towards WT levels. Ventricular cardiomyocytes isolated from treated LQT1 rabbits demonstrated pronounced shortening of APD compared to LQT1 controls, leading to levels similar to WT (LQT1-UT vs. LQT1-SupRep, P < .0001, LQT1-SupRep vs. WT, P = ns). Under β-adrenergic stimulation with isoproterenol, SupRep-treated rabbits demonstrated a WT-like physiological QTi and APD90 behaviour. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first animal-model, proof-of-concept gene therapy for correction of LQT1. In LQT1 rabbits, treatment with KCNQ1-SupRep gene therapy normalized the clinical QTi and cellular APD90 to near WT levels both at baseline and after isoproterenol. If similar QT/APD correction can be achieved with intravenous administration of KCNQ1-SupRep gene therapy in LQT1 rabbits, these encouraging data should compel continued development of this gene therapy for patients with LQT1