Desarrollo de habilidades para la vida e inclusión social a través del Proyecto MARACAS

El programa de Formación Competencial M.A.R.A.C.A.S (Motivando la Adecuada Recreación Activa y la Correcta Alimentación Saludable) para niños y adolescentes es una innovadora alternativa basada en el desarrollo de habilidades y competencias para la vida desde la perspectiva de las inteligencias múltiples (Juárez et al, 2011). Utiliza potentes motivadores como el deporte y la actividad física como impulsores del conocimiento. La estrategia de educación integral MARACAS para niños y jóvenes de 5 a 14 años favorece el desarrollo de habilidades cognitivas, sociales, personales y físico-motrices utilizando al deporte como mediación educativa El presente estudio tomo como ejes centrales el análisis estadístico descriptivo del promedio y la desviación estándar, la cual fue modificada para asignarle un porcentaje de presencia de la habilidad. Siempre = 100%, Casi siempre= 66%, Casi nunca= 33% y Nunca=0%. Todos los participantes estuvieron distribuidos por grupos de acuerdo a su edad. Los resultados más significativos, entre otros, determinan el avance de los participantes desde dos parámetros. El primero, a partir de un progreso significativo en las habilidades competenciales, y el segundo, desde una valoración progresiva y reveladora de las inteligencias múltiples, tomando como eje central los escenarios de aprendizaje en donde el alumno desarrolla de manera vivencial una forma alternativa de manifestar sus talentos y expresarlos en escenarios reales. MARACAS ofrece un enfoque complementario a la educación formal y fortalece las capacidades más destacadas de los participantes, descubriendo nuevos talentos y reparando las debilidades

Intra- and inter-individual genetic differences in gene expression

Genetic variation is known to influence the amount of mRNA produced by a gene. Given that the molecular machines control mRNA levels of multiple genes, we expect genetic variation in the components of these machines would influence multiple genes in a similar fashion. In this study we show that this assumption is correct by using correlation of mRNA levels measured independently in the brain, kidney or liver of multiple, genetically typed, mice strains to detect shared genetic influences. These correlating groups of genes (CGG) have collective properties that account for 40-90% of the variability of their constituent genes and in some cases, but not all, contain genes encoding functionally related proteins. Critically, we show that the genetic influences are essentially tissue specific and consequently the same genetic variations in the one animal may up-regulate a CGG in one tissue but down-regulate the same CGG in a second tissue. We further show similarly paradoxical behaviour of CGGs within the same tissues of different individuals. The implication of this study is that this class of genetic variation can result in complex inter- and intra-individual and tissue differences and that this will create substantial challenges to the investigation of phenotypic outcomes, particularly in humans where multiple tissues are not readily available.

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Structural basis for the RING catalyzed synthesis of K63 linked ubiquitin chains

This work was supported by grants from Cancer Research UK (C434/A13067), the Wellcome Trust (098391/Z/12/Z) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/J016004/1).The RING E3 ligase catalysed formation of lysine 63 linked ubiquitin chains by the Ube2V2–Ubc13 E2 complex is required for many important biological processes. Here we report the structure of the RING domain dimer of rat RNF4 in complex with a human Ubc13~Ub conjugate and Ube2V2. The structure has captured Ube2V2 bound to the acceptor (priming) ubiquitin with Lys63 in a position that could lead to attack on the linkage between the donor (second) ubiquitin and Ubc13 that is held in the active “folded back” conformation by the RING domain of RNF4. The interfaces identified in the structure were verified by in vitro ubiquitination assays of site directed mutants. This represents the first view of the synthesis of Lys63 linked ubiquitin chains in which both substrate ubiquitin and ubiquitin-loaded E2 are juxtaposed to allow E3 ligase mediated catalysis.PostprintPeer reviewe

Analysis of gender equality competence present in cultural positions

Articulating the gender dimension in organizations is not easy because their members have to be trained to adopt positions that facilitate the implementation of solutions that help to combat inequalities. The aim of this article was to identify the gender equality competence present in the three types of cultural positions Castells proposed in members of a City Council in Sevilla-Spain, who wanted to implement gender mainstreaming. The participants were 27 people (16 women and 11 men). The method used was discourse analysis. The obtained results show that, while all competences were present in the project position, in the resistance position, there was none. In the legitimizers, we observed inconsistency in the discourse presented. This arouses considerations on the importance of knowing the gender equality competences in order to implement gender mainstreaming in organization

Individual variability in cardiac biomarker release after 30 min of high-intensity rowing in elite and amateur athletes

This study had two objectives: (i) to examine individual variation in the pattern of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) release in response to high-intensity rowing exercise, and (ii) to establish whether individual heterogeneity in biomarker appearance was influenced by athletic status (elite vs. amateur). We examined cTnI and NT-proBNP in 18 elite and 14 amateur rowers before and 5 min, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after a 30-min maximal rowing test. Compared with pre-exercise levels, peak postexercise cTnI (pre: 0.014 ± 0.030 μg·L–1; peak post: 0.058 ± 0.091 μg·L–1; p = 0.000) and NT-proBNP (pre: 15 ± 11 ng·L–1; peak post: 31 ± 19 ng·L–1; p = 0.000) were elevated. Substantial individual heterogeneity in peak and time-course data was noted for cTnI. Peak cTnI exceeded the upper reference limit (URL) in 9 elite and 3 amateur rowers. No rower exceeded the URL for NT-proBNP. Elite rowers had higher baseline (0.019 ± 0.038 vs. 0.008 ± 0.015 μg·L–1; p = 0.003) and peak postexercise cTnI (0.080 ± 0.115 vs. 0.030 ± 0.029 μg·L–1; p = 0.022) than amateur rowers, but the change with exercise was similar between groups. There were no significant differences in baseline and peak postexercise NT-proBNP between groups. In summary, marked individuality in the cTnI response to a short but high-intensity rowing bout was observed. Athletic status did not seem to affect the change in cardiac biomarkers in response to high-intensity exercise

Structural insight into SUMO chain recognition and manipulation by the ubiquitin ligase RNF4

The small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) can form polymeric chains that are important signals in cellular processes such as meiosis, genome maintenance and stress response. The SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase RNF4 engages with SUMO chains on linked substrates and catalyses their ubiquitination, which targets substrates for proteasomal degradation. Here we use a segmental labelling approach combined with solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and biochemical characterization to reveal how RNF4 manipulates the conformation of the SUMO chain, thereby facilitating optimal delivery of the distal SUMO domain for ubiquitin transfer

Antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture: Challenges and alternatives in the context of global warming

Aquaculture provides nowadays half of the world's seafood consumption and it is expected to expand since wild fisheries will remain stable at best. Considering the importance of aquaculture for contributing to food security over the world, producers will have to meet challenging goals to make aquaculture more sustainable and productive in the future context of the global warming. The extensive use of antibiotics to prevent and treat livestock diseases over the world, and in some countries for livestock growth promotion, has been associated with the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria to antibiotics through the food chain and the environment, which pose a threat to both human and animal health. The situation is alarming in the food-producing animal sector, including aquaculture, due to the use of antibiotics that are common to human health and the lack of investment in developing new effective antimicrobials. Up to 80% (O-Neill 20151) of antibiotics, generally administered to fish in feed, are released in water and sediments, where they exert a selective pressure on the microbial communities of the aquatic environment. Thus, AMR has become one of “the most urgent global risks” (UN General Assembly 20162) highlighting the importance of international cooperation in tackling AMR at global level by preventing microbial infections and their spread; developing alternatives for treatments; cooperating with international partners to contain the risks of AMR; promoting research and innovation and improving communication and training. It is thus important to measure the full implications of environmental changes on the sustainability of aquaculture. We performed, a metaanalysis (481 articles) to explore how global warming and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) impacts aquaculture, and found that aquaculture-derived Multi-Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) indices correlate with MAR indices from clinical bacteria, temperature and countries' climate vulnerability. We also observed that infected aquatic animals present higher mortalities at warmer temperatures. Countries most vulnerable to climate change, which are also the most important producer countries for aquaculture, will probably face the highest AMR risks, impacting human health beyond the aquaculture sector, highlighting the need for urgent action. In this regard, solutions to minimize antibiotic use and increase system resilience like using plants are necessary for promoting sustainable alternatives based on the local biodiversity

Extreme genomic erosion after recurrent demographic bottlenecks in the highly endangered Iberian lynx

Background: Genomic studies of endangered species provide insights into their evolution and demographic history, reveal patterns of genomic erosion that might limit their viability, and offer tools for their effective conservation. The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the most endangered felid and a unique example of a species on the brink of extinction. Results: We generate the first annotated draft of the Iberian lynx genome and carry out genome-based analyses of lynx demography, evolution, and population genetics. We identify a series of severe population bottlenecks in the history of the Iberian lynx that predate its known demographic decline during the 20th century and have greatly impacted its genome evolution. We observe drastically reduced rates of weak-to-strong substitutions associated with GC-biased gene conversion and increased rates of fixation of transposable elements. We also find multiple signatures of genetic erosion in the two remnant Iberian lynx populations, including a high frequency of potentially deleterious variants and substitutions, as well as the lowest genome-wide genetic diversity reported so far in any species. Conclusions: The genomic features observed in the Iberian lynx genome may hamper short- and long-term viability through reduced fitness and adaptive potential. The knowledge and resources developed in this study will boost the research on felid evolution and conservation genomics and will benefit the ongoing conservation and management of this emblematic species

Skeletal muscle specific genes networks in cattle

While physiological differences across skeletal muscles have been described, the differential gene expression underlying them and the discovery of how they interact to perform specific biological processes are largely to be elucidated. The purpose of the present study was, firstly, to profile by cDNA microarrays the differential gene expression between two skeletal muscle types, Psoas major (PM) and Flexor digitorum (FD), in beef cattle and then to interpret the results in the context of a bovine gene coexpression network, detecting possible changes in connectivity across the skeletal muscle system. Eighty four genes were differentially expressed (DE) between muscles. Approximately 54% encoded metabolic enzymes and structural-contractile proteins. DE genes were involved in similar processes and functions, but the proportion of genes in each category varied within each muscle. A correlation matrix was obtained for 61 out of the 84 DE genes from a gene coexpression network. Different groups of coexpression were observed, the largest one having 28 metabolic and contractile genes, up-regulated in PM, and mainly encoding fast-glycolytic fibre structural components and glycolytic enzymes. In FD, genes related to cell support seemed to constitute its identity feature and did not positively correlate to the rest of DE genes in FD. Moreover, changes in connectivity for some DE genes were observed in the different gene ontologies. Our results confirm the existence of a muscle dependent transcription and coexpression pattern and suggest the necessity of integrating different muscle types to perform comprehensive networks for the transcriptional landscape of bovine skeletal muscle