Conditional equilibrium constants in multicomponent heterogeneous adsorption: The conditional affinity spectrum

The concept of conditional stability constant is extended to the competitive binding of small molecules to heterogeneous surfaces or macromolecules via the introduction of the conditional affinity spectrum (CAS). The CAS describes the distribution of effective binding energies experienced by one complexing agent at a fixed concentration of the rest. We show that, when the multicomponent system can be described in terms of an underlying affinity spectrum [integral equation (IE) approach], the system can always be characterized by means of a CAS. The thermodynamic properties of the CAS and its dependence on the concentration of the rest of components are discussed. In the context of metal/proton competition, analytical expressions for the mean (conditional average affinity) and the variance (conditional heterogeneity) of the CAS as functions of pH are reported and their physical interpretation discussed. Furthermore, we show that the dependence of the CAS variance on pH allows for the analytical determination of the correlation coefficient between the binding energies of the metal and the proton. Nonideal competitive adsorption isotherm and Frumkin isotherms are used to illustrate the results of this work. Finally, the possibility of using CAS when the IE approach does not apply (for instance, when multidentate binding is present) is explored. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Prostate-targeted radiosensitization via aptamer-shRNA chimeras in human tumor xenografts

Dose-escalated radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer (PCa) has a clear therapeutic benefit; however, escalated doses may also increase injury to noncancerous tissues. Radiosensitizing agents can improve ionizing radiation (IR) potency, but without targeted delivery, these agents will also sensitize surrounding normal tissues. Here we describe the development of prostate-targeted RNAi agents that selectively sensitized prostate-specific membrane antigen–positive (PSMA-positive) cells to IR. siRNA library screens identified DNA-activated protein kinase, catalytic polypeptide (DNAPK) as an ideal radiosensitization target. DNAPK shRNAs, delivered by PSMA-targeting RNA aptamers, selectively reduced DNAPK in PCa cells, xenografts, and human prostate tissues. Aptamer-targeted DNAPK shRNAs, combined with IR, dramatically and specifically enhanced PSMA-positive tumor response to IR. These findings support aptamer-shRNA chimeras as selective sensitizing agents for the improved treatment of high-risk localized PCa.

Pedagogia Social Comunitària: un model d’intervenció socioeducativa integral

L’actual situació d’inestabilitat social i econòmica que viu la nostra societat ha evidenciat l’existència de grans bosses de persones que viuen en situació de marginació o exclusió social. Les polítiques socials han donat resposta a situacions concretes, però no han articulat un teixit social fort que permeti incorporar de manera efectiva la persona exclosa, ni prevenir aquests processos. Es presenta en aquest article un model d’intervenció socioeducativa anomenat Pedagogia Social Comunitària que centra la seva acció en dos objectius: la millora de la qualitat de vida i el benestar de les persones, especialment d’aquelles que es troben en situació d’exclusió social; i el foment de la cohesió social. Aquestes finalitats s’operativitzen mitjançant l’increment de la participació, l’empoderament individual i comunitari, la coresponsabilitat i la sensibilització social.

Cubrición parcial - Gran Via Barcelona

Partiendo de la base del proyecto: Remodelación de Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes en Barcelona, entre Plaça de les Glòries y Carrer Extremadura, el trabajo es un estudio de adecuación constructiva que propone una alternativa para la cubrición parcial de la Gran Vía, losa maciza en el proyecto original, por otra con losas ortotrópicas, sistema semiprefabricado pretensado. Consistirá en el estudio comparativo de las dos alternativas (isotrópica y ortotrópica), su cálculo mediante programa informático y el análisis y verificación general de las estructuras de barras y elementos finitos, señalando las principales diferencias encontradas y justificando la opción escogida según la ejecución de la obra, el estado de mediciones y el presupuesto. El pliego de condiciones incluido tiene como objeto principal la enumeración y el detalle de las condiciones de tipo técnico de control y ejecución que han ceñir la construcción de cada una de las alternativas

Educació moral: la via (no només) aristotèlica

Quin és el plantejament essencial que Aristòtil fa de l"educació moral? Podem dir que manté la seva eventual vigència històrica, si més no com a proposta? Es tracta d"un plantejament isolat, o podem trobar-ne epígons (més enllà de la inspiració més o menys aristotèlica que aquests tinguin)? El text que segueix pretén donar una resposta esquemàtica a les anteriors preguntes, i, de retruc, plantejar un repte conceptual (i, al capdavall, també pràctic) a tots aquells que puguin desqualificar la proposta aristotèlica per considerar-la corruptora dels principis liberals.

Parkinson"s disease DJ-1 L166P alters rRNA biogenesis by exclusion of TTRAP from the nucleolus and sequestration into cytoplasmic aggregates via TRAF6

Mutations in PARK7/DJ-1 gene are associated to autosomal recessive early onset forms of Parkinson"s disease (PD). Although large gene deletions have been linked to a loss-of-function phenotype, the pathogenic mechanism of missense mutations is less clear. The L166P mutation causes misfolding of DJ-1 protein and its degradation. L166P protein may also accumulate into insoluble cytoplasmic aggregates with a mechanism facilitated by the E3 ligase TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6). Upon proteasome impairment L166P activates the JNK/p38 MAPK apoptotic pathway by its interaction with TRAF and TNF Receptor Associated Protein (TTRAP). When proteasome activity is blocked in the presence of wild-type DJ-1, TTRAP forms aggregates that are localized to the cytoplasm or associated to nucleolar cavities, where it is required for a correct rRNA biogenesis. In this study we show that in post-mortem brains of sporadic PD patients TTRAP is associated to the nucleolus and to Lewy Bodies, cytoplasmic aggregates considered the hallmark of the disease. In SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, misfolded mutant DJ-1 L166P alters rRNA biogenesis inhibiting TTRAP localization to the nucleolus and enhancing its recruitment into cytoplasmic aggregates with a mechanism that depends in part on TRAF6 activity. This work suggests that TTRAP plays a role in the molecular mechanisms of both sporadic and familial PD. Furthermore, it unveils the existence of an interplay between cytoplasmic and nucleolar aggregates that impacts rRNA biogenesis and involves TRAF6

The embryonic blood-CSF barrier has molecular elements for specific glucose transport and for the general transport of molecules via transcellular routes.

In vertebrates, early brain development takes place at the expanded anterior end of the neural tube, which is filled with embryonic cerebrospinal fluid (E-CSF). We have recently identified a transient blood-CSF barrier that forms between embryonic days E3 and E4 in chick embryos and that is responsible for the transport of proteins and control of E-CSF homeostasis, including osmolarity. Here we examined the presence of glucose transporter GLUT-1 as well the presence of caveolae-structural protein Caveolin1 (CAV-1) in the embryonic blood-CSF barrier which may be involved in the transport of glucose and of proteins, water and ions respectively across the neuroectoderm. In this paper we demonstrate the presence of GLUT-1 and CAV-1 in endothelial cells of blood vessels as well as in adjacent neuroectodermal cells, located in the embryonic blood-CSF barrier. In blood vessels, these proteins were detected as early as E4 in chick embryos and E12.7 in rat embryos, i.e. the point at which the embryonic blood-CSF barrier acquires this function. In the neuroectoderm of the embryonic blood-CSF barrier, GLUT-1 was also detected at E4 and E12.7 respectively, and CAV-1 was detected shortly thereafter in both experimental models. These experiments contribute to delineating the extent to which the blood-CSF embryonic barrier controls E-CSF composition and homeostasis during early stages of brain development in avians and mammals. Our results suggest the regulation of glucose transport to the E-CSF by means of GLUT-1 and also suggest a mechanism by which proteins are transported via transcellular routes across the neuroectoderm, thus reinforcing the crucial role of E-CSF in brain development.

Programa integral de atención a las personas mayores en una zona rural

We describe a community intervention program performed in three rural villages in the Alt Empordà region (Girona province). The study provides data on the services available to the elderly in a specific context, based on an initiative proposed by the villages, the local councils, and the elderly themselves. The program is a research-action plan which applies the participative and qualitative methodology characteristic of strategic planning. The study analyses how the initiative arose, the description of the process, and the different parts of the intervention program

Psicoterapia positiva grupal en cáncer. Hacia una atención psicosocial integral del superviviente de cáncer

Objetivo: Las enfermedades graves como el cáncer pueden vivirse como experiencias traumáticas y/o como impulso para realizar cambios vitales positivos (ej. crecimiento postraumático). El programa de psicoterapia positiva grupal para supervivientes de cáncer que realizamos integra ambos elementos, trauma y crecimiento. Los objetivos del programa no son sólo la reducción de emociones negativas (malestar emocional o sintomatología postraumática) sino el trabajo con emociones positivas y la facilitación de crecimiento postraumático. Método: Los elementos de trabajo psicoterapéutico que han mostrado evidencia en la consecución de estos objetivos y que componen los módulos de este programa son: favorecer la expresión y procesamiento emocional, entrenar habilidades de regulación emocional y estrategias de afrontamiento, trabajo con elementos facilitadores del crecimiento postraumático y confrontación con los aspectos existenciales y espirituales que surgen tras el diagnóstico y tratamiento oncológico. Además de estos aspectos psicoterapéuticos, complementamos el programa con otros factores relevantes en la adaptación psicosocial tras la enfermedad como: el fomento de estilos de vida saludables, la adherencia a los tratamientos oncológicos, la reinserción laboral y los comportamientos solidarios. Resultados: Los resultados preliminares del programa muestran mayor reducción de sintomatología postraumática y mayor crecimiento postraumático en el programa de psicoterapia positiva en el seguimiento a 3 meses al compararlo con un programa anterior centrado únicamente en la reducción de malestar emocional.

La arquitectura de la biblioteca: recomendaciones para un proyecto integral

Reseña de: ROMERO, SANTI. La arquitectura de la biblioteca: recomendaciones para un proyecto integral. Barcelona: Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya, 2001. 352 p. (Papers Sert; 5).

Probiotic Sonicates Selectively Induce Mucosal Immune Cells Apoptosis Through Ceramide Generation Via Neutral Sphingolyelinase.

Background: Probiotics appear to be beneficial in inflammatory bowel disease, but their mechanism of action is incompletely understood. We investigated whether probiotic-derived sphingomyelinase mediates this beneficial effect. Methodology/Principal Findings: Neutral sphingomyelinase (NSMase) activity was measured in sonicates of the probiotic L.brevis (LB)and S. thermophilus (ST) and the non-probiotic E. coli EC) and E. faecalis (EF). Lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) were obtained from patients with Crohn"s disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy volunteers, analysing LPMC and PBMC apoptosis susceptibility, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and JNK activation. In some experiments, sonicates were preincubated with GSH or GW4869, a specific NSMase inhibitor. NSMase activity of LB and ST was 10-fold that of EC and EF sonicates. LB and ST sonicates induced significantly more apoptosis of CD and UC than control LPMC, whereas EC and EF sonicates failed to induce apoptosis. Pre-stimulation with anti-CD3/CD28 induced a significant and time-dependent increase in LB-induced apoptosis of LPMC and PBMC. Exposure to LB sonicates resulted in JNK activation and ROS production by LPMC. NSMase activity of LB sonicates was completely abrogated by GW4869, causing a dose-dependent reduction of LB -induced poptosis. LB and ST selectively induced immune cell apoptosis, an effect dependent on the degree of cell activation and mediated by bacterial NSMase. Conclusions: These results suggest that induction of immune cell apoptosis is a mechanism of action of some probiotics and that NSMase-mediated ceramide generation contributes to the therapeutic effects of probiotics.

Tratamiento ortopodológico integral en un paciente corredor de marathón

La biomecánica de la carrera de Marathón supone un gran esfuerzo en el comportamiento dinámico del pie. El caso clínico de un corredor de esta especialidad con pies cavas varas y alteración de la marcha, nos demuestra que con un tratamiento ortopodológico adecuado a base de ortesis y soporte plantar obtuvimos resultados satisfactorios.

Gestió integral del manteniment : fonaments i aplicació de la metodologia RCM

El Manteniment entès com a tal té pocs anys d'existència. Els automatismes, la robotització, la complexitat de les màquines, la seva informatització i control, i la millora tecnològica dels materials i dels equips fins a límits desconeguts, entre d'altres, han anat dotant a aquest servei d'una importància cada vegada més creixent en el món empresarial. La Gestió òptima del Manteniment, l'objectiu principal d'aquest treball, és el conjunt de tècniques i sistemes que permeten prevenir les averies, efectuar revisions programades, lubricacions i reparacions efucaces, donant al mateix temps normes i procediements de funcionament als usuaris del sistema productiu, per tal de contribuir i aportar riquesa a l'empresa. Aquest òrgan busca el més convenient per a les màquines, amb l'objectiu d'allargar la seva vida útil de la forma més rendible possible.

Aplicación de un programa integral de actividad física en niños y niñas entre 6 y 12 años con sobrepeso y obesidad

El propósito de este estudio longitudinal prospectivo es abordar un plan integral de actividad física en niños y niñas entre 6 y 12 años que padezcan sobrepeso y obesidad. El programa se llevará a cabo en el Hospital de San Juan de Dios de Barcelona, donde se utilizarán una serie de variables de medida y tests que serán valorados antes, durante y después de este plan integral. Participarán dos profesionales de la salud, un fisioterapeuta y un nutricionista, quienes intervendrán en 20 niños y niñas con sobrepeso y obesidad. La finalidad de este estudio es disminuir el índice de masa corporal (IMC), así como el porcentaje de grasa corporal total (GCT) en los niños y niñas con sobrepeso y obesidad. También se pretende introducir y fomentar hábitos de vida saludables en relación a la actividad física y la alimentación en los niños y niñas y en su entorno familiar.

Accessing forgotten memory traces from long-term memory via visual movements

Because memory retrieval often requires overt responses, it is difficult to determine to what extend forgetting occurs as a problem in explicit accessing of long-term memory traces. In this study, we used eye-tracking measures in combination with a behavioural task that favoured high forgetting rates to investigate the existence of memory traces from long-term memory in spite of failure in accessing them consciously. In 2 experiments, participants were encouraged to encode a large set of sound-picture56 location associations. In a later test, sounds were presented and participants were instructed to visually scan, before a verbal memory report, for the correct location of the associated pictures in an empty screen. We found the reactivation of associated memories by sound cues at test biased oculomotor behaviour towards locations congruent with memory representations, even when participants failed to consciously provide a memory report of it. These findings reveal the emergence of a memory-guided behaviour that can be used to map internal representations of forgotten memories from long-term memory.