Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein in apo and holo conformation anchored to the membrane: comparative molecular dynamics simulations.

The interaction between the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein and its antagonist Bax is essential to the regulation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. For this work, we built models by homology of Bcl-2 full-sequence length in monomeric form (apo-Bcl-2) and in complex with the BH3 domain of Bax (holo-Bcl-2). The Bcl-2 protein was analyzed with its transmembrane domain anchored to a lipidic bilayer of DPPC, imitating physiological conditions. We performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the GROMACS program. Conformational changes showed that the flexible loop domain (FLD) tends to fold on itself and move towards the main core. Furthermore, the BH3 peptide of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, showed an allosteric stabilizing effect on FLD upon being bound to the hydrophobic cleft of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, causing a reduction in its structural flexibility. However, FLD is distal from the main core of Bcl-2. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed a weak correlation between FLD residues and BH3 peptide from Bax. Upon MD simulations, several new contacts appeared between FLD and some α-helices of the core of Bcl-2, which contribute to maintaining the stability of Bcl-2. This knowledge sheds light on the behavior of Bcl-2 in the cell's native environment.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Sustainable Development Goals and Physical Education. A Proposal for Practice-Based Models.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a global strategy that aims to obtain a more equitable and just world. These objectives are organized into 17 SDGs, detailing 169 targets. Different international institutions have emphasized the relevance of education to developing citizens who contribute to achieving the SDGs for 2030. However, a review focused on physical education (PE) has yet to be performed. Therefore, the objective of this work is two-fold. First, to analyze and select the specific SDGs that can be implemented in the area of physical education. Second, to relate these specific goals to the different models based on physical education practices. This review showed how three institutional documents have previously related sport, physical exercise, and physical education to specific SDGs. Based on the search done, this review article selects those goals that could be integrated into the educational context through physical education. The bibliographic and critical analysis in this research shows that of the 169 specific goals proposed in the SDGs, only 24 could be worked on in physical education. Upon completion of the analysis, a proposal for the relationship between the practice-based models and these 24 goals is presented. The contributions made in this paper will allow teachers to establish links between PE sessions and SDGs while raising awareness to develop students who contribute to a more sustainable world.

A Novel Dynamic Three-Level Tracking Controller for Mobile Robots Considering Actuators and Power Stage Subsystems: Experimental Assessment.

In order to solve the trajectory tracking task in a wheeled mobile robot (WMR), a dynamic three-level controller is presented in this paper. The controller considers the mechanical structure, actuators, and power stage subsystems. Such a controller is designed as follows: At the high level is a dynamic control for the WMR (differential drive type). At the medium level is a PI current control for the actuators (DC motors). Lastly, at the low level is a differential flatness-based control for the power stage (DC/DC Buck power converters). The feasibility, robustness, and performance in closed-loop of the proposed controller are validated on a DDWMR prototype through Matlab-Simulink, the real-time interface ControlDesk, and a DS1104 board. The obtained results are experimentally assessed with a hierarchical tracking controller, recently reported in literature, that was also designed on the basis of the mechanical structure, actuators, and power stage subsystems. Although both controllers are robust when parametric disturbances are taken into account, the dynamic three-level tracking controller presented in this paper is better than the hierarchical tracking controller reported in literature.

How Does the Family Influence the Physical Condition and Health of Children in a Rural Environment?

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess physical conditions related to health status and establish relationships with influencing factors such as family structure, educational level, and parental professional occupation in the infant stage of three to five years in a rural setting. The sample included 205 children between 3 and 5 years of age from rural areas (<10,000 inhabitants) from the region of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). Fitness level was measured using the PREFIT battery; influencing factors were assessed with a family information questionnaire. The results showed significant differences in all the analyzed variables of physical condition and between genders at each of the educational levels except for body mass index. Boys performed better than girls on cardio-respiratory fitness tests, muscle strength in both hands, speed-agility, and longitudinal jump tests for boys aged three, while girls performed the test better at four years. The type of family structure was not correlated with any of the variables of physical condition; a lower level of education of the father and mother and the professional occupation of the mother were correlated with a higher body mass index. As a main conclusion, physical condition related to health seems to be affected by influencing factors such as educational level and family professional occupation, especially of the mother, but the type of family structure does not have as much influence. There are few studies in children from three to five years of age in exclusively rural areas, so the data in this study provides relevant and innovative information, while opening research to cater to this population group.

Efectos de un programa de actividad física extracurricular en niños de primer ciclo de ESO con sobrepeso y obesidad / Extracurricular school interventions aimed at the effects of physical activity on 1st of eso children with overweight and obesity

La obesidad y su incidencia son cada vez más obvias en la sociedad española. Situación ésta a la que tampoco escapan los niños y niñas en edad escolar. En este sentido, se planteó evaluar la efectividad de una intervención de actividad físico-deportiva extracurricular en adolescentes con sobrepeso y obesidad, de 6 meses de duración, y comprobar la incidencia de dicha intervención sobre la disminución del porcentaje de grasa corporal, la mejora de la condición física de los participantes objeto de estudio, así como las posibles diferencias en función del género. El estudio contó con 38 estudiantes de primer ciclo de secundaria, con un IMC superior al percentil 85. Se realizaron pruebas de condición física y mediciones antropométricas. Los resultados mostraron mejoras significativas en el grupo experimental respecto al grupo control, observándose diferencias también por género. Los resultados son discutidos en el documento (AU)

Obesity and its impact are increasingly obvious in Spanish society. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an extracurricular intervention of physical and sports activities in order to improve students’ body composition and fitness level between two groups of adolescences with overweight or obesity for a six-month period. Moreover, a comparison based on gender was also targeted in this intervention. The sample consisted of 38 students, seventeen boys and twenty-one girls, with BMI above the 85th percentile. Several fitness tests and anthropometric measurements were performed. The results showed significant improvements in the experimental group regarding their physical condition and body fat percentage compared to the control group who did not show any significant achievements. According to the comparison based on gender, within the experimental group, girls achieved more significant results both in their physical fitness and in their body fat percentage (AU)

Niveles de actividad física medido con acelerómetro en alumnos de 3º ciclo de Educació Primaria: actividad física diaria y sesiones de Educación Física / Children's physical activity levels measured by ecceletometer: all day physical activity vs physical education classes

La inactividad física durante los primeros años de vida está reconocida actualmente como un importante factor coadyuvante en el incremento de los niveles de obesidad y de otros trastornos médicos graves que se observan en niños y niñas de Europa y de otros lugares. Los niños pasan una gran parte de su tiempo en el entorno escolar y con el modelo curricular existente, podría convertirse en un entorno propicio para promocionar la actividad física. La meta de este estudio fue medir de forma objetiva la actividad física de la población infantil e identificar cuánta actividad física saludable se realizaba dentro y fuera de las clases de Educación Física escolar en el periodo de tiempo de una semana. La muestra estaba compuesta por 36 niños de 11 a 12 años de una escuela de la provincia de Toledo en España. El instrumento utilizado fue el acelerómetro. La mayoría de los niños y niñas no cumplían las recomendaciones de actividad física saludable. En relación a la cantidad de actividad física saludable realizada durante la semana las clases de Educación Física presentaron un peso importante (AU)

Physical inactivity during the early years of life is currently indicated as a major contributor to increased levels of obesity and other serious medical conditions and is being seen in children and adolescents all across europe. children spend a large part of their time at school. the new school curriculum provides good opportunities to promote physical activity. The present study aims to measure children’s all day physical activity objectively and identify the amount of physical activity that takes place during physical education classes. the study comprised a sample of 32 spanish children ages 11-12 from a school in toledo, spain. an accelerometer was used to measure physical activity. most of the children did not achieve the physical activity health guidelines (i.e., a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (mvpa). physical education classes provided a considerable amount of mvpa and played an important role in relation to the total amount of mvpa that took place during the week (AU)