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ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK) are key regulators of basic cellular processes, including proliferation, survival, and migration. Upon phosphorylation, ERK becomes activated and a portion of it dimerizes. The importance of ERK activation in specific cellular events is generally well documented, but the role played by dimerization is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that impeding ERK dimerization precludes cellular movement by interfering with the molecular machinery that executes the rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton. We also show that a constitutively dimeric ERK mutant can drive cell motility per se, demonstrating that ERK dimerization is both necessary and sufficient for inducing cellular migration. Importantly, we unveil that the scaffold protein kinase suppressor of Ras 1 (KSR1) is a critical element for endowing external agonists, acting through tyrosine kinase receptors, with the capacity to induce ERK dimerization and, subsequently, to unleash cellular motion. In agreement, clinical data disclose that high KSR1 expression levels correlate with greater metastatic potential and adverse evolution of mammary tumors. Overall, our results portray both ERK dimerization and KSR1 as essential factors for the regulation of cell motility and mammary tumor dissemination.
(2025) de la Fuente-Vivas D.; Cappitelli V.; García-Gómez R.; Valero-Díaz S.; Amato C.; Rodriguéz J.; Duro-Sánchez S.; von Kriegsheim A.; Grusch M.; Lozano J.; Arribas J.; Casar B.; Crespo P.We study optimal monetary policy during times of global scarcity of tradable goods. The optimal monetary response entails a surge in inflation, which helps rebalance production toward the tradable sector. While the inflation costs are fully borne domestically, however, the gains in terms of higher supply of tradable goods partly spill over to the rest of the world. National central banks may thus fall into a coordination trap and implement an excessively tight monetary policy causing an unnecessarily sharp global contraction.
(2026) Fornaro, Luca; Romei, FedericaIn this chapter we analyse the case of young women as social actors based on a study carried out by the Research Group on Youth, Society and Communication (https://www.upf.edu/web/joviscom/inici). We focus on the perspectives of young women and their awareness and discourses on feminism, as well as on the empowerment they gain from participating in organized groups or associations that are not defined as explicitly feminist. Based on qualitative and ethnographic research carried out between 2017 and 2019, we focus on the different ways in which young women in different cities in Catalonia (Spain) think about and experience gender and equality relations. In this chapter, we will present the results of life histories to explain how different intersectional variables are interrelated with autobiographical and family components and we will also carefully analyse the role of social networks. The research shows very different images of the participants according to the study method used. While in their Instagram profiles young women contribute to the objectification of their bodies and reproduce the established canons, the interviews showed that they had critical discourses about the representation of women in social media.
(2021) Figueras Maz, Mònica; Arciniega Cáceres, Mittzy; Hansen, Nele; Strecker, TanjaHeart transplantation (HT) is the gold standard therapy for advanced heart failure (ADHF), and LVADs as destination therapy are an option in non-HT candidates. Most patients with ADHF never receive HT or an LVAD, so alternative strategies are needed. Intermittent levosimendan can reduce HF hospitalizations in ADHF patients in the short term. It is uncertain whether the results of the comparison of inotropes with older-generation LVADs would have the same outcomes in the current era of ADHF patients treated with levosimendan, who are less sick but older. In this paper, we compare the use of two therapeutic strategies for end-stage HF in patients who are not candidates for HT: repetitive intermittent levosimendan vs. LVAD as destination therapy. To do so, we compare two multicenter cohorts of real-life patients from Spain: the LEVO-D registry and the REGALAD registry. In total, 715 patients coming from the two registries were found: 403 from LEVO-D and 312 from REGALAD. Non-adjusted median survival was shorter for LEVO-D patients, with the benefit for the LVADs seen only after the first year of therapy. The survival advantage for the LVAD cohort was also true after analysis of the matched cohort but, as in the non-matched analysis, the survival benefit was mainly shown after one year of follow-up. We conclude that in elderly ADHF non-HT candidates, LVAD therapy offers significantly better long-term outcomes when compared to intermittent levosimendan; thus, it should be considered in carefully selected candidates. On the other hand, in poor LVAD candidates or highly comorbid patients, intermittent inotropic support with levosimendan could be a reasonable alternative to LVAD, as 1-year outcomes are similar.
(2024) Dobarro, David; Ruiz-Bustillo, Sonia; González-Costello, JoséJosep Puig i Cadafalch és principalment conegut, a Europa i els Estats Units, com a historiador de l'art romànic. Si bé la seva relació intel·lectual amb França és àmpliament coneguda, fins ara no s'ha parat prou atenció als seus contactes amb altres països. Basant- se principalment en els materials fins ara inèdits del Fons Puig i Cadafalch de l'Arxiu Nacional de Catalunya, aquest article explora les relacions de Puig més enllà del nucli francès, tot parant una atenció especial al cas de Romania. S'analitza el paper que l'estudi de les esglésies policromades de Moldàvia va tenir en la seva teoria sobre l'origen i evolució del primer art romànic, així com la dimensió política dels seus contactes amb Nicolae Iorga i altres intel·lectuals romanesos de primer ordre. A partir d'aquests nous materials, l'article pretén replantejar la naturalesa de la filiació de Puig al positivisme historiogràfic, així com oferir una nova perspectiva sobre la continuïtat de la seva activitat política i de recerca abans i després del cop d'estat de Primo de Rivera el 1923.
(2021) Mallart, Lucila