Biotin-labeled proteins are widely used as tools to study protein–protein interactions and proximity in living cells. Proteomic methods broadly employ proximity-labeling technologies based on protein biotinylation in order to investigate the transient encounters of biomolecules in subcellular compartments. Biotinylation is a post-translation modification in which the biotin molecule is attached to lysine or tyrosine residues. So far, biotin-based technologies proved to be effective instruments as affinity and proximity tags. However, the influence of biotinylation on aspects such as folding, binding, mobility, thermodynamic stability, and kinetics needs to be investigated. Here, we selected two proteins [biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) and FKBP3] to test the influence of biotinylation on thermodynamic and kinetic properties. Apo (without biotin) and holo (biotinylated) protein structures were used separately to generate all-atom structure-based model simulations in a wide range of temperatures. Holo BCCP contains one biotinylation site, and FKBP3 was modeled with up to 23 biotinylated lysines. The two proteins had their estimated thermodynamic stability changed by altering their energy landscape. In all cases, after comparison between the apo and holo simulations, differences were observed on the free-energy profiles and folding routes. Energetic barriers were altered with the density of states clearly showing changes in the transition state. This study suggests that analysis of large-scale datasets of biotinylation-based proximity experiments might consider possible alterations in thermostability and folding mechanisms imposed by the attached biotins.

The objective of this work is to propose mathematical models for the Integrated Lot Sizing and Scheduling Problem (ILSP) considering a production process involving one stage, one machine and considering sequence dependent set up times and costs. An ilustrative example is used to study the computational behavior of the models when the instances are solved by a general purpose software.Palavras-chave: mixed integer otimization, mathematical formulation, lotsizing, sequence dependent set up

Background: Liver transplantation is the optimal method of treatment in patients with end-stage liver failure. Transplantation medicine has significantly progressed in the last time, but some psychology and psychosomatic problems still remain unsolved. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) in liver transplant is considered a useful measure of evolutionary process of the illness.Objective: The authors analyzed the evolution of HRQL in pre-transplant (waiting-list patients) and post-transplant (first year after liver transplant) periods of liver transplant Spanish patients.Methods: A prospective and longitudinal study was carried out among patients who received a liver transplant from a deceased donor. They were assessed in four phases: at the time of inclusion on the transplant waiting-list, and 3, 6, and 12 months after receiving the graft. We used a structured interview and SF-36 and Euroqol-5D (EQ-5D) Health Questionnaires.Results: The greater differences were found between pre-transplant and post-transplant stages with less well-being in the stage before the transplant. No significantly differences were observed when comparing the 3, 6 and 12 months from posttransplant stage. Conclusion:The HQRL of liver patients improved after the transplant, being appreciated a tendency to the stabilization from three months onwards. We suggest that the psychological intervention, in liver patients, should be conducted in waiting-list patients and in the first 3 months post-transplant, periods with a poor mental health (anxiety, depression, and stress by fear to the unknown thing) and a low adhesion to the treatment that can generate a smaller graft and/or patient survival.

In this paper we present a mixed integer model that integrates lot sizing and lot scheduling decisions for the production planning of a soft drink company. The main contribution of the paper is to present a model that differ from others in the literature for the constraints related to the scheduling decisions. The proposed strategy is compared to other strategies presented in the literature.

Introduction: Currently, there is an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cancer. At the university, the acquisition of risky habits for this may be worrisome in the future. Thus, the assessment of the susceptibility of medical students can help to elucidate possible points of intervention, since it is a portion of the population oriented and supposedly encouraged to develop a healthy lifestyle. Objective: To evaluate the presence of risk factors associated with cancer in medical students at a public university in Paraíba. Patients and Methods: Cross-sectional and quantitative study was conducted with students from the first to the fourth year of the medical course at a public university. An objective questionnaire was used on the habits of sun and sexual exposure, dietary patterns, physical exercise, alcoholism, smoking, and others. The Chi-square test was used to assess the association between variables. The confidence interval and the level of significance considered were 95% and 5%, respectively. Results: A total of 211 students participated in the study. Of these, 35.5% reported using sunscreen. There was an association between the use of sunscreen and the female gender (p <0.05). The practice of physical exercise was similar between genders. Eating habits showed a preference for red meat and industrialized inputs. Alcoholism and smoking were reported by 62.6% and 31.3% of participants, respectively, associated with the male gender (p <0.05). Of those who reported sexual activity, 82.4% use condoms, most of them men. The presence of two or more risk factors was observed in 41.7% of the sample (p <0.05), with men being the majority. Conclusion: The male gender showed associations with the factor’s alcoholism, smoking and less use of sunscreen. The presence of two or more risk factors was observed in 41.7% of the participants.