Latent olefin metathesis catalysts

Olefin metathesis is a versatile synthetic tool for the redistribution of alkylidene fragments at carbon-carbon double bonds. This field, and more specifically the development of task-specific, latent catalysts, attracts emerging industrial and academic interest. This tutorial review aims to provide the reader with a concise overview of early breakthroughs and recent key developments in the endeavor to develop latent olefin metathesis catalysts, and to illustrate their use by prominent examples from the literature

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (107-111) improves the bone regeneration potential of gelatin-glutaraldehyde biopolymer-coated hydroxyapatite

Biopolymer-coated nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) made as macroporous foams which are degradable and flexible are promising candidates as orthopaedic implants. The C-terminal (107-111) epitope of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) exhibits osteogenic properties. The main aim of this study was to evaluate whether PTHrP (107-111) loading into gelatin-glutaraldehyde biopolymer-coated HA (HA(GIu)) scaffolds would produce an optimal biomaterial for tissue engineering applications. HA(GIu) scaffolds with and without PTHrP (107-111) were implanted into a cavitary defect performed in both distal tibial metaphysis of adult rats. Animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks for histological, microcomputerized tomography and gene expression analysis of the callus. At this time, bone healing occurred only in the presence of PTHrP (107-111)-containing HA(Giu) implant, related to an increase in bone volume/tissue volume and trabecular thickness, cortical thickness and gene expression of osteocalcin and vascular cell adhesion molecule I, but a decreased gene expression of Wnt inhibitors, SOST and dickkopf homolog 1. The autonomous osteogenic effect of the PTHrP (107-111)-loaded HA(Giu) scaffolds was confirmed in mouse and human osteoblastic cell cultures. Our findings demonstrate the advantage of loading PTHrP (107-111) into degradable HA(GIu) scaffolds for achieving an optimal biomaterial that is promising for low load bearing clinical applications. (C) 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Evaluation activities performance of the specific instrumental transversal competence in subjects of the mechanical engineering area

[Otros] Nowadays, the European higher education space is concerned, not only about the transmission of theoretical knowledge, but also about the acquisition of soft-skills, which are increasingly demanded in the professional profiles of graduates. Therefore, the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has elaborated its own program aiming to develop these generic capabilities, which are embedded in 13 Transversal Competences (CT in Spanish). All of them are worked on and evaluated in all UPV degrees, whether undergraduate or graduate. Specifically, the "Specific Instrumental" transversal competence has been working for two years by a team of lecturers from the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (DIMM in Spanish). Their objective is to develop an effective methodology to work on the acquisition and evaluation of this competence. The tool chosen to work with is ANSYS®, which is widely used in the field of mechanical engineering. This commercial software provides numerical solutions to complex problems using the Finite Element Method (FEM). The proposed methodology has been implemented during this year in three different subjects with a total of 335 students and is based on previous experience carried out in small groups last year. The objective is also to consolidate a procedure suitable for large groups without increasing lecturer's dedication time. After analysing the characteristics that were not entirely satisfactory, the new proposal seeks to improve them while maintaining the correct actions of the previous experience. Thus, laboratory training sessions and a different timed exercise for each student are kept. The most important changes affect the distribution of the worktime of the student and the assessable exercises. The number of evaluable exercises has been reduced to one, as well as the content and the test score. The proposed exercise consists of modelling a mechanical component and carrying out several tasks related to the mechanical study of a component. The correct completion of the different sections allows a numerical evaluation of the laboratory sessions and the suitability of the methodology. At the same time, the justification of the steps followed, and the adequacy of the strategies followed give the level reached in the ¿Specific Instrumental¿ transversal competence. The results reveal that students have achieved a greater degree of autonomy in managing the software. Furthermore, the new evaluation system discriminates the mastery with greater rigor, in the past there were no intermediate marks, the capability was achieved or not. Additionally, all the practical sessions have been adapted to the sanitary situation following an online format. This adaptation to the COVID scenario has provided the opportunity to introduce changes in the lecturing material that will be maintained in the next courses.Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Vicerrectorado de Estudios, Calidad y Acreditación, the Vicerrectorado de Recursos Digitales y Documentación of the Universitat Politècnica de València (Project PIME B/19-20/165 and Project PIME C/20-21/201) and the Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación of the Universitat Politècnica de València (EICE INTEGRAL).Pedrosa, AM.; Lozano-Mínguez, E.; Besa Gonzálvez, AJ.; Vila Tortosa, MP.; Martinez-Sanchis, S.; Sánchez Orgaz, EM. (2021). Evaluation activities performance of the specific instrumental transversal competence in subjects of the mechanical engineering area. IATED Academy. 4347-4354. https://doi.org/10.21125/edulearn.2021.0915S4347435

Multiplex RNA-based detection of clinically relevant MET alterations in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

We studied MET alterations in 474 advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients by nCounter, an RNA-based technique. We identified 3% with MET Δex14 mRNA and 3.5% with very-high MET mRNA expression, a surrogate of MET amplification. MET alterations identified by nCounter correlated with clinical benefit from MET inhibitors. Quantitative mRNA-based techniques can improve the selection of patients for MET-targeted therapies. MET inhibitors have shown activity in non-small-cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) with MET amplification and exon 14 skipping (METΔex14). However, patient stratification is imperfect, and thus, response rates have varied widely. Here, we studied MET alterations in 474 advanced NSCLC patients by nCounter, an RNA-based technique, together with next-generation sequencing (NGS), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), exploring correlation with clinical benefit. Of the 474 samples analyzed, 422 (89%) yielded valid results by nCounter, which identified 13 patients (3%) with MET Δex14 and 15 patients (3.5%) with very-high MET mRNA expression. These two subgroups were mutually exclusive, displayed distinct phenotypes and did not generally coexist with other drivers. For MET Δex14, 3/8 (37.5%) samples positive by nCounter tested negative by NGS. Regarding patients with very-high MET mRNA, 92% had MET amplification by FISH and/or NGS. However, FISH failed to identify three patients (30%) with very-high MET RNA expression, among which one received MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment deriving clinical benefit. Our results indicate that quantitative mRNA-based techniques can improve the selection of patients for MET-targeted therapies

Relevance of gastrointestinal manifestations in a large Spanish cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: what do we know?

SLE can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. GI symptoms are reported to occur in >50% of SLE patients. To describe the GI manifestations of SLE in the RELESSER (Registry of SLE Patients of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology) cohort and to determine whether these are associated with a more severe disease, damage accrual and a worse prognosis. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide, retrospective, multicentre, cross-sectional cohort study of 3658 SLE patients who fulfil =4 ACR-97 criteria. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, activity (SLEDAI-2K or BILAG), damage (SLICC/ACR/DI) and therapies were collected. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between lupus patients with and without GI damage to establish whether GI damage is associated with a more severe disease. RESULTS: From 3654 lupus patients, 3.7% developed GI damage. Patients in this group (group 1) were older, they had longer disease duration, and were more likely to have vasculitis, renal disease and serositis than patients without GI damage (group 2). Hospitalizations and mortality were significantly higher in group 1. Patients in group 1 had higher modified SDI (SLICC Damage Index). The presence of oral ulcers reduced the risk of developing damage in 33% of patients. CONCLUSION: Having GI damage is associated with a worse prognosis. Patients on a high dose of glucocorticoids are at higher risk of developing GI damage which reinforces the strategy of minimizing glucocorticoids. Oral ulcers appear to decrease the risk of GI damage. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology

Experiencias y conclusiones en el desarrollo y validación de instrumentos de evaluación enfocados a la adquisición de la competencia transversal ‘CT13 Instrumental Específica’ en asignaturas de Ingeniería Mecánica

[EN] This paper presents the results of the experience carried out in the lab-sessions of several subjects of Mechanical Engineering. The aim of this work is to find a common methodology focused on the acquisition and evaluation of the Specific Instrumental Transversal Competence (CT13 in the UPV institutional project). The work has been applied in two types of lab-sessions: computer lab and laboratory. The instrumentation used in each of them has a different nature, while the former is focused on the use and comprehension of a numerical calculation software, in the latter the students must understand the management and purpose of some experimental measurement equipments. In the computer sessions, after an accompanied learning, the students must carry out and justify the steps followed in solving a numerical problem. The evaluation takes into account the level of adequacy of the steps followed throughout the process. In the laboratory practices, the students must demonstrate the ability to correctly select the proper equipment based on the parameter to be measured as well as to define the sequence of treatments in the measurement process. The measurement of the level of acquisition of the CT13 is done through an individual questionnaire.[ES] En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de la experiencia llevada a cabo en las prácticas de diversas asignaturas de Ingeniería Mecánica. El objetivo final es encontrar una metodología unificada enfocada a la adquisición y evaluación de la Competencia Transversal Instrumental Específica (CT13 en el proyecto institucional de la UPV).Se ha trabajado con dos tipos de prácticas: informáticas y de laboratorio. La instrumentación empleada en cada una de ellas tiene distinta naturaleza, mientras las primeras están enfocadas al manejo de un programa de cálculo numérico, en las segundas los estudiantes deben comprender el manejo y la finalidad de diversos equipos de medida experimental.En las prácticas informáticas los alumnos, tras un aprendizaje acompañado, deben ser capaces de realizar y justificar los pasos seguidos en la resolución de un problema numérico. En la evaluación se tiene en cuenta el nivel de adecuación de los pasos seguidos a lo largo del proceso. En las prácticas de laboratorio los alumnos deben demostrar la capacidad de seleccionar correctamente el equipo adecuado en función del parámetro a medir, así como definir la secuencia de tratamientos en el proceso experimental. La medida del nivel de adquisición de la CT13 se realiza con un cuestionario individual.Los autores agradecen la financiación recibida del Vicerrectorado de Estudios, Calidad y Acreditación, el Vicerrectorado de Recursos Digitales y Documentación (proyecto PIME B/19-20/165) y el Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación de la Universitat Politècnica de València (EICE INTEGRAL).Pedrosa Sanchez, AM.; Besa Gonzálvez, AJ.; Rupérez Moreno, MJ.; Sánchez Orgaz, EM.; Giner Navarro, J.; Martinez Sanchis, S.; Vila Tortosa, MP.... (2021). Experiencias y conclusiones en el desarrollo y validación de instrumentos de evaluación enfocados a la adquisición de la competencia transversal ‘CT13 Instrumental Específica’ en asignaturas de Ingeniería Mecánica. En IN-RED 2021: VII Congreso de Innovación Edicativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1521-1532. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2021.2021.13771OCS1521153

Higher versus lower nut consumption and changes in cognitive performance over two years in a population at risk of cognitive decline: a cohort study

Background: Tree nuts and peanuts (henceforth, nuts) are nutrient-dense foods rich in neuroprotective components; thus, their consumption could benefit cognitive health. However, evidence to date is limited and inconsistent regarding the potential benefits of nuts for cognitive function. Objective: To prospectively evaluate the association between nut consumption and 2-y changes in cognitive performance in older adults at cognitive decline risk. Methods: A total of 6,630 participants aged 55 to 75 y (mean age 65.0±4.9 y, 48.4% women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests at baseline and a 2-y follow-up. Composite cognitive scores were used to assess global, general, attention, and executive function domains. Nut consumption was categorized as Results: Nut consumption was positively associated with 2-y changes in general cognitive function (P-trend Conclusion: Frequent nut consumption was associated with a smaller decline in general cognitive performance over 2 y in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Randomized clinical trials to verify our findings are warranted

Expression of Interest: The Canfranc Axion Detection Experiment (CADEx)

Trabajo presentado al 29th Meeting of the LSC Scientific Committee, celebrado online del 30 de noviembre al 1 de diciembre de 2021.Peer reviewe