Sulfonic Acid-Functionalized (Bio)Materials as Catalysts for Efficient Amide Bond Synthesis

Funding Information: The authors thank Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FC&T) for project PTDC/BII‐BIO/30884/2017 and EXPL/BII‐BIO/0436/2021 and also for the researcher contract 2021.03255.CEECIND (M.C.C) and 2020.01614.CEECIND/CP1596/CT0007 (A.F.P.). Authors also thank the support by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry – LAQV, which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020) and i3 N (LA/P/0037/2020, UIDP/50025/2020 and UIDB/50025/2020 . The National NMR Facility is supported by FC&T (ROTEIRO/0031/2013 – PINFRA/22161/2016, co‐financed by FEDER through COMPETE 2020, POCI, and PORL and FC&T through PIDDAC) and CERMAX through project 022162. We thank Prof. Dr. Carlos A. M. Afonso from the Faculty of Pharmacy, ULisboa for the scientific discussions on the experiments carried out with furfuryl alcohol derivatives. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. ChemCatChem published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.Sulfonic acid carbon-(bio)based and natural clays-based catalysts were prepared and investigated for the first time as heterogeneous catalysts for amide bond synthesis by a Ritter reaction. The different SO3H-catalysts were screened using benzyl alcohol and acetonitrile as model substrates, and MWCNT-CSP revealed to be an efficient catalyst, affording the amide in 75 % yield. The practical utility of the catalysts was demonstrated by a diverse range of amides, obtained from alcohols and nitriles, in moderate to good yields. Biomass derived platform alcohols, such as 5-HMF and furfuryl alcohol, were also tested as potential building blocks for the synthesis of biopolymers. The SO3H-catalysts revealed to be a highly efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional acid catalysts commonly used in the Ritter reaction.publishersversionpublishe

Distributed Computing Grid Experiences in CMS

The CMS experiment is currently developing a computing system capable of serving, processing and archiving the large number of events that will be generated when the CMS detector starts taking data. During 2004 CMS undertook a large scale data challenge to demonstrate the ability of the CMS computing system to cope with a sustained data-taking rate equivalent to 25% of startup rate. Its goals were: to run CMS event reconstruction at CERN for a sustained period at 25 Hz input rate; to distribute the data to several regional centers; and enable data access at those centers for analysis. Grid middleware was utilized to help complete all aspects of the challenge. To continue to provide scalable access from anywhere in the world to the data, CMS is developing a layer of software that uses Grid tools to gain access to data and resources, and that aims to provide physicists with a user friendly interface for submitting their analysis jobs. This paper describes the data challenge experience with Grid infrastructure and the current development of the CMS analysis system

Current state of interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) education in Italy: Results of the INTERACTS survey

Purpose: Increased complexity of interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy - BT) treatment planning and quality control procedures has led to the need of a specific training. However, the details of the features of BT learning objectives and their distribution in the training paths of the Italian Radiation Oncology Schools are not known. This paper aims to provide the actual 'state-of-the-art' of BT education in Italy and to stimulate the debate on this issue.Material and methods: All the Italian radiation oncology schools' directors (SD) were involved in a web survey, which included questions on the teaching of BT, considering also the 2011 ESTRO core curriculum criteria. The survey preliminary results were discussed at the 8th Rome INTER-MEETING (INTERventional Radiotherapy Multidisciplinary Meeting), June 24th, 2017. The present paper describes the final results of the survey and possible future teaching strategies resulting from the discussion.Results: A total of 23 SDs answered the survey. The results evidenced a wide heterogeneity in the learning activities available to trainees in BT across the country. While theoretical knowledge is adequately and homogeneously transmitted to trainees, the types of practice to which they are exposed varies significantly among different schools.Conclusions: This survey proves the need for an improvement of practical BT education in Italy and the advisability of a national BT education programme networking schools of different Universities. Beside the organization of national/international courses for BT practical teaching, Universities may also establish post-specialization courses ('second level' Masters) to allow professionals (already certified in radiation oncology) to acquire more advanced BT knowledge

Airway structural cells regulate TLR5-mediated mucosal adjuvant activity

Antigen-presenting cell (APC) activation is enhanced by vaccine adjuvants. Most vaccines are based on the assumption that adjuvant activity of Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists depends on direct, functional activation of APCs. Here, we sought to establish whether TLR stimulation in non-hematopoietic cells contributes to flagellin’s mucosal adjuvant activity. Nasal administration of flagellin enhanced T-cell-mediated immunity, and systemic and secretory antibody responses to coadministered antigens in a TLR5-dependent manner. Mucosal adjuvant activity was not affected by either abrogation of TLR5 signaling in hematopoietic cells or the presence of flagellin-specific, circulating neutralizing antibodies. We found that flagellin is rapidly degraded in conducting airways, does not translocate into lung parenchyma and stimulates an early immune response, suggesting that TLR5 signaling is regionalized. The flagellin-specific early response of lung was regulated by radioresistant cells expressing TLR5 (particularly the airway epithelial cells). Flagellin stimulated the epithelial production of a small set of mediators that included the chemokine CCL20, which is known to promote APC recruitment in mucosal tissues. Our data suggest that (i) the adjuvant activity of TLR agonists in mucosal vaccination may require TLR stimulation of structural cells and (ii) harnessing the effect of adjuvants on epithelial cells can improve mucosal vaccines.Fil: Van Maele, Laurye. Institut Pasteur de Lille. Lille; Francia. Univ Lille Nord de France. Lille; Francia. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; FranciaFil: Fougeron, Delphine. Institut Pasteur de Lille. Lille; Francia. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; Francia. Univ Lille Nord de France. Lille; FranciaFil: Janot, Laurent. University of Orléans. Orléans; Francia. Institut de Transgenose. Orleans; FranciaFil: Didierlaurent, A.. Imperial College of London. Londres; Reino UnidoFil: Cayet, D.. Institut Pasteur de Lille. Lille; Francia. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; Francia. Univ Lille Nord de France. Lille; FranciaFil: Tabareau, J.. Institut Pasteur de Lille. Lille; Francia. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; Francia. Univ Lille Nord de France. Lille; FranciaFil: Rumbo, Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológicos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológicos; ArgentinaFil: Corvo Chamaillard, S.. Institut Pasteur de Lille. Lille; Francia. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; Francia. Univ Lille Nord de France. Lille; FranciaFil: Boulenoir, S.. Institut Pasteur de Lille. Lille; Francia. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; Francia. Univ Lille Nord de France. Lille; FranciaFil: Jeffs, S. Imperial College of London. Londres; Reino UnidoFil: Vande Walle, L. Department of Medical Protein Research. Ghent; Bélgica. University of Ghent; BélgicaFil: Lamkanfi, M.. Department of Medical Protein Research. Ghent; Bélgica. University of Ghent; BélgicaFil: Lemoine, Y.. Univ Lille Nord de France. Lille; Francia. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; Francia. Institut Pasteur de Lille. Lille; FranciaFil: Erard, F.. Institut de Transgenose. Orleans; Francia. University of Orléans. Orléans; FranciaFil: Hot, D.. Univ Lille Nord de France. Lille; Francia. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; Francia. Institut Pasteur de Lille. Lille; FranciaFil: Hussell, Tracy. Imperial College of London. Londres; Reino Unido. University of Manchester; Reino UnidoFil: Ryffel, B.. Institut de Transgenose. Orleans; Francia. University of Orléans. Orléans; FranciaFil: Benecke, Arndt G.. Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Sirard, J.C.. Univ Lille Nord de France. Lille; Francia. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; Francia. Institut Pasteur de Lille. Lille; Franci

Genome-wide SNP profiling of worldwide goat populations reveals strong partitioning of diversity and highlights post-domestication migration routes

Background: Goat populations that are characterized within the AdaptMap project cover a large part of the worldwide distribution of this species and provide the opportunity to assess their diversity at a global scale. We analysed genome-wide 50 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from 144 populations to describe the global patterns of molecular variation, compare them to those observed in other livestock species, and identify the drivers that led to the current distribution of goats. Results: A high degree of genetic variability exists among the goat populations studied. Our results highlight a strong partitioning of molecular diversity between and within continents. Three major gene pools correspond to goats from Europe, Africa and West Asia. Dissection of sub-structures disclosed regional gene pools, which reflect the main post-domestication migration routes. We also identified several exchanges, mainly in African populations, and which often involve admixed and cosmopolitan breeds. Extensive gene flow has taken place within specific areas (e.g., south Europe, Morocco and Mali-Burkina Faso-Nigeria), whereas elsewhere isolation due to geographical barriers (e.g., seas or mountains) or human management has decreased local gene flows. Conclusions: After domestication in the Fertile Crescent in the early Neolithic era (ca. 12,000 YBP), domestic goats that already carried differentiated gene pools spread to Europe, Africa and Asia. The spread of these populations determined the major genomic background of the continental populations, which currently have a more marked subdivision than that observed in other ruminant livestock species. Subsequently, further diversification occurred at the regional level due to geographical and reproductive isolation, which was accompanied by additional migrations and/or importations, the traces of which are still detectable today. The effects of breed formation were clearly detected, particularly in Central and North Europe. Overall, our results highlight a remarkable diversity that occurs at the global scale and is locally partitioned and often affected by introgression from cosmopolitan breeds. These findings support the importance of long-term preservation of goat diversity, and provide a useful framework for investigating adaptive introgression, directing genetic improvement and choosing breeding targets

Steel cathodic protection afforded by zinc, aluminium and zinc/aluminium alloy coatings in the atmosphere

Zinc has traditionally been the metallic material most widely used to protect steel against atmospheric corrosion due to its ability to afford cathodic protection to steel in all types of natural atmospheres. In recent decades, aluminium and zinc/aluminium alloy coatings have been used instead of zinc in certain atmospheric applications. Although these coatings present some advantages over zinc, they are not able to cathodically protect steel substrates in all types of natural atmospheres. The present paper assesses the cathodic protection afforded by Al (flame spraying), Al/13 Si (hot dipping), 55Al/Zn (hot dipping), Zn/15Al (flame spraying), Zn/5Al (hot dipping), Zn (hot dipping), Zn (discontinuous hot dipping) and Zn (electroplating). Aluminium and aluminium-rich alloy coatings (55%Al/Zn) provide cathodic protection to the steel substrate only in atmospheres that are highly contaminated with chloride ions (>100 mg Cl- m-2 day-1) where these coatings become active. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe