Patentometric: monitoring the scientific and technological trends of Additive Manufacturing in Medical Applications

[EN] Patents are a means of protecting inventions developed by firms, institutions or individuals, and they may be interpreted as indicators of invention. Patents indicators convey information on the processes of inventive activities. Therefore, patent statistics will assess science and technology (S&T) activities. Besides, additive manufacturing (AM) has become a revolutionary technology that is changing medical science. For this reason, the patent statistics will allow us to monitor what is the state of the inventive activity of AM in medical applications. The database used in order to retrieve patent information is Patseer and the data have been analyzed through the analytics package called Quick Stats. From the data obtained, it can be concluded that, additive manufacturing in medical applications is an emerging technology with huge market potential. Undoubtedly, the core of invention is located in United States, followed by Germany, United Kingdom and China somewhat behind. Firms are the main holders of legal rights, and the firm’s market value and the knowledge diffusion of technology are ensured by the technological diversity and the number of forward citations presented by patents.Alvarez-Meaza, I.; Zarrabeitia-Bilbao, E.; Rio-Belver, R.; Martinez De Alegria, I.; Bildosola, I. (2019). Patentometric: monitoring the scientific and technological trends of Additive Manufacturing in Medical Applications. International Journal of Production Management and Engineering. 7(Número Especial):65-72. https://doi.org/10.4995/ijpme.2019.10789SWORD65727Número EspecialASTM. (2015). ISO / ASTM52900-15, standard terminology for additive manufacturing - general principles - termi-nology. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International.Atzeni, E., & Salmi, A. (2012). Economics of additive manufacturing for end-usable metal parts. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 62(9-12), 1147-1155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-011-3878-1Galati, M., & Iuliano, L. (2018). A literature review of powder-based electron beam melting focusing on numerical simulations. Additive Manufacturing, 19, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2017.11.001Gibson, I., Rosen, D. W., & Stucker, B. (2010). Additive manufacturing technologies. NY: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1120-9GridLogics. (2014). 3D printing: An analysis of patenting activity around 3D-printing from 1990-current GridLogics Technologies Pvt Ltd.Hopkinson, N., & Dickens, P. (2006). Emerging rapid manufacturing processes. Rapid manufacturing (pp. 55-80) John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/0470033991.ch5Jin, Y., Ji, S., Li, X., & Yu, J. (2017). A scientometric review of hotspots and emerging trends in additive manufactur-ing. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 28(1), 18-38. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-12-2015-0114Lerner, J. (1994). The importance of patent scope: An empirical analysis RAND Journal of Economics, 25(2), 319-333.Mellor, S., Hao, L., & Zhang, D. (2014). Additive manufacturing: A framework for implementation. International Jour-nal of Production Economics, 149, 194-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2013.07.008OECD. (2009). OECD patent statistics manual OECD.Petrovic, V., Haro, J. V., JOrdá, O., Delgado, J., Blasco, J. R., & Portolés, L. (2011). Additive layered manufacturing: Sectors of industrial application shown through case studies. Internatinal Journal of Production Research, 49(4), 1061-1079. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207540903479786Rodriguez-Salvador, M., Rio-Belver, R. M., & Garechana-Anacabe, G. (2017). Scientometric and patentometric analyses to determine the knowledge landscape in innovative technologies: The case of 3D bioprinting PLoS ONE, 12(6), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180375Sinha, M., & Pandurangi, A. (2016). Guide to practical patent searching and how to use PatSeer for patent search and analysis. India: Gridlogics Technologies Pvt. Ltd.Zarrabeitia, E., Bildosola, I., Rio-Belver, R. M., Alvarez, I., & Cilleruelo, E. (2017). Laser additive manufacturing: A patent overview. Lect. Notes in Managem. Industrial Engineering - Engineering Digital Transformation. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96005-0_2

Allelic and genotypic associations of DRD2 Taq I A polymorphism with heroin dependence in Spanish subjects: a case control study

Background: Conflicting associations with heroin dependence have been found involving the A1 allele of dopamine D2 receptor gene ( DRD2) TaqI A polymorphism. Methods: We compared two samples of unrelated Spanish individuals, all of European origin: 281 methadone-maintained heroin-dependent patients ( 207 males and 74 females) who frequently used non-opioid substances, and 145 control subjects ( 98 males and 47 females). Results: The A1-A1 genotype was detected in 7.1% of patients and 1.4% of controls ( P = 0.011, odds ratio = 5.48, 95% CI 1.26-23.78). Although the A1 allele was not associated with heroin dependence in the entire sample, the frequency of A1 allele was higher in male patients than in male controls ( 24.4% vs. 16.3%, P = 0.024, odds ratio = 1.65, 95% CI 1.07-2.57). A logistic regression analysis showed an interaction between DRD2 alleles and gender ( odds ratio = 1.77, 95% CI 1.15-2.70). Conclusion: Our results indicate that, in Spanish individuals, genotypes of the DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism contribute to variations in the risk of heroin dependence, while single alleles contribute only in males

Effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination in Spain

With the aim of determining rotavirus vaccine effectiveness (RVVE) in Spain, from Oct-2008/Jun-2009, 467 consecutive children below 2 years old with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) were recruited using a pediatric research network (ReGALIP-www.regalip.org) that includes primary, emergency and hospital care settings. Of 467 enrolled children, 32.3% were rotavirus positive and 35.0% had received at least one dose of any rotavirus vaccine. RRVE to prevent any episode of rotavirus AGE was 91.5% (95% CI: 83.7%-95.6%). RVVE to prevent hospitalization by rotavirus AGE was 95.6% (85.6-98.6%). No differences in RVVE were found regarding the vaccine used. Rotavirus vaccines have showed an outstanding effectiveness in Spain

Unusual circulation patterns of the rias baixas induced by minho freshwater intrusion (NW of the Iberian Peninsula)

The Minho River, situated 30 km south of the Rias Baixas, is the most important freshwater source flowing into the Western Galician coast (NW of the Iberian Peninsula). The buoyancy generated by the Minho estuarine plume can reverse the normal circulation pattern inside the Rias Baixas affecting the exchange between the Rias and the ocean, changing the input of nutrients. Nevertheless, this inversion of the circulation patterns is not a well-monitored phenomenon. The only published results based on in situ data related to the presence of the Minho River plume inside the Rias de Vigo and Pontevedra correspond to an event measured on spring 1998. In this case unexpectedly higher inflow surface current velocities were found at the Ria de Pontevedra, located further away from Minho River. Thus, the main aim of this study is to research the main factors inducing this unusual pattern on the circulation of the Rias de Vigo and Pontevedra. A numerical model implementation of MOHID previously developed, calibrated, and validated for this coastal area was used. Several scenarios were performed in order to explain the individual effect of the Minho River, rivers discharging into each Rias, and estuarine morphology changes. According to the model results, the Minho River discharge is a key factor in the establishment of the negative circulation, while small rivers inside the Rias slightly attenuate this circulation. The negative circulation was stronger in Ria de Pontevedra independently of the distance of this coastal system from the Minho River mouth, showing that morphologic estuarine features are the main factor justifying the different local circulation patterns

Experiencia en un centro de la suspension de inhibidores de tirosin cinasa en pacientes con lmc en respuesta molecular completa prolongada

PO-178 Introducción: Los inhibidores de tirosin cinasas (ITK) han mejorado ostensiblemente el pronóstico y evolución de los pacientes con Leucemia Mieloide Crónica (LMC). En la actualidad la remisión libre de tratamiento (RLT) está siendo considerada como un nuevo objetivo para los pacientes que presentan respuestas profundas y prolongadas, aunque la mayoría de la información corresponde a ensayos clínicos. Con la discontinuación se mejora la calidad de vida de los pacientes y es una medida de contención del gasto sanitario. Presentamos la experiencia de discontinuación de tratamiento de un centro. Pacientes y métodos: Desde 2002 hasta la actualidad hemos tratado 63 pacientes con LMC e ITK, de los que siguen en tratamiento 55 (6 muertes, 4 de ellas no por LMC y 2 pérdida de seguimiento). De ellos han discontinuado el tratamiento con ITK 15 pacientes (27%), de los cuales 3 han sido en el contexto de ensayo clínico y 12 en práctica de vida real. El motivo de discontinuación fueron efectos adversos en 3 pacientes (edemas, estreñimiento y claudicación intermitente), 3 en ensayo clínico y 9 por consenso médico/paciente. El motivo de cambio de ITK en el caso 1 fue por intolerancia, caso 2 por falta de respuesta (<RMM) a Imatinib, con presencia de la mutación G250E y en el caso 3 por falta de respuesta (<RMM). Los casos 7, 8 y 9 dentro de ensayo clínico. Se realizó monitorización de la PCR cuantitativa BCR/ABL mensual durante los primeros 6 meses y después bimensual hasta el año y posteriormente cada 3 meses. Las características de los pacientes se reflejan en Tabla 1. ..

Cosmic-Ray Anisotropies in Right Ascension Measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory

We present measurements of the large-scale cosmic-ray (CR) anisotropies in R.A., using data collected by the surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory over more than 14 yr. We determine the equatorial dipole component, through a Fourier analysis in R.A. that includes weights for each event so as to account for the main detector-induced systematic effects. For the energies at which the trigger efficiency of the array is small, the east-west method is employed. Besides using the data from the array with detectors separated by 1500 m, we also include data from the smaller but denser subarray of detectors with 750 m separation, which allows us to extend the analysis down to ∼0.03 EeV. The most significant equatorial dipole amplitude obtained is that in the cumulative bin above 8 EeV, %, which is inconsistent with isotropy at the 6σ level. In the bins below 8 EeV, we obtain 99% CL upper bounds on d ⊥ at the level of 1%-3%. At energies below 1 EeV, even though the amplitudes are not significant, the phases determined in most of the bins are not far from the R.A. of the Galactic center, at GC =-94°, suggesting a predominantly Galactic origin for anisotropies at these energies. The reconstructed dipole phases in the energy bins above 4 EeV point instead to R.A. that are almost opposite to the Galactic center one, indicative of an extragalactic CR origin

Structural and biophysical properties of the integrin-associated cytoskeletal protein talin

Talin is a large cytoskeletal protein (2541 amino acid residues) which plays a key role in integrin-mediated events that are crucial for cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and survival. This review summarises recent work on the structure of talin and on some of the structurally better defined interactions with other proteins. The N-terminal talin head (approx. 50 kDa) consists of an atypical FERM domain linked to a long flexible rod (approx. 220 kDa) made up of a series of amphipathic helical bundle domains. The F3 FERM subdomain in the head binds the cytoplasmic tail of integrins, but this interaction can be inhibited by an interaction of F3 with a helical bundle in the talin rod, the so-called “autoinhibited form” of the molecule. The talin rod contains a second integrin-binding site, at least two actin-binding sites and a large number of binding sites for vinculin, which is important in reinforcing the initial integrin–actin link mediated by talin. The vinculin binding sites are defined by hydrophobic residues buried within helical bundles, and these must unfold to allow vinculin binding. Recent experiments suggest that this unfolding may be mediated by mechanical force exerted on the talin molecule by actomyosin contraction