Creative Industries’ Network of Entrepreneurs Lessons learned from the offering of an Acceleration Program in Portugal, Spain and Greece, to foster entrepreneurship in CCIs

The Creative Industries Network of Entrepreneurs (CINet) is a research project in innovation and creative entrepreneurship being implemented, within the Lifelong Learning Programme, Leonardo da Vinci, of the European Commission. The CINet project aims at improving business skills for creative entrepreneurs and enhancing the potential for business creation in the creative industries in three Southern European countries (Greece, Portugal, and Spain). To achieve its objectives, CINet brings together six partners (Universidade Aberta, the University of Piraeus, the Open University of Catalonia, UKWON, MediaDeals, and DNA Cascais), with expertise in entrepreneurship research and education provision for potential entrepreneurs. The course was offered in a pilot fashion, during the April – June 2015 period, and aimed to help and provide support to would-be entrepreneurs who desire to start-up in the creative sector (including arts and crafts, architecture, gastronomy, leisure, videogames, advertising, press and media, film and audiovisual activities, public relations and publishing industry, among others). After a period of conception, development and testing, this acceleration program was offered in Portugal, Spain and Greece in three different modalities: face-to-face in Greece; bLearning in Portugal; and eLearning in Spain.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Altered liver gene expression in CCl4-cirrhotic rats is partially normalized by insulin-like growth factor-I

We have previously shown that the administration of low doses of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) to CCl4-cirrhotic rats improves liver function and reduces fibrosis. To better understand the mechanisms behind the hepatoprotective effects of IGF-I, and to identify those genes whose expression is affected in cirrhosis and after IGF-1 treatment, we have performed differential display of mRNA analysis by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in livers from control and CCl4-cirrhotic rats treated or not with IGF-I. We have identified 16 genes that were up- or down-regulated in the cirrhotic liver. IGF-I treatment partially normalized the expression of eight of these genes, including serine proteinase inhibitors such as serpin-2 and alpha-1-antichymotripsin, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, and alpha-2u-globulin. Additionally, we show that IGF-I enhanced the regenerative activity in the cirrhotic liver, as determined by the increased expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Finally, IGF-I treatment partially restored the expression of growth hormone receptor (GHR) and the levels of global genomic DNA methylation, which are reduced in human and experimental cirrhosis. Taken together, our observations confirm the hepatoprotective effects of IGF-I, and suggest that this action can be exerted in part through the normalization of liver gene expression, growth hormone (GH) responsiveness and global genomic DNA methylation

A synthetic peptide from transforming growth factor beta type III receptor inhibits liver fibrogenesis in rats with carbon tetrachloride liver injury

Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a pleiotropic cytokine, which displays potent profibrogenic effects and is highly expressed in fibrotic livers. For this reason, development of TGF-B1 inhibitors might be of great importance to control liver fibrogenesis as well as other undesired side effects due to this cytokine. Potential peptide inhibitors of TGF-beta1 (derived from TGF-beta1 and from its type III receptor) were tested in vitro and in vivo using different assays. Peptides P11 and P12, derived from TGF-beta1, and P54 and P144, derived from its type III receptor, prevented TGF-beta1-dependent inhibition of MV1Lu proliferation in vitro and markedly reduced binding of TGF-beta1 to its receptors. P144 blocked TGF-beta1-dependent stimulation of a reporter gene under the control of human alpha2(I) collagen promoter. Intraperitoneal administration of P144 also showed potent antifibrogenic activity in vivo in the liver of rats receiving CCl4. These rats also showed a significant decrease in the number of activated hepatic stellate cells as compared with those treated with saline only. These results suggest that short synthetic peptides derived from TGF-beta1 type III receptor may be of value in reducing liver fibrosis in chronic liver injury

Assessment of stress and nutritional biomarkers in cultured Octopus vulgaris paralarvae: Effects of geographical origin and dietary regime

The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is a promising species for aquaculture diversification, but massive mortality during the first life-cycle stages (paralarvae) is the main bottleneck for its commercial production in captivity. The aim of this study was to assess stress and nutritional condition biomarkers (HSP70, ROS enzymes and lipid peroxidation) (RNA/DNA, RNA/protein, protein/DNA and protein) inO.vulgarisparalarvae from different geographical origins and fed withArtemiaenriched with marine phospholipids or microalgae (control group). To this end paralarvae were cultured for 30days, in three different centres in Spain (Tarragona-Mediterranean area, Tenerife-Central Atlantic area and Vigo-North Atlantic area), under the same protocol, and fed onArtemiaenriched with marine phospholipids (LC60) (Marine Lecithin LC 60®, PhosphoTech Laboratoires) or microalgae (control group). Dry weight and most biomarkers analysed in hatchlings showed significant differences related to their origin (centre). Fifteen day old paralarvae presented significant differences in specific growth rate (SGR) associated with their dietary regime, and also showed differences in biomarkers associated both with their geographical origin and dietary regime. The results suggest that the SGR of paralarvae were positively influenced by LC60, promoting growth and in agreement with the results of nutritional condition biomarkers (nucleic acids ratios). The antioxidant defences against oxidative damage were also boosted in the LC60 paralarvae group, possibly as a result of the elevated content in highly polyunsaturated fatty acids. In addition, the partial correlations found between biomarkers varied according to diet. However, no positive effect of LC60 on survival was observed. The high variability found among geographical origins, despite the use of the same rearing protocol, highlights the need to clarify the sources of such variability

Use of Biomarkers to Improve 28-Day Mortality Stratification in Patients with Sepsis and SOFA ≤ 6

Molecular diagnosis; Mortality; Sepsis biomarkersDiagnóstico molecular; Mortalidad; Biomarcadores de sepsisDiagnòstic molecular; Mortalitat; Biomarcadors de sèpsiaEarly diagnosis and appropriate treatments are crucial to reducing mortality risk in septic patients. Low SOFA scores and current biomarkers may not adequately discern patients that could develop severe organ dysfunction or have an elevated mortality risk. The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the predictive value of the biomarkers mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate for 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis, and patients with a SOFA score ≤6. 284 were included, with a 28-day all-cause mortality of 8.45% (n = 24). Non-survivors were older (p = 0.003), required mechanical ventilation (p = 0.04), were ventilated for longer (p = 0.02), and had higher APACHE II (p = 0.015) and SOFA (p = 0.027) scores. Lactate showed the highest predictive ability for all-cause 28-day mortality, with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.67 (0.55–0.79). The AUROC for all-cause 28-day mortality in patients with community-acquired infection was 0.69 (0.57–0.84) for SOFA and 0.70 (0.58–0.82) for MR-proADM. A 2.1 nmol/L cut-off point for this biomarker in this subgroup of patients discerned, with 100% sensibility, survivors from non-survivors at 28 days. In patients with community-acquired sepsis and initial SOFA score ≤ 6, MR-proADM could help identify patients at risk of 28-day mortality.This research was funded by a restricted grant from Thermo Fisher (Hennigsdorf, Germany), consisting of free-of-charge kits. However, the funding organization had no role in the collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; or decision to submit the manuscript for publication

Deep genomic analysis of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cell lines challenges current malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor diagnosis

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are soft-tissue sarcomas of the peripheral nervous system that develop either sporadically or in the context of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). MPNST diagnosis can be challenging and treatment outcomes are poor. We present here a resource consisting of the genomic characterization of 9 widely used human MPNST cell lines for their use in translational research. NF1-related cell lines recapitulated primary MPNST copy number profiles, exhibited NF1 , CDKN2A , and SUZ12/EED tumor suppres-sor gene (TSG) inactivation, and presented no gain-of-function mutations. In contrast, sporadic cell lines collectively displayed different TSG inactivation patterns and presented kinase-activating mutations, fusion genes, altered muta-tional frequencies and COSMIC signatures, and different methylome-based clas-sifications. Cell lines re-classified as melanomas and other sarcomas exhibited a different drug-treatment response. Deep genomic analysis, methylome-based classification, and cell-identity marker expression, challenged the identity of common MPNST cell lines, opening an opportunity to revise MPNST differential diagnosis

Little effects of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I on testicular atrophy induced by hypoxia

BACKGROUND: Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) supplementation restores testicular atrophy associated with advanced liver cirrhosis that is a condition of IGF-I deficiency. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of IGF-I in rats with ischemia-induced testicular atrophy (AT) without liver disease and consequently with normal serum level of IGF-I. METHODS: Testicular atrophy was induced by epinephrine (1, 2 mg/Kg intra-scrotal injection five times per week) during 11 weeks. Then, rats with testicular atrophy (AT) were divided into two groups (n = 10 each): untreated rats (AT) receiving saline sc, and AT+IGF, which were treated with IGF-I (2 μg.100 g b.w.(-1).day(-1), sc.) for 28d. Healthy controls (CO, n = 10) were studied in parallel. Animals were sacrificed on day 29(th). Hypophyso-gonadal axis, IGF-I and IGFBPs levels, testicular morphometry and histopathology, immuno-histochemical studies and antioxidant enzyme activity phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) were assessed. RESULTS: Compared to controls, AT rats displayed a reduction in testicular size and weight, with histological testicular atrophy, decreased cellular proliferation and transferrin expression, and all of these alterations were slightly improved by IGF-I at low doses. IGF-I therapy increased signifincantly steroidogenesis and PHGPx activity (p < 0.05). Interestingly, plasma IGF-I did not augment in rats with testicular atrophy treated with IGF-I, while IGFBP3 levels, that reduces IGF-I availability, was increased in this group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In testicular atrophy by hypoxia, condition without IGF-I deficiency, IGF-treatment induces only partial effects. These findings suggest that IGF-I therapy appears as an appropriate treatment in hypogonadism only when this is associated to conditions of IGF-I deficiency (such as Laron Syndrom or liver cirrhosis)

A new microporous zeolitic silicoborate (ITQ-52) with interconnected small and medium pores

A new zeolite (named as ITQ-52) having large cavities and small and medium channels has been synthesized. This was achieved by using a new family of amino-phosphonium cations as organic structure directing agents (OSDA). These cations contain P&#8722;C and P&#8722;N bonds, and therefore they lie between previously reported P-containing OSDA, such as tetraalkylphosphonium and phosphazenes. In this study, it has been found that 1,4- butanediylbis[tris(dimethylamino)]phosphonium dication is a very efficient OSDA for crystallization of several zeolites, and in some particular conditions, the new zeolite ITQ-52 was synthesized as a pure phase. The structure of ITQ-52 has been solved using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data of the calcined solid. This new zeolite crystallizes in the space group I2/m, with cell parameters a = 17.511 Å, b = 17.907 Å, c = 12.367 Å, and &#946; = 90.22°. The topology of ITQ-52 can be described as a replication of a composite building unit with ring notation [435461] that gives rise to the formation of an interconnected 8R and 10R channel system.We thank financial support by the Spanish Government (MAT2012-38567-C02-01, MAT2012-38567-C02-02, Consolider Ingenio 2010-Multicat CSD-2009-00050 and Severo Ochoa SEV-2012-0267). R.S. acknowledges to UPV for a FPI predoctoral fellowship. Authors thank ALBA Light Source for beam allocation at beamline MSPD. We thank G. Sastre and J. A. Vidal for computational calculations and MAS NMR experiments, respectively.Simancas Coloma, R.; Jorda Moret, JL.; Rey Garcia, F.; Corma Canós, A.; Cantin Sanz, A.; Peral, I.; Popescu, C. (2014). A new microporous zeolitic silicoborate (ITQ-52) with interconnected small and medium pores. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 136(9):3342-3345. doi:10.1021/ja411915cS33423345136