2D-Coordination polymers based on 1H-indazole4-carboxylic acid and transition metal ions: magnetic, luminescence and biological properties

We report the formation of five novel multifunctional coordination polymers based on 1H-indazole-4- carboxylic acid (HL). To the best of our knowledge, these complexes are the first examples of coordination compounds constructed with this interesting ligand. These materials were synthesized by solvothermal routes, possess different 2D-structures and show interesting magnetic properties due to the copper compound showing an unusual spin-canted effect while the anisotropic cobalt material behaves as a fieldinduced single molecule magnet. MTT assays performed on human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and mouse skin melanoma (B16-F10) cell lines indicated that the Cd-based compound was the only one exhibiting dose-dependent toxicity on B16-F10 cells, most likely due to the release of toxic Cd(II). Cadmium and zinc polymers exhibit interesting luminescence properties. The fact that zinc polymers did not exhibit inherent toxicity against both cancer and non-cancerous cells make this new family an excellent candidate for further investigation in the field of luminescent materials with biomedical applications.Junta de Andalucia FQM-394 FQM-1484Red Guipuzcoana de Ciencia, Tecnologia e Innovacion OF218/2018University of Basque Country GIU 17/13Basque Government IT1005-16Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE) PGC2018-102052-A-C22 PGC2018-102052-B-C21Junta de Andalucia FQM-394 FQM-1484European Union (EU)ESFGovernment of the Basque CountryFEDER/MCIU/AEI RYC-2016-21042 JdC-201

A Luminescent MOF Based on Pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylate Ligand and Lead(II) with Unprecedented Topology

In the present work, we report on a 3D MOF of {[Pb5(μ3-OH)(μ3-NO3)3(μ6-pmdc)3]·H2O}n formula (pmdc = pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylate) synthesized by an oven-heated, solvent-free procedure. The large connectivity afforded by the three ligands in their coordination to lead(II) ions grows cubic building units characterized by a central Pb atom with an unusual coordination index of 12 and 6 pmdc ligands occupying the faces. These cubic units are linked to one another giving rise to a quite condensed structure that represents an unprecedented topology showing the (4·62)6(43)2(45·610)3(45·68·82)6(46·69)6(612·83) point symbol. The crystalline material has been characterized by routine physico-chemical techniques to confirm its purity, and its thermal behaviour has been also studied by thermogravimetric and thermodiffractometric analyses. The solid presents a greenish blue photoluminescent emission based on pmdc ligands, as revealed by time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) calculations, which is substantially more intense than in the free H2pmdc ligand according to its improved quantum yield. The emissive capacity of the material is further analysed according to decreasing temperature of the polycrystalline sample, finding that sizeable, long-lasting phosphorescence is present.This research was funded by Gobierno Vasco/Eusko Jaurlaritza (IT1755-22, IT1722-22 and IT1500-22) and Junta de Andalucía (ProyExcel_00386 and FQM-394). This publication is also part of the I+D+i projects of PGC2018-102052-A-C22 and PGC2018-102052-B-C21 codes, funded by MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and “FEDER Una manera de hacer Europa”

Microwave Heating Demonstrator (MHD) payload – for fabricating construction components and extracting resources

Lunar regolith could be thermally treated to extract resources and build an outer habitat shell using additive manufacturing techniques (a.k.a. 3D printing) by robots [1]. Proof of concept experiments has demonstrated that microwaves couple efficiently with lunar regolith and sinter/melt it to build 3D structures and enable resource extraction [2]. However, there are still several questions that can only be answered through experiments on the Moon surface. Thus, the Open University (OU) initiated a collaborative project MARVEL (Microwave heating Apparatus for Regolith Variant Experiments for Lunar ISRU), with Added Value Solutions UK Ltd. and VIPER RF. The team aims to prepare the groundwork for the UK to lead the development of a Microwave Heating Demonstrator (MHD) payload on future missions to the Moon with the flight hardware being developed and built in the UK. The initial concept development of the MHD payload was completed with support from UKSA’s NSTP GEI funding (Figure 1 [3]). In this presentation, we will report the current progress of the MHD development conducted through the NSTP Pathfinder grant, focusing on the challenges with cavity design and the concept of a 1 kW solid-state microwave generator that could be used for future lunar missions

One-step nucleic acid amplification (Osna) of sentinel lymph node in early-stage endometrial cancer: Spanish multicenter study (endo-osna)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) for the detection of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis compared to standard pathological ultrastaging in patients with early-stage endometrial cancer (EC). A total of 526 SLNs from 191 patients with EC were included in the study, and 379 SLNs (147 patients) were evaluated by both methods, OSNA and standard pathological ultrastaging. The central 1 mm portion of each lymph node was subjected to semi-serial sectioning at 200 µm intervals and examined by hematoxylin–eosin and immunohistochemistry with CK19; the remaining tissue was analyzed by OSNA for CK19 mRNA. The OSNA assay detected metastases in 19.7% of patients (14.9% micrometastasis and 4.8% macrometastasis), whereas pathological ultrastaging detected metastasis in 8.8% of patients (3.4% micrometastasis and 5.4% macrometastasis). Using the established cut-off value for detecting SLN metastasis by OSNA in EC (250 copies/µL), the sensitivity of the OSNA assay was 92%, specificity was 82%, diagnostic accuracy was 83%, and the negative predictive value was 99%. Discordant results between both methods were recorded in 20 patients (13.6%). OSNA resulted in an upstaging in 12 patients (8.2%). OSNA could aid in the identification of patients requiring adjuvant treatment at the time of diagnosis. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

The effect of post-discharge educational intervention on patients in achieving objectives in modifiable risk factors six months after discharge following an episode of acute coronary syndrome, (CAM-2 Project): a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>We investigated whether an intervention mainly consisting of a signed agreement between patient and physician on the objectives to be reached, improves reaching these secondary prevention objectives in modifiable cardiovascular risk factors six-months after discharge following an acute coronary syndrome.</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is room to improve mid-term adherence to clinical guidelines' recommendations in coronary heart disease secondary prevention, specially non-pharmacological ones, often neglected.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In CAM-2, patients discharged after an acute coronary syndrome were randomly assigned to the intervention or the usual care group. The primary outcome was reaching therapeutic objectives in various secondary prevention variables: smoking, obesity, blood lipids, blood pressure control, exercise and taking of medication.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>1757 patients were recruited in 64 hospitals and 1510 (762 in the intervention and 748 in the control group) attended the six-months follow-up visit. After adjustment for potentially important variables, there were, between the intervention and control group, differences in the mean reduction of body mass index (0.5 vs. 0.2; p < 0.001) and waist circumference (1.6 cm vs. 0.6 cm; p = 0.05), proportion of patients who exercise regularly and those with total cholesterol below 175 mg/dl (64.7% vs. 56.5%; p = 0.001). The reported intake of medications was high in both groups for all the drugs considered with no differences except for statins (98.1% vs. 95.9%; p = 0.029).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>At least in the short term, lifestyle changes among coronary heart disease patients are achievable by intensifying the responsibility of the patient himself by means of a simple and feasible intervention.</p

Rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of an exercise program to improve the quality of life of patients with heart failure in primary care : the EFICAR study protocol

Background: Quality of life (QoL) decreases as heart failure worsens, which is one of the greatest worries of these patients. Physical exercise has been shown to be safe for people with heart failure. Previous studies have tested heterogeneous exercise programs using different QoL instruments and reported inconsistent effects on QoL. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a new exercise program for people with heart failure (EFICAR), additional to the recommended optimal treatment in primary care, to improve QoL, functional capacity and control of cardiovascular risk factors. Methods/Design: Multicenter clinical trial in which 600 patients with heart failure in NYHA class II-IV will be randomized to two parallel groups: EFICAR and control. After being recruited, through the reference cardiology services, in six health centres from the Spanish Primary Care Prevention and Health Promotion Research Network (redIAPP), patients are followed for 1 year after the beginning of the intervention. Both groups receive the optimized treatment according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. In addition, the EFICAR group performs a 3 month supervised progressive exercise program with an aerobic (high-intensity intervals) and a strength component; and the programme continues linked with community resources for 9 months. The main outcome measure is the change in health-related QoL measured by the SF-36 and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaires at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes considered are changes in functional capacity measured by the 6-Minute Walking Test, cardiac structure (B-type natriuretic peptides), muscle strength and body composition. Both groups will be compared on an intention to treat basis, using multi-level longitudinal mixed models. Sex, age, social class, co-morbidity and cardiovascular risk factors will be considered as potential confounding and predictor variables. Discussion: A key challenges of this study is to guarantee the safety of the patients; however, the current scientific evidence supports the notion of there being no increase in the risk of decompensation, cardiac events, hospitalizations and deaths associated with exercise, but rather the opposite. Safety assurance will be based on an optimized standardised pharmacological therapy and health education for all the participants

The precautionary principle and wind-farm planning: Data scarcity does not imply absence of effects

Peer Reviewe

Influence of thermally induced structural transformations on the magnetic and luminescence properties of tartrate-based chiral lanthanide organic-frameworks

This work reports on the synthesis and characterization of five enantiomeric pairs of isostructural 3D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with the general formula {[Ln2(μ4-tar)2(μ-tar)(H2O)2]·xH2O}n [where Ln(iii) = Tb (Tb-L and Tb-D), Dy (Dy-L and Dy-D), Ho (Ho-L and Ho-D), Er (Er-L and Er-D) and Tm (Tm-L and Tm-D); tar = tartrate (d- or l-) and x = 3 or 4 depending on the counterpart], which possess interesting luminescence and magnetic properties. These MOFs undergo progressive and reversible dehydration processes upon controlled heating yielding three crystalline phases (Ln-L′, Ln-L′′ and Ln-L′′′). Alternating current magnetic measurements on Tb, Dy and Er-based compounds exhibit field induced single-molecule magnet behavior dominated by QTM, which is partially suppressed when diluted on a Y-based matrix. Tartrate ligands show poor room temperature sensitization of Tb and Dy centers that is enhanced at low temperature (10 K), even enabling weak Tm-based emission. More interestingly, the dehydration modulates both magnetic and photoluminescence properties on the basis of both the distortions occurring in the coordination shells and a decrease of water molecules acting as quenchers, respectively, endowing these materials with potential humidity sensing capacity. Remarkably, the Tb-based MOF shows circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), being one of the examples of this very scarce family of CPL emitters reported so far. This journal i

Rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of an exercise program to improve the quality of life of patients with heart failure in primary care: The EFICAR study protocol.

[eng] Background: Quality of life (QoL) decreases as heart failure worsens, which is one of the greatest worries of these patients. Physical exercise has been shown to be safe for people with heart failure. Previous studies have tested heterogeneous exercise programs using different QoL instruments and reported inconsistent effects on QoL. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a new exercise program for people with heart failure (EFICAR), additional to the recommended optimal treatment in primary care, to improve QoL, functional capacity and control of cardiovascular risk factors. Methods/Design: Multicenter clinical trial in which 600 patients with heart failure in NYHA class II-IV will be randomized to two parallel groups: EFICAR and control. After being recruited, through the reference cardiology services, in six health centres from the Spanish Primary Care Prevention and Health Promotion Research Network (redIAPP), patients are followed for 1 year after the beginning of the intervention. Both groups receive the optimized treatment according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. In addition, the EFICAR group performs a 3 month supervised progressive exercise program with an aerobic (high-intensity intervals) and a strength component; and the programme continues linked with community resources for 9 months. The main outcome measure is the change in health-related QoL measured by the SF-36 and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaires at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes considered are changes in functional capacity measured by the 6-Minute Walking Test, cardiac structure (B-type natriuretic peptides), muscle strength and body composition. Both groups will be compared on an intention to treat basis, using multi-level longitudinal mixed models. Sex, age, social class, co-morbidity and cardiovascular risk factors will be considered as potential confounding and predictor variables. Discussion: A key challenges of this study is to guarantee the safety of the patients; however, the current scientific evidence supports the notion of there being no increase in the risk of decompensation, cardiac events, hospitalizations and deaths associated with exercise, but rather the opposite. Safety assurance will be based on an optimized standardised pharmacological therapy and health education for all the participants