Mathematical modelling of a membrane-less redox flow battery based on immiscible electrolytes

We present a mathematical model to study the steady-state performance of a membrane-less reversible redox flow battery formed by two immiscible electrolytes that spontaneously form a liquid-liquid system separated by a well defined interface. The model assumes a two-dimensional battery with two coflowing electrolytes and flat electrodes at the channel walls. In this configuration, the analysis of the far downstream solution indicates that the interface remains stable in all the parameter range covered by this study. To simplify the description of the problem, we use the dilute solution theory to decouple the calculation of the velocity and species concentration fields. Once the velocity field is known, we obtain the distribution of the mobile ionic species along with the current and the electric potential field of the flowing electrolyte solution. The numerical integration of the problem provides the variation of the battery current density Iapp with the State of Charge (SoC) for different applied cell voltages Vcell. A detailed analysis of the concentration density plots indicates that the normal operation of the battery is interrupted when reactant depletion is achieved near the negative electrode both during charge and discharge. The effect of the electrolyte flow on the performance of the system is studied by varying the Reynolds, Re and Péclet, Pe, numbers. As expected, the flow velocity only affects the polarization curve in the concentration polarization region, when is well below the equilibrium potential, resulting in limiting current densities that grow with Re......This work has been partially funded by the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación under projects (PID2019-106740RB- I00 and PID2019-108592RB-C41/AEI/10.13039/50110 0 011033), by Grant IND2019/AMB-17273 of the Comunidad de Madrid and by project MFreeB which have received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant Agreement No. 726217). D. Ruiz-Martín acknowledges the support of an FPI predoctoral fellowship (BES-2016-078629) under project ENE2015-68703-C2-1-R (MINECO/FEDER, UE) and the insigh- ful conversations with professor Mark Blyth during her research visit at the University of East Anglia (UK)

COVID-19 and Pregnancy: Citation Network Analysis and Evidence Synthesis.

Background: COVID-19 spread quickly around the world shortly after the first outbreaks of the new coronavirus disease at the end of December 2019, affecting all populations, including pregnant women. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between different publications on COVID-19 in pregnancy and their authors through citation networks, as well as to identify the research areas and to determine the publication that has been the most highly cited. Methods: The search for publications was carried out through the Web of Science database using terms such as “pregnancy,” “SARS-CoV-2,” “pregnant,” and “COVID-19” for the period between January and December 2020. Citation Network Explorer software was used for publication analysis and VOSviewer software was used to construct the figures. This approach enabled an in-depth network analysis to visualize the connections between the related elements and explain their network structure. Results: A total of 1330 publications and 5531 citation networks were identified in the search, with July being the month with the largest number of publications, and the United States, China, and England as the countries with the greatest number of publications. The most cited publication was “Clinical characteristics and intrauterine vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in nine pregnant women: a retrospective review of medical records” by Chen and colleagues, which was published in March 2020. Six groups identified as being close in the citation network reflect multidisciplinary research, including clinical characteristics and outcomes in pregnancy, vertical transmission, delivery mode, and psychological impacts of the pandemic on pregnant women. Conclusions: Thousands of articles on COVID-19 have been published in several journals since the disease first emerged. Identifying relevant publications and obtaining a global view of the main papers published on COVID-19 and pregnancy can lead to a better understanding of the topic. With the accumulation of scientific knowledge, we now know that the clinical features of COVID-19 during pregnancy are generally similar to those of infected nonpregnant women. There is a small increase in frequency of preterm birth and cesarean birth, related to severe maternal illness. Vaccination for all pregnant women is recommended. Several agents are being evaluated for the treatment of COVID-19, but with minimal or no information on safety in pregnancy. These results could form the basis for further research. Future bibliometric and scientometric studies on COVID-19 should provide updated information to analyze other relevant indicators in this field.post-print1277 K

Fatty acid oxidation organizes mitochondrial supercomplexes to sustain astrocytic ROS and cognition

[EN]Having direct access to brain vasculature, astrocytes can take up available blood nutrients and metabolize them to fulfil their own energy needs and deliver metabolic intermediates to local synapses1,2. These glial cells should be, therefore, metabolically adaptable to swap different substrates. However, in vitro and in vivo studies consistently show that astrocytes are primarily glycolytic3-7, suggesting glucose is their main metabolic precursor. Notably, transcriptomic data8,9 and in vitro10 studies reveal that mouse astrocytes are capable of mitochondrially oxidizing fatty acids and that they can detoxify excess neuronal-derived fatty acids in disease models11,12. Still, the factual metabolic advantage of fatty acid use by astrocytes and its physiological impact on higher-order cerebral functions remain unknown. Here, we show that knockout of carnitine-palmitoyl transferase-1A (CPT1A)-a key enzyme of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation-in adult mouse astrocytes causes cognitive impairment. Mechanistically, decreased fatty acid oxidation rewired astrocytic pyruvate metabolism to facilitate electron flux through a super-assembled mitochondrial respiratory chain, resulting in attenuation of reactive oxygen species formation. Thus, astrocytes naturally metabolize fatty acids to preserve the mitochondrial respiratory chain in an energetically inefficient disassembled conformation that secures signalling reactive oxygen species and sustains cognitive performance

Long-term etanercept survival in patients with psoriatic arthritis: a multicenter retrospective analysis in daily clinical practice in Spain

Although several randomized clinical trials and observational studies have evaluated the effectiveness, safety and drug survival of etanercept (ETN) in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), long-term data regarding these aspects are currently scarce. For this reason, we sought to investigate the long-term survival and safety of ETN in PsA patients in 4 tertiary care Spanish hospitals over a 13-year observation period (from 2004 to 2017). The records of 85 PsA patients were reviewed. ETN showed an excellent survival profile, with rates of treatment discontinuation at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years of 15, 37, 46 and 59%, respectively. In our cohort, a trend toward longer drug survival in patients with shorter disease duration and those who were treated with ETN as their first biologic agent was observed. On the other hand, combination therapy with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs did not provide greater improvement on the long-term drug survival. Only 12% of the patients reported adverse events (AEs) during therapy, being most of them of mild to moderate intensity, and in only 7% AEs led to drug discontinuation. To the best of our knowledge, the present study shows the largest follow-up period of ETN-treated population analyzed in a real-life setting, and these results demonstrate the positive safety profile and long-term effectiveness of this biologic agent in the management of PsA patients

Puntos de encuentro. Investigaciones de posgrado en proceso

“Puntos de encuentro. Investigaciones de posgrado en proceso” es un proyecto de innovación docente que ha pretendido generar espacios para el debate y el diálogo entre estudiantes de doctorado que están realizando su tesis doctoral y profesores y directores de tesis. Se ha contemplado trabajar para la creación de una comunidad de aprendizaje en la que, a través de los vínculos entre los participantes, se posibilite una tutorización entre pares. El equipo de trabajo ha estado compuesto por profesores, doctorandos, becarios de investigación y directores de tesis. Teniendo en cuenta la naturaleza de la investigación en artes, se ha planteado la necesidad de articular espacios transdisciplinares de encuentro en los que abordar las potencialidades de trabajar conjuntamente personas e investigaciones adscritas a distintas áreas de conocimiento afines. Se ha ensayado, así mismo, la confluencia de alumnos que están adscritos en diversas universidades españolas, de tal manera que el contexto en el que realizan sus investigaciones se vea ampliado y se genere una red que pueda posibilitar acciones conjuntas de movilidad en un futuro. Se ha contemplado, por otra parte, fomentar las competencias relativas a la elaboración de textos científicos. Para ello se han realizado una serie de actividades en continuidad que han abordado encuentros mensuales, un seminario de investigación público, espacios de trabajo on-line y una publicación. Esta memoria recoge la valoración de los resultados obtenidos haciendo mención a los objetivos alcanzados, la metodología empleada, al grupo de trabajo adscrito al proyecto y a las actividades desarrolladas a lo largo del curso 2017-18. Presenta a modo de anexo una serie de imágenes de los encuentros realizados y los documentos de difusión del seminario de investigación

Adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein is overexpressed in cirrhosis and correlates with clinical outcomes

Fatty-acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are small intracellular proteins that coordinate lipid-mediated processes by targeting metabolic and immune response pathways. The aim of the study was to investigate plasma FABPs levels and their relationship with clinical outcomes in cirrhosis. Plasma levels of L-FABP1(liver and kidney), I-FABP2(intestine), and A-FABP4(adipocyte and macrophages) were measured in 274 patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Hepatic gene expression of FABPs was assessed in liver biopsies from patients with decompensated cirrhosis and in liver cell types from mice with cirrhosis. Immunohistochemistry of A-FABP4 in human liver biopsy was also performed. Plasma levels of FABPs were increased in patients with decompensated cirrhosis compared to those of healthy subjects (L-FABP1: 25 (17-39) vs 10 (9-17) ng/mL p = 0.001, I-FABP2: 1.1 (0.5-2.1) vs 0.6 (0.4-1) ng/ mL p = 0.04 and A-FABP4: 37 (20-68) vs 16 (11-33) ng/mL p = 0.002), respectively. Increased A-FABP4 levels were associated with complications of cirrhosis, acute-on-chronic liver failure and poor survival. Hepatic A-FABP4 gene expression was upregulated in decompensated cirrhosis. Macrophages were the main liver cell that over-expressed A-FABP4 in experimental cirrhosis and increased A-FABP4 was found in macrophages of human biopsies by immunohistochemistry. A-FABP4 levels are increased in decompensated cirrhosis and correlate with poor outcomes. Liver macrophages appear to be the main source of A-FABP4 in decompensated cirrhosis

Quality of life and visual function in children with glaucoma in Spain

Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto del glaucoma en la función visual, la calidad de vida en los niños y la calidad de vida percibida por los cuidadores en niños de hasta 16 años. Material y métodos: Se diseñó un estudio observacional y prospectivo. Se aplicó el cuestionario GQL-15 (Glaucoma Quality of Life) a los niños y a los cuidadores, y el cuestionario VFQ-25 (Visual Functioning Questionnarie) a los niños. Se registraron diferentes variables de la historia clínica que podrían influir en la calidad de vida y la función visual. Resultados: Se incluyó a un total de 24 pacientes con una edad media de 9,13 ± 3,08 años, de los cuales 3 tenían afectación unilateral y 20 presentaban glaucoma congénito primario. Los padres reportaron una peor calidad de vida que los niños: el resultado de la encuesta GQL-15 fue de 32,30 ± 11,56 puntos en los niños y de 37,52 ± 14,59 puntos en los cuidadores (p = 0,001). El parámetro que más se relacionó con la calidad de vida y la función visual fue el defecto medio del campo visual en el mejor ojo. Se encontró una correlación estadísticamente significativa entre el resultado de GQL-15 y el defecto medio del campo visual (niños: R = 0,63; p < 0,01 y cuidadores: R = 0,81; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: El daño funcional visual producido por el glaucoma tiene un impacto importante en la calidad de vida y en la función visual de los niños con glaucoma, si bien la calidad de vida percibida por los cuidadores es peor que la percibida por el niño. Objective: To evaluate the effect of glaucoma on visual function, as well as quality of life in children and quality of life perceived by caregivers in children up to 16 years of age. Material and methods: An observational and prospective study was designed using the questionnaire GQL-15 (Glaucoma Quality of Life) and conducted on children and caregivers. The questionnaire VFQ-25 (Visual Functioning Questionnaire) was conducted on children. Different variables of the clinical history that could influence the quality of life and visual function were recorded. Results: The study included 24 patients with a mean age of 9.13 ± 3.08 years, and included 3 with unilateral involvement, and 20 diagnosed with primary congenital glaucoma. Parents reported a worse quality of life than children. The result of the GQL-15 survey was 32.3 ± 11.56 points in children and 37.52 ± 14.59 points in caregivers (P = .001). The parameter most related to quality of life and visual function was the mean deviation (MD) of the visual field in the best eye. A statistically significant correlation was found between the result of GQL-15 and the mean deviation of the visual field (children: R = 0.63, P < .01, caregivers: R = 0.81, P< .001). Conclusions: Functional loss has an impact on the quality of life and visual function in children with glaucoma, although the quality of life perceived by the caregivers is worse than that perceived by the child

Comprehensive characterization of a novel, oncogenic and targetable SEPTIN6::ABL2 fusion in T-ALL

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Neurotoxicity prevention with a multimodal program (ATENTO) prior to cancer treatment versus throughout cancer treatment in women newly diagnosed for breast cancer: Protocol for a randomized clinical trial

The authors thank the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (IDEAS19055CANT), the Spanish Ministry of Education Culture and Sport (MECD) (FPU17/00939, FPU18/03575), the Carlos III Health Institute (FI19/00230), and Carlos III Health Insitute and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) (PI18/01840), for funding this study and all participants of the study. IEC is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. This study was part of a Ph.D thesis conducted in the Clinical Medicine and Public Health Doctoral Studies of the University of Granada, Spain. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials. Gov identifier: NCT04583124.A current challenge in breast cancer (BC) patients is how to reduce the side effects of cancer and cancer treatments and prevent a decrease in quality of life (QoL). Neurotoxic side effects, especially from chemotherapy, are present in up to 75% of women with BC, which implies a large impact on QoL. There is a special interest in the preventive possibilities of therapeutic exercise (TE) for these neurological sequelae, and the benefits of TE could be improved when it is combined with vagal activation techniques (VATs). This superiority randomized controlled trial aims to examine the feasibility and efficacy of an 8-week multimodal intervention (ATENTO) based on moderate-vigorous intensity and individualized TE (aerobic and strength exercises) and VAT (myofascial and breathing exercises), on neurotoxicity prevention in women with BC before starting adjuvant chemotherapy (ATENTO-B) versus throughout adjuvant chemotherapy (ATENTO-T). A sample of 56 women newly diagnosed with BC, as calculated with a power of 85%, will be randomly allocated into these two groups. This study could provide an impetus for the introduction of early multimodal intervention methods to prevent neurotoxicity and consequently avoid the QoL deterioration that BC patients presently suffer throughout their treatments.Fundacion Cientifica Asociacion Espanola Contra el Cancer IDEAS19055CANTSpanish Ministry of Education Culture and Sport FPU17/00939 FPU18/03575Instituto de Salud Carlos III FI19/00230 PI18/01840Fondos Estructurales de la Union Europea (FEDER) PI18/01840Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivenes

VIRTUELE. Desarrollo de la competencia digital y lingüística de docentes y discentes de español como lengua extranjera

Memoria ID-101. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2020-2021