Life cycle assessment of a fibre-reinforced polymer made of glass fibre phenolic resin with brominated flame retardant

Ponencia presentada al I Simposio de la red española de análisis de ciclo de vida. ACV & Bioenergía, CIEMAT, Madrid 15 de octubre de 2013Alife cycle assessment (LCA) for fibre-reinforced polymers consisting on glass fibre and pbenoltc resin with a brominated flame retardant additive ts presented. Due to its toxicity and difficulties in recycling, new environmental friendly matertals are being designed. lt is intended that this LCA. which is based on new data lffe cvcre inventory (LCl) serves as a benchmark.LCA results obtained with these new LCI are campared with results from lCI of cornrnercial database. The environmental impacts assoclated with energy consumption and air emissions were assessed, as well as other environmental impacts resulting from the extraction and processing of materials and fibre-reinforced polymers manufacturing. End-ot-llfe scenarios for recycling, incineration and landfilling,including the environmental impacts of brominated trame retardants,were also compared for this material.Se presenta el análisis del ciclo de vida (ACV) para un polímero de resina tenóltca reforzado con fibras de vidrio y con retardante de llama bromados como aditivo. Debido a su toxicidad y dificultades en el reciclaje, se están buscando nuevos materiales alternativos. Se pretende que este ACV, que está basado en datos de nuevos inventarios del ciclo de vida (ICV) sirva como base de comparación. Los resultados del ACV obtenidos con estos nuevos ICV se comparan con los resultados de ICV de bases de datos comerciales. Se han evaluado los impactos ambientales asociados al consumo de energía y emisiones al aire, así como otros impactos resultantes de la extracción y procesado de los materiales y fabricación de los polímeros.Además, se han comparado tres escenarios de fin de vida: reciclaje, incineración y disposición en vertedero, incluyendo en todos ellos los impactos ambientales de los retardantes de llama bromados

Empleo de Trefoil Factor-Family 3 (TFF3) en el pronóstico de pacientes diagnosticados con cáncer colorrectal

Peer reviewedUniversidad Autónoma de Madrid, Fundación para la Investigación Biomédica del Hospital Universitario de la Paz, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasT3 Traducción de patente europe

A Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Heck Reaction for the Simultaneous Generation of Central and Axial Chirality

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective, scalable Pd-catalyzed dynamic kinetic asymmetric Heck reaction of heterobiaryl sulfonates with electron-rich olefins is described. The coupling of 2,3-dihydrofuran or N-boc protected 2,3-dihydropyrrole with a variety of quinoline, quinazoline, phthalazine, and picoline derivatives takes place with simultaneous installation of central and axial chirality, reaching excellent diastereo- and enantiomeric excesses when in situ formed [Pd0/DM-BINAP] was used as the catalyst, with loadings reduced down to 2 mol % in large scale reactions. The coupling of acyclic, electron-rich alkenes can also be performed using a [Pd0/Josiphos ligand] to obtain axially chiral heterobiaryl α-substituted alkenes in high yields and enantioselectivities. Products from Boc-protected 2,3-dihydropyrrole can be easily transformed into N,N ligands or appealing axially chiral, bifunctional proline-type organocatalysts. Computational studies suggest that a β-hydride elimination is the stereocontrolling step, in agreement with the observed stereochemical outcome of the reaction.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Grants CTQ2016-76908-C2-1-P; CTQ2016-76908-C2-2-P; CTQ2016-78083-P; RYC-2013-12585)European Commission (FEDER Programme)Junta de Andalucía (Grant 2012/FQM 10787)Universidad de Sevilla (Grant No. 1800511201)European Union - Marie Skłodowska-Curie (COFUND—Grant Agreement nº 291780

Ebulitins: A new family of type 1 ribosome-inactivating proteins (rRNA N-glycosidases) from leaves of Sambucus ebulus L. that coexist with the type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein ebulin 1

AbstractA new family of single chain (type 1) ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs), that we have named ebulitins, have been found in mature leaves of Sambucus ebulus L., a caprifoliaceae plant also known to contain a non-toxic two chain (type 2) RIP named ebulin 1 in its leaves. Ebulitins are basic proteins of Mr 32,000, 29,000 and 29,000 for ebulitins α, β and γ, respectively. The simultaneous presence of different basic type 1 and acidic type 2 RIPs in the same plant and in the same tissue is described here for the first time and opens a new door in research into RIPs

Indicadores de Gestión de Auditoría Interna en Instituciones Autónomas.

Los indicadores de gestión son herramientas utilizadas por las organizaciones con el propósito de medir el grado de cumplimiento de objetivos estratégicos establecidos. La implementación de indicadores de gestión adquiere mayor importancia al implementarlos en una institución pública, en el sentido que sus actividades deben ser realizadas con eficiencia, eficacia y economía, además de existir una supervisión de parte de la Corte de Cuentas de la República. Las métricas de desempeño utilizadas siempre están orientadas a evaluar el grado de cumplimiento de planes establecidos. Esta herramienta permite la identificación oportuna de desviaciones en resultados esperados, facilitando la toma de decisiones. En la institución autónoma en la cual está centrado el trabajo de investigación, hay indicadores de gestión implementados; sin embargo, estos únicamente están enfocados en la medición del desempeño de la institución en su conjunto. Siendo así que el plan de auditoría y la gestión de riesgo realizada por la institución dictamina las áreas objeto de medición y valoración de cumplimiento de lo planificado. El objetivo principal de la investigación es diseñar indicadores de gestión enfocados en la medición de aquellos elementos que generen valor a las actuaciones de auditoría interna. Esta herramienta considera variables de medición relacionadas a las competencias del personal de auditoría interna, así como al enfoque en la emisión de informes de aquellas áreas que requieran de recomendaciones por su grado de criticidad en el riesgo calificado. Con el diseño de cada uno de los indicadores de gestión presentados, se pretende evaluar el desempeño de la unidad de auditoría interna, y no solo estableciendo métricas ii orientadas al cumplimiento de objetivos de la organización en su conjunto. Los indicadores presentados son diseñados cumpliendo con la característica de ser claros y precisos en lo que se pretende medir. Por medio de entrevista realizada al director de auditoría interna de la institución objeto de estudio, se evidenció la importancia que los indicadores de gestión tienen en las actuaciones de la unidad de auditoría interna, además se conoció los elementos que a criterio de un auditor interno fomentan en convertir en obsoletos y tradicionales los indicadores de gestió

Inactivation of the Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 rhcJ gene abolishes nodulation outer proteins (Nops) secretion and decreases the symbiotic capacity with soybean

It has been postulated that nodulation outer proteins (Nops) avoid effective nodulation of Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257 to nodulate with American soybeans. S. fredii HH103 naturally nodulates with both Asiatic (non-commercial) and American (commercial) soybeans. Inactivation of the S. fredii HH103 gene rhcJ, which belongs to the tts (type III secretion) cluster, abolished Nop secretion and decreased its symbiotic capacity with the two varieties of soybeans. S. fredii strains HH103 and USDA257, that only nodulates with Asian soybeans, showed different SDS-PAGE Nop profiles, indicating that these strains secrete different sets of Nops. In coinoculation experiments, the presence of strain USDA257 provoked a clear reduction of the nodulation ability of strain HH103 with the American soybean cultivar Williams. These results suggest that S. fredii Nops can act as either detrimental or beneficial symbiotic factors in a strain-cultivar-dependent manner. Differences in the flavonoid-mediated expression of rhcJ with respect to nodA were also detected. In addition, one of the Nops secreted by strain HH103 was identified as NopA. [Int Microbiol 2006; 9(2):125-133

KRAS Mutations in Primary Colorectal Cancer Tumors and Related Metastases: A Potential Role in Prediction of Lung Metastasis

BACKGROUND:KRAS mutations in colorectal cancer primary tumors predict resistance to anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, and thus represent a true indicator of EGFR pathway activation status. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:KRAS mutations were retrospectively studied using polymerase chain reactions and subsequent sequencing of codons 12 and 13 (exon 2) in 110 patients with metastatic colorectal tumors. These studies were performed using tissue samples from both the primary tumor and their related metastases (93 liver, 84%; 17 lung, 16%). All patients received adjuvant 5-Fluorouracil-based polychemotherapy after resection of metastases. None received anti-EGFR therapy. Mutations in KRAS were observed in 37 (34%) of primary tumors and in 40 (36%) of related metastases, yielding a 94% level of concordance (kappa index 0.86). Patients with primary tumors possessing KRAS mutations had a shorter disease-free survival period after metastasis resection (12.0 vs 18.0 months; P = 0.035) than those who did not. A higher percentage of KRAS mutations was detected in primary tumors of patiens with lung metastases than in patients with liver metastases (59% vs 32%; p = 0.054). To further evaluate this finding we analyzed 120 additional patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer who previously had their primary tumors evaluated for KRAS mutational status for clinical purposes. Separately, the analysis of these 120 patients showed a tendency towards a higher degree of KRAS mutations in primary tumors of patients with lung metastases, although it did not reach statistical significance. Taken together the group of 230 patients showed that KRAS was mutated significantly more often in the primary tumors of patients with lung metastases (57% vs 35%; P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Our results suggest a role for KRAS mutations in the propensity of primary colorectal tumors to metastasize to the lung

Functional Characterization of Lysophosphatidylcholine: Acyl-CoA Acyltransferase Genes From Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT, EC 2.3.1.23) is an evolutionarily conserved key enzyme in the Lands cycle that catalyzes acylation of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) to produce phosphatidylcholine (PC), the main phospholipid in cellular membranes. In this study, three LPCAT genes from sunflower were identified and the corresponding proteins characterized. These HaLPCAT genes encoded functionally active enzymes that were able to complement a deficient yeast mutant. Moreover, enzymatic assays were carried out using microsomal preparations of the yeast cells. When acyl specificities were measured in the forward reaction, these enzymes exhibited a substrate preference for unsaturated acyl-CoAs, especially for linolenoyl-CoA, while in the reverse reaction, linoleoyl or linolenoyl acyl groups were transferred from PC to acyl-CoA to a similar extent. Expression levels of LPCAT genes were studied revealing distinct tissue-specific expression patterns. In summary, this study suggests that the combined forward and reverse reactions catalyzed by sunflower LPCATs facilitate acyl-exchange between the sn-2 position of PC and the acyl-CoA pool. Sunflower LPCATs displayed different characteristics, which could point to different functionalities, favoring the enrichment of seed triacylglycerols (TAGs) with polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)España, AEI and FEDER Project AGL2017- 83449-R. R

Trasplante celular y terapia regenerativa con células madre

Uno de los campos de la medicina que más expectativas ha levantado en los últimos años es la terapia celular con células madre. El aislamiento de células embrionarias humanas, la aparente e inesperada potencialidad de las células madre adultas y el desarrollo de la terapia génica nos lleva a imaginar un futuro esperanzador para un importante número de enfermedades actualmente incurables. A lo largo de las siguientes páginas vamos a tratar de dibujar el panorama de la investigación con células madre, describiendo los principales logros en este campo así como algunas de las preguntas pendientes de responder. A pesar de las grandes expectativas, es fundamental que mantengamos un espíritu crítico y realista a la hora de analizar los avances científicos en este área

Cardiometabolic Risk Profiles in Patients With Impaired Fasting Glucose and/or Hemoglobin A1c 5.7% to 6.4%: Evidence for a Gradient According to Diagnostic Criteria. The PREDAPS Study

It has been suggested that the early detection of individuals with prediabetes can help prevent cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the current study was to examine the cardiometabolic risk profile in patients with prediabetes according to fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and/or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) criteria. Cross-sectional analysis from the 2022 patients in the Cohort study in Primary Health Care on the Evolution of Patients with Prediabetes (PREDAPS Study) was developed. Four glycemic status groups were defined based on American Diabetes Association criteria. Information about cardiovascular risk factors-body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, gamma-glutamyltransferase, glomerular filtration-and metabolic syndrome components were analyzed. Mean values of clinical and biochemical characteristics and frequencies of metabolic syndrome were estimated adjusting by age, sex, educational level, and family history of diabetes. A linear trend (P < 0.001) was observed in most of the cardiovascular risk factors and in all components of metabolic syndrome. Normoglycemic individuals had the best values, individuals with both criteria of prediabetes had the worst, and individuals with only one-HbA1c or FPG-criterion had an intermediate position. Metabolic syndrome was present in 15.0% (95% confidence interval: 12.6-17.4), 59.5% (54.0-64.9), 62.0% (56.0-68.0), and 76.2% (72.8-79.6) of individuals classified in normoglycemia, isolated HbA1c, isolated FPG, and both criteria groups, respectively. In conclusion, individuals with prediabetes, especially those with both criteria, have worse cardiometabolic risk profile than normoglycemic individuals. These results suggest the need to use both criteria in the clinical practice to identify those individuals with the highest cardiovascular risk, in order to offer them special attention with intensive lifestyle intervention programs