Higher versus lower nut consumption and changes in cognitive performance over two years in a population at risk of cognitive decline: a cohort study

Background: Tree nuts and peanuts (henceforth, nuts) are nutrient-dense foods rich in neuroprotective components; thus, their consumption could benefit cognitive health. However, evidence to date is limited and inconsistent regarding the potential benefits of nuts for cognitive function. Objective: To prospectively evaluate the association between nut consumption and 2-y changes in cognitive performance in older adults at cognitive decline risk. Methods: A total of 6,630 participants aged 55 to 75 y (mean age 65.0±4.9 y, 48.4% women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests at baseline and a 2-y follow-up. Composite cognitive scores were used to assess global, general, attention, and executive function domains. Nut consumption was categorized as Results: Nut consumption was positively associated with 2-y changes in general cognitive function (P-trend Conclusion: Frequent nut consumption was associated with a smaller decline in general cognitive performance over 2 y in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Randomized clinical trials to verify our findings are warranted

Newer generations of multi-target CAR and STAb-T immunotherapeutics: NEXT CART Consortium as a cooperative effort to overcome current limitations

Adoptive T cellular immunotherapies have emerged as relevant approaches for treating cancer patients who have relapsed or become refractory (R/R) to traditional cancer treatments. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has improved survival in various hematological malignancies. However, significant limitations still impede the widespread adoption of these therapies in most cancers. To advance in this field, six research groups have created the “NEXT Generation CART MAD Consortium” (NEXT CART) in Madrid’s Community, which aims to develop novel cell-based immunotherapies for R/R and poor prognosis cancers. At NEXT CART, various basic and translational research groups and hospitals in Madrid concur to share and synergize their basic expertise in immunotherapy, gene therapy, and immunological synapse, and clinical expertise in pediatric and adult oncology. NEXT CART goal is to develop new cell engineering approaches and treatments for R/R adult and pediatric neoplasms to evaluate in multicenter clinical trials. Here, we discuss the current limitations of T cell-based therapies and introduce our perspective on future developments. Advancement opportunities include developing allogeneic products, optimizing CAR signaling domains, combining cellular immunotherapies, multi-targeting strategies, and improving tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)/T cell receptor (TCR) therapy. Furthermore, basic studies aim to identify novel tumor targets, tumor molecules in the tumor microenvironment that impact CAR efficacy, and strategies to enhance the efficiency of the immunological synapse between immune and tumor cells. Our perspective of current cellular immunotherapy underscores the potential of these treatments while acknowledging the existing hurdles that demand innovative solutions to develop their potential for cancer treatment fully

Desarrollo urbótico del semáforo inteligente. Primeras experiencias en un living-lab urbano

Urbotics is defined as the collection of city automated-systems that aids different services of energy management, security, welfare and communication. The introduction of these new technologies makes possible that the city becomes an active city where technology is integrated into intelligent urban design and, so, the city can adapt itself to population needs. One of the most important city problems is the high rate of traffic accidents where vehicles and pedestrians are involved. In this context, Tau Ceramica, Miniatec and the Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV) have developed an intelligent traffic-lights: an urbotic application with the aim of improving traffic-lights regulation and car and pedestrian flows in key and/or trouble points of city.La Urbótica es el conjunto de sistemas automatizados que aporta diversos servicios de gestión energética, seguridad, bienestar y comunicación. Gracias a la introducción de estas nuevas tecnologías, la ciudad pasa a ser una ciudad activa: la tecnología se integra en el diseño inteligente de la ciudad y, entonces, ésta es capaz de responder de forma más eficaz a las necesidades de las personas que la habitan. Uno de los problemas más importantes en las ciudades es el alto índice de accidentes de tráfico urbano donde se ven involucrados tanto vehículos como peatones (un tercio de las víctimas de tráfico son peatones). En este contexto, TAU Cerámica, con la colaboración del Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV), ha desarrollado un semáforo inteligente, una aplicación urbótica destinada a mejorar la regulación semafórica y los flujos de peatones y vehículos en puntos clave o conflictivos de la trama urbana

Ecological risk assessment of pesticides in the Mijares River (eastern Spain) impacted by citrus production using wide-scope screening and target quantitative analysis

The widespread use of pesticides, especially in agricultural areas, makes necessary to control their presence in surrounding surface waters. The current study was designed to investigate the occurrence and ecological risks of pesticides and their transformation products in a Mediterranean river basin impacted by citrus agricultural production. Nineteen sites were monitored in three campaigns distributed over three different seasons. After a qualitative screening, 24 compounds was selected for subsequent quantitative analysis. As expected, the lower section of the river was most contaminated, with total concentration >5 µg/L in two sites near to the discharge area of wastewater treatment plants. The highest concentrations were found in September, after agricultural applications and when the river flow is reduced. Ecological risks were calculated using two mixture toxicity approaches (Toxic Unit and multi-substance Potentially Affected Fraction), which revealed high acute and chronic risks of imidacloprid to invertebrates, moderate-to-high risks of diuron, simazine and 2,4-D for primary producers, and moderate-to-high risks of thiabendazole for invertebrates and fish. This study shows that intensive agricultural production and the discharge of wastewater effluents containing pesticide residues from post-harvest citrus processing plants are threatening freshwater biodiversity. Further actions are recommended to control pesticide use and to reduce emissions.Universitat Jaume I/[UJI-B2018-55]/UJI/EspañaMinistry of Science, Innovation and University/[RTI2018-097417-B-I00]//EspañaGeneralitat Valenciana[PROMETEO 2019/040]//EspañaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[OAICE-CAB-12-235-2016]/UCR/Costa RicaMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación/[RYC2019-028132-I]/MICINN/EspañaMinistry of Economy and Competitiveness/[RYC-2017-22525]/MINECO/EspañaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro en Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA