Recent progress in calcium-catalyzed polyester synthesis.

The rapid depletion of fossil fuels and, more importantly, the environmental challenges associated with their use, have driven efforts to transition toward biomass-derived platform molecules with the aim of producing more biodegradable and functional materials. In this context, the catalytic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of cyclic monomers have emerged as effective synthetic routes for the controlled production of polyesters with defined properties. Among the catalysts developed for these processes, those based on calcium are particularly appealing due to the abundance, low cost and biocompatibility of this metal.

Perioperative Mortality: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 75,446 Noncardiac Surgery Patients.

Objective: To evaluate whether major adverse cardiac events (MACE) continue to be a major causative factor for mortality after noncardiac surgery.

Patients And Methods: We performed retrospective study of 75,410 adult noncardiac surgery patients at Mayo Clinic Rochester, between January 1, 2016, and May 4, 2018. Electronic medical records were reviewed and data collected on all deaths within 30 days (n=692 patients) of surgery.

Intracardiac vascular access in haemodialysis: A last resort for exhausted traditional access.

Depletion of veins for dialysis access is a challenging life threatening situation for patients in need of haemodialysis. The utilisation of intracardiac catheter is a rare procedure with scarce reported experience. We describe the case of a 68-year-old male that contributes to the limited knowledge of performing a life-saving intracardiac catheter placement for emergency haemodialysis in a patient without immediate alternative renal replacement therapy available.

Shared single copy genes are generally reliable for inferring phylogenetic relationships among polyploid taxa.

Polyploidy, or whole-genome duplication, is expected to confound the inference of species trees with phylogenetic methods for two reasons. First, the presence of retained duplicated genes requires the reconciliation of the inferred gene trees to a proposed species tree. Second, even if the analyses are restricted to shared single copy genes, the occurrence of reciprocal gene loss, where the surviving genes in different species are paralogs from the polyploidy rather than orthologs, will mean that such genes will not have evolved under the corresponding species tree and may not produce gene trees that allow inference of that species tree.

Assessing Biomedical and Psychosocial Factors in a Cross-Sectional Study of School Dropouts Among Pregnant Adolescents and Young Mothers in Quito, Ecuador.

Background: Over nearly three decades, Ecuador experienced a significant rise in adolescent motherhood.

Objectives: By focusing on social, health, and psychological aspects, the research aims to reveal the complex factors influencing the decision to discontinue education. The emphasis on providing a platform for direct expression of personal experiences not only adds qualitative depth to the study but also ensures that the voices of those involved are heard authentically.

Effects of the application of sodium ascorbate after in-office bleaching on the penetration of hydrogen peroxide, color change, and microtensile bond strength.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the application of 10% sodium ascorbate (SA) after in-office bleaching on the penetration of hydrogen peroxide (HP) into the pulp chamber, color change, and microtensile bond strength (µTBS) to the resin-enamel interface. Thirty premolars and thirty molars were randomly divided into three groups (n = 20 each). One group was exposed to deionized water (negative control).

Repaglinide Induces ATF6 Processing and Neuroprotection in Transgenic SOD1G93A Mice.

The interaction of the activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), a key effector of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the endoplasmic reticulum, with the neuronal calcium sensor Downstream Regulatory Element Antagonist Modulator (DREAM) is a potential therapeutic target in neurodegeneration. Modulation of the ATF6-DREAM interaction with repaglinide (RP) induced neuroprotection in a model of Huntington's disease. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder with no cure, characterized by the progressive loss of motoneurons resulting in muscle denervation, atrophy, paralysis, and death.

Structural modeling and analysis of fuel cell: a graph-theoretic approach.

A fuel cell, an energy conversion system, needs analysis for its performance at the design and off-design point conditions during its real-time operation. System performance evaluation with logical methodology is helpful in decision-making while considering efficiency and cross-correlated parameters in fuel cells. This work presents an overview and categorization of different fuel cells, leading to the developing of a method combining graph theory and matrix method for analyzing fuel cell system structure to make more informed decisions.

Development, implementation and evaluation of a multinational FLS mentorship programme in Latin America.

Unlabelled: Realising the benefits of systematic secondary fracture prevention requires supporting local sites to get started and becoming effective. We here describe the development, implementation and impact of a regional fracture liaison service (FLS) mentorship programme in Latin America that led to 64 FLS getting started and coverage of 17,205 patients.

Introduction: Despite treatments and service models to deliver effective secondary fracture prevention, most patients are left untreated after a fragility fracture.

Analysis of cattle movement networks in Paraguay: Implications for the spread and control of infectious diseases.

Beef exports represent a substantial part of Paraguay's agricultural sector. Cattle movements involve a high risk due to the possible spread of bovine diseases that can have a significant impact on the country's economy. We analyzed cattle movements from 2014 to 2018 using the networks analysis methodology at the holding and district levels at different temporal scales.

ZnEt as a Precatalyst for the Addition of Alcohols to Carbodiimides.

We report here the use of commercially available ZnEt as an efficient precatalyst for the addition of alcohols to carbodiimides to obtain a wide range of isoureas under mild conditions. In an initial screening using methanol and commercial carbodiimides as substrates, the bulky isourea (OMe)(NHDipp)C(NDipp) (Dipp = 2,6-PrCH) was prepared for the first time using a catalytic method, and its structure confirmed by an X-ray diffraction analysis. Then, the efficiency of the precatalyst was tested with two carbodiimides, C(NPr) and C(N-tol), toward a series of alkylic and arylic alcohols and diols, with different steric and electronic properties, including the presence of other functional groups, usually with excellent conversions, especially for the more reactive aromatic carbodiimide.

Evaluation of Expanded Criteria Donors Using the Kidney Donor Profile Index and the Preimplantation Renal Biopsy.

The increasing comorbidity of kidney transplant (KT) donors make it necessary to develop scores to correctly assess the quality of kidney grafts. This study analyzes the usefulness of the preimplantation biopsy and the Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) as indicators of KT survival from expanded criteria donors (ECD). Retrospective study of KT in our center between January 2010 to June 2019 who received a kidney from an ECD and underwent a preimplantation biopsy.

A Collective Intelligence Platform to Support Older Cancer Survivors: Towards the Definition of LifeChamps System and Big Data Reference Architecture.

Within the most recent years, most of the cancer patients are older age, which implies the necessity to a better understanding of aging and cancer connection. This work presents the LifeChamps solution built on top of cutting-edge Big Data architecture and HPC infrastructure concepts. An innovative architecture was envisioned supported by the Big Data Value Reference Model and answering the system requirements from high to low level and from logical to physical perspective, following the "4+1 architectural model".

Comparative analysis of tools to predict rapid progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic kidney disease and shows a wide phenotype. Only patients with rapid progression (RP) are included in clinical trials or are approved to receive disease-modifying drugs. This study aims at comparing different available predictive tools in ADPKD with the Mayo classification (MC) identification of rapid progressors based on high total kidney volume (TKV) according to age.

IQM-PC332, a Novel DREAM Ligand with Antinociceptive Effect on Peripheral Nerve Injury-Induced Pain.

Neuropathic pain is a form of chronic pain arising from damage of the neural cells that sense, transmit or process sensory information. Given its growing prevalence and common refractoriness to conventional analgesics, the development of new drugs with pain relief effects constitutes a prominent clinical need. In this respect, drugs that reduce activity of sensory neurons by modulating ion channels hold the promise to become effective analgesics.

Optimization of the Dry Turning Process of Ti48Al2Cr2Nb Aluminide Based on the Cutting Tool Configuration.

Titanium aluminides are one of the most promising materials in aeronautical and automotive applications. However, their low machinability makes the processing of these alloys quite difficult under sustainability conditions, specially without lubrication. The current study focuses on the turning process of the Ti48Al2Cr2Nb gamma titanium aluminide under dry conditions.

Tribological Characterization of the Heat-Assisted Single Point Incremental Forming Process Applied to the Ti6Al4V Alloy with the Definition of an Adhesion Parameter for the Tool Surface.

Heat-assisted single point incremental forming or HA-SPIF has a great potential for producing one-piece batches of hard-to-form materials such as Ti6Al4V alloy for medical and aeronautical applications. One of the limitations of the process is the difficulty in achieving a reasonable surface finish, which makes essential the characterization of the tribological process in the tool-sheet contact. In fact, not much work can be found at this point in literature.

Is the whole greater than the sum of its parts? The implementation and outcomes of a whole blood program in Ecuador.

Background: Hemorrhagic shock is a major cause of mortality in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many institutions in LMICs lack the resources to adequately prescribe balanced resuscitation. This study aims to describe the implementation of a whole blood (WB) program in Latin America and to discuss the outcomes of the patients who received WB.

Characteristics of warfarin under-prescription in older adults with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFl) increases with age. Under-prescription of anticoagulants in older adults can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. We analyzed warfarin prescription patterns in older adults.