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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), has rapidly spread throughout Latin America, a region swept by multiple previous and ongoing epidemics. There are significant concerns that the arrival of COVID‐19 is currently overlapping with other viruses, particularly dengue, in various endo‐epidemic regions across South America. In this report, we analyzed trends for both viral infections in Colombia during the first 20 epidemiological weeks of 2020. From January 1st to May 16th, 2020 (epidemiological weeks, EW, 1‐20), a total of 52,679 cases of dengue and 14,943 cases of COVID‐19 have been confirmed in Colombia. As both conditions may potentially lead to fatal outcomes, especially in patients with chronic co‐morbidities, overlapping infections and co‐occurrence may increase the number of patients requiring intensive care and mechanical ventilation. In regions such as Valle del Cauca, intensified preparation for such scenarios should be pondered, and further studies should be performed to address this critical issue in a timely matter. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

In recent years, there has been an increase in studies on the implications of gut microbiota (GM) on the behaviour of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) due to a dysbiosis in GM that can trigger onset, development or progression of ASD through the microbiota–gut–brain axis. The aim of this study is to carry out a systematic review of articles from the last 6 years that analyse GM in children with ASD compared to GM in control groups. Children with ASD showed a higher abundance of Roseburia and Candida genera, and lower abundance of Dialister, Bilophila, Veillonella, Streptococcus, Coprococcus and Prevotella genera. Those differences can be attributed to factors such as different nationalities, nature of control groups, place where the sample was taken, gastrointestinal (GI) problems or bacterial detection methods. It is still too early to define a specific GM profile of children with ASD, and future studies should focus on homogenizing the characteristics of samples and control groups. Furthermore, new multicentre studies should also focus on the impact of GM on GI physiology, neurophysiology and behaviour of children with ASD, and on performing psychometric analyses of the correlation between the severity of ASD behavioural symptoms and GM profiles.

Background Several studies have demonstrated that levels of circulating inflammatory markers such as tumour necrosis factorα (TNFα), are associated with early progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between circulating TNFα receptor and disease progression in patients with advanced type 2 DN and severe proteinuria. Methods Between 2006 and 2011, we measured levels of circulating soluble TNFα receptor 1 (TNFR1) and soluble TNFα receptor 2 (TNFR2) at baseline and 4 and 12 months in 101 patients included in a multicenter randomized controlled trial to compare the effect of optimal doses of renin-angiotensin system blockers in monotherapy or in combination (dual blockade) to slow progression of established type 2 DN. The primary composite endpoint was a >50% increase in baseline serum creatinine, end-stage renal disease, or death. Results The median follow-up was 32 months (IQR, 18-48), during which time 28 patients (22.7%) achieved the primary endpoint. The TNFR1 level, but not the TNFR2 level, was correlated with other inflammatory markers. Cox regression analysis showed that the highest TNFR1 levels (HR, 2.60; 95%CI, 1.11–86.34) and baseline proteinuria (HR 1.32; 95%CI 1.15–1.52) were associated with the primary endpoint. The mixed model analysis revealed that TNFR1 and the TNFR2 levels did not change after starting treatment with renin-angiotensin system blockers. Conclusions Our results show that the highest levels of TNFR1 are independently associated with progression of renal disease and death in type 2 DN. The renin angiotensin blockers have no effect on these inflammatory markers.

Fil: Martinez, Ernesto Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo y Diseno (i); Argentina

Variability of the composition and properties of raw materials used for biodiesel production may cause a loss of productivity, since the same operating conditions give rise to different yields for alternative feedstock sources. The capability to re-optimize the process when the raw materials change may lead to a significant improvement in productivity. For yield optimization, first-principles models of a biodiesel reactor have limited prediction capabilities due to the complex kinetics involving transesterification and saponification reactions, which demands active learning of relevant data through optimal design of experiments. In this work, a Bayesian approach for integrating experimentation with imperfect models is proposed to optimize biodiesel production on a run-to-run basis. Parameter distributions in a probabilistic tendency model for the transesterification of triglycerides are re-estimated using data from a sequence of experiments designed to guide policy improvement. Global sensitivity analysis is used to formulate the optimal sampling strategy in each dynamic experiment as an optimization problem. Results obtained highlight that, even when there are significant errors in the tendency model structure and reduced information content in samples, a significant increase in biodiesel production can be achieved after a handful of runs.

New Findings • What is the central question of this study? Does PGC-1α play a key role in vascular alterations induced by cholesterol+coconut oil diet in rabbits? • What is the main finding and its importance? Vascular expression of PGC-1α, SIRT1 and PPARγ were reduced in atherosclerotic rabbits. Furthermore, PGC-1α correlated with processes involved in atherosclerosis (endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation). Reduction of PGC-1α seems to play an important role in the molecular alterations during the development of atherosclerosis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) is emerging as a novel factor that plays a critical role in integrating signalling pathways in the control of cellular and systemic metabolism. We investigated the role of vascular expression of PGC-1α and related factors, such as sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and adiponectin, during the atherosclerotic process. Endothelial function, vascular superoxide anion production and inflammatory mediators were also evaluated. This study was carried out in male New Zealand rabbits fed a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 14% coconut oil for 8 weeks. Animals developed mixed dyslipidaemia and atherosclerotic lesions, which were associated with endothelial dysfunction, aortic overproduction of superoxide anions and inflammation. Expression of PGC-1α, SIRT1, PPARγ and adiponectin was reduced (P

A comprehensive study of several atmospheric degradation routes for two hydrofluoroalcohols, CF3(CH2)x=1,2CH2OH, is presented. The gas-phase kinetics of their reactions with hydroxyl radicals (OH) and chlorine (Cl) atoms are investigated by absolute and relative techniques, respectively. The room-temperature rate coefficients (±σ, in cm3 molecule−1 s−1) kOH and kCl, are respectively (9.7±1.1)×10−13 and (1.60±0.45)×10−11 for CF3CH2CH2OH, and (2.62±0.32)×10−12 and (8.71±0.24)×10−11 for CF3(CH2)2CH2OH. Average lifetimes of CF3CH2CH2OH and CF3(CH2)2CH2OH due to the OH and Cl reactions are estimated to be 12 and 4 days, and greater than 20 and 4 years, respectively. Also, the IR and UV absorption cross sections of CF3(CH2)x=1,2CH2OH are determined in the spectral ranges of 500–4000 cm−1 and 200–310 nm. Photolysis of CF3(CH2)x=1,2CH2OH in the actinic region (λ≥290 nm) is negligible compared to their homogeneous removal. Additionally, computational IR spectra are consistent with the experimental ones, thus giving high confidence in the obtained results. The lifetimes of CF3(CH2)x=1,2CH2OH and IR spectra reported herein allow the calculation of the direct global warming potential of these hydrofluoroalcohols. The contribution of CF3(CH2)xCH2OH to radiative forcing of climate change will be negligible.

Encapsulating the dye 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methyloxazole in hydrophobic molecular cavities leads to a sequestered form with an intramolecular hydrogen bond (see picture). Since the position and anisotropy of the emission band of this species depend on the freedom of rotation about the C2−C1′ bond, it can be used to obtain information on the size of hydrophobic nanocavities in chemical and biological systems.

This paper presents a non-linear model-based controller based on the ideas of parametric predictive control applied to a Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) process unit. Controller design aims at avoiding the complexity of implementation and long computational times associated to conventional NMPC while maintaining the main advantage of taking into account process nonlinearities that are relevant for control. The design of the parametric predictive controller is based on a rather simplified process model having parameters that are instrumental in determining the required changes to the manipulated variables for error reduction. The nonlinear controller is easy to tune and can operate successfully over a wide range of operating conditions. The use of an estimator of unmeasured disturbances and process-model mismatch further enhances the behaviour of the controller. that are relevant for control. The design of the parametric predictive controller is based on a rather simplified process model having parameters that are instrumental in determining the required changes to the manipulated variables for error reduction. The nonlinear controller is easy to tune and can operate successfully over a wide range of operating conditions. The use of an estimator of unmeasured disturbances and process-model mismatch further enhances the behaviour of the controller. that are relevant for control. The design of the parametric predictive controller is based on a rather simplified process model having parameters that are instrumental in determining the required changes to the manipulated variables for error reduction. The nonlinear controller is easy to tune and can operate successfully over a wide range of operating conditions. The use of an estimator of unmeasured disturbances and process-model mismatch further enhances the behaviour of the controller. that are relevant for control. The design of the parametric predictive controller is based on a rather simplified process model having parameters that are instrumental in determining the required changes to the manipulated variables for error reduction. The nonlinear controller is easy to tune and can operate successfully over a wide range of operating conditions. The use of an estimator of unmeasured disturbances and process-model mismatch further enhances the behaviour of the controller. of taking into account process nonlinearities that are relevant for control. The design of the parametric predictive controller is based on a rather simplified process model having parameters that are instrumental in determining the required changes to the manipulated variables for error reduction. The nonlinear controller is easy to tune and can operate successfully over a wide range of operating conditions. The use of an estimator of unmeasured disturbances and process-model mismatch further enhances the behaviour of the controller. Fil: Assandri, Armando Daniel. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Argentina Fil: de Prada Moraga, Cesar. Universidad de Valladolid; España Fil: Cristea, Smaranda. Universidad de Valladolid; España Fil: Martínez, Ernesto Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo y Diseño. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo y Diseño; Argentina

Synthesis of Spyrohydantoines Derivatives of 2,4-Diphenyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and 7,9-Diphenyl-8-azabicyclo[4.3.1]decane via Bucherer Reaction in N,N-Dimethylformamide: Influence of the Temperature and Stereochemical Path The unreactives ketones related to 2,4-diphenyl-3-azabicyclo [3.3.1]nonan-9-one to the Bucherer reaction in usuals conditions show excellent reactivity in DMF. as unique solvant. The stereochemical paths of these reactions and the synthetic utility of the temperature modification are described.

Synthesis of Terminal Acetylenic Sugars Derivatives and Ynuronic Acids Derivatives by Use of a Wittig Reaction The method described for the preparation of terminal acetylenic sugars presents two advantages over earlier procedures: no new asymmetric center is created and the chain can be extended by one or more C-atoms. The method also allows preparation of ynuronic acids. The aldehydosugars derivatives 1–7 gave in good to excellent yields the corresponding gem-dibromoenoses 8–14 from which either the terminal acetylenic sugars derivatives 15–21 or the ynuronic acids 22–24 were easily prepared. A few examples of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions (leading to 28–30) with these acetylenic sugar derivatives are also described.

Facile synthesis of derivatives of 2,4-diphenyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and 7,9-diphenyl-8-azabicyclo[4.3.1]decane The facile synthesis of hydantoins, cyanhydrins and aminonitriles derived from 2,4-diphenyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanone and 7,9-diphenyl-8-azabicyclo[4.3.1]decanone is described. Configurations at C(9) or C(10) of the new compounds wth pharmaceutical and synthetical utility is deduced from their spectral properties.