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We thermodynamically characterize the inclusion complexes between mono- and bis-phosphonate calix[4]pyrrole cavitands with hexyl-creatinine and estimated the energetic contribution provided by the intramolecular PO⋯HN hydrogen bond.

Candida auris is an emerging pathogen considered to be critical in the World Health Organization fungal organisms list. The study aims to determine the mortality and hospital stays attributed to Candida auris (C. auris) compared to other Candida species in adult patients with candidemia. A retrospective cohort of adults with candidemia was examined from seven centres in Colombia between 2016 and 2021. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, and the secondary outcome was the length of hospital stay among survivors. Adjustment of the confounding variables was performed using inverse probability weights of exposure propensity score (candidemia by C. auris), survival regression models (Weibull distribution), and a counting model (negative binomial distribution). A value of 244 (47.6%) of the 512 patients with candidemia died within the first 30 days. The crude mortality in C. auris was 38.1% vs. 51.1% in Candida non-auris (CNA). In the Weibull model, mortality in the C. auris group was lower (adjusted HR: aHR- 0.69, 95% CI: 0.53–0.90). Antifungal treatment also decreased mortality, with an aHR of 0.36 (95% CI 0.27–0.47), while the presence of septic shock on patient progression increased it, with an aHR of 1.73 (95% CI 1.41–2.13). Among the patients who survived, no differences in the length of hospital stay were observed between the C. auris and the CNA groups, with an incidence rate ratio of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.68–1.22). Mortality in patients with C. auris bloodstream infections appears lower when adjusted for numerous confounding variables regarding treatment and the presence of septic shock in patient progression. We identified no significant effect of C. auris on the length of hospital stay in surviving patients.

We hypothesized that Lomecel-B, an allogeneic medicinal signaling cell (MSC) therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease (AD), is safe and potentially disease-modifying via pleiotropic mechanisms of action.We prospectively tested the predictions that Lomecel-B administration to mild AD patients is safe (primary endpoint) and would provide multiple exploratory indications of potential efficacy in clinical and biomarker domains (prespecified secondary/exploratory endpoints).Mild AD patient received a single infusion of low- or high-dose Lomecel-B, or placebo, in a double-blind, randomized, phase I trial. The primary safety endpoint was met. Fluid-based and imaging biomarkers indicated significant improvement in the Lomecel-B arms versus placebo. The low-dose Lomecel-B arm showed significant improvements versus placebo on neurocognitive and other assessments.Our results support the safety of Lomecel-B for AD, suggest clinical potential, and provide mechanistic insights. This early-stage study provides important exploratory information for larger efficacy-powered clinical trials.

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic varied the way health systems were attended, thus affecting pathologies not related to respiratory infections, such as acute appendicitis. Fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mobility restrictive measures may have implied a longer time from the onset of symptoms to consultation of the emergency department, leading to intraoperative and postoperative complications. Methods. Retrospective cross-sectional descriptive observational study, identifying all patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis and taken for appendectomy, divided into two groups, considered pre-pandemic, from September 1, 2018 to March 15, 2020, and pandemic, from March 16, 2020 to September 30, 2021. Results. One-thousand patients were identified, 501 patients were distributed in the pre-pandemic group and 499 in the pandemic group. The average consultation time from the time of onset of symptoms to consultation was 43 hours in the pre-pandemic group and almost 45 hours in the pandemic. Discussion. Despite the restrictions due to the disease caused by the new coronavirus and the fear that may existed due to contagion, in our center there was no evidence of a change in the management and presentation of patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis. Introducción. La pandemia de COVID-19 replanteó la forma de atención en los sistemas de salud, afectando todas aquellas patologías no relacionadas con infecciones respiratorias, como la apendicitis aguda. El miedo al contagio por SARS-CoV-2 y las medidas restrictivas a la movilidad pudieron aumentar el tiempo desde el inicio de los síntomas hasta la consulta al servicio de urgencias, derivando en complicaciones intra y posoperatorias. Métodos. Estudio observacional descriptivo de corte trasversal y retrospectivo, donde se incluyeron todos los pacientes diagnosticados con apendicitis aguda llevados a apendicectomía, que fueron divididos en dos grupos, considerados pre-pandemia, desde el 1° de septiembre de 2018 al 15 de marzo de 2020, y pandemia, desde el 16 de marzo de 2020 al 30 de septiembre de 2021. Resultados. Fueron identificados 1000 pacientes, distribuidos en 501 pacientes en el grupo pre-pandemia y 499 en el grupo pandemia. El promedio de tiempo de consulta desde el momento de inicio de síntomas hasta consulta fue de 43 horas en el grupo pre-pandemia y de casi 45 horas en el grupo pandemia. Discusión. A pesar de las restricciones por la enfermedad causada por el nuevo coronavirus y el miedo que puede existir por el contagio, en nuestro centro no se evidenció un cambio en el manejo y presentación de los pacientes diagnosticados con apendicitis aguda. Incluye referencias bibliográficas.

Contexto: Factores dietarios poco saludables se han asociado con aumento de riesgo cardiovascular, uno de ellos; consumo de azúcar. Objetivo: Búsqueda, evaluación y análisis de la mejor evidencia disponible sobre el consumo de azúcar y desenlaces mayores cardiovasculares. Metodología: Revisión sistemática de la literatura. Evaluación cuantitativa entre consumo de azúcar y alguno de los siguientes eventos cardiovasculares mayores (muerte cardiovascular, infarto agudo de miocardio no fatal o accidente cerebrovascular no fatal). Se incluyeron participantes mayores de 18 años no gestantes, sin cardiopatía congénita. Resultados: Se incluyeron 31 estudios primarios (27 estudios de cohortes y 4 estudios de casos y controles). Veintiuno evaluaron el consumo de azúcar e infarto agudo de miocardio, 12 consumo de azúcar y accidente cerebrovascular y 6 consumo de azúcar y muerte cardiovascular. Para los 3 desenlaces los resultados fueron controversiales, sin embargo, con significancia estadística en varios estudios para la asociación en cuestión, al evaluarse el consumo de azúcar por carga glucémica, índice glucémico, carbohidratos totales, entre otros. Conclusiones: Sin bien la evidencia es contradictoria, sugiere de forma consistente a partir de estudios de cohorte que los carbohidratos con alto índice glucémico, azucares añadidos y bebidas azucaradas, aumentan el riesgo de presentar eventos adversos cardiovasculares mayores como infarto agudo de miocardio, ataque cerebrovascular y muerte cardiovascular.

Background The HIV pandemic continues to cause a high burden of morbidity and mortality due to delayed diagnosis. Histoplasmosis is prevalent in Latin America and Colombia, is difficult to diagnose and has a high mortality. Here we determined the clinical characteristics and risk factors of histoplasmosis in people living with HIV (PLWH) in Pereira, Colombia. Materials and methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional study (2014–2019) involving two tertiary medical centers in Pereira, Colombia. People hospitalized with HIV were included. Histoplasma antigen detection was performed in urine samples. Probable histoplasmosis was defined according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group criteria. Results 172 HIV-infected patients were analyzed. Histoplasmosis was confirmed in 29% (n = 50/172) of patients. The logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for histoplasmosis were pancytopenia (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.6–10.3, P = 0.002), 46 IU/L (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3–8, P = 0.010). Conclusions Histoplasmosis is highly prevalent in hospitalized patients with HIV in Pereira, Colombia. The clinical findings are nonspecific, but there are some clinical abnormalities that can lead to suspicion of the disease, early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Urine antigen detection is useful for diagnosis, but is not widely available. An algorithmic approach is proposed for low-resource clinical settings.

Geriatricians and others must embrace the emerging field of geroscience. Until recently geroscience research was pursued in laboratory animals, but now this field requires specialized expertise in the care of vulnerable older patients with multiple chronic diseases and geriatric syndromes, the population likely to benefit the most from emerging therapies. While chronological aging measures the inevitable passage of clock time that occurs equally for everyone, biological aging varies among individuals, and importantly, it is modifiable. Advances in our understanding of biological aging, the discovery of strategies for modifying its rate, and an appreciation of aging as a shared risk factor for chronic diseases have jointly led to the Geroscience Hypothesis. This hypothesis states that interventions modifying aging biology can slow its progression-resulting in the delay or prevention of the onset of multiple diseases and disorders. Here we wish to report on the Third Geroscience Summit held at National Institutes of Health on November 4-5, 2019, which highlighted the importance of engaging other disciplines including clinicians. Involvement by scientists with expertise in clinical trials, health outcomes research, behavioral and social sciences, health policy, and economics is urgently needed to translate geroscience discoveries from the bench to clinical care and health policy. Adding to the urgency of broadening this geroscience coalition is the emergence of biological aging as one the most important modifiable factors of COVID-19, combined with the inability of our society to once again recognize and confront aging as a priority and opportunity when facing these types of public health emergencies.

Objetivo: caracterizar la producción científica relacionada con los aprendizajes de los estudiantes de salud en tiempos de pandemia por COVID-19. Metodología: revisión integrativa por medio de la búsqueda y análisis de literatura en nueve bases de datos científicas de acceso libre. Se incluyeron cuarenta artículos de investigación teniendo en cuenta los Descriptores en Ciencias de la Salud (DeCs) para su búsqueda, no se limitó el periodo de publicación al tratarse de un tema emergente. La investigación se realizó entre diciembre de 2020 y marzo de 2021. Resultados: se identifica la tendencia a estudiar el tema en el nivel de pregrado y específicamente, en la profesión de medicina. El abordaje metodológico con enfoque cuantitativo se presentó más en Asia. Las tendencias temáticas fueron: 1) percepción de los estudiantes en relación con el entorno de aprendizaje en línea y 2) factores para un entorno de aprendizaje. Conclusión: parece haber un acuerdo en la necesidad de un aprendizaje significativo en la educación virtual, sin embargo, todavía se discute cómo y para qué hacerlo.

The current library of synthetic molecular sensors for small polar molecules is limited. In this work, we describe the synthesis of two diastereomeric mono-phosphonate calix[4]pyrrole cavitands, 1in and 1out, acting as fluorescent sensors for amino acids. The two isomeric cavitands differ in the relative orientation, in (1in) and out (1out), of their PO bridging group and the N-phenyl-naphthalamine fluorophore directly attached to it, with respect to their polar aromatic cavities. Using 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy and non-fluorescent cavitand analogues (5in and 5out), we demonstrate the formation of 1 : 1 complexes with L-proline (L-Pro) and the relevance of the inwardly directed PO group in the binding of the amino acid. Only the L-Pro⊂5in complex establishes a charged hydrogen bonding interaction between the receptor PO group and the protonated amine of the bound zwitterionic amino acid. This interaction is responsible for an increase in the thermodynamic stability of the complex compared to the L-Pro⊂5out counterpart. We investigate the binding properties of the fluorescent cavitands, 1in and 1out, with L-Pro and L-pipecolic acid (L-Pip) at micromolar concentration using emission spectroscopy (direct binding-based sensing, BBS). The observed emission changes in the BBS experiments were small but evidenced the role of the cavitands as fluorescent sensors. In agreement with the millimolar concentration results (1H NMR experiments), the fluorescent 1in sensor displays a larger binding affinity for L-Pro than the 1out isomer. Conversely, the 1out isomer experienced larger emission changes upon amino acid binding. We developed FRET-based indicator displacement assays (IDA) owing to the small emission changes observed in the direct BBS experiments. At micromolar concentration, the competitive displacement of the quencher N-oxide 6 from the cavity of the 1 : 1 supramolecular ensemble (6⊂1in and 6⊂1out), by L-Pro, L-Pip, and L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) produced fluorescence “turn-on”. The results of the BBS and IDA experiments assigned a binding selectivity to the 1in isomer for L-Pro.

Summary The transport of anions and cations through liposomal membranes facilitated by synthetic carriers has been widely described. In contrast, analogous studies describing the facilitated transport of amino acids (aa) are scarce. We describe the use of calix[4]pyrrole receptors as synthetic carriers for the facilitated diffusion of aa across membranes of liposomes and living cells. We demonstrate that a calix[4]pyrrole cavitand is highly effective and selective for the facilitated diffusion of L-proline (L-Pro). We propose a mobile carrier diffusion mechanism to explain the observed aa facilitated diffusion process. The transport process involves the formation of a 1:1 complex between the carrier and the aa (e.g., L-Pro⊂1). We also describe the unprecedented application of a synthetic carrier to contribute to the uptake of L-Pro in human cells in addition to that mediated by the natural transporters. The reported results augur well for the potential use of aa synthetic carriers in therapeutic applications.

Durante casi un ano, la raza humana se ha visto sacudida por la aparicion de un nuevo coronavirus conocido como SARS-CoV-2, el cual se origino en China y desde alli se ha dispersado por casi todas ...

Common chronic diseases represent the greatest driver of rising healthcare costs, as well as declining function, independence, and quality of life. Geroscience-guided approaches seek to delay the onset and progression of multiple chronic conditions by targeting fundamental biological pathways of aging. This approach is more likely to improve overall health and function in old age than treating individual diseases, by addressing aging the largest and mostly ignored risk factor for the leading causes of morbidity in older adults. Nevertheless, challenges in repurposing existing and moving newly discovered interventions from the bench to clinical care have impeded the progress of this potentially transformational paradigm shift. In this article, we propose the creation of a standardized process for evaluating FDA-approved medications for their geroscience potential. Criteria for systematically evaluating the existing literature that spans from animal models to human studies will permit the prioritization of efforts and financial investments for translating geroscience and allow immediate progress on the design of the next Targeting Aging with MEtformin (TAME)-like study involving such candidate gerotherapeutics.

Particle physicists aim to understand the building blocks of the Universe. On the experimental front, we have built machines to collide particles, recreating then the conditions of the early Universe. We have made a lot of measurements from the resultant collisions which, on the theoretical front, match extremely well with our predictions from a theory called the Standard Model. However, experiments have been observing deviations from it and in my thesis I aim to explain some of those deviations (also called anomalies) by extending the Standard Model with more particles, in a theory called the general two Higgs doublet model.

Introduction: Histoplasmosis is an opportu­nistic granulomatous fungal infection. Peritoneal histoplasmosis (PH) is a rare form of dissem­inated histoplasmosis (DH).Case description: A 44-year-old male pa­tient with history of HIV infection, systemic lupus erythematosus with lupus nephritis, and chronic kidney disease on peritoneal dialysis, presented with recurrent ascites without clear etiology in the serial study of ascitic fluid. Con­trast computed tomography of the abdomen showed a nonspecific peritoneal nodule, for which laparoscopy and biopsy were performed, identifying Histoplasma capsulatum infection. The subject received 15 days of in-hospital treatment with amphotericin B deoxycholate with good evolution, no recurrence of ascites, and indefinite outpatient management with itraconazole.Discussion: The first case of PH was described in 1970 but this is the first case reported in Co­lombia. Most cases of PH have been associated with peritoneal dialysis. Its diagnosis is based on the study of ascitic fluid and its treatment follows the guidelines of other forms DH.Conclusions: PH is a rare entity that requires high clinical suspicion, especially in immuno­compromised patients.

Introducción: el levetiracetam (LEV) es un medicamento anticonvulsivo con mecanismo de acción desconocido. La mayoría de efectos adversos son de intensidad leve a moderada, siendo la rabdomiolisis (RBM) uno recientemente descrito, con pocos casos reportados en el mundo. Descripción del caso: hombre de 35 años, con antecedentes de obesidad y epilepsia generalizada sin tratamiento, quien cursa con estatus epiléptico, controlado con benzodiacepina y LEV satisfactoriamente. Examen neurológico y tomografía de cráneo simple descartan alteraciones asociadas. Presenta lesión renal aguda por RBM que a pesar de estatus epiléptico controlado y manejo con soporte dialítico, progresan hacia el deterioro. Se sospecha RBM por LEV luego de descartarse etiología autoinmune y RBM por inmovilización de paciente obeso. Se suspende el LEV observándose descenso rápido de la creatina quinasa (CQ) y mejoría progresiva de la lesión renal aguda, confirmándose así la sospecha diagnóstica. Se logra destete y retiro de soporte dialítico, dándose alta hospitalaria con función renal y CQ normales, ácido valproico como anticonvulsivante y alerta de contraindicación para manejo con LEV. Discusión: el LEV es un antiepiléptico cuyos efectos adversos más frecuentes son: somnolencia, mareo, irritabilidad, cefalea y fatiga. La RBM por LEV es un efecto adverso infrecuente (pocos casos reportados en el mundo y ninguno reportado en Colombia). La sociedad europea incluyó dentro de los rótulos del LEV este efecto adverso recientemente. Su tratamiento se basa en suspender el medicamento y administrar terapia de soporte, así como, seguimiento clínico estrecho. Conclusión: la RBM por LEV es un efecto adverso poco frecuente que debe sospecharse en presencia de lesión renal aguda por RBM sin otras causas explicables

The current library of synthetic molecular sensors for small polar molecules is limited. In this work, we describe the synthesis of two diastereomeric mono-phosphonate calix[4]pyrrole cavitands, 1in and 1out, acting as fluorescent sensors for amino acids. The two isomeric cavitands differ in the relative orientation, in (1in) and out (1out), of their P[double bond, length as m-dash]O bridging group and the N-phenyl-naphthalamine fluorophore directly attached to it, with respect to their polar aromatic cavities. Using 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy and non-fluorescent cavitand analogues (5in and 5out), we demonstrate the formation of 1 : 1 complexes with L-proline (L-Pro) and the relevance of the inwardly directed P[double bond, length as m-dash]O group in the binding of the amino acid. Only the L-Pro⊂5in complex establishes a charged hydrogen bonding interaction between the receptor P[double bond, length as m-dash]O group and the protonated amine of the bound zwitterionic amino acid. This interaction is responsible for an increase in the thermodynamic stability of the complex compared to the L-Pro⊂5out counterpart. We investigate the binding properties of the fluorescent cavitands, 1in and 1out, with L-Pro and L-pipecolic acid (L-Pip) at micromolar concentration using emission spectroscopy (direct binding-based sensing, BBS). The observed emission changes in the BBS experiments were small but evidenced the role of the cavitands as fluorescent sensors. In agreement with the millimolar concentration results (1H NMR experiments), the fluorescent 1in sensor displays a larger binding affinity for L-Pro than the 1out isomer. Conversely, the 1out isomer experienced larger emission changes upon amino acid binding. We developed FRET-based indicator displacement assays (IDA) owing to the small emission changes observed in the direct BBS experiments. At micromolar concentration, the competitive displacement of the quencher N-oxide 6 from the cavity of the 1 : 1 supramolecular ensemble (6⊂1in and 6⊂1out), by L-Pro, L-Pip, and L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) produced fluorescence “turn-on”. The results of the BBS and IDA experiments assigned a binding selectivity to the 1in isomer for L-Pro.

Given the heterogeneity of senescent cells, our knowledge of both the drivers and consequences of cellular senescence in tissues and organs remains limited, as is our understanding of how this process could be harnessed for human health. Here we identified five broad areas that would help propel the field forward.

The data on COVID-19 is clear on at least one point: Older adults are most vulnerable to hospitalization, disability and death following infection with the novel coronavirus. Therefore, therapeutically addressing degenerative aging processes as the main risk factors appears promising for tackling the present crisis and is expected to be relevant when tackling future infections, epidemics and pandemics. Therefore, utilizing a geroscience approach, targeting aging processes to prevent multimorbidity, via initiating broad clinical trials of potential geroprotective therapies, is recommended.

Reservoir operation has been a task that always relate to integrated water resources concepts, the rules of such systems require to adapt to changes in the uses of water or in their prioritization. The storage body of La Copa reservoir, located in the upper Chicamocha river basin in Colombia was originally built with the objective of mitigating the floods over the upper Chicamocha valley. However, an irrigation district was latter established, with the objective of supplying water to farmers. This study presents the analysis and optimization of operational rules to minimize the likelihood of floods and shortages for the irrigation district. This is done by contemplating the uncertainty in the hydrological system.A methodology is developed to obtain the optimal management and operation of the reservoir, aiming at reducing droughts and flood, which will end up in a regulated basins. A simulation model of the reservoir using the HEC-ResSim tool was used to aim at an optimal guide curve. The guide curve in this study is the base for operational decisions. A continuous simulation hydrological model using the HEC-HMS tool. The model was calibrated using annual series of daily flows as input into the reservoir model. A two-dimensional hydrodynamic model using (HEC-RAS 2D) was used to test the results of regulation through the comparison of the simulations of the current and optimal regulation conditions. Several guide curves were developed for the evaluation of the operation. Four of them among are selected and tested using the HEC-ResSim model through the quantification of the minimum and maximum volumes discharge failures. Finally, the guide curve with the least number of failures was selected as the one that provides the best system operation. The benefits of the selected guide curve were verified by the transit of the regulated hydrographs in the 2D hydraulic model. The simulation was carried out in the most period in terms of flows and maximum rainfall, from April 06 to May 15, 2011. The period between April 15 and 21 has the highest flow through the critical sector. On the other hand, unregulated conditions were evaluated using the flows of the hydrological model. It is found that the channel presents a notable improvement, in the simulation of April 15, through the discharges made in a controlled manner from the La Copa reservoir. The methodology presents a simple and practical way to obtain relative optimal operational rules for a multipurpose storage.

International audience; Hierarchically porous materials offer the opportunity for catalyst development in regards to improving catalytic performances. In the present work, the combination of latex synthesis, sonochemical reduction and two-step catalysed sol–gel process has been demonstrated to be a versatile method for preparing supported catalysts with tailored hierarchical porosity. This method has been used to prepare porous Pt/SiO2 catalysts with mesopore and macropore size ranges as large as 2–15 nm and 90–400 nm, respectively. These hierarchically porous catalysts presented an excellent catalytic performance for the selective hydrogenation of p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB) to p-chloroaniline (p-CAN). Selectivity values up to 100% at 80% conversion of p-CNB and initial reaction rates up to 74.0 molCNB/min molPt were obtained, while a commercial catalyst exhibited both a lower selectivity of 90.8% and a lower initial reaction rate of 47.7 molCNB/min molPt.

The production of hydrogen peroxide H 2 O 2 , as an important commodity chemical, attires the attention towards greener processes such as the direct synthesis from hydrogen H 2 and oxygen O 2 , the selectivity being the biggest challenge. Since this reaction is structure-sensitive, the design of appropriate catalysts is required. We propose a novel method to prepare hierarchically porous Pd/SiO 2 catalyst by combination of miniemulsion polymerisation to prepare a Pd-containing latex template and sol-gel synthesis in controlled conditions to tailor the silica porosity. The final material displayed a surface area of 711 m 2 g −1 and a total pore volume of 0.93 cm 3 g −1 . The catalyst was evaluated with different pre-treatments in the direct synthesis of H 2 O 2 , where it exhibited structural resistance at the reaction conditions and a stable selectivity of 46 ± 1% towards H 2 O 2 .

The Inspire project of the Toulouse Hospital System is a comprehensive approach to health care in older adults, focused on maintenance of health and physical function. At the core of the project are human, mouse and killifish cohorts, which in the case of humans, is comprised of 1,000 subjects of ages 20 and above, which are followed for a total of 10 years, both via visits to the clinic, and electronic follow-up via the ICOPE app. At recruitment they are stratified as robust, pre-frail or frail according to Fried’s criteria, and then followed for loss of Intrinsic Capacities, as defined by WHO. A parallel cohort of Swiss mice with enhanced (exercise) and decreased (high fat diet) health will be used to measure concordant parameters. The project is generating a significant biorepository that is being used to pursue research in several areas where Toulouse has a significant research strength.

Chair: Lori Simon-Rusinowitz;Panelists: Representatives of GSA Sections - Phillip Rozario (SRPP), Stephen Helfand (BS), Tamara Baker (BSS), Cynthia Brown (HS), Judith Howe (AGHE), Darina Petrovsky (ESPO); Discussant: Brian Lindberg. This interactive session is an interdisciplinary look at policy issues in aging with the speakers representing views from their sections. This session, organized by the GSA Public Policy Panel, will provide both GSA section leadership and attendees an opportunity to have an open dialogue on important public policy issues of significance in the field of aging. Presentations will likely address the COVID-19 pandemic, how GSA, each section and its members, and the federal government responded during the past year; how the policy work has been influenced by the increased acknowledgement of institutional and societal racism; and member experiences with the influx of additional economic relief, research funding, and funding for aging supports and services programs.

The field of geroscience is rapidly evolving, as well as expanding worldwide. The Program will highlight new approaches and players in the field. Notably, geroscience was initiated as an effort to improve recognition of the role played by basic aging biology in our efforts to improve the health of older adults. Substantial recognition by multiple players of that role of basic aging biology have resulted in significant interest on the part of clinicians and translational biology practitioners. The program will highlight examples of hand-picked efforts in industry and academia, both in the US and in Europe, and will bring into the same stage researchers interested in the various facets of geroscience, from basic biology, translation, clinical and, ultimately, industry viewpoints.

As a follow-up of the paper “Engineering of silica-supported platinum catalysts with hierarchical porosity combining latex synthesis, sonochemistry and sol-gel process – I. Material preparation” (A.F. Sierra-Salazar, et at., Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 234 (2016) 207–214. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2016.07.009 ), we propose waterborne Pt-based catalysts with hierarchical porosity and controlled Pt nanoparticles (NPs) distribution within the support. The materials exhibit specific surface areas and total pore volumes as high as 490 m 2 g −1 and 0.77 cm 3 g −1 , with ∼5 nm Pt NPs mainly located in the macropores. The Pt NPs were characterised using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). Considering the selectivity challenge of the catalytic hydrogenation of halonitrobenzenes to produce haloanilines, which are important raw materials for several industrial products, we evaluated these hierarchically porous catalysts for the hydrogenation of p -chloronitrobenzene ( p -CNB) in batch mode to produce p -chloroaniline ( p -CAN). It was possible to obtain up to 100% selectivity at 80% conversion and initial reaction rates up to 34 mol CNB min −1 mol Pt −1 . Such selectivity was higher than that exhibited by a commercial Pt/SiO 2 catalyst (up to 92%).

Knock is an abnormal combustion phenomena capable of causing serious damage to spark ignition engines, and is a constraint to reach the maximum potential of the engine, since strategies to increase power output and improve efficiency such as turbocharging, increased compression ratio and the advancement of spark timing, also increase the possibility of knock occurrence. Therefore, it is crucial to take into account the limits imposed by knock in the design and operating conditions of the engine when using an engine computational model. In this article a zero-dimensional two-zone engine model, coupled with a chemical kinetic model for knock detection through end-gas auto-ignition is developed and validated, for a natural gas engine. Given the importance of an accurate knock prediction, five heat transfer coefficient correlations are compared to find the most suitable to predict the knock occurrence, through calculation of a knock criterion. Correlations from Sitkei and Annand were the most suitable to predict this knock criterion for the experimental data used, and the Sitkei correlation was later tested in a parametric study to predict the effect of spark timing, compression ratio, equivalence ratio and inlet temperature in knock occurrence and intensity. Results were in accordance with real engine behaviour when knock occurs.

Although the field of frailty research has expanded rapidly, it is still a nascent concept within the clinical specialties. Frailty, conceptualized as increased vulnerability to stressors because of significant depletion of physiological reserves, predicts poorer outcomes in several medical specialties, including cardiology, HIV care, nephrology, and in the behavioral and social sciences. Incorporation of frailty assessment and frailty research into the specialties is hindered by a lack of a consensus definition, by the proliferation of measurement tools, inadequate understanding of the biology of frailty, and lack of validated clinical algorithms for patients who have frailty. In 2015, the American Geriatrics Society, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine held a conference for awardees of the NIA sponsored ‘Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists Transition into Aging Research (GEMSSTAR)’1 program to review the current state of the knowledge regarding frailty in the sub-specialties, as well as to highlight key examples of integrating frailty research into the medical specialties. Key research questions to advance frailty research into specialty medicine are proposed.

Senescence is a tumor suppressor mechanism activated in stressed cells to prevent replication of damaged DNA. Senescent cells have been demonstrated to play a causal role in driving aging and age-related diseases using genetic and pharmacologic approaches. We previously demonstrated that the combination of dasatinib and the flavonoid quercetin is a potent senolytic improving numerous age-related conditions including frailty, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. The goal of this study was to identify flavonoids with more potent senolytic activity.A panel of flavonoid polyphenols was screened for senolytic activity using senescent murine and human fibroblasts, driven by oxidative and genotoxic stress, respectively. The top senotherapeutic flavonoid was tested in mice modeling a progeroid syndrome carrying a p16Of the 10 flavonoids tested, fisetin was the most potent senolytic. Acute or intermittent treatment of progeroid and old mice with fisetin reduced senescence markers in multiple tissues, consistent with a hit-and-run senolytic mechanism. Fisetin reduced senescence in a subset of cells in murine and human adipose tissue, demonstrating cell-type specificity. Administration of fisetin to wild-type mice late in life restored tissue homeostasis, reduced age-related pathology, and extended median and maximum lifespan.The natural product fisetin has senotherapeutic activity in mice and in human tissues. Late life intervention was sufficient to yield a potent health benefit. These characteristics suggest the feasibility to translation to human clinical studies. FUND: NIH grants P01 AG043376 (PDR, LJN), U19 AG056278 (PDR, LJN, WLL), R24 AG047115 (WLL), R37 AG013925 (JLK), R21 AG047984 (JLK), P30 DK050456 (Adipocyte Subcore, JLK), a Glenn Foundation/American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) BIG Award (JLK), Glenn/AFAR (LJN, CEB), the Ted Nash Long Life and Noaber Foundations (JLK), the Connor Group (JLK), Robert J. and Theresa W. Ryan (JLK), and a Minnesota Partnership Grant (AMAY-UMN#99)-P004610401-1 (JLK, EAA).

A small series of amino oligo-phenylenevinylenes (OPVs) were successfully synthesized from their nitro-analogs in a rapid, simple, and highly efficient fashion employing a sodium sulfide/pyridine system as a reducing agent. In this research, classic and sustainable reduction methodologies including NH4HCO2/Zn and a choline chloride/tin (II) chloride deep eutectic solvent (DES) were also evaluated, showing degradation products, incomplete reactivity, and product isolation difficulties in all cases. The straightforward Na2S/pyridine synthetic protocol proved to maintain the E-E stereochemistry of the OPV backbone that has been previously assembled by the Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction. Also, the optoelectronic properties were determined and discussed, considering the amino group insertion in these conjugated systems as a contribution for future construction of novel materials with applications in supramolecular electronics, light harvesting, and photocatalysis.