Regulatory T Cells in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

Anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells have lately attracted attention as part of the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, where they counterbalance the protective but pro-inflammatory immune response mediated by Th17 cells and especially by the better-known Th1 cells. In chronic infectious diseases there is a delicate balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. While Th1 and Th17 are needed in order to control infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the inflammatory onset can ultimately become detrimental for the host. In this review, we assess current information on the controversy over whether counterbalancing regulatory T cells are promoting pathogen growth or protecting the host

Relationships between ecosystem condition and ecosystem services at different spatial scales

Land degradation is one of the main drivers of decline in biodiversity, ecosystem condition and services. Agricultural expansion is the main form of land-use change and causes adverse effects on forests, wetlands, grasslands and their capacity to provide ecosystem services. Some of the most significant impacts of land degradation related to agricultural expansion occur in the soil. It causes the deterioration of soils' physical, chemical and biological characteristics and reduces the vegetation cover in the long term. Soil erosion is a direct consequence of land degradation, and it reduces nutrients and agricultural productivity and causes sedimentation and flooding in areas where the washed-out soil accumulates. Therefore, monitoring and measuring ecosystem condition are relevant to recognise early signs of land degradation. At the same time, the analysis of the relationship between ecosystem condition and the provision of ecosystem services helps identify priority areas where specific parameters need improvement to guarantee the sustainable provision of ecosystem services. Thus, the objective of this thesis is to improve the knowledge about ecosystem condition assessment and the relationship with ecosystem services. The aims are: (1) to identify the indicators used in Europe to assess ecosystem condition; (2) to test the indicators proposed by MAES to assess ecosystem condition; and (3) to analyse the relationships between ecosystem condition and services at a regional and continental scale using as an example the ecosystem service control of erosion rates. First, the thesis provides some background information about ecosystem condition and services, emphasising on agroecosystems and control of erosion rates. Afterwards, a description of the methods used for the assessment is presented, followed by the research questions that guided the subsequent chapters. Second, chapter 2 presents the literature review results on ecosystem condition mapping and assessment in Europe. The aim is to provide an overview of the state of research and highlight some limitations when evaluating ecosystem condition and services. The results show some gaps in ecosystem condition mapping, principally related to the methods used and the coverage of ecosystems. The outcomes indicate the need to explore the relationships between ecosystem condition and the capacity of ecosystems to provide services. The findings also highlight the need to improve the applicability of condition indicators in policy and decision making. Third, based on the research gaps identified in the literature review, chapters 3 and 4 test the MAES indicators and analyse the relationship between agroecosystem condition and the ecosystem service control of erosion rates in Northern Germany and Europe, respectively. The studies follow an operational framework for the integrated mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services. The results show an uneven distribution of the condition indicators across the study and positive, negative, and no significant correlations between the different pressures and conditions and the control of erosion rates with considerable regional differences. This thesis concludes with a discussion of the main findings and the conclusions based on the most relevant results. Finally, the report ends with some practical recommendations and an outlook on future research

Documentación del manual de procedimientos para la operación de la planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales de la empresa PAN GLO SERVICES de Colombia S.A.S

El presente manual reúne una serie de procedimientos concernientes al tratamiento de agua residuales de la empresa PAN GLO services de Colombia S.A.S. con el fin de entender y facilitar el proceso llevado a cabo dentro de la planta. El documento contiene el procedimiento detallado de lo que se debe de realizar a diario, semanal y mensualmente en la planta de tratamiento de agua. Finalmente se presentan las fichas de seguridad de los reactivos químicos que contienen recomendaciones y que hacer en caso de emergencias

El Land-Art a l'educació 0-3: l'expressió lliure i la comprensió del medi a través de l'art i la natura

Curs 2012-2013Actualment el Land – Art és un moviment poc conegut i difós en la vessant educativa. Aquest treball pretén treure a la llum i transmetre l’essència d’aquest moviment enriquidor cap als infants. Tant és així, que el Land – Art esdevé una eina d’aprenentatge innovadora en el primer cicle d’Educació Infantil a través d’una metodologia constructivista que involucra a tota la comunitat educativa: professionals, família i alumnes. L’objectiu del present projecte és l’ús d’aquest moviment com instrument d’aprenentatge per tal d’observar i analitzar uns resultats que s’han anat construint a partir d’una hipòtesi: “El Land – Art a l’Educació 0-3 fomenta l’expressió lliure i la comprensió del medi”. En aquest treball trobarem, en primer lloc, el marc teòric del projecte; en segon lloc, el seu mètode d’investigació; en tercer lloc, la vessant pràctica del projecte; i, en quart i darrer lloc, les conclusions que reflecteixen la part comparativa entre el marc teòric i la part pràctica, on es finalitzarà amb les reflexions finals.Nowadays, Land – Art is not a too much known and widespread movement within the education field. This project aims to come to light and transmit the essence of this movement that enriches children. Such is the case that Land – Art becomes an innovative educational tool in the first cycle of Pre-school Education using constructivist methods involving the entire educational community: professionals, family and students. The objective of this project is to use this movement as a learning tool in order to observe and analyse the results that have been constructed from a hypothesis: “The Land – Art in 0-3 Education encourages the freedom of expression and the understanding of the environment”. First of all, in this project, there is the theoretical framework; secondly, the method of investigation; thirdly, the practical side of the project; fourthly, the conclusion, which shows the comparison between the theoretical framework and the practical side, and, in the end, the final considerations

Eivissa (1960-1980): Anàlisi arqueològica d’espais d’oci i la seva evolució en un incipient turisme de masses

Treballs Finals de Grau Arqueologia, Facultat de Geografia i Història, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2020-2021, Tutor: Queralt Solé i Barjau[cat] Les dècades dels anys 60 i 70 a Eivissa són sovent recordades com l’època daurada de l’illa, l’inici del mite, la nit eivissenca o el paradís mediterrani. La forta petjada que deixa aquest període en l’imaginari col·lectiu i en el desenvolupament econòmic i turístic posterior de l’illa són claus per entendre el concepte actual d’Eivissa. Una mostra d’això serà la proliferació d’espais d’oci, alguns fossilitzats fins avui dia, altres transformats o desapareguts. En aquest treball hom busca l’anàlisi d’aquests espais d’oci, les seves tipologies i el seu enclavament geogràfic des de un punt de vista històrico-arqueològic, aportant una perspectiva inusual a aquest tipus d’estudis, que ens permetrà entendre d’una nova forma els processos socials i les formes de socialització que s’hi produeixen i conformaran el fenomen turístic, econòmic i social de les dècades dels 60 i 70 a Eivissa.[eng] The 60s and 70s in Ibiza are often remembered as the golden age of the island, the beginning of the myth, the Ibizan night or the Mediterranean paradise. The strong footprint that this period leaves in the collective imagination and in the subsequent economic and tourist development of the island are key to understand the current concept of Ibiza. An example of this will be the proliferation of leisure spaces, some fossilized nowadays, others transformed or disappeared. This work seeks the analysis of these leisure spaces, their typologies and their geographical location from a historical-archaeological point of view, providing an unusual perspective to this type of study, which will allow us to understand from a diferent focus social processes, the forms of socialization and the social processes that take place and conform the tourist, economic and social phenomenon of the decades of the 60 and 70 in Ibiza

Distribution of trace elements in benthic infralittoral organisms from the Western Antarctic Peninsula reveals no latitudinal gradient of polution

Antarctica is considered one of the most pristine regions on Earth, but evidences of global and local anthropogenic pollution exist. Chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are bioaccumulated and sometimes biomagnified through the trophic web. We aim to determine whether a latitudinal gradient of these trace elements exists in benthic organisms along the rocky shores of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. Levels of Cr, Pb, and Hg were measured by ICP-MS in two macroalgae (Palmaria decipiens and Desmarestia anceps or Desmarestia menziesii), one gastropod (Nacella concinna), two starfishes (Odontaster validus and Diplasterias brucei), and suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) from five sampling sites ranging in latitude from 62°11′17″S to 67°33′47″S. Levels of trace elements differed among sites and species, but no latitudinal gradient was observed for these pollutants. Levels of Hg and Pb in animals were consistent with biomagnifications along the food web, as were higher is starfish than in limpets. However, macroalgae and SPOM are unlikely to be the main primary producers supporting those consumers, as Hg levels in macroalgae and Pb levels in SPOM were much higher than in animals. The levels of trace elements detected were similar or higher than in other Antarctic places and other regions of the world, thus indicating that the Antarctic Peninsula area is as polluted as the rest of the world

Oral administration of heat-killed mycobacterium manresensis delays progression toward active tuberculosis in C3HeB/FeJ mice

Altres ajuts: MS 13/00174Low-dose tolerance using heat-killed mycobacteria has been tested as a means of stopping progression toward active tuberculosis (TB) lesions in a human-like murine model using C3HeB/FeJ mice. In the present study, we studied the effect of different treatment schedules with heat-killed non-tuberculous-mycobacteria (NTM) species when given orally, based on the hypothesis of generating oral tolerance. This study included M. manresensis, a new species belonging to the fortuitum group, present in drinking water. Oral treatment with M. manresensis for 2 weeks was able to induce a PPD-specific Tregs population, which has been related to a decrease in the neutrophilic infiltration found in TB lesions. Further mechanistic analysis using PPD-stimulated splenocytes links this 2-week treatment with heat-killed M. manresensis to IL-10 production and memory PPD-specific Tregs, and also to a weak PPD-specific global immune response stimulation, increasing IL-6, TNF, and IFN-γ production. In lungs, this treatment decreased the bacillary load, granulomatous infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17). Oral administration of M. manresensis during standard treatment for TB also significantly reduced the relapse of active TB after ending the treatment. Overall the data suggest that the use of heat-killed M. manresensis could be a new and promising tool for avoiding active TB induction and as adjunctive to TB treatment. This supports the usefulness of generating a new kind of protection based on a complex balanced immune response focused on both destroying the bacilli and including control of an excessive inflammatory response

A comunidade de artistas galegos no alto minho nos séculos XVIII e XIX. : legado artístico

Tendo por base os contratos dos tabeliães públicos, documentos das confrarias, artigos científicos e monografias, propomo-nos analisar a atividade dos artistas e artífices galegos no Minho nos séculos XVIII e XIX, avaliando, no contexto social e cultural dos territórios de acolhimento desta comunidade de imigrantes, os processos de integração no mercado da encomenda artística (arquitetura e artes decorativas), através da forma como se organizam; tipificando as obras que executam; definindo, no quadro da hierarquia oficinal, o papel que assumem; caraterizando a clientela e medindo o resultado estético que decorre da intervenção destes artistas. Este estudo permitirá esclarecer a importância do legado artístico galego na arte minhota na época moderna

Desarrollo del pensamiento aleatorio dentro del marco de la evaluación auténtica

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo desarrollar una propuesta didáctica desde el componente de evaluación auténtica para el fortalecimiento del pensamiento aleatorio y sistema de datos a partir del conocimiento del entorno físico y situaciones reales, en estudiantes del grado quinto de la Institución Educativa Fe y Alegría Nueva Generación, ubicada en el municipio de Bello, Antioquia. Es necesario que se enseñe y desarrolle el pensamiento estadístico desde la básica primaria como parte de la cultura, de los conocimientos necesarios para desenvolverse en la sociedad, para la toma de decisiones cotidianas y como parte de la formación y desarrollo del pensamiento lógico y abstracto. Para ello se investiga desde el paradigma crítico social. Durante el proceso se realizaron diferentes actividades para un diagnóstico integral que permitieron detectar fortalezas y dificultades de los estudiantes con respecto a este pensamiento. Este diagnóstico sirvió además para identificar gustos, motivaciones e intereses del grupo. El proceso y el análisis de las datos del diagnóstico proporcionaron los elementos necesarios para el diseño y aplicación de la propuesta, la cual se apoyó en la propuesta de evaluación auténtica para iluminar la elaboración de guías de aprendizaje transversales con sus respectivas rúbricas evaluativas que posibilitan mejorar habilidades como la comprensión lectora, la observación, la experimentación, la recolección de datos, la investigación y la autorreflexión en pro de propiciar ambientes favorables para el desarrollo del pensamiento estadístico. luego de realizada la intervención, se pudo valorar que los estudiantes mostraron gusto por las actividades realizadas, su nivel de concentración y de trabajo en clase cambió positivamente, fueron honestos al momento de autoevaluarse reconociendo sus propias dificultades, la reflexión realizada en cada una de las guías posee elementos que aportan a sus proyectos de vida y a partir de la confrontación realizada entre la prueba inicial y la prueba final, se detecta que los desempeños con respecto al pensamiento aleatorio mejoraron satisfactoriamente, incluso en los conceptos que no se le hizo mucha profundización. El reto central es continuar con la aplicación de prácticas de evaluación auténticaAbstract: The following paper has as objective to develop a didactic proposal from the authentic assessment component to strengtness of random thinking and data system from knowledge of physical environment and real situations on Institution Educational Nueva Generación fifth grade students, located in Bello municipality, Antioquia. It is necessary to be taught and develoved the statistics thinking from primary school as a part of culture, from needed knowledge to get along into society in order to takind daily resolutions and, as a training and develop of logical and abstracta thinking. For making this, it is research from socio-critical thinking. During performance, it was made different activities in order to integral diagnose which allow detect strength and difficulties from students according to this thinking. This diagnose give the needed elements for designing and application of the proposal, which was supported in authentic assessment to highlight making learning study guides transverse to their respective assessment rubric that allow abilities improvement as learning comprehension, observation, experimentation, collecting data, researching and self-thinking tending to promote favorable environment to develop stadistic thinking. After the intervention made, it could be valve that students show pleasure for making activities on their own level of concentration and class work which change positively, they were honest when they self-evalute recognizing their own difficulties, the reflection made in each guide has elements that provide elements in their life proyects from the confrontation made between initial test and final test it was detected performances according to random thinking improved satisfactorily, even the concepts which were not developed deeply. The main challeng is following into the application of authentic assessment practices