Modular Autonomous Biosampler (MAB)- A prototype system for distinct biological size-class sampling and preservation

Presently, there is a community wide deficiency in our ability to collect and preserve multiple size-class biologic samples across a broad spectrum of oceanographic platforms (e.g. AUVs, ROVs, and Ocean Observing System Nodes). This is particularly surprising in comparison to the level of instrumentation that now exists for acquiring physical and geophysical data (e.g. side-scan sonar, current profiles etc.), from these same platforms. We present our effort to develop a low-cost, high sample capacity modular,autonomous biological sampling device (MAB). The unit is designed for filtering and preserving 3 distinct biological size-classes (including bacteria), and is deployable in any aquatic setting from a variety of platform modalities (AUV, ROV, or mooring)

Manoeuvring Experiments Using the MUN Explorer AUV

TesisLa demanda cada vez mayor de una adecuada educación de la sexualidad corno parte fundamental de la formación integral de la persona, obliga a poner en marcha nuevos modelos de enseñanza aprendizaje. Y uno de los problemas fundamentales lo constituye la escasa aplicación de técnicas didácticas efectivas de probada validez y confiabilidad. Es por ello que el propósito de la investigación fue aplicar un Modelo Didáctico Constructivista, mediante el conocimiento de las concepciones previas de los estudiantes, identificar el problema, desarrollar la búsqueda de información, plantear alternativas de solución y concluir con la generalización en un nuevo contexto. Modelo que fue aplicado en los estudiantes del curso de Educación Sexual de la Escuela de Obstetricia a través de un diseño cuasi experimental con dos grupos, demostrándose un claro efecto del modelo constructivista en el rendimiento académico de l@s estudiantes expresado en el mejoramiento del nivel de conocimientos, habilidades y en la modificación favorable de actitudes frente a la sexualidad en comparación al grupo de estudiantes que tuvieron enseñanza aprendizaje con el método tradicional. Además se comprobó que la evaluación de la asignatura por los estudiantes del grupo experimental, mostró una manifiesta aceptación, debido a los cambios positivos suscitados en los mismos. Estos resultados confirman que la educación sexual debe impartirse con metodologías activas desde una perspectiva que permita preparar a las nuevas generaciones, no sólo en el aspecto de conocimientos y habilidades, sino además el de fomentar actitudes, promover criterios de tolerancia frente a otras ideas y modelos culturales en lo concerniente a la sexualidad, como un aspecto y compromiso de cambio en nuestra sociedad

Community prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in England from April to November, 2020: results from the ONS Coronavirus Infection Survey

Background: Decisions about the continued need for control measures to contain the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rely on accurate and up-to-date information about the number of people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and risk factors for testing positive. Existing surveillance systems are generally not based on population samples and are not longitudinal in design. Methods: Samples were collected from individuals aged 2 years and older living in private households in England that were randomly selected from address lists and previous Office for National Statistics surveys in repeated crosssectional household surveys with additional serial sampling and longitudinal follow-up. Participants completed a questionnaire and did nose and throat self-swabs. The percentage of individuals testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA was estimated over time by use of dynamic multilevel regression and poststratification, to account for potential residual non-representativeness. Potential changes in risk factors for testing positive over time were also assessed. The study is registered with the ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN21086382. Findings: Between April 26 and Nov 1, 2020, results were available from 1 191 170 samples from 280327 individuals; 5231 samples were positive overall, from 3923 individuals. The percentage of people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 changed substantially over time, with an initial decrease between April 26 and June 28, 2020, from 0·40% (95% credible interval 0·29–0·54) to 0·06% (0·04–0·07), followed by low levels during July and August, 2020, before substantial increases at the end of August, 2020, with percentages testing positive above 1% from the end of October, 2020. Having a patient facing role and working outside your home were important risk factors for testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the end of the first wave (April 26 to June 28, 2020), but not in the second wave (from the end of August to Nov 1, 2020). Age (young adults, particularly those aged 17–24 years) was an important initial driver of increased positivity rates in the second wave. For example, the estimated percentage of individuals testing positive was more than six times higher in those aged 17–24 years than in those aged 70 years or older at the end of September, 2020. A substantial proportion of infections were in individuals not reporting symptoms around their positive test (45–68%, dependent on calendar time. Interpretation: Important risk factors for testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 varied substantially between the part of the first wave that was captured by the study (April to June, 2020) and the first part of the second wave of increased positivity rates (end of August to Nov 1, 2020), and a substantial proportion of infections were in individuals not reporting symptoms, indicating that continued monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 in the community will be important for managing the COVID-19 pandemic moving forwards