230 research outputs found

    Contribución a la caracterización de los suelos mediterraneos. Mapa de suelos E:1/50.000 del término municipal de Alcalá de Guadaira (Sevilla) España

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    135 página.-- Memoria presentada al XXIX Curso Internacional de Edafología y Biología VegetalEl presente estudlo de caraoterización de los suelos del térmmino de Alcalá de Gudaira. Responde a la actividad práctica del XXIX Curso Internacional de Edafología y Biología Vegetal. El área de estudio (28.699 ha) comprendió las hojas topográficas 984. 985. 1002 Y 1003 a escala 1:50.000 del Servicio Geográfico del Ejército. La geomorfología se caraoteriza por una diversidad de formas que configuran varios paisajes dentro del gran valle del Guadalquivir. Se identificaron las siguientes áreas fisiográficas : Areas de morfogénesis fluvio-coluvial. denudativa y estructural. La caracterización de los suelos se realizó en una secuencia de cinco etapas: gabinete, precampo. campo, laboratorio e integración de la información nuevamente en el gabinete.UNESCO, ICI. CSIC y Universidades de Sevilla y Granada.Peer reviewe

    Factors Influencing Motivation to Perform Mental and Physical Tasks during the Initial Lockdown Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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    Drastic changes to lifestyles have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. A consequence of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) used against this health crisis, such as stay-at-home orders, has been increased isolation and less social interaction for a majority of people. For overall wellbeing, it is important to stay both physically and mentally active. However, for many individuals motivation may be a barrier. There are non-modifiable (e.g., sex, age) and modifiable factors (e.g., physical activity, diet) that may be associated with motivation to perform physical/mental tasks. PURPOSE: To explore if there is an association between non-modifiable and modifiable variables on motivation to perform mental/physical tasks under COVID-19 NPIs. METHODS: We collected data from 794 subjects using Qualtrics and each subject completed our survey once each week during April 1st to May 3rd of 2020. This is an ongoing study that will terminate when the COVID-19 pandemic ends. Survey questionnaires included demographics, personality traits, diet, physical activity levels, and motivation to perform mental/physical tasks. Multiple linear regression analyses were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Significant results include: a) those who reported a higher quality of diet (REAP-S score) (β=.015, p\u3c0.05; β=0.000, p\u3c0.001), exercised vigorously (β=0.005, p\u3c0.01; β=0.000, p\u3c0.001), and reduced their sedentary time (β=.000, p\u3c0.01; β=.000, p\u3c0.001), reported higher motivation to perform both mental and physical tasks, respectively; b) those who were employed (β=.043, p\u3c0.05) and had higher grit (β=.041, p\u3c0.05) were more motivated to perform physical tasks; and c) lower trait physical energy was associated with greater motivation to perform mental tasks (β=.027, p\u3c0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that living a healthy lifestyle is associated with motivation to perform both mental and physical tasks during the initial lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. These preliminary results support the continuation of data collection. Future research should focus on trying to determine the directionality of the relationship between healthy lifestyle behaviors and motivation

    Peroral Amphotericin B Polymer Nanoparticles Lead to Comparable or Superior In Vivo Antifungal Activity to That of Intravenous Ambisome® or Fungizone™

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    Background: Despite advances in the treatment, the morbidity and mortality rate associated with invasive aspergillosis remains unacceptably high (70–90%) in immunocompromised patients. Amphotericin B (AMB), a polyene antibiotic with broad spectrum antifungal activity appears to be a choice of treatment but is available only as an intravenous formulation; development of an oral formulation would be beneficial as well as economical. Methodology: Poly(lactide-co-glycolode) (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulating AMB (AMB-NPs) were developed for oral administration. The AMB-NPs were 113±20 nm in size with ~70% entrapment efficiency at 30% AMB w/w of polymer. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy of oral AMB-NPs was evaluated in neutropenic murine models of disseminated and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. AMB-NPs exhibited comparable or superior efficacy to that of Ambisome® or Fungizone™ administered parenterally indicating potential of NPs as carrier for oral delivery. Conclusions: The present investigation describes an efficient way of producing AMB-NPs with higher AMB pay-load and entrapment efficiency employing DMSO as solvent and ethanol as non-solvent. The developed oral formulation was highly efficacious in murine models of disseminated aspergillosis as well as an invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, which is refractory to treatment with IP Fungizone™and responds only modestly to AmBisome®

    Gestor de solicitudes de mantenimiento utilizando un sistema web desarrollado a través de la aplicación de la metodología ágil FDD

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    El aplicar una metodología ágil, para el desarrollo de software en Web ayuda a su calidad. El presente artículo reporta el desarrollo de Sistema Web que agiliza el proceso de solicitudes de mantenimiento eléctrico en cualquier momento y desde cualquier lugar; a su vez ordena, agiliza y transparenta las asignaciones de trabajo, solicitudes de material y monitoreo de la solicitud del trabajo eléctrico, lo cual permite brindar un mejor servicio dentro de la institución. Este Sistema Web concentra en un único lugar la información que permite la generación de reportes oportunos que apoyen el proceso de toma de decisiones en mejora del proceso de solicitudes de mantenimiento eléctrico en la institución. El desarrollo de este Sistema Web fue aplicando la metodología ágil FDD (Feature Driven Development – Desarrollo Basado en Características). Esta metodología se centra más en obtener resultados, convirtiéndose en una metodología novedosa y fácil de implementar.Palabras Clave: Ingeniería de Software, Metodología ágil FDD, Sistema Web

    Detection of TDP-43 seeding activity in the olfactory mucosa from patients with frontotemporal dementia

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    Introduction: We assessed TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) seeding activity and aggregates detection in olfactory mucosa of patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43-immunoreactive pathology (FTLD-TDP) by TDP-43 seeding amplification assay (TDP43-SAA) and immunocytochemical analysis. Methods: The TDP43-SAA was optimized using frontal cortex samples from 16 post mortem cases with FTLD-TDP, FTLD with tau inclusions, and controls. Subsequently, olfactory mucosa samples were collected from 17 patients with FTLD-TDP, 15 healthy controls, and three patients carrying MAPT variants. Results: TDP43-SAA discriminated with 100% accuracy post mortem cases presenting or lacking TDP-43 neuropathology. TDP-43 seeding activity was detectable in the olfactory mucosa, and 82.4% of patients with FTLD-TDP tested positive, whereas 86.7% of controls tested negative (P < 0.001). Two out of three patients with MAPT mutations tested negative. In TDP43-SAA positive samples, cytoplasmatic deposits of phosphorylated TDP-43 in the olfactory neural cells were detected. Discussion: TDP-43 aggregates can be detectable in olfactory mucosa, suggesting that TDP43-SAA might be useful for identifying and monitoring FTLD-TDP in living patients

    Leadership in strategic information (LSI) building skilled public health capacity in Ethiopia

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In many developing countries, including Ethiopia, few have the skills to use data for effective decision making in public health. To address this need, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with two local Ethiopian organizations, developed a year long Leadership in Strategic Information (LSI) course to train government employees working in HIV to use data from strategic information sources. A process evaluation of the LSI course examined the impact of the training on trainees' skills and the strengths and weaknesses of the course. The evaluation consisted of surveys and focus groups.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Trainees' skill sets increased in descriptive and analytic epidemiology, surveillance, and monitoring and evaluation (M and E). Data from the evaluation indicated that the course structure and the M and E module required revision in order to improve outcomes. Additionally, the first cohort had a high attrition rate. Overall, trainees and key stakeholders viewed LSI as important in building skilled capacity in public health in Ethiopia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The evaluation provided constructive insight in modifying the course to improve retention and better address trainees' learning needs. Subsequent course attrition rates decreased as a result of changes made based on evaluation findings.</p

    Atomic Force Microscopy Images Label-Free, Drug Encapsulated Nanoparticles In Vivo and Detects Difference in Tissue Mechanical Properties of Treated and Untreated: A Tip for Nanotoxicology

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    Overcoming the intractable challenge of imaging of label-free, drug encapsulated nanoparticles in tissues in vivo would directly address associated regulatory concerns over 'nanotoxicology'. Here we demonstrate the utility of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for visualising label-free, drug encapsulated polyester particles of ~280 nm distributed within tissues following their intravenous or peroral administration to rodents. A surprising phenomenon, in which the tissues' mechanical stiffness was directly measured (also by AFM) and related to the number of embedded nanoparticles, was utilised to generate quantitative data sets for nanoparticles localisation. By coupling the normal determination of a drug's pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics with post-sacrifice measurement of nanoparticle localisation and number, we present for the first time an experimental design in which a single in vivo study relates the PK/PD of a nanomedicine to its toxicokinetics

    De novo mutations in histone modifying genes in congenital heart disease

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    Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most frequent birth defect, affecting 0.8% of live births1. Many cases occur sporadically and impair reproductive fitness, suggesting a role for de novo mutations. By analysis of exome sequencing of parent-offspring trios, we compared the incidence of de novo mutations in 362 severe CHD cases and 264 controls. CHD cases showed a significant excess of protein-altering de novo mutations in genes expressed in the developing heart, with an odds ratio of 7.5 for damaging mutations. Similar odds ratios were seen across major classes of severe CHD. We found a marked excess of de novo mutations in genes involved in production, removal or reading of H3K4 methylation (H3K4me), or ubiquitination of H2BK120, which is required for H3K4 methylation2–4. There were also two de novo mutations in SMAD2; SMAD2 signaling in the embryonic left-right organizer induces demethylation of H3K27me5. H3K4me and H3K27me mark `poised' promoters and enhancers that regulate expression of key developmental genes6. These findings implicate de novo point mutations in several hundred genes that collectively contribute to ~10% of severe CHD
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