Ebola Virus Infection: Overview and Update on Prevention and Treatment

In 2014 and 2015, the largest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in history affected large populations across West Africa. The goal of this report is to provide an update on the epidemic and review current progress in the development, evaluation and deployment of prevention and treatment strategies for EVD. Relevant information was identified through a comprehensive literature search using Medline, PubMed and CINAHL Complete and using the search terms Ebola, Ebola virus disease, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, West Africa outbreak, Ebola transmission, Ebola symptoms and signs, Ebola diagnosis, Ebola treatment, vaccines for Ebola and clinical trials on Ebola. Through 22 July 2015, a total of 27,741 EVD cases and 11,284 deaths were reported from all affected countries. Several therapeutic agents and novel vaccines for EVD have been developed and are now undergoing evaluation. Concurrent with active case investigation, contact tracing, surveillance and supportive care to patients and communities, there has been rapid progress in the development of new therapies and vaccines against EVD. Continued focus on strengthening clinical and public health infrastructure will have direct benefits in controlling the spread of EVD and will provide a strong foundation for deployment of new drugs and vaccines to affected countries when they become available. The unprecedented West Africa Ebola outbreak, response measures, and ensuing drug and vaccine development suggest that new tools for Ebola control may be available in the near future

Subpoblaciones neuronales presentes en el ganglio de la raíz dorsal

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons main function is to convey sensory information from the periphery towards the central nervous system. Two kinds of cells are present in this ganglion: non-neurona1 cells and neurons. Morphological, functional and biochemical heterogeneity of the neuronal population makes it necessary to distinguish cellular subpopulations. There are three types of DRG neurons morphologically defined (A, B and C), according to their size and ultrastructural characteristics. There is a direct correlation behween cell size, diameter of the fibers and conduction velocity. Finally, a nurnber of markers such as neuropeptides, enzymes and receptors allow for a biochemical classification which is the most used for the study of the neuronal function. This paper reviews the experimental evidence on DRG neurons heterogeneity and presents a biochemical and physiological correlation in the cases when relevant information is available. Study of DRG neuron populations is relevant to different fields in neuroscience research, such as the study of neurotropic virus infection mechanisms, cellular and molecular biology of peripheral nerve injury and neurotrophic factors, among others.La función principal de las neuronas del ganglio de la raiz dorsal (GRD) es transmitir la información sensorial desde la periferia hasta el sistema nervioso central. Dos clases de células están presentes en el ganglio: las células no neuronales y las neuronales. La heterogeneidad morfológica, fisiológica y bioquimica de la población neuronal permite diferenciarla en subpoblaciones. Morfológicarnente, se distinguen tres tipos neuronales (A, B y C) segun el tamaño y las caracteristicas ultraestructurales. Fisiológicamente, hay una relación directa entre el tamaño, el diámetro de las fibras nerviosas y la velocidad con que conducen el impulso nervioso. Finalmente, el uso de marcadores (neuropéptidos, enzimas, receptores, etc.) permite realizar una clasificación bioquímica, que es la más utilizada para estudiar la función neuronal. Este articulo revisa la evidencia experimental sobre el tema de la heterogeneidad neuronal del GRD v wresenta una correlación desde el punto de vista bioauimico v fisioló-o ico en los casos en dondé'hay información disponible. El esiudio de subpoblaciones en este ganglio resulta de bastante interés para investigaciones en neurociencias, principalmente en infecciones por virus neurotrópicos, traurnatismos del nervio periférico y el estudio de factores neurotróficos, entre otros

Evaluación de una técnica capilar modificada para inmunocitoquímica en cultivos adheridos a cubre objetos de vidrio

In order to evaluate a simple and easy immunocytochemical method for cultured cell monolayers adhered to coverslips, we compared a minichamber technique with the conventional method using 24 well culture plates. lmmunocytochemical procedures were carried out on adult mice dorsal root ganglia cultures for fluorescence and peroxidase detection of neurofilament, S-100 protein or rabies virus. lntensity and especificity were similar using both techniques. Primary and secondary antibodies and enzymes volumes saving was 92% with similar reactivity and no increase in processing time of samples. This tecnique only requires materials routinely found in the labratory.Con el objeto de evaluar una técnica inmunocitoquímica para cultivos celulares adheridos a cubreobjetos, se ensayó una modificación de la técnica capilar comparándola con la técnica convencional (en cajas de 24 pozos). Cultivos de ganglio de raíz dorsal de ratón adulto se sometieron a inmunodetección por peroxidasa e inmunofluorescencia de neurofilamento, proteína 5-100 y virus de la rabia; la especificidad e intensidad de la marca con una u otra técnica no cambió. El uso de la técnica capilar modificada significó un ahorro de 92% en los volúmenes de anticuerpos y reactivos usados, sin sacrificar los patrones de marca, sin incrementar el tiempo del procedimiento y usando materiales que corrientemente se encuentran en cualquier laboratorio

Evidences of the Cerium Oxide-Catalysed DPF Regeneration in a Real Diesel Engine Exhaust

The active phase Ce0.5Pr0.5O2 has been loaded on commercial substrates (SiC DPF and cordierite honeycomb monolith) to perform DPF regeneration experiments in the exhaust of a diesel engine. Also, a powder sample has been prepared to carry out soot combustion experiments at laboratory. Experiments performed in the real diesel exhaust demonstrated the catalytic activity of the Ce–Pr mixed oxide for the combustion of soot, lowering the DPF regeneration temperature with regard to a counterpart catalyst-free DPF. The temperature for active regeneration of the Ce0.5Pr0.5O2-containing DPF when the soot content is low is in the range of 500–550 °C. When the Ce0.5Pr0.5O2-containing DPF is saturated with a high amount of soot, pressure drop and soot load at the filter reach equilibrium at around 360 °C under steady state engine operation due to passive regeneration. The uncoated DPF reached this equilibrium at around 440 °C. Comparing results at real exhaust with those at laboratory allow concluding that the Ce0.5Pr0.5O2-catalysed soot combustion in the real exhaust is not based on the NO2-assisted mechanism but is most likely occurring by the active oxygen-based mechanism.The authors thank the financial support of Generalitat Valenciana (Project Prometeo 2009/047), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project CIT-420000-2009-48) and EU (FEDER funding)

El Portafolis digital per a la millora de competències transversals en alumnes de Pedagogia de la Universitat de Barcelona

Resum: En la comunicació es presenten els resultats principals de la implementació d'un portafolis digital en 340 estudiants de Pedagogia de la Universitat de Barcelona, amb els objectius de determinar el grau en què el portafoli ajuda a desenvolupar competències transversals en l'alumnat i conèixer l'opinió d'estudiants i docents en relació a les competències desenvolupades. Abstract: This paper presents the main results of digital portfolio implementation on 340 students of Education at the University of Barcelona, with the aims to determine the grade which portfolio helps to develop students' competencies and to find out the students' and teachers' perceptions about the developed competencies

University students' perceptions of e-portfolios and rubrics as combined assessment tools in education courses

This article presents a study with a twofold research aim: (a) to ascertain university students' perceptions on two combined assessment tools (e-portfolios and formative rubrics) and (b) to identify if among students there were differing perceptions on the use of e-portfolios, and what factors favored acceptance of these. The data gathering method was a questionnaire administered to 247 students on the Education Degree at the University of Barcelona. Regarding our first aim, it was confirmed that although the portfolio and rubrics were used in combination, students viewed each of them independently. Regarding the second aim, we identified four groups and a range of factors that may explain the varying perceptions of the portfolios and rubrics. Favorable factors were, in first place, greater teacher experience in using the digital portfolios; second, continuous technical support for their use; third, their having greater weight in assessment; and fourth, smaller class sizes

The ALHAMBRA survey: evolution of galaxy spectral segregation

We study the clustering of galaxies as a function of spectral type and redshift in the range $0.35 < z < 1.1$ using data from the Advanced Large Homogeneous Area Medium Band Redshift Astronomical (ALHAMBRA) survey. The data cover 2.381 deg$^2$ in 7 fields, after applying a detailed angular selection mask, with accurate photometric redshifts [$\sigma_z < 0.014(1+z)$] down to $I_{AB} < 24$. From this catalog we draw five fixed number density, redshift-limited bins. We estimate the clustering evolution for two different spectral populations selected using the ALHAMBRA-based photometric templates: quiescent and star-forming galaxies. For each sample, we measure the real-space clustering using the projected correlation function. Our calculations are performed over the range $[0.03,10.0] h^{-1}$ Mpc, allowing us to find a steeper trend for $r_p \lesssim 0.2 h^{-1}$ Mpc, which is especially clear for star-forming galaxies. Our analysis also shows a clear early differentiation in the clustering properties of both populations: star-forming galaxies show weaker clustering with evolution in the correlation length over the analysed redshift range, while quiescent galaxies show stronger clustering already at high redshifts, and no appreciable evolution. We also perform the bias calculation where similar segregation is found, but now it is among the quiescent galaxies where a growing evolution with redshift is clearer. These findings clearly corroborate the well known colour-density relation, confirming that quiescent galaxies are mainly located in dark matter halos that are more massive than those typically populated by star-forming galaxies.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, accepted by Ap

Un sistema de portafolis digital per la millora de competències transversals

S’ha implementat un sistema de portafolis digital en assignatures metodològiques del grau de Pedagogia de la Universitat de Barcelona, amb el doble objectiu de: analitzar el grau en que el seu ús ajuda a desenvolupar competències transversals en l’alumnat; i conèixer com el sistema de portafolis afecta a la organització de la docència. Han participat 340 estudiants i 8 docents. Els resultats mostren nivells d’assoliment de les competències baixos i graus de satisfacció amb el portafolis moderats per part de l’alumnat. Pel professorat el portafolis te potencial pedagògic, però cal formació, motivació per l’alumnat en el seu ús e implementació del portafolis durant períodes de temps llargs.Projectes de Millora i Inovació Docente de la UB 201

SDSS-IV MaNGA : the MaNGA dwarf galaxy sample presentation

M.C.D. acknowledges support from CONACYT "Ciencia de Frontera" grant 320199. M.C.D. and H.M.H.T. acknowledge support from UC MEXUS-CONACYT grant CN-17-128. A.R.P. acknowledges support from the CONACyT "Ciencia Basica" grant 285721. E.A.O. acknowledges support from the SECTEI (Secretaría de Educación, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación de la Ciudad de México) under the Postdoctoral Fellowship SECTEI/170/2021 and CM-SECTEI/303/2021. Funding for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV has been provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, and the Participating Institutions.We present the MaNGA Dwarf galaxy (MaNDala) Value Added Catalog (VAC), from the final release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-IV program. MaNDala consists of 136 randomly selected bright dwarf galaxies with M* −18.5, making it the largest integral field spectroscopy homogeneous sample of dwarf galaxies. We release a photometric analysis of the g, r, and z broadband imaging based on the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys, as well as a spectroscopic analysis based on the Pipe3D SDSS-IV VAC. Our release includes the surface brightness (SB), geometric parameters, and color profiles, Sérsic fits as well as stellar population properties (such as stellar ages, metallicities, and star formation histories), and emission lines' fluxes within the FOV and the effective radii of the galaxies. We find that the majority of the MaNDala galaxies are star-forming late-type galaxies with 〈nSersic,r〉∼1.6 that are centrals (central/satellite dichotomy). MaNDala covers a large range of SB values (we find 11 candidate ultra-diffuse galaxies and three compact ones), filling the gap between classical dwarfs and low-mass galaxies in the Kormendy Diagram and in the size–mass/luminosity relation, which seems to flatten at 108 2, while the last 20% was at 〈z〉 < 0.3. Finally, a bending of the sSFR-M * relation at M* ∼ 109 M⊙ for the main-sequence galaxies seems to be supported by MaNDala.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe