Vaccination with DNA plasmids expressing Gn coupled to C3d or alphavirus replicons expressing Gn protects mice against rift valley fever virus

Background: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an arthropod-borne viral zoonosis. Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an important biological threat with the potential to spread to new susceptible areas. In addition, it is a potential biowarfare agent. Methodology/Principal Findings: We developed two potential vaccines, DNA plasmids and alphavirus replicons, expressing the Gn glycoprotein of RVFV alone or fused to three copies of complement protein, C3d. Each vaccine was administered to mice in an all DNA, all replicon, or a DNA prime/replicon boost strategy and both the humoral and cellular responses were assessed. DNA plasmids expressing Gn-C3d and alphavirus replicons expressing Gn elicited high titer neutralizing antibodies that were similar to titers elicited by the live-attenuated MP12 virus. Mice vaccinated with an inactivated form of MP12 did elicit high titer antibodies, but these antibodies were unable to neutralize RVFV infection. However, only vaccine strategies incorporating alphavirus replicons elicited cellular responses to Gn. Both vaccines strategies completely prevented weight loss and morbidity and protected against lethal RVFV challenge. Passive transfer of antisera from vaccinated mice into naïve mice showed that both DNA plasmids expressing Gn-C3d and alphavirus replicons expressing Gn elicited antibodies that protected mice as well as sera from mice immunized with MP12. Conclusion/Significance: These results show that both DNA plasmids expressing Gn-C3d and alphavirus replicons expressing Gn administered alone or in a DNA prime/replicon boost strategy are effective RVFV vaccines. These vaccine strategies provide safer alternatives to using live-attenuated RVFV vaccines for human use. © 2010 Bhardwaj et al

The message on the bottle:Rethinking plastic labelling to better encourage sustainable use

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordPlastic pollution continues to worsen globally in volume and complexity. The complexity in plastic production, use and disposal is significant, highlighting the importance of clear communication to consumers. Yet despite this, poor plastic labelling is clear, evident from poor waste management metrics even in the most equipped countries. Plastic labelling must change to contribute to a holistic intervention on global plastic mismanagement. Discussion on this topic leads to three key recommendations: 1. An accurate and clear “sustainability scale” to empower consumers to make decisions informed by environmental and human health implications; 2. Directions for appropriate disposal action in the region of purchase; 3. A comprehensive list of plastic composition, including additives.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)QUEX InstituteQueensland Health, AustraliaMinderoo Foundation, Australi

Elucidating the Role of the Complement Control Protein in Monkeypox Pathogenicity

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) causes a smallpox-like disease in humans. Clinical and epidemiological studies provide evidence of pathogenicity differences between two geographically distinct monkeypox virus clades: the West African and Congo Basin. Genomic analysis of strains from both clades identified a ∼10 kbp deletion in the less virulent West African isolates sequenced to date. One absent open reading frame encodes the monkeypox virus homologue of the complement control protein (CCP). This modulatory protein prevents the initiation of both the classical and alternative pathways of complement activation. In monkeypox virus, CCP, also known as MOPICE, is a ∼24 kDa secretory protein with sequence homology to this superfamily of proteins. Here we investigate CCP expression and its role in monkeypox virulence and pathogenesis. CCP was incorporated into the West African strain and removed from the Congo Basin strain by homologous recombination. CCP expression phenotypes were confirmed for both wild type and recombinant monkeypox viruses and CCP activity was confirmed using a C4b binding assay. To characterize the disease, prairie dogs were intranasally infected and disease progression was monitored for 30 days. Removal of CCP from the Congo Basin strain reduced monkeypox disease morbidity and mortality, but did not significantly decrease viral load. The inclusion of CCP in the West African strain produced changes in disease manifestation, but had no apparent effect on disease-associated mortality. This study identifies CCP as an important immuno-modulatory protein in monkeypox pathogenesis but not solely responsible for the increased virulence seen within the Congo Basin clade of monkeypox virus

Early Priming Minimizes the Age-Related Immune Compromise of CD8+ T Cell Diversity and Function

The elderly are particularly susceptible to influenza A virus infections, with increased occurrence, disease severity and reduced vaccine efficacy attributed to declining immunity. Experimentally, the age-dependent decline in influenza-specific CD8+ T cell responsiveness reflects both functional compromise and the emergence of ‘repertoire holes’ arising from the loss of low frequency clonotypes. In this study, we asked whether early priming limits the time-related attrition of immune competence. Though primary responses in aged mice were compromised, animals vaccinated at 6 weeks then challenged >20 months later had T-cell responses that were normal in magnitude. Both functional quality and the persistence of ‘preferred’ TCR clonotypes that expand in a characteristic immunodominance hierarchy were maintained following early priming. Similar to the early priming, vaccination at 22 months followed by challenge retained a response magnitude equivalent to young mice. However, late priming resulted in reduced TCRβ diversity in comparison with vaccination earlier in life. Thus, early priming was critical to maintaining individual and population-wide TCRβ diversity. In summary, early exposure leads to the long-term maintenance of memory T cells and thus preserves optimal, influenza-specific CD8+ T-cell responsiveness and protects against the age-related attrition of naïve T-cell precursors. Our study supports development of vaccines that prime CD8+ T-cells early in life to elicit the broadest possible spectrum of CD8+ T-cell memory and preserve the magnitude, functionality and TCR usage of responding populations. In addition, our study provides the most comprehensive analysis of the aged (primary, secondary primed-early and secondary primed-late) TCR repertoires published to date

Recovery of dialysis patients with COVID-19 : health outcomes 3 months after diagnosis in ERACODA

Background. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related short-term mortality is high in dialysis patients, but longer-term outcomes are largely unknown. We therefore assessed patient recovery in a large cohort of dialysis patients 3 months after their COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods. We analyzed data on dialysis patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from 1 February 2020 to 31 March 2021 from the European Renal Association COVID-19 Database (ERACODA). The outcomes studied were patient survival, residence and functional and mental health status (estimated by their treating physician) 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. Complete follow-up data were available for 854 surviving patients. Patient characteristics associated with recovery were analyzed using logistic regression. Results. In 2449 hemodialysis patients (mean ± SD age 67.5 ± 14.4 years, 62% male), survival probabilities at 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis were 90% for nonhospitalized patients (n = 1087), 73% for patients admitted to the hospital but not to an intensive care unit (ICU) (n = 1165) and 40% for those admitted to an ICU (n = 197). Patient survival hardly decreased between 28 days and 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. At 3 months, 87% functioned at their pre-existent functional and 94% at their pre-existent mental level. Only few of the surviving patients were still admitted to the hospital (0.8-6.3%) or a nursing home (∼5%). A higher age and frailty score at presentation and ICU admission were associated with worse functional outcome. Conclusions. Mortality between 28 days and 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis was low and the majority of patients who survived COVID-19 recovered to their pre-existent functional and mental health level at 3 months after diagnosis

4to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica

Este volumen acoge la memoria académica de la Cuarta edición del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2017, desarrollado entre el 29 de noviembre y el 1 de diciembre de 2017 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS) en su sede de Guayaquil. El Congreso ofreció un espacio para la presentación, difusión e intercambio de importantes investigaciones nacionales e internacionales ante la comunidad universitaria que se dio cita en el encuentro. El uso de herramientas tecnológicas para la gestión de los trabajos de investigación como la plataforma Open Conference Systems y la web de presentación del Congreso http://citis.blog.ups.edu.ec/, hicieron de CITIS 2017 un verdadero referente entre los congresos que se desarrollaron en el país. La preocupación de nuestra Universidad, de presentar espacios que ayuden a generar nuevos y mejores cambios en la dimensión humana y social de nuestro entorno, hace que se persiga en cada edición del evento la presentación de trabajos con calidad creciente en cuanto a su producción científica. Quienes estuvimos al frente de la organización, dejamos plasmado en estas memorias académicas el intenso y prolífico trabajo de los días de realización del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad al alcance de todos y todas

Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

Contains fulltext : 172380.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Factors contributing to end-of-life care discussions among older adult Latinos

Older Latinos often resist discussing their end-of-life plans and are least likely to have completed any advance health care directive documentation with their family. The absence of these discussions or creating documented wishes can cause family members to become even more overwhelmed and confused when a loved one is terminally ill and immediate health care decisions need to be made. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand factors preventing older adult Latinos from participating in conversations regarding end-of-life planning with other family members. Results from 13 interviews revealed that older Latinos were willing to engage in end-of-life care planning conversations with family, but they often lack sufficient information and support to do so. Specific barriers to end-of-life planning for Latinos include a lack of information on advance directives, language and communication barriers, and spiritual beliefs regarding decision-making when one is terminally ill. Directions for future research and social work implications are discussed

APLICACIÓN DE UN PROCESO CONTABLE EN LA DISTRIBUIDORA DE GAS LICUADO DE PETRÓLEO (G.L.P.) DE LA SRA. MYRIAN RUIZ EN LA CUIDAD DE PILLARO. ESTUDIO DE CASO

En el mundo globalizado de cambios permanentes  y de manera especial  en el Ecuador la comunicación y el desarrollo de la tecnología la  Contabilidad se ha convertido en una de las herramientas más importantes para ejecutar todo tipo de actividad económica, la información es una instrumento de competencia que marca la diferencia a la hora de realizar acciones que impactaran en la parte financiera de la organización, esta información se analiza y se interpreta en un período determinado, en el cual existe una serie de pasos que se denomina proceso contable. El presente proyecto, se propuso como objetivo aplicar un proceso contable en la Distribuidora de Gas Licuado de Petróleo (G.L.P.) De La Sra. Myriam Ruiz, y demostrar si utilizando el conocimiento empírico que está administrando la empresa ha obtenido resultados económicos favorables.  La propuesta de aplicación consta de la recopilación de documentos fuente para iniciar con el proceso contable, se determinó el estado de situación financiera inicial analizando el activo, pasivo y patrimonio con el que cuenta la empresa, para la normalización se registraron movimientos: el correspondiente al Estado de Situación Financiera Inicial, y los asientos generados por compras, ventas, costos de ventas y gastos. Como parte de la metodología de campo se  procedió con la elaboración del libro mayor para obtener los saldos de cada cuenta del libro diario, posteriormente se realizó el Balance de Comprobación  para verificar si se realizaron de manera correcta tanto la Jornalización como la Mayorización, para con estos resultados que arrojen el Balance de Comprobación y se pueda elaborar el Estado de Resultados para verificar resultados de pérdida o de ganancias y el Estado de Situación Financiera al final del ciclo contable para conocer la situación actual de la empresa

APLICACIÓN DE UN PROCESO CONTABLE EN LA MICROEMPRESA MARIA ELISA DEL CANTÓN SAQUISILI ESTUDIO DE CASO

La aplicación de un proceso contable constituye una herramienta contable útil y necesaria para llevar a cabo la gestión empresarial, por lo que implementarla dentro de una Pyme resulta un procedimiento adecuado para el conocimiento de la situación financiera. El presente proyecto pretende desarrollar el proceso contable dentro de la empresa María Elisa, con el propósito de establecer saldos de las transacciones comerciales que se llevan a cabo en un período determinado, y de esta manera contribuir a la toma de decisiones acertadas.Para el desarrollo del presente proyecto se empleó una metodología bibliográfica-documental para realizar las principales definiciones del proceso contable, además se utilizó la investigación de campo obteniendo datos de primera fuente donde se encuentra el sujeto motivo de estudio, en este caso la empresa María Elisa. Al finalizar la aplicación del proceso contable en la empresa y después de analizar los diferentes estados financieros obtenidos, se pudo observar una pérdida en cuanto al período de la investigación, es por ello que se dio a conocer los  resultados obtenidos en esta investigación al propietario de la empresa, de modo que pueda aplicar medidas correctivas que le permita incrementar la utilidad  y rentabilidad para los períodos siguientes, lo que sin duda aportará a que la empresa permanezca en el mercado y contribuya directamente con el desarrollo  socio económico de la localidad