Minimally Symptomatic Infection in an Ebola 'Hotspot': A Cross-Sectional Serosurvey.

Introduction: Evidence for minimally symptomatic Ebola virus (EBOV) infection is limited. During the 2013-16 outbreak in West Africa, it was not considered epidemiologically relevant to published models or projections of intervention effects. In order to improve our understanding of the transmission dynamics of EBOV in humans, we investigated the occurrence of minimally symptomatic EBOV infection in quarantined contacts of reported Ebola virus disease cases in a recognized 'hotspot.

Strengthening Health Systems While Responding to a Health Crisis: Lessons Learned by a Nongovernmental Organization During the Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic in Sierra Leone.

An epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) beginning in 2013 has claimed an estimated 11 310 lives in West Africa. As the EVD epidemic subsides, it is important for all who participated in the emergency Ebola response to reflect on strengths and weaknesses of the response. Such reflections should take into account perspectives not usually included in peer-reviewed publications and after-action reports, including those from the public sector, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), survivors of Ebola, and Ebola-affected households and communities.

Rapid isolation of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells using integrated centrifuge-based technology.

Background Aims: The use of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in cell-based therapies is currently being developed for a number of diseases. Thus far, the clinical results have been inconclusive and variable, in part because of the variety of cell isolation procedures and culture conditions used in each study. A new isolation technique that streamlines the method of concentration and demands less time and attention could provide clinical and economic advantages compared with current methodologies.

Clickable Amphiphilic Triblock Copolymers.

Amphiphilic polymers have recently garnered much attention due to their potential use in drug-delivery and other biomedical applications. A modular synthesis of these polymers is extremely desirable since it offers precise individual block characterization and increased yields. We present here for the first time a modular synthesis of poly(oxazoline)-poly(siloxane)-poly(oxazoline) block copolymers that have been clicked together using the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction.