Do primordial Lithium abundances imply there's no Dark Energy?

Explaining the well established observation that the expansion rate of the universe is apparently accelerating is one of the defining scientific problems of our age. Within the standard model of cosmology, the repulsive 'dark energy' supposedly responsible has no explanation at a fundamental level, despite many varied attempts. A further important dilemma in the standard model is the Lithium problem, which is the substantial mismatch between the theoretical prediction for 7-Li from Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and the value that we observe today. This observation is one of the very few we have from along our past worldline as opposed to our past lightcone. By releasing the untested assumption that the universe is homogeneous on very large scales, both apparent acceleration and the Lithium problem can be easily accounted for as different aspects of cosmic inhomogeneity, without causing problems for other cosmological phenomena such as the cosmic microwave background. We illustrate this in the context of a void model.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures. v2: minor rearrangements in the text, comments and references expanded, results unchange

Genotyping of South American clinical isolates of Pythium insidiosum based on single nucleotide polymorphism-based multiplex PCR

We aimed to genotype the South American clinical isolates of Pythium insidiosum using the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the ribosomal DNA sequences (rDNA). Previously, an SNP-based multiplex-PCR was able to distinguish three different clades of P. insidiosum isolates. Thus, we used this assay to evaluate South American clinical isolates of P. insidiosum (n=32), standard strains from Costa Rica (n=4), Thailand (n=3), Japan (n=1), and India (n=1), a standard strain of Pythium aphanidermatum, and Brazilian environmental isolates of Pythium torulosum, Pythium rhizo-oryzae and Pythium pachycaule voucher (n=3). It was possible to allocate each American P. insidiosum isolate to clade I, the isolates of India, Japan, and Thailand to clade II, and the Thai isolate to clade III. P. aphanidermatum, P.torulosum, P.rhizo-oryzae and P.pachycaule voucher isolates were not amplified. For the first time, a P. insidiosum isolate from Uruguay, South America, was included in molecular analyzes. By SNP-based multiplex-PCR, it was possible to perform the identification and genotyping of the South American isolates of P. insidiosum, demonstrating similar genetic characteristics of these isolates. Key words: Pythium insidiosum, Pythiosis, molecular detection, genotype, single nucleotide polimorphisms.O objetivo deste estudo foi genotipar isolados clínicos de Pythium insidiosum da América do Sul utilizando polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNP) de sequências de rDNA. Anteriormente, um multiplex-PCR baseado em SNP foi capaz de distinguir P. insidiosum em três diferentes clados. Dessa forma, utilizamos este método para avaliar isolados clínicos de P. insidiosum da América do Sul (n=32), cepas padrão da Costa Rica (n=4), Tailândia (n=3), Japão (n=1) e Índia (n=1), uma cepa padrão de Pythium aphanidermatum e isolados ambientais brasileiros de Pythium torulosum; Pythium rhizo-oryzae e Pythium pachycaule voucher (n=3). Os isolados analisados foram alocados aos clados: I (americanos), II (isolados da Índia, Japão e Tailândia), e III (um isolado tailandês). P. aphanidermatum, P.torulosum, P.rhizo-oryzae e P.pachycaule voucher não foram amplificados. Pela primeira vez, um isolado de P. insidiosum do Uruguai foi incluído em análises moleculares. Através da multiplex-PCR baseada em SNP, foi possível realizar a identificação e genotipagem dos isolados sulamericanos de P. insidiosum, demonstrando características genéticas semelhantes entre esses isolados

Disseminação de cepas bacterianas multirresistentes no ambiente hospitalar: a importância da biossegurança / Dissemination of multiresistant bacterial strips in the hospital environment: the importance of biosafety

Os microrganismos patogênicos colonizam diversos ambientes diariamente, são capazes de desenvolver e aprimorar suas características adaptativas, sobrevivendo no meio por horas, dias ou meses. A persistência de microrganismos resistentes no ambiente hospitalar favorece a transmissão e disseminação entre os pacientes, profissionais da saúde e comunidade. O objetivo da presente revisão é realizar uma análise crítica do papel da biossegurança na prevenção da disseminação de cepas bacterianas multirresistentes no ambiente hospitalar. E enfatizar as principais vias de transmissão e colonização utilizada por esses patógenos, listando os riscos potenciais aos profissionais da saúde durante os atendimentos a pacientes infectados ou possivelmente colonizados.  O estudo é uma revisão sistemática, na qual foram analisados e avaliados diversos estudos publicados em periódicos originalmente no idioma inglês, durante o período de 2010 a 2021. Segundo um estudo realizado nos Estados Unidos (EUA) 1 a cada 4 pacientes hospitalizados continha pelo menos 1 microrganismo multirresistente em suas mãos. Esse fato destaca que o ambiente hospitalar e clínico origina novas fontes de transmissão e infecção. Adotar as formas de prevenção padrão para o controle de surtos infecciosos diminuem a probabilidade de contaminação do profissional de saúde e a consequente transmissão para outros leitos e ambientes hospitalares. O principal objetivo do material de proteção individual é diminuir as chances de contaminação e transmissão de patógenos que podem colocar a vida dos pacientes em risco, entretanto, a negligencia do uso correto desses equipamentos favorece o crescente número de infecções associadas ao hospital

Track A Basic Science

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138319/1/jia218438.pd

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Passaginha poéticas visuais de um sertão imaginário

Esta é a memória descritiva do livro Passaginha, projeto que trabalha séries fotográficas de um sertão imaginário. O trabalho encontra, nas narrativas familiares, as memórias afetivas desta terra, guardadas e perpetuadas por olhares femininos que constituem verdadeiros universos subjetivos, poéticos e políticos. Essa imersão na intimidade da memória através do arquivo e da ficção, propõe o contato com uma outra apreensão do tempo (CANTON, 2009), inserindo a fotografia no cenário artístico contemporâneo (SOULAGES, 2010; AGAMBEN, 2009) não somente do ponto de vista conceitual, mas também a partir da metodologia adotada, com uma ênfase no projeto, no processo (GROYS, 2002) e na construção de um mundo da obra descolado da realidade objetiva (DOBAL, 2012)

The abundance, vertical distribution and origin of H2O in Titan’s atmosphere: Herschel observations and photochemical modelling

International audienc

Syncope Due to Idiopathic Paroxysmal Atrioventricular Block Long-Term Follow-Up of a Distinct Form of Atrioventricular Block

ObjectivesWe present data on patients with syncope due to paroxysmal atrioventricular (AV) block unexplainable in terms of currently known mechanisms.BackgroundParoxysmal AV block is known to be due to intrinsic AV conduction disease or to heightened vagal tone.MethodsWe evaluated 18 patients presenting with unexplained syncope who had: 1) normal baseline standard electrocardiogram (ECG); 2) absence of structural heart disease; and 3) documentation, by means of prolonged ECG monitoring at the time of syncopal relapse, of paroxysmal third-degree AV block with abrupt onset and absence of other rhythm disturbances before or during the block.ResultsThe study group consisted of 9 men and 9 women, mean age 55 ± 19 years, who had recurrent unexplained syncope for 8 ± 7 years and were subsequently followed up for as long as 14 years (4 ± 4 years on average). The patients had no structural heart disease, standard ECG was normal, and electrophysiological study was negative. In all patients, prolonged ECG monitoring documented paroxysmal complete AV block with 1 or multiple consecutive pauses (mean longest pause: 9 ± 7 s at the time of syncope); AV block occurred without P-P cycle lengthening or PR interval prolongation. During the observation time, no patient had permanent AV block; on permanent cardiac pacing, no patient had further syncopal recurrences.ConclusionsCommon clinical and electrophysiological features define a distinct form of syncope due to idiopathic paroxysmal AV block characterized by a long history of recurrent syncope, absence of progression to persistent forms of AV block, and efficacy of cardiac pacing therapy