Thinking of creation

I would like to answer the question whether creation can be proved and chiefly whether it is nowadays a plausible concept and how it ought be conceivable by us. I believe that an important guide to metaphysical truth is «plausibility in the light of total understanding»2. The great alternative of explicit or implicit metaphysical thought is the concept of creation and monism in its different forms (from materialism to pantheism). Monism is a continuous temptation to human thought3. In fact to perceive being as being makes the whole of being accessible, and that means the absolute (in a vide sense). Whole as whole is absolute, because it does not depend on anything. Although it may be difficult to affirm that the whole of reality coincides strictly with the Absolute, monism, in fact, attempts to unify everything and to project up a material climension on the whole of reality. Even in the case of spiritual monism, I would stress that the everyday experience of quantity, deeply connected with sense perception, plays the main role in the genesis of monism as Augustine demonstrates and C. S. Lewis argues: «The apparent profundity of Pantheism thinly veils a mass of spontaneous picture-thinking and owes its plausibility to that fact. Pantheists and Christians agree that God is present every\vhere. Pantheists conclude that He is "diffused" or "concealed" in all things and therefore a universal medium rather than a concrete entity, because their minds are really dominated by the picture of a gas, or fluid, or space itself. The Christian, on the other hand, deliberately rules out such imagen by saying that God is totally present at every point of space and time, and locally present in none»4. This tendency towards monism as well as the tendency towards the concept of creation has also anthropological and ethical roots, as I will try to argue..

Assessing the impact of employing machine learning-based baseline load prediction pipelines with sliding-window training scheme on offered flexibility estimation for different building categories

The present study is focused on assessing the impact of the performance of baseline load prediction pipelines on the estimation (by the grid operator) accuracy of the flexibility offered by different categories of buildings. Accordingly, the corresponding impact of employing different machine learning (ML) algorithms, with sliding-window and offline training schemes, for hour-ahead baseline load prediction has been investigated and compared. Using a smart meter measurements dataset, training window sizes and the most promising pipeline for each building category are first identified. Next, the consumption profiles of five buildings (belonging to each category), with the regular operation (baseline load) and while offering flexibility, are physically simulated. Finally, the identified pipelines are used for predicting the baseline loads, and the resulting error in estimating the provided flexibility is determined. Obtained results demonstrate that the identified most promising prediction pipeline (extra trees algorithm with a sliding window of 5 weeks) offers a notably superior performance compared to that of offline training (average R2 score of 0.91 vs. 0.87). Employing these pipelines permits estimating the provided flexibility with acceptable accuracy (flexibility index's mean relative error between -2.45% to +2.79%), permitting the grid operator to guarantee fair compensation for buildings' offered flexibility

Update and new epidemiological aspects about grapevine yellows in Chile

none9siTo date, phytoplasmas belonging to six ribosomal subgroups have been detected to infect grapevines in Chile in 36 percent of the sampled plants. A new survey on the presence of grapevine yellows was carried out from 2016 to 2020, and 330 grapevine plants from the most important wine regions of the country were sampled and analyzed by nested PCR/RFLP analyses. Phytoplasmas enclosed in subgroups 16SrIII-J and 16SrVII-A were identified with infection rates of 17% and 2%, respectively. The vineyards in which the phytoplasma-infected plants were detected were further inspected to identify alternative host plants and insects of potential epidemiological relevance. Five previously unreported plant species resulted positive for 16SrIII-J phytoplasma (Rosa spp., Brassica rapa, Erodium spp., Malva spp. and Rubus ulmifolius) and five insect species were fully or partially identified (Amplicephalus ornatus, A. pallidus, A. curtulus, Bergallia sp., Exitianus obscurinervis) as potential vectors of 16SrIII-J phytoplasmas. The 16SrVII-A phytoplasmas were not detected in non-grape plant species nor in insects. This work establishes updated guidelines for the study, management, and prevention of grapevine yellows in Chile, and in other grapevine growing regions of South America.openQuiroga N., C. Gamboa, D. Soto, A.M. Pino, A. Zamorano, J. Campodonico, A. Alma, A. Bertaccini, N. FioreQuiroga N., C. Gamboa, D. Soto, A.M. Pino, A. Zamorano, J. Campodonico, A. Alma, A. Bertaccini, N. Fior

Modelado geoquímico y calidad de aguas en cuencas hídricas con impacto antrópico, sierras chicas, Córdoba, Argentina

Fil: Kinen, Melina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Formica, Stella M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Formica, Stella M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina.Fil: Sacchi, Gabriela, A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Campodonico, Verena. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina.Fil: Cioccale, Marcela A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Pasquini, Andrea I. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Pasquini, Andrea I. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina.Las cuencas de los ríos Ceballos y Salsipuedes son típicos sistemas hídricos de montaña desarrollados en las Sierras Chicas de Córdoba. Constituyen la principal fuente de abastecimiento de agua para consumo y recreación para las localidades y municipios de la zona. En esta región el desarrollo urbano se ha incrementado notablemente durante los últimos años, impactando directamente en la calidad del recurso hídrico. En este trabajo se utilizaron técnicas de muestreo, métodos analíticos estándares y modelados geoquímicos para analizar la calidad de las aguas e identificar los factores naturales y antrópicos que determinan su naturaleza y dinámica. El agua del río Ceballos es bicarbonatada-cálcica con una tendencia a sulfatada-mixta en las zonas urbanas, mientras que el río Salsipuedes mantiene su carácter bicarbonatado-cálcico en toda la cuenca. Esta composición tiene como fuente natural la hidrólisis de los silicatos y la disolución de carbonatos. Elevadas concentraciones de sulfato, cloruro, sodio, nitrato, fósforo y bacterias coliformes fueron determinadas en las zonas más urbanizadas de la región, evidenciando la clara influencia antrópica sobre el medio natural. El empleo del programa de modelado de calidad de aguas QUAL2Kw permitió analizar la variación espacial de los parámetros físico-químicos y modelar las probables fuentes de aportes, que corresponden principalmente a fuentes difusas provenientes de efluentes urbanosFil: Kinen, Melina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Formica, Stella M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Formica, Stella M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina.Fil: Sacchi, Gabriela, A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Campodonico, Verena. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina.Fil: Cioccale, Marcela A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Pasquini, Andrea I. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Pasquini, Andrea I. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina.Geoquímica y Geofísic

High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Prospective Observational Study

Background. Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation plays a key role in acute kidney injury (AKI) pathogenesis. We explored the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and AKI in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods. We prospectively included 2,063 AMI patients in whom hs-CRP was measured at admission. AKI incidence and a clinical composite of in-hospital death, cardiogenic shock, and acute pulmonary edema were the study endpoints. Results. Two-hundred-thirty-four (11%) patients developed AKI. hs-CRP levels were higher in AKI patients (45 \ub1 87 vs. 16 \ub1 41 mg/L; p < 0.0001). The incidence and severity of AKI, as well as the rate of the composite endpoint, increased in parallel with hs-CRP quartiles (p for trend <0.0001 for all comparisons). A significant correlation was found between hs-CRP and the maximal increase of serum creatinine (R = 0.23; p < 0.0001). The AUC of hs-CRP for AKI prediction was 0.69 (p < 0.001). At reclassification analysis, addition of hs-CRP allowed to properly reclassify 14% of patients when added to creatinine and 8% of patients when added to a clinical model. Conclusions. In AMI, admission hs-CRP is closely associated with AKI development and severity, and with in-hospital outcomes. Future research should focus on whether prophylactic renal strategies in patients with high hs-CRP might prevent AKI and improve outcome

The Legionella effector WipB is a translocated Ser/Thr phosphatase that targets the host lysosomal nutrient sensing machinery

Legionella pneumophila infects human alveolar macrophages and is responsible for Legionnaire’s disease, a severe form of pneumonia. L. pneumophila encodes more than 300 putative effectors, which are translocated into the host cell via the Dot/Icm type IV secretion system. These effectors highjack the host’s cellular processes to allow bacterial intracellular growth and replication. Here we adopted a multidisciplinary approach to investigate WipB, a Dot/Icm effector of unknown function. The crystal structure of the N-terminal domain at 1.7 Å resolution comprising residues 25 to 344 revealed that WipB harbours a Ser/Thr phosphatase domain related to the eukaryotic phospho-protein phosphatase (PPP) family. The C-terminal domain (residues 365–524) is sufficient to pilot the effector to acidified LAMP1-positive lysosomal compartments, where WipB interacts with the v-ATPase and the associated LAMTOR1 phosphoprotein, key components of the lysosomal nutrient sensing (LYNUS) apparatus that controls the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTORC1) kinase complex at the lysosomal surface. We propose that WipB is a lysosome-targeted phosphatase that modulates cellular nutrient sensing and the control of energy metabolism during Legionella infection

Vitamin d plasma levels and in-hospital and 1-year outcomes in acute coronary syndromes : a prospective study

Deficiency in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), the main circulating form of vitamin D in blood, could be involved in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). To date, however, the possible prognostic relevance of 25 (OH)D deficiency in ACS patients remains poorly defined. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the association between 25 (OH)D levels, at hospital admission, with in-hospital and 1-year morbidity and mortality in an unselected cohort of ACS patients.We measured 25 (OH)D in 814 ACS patients at hospital presentation. Vitamin D serum levels >30\u200ang/mL were considered as normal; levels between 29 and 21\u200ang/mL were classified as insufficiency, and levels\u200a<\u200a20\u200ang/mL as deficiency. In-hospital and 1-year outcomes were evaluated according to 25 (OH)D level quartiles, using the lowest quartile as a reference.Ninety-three (11%) patients had normal 25 (OH)D levels, whereas 155 (19%) and 566 (70%) had vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, respectively. The median 25 (OH)D level was similar in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients (14.1 [IQR 9.0-21.9] ng/mL and 14.05 [IQR 9.1-22.05] ng/mL, respectively; P\u200a=\u200a.88). The lowest quartile of 25 (OH)D was associated with a higher risk for several in-hospital complications, including mortality. At a median follow-up of 366 (IQR 364-379) days, the lowest quartile of 25 (OH)D, after adjustment for the main confounding factors, remained significantly associated to 1-year mortality (P\u200a<\u200a.01). Similar results were obtained when STEMI and NSTEMI patients were considered separately.In ACS patients, severe vitamin D deficiency is independently associated with poor in-hospital and 1-year outcomes. Whether low vitamin D levels represent a risk marker or a risk factor in ACS remains to be elucidated

Age at menopause in Latin America

OBJECTIVE: To assess the age at menopause (AM) in Latin America urban areas. DESIGN: A total of 17,150 healthy women, aged 40 to 59 years, accompanying patients to healthcare centers in 47 cities of 15 Latin American countries, were surveyed regarding their age, educational level, healthcare coverage, history of gynecological surgery, smoking habit, presence of menses, and the use of contraception or hormone therapy at menopause. The AM was calculated using logit analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the entire sample was 49.4 ± 5.5 years. Mean educational level was 9.9 ± 4.5 years, and the use of hormone therapy and oral contraception was 22.1% and 7.9%, respectively. The median AM of women in all centers was 48.6 years, ranging from 43.8 years in Asuncion (Paraguay) to 53 years in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia). Logistic regression analysis determined that women aged 49 living in cities at 2,000 meters or more above sea level (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.4-2.9, P less than 0.001) and those with lower educational level (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3-2.8, P less than 0.001) or living in countries with low gross national product (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.5-2.9, P less than 0.001) were more prone to an earlier onset of menopause. CONCLUSIONS: The AM varies widely in Latin America. Lower income and related poverty conditions influence the onset of menopause. © 2006 by The North American Menopause Society

Exploring the Prognostic Performance of MECKI Score in Heart Failure Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Edoxaban

Introduction: Risk stratification in heart failure (HF) is essential for clinical and therapeutic management. The Metabolic Exercise test data combined with Cardiac and Kidney Indexes (MECKI) score is a validated prognostic model for assessing cardiovascular risk in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). From the validation of the score, the prevalence of HF patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), such as edoxaban, for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) has been increasing in recent years. This study aims to evaluate the reliability of the MECKI score in HFrEF patients treated with edoxaban for NVAF. Materials and Methods: This study included consecutive outpatients with HF and NVAF treated with edoxaban (n = 83) who underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). They were matched by propensity score with a retrospective group of HFrEF patients with NVAF treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) from the MECKI score registry (n = 844). The study endpoint was the risk of cardiovascular mortality, urgent heart transplantation, or Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) implantation. Results: Edoxaban patients were treated with a more optimized HF therapy and had different clinical characteristics, with a similar MECKI score. After propensity score, 77 patients treated with edoxaban were successfully matched with the MECKI-VKA control cohort. In both groups, MECKI accurately predicted the composite endpoint with similar area under the curves (AUC = 0.757 vs. 0.829 in the MECKI-VKA vs. edoxaban-treated group, respectively, p = 0.452). The two populations’ survival appeared non-significantly different at the 2-year follow-up. Conclusions: this study confirms the prognostic accuracy of the MECKI score in HFrEF patients with NVAF treated with edoxaban, showing improved predictive power compared to VKA-treated patients

Cardiac magnetic resonance predictors of left ventricular remodelling following acute ST elevation myocardial infarction: The VavirimS study

Left ventricular (LV) remodelling (REM) ensuing after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), has typically been studied by echocardiography, which has limitations, or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in early phase that may overestimate infarct size (IS) due to tissue edema and stunning. This prospective, multicenter study investigated LV-REM performing CMR in the subacute phase, and 6&nbsp;months after STEMI