CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO SEGÚN LOS ACADÉMICOS ECUATORIANOS - PERCEPCIONES VERSUS HECHOS

El cambio climático se ha convertido en uno de los temas principales en las agendas en diferentes países. Los efectos actuales requieren de acciones climáticas efectivas ya establecidas en el Acuerdo de París con el objetivo de reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. Sin embargo, los principales cambios para enfrentar y reducir el cambio climático dependen de las decisiones de cada país y no sólo de los acuerdos mundiales, ya que los impactos y magnitudes varían localmente. Uno de los componentes clave para una mejora efectiva es el papel que el comportamiento de la población puede tener sobre la política nacional y las decisiones posteriores. Por esta razón, el nivel de conciencia y conocimiento sobre el cambio climático es vital. El objetivo de la investigación fue comparar la percepción de los académicos ecuatorianos sobre el cambio climático global y nacional con la evidencia científica y los hechos históricos, y cómo su vulnerabilidad puede afectar a los efectos del cambio climático. Los resultados muestran que los académicos ecuatorianos están conscientes de los hechos ocurridos mundialmente sobre el cambio climático, como la existencia, la gravedad y la responsabilidad de los seres humanos. Sin embargo, hay un conocimiento limitado sobre el origen del problema, ya que el 67,2% cree que este es el primer cambio climático en la historia de la humanidad. Los principales efectos del cambio climático en Ecuador presentan percepciones heterogéneas, como sequías más frecuentes (34,36%) y lluvias escasas pero intensas (21,41%) como sus mayores preocupaciones. En cuanto a las regiones más afectadas en Ecuador, las sierra y los valles interandinos representan el 45,6%, mientras que Galápagos sólo alcanza 1,6% a pesar de ser una insignia ecológica con alta vulnerabilidad climática. Parece que los encuestados carecen de conocimiento sobre la situación en otras regiones y creen que su propio entorno se ve más afectado.//Climate change has become one of the main issues in the countries government agendas. The current effects demand effective climate actions which were set out in the Paris Agreement with the global goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the main changes to face and mitigate climate change depend on each countrys decisions and not only on global agreements as the impacts and its magnitudes vary locally. One of the key components for an effective adaption and mitigation is the role that the behavior of the population may have over national politics and subsequent decisions. For this reason, the level of awareness and knowledge about climate change is vital. . The objective of the current study was to compare the perception of Ecuadorian academics regarding global and national climate change with the scientific evidence and historical facts, and how it may affect their vulnerability to the climate change effects. The results show that Ecuadorian academics are well aware of globally known facts of climate change such as existence, gravity and responsibility of humans. However, there is limited awareness about the origin, since 67.2% believes that this is the first climate change in human history. The main effects of climate change in Ecuador exhibit heterogeneous perceptions, with the more frequent droughts (34.36%) and rarer but more intense rains (21.41%) as their greater concerns. Regarding the regions more affected in Ecuador, highlands and Inter-Andean valleys sum up 45.6% while Galapagos only reaches 1.6% despite being an ecological flagship with high climate vulnerability. It seems that respondents lack knowledge about the situation in other regions, and believe that their own environment is more impacted

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

Mudança climáticas de acordo com acadêmicos equatorianos: percepções versus fatos

Climate change has become one of the most important topics in each country’s government agendas. The current effects demand quicker actions in order to decrease the speed at which the global warming and climate is changing, which are commonly seen in global agreements to reduce pollution. However, the main changes to face and mitigate such phenomena depends on each country´s decision and not on global agreements as the causes are continent-wide although the effects and magnitudes may be local. One of the key components for an effective adaption and mitigation is the role that the population have over national decisions. For this reason, the level of awareness and knowledge about what is occurring in their surroundings vital, thus the importance of a correct information broadcast and education. For the aforementioned reasons, the current study compares the recent perception of a well-educated Ecuadorean community regarding the climate change worldwide and in Ecuador with the scientific evidence and historical facts, and how it affects its vulnerability to the climate change effects.El cambio climático se ha convertido en uno de los temas más importantes en las agendas gubernamentales de cada país. Los efectos actuales exigen acciones más rápidas para disminuir la velocidad a la que el calentamiento global y el clima están cambiando, como se ve comúnmente en los acuerdos globales para reducir la contaminación. Sin embargo, los cambios principales para enfrentar y mitigar tales fenómenos dependen de la decisión de cada país y no de los acuerdos globales, ya que las causas son continentales, aunque los efectos y las magnitudes pueden ser locales. Uno de los componentes clave para una adaptación y mitigación efectivas es el papel que tiene la población sobre las decisiones nacionales. Por esta razón, el nivel de conciencia y conocimiento sobre lo que está ocurriendo en su entorno es vital, por lo tanto, la importancia de una correcta transmisión de información y educación. Por las razones mencionadas anteriormente, el estudio actual compara la percepción reciente de una comunidad ecuatoriana bien educada con respecto al cambio climático en todo el mundo y en Ecuador con la evidencia científica y los hechos históricos, y cómo afecta su vulnerabilidad a los efectos del cambio climático.A mudança climática tem sido uma das principais questões nas agendas governamentais dos países. Os efeitos atuais exigem ações climáticas efetivas as quais foram estabelecidas no Acordo de Paris com o objetivo global de reduzir as emissões de gases de efeito estufa. No entanto, as principais mudanças para enfrentar e mitigar as mudanças climáticas dependem das decisões de cada país e não apenas dos acordos globais, pois os impactos e suas magnitudes variam localmente. Um dos componentes principais para uma adaptação e mitigação eficazes é o papel que o comportamento da população pode ter sobre a política nacional e as decisões subsequentes. Por esse motivo, o nível de conscientização e conhecimento sobre as mudanças climáticas é vital. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar a percepção dos acadêmicos equatorianos em relação às mudanças climáticas globais e nacionais com as evidências científicas e fatos históricos e como isso pode afetar sua vulnerabilidade aos efeitos das mudanças climáticas. Os resultados mostram que os acadêmicos equatorianos estão bem cientes de fatos mundialmente conhecidos das mudanças climáticas, como existência, gravidade e responsabilidade dos seres humanos. No entanto, há uma consciência limitada sobre a origem, pois 67,2% acredita que esta é a primeira mudança climática na história da humanidade. Os principais efeitos das mudanças climáticas no Equador apresentam percepções heterogêneas, com as secas mais frequentes (34,36%) e as chuvas mais intensas e raras (21,41%), são as maiores preocupações. Em relação às regiões mais afetadas no Equador, as terras altas e os vales Inter andinos somam 45,6%, enquanto os Galápagos atingem apenas 1,6%, sendo um ponto ecológico com alta vulnerabilidade climática. Parece que os entrevistados não têm conhecimento sobre a situação em outras regiões e acreditam que seu próprio ambiente é mais impactado

Cambio Climático según los académicos ecuatorianos - Percepciones versus hechos

Climate change has become one of the most important topics in each country’s government agendas. The current effects demand quicker actions in order to decrease the speed at which the global warming and climate is changing, which are commonly seen in global agreements to reduce pollution. However, the main changes to face and mitigate such phenomena depends on each country´s decision and not on global agreements as the causes are continent-wide although the effects and magnitudes may be local. One of the key components for an effective adaption and mitigation is the role that the population have over national decisions. For this reason, the level of awareness and knowledge about what is occurring in their surroundings vital, thus the importance of a correct information broadcast and education. For the aforementioned reasons, the current study compares the recent perception of a well-educated Ecuadorean community regarding the climate change worldwide and in Ecuador with the scientific evidence and historical facts, and how it affects its vulnerability to the climate change effects.A mudança climática tem sido uma das principais questões nas agendas governamentais dos países. Os efeitos atuais exigem ações climáticas efetivas as quais foram estabelecidas no Acordo de Paris com o objetivo global de reduzir as emissões de gases de efeito estufa. No entanto, as principais mudanças para enfrentar e mitigar as mudanças climáticas dependem das decisões de cada país e não apenas dos acordos globais, pois os impactos e suas magnitudes variam localmente. Um dos componentes principais para uma adaptação e mitigação eficazes é o papel que o comportamento da população pode ter sobre a política nacional e as decisões subsequentes. Por esse motivo, o nível de conscientização e conhecimento sobre as mudanças climáticas é vital. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar a percepção dos acadêmicos equatorianos em relação às mudanças climáticas globais e nacionais com as evidências científicas e fatos históricos e como isso pode afetar sua vulnerabilidade aos efeitos das mudanças climáticas. Os resultados mostram que os acadêmicos equatorianos estão bem cientes de fatos mundialmente conhecidos das mudanças climáticas, como existência, gravidade e responsabilidade dos seres humanos. No entanto, há uma consciência limitada sobre a origem, pois 67,2% acredita que esta é a primeira mudança climática na história da humanidade. Os principais efeitos das mudanças climáticas no Equador apresentam percepções heterogêneas, com as secas mais frequentes (34,36%) e as chuvas mais intensas e raras (21,41%), são as maiores preocupações. Em relação às regiões mais afetadas no Equador, as terras altas e os vales Inter andinos somam 45,6%, enquanto os Galápagos atingem apenas 1,6%, sendo um ponto ecológico com alta vulnerabilidade climática. Parece que os entrevistados não têm conhecimento sobre a situação em outras regiões e acreditam que seu próprio ambiente é mais impactado.El cambio climático se ha convertido en uno de los temas más importantes en las agendas gubernamentales de cada país. Los efectos actuales exigen acciones más rápidas para disminuir la velocidad a la que el calentamiento global y el clima están cambiando, como se ve comúnmente en los acuerdos globales para reducir la contaminación. Sin embargo, los cambios principales para enfrentar y mitigar tales fenómenos dependen de la decisión de cada país y no de los acuerdos globales, ya que las causas son continentales, aunque los efectos y las magnitudes pueden ser locales. Uno de los componentes clave para una adaptación y mitigación efectivas es el papel que tiene la población sobre las decisiones nacionales. Por esta razón, el nivel de conciencia y conocimiento sobre lo que está ocurriendo en su entorno es vital, por lo tanto, la importancia de una correcta transmisión de información y educación. Por las razones mencionadas anteriormente, el estudio actual compara la percepción reciente de una comunidad ecuatoriana bien educada con respecto al cambio climático en todo el mundo y en Ecuador con la evidencia científica y los hechos históricos, y cómo afecta su vulnerabilidad a los efectos del cambio climático

Broadly tunable laser operation near 2μm in a locally disordered crystal of Tm3+-doped NaGd(WO4)2

Output powers as high as 300mW were obtained at 1925nm in the cw regime with a Tm laser operating at room temperature, either with Ti-sapphire or diode laser pumping, using a new single crystal of NaGd(WO4)2 grown by the Czochralski method and doped with 5mol.% of Tm3+ in the melt. This crystal belongs to the I4¯ tetragonal space group and exhibits a locally disordered structure due to the random occupancy of the same lattice sites by Na and Gd (or Tm) ions. The local disorder results in large bandwidths of the Tm3+ optical transitions (e.g., FWHM≈60cm−1 at 5K for the H63-->F43 transition involved in the laser emission), which allows one to obtain one of the broadest laser tunability ranges, from 1813 to 2025nm(≈17THz), achieved with a Tm3+-doped crystalline material. A detailed characterization of the Tm3+ optical spectroscopy in this novel host was performed at 5 and 300K.This work was supported within projects DT-CRYS or NMP3-CT-2003-505580 (European Union), and MAT2005-6354-C03-01 and MAT2004-21113-E (Spain). M. Rico (EX-2003-0784) and X. Mateos (EX-2004-1294) acknowledge the Education and Science Ministry of Spain for financial support.Peer reviewe

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.13Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora