A Class of Renormalization Group Invariant Scalar Field Cosmologies

We present a class of scalar field cosmologies with a dynamically evolving Newton parameter $G$ and cosmological term $\Lambda$. In particular, we discuss a class of solutions which are consistent with a renormalization group scaling for $G$ and $\Lambda$ near a fixed point. Moreover, we propose a modified action for gravity which includes the effective running of $G$ and $\Lambda$ near the fixed point. A proper understanding of the associated variational problem is obtained upon considering the four-dimensional gradient of the Newton parameter.Comment: 10 pages, RevTex4, no figures, to appear on GR

Preclinical assessment of a modified Occlutech left atrial appendage closure device in a porcine model

Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is being developed as an alternative for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation that cannot tolerate long-term oral anticoagulation. To assess the feasibility, safety, and performance of a novel modified Occlutech LAA closure device in a preclinical porcine model, the modified Occlutech modified Occlutech Plus LAA closure device was implanted in 12 female pigs (25-39 kg body weight) under fluoroscopic and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) guidance. Procedural and technical success, as well as safety of LAA closure, were evaluated peri-procedurally and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Moreover, after 4, 8 and, 12 weeks animals were sacrificed for pathological analysis (e.g., thrombus formation, device ingrowth, endothelialization, and inflammation). All LAA closure devices were successfully implanted. On follow-up, no serious adverse events such as device-associated thrombus or translocalization/embolization were observed. A clinically non-significant pericarditis was observed in 4 animals at the time of autopsy. Endothelialization of the device was visible after 4 weeks, advanced after 8 weeks and completed after 12 weeks. Immunohistochemistry showed low amounts of inflammatory infiltration on the edges of the device. The results of this study indicate that implantation of a modified Occlutech LAA closure device is feasible with rapid endothelialization and low inflammatory infiltration in a porcine model. Human data are needed to further characterize safety and efficacy

Chromatin remodelling and autocrine TNFα are required for optimal interleukin-6 expression in activated human neutrophils

How IL-6 expression is regulated in human neutrophils has remained unclear. Here the authors show, using highly purified neutrophils, that TLR8 or TLR4 signalling activates latent enhancers and cooperates with autocrine TNFα to induce IL-6 transcription

Oral health of paralympic athletes: is there enough scientific evidence to support oral health actions for this population? Narrative review: Saúde bucal de atletas paraolímpicos: existem evidências científicas suficientes para fundamentar ações de saúde bucal para essa população? Revisão narrativa

Paralympic athletes are athletes with disabilities who compete in official recreational or collegiate competitions. Like any other group of people, these para-athletes need special attention concerning oral health. Oral health is a hotly debated topic in the literature in general, but what about the oral health of para-athletes, is there enough scientific evidence on oral health to support oral health actions for para-athletes? This narrative review aimed to answer this question. A review of the literature using the PubMed database was performed between March and April 2022. The authors selected original studies in the English language without a limit of date. The search strategy consisted of a combination of terms “Special Olympics” AND “athletes” and “Paralympic athletes” AND “oral health”. 1140 articles were founded, but only 24 matched the inclusion criteria. The studies included oral health data from 185,499 para-athletes. Gingival problems and dental caries were the most cited oral problems. There is a significant need for the preventive and restorative oral health of this population. The studies provide sufficient information to plan specific actions for this population

Características histológicas del hígado de la llama (Lama glama)

The aim of this study was to analyse the histological characteristics of the liver of the llama. Twenty adult llamas, males and females, with an average age of two years were studied. Samples were processed using the following techniques: haematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson's trichrome stain, reticulin, orcein, PAS, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. The characteristics of the liver parenchyma and stroma were similar to those found in other mammals. However, interlobular connective tissue similar to that described for the genus Camelus was not observed. The differences in the liver of the species of the Camelus and Lama genuses showed the need to carry out studies of the organs in all species and highlights the importance of not generalizing from other species of the same family.El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las características histológicas del hígado de la llama. Se estudiaron 20 llamas adultas, machos y hembras, con edad promedio de dos años. Las muestras fueron procesadas utilizando las técnicas de tinción con hematoxilina-eosina, tinción tricrómica de Masson, reticulina, orceína, PAS, inmunohistoquímicas y microscopía electrónica de transmisión. Las características del parénquima y del estroma del hígado fueron similares a las encontradas en otros mamíferos. Sin embargo, no se observó tejido conectivo interlobulillar similar al descrito para el género Camelus. Las diferencias en el hígado de las especies del género Camelus y Lama demuestran la necesidad de realizar estudios de los órganos en todas las especies y destaca la importancia de no generalizar a partir de otras especies de la misma familia

Promoting More Physical Activity and Less Sedentary Behaviour During the COVID-19 Situation – SportStudisMoveYou (SSMY): A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To determine the effect of an innovative, online-based intervention, addressing the possible decline of physical activity (PA) and increase of sedentary behavior (SB) during COVID-19 stay at home restrictions in Switzerland. Methods: This study investigated the effect of a two-week, social cognitive theory based, online-video moderate to vigorous (MV)PA or SB intervention on MVPA and SB behaviour and intention via a 3 group by 2 time point parallel randomized controlled trial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adults (≥18 yo) were recruited over the internet between April 10th and April 19th 2020 (n = 129; 75.2% female; mean age = 29.0 [SD 11.8] years). Both intervention groups received five videos targeting either SB for the SB group or MVPA for the MVPA group and were compared to an attention control group (fruit and vegetable consumption). It was hypothesized that MVPA time and intention would increase for the MVPA group and the SB group would outperform control on SB behaviour and intention indicators. Results: No significant interactions were found for the MVPA group (n = 41) versus control (n = 40). Only one significant interaction was measured for the SB group (n = 48; intention of active breaks F = (2,114) = 5.84, p = 0.004, ηp2 = 0.09). Although mostly non-significant and small effects, the MVPA group showed results pointing in the hypothesized direction on all PA indicators and the SB on all SB indicators, respectively. Conclusion: Considering this study’s limitations (e.g. small intervention dose), video-based online PA and SB interventions seem promising and feasible. This approach is appropriate for COVID-19 and other stay at home situations

Fashioning Fluorous Organic Spacers for Tunable and Stable Layered Hybrid Perovskites

Two dimensional (2D) organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites have recently attracted enormous attention due to their higher environmental stability with respect to three-dimensional (3D) perovskites and larger structural tunability. The layered structure relaxes constraints on the dimensions of the organic cations that alternate the inorganic sheets, opening up a large choice on the organics, ultimately enabling the creation of tunable layered perovskites. Here, we report on a series of fluorous cations, varying in size and shape, as building blocks for a new family of fluorous 2D lead-iodide perovskites. These display a large tunability in the optical and dielectric properties depending on the structure of the fluorous cations. Importantly, despite the invariant inorganic framework, the 2D perovskite electronic structure is strongly affected by the cation size. The longer the cation, the smaller the 2D perovskite band gap and the exciton binding energy (reducing from 400 meV down to 130 meV). Such variation is induced by the strain in the inorganic sheet, resulting in a more dispersed valence and conduction bands, in turn yielding a smaller band gap. In addition, a smaller effective mass for the 2D perovskite with the longest cation is calculated, for which improved transport properties are anticipated. Importantly, the fluorous moiety confers extreme stability to the 2D perovskite and enhances the hydrophobic character of the perovskite surface, which remains perfectly stable for more than one month in ambient conditions

Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above 4×10184{\times}10^{18} eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory

A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding $4{\times}10^{18}$ eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers with zenith angles greater than $60^{\circ}$ detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above $5.3{\times}10^{18}$ eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law $E^{-\gamma}$ with index $\gamma=2.70 \pm 0.02 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.1\,\text{(sys)}$ followed by a smooth suppression region. For the energy ($E_\text{s}$) at which the spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence of suppression, we find $E_\text{s}=(5.12\pm0.25\,\text{(stat)}^{+1.0}_{-1.2}\,\text{(sys)}){\times}10^{19}$ eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO