Observation of the effect of gravity on the motion of antimatter

Einstein's general theory of relativity from 19151 remains the most successful description of gravitation. From the 1919 solar eclipse2 to the observation of gravitational waves3, the theory has passed many crucial experimental tests. However, the evolving concepts of dark matter and dark energy illustrate that there is much to be learned about the gravitating content of the universe. Singularities in the general theory of relativity and the lack of a quantum theory of gravity suggest that our picture is incomplete. It is thus prudent to explore gravity in exotic physical systems. Antimatter was unknown to Einstein in 1915. Dirac's theory4 appeared in 1928; the positron was observed5 in 1932. There has since been much speculation about gravity and antimatter. The theoretical consensus is that any laboratory mass must be attracted6 by the Earth, although some authors have considered the cosmological consequences if antimatter should be repelled by matter7-10. In the general theory of relativity, the weak equivalence principle (WEP) requires that all masses react identically to gravity, independent of their internal structure. Here we show that antihydrogen atoms, released from magnetic confinement in the ALPHA-g apparatus, behave in a way consistent with gravitational attraction to the Earth. Repulsive 'antigravity' is ruled out in this case. This experiment paves the way for precision studies of the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration between anti-atoms and the Earth to test the WEP.

DIAGNÓSTICO HEMATOLÓGICO EM PACIENTE INTERNADO POR COVID-19 COM SINTOMAS NEUROPSIQUIATRICOS

Introdução

Anemias carenciais são patologias de alta prevalência dentre as doenças da série vermelha, o qual a Deficiência de Vitamina B12 se destaca na sua pluralidade de sintomas clínicos.

Objetivos

Relatar caso de paciente internada por Covid-19 com quadro clínico grave de anemia, paraparesia e psicose por Deficiência de B12.

Relato de caso

Paciente sexo Feminino, 45 anos, sem comorbidades prévias, internada em junho/2021 em enfermaria Covid-19 devido sintomas respiratórios altos com teste Rápido sorológico por método imunocromatográfico positivo. Iniciou há 08 meses quadro progressivo de astenia, parestesia de membros inferiores, evoluindo progressivamente para paraparesia, associado nos últimos 02 meses com quadro de embotamento, alucinações visuais e sonoras, déficit cognitivo e retenção urinária. Em hemograma prévio a internação apresenta resultado: HB 6,0. Ht 17,9%, VCM 111,9. HCM 37,5; CHCM 37,5; RDW 18,5%; Leucócitos: 2800; BAST: 2%; SEGMEN: 40%; LINF 56%; EOSI 1%; MONO: 1%; PLAQ 149.000; DHL 1.920U/L; PCR 12,7. FERRITINA 339 ALT: 23, AST: 31. MAGNÉSIO 1,7. SÓDIO 146. POTASSIO 4,5; FOSFORO 3,49; CALCIO TOTAL: 8,61; CLORO: 98; UREIA 25. CREAT 0,46. Foi solicitado dosagem de VIT B12 e ácido fólico, demonstrado seguintes resultados: Acido fólico sérico >20 ng/mL. Vitamina B12 sérica: < 50,00 pg/mL. Foi iniciado reposição na primeira semana com Cobalamina 15.000ui divididas em 03 doses em dias alternados, posteriormente com 5.000ui/semana. Sua resposta ao tratamento na primeira semana foi a normalização da contagem de plaquetas e de leucócitos (177.000 e 5050 respectivamente), melhora dos sintomas psiquiátricos e neuro cognitivo, e breve melhora da parestesia e paraparesia de membros inferiores. A paciente foi encaminhada para Endoscopia Digestiva Alta e Ressonância Magnética de Coluna Lombossacra em sua alta da enfermaria Covid-19 para investigação etiológica

Discussão

Diante do contexto da Pandemia Covid-19, a investigação de sinais e sintomas clínicos não compatíveis com a infecção em uma internação, torna-se importante para o atendimento integral ao paciente, reconhecendo e investigando diagnósticos diferenciais que podem coexistir. Em meio aos sintomas psiquiátricos e neurológicos, a investigação de Deficiência de Vitamina B12 entra como importante hipótese diagnóstica diante de alterações hematológicas associado ao quadro clínico.

Conclusão

no contexto da Pandemia, vários diagnósticos podem ser elucidados em meio a coexistência de infecção por Covid-19.

Cryogenic mount for mirror and piezoelectric actuator for an optical cavity

We present the development of a mount that accommodates a mirror and a piezoelectric actuator with emphasis on physical needs for low temperature operation. The design uses a monolithic construction with flexure features that allow it to steadily hold the mirror and the piezoelectric actuator without glue and accommodate differential thermal contraction. The mount is small and lightweight, adding little heat capacity and inertia. It provides a pre-loading of the piezoelectric actuator as well as a good thermal connection to the mirror and a thermal short across the piezoelectric actuator. The performance of the assemblies has been tested by thermally cycling from room temperature down to 3 K more than a dozen times and over one hundred times to 77 K, without showing any derating. Such mounts are proposed for the cryogenic optical enhancement cavities of the ALPHA experiment at CERN for laser spectroscopy of antihydrogen and for hydrogen spectroscopy in our laboratory at UFRJ.

Purification of binder of sperm protein 1 (BSP1) and its effects on bovine in vitro embryo development after fertilization with ejaculated and epididymal sperm

The present study evaluated functional aspects of binder of sperm 1 (BSP1) in the bovine species. In a first experiment, cumulus-oocyte complexes (n = 1274) were incubated with frozen-thawed ejaculated sperm (18 hours) in Fert-TALP medium containing: heparin, 10, 20, or 40 μg/mL BSP1. Heparin followed by gelatin affinity chromatography was used for purification of BSP1 from bovine seminal vesicle fluid. With ejaculated sperm, cleavage rates were similar when Fert-TALP medium was incubated with heparin (74.1 ± 2.7%), 10 μg/mL BSP1 (77.8 ± 3.1%), or 20 μg/mL BSP1 (74 ± 2.0%). Day-7 blastocyst rates were equivalent after incubations with heparin (40.8 ± 5.0%) and 10 μg/mL BSP1 (34.1 ± 4.4%), but reduced after 20 μg/mL BSP1 (22.4 ± 2.9%) and 40 μg/mL BSP1 (19.3 ± 4.1%; P < 0.05). In the second experiment, cumulus-oocyte complexes (n = 1213) were incubated with frozen-thawed cauda epididymal sperm (18 hours) in Fert-TALP medium containing: no heparin, heparin, 10, 20, or 40 μg/mL. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were similar after treatments with heparin (68.5 ± 1.3% and 24.7 ± 3.2%, respectively) or without heparin (65.5 ± 1.8% and 27.3 ± 1.6%, respectively). Cleavage was higher after treatment with any BSP1 concentrations (74.2 ± 2.7%-79.0 ± 1.1%) than without heparin (P < 0.05). Also, cleavage was better after Fert-TALP medium incubation with 40 μg/mL BSP1 (79.0 ± 1.1%) than with heparin (68.5 ± 1.3%; P < 0.05). Embryo development was higher (P < 0.05) after treatment with 20 μg/mL BSP1 (35.6 ± 2.5%) and 40 μg/mL (41.1 ± 2%) than after incubations with heparin (24.7 ± 3.2%) or without heparin (27.3 ± 1.6%). Interestingly, BSP1 did not cause reductions in blastocyst rates after fertilization with epididymal sperm, as observed with ejaculated sperm. On the basis of immunocytochemistry, there was BSP1 binding to frozen-thawed ejaculated but not to epididymal sperm. Also, anti-BSP1 reaction remained on ejaculated sperm (as expected) and appeared on epididymal sperm after incubation with purified BSP1. Acrosome reaction of ejaculated and epididymal sperm was induced after incubation with purified BSP1 as well, indicating an effect of BSP1 on capacitation. In conclusion, purified BSP1 from bull seminal vesicles was able to bind to and induce capacitation of ejaculated and epididymal sperm. Also, BSP1 added to fertilization media and allowed proper cleavage and embryo development, with the effects being modulated by previous exposure or not of spermatozoa to seminal plasma.

Matrix isolation sublimation: An apparatus for producing cryogenic beams of atoms and molecules

We describe the apparatus to generate cryogenic beams of atoms and molecules based on matrix isolation sublimation. Isolation matrices of Ne and H2 are hosts for atomic and molecular species which are sublimated into vacuum at cryogenic temperatures. The resulting cryogenic beams are used for high-resolution laser spectroscopy. The technique also aims at loading atomic and molecular traps.

Immune response in cattle vaccinated against rabies

In order to determine the best type of rabies vaccine to use as a booster, 78 serological samples from singly vaccinated cattle were analyzed by counterimmunoelectrophoresis technique. The animals were divided into several groups, received the first vaccine dose with modified live virus vaccine (ERA strain) and were revaccinated with inactivated virus or modified live virus vaccines. Boosters were given at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks following first vaccination. Results showed high titres in the cases of booster with inactivated vaccine. In all cases, however, detectable antibody titres declined quickly.