Unofficial Torturers and Helpless Victims: Applying the Convention Against Torture to Organized Criminal Groups

Since its inception, the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) conceived torture as a state crime. The Convention established a so-called “state-nexus” that effectively excludes torture committed by non-state actors. The Committee Against Torture as well as the world’s major anti-torture NGOs have almost exclusively focused on ill-treatment perpetrated by state entities. Yet, there have been efforts to extend the definition to private actors, including the “de facto authority” approach, and the due diligence doctrine. This article explores the effectiveness of these efforts to expand the scope of the UNCAT when applied to organized criminal organization such as gangs and cartels. By incorporating legal theory, human rights scholarship, and interviews with human rights practitioners, this work aims to highlight the limitations and opportunities of applying the UNCAT to acts of torture and ill-treatment perpetrated by organized criminal groups. The essay concludes that holding criminal groups accountable for committing torture requires both a broader understanding of what torture entails under the Convention that focuses on the victim, as well as addressing systemic issues in fragile states to prevent the types of environments that propitiate torture

DEBI (Device for Bikes)

En la ciudad de Guadalajara, Jalisco en México, la seguridad de los ciclistas en áreas urbanas es un gran problema. El gobierno ha invertido en infraestructura como ciclovías y otros programas de movilidad para resolver este conflicto, pero el riesgo de seguridad continua. El dispositivo llamado DEBI (device for bikes) fue desarrollado como prueba de concepto que proporciona características de seguridad activa para ciclistas en áreas urbanas con la implementación de un dispositivo económico y portable. Las principales características de DEBI incluyen: Luces LED que son usadas para indicar cuando el ciclista está frenando y luces direccionales que son controladas de forma inalámbrica usando una aplicación de software ejecutada desde un smartphone. DEBI puede también detectar cuando otros vehículos se acercan en curso de colisión y activa una alarma acústica para alertar al ciclista. Todas estas características son alcanzadas gracias al acelerómetro con tecnología MEMs (Microelectromechanical Systems) y el sensor ultrasónico de proximidad que se comunica con el componente principal que es el microcontrolador ATmega328p de Atmel que está integrado en la tarjeta de desarrollo Bluno Beetle que además cuenta con un módulo de comunicación bluetooth embebido. Los resultados fueron satisfactorios considerando el alcance de este proyecto y todas las funcionalidades de seguridad fueron probadas. Sin embargo, es importante notar que algunas cuestiones relacionadas con lecturas falso-positivas fueron encontradas bajo circunstancias específicas, esto podría ser corregido en futuras versiones usando un sensor de proximidad más robusto, aunque esto requiere un análisis más detallado debido a que incrementaría de manera significativa el costo del dispositivo.In the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco in Mexico, the safety of cyclists in urban areas is a current problem. The government is investing in infrastructure like bicycle paths and other mobility programs to solve this issue, but there is still a lack of security measures that allow cyclists to ride safely, for example, the incorporation of technological devices with safety features. DEBI (Device for Bikes) is a product developed as a proof of concept to provide active safety features for cyclists in urban areas by implementing a low-cost and portable device. The main features of DEBI include: LED lights used to indicate when the cyclist is stopping and turn signals that are controlled via wireless using a software application running on a smartphone. DEBI can also detect when other vehicles are approaching in collision course and activate an acoustic alarm to alert the cyclist. All these features are achieved thanks to accelerometer with Microelectromechanical Systems technology (MEMs) and an ultrasonic proximity sensor that communicates with the core component, the ATmega328p microcontroller by Atmel™, integrated in the Bluno Beetle™ development board with a built-in Bluetooth communication module. The result was satisfactory considering the scope of this project and all safety features were validated. However, it is important to note that issues related to false-positive detection were found under specific circumstances, this could be corrected in future versions using a more robust proximity sensor, but it will require further analysis since this could significantly increase the cost of the device.Sistema BEAConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí

Deshidratación solar de frutas en casa: una alternativa en medio de la pandemia.

2 aprendices participantes de la estrategia virtual "La tecno te visita" en el año 2020 y 2021, nos relantan su experiencia que desde el área de nanotecnología fortalecieron su interés en procesos de investigación, con un proyecto llamado:  DESHIDRATACIÓN SOLAR DE FRUTAS EN CASA: UNA ALTERNATIVA EN MEDIO DE LA PANDEMIA. &nbsp

Reconstructing the History of Syntenies Through Super-Reconciliation

Classical gene and species tree reconciliation, used to infer the history of gene gain and loss explaining the evolution of gene families, assumes an independent evolution for each family. While this assumption is reasonable for genes that are far apart in the genome, it is clearly not suited for genes grouped in syntenic blocks, which are more plausibly the result of a concerted evolution. Here, we introduce the Super-Reconciliation model, that extends the traditional Duplication-Loss model to the reconciliation of a set of trees, accounting for segmental duplications and losses. From a complexity point of view, we show that the associated decision problem is NP-hard. We then give an exact exponential-time algorithm for this problem, assess its time efficiency on simulated datasets, and give a proof of concept on the opioid receptor genes

Los Efectos Jurídicos de la Aplicación del Criterio Discrecional de los Registradores del Registro de la Propiedad Raíz e Hipotecas, al momento de calificar los Instrumentos presentados para su Inscripción

El presente trabajo de investigación tiene como título: Los Efectos Jurídicos de la Aplicación del Criterio Discrecional de los Registradores del Registro de la Propiedad Raíz e Hipotecas, al momento de calificar los Instrumentos Presentados Para su Inscripción. En el cual se expone la problemática que existe, de la variabilidad de criterios de los registradores al ejercer la función Calificadora Registral, y los efectos jurídicos que esto conlleva, así como los principales afectados, por la falta de unificación de Criterios Registrales. La función Calificadora Registral, se encuentra regulada por el sistema jurídico Registral Salvadoreño, por lo que la calificación debe ir encaminada a garantizar la seguridad jurídica, de los instrumentos sujetos a la inscripción, por lo que fue preciso conocer en primer momento, sobre los antecedentes históricos del Registro Inmobiliario, de igual manera, la función calificadora, los criterios de calificación de los registradores. La función calificadora permite al registrador actuar con cierta facultad discrecional, de apreciación para calificar los instrumentos presentados para su inscripción, lo cual en algunos casos se presenta variabilidad de criterios, lo que afecta principalmente, al principio de seguridad jurídica, y es por ello que se desarrolla cada uno de los principios registrales aplicables. En el presente trabajo de Grado, se demostró la necesidad de unificar la diversidad de Criterios Registrales de los registradores del Registro de la Propiedad Raíz e Hipotecas, lo cual permita una correcta aplicación delprincipio de seguridad jurídica, en aquellos casos donde existe mayor contradicción

Bioluminescent Genetically Encoded Glutamate Indicators for Molecular Imaging of Neuronal Activity.

Genetically encoded optical sensors and advancements in microscopy instrumentation and techniques have revolutionized the scientific toolbox available for probing complex biological processes such as release of specific neurotransmitters. Most genetically encoded optical sensors currently used are based on fluorescence and have been highly successful tools for single-cell imaging in superficial brain regions. However, there remains a need to develop new tools for reporting neuronal activity in vivo within deeper structures without the need for hardware such as lenses or fibers to be implanted within the brain. Our approach to this problem is to replace the fluorescent elements of the existing biosensors with bioluminescent elements. This eliminates the need of external light sources to illuminate the sensor, thus allowing deeper brain regions to be imaged noninvasively. Here, we report the development of the first genetically encoded neurotransmitter indicators based on bioluminescent light emission. These probes were optimized by high-throughput screening of linker libraries. The selected probes exhibit robust changes in light output in response to the extracellular presence of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. We expect this new approach to neurotransmitter indicator design to enable the engineering of specific bioluminescent probes for multiple additional neurotransmitters in the future, ultimately allowing neuroscientists to monitor activity associated with a specific neurotransmitter as it relates to behavior in a variety of neuronal and psychiatric disorders, among many other applications

MEDICIÓN DE POTENCIA ELÉCTRICA EN REDES ELÉCTRICAS INTELIGENTES CON FUENTES DE ENERGÍA RENOVABLE

En el presente trabajo se presenta el diseño de un sistema de gestión de energía, en donde se emplea una tarjeta de medición de potencia, la cual fue elaborada y caracterizada para su implementación en una red eléctrica inteligente. El dispositivo fue elaborado con el propósito de crear una tarjeta de medición de potencia de bajo costo para el monitoreo de la generación de fuentes de energías renovables como son sistemas eólicos y fotovoltaicos. El desarrollo de este dispositivo tiene la finalidad de procesar las mediciones de generación realizadas y de la demanda energética para ser empleadas en un sistema de gestión energética que pueda tomar decisiones de cuales cargas en el edificio puedan ser alimentadas.Los resultados obtenidos indican que esta tarjeta es una buena alternativa para realizar la gestión y el monitoreo de los sistemas de generación de energías renovables

Quantum dynamics of simultaneously measured non-commuting observables.

In quantum mechanics, measurements cause wavefunction collapse that yields precise outcomes, whereas for non-commuting observables such as position and momentum Heisenberg's uncertainty principle limits the intrinsic precision of a state. Although theoretical work has demonstrated that it should be possible to perform simultaneous non-commuting measurements and has revealed the limits on measurement outcomes, only recently has the dynamics of the quantum state been discussed. To realize this unexplored regime, we simultaneously apply two continuous quantum non-demolition probes of non-commuting observables to a superconducting qubit. We implement multiple readout channels by coupling the qubit to multiple modes of a cavity. To control the measurement observables, we implement a 'single quadrature' measurement by driving the qubit and applying cavity sidebands with a relative phase that sets the observable. Here, we use this approach to show that the uncertainty principle governs the dynamics of the wavefunction by enforcing a lower bound on the measurement-induced disturbance. Consequently, as we transition from measuring identical to measuring non-commuting observables, the dynamics make a smooth transition from standard wavefunction collapse to localized persistent diffusion and then to isotropic persistent diffusion. Although the evolution of the state differs markedly from that of a conventional measurement, information about both non-commuting observables is extracted by keeping track of the time ordering of the measurement record, enabling quantum state tomography without alternating measurements. Our work creates novel capabilities for quantum control, including rapid state purification, adaptive measurement, measurement-based state steering and continuous quantum error correction. As physical systems often interact continuously with their environment via non-commuting degrees of freedom, our work offers a way to study how notions of contemporary quantum foundations arise in such settings

Consistent patterns of common species across tropical tree communities

Trees structure the Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystem, tropical forests. The vast number of tree species presents a formidable challenge to understanding these forests, including their response to environmental change, as very little is known about most tropical tree species. A focus on the common species may circumvent this challenge. Here we investigate abundance patterns of common tree species using inventory data on 1,003,805 trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm across 1,568 locations1,2,3,4,5,6 in closed-canopy, structurally intact old-growth tropical forests in Africa, Amazonia and Southeast Asia. We estimate that 2.2%, 2.2% and 2.3% of species comprise 50% of the tropical trees in these regions, respectively. Extrapolating across all closed-canopy tropical forests, we estimate that just 1,053 species comprise half of Earth’s 800 billion tropical trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm. Despite differing biogeographic, climatic and anthropogenic histories7, we find notably consistent patterns of common species and species abundance distributions across the continents. This suggests that fundamental mechanisms of tree community assembly may apply to all tropical forests. Resampling analyses show that the most common species are likely to belong to a manageable list of known species, enabling targeted efforts to understand their ecology. Although they do not detract from the importance of rare species, our results open new opportunities to understand the world’s most diverse forests, including modelling their response to environmental change, by focusing on the common species that constitute the majority of their trees.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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