Evolution is Viral: The Theory of Collective Discontinuous Evolution

Herein will be discussed the problems associated with the origin of species according to Darwinist processes of individual mutations. We will argue that individual mutations cannot be the driving force of species origination. A far more probable explanation is a process of collective mutation that affects numerous individuals near simultaneously akin to an infectious disease. These types of mutations might be precipitated by viruses which would create a discontinuous leap into another species. Such a mechanism also sheds light on the increased rate of evolution observed currently

The Attractive Universe Theory (AUT): A New approach to electricity and gravity amalgamation.

Attractive Universe Theory presents an approach to electric and gravitational forces as the display of a unique fundamental attraction. One of the main predictions is that a number of physical processes might demonstrate anisotropy. It is supposed, in particular, that gravitational constant (big G) can depend on how the gravitationally interacting masses are oriented with respect to the system of fixed stars. It is proposed that degree of CP symmetry also could depend on the orientation to the fixed stars. Another prediction is that the gravitational constant in a given location depends on the state of surrounding matter of the universe, and thus depends on location and time. This in turn should lead to a change in the method of calculating the age of the universe as well as to the conclusion that there is no such thing as unstoppable gravitation collapse

Observational constraints on spatial anisotropy of G from orbital motions

A phenomenological anisotropic variation \Delta G/G of the Newtonian gravitational coupling parameter G, if real, would affect the orbital dynamics of a two-body gravitationally bound system in a specific way. We analytically work out the long-term effects that such a putative modification of the usual Newtonian inverse-square law would induce on the trajectory of a test particle orbiting a central mass. Without making any a-priori simplifying assumptions concerning the orbital configuration of the test particle, it turns out that its osculating semi-major axis a, eccentricity e, pericenter \varpi and mean anomaly M undergo long-term temporal variations, while the inclination I and the node \Omega are left unaffected. Moreover, the radial and the transverse components of the position and the velocity vectors r and v of the test particle experience non-vanishing changes per orbit, contrary to the out-of-plane ones. Then, we compute our theoretical predictions for some of the major bodies of the solar system by orienting the gradient of G(r) towards the Galactic Center and keeping it fixed over the characteristic timescales involved. By comparing our calculation to the latest observational determinations for the same bodies, we infer \Delta G/G <= 10^-17 over about 1 au. Finally, we consider also the Supermassive Black Hole hosted by the Galactic Center in Sgr A^* and the main sequence star S2 orbiting it in about 16 yr, obtaining just \Delta G/G <= 10^-2 over 1 kau.Comment: LaTex2e, 18 pages, no figures, 4 tables. Accepted by Classical and Quantum Gravity (CQG). Typo fixed. Reference update

Determination of the E2/M1 Ratio in the \gamma N \to \Delta(1232) Transition from a Simultaneous Measurement of p(\vec{\gamma},p)\pi^0 and p(\vec{\gamma},\pi^+)n

Tagged linearly polarized photons have been used at the Mainz Microtron MAMI for simultaneous measurements of the p(\vec{\gamma},p)\pi^0 and p(\vec{\gamma},\pi^+)n reaction channels to study the \gamma N \to \Delta(1232) transition. The energy dependence of the magnetic dipole M_{1+}^{3/2} and electric quadrupole E_{1+}^{3/2} amplitudes have been extracted from these data in the photon energy range from 270 to 420 MeV. The E2/M1 ratio for the \gamma N \to \Delta(1232) transition has been determined to be - (2.5+-0.1_{stat}+-0.2_{sys}) % at the resonance position delta_{33}=90^0.Comment: 25 pages Latex including 13 postscript figures submitted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Remarks to solve disagreement between Gravity anisotropy and constraints on the variation of Gravitational constant (big G) based on gravimetric data: Reply to "Nano-constraints on the spatial anisotropy of the Gravitational Constant"

Remarks to solve disagreement between Gravity anisotropy observed at decimeter distances and constraints on the spatial variation of Gravitational constant (big G) based on gravimetric data and Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) experiments. Disagreement disappears when we assume that Gravitational anisotropy may depend on the magnitudes of the interacting masses and the distance between them

DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTIPLEX ALLELE-SPECIFIC REAL-TIME PCR METHOD FOR DETECTION OF PIK3CA GENE SOMATIC MUTATIONS AND ITS VALIDATION IN THE TUMORS OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Aim: To develop a highly sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system for detection of somatic mutations in 542 and 545 codons of exon 9 and 1047 codon of exon 20 of PIK3CA gene comprising more than 80% of all somatic mutations in this gene for application on histological material without macroand microdissection, and to analyze associations between these mutations and clinical and pathological characteristics of breast tumors.Materials and methods: The Allele-specific real-time PCR method with signal detection by TaqMan probes was used. For determination of its analytical sensitivity, plasmids carrying the mutations studied were constructed by standard genetic engineering methods using mutagenesis. DNA samples carrying various mutated/wild type DNA ratios (5.0; 2.0; 1.0; 0.5, 0.25%) were prepared. Results: Multiplex allele-specific real-time PCR method for detection of most common mutations in PIK3CA gene: p.E542K c.1624G&gt;A, p.E545K c.1633G&gt;A, p.H1047R c.3140A&gt;G, p.H1047L c.3140A&gt;T – was developed and optimized.Analytical sensitivity of mutation detection comprised 0.5% for p.E542K and 0.25% for p.E545K, p.H1047R and H1047L enzyme.Conclusion: The method developed for detection of somatic mutations in PIK3CA gene is sufficiently sensitive, specific and efficient, that allows to propose it for a routine screening in clinical diagnostic laboratories for evaluation of disease prognosis and monitoring of response to therapy and its modification

On the Scientific Maturity of Digital Forensics Research

Part 1: THEMES AND ISSUESInternational audienceThis paper applies a scientific maturity grade schema from the software engineering domain to research in the field of digital forensics. On the basis of this maturity schema and its grades, the paper classifies the current maturity of digital forensics research. The findings show that much more research conducted at higher levels of “scientificness” is necessary before the new field of digital forensics can be considered to be scientifically mature