On the speed of light in a vacuum in the presence of a magnetic field

The nature of light, the existence of magnetism, the physical meaning of a vacuum are problems so deeply related to philosophy that they have been discussed for thousands of years. In this paper, we concentrate ourselves on a question that concerns the three of them: does light speed in a vacuum change when a magnetic field is present? The experimental answer to this fundamental question has not yet been given even if it has been stated in modern terms for more than a century. To fully understand the importance of such a question in physics, we review the main facts and concepts from the historical point of view.Comment: 31 pages, 17 figures; corrected reference formattin

Propuesta de implementación de buenas prácticas de almacenamiento para una empresa importadora y comercializadora de insumos médicos en las sucursales de Guayaquil, Quito y Cuenca

El objetivo del trabajo a presentarse es proponer la implementación de las buenas prácticas de almacenamiento para empresas importadoras y comercializadoras de productos farmacéuticos o insumos médicos, donde se tomó de referencia a una empresa con las características ya mencionadas, extendiéndolo a sus 3 sucursales ubicadas en Guayaquil, Quito y Cuenca. Para llevar a cabo este proyecto se procedió al estudio y evaluación de la situación inicial de las bodegas en cada sucursal, por medio de inspecciones y recorridos en los que se determinaron las no conformidades e identificaron puntos de mejora dentro de los procesos inherentes a BPA. Luego de culminar con las auditorías internas se tomó en cuenta los resultados obtenidos durante los análisis estadísticos en los que se evaluaron las situaciones actuales de la empresa para luego proceder a realizar una propuesta para la implementación de la normativa de BPA de acuerdo a las necesidades presentadas en las bodegas de las sucursales en mención.The objective of the work to be presented is to propose the implementation of good storage practices for importing and marketing companies of pharmaceutical products or medical supplies, where a company with the aforementioned characteristics was taken as reference, extending it to its 3 branches located in Guayaquil, Quito and Cuenca. To carry out this project, the initial situation of the wineries in each branch was studied and evaluated, through inspections and routes in which the nonconformities were determined and points of improvement were identified within the processes inherent in BPA. After completing the internal audits, the results obtained during the statistical analyzes were evaluated in which the current situations of the company were evaluated and then proceed to make a proposal for the implementation of the BPA regulations according to the needs presented in the warehouses of the mentioned branches

No Evidence of HIV and SIV Sequences in Two Separate Lots of Polio Vaccines Used in the First U.S. Polio Vaccine Campaign

AbstractWe obtained sealed vials of two different polio vaccine lots, expiration date 1955, which were used in the first U.S. polio vaccine campaign. These early lots were pulled from the market because they contained live infectious poliovirus which caused polio in some of the vaccines. Theoretically, these vaccines could have contained other infectious retroviruses, including HIV. No viral sequences were detected using RT-PCR analyses with primers capable of amplifying chimpanzee SIV and HIV-1-related viruses nor with primers for macaque SIV, sooty mangabey SIV, and HIV-2-related viruses. Poliovirus sequences were readily amplified by RT-PCR, suggesting that the technique used would have detected SIV or HIV sequences, if present

Dark Matter in the Coming Decade: Complementary Paths to Discovery and Beyond

In this report we summarize the many dark matter searches currently being pursued through four complementary approaches: direct detection, indirect detection, collider experiments, and astrophysical probes. The essential features of broad classes of experiments are described, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The complementarity of the different dark matter searches is discussed qualitatively and illustrated quantitatively in two simple theoretical frameworks. Our primary conclusion is that the diversity of possible dark matter candidates requires a balanced program drawing from all four approaches.Comment: Report prepared for the Community Summer Study (Snowmass) 2013, on behalf of Cosmic Frontier Working Groups 1-4 (CF1: WIMP Dark Matter Direct Detection, CF2: WIMP Dark Matter Indirect Detection, CF3: Non-WIMP Dark Matter, and CF4: Dark Matter Complementarity); published versio

Compostaje de la cama de pollo como procedimiento para la eliminación de microorganismos patógenos

El uso de cama de pollo sin tratar en los sistemas hortícolas, implica un riesgo de salud de magnitud. Ahondamos en el tema para proponer estrategias saludables de su utilizaciónEEA BalcarceFil: Pellegrini, María Celeste. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos y Ambiente; Argentina.Fil: Ponce, Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos y Ambiente; Argentina.Fil: Okada, Elena. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina.Fil: Lavallén, Carla. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente; Argentina.Fil: Dopchiz, Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente; Argentina.Fil: Rizzo, Pedro Federico. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Mendoza; Argentina.Fil: Pérez, Débora. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina.Fil: Carciochi, Walter. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina.Fil: Carciochi, Walter. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina.Fil: Young, Brian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; Argentina

An updated re-entry analysis of the Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST), launched in 1990, has without question given us a better understanding of the Universe [1]. The storied spacecraft has far exceeded its design life and, in spite of four repair missions, is nearing the end of its useful lifespan. Originally designed to be returned by the Space Shuttle, the HST has no on-board propulsion system. A 2012 study estimated that without intervention, the HST will re-enter the atmosphere in approximately 2027 with a 1:240 risk of fatality [2]. This study updates that analysis with more recent de-orbit technologies and updated trajectory information. We propose a design solution to safely perform a targeted de-orbit, assuming a worst-case scenario (a non-functional, tumbling spacecraft). Multiple de-orbit options are assessed to actively capture the satellite. Results frame an approach that could be accomplished with proven technologies at reasonable cost to improve the fatality risk as required by US Government regulation [3]. Moreover, delayed action would significantly increase mission cost and complexity so we recommend a project start in the near future

Maternal Diabetes and Obesity Influence the Fetal Epigenome in a Largely Hispanic Population

BACKGROUND: Obesity and diabetes mellitus are directly implicated in many adverse health consequences in adults as well as in the offspring of obese and diabetic mothers. Hispanic Americans are particularly at risk for obesity, diabetes, and end-stage renal disease. Maternal obesity and/or diabetes through prenatal programming may alter the fetal epigenome increasing the risk of metabolic disease in their offspring. The aims of this study were to determine if maternal obesity or diabetes mellitus during pregnancy results in a change in infant methylation of CpG islands adjacent to targeted genes specific for obesity or diabetes disease pathways in a largely Hispanic population. METHODS: Methylation levels in the cord blood of 69 newborns were determined using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. Over 850,000 different probe sites were analyzed to determine whether maternal obesity and/or diabetes mellitus directly attributed to differential methylation; epigenome-wide and regional analyses were performed for significant CpG sites. RESULTS: Following quality control, agranular leukocyte samples from 69 newborns (23 normal term (NT), 14 diabetes (DM), 23 obese (OB), 9 DM/OB) were analyzed for over 850,000 different probe sites. Contrasts between the NT, DM, OB, and DM/OB were considered. After correction for multiple testing, 15 CpGs showed differential methylation from the NT, associated with 10 differentially methylated genes between the diabetic and non-diabetic subgroups, CCDC110, KALRN, PAG1, GNRH1, SLC2A9, CSRP2BP, HIVEP1, RALGDS, DHX37, and SCNN1D. The effects of diabetes were partly mediated by the altered methylation of HOOK2, LCE3C, and TMEM63B. The effects of obesity were partly mediated by the differential methylation of LTF and DUSP22. CONCLUSIONS: The presented data highlights the associated altered methylation patterns potentially mediated by maternal diabetes and/or obesity. Larger studies are warranted to investigate the role of both the identified differentially methylated loci and the effects on newborn body composition and future health risk factors for metabolic disease. Additional future consideration should be targeted to the role of Hispanic inheritance. Potential future targeting of transgenerational propagation and developmental programming may reduce population obesity and diabetes risk

Prospect for VLBI Network Extension: the First Results of an Ad-hoc S2 Array Experiments

The Canadian S2 system gives a chance for Russian and some other radio telescopes in the world to be involved into international VLBI programs. Brief descriptions of previous S2 experiments and future possibilities are presented