The AMS-02 Time of Flight System. Final Design

The AMS-02 detector is a superconducting magnetic spectrometer that will operate on the International Space Station. The time of flight (TOF) system of AMS-02 is composed by four scintillator planes with 8, 8, 10, 8 counters each, read at both ends by a total of 144 phototubes. This paper describes the new design, the expected performances, and shows preliminary results of the ion beam test carried on at CERN on October 2002.Comment: 4 pages, 6 EPS figures. Proc. of the 28th ICRC (2003

Current Status of the Solar Neutrino Problem with Super-Kamiokande

We perform an updated model-independent analysis using the latest solar neutrino data obtained by $^{37}$Cl and $^{71}$Ga radiochemical experiments, and most notably by a large water-Cherenkov detector SuperKamiokande with their 504 days of data taking. We confirm that the astrophysical solutions to the solar neutrino problem are extremely disfavored by the data and a low-temperature modification of the standard solar model is excluded by more than 5 $\sigma$. We also propose a new way of illuminating the suppression pattern of various solar neutrino flux without invoking detailed flavor conversion mechanisms. It indicates that the strong suppression of $^7$Be neutrinos is no more true when the neutrino flavor conversion is taken into account.Comment: RevTex file, 10 pages, 7 postscript figure

Biomimetic Non-Immunogenic Nanoassembly for the Antitumor Therapy

Nanoassembly (1) for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells comprising: a core (2) comprising at least a nanoparticle of a nano structured and semiconductor metal oxide, said nanoparticle being monocrystalline or polycrystalline; a shell (3) formed by a double phospholipid layer and proteins derived from an extracellular biovesicole chosen between an exosome, an ectosome, a connectosome, an oncosome and an apoptotic body, and an oncosome, said core (2) being enclosed inside said shell (3); and a plurality of targeting molecules (4, 4', 4") of said cancer cells, preferably monoclonal antibodies (4, 4', 4"), said molecules (4, 4', 4") being anchored to the external surface of said biovesicole

Oxidative inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 on photoactive AgNPs@Tio2 ceramic tiles

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic causes serious public health, social, and economic issues all over the globe. Surface transmission has been claimed as a possible SARS-CoV-2 infection route, especially in heavy contaminated environmental surfaces, including hospitals and crowded public places. Herein, we studied the deactivation of SARS-CoV-2 on photoactive AgNPs@TiO2 coated on industrial ceramic tiles under dark, UVA, and LED light irradiations. SARS-CoV-2 inactivation is effective under any light/dark conditions. The presence of AgNPs has an important key to limit the survival of SARS-CoV-2 in the dark; moreover, there is a synergistic action when TiO2 is decorated with Ag to enhance the virus photocatalytic inactivation even under LED. The radical oxidation was confirmed as the the central mechanism behind SARS-CoV-2 damage/inactivation by ESR analysis under LED light. Therefore, photoactive AgNPs@TiO2 ceramic tiles could be exploited to fight surface infections, especially during viral severe pandemics

MODY 2: report of two cases with a new gene mutation in GCK

La diabetes MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young) comprende un grupo heterogéneo de enfermedades monogénicas que se caracterizan por la disfunción de las células β. Se estima que ellas son responsables de 2-5% de los casos de diabetes. Se conocen más de 200 mutaciones en el gen de la glucoquinasa (GCK). En este trabajo se expone el caso de dos hermanas en las cuales se realizó el diagnóstico de MODY 2 a través del estudio genético, hallándose una mutación del gen de la GCK no descripto previamente en la bibliografía.MODY (maturity onset diabetes of the young) includes a heterogeneous group of monogenic diseases which are characterized by dysfunction of beta cells. It accounts for 2-5% of all cases of diabetes. Over 200 mutations in the glucokinase (GCK) gene are known. In this paper we discuss the cases of two sisters in which the diagnosis of MODY 2 was performed by genetic studies, and report the finding of a mutation in the GCK gene not previously described in the literature.Fil: Chiarpenello, J.. Centro de Endocrinología de Rosario; Argentina. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, L.. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Riccobene, A.. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Baella, A.. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Strallnicof, M.. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Castagnani, V.. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Herrera, M.. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Sermasi, V.. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Laurenti, N.. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Carretto, H.. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; Argentina. Centro de Endocrinología de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Baquedano, María Sonia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentin

Replicated carbon fiber RICH mirror for AMS-02

Presented are results of a fabrication program to produce the Ring Imaging Cherenkov, RICH, mirror for the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, AMS-02, which is to be placed on the International Space Station. Composite Mirror Applications, Inc., CMA, in Tucson AZ was contracted by Carlo Gavazzi Space, CGS, to produce a conical mirror 1.3m diameter 0.5m in height, from high modulus carbon fiber, flight qualified composite materials, having an optical surface on the inside of the cone. The flight model mirror was completed to specification, yielding nearly 2m 2 of replicated optical surface area and weighs 8 kg. CMA measured the surface roughness and slope errors and the mirror dimensions were measured using a CMM at The University of Arizona's Instrument Shop. The results show the mirror meets conformance to the required specifications. The RICH mirror is currently undergoing flight testing and integration

Distinct routes of lineage development reshape the human blood hierarchy across ontogeny.

In a classical view of hematopoiesis, the various blood cell lineages arise via a hierarchical scheme starting with multipotent stem cells that become increasingly restricted in their differentiation potential through oligopotent and then unipotent progenitors. We developed a cell-sorting scheme to resolve myeloid (My), erythroid (Er), and megakaryocytic (Mk) fates from single CD34(+) cells and then mapped the progenitor hierarchy across human development. Fetal liver contained large numbers of distinct oligopotent progenitors with intermingled My, Er, and Mk fates. However, few oligopotent progenitor intermediates were present in the adult bone marrow. Instead, only two progenitor classes predominate, multipotent and unipotent, with Er-Mk lineages emerging from multipotent cells. The developmental shift to an adult "two-tier" hierarchy challenges current dogma and provides a revised framework to understand normal and disease states of human hematopoiesis.This work was supported by Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards from Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) to FN and SZ. SZ is supported by (Aplastic Anemia). FN is a recipient of a scholar’s research award from the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research (OICR), through generous support from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation. Research in EL laboratory is supported by a Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Dale Fellowship and core support grant from the Wellcome Trust and MRC to the Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. Work in the Dick laboratory is supported by grants from the CIHR, Canadian Cancer Society, Terry Fox Foundation, Genome Canada through the Ontario Genomics Institute, OICR with funds from the province of Ontario, a Canada Research Chair and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (OMOHLTC).This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from AAAS via http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aab211

CDK6 levels regulate quiescence exit in human hematopoietic stem cells.

Regulated blood production is achieved through the hierarchical organization of dormant hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) subsets that differ in self-renewal potential and division frequency, with long-term (LT)-HSCs dividing the least. The molecular mechanisms underlying this variability in HSC division kinetics are unknown. We report here that quiescence exit kinetics are differentially regulated within human HSC subsets through the expression level of CDK6. LT-HSCs lack CDK6 protein. Short-term (ST)-HSCs are also quiescent but contain high CDK6 protein levels that permit rapid cell cycle entry upon mitogenic stimulation. Enforced CDK6 expression in LT-HSCs shortens quiescence exit and confers competitive advantage without impacting function. Computational modeling suggests that this independent control of quiescence exit kinetics inherently limits LT-HSC divisions and preserves the HSC pool to ensure lifelong hematopoiesis. Thus, differential expression of CDK6 underlies heterogeneity in stem cell quiescence states that functionally regulates this highly regenerative system.This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (E.L.), Roche (E.L.), the Fondation Suisse pour les Bourses en Me´ decine et Biologie (E.L.), the Swedish Research Council (S.Z.); and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) fellowship in partnership with the Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplasia Association of Canada (S.Z.). Work in J.E.D.’s laboratory is supported by grants from the CIHR, Canadian Cancer Society, Terry Fox Foundation, Genome Canada through the Ontario Genomics Institute, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research with funds from the province of Ontario, a Canada Research Chair, the Princess Margaret Hospital foundation, and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (OMOHLTC). Research in E.L.’s laboratory is currently supported by a recruitment support from the Wellcome Trust and a core support grant from the Wellcome Trust and MRC to the Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute.This is the final published version. It first appeared at http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/abstract/S1934-5909%2815%2900018-1

LA CIUDAD DESDE EL MUELLE [Material gráfico]

FOTO POSTAL DE "LAS PALMAS VISTA DESDE EL MUELLE". DUPLICADO DE LA IMAGEN Nº 2871Copia digital. Madrid : Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. Subdirección General de Coordinación Bibliotecaria, 201

The Ring Imaging Cherenkov detector (RICH) of the AMS experiment

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) experiment to be installed on the International Space Station (ISS) will be equipped with a proximity focusing Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detector for measuring the electric charge and velocity of the charged cosmic particles. A RICH prototype consisting of 96 photomultiplier units, including a piece of the conical reflector, was built and its performance evaluated with ion beam data. Preliminary results of the in-beam tests performed with ion fragments resulting from collisions of a 158 GeV/c/nuc primary beam of Indium ions (CERN SPS) on a Pb target are reported. The collected data included tests to the final front-end electronics and to different aerogel radiators. Cherenkov rings for a large range of charged nuclei and with reflected photons were observed. The data analysis confirms the design goals. Charge separation up to Fe and velocity resolution of the order of 0.1% for singly charged particles are obtained.Comment: 29th International Conference on Cosmic Rays (Pune, India