WetLab-2: Tools for Conducting On-Orbit Quantitative Real-Time Gene Expression Analysis on ISS

The objective of NASA Ames Research Centers WetLab-2 Project is to place on the ISS a research platform capable of conducting gene expression analysis via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) of biological specimens sampled or cultured on orbit. The project has selected a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) qRT-PCR system, the Cepheid SmartCycler and will fly it in its COTS configuration. The SmartCycler has a number of advantages including modular design (16 independent PCR modules), low power consumption, rapid ramp times and the ability to detect up to four separate fluorescent channels at one time enabling multiplex assays that can be used for normalization and to study multiple genes of interest in each module. The team is currently working with Cepheid to enable the downlink of data from the ISS to the ground and provide uplink capabilities for programming, commanding, monitoring, and instrument maintenance. The project has adapted commercial technology to design a module that can lyse cells and extract RNA of sufficient quality and quantity for use in qRT-PCR reactions while using a housekeeping gene to normalize RNA concentration and integrity. The WetLab-2 system is capable of processing multiple sample types ranging from microbial cultures to animal tissues dissected on-orbit. The ability to conduct qRT-PCR on-orbit eliminates the confounding effects on gene expression of reentry stresses and shock acting on live cells and organisms or the concern of RNA degradation of fixed samples. The system can be used to validate terrestrial analyses of samples returned from ISS by providing on-orbit gene expression benchmarking prior to sample return. The ability to get on orbit data will provide investigators with the opportunity to adjust experiment parameters for subsequent trials based on the real-time data analysis without need for sample return and re-flight. Researchers will also be able to sample multigenerational changes in organisms. Finally, the system can be used for analysis of air, surface, water, and clinical samples to monitor environmental contaminants and crew health. The verification flight of the instrument is scheduled to launch on SpaceX-7 in June 2015

Decades of Delay: EPA Leadership Still Lacking in Protecting America's Great River

This report demonstrates the continuing failure of EPA's voluntary approach and the continuing and growing threats of unregulated nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. EPA has the power and the duty to act to require reasonable, common-sense regulations to address the growing scourge of nutrient pollution, and it should do so. Once again, MRC calls upon EPA to remedy this state of affairs, specifically recommending that EPA:Develop numeric phosphorus criteria for each of the eight states that have yet to adopt them, and numeric nitrogen criteria for all 10 states.Require states to assess their waters for nitrogen and phosphorus pollution and to prioritize TMDL development and implementation planning accordingly.Increase oversight of the state NPDES programs to ensure that both narrative and numeric nutrient criteria are implemented through limits in permits, including the use of Water Quality Based Effluent Limits (WQBELs) where appropriate.Disapprove TMDLs that lacking reasonable assurance that nonpoint source reductions are likely to occur and lack monitoring and timelines to ensure that planned reductions actually take place. Further, EPA needs to provide oversight to ensure consistency among EPA Regions in TMDL review and approval (especially in Regions 4 and 6.)Ensure that states' Nutrient Reduction Strategies contain implementation plans detailing point and nonpoint source reductions needed, responsible parties, funding mechanisms, milestones, measurement metrics, and reasonable timelines.Require states under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act to identify programs and practices for controlling nonpoint sources of pollution to the maximum extent possible

Análisis de la estructura productiva mediante la técnica Shift-Share en la región frontera norte de México: 1988-2018

This paper is a regional study whose purpose is to describe the economic performance of the entities that make up the northern border region. The shift-share methodology is used to decompose the evolution of employment at the economic activity level during the period 1988-2018. Furthermore, the expansion of the shift-share technique is proposed to measure the level of contribution of each sector to the growth of the region. Although the economic performance of the northern border has shown significant progress in recent decades and has gained importance as the most dynamic region of the country, it is clear that one of the pending issues is that this be reflected in a greater boost for the Mexican economy.Este artículo es un estudio regional cuyo propósito es describir el desempeño económico de las entidades que conforman la región frontera norte. Se utiliza la metodología shift-share para descomponer la evolución del empleo a nivel actividad económica durante el periodo 1988-2018. Además, se propone la ampliación de la técnica shift-share para medir el nivel de aportación de cada sector al crecimiento de la región. Aunque el desempeño económico de la frontera norte ha mostrado avances significativos en las últimas décadas y ha ganado importancia como la región más dinámica del país, está claro que una de las asignaturas pendientes es que esto se refleje en un mayor impulso para la economía mexicana

Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above 4×10184{\times}10^{18} eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory

A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding $4{\times}10^{18}$ eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers with zenith angles greater than $60^{\circ}$ detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above $5.3{\times}10^{18}$ eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law $E^{-\gamma}$ with index $\gamma=2.70 \pm 0.02 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.1\,\text{(sys)}$ followed by a smooth suppression region. For the energy ($E_\text{s}$) at which the spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence of suppression, we find $E_\text{s}=(5.12\pm0.25\,\text{(stat)}^{+1.0}_{-1.2}\,\text{(sys)}){\times}10^{19}$ eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

“La relación escuela-familia en el aprendizaje intercultural”

Today education is the reflection of teamwork between the family and the school, since both have shared responsibilities for the correct pedagogical process of the student. When parents are involved in their children's education, they achieve better results, have positive attitudes toward school, and grow to be successful in life. This research project addressed the problem of how the school-family relationship influences the intercultural learning of seventh year EGB students. The objective was to strengthen the school-family relationship, through a training workshop, for the improvement of intercultural learning. The methodology used was based on the interpretive paradigm, since it allowed us to understand the reality of the educational and social context of the research subject. Also, qualitative research was used giving relevance to the elaboration of the theoretical framework and the proposal of this project; In this way, bibliographic research was also used when using books, encyclopedias, articles written by other authors, in the same way field research because they went to the place of events to observe the problem, on the other hand, the inductive and statistical method was applied. , given that this method processes and analyzes the data obtained to later execute the analysis and interpretation of the information, since, with the tabulation, the data obtained was interpreted, through the statistical method; using the Excel program. Techniques such as the survey with its proper instrument were selected: the questionnaire applied to students, parents, teachers and authority of the educational institution, then the process was carried out to establish the conclusions and recommendations of the project, emphasizing that parents family are not committed to the education of their children, as well as, they are not concerned about their achievements, advances of their representatives as well as the different activities that take place in the institution, which directly affects their training. Therefore, it is recommended that parents attend the training workshop to raise awareness of the importance of interacting with their child inside and outside the classroom.Hoy en día la educación es el reflejo de un trabajo en equipo entre la familia y la escuela, pues ambas poseen responsabilidades compartidas para el correcto proceso pedagógico del estudiante. Cuando los padres participan en la enseñanza de los niños se obtienen mejores resultados, tienen actitudes positivas hacia la escuela y crecen para ser exitosos en la vida. El presente proyecto de investigación abordó la problemática sobre cómo influye la relación escuela-familia en el aprendizaje intercultural de los estudiantes del séptimo año EGB. El objetivo consistió en fortalecer la relación escuela-familia, a través de un taller de capacitación, para el mejoramiento del aprendizaje intercultural. La metodología empleada se basó en el paradigma interpretativo, pues permitió comprender la realidad del contexto educativo y social del sujeto de investigación. También, se utilizó la investigación cualitativa dando relevancia a la elaboración del marco teórico y la propuesta de este proyecto; así también se utilizó la investigación bibliográfica al emplear libros, enciclopedias, artículos escritos por otros autores, de igual forma la investigación de campo porque se acudió al lugar de los hechos para observar el problema, por otro lado, se aplicó el método inductivo y estadístico, dado que este método procesa y analiza los datos obtenidos para posteriormente ejecutar el análisis e interpretación de la información pues, con la tabulación se interpretó los datos obtenidos, a través del método estadístico; utilizando el programa Excel. Se seleccionó técnicas como son la encuesta con su debido instrumento: el cuestionario aplicado a estudiantes, padres de familias, docentes y autoridad de la institución educativa, luego se llevó a cabo el proceso para establecer las conclusiones y recomendaciones del proyecto, destacando que los padres de familia no se encuentran comprometidos con la educación de sus hijos, así como, no se preocupan de sus logros, avances de sus representados al igual de las diferentes actividades que se desarrollan en la institución, lo cual incide directamente en su formación. De modo, que se recomienda que los padres de familia asistan al taller de capacitación para concientizar la importancia de interactuar con su hijo dentro y fuera del aula de clase

Análisis de la concentración de las exportaciones de México a través del índice de Herfindahl-Hirschmann: 1993-2018

The commercial opening carried out by Mexico at the end of the last century has favored trade flows with the rest of the world, particularly with the North American region. This research evaluates the dynamics of the foreign sector of the Mexican economy in the period of 1993-2018. Using the methodology of the standardized Herfindahl-Hirschmann index (HHI) a quantitative analysis of descriptive statistics is developed in order to verify the existence or not of concentration of exports and imports. In general, the results indicate significant increases in the volume of foreign trade of Mexico, however, approximately 80 percent of exports continue to be focused on the United States market. Therefore, the reorientation of foreign policy towards greater diversification that facilitates expansion to other markets is a priorityLa apertura comercial llevada a cabo por México a finales del siglo pasado ha favorecido los flujos de comercio con el resto del mundo, particularmente con la región de América del Norte. El presente trabajo de investigación evalúa la dinámica del sector exterior de la economía mexicana en el periodo 1993-2018. Con la metodología del Índice de Herfindahl-Hirschmann normalizado (IHH) se realiza un análisis cuantitativo de estadística descriptiva con la finalidad de verificar la existencia o no de concentración en las exportaciones e importaciones. En general, los resultados señalan incrementos significativos en el volumen del comercio exterior por parte de México, sin embargo, se sigue focalizando en el mercado de Estados Unidos aproximadamente el 80 por ciento de las exportaciones. Por ello, resulta prioritario la reorientación de la política exterior hacia una mayor diversificación que facilite la expansión a otros mercado

La productividad total de los factores en las manufacturas de la región centro de México: 1993-2018

In Mexico there is a very heterogeneous panorama on productivity, which is reflected in one of the fundamental sectors of the economy, the manufacturing industry. Since, world-class companies coexist with a cluster of companies whose economies of scale present low productivity due to technological backwardness, which translates into a low growth rate of companies. This paper aims to identify the productive dynamics of the sources of growth in the central region in the manufacturing industry. The methodology used is based on a couple of instruments: The Solow Residual with an empirical model based on a Cobb-Douglas type function to determine the evolution of total factor productivity (TFP). Additionally, the sunrise/sunset diagrams are used to establish the contributions of each entity to the region's TFP. The results confirm growth of 0.12 in the TFP for the region throughout the period, the deconcentration of manufacturing activities in both the central region and Mexico City; so, it is concluded they ceased to be the largest nucleus industry of the country, which has implied a lower dynamism of the TFP at the national level and a decrease in the contribution of manufactures to the economic development of the country. Likewise, the performance presented by the entities of the central region registers inefficient levels; Mexico City being the great "loser," as it has decreased in TFP, and with this, has reduced its contribution and importance in Mexican manufacturing drastically.   Keywords: total factor productivity, central region, Mexico, manufacturing, sunrise/sunset diagrams.En México existe un panorama muy heterogéneo sobre la productividad, mismo que se ve reflejado en uno de los sectores fundamentales de la economía, la industria manufacturera. Ya que, conviven empresas de clase mundial con un cúmulo de empresas cuyas economías de escala presentan una baja productividad debido al rezago tecnológico, lo que se traduce en una baja tasa de crecimiento de las empresas. El objetivo del presente trabajo es identificar la dinámica productiva de las fuentes del crecimiento de la región centro en la industria manufacturera. La metodología empleada es a partir de un par de instrumentos: El Residuo de Solow con un modelo empírico a partir de una función tipo Cobb-Douglas para determinar la evolución de la productividad total (PTF) de los factores. Adicionalmente, se emplean los diagramas sunrise/sunset para establecer las contribuciones de cada entidad a la PTF de la región. Los resultados confirman, con un crecimiento de 0.12 en la PTF para la región en todo el periodo, la desconcentración de las actividades manufactureras en la que tanto la región centro como la Ciudad de México por lo que se concluye que dejaron de ser el mayor núcleo industrial del país lo cual ha implicado un menor dinamismo de la PTF a nivel nacional y con ello una disminución en la contribución de las manufacturas al desarrollo económico del país. Asimismo, el rendimiento presentado por las entidades de la región centro registra niveles ineficientes siendo la gran “perdedora” la Ciudad de México al tener decrecimientos en la PTF y con ello ha disminuido drásticamente su contribución e importancia en las manufacturas mexicanas.   Palabras clave: Productividad total de los factores, región centro, México, manufacturas, diagramas sunrise/sunset