Search

Millicharged particles, proposed by various extensions of the standard model, can be created in pairs by high-energy photons within nuclear reactors and can interact electromagnetically with electrons in matter. Recently, the existence of a plasmon peak in the interaction cross-section with silicon in the eV range was highlighted as a promising approach to enhance low-energy sensitivities. The CONNIE and Atucha-II reactor neutrino experiments utilize Skipper-CCD sensors, which enable the detection of interactions in the eV range. We present world-leading limits on the charge of millicharged particles within a mass range spanning six orders of magnitude, derived through a comprehensive analysis and the combination of data from both experiments., Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures

The bovine meat sector in Argentina has been showing various changes in recent years. Two of the most relevant are the increase in the bovine stock and the decrease in the number of producing establishments, which could imply a process of production growth with concentration. The objective of this work is to carry out an analysis on the inequality and concentration of cattle and bovine establishments in the provinces of Argentina in the period 2012-2021. For this, the GINI index and the Herfindahl-Hirschman index were built and obtained from the stratification of establishments, making a comparison of the evolution between the years raised. The results show that there is a good distribution of the stock by strata, but comparatively in the years there was an increase in inequality and concentration. Based on these two results, three groups of provinces could be formed., El sector ganadero cárnico bovino de Argentina viene evidenciando diversos cambios en los últimos años. Dos de los más relevantes son el aumento del stock bovino y la disminución en el número de establecimientos productores, lo que podría suponer un proceso de crecimiento de producción con concentración. El objetivo del presente trabajo es realizar un análisis sobre la desigualdad y la concentración del ganado y los establecimientos bovinos en las provincias de Argentina en el período 2012-2021. Para esto, se construyeron y obtuvieron los índice GINI e índice de Herfindahl-Hirschman a partir de la estratificación de establecimientos, haciendo un comparativo de la evolución entre los años planteados. Los resultados muestran que existe una buena distribución del stock por estratos, pero con un aumento en la desigualdad y concentración. En base a estos dos resultados, se pudieron conformar tres grupos de provincias.

The linear pattern of production, which involves taking, making and throwing away, is considered unsustainable in the short term. In response to this problem, the concept of circular bioeconomy has emerged, which seeks to replace this approach with the recycling, recovery, reduction and reuse of resources. The bovine meat agroindustry is of great importance worldwide, from a socioeconomic and food point of view. However, it faces the challenge of sustainably managing the generation of waste and co-products. The meat industry is classified as having high environmental impact, which highlights the need to incorporate bio-circular strategies to optimize the use of resources and reduce environmental impact. The objective of this work is to identify and analyze bio-circular strategies applicable to the bovine meat agroindustry in Argentina. A bibliographic review was carried out in order to identify strategies and an analysis of opportunities and limitations. The strategies were classified into three categories: food products, non-food products and energy generation. Identified opportunities include product diversification, renewable energy generation and promotion of environmental sustainability. However, there are challenges related to investment in technology, regulations, awareness and collaboration between actors in the chain., El patrón lineal de producción, que involucra tomar, hacer y desechar, se considera insostenible a corto plazo. En respuesta a esta problemática, ha surgido el concepto de bioeconomía circular, que busca reemplazar este enfoque por el reciclaje, recuperación, reducción y reutilización de recursos. La agroindustria cárnica bovina es de gran importancia a nivel mundial, desde el punto de vista socioeconómico y alimentario. Sin embargo, enfrenta el desafío de gestionar de manera sostenible la generación de residuos y coproductos. La industria cárnica se clasifica como de alto impacto ambiental, lo que resalta la necesidad de incorporar estrategias bio-circulares para optimizar el uso de recursos y reducir el impacto ambiental. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar y analizar estrategias bio-circulares aplicables a la agroindustria cárnica bovina en Argentina. Se llevó a cabo una revisión bibliográfica con el fin de identificar estrategias y un análisis de oportunidades y limitaciones. Las estrategias fueronclasificadas en tres categorías: productos alimentarios, no alimentarios y generación de energía. Las oportunidades identificadas incluyen la diversificación de productos, la generación de energía renovable y la promoción de la sostenibilidad ambiental. Sin embargo, existen desafíos relacionados con la inversión en tecnología, regulaciones, concientización y colaboración entre actores de la cadena.

We present the first results from a dark matter search using six Skipper-CCDs in the SENSEI detector operating at SNOLAB. With an exposure of 534.9 gram-days from well-performing sensors, we select events containing 2 to 10 electron-hole pairs. After aggressively masking images to remove backgrounds, we observe 55 two-electron events, 4 three-electron events, and no events containing 4 to 10 electrons. The two-electron events are consistent with pileup from one-electron events. Among the 4 three-electron events, 2 appear in pixels that are likely impacted by detector defects, although not strongly enough to trigger our "hot-pixel" mask. We use these data to set world-leading constraints on sub-GeV dark matter interacting with electrons and nuclei., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, + Supplemental Materials (5 pages, 5 figures) + References

Millicharged particles appear in several extensions of the Standard Model, but have not yet been detected. These hypothetical particles could be produced by an intense proton beam striking a fixed target. We use data collected in 2020 by the SENSEI experiment in the MINOS cavern at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory to search for ultra-relativistic millicharged particles produced in collisions of protons in the NuMI beam with a fixed graphite target. The absence of any ionization events with 3 to 6 electrons in the SENSEI data allow us to place world-leading constraints on millicharged particles for masses between 30 MeV to 380 MeV. This work also demonstrates the potential of utilizing low-threshold detectors to investigate new particles in beam-dump experiments, and motivates a future experiment designed specifically for this purpose., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures

Oscura is a planned light-dark matter search experiment using Skipper-CCDs with a total active mass of 10 kg. As part of the detector development, the collaboration plans to build the Oscura Integration Test (OIT), an engineering test with 10% of the total mass. Here we discuss the early science opportunities with the OIT to search for millicharged particles (mCPs) using the NuMI beam at Fermilab. mCPs would be produced at low energies through photon-mediated processes from decays of scalar, pseudoscalar, and vector mesons, or direct Drell-Yan productions. Estimates show that the OIT would be a world-leading probe for mCPs in the MeV mass range., Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures

We present the first results from a dark matter search using six Skipper-CCDs in the SENSEI detector operating at SNOLAB. With an exposure of 534.9 gram-days from well-performing sensors, we select events containing 2 to 10 electron-hole pairs. After aggressively masking images to remove backgrounds, we observe 55 two-electron events, 4 three-electron events, and no events containing 4 to 10 electrons. The two-electron events are consistent with pileup from one-electron events. Among the 4 three-electron events, 2 appear in pixels that are likely impacted by detector defects, although not strongly enough to trigger our "hot-pixel" mask. We use these data to set world-leading constraints on sub-GeV dark matter interacting with electrons and nuclei., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, + Supplemental Materials (5 pages, 5 figures) + References

The Oscura experiment will lead the search for low-mass dark matter particles using a very large array of novel silicon Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) with a threshold of two electrons and with a total exposure of 30 kg-yr. The R&D effort, which began in FY20, is currently entering the design phase with the goal of being ready to start construction in late 2024. Oscura will have unprecedented sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter particles that interact with electrons, probing dark matter-electron scattering for masses down to 500 keV and dark matter being absorbed by electrons for masses down to 1 eV. The Oscura R&D effort has made some significant progress on the main technical challenges of the experiment, of which the most significant are engaging new foundries for the fabrication of the CCD sensors, developing a cold readout solution, and understanding the experimental backgrounds.

The aim of this paper is to determine the management factors affecting the competitive performance of agro-industrial organizations of the animal feed complex in the province of La Pampa. Based on the literature, 67 factors grouped into nine axes are proposed, measured by indicators and condensed into a sectoral and organizational competitive performance index. A multiple case study including all the authorized agro-industrial organizations (12) was carried out, data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and 10 responses were obtained. A descriptive and multivariate analysis was developed. The environmental management axis is the one with the lowest performance, while the economic-financial management axis had the best results. Organizations are grouped by performance into two distinct clusters. Factors and axes that make performance competitive are measured, grouped and prioritized, making it possible to expand the literature and draw up a sectoral improvement agenda., El objetivo del presente trabajo es determinar los factores de gestión que impactan en el desempeño competitivo de las organizaciones agroindustriales del complejo de alimentos balanceados para animales de la provincia de La Pampa. En base a la bibliografía, se proponen 67 factores agrupados en nueve ejes, medidos mediante indicadores y condensados en un índice de desempeño competitivo sectorial y organizacional. Se realizó un estudio de casos múltiples, donde se mapearon y contactaron todas las organizaciones agroindustriales habilitadas (12), obteniendo 10 respuestas y recolectando los datos mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas. Se desarrolló un análisis descriptivo y multivariado. El eje de gestión ambiental es la de menor desempeño, mientras que el de gestión económico-financiera tuvo los mejores resultados. Las organizaciones se agrupan por su desempeño en dos conglomerados bien diferenciados. Se miden, agrupan y jerarquizan factores y ejes que hacen al desempeño competitivo, permitiendo ampliar la bibliografía y elaborar una agenda de mejora sectorial.

The aim of this paper is to determine the management factors affecting the competitive performance of agro-industrial organizations of the animal feed complex in the province of La Pampa. Based on the literature, 67 factors grouped into nine axes are proposed, measured by indicators and condensed into a sectoral and organizational competitive performance index. A multiple case study including all the authorized agro-industrial organizations (12) was carried out, data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and 10 responses were obtained. A descriptive and multivariate analysis was developed. The environmental management axis is the one with the lowest performance, while the economic-financial management axis had the best results. Organizations are grouped by performance into two distinct clusters. Factors and axes that make performance competitive are measured, grouped and prioritized, making it possible to expand the literature and draw up a sectoral improvement agenda., El objetivo del presente trabajo es determinar los factores de gestión que impactan en el desempeño competitivo de las organizaciones agroindustriales del complejo de alimentos balanceados para animales de la provincia de La Pampa. En base a la bibliografía, se proponen 67 factores agrupados en nueve ejes, medidos mediante indicadores y condensados en un índice de desempeño competitivo sectorial y organizacional. Se realizó un estudio de casos múltiples, donde se mapearon y contactaron todas las organizaciones agroindustriales habilitadas (12), obteniendo 10 respuestas y recolectando los datos mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas. Se desarrolló un análisis descriptivo y multivariado. El eje de gestión ambiental es la de menor desempeño, mientras que el de gestión económico-financiera tuvo los mejores resultados. Las organizaciones se agrupan por su desempeño en dos conglomerados bien diferenciados. Se miden, agrupan y jerarquizan factores y ejes que hacen al desempeño competitivo, permitiendo ampliar la bibliografía y elaborar una agenda de mejora sectorial.

The Oscura experiment will lead the search for low-mass dark matter particles using a very large array of novel silicon Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) with a threshold of two electrons and with a total exposure of 30 kg-yr. The R&D effort, which began in FY20, is currently entering the design phase with the goal of being ready to start construction in late 2024. Oscura will have unprecedented sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter particles that interact with electrons, probing dark matter-electron scattering for masses down to 500 keV and dark matter being absorbed by electrons for masses down to 1 eV. The Oscura R&D effort has made some significant progress on the main technical challenges of the experiment, of which the most significant are engaging new foundries for the fabrication of the CCD sensors, developing a cold readout solution, and understanding the experimental backgrounds.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the factors that enhance or condition the competitiveness of the first transformation dairy agro-industrial complex in the province of La Pampa. The complex is made up of a totalof 21 authorized agro-industries, of which 14 were interviewed. From the analysis of the background and the theoretical framework, 9 axes and 67 indicators were identified to measure competitive performance. Basedon these indicators, the behaviour of these factors at the agro-industrial level and then at the dairy complex level (14 organizations) is analyzed. With these results, the competitive performance index of the Pampeanagro-industrial complex is determined: it represents low competitiveness. The strengths of the agroindustrial complex include strategic and productive economic management, and its weaknesses are related to environmental and commercial management. Taking into account the competitiveness axes, the agroindustries were grouped into four different conglomerates, according to their performance in the competitive axes. The agroindustries that make up the four clusters are related according to the positivity or negativity of their competitive indices. The factors that enhance competitiveness are customer satisfaction, knowhow, financing with own capital, image, price, preparation and training of personnel and process innovation; while those that restrict competitiveness are customer satisfaction, waste disposal, payment plans and moratoriums and supply of inputs. The proposed methodology allows to measure and evaluate different edges of the competitiveness of each case and of the agro-industrial complex in general., El objetivo del trabajo es evaluar los factores que potencian o condicionan la competitividad del complejo agroindustrial lácteo de primera transformación de la provincia de La Pampa. El complejo está conformado por un total de 21 agroindustrias habilitadas, de las cuales se entrevistó a 14. A partir del análisis de antecedentes y marco teórico, se identificaron 9 ejes y 67 indicadores para la medición del desempeñocompetitivo. A partir de estos indicadores, se analiza el comportamiento de estos factores a nivel agroindustrial y luego a nivel del complejo lácteo (14 organizaciones). Con estos resultados, se determina el índice de desempeño competitivo del complejo agroindustrial lácteo pampeano, representando una competitividad baja. El complejo agroindustrial lácteo se apalanca positivamente en la gestión estratégica y económica productiva, y traccionan negativamente los ejes relacionados a la gestión ambiental y comercial. Teniendo en cuenta los ejes de competitividad, se agruparon las agroindustrias en cuatro conglomerados diferentes, conformados por el desempeño en los ejes competitivos. Las agroindustrias que conforman los cuatro conglomerados se relacionan según la positividad o negatividad de sus índices competitivos. Los factores que potencian la competitividad son la satisfacción del cliente, saber hacer, financiamiento con capital propio, imagen, precio, preparación y formación del personal, e innovación de procesos. Los que restringen competitividad son la satisfacción de clientes, descarte de residuos, planes de pago y moratorias y aprovisionamiento de insumos. La metodología propuesta permite medir y evaluar distintas aristas de la competitividad en cada organización y de los complejos agroindustriales en general.

Importance Neurofilament light protein (NfL) is elevated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a number of neurological conditions compared with healthy controls (HC) and is a candidate biomarker for neuroaxonal damage. The influence of age and sex is largely unknown, and levels across neurological disorders have not been compared systematically to date. Objectives To assess the associations of age, sex, and diagnosis with NfL in CSF (cNfL) and to evaluate its potential in discriminating clinically similar conditions. Data Sources PubMed was searched for studies published between January 1, 2006, and January 1, 2016, reporting cNfL levels (using the search terms neurofilament light and cerebrospinal fluid) in neurological or psychiatric conditions and/or in HC. Study Selection Studies reporting NfL levels measured in lumbar CSF using a commercially available immunoassay, as well as age and sex. Data Extraction and Synthesis Individual-level data were requested from study authors. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the fixed effects of age, sex, and diagnosis on log-transformed NfL levels, with cohort of origin modeled as a random intercept. Main Outcome and Measure The cNfL levels adjusted for age and sex across diagnoses. Results Data were collected for 10 059 individuals (mean [SD] age, 59.7 [18.8] years; 54.1% female). Thirty-five diagnoses were identified, including inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (n = 2795), dementias and predementia stages (n = 4284), parkinsonian disorders (n = 984), and HC (n = 1332). The cNfL was elevated compared with HC in a majority of neurological conditions studied. Highest levels were observed in cognitively impaired HIV-positive individuals (iHIV), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Huntington disease. In 33.3% of diagnoses, including HC, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer disease (AD), and Parkinson disease (PD), cNfL was higher in men than women. The cNfL inc

Residual viremia is common during antiretroviral therapy (ART) and could be caused by ongoing low-level virus replication or by release of viral particles from infected cells. ART intensification should impact ongoing viral propagation but not virion release. Eighteen acutely infected men were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial and monitored for a median of 107 weeks. Participants started ART with (n = 9) or without (n = 9) intensification with maraviroc (MVC) within 90 days of infection. Levels of HIV DNA and cell-free RNA were quantified by droplet digital PCR. Deep sequencing of C2-V3 env, gag, and pol (454 Roche) was performed on longitudinally collected plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples while on ART. Sequence data were analyzed for evidence of evolution by (i) molecular diversity analysis, (ii) nonparametric test for panmixia, and (iii) tip date randomization within a Bayesian framework. There was a longitudinal decay of HIV DNA after initiation of ART with no difference between MVC intensification groups (-0.08 ± 0.01 versus -0.09 ± 0.01 log10 copies/week in MVC+ versus MVC- groups; P = 0.62). All participants had low-level residual viremia (median, 2.8 RNA copies/ml). Across participants, medians of 56 (interquartile range [IQR], 36 to 74), 29 (IQR, 25 to 35), and 40 (IQR, 31 to 54) haplotypes were generated for env, gag, and pol regions, respectively. There was no clear evidence of viral evolution during ART and no difference in viral diversity or population structure from individuals with or without MVC intensification. Further efforts focusing on elucidating the mechanism(s) of viral persistence in various compartments using recent sequencing technologies are still needed, and potential low-level viral replication should always be considered in cure strategies.IMPORTANCE Residual viremia is common among HIV-infected people on ART. It remains controversial if this viremia is a consequence of propagating infection. We hypothe

Residual viremia is common during antiretroviral therapy (ART) and could be caused by ongoing low-level virus replication or by release of viral particles from infected cells. ART intensification should impact ongoing viral propagation but not virion release. Eighteen acutely infected men were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial and monitored for a median of 107 weeks. Participants started ART with (n = 9) or without (n = 9) intensification with maraviroc (MVC) within 90 days of infection. Levels of HIV DNA and cell-free RNA were quantified by droplet digital PCR. Deep sequencing of C2-V3 env, gag, and pol (454 Roche) was performed on longitudinally collected plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples while on ART. Sequence data were analyzed for evidence of evolution by (i) molecular diversity analysis, (ii) nonparametric test for panmixia, and (iii) tip date randomization within a Bayesian framework. There was a longitudinal decay of HIV DNA after initiation of ART with no difference between MVC intensification groups (-0.08 ± 0.01 versus -0.09 ± 0.01 log10 copies/week in MVC+ versus MVC- groups; P = 0.62). All participants had low-level residual viremia (median, 2.8 RNA copies/ml). Across participants, medians of 56 (interquartile range [IQR], 36 to 74), 29 (IQR, 25 to 35), and 40 (IQR, 31 to 54) haplotypes were generated for env, gag, and pol regions, respectively. There was no clear evidence of viral evolution during ART and no difference in viral diversity or population structure from individuals with or without MVC intensification. Further efforts focusing on elucidating the mechanism(s) of viral persistence in various compartments using recent sequencing technologies are still needed, and potential low-level viral replication should always be considered in cure strategies.IMPORTANCE Residual viremia is common among HIV-infected people on ART. It remains controversial if this viremia is a consequence of propagating infection. We hypothe

Summary: Bleaching of reef corals and other cnidarians symbiotic with zooxanthellae can be attributed to the stress response of the host, algae or both. To determine if zooxanthellae are involved in the bleaching process, I infected a single strain of sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida with zooxanthellae from different hosts. I measured expulsion of the algae from the host during 24-hour incubations at 25, 32 and 34C, as well as photosynthetic rates at these temperatures. Photosynthesis and expulsion of zooxanthellae were inversely and directly proportional to elevated temperatures, respectively. Photosynthesis and expulsion of zooxanthellae isolated from Condylactis gigantea showed the greatest sensitivity to elevated temperature when compared to other zooxanthellae tested. These results suggest that zooxanthellae have a function in the bleaching process and that this function may be related to their photosynthetic response. Thus, the differential tolerance of zooxanthellae to stress could partly explain the spatial variability characteristic of coral-bleaching episodes., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1999.

A reflection on the changes around Los Angeles' Echo Park Lake., California Revealed