bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The 6q25.1 rs2046210 polymorphism is associated with an elevated susceptibility to breast cancer: A meta‐analysis of 261,703 subjects
Authors: Jin Tie‐feng , Zhang Wen‐ting , Zhou Zhen‐feng
Published: January 2019

Background

Several genome‐wide association studies already explored the associations between 6q25.1 rs2046210 polymorphism and breast cancer (BC), but the results of these studies were not consistent. Thus, we conducted a meta‐analysis of relevant studies to better analyze the effects of rs2046210 polymorphism on individual susceptibility to BC.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched for eligible studies. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Results

Totally 21 studies with 261,703 subjects were analyzed. A significant association with BC was observed for the rs2046210 polymorphism in GG versus GA +AA (dominant comparison, p < 0.0001, OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.73–0.83), AA versus GG + GA (recessive comparison, p < 0.0001, OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.18–1.24), GA versus GG + AA (overdominant comparison, p < 0.0001, OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.08–1.16), and G versus A (allele comparison, p < 0.0001, OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.82–0.89). Further subgroup analyses yielded similar positive results in both Asians and Caucasians.

Conclusion

In summary, our findings suggested that the rs2046210 polymorphism may serve as a potential genetic biomarker of BC in both Asians and Caucasians.
Circular array with displaced phase reference
Authors: Chepala Anil , Fusco Vincent
Published: January 2019

We describe how the phase reference of a circular array can be relocated from its center to an arbitrary radiating element located on the array while preserving the ability to project a collimated beam that can be steered into any azimuthal direction as with a conventional circular array. The ability to arbitrarily reposition the phase reference of the array makes this suitable for reducing Doppler effects when the array is in motion.
Glycemic Control in Adult Surgical Patients Receiving Regular Insulin Added to Parenteral Nutrition vs Insulin Glargine: A Retrospective Chart Review
Authors: Truong Stephanie , Park Annie , Kamalay Salem , Hung Nancy , Meyer Jesse G. , Nguyen Nicole , Momenzadeh Amanda
Published: January 2019

Background

Hyperglycemia is a frequent complication in patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) and has been associated with an increased risk of mortality. Treatment of hyperglycemia requires insulin therapy; however, the optimal dose and route have not been established. This study aimed to compare regular insulin added to PN (RI‐in‐PN) with subcutaneous insulin glargine for the management of hyperglycemia in patients receiving PN.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary medical center and reviewed 113 adult, non–critically ill surgical patient admissions receiving PN over a 5‐year period. The primary outcome was achievement of glycemic control. Secondary outcomes were time to glycemic control, hypoglycemic events, hospital length of stay, and 1‐year mortality.

Results

The RI‐in‐PN group had a significantly higher percentage of patient admissions who achieved glycemic control compared with the insulin glargine group (71.8% vs 48.6%, P = 0.017). There was no difference in time to glycemic control, hypoglycemic events, hospital length of stay, or 1‐year mortality between groups. Among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), however, the insulin glargine group had a significantly higher percentage of admissions with at least 1 hypoglycemic event (45.5% vs 20%, P = 0.035).

Conclusions

RI‐in‐PN is recommended over insulin glargine because of the higher likelihood of achieving glycemic control and, in patients with DM, lower risk of hypoglycemic events. Large, randomized controlled trials are needed to further guide prescribing practice.
Thermal Decomposition Enhancement of HMX by Bonding with TiO2 Nanoparticles
Authors: Zhu Qing , Xiao Chun , Xie Xiao , Zheng Bao‐hui , Li Shang‐bin , Luo Guan
Published: January 2019

The appropriate structure and properties of a composite material, including the morphology, particle size, and bond strength, are very important for its performance and practical applications. The energetic material HMX (C4H8N8O8, cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine) is typically mixed with nanocatalysts to improve its thermal decomposition, which is advantageous for its detonation performance in practical applications. Inspired by the bioadhesion of mussels, a HMX@PDA@TiO2 (HMX first coated with PDA film and second coated with TiO2 nanoparticles) composite was developed in this study to greatly advance the thermal decomposition temperatures. A simple stirring process was used to prepare the composite from HMX and TiO2 nanoparticles under dopamine solutions with different pH values. Nanocatalyst TiO2 nanoparticles were anchored on the surface of HMX by reacting with the dopamine and polydopamine coatings. Compared with other reference samples, the thermal behavior of the obtained composite showed that the starting decomposition temperature was lower, at approximately 60 °C, and that the decomposition peak decreased by 35 °C, indicating that the composite properties should have great effects on the thermal performance of the materials. The findings offer a valuable composite preparation method to enhance the thermal behavior and the effect of the catalyst on the composite via bonding effects.
Effects of a multilayer snow scheme on the global teleconnections of the Indian summer monsoon
Authors: Sujith K. , Saha Subodh Kumar , Rai Archana , Pokhrel Samir , Chaudhari Hemantkumar S. , Hazra Anupam , Murtugudde Raghu , Goswami B. N.
Published: January 2019

Eurasian snow is one of the slowly varying boundary forcings known to have significant influences on the mean and variability of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR). A multilayer complex snow scheme, incorporated into the state‐of‐the‐art coupled Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) showed significant improvements in the simulation of mean ISMR, snow, and Northern Hemisphere surface and tropospheric temperature. Here we show that a realistic simulation of high‐latitude snow decreases the north–south temperature gradient, which in turn decreases the meridional transport of energy from the Equator to the Pole, consequently affecting the tropical sea surface temperature (SST) and air–sea interactions. The global teleconnections of the ISMR with SST and 2 m temperature over land are also improved considerably in association with improved simulation of the oceanic natural modes of variability. Our findings provide new insights for the relationship between the winter Eurasian snow and the following ISMR, namely that the same relationship may be understood through a framework of meridional atmospheric energy transport and its effects on the tropical air–sea interactions. The improvements in the global teleconnection in the modified version of CFSv2 may have implications in the ISMR predictability and prediction skill.
Assessing the predictability of Medicanes in ECMWF ensemble forecasts using an object‐based approach
Authors: Di Muzio Enrico , Riemer Michael , Fink Andreas H. , Maier‐Gerber Michael
Published: January 2019

The predictability of eight southern European tropical‐like cyclones – seven Medicanes and the first‐ever documented case of such a storm in the Bay of Biscay – is studied evaluating European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) operational ensemble forecasts against operational analysis data. Forecast cyclone trajectories are compared with the cyclone trajectory in the analysis by means of a dynamic time warping technique, which allows one to find a match in terms of their overall spatio‐temporal similarity. Each storm is treated as an object and its forecasts are analysed using parameters that describe intensity, symmetry, compactness and upper‐level thermal structure. This object‐based approach allows one to focus on specific storm features, while tolerating their shifts in time and space to some extent.

The high compactness and symmetry of the storms are generally poorly predicted, especially at long lead times. However, forecast accuracy tends to improve strongly at short lead times, indicating that the ECMWF ensemble forecast model can adequately reproduce Medicanes, albeit only a few days in advance. In particular, late forecasts which have been initialised when the cyclone has already developed are distinctly more accurate than earlier forecasts in predicting its kinematic and thermal structure, confirming previous findings of high sensitivity of Medicane simulations to initial conditions.

Findings reveal a markedly non‐gradual evolution of ensemble forecasts with lead time, which is often far from a progressive convergence towards the analysis value. Specifically, a rapid increase in the probability of cyclone occurrence (a “forecast jump”) is seen in most cases, generally with lead times between 5 and 7 days. Jumps are also found for the forecast distribution of storm thermal structure. This behaviour is consistent with the existence of predictability barriers. On the other hand, storm position forecasts often exhibit a consistent spatial distribution of storm position uncertainty and bias between consecutive forecasts.
Large‐eddy simulation of catchment‐scale circulation
Authors: Han Cunbo , Brdar Slavko , Raasch Siegfried , Kollet Stefan
Published: January 2019

The impact of soil moisture heterogeneity on the convective boundary layer (CBL) development was studied. Based on results from large‐eddy simulation (LES) applying soil moisture patterns along a river corridor and idealized atmospheric vertical profiles as initial conditions, this study provides insight in the influence of spatial scale of soil moisture heterogeneity on catchment‐scale circulations (CCs) and the ensuing growth of the CBL. The simulation results show that the intensity of organized circulations resulting from soil moisture heterogeneity is nonlinearly dependent upon soil moisture heterogeneity scale λ (SMHS) and horizontal gradient. Because of the large SMHS and strong soil moisture contrast, none of the simulations has reached a true steady state even after 24 h of simulation time. The intensity of organized circulations shows a sigmoidal dependence on SMHS. The optimal SMHS for horizontal transport is on the order of 19.2 km, while optimal SMHS for vertical motions occurs at 2.4 km. In these cases, the CCs also exert a strong influence on the boundary‐layer structure and the entrainment layer. The potential temperature is not constant with height due to a weak mixing in the boundary layer for large SMHS cases. Differences in sensible heat flux profiles between the heterogeneous cases increase with increasing height and reach a maximum at the top of the CBL. Interestingly, boundary‐layer height changes strongly with changing horizontal soil moisture gradient and SMHS while domain means, variances, and amplitudes of land surface energy fluxes are all almost identical. The entrainment flux and subsidence at the top of the CBL are jointly responsible for the CBL height variation.
Accuracy of current Arctic springtime water vapour estimates, assessed by Raman lidar
Authors: Totems Julien , Chazette Patrick , Raut Jean‐Christophe
Published: January 2019

Current estimates of Arctic water vapour, obtained using reanalysis, numerical weather predictions and satellite products may be biased due to the concentration of moisture in the lowest levels, below 2–3 km. Here we investigate the water vapour content of the atmosphere during 2 weeks in May 2016, as estimated with (a) the ECMWF/Integrated Forecast System reanalyses; (b) Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) simulations at high resolution; and (c) satellite retrievals from AIRS/Aqua and IASI/MetOp. We compare such estimates to a unique dataset of uninterrupted Raman lidar observations obtained at Hammerfest, Norway (70°N, 24°E), within the framework of the Pollution in the ARCtic System (PARCS) project. Ground‐based lidar profiles were acquired between 150 and 4,000 m altitude, with a vertical and temporal resolution of 15–200 m and 30 min, respectively. A strong variability of the water vapour field was observed in the lower troposphere in this period, ranging 0.43–6.35 g/kg. Dry air intrusions from the polar vortex, alternating with wet air intrusions associated with lows over the ocean have been revealed, creating strong gradients of water vapour, of the order of 2 g/kg per hour and per km. The satellite retrievals showed a good correlation with the measurements, despite a relatively large dispersion and a slight dry bias of the IASI level 2 product (standard deviation up to 1.5 g/kg). The ECMWF/IFS reanalysis and WRF both showed a wet bias below 1 km altitude (+0.4 g/kg), coherent with previous comparisons that made use of radiosondes.
Robust sampled‐data model predictive control for networked systems with time‐varying delay
Authors: Shi Ting , Shi Peng , Wang Shuoyu
Published: January 2019

In this paper, the problem of sampled‐data model predictive control (MPC) is investigated for linear networked control systems with both input delay and input saturation. The delay‐induced nonlinearity is overapproximatively modeled as a polytopic inclusion. The nonlinear behavior of input saturation is expressed as a convex polytope. The resulting closed‐loop systems are represented as linear systems with polytopic and additive norm‐bounded uncertainties. The aim is to determine a robust MPC controller that asymptotically stabilizes the uncertain system at the origin with a certain level of quadratic performance. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated by a numerical example.
Autonomous pollination of individual kiwifruit flowers: Toward a robotic kiwifruit pollinator
Authors: Williams Henry , Nejati Mahla , Hussein Salome , Penhall Nicky , Lim Jong Yoon , Jones Mark Hedley , Bell Jamie , Ahn Ho Seok , Bradley Stuart , Schaare Peter , Martinsen Paul , Alomar Mohammad , Patel Purak , Seabright Matthew , Duke Mike , Scarfe Alistair , MacDonald Bruce
Published: January 2019

There is an increasing concern that the traditional approach of natural kiwifruit pollination by bees may not be sustainable. The alternatives are currently too costly for most growers due to high labor requirements or inefficient usage of expensive pollen. This paper presents a performance evaluation of a novel kiwifruit pollinating robot designed to provide a more efficient, reliable, and cost‐effective means of producing kiwifruit. The robot comprises a novel air‐assisted sprayer, a machine vision system employing convolution neural networks, and a flower targeting system for efficient and effective application of pollen to individual flowers. We show that this pollination system is capable of individually targeting and pollinating 79.5% of flowers at 3.5 km/hr while using comparable amounts of pollen to commercial Cambrian operators. Furthermore, flowers that were successfully pollinated at 1 km/hr grew into the first robotically pollinated kiwifruit which were comparable in quality to commercially grown kiwifruit. However, the overall fruit set was found to be well below commercial requirements and further work on increasing the overall yield is required.
One‐Step Quantitative Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Diagnosis By Modified Loop‐Mediated Isothermal Amplification (mLAMP)
Authors: Ren Yiqian , Li Yanru , Duan Xinrui , Wang Honghong , Wang Hui , Li Zhengping
Published: January 2019

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection usually needs two steps: amplification (mostly by polymerase chain reaction) and genotyping of SNP by using the amplification products. To shorten the time and simplify the detection, it is ideal to develop a one‐step method, in which the amplification itself can be the SNP detection signal. Meanwhile the difficulty in developing one‐step technology is the suppression of the background amplification. In this work, we designed an artificial mismatch into the third position from the 3’ terminus of the probes to prevent false positive extension reaction of the probes, which greatly improved the selectivity of mutation detection. We integrated this high selective version of primer extension reaction with a rapid and isothermal nucleic acid amplification loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method to distinguish between wild‐type and mutant DNA. SYBR®Green I is selected as the fluorescent dye that is tested for real‐time measurement of the LAMP reaction by its fluorescence intensity.100aM single strand DNA (ssDNA) or double strand DNA (dsDNA) targets can be accurately determined and as low as 0.1% mutant DNA can be detected in the presence of a large excess of wild‐type DNA, indicating the high sensitivity and specificity. The real‐time measuring does not require the detection step after LAMP and gives a wide dynamic range for detection of DNA targets (from 100aM to 1 pM).
Single‐nucleotide polymorphism‐based chromosomal microarray analysis provides clues and insights into disease mechanisms
Authors: Daum H. , Meiner V. , Hacohen N. , Zvi N. , Eilat A. , Drai‐Hasid R. , Yagel S. , Zenvirt S. , Frumkin A.
Published: January 2019

Objective

Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) is the modality of choice for prenatal diagnosis in pregnancy with fetal malformation, as it has a high diagnostic yield for microdeletion/duplication syndromes. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the additional utility of single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)‐based CMA in diagnosing monogenic diseases, imprinting disorders and uniparental disomy (UPD).

Methods

CMA was performed using Affymetrix CytoScan array, for all indications in 6995 pregnancies, at a tertiary referral hospital from November 2013 to June 2018. We describe four cases that had a CMA result that provided a more comprehensive understanding of the complex genetic mechanisms underlying the clinical presentation.

Results

In the first fetus, CMA was performed due to intrauterine growth restriction and revealed a 75 kbp maternally inherited microdeletion encompassing the Bloom syndrome gene (BLM). A diagnosis of Bloom syndrome was made upon identifying a paternally inherited common Ashkenazi founder mutation. In the second case, CMA was performed due to severely abnormal maternal serum analytes and revealed a deletion in 14q32.2q32.31 on the maternally inherited copy, leading to a diagnosis of Kagami–Ogata syndrome, which is an imprinting disorder. In the third case, amniocentesis was performed because of late‐onset fetal macrosomia and mild polyhydramnios. CMA detected a deletion encompassing the locus of Prader–Willi/Angelman syndrome. In the fourth case, amniocentesis was performed due to maternal cytomegalovirus seroconversion. Maternal UPD of the entire long arm of chromosome 11 was detected.

Conclusion

Prenatal CMA, based on oligo and SNP platforms, increases the diagnostic yield and enables a wider spectrum of disorders to be detected through the identification of complex genetic etiologies beyond only copy number variants. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Null infinity and unitary representation of the Poincare group
Authors: Banerjee Shamik
Published: January 2019

Abstract

Following Pasterski-Shao-Strominger we construct a new basis of states in the single-particle Hilbert space of massless particles as a linear combination of standard Wigner states. Under Lorentz transformation the new basis states transform in the Unitary Principal Continuous Series representation. These states are obtained if we consider the little group of a null momentum direction rather than a null momentum. The definition of the states in terms of the Wigner states makes it easier to study the action of space-time translation in this basis. We show by taking into account the effect of space-time translation that the dynamics of massless particles described by these states takes place completely on the null-infinity of the Minkowski space. We then second quantize the theory in this basis and obtain a manifestly Poincare invariant (field) theory of free massless particles living on null-infinity. This theory has unitary time evolution. The null-infinity arises in this case purely group-theoretically without any reference to bulk space-time. Action of BMS is particularly natural in this picture.

As a by-product we generalize the conformal primary wave-functions for massless particles in a way which makes the action of space-time translation simple. Using these wave-functions we write down a modified Mellin(-Fourier) transformation of the S-matrix elements. The resulting amplitude is Poincare covariant. Under Poincare transformation it transforms like products of primaries of inhomogeneous SL(2, ℂ) (ISL(2, ℂ)) inserted at various points of null-infinity. ISL(2, ℂ) primaries are defined in the paper.
Modular constraints on superconformal field theories
Authors: Bae Jin-Beom , Lee Sungjay , Song Jaewon
Published: January 2019

Abstract

We constrain the spectrum of

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (1, 1) and

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (2, 2) superconformal field theories in two-dimensions by requiring the NS-NS sector partition function to be invariant under the Γ
θ
congruence subgroup of the full modular group SL(2, ℤ). We employ semi-definite programming to find constraints on the allowed spectrum of operators with or without U(1) charges. Especially, the upper bounds on the twist gap for the noncurrent primaries exhibit interesting peaks, kinks, and plateau. We identify a number of candidate rational (S)CFTs realized at the numerical boundaries and find that they are realized as the solutions to modular differential equations associated to Γ
θ
. Some of the candidate theories have been discussed by Höhn in the context of self-dual extremal vertex operator (super)algebra. We also obtain bounds for the charged operators and study their implications to the weak gravity conjecture in AdS3.
The amplification of large-scale motion in a supersonic concave turbulent boundary layer and its impact on the mean and statistical properties
Authors: Wang Qian-Cheng , Wang Zhen-Guo , Sun Ming-Bo , Yang Rui , Zhao Yu-Xin , Hu Zhiwei
Published: January 2019

Direct numerical simulation is conducted to uncover the response of a supersonic turbulent boundary layer to streamwise concave curvature and the related physical mechanisms at a Mach number of 2.95. Streamwise variations of mean flow properties, turbulence statistics and turbulent structures are analysed. A method to define the boundary layer thickness based on the principal strain rate is proposed, which is applicable for boundary layers subjected to wall-normal pressure and velocity gradients. While the wall friction grows with the wall turning, the friction velocity decreases. A logarithmic region with constant slope exists in the concave boundary layer. However, with smaller slope, it is located lower than that of the flat boundary layer. Streamwise varying trends of the velocity and the principal strain rate within different wall-normal regions are different. The turbulence level is promoted by the concave curvature. Due to the increased turbulence generation in the outer layer, secondary bumps are noted in the profiles of streamwise and spanwise turbulence intensity. Peak positions in profiles of wall-normal turbulence intensity and Reynolds shear stress are pushed outward because of the same reason. Attributed to the Görtler instability, the streamwise extended vortices within the hairpin packets are intensified and more vortices are generated. Through accumulations of these vortices with a similar sense of rotation, large-scale streamwise roll cells are formed. Originated from the very large-scale motions and by promoting the ejection, sweep and spanwise events, the formation of large-scale streamwise roll cells is the physical cause of the alterations of the mean properties and turbulence statistics. The roll cells further give rise to the vortex generation. The large number of hairpin vortices formed in the near-wall region lead to the improved wall-normal correlation of turbulence in the concave boundary layer.
Asymptotic theory for a Leidenfrost drop on a liquid pool
Authors: van Limbeek Michiel A. J. , Sobac Benjamin , Rednikov Alexey , Colinet Pierre , Snoeijer Jacco H.
Published: January 2019

Droplets can be levitated by their own vapour when placed onto a superheated plate (the Leidenfrost effect). It is less known that the Leidenfrost effect can likewise be observed over a liquid pool (superheated with respect to the drop), which is the study case here. Emphasis is placed on an asymptotic analysis in the limit of small evaporation numbers, which indeed proves to be a realistic one for millimetric-sized drops (i.e. where the radius of the drop is of the order of the capillary length). The global shapes are found to resemble ‘superhydrophobic drops’ that follow from the equilibrium between capillarity and gravity. However, the morphology of the thin vapour layer between the drop and the pool is very different from that of classical Leidenfrost drops over a flat rigid substrate, and exhibits different scaling laws. We determine analytical expressions for the vapour thickness as a function of temperature and material properties, which are confirmed by numerical solutions. Surprisingly, we show that deformability of the pool suppresses the chimney instability of Leidenfrost drops.
The water entry of a sphere in a jet
Authors: Speirs Nathan B. , Belden Jesse , Pan Zhao , Holekamp Sean , Badlissi George , Jones Matthew , Truscott Tadd T.
Published: January 2019

The forces on an object impacting the water are extreme in the early moments of water entry and can cause structural damage to biological and man-made bodies alike. These early-time forces arise largely from added mass, peaking when the submergence is much less than one body length. We experimentally investigate a means of reducing impact forces on a rigid sphere by placing the sphere inside a jet of water so that the jet strikes the quiescent water surface prior to entry of the sphere into the pool. The water jet accelerates the pool liquid and forms a cavity into which a sphere falls. Through on-board accelerometer measurements and high-speed imaging, we quantify the force reduction compared to the case of a sphere entering a quiescent pool. Finally, we find the emergence of a critical jet volume required to maximize force reduction; the critical volume is rationalized using scaling arguments informed by near-surface particle image velocimetry (PIV) data.
Investigating experienced supervisor incivility: Does presenteeism play a role?
Authors: Oyet Mercy C.
Published: January 2019

This study investigated the role employees may play in making themselves targets of supervisor incivility. Drawing from Victim Precipitation Theory, and Conservation of Resources Theory, I hypothesized that engaging in presenteeism will be positively associated with experienced supervisor incivility, and that presentees’ experienced productivity loss will mediate this relationship. Furthermore, I hypothesized that presentees’ self-efficacy and perceived control (personal and condition resources, respectively) will each operate as boundary conditions of the presenteeism–productivity loss relationship such that presentees high in each resource will be less likely to experience supervisor incivility. I found that experienced productivity loss mediates the positive relationship between presenteeism and experienced supervisor incivility. Additionally, self-efficacy was found to moderate the presenteeism–productivity loss relationship; however, the relationship was stronger for low self-efficacy presentees, which increased the likelihood of experiencing supervisor incivility. Perceived control did not moderate the presenteeism–productivity loss relationship. I discuss the study’s implications for theory and practice.
Using network analysis to study globalization, regionalization, and multi-polarity—Introduction to special section
Authors: DE LOMBAERDE PHILIPPE , IAPADRE LELIO , MCCRANIE ANN , TAJOLI LUCIA
Published: January 2019

In this introduction to the special section on globalization, regionalization, and multi-polarity, we review network analysis applications to the study of globalization as a complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon and we explore the frontiers of our knowledge about the network properties of global systems. We focus on the global economic (trade and investment), political, and migration systems.
Linearized stability implies dynamic stability for equilibria of 1-dimensional, p-Laplacian boundary value problems
Authors: Rynne Bryan P.
Published: January 2019

We consider the parabolic, initial-boundary value problem
1$$\matrix{ {\displaystyle{{\partial v} \over {\partial t}} = \Delta _p(v) + f(x,v),} & {{\rm in}({\rm - 1},{\rm 1}) \times ({\rm 0},\infty ),} \cr {v( \pm 1,t) = 0,} \hfill \hfill \hfill & {{\rm t}\in [{\rm 0},\infty ),} \hfill \hfill \cr {v = v_0\in C_0^0 ([-1,1]),} & {{\rm in}[{\rm - 1},{\rm 1}] \times \{ {\rm 0}\} ,} \cr } $$
where Δp denotes the p-Laplacian on ( − 1, 1), with p > 1, and the function f:[ − 1, 1] × ℝ → ℝ is continuous, and the partial derivative fv exists and is continuous and bounded on [ − 1, 1] × ℝ. It will be shown that (under certain additional hypotheses) the ‘principle of linearized stability’ holds for equilibrium solutions u0 of (1). That is, the asymptotic stability, or instability, of u0 is determined by the sign of the principal eigenvalue of a suitable linearization of the problem (1) at u0. It is well-known that this principle holds for the semilinear case p = 2 (Δ2 is the linear Laplacian), but has not been shown to hold when p ≠ 2.

We also consider a bifurcation type problem similar to (1), having a line of trivial solutions. We characterize the stability or instability of the trivial solutions, and the bifurcating, non-trivial solutions, and show that there is an ‘exchange of stability’ at the bifurcation point, analogous to the well-known result when p = 2.
SHARP BOUNDS OF SOME COEFFICIENT FUNCTIONALS OVER THE CLASS OF FUNCTIONS CONVEX IN THE DIRECTION OF THE IMAGINARY AXIS
Authors: CHO NAK EUN , KOWALCZYK BOGUMIŁA , LECKO ADAM
Published: January 2019

We apply the Schwarz lemma to find general formulas for the third coefficient of Carathéodory functions dependent on a parameter in the closed unit polydisk. Next we find sharp estimates of the Hankel determinant$H_{2,2}$and Zalcman functional$J_{2,3}$over the class${\mathcal{C}}{\mathcal{V}}$of analytic functions$f$normalised such that$\text{Re}\{(1-z^{2})f^{\prime }(z)\}>0$for$z\in \mathbb{D}:=\{z\in \mathbb{C}:|z|<1\}$, that is, the subclass of the class of functions convex in the direction of the imaginary axis.
Coercion and third-party mediation of identity-based conflict
Authors: Eriksson Jacob
Published: January 2019

This article analyses third-party mediation of identity-based conflicts, which are notoriously difficult to resolve. It seeks to reconcile the contradiction in the mediation literature between the need for less coercive strategies to ensure ownership of a peace agreement and the need for more coercive strategies to reach a final agreement. Through an analysis of mediation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the article makes four contributions to existing literature. First, the article develops a theoretical ‘best fit’ model that proposes a u-shaped relationship between intensity of mediator coercion and transition through phases of negotiation. Second, it challenges the prevailing notion that pre-negotiation does not involve coercion. Third, it suggests that epistemological and ontological understandings of a conflict and the role of a mediator by both the mediator and the parties mean that mediators enjoy limited capacity to effectively shift from high- to low-coercive strategies. Multi-party mediation can provide the flexibility needed to execute the coercion u-curve effectively. Fourth, it challenges existing understandings of the US-mediated negotiations during the Annapolis process, 2007–08.
A Tutorial Survey and Comparison of Impedance Control on Robotic Manipulation
Authors: Song Peng , Yu Yueqing , Zhang Xuping
Published: January 2019

There have been significant interests and efforts in the field of impedance control on robotic manipulation over last decades. Impedance control aims to achieve the desired mechanical interaction between the robotic equipment and its environment. This paper gives the overview and comparison of basic concepts and principles, implementation strategies, crucial techniques, and practical applications concerning the impedance control of robotic manipulation. This work attempts to serve as a tutorial to people outside the field and to promote discussion of a unified vision of impedance control within the field of robotic manipulation. The goal is to help readers quickly get into the problems of their interests related to impedance control of robotic manipulation and to provide guidance and insights in finding appropriate strategies and solutions.
Gravitational wave optical counterpart searching based on GRAWITA and DLT40 project during LIGO O2 run
Authors: Yang Sheng
Published: January 2019

The identification of the electromagnetic(EM) counterpart of gravitational wave(GW) trigger in the sky localization is a very difficult task because of the large uncertainty. Two complementary approaches are used in order to search for EM counterpart of GW signal with a typical large sky localization uncertainty: wide-field tilling search on high probability GW region, e.g. Gravitational Wave Inaf Team(GRAWITA) project or pointed search of selected galaxies in high probability GW region, e.g. Distance Less Than 40 Mpc survey(DLT40) project.
Background Rejection using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Zadrożny Adam , Goźlińska Beata
Published: January 2019

The paper presents a proof of concept method of background rejection based on convolutional neural networks (CNN). The method was tested on simulated data and achieved very high accuracy (100%). What is more, method based on CNN is very fast and could be easily applied to wide field surveys. Since early stage results suggest method is very accurate and robust, it could be helpful in creating very low-latency pipelines for EM Follow-up purposes, which will be needed in LIGO-Virgo O3 EM Follow-up.
AGILE Observations of GW Events
Authors: Verrecchia Francesco , Tavani Marco , Donnarumma Immacolata
Published: January 2019

AGILE is a space mission of the Italian Space Agency dedicated to γ-ray astrophysics, launched in 2007. AGILE performed dedicated real-time searches for possible γ-ray counterparts of gravitational wave (GW) events detected by the LIGO-Virgo scientific Collaboration (LVC) during the O2 observation run. We present a review of AGILE observations of GW events, starting with the first, GW150914, which was a test case for future searches. We focus here on the main characteristics of the observations of the most important GW events detected in 2017, i.e. GW170104 and GW170817. In particular, for the former event we published γ-ray upper limits (ULs) in the 50 MeV – 10 GeV energy band together with a detailed analysis of a candidate precursor event in the Mini-Calorimeter data. As for GW170817, we published a set of constraining γ-ray ULs obtained for integrations preceding and following the event time. These results allow us to establish important constraints on the γ-ray emission from a possible magnetar-like remnant in the first ~1000 s following T0. AGILE is a major player in the search of electromagnetic counterparts of GW events, and its enhanced detection capabilities in hard X-ray/MeV/GeV ranges will play a crucial role in the future O3 observing run.
The Key Role of Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation in Minimum Temperature Over North America During Global Warming Slowdown
Authors: Gan Zewen , Guan Xiaodan , Kong Xiangning , Guo Ruixia , Huang Haiyan , Huang Wei , Xu Yanjun
Published: January 2019

Daily minimum temperature (Tmin) is an important variable in both global and regional climate changes, and its variability can greatly affect the ecological system. In the early 21st century, warming slowdown is seen over the North Hemisphere and North America is one of the major cooling centers. In this study, we found that Tmin experienced an obvious decline in North America during warming slowdown period. Such Tmin decline is closely related to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO); the correlation between the decadal components of Tmin and AMO reached 0.71 during 1950–2014. According to composite analysis, the AMO on the positive (negative) phase takes two low‐pressure (high‐pressure) systems in the northeastern Pacific and the North Atlantic at night, accompanied by cyclonic (anticyclonic) circulations and warm (cold) advection in North America. Therefore, the analyses conclude that the Tmin decline during warming slowdown period is a result of the synchronous decrease of the AMO. The results emphasize the key role of AMO on the decadal variation of Tmin in North America.
First Evidence of Anoxia and Nitrogen Loss in the Southern Canary Upwelling System
Authors: Machu E. , Capet X. , Estrade P. A. , Ndoye S. , Brajard J. , Baurand F. , Auger P.‐A. , Lazar A. , Brehmer P.
Published: January 2019

The northeastern Atlantic hosts the most ventilated subsurface waters of any eastern boundary upwelling system, while coastal upwelling source waters are slightly above hypoxic levels. Anoxic conditions have previously been found offshore inside mesoscale eddies whose core waters undergo oxygen consumption for many months. Based on circumstantial in situ observations, this study demonstrates that the Senegalese coastal ocean is subjected to episodic occurrence of zero dissolved oxygen concentration at depth along with elevated nitrite concentration (11 mmol/m3) and nitrate/nitrite deficit to phosphate, thereby indicating severe anoxia and intense nitrogen loss. The anoxic event was associated with a prolonged upwelling relaxation episode in March 2012 and a nearshore diatom bloom that underwent degradation while being advected offshore in stratified waters. This is consistent with scenarios observed in other upwelling systems (Benguela and California), and such conditions are presumably frequent in the southern part of the Canary system.
Numerical Analysis of Dissociation Behavior at Critical Gas Hydrate Saturation Using Depressurization Method
Authors: Gil Seong‐Min , Shin Hyo‐Jin , Lim Jong‐Se , Lee Jaehyoung
Published: January 2019

The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources conducted depressurization experiments at various gas hydrate saturation conditions, using mini pressure cells, to determine critical gas hydrate saturation. Their results indicated that it is necessary to carry out a numerical simulation in connection with the experiments to determine the critical gas hydrate saturation at numerous conditions that could not be incorporated into the experiments. In this study, a numerical simulation model, which simulated a mini pressure cell, was developed to verify the results of the aforementioned experiments. The changes in the fluid density and computer tomography values showed a similar trend. The validated numerical simulation model was used to determine the dissociation behaviors and productivities for various gas hydrate saturation levels (10–80%). As the gas hydrate saturation increased, the fluid permeability decreased. The gas hydrate dissociation was slowed by this correlation, and the production of gas and water was delayed at 50–60% gas hydrate saturation. Thus, the critical gas hydrate saturation was determined to be 50–60% for the experimental conditions of the field production test at the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, Korea. A pressure difference was noticed between the production and injection points due to the pressure propagation being delayed at critical gas hydrate saturation. Verifying the results of the experiments proved useful to understanding the dissociation and multiphase flow patterns in various depressurization scenarios.
New Plasma Wave Observations from Earth's Magnetosphere
Authors: Cook Terri
Published: January 2019

The first simultaneous observations of multiple electromagnetic wave types in Earth’s magnetosphere may inaugurate a new field of inquiry into cross-frequency wave interactions.
Apollo May Have Found an Earth Meteorite on the Moon
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: January 2019

The meteorite may have been blasted off of Earth during an impact, mixed with lunar rocks, and brought back to Earth 4 billion years later by astronauts.
Simulating the Occurrence of the Last Sapropel Event (S1): Mediterranean Basin Ocean Dynamics Simulations Using Nd Isotopic Composition Modeling
Authors: Vadsaria T. , Ramstein G. , Dutay J.‐C. , Li L. , Ayache M. , Richon C.
Published: January 2019

Sapropels are sediments rich in black, pelagic organic matter which occur mainly in the Eastern Mediterranean, documenting anoxic environments and high biological productivity. The quasiperiodicity of deposition of sapropels ‐over millions of years‐ relates to the Earth's precession cycle, which directly enhances the African monsoon, ultimately increasing freshwater input from the Nile. The last sapropel event, S1, occurred about 10,000 years ago (Early Holocene), when the Mediterranean region was warmer and wetter than today. Several modeling studies reflect the impact of this climate and a stronger Nile influx on Mediterranean oceanic circulation, but the regional models used lacked the spatial resolution necessary to simulate winter intermediate and deep convection. Here, we investigate recently occurring changes in the convective areas in the Eastern Mediterranean, using a regional ocean–atmosphere coupled climate model of high spatial resolution, essential to the simulation of a realistic Mediterranean circulation for present‐day conditions. We focused on the thermohaline circulation and the simulation of neodymium isotopic composition to compare our modeling results to modern data and paleo‐proxies. A sensitivity experiment shows a radical response of the Mediterranean to enhanced Nile discharge, creating the appropriate conditions for sapropel formation. We thus demonstrate that increased discharge of the Nile River can trigger the shutdown of Eastern Mediterranean convection and create conditions favorable to the development of anoxic events.
DNA methylation in the human frontal cortex reveals a putative mechanism for age-by-disease interactions
Authors: McKinney Brandon C. , Lin Chien-Wei , Rahman Tanbin , Oh Hyunjung , Lewis David A. , Tseng George , Sibille Etienne
Published: January 2019

A consistent gene set undergoes age-associated expression changes in the human cerebral cortex, and our Age-by-Disease Model posits that these changes contribute to psychiatric diseases by “pushing” the expression of disease-associated genes in disease-promoting directions. DNA methylation (DNAm) is an attractive candidate mechanism for age-associated gene expression changes. We used the Illumina HumanMethylation450 array to characterize genome-wide DNAm in the postmortem orbital frontal cortex from 20 younger (<42 years) and 19 older (>60 years) subjects. DNAm data were integrated with existing normal brain aging expression data and sets of psychiatric disease risk genes to test the hypothesis that age-associated DNAm changes contribute to age-associated gene expression changes and, by extension, susceptibility to psychiatric diseases. We found that age-associated differentially methylated regions (aDMRs) are common, robust, bidirectional, concentrated in CpG island shelves and sea, depleted in CpG islands, and enriched among genes undergoing age-associated expression changes (OR = 2.30, p = 1.69 × 10−27). We found the aDMRs are enriched among genetic association-based risk genes for schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and major depressive disorder (MDD) (OR = 2.51, p = 0.00015; OR = 2.38, p = 0.036; and OR = 3.08, p = 0.018, respectively) as well as expression-based MDD-associated genes (OR = 1.48, p = 0.00012). Similar patterns of enrichment were found for aDMRs that correlate with local gene expression. These results were replicated in a large publically-available dataset, and confirmed by meta-analysis of the two datasets. Our findings suggest DNAm is a molecular mechanism for age-associated gene expression changes and support a role for DNAm in age-by-disease interactions through preferential targeting of disease-associated genes.
Estradiol modulation of the renin–angiotensin system and the regulation of fear extinction
Authors: Parrish Jenna N. , Bertholomey Megan L. , Pang Hong W. , Speth Robert C. , Torregrossa Mary M.
Published: January 2019

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is more prevalent in women than men, yet much remains to be determined regarding the mechanism underlying this sex difference. Clinical and preclinical studies have shown that low estradiol levels during extinction of fear conditioning in rodents (i.e., cue exposure therapy in humans) leads to poor extinction consolidation and increased fear during extinction recall. The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is also associated with stress-related pathologies, and RAS antagonists can enhance extinction consolidation in males. However, less is known about how estradiol and the RAS converge to alter fear extinction consolidation in females. Since estradiol downregulates the RAS, we determined the role of surgically (via ovariectomy [OVX]) and pharmacologically (via the hormonal contraceptive [HC], levonorgestrel) clamping estradiol at low levels in female rats on fear-related behavior, serum estradiol and angiotensin II (Ang II) levels, and angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) binding in the brain. We then tested whether the AT1R antagonist losartan would alter fear-related behavior in an estradiol-dependent manner. We found that both OVX and HC treatment produced extinction consolidation deficits relative to intact female rats in proestrus (when estradiol levels are high), and that losartan treatment mitigated these deficits and reduced freezing. OVX, but not HC, altered AT1R ligand binding, though HC reduced estradiol and increased Ang II levels in plasma. These findings have significant clinical implications, indicating that administration of an AT1R antagonist, especially if estradiol levels are low, prior to an exposure therapy session may improve treatment outcomes in females.
Urogenital schistosomiasis is associated with signatures of microbiome dysbiosis in Nigerian adolescents
Authors: Ajibola Olumide , Rowan Aislinn D. , Ogedengbe Clement O. , Mshelia Mari B. , Cabral Damien J. , Eze Anthonius A. , Obaro Stephen , Belenky Peter
Published: January 2019

Urogenital schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasiteSchistosoma haematobium, which resides in the vasculature surrounding the urogenital system. Previous work has suggested that helminthic infections can affect the intestinal microbiome, and we hypothesized thatS.haematobiuminfection could result in an alteration of immune system-microbiota homeostasis and impact the composition of the gut microbiota. To address this question, we compared the fecal microbiomes of infected and uninfected schoolchildren from the Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Nigeria, detecting significant differences in community composition between the two groups. Most remarkably, we observed a decreased abundance of Firmicutes and increased abundance of Proteobacteria – a shift in community structure which has been previously associated with dysbiosis. More specifically, we detected a number of changes in lower taxa reminiscent of inflammation-associated dysbiosis, including decreases in Clostridiales and increases in Moraxellaceae, Veillonellaceae, Pasteurellaceae, and Desulfovibrionaceae. Functional potential analysis also revealed an enrichment in orthologs of urease, which has been linked to dysbiosis and inflammation. Overall, our analysis indicates thatS.haematobiuminfection is associated with perturbations in the gut microbiota and may point to microbiome disruption as an additional consequence of schistosome infection.