On Directed Feedback Vertex Set parameterized by treewidth

We study the Directed Feedback Vertex Set problem parameterized by the treewidth of the input graph. We prove that unless the Exponential Time Hypothesis fails, the problem cannot be solved in time $2^{o(t\log t)}\cdot n^{\mathcal{O}(1)}$ on general directed graphs, where $t$ is the treewidth of the underlying undirected graph. This is matched by a dynamic programming algorithm with running time $2^{\mathcal{O}(t\log t)}\cdot n^{\mathcal{O}(1)}$. On the other hand, we show that if the input digraph is planar, then the running time can be improved to $2^{\mathcal{O}(t)}\cdot n^{\mathcal{O}(1)}$.Comment: 20

Actividad antibacteriana y antioxidante de los extractos de Piper cubeba (Piperaceae)

Piper cubeba L. (Piperaceae), commonly known as ‘cubeb’, is native to Indonesia, and also found in many other countriesof the South-East Asia, and in some African countries. This plant has been used as a popular food additive, andin folklore medicine to treat various ailments, particularly bacterial infections. The n-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM)and methanol (MeOH) extracts of the dried berries (fruit) of this plant were assessed for their antioxidant (free radicalscavenging) and antibacterial activities using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the micro titre basedantimicrobial assay incorporating resazurin as an indicator of cell growth, respectively. While all extracts showed antioxidantactivity in the qualitative assay, the most prominent antioxidant activity was observed with the MeOH extract inthe quantitative assay with a RC50 value of 2.71 x 10-1 mg/mL. The antioxidant potency of the DCM extract was about3 fold less (RC50 = 6.50 x 10-1 mg/mL) than that of the MeOH extract. None of the extracts showed any antibacterialproperty against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and ampicillin resistant Escherichia coli. While both the n-hexaneand the DCM extracts inhibited the growth of Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, theMeOH extract was active only against B. cereus and P. aeruginosa. The most potent antibacterial activity was displayedby the n-hexane extract against B. cereus with an MIC value of 1.56 mg/mL. All antibacterial activities of the extractswere found to be bacteriostatic rather than bactericidal.Piper cubeba L. (Piperaceae), conocida comúnmente como ‘cubeb’, es autóctona de Indonesia y también se encuentraen muchos otros países del sureste de Asia, así como en algunos países africanos.Esta planta se ha utilizado como un popular aditivo alimentario y, en la medicina tradicional, para tratar diversasdolencias, especialmente infecciones bacterianas. Para evaluar la actividad antioxidante (barrido de radicales libres)y la actividad antibacteriana de los extractos de n-hexano, diclorometano (DCM) y metanol (MeOH) de las bayassecas (fruto) de esta planta, se llevó a cabo un ensayo 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidracil (DPPH) y un ensayo antimicrobianobasado en microtitulación que incorporaba resazurina como indicador del crecimiento celular, respectivamente. Aunquetodos los extractos mostraron actividad antioxidante en el ensayo cualitativo, la actividad antioxidante más destacadase observó con el extracto de MeOH en el ensayo cuantitativo con un valor de RC50 de 2,71 x 10-1 mg/mL.La potencia antioxidante del extracto de DCM fue aproximadamente 3 veces menor (RC50 = 6,50 x 10-1 mg/mL)que la del extracto de MeOH.Ninguno de los extractos mostró propiedades antibacterianas frente a Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli y Escherichiacoli resistente a la ampicilina. Aunque ambos extractos, el n-hexano y el DCM, inhibieron el crecimiento de Bacilluscereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Staphylococcus aureus, el extracto de MeOH sólo mostró actividad frente a B.cereus y P. aeruginosa. El extracto de n-hexano fue el que mostró mayor potencia antibacteriana frente a B. cereus,con un valor de concentración inhibitoria mínima (CIM) de 1,56 mg/mL. Se observó que todas las actividades antibacterianasde los extractos resultaron más bacteriostáticas que bactericidas

Multi-frequency, Multi-Epoch Study of Mrk 501: Hints for a two-component nature of the emission

Since the detection of very high energy (VHE) $\gamma$-rays from Mrk 501, its broad band emission of radiation was mostly and quite effectively modeled using one zone emission scenario. However, broadband spectral and flux variability studies enabled by the multiwavelength campaigns carried out during the recent years have revealed rather complex behavior of Mrk 501. The observed emission from Mrk 501 could be due to a complex superposition of multiple emission zones. Moreover new evidences of detection of very hard intrinsic $\gamma$-ray spectra obtained from {\it Fermi}--LAT observations have challenged the theories about origin of VHE $\gamma$-rays. Our studies based on {\it Fermi}--LAT data indicate the existence of two separate components in the spectrum, one for low energy $\gamma$-rays and the other for high energy $\gamma$-rays. Using multiwaveband data from several ground and space based instruments, in addition to HAGAR data, the spectral energy distribution of Mrk~501 is obtained for various flux states observed during 2011. In the present work, this observed broadband spectral energy distribution is reproduced with a leptonic, multi-zone Synchrotron Self-Compton model.Comment: Published in Astrophysical Journal (ApJ

Robust epidemic aggregation under churn

In large-scale distributed systems data aggregation is a fundamental task that provides a global synopsis over a distributed set of data values. Epidemic protocols are based on a randomised communication paradigm inspired by biological systems and have been proposed to provide decentralised, scalable and fault-tolerant solutions to the data aggregation problem. However, in epidemic aggregation, nodes failure and churn have a detrimental effect on the accuracy of the local estimates of the global aggregation target. In this paper, a novel approach, the Robust Epidemic Aggregation Protocol (REAP), is proposed to provide robustness in the presence of churn by detecting three distinct phases in the aggregation process. An analysis of the impact of each phase over the estimation accuracy is provided. In particular, a novel mechanism is introduced to improve the phase that is most critical for the protocol accuracy. REAP is validated by means of simulations and is shown to achieve convergence with a good level of accuracy for a reasonable range of node churn rates

Modelling the impact of Omicron and emerging variants on SARS-CoV-2 transmission and public health burden

Background: SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, such as Omicron (B.1.1.529), continue to emerge. Assessing the impact of their potential viral properties on the probability of future transmission dominance and public health burden is fundamental in guiding ongoing COVID-19 control strategies. Methods: With an individual-based transmission model, OpenCOVID, we simulated three viral properties; infectivity, severity, and immune-evading ability, all relative to the Delta variant, to identify thresholds for Omicron's or any emerging VOC's potential future dominance, impact on public health, and risk to health systems. We further identify for which combinations of viral properties current interventions would be sufficient to control transmission. Results: We show that, with first-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and limited physical distancing in place, a VOC's potential future dominance is primarily driven by its infectivity, which does not always lead to an increased public health burden. However, we also show that highly immune-evading variants that become dominant, even in the case of reduced variant severity, would likely require alternative measures to avoid strain on health systems, such as strengthened physical distancing measures, novel treatments, and second-generation vaccines. Expanded vaccination, that includes a booster dose for adults and child vaccination strategies, is projected to have the biggest public health benefit for a highly infective, highly severe VOC with low immune-evading capacity. Conclusions: These findings provide quantitative guidance to decision-makers at a critical time while Omicron's properties are being assessed and preparedness for emerging VOCs is eminent. We emphasise the importance of both genomic and population epidemiological surveillance

Neural correlates of visuospatial working memory in the ‘at-risk mental state’

Background. Impaired spatial working memory (SWM) is a robust feature of schizophrenia and has been linked to the risk of developing psychosis in people with an at-risk mental state (ARMS). We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the neural substrate of SWM in the ARMS and in patients who had just developed schizophrenia. Method. fMRI was used to study 17 patients with an ARMS, 10 patients with a first episode of psychosis and 15 agematched healthy comparison subjects. The blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response was measured while subjects performed an object–location paired-associate memory task, with experimental manipulation of mnemonic load. Results. In all groups, increasing mnemonic load was associated with activation in the medial frontal and medial posterior parietal cortex. Significant between-group differences in activation were evident in a cluster spanning the medial frontal cortex and right precuneus, with the ARMS groups showing less activation than controls but greater activation than first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients. These group differences were more evident at the most demanding levels of the task than at the easy level. In all groups, task performance improved with repetition of the conditions. However, there was a significant group difference in the response of the right precuneus across repeated trials, with an attenuation of activation in controls but increased activation in FEP and little change in the ARMS. Conclusions. Abnormal neural activity in the medial frontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex during an SWM task may be a neural correlate of increased vulnerability to psychosis