Minimum connected transversals in graphs: New hardness results and tractable cases using the price of connectivity

We perform a systematic study in the computational complexity of the connected variant of three related transversal problems: Vertex Cover, Feedback Vertex Set, and Odd Cycle Transversal. Just like their original counterparts, these variants are NP-complete for general graphs. A graph G is H-free for some graph H if G contains no induced subgraph isomorphic to H. It is known that Connected Vertex Cover is NP-complete even for H-free graphs if H contains a claw or a cycle. We show that the two other connected variants also remain NP-complete if H contains a cycle or claw. In the remaining case H is a linear forest. We show that Connected Vertex Cover, Connected Feedback Vertex Set, and Connected Odd Cycle Transversal are polynomial-time solvable for sP2-free graphs for every constant s≥1. For proving these results we use known results on the price of connectivity for vertex cover, feedback vertex set, and odd cycle transversal. This is the first application of the price of connectivity that results in polynomial-time algorithms

How a realistic magnetosphere alters the polarizations of surface, fast magnetosonic, and Alfvén waves

System-scale magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves within Earth's magnetosphere are often understood theoretically using box models. While these have been highly instructive in understanding many fundamental features of the various wave modes present, they neglect the complexities of geospace such as the inhomogeneities and curvilinear geometries present. Here, we show global MHD simulations of resonant waves impulsively excited by a solar wind pressure pulse. Although many aspects of the surface, fast magnetosonic (cavity/waveguide), and Alfvén modes present agree with the box and axially symmetric dipole models, we find some predictions for large-scale waves are significantly altered in a realistic magnetosphere. The radial ordering of fast mode turning points and Alfvén resonant locations may be reversed even with monotonic wave speeds. Additional nodes along field lines that are not present in the displacement/velocity occur in both the perpendicular and compressional components of the magnetic field. Close to the magnetopause, the perpendicular oscillations of the magnetic field have the opposite handedness to the velocity. Finally, widely used detection techniques for standing waves, both across and along the field, can fail to identify their presence. We explain how all these features arise from the MHD equations when accounting for a non-uniform background field and propose modified methods that might be applied to spacecraft observations

The effect of magnetopause motion on fast mode resonance

The Earth's magnetosphere supports several types of ultralow frequency (ULF) waves. These include fast mode resonance (FMR): cavity modes, waveguide modes, and tunneling modes/virtual resonance. The magnetopause, often treated as the outer boundary for cavity/waveguide modes in the dayside magnetosphere, is not stationary. A rapidly changing outer boundary condition—e.g., due to rapid magnetopause motion—is not favorable for FMR generation and may explain the sparseness of FMR observations in the outer magnetosphere. We examine how magnetopause motion affects the dayside magnetosphere's ability to sustain FMR with idealized Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) simulations using the BATS‐R‐US global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code coupled with the Ridley Ionosphere Model (RIM). We present observations of FMR in BATS‐R‐US, reproducing results from other global MHD codes. We further show that FMR is present for a wide range of solar wind conditions, even during periods with large and rapid magnetopause displacements. We compare our simulation results to FMR observations in the dayside magnetosphere, finding that FMR occurrence does not depend on solar wind dynamic pressure, which can be used as a proxy for dynamic pressure fluctuations and magnetopause perturbations. Our results demonstrate that other explanations besides a nonstationary magnetopause—such as the inability to detect FMR in the presence of other ULF wave modes with large amplitudes—are required to explain the rarity of FMR observations in the outer magnetosphere. Key Points Typical magnetopause motion does not affect fast mode resonance occurrence Magnetopause motion cannot explain why FMR is rarely observed Selection criteria and non‐FMR wave activity affect FMR occurrence ratePeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109612/1/2014JA020401readme.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109612/2/Auxiliary_Material_fs01.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109612/3/Auxiliary_Material_fs02.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109612/4/jgra51354.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109612/5/Auxiliary_Material_fs03.pd

How a realistic magnetosphere alters the polarizations of surface, fast magnetosonic, and Alfvén waves

Funding: MOA holds a UKRI (STFC / EPSRC) Stephen Hawking Fellowship EP/T01735X/1. DJS was supported by STFC grant ST/S000364/1. MDH was supported by NASA grant 80NSSC19K0127. A.N.W. was partially funded by STFC grant ST/N000609/1.System-scale magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves within Earth?s magnetosphere are often understood theoretically using box models. While these have been highly instructive in understanding many fundamental features of the various wave modes present, they neglect the complexities of geospace such as the inhomogeneities and curvilinear geometries present. Here we show global MHD simulations of resonant waves impulsively-excited by a solar wind pressure pulse. Although many aspects of the surface, fast magnetosonic (cavity/waveguide), and Alfvén modes present agree with the box and axially symmetric dipole models, we find some predictions for large-scale waves are significantly altered in a realistic magnetosphere. The radial ordering of fast mode turning points and Alfvén resonant locations may be reversed even with monotonic wave speeds. Additional nodes along field lines that are not present in the displacement/velocity occur in both the perpendicular and compressional components of the magnetic field. Close to the magnetopause the perpendicular oscillations of the magnetic field have the opposite handedness to the velocity. Finally, widely-used detection techniques for standing waves, both across and along the field, can fail to identify their presence. We explain how all these features arise from the MHD equations when accounting for a non-uniform background field and propose modified methods which might be applied to spacecraft observations.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Phonon-Metamorphosis in Ferromagnetic Manganite Films: Probing the Evolution of an Inhomogeneous State

The analysis of phonon anomalies provides valuable information about the cooperative dynamics of lattice, spin and charge degrees of freedom. Significant is the anomalous temperature dependence of the external modes observed in La$_{2/3}$Sr$_{1/3}$MnO$_{3}$ (LSMO) films. The two external modes merge close to the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition at $T_C$ and, moreover, two new modes evolve in this temperature range with strong resonances at slightly higher frequencies. We propose that this observed phonon metamorphosis probes the inhomogeneous Jahn-Teller distortion, manifest on the temperature scale $T_C$. The analysis is based on the first observation of all eight phonon modes in the metallic phase of LSMO and on susceptibility measurements which identify a Griffiths-like phase.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Survey of the ULF wave Poynting vector near the Earth's magnetic equatorial plane

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/101878/1/pdfexplain.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/101878/2/jgra50591.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/101878/3/pdfexplain.tx

Cardiovascular disease in the Peruvian Andes: local perceptions, barriers, and paths to preventing chronic diseases in the Cajamarca region

Objectives: Public health interventions can be improved by understanding peoples' explanatory models of disease. We explore awareness and perceptions of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and options for preventative actions in young adults living in rural Andean communities. Methods: We used convenience sampling to select 46 men and women from communities in Cajamarca (Peru). Subjects participated in eight focus groups where they discussed their understanding and perceived causes of CVD as well as barriers and pathways to healthy lifestyles. Results: Fresh foods, physical activity, unpleasant emotions, and healthcare access were cited as important determinants of healthy lifestyles. Barriers to healthy diets included lacking nutritional knowledge, fluctuating food prices, and limited access to foodstuffs. Women felt particularly vulnerable to CVD and identified gendered barriers to manage stress and engage in sports. Low health literacy, poor doctor-patient relationships, and long distances prevented participants from fully accessing healthcare. Conclusion: CVD prevention interventions should consider local knowledge of these diseases and of healthy lifestyles, and harness ongoing programmes that have successfully promoted good nutrition in children and pregnant women. In concert with public-private parterships, governments should include disease prevention interventions for the entire family

Effectiveness of a home-environmental intervention package and an early child development intervention on child health and development in high-altitude rural communities in the Peruvian Andes: a cluster-randomised controlled trial

Unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation and hygiene, exposure to household air pollution and low cognitive and socio-emotional stimulation are risk factors affecting children in low- and middle-income countries. We implemented an integrated home-environmental intervention package (IHIP), comprising a kitchen sink, hygiene education and a certified improved biomass cookstove, and an early child development (ECD) programme to improve children´s health and developmental outcomes in the rural high-altitude Andes of Peru

Whole-genome characterisation of ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from drinking water and dog faeces from rural Andean households in Peru

E. coli that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are major multidrug-resistant bacteria. In Peru, only a few reports have characterised the whole genome of ESBL enterobacteria. We aimed to confirm the identity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of two ESBL isolates from dog faeces and drinking water of rural Andean households and determine serotype, phylogroup, sequence type (ST)/clonal complex (CC), pathogenicity, virulence genes, ESBL genes, and their plasmids. To confirm the identity and AMR profiles, we used the VITEK((R))2 system. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analysis were performed subsequently. Both isolates were identified as E. coli, with serotypes -:H46 and O9:H10, phylogroups E and A, and ST/CC 5259/- and 227/10, respectively. The isolates were ESBL-producing, carbapenem-resistant, and not harbouring carbapenemase-encoding genes. Isolate 1143 ST5259 harboured the astA gene, encoding the EAST1 heat-stable toxin. Both genomes carried ESBL genes (blaEC-15, blaCTX-M-8, and blaCTX-M-55). Nine plasmids were detected, namely IncR, IncFIC(FII), IncI, IncFIB(AP001918), Col(pHAD28), IncFII, IncFII(pHN7A8), IncI1, and IncFIB(AP001918). Finding these potentially pathogenic bacteria is worrisome given their sources and highlights the importance of One-Health research efforts in remote Andean communities