Non-autonomous stochastic evolution equations and applications to stochastic partial differential equations

In this paper we study the following non-autonomous stochastic evolution equation on a UMD Banach space $E$ with type 2, {equation}\label{eq:SEab}\tag{SE} {{aligned} dU(t) & = (A(t)U(t) + F(t,U(t))) dt + B(t,U(t)) dW_H(t), \quad t\in [0,T], U(0) & = u_0. {aligned}. {equation} Here $(A(t))_{t\in [0,T]}$ are unbounded operators with domains $(D(A(t)))_{t\in [0,T]}$ which may be time dependent. We assume that $(A(t))_{t\in [0,T]}$ satisfies the conditions of Acquistapace and Terreni. The functions $F$ and $B$ are nonlinear functions defined on certain interpolation spaces and $u_0\in E$ is the initial value. $W_H$ is a cylindrical Brownian motion on a separable Hilbert space $H$. Under Lipschitz and linear growth conditions we show that there exists a unique mild solution of \eqref{eq:SEab}. Under assumptions on the interpolation spaces we extend the factorization method of Da Prato, Kwapie\'n, and Zabczyk, to obtain space-time regularity results for the solution $U$ of \eqref{eq:SEab}. For Hilbert spaces $E$ we obtain a maximal regularity result. The results improve several previous results from the literature. The theory is applied to a second order stochastic partial differential equation which has been studied by Sanz-Sol\'e and Vuillermot. This leads to several improvements of their result.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Evolution Equation

The effect of caffeine on subsequent sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The consumption of caffeine in response to insufficient sleep may impair the onset and maintenance of subsequent sleep. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effect of caffeine on the characteristics of night-time sleep, with the intent to identify the time after which caffeine should not be consumed prior to bedtime. A systematic search of the literature was undertaken with 24 studies included in the analysis. Caffeine consumption reduced total sleep time by 45 min and sleep efficiency by 7%, with an increase in sleep onset latency of 9 min and wake after sleep onset of 12 min. Duration (+6.1 min) and proportion (+1.7%) of light sleep (N1) increased with caffeine intake and the duration (-11.4 min) and proportion (-1.4%) of deep sleep (N3 and N4) decreased with caffeine intake. To avoid reductions in total sleep time, coffee (107 mg per 250 mL) should be consumed at least 8.8 h prior to bedtime and a standard serve of pre-workout supplement (217.5 mg) should be consumed at least 13.2 h prior to bedtime. The results of the present study provide evidence-based guidance for the appropriate consumption of caffeine to mitigate the deleterious effects on sleep

Scalar and vector Slepian functions, spherical signal estimation and spectral analysis

It is a well-known fact that mathematical functions that are timelimited (or spacelimited) cannot be simultaneously bandlimited (in frequency). Yet the finite precision of measurement and computation unavoidably bandlimits our observation and modeling scientific data, and we often only have access to, or are only interested in, a study area that is temporally or spatially bounded. In the geosciences we may be interested in spectrally modeling a time series defined only on a certain interval, or we may want to characterize a specific geographical area observed using an effectively bandlimited measurement device. It is clear that analyzing and representing scientific data of this kind will be facilitated if a basis of functions can be found that are "spatiospectrally" concentrated, i.e. "localized" in both domains at the same time. Here, we give a theoretical overview of one particular approach to this "concentration" problem, as originally proposed for time series by Slepian and coworkers, in the 1960s. We show how this framework leads to practical algorithms and statistically performant methods for the analysis of signals and their power spectra in one and two dimensions, and, particularly for applications in the geosciences, for scalar and vectorial signals defined on the surface of a unit sphere.Comment: Submitted to the 2nd Edition of the Handbook of Geomathematics, edited by Willi Freeden, Zuhair M. Nashed and Thomas Sonar, and to be published by Springer Verlag. This is a slightly modified but expanded version of the paper arxiv:0909.5368 that appeared in the 1st Edition of the Handbook, when it was called: Slepian functions and their use in signal estimation and spectral analysi

Blinatumomab vs historical standard therapy of adult relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia

We compared outcomes from a single-arm study of blinatumomab in adult patients with B-precursor Ph-negative relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R ALL) with a historical data set from Europe and the United States. Estimates of complete remission (CR) and overall survival (OS) were weighted by the frequency distribution of prognostic factors in the blinatumomab trial. Outcomes were also compared between the trial and historical data using propensity score methods. The historical cohort included 694 patients with CR data and 1112 patients with OS data compared with 189 patients with CR and survival data in the blinatumomab trial. The weighted analysis revealed a CR rate of 24% (95% CI: 20-27%) and a median OS of 3.3 months (95% CI: 2.8-3.6) in the historical cohort compared with a CR/CRh rate of 43% (95% CI: 36-50%) and a median OS of 6.1 months (95% CI: 4.2-7.5) in the blinatumomab trial. Propensity score analysis estimated increased odds of CR/CRh (OR=2.68, 95% CI: 1.67-4.31) and improved OS (HR=0.536, 95% CI: 0.394-0.730) with blinatumomab. The analysis demonstrates the application of different study designs and statistical methods to compare novel therapies for R/R ALL with historical data

Green Pathways for the Enzymatic Synthesis of Furan-Based Polyesters and Polyamides

The attention towards the utilization of sustainable feedstocks for polymer synthesis has grown exponentially in recent years. One of the spotlighted monomers derived from renewable resources is 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), one of the most promising bio-based monomers, due to its resemblance to petroleum-based terephthalic acid. Very interesting synthetic routes using this monomer have been reported in the last two decades. Combining the use of bio-based monomers and non-toxic chemicals via enzymatic polymerizations can lead to a robust and favorable approach towards a greener technology of bio-based polymer production. In this chapter, a brief introduction to FDCA-based monomers and enzymatic polymerizations is given, particularly focusing on furan-based polymers and their polymerization. In addition, an outline of the recent developments in the field of enzymatic polymerizations is discussed. </p

Attitudes toward sport psychology consulting of adult athletes from the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany

The purpose of this study was to explore attitudes about sport psychology consulting of athletes living in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany. The Sport Psychology Attitudes - Revised form (SPA-R; Martin, Kellmann, Lavallee, & Page, 2002) was administered to 404 athletes from the United States, 147 athletes from the United Kingdom, and 260 athletes from Germany. A 2 (Gender) x 3 (Nationality: American, British and German) x 2 (Type of Sport: physical contact and physical non-contact) MANCOVA was conducted with past sport psychology conducting experience as a covariant and attitudes about sport psychology as dependent variables. Follow-up univariate and discriminant function analyses were then performed to identify the attitiudes that maximized differences related to gender, nationality, and type of sport. Results revealed that attitudes about sport psychology services might be influenced by gender, nationality, and type of sport. Sport psychology practitioners must be sensitive to how personal characteristics and past experiences influence athletes' expectations and attitudes toward sport psychology consulting to improve the services they offer

In vivo assembly of the axon initial segment in motor neurons

International audienceThe axon initial segment (AIS) is responsible for both the modulation of action potentials and the maintenance of neuronal polarity. Yet, the molecular mechanisms controlling its assembly are incompletely understood. Our study in single electroporated motor neurons in mouse embryos revealed that AnkyrinG (AnkG), the AIS master organizer, is undetectable in bipolar migrating motor neurons, but is already expressed at the beginning of axonogenesis at E9.5 and initially distributed homogeneously along the entire growing axon. Then, from E11.5, a stage when AnkG is already apposed to the membrane, as observed by electron microscopy, the protein progressively becomes restricted to the proximal axon. Analysis on the global motor neurons population indicated that Neurofascin follows an identical spatio-temporal distribution, whereas sodium channels and beta 4-spectrin only appear along AnkG(+) segments at E11.5. Early patch-clamp recordings of individual motor neurons indicated that at E12.5 these nascent AISs are already able to generate spikes. Using knock-out mice, we demonstrated that neither beta 4-spectrin nor Neurofascin control the distal-to-proximal restriction of AnkG