A LINEAR PROGRAMMING APPROACH FOR REGIONAL POLE PLACEMENT UNDER POINTWISE CONSTRAINTS

Abstract This paper considers the problem of control of discrete-time linear systems under several complicating features frequently encountered in practice : uncertain parameters in the model, additive noise, linear symmetrical state and input constraints. The main control design objective, beyond local stabilization, is to locate the closed-loop poles in a "good" region of the unit disc of the complex plane. The originality of the proposed approach is to use Linear Programming as the basic design tool. It is shown that the matrix conditions derived from positive invariance relations and from design constraints can be formulated as linear matrix equalities and scalar inequalities. The control design problem can then be solved by Linear Programming, with an objective function describing the search for a trade-off between several design objectives

Mediators of outcome in adolescent psychotherapy and their implications for theories and mechanisms of change: a systematic review.

Psychotherapeutic treatment of adolescents requires age-specific approaches and thus plausibly also involves different change mechanisms than adult psychotherapy. To guide further research and improve therapeutic outcomes for adolescents, we reviewed all RCTs investigating mechanisms of change in the psychological treatment of adolescents to identify the most promising age-, disorder- or treatment-specific mediators. Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews (PRISMA), 106 studies were included that reported 252 statistical mediation tests assessed with 181 different measures. Most often studied and significant mediators were cognitive, followed by family-related, and behavioral variables. Several mediators were identified to be promising for future investigations: changes in negative thoughts, dysfunctional beliefs and metacognitive skills; family functioning and parenting skills; as well as successful engagement in therapy activities and increased impulse control. Symptom change during therapy was least often a mediator for other therapeutic changes. Relational and emotional mediators were largely understudied, whereas peer-influence appeared a promising mediator for intervention outcomes. Adolescence-specific mediators were most commonly investigated. Majority of studied mediators were not disorder-specific. There was a tendency to mainly test change mechanisms of specific theoretical models without considering other possible change theories. Further, virtually no studies fulfilled all criteria for rigorously investigating mediation and only nine were classified with an overall good study quality. While bearing in mind the current limitations in study designs, methodological rigor and reporting, there appears to be substantial evidence for transdiagnostic age-specific change models in the psychological treatment of adolescents. For future research, need for consensus on a core set of transdiagnostic and transtheoretical mediators and measures is highlighted. These should address likely core mechanisms of change, as well as take into account age-relevant developmental challenges and biological markers

Uniformity of rotavirus strain nomenclature proposed by the Rotavirus Classification Working Group (RCWG)

In April 2008, a nucleotide-sequence-based, complete genome classification system was developed for group A rotaviruses (RVs). This system assigns a specific genotype to each of the 11 genome segments of a particular RV strain according to established nucleotide percent cutoff values. Using this approach, the genome of individual RV strains are given the complete descriptor of Gx-P[x]-Ix-Rx-Cx-Mx-Ax-Nx-Tx-Ex-Hx. The Rotavirus Classification Working Group (RCWG) was formed by scientists in the field to maintain, evaluate and develop the RV genotype classification system, in particular to aid in the designation of new genotypes. Since its conception, the group has ratified 51 new genotypes: as of April 2011, new genotypes for VP7 (G20-G27), VP4 (P[28]-P[35]), VP6 (I12-I16), VP1 (R5-R9), VP2 (C6-C9), VP3 (M7-M8), NSP1 (A15-A16), NSP2 (N6-N9), NSP3 (T8-T12), NSP4 (E12-E14) and NSP5/6 (H7-H11) have been defined for RV strains recovered from humans, cows, pigs, horses, mice, South American camelids (guanaco), chickens, turkeys, pheasants, bats and a sugar glider. With increasing numbers of complete RV genome sequences becoming available, a standardized RV strain nomenclature system is needed, and the RCWG proposes that individual RV strains are named as follows: RV group/species of origin/country of identification/common name/year of identification/G- and P-type. In collaboration with the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the RCWG is also working on developing a RV-specific resource for the deposition of nucleotide sequences. This resource will provide useful information regarding RV strains, including, but not limited to, the individual gene genotypes and epidemiological and clinical information. Together, the proposed nomenclature system and the NCBI RV resource will offer highly useful tools for investigators to search for, retrieve, and analyze the ever-growing volume of RV genomic data.Fil: Matthijnssens, Jelle. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; BélgicaFil: Ciarlet, Max. Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics; Estados UnidosFil: McDonald, Sarah M.. National Institute Of Allegry & Infectious Diseases (niaid) ; National Institutes Of Health;Fil: Attoui, Houssam. Animal Health Trust.; Reino UnidoFil: Bányai, Krisztián. Hungarian Academy of Sciences; HungríaFil: Brister, J. Rodney. National Library Of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Buesa, Javier. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Esona, Mathew D.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Estes, Mary K.. Baylor College of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Gentsch, Jon R.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Iturriza Gómara, Miren. Health Protection Agency; Reino UnidoFil: Johne, Reimar. Federal Institute for Risk Assessment; AlemaniaFil: Kirkwood, Carl D.. Royal Children's Hospital; AustraliaFil: Martella, Vito. Università degli Studi di Bari; ItaliaFil: Mertens, Peter P. C.. Animal Health Trust.; Reino UnidoFil: Nakagomi, Osamu. Nagasaki University; JapónFil: Parreño, Gladys Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Rahman, Mustafizur. International Centre For Diarrhoeal Disease Research; BangladeshFil: Ruggeri, Franco M.. Istituto Superiore Di Sanita; ItaliaFil: Saif, Linda J.. Ohio State University; Estados UnidosFil: Santos, Norma. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Steyer, Andrej. University of Ljubljan; EsloveniaFil: Taniguchi, Koki. Fujita Health University School of Medicine; JapónFil: Patton, John T.. National Institute Of Allegry & Infectious Diseases (niaid) ; National Institutes Of Health;Fil: Desselberger, Ulrich. University of Cambridge; Estados UnidosFil: van Ranst, Marc. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; Bélgic

Communication, development, and social change in Spain: A field between institutionalization and implosion

This paper renders an account of the rapid institutionalization of the academic field of Communication for Development and Social Change (CDCS) in Spain in recent years following a period of neglect and marginalization. The ongoing expansion of the field of CDSC in the Spanish context is understood as a process of implosion, i.e. a collapse inwards, which results from the inconsistencies and weaknesses of fast and late institutionalization. The methodological approach for this inquiry is a documental review of both academic literature and research and institutional reports produced in Spain between 1980 and 2010. Based on this review, the paper contrasts the trajectory of the field in Spain with the debates at the international level, establishing relevant continuities and differences.This article is part of the Research Project (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain) CSO2014-52005-R titled ‘Evaluation and Monitoring of Communication for Development and Social Change in Spain: design of indicators to measure its social impact’ (2015–2017)17 página

Dynamic Acoustic Control of Individual Optically Active Quantum Dot-like Emission Centers in Heterostructure Nanowires

We probe and control the optical properties of emission centers forming in radial het- erostructure GaAs-Al0.3Ga0.7As nanowires and show that these emitters, located in Al0.3Ga0.7As layers, can exhibit quantum-dot like characteristics. We employ a radio frequency surface acoustic wave to dynamically control their emission energy and occupancy state on a nanosec- ond timescale. In the spectral oscillations we identify unambiguous signatures arising from both the mechanical and electrical component of the surface acoustic wave. In addition, differ- ent emission lines of a single quantum dot exhibit pronounced anti-correlated intensity oscilla- tions during the acoustic cycle. These arise from a dynamically triggered carrier extraction out of the quantum dot to a continuum in the radial heterostructure. Using finite element modeling and Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin theory we identify quantum tunneling as the underlying mech- anism. These simulation results quantitatively reproduce the observed switching and show that in our systems these quantum dots are spatially separated from the continuum by > 10.5 nm.Comment: This document is the unedited Author's version of a Submitted Work that was subsequently accepted for publication in Nano Letters, copyright \c{copyright} American Chemical Society after peer review. To access the final edited and published work see http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nl404043

Dairy products, dietary calcium and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease: results from a European prospective cohort investigation

Background: Dairy products may be involved in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease by modulating gut microbiota and immune responses, but data from epidemiological studies examining this relationship are limited. We investigated the association between prediagnostic intake of these foods and dietary calcium, and the subsequent development of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: In total, 401,326 participants were enrolled in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. At recruitment, consumption of total and specific dairy products (milk, yogurt, and cheese) and dietary calcium was measured using validated food frequency questionnaires. Cases developing incident CD (n = 110) or UC (n = 244) during follow-up were matched with 4 controls. Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for total energy intake and smoking. Results: Compared with the lowest quartile, the ORs for the highest quartile of total dairy products and dietary calcium intake were 0.61 (95% CI, 0.32-1.19, p trend = 0.19) and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.28-1.42, p trend = 0.23) for CD, and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.50-1.30, p trend = 0.40) and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.49-1.34, p trend = 0.60) for UC, respectively. Compared with nonconsumers, individuals consuming milk had significantly reduced odds of CD (OR 0.30, 95% CI, 0.13-0.65) and nonsignificantly reduced odds of UC (OR 0.85, 95% CI, 0.49-1.47). Conclusions: Milk consumption may be associated with a decreased risk of developing CD, although a clear dose-response relationship was not established. Further studies are warranted to confirm this possible protective effect

Investigating the blazar TXS 0506+056 through sharp multi-wavelength eyes during 2017-2019

The blazar TXS 0506+056 got into the spotlight of the astrophysical community in September 2017, when a high-energy neutrino detected by IceCube (IceCube-170922A) was associated at the 3 $\sigma$ level to a $\gamma$-ray flare from this source. This multi-messenger photon-neutrino association remains, as per today, the most significant one ever observed. TXS 0506+056 was a poorly studied object before the IceCube-170922A event. To better characterize its broad-band emission, we organized a multi-wavelength campaign lasting 16 months (November 2017 to February 2019), covering the radio-band (Mets\"ahovi, OVRO), the optical/UV (ASAS-SN, KVA, REM, Swift/UVOT), the X-rays (Swift/XRT, NuSTAR), the high-energy $\gamma$ rays (Fermi/LAT) and the very-high-energy (VHE) $\gamma$ rays (MAGIC). In $\gamma$ rays, the behaviour of the source was significantly different from the 2017 one: MAGIC observations show the presence of flaring activity during December 2018, while the source only shows an excess at the 4$\sigma$ level during the rest of the campaign (74 hours of accumulated exposure); Fermi/LAT observations show several short (days-to-week timescale) flares, different from the long-term brightening of 2017. No significant flares are detected at lower energies. The radio light curve shows an increasing flux trend, not seen in other wavelengths. We model the multi-wavelength spectral energy distributions in a lepto-hadronic scenario, in which the hadronic emission emerges as Bethe-Heitler and pion-decay cascade in the X-rays and VHE $\gamma$ rays. According to the model presented here, the December 2018 $\gamma$-ray flare was connected to a neutrino emission that was too brief and not bright enough to be detected by current neutrino instruments.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures; in press in Ap

Ultrafast electronic read-out of diamond NV centers coupled to graphene

Nonradiative transfer processes are often regarded as loss channels for an optical emitter1, since they are inherently difficult to be experimentally accessed. Recently, it has been shown that emitters, such as fluorophores and nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond, can exhibit a strong nonradiative energy transfer to graphene. So far, the energy of the transferred electronic excitations has been considered to be lost within the electron bath of the graphene. Here, we demonstrate that the trans-ferred excitations can be read-out by detecting corresponding currents with picosecond time resolution. We electrically detect the spin of nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond electronically and con-trol the nonradiative transfer to graphene by electron spin resonance. Our results open the avenue for incorporating nitrogen vacancy centers as spin qubits into ultrafast electronic circuits and for harvesting non-radiative transfer processes electronically

Long-term multi-wavelength study of 1ES 0647+250

The BL Lac object 1ES 0647+250 is one of the few distant $\gamma$-ray emitting blazars detected at very high energies (VHE, $\gtrsim$100 GeV) during a non-flaring state. It was detected with the MAGIC telescopes during its low activity in the years 2009-2011, as well as during three flaring activities in the years 2014, 2019 and 2020, with the highest VHE flux in the latter epoch. An extensive multi-instrument data set was collected within several coordinated observing campaigns throughout these years. We aim to characterise the long-term multi-band flux variability of 1ES 0647+250, as well as its broadband spectral energy distribution (SED) during four distinct activity states selected in four different epochs, in order to constrain the physical parameters of the blazar emission region under certain assumptions. We evaluate the variability and correlation of the emission in the different energy bands with the fractional variability and the Z-transformed Discrete Correlation Function, as well as its spectral evolution in X-rays and $\gamma$ rays. Owing to the controversy in the redshift measurements of 1ES 0647+250 reported in the literature, we also estimate its distance in an indirect manner through the comparison of the GeV and TeV spectra from simultaneous observations with Fermi-LAT and MAGIC during the strongest flaring activity detected to date. Moreover, we interpret the SEDs from the four distinct activity states within the framework of one-component and two-component leptonic models, proposing specific scenarios that are able to reproduce the available multi-instrument data.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures. Accepted in A&A. Corresponding authors: Jorge Otero-Santos; Daniel Morcuende; Vandad Fallah Ramazani; Daniela Dorner; David Paneque (mailto: [email protected]