Fractional Derivative as Fractional Power of Derivative

Definitions of fractional derivatives as fractional powers of derivative operators are suggested. The Taylor series and Fourier series are used to define fractional power of self-adjoint derivative operator. The Fourier integrals and Weyl quantization procedure are applied to derive the definition of fractional derivative operator. Fractional generalization of concept of stability is considered.Comment: 20 pages, LaTe

Etude expérimentale et numérique de la topologie d'une interface gaz/liquide

La topologie interfaciale d'une poche de gaz de grand allongement soumise à un écoulement liquide permanent et immobilisée en amont d'un obstacle, est étudiée expérimentalement et numériquement. Les ondes figées apparaissent dans une zone limitée de l'interface lorsque le nombre de Reynolds est suffisamment important (Re > 16000). Au-delà de ces valeurs de Re, leur longueur d'onde diminue progressivement. Ce comportement peut être expliqué par un modèle basé sur la théorie irrotationnelle des ondes en eau profonde. Il montre que les ondes figées sont générées par la présence de l'obstacle. Il permet également de prédire que les effets capillaires prédominent sur les effets gravitaires. Ceci est particulièrement valable pour Re > 20000. En revanche, la modélisation numérique ne prédit l'existence que d'une seule zone interfaciale, siège d'ondes progressives dont la longueur d'onde correspond à la longueur caractéristique des recirculations au sein de la poche

Self-stabilizing algorithms for Connected Vertex Cover and Clique decomposition problems

In many wireless networks, there is no fixed physical backbone nor centralized network management. The nodes of such a network have to self-organize in order to maintain a virtual backbone used to route messages. Moreover, any node of the network can be a priori at the origin of a malicious attack. Thus, in one hand the backbone must be fault-tolerant and in other hand it can be useful to monitor all network communications to identify an attack as soon as possible. We are interested in the minimum \emph{Connected Vertex Cover} problem, a generalization of the classical minimum Vertex Cover problem, which allows to obtain a connected backbone. Recently, Delbot et al.~\cite{DelbotLP13} proposed a new centralized algorithm with a constant approximation ratio of $2$ for this problem. In this paper, we propose a distributed and self-stabilizing version of their algorithm with the same approximation guarantee. To the best knowledge of the authors, it is the first distributed and fault-tolerant algorithm for this problem. The approach followed to solve the considered problem is based on the construction of a connected minimal clique partition. Therefore, we also design the first distributed self-stabilizing algorithm for this problem, which is of independent interest

Preeclampsia: a gestational cardiorenal syndrome.

It is generally accepted today that there are two different types of preeclampsia: an early-onset or placental type and a late-onset or maternal type. In the latent phase, the first one presents with a low output/high resistance circulation eventually leading in the late second or early third trimester to an intense and acutely aggravating systemic disorder with an important impact on maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity; the other type presents initially as a high volume/low resistance circulation, gradually evolving to a state of circulatory decompensation usually in the later stages of pregnancy, with a less severe impact on maternal and neonatal outcome. For both processes, numerous dysfunctions of the heart, kidneys, arteries, veins and interconnecting systems are reported, most of them presenting earlier and more severely in early- than in late-onset preeclampsia; however, some very specific dysfunctions exist for either type. Experimental, clinical and epidemiological observations before, during and after pregnancy are consistent with gestation-induced worsening of subclinical pre-existing chronic cardiovascular dysfunction in early-onset preeclampsia, and thus sharing the pathophysiology of cardiorenal syndrome type II, and with acute volume overload decompensation of the maternal circulation in late-onset preeclampsia, thus sharing the pathophysiology of cardiorenal syndrome type 1. Cardiorenal syndrome type V is consistent with the process of preeclampsia superimposed upon clinical cardiovascular and/or renal disease, alone or as part of a systemic disorder. This review focuses on the specific differences in haemodynamic dysfunctions between the two types of preeclampsia, with special emphasis on the interorgan interactions between heart and kidneys, introducing the theoretical concept that the pathophysiological processes of preeclampsia can be regarded as the gestational manifestations of cardiorenal syndromes

BepiColombo’s Cruise Phase: Unique Opportunity for Synergistic Observations

The investigation of multi-spacecraft coordinated observations during the cruise phase of BepiColombo (ESA/JAXA) are reported, with a particular emphasis on the recently launched missions, Solar Orbiter (ESA/NASA) and Parker Solar Probe (NASA). Despite some payload constraints, many instruments onboard BepiColombo are operating during its cruise phase simultaneously covering a wide range of heliocentric distances (0.28 AU–0.5 AU). Hence, the various spacecraft configurations and the combined in-situ and remote sensing measurements from the different spacecraft, offer unique opportunities for BepiColombo to be part of these unprecedented multipoint synergistic observations and for potential scientific studies in the inner heliosphere, even before its orbit insertion around Mercury in December 2025. The main goal of this report is to present the coordinated observation opportunities during the cruise phase of BepiColombo (excluding the planetary flybys). We summarize the identified science topics, the operational instruments, the method we have used to identify the windows of opportunity and discuss the planning of joint observations in the future

BepiColombo's Cruise Phase : Unique Opportunity for Synergistic Observations

The investigation of multi-spacecraft coordinated observations during the cruise phase of BepiColombo (ESA/JAXA) are reported, with a particular emphasis on the recently launched missions, Solar Orbiter (ESA/NASA) and Parker Solar Probe (NASA). Despite some payload constraints, many instruments onboard BepiColombo are operating during its cruise phase simultaneously covering a wide range of heliocentric distances (0.28 AU-0.5 AU). Hence, the various spacecraft configurations and the combined in-situ and remote sensing measurements from the different spacecraft, offer unique opportunities for BepiColombo to be part of these unprecedented multipoint synergistic observations and for potential scientific studies in the inner heliosphere, even before its orbit insertion around Mercury in December 2025. The main goal of this report is to present the coordinated observation opportunities during the cruise phase of BepiColombo (excluding the planetary flybys). We summarize the identified science topics, the operational instruments, the method we have used to identify the windows of opportunity and discuss the planning of joint observations in the future.Peer reviewe

A low mortality, high morbidity Reduced Intensity Status Epilepticus (RISE) model of epilepsy and epileptogenesis in the rat

Animal models of acquired epilepsies aim to provide researchers with tools for use in understanding the processes underlying the acquisition, development and establishment of the disorder. Typically, following a systemic or local insult, vulnerable brain regions undergo a process leading to the development, over time, of spontaneous recurrent seizures. Many such models make use of a period of intense seizure activity or status epilepticus, and this may be associated with high mortality and/or global damage to large areas of the brain. These undesirable elements have driven improvements in the design of chronic epilepsy models, for example the lithium-pilocarpine epileptogenesis model. Here, we present an optimised model of chronic epilepsy that reduces mortality to 1% whilst retaining features of high epileptogenicity and development of spontaneous seizures. Using local field potential recordings from hippocampus in vitro as a probe, we show that the model does not result in significant loss of neuronal network function in area CA3 and, instead, subtle alterations in network dynamics appear during a process of epileptogenesis, which eventually leads to a chronic seizure state. The model’s features of very low mortality and high morbidity in the absence of global neuronal damage offer the chance to explore the processes underlying epileptogenesis in detail, in a population of animals not defined by their resistance to seizures, whilst acknowledging and being driven by the 3Rs (Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of animal use in scientific procedures) principles

The Druze: A Population Genetic Refugium of the Near East

BACKGROUND: Phylogenetic mitochondrial DNA haplogroups are highly partitioned across global geographic regions. A unique exception is the X haplogroup, which has a widespread global distribution without major regions of distinct localization. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We have examined mitochondrial DNA sequence variation together with Y-chromosome-based haplogroup structure among the Druze, a religious minority with a unique socio-demographic history residing in the Near East. We observed a striking overall pattern of heterogeneous parental origins, consistent with Druze oral tradition, together with both a high frequency and a high diversity of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) X haplogroup within a confined regional subpopulation. Furthermore demographic modeling indicated low migration rates with nearby populations. CONCLUSIONS: These findings were enabled through the use of a paternal kindred based sampling approach, and suggest that the Galilee Druze represent a population isolate, and that the combination of a high frequency and diversity of the mtDNA X haplogroup signifies a phylogenetic refugium, providing a sample snapshot of the genetic landscape of the Near East prior to the modern age

Is Evolution of Blind Mole Rats Determined by Climate Oscillations?

The concept of climate variability facilitating adaptive radiation supported by the ‘‘Court Jester’’ hypothesis is disputed by the ‘‘Red Queen’’ one, but the prevalence of one or the other might be scale-dependent. We report on a detailed, comprehensive phylo-geographic study on the ,4 kb mtDNA sequence in underground blind mole rats of the family Spalacidae (or subfamily Spalacinae) from the East Mediterranean steppes. Our study aimed at testing the presence of periodicities in branching patterns on a constructed phylogenetic tree and at searching for congruence between branching events, tectonic history and paleoclimates. In contrast to the strong support for the majority of the branching events on the tree, the absence of support in a few instances indicates that network-like evolution could exist in spalacids. In our tree, robust support was given, in concordance with paleontological data, for the separation of spalacids from muroid rodents during the first half of the Miocene when open, grass-dominated habitats were established. Marine barriers formed between Anatolia and the Balkans could have facilitated the separation of the lineage ‘‘Spalax’’ from the lineage ‘‘Nannospalax’’ and of the clade ‘‘leucodon’’ from the clade ‘‘xanthodon’’. The separation of the clade ‘‘ehrenbergi’’ occurred during the late stages of the tectonically induced uplift of the Anatolian high plateaus and mountains, whereas the separation of the clade ‘‘vasvarii’’ took place when the rapidly uplifting Taurus mountain range prevented the Mediterranean rainfalls from reaching the Central Anatolian Plateau. The separation of Spalax antiquus and S. graecus occurred when the southeastern Carpathians were uplifted. Despite the role played by tectonic events, branching events that show periodicity corresponding to 400-kyr and 100-kyr eccentricity bands illuminate the important role of orbital fluctuations on adaptive radiation in spalacids. At the given scale, our results supports the ‘‘Court Jester’’ hypothesis over the ‘‘Red Queen’’ one