Policy Question: Is Huawei Infrastructure a Threat to Western National Security?

One major flare-up between the Trump administration and China was the role of networking company Huawei, which has developed cutting-edge equipment in a number of areas, especially 5G mobile communications. However, Huawei’s CEO is a former People’s Liberation Army member, and is suspected by many to be acting in the interests of the Chinese government. This chapter describes this difficult situation, where there is little evidence that Huawei is acting in such a way directly, but such is the Beijing Paternal Internet that it will certainly have to align with government policy. Despite the quality of Huawei’s products, many Western governments have refused to use them, or have given in to American pressure, citing national security considerations. The Trump administration worked to push Huawei out of business, but it remains a key player in China’s Belt and Road Initiative and central to Chinese technology strategy.

Low-dose glucocorticoid should be withdrawn or continued in systemic lupus erythematosus? A systematic review and meta-analysis on risk of flare and damage accrual

Objective To assess the risk of flare and damage accrual after low dose glucocorticoids (GC) discontinuation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods We performed a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library and Scopus databases from inception to July 2020 for studies concerning relapses/damage accrual in SLE patients. Pooled incidence rates of flare and time to flare with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) after GC withdrawal were calculated. Summary risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI of flare/organ damage accrual risk were computed using a random or fixed effects model. Results 738 SLE patients with GC discontinuation in 17 publications were eligible for the final analysis. In the primary meta-analysis, the pooled incidence of flare was 24% (95% CI 21-27%) and 13% (95% CI 8-18%) for global and major flare respectively. Pooled time to flare was 21.08 (95% CI 9.32-32.85) months. In the secondary meta-analysis, GC discontinuation showed an increased risk of flare comparing with GC continuation [RR (95% CI) =1.38 (1.01-1.89)], but the risk of major flares was not increased (RR = 1.77, 95% CI 0.40-7.83). Moreover, GC withdrawal was associated with a borderline reduction of risk in SDI increase in comparison with GC continuation (RR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.38 - 1.09). Conclusion GC discontinuation leads to a slightly increased risk of flare, however no increase in major flare and a borderline reduction of risk in further damage in SLE patients. Baseline screening for candidate patients and long-term follow up after GC withdrawal are needed to reliably evaluate the organ damage increase.

A hadronic emission model for black hole-disc impacts in the blazar OJ 287

ABSTRACT A supermassive black hole (SMBH) binary in the core of the blazar OJ 287 has been invoked in previous works to explain its observed optical flare quasi-periodicity. Following this picture, we investigate a hadronic origin for the X-ray and γ-ray counterparts of the November 2015 major optical flare of this source. An impact outflow must result after the lighter SMBH (the secondary) crosses the accretion disc of the heavier one (the primary). We then consider acceleration of cosmic ray (CR) protons in the shock driven by the impact outflow as it expands and collides with the active galactic nucleus (AGN) wind of the primary SMBH. We show that the emission of these CRs can reproduce the X-ray and γ-ray flare data self-consistently with the optical component of the 2015 November major flare. The derived emission models are consistent with a magnetic field B ∼ 5 G in the emission region and a power-law index of q ∼ 2.2 for the energy distribution of the emitting CRs. The mechanical luminosity of the AGN wind represents $\lesssim 50{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the mass accretion power of the primary SMBH in all the derived emission profiles.

Maternal and fetal outcomes of lupus pregnancies: A collective effort by Karnataka Rheumatologists

Introduction Identifying factors predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes involving systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a research priority. The aims of this study were to investigate (a) the maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnant lupus patients and the factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, and (b) the effect of pregnancy on lupus disease activity of these patients. Methods This was an ambi-directional study collecting information from five multi-specialist referral centres across the state of Karnataka, India over 5 years (2013–2018). Clinical details of pregnancies and outcomes that were temporally associated with lupus disease were recorded using a structured pro forma. The Safety of Estrogen in SLE National Assessment-SLE Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) was used to assess lupus activity during the 6 months prior to pregnancy and the intra- and post-partum periods. Modifications suggested in the SLE Pregnancy Disease Activity Index were considered while scoring. Results A total of 121 pregnancies in 80 SLE patients with a mean age of 27.1 (±4.5) years and with a mean disease duration of 4.6 (±4.1) years were reviewed. Largely patients were in clinical remission (109/121; 90.1%). Antiphospholipid antibody positivity was seen in 45/121 (37.2%) patients. A history of lupus nephritis was noted in 29/121 (24%) patients. Maternal complications (32%) were mainly due to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP; 19/121; 15.7%). Adverse fetal outcomes (58%) were mainly in the form of spontaneous first-trimester abortions (21/121; 16%), stillbirth (14/121; 11.6%) and prematurity (24/121; 20%). HDP is strongly associated with stillbirth and prematurity and is independent of active lupus. Disease activity was associated with a three-fold increased risk of adverse fetal outcome in univariate analysis. The risk of major flare during pregnancy is low (4.1%) when conception occurs during stable disease. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use was associated with reduced risk of flare ( p = 0.001) in patients in remission at the time of conception. Conclusions The risk of major flare during pregnancy is low when conception happens during stable disease. HCQ use was associated with reduced risk of flare in patients in remission at the time of conception. HDP was strongly associated with stillbirth and prematurity and are independent of active lupus in our cohort.

Intensity and time series of extreme solar-terrestrial storm in 1946 March

ABSTRACT Major solar eruptions occasionally cause magnetic superstorms on the Earth. Despite their serious consequences, the low frequency of their occurrence provides us with only limited cases through modern instrumental observations, and the intensities of historical storms before the coverage of the Dst index have been only sporadically estimated. Herein, we examine a solar-terrestrial storm that occurred in 1946 March and quantitatively evaluate its parameters. During the ascending phase of Solar Cycle 18, two moderate sunspot groups caused a major flare. The H α flaring area was recorded to be ≥600–1200 millionths of solar hemisphere, suggesting that this was an M- or X-class flare in soft X-ray intensity. Upon this eruption, a rapid interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) with an average speed of ≈1590 km s−1 was launched. Based on measurements in four known mid-latitude and relatively complete magnetograms, the arrival of this extreme ICME caused a magnetic superstorm, which caused an initial phase with the H-component amplitude of ≥80 nT, followed by a main phase whose intensity was reconstructed as ≤−512 nT using most negative Dst* estimates. Meanwhile, the equatorial boundary of the auroral oval extended down to ≤41${^{\circ}_{.}}$8 in invariant latitude and formed a corona aurora in Watheroo, Australia. Interestingly, during this magnetic superstorm, larger magnetic disturbances were recorded at dusk and near the dip equator on the dayside. Its cause may be associated with a strong westward equatorial electrojet and field-aligned current, in addition to the contribution from the storm-time ring current.

Laying Blame for Flight and Fight: Sino-Soviet Relations and the “Yi–Ta” Incident in Xinjiang, 1962

In spring 1962, 60,000 individuals fled from northern Xinjiang into the Soviet Union. Known as the “Yi–Ta” incident, the mass exodus sparked a major flare up in Sino-Soviet relations. This article draws on declassified Chinese and Russian-language archival sources and provides one of the first in-depth interpretations of the event and its aftermath. It argues that although the Chinese government blamed the Soviet Union for the Yi-Ta incident, leaders in Beijing and Xinjiang also recognized the domestic roots of the disturbance, such as serious material deficits in northern Xinjiang and tensions between minority peoples and the party-state. The Chinese government's diplomatic sparring with Moscow over the mass exodus reflected Mao Zedong's continued influence on Chinese foreign policy, despite claims by scholars that Mao had retreated from policymaking during this period.

Investigation of pre-flare dynamics using the weighted horizontal magnetic gradient method: From small to major flare classes

There is a wide range of eruptions in the solar atmosphere which contribute to space weather, including the major explosions of radiation known as flares. To examine pre-event behavior in δ-spot regions, we use here a method based on the weighted horizontal gradient of magnetic field (WGM), defined between opposite polarity umbrae at the polarity inversion line of active regions (ARs) as measured using from the Debrecen Heliophysical Observatory catalogues. In this work, we extend the previous analysis of high-energy flares to include both medium (M) and low-energy (C and B) flares. First, we found a logarithmic relationship between the log value of highest flare class intensity (from B- to X-class) in a δ-spot AR and the maximum value of WGM of the 127 ARs investigated. We confirm a trend in the convergence-divergence phase of the barycenters of opposite polarities in the vicinity of the polarity inversion line. The extended sample, (i) affirms the linear connection between the durations of the convergence-divergence phases of barycenters of opposite polarities in δ-spot regions up to flare occurrence and (ii) provides a geometric constraint for the location of flare emission around the polarity inversion line. The method provides a tool to possibly estimate the likelihood of a subsequent flare of the same or larger energy.

Israeli Christians could influence the peace process

Subject Palestinian Christians tend to support a two-state solution. Significance Although Palestinian Christians comprise only about 2% of the population in both the West Bank and Israel, their views on the Arab-Israeli peace process are significant. They have higher rates of education than other communities and are overrepresented among Palestinian leadership. Impacts The issue of Christian service in the Israeli army may in the long term become a source of domestic political controversy. Concern over the economic consequences of a major flare-up in violence would limit Palestinian Christian support for any third intifada. Israeli Arab Christian voting turnout is lower than for the Arab population as a whole, which could undercut their political impact. The local influence of Palestinian Christian 'personalities' may be enhanced by their perceived influence in the West.