bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical Note—Greedy Algorithm for Multiway Matching with Bounded Regret
Authors: Gupta Varun
Published: November 2022

A Unified View of Online Matching and Resource Allocation Problems

Whereas small regret online algorithms for applications as diverse as network revenue management (NRM), assemble-to-order (ATO) systems, and online stochastic bin packing (SBP) are known in the literature, the design of the existing algorithms are tailored to the specific application and often use the strategy of resolving a planning linear program. In the paper “Greedy Algorithm for Multiway Matching with Bounded Regret,” Gupta proposes a unified model for studying such online matching/allocation problems. In the unified model, resources of three types—off-line (e.g., inventory in NRM), online-queueable (e.g., orders or resources in ATO systems), or online-nonqueueable (e.g., requests in NRM, items in SBP)—must be combined to create feasible configurations. Leveraging the unified framework, the author gives one simple greedy algorithm that gives small regret (bounded or logarithmic in time horizon) for these diverse applications under a mild nondegeneracy condition on the off-line planning problem.
The Price of Incentivizing Exploration: A Characterization via Thompson Sampling and Sample Complexity
Authors: Sellke Mark , Slivkins Aleksandrs
Published: November 2022

We consider “incentivized exploration”: a version of multiarmed bandits where the choice of arms is controlled by self-interested agents. The algorithm can only issue recommendations and needs to incentivize the agents to explore, even though they prefer to exploit. The algorithm controls the flow of information and relies on information asymmetry to create incentives. This line of work, motivated by misaligned incentives in recommendation systems, has received considerable attention in the “economics and computation” community. We focus on the “price of incentives”: the loss in performance, broadly construed, incurred for the sake of incentive compatibility. We prove that Thompson sampling, a standard bandit algorithm, is incentive compatible if initialized with sufficiently many data points. The performance loss because of incentives is, therefore, limited to the initial rounds when these data points are collected. The problem is largely reduced to that of sample complexity. How many rounds are needed to collect even one sample of each arm? We zoom in on this question, which is perhaps the most basic question one could ask about incentivized exploration. We characterize the dependence on agents' beliefs and the number of arms (which was essentially ignored in prior work), providing matching upper and lower bounds. Typically, the optimal sample complexity is polynomial in the number of arms and exponential in the “strength of beliefs.”
Detection model and performance evaluation for the infrared search and tracking system
Authors: Kou Renke , Wang Chunping , Fu Qiang , Zhang Jianjun , Huang Fuyu
Published: November 2022

To effectively evaluate the detection capability of the infrared search and tracking system (IRST), the mathematical models of target infrared (IR) radiation intensity envelope, atmospheric transmittance, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) operating range are improved, respectively. Based on the above three models, the IRST performance evaluation simulation system is designed to analyze the optimal detection point and effective detection area under different conditions (such as target speed, detection angle, detection probability, false alarm probability, and operating range). Meanwhile, in order to verify the validity of the model, the range evaluation method of calibration and cross-validation is proposed. And taking the cross-validation method as the baseline, the error of the optimized mathematical model of IRST in this paper is within 10%. The research results are of reference significance for IRST operating range evaluation, design, and use.
Comparison of two configurations of a Stokes polarimeter measuring three wavelengths simultaneously
Authors: Aguilar F. Eusebio , Bruce Neil C.
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we study two configurations of a full-Stokes polarimeter that measures
three wavelengths simultaneously. A recently developed fitting
calibration process is used to reduce the error in the final Stokes
vector. The first configuration uses an optimized setup for the
central wavelength that fixes the non-optimized setups for the other
two wavelengths. The second configuration is the result of a search
for the best simultaneous setups for all three wavelengths. It is
found that this second setup gives smaller errors in the measured
Stokes parameters before calibration, but the first configuration
gives smaller errors after calibration. These results demonstrate the
need for a method of finding the best polarimeter configuration for
this type of measurement. It seems clear that the condition number by
itself is not a metric that provides sufficient information to
determine whether a particular configuration is better by giving
smaller errors. It is also important to point out that the results
presented here are for the particular calibration scheme used.
Additionally, it may be that a different calibration method is
required to give better results, but that is outside the scope of the
present work.
VECSEL systems for quantum information processing with trapped beryllium ions
Authors: Burd S. C. , Penttinen J.-P. , Hou P.-Y. , Knaack H. M. , Ranta S. , Mäki M. , Kantola E. , Guina M. , Slichter D. H. , Leibfried D. , Wilson A. C.
Published: November 2022

We demonstrate two systems based on vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) for producing ultraviolet laser light at wavelengths of 235 and 313 nm. The systems are suitable for quantum information processing with trapped beryllium ions. Each system consists of a compact, single-frequency, continuous-wave VECSEL producing high-power near-infrared light, tunable over tens of nanometers. One system generates 2.4 W at 940 nm, using a gain mirror based on GaInAs/GaAs quantum wells, which is converted to 54 mW of 235 nm light for photoionization of neutral beryllium atoms. The other system uses a gain mirror based on GaInNAs/GaAs quantum wells, enabling wavelength extension above 1200 nm with manageable strain in the GaAs lattice. This system generates 1.6 W at 1252 nm, which is converted to 41 mW of 313 nm light that is used to laser cool trapped 9Be+ ions and quantum state preparation and detection. The 313 nm system is also suitable for implementing high-fidelity quantum gates.
Improving light output by micro-TiO2 scatters in pc-WLED encapsulants
Authors: Yang Tsung-Hsun , Glorieux Benoît , Shiau Kai-Wei , Chang Yu-Yu , Yu Yeh-Wei , Sun Ching-Cherng
Published: November 2022

Phosphor-converted white light emitting diodes (pc-WLEDs) are used worldwide for an extensive amount of applications. The device is a complex combination of various components that introduce various technical issues: materials, electrical, chemical, thermal, and so on. All of these combined to obtain a targeted optical characteristic. While most of the pc-WLEDs are sufficient for basic illumination performance, there are still many issues to improve the pc-WLED performance. In this work, we deal with the incorporation of micron size particles of titanium oxide (TiO2) in silicone encapsulant that contains yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) phosphor in remote phosphor pc-WLED. Based on the light output and the scattering spatial distribution measurements of the phosphor plates, we have found that several essential performance indices, like the color uniformity, the efficiency, and the amount of phosphor for the pc-WLEDs, can be adjusted by tuning the amount of TiO2 particles and thus be optimized. With a comprehensive model using a Monte-Carlo ray tracing process combined with the Mie scattering theory, two TiO2 loading conditions are revealed. The first one is the sparse condition that the TiO2 particles act as the scattering particles such as to increase the output flux to improve the efficiency of YAG. The second one is the dense condition that the TiO2 particles act more as barrier particles such so to decrease the output flux.
Design of metasurfaces with decoupled amplitude and phase response for spatial light modulation
Authors: Xie Rongbo , Zhang Lingyun , You Zheng , Zhao Xiaoguang
Published: November 2022

Spatial light modulators based on metasurfaces have attracted great attention due to their abilities of amplitude and phase modulation. However, the traditional one degree of freedom (1-DOF) tunable metasurfaces are limited by incomplete phase coverage and coupled amplitude and phase modulation. Here, we propose an optimization method for 2-DOF tunable metasurfaces within the framework of temporal coupled mode theory. As a validation of the proposed method, we present a germanium antimony tellurium (GST)-alloy-based 2-DOF tunable reflective metasurface. Full-wave simulation shows that independent modulation of amplitude and phase is realized with full phase coverage and amplitude range from 0 to 0.55. Our proposed design scheme for a 2-DOF tunable metasurface may facilitate the development of high-performance metasurface devices.
Practical zoom camera calibration method for close-range photogrammetry
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Kang Jiehu , Feng Luyuan , Sun Zefeng , Wu Bin
Published: November 2022

Compared to a conventional fixed focus lens, a zoom lens is more flexible and adaptable. However, the challenges involved in precise calibration for a zoom camera prevent its widespread use in close-range photogrammetry. A practical calibration method for a zoom camera is proposed. The zoom-focus model is established through dimension reduction of the setting variables, which is represented as a set of functions of the zoom setting. The zoom and focus settings are updated in real time for objects at different measurement depths. The calibration process only requires the zoom camera to observe the control points distributed in the designed calibration field with several combinations of zoom and focus settings. All the coefficients of the zoom-focus model can be solved by a nonlinear joint optimization. Experimental results have proved that the proposed method is effective for close-range photogrammetry.
Tunable dissipative soliton Tm-doped fiber laser operating from 1700 nm to 1900 nm
Authors: Liu Xinyang , Sahu Jayanta K. , Gumenyuk Regina
Published: November 2022

In this Letter, we demonstrate an ultrabroadband (1700–1900 nm) tunable Tm-doped fiber laser (TDFL) generating dissipative solitons in the net-normal dispersion regime. The laser delivers pulses with spectral widths ranging from 10 nm to 23 nm and pulse durations from 8.7 ps to 18.3 ps. Stretched-free pulse amplification at the gain edge (1708 nm) and gain peak (1807 nm) is implemented to demonstrate the range of further power scalability of the laser signal. The maximum achieved power in a one-stage Tm-doped amplifier is 140 mW with a compressed pulse duration of 478 fs. Considering the diverse utility of this wavelength band, this laser is highly desirable for applications such as optical sensing, biological imaging, and industrial machining.
Learning-based single-shot long-range synthetic aperture Fourier ptychographic imaging with a camera array
Authors: Wang Bowen , Li Sheng , Chen Qian , Zuo Chao
Published: November 2022

In this Letter, we report a new long-range synthetic aperture Fourier ptychographic imaging technique, termed learning-based single-shot synthetic aperture imaging (LSS-SAI). LSS-SAI uses a camera array to record low-resolution intensity images corresponding to different non-overlapping spectral regions in parallel, which are synthesized to reconstruct a super-resolved high-quality image based on a physical model-based dual-regression deep neural network. Compared with conventional macroscopic Fourier ptychographic imaging, LSS-SAI overcomes the stringent requirement on a large amount of raw data with a high spectral overlapping ratio for high-resolution, high signal-to-noise imaging of reflective objects with diffuse surfaces, making single-shot long-range synthetic aperture imaging possible. Experimental results on rough reflective samples show that our approach can improve the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM) by 10.56 dB and 0.26, respectively. We also demonstrate the single-shot ptychography capability of the proposed approach by the synthetic aperture imaging of a dynamic scene at a camera-limited speed (30 fps). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of macroscopic Fourier ptychography to single-shot synthetic aperture imaging of dynamic events.
Mode power spectrum for Laguerre-Gauss beams in Kolmogorov turbulence: erratum
Authors: Elder Henry F. , Sprangle Phillip
Published: November 2022

We present an erratum to our Letter [Opt. Lett. 47, 3447 (2022)10.1364/OL.457709]. In the Letter we provided an example calculation for how to use our results to predict the signal-to-noise ratio for an OAM-multiplexed communication system. This erratum corrects the parameter name for which numerical values are provided. The calculations in the original Letter were performed using the correct values for all parameters; therefore, this correction does not affect the results and conclusions of the original Letter.
Femtosecond laser direct writing quasi-phase matched type-II waveguide in lithium niobate
Authors: Yuan Tingge , Zhu Bing , Tu Honghuan , Chen Yuping , Chen Xianfeng
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we demonstrate a quasi-phase matched type-II waveguide fabricated by femtosecond laser direct writing in Z-cut MgO doped lithium niobate. Compared with the previous work that employs type-III configuration to realize the all-optical fabricated quasi-phase matched waveguide, our type-II waveguide has a simpler dual-line structure that can support TM-mode quasi-phase matched second harmonic generation which employs d33 naturally, thus the fabrication process can be significantly simplified. In experiment, an enhanced second-harmonic generation with a normalized conversion efficiency of 8.76 %W−1cm−2 is observed, corresponding to a nonlinear modulation depth of 0.89. The proposed design and fabrication method expand the application of femtosecond laser direct writing type-II waveguide in the field of monolithic integrated nonlinear devices.
Comparative analysis reveals the long-term coevolutionary history of parvoviruses and vertebrates
Authors: Campbell Matthew A. , Loncar Shannon , Kotin Robert M. , Gifford Robert J.
Published: November 2022

Parvoviruses (family Parvoviridae) are small DNA viruses that cause numerous diseases of medical, veterinary, and agricultural significance and have important applications in gene and anticancer therapy. DNA sequences derived from ancient parvoviruses are common in animal genomes and analysis of these endogenous parvoviral elements (EPVs) has demonstrated that the family, which includes twelve vertebrate-specific genera, arose in the distant evolutionary past. So far, however, such “paleovirological” analysis has only provided glimpses into the biology of ancient parvoviruses and their long-term evolutionary interactions with hosts. Here, we comprehensively map EPV diversity in 752 published vertebrate genomes, revealing defining aspects of ecology and evolution within individual parvovirus genera. We identify 364 distinct EPV sequences and show these represent approximately 200 unique germline incorporation events, involving at least five distinct parvovirus genera, which took place at points throughout the Cenozoic Era. We use the spatiotemporal and host range calibrations provided by these sequences to infer defining aspects of long-term evolution within individual parvovirus genera, including mammalian vicariance for genus Protoparvovirus, and interclass transmission for genus Dependoparvovirus. Moreover, our findings support a model of virus evolution in which the long-term cocirculation of multiple parvovirus genera in vertebrates reflects the adaptation of each viral genus to fill a distinct ecological niche. Our findings show that efforts to develop parvoviruses as therapeutic tools can be approached from a rational foundation based on comparative evolutionary analysis. To support this, we published our data in the form of an open, extensible, and cross-platform database designed to facilitate the wider utilisation of evolution-related domain knowledge in parvovirus research.
Late antenatal care utilization in Ethiopia: The effect of socio-economic inequities and regional disparities
Authors: Mengist Belayneh , Endalew Bekalu , Diress Gedefaw , Abajobir Amanuel
Published: November 2022

Antenatal care (ANC) is one of the most crucial components of maternal health care services. However, less than two-third of pregnant women receive ANC at least once and only 32% had at least 4 ANC visits in Ethiopia. There is dearth of nationally representative data that indicate changes in utilization of ANC services at the end of health sector transformation plan I period (HSTP I) in the country. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate utilization of ANC the effect of socio-economic inequities and regional disparities in Ethiopia. The 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey data were used. A total of 5753 women in the reproductive age who gave live births in the five years preceding the survey were used for this study. Multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with ANC booking. This study indicated that 74% women had at least one ANC visit during their last pregnancy of which four out of ten did not receive the recommended 4+ visits. The proportion of women who had late ANC booking (i.e., first ANC visit to health facility after 4 months of pregnancy) was found to be 32% and significant disparities were observed across regions. Rural residency (adjusted OR (AOR): 1.62, 95% CI (1.28, 2.05)), being wealth (AOR: 0.69, 95% CI (0.55, 0.85)), education (AOR: 0.25, 95% CI (0.15, 0.40)) and being grand multi-parity (AOR: 1.35, 95% CI (1.005, 1.83)) were significantly associated with late ANC booking. ANC services utilization is far behind its targets and the proportion of pregnant women entering ANC late is high. It is necessary to intensify efforts to raise awareness about the need of early ANC initiation, particularly in rural areas.
Ultrasound insonation angle and scanning imaging modes for imaging dental implant structures: A benchtop study
Authors: Kripfgans Oliver D. , Goli Nikhila Devi , Majzoub Jad , De Siqueira Rafael Amorim Cavalcanti , Soki Fabiana , Chan Hsun-Liang
Published: November 2022

Introduction

High frequency ultrasound has shown as a promising imaging modality to evaluate peri-implant tissues. It is not known if the ultrasound imaging settings might influence ultrasound’s ability to differentiate implant structures. The aim of this benchtop study was to evaluate the dependence of ultrasound on imaging angles and modes to measure implant geometry-related parameters.

Methods

A clinical ultrasound scanner (ZS3, Mindray) with an intraoral probe (L30-8) offering combinations of harmonic and compound imaging modes was employed for imaging 16 abutments and 4 implants. The samples were mounted to a micro-positioning system in a water tank, which allowed a range of -30 to 30-degree imaging angles in 5-degree increment between the probe and samples. The abutment angle, implant thread pitch and depth were measured on ultrasound, compared to the reference readings. The errors were computed as a function of the image angles and modes. All samples were replicated 3 times for 3 image modes and 11 image angles, thus resulting in 2,340 images.

Results

The mean errors of ultrasound to estimate 16 abutment angles, compared to the reference values, were between -1.8 to 2.7 degrees. The root mean squared error (RMSE) ranged from 1.5 to 4.6 degrees. Ultrasound significantly overestimated the thread pitch by 26.1 μm to 36.2 μm. The error in thread depth measurements were in a range of -50.5 μm to 39.6 μm, respectively. The RMSE of thread pitch and depth of the tested 4 implants was in a range of 34.7 to 56.9 μm and 51.0 to 101.8 μm, respectively. In most samples, these errors were independent of the image angle and modes.

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this study, high-frequency ultrasound was feasible in imaging abutments and implant fixtures independent of scanning angle within ±30° of normal incidence and for compounding and non-compounding-based imaging modes.
Inducible degradation of the Drosophila Mediator subunit Med19 reveals its role in regulating developmental but not constitutively-expressed genes
Authors: Jullien Denis , Guillou Emmanuelle , Bernat-Fabre Sandra , Payet Adeline , Bourbon Henri-Marc G. , Boube Muriel
Published: November 2022

The multi-subunit Mediator complex plays a critical role in gene expression by bridging enhancer-bound transcription factors and the RNA polymerase II machinery. Although experimental case studies suggest differential roles of Mediator subunits, a comprehensive view of the specific set of genes regulated by individual subunits in a developing tissue is still missing. Here we address this fundamental question by focusing on the Med19 subunit and using the Drosophila wing imaginal disc as a developmental model. By coupling auxin-inducible degradation of endogenous Med19 in vivo with RNA-seq, we got access to the early consequences of Med19 elimination on gene expression. Differential gene expression analysis reveals that Med19 is not globally required for mRNA transcription but specifically regulates positively or negatively less than a quarter of the expressed genes. By crossing our transcriptomic data with those of Drosophila gene expression profile database, we found that Med19-dependent genes are highly enriched with spatially-regulated genes while the expression of most constitutively expressed genes is not affected upon Med19 loss. Whereas globally downregulation does not exceed upregulation, we identified a functional class of genes encoding spatially-regulated transcription factors, and more generally developmental regulators, responding unidirectionally to Med19 loss with an expression collapse. Moreover, we show in vivo that the Notch-responsive wingless and the E(spl)-C genes require Med19 for their expression. Combined with experimental evidences suggesting that Med19 could function as a direct transcriptional effector of Notch signaling, our data support a model in which Med19 plays a critical role in the transcriptional activation of developmental genes in response to cell signaling pathways.
Cognitive Processing Therapy or Relapse Prevention for comorbid Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Simpson Tracy L. , Kaysen Debra L. , Fleming Charles B. , Rhew Isaac C. , Jaffe Anna E. , Desai Sruti , Hien Denise A. , Berliner Lucy , Donovan Dennis , Resick Patricia A.
Published: November 2022

Objective

To compare a Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment (Cognitive Processing Therapy; CPT), an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) treatment (Relapse Prevention; RP), and assessment-only (AO) for those meeting diagnostic criteria for both PTSD and AUD.

Method

Participants with current PTSD/AUD (N = 101; mean age = 42.10; 56% female) were initially randomized to CPT, RP, or AO and assessed post-treatment or 6-weeks post-randomization (AO). AO participants were then re-randomized to CPT or RP. Follow-ups were at immediate post-treatment, 3-, and 12-months. Mixed effects intent-to-treat models compared conditions on changes in PTSD symptom severity, drinking days, and heavy drinking days.

Results

At post-treatment, participants assigned to CPT showed significantly greater improvement than those in AO on PTSD symptom severity (b= -9.72,95% CI[-16.20, -3.23],d =1.22); the RP and AO groups did not differ significantly on PTSD. Both active treatment conditions significantly decreased heavy drinking days relative to AO (CPT vs. AO:Count Ratio [CR]= 0.51,95% CI[0.30, 0.88]; RP vs. AO:CR= 0.34,95% CI[0.19, 0.59]). After re-randomization both treatment conditions showed substantial improvements in PTSD symptoms and drinking between pre-treatment and post-treatment over the 12-month follow-up period, with RP showing an advantage on heavy drinking days.

Conclusion

Treatments targeting oneorthe other aspects of the PTSD/AUD comorbidity may have salutary effects on both PTSD and drinking outcomes. These preliminary results suggest that people with this comorbidity may have viable treatment options whether they present for mental health or addiction care.

Trial registration

The trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01663337).
ATP13A2 modifies mitochondrial localization of overexpressed TOM20 to autolysosomal pathway
Authors: Hatori Yuta , Kanda Yukina , Nonaka Saori , Nakanishi Hiroshi , Kitazawa Takeo
Published: November 2022

Mutations in ATP13A2 cause Kufor-Rakeb Syndrome (KRS), a juvenile form of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The gene product belongs to a diverse family of ion pumps and mediates polyamine influx from lysosomal lumen. While the biochemical and structural studies highlight its unique mechanics, how PD pathology is linked to ATP13A2 function remains unclear. Here we report that localization of overexpressed TOM20, a mitochondrial outer-membrane protein, is significantly altered upon ATP13A2 expression to partially merge with lysosome. Using Halo-fused version of ATP13A2, ATP13A2 was identified in lysosome and autophagosome. Upon ATP13A2 co-expression, overexpressed TOM20 was found not only in mitochondria but also within ATP13A2-containing autolysosome. This modification of TOM20 localization was inhibited by adding 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and not accompanied with mitophagy induction. We suggest that ATP13A2 may participate in the control of overexpressed proteins targeted to mitochondrial outer-membrane.
The deletion of HK-1 gene affects the bacterial virulence of Pseudomonas stutzeri LH-42
Authors: Shan Si , Hu Tingting , Yang Yu
Published: November 2022

Two-component systems (TCSs) are widespread regulatory systems in bacteria, which control cellular functions and play an important role in sensing various external stimuli and regulating gene expression in response to environmental changes. Among the nineteen genes for the two-component system found in the whole genome ofPseudomonas stutzeriLH-42, one of the TCS coded by theHK-1gene, has a structural domain similar to the HAMP domain, which plays an important role in regulating bacterial virulence in other bacteria. In this study, the deletion mutant LH-42△HK-1was successfully constructed using the lambda Red recombinase system. Compared with the wild-type strain, the mutant strain LH-42△HK-1showed a significantly slower growth time and a longer stationary phase time. In addition, in the plate bacteriostatic experiment withEscherichia coliDH5α as an indicator strain, the inhibition zone size of the mutant strain showed significantly less than the wild-type strain(P<0.05), indicating that the virulence of the mutant strain was significantly reduced compared with the wild-type strain. Overall, the results indicate that the deletion of the geneHK-1decreased bacterial virulence inPseudomonas stutzeriLH-42.
Wealth-based inequality in the exclusive use of hygienic materials during menstruation among young women in urban India
Authors: Singh Aditya , Chakrabarty Mahashweta , Singh Shivani , Mohan Diwakar , Chandra Rakesh , Chowdhury Sourav
Published: November 2022

Background

The exclusive use of hygienic materials during menstruation (sanitary napkins, locally made napkins, tampons, and menstrual cups) among urban women in India has been increasing over time. However, little is known about the wealth-based disparity in the exclusive use of hygienic materials during menstruation among these women. This study, therefore, measures wealth-based inequality in the exclusive use of hygienic materials during menstruation among urban women in India. Furthermore, the measured inequality is decomposed to unravel its contributing factors.

Data and methods

Using data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21), we calculated the Erreygers normalized concentration index (CI) for India and each of its states to measure wealth-based inequality in the exclusive use of hygienic materials during menstruation among women in urban India. Further, we decomposed the Erreygers CI to estimate the relative contribution of covariates to wealth-based inequality in the exclusive use of hygienic materials during menstruation. The analysis included 54,561 urban women aged 15–24 from 28 states and eight union territories of India.

Results

The Erreygers CI value of 0.302 indicated a pro-rich inequality in the exclusive use of hygienic materials among urban women in India. While all the states and UTs showed pro-rich inequality, the CI varied considerably across the country. Among the bigger states, the inequality was highest in Madhya Pradesh (CI: 0.45), Assam (CI: 0.44), Bihar (CI: 0.41), and West Bengal (CI: 0.37) and the lowest in the south Indian states of Tamil Nadu (CI: 0.10), Andhra Pradesh (CI: 0.15), Telangana (CI: 0.15), and Kerala (CI: 0.20). Erreygers decomposition revealed that wealth-based inequality in women’s education and mass media exposure contributed almost 80% of the wealth-based inequality in the exclusive use of hygienic materials during menstruation among urban women in India.

Conclusion

Substantial pro-rich inequality in the exclusive use of hygienic materials suggests that the policies and program initiatives should prioritize reaching out to poor women to increase the overall rate of exclusive use of hygienic materials during menstruation in urban India.
An Exact Hypergraph Matching algorithm for posture identification in embryonic C. elegans
Authors: Lauziere Andrew , Christensen Ryan , Shroff Hari , Balan Radu
Published: November 2022

The nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans(C. elegans) is a model organism used frequently in developmental biology and neurobiology [White, (1986), Sulston, (1983), Chisholm, (2016) and Rapti, (2020)]. TheC. elegansembryo can be used for cell tracking studies to understand how cell movement drives the development of specific embryonic tissues. Analyses in late-stage development are complicated by bouts of rapid twitching motions which invalidate traditional cell tracking approaches. However, the embryo possesses a small set of cells which may be identified, thereby defining the coiled embryo’s posture [Christensen, 2015]. The posture serves as a frame of reference, facilitating cell tracking even in the presence of twitching. Posture identification is nevertheless challenging due to the complete repositioning of the embryo between sampled images. Current approaches to posture identification rely on time-consuming manual efforts by trained users which limits the efficiency of subsequent cell tracking. Here, we cast posture identification as a point-set matching task in which coordinates of seam cell nuclei are identified to jointly recover the posture. Most point-set matching methods comprise coherent point transformations that use low order objective functions [Zhou, (2016) and Zhang, (2019)]. Hypergraphs, an extension of traditional graphs, allow more intricate modeling of relationships between objects, yet existing hypergraphical point-set matching methods are limited to heuristic algorithms which do not easily scale to handle higher degree hypergraphs [Duchenne, (2010), Chertok, (2010) and Lee, (2011)]. Our algorithm,Exact Hypergraph Matching(EHGM), adapts the classical branch-and-bound paradigm to dynamically identify a globally optimal correspondence between point-sets under an arbitrarily intricate hypergraphical model.EHGMwith hypergraphical models inspired byC. elegansembryo shape identified posture more accurately (56%) than established point-set matching methods (27%), correctly identifying twice as many sampled postures as a leading graphical approach. Posterior region seeding empoweredEHGMto correctly identify 78% of postures while reducing runtime, demonstrating the efficacy of the method on a cutting-edge problem in developmental biology.
On partial randomized response model using ranked set sampling
Authors: Abbasi Azhar Mehmood , Shad Muhammad Yousaf , Ahmed Aneel
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we propose a partial randomized response technique to collect reliable sensitive data for estimation of population proportion in ranked set sampling (RSS) scheme using auxiliary information. The idea is to increase confidence and (or) co-operation of the respondents by providing them the option of both ‘direct’ and ‘randomized’ response for the inquired sensitive question. This option is quite logical because perception of sensitive (insensitive) inquiry can vary among respondents. The properties of the proposed method are discussed and compared with existing randomized response techniques. Cost analysis is also carried out to prove supremacy of the suggested method. Finally, an application to clinical trial on AIDS is included.
“If I get sick here, I will never see my children again”: The mental health of international migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile
Authors: Blukacz Alice , Cabieses Báltica , Obach Alexandra , Madrid Paula , Carreño Alejandra , Pickett Kate E. , Markkula Niina
Published: November 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of international migrants globally. Chile has managed its response to the pandemic in an ongoing context of social unrest and combined regional migratory and humanitarian crisis. The country’s population presents a high prevalence of common mental disorders and a high suicide rate, with limited access to mental healthcare. International migrants in Chile represent 8% of the total population, and although a socioeconomically heterogenous group, they face social vulnerability, a range of mental health stressors and additional barriers to access mental healthcare. This study describes the mental health outcomes, stressors, response, and coping strategies perceived by international migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile.

Methods and findings

A qualitative case study was carried out through individual online interviews to 30 international migrants living in Chile during the pandemic and 10 experts of the social and health care sectors. An inductive content analysis was carried out, a process during which the researchers sought to identify patterns and themes derived from the data. Participants experienced mainly negative mental health outcomes, including anxiety and depression symptomatology. Stressors included the virus itself, work, living and socioeconomic conditions, discrimination, fear for their family and distance caring. Institutional responses to address the mental health of international migrants during the pandemic in Chile were limited and participants relied mainly on individual coping strategies.

Conclusions

The pandemic can represent an important opportunity to strengthen mental health systems for the general population as well as for population groups experiencing social vulnerability, if the issues identified and the lessons learned are translated into action at national, regional, and international level. Promoting the mental health of international migrants means recognising migration as a social determinant of mental health and adopting a cross-cultural as well as a Human Rights approach.
Prevalence of comorbidities associated with sickle cell disease among non-elderly individuals with commercial insurance–A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Ramsey Scott D. , Bender M. A. , Li Li , Johnson Kate M. , Jiao Boshen , Devine Beth , Basu Anirban
Published: November 2022

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a severe monogenic disease associated with high morbidity and mortality and a disproportionate burden on Black communities. Few population-based studies have examined the prevalence of comorbidities among persons with SCD. We estimated the prevalence of comorbidities experienced by individuals with SCD enrolled in employer-based health insurance plans in the US over their non-elderly lifetimes (0–64 years of age) with a retrospective cohort design using Truven Health MarketScan commercial claims data from 2007–2018. ICD-9/10 codes were used to identify individuals with SCD using a previously published algorithm. For this cohort, comorbidities associated with SCD were identified across 3 age categories (<18, 18–45, 46–64 years-old), based on the CMS Chronic Comorbidities Warehouse or SCD-specific diagnosis codes, when applicable. The total number of SCD patients available for analysis in each age category was 7,502 (<18 years), 10,183 (18–45 years) and 4,459 (46–64 years). Across all ages, vaso-occlusive pain, infections (non-specific), and fever were the most common comorbidities. Vaso-occlusive pain and infection were the most prevalent conditions for persons age <18- and 18–45-year-olds, while in the 46–54-year-old age group, infection and cardiovascular including pulmonary hypertension were most prevalent. Compared to persons <18 years old, the prevalence of vaso-occlusive pain, fever, and acute chest syndrome claims declined in older populations. The comorbidity burden of SCD is significant across all age groups. SCD patients experience comorbidities of age such as chronic pain, cardio-vascular conditions including pulmonary hypertension and renal disease at far higher rates than the general population. Novel disease modifying therapies in development have the potential to significantly reduce the comorbidity burden of SCD.
In vivo chromatic and spatial tuning of foveolar retinal ganglion cells in Macaca fascicularis
Authors: Godat Tyler , Cottaris Nicolas P. , Patterson Sara , Kohout Kendall , Parkins Keith , Yang Qiang , Strazzeri Jennifer M. , McGregor Juliette E. , Brainard David H. , Merigan William H. , Williams David R.
Published: November 2022

The primate fovea is specialized for high acuity chromatic vision, with the highest density of cone photoreceptors and a disproportionately large representation in visual cortex. The unique visual properties conferred by the fovea are conveyed to the brain by retinal ganglion cells, the somas of which lie at the margin of the foveal pit. Microelectrode recordings of these centermost retinal ganglion cells have been challenging due to the fragility of the fovea in the excised retina. Here we overcome this challenge by combining high resolution fluorescence adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy with calcium imaging to optically record functional responses of foveal retinal ganglion cells in the living eye. We use this approach to study the chromatic responses and spatial transfer functions of retinal ganglion cells using spatially uniform fields modulated in different directions in color space and monochromatic drifting gratings. We recorded from over 350 cells across three Macaca fascicularis primates over a time period of weeks to months. We find that the majority of the L vs. M cone opponent cells serving the most central foveolar cones have spatial transfer functions that peak at high spatial frequencies (20–40 c/deg), reflecting strong surround inhibition that sacrifices sensitivity at low spatial frequencies but preserves the transmission of fine detail in the retinal image. In addition, we fit to the drifting grating data a detailed model of how ganglion cell responses draw on the cone mosaic to derive receptive field properties of L vs. M cone opponent cells at the very center of the foveola. The fits are consistent with the hypothesis that foveal midget ganglion cells are specialized to preserve information at the resolution of the cone mosaic. By characterizing the functional properties of retinal ganglion cells in vivo through adaptive optics, we characterize the response characteristics of these cells in situ.
Modelling and measuring complexity of traditional and ancient technologies using Petri nets
Authors: Fajardo Sebastian , Kleijn Jetty , Takes Frank W. , Langejans Geeske H. J.
Published: November 2022

Technologies and their production systems are used by archaeologists and anthropologists to study complexity of socio-technical systems. However, there are several issues that hamper agreement about what constitutes complexity and how we can systematically compare the complexity of production systems. In this work, we propose a novel approach to assess the behavioural and structural complexity of production systems using Petri nets. Petri nets are well-known formal models commonly used in, for example, biological and business process modelling, as well as software engineering. The use of Petri nets overcomes several obstacles of current approaches in archaeology and anthropology, such as the incompatibility of the intrinsic sequential logic of the available methods with inherently non-sequential processes, and the inability to explicitly model activities and resources separately. We test the proposed Petri net modelling approach on two traditional production systems of adhesives made by Ju/’hoan makers from Nyae, Namibia from Ammocharis coranica and Ozoroa schinzii plants. We run simulations in which we assess the complexity of these two adhesive production systems in detail and show how Petri net dynamics reveal the structural and behavioural complexity of different production scenarios. We show that concurrency may be prevalent in the production system of adhesive technologies and discuss how changes in location during the process may serve to control the behavioural complexity of a production system. The approach presented in this paper paves the way for future systematic visualization, analysis, and comparison of ancient production systems, accounting for the inherent complex, concurrent, and action/resource-oriented aspects of such processes.
Health-related quality of life and estimation of the minimally important difference in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endocrine Symptom score in postmenopausal ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer with low sensitivity to endocrine therapy
Authors: Kikawa Yuichiro , Hagiwara Yasuhiro , Fujisawa Tomomi , Araki Kazuhiro , Iwamoto Takayuki , Sangai Takafumi , Shien Tadahiko , Takao Shintaro , Nishimura Reiki , Takahashi Masato , Toyama Tatsuya , Aihara Tomohiko , Mukai Hirofumi , Taira Naruto
Published: November 2022

Background

The HORSE-BC study previously demonstrated that second-line endocrine therapy (ET) for patients with acquired endocrine-resistant metastatic breast cancer (MBC) still provided a clinically meaningful benefit. Herein, we investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the HORSE-BC study.

Methods

Patients with acquired endocrine-resistant MBC who were scheduled for second-line ET were recruited. The HRQOL was assessed at baseline, and 1 and 3 months after second-line ET initiation. To investigate the minimally important difference (MID) in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endocrine Symptoms (FACT-ES), we evaluated the means and standard deviations for the distribution-based method, and differences in the change in HRQOL for the anchor-based method. We also investigated the association between FACT-ES total scores and clinical benefit.

Results

Overall, 56 patients were enrolled. Of these, 47 were analyzed. When defined as 1/3 standard deviation estimates based on the distribution method, the calculated MID was 5.9. The MIDs of the FACT-ES total scores based on the anchor method were 7.7 for decline and 4.1 for improvement. The MID decline proportions were 6.1% and 14.7% lower in patients who experienced clinical benefits than in those who did not at 1 and 3 months, respectively. The ratios of MID improvement in patients who experienced clinical benefits were 18.3% and 3.2% higher, respectively; the mean change in the FACT-ES total score from baseline improved in patients who experienced clinical benefits.

Conclusions

Maintaining the HRQOL as determined by FACT-ES may be associated with clinical benefits in patients with acquired endocrine-resistant MBC treated with ET.
Phenotypes of body composition in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Toroptsova N. V. , Sorokina A. O. , Dobrovolskaya O. V. , Demin N. V.
Published: November 2022

Background. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of connective tissue with a polysyndromic clinical picture. One of the factors that significantly affect the quality of life of such patients is the involvement of the musculoskeletal system. A small number of studies were aimed at studying osteoporosis and body composition in patients with SSc, however, the clinical heterogeneity of the disease, a small number of patients included in the studies do not allow to draw unambiguous conclusions about the frequency of various phenotypes of body composition, their relationship and factors affecting their occurrence.

Aim. To study the body composition and to establish the frequency of isolated and combined pathological phenotypes in women with SSс and to determine the factors associated with the muscle mass.

Materials and methods. 85 postmenopausal women (46 with SSc, 39 without rheumatic pathology) were included. Questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, assessment of nutritional status by MNA, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of the whole body, lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip were carried out. Correlation and univariate linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors related to appendicular muscle mass.

Results. Normal body composition was found in 13.0% of patients with SSс and 25.6% — in the control, isolated and combined pathological phenotypes were detected in 34.8% and 52.2% women with SSс and in 61.5% and 12.8% in the group without rheumatic diseases, respectively. Combined pathological phenotypes, phenotypes with the presence of sarcopenia and/or osteoporosis were significantly more often in SSc patients (p< 0.001), but the frequency of obesity did not differ (69.6% and 64.1%, respectively). Negative correlations were revealed between the value of appendicular muscle mass and the presence of osteolysis of the nail phalanges (Rs=-0.23), the cumulative dose of glucocorticoids (GC) (Rs=-0.43) and direct — with the value of the femoral neck BMD (Rs=0.47), nutritional status by MNA (Rs=0.51), BMI (Rs=0.70), the circumference of the shoulder of the non-dominant arm (Rs=0.68), waist (Rs=0.66), hips (Rs=0.72) and lower leg of the non-dominant leg (Rs=0.81), p< 0.05. Univariate linear analysis confirmed the presence of positive associations between the appendicular muscle mass and proximal hip BMD, BMI, shoulder circumferences, waist, hips and lower leg (p< 0.001), and negative associations with the Rodnan skin score (p=0.012) and the cumulative dose of GC (p=0.001).

Conclusion. 87% of patients with SSc had pathological phenotypes of body composition, among them combined phenotypes were significantly more common than in people without rheumatic diseases. BMD in the proximal hip, BMI, circumference of the shoulder, waist, hips and lower leg were positively, and the Rodnan skin score and cumulative dose of GC were negatively associated with the appendicular muscle mass.
Peran Orang Tua Terhadap Anak-Anak dalam Cerpen 'Seibei to Hyoutan' karya Shiga Naoya
Authors: Fadli Zaki Ainul , Baiquni Tribuana Tunggadewi Kusumowardhani
Published: November 2022

This study aims to determine the role of parents towards children in the short story 'Seibei to Hyotan' by Shiga Naoya published in 1913 in Japan. The research method used in this study is descriptive qualitative with data collection through literature studies. Data analysis is carried out by analyzing one of the elements of the short story structure, namely characterization and characterization, then understanding the relationship between the role of parents and children in this short story. The results showed that (1) the role of Seibei's parents towards Seibei was very important in shaping Seibei's character, (2) adults in this case the teacher from Seibei also played a role in the formation of Seibei's character, and (3) the impact of Seibei's parents' attitude towards Seibei was very large, one of which was Seibei's mistakes that recurred.