94 research outputs found
Doubly-Periodic String Comparison
Full text linkThe longest common subsequence (LCS) problem is a fundamental algorithmic problem. Given a pair of strings, the problem asks for the length of the longest string that is a subsequence in both input strings. Among the many relatives of this problem, there is its natural version where one or both of input strings have periodic structure. The case where only one of the input strings is periodic has been considered before; in this work, we develop an efficient algorithm for the more difficult case where both input strings are periodic. The algorithm is based on the existing algebraic framework for the LCS problem, developed by the third author; in particular, we extend this framework to dealing with affine (i.e. doubly-infinite periodic) permutations instead of finite ones. Given input strings that are a k-repeat of a period of length m and an -repeat of a period of length n, the resulting algorithm runs in time O(mn+n log n log k), which is a substantial improvement over existing approaches. The algorithm has been implemented by the first author; by running his code, one can process pairs of periodic input strings with lengths far beyond the reach of all known alternative algorithms
Spanish Flu: The First Modern Case of Viral Humour?
No full textThis chapter focuses on exploring the link between the Spanish flu, a pandemic that was rampant between 1918-19, and humour through cartoons and newspapers. To circumvent the traditional challenges of historiographical research I adopted a triangulation-based approach of three different countries, that underwent different trajectories, Italy, the UK and Russia in order to merge these national narratives and observe the phenomenon from different angles. A reflection on humour as a moral occurrence, expanding on the works of Christie Davies as well as applying recent findings on the behavioural immune system on historical data, can offer new insights on overlooked cultural and humour-based aspects of these societies during the Spanish flu. An unorthodox take on the evolution of cultural items pioneered by Antonio Gramsci in his Notes on Machiavelli, should also enrich the understanding of the analysed material through the addition of an informational-psychological layer to the traditional historical material one. This theoretical and methodological “convergence” hopefully will constitute a viable “collection of strategies” for practitioners and the wider public alike. Archives were consulted in all three countries; translations are provided by the author to unlock how the Spanish flu, and other diseases, affected humour as a tool to explore the social world in conditions of heightened disgust and wide-spread political instability. The age-old question of whether humour has a significant effect on societal changes can be examined through significant case studies to “push the boundaries” on what human beings do throughout history when tragedy knocks on the door
Works Councils in Russia: Balance of Economic and Social Rights
No full textThe Labour Code of the Russian Federation was amended in 2013 in a way that a new body of workers’ representation — works councils — can be established. These amendments don’t add any new rights or obligations neither to employers nor to employees. They are made with purely political purposes and only imitate the creation of the analog of the well-known German system of works councils.
The author comes to conclusion that currently existing rights in informing and “taking into account” the workers’ representative body opinion, contained in the Russian Labour Code, are not sufficient for existence of the real industrial democracy. The article is aimed at answering the question, whether an implementation of functioning works councils may be beneficial to the adequate balancing of social rights of workers and economic rights of the employers. Although the full transposition of the German works councils system seems to be impossible, some of its positive features may be effectively adopted in the Russian law. For example, the employer’s obligation to consult workers shouldn’t be dependent on the existence of the workers’ representative bodies. Besides, a range of issues that are subject to the mandatory informing of workers by the employer must be significantly broadened. The procedure of consultations must include the real negotiations between the employer and employees on the basis of good faith principle.
</jats:p
Comparison of physician-certified verbal autopsy with computer-coded verbal autopsy for cause of death assignment in hospitalized patients in low- and middle-income countries : systematic review
Full text linkBACKGROUND: Computer-coded verbal autopsy (CCVA) methods to assign causes of death (CODs) for medically unattended deaths have been proposed as an alternative to physician-certified verbal autopsy (PCVA). We conducted a systematic review of 19 published comparison studies (from 684 evaluated), most of which used hospital-based deaths as the reference standard. We assessed the performance of PCVA and five CCVA methods: Random Forest, Tariff, InterVA, King-Lu, and Simplified Symptom Pattern. METHODS: The reviewed studies assessed methods' performance through various metrics: sensitivity, specificity, and chance-corrected concordance for coding individual deaths, and cause-specific mortality fraction (CSMF) error and CSMF accuracy at the population level. These results were summarized into means, medians, and ranges. RESULTS: The 19 studies ranged from 200 to 50,000 deaths per study (total over 116,000 deaths). Sensitivity of PCVA versus hospital-assigned COD varied widely by cause, but showed consistently high specificity. PCVA and CCVA methods had an overall chance-corrected concordance of about 50% or lower, across all ages and CODs. At the population level, the relative CSMF error between PCVA and hospital-based deaths indicated good performance for most CODs. Random Forest had the best CSMF accuracy performance, followed closely by PCVA and the other CCVA methods, but with lower values for InterVA-3. CONCLUSIONS: There is no single best-performing coding method for verbal autopsies across various studies and metrics. There is little current justification for CCVA to replace PCVA, particularly as physician diagnosis remains the worldwide standard for clinical diagnosis on live patients. Further assessments and large accessible datasets on which to train and test combinations of methods are required, particularly for rural deaths without medical attention
Recommended from our members
Advances in Modeling of Physical Systems Using Explicitly Correlated Gaussian Functions
No full textIn this dissertation recent advances in modeling various atomic and molecular systems with quantum mechanical calculations employing explicitly correlated Gaussian functions are presented. The author has utilized multiple approaches and considered a number of approximations to develop optimal calculation frameworks. Electronic and muonic molecules and atoms have been considered. A number of unique calculations have been performed and some novel and interesting results, including high accuracy description of the charge asymmetry in the heteronuclear systems and lifetimes of rotationless vibrational levels of diatomic molecules, have been generated
Performance of four computer-coded verbal autopsy methods for cause of death assignment compared with physician coding on 24,000 deaths in low- and middle-income countries
Full text linkBACKGROUND: Physician-coded verbal autopsy (PCVA) is the most widely used method to determine causes of death (CODs) in countries where medical certification of death is uncommon. Computer-coded verbal autopsy (CCVA) methods have been proposed as a faster and cheaper alternative to PCVA, though they have not been widely compared to PCVA or to each other. METHODS: We compared the performance of open-source random forest, open-source tariff method, InterVA-4, and the King-Lu method to PCVA on five datasets comprising over 24,000 verbal autopsies from low- and middle-income countries. Metrics to assess performance were positive predictive value and partial chance-corrected concordance at the individual level, and cause-specific mortality fraction accuracy and cause-specific mortality fraction error at the population level. RESULTS: The positive predictive value for the most probable COD predicted by the four CCVA methods averaged about 43% to 44% across the datasets. The average positive predictive value improved for the top three most probable CODs, with greater improvements for open-source random forest (69%) and open-source tariff method (68%) than for InterVA-4 (62%). The average partial chance-corrected concordance for the most probable COD predicted by the open-source random forest, open-source tariff method and InterVA-4 were 41%, 40% and 41%, respectively, with better results for the top three most probable CODs. Performance generally improved with larger datasets. At the population level, the King-Lu method had the highest average cause-specific mortality fraction accuracy across all five datasets (91%), followed by InterVA-4 (72% across three datasets), open-source random forest (71%) and open-source tariff method (54%). CONCLUSIONS: On an individual level, no single method was able to replicate the physician assignment of COD more than about half the time. At the population level, the King-Lu method was the best method to estimate cause-specific mortality fractions, though it does not assign individual CODs. Future testing should focus on combining different computer-coded verbal autopsy tools, paired with PCVA strengths. This includes using open-source tools applied to larger and varied datasets (especially those including a random sample of deaths drawn from the population), so as to establish the performance for age- and sex-specific CODs
Procloeon (Securiops) mutadens Kluge 2023, comb. n.
No full textProcloeon (Securiops) mutadens (Jacobus et al. 2006) comb. n. (Figs 98–105) Cloeon dentatum: Gillies 1988: 53 (larva; non imago, nec Kimmins 1956). Potamocloeon dentatum: Gillies 1990a: 208 (larva, non imago, nec Kimmins 1956); Jacobus & McCafferty 2005: 474 (larva). Securiops mutadens Jacobus, McCafferty & Gattolliat 2006: 137 (larva). Material examined. GAMBIA, Fatoto, R. Gambia, 19.II.1993, coll. M. T. Gillies, Y 127-8: 1 L ♀. Additions and corrections to larval description Maxillary palp. Length of 2nd (last) segment of maxillary palp was accepted as a key character separating species of Securiops: in S. mutadens it was said to be 0.55 of 1st segment length, in contrast to 0.85 in S. macafertiorum and S. mandradae (Jacobus & McCafferty 2005; Jacobus et al. 2006). This proportion (0.55) corresponds to the figure in the description (Gillies 1988: fig. 30), but in another larva from the same locality in Gambia, the 2nd segment is longer, and its ratio to the 1st segment is about 0.7 (Fig. 101). Labial palp. Gillies (1988) described the labial palp as having ́two segments», taking the 2nd and 3dr segments fore one; however, the border separating these segments and the muscle going from the 2nd segment to the 3rd one are retained, as in other Securiops (as in Fig. 40). Distal segment of labial palp without row of stout setae, with several stout setae near outer-distal and inner-distal corners (as in Fig. 44). Abdominal terga and sterna. Lateral spines are present on abdominal segments IV –IX, varying from 2 to 8 spines on one side; their number is not as constant as reported by Gillies (1988). Posterolateral spines are present on segments II– VII. Posterior margin of abdominal tergum I is smooth, without denticles; posterior margins of terga II–X have heavily sclerotized, brown, conic, sharply pointed, spine-like denticles separated by spaces wider than denticle width (Fig. 103); on tergum IX row of denticles is interrupted medially, behind pair of submedian setae (as in Fig. 51); projected portion of tergum X row with few larger denticles by sides, with few smaller denticles between them (as in Figs 51–52). Posterior margins of abdominal sterna I– IV are smooth, without denticles; posterior margins of sterna VI –IX have colorless, conic, sharply pointed, spine-like denticles, denser than denticles on terga (Fig. 104). Paraproct with spine-like denticles larger than denticles on sterna (as in Fig. 52). Abdominal terga with sparse, small protuberances; terga III–X also with few, sparsely situated, oval scales in wide semilunar non-opercula-bearing sockets (Fig. 103). Sterna VI –VIII also with such scales (Fig. 104). Besides this, abdominal terga and sterna with ring-like sensilla and irregularly situated fine setae. Tergalii. Tergalii I– IV with dorsal lamella, tergalii V – VII without dorsal lamella; tergalius VII enlarged (Gillies 1988: figs 14–19). Tergalius VII was figured with its anal margin directed up, like costal margins of other tergalii (Gillies 1988: fig. 19); probably, the author confused the anal margin with the costal one. Actually, tergalius VII has costal margin sharply convex, and anal margin straight, that is typical for Procloeon s. l. (as in Fig. 17). Caudalii. On most part of cercus, lateral side of each segment with one long spine on posterior margin; these spines are gradually changed from stout and moderately long (about as long as segment lengths) in proximal part of cercus to delicate and very long (up to 3 times exceeding segment length) in middle and distal part of cercus (Fig. 105). Posterior margin of each 4th segment of cercus and paracercus, followed by bark brown ring, with several pointed spines both on dorsal and ventral sides. Winged stages. Unknown. Egg. Unknown.Published as part of Kluge, Nikita J., 2023, Redescription of the subgenus Securiops Jacobus, McCafferty & Gattolliat 2006 (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae, Procloeon Bengtsson 1915), pp. 243-272 in Zootaxa 5343 (3) on page 262, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5343.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/833418
Medetera varvara Grichanov & Vikhrev, sp. nov.
No full textMedetera varvara Grichanov & Vikhrev sp. nov. (Figs. 1–6) Type material. Holotype 3: Morocco, near Essaouira, 31.563 ºN 9.714 ºW, sand dune, 29 March 2009, N.Vikhrev (ZMU). Paratypes. 2 ƤƤ with same data as holotype, 28 and 29 March (ZMU). Diagnosis. Medetera varvara is related to Egyptian M. albescens (Parent) which differs from the former by silvery-white frons and face, hind coxa bearing three outer setae and fore tarsus unmodified. Ornamentation of fore legs is unknown for other species of Palearctic Medetera including M. albescens which was published with a rather detailed description. In the Afrotropics, only M. luteoscutata Parent, 1936, has a small apicoventral process on tarsomere 1 and 3 of fore leg. Mainly Pantropical Saccopheronta Becker, 1914, a sister genus (Grichanov 1997 b) or “ aberrans ’ group of Medetera species (Bickel 1985, 1987) includes species with thickened or widened tarsomeres 2 and 3 of male fore leg. The absolute majority of medeterine species of the world fauna have no remarkable fore leg decoration. Description. Male (Fig. 1): Length (mm): body 2.0, wing 2.0/ 0.7, antenna 0.7, hypopygium 0.8. Head: Frons, face, clypeus, palpus and postcranium greenish, evenly and densely dusted greyish-white, so frontoclypeal suture between face and clypeus not distinct. Postocular setae white, somewhat thickened, strongly increasing in length downward. Ventral postcranium shining greenish, with row of long white thickened setae. Frons with pair of strong vertical setae and pair of ocellar setae slightly stronger than verticals. Postverticals absent. Face relatively wide; ratio of height of face to its maximal width to height of clypeus to height of palpus, 15 / 8 / 5 / 5. Antennal segments short, with short white hairs; scape and pedicel orange-brownish, grey dusted at apex; postpedicel black, rounded. Stylus subapical, bare, about 2 times as long as ocellar seta. Proboscis short, black, shining, with white hairs. Thorax: Dark, densely grey dusted; mesonotum with 3 narrow bronze stripes distinct in anterior view. Three pairs of strong black dorsocentral setae, slightly decreasing in size anteriorly. Notopleural setae 2, sutural 1, supraalar 1, all black; 1 white humeral seta. Acrostichals very short, biseriate, white, extending to mesonotal flattening. Several white setulae in front of first dorsocentral and sutural setae. Propleuron with 5 white thickened setae, lower one almost 2 times longer than others. Scutellum with pair of strong black median setae, lateral setae absent. Legs: Yellow, except fore legs whitish-yellow, hind tibia darkened at apex, tarsomeres 4 and 5 and apical part of 2 and 3 of mid and hind legs brownish; mid and hind coxae mostly dark, grey dusted, yellow at apex. Fore coxa with dense brush of long white flattened setae on anterior surface. Fore femur and tibia without setae. Fore tarsomeres 1 to 5 each with pair of small brown apical postero- and anteroventral setulae; tarsomeres 2 to 5 each with pair of very small brown ventral setulae; tarsomeres 2 to 4 slightly flattened laterally; apical 1 / 3 of tarsomere 1 and tarsomeres 2 to 4 with comb of white thickened cilia on dorsal surface (Fig. 3). Mid coxa with dense brush of long thickened white setae on anterior surface; mid trochanter with single white seta on anterior position; mid femur without setae. Mid tibia with pair of antero- and posterodorsals at 1 / 4 and long apicoventral seta, all white. Mid tarsus with four brown apical setae on each segment; basitarsus in apical half with 4–5 short brown setulae, somewhat irregularly placed, but in either antero- or posteroventral positions, tarsomere 2 with 3 such setulae, 3 rd with 2 –3, 4th and 5 th with 2 ones each; all these setulae gradually decreasing in size apically. Hind coxa with single white seta on outer surface; hind femur with row of white dorsal setulae in basal half; hind tibia slightly thickened at apex, with posterodorsal setula at 1 / 4 and ventral apical one, both white; with very short black posterodorsal apical spur; hind tibia on apical 2 / 3, basitarsus and tarsomere 2 on basal 2 / 3 with row of short dense white posteroventral cilia; hind basitarsus short, with 2 apicals: brown anteroventral and white ventral, with small white posteroventral basal tooth and shallow basal excavation; tarsomeres 2 to 5 each with 1–3 brown anteroventral and 2–3 brown apical setulae, these setulae gradually decreasing in size apically. Fore leg length ratio (from coxa to tarsomere 5): 24 / 40 / 35 / 20 / 10 / 8 / 5 / 5, mid leg: 16 / 42 / 45 / 22 / 10 / 8 / 6 / 5, hind leg: 14 / 45 / 51 / 12 / 24 / 14 / 8 / 6. Wings: Hyaline, veins yellow in anterobasal quarter of wing, brown in other parts (Fig. 4). Costa without long hairs. R 1 short, extending to basal third of wing, R 4 + 5 and M 1 + 2 distinctly convergent at apex. Ratio of part of costa between R 2 + 3 and R 4 + 5 to this between R 4 + 5 and M 1 +2, 25/ 5. Ratio of apical to basal part of M 1 +2, 17/ 18. Ratio of cross-vein m-cu to maximal distance between R 4 + 5 and M 1 + 2 to distal part of CuA1, 10/ 11 / 12. Calypter yellow, with white cilia. Halter yellow. Abdomen: Covered with short white setulae, olive-grey dusted, with fore margin of tergites 3 to 5 bronze dorsally; posterior margin of tergite 1 with 5–6 white flattened setae on each side. Tergite 6 slightly longer than tergite 5; segment 7 longer than preceding, with short hairs; segment 8 large, left basolateral, shorthaired. Epandrium (Fig. 5) black, elongate-triangular; hypandrium basoventral, slightly swollen at base, then thinned, pointed at apex; phallus simple, pointed; epandrial lobe small, hardly divided, bearing pair of long simple setae; surstylus and cercus (Fig. 6) dark-brown; cercus fused almost to apex, covered with short white hairs. Female (Fig. 2): Length (mm): body 2.2, wing 2.2; similar to male except lacking male secondary sexual characters. Each hemitergite bearing 1 acanthophorite and 1 simple seta; acanthophorites thin, much longer than cercus; cercus small, with short hairs. Dense brush of thickened white setae on anterior surface of fore and hind coxae, but setae about two times shorter and more equal in length than those of male. Fore tarsi unmodified; tarsomeres 4 and 5 and apical part of 2 and 3 of fore legs brownish, as on mid and hind tarsi. Hind tibia without apical spur; hind basitarsus simple, without basal tooth. Distribution: Morocco. Etymology. The species is named for Varvara Vikhreva who kindly helped to collect flies in Morocco. Habitat: All three specimens of the type series were collected from sandy substrates. This habitat is rather unusual for mainly dendrophilous, sometimes petrophilous species of Medetera, although many species of the Nearctic M. petulca group occur in such habitats (Bickel pers. comm. 2009). Trees on sand dunes were also examined, but all specimens of tree trunk Medetera (M. flavipes Meigen, 1824, and M. pallipes (Zetterstedt, 1843)) collected on the Essaouira dunes (between 24 and 29 March) belong to other species groups of the genus. The senior author observed M. pallidior imagos in Southern Tajikistan (the Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve) in July 1978, where they populated rodent holes (to 5 cm in diameter) on a rather dry and flat semidesert plot not far from the border with a large area of riparian marshes. Males and females of the species concentrated around holes, and frightened or disturbed flies dropped immediately into the holes.Published as part of Ya, Igor & Vikhrev, Nikita E., 2009, Mediterranean species of the Medetera plumbella species group with description of a new peculiar species from Morocco (Diptera: Dolichopodidae), pp. 46-52 in Zootaxa 2170 on pages 48-51, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18920
- …
