Adaptive Estimation of Random Vectors with Bandit Feedback: A mean-squared error viewpoint

We consider the problem of sequentially learning to estimate, in the mean squared error (MSE) sense, a Gaussian $K$-vector of unknown covariance by observing only $m < K$ of its entries in each round. We first establish a concentration bound for MSE estimation. We then frame the estimation problem with bandit feedback, and propose a variant of the successive elimination algorithm. We also derive a minimax lower bound to understand the fundamental limit on the sample complexity of this problem

The anisotropic quasi-static permittivity of single-crystal β-Ga\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eO\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e measured by terahertz spectroscopy

The quasi-static anisotropic permittivity parameters of electrically insulating beta gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) were determined by terahertz spectroscopy. Polarization-resolved frequency domain spectroscopy in the spectral range from 200 GHz to 1 THz was carried out on bulk crystals along different orientations. Principal directions for permittivity were determined along crystallographic axes c and b and reciprocal lattice direction a*. No significant frequency dispersion in the real part of dielectric permittivity was observed in the measured spectral range. Our results are in excellent agreement with recent radio frequency capacitance measurements as well as with extrapolations from recent infrared measurements of phonon mode and high-frequency contributions and close the knowledge gap for these parameters in the terahertz spectral range. Our results are important for applications of β-Ga2O3 in high-frequency electronic devices

A community based field research project investigating anaemia amongst young children living in rural Karnataka, India: a cross sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Anaemia is an important problem amongst young children living in rural India. However, there has not previously been a detailed study of the biological aetiology of this anaemia, exploring the relative contributions of iron, vitamin B12, folate and Vitamin A deficiency, inflammation, genetic haemoglobinopathy, hookworm and malaria. Nor have studies related these aetiologic biological factors to household food security, standard of living and child feeding practices. Barriers to conducting such work have included perceived reluctance of village communities to permit their children to undergo venipuncture, and logistical issues. We have successfully completed a community based, cross sectional field study exploring in detail the causes of anaemia amongst young children in a rural setting.</p> <p>Methods and design</p> <p>A cross sectional, community based study. We engaged in extensive community consultation and tailored our study design to the outcomes of these discussions. We utilised local women as field workers, harnessing the capacity of local health workers to assist with the study. We adopted a programmatic approach with a census rather than random sampling strategy in the village, incorporating appropriate case management for children identified to have anaemia. We developed a questionnaire based on existing standard measurement tools for standard of living, food security and nutrition. Specimen processing was conducted at the Primary Health Centre laboratory prior to transport to an urban research laboratory.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Adopting this study design, we have recruited 415 of 470 potentially eligible children who were living in the selected villages. We achieved support from the community and cooperation of local health workers. Our results will improve the understanding into anaemia amongst young children in rural India. However, many further studies are required to understand the health problems of the population of rural India, and our study design and technique provide a useful demonstration of a successful strategy.</p

Intensifying chitin hydrolysis by adjunct treatments – an overview

Chitin is, after cellulose, the most abundant organic natural polysaccharide on Earth, being synthesized as a dominant component in the exoskeletons of crustaceans, among other sources. In the processing of seafood for human consumption, between 40 and 50% of the total raw material mass is wasted, causing a significant problem for the environment due to its slow degradation. Efforts to find uses for chitin derivatives, particularly their oligomers, have intensified since these chemicals are highly functional and offer a wide range of applications, especially as antimicrobial agent. As a consequence, some adjunct treatments, either chemical or physical in nature, have been employed to assist acid and enzymatic hydrolysis. This work provides a detailed review of the methods employed to intensify the formation of chitin oligomers, particularly focusing on the adjunct treatments used (microwave, ultrasonication, steam explosion and gamma irradiation), and evaluate the yield and characteristics of the oligomers formed. Adjunct treatments are more suitable for enzymatic hydrolysis since these treatments modify the chitin structure, and enhance the hydrolysis rate and yield of the oligomers, under milder reaction conditions. For future research, it would be worth trying pre-treatments like the application of high-pressure to chitin in order to lower its crystallinity

Weighted Bandits or: How Bandits Learn Distorted Values That Are Not Expected

Motivated by models of human decision making proposed to explain commonly observed deviations from conventional expected value preferences, we formulate two stochastic multi-armed bandit problems with distorted probabilities on the cost distributions: the classic K-armed bandit and the linearly parameterized bandit. In both settings, we propose algorithms that are inspired by Upper Confidence Bound (UCB) algorithms, incorporate cost distortions, and exhibit sublinear regret assuming Holder continuous weight distortion functions. For the K-armed setting, we show that the algorithm, called W-UCB, achieves problem-dependent regret O(L2 M2 log n / Δ(2/α – 1), where n is the number of plays, Δ is the gap in distorted expected value between the best and next best arm, L and alpha are the Holder constants for the distortion function, and M is an upper bound on costs, and a problem-independent regret bound of O((KL2M2)(α/2) n(2 – α)/2)). We also present a matching lower bound on the regret, showing that the regret of W-UCB is essentially unimprovable over the class of Holder-continuous weight distortions. For the linearly parameterized setting, we develop a new algorithm, a variant of the Optimism in the Face of Uncertainty Linear bandit (OFUL) algorithm called WOFUL (Weight-distorted OFUL), and show that it has regret O(d√n polylog(n)) with high probability, for sub-Gaussian cost distributions