Maternal deaths in Pakistan : intersection of gender, class and social exclusion.

Background: A key aim of countries with high maternal mortality rates is to increase availability of competent maternal health care during pregnancy and childbirth. Yet, despite significant investment, countries with the highest burdens have not reduced their rates to the expected levels. We argue, taking Pakistan as a case study, that improving physical availability of services is necessary but not sufficient for reducing maternal mortality because gender inequities interact with caste and poverty to socially exclude certain groups of women from health services that are otherwise physically available. Methods: Using a critical ethnographic approach, two case studies of women who died during childbirth were pieced together from information gathered during the first six months of fieldwork in a village in Northern Punjab, Pakistan. Findings: Shida did not receive the necessary medical care because her heavily indebted family could not afford it. Zainab, a victim of domestic violence, did not receive any medical care because her martial family could not afford it, nor did they think she deserved it. Both women belonged to lower caste households, which are materially poor households and socially constructed as inferior. Conclusions: The stories of Shida and Zainab illustrate how a rigidly structured caste hierarchy, the gendered devaluing of females, and the reinforced lack of control that many impoverished women experience conspire to keep women from lifesaving health services that are physically available and should be at their disposal

Intelligent reflecting surfaces based offset index modulation for MIMO systems

In this paper, we introduce the concept of offset to the field of intelligent reflecting surfaces-based index modulation (IRS-IM) and propose an IRS-based offset IM (IRSOIM) scheme. The IRS-OIM scheme not only divides the IRS elements into several blocks but also introduces an offset at the transmitter while reducing the number of IRS controller operations. Furthermore, we develop three offset IRS block selection (OIBS) approaches to adapt to different numbers of activated IRS blocks for IRS-OIM. Compared with IRS-IM, the IRS-OIM increases the reliability of information transmission and ensures a high effective gain for the IRS while increasing the data transmission rate. In addition, the mathematical expression for the average bit error probability (ABEP) of the IRS-OIM scheme is deduced. Comparison between IRS-OIM and their counterparts in terms of complexity is also provided. Monte Carlo simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed IRS-OIM scheme, and show that IRS-OIM achieves more balanced trade-off among complexity and performance than their counterparts

Large-scale whole-genome resequencing unravels the domestication history of Cannabis sativa.

Cannabis sativa has long been an important source of fiber extracted from hemp and both medicinal and recreational drugs based on cannabinoid compounds. Here, we investigated its poorly known domestication history using whole-genome resequencing of 110 accessions from worldwide origins. We show that C. sativa was first domesticated in early Neolithic times in East Asia and that all current hemp and drug cultivars diverged from an ancestral gene pool currently represented by feral plants and landraces in China. We identified candidate genes associated with traits differentiating hemp and drug cultivars, including branching pattern and cellulose/lignin biosynthesis. We also found evidence for loss of function of genes involved in the synthesis of the two major biochemically competing cannabinoids during selection for increased fiber production or psychoactive properties. Our results provide a unique global view of the domestication of C. sativa and offer valuable genomic resources for ongoing functional and molecular breeding research

Softwarized resource allocation in digital twins-empowered networks for future quantum-enabled consumer applications

Network softwarization (NetSoft), recognized as crucial attribute of 6G networks, promises to provide enhanced and advanced services, including future quantum-enabled consumer applications. Softwarized resource allocation is the core issue in NetSoft concept. Digital twins (DT) guarantees to generate the corresponding digital world that reflects and interacts with the original physical world seamlessly. With DT empowering, the digital replica of softwarized networks can be generated to predict, simulate, analyze the softwarized resource allocation in more economical, convenient and scalable methods.In this paper, we research the softwarized resource allocation of requested services, usually, called as slices, in DT-empowered networks for future quantum-enabled consumer applications. We focus on developing efficient softwarized resource allocation algorithm. At first, we present models of the DT-empowered networks and service requests by using graph theory and hypergraph theory. Then, we design one softwarized resource management framework, labeled as DT-Slice-Soft-6G. This framework has the functions of managing softwarized resources, calculating resource allocation solution in digital replica and sending the calculated solution back to softwarized 6G networks. Thereafter, one efficient and fine-grained softwarized resource allocation algorithm, inserted in DT-Slice-Soft-6G, is detailed. This algorithm is labeled as Heu-DT-Slice-6G and is proposed based on efficient heuristic methods. To validate the highlights of DT-Slice-Soft-6G and Heu-DT-Slice-6G, we conduct the simulation work in our self-developed simulator

Implementation of Web-Based Respondent-Driven Sampling among Men who Have Sex with Men in Vietnam

Objective: Lack of representative data about hidden groups, like men who have sex with men (MSM), hinders an evidence-based response to the HIV epidemics. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was developed to overcome sampling challenges in studies of populations like MSM for which sampling frames are absent. Internet-based RDS (webRDS) can potentially circumvent limitations of the original RDS method. We aimed to implement and evaluate webRDS among a hidden population. Methods and Design: This cross-sectional study took place 18 February to 12 April, 2011 among MSM in Vietnam. Inclusion criteria were men, aged 18 and above, who had ever had sex with another man and were living in Vietnam. Participants were invited by an MSM friend, logged in, and answered a survey. Participants could recruit up to four MSM friends. We evaluated the system by its success in generating sustained recruitment and the degree to which the sample compositions stabilized with increasing sample size. Results: Twenty starting participants generated 676 participants over 24 recruitment waves. Analyses did not show evidence of bias due to ineligible participation. Estimated mean age was 22 year and 82% came from the two large metropolitan areas. 32 out of 63 provinces were represented. The median number of sexual partners during the last six months was two. The sample composition stabilized well for 16 out of 17 variables. Conclusion: Results indicate that webRDS could be implemented at a low cost among Internet-using MSM in Vietnam. WebRDS may be a promising method for sampling of Internet-using MSM and other hidden groups. Key words: Respondent-driven sampling, Online sampling, Men who have sex with men, Vietnam, Sexual risk behavio

ArguteDUB: deep learning based distributed uplink beamforming in 6G-based IoV

In the last decade, MIMO spatial multiplexing and distributed beamforming play a significant role in improving datathroughput through cooperative transmission. It has been widely used in wireless communication, especially in 6G. However, thedistributed uplink beamforming is still an open problem in highly dynamic environments. However, the proposed 6G technologyrepresents the further integration of deep learning and wireless communication. In this paper, we propose Argute Distributed UplinkBeamforming (ArguteDUB), which uses a feedback algorithm with an offline-trained deep learning model to implement highly dynamicdistributed uplink beamforming for the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) in 6G. Specifically, each vehicle enables the base station (BS)/accesspoint (AP) to separate different channel state information (CSI) by inserting orthogonal sequences into the sending data. The BSadopts deep learning to filter the noise and predict the beamforming weight to achieve phase synchronization. Unlike traditionaldistributed uplink beamforming, ArguteDUB can be adapted to the highly dynamic time-varying channels. The simple network structureensures the fast response of ArguteDUB. In addition, we make ArguteDUB Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)compatible so that it can be easily deployed in 6G networks. Our evaluation shows that ArguteDUB has an signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)gain of about 5dB to 5.3dB over the single vehicle transmission mod

Addressing disparities in maternal health care in Pakistan: gender, class and exclusion

Background: After more than two decades of the Safe Motherhood Initiative and Millennium Development Goals aimed at reducing maternal mortality, women continue to die in childbirth at unacceptably high rates in Pakistan. While an extensive literature describes various programmatic strategies, it neglects the rigorous analysis of the reasons these strategies have been unsuccessful, especially for women living at the economic and social margins of society. A critical gap in current knowledge is a detailed understanding of the root causes of disparities in maternal health care, and in particular, how gender and class influence policy formulation and the design and delivery of maternal health care services. Taking Pakistan as a case study, this research builds upon two distinct yet interlinked conceptual approaches to understanding the phenomenon of inequity in access to maternal health care: social exclusion and health systems as social institutions. Methods/Design: This four year project consists of two interrelated modules that focus on two distinct groups of participants: (1) poor, disadvantaged women and men and (2) policy makers, program managers and health service providers. Module one will employ critical ethnography to understand the key axes of social exclusion as related to gender, class and zaat and how they affect women’s experiences of using maternal health care. Through health care setting observations, interviews and document review, Module two will assess policy design and delivery of maternal health services. Discussion: This research will provide theoretical advances to enhance understanding of the power dynamics of gender and class that may underlie poor women’s marginalization from health care systems in Pakistan. It will also provide empirical evidence to support formulation of maternal health care policies and health care system practices aimed at reducing disparities in maternal health care in Pakistan. Lastly, it will enhance inter-disciplinary research capacity in the emerging field of social exclusion and maternal health and help reduce social inequities and achieve the Millennium Development Goal No. 5

Pressure Dependence of the Irreversibility Line in Bi2_{2}Sr2_{2}CaCu2_{2}O8+δ_{8+\delta}:Role of Anisotropy in Flux-Line Formation

One of the important problems of high-temperature superconductivity is to understand and ultimately to control fluxoid motion. We present the results of a new technique for measuring the pressure dependence of the transition to superconductivity in a diamond anvil cell. By measuring the third harmonic of the {\it ac} susceptibility, we determine the onset of irreversible flux motion. This enables us to study the effects of pressure on flux motion. The application of pressure changes interplanar spacing, and hence the interplanar coupling, without significantly disturbing the intraplanar superconductivity. Thus we are able to separate the effects of coupling from other properties that might affect the flux motion. Our results directly show the relationship between lattice spacing, effective- mass anisotropy, and the irreversibility line in Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+\delta}$. Our results also demonstrate that an application of 2.5 GPa pressure causes a dramatic increase in interplanar coupling.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Why do women not use antenatal services in low and middle income countries? A metasynthesis of qualitative studies

Background: Almost 50% of women in low & middle income countries (LMIC’s) don’t receive adequate antenatal care. Women’s views can offer important insights into this problem. Qualitative studies exploring inadequate use of antenatal services have been undertaken in a range of countries, but the findings are not easily transferable. We aimed to inform the development of future antenatal care programmes through a synthesis of findings in all relevant qualitative studies. Methods and Findings: Using a pre-determined search strategy, we identified robust qualitative studies reporting on the views and experiences of women in LMIC’s who received inadequate antenatal care. We used meta-ethnographic techniques to generate themes and a line of argument synthesis. We derived policy relevant hypotheses from the findings. We included 21 papers representing the views of more than 1230 women from 15 countries. Three key themes were identified: ‘Pregnancy as socially risky and physiologically healthy’; ‘Resource use and survival in conditions of extreme poverty’and ‘Not getting it right first time’. The line of argument synthesis describes a dissonance between programme design and cultural contexts that may restrict access and discourage return visits. We hypothesize that centralized, risk-focused antenatal care programmes may be at odds with the resources, beliefs and experiences of pregnant women who underuse antenatal services. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there may be a mis-alignment between current antenatal provision and the social and cultural context of some women in LMIC’s. Antenatal care provision that is theoretically and contextually at odds with local contextual beliefs and experiences are likely to be underused, especially when attendance generates increased personal risks of lost family resource or physical danger during travel; when the promised care is not delivered due to resource constraints; and when women experience covert or overt abuse in care settings