Designing Fair Ranking Schemes

Items from a database are often ranked based on a combination of multiple criteria. A user may have the flexibility to accept combinations that weigh these criteria differently, within limits. On the other hand, this choice of weights can greatly affect the fairness of the produced ranking. In this paper, we develop a system that helps users choose criterion weights that lead to greater fairness. We consider ranking functions that compute the score of each item as a weighted sum of (numeric) attribute values, and then sort items on their score. Each ranking function can be expressed as a vector of weights, or as a point in a multi-dimensional space. For a broad range of fairness criteria, we show how to efficiently identify regions in this space that satisfy these criteria. Using this identification method, our system is able to tell users whether their proposed ranking function satisfies the desired fairness criteria and, if it does not, to suggest the smallest modification that does. We develop user-controllable approximation that and indexing techniques that are applied during preprocessing, and support sub-second response times during the online phase. Our extensive experiments on real datasets demonstrate that our methods are able to find solutions that satisfy fairness criteria effectively and efficiently

The value of hematological inflammatory parameters in the differential diagnosis of testicular torsion and epididymo-orchitis in children

Aim: To investigate the value of neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in differentiating acute scrotal conditions. Methods: A total of 60 patients, including 30 epididymo-orchitis and 30 testicular torsions, diagnosed and treated in our clinic between January 1, 2010 and December 2022, were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups; group 1 (testicular torsion = TT) and Group 2 (epididymo-orchitis = EO). The age, diagnosis, and hemogram parameters of the patients were evaluated. Results: Both Group 1 and Group 2 consisted of 30 patients each. The mean ages of group 1 and 2 were 13.7, and 11.2 years, respectively (p>0.05). When compared to the group 2, NLR was higher in the group 2 (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of PLR value (p >0.05). ROC analysis was performed for NLR. According to the ROC analysis; at a cut-off value of 2.92, the sensitivity was 51% and the specificity was 87%, AUC (0.79; CI: 0.694 - 0.896). Conclusion: TT and EO can be diagnosed using inflammatory markers such as NLR. However, additional prospective studies are neede

Arrays of Plasmonic Nanoparticles Assembled on Patterns of Polymer Brushes Fabricated by Soft Lithography

This work employed end-grafted poly ethylene glycol PEG and hydroxyl-terminated poly 2-vinylpyridine P2VP polymer chains for selective immobilization and patterning of plasmonic nanoparticles NPs . A soft lithographic method which called micromolding in capillaries MIMIC used in this study. The polymers are deposited the capillary flow by the channels which formed by an elastomeric mold and substrate. The localized coatings are referred as polymer brushes and show great promise in the assembly of NPs due to the tunable interaction between the polymer chains and particles. The results show that the width of patterns defined by the channels is smaller than 1.5 µm with a length of around 0.5 cm. Also, the heights of the patterns are ~3.5 nm for P2VP and ~10 nm for PEG. The fabricated structures exhibited high levels of plasmonic activity and surface enhanced Raman scattering due to the immobilized Au NPs. The patterning polymer brushes and plasmonic NPS over large areas by a low-cost process show great promise for a variety of applications that range from molecular sensors to biotechnolog

Assembly of Plasmonic Nanoparticles on Nanopatterns of Polymer Brushes Fabricated by Electrospin Nanolithography

This paper presents electrospin nanolithography (ESPNL) for versatile and low-cost fabrication of nanoscale patterns of polymer brushes to serve as templates for assembly of metallic nanoparticles. Here electrospun nanofibers placed on top of a substrate grafted with polymer brushes serve as masks. The oxygen plasma etching of the substrate followed by removal of the fibers leads to linear patterns of polymer brushes. The line-widths as small as ∼50 nm can be achieved by precise tuning of the diameter of fibers, etching condition, and fiber-substrate interaction. Highly aligned and spatially defined patterns can be fabricated by operating in the near-field electrospinning regime. Patterns of polymer brushes with two different chemistries effectively directed the assembly of gold nanoparticles and silver nanocubes. Nanopatterned brushes imparted strong confinement effects on the assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles and resulted in strong localization of electromagnetic fields leading to intense signals in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The scalability and simplicity of ESPNL hold great promise in patterning of a broad range of polymer thin films for different applications

Absolute White Blood Cell Count and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio May Predict the Need for Double- J Stent Insertion in Ureteral Stones in Children: A Comparative Study

Objective: Our goal was to determine whether or not a double-J (DJ) stent insertion is required in cases of ureteral stones based on the absolute white blood cell (WBC) counts, neutrophillymphocyte ratio (NLR), absolute monocyte counts, and other laboratory markers. Materials and Methods: The patients were divided into two groups as those who did (Group 1), and did not (Group 2) need DJ stent insertion. The age, symptoms, diagnosis, hemogram parameters, and treatment results of the patients were evaluated. Results: Forty-nine percent (n=44) of the patients were female and 51% (n=46) were male. The groups did not differ in terms of age and gender (p>0.05). A higher incidence of hematuria was observed in Group 1 (p<0.05). WBC (p<0.05), NLR (p<0.05), and monocyte counts (p<0.05) were found to be higher in Group 1. In the ROC analysis; WBC and NLR were found to be two predictive markers for the need for DJ stent insertion. At a cut-off value of 12.6 x 109/L, WBC had 37% sensitivity, and 81% specificity (AUC: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54-0.80), and at a cut-off value of 3.8, NLR had 65% sensitivity, and 76% specificity (AUC: 0.70; 95%CI: 0.57-0.82) in predicting the need for a DJ stent insertion. Reoperation was not required in any case. Conclusion: In cases of ureteral stones, the absolute WBC count and NLR may help determine the requirement (if any) for a double-J stent insertion

Evaluation of Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in the Adolescents Pregnancy

Objective: In this study, our aim is to compare discussing maternal and fetal problems non-adolescent pregnancy with maternal and fetal problems in adolescent pregnancy that seen in hospital. Methods: 15-19 years of age (50 patients) and 20-23 years (96 patients) who gave birth at the Gynaecologi­cal and Obstetric Clinic under the Faculty of Medicine of Dicle University between January 2015-October 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. Age at birth, parity, blood pressure, pulse, gestational age, complications at birth, cesarean section indications, maternal biochemical pa­rameters, patients with preeclampsia and preterm birth, maternal and fetal complications were recorded. Results: Total number of births between January 2015- October 2015 were 1715 patients in our clinic. 62 of them (3.6%) were observed in the adolescent group. Maternal blood transfusion needs were found to be significantly higher in the adolescent group (p=0.004). Fetal abnor­malities and fetal intensive care needs were found to be significantly higher in the adolescent group (p=0.014, p=0.018). Conclusion: Adolescent pregnancies were high-risk pregnancies in terms of maternal anemia and blood transfusion requirements and because of adverse perina­tal outcomes. Therefore, to reduce the adolescent preg­nancy and to minimize perinatal complications should be done more extensive studies

A Multigenerational View of Inequality

The study of intergenerational mobility and most population research are governed by a two-generation (parent-to-offspring) view of intergenerational influence, to the neglect of the effects of grandparents and other ancestors and nonresident contemporary kin. While appropriate for some populations in some periods, this perspective may omit important sources of intergenerational continuity of family-based social inequality. Social institutions, which transcend individual lives, help support multigenerational influence, particularly at the extreme top and bottom of the social hierarchy, but to some extent in the middle as well. Multigenerational influence also works through demographic processes because families influence subsequent generations through differential fertility and survival, migration, and marriage patterns, as well as through direct transmission of socioeconomic rewards, statuses, and positions. Future research should attend more closely to multigenerational effects; to the tandem nature of demographic and socioeconomic reproduction; and to data, measures, and models that transcend coresident nuclear families