bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of energy efficient four finger robotic hand
Authors: Suthar Bhivraj
Published: February 2021

Future would be the world of robotics. Human arm is the best serial manipulator in the world. End part of manipulator is known as End effector or hand. At the end of serial manipulator we always put gripper just like our hand. Today many mechanisms have been proposed for robotic hand. We proposed a novel mechanical design and we used one motor to operate the gripper mechanism and it consumes less electrical power than other gripper. For energy efficient robot we have to reduce the number of motors and have to look in the mechanical design. In this paper we targeted to make gripper more energy efficient. We used only one motor to operate four fingers symmetrically. Our proposed model has four fingers, each are placed orthogonally to each other. In market, other manufactures use single motor for motion of each finger. Each motor has its own power consumption capacity to manipulate the load on finger. We replaced all four motors with single motor by Geneva mechanism. So electrical power consumption reduced by 1/4th. Energy conservation point of view it is energy efficient system. This paper presents a methodology that has been applied for a design mechanism for energy efficient robotic hand with four fingers. Wide applications of gripper are in automobile industries. Automobile companies are used gripers and serial manipulators in plenty
Degree of Achievability of Omnidirectional Motion in Various Mobile Robot Designs: A Review
Authors: Justus Ajju Raja
Published: February 2021

In the current field of robotics, many new robots are being developed based on different working principles. Each robot has its own strengths and weaknesses. Omnidirectional mobility is a major functional requirement for performing more complex actions. This article is a comprehensive study of some of the robots developed by different people with distinctive driving mechanisms. The actuation, driving method, operating conditions and control mechanism of all the selected robots is studied. Then finally, all the considered robots are compared based on various parameters to gauge the efficiency and degree of achievability of omnidirectional motion in each robot. Therefore, by the end of this article, we can have an understanding of how much effective each driving mechanism is in producing omnidirectional mobility.
A New Approach to the Solution of Robot Kinematics Based on Relative Transformation Matrices
Authors: Reza Elhami Mohammad , Dashti Iman
Published: February 2021

In analyzing robot manipulator kinematics, we need to describe relative movement of adjacent linkages or joints in order to obtain the pose of end effector (both position and orientation) in reference coordinate frame. Denavit-Hartenberg established a method based on a 4×4 homogenous matrix so called “A” matrix. This method used by most of the authors for kinematics and dynamic analysis of the robot manipulators. Although it has many advantages, however, finding the elements of this matrix and link/joint’s parameters is sometimes complicated and confusing. By considering these difficulties, the authors proposed a new approach called ‘convenient approach’ that is developed based on “Relative Transformations Principle”. It provides a very simple and convenient way for the solution of robot kinematics compared to the conventional D-H representation. In order to clarify this point, the kinematics of the world known Stanford manipulator has been solved through D-H representation as well as convenient approach and the results are compared.
Orientation Singularity Analysis of Parallel Manipulators
Authors: Xu Qimin
Published: February 2021

In this paper, an approach for orientation singularity analysis of parallel manipulators (PMs) is proposed by introducing several performance indices referred to the
unique form of screw based Jacobian in the velocity transmission as well as force transmission. Here, to prove the effectiveness of the approach, an example of 3 degrees of freedom (DOF) prismatic-revolute-spherical (PRS) parallel manipulator (PM) is first presented to illustrate the fact that the distributions of singularity boundary of the proposed approach is consistence with the result referred to nonredunant PMs by Liu et al. [22]. Further, the proposed approach is an appropriate one not only for nonredunant PMs, but also for a class of redunant PMs by providing another example of the redunant variable geometry truss (VGT) PM, since the performance index of orientation singularity for the manipulator can be
created only by determining the unique form of screw based Jacobian.
Micro controller based asymmetrical multilevel inverter
Authors: V. Arun , N. Prabaharan
Published: February 2021

This paper presents the Asymmetrical multilevel inverter with 1:3 voltage propagation. Switching pulse for Asymmetrical multilevel inverter are generated using embedded controller in m-file using MATLAB. The Asymmetrical multilevel inverter with 1:3 voltage propagation can produce high quality output voltage with less number of switches and voltage sources compare to conventional multilevel inverters. Contrasting other switching schemes, the proposed Switching scheme significantly reduces the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and minimize switching losses and reduces the complexity. To evaluate the developed scheme, simulations are carried out through MATLAB and real time implementations are done through microcontroller ARM Cortex™-M0 Core. The simulation and hardware results are presented.
PD-computed torque control for an autonomous airship
Authors: Meddahi Y. , Meguenni K. Zemalache
Published: February 2021

For the trajectory following problem of an airship, the standard computed torque control law is shown to be robust with respect to unknown dynamics by judiciously choosing the feedback gains and the estimates of the nonlinear dynamics. In the first part of this paper, kinematics and dynamics modeling of the airships is presented. Euler angles and parameters are used in the formulation of this model and the technique of Computed Torque control is introduced. In the second part of the paper, we develop a methodology of control that allows the airship to accomplish a prospecting mission of an environment, as the follow-up of a trajectory by the simulation who results show that Computed Torque control method is suitable for airships.
An anfis converter control approach of grid connected wind/PV/battery system
Authors: Arulmurugan R. , Sandaraju Swapna
Published: February 2021

The major objective of this task is a control technique for power flow management of a network associated hybrid PV-wind-battery based system with multi-input transformer coupled bidirectional DC-DC converter using ANFIS controller is introduced. The proposed system intends to fulfill the demand of load, deal with the power flow from the distinctive sources, injects surplus power into the network and charge the battery from framework as and when required. A transformer coupled boost half-bridge converter is used to tackle power from wind, while bidirectional buck-boost converter is used to outfit control from PV alongside battery charging/releasing control. A single stage full-bridge bidirectional converter is used for ac loads and collaboration with grid. The proposed converter has reduced number of intensity change stages. This enhances the effectiveness and unwavering quality of the framework. In this article Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy interference System (ANFIS) is proposed for better performance of the system. Neural system has many inputs and also has multiple outputs but the fuzzy logic has multiple inputs and single output, so the combination of this two is known as ANFIS which is utilized for nonlinear applications. The proposed paper of simulation results acquired using MATLAB/Simulink demonstrate the execution of the proposed control procedure for power stream the executives under different methods of activity.
Identification of robust controller for 3hp 3Φ induction motor
Authors: Sathishkumar H. , Parthasarathy S. S.
Published: February 2021

This paper deals about the identification of robust controller for 3hp 3Φ induction motor which is used in cable industry (Ravicab cables private limited) at Bidadi. In this cable industry 3hp 3Φ induction motor is used for cable pulling purpose. This industry is using PID (Proportional derivative integral) controller based VFD (Voltage frequency drive) for controlling the speed of this 3hp 3Φ induction motor. This VFD is not functioning well for the non linear load and disturbance environment. Therefore in this paper Neural network based speed controller is proposed as proposed controller-I for replacing the PID based VFD. Performance of the 3hp 3Φ induction motor is estimated when Neural network controller is interfaced with the motor. Then Neuro-fuzzy controller based speed controller is proposed as proposed controller-II for replacing the PID based VFD. Performance of the 3hp 3Φ induction motor is estimated when Neuro-fuzzy controller is interfaced with the motor. At last robust controller for the 3hp 3Φ induction motor which is used for cable pulling purpose is going to be identified by doing comparison chart between Neural network and Neuro-fuzzy controller.
IoT based security system and intelligent home automation multi monitoring and control systems
Authors: H. Ali Mohammed , K. Ali Nisreen
Published: February 2021

This paper presents the execution of savvy Smart Home with frameworks and propelled advances. A Home Automation System uses the technology of IoT for the screening and controlling of the electrical and electronic appliances at home from any remote area by essentially utilizing
 a Smartphone. The key control framework utilizes a remote Bluetooth system and a remote IoT strategy that gives remote access to the advanced cells. The framework configuration does not expel the current electrical switches yet it gives a more secure control over it with the low voltage utilization method. This framework is intended to control electrical gadgets all through the house easily by introducing it, usability, savvy plan and actualize. There has been rising interest for a secure framework that must be tried, true and fast in reaction to the ventures and organization. Arduino makes the circuit and programming technology to design and operate wireless water monitoring system. The Water level in the tank is displayed on the Smartphone by the Water level app.
A crucial study focuses on demand based Indian hotel industry energy efficiency needs by comparing two model theory by Cholesky decomposition
Authors: Aswal Pankaj , Kumar Manish , Negi Prateek
Published: February 2021

Hotels operate on a stringent 24/7 operational model, every day operational model. They offer both top notch facilities and various civilities, including nearby workplaces, world-class wellness focuses, spas, warmed swimming pools, 24-hour eateries, and then some. These advantages add to visitor comforts additionally increment add up to vitality cost. While inn vitality utilization can appear to be stunning, the plenty of administrations and conveniences offer various open doors for vitality funds. The test for inn proprietors is choosing the ideal course to vitality reduction. Two methods top the list: energy audits and retro-commissioning To pick the best game-plan for a particular inn property, proprietors must survey the two strategies and recognize which arrangement would have the best effect on their building. The two procedures handle vitality use from various points, so here's a manual for what every involves and how it can enhance
 inn operations.
Model of absorbed gamma radiation in the interaction with rock formation
Authors: Azaryan A. A. , Gritsenko A. N. , Trachuk A. A. , Serebrenikov V. M. , Shvets D. V.
Published: February 2021

The article discusses issues of improving the accuracy of operational quality control of iron ore in mountain ranges. There was proposed the use of the absorbed gamma radiation indicator as an improvement of the nuclear physics method for determining the iron content in ore mass are proposed. There were obtained the relationships of the sensitivity of the absorbed gamma radiation intensity on the distance between the detector and the irradiated surface, as well as on the distance between the source and the detector of gamma radiation.
Control shunt active filter based on dq frame using current model prediction
Authors: Van Chi Nguyen , Dang Danh Hoang
Published: February 2021

The nonlinear loads present more in the power systems in the practice today by developing of electronic technology and using the small distributed power sources (solar power, wind power etc.), this causes the increasing the high frequency switch devices etc. in the power network. Nonlinear loads cause non-sinusoidal currents and voltages with harmonic components, increasing the reactive power, overload of power lines and electrical devices, low power factor and affecting badly to the networks. Shunt active filters (SAF) with current controlled voltage source inverters (CCVSI) are used effectively to reduce the harmonics and to balance the phases sinusoidal source currents by generating the currents to compensate the harmonic currents caused by the nonlinear loads. In this paper we suppose a control strategy to generate the compensation currents of SAF by using the current model predictive engineering. This method is better than the control strategy using PI controller in term of transient time. The desired compensation currents can track exactly the reference compensation currents on the dq frame. The simulation results implemented on the nonlinear load, a full bridge rectifier and 3 phase unbalance load, show that the transient period decrease from 0.1s to 0.02s in comparing with PI controller. The experimental results proof that the THD of source currents decrease from 24.8% to 5.4% when using the proposed method.
A construção de mundos na ficção televisiva e a questão do realismo: o caso de The Wire
Authors: Araújo João Eduardo Silva de , Souza Maria Carmen Jacob de
Published: February 2021

Este artigo busca contribuir com as discussões sobre as especificidades das séries ficcionais realistas, sobretudo no que concerne à capacidade que estas obras com frequência têm de gerar um efeito de crença que parece apagar a distinção entre o mundo da ficção e o mundo vivido. Abraçando a questão das diretrizes autorais que orientam uma obra como uma via importante para compreender as dimensões poéticas internas que promovem esses efeitos, este artigo explora como o impulso jornalístico que moveu o autor-criador de The Wire, David Simon, incitou a construção de um universo narrativo singular no seriado e a criação de uma forte ilusão de realidade por ele.
Ficções televisivas: deslocamentos e rupturas
Authors: Miranda Amanda Souza , Soares Rosana de Lima
Published: February 2021

Em 1974, Raymond Williams lançava, em Television, questões intrigantes sobre um novo mundo, constituído por uma nova mídia, capaz de reunir som e imagem e de modificar repertórios culturais por onde estivesse. Dizia, à época, que “na maior parte do mundo, desde a propagação da televisão, houve um aumento de escala e intensidade da representação dramática sem precedentes na história da cultura humana”. Exatos vinte anos mais tarde, Rodowick reconheceu o surgimento de uma “cultura audiovisual” no cotidiano, afetada por corporações e padrões de consumo. Naquele momento, em que a evolução tecnológica já se anunciava de forma bastante ágil, elencou questões sobre relações de consumo, representações e experiências que emergiam em um novo contexto, no qual vídeos digitais em publicações multimídia ou mesmo publicações eletrônicas na internet começavam a ser disponibilizadas ao público.
Comunicação pública e campanhas de amamentação: representações da mulher-mãe
Authors: Silveira Amanda Braga , Baldissera Rudimar
Published: February 2021

Neste artigo problematizamos os processos de comunicação pública realizados pelo Ministério da Saúde, a partir das representações da mulher-mãe percebidas pelas participantes do Estudo LINDA-Brasil na sua Cartilha para a mulher trabalhadora que amamenta. Para isso, são acionados aportes teóricos sobre dimensões culturais e históricas da noção de “representações da mulher-mãe” e processos de comunicação pública, além de dados da pesquisa empírica realizada por Silveira, que compreendeu a realização de um grupo focal com participantes do Estudo LINDA-Brasil.
Relationship of Preeclampsia With Maternal Place of Birth and Duration of Residence Among Non-Hispanic Black Women in the United States
Authors: Boakye Ellen , Sharma Garima , Ogunwole S. Michelle , Zakaria Sammy , Vaught Arthur J. , Kwapong Yaa Adoma , Hong Xiumei , Ji Yuelong , Mehta Laxmi , Creanga Andreea A. , Blaha Michael J. , Blumenthal Roger S. , Nasir Khurram , Wang Xiaobin
Published: February 2021

Background:

Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the United States. It disproportionately affects non-Hispanic Black (NHB) women, but little is known about how preeclampsia and other cardiovascular disease risk factors vary among different subpopulations of NHB women in the United States. We investigated the prevalence of preeclampsia by nativity (US born versus foreign born) and duration of US residence among NHB women.

Methods:

We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Boston Birth Cohort (1998–2016), with a focus on NHB women. We performed multivariable logistic regression to investigate associations between preeclampsia, nativity, and duration of US residence after controlling for potential confounders.

Results:

Of 2697 NHB women, 40.5% were foreign born. Relative to them, US-born NHB women were younger, in higher percentage current smokers, had higher prevalence of obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m
2
) and maternal stress, but lower educational level. The age-adjusted prevalence of preeclampsia was 12.4% and 9.1% among US-born and foreign-born women, respectively. When further categorized by duration of US residence, the prevalence of all studied cardiovascular disease risk factors except for diabetes was lower among foreign-born NHB women with <10 versus ≥10 years of US residence. Additionally, the odds of preeclampsia in foreign-born NHB women with duration of US residence <10 years was 37% lower than in US-born NHB women. In contrast, the odds of preeclampsia in foreign-born NHB women with duration of US residence ≥10 years was not significantly different from that of US-born NHB women after adjusting for potential confounders.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of preeclampsia and other cardiovascular disease risk factors is lower in foreign-born than in US-born NHB women. The healthy immigrant effect, which typically results in health advantages for foreign-born women, appears to wane with longer duration of US residence (≥10 years). Further research is needed to better understand these associations.
Working Agenda for Black Mothers
Authors: Bond Rachel M. , Gaither Kecia , Nasser Samar A. , Albert Michelle A. , Ferdinand Keith C. , Njoroge Joyce N. , Parapid Biljana , Hayes Sharonne N. , Pegus Cheryl , Sogade Bola , Grodzinsky Anna , Watson Karol E. , McCullough Cassandra A. , Ofili Elizabeth ,   on behalf of the Association of Black Cardiologists
Published: February 2021

Following decades of decline, maternal mortality began to rise in the United States around 1990—a significant departure from the world’s other affluent countries. By 2018, the same could be seen with the maternal mortality rate in the United States at 17.4 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births. When factoring in race/ethnicity, this number was more than double among non-Hispanic Black women who experienced 37.1 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births. More than half of these deaths and near deaths were from preventable causes, with cardiovascular disease being the leading one. In an effort to amplify the magnitude of this epidemic in the United States that disproportionately plagues Black women, on June 13, 2020, the Association of Black Cardiologists hosted the Black Maternal Heart Health Roundtable—a collaborative task force to tackle the maternal health crisis in the Black community. The roundtable brought together diverse stakeholders and champions of maternal health equity to discuss how innovative ideas, solutions and opportunities could be implemented, while exploring additional ways attendees could address maternal health concerns within the health care system. The discussions were intended to lead the charge in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality through advocacy, education, research, and collaborative efforts. The goal of this roundtable was to identify current barriers at the community, patient, and clinician level and expand on the efforts required to coordinate an effective approach to reducing these statistics in the highest risk populations. Collectively, preventable maternal mortality can result from or reflect violations of a variety of human rights—the right to life, the right to freedom from discrimination, and the right to the highest attainable standard of health. This is the first comprehensive statement on this important topic. This position paper will generate further research in disparities of care and promote the interest of others to pursue strategies to mitigate maternal mortality.
Prognosis of Intracerebral Hemorrhage Related to Antithrombotic Use
Authors: Apostolaki-Hansson Trine , Ullberg Teresa , Pihlsgård Mats , Norrving Bo , Petersson Jesper
Published: February 2021

Background and Purpose:

To date, large studies comparing mortality and functional outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) during oral anticoagulant (OAC), antiplatelet, and nonantithrombotic use are few and show discrepant results.

Methods:

We used data on 13 291 patients with ICH registered in Riksstroke between 2012 and 2016 to compare 90-day mortality and functional outcome following OAC-related ICH (n=2300), antiplatelet-related ICH (n=3637), and nonantithrombotic ICH (n=7354). Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses, with adjustment for relevant confounders, were used to compare 90-day mortality. Early (≤24 hours and 1–7 days) and late (8–90 days) mortality was also studied in subgroup analyses. Univariable and multivariable 90-day functional outcome, based on self-reported modified Rankin Scale, was determined using logistic regression.

Results:

Patients with antithrombotic treatment were more often prestroke dependent, older, and had a larger comorbidity burden compared with patients without antithrombotic treatment. At 90 days, antiplatelet and OAC were associated with an increased death rate in multivariable analysis (antiplatelet ICH: hazard ratio, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.14–1.33]; OAC ICH: hazard ratio, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.26–1.57]) compared with nonantithrombotic ICH (reference). OAC ICH and antiplatelet ICH were associated with higher risk of early mortality (≤24 hours: OAC ICH: hazard ratio, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.57–2.38]; antiplatelet ICH: hazard ratio, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.13–1.54]). In multivariable analysis, the odds ratios for the association of antiplatelet and OAC treatment on functional dependency (modified Rankin Scale score, 3–5) at 90 days were nonsignificant (antiplatelet: odds ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.92–1.24]; OAC: odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.76–1.22]).

Conclusions:

In this large observational study, we found that 90-day mortality outcome was worse not only in OAC ICH but also in antiplatelet ICH, compared with patients with nonantithrombotic ICH. Antiplatelet ICH is common and is a serious condition with poor clinical outcome. Further studies are, therefore, warranted in determining the appropriate clinical management of these patients.
Genetic chemical variability of the volatiles and phenolic compounds in Clinopodium serpyllifolium subsp. fruticosum (L.) Bräuchler syn. Micromeria fruticosa (L.) Druce grown in Israel
Authors: Sharma Reena , Shachter Alona , Almog Limor , Oren Gilad , Roynik-Toshner Hagar , Dudai Nativ
Published: February 2021

Clinopodium serpyllifolium is a perennial medicinal plant generally used as herbal tea in folk medicine. Leaves of C. serpyllifolium from the representative exemplars in the Newe Ya’ar living germplasm collection were analyzed for their polyphenolic and volatiles composition, and tested for their antioxidant activity. The oxygenated monoterpenes pulegone (10.4–50.6%), piperitenone oxide (3.2–28.6%), piperitenone (0.9–14.6%), trans-piperitone oxide (0.3–11.2%), iso-menthol (0.3–8.8%) and sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene (7.4–13.7%) were found to be the major constituents from the solvent extraction of C. serpyllifolium analyzed by gc-ms. The representative exemplars were grouped into two chemotypes: one rich in pulegone and the second rich in piperitenone oxide and piperitenone. The total polyphenolics content, determined range from 26.6 to 62.9 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight (dw). The antioxidant activity ranged from (42.8–77.1 mg chlorogenic acid equivalents/g dw). hplc analysis revealed the rosmarinic acid content also showed remarkable differences in C. serpyllifolium (0.3–1.8 dry weight %). The results indicate that there is chemical diversity and also difference in the content of polyphenols of the representative exemplars. Antioxidant activity was in correlation with phenolic components.
Medinilla malabrigoi (Melastomataceae), a new species from forests over limestone in Samar Island, Philippines
Authors: ADORADOR JIRO T. , MENESES-ADORADOR ZHEREELEEN D. , QUAKENBUSH J. PETER
Published: February 2021

A new species of Medinilla, M. malabrigoi, from forests over limestone in Samar Island, Philippines is described and illustrated. It differs from the species of the M. polillensis alliance, herein defined, which includes M. polillensis s.l. and M. peltata, in its erect shrubby habit; sessile, narrowly lanceolate, 3-plinerved leaf with cordate to subcordate base; umbellate inflorescence; and flared, reflexed calyx at anthesis. Morphological and distributional comparisons with the most similar congeners are provided, as well as information on habitat and conservation status. Likewise, a taxonomic key to the Medinilla of Samar Island is herein devised.
A new Occidozyga from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo (Anura: Dicroglossidae)
Authors: MATSUI MASAFUMI , NISHIKAWA KANTO , ETO KOSHIRO , HAMIDY AMIR , HOSSMAN YAZID , FUKUYAMA IBUKI
Published: February 2021

We found a uniquely colored dicroglossid frog of the genus Occidozyga from western Sarawak, East Malaysia. It is divergent from other congeners in morphology and mtDNA sequences. In a molecular phylogeny, this species is the sister lineage to the continental species O. lima and O. martensii with weak support. The species is small with SVL 16–18 mm in males and 18–19 mm in females, without dorsolateral fold but with transverse wrinkles on dorsum, tips of fingers lacking disks but of toes with disks, only first and second toes webbed to disks, and orange-brown dorsum with dark brown band. We thus describe it as a new species.
New Technique of Posterior Fixation of Tube With Fibrin Sealant Prevents Dysphagia in Patients Undergoing Sleeve Gastrectomy
Authors: Kizilkaya Mehmet Celal , Bozkurt Mehmet A.
Published: February 2021

Introduction

This study compared the effects of posterior fixation (PF) of the remnant tube with fibrin tissue glue to prevent sharp angulation and gastric twist and traditional techniques on postoperative dysphagia and vomiting.

Methodology

In total, 200 patients scheduled to undergo laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) as a bariatric surgical intervention were randomly classified into 2 groups (LSG + PF and LSG alone). We compared postoperative dysphagia symptoms among patients who underwent PF and those who did not. The Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) results were compared statistically among these groups.

Results

The study included a total of 191 patients (85.9% (n = 164) women and 14.1% (n = 27) men) who underwent LSG for obesity. The groups were similar in terms of the patient demographics. The DHI scores of the LSG + PF group were statistically significantly lower than those of the LSG alone group.

Conclusion

Adoption of a standardized method of PF with a standardized surgical procedure after LSG considerably reduced the rate of surgical complications.
Transoral versus Transcervical Drainage of Pharyngeal Abscesses in Children: Post-Operative Complications
Authors: Maroun Christopher A. , Zalzal Habib G. , Mustafa Ayman A. , Carr Michele
Published: February 2021

Introduction:

The objective of this study was to compare complications and other perioperative outcomes between intraoral and transcervical drainage of both retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses.

Materials and Methods:

This was a retrospective study that analyzed data from the 2012 to 2016 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP)-Pediatric public use files. Baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes including postoperative complications and length of hospital stay (LOS) were compared between intraoral and transcervical drainage groups. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to inspect predictors of having an extended LOS, defined as LOS greater than 3 days.

Results:

A total of 1174 patients were included. Mean age was 5.1 ± 3.8 years in the intraoral group (N = 1063) and 4.2 ± 4.3 years in the transcervical group (N = 111, P < .001). There was no significant difference in the rate of post-operative complications between groups (5.7% intraoral vs 8.1% transcervical, P = .316). LOS was significantly longer in the transcervical group (>3 days in 36.2% of intraoral vs 49.5% of transcervical, P = .006). Patients in the transcervical group had 1.59 times the odds of extended LOS, after adjusting for age, pre-operative ventilator support, asthma, structural pulmonary disease, hematologic disorders, and all post-operative complications ( P = .024).

Conclusion:

There does not appear to be a significant difference in the rate of post-operative complications after intraoral versus transcervical drainage for pharyngeal abscesses in children. However, transcervical drainage was associated with an extended hospital stay. Further prospective studies will be needed to determine the reasons for this.
Is It Income Adaptation or Social Comparison? The Effect of Relative Income on Happiness and the Easterlin Paradox in India
Authors: Lakshmanasamy T. , Maya K.
Published: February 2021

Income adaptation and social comparison are the standard explanations for the lack of a direct long-run relationship between income and happiness. Individuals evaluate life satisfaction relative to past income or income of others. As individual income increases, so also expectations and the mismatch between income and aspirations hold down the happiness level. When everyone’s income increases, the relative position of individuals remains the same, and hence, average happiness does not increase commensurately with increase in income. The validity of the Easterlin Paradox and the relevance of income adaptation and social comparison explanations in India are examined by replicating cross-country analysis with cross-states analysis using the World Values Survey data for 1990–2014 and by applying ordered probit panel estimation. The empirical analysis shows that the long-run income-life satisfaction gradient is negative across states and over time. The panel estimates show the negative relative income effects dominate the positive absolute income effect. There is perfect income adaptation at the individual and aggregate levels. The immediate neighbourhood income—the state average income—is the relevant reference group income. Reducing the income gap and augmenting income sources of the poor may reduce the effect of relative comparison and increase happiness level in the long run in India.

JEL Classification: C23, C35, I31
Book review: Shashi Bhushan Kumar and Umesh Kumar, Naxalism and Caste Militancy in Bihar
Authors: Sharma Ram Naresh
Published: February 2021

Shashi Bhushan Kumar and Umesh Kumar, Naxalism and Caste Militancy in Bihar. Delhi: Saad Publications, 2017, pp. 224., ₹895.00.
Global optimization model of regional industrial structure based on conjugate matching cooperative game
Authors: Wang Lin
Published: February 2021

Whether the regional industrial structure reasonably reflects the level of economic development of a region, and a good industrial structure can promote the development of economic cycle. Agricultural production structure is closely related to water resources and grain yield. Optimizing agricultural industrial structure is related to the national economy and people's livelihood, and has a great impact on the economic development of a region. In this paper, an optimization model based on conjugate cooperative game is established to verify the influence on the development of agricultural industrial structure, and propose solutions. The research has good innovation and guidance. In view of the unreasonable regional industrial structure, starting with the fundamental theoretical research of the regional industrial structure adjustment, a conjugate matching cooperative game method is used to establish a regional industrial structure optimization model. The results suggest that: Wheat planting area is increased by 1.1%, maize planting area is decreased by 40.5%, beans planting area is increased by 16.5%, potato planting area is increased by 18.3%, oil crops planting area is decreased by 5.5%, vegetable planting area is increased by 4.2%, and forage planting area is increased by 5.9%. The proportion of food crops: cash crops: forage is adjusted from 50.0: 11.7: 38.3 to 27.1: 28.7: 44.2, and the structure of agriculture and animal husbandry tends to be rationalized. In this paper, the conjugate matching cooperative game method is used to analyze the model, and the optimization method of regional industrial structure is proposed, which can help agricultural industry to improve production and promote the further optimization of industrial structure.
Comparative study on the effect of cure parameters on residual deformation for thermoset composite laminates
Authors: Liu Zhendong , Zheng Xitao , Gao Lixiaoyuan , Yan Leilei , Song Guolian , Zhang Shiquan
Published: February 2021

Process-induced deformation in composite laminates usually occurs during the curing process and is strongly dependent on the cure parameters. To study the influence of the cure parameters on the warpage deformation, an experimental study was carried out with different heating rates and first dwell times. The full-field process-induced deformation was captured by contactless 3 D scanning system to validate the numerical method. Second, a multi-scale thermo-viscoelastic modeling technique was employed to predict the process-induced deformation. The results showed a good agreement between the simulation and experimental deformation, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the numerical model. The influence of six different cure parameters of the vacuum bagging process on the warping deformation and residual stress were considered in the numerical study. Knee points were found on the curves depicting the influence of cure parameters on the maximum residual deformation. Within the manufacturer’s specified range, a slower heating rate of 1.5°C/min reduced the process-induced deformation by 7%, while the other parameters affected the process-induced deformation by less than 1.4%. Meanwhile, the residual stress was also reduced with a slower heating rate. Consequently, a lower heating rate is suggested to reduce both the process-induced deformation and the residual stress for thin parts or the zero-bleeding process.
Marketplace Literacy as a Pathway to a Better World: Evidence from Field Experiments in Low-Access Subsistence Marketplaces
Authors: Viswanathan Madhubalan , Umashankar Nita , Sreekumar Arun , Goreczny Ashley
Published: February 2021

Multinational companies increasingly focus on subsistence marketplaces, given their enormous market potential. Nevertheless, their potential is untapped because subsistence consumers face extreme constraints. The authors contend that subsistence consumers need marketplace literacy to participate effectively and beneficially in marketplaces. Marketplace literacy entails the knowledge and skills that enable them to participate in a marketplace as both consumers and entrepreneurs. This is crucial for subsistence consumers, as they often must function in both roles to survive. Previous research, however, has not empirically examined the influence of marketplace literacy on well-being or marketing outcomes related to well-being. To address this gap, the authors implemented three large-scale field experiments with approximately 1,000 people in 34 remote villages in India and Tanzania. They find that marketplace literacy causes an increase in psychological well-being and consumer outcomes related to well-being (e.g., consumer confidence, decision-making ability), especially for subsistence consumers with lower marketplace access, and it causes an increase in entrepreneurial outcomes related to well-being (e.g., starting a microenterprise) for those with higher marketplace access. Overall, this research generates practical implications for the use of marketplace literacy as a pathway to a better world.
Personality and Grief-Related Panic Attacks: Analysis of Neuroticism, Worry, and Anxiety Sensitivity
Authors: Lee Sherman A. , Bottomley Jamison S.
Published: February 2021

Grief-related panic attacks (GRPAs) are a relatively common yet debilitating psychological reaction to loss, the mechanisms of which remain poorly understood among scholars. The purpose of this study was to identify the personality traits that underlie GRPAs in a sample of 314 bereaved adults. The results indicate that GRPAs were relatively common (55.4%) and that anxiety sensitivity uniquely predicted both frequency and impairment associated with these kinds of attacks, while taking into account the effects of neuroticism, trait worry, grief, and gender. Findings suggest that anxiety sensitivity may be a risk factor for GRPAs and magnified grief for some mourners. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.
Unexplored Costs of Bereavement Grief in Japan: Patterns of Increased Use of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Financial Services
Authors: Becker Carl B. , Taniyama Yozo , Kondo-Arita Megumi , Sasaki Noriko , Yamada Shinya , Yamamoto Kayoko
Published: February 2021

Bereaved families may experience psychological and physical problems increasing their reliance on medical, pharmaceutical, and financial/legal services. Our Japan-wide survey (n = 1078) researched bereaved who showed increased reliance on medical, pharmaceutical, and financial/legal services. Increased use was most evident in the ‘50’s age bracket, and for unemployed widows; it corresponded less with low annual income than with high income declining significantly after bereavement. Increased users showed higher psychological and physical symptoms of grief, and reported their decline in physical health seriously influencing their work and lives, suggesting “presenteeism”—reduced productivity for those continuing to work. Increased users spent 2.7 times more for medical and pharmaceutical services than those reporting continual use, portending 4 to 10 times more Japanese government expense for this group, half of whom considered their own out-of-pocket expenses a financial burden. These findings warrant further research on cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce declining health of the bereaved.
Bereavement After Patient Deaths Among Chinese Physicians and Nurses: A Qualitative Description Study
Authors: Chen Chuqian , Chow Amy Yin Man , XU Ke
Published: February 2021

In order to achieve an in-depth understanding of professional caregivers’ experiences of bereavement after patient deaths in Mainland China, qualitative description was employed. 24 physicians and nurses from hospitals in Nanjing, China, participated in one-to-one, semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was adopted for data analysis. Five themes were generated: the nature of professional bereavement experiences, the meaning of patient deaths, immediate bereavement reactions, long-term changes, and coping strategies. Each theme included personal and professional dimensions. Professional bereavement experiences in Mainland China were found to be influenced by workplace violence against professional caregivers, traditional Chinese medical ethics, the strong death taboo, and inadequacies of the healthcare system. Professional bereavement experiences are meaning-driven, comprehensive, and usually disenfranchised. They involve multidimensional reactions and have both short-term and long-lasting, both event-specific and accumulated impacts. Cultural and systemic factors could shape professional bereavement experiences.
Extroversion and Subjective Well-Being Among Korean University Students: The Moderating Role of Attachment
Authors: Kwon Chorong , Choi Eunsil
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this study was to test the moderating effects of adult attachment in the association between extroversion and subjective well-being in Korea. A total of 334 students recruited from four universities in Korea completed self-reported questionnaires regarding extroversion, attachment, and subjective well-being. The results showed that the innate extroverted orientation of university students affected positive emotions only when the level of attachment avoidance was low. In contrast, although university students had an extroverted orientation, their extroversion did not have a significant influence on positive emotions when their level of attachment avoidance was high. The findings of this study suggest that high levels of attachment avoidance may prevent for extroverts from experiencing positive emotions.
A Scoping Review of Economic Evaluations of Workplace Wellness Programs
Authors: Unsal Nilay , Weaver GracieLee , Bray Jeremy , Bibeau Daniel
Published: February 2021

Objective

Debates about the effectiveness of workplace wellness programs (WWPs) call for a review of the evidence for return on investment (ROI) of WWPs. We examined literature on the heterogeneity in methods used in the ROI of WWPs to show how this heterogeneity may affect conclusions and inferences about ROI.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review using systematic review methods and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We reviewed PubMed, EconLit, Proquest Central, and Scopus databases for published articles. We included articles that (1) were published before December 20, 2019, when our last search was conducted, and (2) met our inclusion criteria that were based on target population, target intervention, evaluation method, and ROI as the main outcome.

Results

We identified 47 peer-reviewed articles from the selected databases that met our inclusion criteria. We explored the effect of study characteristics on ROI estimates. Thirty-one articles had ROI measures. Studies with costs of presenteeism had the lowest ROI estimates compared with other cost combinations associated with health care and absenteeism. Studies with components of disease management produced higher ROI than programs with components of wellness. We found a positive relationship between ROI and program length and a negative relationship between ROI and conflict of interest. Evaluations in small companies (≤500 employees) were associated with lower ROI estimates than evaluations in large companies (>500 employees). Studies with lower reporting quality scores, including studies that were missing information on statistical inference, had lower ROI estimates. Higher methodologic quality was associated with lower ROI estimates.

Conclusion

This review provides recommendations that can improve the methodologic quality of studies to validate the ROI and public health effects of WWPs.
Mobilizing the Masses: Measuring Resource Mobilization on Twitter
Authors: Abdul Reda Amir , Sinanoglu Semuhi , Abdalla Mohamed
Published: February 2021

How can we measure the resource mobilization (RM) efforts of social movements on Twitter? In this article, we create the first ever measure of social movements’ RM efforts on a social media platform. To this aim, we create a four-conditional lexicon that can parse through tweets and identify those concerned with RM. We also create a simple RM score that can be plotted in a time series format to track the RM efforts of social movements in real time. We use our tools with millions of tweets from the United States streamed between November 28, 2018, and February 11, 2019, to demonstrate how our measure can help us estimate the saliency and persistency of social movements’ RM efforts. We find that our measure captures RM by successfully cross checking the variation of this score against protest events in the United States during the same time frame. Finally, we illustrate the descriptive and qualitative utility of our tools for understanding social movements by running conventional topic modeling algorithms on the tweets that were used to compute the RM score and point at specific avenues for theory building and testing.
Estimating the Uncertainty of a Small Area Estimator Based on a Microsimulation Approach
Authors: Moretti Angelo , Whitworth Adam
Published: February 2021

Spatial microsimulation encompasses a range of alternative methodological approaches for the small area estimation (SAE) of target population parameters from sample survey data down to target small areas in contexts where such data are desired but not otherwise available. Although widely used, an enduring limitation of spatial microsimulation SAE approaches is their current inability to deliver reliable measures of uncertainty—and hence confidence intervals—around the small area estimates produced. In this article, we overcome this key limitation via the development of a measure of uncertainty that takes into account both variance and bias, that is, the mean squared error. This new approach is evaluated via a simulation study and demonstrated in a practical application using European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions data to explore income levels across Italian municipalities. Evaluations show that the approach proposed delivers accurate estimates of uncertainty and is robust to nonnormal distributions. The approach provides a significant development to widely used spatial microsimulation SAE techniques.
Down a wrong path – A nasogastric tube in the lung
Authors: Kaur Supreet , Mohi Ud Din Dar Parvez , Priyadarshini Pratyusha
Published: February 2021

Nasogastric tube insertion is a common bedside procedure. In an awake patient, unexpected passage into airway is easily noticeable due to the gag reflex; however, in the case of ventilated patients false cannulation is liable to be missed, unless insertion is carried out under direct visualization. We present a case of passage of nasogastric tube into peripheral bronchiole of the right lung, which was initially missed on chest radiography. This case report highlights the fallacy of relying on a chest radiograph.
Prevalence and antibiogram of non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli in blood stream infections: Study in a tertiary care centre, Western Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Sarwat Tarana , Yousuf Mariyah , Khan Ambreen S , Kakru Dalip K , Dutta Renu
Published: February 2021

Non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) are emerging as important cause of blood stream infections. We aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of NFGNB isolated from blood of patients with sepsis. We found, in 176 patients, the most common to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa (74) and Acinetobacter baumanii complex (39) followed by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (16), Sphingomonas paucimobilis (6), Burkholderia cepacia (5) and Ochrobactrum anthropic (1). Generally, organisms showed a good sensitivity towards colistin, carbapenems and fluoroquinolones, whereas cephalosporins were ineffective.