A novel compliant surgical robot: Preliminary design analysis

A robotic surgical system capable of performing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is proposed in this paper. Based on the requirements of MIS, a compliant, seven- degrees of freedom (7-DOF) pneumatically actuated mechanism is designed. A remote center of motion (RCM) as a parallelogram mechanism for holding the laparoscopic camera is also developed. The operating workspace of robotic surgical system is determined considering the physical constraints imposed by mechanical joints. The simulation results show that the robotic system meets the design requirement. This research will lay a good foundation for the development of a compliant surgical robot to assist in MIS

The Rise and Fall of Cryptocurrencies: Defining the Economic and Social Values of Blockchain Technologies, assessing the Opportunities, and defining the Financial and Cybersecurity Risks of the Metaverse

This paper contextualises the common queries of "why is crypto crashing?" and "why is crypto down?", the research transcends beyond the frequent market fluctuations to unravel how cryptocurrencies fundamentally work and the step-by-step process on how to create a cryptocurrency. The study examines blockchain technologies and their pivotal role in the evolving Metaverse, shedding light on topics such as how to invest in cryptocurrency, the mechanics behind crypto mining, and strategies to effectively buy and trade cryptocurrencies. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the research transitions from the fundamental principles of fintech investment strategies to the overarching implications of blockchain within the Metaverse. Alongside exploring machine learning potentials in financial sectors and risk assessment methodologies, the study critically assesses whether developed or developing nations are poised to reap greater benefits from these technologies. Moreover, it probes into both enduring and dubious crypto projects, drawing a distinct line between genuine blockchain applications and Ponzi-like schemes. The conclusion resolutely affirms the continuing dominance of blockchain technologies, underlined by a profound exploration of their intrinsic value and a reflective commentary by the author on the potential risks confronting individual investors

Insurance and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa:Policy thresholds

Insurance and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Policy thresholdsIn this study, we examine how insurance affects income inequality in sub-Saharan Africa, using data from 42 countries during the period 2004-2014. Three inequality variables are used, namely: the Gini coefficient, the Atkinson index and the Palma ratio. Two insurance premiums are employed, namely: life insurance and non-life insurance. The empirical evidence is based on the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). Life insurance increases the Gini coefficient and increasing life insurance has a net positive effect on the Gini coefficient and the Atkinson index. Non-life insurance reduces the Gini coefficient and increasing non-life insurance has a net positive effect on the Palma ratio. The analysis is extended to establish policy thresholds at which increasing insurance premiums completely dampen the net positive effects. From the extended analysis, 7.500 of life insurance premiums (% of GDP) is the critical mass required for life insurance to negatively affect inequality, while 0.855 of non-life insurance premiums (% of GDP) is the threshold required for non-life insurance to negatively affect inequality. Policy thresholds are provided at which insurance penetration decreases income inequality in sub-Saharan Africa.Economic

Market capitalization shock effects on open innovation models in e-commerce: Golden cut q-rung orthopair fuzzy multicriteria decision-making analysis

This research paper analyzes revenue trends in e-commerce, a sector with an annual sales volume of more than 340 billion dollars. The article evaluates, despite a scarcity of data, the effects on e-commerce development of the ubiquitous lockdowns and restriction measures introduced by most countries during the pandemic period. The analysis covers monthly data from January 1996 to February 2021. The research paper analyzes relative changes in the original time series through the autocorrelation function. The objects of this analysis are Amazon and Alibaba, as they are benchmarks in the e-commerce industry. This paper tests the shock effect on the e-commerce companies Alibaba in China and Amazon in the USA, concluding that it is weaker for companies with small market capitalizations. As a result, the effect on estimated e-trade volume in the USA was approximately 35% in 2020. Another evaluation considers fuzzy decision-making methodology. For this purpose, balanced scorecard-based open financial innovation models for the e-commerce industry are weighted with multistepwise weight assessment ratio analysis based on q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets and the golden cut. Within this framework, a detailed analysis of competitors should be made. The paper proves that this situation positively affects the development of successful financial innovation models for the e-commerce industry. Therefore, it may be possible to attract greater attention from e-commerce companies for these financial innovation products.Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federatio

Analysis of financial development and open innovation oriented fintech potential for emerging economies using an integrated decision-making approach of MF-X-DMA and golden cut bipolar q-ROFSs

The purpose of the paper is to identify the factors of financial development that have the greatest impact on open innovation in 7 emerging countries. The analysis was performed featuring the MF-X-DMA method, as well as its further verification for autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity. The time period covers years from 2002 to 2020. The article states that the main indicators to improve financial development should enhance the process of bank lending and equity market development. An important area is the development of competition by providing equal access to information to all market participants in a continuously refining technical infrastructure. Regression analysis with the MF-X-DMA method confirms the statistical significance of this influence. The article fills the knowledge gap into the link between open innovations and the relatively low capitalization of the modern emerging countries’ financial market, low liquidity in small cap stocks at the financial market and concentration of the banking sector, as well as risks arising in the process of globalization. Another analysis has also been conducted by generating a novel fuzzy decision-making model. In the first stage, the determinants of open innovation-based fintech potential are weighted for the emerging economies. For this purpose, M-SWARA methodology is taken into consideration based on bipolar q-ROFSs and golden cut. The second stage of the analysis includes evaluating the emerging economies with the determinants of open innovation-based fintech potential. In this context, emerging seven countries are examined with ELECTRE methodology. It found the most significant factor is the open innovation-based fintech potential

Impact of Decision Rules and Non-Cooperative Behaviors on Minimum Consensus Cost in Group Decision Making

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version.In group decision making (GDM), it is sensible to achive minimum consensus cost (MCC) because the consensus reaching process (CRP) resources are often limited. In this endeavour, though, there are still two issues that require paying attention to: (1) the impact of decision rules, including decision weights and aggregation functions, on MCC; and (2) the impact of non-cooperative behaviors on MCC. Hence, this paper analytically reveals the decision rules to minimize MCC or maximize MCC. Furthermore, detailed simulation experiments show the joint impact of non-cooperative behavior and decisions rules on MCC, as well as revealing the effect of the consensus within the established MCC target

Not all that glitters is gold: political stability and trade in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study examines linkages between political stability and trade openness dynamics in a panel of 44 countries in SSA from 1996 to 2016. The empirical evidence is based on the generalized method of moments. From the findings, the negative relationship between political stability and merchandise trade is not significant while the negative relationship between political stability and trade openness (exports plus imports) is significant. Hence, the findings do not validate the tested hypothesis that political stability/no violence increases trade in the sub-region. The perspective that some forms of political stability can slow down and prevent international trade is consistent with Oslon in Rise and Decline of Nations (RADON) and recent contributions to the economic development literature which have shown that not all forms of political stability are development friendly because much depends on the extent to which stability translates into, inter alia, good governance. The principal policy implication is that standards of political governance need to be boosted in order to improve the anticipated effects of political stability on trade, especially in the light of the ambitious African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Other policy implications are discussed

Inclusive Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study assesses the role of income levels (low and middle) in modulating governance (political and economic) to influence inclusive human development. The empirical evidence is based on interactive quantile regressions and forty-nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2000-2002.The following main findings are established. First, low income modulates governance (economic and political) to positively affect inclusive human development exclusively in countries with above-median levels of inclusive human development. It follows that countries with averagely higher levels of inclusive human development are more likely to benefit from the relevance of income levels in influencing governance for inclusive development. Second, the importance of middle income in modulating political governance to positively affect inclusive human is apparent exclusively in the median while the relevance of middle income in moderating economic governance to positively influence inclusive human development is significantly apparent in the 10th and 75th quantiles. Third, regardless of panels, income levels modulate economic governance to affect inclusive human development at a higher magnitude, compared to political governance. Policy implications are discussed in the light of the post-2015 agenda of sustainable development goals and contemporary development paradigms. This study complements the extant sparse literature on the inclusive human development in Africa

Insurance and Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Policy Thresholds

In this study, we examine how insurance affects income inequality in sub-Saharan Africa, using data from 42 countries during the period 2004-2014. Three inequality variables are used, namely: the Gini coefficient, the Atkinson index and the Palma ratio. Two insurance premiums are employed, namely: life insurance and non-life insurance. The empirical evidence is based on the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). Life insurance increases the Gini coefficient and increasing life insurance has a net positive effect on the Gini coefficient and the Atkinson index. Non-life insurance reduces the Gini coefficient and increasing non-life insurance has a net positive effect on the Palma ratio. The analysis is extended to establish policy thresholds at which increasing insurance premiums completely dampen the net positive effects. From the extended analysis, 7.500 of life insurance premiums (% of GDP) is the critical mass required for life insurance to negatively affect inequality, while 0.855 of non-life insurance premiums (% of GDP) is the threshold required for non-life insurance to negatively affect inequality. Policy thresholds are provided at which insurance penetration decreases income inequality in sub-Saharan Africa

Remittances and value added across economic sub-sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa

This research assesses the relevance of enhancing remittances on value added across economic sectors in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 1980 to 2014 using the Generalised Method of Moments. First, no significant net effects on added value to the agricultural sector are apparent. Second, enhancing remittances engenders a positive net effect on added value to the manufacturing sector. Third, there are negative net effects on added value to the service sector. Given that the unfavourable net incidence of remittances to the service sector is associated with a positive marginal or conditional effect, the analysis is extended by computing thresholds at which remittances induce net positive effects on added value to the service sector. The extended analysis shows that a remittance threshold of 48.5% of GDP is the critical mass needed for further enhancement of remittances to engender positive net effects on value added to the service sector.Economic