Development of impedance spectroscopy based in-situ, self-calibrating, on-board wireless sensor with inbuilt metamaterial inspired small antenna for constituent detection in multi-phase mixtures like soil

Real time and accurate measurement of sub-surface soil moisture and nutrients is critical for agricultural and environmental studies. This work presents a novel on-board solution for a robust, accurate and self-calibrating soil moisture and nutrient sensor with inbuilt wireless transmission and reception capability that makes it ideally suited to act as a node in a network spread over a large area. The sensor works on the principle of soil impedance measurement by comparing the amplitude and phase of signals incident on and reflected from the soil in proximity of the sensor. The permittivity of the soil dielectric mixture which is calculated from these impedance measurements is used as input parameter to the dielectric mixing models which are used to estimate the ionic concentration in soil. The inbuilt wireless transceiver system is connected to a specially designed metamaterial inspired small antenna in order to reduce the sensor size while keeping the path losses to a minimum by using a low frequency. This composite right-left handed (CRLH) antenna for wireless transmission at 433 MHz doubles up as an underground, sensing element (external capacitor) and integrates with the on-board sensor for soil moisture and nutrient determination. The input impedance of the CRLH sensor, surrounded by the soil containing moisture and nutrient and other ions, is measured at multiple frequencies. It is shown that the change in moisture and ioinic-concentration can be successfully detected using the sensor. The inbuilt self-calibrating mechanism makes the sensor reliable at different environmental conditions and also useful for remote, underground and hand-held applications. A multi-power mode transceiver system has been designed to support the implementation of an energy efficient medium-access-control

A CROSS-SECTIONAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON FETAL CONSEQUENCES OF JAUNDICE DURING PREGNANCY: INSIGHTS FROM A TERTIARY CENTRE IN BIHAR.

Background Jaundice during pregnancy poses significant risks to both maternal and fetal health, with potential complications including fetal jaundice, kernicterus, and stillbirth. Early detection and appropriate management are crucial to mitigate these risks. The study investigates the impact of jaundice during pregnancy on fetal outcomes within a tertiary centre setting in Bihar, aiming to enhance understanding and inform clinical management strategies. Methods The study included 200 pregnant patients with jaundice or deranged liver function tests during pregnancy. Demographic data, clinical features, obstetric complications, maternal and fetal outcomes, and maternal complications were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed to elucidate the relationship between jaundice during pregnancy and fetal outcomes. Results The study population had an average age of 28 years (± 4.5), with the majority being multiparous (65%). Common symptoms included yellowish discoloration of the skin and sclera (100%), pruritus (80%), dark urine (70%), and abdominal discomfort (60%). Obstetric complications such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), hepatomegaly, and ascites were observed in varying proportions. Abnormal liver function tests were prevalent in 95% of cases, with elevated bilirubin levels (>2.5 mg/dL). Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between prolonged jaundice duration and adverse fetal outcomes such as IUGR, intrauterine fetal demise or stillbirth, and neonatal complications requiring immediate resuscitation (p < 0.05), with multiparity identified as a risk factor for maternal complications (p < 0.01). Conclusion Jaundice during pregnancy significantly impacts maternal and fetal health, necessitating vigilant monitoring and early intervention. The findings underscore the importance of timely management strategies to mitigate adverse outcomes, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary collaboration in the care of pregnant patients with jaundice. Recommendations Recommendations include implementing standardized protocols for the management of jaundice during pregnancy, enhancing awareness among healthcare providers regarding the potential risks and complications, and fostering interdisciplinary teamwork to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes.

Evaluating maternal and perinatal outcomes of eclampsia at a tertiary healthcare facility in Bihar, India: a retrospective study

Background: Eclampsia, characterized by seizures in women with preeclampsia, is a leading cause of mother and neonatal illness and death globally. Despite advancements in obstetric care, eclampsia remains a significant concern, especially in nations with poor and medium incomes. The aim of the study is to comprehensively assess the maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with eclampsia cases treated at a tertiary healthcare centre with the goal of improving understanding and management strategies for this serious medical condition. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted over 12 months. Data were collected from 200 eclampsia cases, focusing on demographic information, obstetric history, clinical characteristics, obstetric interventions, maternal complications, and perinatal outcomes. Statistical analysis was accomplished using SPSS version 21. Results: The mean age of patients was 28.5 years, with a majority (65%) being multiparous. Antepartum eclampsia was the most common clinical type (60%). Emergency caesarean section was performed in 70% of cases. Maternal complications included pulmonary edema (45%) and renal failure (25%), with a maternal mortality rate of 5%. Pre-term births occurred in 40% of cases, with an average gestational age at birth of 32 weeks. Additionally, 35% of newborns were low birth weight, and the perinatal mortality rate was 15%. Conclusions: This study highlights the substantial burden of neonatal and mother morbidity and death related with eclampsia in Bihar, India. Effective management strategies, including timely diagnosis, obstetric interventions, and preventive measures, are crucial in mitigating the adverse outcomes of eclampsia. Improving access to antenatal care, early detection of pre-eclampsia, and enhancing obstetric care services are essential in reducing the impact of eclampsia. Furthermore, continuous medical education programs for healthcare providers can enhance their knowledge and skills in managing eclampsia cases effectively

The Complexity of Partial Function Extension for Coverage Functions

Coverage functions are an important subclass of submodular functions, finding applications in machine learning, game theory, social networks, and facility location. We study the complexity of partial function extension to coverage functions. That is, given a partial function consisting of a family of subsets of [m] and a value at each point, does there exist a coverage function defined on all subsets of [m] that extends this partial function? Partial function extension is previously studied for other function classes, including boolean functions and convex functions, and is useful in many fields, such as obtaining bounds on learning these function classes. We show that determining extendibility of a partial function to a coverage function is NP-complete, establishing in the process that there is a polynomial-sized certificate of extendibility. The hardness also gives us a lower bound for learning coverage functions. We then study two natural notions of approximate extension, to account for errors in the data set. The two notions correspond roughly to multiplicative point-wise approximation and additive L_1 approximation. We show upper and lower bounds for both notions of approximation. In the second case we obtain nearly tight bounds

Industrial Deregulation, Skill Upgrading, and Wage Inequality in India

We investigate the relationship between economic deregulation (delicensing), skill upgrading, and wage inequality during the 1980s and 1990s in India. We use a unique dataset on India's industrial licensing regime to test whether industrial deregulation during the 1980s and 1990s played a role in generating demand for skilled workers, as measured by the employment and wagebill shares of white-collar workers, and in raising the returns to skilled labor, as measured by the skill premium. Our analysis focuses not only on the difference between licensed and delicensed industries but also on the comparison of these differences during the 1980s, when India's external sector remained relatively closed to the world economy, and the 1990s, when India underwent massive liberalization reforms and became increasingly integrated with the global economy. We identify two main channels through which industrial delicensing affects the demand for skills and wage inequality: capital- and output-skill complementarities. Our analysis finds two important results. First, capital- and output-skill complementarities existed for firms in both licensed and delicensed industries but were stronger in delicensed industries both before and after 1991. The exception is output-skill complementarities with respect to the skill premium, where delicensed industries experienced lower output-skill complementarities compared to licensed ones both before and after 1991. Second, the contribution of industrial delicensing to both types of complementarities was considerably higher during the 1980s and much smaller after 1991. These results suggest that industrial delicensing benefited skilled labor via capital- and output-skill complementarities during the 1980s, the decade before India liberalized it's trade and investment regime. Thus, much of the increase in the demand for and returns to skill as a result of capital- and output-skill complementarities can be attributed to domestic reforms during the pre-1991 period in India.Capital-skill complementarities, industrial delicensing, trade liberalization, India

Person-technology Fit and Work Outcomes: A Study among IT Professionals in India

The present study contributes to individual level information systems research by addressing an important and yet unanswered research question. The present study is a part of a large study conducted to explore and understand impact of technology allocation among Indian IT professionals. In the first part of the study we conducted a qualitative study based on grounded theory methodology. Our findings suggest that technology allocation might contribute in understanding the behaviour of IT professionals. We found that IT professionals evaluate the technology allocated to them on dimensions such as career consequences; however their evaluation is affected by individual level preferences. This evaluation, either positive or negative, influences their job outcomes. Further, we explored the factors that make a technology preferable to others and explicated relevant technology characteristics for IT professionals. Considering the relationship between individual preferences and technology characteristics, we have employed PE fit theory as an overarching theory to explore the phenomenon. Based on the findings of first part of the study and synthesis of literature we proposes a new construct, “Person technology fit” which is hypothesized to affect career satisfaction and turnover intention. Polynomial regression analysis and response surface method is used for data analysis as they are suggested to be an appropriate tool for fit studies in extant literature. Based on data collected from 386 IT professionals working in Indian IT organizations, person technology fit was related to career satisfaction and turnover intent

PREDICTING CHOICE OF THEME-PARK DESTINATIONS IN INDIA

Purpose: In this paper we attempt to understand the factors that provides satisfaction to the visitors of theme-park destinations and to predict visitors' intent to re-visit the theme park destinations in India. Methodology: We have applied factor analysis to understand the attributes that attract visitors to re-visit theme parks and logistic regression techniques to predict if the visitor's intent to re-visit theme-park destinations on a regular basis.Findings: The results suggest that major factors that visitors consider while confirming re-visit to theme parks in India include lifestyle, historical and leisure. Moreover, tourists visiting such theme parks are always interested in new, innovative and creative ideas to attract and plan their visits on a regular basis. The visitors prefer to experience and feel India mainly listening to regional music and enriching its cultural and historical importance.Originality: This will promote Indian tourism industry by motivating managers to bring up new, creative and innovative ideas to attract more visitors in theme-parks.  Business managers may expand their existing business plans in Indian tourism industry

Gendering international student mobility: an Indian case study

This thesis explores the dialectical relationship between gender and international student mobility (ISM). The focus is on the experiences of Indian students across three space-time locations: before the students left India; while abroad in Toronto; and their return to New Delhi. The value of this research is two-fold. Firstly, my research helps to fill the lacuna in ISM research that examines the phenomenon through a gender optic. Secondly, there is increasing interest in Canada and other countries – evident in the media and government policy – in international students from India. The study is located at the nexus of gender and mobility scholarship; it adopts Gendered Geographies of Power as a foundational framework. The research employed a multi-sited, mixed-methods approach to data collection. The data collection in the field sites of Toronto, Canada and New Delhi, India consisted of in-depth semi-structured interviews and participant observations. An online survey was mounted for the duration of the fieldwork to gather data on the broader population of Indian students abroad. The results of this survey provide context for the discussion in three empirical chapters. The first of the three empirical chapters explores the impact of gender relations in shaping motivations to study abroad. The second chapter examines how relations of power in and across multiple spaces (re)shape the students‟ performances of gender identities in everyday life in Toronto. The final empirical chapter examines the students‟ experience of return mobility as they attempt to adapt to a different (but familiar) gender context again. My research contributes to the growing body of scholarship on ISM as well as that on gender and migration. By employing a gendered perspective, the indepth interviews as well as ethnographic research reveals the shifting subjectivities of the migrants as they simultaneously negotiate multiple ethnic and kinship interactions in their everyday lived experiences. Secondly, the online survey presents the gendered class configurations of the socio-economic background of the Indian international students. Lastly, the „return‟ experiences of the students are differentiated by gender: more women than men found it harder to (re)negotiate their gender-expected performances in New Delhi. Furthermore, the „return mobility‟ of men appears to be more permanent than the return mobility of women

How will China shape the Global and Regional Order?

Book review on: Xiaoming Huang and Robert G. Patnam. (Eds.). China and the International System: Becoming a world power. New York and London: Routledge, 2013 Yong Wook Lee and Key-young Son, (Eds.). China’s Rise and Regional Integration in East Asia: Hegemony or community? New York and London: Routledge, 201