Orientation relationship in finite dimensional space

In the present article, we discuss the regression of a point on the surface of a unit sphere in d dimensions given a point on the surface of a unit sphere in p dimensions, where p may not be equal to d. Point projection is added to the rotation and linear transformation for regression link function. The identifiability of the model is proved. Then, parameter estimation in this set up is discussed. Simulation studies and data analyses are done to illustrate the model.     

On computing a minimum secure dominating set in block graphs

In a graph \(G=(V,E)\), a set \(D \subseteq V\) is said to be a dominating set of G if for every vertex \(u\in V{\setminus }D\), there exists a vertex \(v\in D\) such that \(uv\in E\). A secure dominating set of the graph G is a dominating set D of G such that for every \(u\in V{\setminus }D\), there exists a vertex \(v\in D\) such that \(uv\in E\) and \((D{\setminus }\{v\})\cup \{u\}\) is a dominating set of G. Given a graph G and a positive integer k, the secure domination problem is to decide whether G has a secure dominating set of cardinality at most k. The secure domination problem has been shown to be NP-complete for chordal graphs via split graphs and for bipartite graphs. In Liu et al. (in: Proceedings of 27th workshop on combinatorial mathematics and computation theory, 2010), it is asked to find a polynomial time algorithm for computing a minimum secure dominating set in a block graph. In this paper, we answer this by presenting a linear time algorithm to compute a minimum secure dominating set in block graphs. We then strengthen the known NP-completeness of the secure domination problem by showing that the secure domination problem is NP-complete for undirected path graphs and chordal bipartite graphs.     

Analyzing Social Media Engagement and its Effect on Online Product Purchase Decision Behavior

The continuous progress of society in using online resources has given opportunity to many business executives to utilize social media for their brand promotion or recognition. Organizations utilize social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Flicker, Google Plus, and YouTube to promote their product, service, or brand worldwide. Increase of consumer engagement in online social activities has forced companies to integrate social media factors into their marketing strategy. The objective of this study is to find the important factors on which the online purchasing decision depends, based on the personality types of consumers and their attitude toward social media with brand perception.     

Food subsidy,income transfer and the poor: A comparative analysis of the public distribution system in India's states

The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) – the largest food subsidy program in India – has been a dismal failure in targeting the poor. The present paper examines its performance in three Indian states – Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, based on primary data collected for this study. As real income transfers through food price subsidies are a tiny fraction of expenditure per person under this scheme, a contribution of the present study is to model determinants of real income transfers through subsidised wheat, rice and sugar. The analysis throws new light on how income transfers vary with economic status of a household, inequality in the distribution of land in a village, amount of food price subsidy, transaction costs of buying from ‘fair price shops’ (FPS), and supply shortages. The policy implications of these results are profound. Desperate measures such as a universal food subsidy enshrined in a proposed National Food Security Act are rejected on the grounds that the enormous leakages and wastage under the present TPDS would only get worse. Assertions that a universal food subsidy is the only option consistent with the right to food are rejected as mistaken. Instead, it is worthwhile to overhaul the PDS within the existing outlay.     

Inner Wellbeing: Concept and Validation of a New Approach to Subjective Perceptions of Wellbeing—India

This paper describes the conceptual development of a multi-domain, psychosocial model of ‘Inner Wellbeing’ (IWB) and assesses the construct validity of the scale designed to measure it. IWB expresses what people think and feel they are able to be and do. Drawing together scholarship in wellbeing and international development it is grounded in field research in marginalised, rural communities in the global South. Results from research in India at two points in time (2011 and 2013) are reported. At Time 1 (n = 287), we were unable to confirm an eight-factor, correlated model as distinct yet interrelated domains. However, at Time 2 (n = 335), we were able to confirm a revised, seven-factor correlated model with economic confidence, agency and participation, social connections, close relationships, physical and mental health, competence and self-worth, and values and meaning (five items per domain) as distinct yet interrelated domains. In particular, at Time 2, a seven-factor, correlated model provided a significantly better fit to the data than did a one-factor model.     

Construction of Cross-Over Designs for Comparing Test Treatments with Control Using Terraces

Segregated half-and-half and mutually orthogonal power sequence terraces have been used in this article for the construction of some new families of control balanced cross-over designs, which are Schur-optimal. One of the advantages of using terraces is that designs with larger number of treatments can also be constructed with relative ease. Designs up to 17 treatments have been constructed in this article.     

Fear of childbirth and depressive symptoms among postnatal women: A cross-sectional survey from Chhattisgarh,India

Background

Prevalence rates of Fear of Birth and postnatal depressive symptoms have not been explored in Chhattisgarh, India.

Some New Series of Partially Balanced Residual Treatment Effects Designs

Blaisdell and Raghavarao (1980 Blaisdell , E. A. , Raghavarao , D. ( 1980 ). Partially balanced change-over designs based on m-associate class PBIB designs . JRSS B 42 : 334 – 338 . [Google Scholar] 1985 Blaisdell , E. A. , Raghavarao , D. ( 1985 ). Efficiency bounds for partially balanced change-over designs based on m-associate class PBIB designs . JRSS B 47 : 132 – 135 . [Google Scholar]) introduced partially balanced residual treatment effects designs and gave methods of construction of these designs. They also gave efficiencies for the estimated direct and residual elementary treatment contrasts of these designs. In this paper, we construct some new series of partially balanced residual treatment effects designs and also give their efficiencies for the estimated direct and residual elementary treatment contrasts.     

Estimation of the shape parameter of a Pareto distribution

We consider the problem of estimating the shape parameter of a Pareto distribution with unknown scale under an arbitrary strictly bowl-shaped loss function. Classes of estimators improving upon minimum risk equivariant estimator are derived by adopting Stein, Brown, and Kubokawa techniques. The classes of estimators are shown to include some known procedures such as Stein-type and Brewster and Zidek-type estimators from literature. We also provide risk plots of proposed estimators for illustration purpose.     

Foodgrain price stabilization: Implications of private storage and subsidized food distribution

Through simulation exercises, this paper explores the implications of private storage and subsidized distribution of foodgrain for price stabilization policies in India. A multi-market equilibrium approach is used to incorporate the simultaneity in the determination of supply and demand for the three major cereals, namely, rice, wheat, and coarse cereals. The policy implications of the results obtained are relevant to the current debate on agricultural policy reforms in India.