Periodic Surveys Research Articles

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019

IntroductionData on the associations of prepandemic physical activity and sedentary behavior with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity, particularly milder illness, have been limited. MethodsWe used data from 43,913 participants within the Nurses’ Health Study II and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who responded to periodic COVID-related surveys from May 2020 through March 2021. History of physical activity from the prepandemic period was assessed as the metabolic equivalents of task (MET)-hours per week of various activities of different intensity and sedentary behavior assessed from reports of time spent sitting from questionnaires completed 2016-2017. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity, as well as predicted COVID-19 defined using a validated symptom-based algorithm. ResultsHigher levels of prepandemic physical activity were associated with a lower risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Compared to participants with <3 MET-hours per week, the multivariable-adjusted OR was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.74, 0.99; P trend =.07) for those with ≥27 MET-hours per week. Higher physical activity levels were also associated with lower risk of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.99; P trend = .05) and predicted COVID-19 (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78, 0.97; P trend = .01). Longer time sitting at home watching TV (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.97) or for other tasks (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.66, 0.92) was associated with a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. ConclusionsOur findings support a protective association between prepandemic physical activity and lower risk and severity of COVID-19.

The Hospital Environment as a Potential Source for Clostridioides difficile Transmission Based on Spore Detection Surveys Conducted at Paediatric Oncology and Gastroenterology Units.

Clostridioides difficile is an anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium widely present in the hospital environment due to its ability to generate spores. The transfer of spores to patients through the hands of medical personnel is one of the most frequent paths of C. difficile transmission. In paediatric patients burdened with a serious primary illness requiring long-term hospitalisation and antibiotic therapy, C. difficile may be a significant risk factor for antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. The goal of the study was to assess the state of hospital environments as a potential source of C. difficile spores and to establish the share of hyperepidemic strains at the two paediatric units. The survey for C. difficile was conducted with a C. diff Banana BrothTM medium, used to detect spores and to recover vegetative forms of the bacteria. Environmental samples (n = 86) and swabs from the clothing of medical personnel (n = 14) were collected at two units of a paediatric hospital, where the cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea with a C. difficile aetiology constitute a significant clinical problem. In 17 samples, a change in the broth's colour was observed, indicating the presence of spores. Out of seven samples, C. difficile strains were cultured. The pathogenic isolates of C. difficile were obtained from swabs collected from elements of beds, a toilet, a door handle and a doctor's uniform. In our study, we indicated points of increased risk of pathogen transmission, which could constitute a source of infection. The clothing of medical personnel may be a dangerous carrier of pathogenic spores. Periodical surveys of hospital environments with the use of specialist microbiological mediums successfully indicate the direction of corrective actions to be undertaken by the medical facility in order to increase patient safety.

Harnessing Demographic Dividend Before it is Lost Forever in India.

Based on the secondary data taken from Population Census, and the Employment-Unemployment Surveys and Periodic Labour Force Survey of the National Sample Survey, it is found that Indian economy is passing through a critical phase of economic development in which it is likely to lose its demographic advantage. Because, in India while about 4.5 million people wereleaving agriculture every year prior to the Covid-19 pandemic years, the non-farm sectors job was not growing adequately to accommodate the persons leaving agriculture, and the newly educated non-farm job seekers. As a result there was an upsurge in educated youth unemployment (18% and about 24 million) rate, and hence the discouraged youth labour force. On the other hand, an increase in the share (from 8.0 to 10.2%) and growth (3.0-5.1%) of elderly population put a question on the process of harnessing demographic dividend in India. Based on these findings it is argued that an integrated approach of development is necessary to boost the labour force participation of youth and overall population to boost the growth of per capita national state domestic product (NSDP) in Indian states. This could be achieved through the promotion of micro and small enterprises along with infrastructure development along with a systematic emigration and remittances policy.

Sampling Sexual and Gender Minority Youth With UnACoRN (Understanding Affirming Communities, Relationships, and Networks): Lessons From a Web-Based Survey.

Periodic surveys of sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations are essential for monitoring and investigating health inequities. Recent legislative efforts to ban so-called conversion therapy make it necessary to adapt youth surveys to reach a wider range of SGM populations, including those <18 years of age and those who may not adopt an explicit two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2S/LGBTQ) identity. We aimed to share our experiences in recruiting SGM youth through multiple in-person and online channels and to share lessons learned for future researchers. The Understanding Affirming Communities, Relationships, and Networks (UnACoRN) web-based survey collected anonymous data in English and French from 9679 mostly SGM respondents in the United States and Canada. Respondents were recruited from March 2022 to August 2022 using word-of-mouth referrals, leaflet distribution, bus advertisements, and paid and unpaid campaigns on social media and a pornography website. We analyzed the metadata provided by these and other online resources we used for recruitment (eg, Bitly and Qualtrics) and describe the campaign's effectiveness by recruitment venue based on calculating the cost per completed survey and other secondary metrics. Most participants were recruited through Meta (13,741/16,533, 83.1%), mainly through Instagram; 88.96% (visitors: 14,888/18,179) of our sample reached the survey through paid advertisements. Overall, the cost per survey was lower for Meta than Pornhub or the bus advertisements. Similarly, the proportion of visitors who started the survey was higher for Meta (8492/18,179, 46.7%) than Pornhub (58/18,179, 1.02%). Our subsample of 7037 residents of Canada had a similar geographic distribution to the general population, with an average absolute difference in proportion by province or territory of 1.4% compared to the Canadian census. Our US subsample included 2521 participants from all US states and the District of Columbia. A total of CAD $8571.58 (the currency exchange rate was US $1=CAD $1.25) was spent across 4 paid recruitment channels (Facebook, Instagram, PornHub, and bus advertisements). The most cost-effective tool of recruitment was Instagram, with an average cost per completed survey of CAD $1.48. UnACoRN recruited nearly 10,000 SGM youth in the United States and Canada, and the cost per survey was CAD $1.48. Researchers using online recruitment strategies should be aware of the differences in campaign management each website or social media platform offers and be prepared to engage with their framing (content selection and delivery) to correct any imbalances derived from it. Those who focus on SGM populations should consider how 2S/LGBTQ-oriented campaigns might deter participation from cisgender or heterosexual people or SGM people not identifying as 2S/LGBTQ, if relevant to their research design. Finally, those with limited resources may select fewer venues with lower cost per completed survey or that appeal more to their specific audience, if needed.

How a 25-year-old periodic survey for lesbian, bisexual and queer women responded and adapted to gender diversity: a reflexive analysis

ABSTRACT Twenty-five years ago, the first Sydney Women and Sexual Health (SWASH) survey sought to generate knowledge about HIV risk for women in contact with Sydney’s gay and lesbian community. SWASH has gone on to become the longest running periodic survey of lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women’s health. It reflects LBQ women’s lives back to them and makes LBQ women knowable for Australian public policy. But, like all research, the social reality SWASH produces is a partial representation of the target population. As it entered its 12th iteration, it became clear the survey needed to change to better represent trans and gender diverse people’s lives. In this paper, we describe our process of first adding inclusive gender indicators, and then applying a gender diversity lens to all survey questions, data collection and reporting. We reflect on our motivations and fears, and where we can, the consequences on data of previous and new research design choices. Reflexive analysis such as ours, though still rare in quantitative research, promotes accountability to communities we research and the sectors who use the knowledge we produce.

A snapshot of teleradiology practice in Turkey: the results of a survey among radiologists.

This study featured a survey that offers a snapshot of various teleradiology practices in Turkey, a Group of Twenty country that has undertaken a major transformation of its health care system during the last two decades and is currently the world leader in terms of the combined number of per capita magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography examinations performed (which represent the bulk of teleradiology services worldwide). The study data was collected from 4736 Turkish Society of Radiology (TSR) members via an electronic platform in the web environment through a questionnaire consisting of 24 questions. The survey was conducted in a 3-month time window (March-May 2021). Statistical tools were used for the analysis of the quantitative data. Responses from 156 members of the TSR comprised the study data, revealing that teleradiology is used for various applications in Turkey. Almost half of the participants (49%) performed teleradiology only in the private sector. Half of the respondents (51%) stated that they reported images at home for multiple centers. Moreover, 38% of the participants had been reporting more than 50 examinations per day, and 74% of the respondents earned less than 0.50 Euro per examination they reported. The overall satisfaction with teleradiology among the teleradiologists was, on average, 4.7 out of 10 points. The results are both promising for the future (i.e., concerning the propensity for adopting new technology) and alarming for the current state of affairs (i.e., insufficient radiologist reimbursement and lack of licensing and accreditation of teleradiology service providers). Periodic surveys performed in countries with different health care systems concerning financial, technical, and medicolegal aspects might reveal an up-to-date landscape of teleradiology practices worldwide and help guide local and regional decision-makers.

Labour force participation among the elderly in India: what does the latest data show?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the labour force participation among the elderly population (aged 60 and above) in India from data available for the most recent time periods. The paper reviews the types of employment, industries and occupations that the elderly in India are employed in presently and also examines the impact of different factors on the decision of the elderly to be a part of the labour force.Design/methodology/approachUnit-level data has been extracted from the most recent data available on employment and labour force in India provided by the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), from 2017 to 2018 to 2019–2020. Binary logistic regression model has been used to identify some of the socio-economic and demographic factors that influence the odds of the elderly being a part of the labour force along with the extent of their influence, and Wald statistic has been used to examine the dynamics.FindingsThe study finds that among the elderly population, males, individuals living in rural areas, those living alone, those who are currently married and those with low educational attainment are more likely to be a part of the labour force. Again, elderly females are found to be employed mostly in the informal or unorganised sector which provide minimal or nil social security benefits. Between 2017–2018 and 2019–2020, the coefficients for sector, gender, marital status, education and income are found to be significantly different.Originality/valueThis paper attempts to shed some light on the scanty literature with regards to studies on the elderly in India, and also to reveal the possible factors which induce the elderly in India to participate in the labour force with the help of the most recent data available.Peer reviewThe peer-review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-06-2021-0350.

Factors Influencing Tomato Post-harvest Losses in Mwea, Kenya

Tomato is an important vegetable crop in Kenya which is widely grown for home consumption and commercial purposes. However, the crop is faced with a number of challenges including post-harvest losses which is a major threat to harvested produce. Presence of losses in a crop indicates wastage of resources that were put in place during production. Periodic surveys are necessary to help understand the severity and causes of losses in a specific place at a specific time. The aim of this study was to survey on the severity and causes of tomato postharvest losses in Mwea, Kenya. During the survey, sixty-eight farmers were randomly selected and interviewed using structured questionnaire and factors influencing tomato postharvest losses documented. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the information collected from the respondents. Results showed that the most common varieties grown by farmers at the time of survey were Kilele F1and Roma V.F (80.0% and 10.0% respectively). Factors influencing tomato postharvest losses were; poor means of transport (10.63%), and time lag in the market. The common pests that were found attacking tomato fruits were; American bollworms (68.5%), birds (1.2%), spider mites (19.8%), and thrips (8.1%). The most common diseases were; Fusarium rot (45.3%), Bacterial soft rot (50%), and Phoma rot (4.7%). The average losses estimated from the study was 72.0%. The study recommended that the farmers should avail themselves to seminars on fruit handling during harvesting and transport and the new tomato varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases and with good keeping quality.

Advancing Condition Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Elements Through Automation, Visualization, and Improved Interpretation of Multi-NDE Technology Data

Economic bridge management requires accurate information about the condition of bridges in the network. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE)has shown high potential in providing accurate condition assessment and, through periodic surveys, development of accurate deterioration, predictive, and life-cycle cost models. To achieve wide adoption by transportation agencies, further advances should be made that would lead to the accuracy of NDE-based condition assessment, reduced costs and traffic interruptions, and minimized risk to transportation workers. The paper discusses the following areas of improvement: increased speed and safety of data collection through the use of robotic systems, and improved data interpretation through visualization and joint analysis of data collected by multiple NDE technologies.

Dredging Volume Analysis Using Different Software

Dredging is one of the seaport’s regular and necessary maintenance activities to keep the sea depth under control. The purpose of dredging is to provide safe navigation where the depth of the water column must be more profound than the ship’s draft. Periodic bathymetric surveys using an echosounder can observe changes in the topography of the seabed. Topographic changes over time can be used to calculate the volume of sedimentation. Triangular Irregular Network (TIN) is one of the methods to calculate cut and fill volume in some software. This study aims to compare the difference in the sediment volume calculation results from interpolation data with EIVA and CAD. This study uses data from Multibeam Echosounder, carried out before dredging (mc0) and after dredging (mc100). This study shows the difference in volume calculation because of dredging is 693,228.00 m3 using CAD and 701,700.633 m3 using EIVA. Statistic test for volume calculation from this software using a p-value of Friedman test shows no significant difference between these two software calculations.

Goiter prevalence and iodine deficiency disorder among school-age children (6-12 years) in district Ganderbal of Kashmir valley.

Iodine deficiency is a major cause of brain damage in childhood which can be prevented. Dietary deficiency of iodine is mainly responsible for iodine deficiency. This study was done to determine the prevalence of goiter among school-aged group of 6-12 years in district Ganderbal. This was a cross-sectional study done among children of 6-12 years in district Ganderbal. Out of 2700 children examined, Grade 1 goiter was found in 90 (3.3%) children and Grade 2 goiter was found in 6 (0.3%) with a total goiter rate (sum of grade first and grade second) of 3.6%. On analyzing the urine samples, about 19.1% of the children had mild to moderate iodine deficiency. The study showed mild goiter prevalence in school-aged children of 6-12 years in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir valley. Continuous periodic surveys to assess the magnitude of the iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) should be undertaken to ensure that we achieve sustainable elimination of IDD in India.

Evaluation of Barriers to Access Treatment for Gum Disease: A Cross-sectional Study

This study identified the specific factors which influence the treatment of gum disease. Specifically, the aims are to examine i) the differences in the prevalence of self-reported periodontitis treatment in 2011–2012 and 2017–2018, ii) the association between the background characteristics of respondents and treatment of gum disease, iii) the effects of the background characteristics on the treatment of gum disease and iv) reasons for the lack of access to dental care in 2011–2012 and 2017–2018. Data from the National Health an Nutrition Examination Survery (NHANES) oral health questionnaires 2011-2012 and 2017-2018 were used. NHANES is a periodic survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This data represents a stratified, multistage probability sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population in the 50 United States U.S) and the District of Columbia. Binary multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the socioeconomic predictors of self-reported therapy for gum disease. Compared to 2011-2012, more participants accessed oral health care services during 2017-2018, resulting in fewer people seeking treatment for gum disease. Affordability and lack of dental health insurance were the primary reasons for not receiving treatment for gum disease. Compared with Whites, Asians were more likely to report having had treatment, followed by Hispanics and Blacks. Increasing oral health services for the elderly could improve access to care related to periodontal disease in this cohort of patients. In addition, the expansion of dental coverage with reduced out-of-pocket expenditure could improve access to dental services and overall health.

Post-farmgate food businesses of India: The enterprises, the entrepreneurs, and the employees

In 2015–16, 21 million small and medium enterprises engaged in the business of manufacturing, trading, retailing, and serving food linked India's 146 million farmers to its nearly 1.3 billion consumers. These food enterprises employed 25 million men and 10 million women and had an annual turnover of $ 227 billion. Between 2010–11 and 2015–16, the gross value added (GVA) by the post-farmgate food businesses (PFFBs) increased by $16.3 billion (from $ 22.9 billion to $ 39.2 billion) which is comparable to the growth of $19.5 billion in the GVA by the primary food production (or the farm) sector which is nearly 10 times larger in size. Despite their growing contribution to the overall food economy, PFFBs are ignored in research and policy discussions on food systems. This paper tries to fill this gap by using two large nationally representative datasets from India—the Enterprise Survey and the Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS)—to assess the key characteristics of PFFBs and the entrepreneurs and employees who work in them. We show that despite rapid economic growth in the country, micro-enterprises with less than 5 employees continue to dominate India's food economy. Most of these firms are informal, rely purely on spot exchanges with their sellers and buyers, and do not borrow money from formal financial institutions. We find a strong positive association between the formal status and the productivity and profitability of PFFBs.

Objective Communication Patterns Associated With Team Member Effectiveness in Real-World Virtual Teams.

We explore the relationships between objective communication patterns displayed during virtual team meetings and established, qualitative measures of team member effectiveness. A key component of teamwork is communication. Automated measures of objective communication patterns are becoming more feasible and offer the ability to measure and monitor communication in a scalable, consistent and continuous manner. However, their validity in reflecting meaningful measures of teamwork processes are not well established, especially in real-world settings. We studied real-world virtual student teams working on semester-long projects. We captured virtual team meetings using the Zoom video conferencing platform throughout the semester and periodic surveys comprising peer ratings of team member effectiveness. Leveraging audio transcripts, we examined relationships between objective measures of speaking time, silence gap duration and vocal turn-taking and peer ratings of team member effectiveness. Speaking time, speaking turn count, degree centrality and (marginally) speaking turn duration, but not silence gap duration, were positively related to individual-level team member effectiveness. Time in dyadic interactions and interaction count, but not interaction length, were positively related to dyad-level team member effectiveness. Our study highlights the relevance of objective measures of speaking time and vocal turn-taking to team member effectiveness in virtual project-based teams, supporting the validity of these objective measures and their use in future research. Our approach offers a scalable, easy-to-use method for measuring communication patterns and team member effectiveness in virtual teams and opens the opportunity to study these patterns in a more continuous and dynamic manner.

Should Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinicians Provide Their Patients with e-Health Resources? Patients' and Professionals' Perspectives.

Introduction: The internet is emerging as a source of information for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, it is not always reliable and may cause anxiety. We aim to assess patients' information habits and patients' and professionals' perceptions of a national website integrated as an educational resource for the IBD unit. Methods: Patients aged 18-65 years, comfortable with the internet, and attending follow-ups at participating IBD units (March-June 2019) and their professionals were invited to evaluate a recommended website through an online survey. Results: Three hundred eighty-nine patients and 95 professionals completed the survey. The internet (n = 109; 27.4%) was the second preferred source of information after the health care team (n = 229; 57.5%). Eighty percent of patients searched the internet for information on their disease and 28.6% did so at least once a week (n = 114), especially newly diagnosed ones (<2 years). Patients valued a website recommended by their professional (n = 379; 95.2%) and endorsed by the National Working Group (n = 377; 94.7%). They would attend online educational initiatives on the website (n = 279; 70.1%) and complete periodical surveys to improve its usefulness (n = 338; 84.9%). According to IBD professionals, this type of website is the best patient source of supplementary information (n = 76; 80%) and they "prescribe" it to most patients (67.0 ± 25.2%), especially the newly diagnosed patients (52.7 ± 26.5%). It effectively integrates routine face-to-face education (n = 95; 100%). Conclusions: Patients of IBD units, especially newly diagnosed ones, appreciate a trusted e-Health resource to back up professional information. The favorable opinion of patients and professionals will allow its use in training interventions.

International Survey of Perfusion Practice for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery: 2021 Results

The conduct of cardiopulmonary bypass in neonatal, infant, and pediatric patients continuously evolves as new devices and innovative techniques are introduced. Since 1989, periodic pediatric perfusion surveys have been conducted to ascertain practice patterns involving demographics, equipment, and perfusion techniques. The goal of this current project is to provide an updated perspective on international pediatric and congenital perfusion practice since the last survey conducted in 2016. In July 2021, a 100-question perfusion survey was distributed to 284 pediatric cardiac surgery centers using a secure web browser-based data application. Each center was given a unique survey hyperlink to ensure one response per institution and to monitor the response rate. Centers were given 1 month to complete the survey and electronic reminders were sent weekly to nonrespondents. After the survey was closed, information from completed surveys was exported to a software program for analysis. Responses were received from 153 of 284 pediatric centers for a response rate of 54%. Sixty respondents (39%) were from North American (NA) centers while 93 respondents (61%) were from non-North American (NNA) centers. The vast majority of centers use a roller head arterial pump (93%), hollow fiber oxygenators with open reservoirs (86%), and integrated arterial line filters (73%). The use of modified ultrafiltration was reported by 76% of centers. Ninety-two percent of centers reported the use of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion for aortic arch repairs. The N + 1 staffing model was most prevalent (52%), followed by two perfusionists per case (33%). Periodic surveys continue to be a useful modality in assessing regional variation in pediatric perfusion practice. This survey marked the first time the majority of responses came from non-North American institutions. Identifying these practice patterns may aid in the development of, and adherence to, regional standards and guidelines. This would foster the reduction of variation in practice and potentially improve patient safety.

A Cross Sectional Study of Discharge Against Medical Advice Cases at a Tertiary Care Hospital of Central Gujarat Region

Background: Discharge Against Medical Advice (DAMA) is an obnoxious reality and dissatisfying event to both ends - patient and healthcare provider. It’s pertinent that periodical survey at single or multicentre be done to identify the predictors and seek solutions and suggest recommendations. Aim and Objectives: Aim of this study was to analyze the predictors of DAMA cases. Objectives were to find out prevalence and predictors of DAMA cases. Methodology: A prospective cross sectional analytical study was done at a tertiary level multi super speciality hospital of central Gujarat. Participants were all those cases who seek DAMA for one other attribute and consented to participate in the study by non-randomised method. After consent, details from DAMA cases were collected in pre-validated questionnaire forms from patients and relatives. All data was analysed statistically for descriptive and analytical statistics. Observations: Maximum DAMA cases were of age group 20-59 years (55%). followed by 60-100 years (25%). Most common reason for obtaining DAMA (56%) was financial constraints. Most of DAMA patients who were having financial constraints (70 &amp; 46) were admitted to Medical Intensive Care Unit (33.11%) and Male Medicine ward (21.22%) respectively. Conclusion: DAMA cases are damaging not only patient morbidity and mortality wise, but also burdens healthcare staff and resources negatively. The reasons for DAMA cases should be discussed and analysed at every healthcare facilities regularly to prevent this futile dissatisfying event.

International Survey of Perfusion Practice for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery: 2021 Results.

The conduct of cardiopulmonary bypass in neonatal, infant, and pediatric patients continuously evolves as new devices and innovative techniques are introduced. Since 1989, periodic pediatric perfusion surveys have been conducted to ascertain practice patterns involving demographics, equipment, and perfusion techniques. The goal of this current project is to provide an updated perspective on international pediatric and congenital perfusion practice since the last survey conducted in 2016. In July 2021, a 100-question perfusion survey was distributed to 284 pediatric cardiac surgery centers using a secure web browser-based data application. Each center was given a unique survey hyperlink to ensure one response per institution and to monitor the response rate. Centers were given 1 month to complete the survey and electronic reminders were sent weekly to nonrespondents. After the survey was closed, information from completed surveys was exported to a software program for analysis. Responses were received from 153 of 284 pediatric centers for a response rate of 54%. Sixty respondents (39%) were from North American (NA) centers while 93 respondents (61%) were from non-North American (NNA) centers. The vast majority of centers use a roller head arterial pump (93%), hollow fiber oxygenators with open reservoirs (86%), and integrated arterial line filters (73%). The use of modified ultrafiltration was reported by 76% of centers. Ninety-two percent of centers reported the use of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion for aortic arch repairs. The N + 1 staffing model was most prevalent (52%), followed by two perfusionists per case (33%). Periodic surveys continue to be a useful modality in assessing regional variation in pediatric perfusion practice. This survey marked the first time the majority of responses came from non-North American institutions. Identifying these practice patterns may aid in the development of, and adherence to, regional standards and guidelines. This would foster the reduction of variation in practice and potentially improve patient safety.

A New Standardized Inspection System for Periodic Visual Surveys of Water Storage Tanks and Pumping Stations

A New Standardized Inspection System for Periodic Visual Surveys of Water Storage Tanks and Pumping Stations

A Dynamic Analysis of Women’s Labour Force Participation in Urban India

AbstractThe introduction of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) heralded a methodological innovation for the study of Indian labour, allowing the researcher to build panels tracking urban individuals over a year. Using two rounds of the PLFS covering the periods 2017–18 and 2018–19, we construct a pooled panel of urban Indian individuals aged 15–65 and focus on women’s experiences in the labour force. We find evidence of low dynamism in the Indian economy, with women facing significant difficulties regarding labour force participation. While a majority of women remain outside the labour force throughout the year, those who do participate face significant disadvantages. Job-finding rates for women are half that of men, indicating weak demand for women’s labour in the economy. Women face significant exits from both employment and unemployment, with nearly 18% of employed women leaving their jobs and moving to non-participation over the year. Women’s relative disadvantages persist even when age and education are considered, with the lowest job-finding rates seen for young and graduate women, and rates of labour force exit much higher than that of men. This paper highlights the importance of looking at demand side questions when it comes to examining women’s labour force participation.