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GutBrain Axis: Role in Hunger and Satiety
The human gastrointestinal tract consists of nearly 100 trillion microorganisms, referred as gut microbiota or gut microbiome. The microbial colonization in the human gut begins at the time of birth and its colonization increases with age which is influenced by factors like age, diet, and antibiotic treatment. Gut microbiota is believed to play a major role in human health as well as various physiological activities like metabolism, nutrition, physiology, etc. Imbalance of the normal gut microbiota has been linked with gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as well as wider systemic manifestations of disease such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and atopy. Gutbrain axis, a two-way (bi-directional) connection and communication between the gut and the brain has potentially huge influence over our health which integrates neural, hormonal, and immunological signaling between the gut and the brain. There is growing evidence on the influence of gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota that modulates appetite, feeding, and metabolism as well as regulates the mechanisms of digestion. Gut hormones like Ghrelin, Cholecystokinin (CCK), Pancreatic Polypeptide (PP), Peptide YY (PYY), Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1), Oxyntomodulin (OXM), Glucagon, Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide (GIP), and Amylin have been identified in the gastrointestinal system which have a fundamental role in coordinating digestive process within the gastrointestinal system, thus regulating feeding behavior and energy balance. Studies have indicated that the modulation in gut microbiota regulates the production of ghrelin and PYY in overweight and obese patients and helps in promoting weight loss and improves glucose regulation. Considering the importance of the role of gut microbiota on hunger and satiety, this chapter was written where we have discussed the gutbrain axis and its role in hunger and satiety. Further, mechanism of appetite regulation by gut microbiota and their role in obesity control have also been discussed. Finally, future perspectives on application of gut microbiota as potential probiotic solutions for obesity and related metabolic disorders will be discussed. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022. -
Handwritten digit recognition using convolutional neural networks
Optical character recognition (OCR) systems have been used for extraction of text contained in scanned documents or images. This system consists of two steps: character detection and recognition. One classification algorithm is required for character recognition by their features. Character can be recognized using neural networks. The multilayer perceptron (MLP) provides acceptable recognition accuracy for character classification. Moreover, the convolutional neural network (CNN) and the recurrent neural network (RNN) are providing character recognition with high accuracy. MLP, RNN, and CNN may suffer from the large amount of computation in the training phase. MLP solves different types of problems with good accuracy but it takes huge amount of time due to its dense network connection. RNNs are suitable for sequence data, while CNNs are suitable for spatial data. In this chapter, a CNN is implemented for recognition of digits from MNIST database and a comparative study is established between MLP, RNN, and CNN. The CNN provides the higher accuracy for digit recognition and takes lowest amount of time for training the system with respect to MLP and RNN. The CNN gives better result with accuracy up to 98.92% as the MNIST digit dataset is used, which is spatial data. 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. All rights reserved. -
Haptics: Prominence and Challenges
Derived from a Greek word meaning sense of touch, Haptic is a communication technology which applies tactile sensation for human-computer interaction with computers. Haptic technology, or haptics, is a tangible feedback technology that takes benefit of a users sense of touch by applying forces, sensations, or motions to the user. These objects are used to methodically probe human haptic capabilities, which would be complex to achieve without them. This innovative research tool gives an understanding of how touch and its core functions work. The article will provide a detailed insight into the working principles, uniqueness of the technology, its advantages and disadvantages along with some of its devices and notable applications. Future challenges and opportunities in the field will also be addressed. 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG. -
Harmonizing financial systems for a greener future: Exploring sustainable finance strategies in India
Sustainable finance represents the next biggest transformation in the financial sector to aid the process of sustainable development. Sustainable finance comprises traditional investment which provides financial profits as well as financing the projects or investments that have social, economic and governance impact. The transition from traditional investment to sustainable finance is underway in different markets at different capacities. This study seeks to examine the performance of sustainability indices representing sustainable finance in the Indian and global markets by analysing returns. It was found that sustainable finance gained significant appreciation in the Indian market. In comparing the performance of sustainability indices in developing and developed markets, there was no development divide identified. In this path towards widespread adoption of sustainable finance, data science as a field also provides promising applications for facilitating this transformation. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Harmonizing human resource strategies navigating employer branding in sustainable organizations
In the framework of sustainable businesses, this chapter examines the synergies between employer branding and human resource (HR) strategies. In order to establish a harmonic organizational framework, this chapter thoroughly investigates how HR practices might be strategically aligned with sustainability goals. It explores the opportunities and challenges of managing employer branding within sustainable business practices. It sheds light on specific variables and practices that must be considered to develop an employer brand that reflects the organization's commitment to sustainability. In order to create an integrated, attractive, and socially responsible employer brand, it is important to align their human resources practices with sustainability initiatives. It provides insights into the strategic integration of employer branding and human resources, presenting a roadmap for businesses looking to match their HR procedures with sustainability programs. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Harnessing digital innovation for inclusive tourism: Role of emerging technologies in creating accessibility and equity
The rapid advancement of digital technologies has ushered in a new era for the tourism industry, presenting unprecedented opportunities to enhance inclusivity, accessibility, and equity in travel experiences. This study investigates the transformative potential of emerging technologies in fostering a more inclusive tourism landscape. Specifically, it examines how selected digital innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), mobile applications, and wearable devices are shaping the accessibility and equity of tourism for diverse populations. This chapter begins with a comprehensive literature review, highlighting current trends, challenges, and existing studies on inclusive practices in the tourism sector. The paper delves into a detailed analysis of each emerging technology, showcasing successful integration examples from real-world cases. It evaluates the benefits and potential challenges of adopting these technologies, especially in enhancing accessibility for travelers with disabilities. The examination addresses physical, sensory, and cognitive accessibility barriers, providing insights into how technology reshapes travel experiences for diverse individuals. This chapter delves into the role of emerging digital innovations in fostering equity within the tourism sector. By facilitating cross-cultural connections and enhancing access to tech-driven travel experiences, these technologies contribute to a more inclusive landscape. The study scrutinizes socioeconomic dimensions, shedding light on the holistic impact of tech integration. While acknowledging challenges and ethical concerns, responsible technology deployment is endorsed to counterbalance drawbacks and bridge the digital divide, enabling marginalized communities to leverage the benefits of this digital transformation. The implications of this study are relevant for businesses, policymakers, and tourism stakeholders. The chapter concludes by providing practical recommendations for the responsible incorporation of emerging technologies and emphasizing the long-term sustainability of inclusive digital innovations. By shedding light on the transformative potential of these technologies and outlining guidelines for their application, this research contributes to the evolution of a more accessible, equitable, and inclusive tourism industry. 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. -
Harnessing Technology for a Sustainable Future in Finance: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Promoting Environmental Responsibility
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into sustainable finance has become a focal point in recent years, propelled by global concerns about the environment and the pressing need for sustainable development. AI technologies, equipped with advanced capabilities, offer significant opportunities to address challenges faced by financial institutions, investors, and policymakers, ushering in the prospect of a more sustainable and inclusive economy. AI's applications in sustainable finance cover diverse areas such as environmental risk assessment, green investment analysis, climate change modeling, and the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors. By leveraging advanced data analytics and machine learning algorithms, AI empowers financial institutions to assess environmental risks associated with investments and portfolios, identifying climate-related opportunities and seamlessly integrating ESG factors into decision-making processes. Furthermore, AI-driven technologies streamline the collection, processing, and analysis of extensive data from varied sources, facilitating precise and timely sustainability reporting. These technologies contribute to identifying sustainable investment trends and play a crucial role in monitoring the progress of sustainability initiatives. AI algorithms also aid in crafting predictive models for climate-related events, assisting investors and policymakers in evaluating the long-term financial implications of climate change and formulating effective mitigation strategies. While the adoption of AI in sustainable finance offers immense potential, it is not without challenges and risks. Ethical considerations, data quality and biases, transparency, and the interpretability of AI models are among the key concerns that require careful attention. Additionally, the establishment of regulatory frameworks and industry standards is essential to ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI technologies in finance. In spite of these challenges, the integration of AI in sustainable finance holds great promise for expediting the transition towards a greener and more sustainable future. It empowers stakeholders to make well-informed decisions, advocates for responsible investment practices, and contributes significantly to the attainment of global sustainability goals. By harnessing the capabilities of AI, financial institutions and policymakers can unlock new opportunities, mitigate risks, and cultivate a financial system that is not only sustainable but also resilient. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Harnessing the Power of Big Data Analytics to Transform Supply Chain Management
The study aims to conduct a systematic literature review and bibliography analysis to explore the role of big data analytics in transforming supply chain management. The systematic literature review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines extended into a three-phase approach. The articles were reviewed from different databases like Scopus, Web of Science, and ABDC. 239 articles were reviewed through abstract screening, and 191 articles were finally selected after full-text screening. The results of the analysis reflected the publication trend from January 2011 to January 2024, keyword analysis, co-citation and network analysis, and theme identification from the domain. Moreover, the study theoretically contributes by suggesting growing trends in the field of supply chain management, and the managerial implications of the study suggest the benefits of implementing big data analytics in supply chain management. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024. -
Harnessing the Power of Climate Activism: Insights from Psychological Perspectives on Climate Change EngagementA Systematic Review
Scientific evidence has validated the inevitability of global warming and its effect in the form of climate change. There has been an increase in climate strikes and other forms of climate activism in recent years. It is important to understand the research landscape in psychological literature with regards to climate change and climate activism, to help guide future researchers. The databases of PubMed (Keywords: climate activism, climate change, psychology, n?=?1), Google Scholar (Keywords?=?climate activism, climate change, psychology, n?=?200) and Scopus database (Keywords: climate activism AND climate change AND psychology, n?=?160) were searched to create the pool of research documents. This was further filtered according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In the first section of this article, we have tried to explore the temporal and geographic growth trends of climate change research and collaborations using R (Bibliometric package). In the second section, we have used a text-mining approach to identify the research topics being explored in the climate change literature. R package tm along with associated packages were used to do the processing and subsequent grouping of the themes. In order to refine the classification the identified groupings were supervised by the authors. The final documents have been scoured to extract an overall understanding of the existing concepts explored so far and gauge their impact in the realm of climate change research. This systematic study casts light on the psychological views on climate activism and offers insightful information about the underlying causes that affect peoples involvement in the fight and struggle against climate change. The creation of more effective techniques for encouraging climate activism and utilizing its capacity to inspire significant action to address climate change can be influenced by an understanding of these elements. In order to address the complex issues of climate change, this chapter emphasizes the value of multidisciplinary collaboration amongst psychologists, policymakers, educators, and activists. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Harnessing transformational technologies for a sustainable future: A regenerative approach to green economy and tourism development
This chapter proposes to understand the prospects of smart technologies that can transform tourism destinations and instigate regenerative development process. Bio-based resource consumption and technology-driven practices aimed for better sustainable development have been the need of the era. This study emphasizes the theory of regenerative tourism, which attempts to preserve and improve a destination's natural and cultural resources while contributing to the socio-economic development of the host communities. It examines how transformational technologies, like smart infrastructure, big data analytics and renewable energy systems, could assist the tourism industry achieve the transition to a green economy. This chapter illustrates the benefits and problems of integrating such technologies into the tourism infrastructure of a destination. Additionally, it highlights the necessity of cooperation among stakeholders and policymakers and examines the possible environmental, social and economic implications of using a regenerative approach to tourism. The results of this study contribute to the expanding body of knowledge on the development of sustainable tourism and shed light on the transformative potential of technology in creating a more sustainable and resilient future. 2024 Alhamzah Alnoor, G Erkol Bayram, Chew XinYing and Syed Haider Ali Shah. All rights reserved. -
HCI Authentication to Prevent Internal Threats in Cloud Computing
Cloud computing reduces physical resources and simplifies common management tasks. Over the past decade, cloud computing has become an important IT (information technology) industry, driving cost savings, flexibility, convenience, and scalability. Despite these advantages, many government organizations and companies are still cautious about using cloud computing. They continue to believe that the threats inherent in cloud computing technology are greater and deadly than traditional technologies. Cloud computing security threats typically include insider attacks, malware attacks, information leaks and losses, distributed denial of service, and application programming interface vulnerability attacks. Technical security improvements for virtual networks are actively researched, and many are working hard. But defending against internal attackers is more than just a technical solution but a complement to manuals and company policy. In reality, however, there are cases of damage by internal attackers, and the damage is getting bigger. Technically malicious internal attackers can relatively easily manipulate the control system and cause malfunctions. This paper provides comprehensive information about security threats in cloud computing, shows the severity of attacks by insiders, analyzes the latest authentication technologies for humancomputer interaction, and identifies the pros and cons. This shows how HCI (humancomputer interaction) technology can be applied to cloud computing management servers. The result is an innovative security certification model that can be applied. 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG. -
Health informatics and its contribution to health sectors
In most developed countries, healthcare sectors take more than 10% of the GDP, and it is one of the most significant and most rapidly growing sectors globally. With such growth of the healthcare department, data management becomes challenging; a robust platform helps to address these challenges. Health Informatics (HI) is an upcoming development, an interdisciplinary field in healthcare sectors; it combines the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the healthcare software, which helps boost the overall operational efficiency of the healthcare departments. These AI algorithms integrated into IoT devices help acquire, store, retrieve, and use health and medical-related data. Patient data are enormous in healthcare sectors, and it is required for various purposes by hospital administrators, insurance agents, doctors, nurses, and other health departments. Accessing and managing these datasets often becomes challenging; HI is one of those innovations that has helped address these challenges to a large extent. The chapter discusses informatics, related definitions, HI, and its relation with other disciplines. The chapter also provides an educational overview of the evolution of HI, different HI technologies, benefits and challenges of HI to its various stakeholders. It ends with some thoughts on HI's future growth. The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2023. All rights reserved. -
Healthcare cloud services in image processing
Technology has been fundamental in defining, advancing, and reinventing medicalpractises, equipment, and drugs during the last century. Although cloud computing is quite a newer concept, it is now one of the most often discussed issues in academic and therapeutic contexts. Many academics and healthcare persons are focused in providing vast, conveniently obtainable, and reconstruct assets like virtual frameworks, platforms, and implementations having lesser business expenditures. As they need enough assets to operate, store, share, and utilise huge quantity of healthcare data, specialists in the field of medicine are transferring their operations in the cloud. Major issues about the application of cutting-edge cloud computing in medical imaging are covered in this chapter. The research also takes into account the ethical and security concerns related to cloud computing. 2023, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Healthy healthcare systems in India: A prognosis
India has been an emerging economy which has retained its second position in the global healthcare market that has been tackling its economic gaps, shifting demographics, thereby, facing a wide gap between the demand and supply of healthcare products and services due to technology and increasing cost. Affordable treatment facilities for the economically low strata is still a dream. The government scheme of "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" and "Ayushman Bharat Yojna" are the steps to uplift the backward community and make all the facilities available to them at the lowest possible cost directly and indirectly. Hence, the objective of this research was to unfold the three pillars of Healthy Healthcare which revolves around healthcare systems in India, Healthcare Employees' wellbeing and resultant patient outcomes. This research also tried studying various interventions that can be taken to improve the present scenario of affordable and quality service to the needy people. Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. -
Heavy metal detection by nanotechnology-based sensors
One of the major pollutants in the milieu consists of heavy metals that remain nondegradable with extreme toxicity that accumulates in plants, animals, and humans leading to ill effects with long exposures. These heavy metals that are used in various fields like food, textile industries, agriculture, and medicine act as enzyme inhibitors not allowing the substrate to bind the enzymes. In lieu of it, biosensors have been an essential tool that help to monitor environmental pollutants, presence of various toxins and biohazardous microbial in the organic matter, and also biomolecules in diagnostic tools. Detection of heavy metal traces in environmental monitoring has a widespread application using biosensors with improvised sensitivity, selectivity, and simplicity. Further, the biosensor technology has advanced greatly with the ability of biosensing mechanism combined with the highly advanced technique with the world of nanofabricating enabled miniature biosensors. The sensitivity performance of biosensors has increased tremendously with nanotechnology as the nanoscale dimensions promote the critical analysis and detect to probe single biomolecules. Nevertheless, the major drawback relies on the study lacking the toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) in atmosphere, lacking in automated service, miniature induced unreliable source, and integrating the nano-biosensors for reliable transduction signals from the devices. With the development of biosensors for online and offline analysis for their quantity and diversity they have been termed as biosensor uprising with the introduction of biosensors with enzyme, DNA-, immuno-, and whole cell-based with specific analytical detection. 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved including those for text and data mining AI training and similar technologies. -
Heightening Satellite Image Display via Mobile Augmented Reality A Cutting-Edge Planning Model
This paper summarizes on object detection, classification, analysis, and display for optical satellite image. Initially, all the existing object detection and object viewing system based on AI techniques are introduced. Various optical imaginary methods and the possibility of immersing optical and 3D data with other data sources are also explained. The surveyed literatures show that in most of the case, the detected objects are taken as resource for planning. We also observed that the image viewing and displaying model was ignored by many authors which is one of the key concepts for next phase. Satellite AR plays a vital role in displaying the images. Overall, it can be seen that optical image view along with AR display can be used for better planning, which is one of the popular research topics and has an excessive operational potential which is the need of the hour dealing with analyzing, predicting, and viewing large amount of data. 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG. -
Hereditary factor-based multi-featured algorithm for early diabetes detection using machine learning
Today's advent in the medical industry have given numerous chances to improve the quality of detection and reporting the diseases at the early stages for a better diagnosis. Modern day datasets generate fruitful information for timely and periodic monitoring of patients' health conditions. Such information is hidden to a naked eye or hidden in multiple track records of highly affected population. Diabetes mellitus is one such disease which is predominant among a global population which ultimately leads to blindness and death in some cases. The model proposed in this system attempts to design and deliver an intelligent solution for predicting diabetes in the early stages and address the problem of late detection and diagnosis. Intensive research is carried out in many tropical countries for automating this process through a machine learning model. The accuracy of machine learning algorithms is more than satisfactory in the detection of Type 2 diabetes from the dataset of PIMA Indians Diabetes Dataset. An additional feature of hereditary factor is implemented to the existing multiple objective fuzzy classifiers. The proposed model has improved the accuracy to 83% in the training and tested datasets when compared to NGSA model of prediction. 2022 Scrivener Publishing LLC. -
Hermeneutic keys and pedagogic tips: Enrich case research
Pedagogy sharpens and complements hermeneutics to form the prolegomena statement for this chapter. The chapter undertakes two approaches: It deals with closer understanding of the text in depth and also explains the findings of the text for pedagogical applications. The science of interpretations will provide a proliferation of meanings and interpretations. The lessons from pedagogy will facilitate a lot of assistance for academic and teaching purposes. Radhakrishnan Nair's hermeneutic keys and Justin Joy's pedagogic tips form the crux of the matter in the research paper. Here, research in case studies culminate in some useful findings related to comprehension and conception of case as text. However, quite legitimately the research demands a specialist partner in complementary pedagogical research, which compels to find a research association from the management faculty, at once competent in pedagogy. Justin Joy shares and resolves the problems Nair has confronted with. 2023 by IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Higher Education in Maldives amidst the Pandemic: An Intersectional Approach to Digital Education
The Covid-19 outbreak upended the core foundations of societies across the globe, leading to dramatic shifts in knowledge, attitudes, and values. The education sector, known for its traditional classroom model, had to adapt quickly. However, the pandemic's impact varied widely due to social, cultural, economic, geographic, and gender factors. Amid such inequal pandemic disruptions, Maldives presents a unique case as an upper-middle-income economy with diverse higher education (HE) opportunities. The pandemic pushed Maldives towards digital education, capitalizing on pre-existing capabilities. The study employs an intersectional feminist approach to the gender digital divide, seeking to understand how the rapid adoption of digital education in Maldives' higher education institutions (HEIs) has unfolded during the pandemic. The analysis reveals deeply entrenched gender norms that have had a disproportionate impact on women students and lecturers in HEIs. Factors like unpaid domestic labour and care work, lack of suitable home space, absence of psychological support, and reinforcement of gender roles have primarily widened the gender digital divide in digital education during the pandemic. Moreover, local, social, and cultural attitudes further exacerbate this divide signifying a pressing need to re-evaluate women's roles in HEIs in the post-pandemic world. 2025 selection and editorial matter, Padma Rani, Bhanu Bhakta. -
Higher education institutions as a catalyst for sustainability development
Growing concerns about the planet and society have led to the evolution of the concept of sustainable development. This concept gained popularity when the World Commission on Environment and Development released its report Our Common Future in 1987. In 1975, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) brought sustainability as the International Environmental Education Program focusing on environmental education. This gave birth to the idea that Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) can play a significant role in promoting the sustainability agenda. Over the years, this was done by implementing sustainability initiatives on the campus. These initiatives mostly focused on the environment and ignored the social and economic dimensions of sustainability. Given the paucity of adequate knowledge in this field, the chapter aims to explore the challenges in implementing sustainable initiatives and suggest a framework that will guide HEIs to act as a catalyst for sustainability development. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved.