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Learning through Play: Gamification of Learning A Systematic Review of Studies on Gamified Learning
According to Gartner's Hype Cycle, gamification is poised for large-scale adoption in the coming years. The construct of gamification has received considerable interest, especially in the context of learning. Over the past five years, research in the area has grown. The current study looks at consolidating the conducted research and attempts to provide a snapshot of the work carried out in the last five years. The chosen studies have explored the role of gamification in learning activities and have attempted to provide empirical evidence to support gamified learning. The purpose of the study is to review existing literature, in terms of the outcomes, outcome variables, context of the study, and research methodology used. This would not only add to the knowledge in the field but would also guide future research. Additionally, practitioners would benefit from a consolidated view of five years of research into the practice of gamification. 2022 University of Tehran, Faculty of Management, Sridevi Nair and Jain Mathew -
Light as an elicitor for enhanced production of secondary metabolites in plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures
Currently, in vitro cell, tissue, and organ cultures are used to produce plant secondary metabolites that are used as natural coloring agents, nutraceuticals, and medications. Various strategies have been applied for the hyperaccumulation of biomass and bioactive secondary compounds in vitro. The elicitation of cultured cells and organs with biotic and abiotic elicitors is an excellent strategy that has yielded promising results. Among various abiotic elicitors, light parameters such as light quality, intensity, and photoperiod have evolved as biotechnological tools to elicit cultures. Of the various light sources tested, ultraviolet (UV) lights, particularly UV-B, red, blue, and a mixture of light emitted by fluorescent light or light-emitting diodes, have yielded outstanding results and boosted the accumulation of bioactive compounds in cultured cells and organs. The objective of the current study was to evaluate light as an elicitor source and summarize the advantages and limitations of various light sources as elicitors for the bioaccumulation of secondary metabolites in vitro. The mechanism of the elicitation of secondary metabolism by UV and spectral light is discussed in this review. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024. -
Light-induced advanced oxidation processes as pfas remediation methods: A review
PFAS substances, which have been under investigation in recent years, are certainly some of the most critical emerging contaminants. Their presence in drinking water, correlated with diseases, is consistently being confirmed by scientific studies in the academic and health sectors. With the aim of developing new technologies to mitigate the water contamination problem, research activity based on advanced oxidation processes for PFAS dealkylation and subsequent mineralization is active. While UV radiation could be directly employed for decontamination, there are nevertheless considerable problems regarding its use, even from a large-scale perspective. In contrast, the use of cheap, robust, and green photocatalytic materials active under near UV-visible radiation shows interesting prospects. In this paper we take stock of the health problems related to PFAS, and then provide an update on strategies based on the use of photocatalysts and the latest findings regarding reaction mechanisms. Finally, we detail some brief considerations in relation to the economic aspects of possible solutions. 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. -
Lignin-based nanomaterials for food and pharmaceutical applications: Recent trends and future outlook
Small particles of size ranging from 1 to 100 nm are referred to as nanoparticles. Nanoparticles have tremendous applications in various sectors, including the areas of food and pharmaceutics. They are being prepared from multiple natural sources widely. Lignin is one such source that deserves special mention due to its ecological compatibility, accessibility, abundance, and low cost. This amorphous heterogeneous phenolic polymer is the second most abundant molecule in nature after cellulose. Apart from being used as a biofuel source, lignin is less explored for its potential at a nano-level. In plants, lignin exhibits cross-linking structures with cellulose and hemicellulose. Numerous advancements have taken place in synthesizing nanolignins for manufacturing lignin-based materials to benefit from the untapped potential of lignin in high-value-added applications. Lignin and lignin-based nanoparticles have numerous applications, but in this review, we are mainly focusing on the applications in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. The exercise we undertake has great relevance as it helps scientists and industries gain valuable insights into lignin's capabilities and exploit its physical and chemical properties to facilitate the development of future lignin-based materials. We have summarized the available lignin resources and their potential in the food and pharmaceutical industries at various levels. This review attempts to understand various methods adopted for the preparation of nanolignin. Furthermore, the unique properties of nano-lignin-based materials and their applications in fields including the packaging industry, emulsions, nutrient delivery, drug delivery hydrogels, tissue engineering, and biomedical applications were well-discussed. 2023 Elsevier B.V. -
Low-cost bio-waste carbon nanocomposites for sustainable electrochemical devices: A systematic review
Innovative brains have always drawn inspiration from nature while creating new designs. Animals and plants offer a variety of structures that are stronger, have higher energy sorption capacities, and have lower densities. These structures can inspire the creation of new, functional designs. Scientists have created structures by drawing inspiration from biological structures seen in nature. These structures have been demonstrated to significantly outperform conventional structures for use in the environmental and energy sectors. Due to their simple synthesis, adaptability, excellent performance, and variety of uses, including in light-harvesting systems, batteries, catalysis, bio-fuels, water, and air purification, and environmental monitoring, bio-fabricated materials have demonstrated several advantages. However, sensitive fabrication tools that can create bio-inspired structures and scale up manufacturing from laboratory-scale synthesis are urgently needed. A quick rundown of recent developments in bionanomaterials for different electrochemical systems, particularly the extensively researched rechargeable batteries, sensors, and supercapacitors, provided a discussion of the design principles for bionanomaterials, synthesis, and strategies for low-cost bio-inspired nanomaterial synthesis and device integration. A quick overview of the future research priorities is then suggested, followed by a critical analysis of the current problems. This review is anticipated to provide some understanding of biowaste-nanocomposites for electrochemical applications by taking cues from nature. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Mainstreaming Northeast Tribal Women in India through Financial Education: A Systematic Review
Financial education is required to enhance financial literacy for socio-economic development. This paper aims to understand the financial literacy level among the Scheduled Tribes of India, specifically the Mao-Naga Tribe women of Northeast India. The current paper is based on secondary data and adheres to the steps and process of a systematic review. Prominent authors, times, tribes, countries, journals, and keywords have been identified for the comprehensive analysis. Since the goal of this paper is to review the existing literature regarding financial literacy among tribals, the findings indicate that financial education intervention, socio-cultural practices, social affinity, and early life financial experience affect individuals financial literacy. It has also been observed that a productive pathway to achieve financial literacy and inclusion lies in integrating financial education programs within the socio-cultural practices of tribal women. Thus, financial literacy can enhance the financial well-being that is necessary for socio-economic development among Mao-Naga Tribal women. This paper can help governments, central bank regulators, and researchers know the essential elements of financial literacy and identify the pertinent areas for further empowerment among sub-groups of the population, especially among tribal women of Northeast India. 2022 Journal of International Womens Studies. -
Mapping the literature on school bullying in India: A scoping review
School bullying has been identified as a major issue among students throughout the world. With around 260 million school students, the largest student population in the world, it becomes essential to investigate this issue in the Indian context. The present work uses the Arksey and O'Malley (2005) framework for scoping review to examine the nature of research on school bullying in India and identify research gaps to be addressed by future research. The review maps the concepts examined, research approaches used, sample characteristics, data collection methods, researcher characteristics, and nature of publications in relation to bullying. Seven databases - JSTOR, PsycNET, Cochrane Reviews, ERIC, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials - were searched for sources containing the terms bullying and India published in English and between the years 2015 and 2022. Thirty-eight sources selected for the review suggest that existing research in India on school bullying is limited compared to the West and yet provides a guiding light to future researchers. The findings from this review highlight research gaps in the existing literature and outline areas for further exploration. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Media in everyday life: review of the series Reply 1988
[No abstract available] -
Mediating and moderating variables of employee relations and sustainable organizations: a systematic literature review and future research agenda
Purpose: This study aims to perform a systematic literature review to organize the abundance of information on employee relations (ER) and sustainable organizations. Moreover, this study identifies the research gaps by investigating the review of ER mediating and moderating variables and the relationship between ER and sustainable organizations. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on the systematic literature review methodology involving 257 studies in the final stage. The Scopus and Google Scholar databases with search criteria employee relations and employee relations and sustainable organization were used to achieve the research objective. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, researchers come to the distribution of the articles based on the subthemes, geographical region, types of methods, top authors with affiliation and complete research articles based on the citation. In the final stage, this study concluded with the conceptual model comprising mediators and moderators of ER as well as the mediating and moderating variables of the relationship between ER and sustainable organizations. Findings: The reviewed literature shows that employee relation is an optimal strategy for retaining employees via proper disclosure of human resources (HRs) and ER Index. This study included the top six publishers, namely, Emerald, Elsevier, Sage, Springer, Taylor and Francis and Wiley Online Library, to do an exhaustive review on a specific topic. The findings indicate that after COVID-19, the ER index, HR disclosures and the sustainability of ER are among the new and required paradigm shifts needed to manage a crisis impact and perform productively. The mediator and moderator variables that can improve employeeemployer relationships are organizational trusts, organizational justice, perceived job satisfaction, organizational structure and firm ownership. On the other hand, variables that mediate and moderate the relationship between ER and sustainable organizations are organizational climate, organization trust, organization culture, perceived organization support, psychological empowerment, firm ownership, leadership behavior and attitude, respectively. The findings concluded that harmonious and cordial ER are pertinent in building sustainable organizations and accomplishing organizational goals. Practical implications: The mediating and moderating variables that have been identified can be helpful for enthusiastic researchers in contributing to empirical research. Practitioners and managers can use the findings in making an effective organizational model that develops good employeeemployer relationships and helps create a culture of trust and harmony. This study focuses on exploring the variables of ER, which strengthens employeeemployer relationships and supports organizations to stay agile and attain sustainability to endure in the future. Originality/value: This study insights on the specific mediating and moderating variables of ER and sustainable organizations. Till date, studies exploring constructs of ER and sustainable organizations are still in deficit. Better employee relation reflects and leads to a more resilient organization. Future researchers should explore the connection between pandemics and ER which is done insufficiently in the present time. 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Medicinal Exploitation of Coriandrum sativum L.
Coriandrum sativum L. is a potential herb that is commonly known as coriander or Chinese parsley is being possessed to have various medicinal properties. Almost all the parts of the herb have been examined for its effectiveness in various human diseases such as migraine, hypertension and diabetes specifically. The diseases considered for the current review are migraine, hypertension and diabetes, which are highly prevalent as well as major co-morbidity for other clinical conditions. The extracts of different parts of C. sativum have been identified to have roles in treating and managing migraine, hypertension and diabetes. The genetic inter-relationship of C. sativum with the diseases are also being discussed in this review. The literature surf was done in platforms for the journals life science and medicinal research using the keywords C. sativum, herbal medicine, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, migraine, genetics etc. The results obtained through the clinical trials conducted by various researchers globally were satisfactorily acceptable in treating these diseases along with some other diseases to a certain extent, whereas the genetic studies were insignificant. Henceforth, the current literature review highlights the medicinal exploitation of C. sativum in accordance with the treatment and management of migraine, hypertension and diabetes. 2022 Visagaa Publishing House. -
Medicinal plants, phytochemicals, and herbs to combat viral pathogens including sars-cov-2
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the most important health issue, internationally. With no specific and effective antiviral therapy for COVID-19, new or repurposed antiviral are urgently needed. Phytochemicals pose a ray of hope for human health during this pandemic, and a great deal of research is concentrated on it. Phytochemicals have been used as antiviral agents against several viruses since they could inhibit several viruses via different mechanisms of direct inhibition either at the viral entry point or the replication stages and via immunomodulation potentials. Recent evidence also suggests that some plants and its components have shown promising antiviral properties against SARS-CoV-2. This review summarizes certain phytochemical agents along with their mode of actions and potential antiviral activities against important viral pathogens. A special focus has been given on medicinal plants and their extracts as well as herbs which have shown promising results to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection and can be useful in treating patients with COVID-19 as alternatives for treatment under phytotherapy approaches during this devastating pandemic situation. 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. -
Medicinal potential of the Cape-pondweed family (Aponogetonaceae): A review
Aponogeton (Aponogetonaceae) is an aquatic genus comprising 60 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World. The species of the genus are traditionally used to treat a wide variety of diseases including cuts and wounds, stomach disorders and reviving digestive system, fungal infections, cough, tuberculosis, acne, cancer, diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, snake bite, etc. A total of 50 compounds have been isolated from Aponogeton species. Essential oils, fatty acids and waxes, ester, quinones, steroids, terpenes and terpenoids, phenols and phenolics are the important compounds present in this genus. In this review, we provide an overview of the taxonomy, molecular phylogeny, biogeography, traditional medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and tissue culture of Aponogeton. Other aspects such as the use of some species as model plant for studying programmed cell death (PCD) are also discussed. This review on the medicinal potential of the genus aims at attracting the attention of biologists to this phytochemically less explored plant group. The knowledge gaps in different areas of research and future perspectives are also discussed. 2022 SAAB -
Metaverse marketing: a review and future research agenda
Purpose: The metaverse represents a rapidly evolving digital environment that blurs the lines between physical and virtual reality, and it offers unique opportunities and challenges for businesses and marketers. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive review of metaverse marketing research. The present study reviews the literature on metaverse to identify theories, contexts, gaps and methodologies using TCCM framework (Theories, Contexts, Characteristics and Methodology) to set a future research agenda. Design/methodology/approach: A review was conducted of 179 English papers related to metaverse marketing from 2010 to 2023 from the Scopus and Web of Science core collection after applying relevant filters using the TCCM framework. Findings: The findings suggest that the studies have inadequately distinguished metaverse as something that only builds interactive experiences that combine the virtual environment and the real world, whereas the theoretical domain of metaverse is dominated by studies in various domains. The applicability of metaverse marketing research is pertinent in various domains of the management field. The study explores various facets of metaverse marketing to capture its dynamic nature. Research limitations/implications: By presenting a comprehensive review, themes and knowledge gaps of the research on metaverse marketing, this study will enhance research output and provide valuable tools for future research on metaverse. Practical implications: By analyzing metaverse in marketing, the companies will be able to use this concept effectively to formulate innovative marketing strategies and personalized consumer experiences and understand consumer behavior. Furthermore, research into metaverse marketing will be helpful in offering predictions about future trends in consumer behavior, technology adoption and virtual world development. Originality/value: This study provides a thorough analysis of the current state of research on metaverse in marketing and provides a road map for further research in this area. 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Microbial Decomposition of Feather Waste
Keratin is generally found as an ?-keratin helix form in hair, nails, horns and ?-keratin sheet form found in feathers, scales, beaks and claws. ?-keratin contains a domain rich in residues favoring to form ?-sheet structures associated with the filament framework. 'N' and 'C' terminal domains are associated with the matrix and forms cross-linking via disulfide bonds. Several million tons of feather waste are generated by poultry industries each year. Since this waste is rich in protein, it contains excellent potential as a protein source for animal feed and other applications.Bacterial and fungal strains used in microbial degradation of feathers are summarized. Various species from the bacterium genus are involved in keratin degradation including Bacillus, Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, Brevibacillus, Fusarium, Geobacillus, Chryseobacterium, Xanthomonas and Serratia which are some keratin degrading bacteria. Actinomycetes and fungi also contribute to feather degradation by the enzyme activity of keratinases. 2022 World Research Association. All rights reserved. -
Microbial Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs): A Review on Biosynthesis, Properties, Fermentation Strategies and Its Prospective Applications for Sustainable Future
Exponential increase in the use and disposal of synthetic plastics has raised an alarming concern related to their adverse effect on the environment due to their recalcitrant nature and non biodegradability. Nevertheless, the depletion in the petrochemical sources made it imperative to search for other sustainable alternatives to synthetic plastics. This triggered the attention on biodegradable plastics produced from plants, animals and microbial sources that have excellent material properties like their synthetic counterparts. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are ineluctably promising microbial polyesters that have the competence to supersede traditional oil-based synthetic polymers which causes major disposal issues worldwide. The compostable nature, biocompatibility, thermostability, and resilience of these bio-based polymers make them an acceptable replacement in the global market. Their versatile material properties made them a propitious candidate in packaging, biomedicine, tissue engineering, biofuel production, nanocomposite formation, and other industrial applications. Despite their potential advantages, the commercialization of PHA is hindered majorly due to the high cost associated with their production and extraction. This review work majorly focuses on the production, extraction, applications and fermentation strategies for enhancing PHA production. The review also addresses the production of PHA from extremophiles, challenges associated with PHA production and sustainable substrates for PHA production using various agroindustrial wastes. 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Microplastic residues in clinical samples: A retrospection on sources, entry routes, detection methods and human toxicity
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging toxicants which have been detected in varying environments. Despite MPs adverse effects, reports on MPs detection from human clinical samples are only a few. This is due to several reasons such as inefficiency of current MPs detection techniques to detect them from human clinical samples, lack of understanding about the MPs toxicity to human organs and ethical regulations that restricts study with human placental exposure to MPs. This review gives a comprehensive outlook on the major sources MPs sources and routes into human system and their human toxicity mechanisms. Further an in-depth discussion on the significance and limitations of various MPs detection methods is elaborated in the review. Challenges in current research framework for detection of MPs from human clinical samples and the possible future directions in this imperative research domain are also focused in this review. 2024 Elsevier B.V. -
Microplastics distribution and potential health implications of food and food products
Microplastics, miniscule plastic fragments ubiquitous in the environment, pose a growing threat as they infiltrate our food chain. This review delves into the contamination of various food categories, including seafood, agricultural products, and even processed foods through packaging and processing methods. Developing reliable analytical techniques to accurately detect microplastics levels within complex food matrices is crucial to gauge the true extent of this contamination. Although the entire range of potential health effects associated with microplastic intake is not yet known, there is reason to be concerned about the risks. These include the potential for microplastics to physically hurt the gastrointestinal tract, exposure to chemicals that seep from the polymers themselves, and the potential for microplastics to act as carriers for other dangerous compounds. This analysis identifies important knowledge gaps about the long-term health effects of microplastics exposure. It highlights the urgent need for more investigation to fully assess the possible dangers connected to microplastics in the food chain. Furthermore, it is imperative that efficient mitigation measures be put in place as soon as possible to protect food safety from microplastics contamination. More cooperation is required to create more stringent laws governing the use of plastic, investigate substitute materials for manufacturing and packaging, and create effective filtering systems for the processing of food and water. Through devoted research to close knowledge gaps and the implementation of strong mitigation strategies, can make proactive efforts to safeguard public health and maintain the integrity of our food supply chain for future generations. 2024 Elsevier Inc. -
Micropollutants characteristics, fate, and sustainable removal technologies for landfill leachate: A technical perspective
Waste disposal in landfills has gained momentum in the last few decades as it is one among the easy and cost-effective method for waste management for the accelerating global population. Heterogenous nature of the waste ending up in landfills makes it difficult to predict the fate of these pollutants making it difficult for its biomonitoring and specific treatment. Among the major issues associated with landfill treatment, liquid percolation from this heterogenous waste substrate collectively referred as leachate poses the greater risk to environment through soil and ground water pollution. The diversity of micropollutants presents in landfill leachates ranging from microbial pathogens, pesticides, microplastics, pharmaceuticals and other harmful chemicals calls for crucial attention towards improving methods used for their treatment and removal. This review summarizes the key components of landfill leachates with specific emphasize on micropollutant content of leachate. Further the features of most recent and advanced technologies that were successfully explored for micropollutant removal from landfill leachates are presented in this review. 2023 Elsevier Ltd -
Mid-infrared variability of ?-ray emitting blazars
Using data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, we studied the mid-infrared (mid-IR) 3.4 ?m (W1-band) and 4.6 ?m (W2-band) flux variability of ? -ray emitting blazars. Our sample consists of 460 flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and 575 BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects. On intraday time-scales, the median amplitude of variability (? m) for FSRQs is 0.04+0.03?0.02 and 0.05+0.03?0.02 mag in W1 and W2 bands. For BL Lacs, we found median ? m in W1(W2) bands of 0.04+0.01?0.02 (0.04+0.02?0.02) mag. On long time-scales, for FSRQs we found a median ? m of 0.44+0.28?0.27 and 0.45+0.27?0.27 mag in W1 and W2 bands, while for BL Lacs, the median values are 0.21+0.18?0.12 and 0.22+0.18?.011 mag in W1 and W2 bands. From statistical tests, we found FSRQs to show larger ? m than BL Lacs on both intraday and long time-scales. Among blazars, low synchrotron peaked sources showed larger ? m compared to intermediate synchrotron peaked and high synchrotron peaked sources. The larger ? m seen in FSRQs relative to BL Lacs on both intraday and long time-scales could be due to them having the most powerful relativistic jets and/or their mid-IR band coinciding with the peak of the electron energy distribution. BL Lacs have low power jets and the observational window too traces the emission from low-energy electrons, thereby leading to low ? m. In both FSRQs and BL Lacs predominantly a bluer when brighter behaviour was observed. No correlation is found between ? m and black hole mass. 2020 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society -
Mindfulness-based relapse preventionA meta-analysis
Addiction is of varied types and over the years the focus has not only been on the growing issues of addiction but also on how to prevent relapse on recovering clients. According to Buddhist teaching craving is the cause of suffering and suffering festers itself due to attachment. Once an individual is enlightened he will be able to find a path that ceases such suffering. Mindfulness helps bring about such enlightenment through being conscious and reflective of every moments experience. Mindfulness does not stop at being aware alone but extends its teaching to accepting such experiences as they are and letting go. Relapse prevention has long been researched on and new therapies developed to facilitate the same. This conceptual paper looks at how Mindfulness-based relapse prevention therapy works to prevent relapses. The paper focuses on understanding each of the eight-week therapy process and how it progresses in changing thoughts and reducing stress. The paper shows how Mindfulness-based relapse prevention helps clients understand their craving and how to change thoughts in order to deal with a craving thus preventing relapse. 2019, 2019 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.