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The Paradox of Messiah States
[No abstract available] -
The paradox of workplace flexibility: navigating through the case of Career Pandit
Learning outcomes: The learning objectives are intended to stimulate the students comprehension of the various challenges faced by Indian startups in the digital ecosystem. With the changing working dynamics in organizations around the globe, managers are expected to explore unconventional business models to facilitate operational growth. The case study is a valuable resource for graduate students to enhance and evolve their critical thinking and solution-oriented skills as forthcoming managers of digital businesses. Students should be able to analyze the case, respond to the questions and evaluate the consequences of workplace flexibility, moonlighting and its applicability in an organizational context. With the Indian Government introducing schemes such as the Digital India initiative and Startup India, it is predicted that numerous startups will opt for digital business standards and a remote work approach. The case bridges classroom theories and a real-life digital company to help students connect with emerging market scenarios. Case overview/synopsis: During the digital era, India witnessed a shift in companies work culture, which amplified when COVID-19 hit the country. Organizations started to work remotely and experienced the numerous benefits it brought. The comfort of working from home was greater for digital businesses whose significant operations could be performed online. However, is it really that productive for digital companies to telecommute? The case illustrates how a digital company, Career Pandit, formed in 2018, unfurls and expands its business and further highlights the challenges the pandemic raised concerning people management. In addition to the discussion, the purpose of the case is to determine the implication of workplace flexibility and moonlighting and how Indian startups cope with the uncertain future challenges it brings. Complexity academic level: Under graduate and postgraduate students. Supplementary materials: Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code: CSS 6: Human Resource Management. 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
The peculiar radio-loud narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxy 1H 0323+342
We present a multiwavelength study of the radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy (NLSy1) 1H 0323+342, detected by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope. Multiband light curves show many orphan X-ray and optical flares having no corresponding ?-ray counterparts. Such anomalous variability behavior can be due to different locations of the emission region from the central source. During a large flare, a ?-ray flux doubling timescale as small as ?3 hr is noticed. We built spectral energy distributions (SEDs) during different activity states and modeled them using a one-zone leptonic model. The shape of the optical/UV component of the SEDs is dominated by accretion disk emission in all the activity states. In the X-ray band, significant thermal emission from the hot corona is inferred during quiescent and first flaring states; however, during subsequent flares, the nonthermal jet component dominates. The ?-ray emission in all the states can be well explained by inverse-Compton scattering of accretion disk photons reprocessed by the broad-line region. The source showed violent intra-night optical variability, coinciding with one of the high ?-ray activity states. An analysis of the overall X-ray spectrum fitted with an absorbed power-law plus relativistic reflection component hints at the presence of an Fe K? line and returns a high black hole spin value of a = 0.96 0.14. We argue that 1H 0323+342 possesses dual characteristics, akin to both flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and radio-quiet NLSy1 galaxies, though at a low jet power regime compared to powerful FSRQs. 2014. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. -
The Persistence of Untouchability: Working Conditions of Dalit Journalists in India
This article can be viewed as an extension of the Oxfam report of 2019, which revealed that Indian news media is dominated by upper castes and the near absence of Dalit and Adivasi journalists. Using critical political economy as a framework, and undertaking qualitative interviews of self-identifying Dalit journalists, their conditions of work in mainstream news media are examined. In addition to the problems faced by journalists in general, this research reveals that Dalit journalists experience considerable psychological stress and extra intensity of work. They tolerate a toxic work environment that results in mental trauma and have to navigate rigid caste networks. Supplementing in-depth interviews with secondary data, the article argues that the conditions within which Dalit journalists function contain all dimensions of untouchability: exclusion, humiliation, and exploitation. The article concludes with a call to end this untouchability, revive the Working Journalists Act to ameliorate the conditions of work of Indias fourth estate. Specific legislation is required to ensure favorable conditions of work for Dalit journalists. Further, the article calls for a theoretical revamping of critical political economy to include caste, particularly when analyzing South Asian media. The Author 2024 -
The Political Uncertainties of the United Kingdom-2022 and Stock Market Reactions: An Event Study Analysis for LSE and Other Major European Stock Markets
The year 2022 has been one of the extremely uproarious in contemporary British politics, caused by severe political crises and uncertainties. The study aims to examine three major events related to the UK political uncertainties in 2022 and its impact on the UK and other major European stock markets using the market model of the event study methodology. The daily closing price data of the FTSE 100 index, its constituent stocks and the benchmark indices of 14 other major European stock markets were considered as per the event window constructed in the study. The empirical results of the study exhibited that the resignation announcement of Boris Johnson and Lizz Truss had positive abnormal returns on the day of the announcement. Subsequently, the announcement of Rishi Sunak as the PM of the UK had a stronger abnormal return on the announcement day. Further, the sector-wise impact analysis confirmed that Financials, materials, Energy, industrial, and real estate sectoral stocks have reacted with positive abnormal returns. Also, when verifying the impact on other major indices in European markets, it is noticed that only for the resignation announcement of Boris Johnson were there positive abnormal returns in benchmark indices of Italy, Netherlands, and Norway. The study confirms that political uncertainties like the prime minister's resignation bring short-run market inefficiency and provide opportunities for abnormal returns. The findings of the study offer some significant implications for the market participants such as traders, investors, portfolio managers and analysts. The findings will provide insights for them to devise trading strategies and risk management and to make investing decisions such that the portfolio of the investors is resilient to such uncertain political events. The Author(s) 2024. -
The Politics of Cultural Homogenization and Territorialization: Representation of Northeast in Tinkle's WingStar Series
Tinkle, the children's magazine in English in India has been instrumental in shaping the imagination of the young urban Indian child ever since its inception in 1980. No other magazine has the readership and reach that Tinkle enjoys with a circulation of more than 3 lakh. The fact that Tinkle has survived unlike many other magazines in India for 40 odd years is testimony (marketing strategies aside) of its reach and popularity. Tinkle, ever since the days of its founder-editor Anant Pai, has been instrumental in constructing imagined communities of national identities for children in India over the decades since the 1970s ever since the Amar Chitra Kathas. One such attempt in constructing children's imaginaries is the addition of a series Wing Star in 2015, scripted by Sean D'mello and inked by Vineet Nair that features Mapui Kawlim, a 13-year-old superhero from Aizwal, Mizoram. While it is empowering that a national mainstream popular magazine for children would feature a female superhero from among the less represented Northeastern states, what is problematic, according to this study, is the manner in which there has been a conscious erasure of all markers of her ethnicity by appropriating her into the larger mainstream homogenised pan-Indian identity of a young female superhero with no specific markers to represent the culture she belongs to. This study will attempt to read this 'sanitised' representation of a Northeastern superhero in the light of the idea of cultural appropriation and deterritorialization and reterritorialization posited by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari that looks at the erasure of specific ethnic and other identities markers. This study will also engage with the implications of how 'sanitised' representations like this in popular narratives would construct and homogenise the imaginaries of the children of a country as they would grow up with erroneous notions of cultural ethnicities and diversity within the country adding to the problematics of marginalisation and hegemonic nationalities. 2022 Aesthetics Media Services. All rights reserved. -
The politics of the representation of Christian women characters in select Hindi films
This research will attempt to understand the politics of the representation of Christian women characters in Hindi films, Julie, and Bobby from a postcolonial feminist lens. This paper studies the portrayal of Christian women characters as westernized and common in Hindi films. To prove this argument, a postcolonial feminist approach with the theories of Partha Chatterjees idea of the role of nationalism in the representation of the westernized and common women; Gopal Gurus argument of the exclusion of the minorities from the mainstream imagination of the nation, and Diana Dimitrovas discourse of Otherism will be used. This research implies that the minority Christian women characters as the lead heroines in Hindi films are typecasted into the roles of immoral, sexually alluring, and unchaste woman who through her association with the Hindu hero poses a threat to the purity of Hindu dharma and hence the majoritarian idea of Indianness. 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
The presence of others increases prosociality: examining the role of dating Partners accompany on donation
Research in the field of prosocial behavior has shown that the presence of others has a significant effect on individuals prosociality. However, no research has explored such an effect of romantic partners presence. Studies in evolutionary psychology have shown benevolence/prosociality as an important factor when choosing a romantic partner. Therefore, in the present study, we hypothesized that people will donate more in the presence of dating partners to maintain a positive impression on them. The research followed a mixed-method approach. The first study, a vignette-based experiment showed that people believed the presence of a dating partner significantly enhances the chances of donation. The second study was a between-subject experiment that confirmed the findings of study 1 from both donors and receivers perspectives. The third study was a qualitative investigation, where a semi-structured interview method was used to find out how and why the presence of a dating partner may influence donation. The interviews showed that the presence of dating partners increases prosociality mainly because donors want to make a good impression and project the right image of them in their partners eyes. The research overall suggests that the human need for self-presentation that projects them more socially likable shapes their willingness to extend a helping hand to others in the presence of their romantic partners. 2024 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
The Problem of Perception in Sandor Mais Embers: An Advaitic Study
This article attempts to study the problem of perception in Sandor Mais celebrated novel Embers from the standpoint of the pramana (a method of knowledge) of Advaita Vedanta. An epistemic problem, the problem of perception, concerns the overwhelming questions of life, culminating in an enigmatic amalgamation of dilemmas and paradoxes. Genuine dilemmas and paradoxes problematize human relationships, which is evident in the complex narrative of Embers. Our contention in this article is to show how, even though enacted within the periphery of the purely fictional, Embers bears testimony to the complexities of life that are quickened by the limits of human perception, which keeps one from seeing how things really are by creating a shadow or reflected consciousness. Set against the backdrop of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the novel opens up a dialogic space at the intersection of a triangular relationship enacted on the threshold of perception and its multidimensional problems. 2024 Management Centre for Human Values. -
The QSPR study of butane derivatives: (A mathematical approach)
The QSPR analysis provides a significant structural insight into the physiochemical properties of butane derivatives. We study some physiochemical properties of fourteen butane derivatives and develop a QSPR model using four topological indices and butane derivatives. Here we analyze how closely the topological indices are related to the physiochemical properties of butane derivatives. For this we compute analytically the topological indices of butane derivatives and plot the graphs between each of these topological indices to the properties of butane derivatives using Origin. This QSPR model exhibits a close correlation between Heavy atomic count, Complexity, Hydrogen bond acceptor count, and Surface tension of butane derivatives with the Redefined first Zagreb index, the Redefined third Zagreb index, the Sum connectivity index and the Reformulated first Zagreb index, respectively. 2018 Oriental Scientific Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved. -
The quantum key distribution, attenuation and data loss over foggy, misty and humid environment
The quantum encryption is a method of key transfer in cryptography by using quantum entanglement of photons. The real power of quantum entanglement is instantaneous communication that is non interceptable. The advantage of quantum encryption method is, it can be incorporated with conventional encryption methods safely. The quantum cryptography can replace conventional key exchange mechanism with the polarized photons using channels like optic fiber cables. Quantum cryptographic can also provide far and secure data communication. The present day experiments clearly proved that the quantum cryptography can be implemented through medium like optic fiber cable or air. But the distance of transmission through the air is limited by rule of line of sight propagation. The quantum key distribution will have uses in different types of communication between distant parts of earth. So this paper discussing various aspects of Quantum key distribution and successfully calculated polarized photon loss during transmission of Quantum cryptography link, while using in various type of atmospheric conditions like Mist Fog Haze. Also successfully calculated probability of single polarized photon missing by successfully utilizing the Light transmission characteristics and power measurements in various Atmospheric conditions. 2019, Institute of Advanced Scientific Research, Inc.. All rights reserved. -
The Rayleigh-Bard problem for water with maximum density effects
Linear stability and weakly nonlinear stability analyses are developed for Rayleigh-Bard convection in water near 3.98 C subject to isothermal boundary conditions. The density-temperature relationship (equation of state) is approximated by a cubic polynomial, including linear, quadratic, and cubic terms. The continuity equation, the Navier-Stokes momentum equation, the equation of state, and the energy equation constitute the governing system. Linear stability analysis is used to investigate how the maximum density property of water affects the onset of convective instability and the choice of unstable wave number for four different types of boundary conditions. Then, a weakly nonlinear stability study is done using the spectral Fourier method for isothermal tangential stress-free boundary conditions to quantify the heat transport of the system and demonstrate the transition from regular/periodic convection to chaotic convection. A Stuart-Ginzburg-Landau equation is obtained using the multiscale expansion method. Streamlines and isotherms are presented and analyzed. The influence of maximum density has been shown to delay the onset of instability and is, therefore, a stabilizing mechanism for thermal instability. Due to the maximum density, the onset of chaotic convection is also delayed. Among four different boundaries, the impermeable rigid boundaries require the highest Rayleigh number for instability to begin. Increasing boundary temperatures advance the onset of chaotic convection and improve the heat transport situation. 2023 Author(s). -
The realist approach for evaluation of computational intelligence in software engineering
Secured software development must employ a security mindset across software engineering practices. Software security must be considered during the requirements phase so that it is included throughout the development phase. Do the requirements gathering team get the proper input from the technical team? This paper unearths some of the data sources buried within software development phases and describes the potential approaches to understand them. Concepts such as machine learning and deep learning are explored to understand the data sources and explore how these learnings can be provided to the requirements gathering team. This knowledge system will help bring objectivity in the conversations between the requirements gathering team and the customer's business team. A literature review is also done to secure requirements management and identify the possible gaps in providing future research direction to enhance our understanding. Feature engineering in the landscape of software development is explored to understand the data sources. Experts offer their insight on the root cause of the lack of security focus in requirements gathering practices. The core theme is statistical modeling of all the software artifacts that hold information related to the software development life cycle. Strengthening of some traditional methods like threat modeling is also a key area explored. Subjectivity involved in these approaches can be made more objective. 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd. part of Springer Nature. -
The red terror and a state of uncertainty: United Nations' role In the Indian maoist struggle
In this paper, the authors argue that the long drawn armed conflict between the Maoists and the Indian State has acquired the status of a non-international armed conflict due to the organized nature of the Maoists and the scale of violence arising out of the conflict. The systematic human rights abuses by both parties and forceful displacement of civilians is a tangible threat to international peace and security in the region. In light of the deadlock between the parties, the authors make a case for United Nations' intervention in mediating an end to the conflict and restoring peace and security in the region. Drawing inspiration from the role played by the UN in ending civil wars across the globe, this paper argues for a similar intervention in the non-international armed conflict in India. The authors argue that the UN should venture to exert pressure on the State to eliminate any further abuses of human rights, and remove the impasse between both the parties to facilitate a constructive dialogue. Copyright 2012 De Gruyter. All rights reserved. -
The relationship between density of drug outlets, crime hot spots and family factors on the consumption of drugs and delinquent behaviour of male adolescent Mexican students
This study examined the relationship between community risk factors (drug outlets density and crime hot spots) and family factors on the risk behaviours (drugs consumption and delinquent behaviour) of male adolescent Mexican students. Results were obtained based on data bank analysis and direct collection of information regarding family factors and risk behaviours of adolescents attending school. Spatial and statistical analysis was performed. The final sample was composed of 1450 male adolescents, from 11 secondary and high schools located in marginal and violent areas of Mexico. Spatial analysis revealed that when considering only the prevalence of the risk behaviours of the adolescents, the area of highest risk was the northwestern area of the city. However, after performing conjunct analysis of all evaluated variables using density point risk (aside from confirming that the northwestern area is still the one with the greatest risk), results indicated that the southern area has a high-density point risk. All densities of the variables showed a statistically significant positive association (p < 0.05). However, the results of the structural equation model indicated than only the family factors influenced the risk behaviours of adolescents (p < 0.05). The spatial distribution of the risk behaviours in male adolescent students and community risk variables surrounding the area where schools are located allows for the description of patterns and hotspot detection that facilitate the prioritization of where interventions must be directed. Besides, the interventions should target family factors. 2021 Elsevier Ltd -
The relationship of workplace flexibility to employee engagement among information technology employees in India
Historically, organizations have been provisioning flexible work arrangement (FWA) options in the workplace to help employees achieve a balance between work obligations and private obligations. We explore the utilization of FWA offerings in the Indian information technology (IT) industry and its relation to employee engagement (EE). Employees working in IT organizations in Bengaluru, India, were approached and data were obtained from 504 participants. The study found that availability of FWA options coincided with their utilization. Disconcertingly, only 7 per cent of the employees were highly engaged, 51 per cent were neither engaged nor disengaged and 41 per cent of the employees were disengaged with their current organization. FWAs were positively related to EE. We find congruence that FWA options lead to better EE warranting further exploration that can guide FWA policies. 2018 SAGE Publications India Private Limited. -
The response of guide dogs and pet dogs (canis familiaris) to cues of human referential communication (pointing and gaze)
The study raises the question of whether guide dogs and pet dogs are expected to differ in response to cues of referential communication given by their owners; especially since guide dogs grow up among sighted humans, and while living with their blind owners, they still have interactions with several sighted people. Guide dogs and pet dogs were required to respond to point, point and gaze, gaze and control cues of referential communication given by their owners. Results indicate that the two groups of dogs do not differ from each other, revealing that the visual status of the owner is not a factor in the use of cues of referential communication. Both groups of dogs have higher frequencies of performance and faster latencies for the point and the point and gaze cues as compared to gaze cue only. However, responses to control cues are below chance performance for the guide dogs, whereas the pet dogs perform at chance. The below chance performance of the guide dogs may be explained by a tendency among them to go and stand by the owner. The study indicates that both groups of dogs respond similarly in normal daily dyadic interaction with their owners and the lower comprehension of the human gaze may be a less salient cue among dogs in comparison to the pointing gesture. 2008 Springer-Verlag. -
The rise of new age social media influencers and their impact on the consumers' reaction and purchase intention
The internet revolution and digitisation have created innovative platforms and spokespersons for brands beyond traditional media. The marketing landscape for brands and customers is evolving towards a more personal and authentic approach; adopting various social media platforms and influencers creates more brand engagement. Influencers are the new third-party endorsers, catering to and recommending products to their loyal community of followers. The influencer and their fans/followers are a brands new storytellers. However, selecting the right influencer for a brands promotional strategy requires careful consideration of several factors. This paper aims to study the impact/effect of these variables, namely, endorsers credibility and corporate credibility, on consumers attitudes towards the brand and its impact on purchase intention, with respect to the millennial era. In the present study, 14 Likert-based questions were designed, asking the respondents to rank their choice of agreement on a scale of 1 to 5. The results were obtained through statistical analysis, including measuring the relationship between variables using confirmatory factor analysis and regression techniques. And the study found that corporate credibility has a significantly higher impact (approximately 90%) than individual endorsements (including those by celebrities) in enhancing customers brand perception. Copyright 2024 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. -
The Role of Board Independence and Ownership Structure in Improving the Efficacy of Corporate Financial Distress Prediction Model: Evidence from India
The study aimed to investigate the role of non-financial measures in predicting corporate financial distress in the Indian industrial sector. The proportion of independent directors on the board and the proportion of the promoters share in the ownership structure of the business were the non-financial measures that were analysed, along with ten financial measures. For this, sample data consisted of 82 companies that had filed for bankruptcy under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). An equal number of matching financially sound companies also constituted the sample. Therefore, the total sample size was 164 companies. Data for five years immediately preceding the bankruptcy filing was collected for the sample companies. The data of 120 companies evenly drawn from the two groups of companies were used for developing the model and the remaining data were used for validating the developed model. Two binary logistic regression models were developed, M1 and M2, where M1 was formulated with both financial and non-financial variables, and M2 only had financial variables as predictors. The diagnostic ability of the model was tested with the aid of the receiver operating curve (ROC), area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity and annual accuracy. The results of the study show that inclusion of the two non-financial variables improved the efficacy of the financial distress prediction model. This study made a unique attempt to provide empirical evidence on the role played by non-financial variables in improving the efficiency of corporate distress prediction models. 2021 by the authors.