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Sinking houseboats and swaying home stays: community resilience and local impacts of COVID-19 in managing tourism crisis in Kerala
Purpose: The tourism sector of the state of Kerala in India is highly vulnerable and has been extensively impacted by the global pandemic disaster. This paper aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 (Corona virus pandemic) on houseboat operators and homestay managers. Design/methodology/approach: This paper indicates a multi-stakeholder assessment method to examine various pandemic disaster facets through a structured discussion with different destination stakeholders. This study examines qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews from homestay owners, houseboat operators and government designators in Kerala. This study proposes a conceptual community resilience competency framework that could facilitate speedy crisis management responses. In this study, the sample comprises of nine respondents who play a pivotal role in the travel business, comprising the public sector, private sector, NGO's and community leaders. Findings: The qualitative findings identify Indias and the state of Kerala's roles in handling crisis management scenarios over internal strategies and strategy formulation. The results indicate that the supplementary industry practitioners explore tactical and strategic management initiatives to sustain their businesses. The dynamics of stakeholder engagement adopted by the state is given prominence. Originality/value: This study suggests mechanisms to re-establish the brand image and the possible strategies and suggestions that could help in the survival of the Kerala tourism industry in the post-disaster period. The new normal has been substantiated in the study by incorporating strategies and precautionary methods adopted by the homestay and houseboat operators so as to address the guests' safety concerns. 2021, International Tourism Studies Association. -
PANDEMIC-INDUCED CRISES IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY AN INDIAN CONTEXT
This paper aims to examine the pandemic-induced crises psychological and physical distress experienced by the employees during the Covid19 pandemic and the implications on job loss and job characteristics from all domains of the hospitality industry in India. The study is designed to explore the pandemic-induced tourism crisis along with emotional, mental, and physical effects. An in-depth qualitative exploration was used and a tool comprising of data sets include representatives from aviation, resorts and hotel segments, tour operators, and travel agents. The researchers used a semi-structured questionnaire that had two sections and explored industry concerns, HR strategies, and employee distress through a multi-stage process involving coding and content analysis. The study analyzed the pandemic-induced crises at the micro and macro levels and grouped them under three essential dimensions such as; organizational and industry concerns, organizational HR policies, and employees psychological distress. The subthemes under these dimensions can contribute to scale validation. The subthemes grouped under the three major dimensions have come out as a theoretical model of how the pandemic has affected professionals at these three levels. The findings as items can be validated through descriptive research in quantitative terms forming the future scope. The study analyzed the perceptions of professionals in the tourism and hospitality business amid the pandemic and concludes that a proactive HR policy can minimize employees psychological distress. 2022 Editura Universitatii din Oradea. All rights reserved. -
Prospects of Medical Tourism - A Study on the Management Trends and Practices of the Prominent Participants of Hospital Sector in South India
International Journal of Research in Commerce & Management, Vol-3 (12), pp. 73-76. ISSN-0976-2183 -
A Numerical Investigation on Thermal Gradients and Stresses in High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell During Start-up
The High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (HT-PEMFC) stacks using polybenzimidazole (PBI) based membranes have an inability to internally heat up at low temperatures to their nominal operating temperature (160C180C) during the start-up process. Several strategies, such as direct electrical heating, coolant/gas channel heating, catalytic hydrogen-oxygen combustion, etc., are proposed in the literature to assist the heating for quick start-up situations. However, little knowledge exists on the transient thermomechanical stresses induced during the start-up heating process due to non-uniformity in heat supply and disparity in thermal properties of the cell components. The objective of the present research is to analyze the thermal gradients and thermal stresses developed in the HT-PEMFC structure during the start-up with various heating methods discussed in the literature, as well as during the cell operation by exploiting the Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) approach. The use of polyalkylene glycol (Fragoltherm S-15-A) based Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) in the coolant channel has substantially improved the start-up time due to the high Nusselt number. However, a significant gradient in temperature distribution is observed during the preheating process, which resulted in great inhomogeneous stresses in the membrane, particularly in the in-plane direction. Interestingly, the degree of uniformity in membrane current density distribution during cell operation is increased. A detailed heat analysis in the cell showed that the heat generated in the cell due to electrochemical reactions is sufficient to raise the cell temperature from 120C to operating temperature in a short time. Being subjected to a compressive stress of above 40 MPa, which is higher than the ultimate strength of a typical acid doped PBI membrane, the electrolyte is the most vulnerable component during the start-up. Hence, to inhibit the concomitant effect on cell performance and degradation, a novel start-up strategy should be implemented. 2021 Elsevier Ltd -
Combined effect of channel to rib width ratio and gas diffusion layer deformation on high temperature Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance
The present study investigates the combined influence of Channel to Rib Width (CRW) ratio and clamping pressure on the structure and performance of High Temperature-Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (HT-PEMFC) using a three-dimensional numerical model developed previously. It also considers the impact of interfacial contact resistance between the Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) and Bipolar Plate (BPP). The structural analysis of the single straight channel HT-PEMFC geometry shows that the von-Mises stress greatly increases in the GDL under the ribs as the CRW ratio increases resulting in considerably high deformation. The cell performance analysis depicts the significance of ohmic resistance and concentration polarization for different CRW ratios, particularly at higher operating current densities. However, in low to medium current density regions, the CRW ratio has little influence on cell performance. A substantial impact on the species, overpotential, and current distributions is observed. The findings also reveal that the CRW ratio significantly affects the temperature distribution in the cell. 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC -
Effect of Coupled Microstructural Characteristics of Catalyst Layer on High Temperature: Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Performance
The widespread adoption of High Temperature-Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (HT-PEMFC) in commercial applications is limited by their performance and durability compared to conventional energy sources. A key factor affecting these cells is the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode catalyst layer (CL). Optimizing the structural parameters of the cathode CL can enhance cell performance and longevity. Current research on these parameters is mostly descriptive, lacking numerical evidence to quantify their impact. This study develops a three-dimensional, non-isothermal HT-PEMFC numerical model to investigate the sensitivities of coupled structural parameters of the cathode CL, including Pt loading, CL thickness, and Pt particle diameter, at three levels. The orthogonal/Taguchi approach quantitatively assesses the impact of these parameters. The study reveals that Pt loading significantly affects cell voltage and cathode overpotential, while Pt diameter influences the homogeneity of overpotential distribution. The dominant impact of a single parameter decreases at higher current densities, necessitating careful analysis of trade-offs between different structural characteristics to maximize performance. These findings offer valuable insights for future experimental studies to enhance cell performance through adjustments to cathode catalyst characteristics. 2024 The Electrochemical Society (ECS). Published on behalf of ECS by IOP Publishing Limited. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved. -
Impacts of Pore Scale Gas Diffusion Layer Deformation on PEMFC Performance at Sub Zero Operation
Highlights Impact of assembly pressure on species and charge transport during cold start operation. Inhomogeneous GDL compression and intrusion is considered in the study. The intrusion effect leads to intense ice accumulation under the channels at 2 MPa. The importance of applying appropriate clamping pressure is highlighted in the study. 2023 The Electrochemical Society (ECS). Published on behalf of ECS by IOP Publishing Limited -
Citrus Medica-derived Fluorescent Carbon Dots for the Imaging of Vigna Radiate Root Cells
Bio-imaging is a crucial tool for researchers in the fields of cell biology and developmental biomedical sector. Among the various available imaging techniques, fluorescence based imaging stands out due to its high sensitivity and specificity. However, traditional fluorescent materials used in biological imaging often suffer from issues such as photostability and biocompatibility. Moreover, plant tissues contain compounds that cause autofluorescence and light scattering, which can hinder fluorescence microscopy effectiveness. This study explores the development of fluorescent carbon dots (Cm-CDs) synthesized from Citrus medica fruit extract for the fluorescence imaging of Vigna radiata root cells. The successful synthesis of CDs with an average size of 6.7nm is confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and raman spectroscopy indicated that the obtained CDs are amorphous in nature. The presence of various functional groups on the surface of CDs were identified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. The optical characteristics of Cm-CDs were studied by UV-Visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Cm-CDs demonstrated strong excitation-dependent fluorescence, good solubility, and effective penetration in to the Vigna radiata root cells with multicolor luminescence, and addressed autofluorescence issues. Additionally, a comparative analysis determined the optimal concentration for high-resolution, multi-color root cell imaging, with Cm-CD2 (2.5mg/ml) exhibiting the highest photoluminescence (PL) intensity. These findings highlight the potential of Cm-CDs in enhancing direct endocytosis and overcoming autofluorescence in plant cell imaging, offering promising advancements for cell biology research. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Bio-waste derived multifunctional carbon dots for white light generation, forensic and antibacterial applications
The synthesis of multi-colour emitting solid-state fluorescent (SSF) carbon dots (CDs) is a challenging task due to the phenomenon of aggregation-induced self-quenching. However, this study presents an efficacious method to synthesize CDs from the sap stain of the cupressus lusitanica tree (cl-CDs) via a simple one-step microwave treatment. The resulting SSF CDs exhibited a particle size of approximately 3 nm, high stability, and remarkable efficacy in light conversion when coated on a UV light emitting diode (UV LED). The ensuing coating generated white light with CIE colour coordinates of (0.33, 0.34) and a high luminescence efficiency of approximately 671 L/W. The fluorescence capabilities exhibited by the cl-CDs in response to 254 nm and 365 nm UV light excitation make them an ideal choice for developing fluorescent inks to prevent counterfeiting. Moreover, the study investigated the notable fluorescence properties of cl-CDs as a luminescent fingerprint powder for the recognition of latent fingerprints on various surfaces. Additionally, the antibacterial potential of cl-CDs was evaluated against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, where the cl-CDs were utilized as an antibacterial dusting powder for fluorescent imaging of latent fingerprints on different substrates. Therefore, we believe that our present work offers a plethora of exciting possibilities for the multifunctional application of SSF green CDs with significant implications in white light generation, counterfeiting prevention, forensic applications, and healthcare. 2024 Elsevier B.V. -
Carbon dots-Zno/TiO2 ternary nanocomposite as a proficient material to enhance the performance of natural DSSC
A novel sustainable approach for enhancing the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) involves the utilization of a combination of ZnO and carbon dots (CDs) derived from Citrus medica fruit extract, along with microwave-synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles for the preparation of the photoanode. Natural dyes such as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Allium Cepa peel are employed as sensitizers to reduce production costs. This co-activation method has demonstrated a significant improvement in the output parameters of the devices. Notably, the photoanode co-activated with ZnO-CD composite (ZnO-CD/TiO2) exhibits the most favorable output parameters when combined with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis dye (open circuit voltage (Voc) = 0.80 V, short circuit current density (Jsc) = 6.62 mA/cm2, fill factor (FF) = 64.20 %, photo conversion efficiency (PCE) = 3.40 %) and Allium Cepa peel dye (Voc = 0.81 V, Jsc = 6.79 mA/cm2, FF = 65.70 %, PCE = 3.61 %). When paired with Allium Cepa dye, the CD modified photoanode (CD/TiO2) offers Voc = 0.73 V, Jsc = 6.64 mA/cm2, FF = 61.27 % and PCE = 2.97 %. Similarly, when combined with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis dye, the output parameters of the CD/TiO2 photoanode are Voc = 0.72 V, Jsc = 6.54 mA/cm2, FF = 64.4 % and PCE = 3.03 %. In comparison to all tested devices, the unmodified photoanode (TiO2) displayed the lowest performance, with parameters such as Voc = 0.59 V, Jsc = 6.45 mA/cm2, FF = 52.5 %, PCE = 2.10 % using Allium Cepa peel dye, and Voc = 0.66 V, Jsc = 6 mA/cm2, FF = 51.60 %, PCE = 2.04 % using Hibiscus rosa-sinensis dye. Furthermore, the co-activation process has been shown to enhance the stability of the devices. While the unmodified photoanodes ceased to operate after eight days, the ZnO-CD composite co-activated photoanodes retained their initial efficiencies up to 61.50 % and 68.53 % with the Allium Cepa peel dye and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis dye, respectively. Therefore, this study underscores the potential of the synthesized composite material in enhancing the performance of natural DSSCs. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Cocos nucifera L.-derived porous carbon nanospheres/ZnO composites for energy harvesting and antibacterial applications
Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) have been the subject of extensive research for their potential applications in various fields, including photovoltaics and medicine. In recent years, researchers have focused their attention on CNMs as their high electrical conductivity, low cost, and large surface area are promising in replacing traditional platinum-based counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). In addition to their electrical properties, CNMs have also displayed antibacterial activity, making them an attractive option for medical applications. The combination of CNMs with metal oxides to form composite materials represents a promising approach with significant potential in various fields, including energy and biology. Here, we introduce porous carbon nanospheres (PCNS) derived from Cocos nucifera L. and its ZnO composite (PCNS/ZnO) as an alternative material, which opens up new research insights for platinum-free counter electrodes. Bifacial DSSCs produced using PCNS-based counter electrodes achieved power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 3.98% and 2.02% for front and rear illumination, respectively. However, with PCNS/ZnO composite-based counter electrodes, the efficiency of the device increased significantly, producing approximately 5.18% and 4.26% for front and rear illumination, respectively. Moreover, these CNMs have shown potential as antibacterial agents. Compared to PCNS, PCNS/ZnO composites exhibited slightly superior antibacterial activity against tested bacterial strains, including gram-positive Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and gram-negative Vibrio harveyi (V. harveyi) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) with MIC values of 125, 250, 125, and 62.5g/ml, respectively. It is plausible that the outcomes observed were influenced by the synergistic effects of the composite material. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.) The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Korean Carbon Society 2024. -
Challenging the Representation of the HumanAnimal Relationship in The Elephant Whisperers
[No abstract available] -
A Low-Complexity Multiplier-Less Filter Bank Based on Modified IFIR for the SDR Channelizer
Digital filter banks are extensively used in an SDR channelizer for channelization. The objective of this research work is to design a low computational complexity FIR filter bank for generating sharp transition width channels for SDR. The design of unified and variable bandwidth channels for SDR using the proposed structure is based on the modified IFIR filter structure and cosine modulation technique (CMT). The performance of the proposed structure is demonstrated with the help of an example. The results show that the multiplier complexity of the proposed structure is less than those of other state-of-the art methods. The optimization techniques are incorporated in this work to further reduce the complexity of the proposed structure. With the help of canonical signed digit (CSD), multi-objective artificial bee colony (MOABC) and shift inclusive differential coefficients (SIDC) common sub-expression elimination (CSE) optimization, the filter used in this structure is made multiplier-less. 2024 IETE. -
An efficient reconfigurable band tuning filter design for channelizer in transponder satellite system
For improved performance in a variety of applications, the transponder in satellite systems must be very flexible. The channelizer-dependent transponder system significantly boosts the operation of a satellite system. When channelizing wideband input signals, a digital filter bank is typically used to extract several small sub-bands. In this research, a reconfigurable band tuning (RBT) design for the channelizer in the satellite transponder system is designed and implemented. Cosine modulation, exponential modulation and IFIR filter are the techniques behind the RBT design. The RBT design facilitates the generation of many channels enabling channelization with non-uniform narrow transition width. A number of examples are presented to illustrate how well the RBT design performs. Findings indicate that there are fewer filter coefficients in the RBT design than there are in the current approaches Effective implementation of a properly designed RBT design lowers power consumption and simplifies the hardware. 2024 The Franklin Institute -
A Multiplier-Less FRM-Based Reconfigurable Regulated Bank of Filter for Spectrum Hole Detection in IoT
A promising solution for the detection of spectrum holes in the Internet of Things networks is the cognitive radio (CR) system, which is used to identify spectrum holes effectively. The intention of this work is to design a low-complexity Reconfigurable Regulated Bank of Filter (RRBF) structure for spectrum hole detection in IoT networks. The RRBF structure is designed by utilizing the Frequency Response Masking (FRM) approach and the Cosine Modulation Technique (CMT). Using the RRBF structure, multiple sharp non-uniform channels are generated for efficient spectrum hole detection in IoT networks. With the aid of an example, the performance and computational complexity of the RRBF structure are demonstrated. The result shows that the RRBF structure has a fewer multipliers than other existing methods. To obtain hardware-efficient realization, the RRBF structure is made of multiplier-less by incorporating Canonical Signed Digit (CSD), Multi-Objective Artificial Bee Colony (MOABC), and Shift Inclusive Differential Coefficients (SIDC) with Common Sub-expression Elimination (CSE) optimization techniques. 2024 IETE. -
Reconfigurable non-uniform band-generating filter bank for channelizer
Multi-band channelizer system must choose a specific channel from a broad bandwidth signal. A variety of distinct wireless standards and frequency bands are used in the channelizer. Reconfigurable and non-uniform multi-channels with narrow transition widths are necessary for channelizers. In this paper, a low complexity reconfigurable non-uniform band-generating filter bank (RNBFB) is proposed for multi-band channelizer. The RNBFB is used to generate a variety of non-uniform channels with a narrow transition width. Utilising frequency response masking (FRM) and the cosine modulation (CM) approach, many non-uniform channels are created. Comparing RNBFB to other state-of-the-art techniques, RNBFB generates multi-bands for channelizer with less multiplier complexities. For a better understanding of hardware complexity, the proposed RNBFB is implemented efficiently. A multiplier-free design such as Canonical Signed Digit (CSD), Multi-Objective Artificial Bee Colony (MOABC), and Shift Inclusive Differential Coefficients (SIDC) with a Common Sub-expression Elimination (CSE) are included in the suggested strategy to further optimise the RNBFB. 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Design of reconfigurable multiplier-less filter structure based on IFIR for digital channelizer
The flexibility in frequency allocation is essential for high throughput satellites (HTS). The digital channelizer based transponder system has a crucial role in enhancing the performance of HTS. In this work, the design and implementation of a low computational complexity digital channelizer for HTS is proposed. The proposed reconfigurable filter structure for digital channelizer is to generate non-uniform and sharp transition width FIR filters for transponder of the satellite systems. The multipliers and group delay needed in the digital channelizer that employ the proposed structure are reduced when compared to FRM and traditional IFIR based digital channelizer. An example is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design. Results reveal that the proposed structure has a lower multiplier complexity than existing techniques. The proposed structure once implemented effectively, the power dissipation and hardware complexity are reduced. With the help of CSD, MOABC, and SIDC-CSE optimization, the filters used in this structure are made multiplier-less. Hence this structure is adaptable for the digital channelizer in the transponder of the satellite communication systems. 2023 Elsevier GmbH -
Environmental and Sustainable Development Policies to Address the Pollution Catastrophe in India
Although the environment, crops, water, air, food and fiber, control the weather, and supply oxygen, its air, water, and soil are polluted too. Humans have altered about 75% of the earth, reducing wildlife and nature's space and harming the environment. Industrialisation, urbanisation, population growth, and globalisation have affected people and the environment. This study aims to investigate the environmental and sustainable development-focussed policies to address the pollution catastrophe. The study is a content analysis of prominent online newspaper media reports from January 1, 2020, to November 30, 2022, on legal, environmental, and sustainable issues to reduce pollution and advocate an Indian environmental and sustainable development policy. Since pollution and environmental degradation pose significant threat to humanity, ecosystems, and sustainable living are at risk. Despite national and international legislative and regulatory actions, the environment remains a significant issue. An environmental strategy that encourages sustainable development for future generations is the need of the times. It was found that there were legal and environmental offenses, the management of unscientific treatment procedures, the lack of fundamental education about existing court orders, and fatality-induced health problems. Therefore, India needs an environmental and sustainable development policy to limit environmental concerns' fatality and protect the earth from pollution. 2024 - IOS Press. All rights reserved. -
Were the recent air pollution and landfill fires in Brahmapuram at odds with Kerala's vision of sustainable development?
Air pollution is a global issue, as is commercial, and industrial waste disposal. Industrialized cities have poor air quality. Emissions from fossil fuel, solid household resources and industry, uncontrolled construction, and human and natural activity pollution are the main sources. The purpose of the study is to investigate answers to the question: Were the recent air pollution and landfill fire in Brahmapuram at odds with Kerala's vision of sustainable development? The study consists of a content analysis of prominent newspaper reports on the Prisma model of sorting articles on Brahmapuram issues to investigate the issue and assess the acceptance of sustainable development in Kochi. The reports cover the period from March 3, 2023, to April 3, 2023. The content analysis revealed that the contractor's failure to meet their obligations was the immediate cause. However, the ineffectiveness of the State's solid waste management policies, from a general failure of waste segregation at source, posed a threat to sustainable development. The researcher classified the causes of the Kochi waste fire under the following reasons, namely, environmental, economic, social, and political. The researcher concluded that the recent landfill fire and air pollution at Brahmapuram were contrary to Keralas vision of sustainable development. 2024 by the authors. -
Impact of Learnability Quotient on Employability of Students: Mediating Role of Spiritual Intelligence
This study investigates the impact of Learnability Quotient (LQ) on Employability, with a particular focus on the mediating role of Spiritual Intelligence (SI). Conducted in southern India with a cross-sectional design, the research utilizes primary data collected from educated adults through surveys. The study aims to elucidate cause-and-effect relationships between LQ and Employability and to test hypotheses regarding these variables. The findings reveal that Learnability Quotient and Employability significantly influence each other, with both being affected by age. Education also plays a crucial role in determining employability, while Spiritual Intelligence and Learnability Quotient are less influenced by educational level. The type of institution does not significantly affect these factors, although the location of the institution does impact Spiritual Intelligence and Employability. Correlation analysis shows that higher Spiritual Intelligence correlates moderately with both Learnability Quotient and Employability, while Learnability Quotient has a strong positive association with Employability. Mediation analysis uncovers a complex dynamic where, despite the positive direct effect of Learnability Quotient on Employability, its impact is diminished when mediated through Spiritual Intelligence, as indicated by a negative Variance Accounted For (VAF). Learnability Quotient is crucial for enhancing employability, while Spiritual Intelligence has a nuanced, potentially counterproductive mediation role. Further research is necessary to refine strategies for improving employability through these variables. 2024, Iquz Galaxy Publisher. All rights reserved.