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Wound healing efficacy of curcumin-loaded sandalwood bark-derived carbon nanosphere/PVA nanofiber matrix
The present investigation deals with the evaluation of the wound healing efficacy of sandalwood bark-derived carbon nanospheres loaded with curcumin-embedded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofiber membranes (NF). Carbon nanospheres (CNS) were prepared by pyrolyzing sandal wood bark powder at 750 C. The morphology was confirmed by field emission scanning electron micrographs and a rich amount of carbon was confirmed by the energy dispersive X-ray technique. Curcumin, an active wound healing drug was loaded onto synthesized CNS and confirmed by ATR-IR studies. Drug-loaded CNS were anchored in a PVA matrix via electrospun nanofiber fabrication. The fabricated nanofiber membranes were characterized and evaluated for wound healing efficiency. The cytotoxicity assay proved the non-toxic nature of the prepared PVA/CNS-curcumin-loaded NF. Membranes with active CNS/drug showed better antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli, which was estimated using the zone of inhibition (ZOI) test. The in vitro scratch wound healing assay of prepared PVA/CNS-curcumin nanofibers was efficient enough and showed 92 to 98% wound closure, which was greater than the control (without drug) nanofiber membranes. The PVA nanofiber matrix with interconnected structure and carbon nanostructures together enhanced the wound healing efficacy of the considered wound healing membrane, which is a promising novel approach for future wound healing patches. 2023 The Royal Society of Chemistry. -
Wound Healing, Cell Viability and Antimicrobial Potency of Mucus from Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
Acute and chronic wounds are the major cause of death according to World Health Organization (WHO), in which, antimicrobial resistance is considered to be a major plight. In this regard, our study is aimed at developing an antimicrobial agent using the mucus of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus against the clinically resistant microbial pathogens and to evaluate the cell cytotoxicity and cell viability followed by an in vitro wound healing analysis. The evaluation of antimicrobial activity was performed through well diffusion method and micro dilution method. The cell cytotoxicity and cell viability were assessed using MTT assay. The cell migration and in vitro wound healing was performed using scratch assay. The acidic extracts of mucus showed antimicrobial activity against the eight different selected bacterial strains while the organic extract showed against seven bacterial strains. L929 showed a cell viability of 102.96% at a concentration of 75 g/mL and did not show cell toxicity effect up to the concentration of 300 g/mL. In the in vitro wound healing analysis, the cell migration rate was 99.27% in the treated cells while, the untreated showed only 94.68%. The current research work clearly shows that the mucus of P. hypophthalmus possesses antimicrobial activity and wound healing potency. Furthermore, gene expression analysis and in vivo trials have to be performed for a thorough understanding of the actual cellular mechanism of wound healing. The Author(s) 2024. -
WOW Skin Science: strategic adaptation for responsible advertising
Learning outcomes: After completing this case study, students will be able to understand the issues firms, brands and influencers face due to sponsorship disclosure regulation and the impact of self-regulation on firms engaging in influencer marketing, explain the challenges regulators face in ensuring compliance in an emerging market, explain Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI)s challenges in adopting influencer guidelines from emerged markets and recommend ethical theory (or theories) and strategies to firms engaged in influencer marketing. Case overview/synopsis: This case study centers on Mr Manish Chowdhary, co-founder of WOW Skin Science, who started the beauty and personal care business with his brother Karan Chowdhary in 2015 in Bangalore, India. The company successfully built its brand through influencer marketing but faced challenges after the ASCI implemented new influencer guidelines. On May 31, 2021, he expressed disagreement with ASCI guidelines during an interview with Akansha Nagar from Buzz in Content, particularly the requirement to label every product or service received by influencers as an advertisement. He expressed concern about certain rules, fearing they might harm organic content and reduce viewership and followers. Subsequently, ASCI registered noncompliance cases against the company and communicated with them about complaints regarding influencer guideline violations. In this situation, Manish needed to evaluate his decision on noncompliance with regulation and required an action plan to strategically manage its influencer marketing campaign by incorporating ASCIs guidelines. Overall, this case study highlights the journey of WOW Skin Science and its challenges with self-regulatory authorities over its influencer marketing strategy in an emerging market. Additionally, students can gain insight into the marketing communication ethics of a startup operating in an emerging market by embodying the protagonists role. Complexity academic level: This case study is suitable for postgraduate level students pursuing a Master of Business Administration program. The difficulty level ranges from moderate to complex. It fits well into integrated marketing communication and marketing strategy courses. This case study discusses marketing ethics, advertising and promotion regulation. Supplementary materials: Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code: CSS 8: Marketing. 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Wrinkled graphene: Synthesis and characterization of few layer graphene-like nanocarbons from kerosene
Wrinkled graphene, derived from a facile thermal decomposition and chemical method, was subjected to various analysis techniques and the results have been reported here. Raman studies revealed the presence of highly graphitized amorphous carbon, which was evident by the appearance of five peaks in the deconvoluted first order spectrum. This result was very well corroborated by the XRD analysis. XPS and FT-IR spectra confirmed the incorporation of oxygen functionalities into the carbon backbone. AFM and SEM images of the sample disclosed a cluster of few-layer wrinkled graphene fragments. TEM images displayed a chain of nearly spherical aggregates of graphene, resembling nanohorns. The resistivity and sheet resistance of the sample were found to be low, making the obtained material a promising candidate for various device applications. Hence, kerosene soot proved to be an efficient precursor for facile synthesis of few layer graphene-like nanocarbon. 2016 Wroclaw University of Technology. -
WSETO: wild stock exchange trading optimization algorithm enabled routing for NB-IoT tracking system
The Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) communication plays a significant role in the IoT due to the capability of generating broad exploration with the usage of limited power. Over the past few years, the Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) have been efficient in the data acquisition and remote monitoring area however they failed to generate high data rates, low latency, and the consumption of low power. To solve these problems, NB-IoT technology has developed in long-term asset tracking and it replaces the Global Positioning System (GPS) with its ubiquitous coverage. In this research, the Wild Stock Exchange Trading Optimization technique (WSETO) is proposed for a routing-based NB-IoT tracking system. The WSETO is the combination of the Wild Geese Algorithm (WGA) and SETO. By employing WSETO, the routing to the relevant target location is established effectively. The existing techniques like Low Power Asset Tracking of NB-IoT (LoPATraN), Monitoring system based on NB-IoT and BeiDou System/GPS (BDS/GPS), and Narrowband Physical Uplink Shared Channel (NPUSCH) are used to compare the WSETO approach. In rounds with a value of 2000, the WSETO demonstrates a superior location error of 0.001 in comparison to existing methods such as LoPATraN, a monitoring system utilizing NB-IoT and BDS/GPS, as well as NPUSCH. Bharati Vidyapeeth's Institute of Computer Applications and Management 2024. -
XENOPHOBIC ATTITUDES AND REPRESENTATIONS IN SOCIAL MEDIA DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN INDIA; [ACTITUDES Y REPRESENTACIONES XENOFICAS EN LAS REDES SOCIALES DURANTE LA PANDEMIA DE COVID-19 EN LA INDIA]
Social media activity was reported to have significantly increased during the pandemic period as most of the daily routines transformed into the digital space. This paper attempted to explore the politics of representation in digital space using Foucauldian theories of power and discipline. A qualitative exploration of the xenophobic attitudes and representation was conducted on 123 young adults to understand how health concerns associated with the pandemic influenced social representations and marginalization of certain social sections and how participants recognized and understood their contribution to this group polarization. Thematic analysis of participant opinions indicated a significant change in polarization and attitude towards out-groups following the pandemic outbreak. The existing hierarchical homogenization and polarization of the marginalized moderated by polarized political affinities were found to be translated into digital space intensifying xenophobic attitudes thereby contributing to the evolution of new digital cultures and hierarchies in digital literacy. 2022 UNIVERSIDADE FEEVALE All rights reserved. -
Yield management in hotel industry: An exploratory study on selected northern states of India: A time series analysis
Asian Journal of Research in Business Economics and Management, Vol. 7, Issue 3, pp. 37-63, ISSN No. 2249-7307. -
You are not Sikkimese enough: Understanding collective action tendencies of old settlers in Sikkim using SIMCA
The current study analyses the motivators and inhibitors of collective action tendency using the Social Identity Model of Collective Action (SIMCA). The study was conducted with a minority and state-based repressed group known as the old settlers in Sikkim, India. The old settlers are a community that have been historically settled in Sikkim prior to the state's merger with India in 1975. They are racially and ethnically different from the majority population of northeasterners in Sikkim and face both institutional and interpersonal discrimination. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with 11 old settlers was taken to delineate SIMCA variables moral conviction, identity, injustice and efficacy within the context of northeast India. Collective action was motivated through moral conviction via principles of equality and unequal treatment and outsider status, identity via politicisation of identity, creation of social movement organisations, injustice via anger and fraternal resentment and efficacy via marches and legal recourses. Collective action was inhibited through moral conviction via denial of violation, identity via acculturation, injustice via fear and efficacy via learned helplessness. These findings indicate that in state-based repressed groups, collective action tendencies must be understood from a context-specific lens that attempts to understand both motivating and inhibitory factors. 2024 Asian Association of Social Psychology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. -
Young adult consumers perception of value proposition towards organic foods: a tweet based analysis using NVivo
Given the increasing focus on sustainable food production, the present study investigates consumer perceptions of organic food and its value proposition. Twenty thousand tweets between May 7, 2020, and May 7, 2021, from Indian consumers concerning organic food were analyzed using the text analytics program (Nvivo) to find an ongoing conversational theme. The study demonstrates that value propositions highlighting personal health attributes (such as being nutritious, dairy-free, and gluten-free) and consumption benefits (like taste and deliciousness) significantly convince people to eat more organic food. Despite the documented environmental benefits associated with organic food consumption, our analysis of customer interactions revealed a limited focus on sustainability or ecological considerations. The study highlights the significance of creating covered messaging tactics targeting various clientele groups. Moreover, it underscores the consequence of employing complex value propositions that emphasize various advantages that promote sustainable consumption practices among clients. Future studies could look into more inclusive platforms and demographic representations to understand peoples perceptions of organic food. Moreover, the implications extend to managerial strategies that support businesses in aligning product offerings with consumer preferences to create a more sustainable food environment. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Society for Reliability Engineering, Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM), India and The Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden 2024. -
Young Adults Consumption Patterns and Attitude towards Minimalist Lifestyle during COVID-19 Pandemic- An Exploratory Study
Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the consumption patterns of people the world over. The patterns and trends of consumption that drive markets were no longer relevant during the pandemic. Newer factors drove the consumption decisions and consumers have changed their patterns. COVID pandemic enforced citizens globally to adopt minimalism. This research is aimed at qualitatively understanding the consumer experiences during the lockdown period and their future orientation towards a minimalist lifestyle. Method Participants were young adults of 18 to 25 years of age from India. A constructivist paradigm was adopted to understand the subjective meaning of their choices. Data was collected through Focused group discussions and content analysis was used to arrive at the themes. Findings Data revealed that priority was given to buying essential items during times of crisis. Stockpiling, conscious buying and simple living were the cornerstones of the consumption patterns. Practical implications Findings have implications for sustainable consumption practices with a minimalist approach. Understanding the future orientation of consumers towards adopting a minimalist lifestyle could help market researchers better understand sustainable consumption patterns, thereby helping them in tailoring their product marketing. The far-reaching implications of the results focus on green consumption values and ecological responsibility. Value This paper seeks to explore attitudes and beliefs on sustainable consumption in a young adult population during the Covid-19 outbreak and has implications for sustainable consumption practices using a minimalistic approach in the future. 2022 RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR ALL. -
Young adults default intention: influence of behavioral factors in determining housing and real estate loan repayment in India
Purpose: The primary purpose of this paper is to determine the role of behavioral characteristics of young adults on housing and real estate loan default intentions. The behavioral factors considered in this study are financial literacy, materialism, emotions, indebtedness and risk perception. Design/methodology/approach: The sample frame comprises of young clients who have taken house loans and work in Indias metropolitan cities. These cities provide a higher quality of life, more employment possibilities and cheaper living costs. A systematic questionnaire was used, which was divided into six components. A total of 352 valid responses were collected and analyzed through a structural equation model. Findings: The findings suggest that financial literacy, materialism and risk perception have a considerable impact on loan default intention among young adults. The results also ascertained that emotion and indebtedness do not have a considerable impact on loan default intention among young adults. Research limitations/implications: The scope of this study is limited to Indias metropolitan cities. Future studies can examine comparative examinations of young adults working in the public and private sectors and those working in different cities across India. Practical implications: This paper contributes to a better understanding of behavioral variables which may lead to the creation of preventive measures for young defaulters. The findings of this study will help financial institutions to improve their credit-offering models. Originality/value: To the best of the authors knowledge, this study is the first to determine the role of behavioral attributes of young adults on housing and real estate loan default intentions in India. This work will be executable to all the stakeholders of the housing and real estate industry altogether. 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Young adults experience of housing and real estate chatbots in India: effort expectancy moderated model
Purpose: This study aims to recognize the role of information system (IS) model on young adults experience of housing and real estate chatbots. This model of IS takes into account the quality of information, the quality of system and the quality of service. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses a sample frame for analysis which comprises young adult population in India, i.e. between the ages of 18 and 35. A questionnaire consisting of five components was used to collect information in a structured manner. The 386 responses thus collected were analysed using the structural equation model. Findings: It was found that there is a significant influence of the quality of information, quality of system and quality of service on young adults experience of housing and real estate chatbots. The findings also showed that there is moderation role of effort expectancy between the quality parameters and young adults user experience of housing and real estate chatbots. Research limitations/implications: This study focusses exclusively on the young adults from various parts of India. Future research can consider larger population categories across age groups and across sectors employing chatbots. Practical implications: This study will enable in-depth understanding of IS model quality dimensions relation with the user experience. In particular, housing and real estate organisations will profit from the expanded usage of artificial intelligence through chatbots for user correspondence and communication. Originality/value: To the best of the authors knowledge, this study is first of its kind, as it investigates how IS model quality dimensions affect the young adults experience of housing and real estate chatbots in India. This study also ventures into identifying the moderation role of effort expectancy between the quality dimensions as per IS model and young adults experience of housing and real estate chatbots. This study will be useful for the stakeholders of housing and real estate industry. 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Young adults socialization in housing and real estate purchase decisions in India
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the influence of young adults socialization and product involvement on family housing and real estate purchase decision-making process. While previous studies have used these constructs in the fast-moving commercial goods category, this paper is considering the real estate family purchase decision as the core point of research and analysis. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 429 young working adults across various sectors in India. The proposed conceptual framework is tested using structural equation modeling. Findings: The findings suggest that the teenagers with high social life have a better say in the decision-making process. It was also found that the young adults product involvement (measured in terms of gratification and symbol) construct shows how involved they are with the final decision-making in a family. The results suggested that the more young adult socializes, the more voice he has in the family housing and real estate decision-making process. Originality/value: This paper is the first to analyze the role of teenage socialization and product involvement on family housing and real estate purchase decision-making process. This paper will be practicable to all the stakeholders of the housing industry as a whole. 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Young consumers' green marketing orientation: role of customer citizenship behaviour in determining real estate purchase intention in India
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess green marketing as an influential factor in the purchase of real estate. In this study, the consumer citizenship behaviour of young individuals will be studied with an assessment of real estate purchase intention, strategic green marketing orientation (GMO) and tactical GMO. Design/methodology/approach: The sample frame consists of young consumers from Indias metropolitan cities. The respondents were in the range of 18 to 35 years of age. These cities provide a high standard of living, more career options and better educational opportunities. Five separate sections of a standardised questionnaire were used, and a structural equation model was used to assess a total of 393 valid replies. Findings: Green marketing impacts the behaviour that influences the desire of young customer to buy green real estate. Research limitations/implications: As the focus of this study is primarily on major cities, future research may study similar behaviour in non-metropolitan cities. The study can also be conducted among consumers of other age groups. Originality/value: The originality, to the best of the authors knowledge, exists in examining how young consumers opinions about green marketing impact their intentions to purchase green houses and real estate in India. This study will be accessible to all parties involved in the housing and real estate industries. 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Youth of North East States of India: Issues, Concerns and Need for Mental Health Support as Perceived by NCC Officers
The youth of North-East India are in disadvantaged situations as compared to youth from the rest of the country in all respects. The objective of this article was to examine the views of the NCC Officers of North-East states about youth welfare in the region as they have first-hand experience in dealing with youth. Participants views were obtained on-line, by using a Semi-structured Questionnaire in the form of Google Form. A group of 142 NCC Officers provided feedback. Data collected were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings disclosed that youth of North-East states experience a range of challenges including poverty, lack of internet facilities, inability to attend NCC camps due to ongoing classes, substance dependence, lack of guidance and support leading to dropout and lack of values. The NCC Officers opined that a good number of North-East youths require mental health support and career guidance, in addition to mental health awareness. 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Yttrium(III) oxide catalyzed facile synthesis of novel hydrazinyl thiazoles by multicomponent approach
A facile and a one-pot procedure for the synthesis of novel hydrazinyl thiazoles by the cyclo condensation reaction between substituted phenacyl bromides, aromatic aldehydes, and semicarbazides using Yttrium(III) oxide as reusable catalyst under acetic acid as a solvent medium is described. The chromatography-free methodology has several benefits such as being facile, atom economic, higher functional group tolerance and provides excellent yield in shorter reaction time. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS (ESI) analysis. 2021 -
Yulu: Moving Towards a Sustainable Future
The rapidly rising rate of urbanization, which is closely linked to economic growth, has exposed the world to several challenges such as inequality, environmental degradation, traffic congestion, infrastructural concerns and social conflicts. Therefore, urban sustainability has emerged as one of the most debatable discussions across the world. The existing network of transportation can no longer keep up with the growing demand in metropolitan cities. Short distance travel has become an unresolved issue for daily commuters. The case presents how MMVs have emerged as an alternative mode of transport for resolving issues of daily commuters regarding the first-mile connectivity, last-mile connectivity and short distance travel to reach their final destination. MMVs are basically light-weight vehicles which occupy less space on road. These vehicles include bicycles, e-bikes, skateboards, hoverboards and other battery-operated vehicles. The case narrates the journey of Yulu, a dockless bike-sharing venture which promoted the concept of green consumerism among the daily commuters at affordable rates. The venture initially started in the IT city of Bangalore and later expanded its operations to other cities such as Pune, Navi Mumbai, Gurugram and Bhubaneswar. The speciality of this venture is that it offers a sustainable solution to ever-increasing problems of traffic congestion and aggravating air pollution issues in metropolitan cities. Dilemma: How to offer a sustainable solution to the ever-increasing problem of traffic congestion and aggravating air pollution due to rising vehicular traffic? How to make short distance travel affordable and more convenient for daily commuters? Theory: Three pillars of sustainable development. Type of Case: Problem solving applied case. Protagonist: Present. Discussion and Case Questions: What strategies should be employed by the start-up to make it a more popular form of commute? How can the increasing rate of damage to the vehicles be brought down? How does organization structure and cluster management practices of Yulu help it to become more sustainable? How can the regulatory bodies and government promote and adopt such start-ups in their urban planning projects? 2020 SAGE Publications. -
Zagreb Radio Indices and Coindices
Zagreb radio index or coindex of a graph is defined based on the optimal radio labelling of the graph, where optimal refers to the labeling with a span equal to the radio number of the graph. We have defined the first and second Zagreb radio coindex, third Zagreb radio index, and coindex and calculated its value for some famous graphs. Furthermore, we established a certain relationship between Zagreb radio indices and the coindices of graphs. 2021 by the authors. -
Zeolite Framework-Anchored Carbon-Doped White Graphene as Antipoisoning Cathode Materials for Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Efficient, robust, and highly sustainable platinum (Pt)-free electrocatalysts are pivotal for advancing the fuel cell (FC) performance. This study introduces a facile and green approach for synthesizing a rationally designed Co-based zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF) anchored onto carbon (C)-doped white graphene (C-WG) as an electrocatalyst (Z@-C-WG) for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The synergistic effects between the ZIF and C-WG yield an electrocatalyst with enriched active sites. The intrinsic dual active sites coupled with favorable physicochemical properties promote oxygen adsorption and enhance the mass transfer rate. The hybrid catalyst demonstrates significantly improved activity, stability, and poisoning resistivity compared to Pt/C. The synthesized electrocatalyst exhibits superior ORR activity with an onset potential of Eon ?0.967 V (EonPt/C ?0.94 V) in acidic medium and Eon ?0.931 V (Eon(Pt/C) ?0.919) in alkaline medium. Validation through intrinsic parameters including electrochemical active area (ECSA), active site density (ASD), mass activity (MA), and turnover frequency (TOF) corroborates the catalysts enhanced performance. The stability tested for over 35 h coupled with high methanol tolerance affirms the catalysts robust activity. The Z@-C-WG electrocatalyst surpasses Pt/C in resisting poisoning species (CO and KSCN); also, poststripping analysis strongly confirms the presence of abundant active centers. Overall, this study offers a unique perspective toward the engineering of ORR catalyst architecture for fuel cell cathode applications. 2024 American Chemical Society. -
Zero forcing number of degree splitting graphs and complete degree splitting graphs
A subset Z V(G) of initially colored black vertices of a graph G is known as a zero forcing set if we can alter the color of all ver- tices in G as black by iteratively applying the subsequent color change condition. At each step, any black colored vertex has exactly one white neighbor, then change the color of this white vertex as black. The zero forcing number Z(G), is the minimum number of vertices in a zero forcing set Z of G (see [11]). In this paper, we compute the zero forcing num- ber of the degree splitting graph (DS-Graph) and the complete degree splitting graph (CDS-Graph) of a graph. We prove that for any simple graph, Z[DS(G)] k + t, where Z(G) = k and t is the number of newly introduced vertices in DS(G) to construct it. 2019 Sciendo. All rights reserved.