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FinTech and Financial Capability, What Do We Know and What We Do Not Know: A Scoping Review
Purpose: The scoping review of this study was to investigate the existing literature on FinTech's impact on financial competence and draw conclusions from it. We applied Danielle Levac's recommendations and used the scoping review framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study involved identifying and analyzing 246 papers from major databases, followed by a rigorous screening process to select 54 relevant studies. Data coding, inclusion, and exclusion screening were conducted by us independently. Findings: According to the findings, studies on FinTech and financial capacity started in 2012, and since 2020, the number of studies has sharply increased. The analysis showed that financial inclusion was the primary focus of the major FinTech studies, suggesting possible research gaps in other aspects of financial competence. We suggested recommendations and prospective directions for further research in this developing subject based on these findings. Managerial Implications: This knowledge will help managers find opportunities for collaboration, offer fresh perspectives, and make wise choices, which will improve the sector. Theoretical Implications: Important concepts and relationships were found, new trends were highlighted, and theoretical advancements were suggested as a result of the inquiry. Through the filling of knowledge gaps, the study would guide future theoretical development, facilitate diverse perspectives, and support the construction of robust frameworks in the FinTech and financial capabilities sector. Originality/Value: This study offered a comprehensive review of the body of literature, pointing out areas in need of more research and knowledge gaps. The review's unique perspective for future study and innovation in understanding the relationship between FinTech and financial capacity is derived from its thorough synthesis of many studies. 2023, Associated Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. -
Sustainable tourism development in the backwaters of South Kerala, India: The local government perspective
Improper waste management continues to be a major challenge in the backwater destinations of South Kerala, India and the local government has been identified as a key player having a strong influence on sustainable tourism development initiatives in the destination. The study examines the major obstacles encountered while implementing sustainable tourism development practices in the backwater destinations of South Kerala, India. Qualitative data collected with the support of semi-structured interviews with top government officials of the Tourism Industry is used for the study. The findings from the study show that improper waste management affects sustainable tourism development in the backwater destinations, and that community involvement and community support are pre-requisites for implementing solid waste management practices in the backwater destinations of the state. The study also enlightens the roles of various stakeholders in waste management so as to develop a strong perspective of sustainable tourism development in the region. 2020 Editura Universitatii din Oradea. All rights reserved. -
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PRACTICES: A PERCEPTION of BACKWATER TOURISM DESTINATIONS in SOUTH KERALA, INDIA
The Tourism Industry in South Kerala focuses more on Houseboat Tourism and Backwater Tourism. The unique, natural features set this destination apart from nearby places, as backwater destinations are rich in numerous natural resources. The sustainable development of these resources will highly enhance the livelihood of the communities in the backwater regions. They will be able to attract tourists seeking unique backwater experiences. Therefore, this article intends to comprehend the stakeholders' perceptions on Sustainable Tourism Development in the backwater destinations of South Kerala in India. A total of 277 respondents participated in the research and the study adopted a quantitative research design, while considering the influence of various factors on the Economic, Social and Environmental Sustainability. The data gathered from the study illustrated that the perception of stakeholders about Sustainable Tourism Development varied across different groups. Hence, all the stakeholders in the Tourism Industry need to work together, as this coordination will help to strengthen future development plans, in order to minimize the negative impacts of tourism in the backwater destinations of South Kerala. The study has also identified key turning points that will help to reshape the Sustainable Development of backwater tourism destinations of South Kerala. 2021 Editura Universitatii din Oradea. All rights reserved. -
Adsorptive capacity of PANI/Bi2O3 composite through isotherm and kinetics studies on alizarin red
Adsorption offers numerous advantages for eliminating organic pollutants such as dyes, making it a valuable method for water treatment. Polyaniline/Bi2O3 (PANI/Bi2O3) nanocomposite is synthesized from aniline by the chemical oxidative polymerization method. The sample shows a high positive surface charge density as seen from zeta potential analysis. X-ray Diffraction analysis, FTIR analysis, UVvis spectroscopy technique, thermogravimetric analysis, BET N2 Adsorption-desorption analysis, DLS, and zeta potential analysis are the tools employed to characterize the PANI/Bi2O3 nanocomposite. The impact of PANI/Bi2O3 on the outcome of adsorption is confirmed by comparing the composite with pristine Bi2O3 and PANI. The effect of various factors like time, temperature, initial dye concentration, and varying pH on the adsorption efficiency is studied. A maximum adsorption efficiency of 95 % is observed when 100 mg of PANI/Bi2O3 nanocomposite is utilized for a duration of 100 min. The adsorption efficiency increases at higher temperatures, and a maximum adsorption efficiency is observed at a pH of 11.4. The adsorption isotherms proposed by Freundlich and Langmuir are examined to confirm the adsorption mechanism, which entails the creation of a single layer of dye molecules on the adsorbent's surface. Analysis of kinetic parameters indicates that the reaction follows pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics. The composite produced demonstrates effectiveness as an adsorbent for removing harmful organic pollutants from water sources. 2024 Elsevier B.V. -
PANI/Bi2O3 polymeric nanocomposite for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol
Nitro-aromatics pollute the aquatic environment and reach human beings via drinking water. 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) is the most common pollutant among them and can be reduced to non-toxic 4-aminophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). Polyaniline/bismuth oxide (PANI/Bi2O3) nanocomposite is synthesized from aniline and Bi2O3 by chemical oxidative polymerization. The composition and structural properties of PANI/Bi2O3 composite are identified by various characterization methods like X-ray powder diffraction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis , and zeta potential analysis. The synthesized PANI/Bi2O3 shows high catalytic efficiency towards the reduction of 4-NP in the presence of NaBH4 under optimized reaction conditions. The numerous active sites on the composite and the presence of PANI/Bi2O3 interface are the reasons for the reduction of 4-NP to 4-aminophenol. A complete degradation is achieved in 15min with 0.1g of the composite. This nanocomposite shows good stability for five cycles without losing efficiency. PANI/Bi2O3 possesses a high reduction capacity and can be used to reduce other nitro organic pollutants in water. The aim of the study is to study the effective catalytic reduction of 4-NP using PANI/Bi2O3. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. -
Some graphs with super vertex sum number 2
In this paper we give optimal super vertex sum labeling scheme for super subdivision of bi-star, path union of spider and algorithm to construct super vertex sum labeling of super subdivision of Caterpillar. 2018 Academic Publications. -
Moderating effect of social media usage on technology barriers to technology adoption by teachers
The education and learning process is redefined with the mesmerizing impact of ever-volatile technology platforms. With the advent of the Industry 4.0, supported by the intelligent web 3.0 connectivity catalyzed the transformation of traditional education philosophies and pedagogies in tune with the Learning 4.0, to empower both learners and educators as co-producers of knowledge. The researches brought to light that social application platforms became an indispensable part of the digital learning process. The bio-inspired technology designs considerably cast off the issues related to ease of use, perceived usefulness, and reduced the perceived internal barriers of the teachers to improve their Technology Adoption substantially. This Technology Adoption research was conducted under the theoretical framework of the education change model of Michael Fullan integrated with educators Communities of Practice. This descriptive research study framed to address how the teachers Technology Adoption was affected by their use of social media platforms and how it moderated their perceived Technology Barriers. Standardized questionnaires from Joe W. Kotrlik and Donna H. Redmann were adopted with a pilot study. Stratified cluster sampling was used to gather 1029 responses from Higher Secondary School teachers of six educational districts in Kerala. The analysis was done with IBM SPSS v.21 and Process v.3.4. Teachers Social Media Use and Perceived Technology Barriers were significantly correlated with the Technology Adoption of the teachers. The perceived Technology Barriers were reduced with respect to their Social Media Usage. The relation of perceived Technology Barriers with Technology Adoption was significantly moderated with Social Media Use. Gender and school sectors were neither mediated nor moderated Technology Adoption. These results are helpful in the teachers technology training programs and for further research. 2019 SERSC. -
Impact of Technology Readiness and Techno Stress on Teacher Engagement in Higher Secondary Schools
Rapid technology advancements resulted a fundamental shift in the education sector which redefined the teaching-learning process and teacher engagement. Based on numerous studies on work engagement models and technology readiness, this study explores, how the teachers' readiness to embrace educational technologies, impact on teacher engagement. With stratified cluster sampling model, data were collected from principals, managers, students and 122 teaching staff from the Higher Secondary Schools of Kerala participated in this quantitative study using standardized tools. The study affirmed that age has negative relation with technology readiness and teacher engagement shows an organic technology adoption trend than a disruptive style. Teachers were highly engaged with students-colleagues and varied across experience/age groups. Technology readiness factors positively impacted on social engagements with students-colleagues. As education technology usage is exponential, more future research is needed. 2021 Research Group Education and Virtual Learning (GREAV). All rights reserved. -
New insights into surface functionalization and preparation methods of MWCNT based semiconductor photocatalysts
The manuscript primarily describes the influence of various synthesis strategies on the photocatalytic properties of MWCNT/TiO2 binary nanohybrids. The multiwalled carbon nanotube modified titania hybrids synthesized via two-step reaction involving the covalent functionalization with green and mild oxidizing agent like H2O2, followed by simple surfactant/template free hydrothermal synthesis exhibited the maximum photocatalytic efficiency. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC)analysis showed complete mineralization of the persistent Rhodamine B dye in about 8 h. These synthesized nanohybrids in varying MWCNT content were tested for their photocatalytic efficiency in the degradation of explosive effluents like 4-nitrophenol and picric acid. The UVVis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UVVis DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), BrunauerEmmettTeller Surface area analysis (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)and Raman spectra analysis evidently revealed the effective synergistic interaction between the MWCNT and titania at the interface that has contributed to the significant enhancement of photocatalytic performance. 2019 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. -
TOPOLOGICAL INVARIANTS OF GENERALIZED SPLITTING GRAPHS AND k-SHADOW GRAPHS
A topological index or an invariant can be defined as a function from a set of graphs to the real line. Topological indices are invariant under graph isomor- phism. This paper deals with the general expressions for various topological indices of two derived graphs called generalized splitting graphs and k-shadow graphs. In particular this manuscript discuss about the first Zagreb index, second Zagreb in- dex, F-index, hyper-Zagreb index, symmetric division degree index, first and the second multiplicative Zagreb indices and a lower bound for the irregularity index of generalized splitting graphs and k-shadow graphs. 2022 Yarmouk University. All rights reserved. -
A novel discrete slash family of distributions with application to epidemiology informatics data
This study puts forward a new class of discrete distribution that can be used by the epidemiologists and medical scientists to model data relating to epidemiology informatics. The proposed distribution is superior to traditional discrete modeling alternatives, viz., discrete Weibull and geometric distributions in terms of its model fit and flexibility to handle heavy-tailed dataset. It is a flexible three-parameter discrete distribution, grounded in the slash family and can be considered as a refined extension to the geometric distribution. We explored the diverse properties of this novel distribution thoroughly by evaluating the mathematical properties. The models parameters are estimated using the maximum likelihood estimation method, where the methodology validity is confirmed through an extensive simulation study. Furthermore, the practical utility of the distribution to model epidemiology informatics was examined with the help of eight different datasets representing three different dimensions of the epidemiology informatics, viz., mortality, infection and medication statistics. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Roman domination in signed graphs
Let S = (G, ?) be a signed graph. A function f : V ? {0, 1, 2} is a Roman dominating function on S if (i) for each v ? V, f(N[v]) = f(v) + Pu?N(v) ?(uv)f(u) ? 1 and (ii) for each vertex v with f(v) = 0, there exists a vertex u ? N+(v) such that f(u) = 2. In this paper we initiate a study on Roman dominating function on signed graphs. We characterise the signed paths, cycles and stars that admit a Roman dominating function. 2023 Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University. -
GLOBAL POVERTY AND HUMAN SECURITY: A VASUDHAIVA KU?U?BAKA? PERSPECTIVE
Poverty has been a persistent issue throughout human history, affecting societies worldwide. In the major industrialized nations, social welfare policies served as the primary approach to poverty alleviation until the late 20th century. In 1994, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) introduced a human-centred sustainable development model, emphasizing human security as a means to eradicate poverty and other forms of insecurity. Despite these efforts, data from the World Bank and other international organizations indicate that a significant portion of the global population remains impoverished, highlighting the ongoing need for development and inclusivity. The ancient Indian concept of vasudhaiva ku?u?baka?, which promotes open-mindedness, interconnectedness, brotherhood, and fairness, offers a universal vision rooted in a family model. Interpreted in a contemporary context, vasudhaiva ku?u?baka? presents a global perspective that resonates with the principles of human security. Integrating this concept with the human security framework holds the potential to address global poverty and promote the universality of human rights. This article seeks to reconstruct the human security paradigm through the perspective of vasudhaiva ku?u?baka? in order to eradicate poverty and promote global well-being. 2024 Journal of Dharma: Dharmaram Journal of Religions and Philosophies (DVK, Bangalore). -
Web-based single session therapy training for mental health support providers: a mixed-methods evaluation study protocol
The growing mental health needs and constrained resources in low- and middle-income countries necessitate scalable solutions. Single Session Therapy (SST) is a global trend in brief and cost-effective options for mental health interventions. It involves a single planned session between mental health service provider and client. This study aims to present a protocol to develop and evaluate a culture specific web-based training program to equip mental health support providers with the skills and confidence to deliver SST. The study protocol uses a mixed-methods evaluation design through three phasesneed assessment where psychologists and social workers collaborate to identify training needs and co-create the program; development and expert validation of the web-based training program; and randomized control trial to evaluate the training, followed by in-depth discussions with participants. This study breaks new ground by empirically designing and evaluating a training program for SST. It uniquely co-designs and validates a culturally sensitive SST training program, leveraging the expertise of a renowned international panel. This protocol goes beyond a blueprint for replicating this study, it serves as a foundational guide for nations seeking to implement effective SST training for their mental health professionals, preventing duplication of efforts. The Author(s) 2024. -
Comparative study of soil properties and vegetation at various open dump and non-dumpsites in the Bengaluru city of Karnataka, India
A comparative field studies on seven municipal dumpsites namely Agara 1 (12.917N, 77.639E), Agara 2 (12.922N, 77.639E), HSR depot (12.919N, 77.644E), Koraman-gala Church (12.934N, 77.626E), Koramanagla BDA (12.931N, 77.625E), Garvebhayipalya (12.897N, 77.638E) and Sanjay Gandhi hospital (12.891N, 77.601 E), and its adjoining non-dump sites were conducted to understand their soil characteristic features and the vegetation pattern. Soil characteristics were presented in terms of the physicochemical parameters and the vegetation patterns were presented in terms of the dominance using the ecological parameter Important Value Index (IVI). Soils at the dump sites showed higher mean electrical conductivity and pH values as compared to the non-dump sites. Though the mineral content showed higher mean value in the dump sites (except chloride), there is no significant variation in the higher total soluble solutes between dump and non-dump sites(P>0.05) As per ANNOVA there was highly significant variation in the heavy metal content between dump and non dumpsites (P<0.01).. With respect to vegetation analysis though 50 different species found across locations only 10 species viz Alternatheria sessile, Amaranthus spinose, Caesalpinia pulcherima, Ipomea acumilanata, Ipomea evolvulus, Parthenium hysterophorous Pisum sativum, Ricinis communis, Sida rombifolia and Solanum lycopersicum were found consistent across all locations irrespective of the seasons. Among these, A. sessile, R. communis and A. spinosa were found dominant based on the IVI values across seven locations which further can be studied for their potential for phyto remediating the land pollutants such as heavy metals. 2019, Applied and Natural Science Foundation. All rights reserved. -
Comparative study of phytoremediation of chromium contaminated soil by Amaranthus viridis in the presence of different chelating agents
Chromium is a harmful heavy metal to the environment due to the toxicity induced by it to plants and other living organisms. High concentration of Cr in soil poses severe toxicological problems ecosystem. Phytoremediation using different plants is an economical and environment-friendly method for removing Cr from soil. The addition of chelating agents augments the phytoex-traction using plants.The present study aimed to augment the Cr phytoremediation capacity of Amaranthus virdis, a predomi-nant plant species in the Cr-contaminated open dumpsites of Bangalore.. Phytoextraction of Cr by Amaranthus viridis was studied in the presence of different chelating agents viz. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), citric acid (CA), growth pro-moting hormone-indoleacetic acid (IAA) and NPK fertiliser. A. viridis grown under different concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mg/Kg) of Cr were treated with 0.5g EDTA/Kg of soil, 0.5g CA/Kg of soil, 1mg IAA/Kg of soil and NPK (125 mg of nitrogen, 45 mg of phosphorous and 156 mg of potassium per Kg of soil). Results indicated that CA, at 10 mg/kg Cr supply, induced the highest uptake (up to 29.25 g/plant). Furthermore, the study revealed that CA amendment induced maximum Cr uptake in A. viridis at all levels of Cr supply as compared to other amendments. This was due to the increased solubility of Cr in the presence of citric acid and the amelioration of oxidative stress due to Cr to plants by citric acid. This study inferred that the non-hyperaccumulating plant, A. virdis could be used as a phytoremediator for Cr in the presence of citric acid in the places where it is grown abundantly. Author (s). Publishing rights @ ANSF. -
The use of augmented reality in assessing and training children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a serious issue that must be addressed in the modern world. Treatment for ADHD is challenging because it is costly, has adverse effects, might not be successful, and is not considered an emergency. The reason that ADHD is hard to manage is because it causes people-especially children-to make impulsive decisions that hinder their ability to succeed in school, the workplace, and other areas of life. As an alternative approach, neurofeedback therapy or play therapy, which relies on real-time feedback of an individual's brainwave activity typically collected through electroencephalogram (EEG), has demonstrated promising outcomes in the treatment of mental disorders and enhancing cognitive capabilities. On the other hand, prolonged exposure to repetitive feedback might result in lower engagement since people may become disinterested in the process and find it difficult to continue participating. An extensive assessment on the use of augmented reality (AR) in the context of pediatric ADHD has been carried out, with an emphasis on the benefits of creating games specifically for kids with ADHD. By using AR technology in a group of children, the goal of this study was to investigate the basic characteristics of AR systems that aid in the identification and treatment of ADHD in children. 2024, Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved. -
Role of supramolecular interactions in crystal packing of Strandberg-type cluster-based hybrid solids
Abstract: Two new Strandberg-type cluster-based phosphomolybdates {H-2a3mp}5[{PO3(OH)}{PO4}Mo5O15], 1 and {H-2a4mp}5[{PO3(OH)}{PO4}Mo5O15]6H2O, 2 have been crystallized via solvent evaporation technique using 2-amino-3-methylpyridine (2a3mp) and 2-amino-4-methylpyridine (2a4mp) respectively. The solids were characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The solid 1 crystallized in monoclinic system with space group P21/c, a = 8.394(1), b = 27.398(6), c = 21.521(4) ? = 97.68(3), Z = 4. The solid 2 crystallized in triclinic system with space group P-1, a = 11.728(1), b = 14.234(1), c = 19.589(1) ? = 68.906(3), ? = 89.454(3), ? = 66.559(3), Z = 2. The solids 1 and 2 formed a supramolecular framework stabilized by hydrogen bonding interaction between cluster anions and organic moieties. CH? interactions between the organic moieties reinforced the crystal packing in 1 and 2. While crystal packing effects resulted in the formation of solvent-accessible voids in 1; aggregation of lattice water molecules in 2 facilitated the formation of pentameric water cluster. In addition, electrochemical behavior of 1 and 2 has also been investigated. Graphic abstract: Two new Strandberg-type cluster based phosphomolybdates, 1 and 2 have been crystallized via solvent evaporation technique using 2-amino-3-methylpyridine and 2-amino-4-methylpyridine. Detailed structural analysis revealed the role of supramolecular interactions in the crystal packing of these solids. In addition, electrochemical behavior of 1 and 2 has also been investigated.[Figure not available: see fulltext.] 2020, Indian Academy of Sciences. -
Relationship between Digital Leadership and Organizational Culture: Role of Digital Literacy
This study investigates the influence of digital literacy on leadership styles embraced by organizational leaders and its subsequent impact on organizational culture. The objective is to provide insights that can guide strategic decision-making and leadership development initiatives in the digital age. The research focuses on exploring the relationship between Digital Leadership and Organizational Cultural Changes, with a specific emphasis on the role of Digital Literacy. Primarily quantitative, the research relies on primary data for its insights. A meticulously designed questionnaire is administered to collect the necessary data. The results indicate that a Banking and Financial Services (BFS) manager, aged 31 to 40 years, earning a monthly income between INR 50,001 to INR 1,00,000, regardless of gender, marital status, and education, demonstrates a higher level of perceptions of digital leadership. Conversely, a BFS employee aged above 50 years, earning a monthly income up to INR 30,000, irrespective of gender, marital status, and education, exhibits a lower level of perceptions of digital leadership. Moderation analysis outcomes reveal that the primary connection between perceptions of digital leadership and organizational culture is significant. However, the moderation effect of digital literacy in the relationship between perceptions of digital leadership and perceptions of organizational culture is deemed insignificant. These findings contribute valuable insights for organizational decision-makers seeking to understand the intricate dynamics of digital leadership and its impact on shaping organizational culture in the contemporary business landscape. 2024, Iquz Galaxy Publisher. All rights reserved. -
Perception of information and communication technology tools among small and medium enterprises in Bengaluru
The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector is a critically important sector. Despite its large contribution to the economy of the country, SMEs are not in a good position in terms of finance, technology and markets at present. The major problem faced by SME?s in India is the adoption of technology. The basic aim of this study is to evaluate the Information and Communication Tools (ICT) adoption by SME?s in India. For the study, a survey consisting of a self-administered questionnaire was conducted. The study utilized correlation and regression analysis. The findings prove that the institutional pressures have no significant influence on the advantages of ICT adoption, Challenges of ICT adoption and Awareness of different government schemes. Benefits of ICT adoption has moderate influence on Challenges of ICT adoption. The study showcases the factors that motivate entrepreneurs, firm owners to adopt ICT, and the challenges that an SME will face for ICT adoption. 2020, Institute of Advanced Scientific Research, Inc.. All rights reserved.