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Gym-Goers Self-Identification with Physically Attractive Fitness Trainers and Intention to Exercise
Gym-goers often socially compare themselves with their trainers as they strive to look as attractive as their fitness trainers. The aim of this study was to better understand this phenomenon in the fitness industry. Relying on social comparison theory and social identity theory, self-identification with a physically attractive fitness trainer was posited to have a strong mediating effect on the relationship between appearance motive, weight management motive and gym-goers intention to exercise. The moderation effects of gym-goers age and gender in the direct relationships between appearance motive, weight management motive and exercise intention were also examined. The primary outcome of this study revealed that gym-goers who were influenced by appearance and weight management motives are more likely to identify with physically attractive fitness trainers. Additionally, gender significantly moderates the relationships between appearance motive, weight management motive and exercise intention. Appearance and weight management motives are the primary factors that influence the exercise intention of female gym-goers as compared to their male counterparts. This study sheds new insights into understanding the influence of the physical attractiveness of fitness trainers and its impact on gym-goers exercise intentions via self and social identification process. 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. -
A Prompt Study on Recent Advances in the Development Of Colorimetric and Fluorescent Chemosensors for Nanomolar Detection of Biologically Important Analytes
Fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors for selective detection of various biologically important analytes have been widely applied in different areas such as biology, physiology, pharmacology, and environmental sciences. The research area based on fluorescent chemosensors has been in existence for about 150years with the development of large number of fluorescent chemosensors for selective detection of cations as metal ions, anions, reactive species, neutral molecules and different gases etc. Despite the progress made in this field, several problems and challenges still exist. The most important part of sensing is limit of detection (LOD) which is the lowest concentration that can be measured (detected) with statistical significance by means of a given analytical procedure. Although there are so many reports available for detection of millimolar to micromolar range but the development of chemosensors for the detection of analytes in nanomolar range is still a challenging task. Therefore, in our current review we have focused the history and a general overview of the development in the research of fluorescent sensors for selective detection of various analytes at nanomolar level only. The basic principles involved in the design of chemosensors for specific analytes, binding mode, photophysical properties and various directions are also covered here. Summary of physiochemical properties, mechanistic view and type of different chemosensors has been demonstrated concisely in the tabular forms. Graphical Abstract: In our current review we have focused the history and a general overview of the development in the research of fluorescent sensors for selective detection of various analytes at nanomolar level only. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Comparison of the Results of Steady Darcy-Be ?ard Convection Problems of the Classical and the Barletta Types
The linear stability analysis of the Barletta-Darcy-Bnard convection problem in a horizontal fluid-saturated porous layer is extended to a weakly nonlinear stability analysis considering local thermal equilibrium (LTE) between the fluid and solid phases. The minimal Fourier-Galerkin expansion is used for the case of a free upper surface (Neumann boundary condition on the stream function) along with isothermal boundary condition for which heat transport is quantified in terms of the Nusselt number. The present article aims to fill the literature gap between the linear and nonlinear stability analyses of classical Darcy-Bnard convection and of Barletta-Darcy-Bnard convection. Weakly non-linear stability analysis has not been performed in the case of the non-classical Darcy-Bnard convection problem. A comparison of results of the present problem with those of the classical Darcy-Bnard convection problem is made. It is found that the cell size is larger in the case of the former problem compared to the latter. The critical Darcy-Rayleigh number, however is smaller in the former one. The Nusselt number varies inversely as the Rayleigh number, R and hence the Nusselt number increases with decrease in R which implies that more heat is transported in Barletta-Darcy-Bnard convection compared to classical Darcy-Bnard convection. 2025, Semarak Ilmu Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Evaluation of Social Media Marketing Literature in the Tourism Industry Using PRISMA
Social media is an effective communication and information-sharing tool for tourism enterprises and organisations. Tourism marketing shall tap the growing popularity of social media and internet users, embracing a technological shift by optimising the potential of social media. This research study evaluates the academic journal articles related to social media in the tourism industry published on EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar academic databases from 2005 to 2022. The article adopts a content analysis approach to review the articles and to evaluate the present state of knowledge of social media marketing in academic literature. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) is used for reporting and screening the review papers. The articles were coded and categorised under six major themes: Marketing, Destination experience/image, Tourism recovery, Smart tourism, Communication and Promotion. The research analysis has identified two major areas: (a) Travellers/tourists Perspective which has a focus on their behavioural attitude and (b) Tourism Agencies Perspective which has a functional approach. Based on the review of the literature to give direction for further research, an improvised version of the definition for the term social media with the inclusion of more specific terms in it has been proposed with theoretical and practical implications. 2023 MICA-The School of Ideas. -
Evaluation of Social Media Marketing Literature in the Tourism Industry Using PRISMA
Social media is an effective communication and information-sharing tool for tourism enterprises and organisations. Tourism marketing shall tap the growing popularity of social media and internet users, embracing a technological shift by optimising the potential of social media. This research study evaluates the academic journal articles related to social media in the tourism industry published on EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar academic databases from 2005 to 2022. The article adopts a content analysis approach to review the articles and to evaluate the present state of knowledge of social media marketing in academic literature. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) is used for reporting and screening the review papers. The articles were coded and categorised under six major themes: Marketing, Destination experience/image, Tourism recovery, Smart tourism, Communication and Promotion. The research analysis has identified two major areas: (a) Travellers/tourists Perspective which has a focus on their behavioural attitude and (b) Tourism Agencies Perspective which has a functional approach. Based on the review of the literature to give direction for further research, an improvised version of the definition for the term social media with the inclusion of more specific terms in it has been proposed with theoretical and practical implications. 2023 MICA-The School of Ideas. -
Regulating the Rise of Transformers in Global Healthcare: A Legal and International Law Perspective on AI Governance, Ethics, and Data Protection
With advances in healthcare, GPT, BioGPT and MedPaLM are helping doctors diagnose better, choose better treatments and engage with patients. Yet, these uses bring up significant problems related to privacy, understanding what the algorithms do, who is responsible for actions and gaining agreement. The paper examines global regulation on AI-for example, GDPR, HIPAA, India's DPDP Act, OECD AI Principles and UNESCO's AI Ethics Recommendation-and points out where gaps still exist, mainly in places with lower and middle incomes. Using both comparative studies and a focus on policies, it proposes common standards, specially designed rules for AI liability and ways to test ethical considerations. To provide secure, clear and equal use of AI in healthcare markets, the study proposes that countries come together to govern the technology. 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Reconciling Privacy Rights With Digital Investigations: Legal-Ethical Challenges in Cyber Forensics
The advancement of cyber forensics-through Al-driven profiling, metadata analysis, and real-time surveillance has enhanced digital investigations but raised significant legal and ethical concerns. This chapter explores the growing tension between state surveillance and individual privacy, focusing on the Indian legal framework, includ-ing the Justice K.S. Putaswamy decision, and comparing it with global standards such as the GDPR, ECHR, and Budapest Convention. Key issues addressed include algorithmic bias, lack of consert, cross-border data sharing, and misuse of forensic tools against vulnerable groups. The chapter argues for a balanced, rights-based framework grounded in privacy-by-design, proportionality, and judicial oversight. It offers policy recommendations to ensure cyber forensic practices remain effective while upholding constitutional protections and international human rights norms. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Algorithms Against Manipulation: Safeguarding Consumer Rights in AI Shopping
The growing use of AI driven shopping agents has transformed digital commerce through enhanced personalization, while simultaneously enabling new forms of consumer manipulation, including dark patterns, algorithmic price discrimination, and subscription traps. This chapter critically examines whether existing regulatory frameworks particularly the GDPR, the EUAI Act, and Indias Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 are adequate to address persuasive algorithmic practices. It argues that prevailing consent based regulatory models are structurally ill-equipped to counter real-time and adaptive AI driven manipulation. Drawing on regulatory gaps and contemporary case studies, the chapter advances the normative proposal of classifying advanced AI shopping agents as information fiduciaries. Such a framework would impose enforceable duties of loyalty and care toward consumers, moving beyond notice-and-consent paradigms and strengthening consumer protection in AI-mediated digital marketplaces. Copyright 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. -
Synergizing Edge AI and Quantum Machine Learning for Real-Time Cyber Threat Mitigation
The escalation of the complexity of cyber threats must be countered by traditional signature- and rule- based security approaches. In this study, we propose a hybrid Edge AI-Quantum Machine Learning (QML) framework that employs variational quantum circuits and classical neural networks towards real-time per-device threat detection. Using three case studies, we validate the framework: (1) fraud detection in high frequency trading with 17% more true positives and 22% less false positives; (2) inference times under 100 ms for IoT anomaly detection; and (3) reduction of over 25% in deepfake misclassification. The built system is built end- to- end with an open- source stack. Finally, regulatory and ethical considerations (GDPR, data, privacy, international cybersecurity protocols, etc., Budapest Convention) are discussed. In presenting this work, we present a scalable and adaptive model for next- generation cybersecurity. 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Regulating the Speed of Innovation: A Legal and Ethical Framework for 6G Deployment in Smart Societies
The expected use of 6G technologies contains unmatched breakthroughs in hyperconnectivity, real-time holographic communication, and AI-supported immersivity. There is, however, in this technological leap, a complex legal-ethical-regulatory issue scene that must be addressed now, worldwide. This chapter provides a cross-disciplinary argument on a missing legal regime that can best govern 6G-enabled ecosystems and especially referring to the governance of the real-time artificial intelligence, XR/VR applications, the privacy consequences surrounding data, and nanobots and human rights concerns in a 6G future. This chapter can be taken as comparative legal, following which the emerging 6G regulatory principles are explored in the example of the European Union (Digital Services Act, AI Act), United States (AI Bill of Rights, FCC policies), and India (Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023). It also closes in foreign legal materials such as the Budapest Conference on Cybercrime and General Comment No. 25 (2021) on the right to privacy in the online world of the UN Human Rights Committee. The e-Governance model of Estonia, with significant use of AI and XR to enhance the functionality of the communication network is analyzed as a case study in this view to show the potential, as well as the challenges such hyper-automation can bring about. This chapter is then contrasted with the situation in China, which currently has a 6G surveillance infrastructure and explains why algorithms, mass surveillance, and illegal profiling are risky without some regulation. Besides, this chapter explores transnational data transfer, cyber sovereignty, and cross-border information law enforcement, which require global uniformity by all nations. It is insisted that the precautionary principle and technology impact assessments (TIAs) must be conducted as prerequisites to widespread 6G implementation in smart cities, smart tourism, and healthcare fields. The chapter ends by proposing an International 6G Governance Charter expressing the need to secure legally binding protection of AI-integrated XR systems, the obligation to be transparent, and enforcement-based rights of users within the ultra-fast communication space. 2026 selection and editorial matter, Upinder Kaur, Aparna Kumari, Hemant Kumar Saini, Surbhi B. Khan, and Mariya Ouaissa; individual chapters, the contributors. -
Using Machine Learning Algorithms to Personalize Customer Experience in Ghost Kitchens: Hyper-Personalized Marketing and Promotion
The emergence of ghost kitchens has revolutionized the food delivery industry by leveraging machine learning algorithms to enhance customer satisfaction and personalized experiences. This chapter, examines how predictive analytics identifies customer preferences, helping ghost kitchens create effective marketing strategies aligned with tastes and behaviours. It highlights real-time personalization, where offers are tailored based on past orders, location, and time, fostering relevance and loyalty. AI-driven customer segmentation is explored as a vital tool for precise targeting. At the same time, the chapter also addresses how AI assesses campaign performance to refine marketing tactics and adapt to changing demands. This research adds new fresh knowledge to the established body of knowledge in the context of restaurant food consumption behavior (Maziriri, E. T., Rukuni, T. F., & Chuchu, T. (2021)). This chapter is going to explore how AI advancements revolutionize resource utilization, evolving customer preferences, sustainable growth. 2025 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Comparative Study of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G for Residential Internet Services
Whereas Wi-Fi 6 and 5G briefly competed in the home internet space, 5G has since outpaced Wi-Fi 6 in speed and reliability. Wi-Fi 6 and 5G have detailed white papers outlining their protocols and specs. Initial home use and advanced Wi-Fi use should prioritize downloading, as Wi-Fi 6 offers a significant edge in download speed, latency, and efficiency in multi-device environments (most homes have a home intelligence system, phones, and PCs). 5G has no physical PC connection and must be provisioned by a carrier and covered by a cell tower. Hence, its advantages are for rural users and for users who typically work from home. Each has specific target markets, with the home as the primary focus, including streaming media and gaming, multiple smart home devices, and a home office. Install speed and cost, system-wide latency (total system, including devices), data retention and privacy, device lock (data retention), and scaling (to be sound). 5G uses cell towers with a large and covered geographic area and no physical restrictions. Each has target markets where advanced Wi-Fi has outpaced rural users and mobile users. This is where Wi-Fi has outpaced 5G (5G is a better solution for streaming, data retention, and scaling). Findings indicate that Wi-Fi 6 is excellent in environments with high-speed broadband. At the same time, 5G demonstrates its advantages in areas with low-quality broadband or when users require mobile Internet access. Because both technologies offer unique benefits, combining them may yield the best home connectivity. The document enables buyers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and community decision-makers to choose cutting-edge internet connectivity options. 2025, Innovative Information Science and Technology Research Group. All rights reserved. -
Temperature and pressure dependent luminescence mechanism of a zinc blende structured ZnS:Mn nanophosphor under UV excitation
A comprehensive photoluminescence and mechanoluminescence analysis of a ZnS:Mn2+ nano-phosphor with a zinc blende structure is presented. The sample containing quantum dot-sized nanocrystallites was synthesized by the chemical precipitation method and shows excellent orange luminescence at ambient conditions related to the 4T1 ? 6A1 transition. The sample shows stable and identical luminescence behavior under both UV and X-ray excitation at ambient conditions and also exhibits excellent self-powered mechanoluminescence properties. The pressure and temperature-induced luminescence mechanism of the phosphor is also established. The shift of the 4T1 ? 6A1 luminescence band of Mn2+ with both pressure and temperature and the luminescence mechanism is explained via the d5 Tanabe Sugano diagram. The broad luminescence band of the 4T1 ? 6A1 transition shifts from the visible to near-infrared range at a rate of ?35.8 meV GPa?1 with the increase of the pressure and it is subsequently quenched completely at a pressure of 16.41 GPa due to a reversible phase transition from zinc blende (F4?3m) to rocksalt (Fm3?m) phase. The high-pressure and temperature-dependent decay kinetics measurements of the sample luminescence are also reported. 2024 The Royal Society of Chemistry. -
Molecularly imprinted graphene based biosensor as effective tool for electrochemical sensing of uric acid
Graphene oxide based molecularly imprinted polymer was designed by incorporating vinyltrimethoxysilane into the layers of graphene oxide, which was copolymerized with functional monomers such as Itaconic acid (IA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) was developed via bulk imprinting technique. The prepared polymer was studied for selective sensing the uric acid (UA) in blood serum. The electrode was constructed by modifying bare glassy carbon electrodes with the prepared molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) via drop cast method. Electrochemical measurements were made by Cyclic voltammetric (CV) and Differential Pulse Voltammetric (DPV) response of the sensor. The physical and chemical properties of the resultant material will be characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD and FESEM. The constructed sensor showed a regression coefficient (R2) of 0.9302 with limit of detection (LOD) of about 0.565 ??M. The developed sensor is reusable without any compromise in its selectivity. All the results confirm that the constructed biosensor requires no pre-treatment of samples and is suitable for real sample analysis. 2023 The Authors -
Acid functionalized Arachis hypogaea skin based carbon nanosphere as efficacious material for enhanced energy storage
The present introduces a single step approach for enhancing supercapacitor performance by utilizing acid-functionalized porous carbon derived from the inner skin of Arachis hypogaea as a sustainable biomass precursor. Through pyrolysis at 800 C in a nitrogen atmosphere, the resulting porous carbon material demonstrates unique structural and electrochemical behavior as confirmed by FTIR, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FE-SEM, HR-TEM,EDS,BET analyses. The acid functionalized variant (FAH8) significantly outperformed the non-functionalized carbon (AH8), showing a fourfold increase in specific capacitance. Electrochemical evaluations revealed that FAH8 achieved a high specific capacitance of 273 Fg?1 at 0.25 Ag?1 in 3 M KOH, with an energy density of 22.5 Wh kg?1 and a power density of 125 W kg?1 in a three-electrode setup. The symmetrical CR2032 device of FAH8 exhibited a maximum capacitance of 98 Fg?1 and displayed excellent stability, with 98.5 % efficiency and 97.4 % capacitance retention after 7500 cycles. Notably, the device also delivered a high energy density of 23.17 Wh kg?1 and power density of 325.0 W kg?1. The enhanced performance attributed by the simple acid functionalization highlights the potential of this material in energy storage. Thus, the study not only emphasizes the effective use of low-cost biomass precursors but also provides a straightforward functionalization strategy to boost energy storage capabilities, paving the way for sustainable high-performance supercapacitors. 2025 Elsevier Ltd -
Porous Carbon Nanospheres and MXene Nanocomposites for Enhanced Energy Storage Devices
In the present work, we prepared the porous carbon nanosphere from a biomass precursor (CNS) and made a composite of CNS with MXene (Ti3C2Tx) in various ratios. All the CNS:Mxene composites were electrochemical evaluated in three-electrode system in 3M KOH electrolyte solution with techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic chargedischarge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The 6:4 CNS:Ti3C2Tx MX ratio was found to exhibit excellent electrochemical performance with a higher specific capacitance of 527.5 Fg?1 at a current density of 0.25 Ag?1. A symmetric device study was carried out with 6:4 ratio of CNS:Ti3C2TxMX composite in S4R-SS316 type Swagelok cell. The device exhibited a maximum specific capacitance of 45.0 Fg?1 at a current density of 0.25 Ag?1, with a higher power density of 2500 Wkg?1 and very low energy density of 6.25Wh Kg?1. Thus, the electrochemical performance of the CNS/Ti3C2Tx MX composite exhibited a combined electrical conductivity from the MXene, and the porous nature and significant surface area from CNS, which improved the wettability implying the potential of CNS:MXene composites for enhanced energy storage. 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH. -
Acid functionalized Arachis hypogaea skin based carbon nanosphere as efficacious material for enhanced energy storage
The present introduces a single step approach for enhancing supercapacitor performance by utilizing acid-functionalized porous carbon derived from the inner skin of Arachis hypogaea as a sustainable biomass precursor. Through pyrolysis at 800 C in a nitrogen atmosphere, the resulting porous carbon material demonstrates unique structural and electrochemical behavior as confirmed by FTIR, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FE-SEM, HR-TEM,EDS,BET analyses. The acid functionalized variant (FAH8) significantly outperformed the non-functionalized carbon (AH8), showing a fourfold increase in specific capacitance. Electrochemical evaluations revealed that FAH8 achieved a high specific capacitance of 273 Fg?1 at 0.25 Ag?1 in 3 M KOH, with an energy density of 22.5 Wh kg?1 and a power density of 125 W kg?1 in a three-electrode setup. The symmetrical CR2032 device of FAH8 exhibited a maximum capacitance of 98 Fg?1 and displayed excellent stability, with 98.5 % efficiency and 97.4 % capacitance retention after 7500 cycles. Notably, the device also delivered a high energy density of 23.17 Wh kg?1 and power density of 325.0 W kg?1. The enhanced performance attributed by the simple acid functionalization highlights the potential of this material in energy storage. Thus, the study not only emphasizes the effective use of low-cost biomass precursors but also provides a straightforward functionalization strategy to boost energy storage capabilities, paving the way for sustainable high-performance supercapacitors. 2025 Elsevier Ltd -
Amide-enriched pod-based carbon nanospheres for enhancing supercapacitor performance: A value-added approach for solid state supercapacitors
The present work involves the fabrication of symmetric solid-state supercapacitors (SSSCs) using amide-functionalized carbon nanospheres (CNS) derived from Magnolia champaca pods, a bio-waste material. The pods were carbonized at temperatures ranging from 400 C to 1000 C, with CNS at 800 C (MC800) showing best electrochemical performance. The synthesized materials, i.e., MC400, MC600, MC800, MC1000, were characterized by techniques such as FESEM, HR-TEM, FTIR, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and BET. Amide functionalization, achieved through the use of 2,3,4-trifluoroaniline (TFA), enhanced charge storage capacity by improving ion transport and surface interaction, resulting in the functionalized CNS labeled as MC800/COOH-TFA. The electrochemical investigation of the CNS was studied via techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The functionalization led to two-fold increase in specific capacitance from 243 Fg?1 to 410 Fg?1 at a current density of 0.25Ag?1 in 3 M KOH. The SSSCs was fabricated using MC800/COOH-TFA with a PVA-KOH gel electrolyte demonstrating a good areal capacitance of 40 mFcm?2 at 1.0 mAcm?2. Moreover, the device exhibited excellent energy density of 5.54 ?Whcm?2 and cycle stability, retaining 71.75 % of its capacitance after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles. The response time of the functionalized sample has been reduced to 2.31 s (MC800/COOH-TFA) from 4.73 s (MC800). These results highlight the potential of amide functionalized CNS in producing efficient, sustainable energy storage devices with improved performance. 2025 Elsevier Ltd -
Do Koreans hate Indians? Fact checking viral online videos calling out Korean racism
[No abstract available] -
Contemplating hair: Many shades of hair oppression in India
What is it like to be a woman with wavy/curly hair in a country like India? Although hair stories are different for different women, one common hair story for all Indian women with wavy/curly hair is moments of insecurity regarding the normalcy and beauty appeal of their hair. Aside from the discrimination faced due to the texture of hair, Indian women also face restrictions and suffocations in terms of creative self-expression of hair. This chapter presents an overview of the hair culture in India from a historical perspective along with religious narratives. The nature of hair discrimination of women in India is discussed and the chapter also shed light on institutionalised illogical restrictions. The author's personal hair stories will serve as an example to underline the complexity of hair discrimination in India. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved.