Browse Items (1422 total)
Sort by:
-
Microbial Fuel Cells: The Microbial Route for Bioelectricity
The quest for sustainable energy sources serves as the essential pillar for development of humans since the dawn of civilization. The alarming increase in demand of energy, especially electricity propelled the need to screen for alternative sources of energy over the conventional fossil based non-renewable counterparts. Electricity generation through microbial route functions by the fundamental phenomena of electron transport chain and the microbes operate as the source of energy production utilizing the substrate. Since its initiation, microbial fuel cell has gained a lot of research focus from all over the world. The integration of waste treatment with power generation was highlighted as the most productive and sustainable part of microbial fuel cells. Over the past few decades, a lot of research and development was done on improving the design of fuel cells, searching for cost-effective electrodes and membranes for commercialization. Despite tremendous research done on this domain, its commercialization still faces a lot of hurdles especially once it comes to the overall maintenance and production cost. This chapter summarizes the basic architecture of different microbial fuel cells and the challenges that need to be addressed for making microbial fuel cells a sustainable route for the bioelectricity generation from microorganisms. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020. -
Microfinance Sector and the Supportive Role of Regulator in its Transformation: A Case Study from India
Microfinance is a proven business model to deliver financial services to unbanked. In the beginning years of microfinance, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) were engaged in microfinance initiative and used to raise capital through grants for their microfinance program, similar to other grant-based development initiatives. To become self-sustainable financial institutions, NGOs started to transform their microfinance initiatives to a for-profit legal entity. Microfinance experienced commercialization in the process of transformation which neglected the basics of microfinance, especially in protecting the interest of clients. Supportive role of regulator transformed the Indian microfinance sectors and formed sustainable financial institutions. The successful story of Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) intervention in shaping Indian microfinance sector counters the argument of free market principle in fixing the interest rate and healthy regulation for microfinance institutions. Supportive role of Reserve Bank of India created win-win situation for both microfinance borrowers, microfinance institutions and other stakeholders for the long-term sustainability. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021. -
Educational technology at pivotal crossroads
Educational technology startups, commonly referred to as EdTech, combine education and innovative technology to transform school environments and improve student learning outcomes. Set against the backdrop of primary and secondary schools, this exploratory study uncovers the most important factors affecting the growth of EdTech startups in Bengaluru, India. Drawing on Isenberg's Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Model (2010, 2011) this exploratory, qualitative study concludes that "lack of conducive culture, infrastructure support, and finance as well as inadequacies in entrepreneurial approach and value addition" affect the growth of startups in EdTech Entrepreneurial landscape. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Advances in text steganography theory and research: A critical review and gaps
There is an immense advancement in science and technology, and computing systems with the highest degree of security are the present hot topic; however, the domination of hackers and espionage in terms of disclosing the sensitive information are steadily increasing. This chapter presents a theoretical view and critical examination of the few text steganography methods in the contemporary world. It tells the direction in which research has developed over the past few years. Cryptography, the encipherment to a certain extent, protects the data by making it unreadable but not safe. Improvisation of the same can be done using another layer of protection that is steganography in which the secret embedded inside the cover text will not be revealed. 2021, IGI Global. -
Computational statistics of data science for secured software engineering
The chapter focuses on exploring the work done for applying data science for software engineering, focusing on secured software systems development. With requirements management being the first stage of the life cycle, all the approaches that can help security mindset right at the beginning are explored. By exploring the work done in this area, various key themes of security and its data sources are explored, which will mark the setup of base for advanced exploration of the better approaches to make software systems mature. Based on the assessments of some of the work done in this area, possible prospects are explored. This exploration also helps to emphasize the key challenges that are causing trouble for the software development community. The work also explores the possible collaboration across machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing approaches. The work helps to throw light on critical dimensions of software development where security plays a key role. 2021, IGI Global. -
Application of machine intelligence-based knowledge graphs for software engineering
This chapter focuses on knowledge graphs application in software engineering. It starts with a general exploration of artificial intelligence for software engineering and then funnels down to the area where knowledge graphs can be a good fit. The focus is to put together work done in this area and call out key learning and future aspirations. The knowledge management system's architecture, specific application of the knowledge graph in software engineering like automation of test case creation and aspiring to build a continuous learning system are explored. Understanding the semantics of the knowledge, developing an intelligent development environment, defect prediction with network analysis, and clustering of the graph data are exciting explorations. 2021, IGI Global. -
Digitization and smart tourism: Technological opportunities for luxury tourism and destination image
Commitment to technology, sustainability, innovation, and accessibility has not only improved the quality of life but has also created a niche for luxury tourism with smart tourism eco-space. Smart tourism destinations (STD) need vigorous, well-connected stakeholders with the help of a technological platform for data exchange. Instant data exchange creates extremely large data sets known as big data. This chapter aims to contribute to the understanding on how smart tourism destinations could potentially enhance luxury tourism that is more personalized to meet visitors' unique needs and preferences. Developing smart tourism destinations can be an effective mode to engage all the stakeholders and tourists. In improving destination performance, smart tourism ecosystem applies social media analytics and smart tourism technologies. This chapter aims to relate local area as smart tourism local service systems (S-TLSS) and luxury tourism. 2021 by IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
A secure bio-hash-based multiparty mutual authentication protocol for remote health monitoring applications
Remote health monitoring can benefit a large number of stake holders in healthcare industry, and it has the potential to make healthcare facilities available to a large number of masses at a reduced cost. Wireless Body Area networks (WBAN) comprising of sensors, capable of capturing and transferring physiological parameters of patients, provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for remote health monitoring. Data security is one among the major concerns preventing the widespread adoption of this technology by patients and healthcare sector. This chapter on remote health monitoring, presents a biometric-based authentication protocol. The work also proposes a multiparty mutual authentication protocol for authenticating the entities, such as users, sensors, personal devices, and medical gateway, participating in a WBAN. In the proposed protocol, a verifier table is not required to store the password of users. Formal security analysis and verification of the discussed protocols are performed using Scyther tool, and the results reveal that the protocols are resistant to privileged-administrator resilience attack, man-in-the-middle attack, replay attack, and impersonation attack. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. -
An impact of antibacterial efficacy of metal oxide nanoparticles: A promise for future
Since its advent, nanotechnology has seen applications in diverse fields including the biomedical domain. Many metal oxide nanoparticles (NP) have shown good antimicrobial properties. Their small size and ability to inhibit a broad spectrum of bacterial species have made them promising candidates in our search of antimicrobial agents. Since, they don't target a specific protein in a microbial species, the chances of the microbe gaining resistance is also less. This is indeed a great advantage over antibiotics, most of which target specific proteins of bacteria. Most of the pathogenic bacteria have gained resistance against commonly used antibiotics. In this context there is a dire need of antimicrobials with a broader spectrum of action. Metal oxide nanoparticles like: ZnO NPs and CuO NPs easily fit into this category. They can suppress microbial growth by reactive oxygen species production, thereby causing damage to biomolecules, cation release, interactions with membrane and ATP depletion. One of the challenges with metal oxide NP is their cytotoxicity. Scientists are in search of degradable and less toxic metal oxide NP. The current review focuses on the relative advantages and limitations of various metal oxides NPs in inhibiting microbial growth. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Anti-biofilm activities of nanocomposites: Current scopes and limitations
The past few decades have seen revolutions in the applications of nanomaterials in different walks of science. One of the significant applications in healthcare is the use of nanoparticles (NP) in killing both free floating and biofilm forming bacteria. Several nanoparticles like CuO, Fe3O4, TiO2, ZnO, MgO and Al2O3 NPs have been proven to achieve this feature with varying efficacies. A more advanced and efficient way to disrupt bacterial biofilms is the use of nanocomposite (NC) materials to eliminate bacteria. Along with various metal oxides, materials like graphene and chitosan can also be used to create various types of NC. One of the biggest advantages of NP and NC over antibiotics is their ability to circumvent the problem of bacterial resistance. The mechanisms by which NC disrupts biofilms, synthesis and characterization of NC and their relative advantages and limitations are discussed in this chapter. With the ever-increasing incidences of diseases caused by multidrug resistant and biofilm forming bacteria, there is an urgent need to devise materials like nanocomposites with a broader spectrum of action. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Applications of neuroscience in education practices: A research review in cognitive neuroscience
The human brain is the most complex and mysterious organ in the body responsible for learning. Applications of neuroscience and genetics need to be comprehended to modulate teaching and learning practices in education. Considering the scope for application of advanced sciences in education practices, this book chapter simplifies and reviews ten critical research findings relevant for students and teachers for classroom applications and for modulating learning patterns for different age groups. The concept is also relevant for parents and the academic fraternity at large. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Neurocognitive aspects of mathematical achievement in children
Neurocognitive factors, including information integration and executive functioning, contribute significantly to a child's early success in math achievement, even though the significance of home and school environments cannot be ignored. There are only a few studies that have systematically examined how information integration and executive function skills impact different aspects of learning math and math achievement. Using a comprehensive tool such as the brain-Based Intelligence Test (BBIT), a brain-based comprehensive approach to the understanding of cognition, for the assessment of information integration and executive function skills can have significant implications for mathematical education and remediation (brain plasticity). The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Starting from the roots of teacher education: Inclusion of educational neuroscience in teacher training in India
Educational neuroscience has warranted much research and showed much promise in recent times. However, there is a lack of effective bridging between research in this field and its implementation in actual classroom settings. In order to bridge this gap, a key strategy is to include educational neuroscience in teacher training and education. The current study uses a survey method to assess student-teachers' awareness, opinions, and openness toward educational neuroscience concepts and techniques. This study examines a snowball sample of 83 Indian student-teachers who joined the Bachelor of Education program in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The results of this study indicate that although most student-teachers are aware of certain techniques, they are unaware that it is part of educational neuroscience. Further, the student-teachers also showed interest in learning such techniques and considered it relevant and useful in classroom teaching. Finally, this study also highlights the role of decision-makers in including educational neuroscience in the B.Ed. program, possibly as an optional paper. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Transformative pedagogy integrating bloom's taxonomy, David Kolb's experiential learning and neuro-systemic dynamics in learning
An application of Kolb's experiential learning theory (ELT) in real situations as a blend of Bloom's taxonomy of education is given as a case study conducted about more than 15 years ago. The world has changed since then with revolutionary developments in the techno-world. Student portfolio is regarded as the documentary evidence created by the student to diagnose the student's strengths and weaknesses to assist him or her in learning. In light of this case study and developments in technology, further scope in the application of the ELT model is discussed. It is also recognised that technology to facilitate experiential learning using virtual reality or augmented reality tools is to be made more user-friendly in terms of affordability and that neuroplasticity has an important role to play in this. A case for more research in neuroscience to analyse learning styles is raised. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Importance of brain-based learning in effective teaching process
Neuroscience plays an important role to inform about brain functioning and corresponding behaviors. While scientists have continuously studied about brain in its entirety, several other fields in science, arts, and humanities are drawing applications from these neuroscientific studies. Similarly, in terms of education too, there are several applications. Once such is brain-based learning. This is to learn and teach with an understanding about brain's capability and functioning to increase one's learning potential. In order to do so, effective teaching is required. This particular chapter thus focuses on different teaching strategies which adopt brain-based learning and are evidence-based. The chapter initially informs about neuroscience and cognitive science interaction and its impact on effective teaching-learning process. After which evidence-based teaching strategies in classrooms, their importance via evidence-based studies, and techniques to incorporate them in classroom settings are explained. Finally, the chapter concludes with challenges and benefits. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Crux role of neurocomputing in teaching learning pedagogy
The advent of brain-based learning in the early 1990s has limelighted the syndication between the educational learning process and neurosciences. Through educational learning ability, an individual can gather and assimilate anecdotes or come up with new notions with logical conclusions to form an organizational memory. Supreme level of knowledge assimilation ability results in developing new crucial knowledge for strategic renewal for the betterment of the learning process. Earlier efforts to link neuroscience and learning mode were controversial. However, continuous researches imply the significant role of neurosciences in the field of education and its deep-rooted involvement in building reformed educational pedagogy related to curriculum and general teaching-learning practices. Educational neurosciences help in interpreting brain-behaviour intricacy to provide latest teaching-learning strategies. Education is the most robust cognitive skill developer, and it must be provided to all irrespective of age and gender as it makes the person flexible and provides strength to cope with the adversities. Through this report, we would like to covey the deep association between the teaching-learning process with neurological sciences along with providing measures to be taken for holistic development in the educational setups. Learning is a by-product of human behaviour towards the external environment. Recent advanced tools of neuroimaging aid in more in-depth insight linked to adaptive neural mechanics, knowledge attainment, new skill acquisition and building neuroscience network for human learning. The neuroscience research shows intricacy between emotions and cognition as mediators between mind and body that are then followed by the social behaviour and learning, by indulging in subjective interpretations of person's goals, feelings, actions and experiences, ultimately resulting in learning new theories through neurobiological shreds of evidence. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Brain-based learning method: Opportunities and challenges
The chapter examines the concept of brain-based learning to bridge the gap between neuropsychology and education while understanding the best way to use our brain for meaningful learning. It suggests learning as a developmental process that enhances in a challenging but less threatening environment. Brain plasticity suggests that repeated exposure to a stimulus in a conducive environment helps in better recall and retrieval, as the repeated exposure allows the formation of new neural connections and strengthening the old ones while engaging in the task. As the application of brain-based learning moves away from the traditional style of learning, it focuses on a more holistic understanding of the process of learning. The chapter talks about applying a brain-based learning model to enhance learning in a stimulating surrounding to explore and stimulate various sense organs and further enhance neural connections. It discusses strategies to incorporate to allow engagement of sensory organs and problem-solve to enhance learning. Another perspective suggests attaching emotion to a situation which leads to forming a meaningful association in our brain. Depending on the strength of this connection, it becomes easier to recall and retrieve the memory. When compared to the traditional style of teaching, brain-based learning has shown to better academic accomplishment. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Blockchain security for artificial intelligence-based clinical decision support tool
For a healthcare organization, it is very difficult to satisfy the growing challenges and cost and provide good quality care. But nowadays clinical decision support system becomes an essential tool for a healthcare organization to help healthcare experts enhance the treatment process and advance healthcare services. Clinical decision support system supports collaborative treatment to enhance medical services. In a collaborative treatment service, the patient's health records are shared by different healthcare experts. All the patient health data are maintained by an electronic health records system. Electronic health records have very sensitive and patient's private information so sharing electronic health records is a very challenging task. Some downsides of collaborative treatment are privacy and lack of confidence among contributors like a patient, doctors, radiologist, hospitals, and insurance organization. Blockchain which is known as distributed ledger technology and has a secured architecture framework can be used to enhance the healthcare organization. Blockchain with artificial intelligence has a great potential in helping healthcare traders tackle major healthcare issues and challenges. In this chapter, we discussed how artificial intelligence and blockchain as a powerful pair can transform the healthcare sector. We also discussed the model, challenges, and application in clinical decision support tools. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Toward sustainability 4.0: A comprehensive analysis of sustainability in corporate environment
Sustainability is one of the key requirements for any business, and continuously changing business requirements and the environment are the main drivers of sustainable business practices. However, there exist gaps in recognizing and aligning these sustainable practices with everyday operational activities. This study's aim is to explore the current awareness level in business leaders and stakeholders about corporate responsibility toward sustainability and reflects on the obstacles encountered by them in diverse built environments, laying the groundwork for addressing these hurdles and contributing toward the overall sustainable development. The study has two major findings: the analysis revealed that there is a paradigm shift in the understanding of sustainability; in contrast to earlier publications, newer publications focus on technological advancements such as the use of "Green Building Information Management" and "Green Internet of Things" illustrating the real-time implications of sustainable practices. Further analysis found a knowledge gap that exists among business leaders in understanding the concept of sustainable development. This, in essence, poses a burden for corporate leaders to keep up with ongoing technological developments. The study concludes that to achieve sustainable growth, leadership in the corporate environment needs a 360-degree view of sustainability, allowing them to assign equal value to the environment, social, and economic pillars of sustainability to address the current issues leveraging from the state-of-the-art technological innovations. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) for solar cell applications
There is an eminent global energy crisis and photovoltaics as one of the primary renewable energy sources is playing an important part in offsetting the dependency on fossil fuels. Current solar cells technology is dominated by silicon, and researchers are trying to replace it with organic and nanocrystalline semiconducting materials. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, GCN) has gained interest as a visible light driven photocatalyst with a unique 2D structure, excellent chemical stability and tunable electronic structure along with attractive optoelectronic properties. Pure GCN suffers from low surface area and rapid recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pairs resulting in low photovoltaic and photocatalytic activity and hence modification by doping with other atoms is required. Photocatalytic applications of GCN based nanomaterials for water splitting, hydrogen production, CO2 reduction and pollutant degradation has been extensively investigated and systematically reviewed. However, their applications as energy storage has been explored recently and there is a lack of comprehensive review that systematically summarizes the application of GCN and GCN-based heterostructures for solar cell applications. Heterojunctions with superior light absorption and appropriate conduction band and valence band alignment is a promising approach for the applications in efficient environmental remediation and solar energy storage. This critical review summarizes the synthesis and advances of GCN nanocomposites modified with semiconductors (TiO2, ZnO), bismuth titanate, strontium titanate and rare earth metals for solar cell applications. GCN-based heterostructures with perovskite and polymer based materials are also presented. The characteristics and transfer mechanism within the various heterojunctions is also reviewed and presented. The review ends with a summary and some perspectives on the challenges and new directions in exploring GCN-based advanced nanomaterials particularly towards photovoltaics and energy storage applications. 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.