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Synergistic effect of bio-nanocarbon embedded polymer nanocomposite and its applications
For applications involving sustainable materials, bio-nanocarbon was examined as a material to improve the properties of fiber-reinforced nanobiocomposite. A thorough investigation has been conducted using nano biocarbon as a filler and reinforcing material. However, the composite's inferior mechanical, physical, and thermal properties are a result of a poor fiber-matrix interface. As a result, in this study, biocarbon nanoparticles were created and used as functional components to enhance the properties of polymeric composite materials. To emphasize the scientific and technological issues that need to be resolved in order to create artificial composites with bio-inspired structures, recent studies of bio-inspired nano-carbon composites are discussed in this study. These include the production techniques for resolving the nanocarbon dispersion problem and creating bio-inspired structures, as well as the microstructure and composite characteristics characterization. In order to reveal natural design principles and serve as a resource for future research, bio-inspired composites and their applications are thoroughly examined and explained. 2023 Bentham Science Publishers. -
Context matters: A case study of community development approaches in tribal areas
Tribal development initiatives aim to address aspects of marginality covering educational, occupational, social and political dimensions. A review of literature on the challenges in effective tribal development discusses narrow vision, implementation strategy, the attitude of people involved in the implementation and lack of community participation as hindrances in realising the desired goals. This chapter explores the need to have a context-specific approach to realise the community development goals in tribal areas considering the cultural and economic diversity of Scheduled Tribes in India. A single embedded case study has been used to understand tribal development initiatives in the three project sites, namely Manikgarh, Maharashtra; Bastar, Chhatisgarh and Niravilpuzha, Kerala. All these projects aim at the overall development of the community either through a child-centred approach or through a self-help approach. A constructive outcome-based evaluation model has been used in analysing the developmental approach, and in-depth interviews and FGDs were conducted with the project staff. An attempt has been made to study the impact on direct beneficiaries at micro, meso and macro levels. It explores the ways in which universities could become change agents through socially responsible engagements in tribal areas. This chapter would contribute towards developing a social responsibility model for other universities to emulate. 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. -
Developing authentic thought leaders through the DREAMS model of social action
DREAMS is a three-year curriculum-based after-school intervention program for enhancing leadership qualities among the underprivileged and college/university youngsters. It is an innovative model providing a platform for the mentors and the mentees to share their thoughts and knowledge and create a future generation with a growth mindset. The current world is expecting authentic thought leadership among its workforces. This leadership would help the constantly changing world to guide and lead the followers effectively for a better outcome. This study explores the impact of the DREAMS intervention program by Christ University in entrenching authentic thought leadership among its undergraduates. The study employs a qualitative approach to explore the perceptions among Christ University undergraduates about the contributions the DREAMS has made to their leadership development. The study finds evidence that DREAMS initiatives at Christ University have transformed undergraduates into authentic thought leaders. 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. -
The wellbeing van: A strength-based model for student engagement and promoting student wellbeing
This book chapter takes a proactive approach to address stress by introducing a preventive measure, a relatively new approach implemented on college students in Bangalore, India called the "wellbeing van." The chapter emphasizes the importance of not only managing and coping with stress, but also implementing strategies that promote overall well-being by tapping into the intrinsic factors of the student. The well-being van has shown promising results in reducing stress levels among students in academic institutions. Additionally, the chapter delves into the difficulties students face in maintaining social relationships, conforming to societal expectations, and finding their place. It provides valuable insights on how to foster healthy social dynamics and create supportive environments for students. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Management practices on execution effectiveness of strategies based on Thirukkural
Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar contains couplets that speak about the morale necessary for an individual based on the roles played in various circumstances of life. These are applied to various fields including management even today. In this chapter, the authors conduct a narrative analysis on two major aspects of management skills to be inculcated in managers for successful progression of the organization. Execution is one such important aspect of management which plays a significant role in constructing effective doable strategies and executing the strategies without delay after proper analysis, thus sustaining the motivation level of the team and progress. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Indian psychology: Challenges, strategies, and prospects in education
Knowledge dissemination has been a hallmark of Indian tradition for millennia, particularly in the area of human biology and behavior. Westernization and globalization, however, have caused a gradual erosion of this rich heritage, resulting in waning interest among the populace. As a discipline, Indian Psychology faces a number of formidable challenges. The number of preconceived biases within society, the Westernized educational system, and the shortage of faculty with expertise in Indian psychology hinder the recognition and dissemination of the field. A dearth of research studies directly related to Indian psychology is also hindering its development and recognition. Emphasis was given on the importance of thorough research to substantiate its contributions to the understanding of human cognition, behavior, and consciousness. Promoting Indian psychology as an important and respected field requires dispelling misconceptions and fostering awareness. Through collaboration and increased research, Indian psychology can rightfully claim its place within the global academic community. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Key challenges in developing and executing higher education learners' learning outcomes
This chapter examines higher education institutions' complex obstacles in developing and implementing effective learning outcomes. It emphasizes the need for outcomes that include subject-specific and general skills, meet students' diverse requirements, align with market demands, and incorporate emerging technologies. To facilitate student success in the 21st century, institutions must address these. It examines multidisciplinary programs, technology integration, faculty training, and student participation in outcome formation. It proposes enhancing outcomes through emerging technologies, social and emotional learning, global citizenship education, and entrepreneurship education, emphasizing student-centred approaches. Effective learning outcomes are essential for fostering student success in a constantly changing environment. Case studies from India, the United Kingdom, and the United States provide insights, emphasizing India and lessons from the US and UK experiences. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Value addition to international students' exchange programs through engagement in services
Social responsibility has been an emerging concept in Higher Educational Institutions in India. Promoting social responsibility through international students' exchange programs helps students' capacity to improve their cultural, social and service knowledge to bring about sustainable and meaningful development. This chapter looks at the impact of the interventions of international students in slum communities, especially working with children and women for their academic, health and economic empowerment. This was a qualitative study using a self-structured interview schedule. Data were collected from twenty international students from universities of Norway and the Netherlands who were placed in urban slums for five years and thirty children and women from urban slums of Bangalore who benefitted from this program. A purposive sampling method was used, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. This chapter reveals the development of children and women through international students' programs and helps showcase further planning for innovative programs for vulnerable populations. Attitudes of both groups towards cultural differences and the expectation and effectiveness of the exchange program may also be described in this chapter. This chapter intends to help plan international exchange programs from different dimensions benefiting the slum communities for their development and sensitizing cultural differences from different perspectives. 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. -
Crop improvement strategies and principles of selective breeding
Introducing new crop varieties, crop improvement, and selective breeding enable contemporary agriculture to alleviate food poverty, increase crop production, and enhance product quality. This chapter covers selective breeding, genetically modified crops, genetic resource conservation, and upcoming technologies. Selective breeding discusses heritability, gene frequency, dominance, and epistasis to predict genetic progress. Agricultural innovation involves genetic variety and variation to develop robust and high-performing crop types. Mass selection, pedigree selection, and recurrent selection for trait enhancement are investigated. Marker-assisted and genomic selection are tested for breeding speed and accuracy. The chapter covers genetically modified crops, agricultural improvement, and genetic resource conservation for sustainable agriculture. Gene editing, synthetic biology, and machine learning may boost agricultural yields. According to the abstract, crop development and selective breeding are essential for food security, sustainability, climate change, and agricultural demands. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Influencing the influencers through co-creation: Approaches to successful brand strategies
In today's technology-driven landscape, the internet and social media have seamlessly woven themselves into the fabric of both brands and consumers' lives. Among the arsenal of modern marketing strategies, influencer marketing has emerged as a formidable force. It bestows organisations the privilege of accessing extensive and dedicated online influencers and co-creation as a technique, making it one of the most potent tools in their marketing toolkit. This chapter focuses on the intricate art of how brands strategically harness the power of social media platforms and influencers to extend their reach far and wide, aiming to connect with as many consumers as possible. By forging these connections, brands aspire to cultivate a devoted and unwavering fan base, fostering long-term customer loyalty. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Women empowerment through community-based organisations in rural Karnataka
Women empowerment is an active multidimensional process to enable women to realize their identity and power in all spheres of life. Self Help Groups (SHGs) have played a significant role in women's empowerment. Through the SHGs, the dreams and desires of women came into reality. The current study examines women's empowerment through community-based organisations in rural Karnataka (Hoskote, Jamkhandi and Kolar). The chapter aims to determine the impact of SHGs on rural women's lives and whether it contributes to women's empowerment. The chapter follows a mixed-method research design. Thirty well-performing SHGs from three Centre for Social Action (CSA) project sites in rural Karnataka, namely Hoskote, Jamkhandi and Kolar, were considered for this chapter. A simple random sampling technique was used. Ten members from each SHG were selected, and three hundred SHG women samples were recruited. Responses from the samples were collected using pre-designed questionnaires. The results state that there is a well-evident improvement in women's economic, social, familial and political status after joining the SHG. The chapter concludes that SHG has caused significant change and development in women's socio-economic, familial and political life in rural Karnataka. 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. -
Socially responsible universities and student satisfaction: Case analysis
Universities play the dual role of providing new knowledge and inculcating a sense of social responsibility in student citizens to contribute to community development. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are often expected to be socially responsible. The principal focus of this chapter is to determine the dimensions of University Social Responsibility (USR) and examine its impact on student satisfaction. A case study research was conducted with 299 students from a private university in India. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were used to identify the dimensions of USR. A structural equation model was used to analyze the impact of USR on student satisfaction, with gender and volunteerism in USR activities as moderators. The results show that student satisfaction is influenced by their perception of USR activities undertaken by the university. Findings indicate that the degree of influence of USR on satisfaction is more among female than male students. Contrastingly, the degree of influence of USR on satisfaction remained the same for volunteers and non-volunteers, indicating that the university is transparent in its USR activities. The findings highlight the importance of USR actions and how these activities lead to increased student satisfaction. The study also discusses the model adopted by the university to achieve higher standards of USR that other HEIs can adapt. 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. -
Interconnections of yogic practices with mental health
Yoga, an ancient practise of humankind, attempts to promote a lifestyle that is free of maliciousness with emphasis on inculcating qualities that would aid the individual in living a life that is truly actualizing. Practise of yoga is not limited to holding specific asanas but various components of yoga such as pranayama, pratyahara, etc.; all attempt to enhance an individual's wellbeing. The chapter has contextualized yoga therapy including pranayama, mudras, and chakras to biopsychosocial models, and attempted to identify yogic practises that bring holistic enhancement. Yoga, being cost-effective, and having no side effects, unlike pharmacological treatments, can be used as an adjunctive therapeutic agent in improving symptoms or improving mood and reducing stress. However, it is important to note the feasibility and limitations of yoga interventions, like proper trained professionals to minimize any ill effects. The chapter attempted to promote the practise of yoga as an adjunctive form of treatment which would thereby aid in improving biopsychosocial wellbeing. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Educate, enable and empower future leaders: A model for community development through the child sponsorship program
The Child Sponsorship Program is an attempt by development organizations to reinstate the rights of a child to education, focusing on the overall well-being of a child and the community. The Sustainable Development Goals view Child Sponsorship Program as a tool for contributing towards development goals and targets. While the conventional models of the Child Sponsorship Program focused on the scholastic performance of children up to the elementary level, several progressive sponsorship programs aim at the whole personal development of the children and their community by ensuring community participation and a development-based approach targeting education, livelihood, empowerment, etc. This program channelized by the Centre for Social Action (CSA), CHRIST (Deemed to be) University), Bengaluru, is a child development program that engages with the goals of holistic development of the child and community development through the Child Sponsorship Program in two urban slum communities in Bengaluru. The research aims to study the change brought in the indicators, such as education, behaviour and attitude change, leadership and their holistic development, by the program. It also intends to assess the impact of the program on the development of the family, community and participation of the community members in the academic development of children. The study follows a qualitative study employing in-depth interviewing and Focused Group Discussions with parents and child participants of the communities where the Child Sponsorship Program is implemented. The data is analyzed through qualitative and quantitative software. 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. -
AI, mindfulness, and emotional well-being: Nurturing awareness and compassionate balance
This chapter examines the intricate relationship between artificial intelligence (AI), mindfulness, and emotional health. It explored the synergistic potential of AI and mindfulness in enhancing emotional awareness and the function of AI in promoting emotional well-being in educational, occupational, and mental health settings. The discussion addressed emerging trends and ethical considerations. It emphasized the transformative potential of AI and mindfulness in promoting emotional well-being, focusing on maintaining a compassionate balance in the AI-driven world. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Crop management using predictive analytics
The term "predictive analytics" covers a number of different statistical methods, such as "data mining," "machine learning," and "predictive modelling," which examine past and present data in order to formulate hypotheses and predictions about future events. The use of predictive analytics may provide farmers with the ability to predict future environmental changes more correctly, as well as the demand for their commodities, and improve their ability to make decisions. While predictive analytics may seem like an effective way to forecast future events, it cannot account for unforeseeable changes or external factors that could impact the accuracy of its predictions. Furthermore, relying solely on past and present data can lead to biased outcomes and fail to consider alternative scenarios that may occur. In essence, predictive analytics should not be used as the sole basis for decision-making in any given situation for crop management. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Transforming future startups through servant leadership and social entrepreneurship profitability
This book chapter delves into the influence of servant leadership on the profitability of social entrepreneurship, a phenomenon widely recognized by thriving startups worldwide. It generates hypothesis about the effect of seven facets of servant leadership viz., empowerment, conceptualization, followers influence, emotional convalescence, follower's growth and succession, value-creation for the community, and ethical behavior on social entrepreneurship profitability. The data was received through e-mail survey from 158 entrepreneurs located in Bengaluru. Hypothesis testing was done using multi-regression analysis technique. Results of the study specify that the seven dimensions of servant leadership except conceptualization have significant impact on the social entrepreneurship profitability. Further, the study continues with discussion of the inferences for practice by the social entrepreneurship, suggestions for future studies, and the continuous advancement of leadership tactics as well as styles that support upcoming social entrepreneurship ventures. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Sustainable environment protection and waste management in higher education institutions: A case study
Sustainable environment protection and waste management are global concerns that major cities are grappling with, and it is the most important environmental factor that higher educational institutions in India are considering right now. "Parivarthana, "-the recycling unit of the Centre for Social Action at Christ University, Bengaluru, is evolved as a paradigm for all higher education institutions in terms of long-term environmental protection through waste management and the efforts of student volunteers. The student volunteers have been successful in sensitizing all members of the University to the importance of environmental conservation, and there is rising evidence of accountability among all members regarding waste management. The basic sense of social responsibility of student volunteers toward environmental sustainability is the primary focus of this chapter. Student volunteers who have a higher sense of social responsibility have a better attitude toward their studies, which leads to higher academic accomplishment and a desire to take action to address environmental challenges. Their environmental awareness, climate change, the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, efficient use of natural resources, waste management, and sustainable consumerism have served as an example for students of other higher educational institutions. A qualitative method with a case study approach was applied for this research with In-depth interviews with all stakeholders of the unit. The objectives include the participants' understanding of the prevailing process of waste management in the unit, the relation between waste management and Climate change, and the role of the student volunteers and other stakeholders of the Higher Educational Institutions in bringing a model to Sustainable Development and Global Climate Change. 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. -
Composting for a sustainable future: Turning waste into nutrient-rich soil
As the worldwide waste management problem has risen, composting has gained popularity. It turns organic trash into nutrient-rich soil for agriculture, landscaping, and environmental rehabilitation. This chapter on composting, "Composting for a Sustainable Future: Turning Waste into Nutrient-Rich Soil," is comprehensive. It covers decomposition science, composting methods, materials, and procedures. Composting's agricultural, landscaping, and environmental remediation benefits are also covered. The chapter also examines composting's role in climate change mitigation, its obstacles, and remedies. Decomposition can help people, businesses, and communities live more sustainably. It urges decomposition and trash reduction and provides information about tools to start composting, a simple yet efficient solution to worldwide waste management. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Empowering women through livelihood interventions: Case studies from an impoverished community
This chapter looks at the influence of a livelihood project in empowering women belonging to an impoverished community from one of the most backward regions of the state of Karnataka in Southern India. Jamkhandi taluq of Bagalkote district is one of the poorer taluqs in the state, with a sex ratio of 938 and a female literacy rate of 50.75%. The Centre for Social Action began working in the area around a decade ago. The livelihood project was an offshoot of a project on Population displacement that was undertaken in the region. CSA adopted the Self-Help Approach (SHA) to meet the needs of this community. This gave the necessary impetus for the creation of a livelihood project for disadvantaged women. The central theme of the chapter is to study the extent of empowerment that is evident among the project's women beneficiaries. This chapter presents the evidence of empowerment using the qualitative case study methodology using ten cases. The theoretical framework provided by the 'Three Dimensional Model of Women Empowerment' is used to present the analysis. Document review and in-depth interviews are the prominent data sets used to present the study's major findings. The hybrid approach to coding and thematic analysis is used to integrate the insights from the theory used as well as observations from the study. Both within-case analysis and cross-case analysis are used for analysis. The personal, relational, and societal dimensions of empowerment are presented through themes emerging from the data. The implication of the chapter is the reiteration of the efficacy of the model in empowering women. This model can be replicated in other project areas, and livelihood strategies can be adopted extensively. 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.