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Developing a global sustainable electricity use index using the pressure-state-response framework
This study analyse and compare the sustainable electricity usage in 60 countries listed on the official websites of World Energy Consumption Statistics and Climate Bond Initiative. The study also analyses the impact of increased usage of sustainable electricity on the economies' dependence on non-renewable energy sources in the evaluation system. We used a standard index system based on the Pressure-State Response (PSR) model to measure global sustainable electricity usage. Model results convey that Norway is the best performer in sustainable electricity usage, while several European countries display commendable scores, confirming their commitment to sustainable electricity practices. On the other hand, despite being the leading economies in terms of GDP, major economies such as the United States, China, Japan, and India have underperformed compared to others in the evaluation system. The study employs regression techniques to explain the relationship between sustainable electricity usage and non-renewable energy dependence. Results confirm a negative relationship between the variables, indicating the role of sustainable energy practices in reducing fossil fuel consumption. It emphasizes the urgency of a balanced approach to economic growth and natural resource usage to support a green future. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Exploring the Photocatalytic and Cytotoxic Potential of Quassia indica-Derived Bimetallic Silver-Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites
In response to the escalating need for nanomaterials characterized by enhanced properties and reduced environmental impact, this study addresses critical challenges associated with conventional nanomaterial synthesis methods, particularly focusing on concerns related to environmental toxicity and economic feasibility. In this study, we report the eco-friendly synthesis of silver-zinc oxide nanocomposites using leaf extracts of Quassia indica (QI- Ag: ZnO NC). The synthesized QI- Ag: ZnO nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques including UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), and Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED). The photocatalytic activity of the biosynthesized QI- Ag: ZnO NC was evaluated against several textile dyes. Reactive Blue-220 exhibited the highest percentage of degradation (99.97%), closely followed by Reactive Blue-222 (99.37%), while Reactive Red-120 displayed significant degradation (94.62%). Remarkably, these nanocomposites exhibited significant photocatalytic degradation of the tested dyes, suggesting their potential application in wastewater treatment for dye removal. Furthermore, phytotoxicity studies were conducted to assess the impact of the nanocomposites on plant growth and brine shrimp mortality. To evaluate their cytotoxicity, the nanocomposites synthesized were assessed using the MTT assay on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. These findings suggest that QI- Ag: ZnO NCs have promising applications in environmental remediation and cancer therapy, opening avenues for further advancements in the arena of nanomaterial synthesis and utilization. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024. -
Ultraviolet Flux and Spectral Variability Study of Blazars Observed with UVIT/AstroSat
Blazars, the peculiar class of active galactic nuclei, are known to show flux variations across the accessible electromagnetic spectrum. Though they have been studied extensively for their flux variability characteristics across wavelengths, information on their ultraviolet (UV) flux variations on timescales of hours is very limited. Here, we present the first UV flux variability study on intraday timescales of a sample of ten blazars comprising two flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and eight BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs). These objects, spanning a redshift (z) range of 0.034 ? z ? 1.003, were observed in the far-UV (1300?1800 and near-UV (2000?3000 wavebands using the ultraviolet imaging telescope on board AstroSat. UV flux variations on timescales of hours were detected in nine sources out of the observed ten blazars. The spectral variability analysis showed a bluer-when-brighter trend with no difference in the UV spectral variability behavior between the studied sample of FSRQs and BL Lacs. The observed UV flux and spectral variability in our sample of both FSRQs and BL Lacs revealed that the observed UV emission in them is dominated by jet synchrotron process. 2024. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society. -
Biotic elicitors influence boeravinone B production from cell suspension cultures of Boerhavia diffusa Linn.
Boerhavia diffusa L., (punarnava) is known for its rich, secondary metabolite content and potential pharmacological properties. Boeravinone B, a flavonoid, is a significant plant secondary metabolite found in punarnava, exhibiting various pharmacological properties that translate into anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and nephroprotective activities. However, the limited production of boeravinone B within the plant poses challenges in meeting market demands. In this study, various biotic components, including filtrates and supernatants of algae, fungi, and bacteria, are employed as elicitors to enhance the production of boeravinone B from the cell suspension cultures of punarnava. Fungal components like yeast extract, Aspergillus niger and Cordyceps militaris, bacteria like Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, as well as Algae such as Valonia utricularis and Spirulina platensis, are utilised to assess their efficiency as elicitors at different day intervals. Results indicate that among all the elicitor treatments, fungal components like yeast extract, C. militaris and A. niger at 100 mg/L, 1 % and 5 % concentrations, administered 6, 6 and 2, days before harvesting, exhibit increased production of boeravinone B by 1.13, 1.14 and 2.63 folds, respectively, when compared to control cultures. Similarly, algae V. utricularis and S. platensis, at 2.5 % concentration and treated before harvesting on Day 6, demonstrate enhanced production of boeravinone B by 1.74 and 4.40 folds compared to control cultures. In addition, the efficiency of various biotic elicitors is examined by quantifying total phenolics and flavonoids in treated cell suspension cultures. These findings have the potential to enhance production strategies and meet the growing demand for this valuable compound with medicinal properties, leveraging easily accessible biotic elicitors. 2024 SAAB -
Ceramic-Polymer-Carbon Composite Coating on the Truncated Octahedron-Shaped LNMO Cathode for High Capacity and Extended Cycling in High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Batteries
Long-term electrochemical cycle life of the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) cathode with liquid electrolytes (LEs) and the inadequate knowledge of the cell failure mechanism are the eloquent Achilles heel to practical applications despite their large promise to lower the cost of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, a strategy for engineering the cathode-LE interface is presented to enhance the cycle life of LIBs. The direct contact between cathode-active particles and LE is controlled by encasing sol-gel-synthesized truncated octahedron-shaped LNMO particles by an ion-electron-conductive (ambipolar) hybrid ceramic-polymer electrolyte (IECHP) via a simple slot-die coating. The IECHP-coated LNMO cathode demonstrated negligible capacity fading in 250 cycles and a capacity retention of ?90% after 1000 charge-discharge cycles, significantly exceeding that of the uncoated LNMO cathode (a capacity retention of ?57% after 980 cycles) in 1 M LiPF6 in EC:DMC at 1 C rate. The difference in stability between the two types of cathodes after cycling is examined by focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. These studies revealed that the pristine LNMO produces an inactive layer on the cathode surface, reducing ionic transport between the cathode and the electrolyte and increasing the interface resistance. The IECHP coating successfully overcomes these limitations. Therefore, the present work underlines the adaptability of IECHP-coated LNMO as a high-voltage cathode material in a 1 M LiPF6 electrolyte for prolonged use. The proposed strategy is simple and affordable for commercial applications. 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. -
Exploring the role of plant oils in aquaculture practices: an overview
As the global demand for seafood surges, the expanding aquaculture industry faces a pressing need for viable aquafeed ingredients. The raw material for fish oil is limited and expensive due to unpredictable fishery resources in the fishing zones and the overexploitation of wild fisheries, underscoring the urgency of finding alternatives. This review explores diverse plant oil sources, including soybean, rapeseed, linseed, and algal oils, emphasizing their crucial role in nutritionally balanced aquafeeds. These oils support aquatic animals growth, health, and development, influencing membrane structure, energy storage, and hormone production. Genetically modified oilseeds (GM), such as camelina and canola, offer a controlled nutrient content, enabling customized nutrient profiles. This comprehensive review provides an overview of different plant oil sources, elucidates their nutrient profiles, and assesses their potential applications in aquaculture. The discussion encompasses their impact on growth, feed efficiency, lipid profile, health, immunological status, disease resistance, and overall performance of both freshwater and marine fish. Furthermore, the review compiles relevant data on the current status of genetically modified plant oils and explores their potential integration into aquaculture practices. In summary, substituting plant oils for fish oil in aquafeed presents a promising solution to aquaculture industry challenges to meet nutritional requirements for fish. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Exploring the Role of structurally modified Molybdenum disulfide composites with Prussian blue analogues as counter electrode catalysts for bifacial Dye-Sensitized solar cells
The present study aims to utilize Mn, Ni, and MnNi Prussian Blue Analogue (PBA) embedded MoS2 composites as Pt-free Counter Electrode (CE) in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs). Therefore, Ni-PBA, Mn-PBA, and MnNi-PBA were synthesized using a simple ageing procedure followed by a Hydrothermal method to prepare modified MoS2 composites. The crystalline structure, shape, surface area, and elemental oxidation state were analyzed using various studies. Also, the nanosheets formation around cubic structure further shows large numbers of active sites resulting in the high catalytic behaviour of the composites. Among the various composites, the Modified MoS2 based on MnNi-PBA, which was coated using a simple spin-coating procedure, exhibited the smallest ?EPP separation and the highest JRED value due to the rapid redox reaction at the CE/electrolyte interface and catalytic current. The maximum efficiency of 8.25 % was achieved for MnNi-PBA based composites, surpassing pristine MoS2 (6.72 %) and Pt (7.58 %) under front illumination (100 mW/cm2). Under rear illumination, the cell demonstrated a higher efficiency of 4.96 %, attributed to the high transmittance of the material-coated CE, making it suitable for bifacial applications. 2024 International Solar Energy Society -
Nano Zinc Oxide Particle Synthesis from Bio-Waste Selaginella willdenowii Leaf Extract: A Multi-Faceted Approach for Environmental and Biomedical Applications
Selaginella willdenowii, a commonly used greenhouse fern, was often used as a biowaste to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in an eco-friendly and cost-effective way. UV-Visible spectra studies were carried out to confirm the synthesis of S. willdenowii-mediated ZnO NPs (SW-ZnO NPs), and a peak at 367nm with a sharp band gap of 3.415eV was observed. The X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the crystalline size of the synthesized SW-ZnO NPs was 11.971nm. The phytochemicals present in the extracts and the compounds involved in the reduction of metal to nanoparticles were determined by Fourier Transform Infrared analysis. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to analyze the surface morphology and size of the obtained SW-ZnO NPs. The examination revealed that they exhibited a hexagonal shape, with an average size falling within the range of 17-23nm. Under ultra-violet light, reactive blue 220 and reactive yellow 145 dyes showed 78.06% and 60.14% degradation, showing potential photocatalytic degradation activity. The synthesized SW-ZnO NPs also exhibited antimicrobial activity against bacterial strains (Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis) and fungal cultures (Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans) showed cytotoxic activity against Hep-G2 cell lines. Our results suggest the green synthesized SW-ZnO NPs have potential photocatalytic, antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential. 2024 World Scientific Publishing Company. -
The Evolving Prospects of Bharatanatyam: An Enquiry on Changing Religious Landscape
As cultural boundaries expand, symbols of cultural identity, like dance forms, evolve in terms of content and practice. Bharatanatyam, originally a temple dance, originated in the Hindu culture and had long been considered a religious art. However, the art form has gradually expanded its scope beyond its religious context. Contemporary evidence suggests that artists increasingly engage in performances addressing themes that are secular and even compositions based on other religious beliefs, but not without challenges. This article brings to light the evolving religious aspects of Bharatanatyam and investigates novel elements being introduced by cross-religious practices, such as thematic innovations, choreographic patterns and symbolic representations. By analysing data from in-depth interviews with twenty artists from diverse religious backgrounds, the authors argue that religious conservatism in society hinders the evolution of art forms such as Bharatanatyam that have the potential to adapt across and beyond religions. Edinburgh University Press. -
Enhancing mobility management in 5G networks using deep residual LSTM model
Mobility management is an essential component of 5G networks to provide mobile users with seamless connectivity and efficient cell transition. However, increasing user mobility, device density, and the diversity of service requirements all pose significant challenges to achieving optimal mobility management. This article describes a novel method for improving mobility management in 5G networks that employs a deep residual Long Short-Term Memory model. Deep learning and LSTM, a type of recurrent neural network, are used in the proposed model to identify temporal dependencies and patterns in user mobility data. The model learns to predict future user locations and mobility patterns by training on historical mobility data, allowing for proactive resource allocation and handover decisions. We incorporate residual connections into the LSTM architecture, inspired by the residual learning framework, to address the inability of traditional LSTM models to capture complex temporal dynamics. This allows the model to effectively incorporate long-term dependencies and improves prediction accuracy. Furthermore, we incorporate the mLSTM model into the mobility management framework of 5G networks. The model continuously obtains real-time user location updates and predicts future user positions, allowing for proactive handover decisions. The network can optimize resource allocation, reduce handover latency, and improve user experience by leveraging anticipated mobility patterns. We test the proposed method by simulating it extensively with real-world mobility traces. The results show that the mLSTM model accurately predicts user mobility and outperforms conventional methods in transition performance. The model is not affected by changing network conditions, user mobility patterns, or service specifications. 2024 Elsevier B.V. -
Encountering risk with resilience for experiences: a case study on tourism in a conflicted tourist destination
Purpose: This paper aims to unravel how tourists balance their novel experiences with risk perceptions, psychological resilience and behavioral intentions. Additionally, it explores how tourists' personalities moderate the relationship between experiences and travel intentions. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 234 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to a diverse group of tourists who recently explored the Srinagar region to capture their perspectives. The data obtained was analyzed using Smart PLS-SEM. Findings: This study revealed that the impact of perceived terror risk on behavioral intentions is not statistically significant. Instead, tourists' experiences significantly influence psychological resilience and behavioral intentions. Tourists with higher resilience are inclined to perceive these experiences as aiding in managing negative feelings. Research limitations/implications: The study's focus is confined to one conflict zone within the country due to research constraints, excluding other areas. Practical implications: This research provides practical insights for destination management authorities and highlights areas for improvement for tourism service providers and the government in the Srinagar region, as well as other conflict regions. Emphasizing mutual respect between locals and tourists can foster community-based tourism, enhancing the region's appeal and promoting positive intentions for all involved parties. Social implications: This study examines how local communities in conflict-affected areas adjust to and manage the presence of tourists, with an emphasis on building resilience and support systems. Additionally, it explores how travel decisions and behaviors are influenced by tourists' perceptions of safety and how these perceptions can influence broader societal attitudes toward areas affected by conflict. Evaluating the local population's economic reliance on tourism may result in changed social dynamics, as well as possible exploitation or over-reliance on industry. Promoting mutual understanding and cultural interchange between locals and visitors may have a positive impact on efforts to promote social cohesion and peacebuilding. Originality/value: This study broadens the scope of the existing literature on destination attributes in conflict zones, offering a unique perspective on the intrinsic features of this issue. The solutions proposed in this study contribute a novel dimension to the current literature. 2024, International Tourism Studies Association. -
Nonlinear stability analysis of double-diffusive convection in KelvinVoigt fluid with chemical reaction
The influence of Rayleigh friction and chemical reaction on the onset of double-diffusive convection in a NavierStokesVoigt (NSV) fluid layer is investigatedby conducting linear instability and nonlinear stability analyses. The fluid layer is subjected to isothermal conditions and chemical equilibrium at the boundaries. The solubility of the dissolved component exhibits a linear dependency on temperature. The analysis is conducted for two distinct cases: the fluid layer is heated and salted from the bottom (case-1), and the fluid layer is heated from the bottom and salted from the top (case-2). Analytical expressions for the thermal Rayleigh number are obtained for both linear and nonlinear theories, and these expressions depend on KelvinVoigt, Rayleigh friction, solutal Rayleigh, Lewis, Prandtl, and Damkohler numbers. Including the Rayleigh friction term in the NSV fluid model improves the stability of the system and hence instabilityoccurs with less ease. For lower solutal Rayleigh numbers, convection commences in the stationary mode and subsequently transitions to the traveling wave mode occurred in case-1. The Damkohler number plays a significant role in the linear instability thresholds. It is also found that the KelvinVoigt number acts as a stabilizing factor for oscillatory mode convection. The comparison between linear and nonlinear thresholds unveils the region characterized by subcritical instability. 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. -
The times of jeopardising free speech
Press freedom is at stake in India, which holds a dismal rank of 159 among 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index 2024. While dissent and democracy ideally go hand in hand, a glance at the present situation in India suggests that these terms are perceived as antonyms in practice. The state is exerting its repressive power over dissenters, particularly targeting media outlets that do not align with the states interests. The media has a great responsibility and obligation to the citizens to bring out real stories with diligence and truthfulness. In India, the depiction of socioeconomic and political realities is mostly done at utmost risk and with an air of uneasiness. The truth remains elusive to the majority of the public, as they receive information from a restrained source constantly under government surveillance. This article aims to analyse the current situation of media and democracy in India with reference to freedom of speech and expression. The writing is an outcome of analysing the past and present sociopolitical contexts in India concerning the concept of free speech. The Author(s) 2024. -
In situ growth of octa-phenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocages over fluorinated graphene nanosheets: super-wetting coatings for oil and organic sorption
Superhydrophobic surfaces offer significant advantages through their hierarchical micro/nanostructures, which create optimal surface roughness and low surface energy, making the development of robust surfaces essential for enhancing their physical and chemical stability. Here, we introduce in situ growth of octa-phenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (O-Ph-POSS) nanocages over multi-layered fluorinated graphene (FG) nanosheets through hydrolysis/condensation of phenyl triethoxysilane in an alkaline medium to produce a robust POSS-FG superhydrophobic hybrid. The efficient in situ growth of O-Ph-POSS nanocages over FG nanosheets was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy, PXRD, SEM, TEM, TG analysis, 29Si NMR spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and XP spectroscopy. The as-synthesized O-Ph-POSS over FG becomes superhydrophobic with a water contact angle (WCA) of 152 2 and a surface free energy (SFE) of 5.6 mJ m?2. As a result of the superhydrophobic property and robust nature of the POSS nanocage, O-Ph-POSS over FG nanosheets revealed the absorption capability for oils/organic solvents ranging from 200 to 500 wt% and were applied to coat onto the polyurethane (PU) sponge to effectively separate various oils and organic solvents from water mixtures, achieving separation efficiencies between 90% and 99%. Importantly, O-Ph-POSS-FG@Sponge still retained a separation efficiency of over 95% even after 25 separation cycles for hexane spill in water. The sponge efficiently separates toluene and chloroform using a vacuum pump, achieving flux rates of up to 20 880 and 12 184 L m?2 h?1, respectively. Weather resistance tests of O-Ph-POSS-FG@Sponge, prepared at intervals of 1 week and 1 year, showed that aged samples retained similar WCA values to freshly prepared sponges, confirming their long-term durability and performance. Mechanical stability assessments indicated that O-Ph-POSS-FG@Sponge maintained superhydrophobic properties, with WCA values of 151 2 for tape peeling and emery paper treatments and 150 2 for knife cutting, highlighting its excellent stability under physical deformation. Additionally, leveraging the exceptional resistance of O-Ph-POSS, the superhydrophobic O-Ph-POSS-FG@Sponge exhibited excellent stability and durability, even under supercooled and hot conditions during oil/water separation. Optical microscopy analysis of O/W and W/O emulsions, both stabilized by a surfactant, revealed complete droplet separation, further confirming the O-Ph-POSS-FG@Sponge's effectiveness for emulsion separation applications. The present work provides a straightforward method for the large-scale production of robust, superhydrophobic materials suitable for cleaning up oil spills on water surfaces. 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry. -
You are not Sikkimese enough: Understanding collective action tendencies of old settlers in Sikkim using SIMCA
The current study analyses the motivators and inhibitors of collective action tendency using the Social Identity Model of Collective Action (SIMCA). The study was conducted with a minority and state-based repressed group known as the old settlers in Sikkim, India. The old settlers are a community that have been historically settled in Sikkim prior to the state's merger with India in 1975. They are racially and ethnically different from the majority population of northeasterners in Sikkim and face both institutional and interpersonal discrimination. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with 11 old settlers was taken to delineate SIMCA variables moral conviction, identity, injustice and efficacy within the context of northeast India. Collective action was motivated through moral conviction via principles of equality and unequal treatment and outsider status, identity via politicisation of identity, creation of social movement organisations, injustice via anger and fraternal resentment and efficacy via marches and legal recourses. Collective action was inhibited through moral conviction via denial of violation, identity via acculturation, injustice via fear and efficacy via learned helplessness. These findings indicate that in state-based repressed groups, collective action tendencies must be understood from a context-specific lens that attempts to understand both motivating and inhibitory factors. 2024 Asian Association of Social Psychology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. -
Examining three distinct rheological models with flexoelectric effect to investigate Love-type wave velocity in bedded piezo-structure
The transference of the surface seismic wave at the loosely bonded common interface of a visco-piezo composite structure is examined in the current work. With the flexoelectric effect taken into account, the structure is composed of a viscoelastic layer embedded on a piezoelectric substrate. The shear stiffness of the upper layer is thought to be described by a KelvinVoigt model. An analytical separable of variable method is used to derive the complex dispersion relation for both electrically open and short circuit scenarios. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the significant influence of several influencing parameters on the wave's phase velocities and attenuation coefficients. Additionally, a graphic comparison of three rheological models the Maxwell, Newton and KelvinVoigt models is covered. Results indicate that the attenuation curve pertaining to the Maxwell and Newton model is lowest than on the KelvinVoigt model. Some major outcomes are highlighted here as: the prominent influence of bonding parameter is well-proportional to the phase velocity and inversely proportional to the attenuation coefficient, and flexoelectricity has an intensive impact on both phase velocity and attenuation coefficient curves. This theoretical study leads to understanding the piezo-flexo coupling and its potential application to design the sensors, actuators, energy harvesters and nano-electronics. 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH. -
An in-Depth Analysis on the Cumulative Effect of Co and Sintering Temperatures on the Formaldehyde Sensing Attributes of NiO
In-depth studies are availing to explore and utilize the sensing attributes of p-type NiO nanostructures. However, the surface functionalization of NiO using Co for gas sensing along with varying temperature profile is a novel attempt till date. The research succeeded in synthesizing pure and substituted NiO via co-precipitation route and assessed the sensing capability of the samples by testing with 10 different target gases. The Co doped NiO sintered at 500C exhibited promising sensing performance within a concentration range of 1100ppm, notably achieving a high response of 7817 for 100ppm HCHO at room temperature. The proposed sensor demonstrated rapid response and recovery times (9s and 8s), and it successfully passed stability tests conducted over a 30-day period and repeatability tests consisting of eight cycles. The work paved a way to the implication of the prepared sensor as a breath analyzer to detect lung cancer due to its appreciable formaldehyde sensing characteristics. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.) The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Labelling of human breast cancer cells with PEG/biotin encapsulated B-type Y2O3: Eu nanophosphors for fluorescence detection
The development of non-toxic quantum dots (QDs) for fluorescence labelling of cancer cells can bring significant advancements in the disease detection. Such findings can effectively replace the conventional toxic fluorescent probes by virtue of its tunable optical characteristics. Through this work, we present the development of an efficient fluorescent probe based on B-type Y2O3: Eu QDs for labelling MCF 7 cell lines. The QDs surface was encapsulated by poly ethylene glycol (PEG) along with tumour targeting ligand, biotin. The luminescence capability of the QDs were established through photoluminescence experiments. The QDs were tested to be non-toxic through MTT assay. Fluorescence detection experiments on MCF 7 cells using the nanophosphor established the material's potential to serve as an efficient probe for cancer cell detection. 2024 Elsevier B.V. -
Populism and the question of sovereignty in democracy with special reference to India
The sovereign manner of decision-making in a democracy is reckoned extremely crucial to stable governance. It is unfortunate, therefore, if the question of sovereignty acquires public attention predominantly in the wake of totalitarianist tendencies. It is the case now that with the emergence of several populist voices and nationalist sentiments, contemporary democracies actively debate the question of democratic sovereignty. This article is a critique of the complacency arising out of what is often wrongly perceived as the reassurances of the letter, or for that matter the spirit, of the constitutions of liberal democracies. Regardless of whether populism is traced within the electoral context or outside of it, the question of sovereignty offers a vantage point for understanding it from a theoretical perspective. In this regard, the article utilises the insightful yet contrasting notions of democratic sovereignty put forward by the philosophers Giorgio Agamben and Jacques Derrida. They approach the question of sovereignty from historical and/or linguistic points of view, illuminating the notions of sharing, sovereign violence and its overarching theological underpinnings. The articles findings, purposes and effects are meant to be educational and cultural in the first place. It employs, for the purpose of exemplification, a commentary on the Indian democratic scene. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Effectiveness of Learning Management System (LMS) in Sustainable Learning and Development among Bank Employees
Learning Management Systems in the form of E-Learning platform is currently an evolving scenario for the primary means of delivering various courses across educational, business, industries and vocational learning environments in the form of Learning and Development activities in all the sectors. LMS is a challenging and resource-intensive task requires demanding substantial knowledge, time, and effort. Consequently, there emerged a necessity in both research and practical applications to establish the personalized usage process of an LMS. Despite its significant impact on the outcomes of such an Information System (IS), the usage process has to be analysed. The researcher developed a conceptual model to delineate with set of factors to influence LMS course in Learning and Development Practices in industry context. Researcher revealed specific set of factors such as interface design, content presentation format, transfer of learning, and feedback mechanisms significantly impact learner satisfaction among Bank employees in their Learning and Development activities. Moreover, learner satisfaction depends on the application platform and content. The findings offer a valuable insight to design a corporate education system, with the quality content delivery and practical delivery. By considering these results, designers can develop more integrated and effective LMS to cater the needs and satisfaction of Learning and Development activities among Bank employees. 2024, Creative Publishing House. All rights reserved.