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An Empirical Study of Blockchain Technology, Innovation, Service Quality and Firm Performance in the Banking Industry
Despite the potential promises that blockchain technology (BT) offers to the financial services sector, its large-scale implementations are still in a nascent stage. There is no consensus on what benefits BT may bring, and there is always a possibility of difference between expected benefits and experienced real-world impact. Since the actual impact can be assessed only after large-scale implementations by financial institutions, there is little empirical evidence available in the literature. In this context, this research seeks to explore the potential impact of BT by developing and empirically testing a model. For this purpose, we have identified four dimensions of BT, namely, Decentralization, Transparency, Trustlessness, and Security. The impact of BT on innovation, service quality, and firm performance is assessed based on the extent to which these dimensions are present in the organization. The linkages of the latent constructs are estimated by analyzing the primary data collected from senior managers of various banks in India. The findings of this study provide several important considerations regarding the implementation of BT. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. -
Towards a theory of well-being in digital sports viewing behavior
Purpose: Social television (Social TV) viewing of live sports events is an emerging trend. The realm of transformative service research (TSR) envisions that every service consumption experience must lead to consumer well-being. Currently, a full appreciation of the well-being factors obtained through Social TV viewing is lacking. This study aims to gain a holistic understanding of the concept of digital sports well-being obtained through live Social TV viewing of sports events. Design/methodology/approach: Focus group interviews were used to collect data from the 40 regular sports viewers, and the qualitative data obtained is analyzed thematically using NVivo 12. A post hoc verification of the identified themes is done to narrow down the most critical themes. Findings: The exploration helped understand the concept of digital sports well-being (DSW) obtained through live Social TV sports spectating and identified five critical themes that constitute its formation. The themes that emerged were virtual connectedness, vividness, uncertainty reduction, online disinhibition and perceived autonomy. This study defines the concept and develops a conceptual model for DSW. Research limitations/implications: This study adds to the body of knowledge in TSR, transformative sport service research, digital customer engagement, value co-creation in digital platforms, self-determination theory and flow theory. The qualitative study is exploratory, with participants views based on a single match in one particular sport, and as such, its findings are restrained by the small sample size and the specific sport. To extend this studys implications, empirical research involving a larger and more diversified sample involving multiple sports Social TV viewing experiences would help better understand the DSW concept. Practical implications: The research provides insights to Social TV live streamers of sporting events and digital media marketers about the DSW construct and identifies the valued DSW dimensions that could provide a competitive advantage. Originality/value: To the best of the authors knowledge, the exploration is the first attempt to describe the concept of DSW and identify associated themes. 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
A collaborative application of design thinking and Taguchi approach in restaurant service design for food wellbeing
Purpose: Innovative restaurant service designs impart food wellbeing to diners. This research comprehends customer aspirations and concerns in a restaurant-dining experience to develop a service design that enhances the dining experience using the design thinking approach and evaluates its efficiency using the Taguchi method of robust design. Design/methodology/approach: The sequential incidence technique defines diners' needs, which, followed by brainstorming sessions, helped create multiple service designs with important attributes. Prototype narration, as a scenario, acted as the stimulus for evaluators to respond to the WHO-5 wellbeing index scale. Scenario-based Taguchi experiment with nine foodservice attributes in two levels and the wellbeing score as the response variable helped identify levels of critical factors that develop better FWB. Findings: The study identified the best combination of factors and their preferred levels to maximize FWB in a restaurant. Food serving hygiene, followed by information about cuisine specification, and food movement in the restaurant, were important to FWB. The experiment revealed that hygiene perceptions are critical to FWB, and service designs have a significant role in it. Consumers prefer detailed information about the ingredients and recipe of the food they eat; being confident that there will be no unacceptable ingredients added to the food inspires their FWB. Research limitations/implications: Theoretically, this study contributes to the growing body of literature on design thinking and transformative service research, especially in the food industry. Practical implications: This paper details a simple method to identify and evaluate important factors that optimize FWB in a restaurant. The proposed methodology will help service designers and technology experts devise settings that consider customer priorities and contribute to their experience. Originality/value: This study helps to understand the application of design thinking and the Taguchi approach for creating robust service designs that optimize FWB. 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Strategic positioning of tourist destinations- analyzing the role of perceived meaningfulness
This study analyzed the cognitive and affective components of destination image in the perception of foreign tourists visiting Indian destinations by exploring conceptual constructs, namely Post-visit Destination Image and Perceived Meaningfulness. The exploratory factor analysis of the responses of foreign tourists (n = 242) on items related to the major constructs significant in tourist behavior such as destination quality, perceived meaningfulness, and post-visit destination image confirmed the existence of multi-dimensional structure. Additionally, the empirical validation of the theoretical framework developed on the tenents of stimulus-organism-response paradigm with the constructs using structural equation modeling established significant relationships helpful to understand many new travel motivations. The study established that perceived meaningfulness has a significant mediating role in predicting tourist referral/revisit intentions from positive perceptions about destination quality and post-visit destination image. The observations from the study helped to identify six types of travel motivations useful in developing niche markets for positioning Indian destinations. The identified travel motivations, namely physical meaningfulness seeking, eternal meaningfulness seeking, social meaningfulness seeking, nature-loving, hospitality appreciating, and uniqueness exploring, offer directions to destination marketers to revamp destination attributes for destination marketing. 2021 The Authors -
Recall of advertisements placed during Indian crime shows /
Brad J. Bushman conducted a study in 1998 that studied the effects of watching televised violence on memory. Bushman conducted experiments to find out if the viewers remembered the advertisements after watching violence on television. Results showed that violence had a negative effect on recall of the brand and the advertisement message. The present research sought to study the effect of violence in Indian crime shows on the recall of the brand, the product category and the tag lines used in the advertisements. -
Buying intension of menstrual cups among women in India
Background: In this era of globalization, Menstrual Hygiene Management is to be concerned. However due to increasing menstrual health hygiene practices adopted by women are rapidly changing and are shifting towards healthier and sustainable products in the Indian market. Objectives: This study aims to identify and evaluate the factors effecting the buying intension of menstrual cups and to provide managerial implications in the future. Methods: The data was collected through a questionnaire survey method; Exploratory Factor Analysis was used to bring down the factor focusing on the prominent factor useful for the study. Sample size for the study was 455 where simple random sampling technique was adopted to give every element in the population to give an equal chance. Results: Through Exploratory Factor Analysis, the paper identifies five factors as product awareness, perception, external influence, product features and hygiene. Here, product awareness is the most influential factor when compared to other factor which affects the buying intension of the menstrual cups. Conclusion: The word Menstruation which was backed by religious and cultural beliefs has gone through tremendous change effect. The lack of product awareness and the existing taboos are restricting women to buy menstrual cups. The study highlights the innovations in the menstrual products and also the importance of buying healthier and eco-friendly menstrual products like menstrual cups which are economically and eye catching products among women. 2019 SERSC. -
Machine Learning-Based Classification of Autism Spectrum Disorder across Age Groups
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that has gained significant attention in recent years due to its increasing prevalence and profound impact on individuals, families, and society as a whole. In this study, we explore the use of different machine learning classifiers for the accurate detection of ASD in children, adolescents, and adults. Furthermore, we conduct feature reduction to identify key features contributing to ASD classification within each age group using Cuckoo Search Algorithm. Logistic Regression has the highest accuracy compared to the other two models. 2024 by the authors. -
Facial Expression Recognition Using Pre-trained Architectures
In the area of computer vision, one of the most difficult and challenging tasks is facial emotion recognition. Facial expression recognition (FER) stands out as a pivotal focus within computer vision research, with applications in various domains such as emotion analysis, mental health assessment, and humancomputer interaction. In this study, we explore the effectiveness of ensemble methods that combine pre-trained deep learning architectures, specifically AlexNet, ResNet50, and Inception V3, to enhance FER performance on the FER2013 dataset. The results from this study offer insights into the potential advantages of ensemble-based approaches for FER, demonstrating that combining pre-trained architectures can yield superior recognition outcomes. 2024 by the authors. -
Advanced Approaches for Hate Speech Detection: A Machine and Deep Learning Investigation
The prevalence of online social media platforms has led to an alarming rise in the frequency of cyberbullying and hate speech. This study uses a variety of machine-learning approaches and deep- learning algorithms to identify hate speech. The goal is to create a thorough and successful method for locating and categorizing hate speech on online networks. Our suggested approach intends to deliver a comprehensive solution to address the urgent problem of cyberbullying and hate speech in the digital sphere by leveraging the strength of these cutting-edge techniques. We work to make social media users' online experiences safer and more welcoming by identifying and addressing such harmful online actions. Through rigorous experimentation, we evaluate the efficacy of these methodologies, ultimately revealing that the Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (Bi-GRU) outperforms the other employed techniques. The Bi-GRU model demonstrates superior hate speech detection capabilities, substantiated by robust performance metrics. This research contributes to the field by providing empirical evidence that deep learning models, such as Bi-GRU, can significantly advance hate speech detection accuracy. The findings underscore the potential of leveraging advanced neural architectures in the pursuit of fostering a more inclusive and respectful digital space. 2024 IEEE. -
Synthesis of Carbon Containing Composites for Energy and Environmental Applications
The population has grown rapidly, resulting in increased energy consumption and environmental issues. Researchers are developing new materials with unique physical and chemical properties to tackle these challenges. This has led to a focus on exploring novel approaches to synthesize micro and nanomaterials for use in the energy and environmental sectors. In this study, carbon-containing catalysts were developed as photocatalysts, electrocatalysts for water splitting reactions, and electrode materials for supercapacitor application. To evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of these materials, various characterization methods were employed, including X-ray diffraction, newlineScanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, High-resolution Transmission electron microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential reflectance spectroscopy, Dynamic light scattering, and Thermogravimetric analysis. The electrochemical and photocatalytic studies of the prepared materials were carried out by optimizing the different parameters. The four chapters include newlineCr2AlC MAX Phase as the catalyst used for photocatalysis, bismuth ferrite/Cr2CTx MXene, cobalt ferrite/Cr2CTx MXene composites for supercapacitor and electrocatalytic water splitting, bismuth ferrite/graphitic carbon nitride/N-doped graphene quantum dots for supercapacitor application, and Cobalt ferrite/graphitic carbon nitride/N-doped graphene quantum dots for supercapacitor and newlineelectrocatalytic water splitting application. -
A review of hierarchical nanostructures of TiO2: Advances and applications
In the past few decades, extensive studies have been carried out on TiO2 nanostructures having hierarchical morphologies and their applications in diverse fields. By controlling the size and composition of the different TiO2 morphologies, new and improved properties have been realized, leading to significant advancements in materials chemistry, in the broad areas of energy and environment. The improved efficiency and wide applications of these materials are attributed to their physicochemical properties such as stability, efficient electronic and ionic charge transfer, higher specific surface area, etc. In this review, we discuss the different morphologies of hierarchical TiO2 nanoparticles and the properties that have been influenced by these morphologies, enabling their diverse applications. Several composites using the different TiO2 hierarchical forms have been synthesized which too find wide applications. The excellent physical properties of zero, one, two, and three-dimensional TiO2 nanostructures, the relationship between the morphologies of TiO2 nanostructures, and their activities in energy and environment applications have been discussed. 2021 The Author(s) -
CoFe2O4 nanoparticles embedded 2D Cr2CTx MXene: A new material for battery like hybrid supercapacitors and oxygen evolution reaction
The progress of effective electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors is one of the most cutting-edge fields of study in the search for alternative and renewable energy uses. 2D MXenes, with their distinctive physiochemical features, have successfully improved the electrode materials by imparting superior energy storage, thus distinguishing themselves among electrode materials. A new class of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles embedded Cr2CTx MXene sheets have been fabricated and tested for supercapacitor applications. Notably, the cobalt ferrite acts as interlayer spacers between Cr2CTx MXene layers. The Cobalt ferrite/Cr2CTx MXene composite offers enhanced supercapacitive features compared to pristine cobalt ferrite or Cr2CTx MXene sheets. The cobalt ferrite/Cr2CTx MXene nanocomposite shows a maximal specific capacity of 763.83C g?1 (1909.6 F g?1) at 1 A g?1. The fabricated device using the prepared material exhibited a capacitance retention of 99 % up to 2500 cycles. Also, this attractive nanocomposite displays a charge transfer resistance of only 0.25 ?, which is highly beneficial to charge-discharge at higher current rates. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Advances in the use of ceramic catalysts in fine chemical synthesis
Ceramics are versatile materials that have been put to many different uses. Catalysis is one such area where they have been used, both as catalyst and as a robust support material for catalysts. Properties like porosity and thermal and mechanical stability make ceramics attractive in these applications. Oxidation, esterification, hydrogenation, reduction, condensation reaction, and FriedelCrafts reaction are important reactions, which have uses spanning a wide range of applications, most notably in energy and environment. This chapter gives the recent advancements in ceramic materials used in the synthetic applications of the abovementioned reactions. The type and class of the ceramic material used and its role have been mentioned for these reactions. 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. -
Two-dimensional Ti3C2 MXene for photocatalytic hydrogen production: A review
This study focuses on the utilization of two-dimensional Ti3C2 MXene as a catalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen production. MXenes, a class of transition metal carbides/nitrides, exhibit exceptional properties conducive to enhancing photocatalytic reactions. This research explores the performance of Ti3C2 MXene as a cocatalyst in photocatalytic systems, aiming to improve charge separation, inhibit recombination, and facilitate efficient hydrogen evolution from water under light irradiation. The synthesis methods, catalyst-loading strategies, and overall photocatalytic mechanisms are investigated, shedding light on the potential of Ti3C2 MXene as a promising material for advancing hydrogen production through sustainable means. 2023 Korean Chemical Society, Seoul & Wiley-VCH GmbH. -
N-doped graphene quantum dots incorporated cobalt ferrite/graphitic carbon nitride ternary composite for electrochemical overall water splitting
Multicomponent electrocatalysts containing carbon supports play a crucial role in influencing the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions which enhance the total water splitting. Herein, we report a ternary composite with cobalt ferrite, graphitic carbon nitride, and N-doped graphene quantum dots prepared via hydrothermal technique. The purity of the samples is established by carrying out various characterization methods. The intrinsic characteristics of the obtained materials are investigated by employing electrocatalytic processes in an alkaline media toward hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. Cobalt ferrite/graphitic carbon nitride/N doped graphene quantum dots electrocatalyst demonstrates a very low overpotential towards hydrogen evolution reaction of 287 mV at a constant 10 mA cm?2 current density in 1.0 M KOH. Tafel slope and Rct values generated are 94 mV dec?1 and 0.86 cm2, respectively. Oxygen evolution reaction studies reveal an overpotential of 445 mV at 10 mA cm?2 with a Tafel slope of 69 mV dec?1. Finally, the cell potential needed for the cobalt ferrite/graphitic carbon nitride/N doped graphene quantum dots electrode to achieve 10 mA cm?2 in total water splitting is only 2.0 V while displaying long-term stability. 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC -
Hierarchical BiFeO3/Cr2CTx MXene composite as a multifunctional catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction and as an electrode material for energy storage devices
A multifunctional hierarchical Bismuth ferrite/chromium carbide (BiFeO3/Cr2CTx) MXene has been employed as both electrode material for supercapacitors as well as an electrocatalyst for electrocatalytic water splitting. Here, a facile method is suggested for synthesizing Cr2CTx MXene from the chromium aluminum carbide (Cr2AlC) MAX Phase. X-ray diffraction studies, Scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy indicate that the aluminum atomic layers are removed from Cr2AlC MAX structure. The electrochemical test reveals that the BiFeO3/Cr2CTx MXene composite, which is produced with less Al2O3, performs well in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with a low overpotential of 128 mV in 1 M potassium hydroxide. 53.3 mV dec?1, and 0.16 ? cm?2, respectively, are the values of the calculated Tafel slope and charge transfer resistance. In a dielectrode electrolysis system, BiFeO3/Cr2CTx MXene electrode needs only 1.81 V of cell potential to provide 10 mA cm?2 with long-term stability. The specific capacity of 671.2 C g?1 at a current density of 1 A g?1 is obtained for BiFeO3/Cr2CTx MXene electrode with 90% capacitance retention after 3000 cycles. The potential use of BiFeO3/Cr2CTx MXene towards HER and supercapacitor application is demonstrated by this study, which offers a gentle path for the fabrication of Cr2CTx MXene composites for energy storage and HER applications. 2023 Elsevier Ltd -
THE GREAT RESET AND THE NEARTERM IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHINESE ECONOMY: A POST PANDEMIC OUTLOOK
The Great Reset has had a severe impact on the Chinese economy, with implications domestically, and on the global supply chain. One consequence has been the decline in the overall market demand in China, with a significant negative impact on infrastructure development and the labour industry. A unique aspect is a survey is to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on innovation and integration of digital technologies in China. The authors analyse the impact of the Great Reset on the Chinese economy, the implications on the supply chains that China is a crucial part of, and the global implications thereof. (2023), (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul). All Rights Reserved. -
Manipur: the British legacy
[No abstract available] -
Populist Protests and the Dynamic Zero-COVID Policy: (Re)emerging Pragmatic Populism in China
Populist protests in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) have recently emerged as a reaction against the Chinese authorities stringent measures under its dynamic zero-COVID policy. Besides the vehement criticism and protests against the dynamic zero-COVID policy, during some protests, there have been ensuing calls across the country for President Xi Jinping to step down. The article argues that this scenario can further deteriorate the overall political legitimacy of the Communist Party of China on a long-term basis. According to the article, the protests indicate the re-emergence of populism in the PRC, which incidentally and historically has parallels to the protests at Tiananmen Square, and the 1919 May Fourth Movement. The article theorizes John Deweys concept of pragmatic populism and the aspect of protests during the period, which inherently provides many ideational and relational facets with the recent protests in China. 2023 Jawaharlal Nehru University. -
Challenges in Plasma Spraying of 8%Y2O3-ZrO2 Thermal Barrier Coatings on Al Alloy Automotive Piston and Influence of Vibration and Thermal Fatigue on Coating Characteristics
Although Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) have found extensive application in automotive engines to enhance performance and to reduce fuel consumption and pollution, challenges of obtaining uniform and consistent coatings on non-uniform and irregularly shaped components are overcome only when the coatings are deposited via robot controlled APS or EBPVD. Atmospheric Plasma Spraying (APS) is the most commonly used and relatively cost-effective method to make TBCs: but not all APS facilities are equipped with comprehensive coating accessories. In a reciprocating diesel engine, the bowl at the piston crown forms one side of the combustion chamber and includes the space between piston crown (generally 9% Si-Al alloy in light - medium duty diesel fuel vehicle) and cylinder head. To achieve maximum effective fuel spray distribution and combustion, normally the crown of the piston has complex contours. One of the many service related parameters to be monitored to reduce the innumerable faults contributing to the performance of the engine is vibration. This paper addresses the issue related with the challenges associated with the plasma spraying of consistent and adherent TBC on Al-9% Si research pistons and its complex contours by APS, subjecting the coated pistons to thermal fatigue tests and evaluation of the coating characteristics after subjecting to vibration. 2018 Elsevier Ltd.