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Normalized group activations based feature extraction technique using heterogeneous data for Alzheimers disease classification
Several deep learning networks are developed to identify the complex atrophic patterns of Alzheimers disease (AD). Among various activation functions used in deep neural networks, the rectifier linear unit is the most used one. Even though these functions are analyzed individually, group activations and their interpretations are still not explored for neuroimaging analysis. In this study, a unique feature extraction technique based on normalized group activations that can be applied to both structural MRI and resting-state-fMRI (rs-fMRI) is proposed. This method is split into two phases: multi-trait condensed feature extraction networks and regional association networks. The initial phase involves extracting features from various brain regions using different multi-layered convolutional networks. Then, multiple regional association networks with normalized group activations for all the regional pairs are trained and the output of these networks is given as input to a classifier. To provide an unbiased estimate, an automated diagnosis system equipped with the proposed feature extraction is designed and analyzed on multi-cohort Alzheimers Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data to predict multi-stages of AD. This system is also trained/tested on heterogeneous features such as non-transformed features, curvelets, wavelets, shearlets, textures, and scattering operators. Baseline scans of 185 rs-fMRIs and 1442 MRIs from ADNI-1, ADNI-2, and ADNI-GO datasets are used for validation. For MCI (mild cognitive impairment) classifications, there is an increase of 14% in performance. The outcome demonstrates the good discriminatory behaviour of the proposed features and its efficiency on rs-fMRI time-series and MRI data to classify multiple stages of AD. 2024 Vaithianathan et al. -
Young adult consumers perception of value proposition towards organic foods: a tweet based analysis using NVivo
Given the increasing focus on sustainable food production, the present study investigates consumer perceptions of organic food and its value proposition. Twenty thousand tweets between May 7, 2020, and May 7, 2021, from Indian consumers concerning organic food were analyzed using the text analytics program (Nvivo) to find an ongoing conversational theme. The study demonstrates that value propositions highlighting personal health attributes (such as being nutritious, dairy-free, and gluten-free) and consumption benefits (like taste and deliciousness) significantly convince people to eat more organic food. Despite the documented environmental benefits associated with organic food consumption, our analysis of customer interactions revealed a limited focus on sustainability or ecological considerations. The study highlights the significance of creating covered messaging tactics targeting various clientele groups. Moreover, it underscores the consequence of employing complex value propositions that emphasize various advantages that promote sustainable consumption practices among clients. Future studies could look into more inclusive platforms and demographic representations to understand peoples perceptions of organic food. Moreover, the implications extend to managerial strategies that support businesses in aligning product offerings with consumer preferences to create a more sustainable food environment. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Society for Reliability Engineering, Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM), India and The Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden 2024. -
Structural and Optical Properties of Alumino Lead Borate Glasses Containing Copper Oxide
The alumino lead borate glasses with small amounts of copper oxide were synthesized by melting and quenching according to the relation 50B2O3-30PbO-(20x)Al2O3-xCuO with x = 0, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 mol%. The powder XRDs had no sharp peaks which show that the samples are amorphous. Density of the glasses increased as the content of the CuO increased. FTIR spectroscopic studies reveal the presence of BO3, BO4, PbO4, AlO4, pentaborate [B5O8], diborate [B4O72] and dipentaborate B512 structural units. The UV-visible absorption studies showed that the refractive index, indirect energy gap, oxide ion polarizability and optical basicity had composition dependence which were related to the glass structure. As the CuO concentration increased, the refractive index decreased, indirect energy gap increased, oxide ion polarizability decreased and optical basicity decreased. Optical band gap increased with increasing CuO content as the band gap for bridging oxygens is higher than that for non-bridging oxygens. 2024 Indian Ceramic Society. -
Impact of human resource practice on work engagement and turnover intention in information technology companies
Orientation: The information technology (IT) sector, a global economic driver, faces high employee turnover because of low work engagement. This study examines the relationship between human resource management (HRM) practices and their impact on work engagement and turnover intention (TI) in IT companies. Research purpose: The primary purpose of this research article is to investigate how HRM practices influence employee work engagement and TI in the IT sector. Motivation for the study: This study is motivated by the need to address this critical issue by exploring the role of HRM practices in shaping employee engagement and TI. Research approach/design and method: The research data came from 10 IT organisations in Pune IT parks. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to collect data. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Moment Structure Analysis to evaluate the hypotheses. Main findings: The study found that HRM practices such as effective communication (EC), training satisfaction (TS), performance appraisal satisfaction (PAS), pay satisfaction (PS) and opportunities for development (OFD) positively influence work engagement among IT employees. Addressing these HRM practices can enhance employee retention and engagement in the IT sector. Practical/managerial implications: Implementing these strategies can lead to a more committed and productive workforce, improving overall organisational performance and retention. Contribution/value-add: This research offers actionable recommendations for IT companies to improve employee retention and engagement, filling a gap in existing literature by focussing exclusively on the unique challenges and dynamics of the IT industry. 2024. The Authors. -
Automated epileptic seizure classification using adaptive fast Fourier transform with non-uniform sampling and improved deep belief network
In automated brain-computer interaction (BCI), EEG signals are essential. This research uses AI to detect epileptic seizures, employing data from the BONN dataset (UCI), CHB-MIT dataset (physionet server), and Bangalore EEG Epilepsy Dataset (BEED). The goal is to develop an automated system for accurate seizure detection using adaptive fast Fourier transform with non-uniform sampling (AIFFT-NS) and an improved deep belief network (IDBN) model to enhance classification accuracy. The AIFFT-NS model serves as a channel for transforming spectro-temporal data. Using various EEG datasets, a number of extensive experiments are carried out, resulting in the validation of the efficacy of the proposed approach. High accuracy metrics, with 96.16% for the BEED dataset, 99.41% for the BONN dataset, and 96.31% for the CHB-MIT dataset, represent the evidentiary outcomes. This study emphasises the critical function of AI-facilitated spectro-temporal EEG analysis within the domain of medical diagnostics, going beyond the realm of automated seizure onset classification. Copyright 2024 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. -
Advanced electrochemical performance of N-Ti3C2/MnO2 MXene as a promising electrode for energy storage
In this study, we demonstrate a simple and efficient two-step synthetic strategy to design a high-performance N-Ti3C2/MnO2 composite for energy storage application. Nitrogen doping alters the electronic structure of electrode materials and enhances pseudocapacitance. N-Ti3C2 serves as a supporting substrate for MnO2, boosting the active surface area by preventing Ti3C2 layer stacking. Benefitting from the collaborative contribution and synergistic interaction within this multicomponent system, N-Ti3C2/MnO2 results in exceptional specific capacitance of 2107.1 Fg?1 at 1 Ag?1. It also exhibits a low internal resistance and maintains a capacitive retention of 94% over 3000 cycles. The asymmetric capacitor also delivers an energy density of 117.1 Whkg?1 at a power density of 1290.1 Wkg?1. This work presents a straightforward method for modifying Ti3C2 through nitrogen doping and the insertion of MnO2 as an interlayer spacer to enhance electrochemical performance. Qatar University and Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Advanced Machine Learning Techniques for Detecting Irregularities in Skin Lesion Borders: Enhancing Early Skin Cancer Detection
Dermatograms are pivotal in the early detection of skin cancer, a disease with significant mortality rates. This paper introduces a novel feature extraction method that captures irregularities in the boundaries of abnormal skin regions. Each raw dermatogram is converted into a binary mask image using an effective segmentation algorithm. The boundary of the lesion region is extracted from the mask. The boundary, together with the centroid of the lesion mask, is used to define a set of directional vectors. An Arc is defined using these directional vectors, and a new Arc feature is calculated based on the number of times the lesion boundary crosses the arc. The proposed Arc feature is evaluated using three standard skin lesion datasets: ISBI 2016, HAM10000, and PH2. Additionally, color features and Local Binary Pattern (LBP) features are implemented for comparison. Classical machine learning algorithms are employed to evaluate these features. Results indicate that for the ISBI 2016 and HAM10000 datasets, the Arc feature set demonstrates superior classification accuracy. In contrast, the PH2 dataset benefits more from the LBP feature. Comparative analysis with recent studies highlights the dependency of accuracy on datasets and classifiers, underscoring the necessity for models incorporating feature fusion and ensemble classifiers. The proposed method outperforms traditional color and texture features and shows competitive results against deep learning models, particularly in scenarios with limited computational resources. These findings suggest that the Arc feature is a promising approach for improving skin cancer detection, although further investigation is needed to fine-Tune performance, optimize classifier selection, and explore feature fusion strategies. 2024 World Scientific Publishing Company. -
Self-assembled free nanocarrier prodrugs based on camptothecin and dihydroartemisinin exhibit accumulation and improved anticancer efficacy
Small molecule targeted inhibitor therapies often have several drawbacks, including limited oral bioavailability, quick metabolism, toxic effects that limit dosage, and poor water solubility. This study aims to develop a nanodrug self-delivery system that does not require a carrier by utilizing the self-assembly of camptothecin (CPT) and dihydroartemisinin (DHA). CPT/DHA nanoparticles (NPs) with varying diameters can be synthesized without requiring further carrier materials or chemical modifications by changing the CPT-to-DHA ratio (10:1, 5:1, 2:1, 1:1). Even more crucially, CPT/DHA NPs generate an AIE impact when they self-assemble. CPT/DHA NPs are used for cell tracking and bioimaging fluorescent probes. We chose CPT/DHA NPs (2:1) with a size of approximately 140nm for the anticancer examinations. The A549 cells were used to assess the cytotoxicity, morphological changes by biochemical staining methods and apoptosis by flow cytometric techniques of CPT/DHA NPs. Finally, in vitro anticancer research proved that CPT/DHA NPs are biocompatible and have strong synergistic anticancer properties. 2024 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc. -
Application of Corn Oil Derived Carbon Nano-onions Using Flame Pyrolysis as Durable Catalyst Support for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
The reliance of carbon black as catalyst support for Pt in PEM fuel cell has posed a major challenge in its durability as carbon blacks are highly prone to corrosion. As an alternative, CNTs, CNFs, and graphene are explored as catalyst support, however at the expense of tedious synthesis procedure and production cost. So to combat this issue, a facile flame pyrolysis route was adopted to produce carbon nano-onions using eco-friendly corn oil. Further modification in the carbon nano-onions exhibited better corrosion resistance in comparison to carbon black (Vulcan XC-72R). Also, a systematic approach was adopted towards developing a durable electrocatalyst which was designed to withstand harsh fuel cell operating conditions. The electrocatalyst was successfully analyzed using stringent standard testing protocols (< 40% ECSA loss). Among all the electrocatalyst studied, Pt/fOC exhibited only 37.1% loss in electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) after 5000 cycles, thus indicating its excellent durability. A full cell was also constructed with Pt/fOC as cathode electrocatalyst which showed a maximum power density of 365 mW cm?2, comparable to commercial Pt/C (367 mW cm?2). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the application of corn oil derived carbon nano-onions as catalyst support for PEM fuel cells. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Navigating the emotional maze: Understanding Adolescent suicidal ideation using CNN-LSTM model
Teenage suicidal ideation is on the rise, which emphasizes how crucial it is to recognize and comprehend the variables that contribute to this problem. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs), which are complex machine learning models capable of analysing intricate relationships within a network, are one possible strategy for addressing this issue. In our study, we employed a CNN-LSTM hybrid model to explore the complex relationships between teen suicide ideation and various risk variables, including depression, anxiety, and social support by analysing a substantial dataset of mental health surveys, seeking patterns and risk factors associated with suicidal thoughts. Our objective was clear: identify adolescents prone to suicidal ideation. With 24 parameters and a sample size of 3075 subjects, our model achieved an impressive F1-score of 97.8%. These findings provide valuable insights which helps in developing effective preventive interventions to address adolescent suicidal ideation, finding out the important patterns and risk variables related to suicidal thoughts. The study results offer important direction for developing preventive interventions that successfully address adolescent suicidal ideation. 2024 - IOS Press. All rights reserved. -
Green Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles Using Semecarpus anacardium Linn leaf Extract: Examination of Anticancer Activity and its Apoptosis Induction
Nanotechnology and biomedical sciences enable diverse molecular and cellular applications. Plant-mediated biosynthesis of nanoparticles, a green chemistry approach, offers a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods. This study focuses on developing hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HA-NPs) using Semecarpus anacardium Linn (SAL) leaf extract (termed SAL@HA-NPs) as a capping agent and reducing agent. The presence of needle-shaped nanostructures was verified using SEM and TEM investigation. The presence of well-defined rings in the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns provided evidence for the polycrystalline nature of the SAL@HA-NPs). The XRD spectrum exhibited clear peaks that closely corresponded to the hexagonal patterns of HA, indicating a mean crystalline diameter of 54.25nm. The FTIR analysis revealed the presence of biomolecules from Semecarpus anacardium Linn leaves on the surface of the nanoparticles. The suspension of SAL@HA-NPs displayed a polydispersity index of 0.445 and demonstrated excellent stability, as indicated by the zeta potential of -32.2 mV, as observed in the DLS tests. The SAL@HA-NPs exhibited a harmful effect on the HeLa cervical and HepG2 liver cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 52g/mL. Fluorescence microscopy revealed the deformation of the damaged cell membrane, fragmentation, and cell death following treatment with SAL@HA-NPs. The Annexin V-FITC and PI staining confirmed the mode of apoptosis by flow cytometric analysis. Thus, the SAL@HA-NPs acquired in this study could have a crucial impact on the biomedical domain of cancer treatment. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Assessing stimulusorganism responses in impulse buying among young consumers on online platforms using a hybrid BWM-ISM approach
With the advent of online buying habits, this study employs three stages (identify, rank, and decode relationships) approach to investigate the enablers of online impulse buying behavior (OIBB) among young consumers. First, literature review in the backdrop of stimulusorganismresponse (SOR) framework was used to identify and experts opinions were used to validate 21 enablers of OIBB. Next, hybrid multi-criteria decision-making approaches, namely the bestworst method (BWM) was used to assign weights and rank; and interpretive structural modeling (ISM) to decide mutual relationship among the top ranked enablers. Results indicate that promotion, product variety, and product quality are the top ranked enablers of OIBB among young consumers. The study develops a hierarchical model to simplify complex relationships among key enablers, clarifying impulse buying through the first-time use of the BWM-ISM approach in OIBB research. This enables marketers and e-commerce sellers to better prioritize critical enablers of OIBB. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply 2024. -
Experimental Investigation of Salt Hydrate Phase-Change Material (Shape-Stabilized) Applied to a Solar Collector
A complex element of water heater by solar power involves the requirements of storage tank, which not only occupies considerable space but also adds com-plexity to the plumbing and installation procedures; this research marks the initial endeavor to practically utilize shape-stabilized (SS) phase-change material (PCM) within a tank-less, evacuated tube with direct absorption (ET-Direct Absorption) solar collector. The primary objective was to tackle challenge of storage of the solar power. A PCM (salt hydrate) was proposed, with different component concentrations explored to determine the most effective mixture. Once the optimal compound was identified, it underwent rigorous testing over numerous cycles to ensure its sustainable its storing capabilities. Additionally, the planetary system was charged in dormancy mode (without flow of water) and subsequently discharged at the rate of flows of 15, 25, and 35 liters per hour (LPH). Results indicated a note-worthy improvement in efficiency of the heat system in the stasis mode, which increases from 62 to 80% with the utilization of this heat storing cum collecting unit. Moreover, it was observed that transitioning from a rate of flow of 1525 LPH had minimal impact on the collec-tors heat gain, but using a rate of flow of 35 LPH sig-nificantly reduced efficiency of discharge. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Comparing the roles of cryptography and blockchain technology in relation to Internet of Things
Cryptography and blockchain technology are super important for keeping all our smart devices safe in the Internet of Things (IoT) which can be considered as social security. As more and more of our gadgets connect to the internet, we really need to make sure theyre secure. This article talks about how we can use blockchain technology with IoT devices. Introduction and literature survey provides the challenges of having cryptography and blockchain technology in relation to Internet of Things, the proposed methodology provides the limited internet speed, and how blockchain affects how fast our devices can work and compare the cryptography attributes and blockchain technologies with the IoT world. To maintain the data safe and securely and provide the integrity and provide the high throughput, the Weight Allocation Authority (WAA) gives priority to users based on their characteristics. The Secure Hash Algorithm-512 helps make bigger data smaller. This work deals with the Hybrid Weighted Algorithm (HWA) and how IoT devices can improve the faster data transmission securely. WAA and HWA algorithms canalso create a safe and decentralized system that can quickly stop any bad transactions. 2024, Taru Publications. All rights reserved. -
Exploring the Mediating Influence of Psychological Flexibility and Self-Compassion on the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Post-Traumatic Growth among Young Adults in India
Through the course of the last few decades researchers have observed that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) can act as a breeding ground for transformative positive changes to develop in the face of adversity. This process of enhanced growth is systematically studied as Post Traumatic Growth (PTG). Though there is an existing association between ACE and PTG, yet there is a paucity of studies that explores the mediating variables in this relationship. The current study aims to explore the role of self-compassion (SC) and psychological flexibility (PF) between ACE and PTG among Indian young adults. The study was conducted on 298 Indian participants who were in the age bracket of 1825years. The study variables were assessed using self-administered rating scales. Participants were screened for ACE using Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire. Additionally, Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-SF), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Posttraumatic Growth Inventory- Short Form were other tools used. The results have indicated that both Psychological Flexibility and Self-Compassion mediate the relationship of ACE with PTG. The current findings have emphasized on the role of Psychological Flexibility and Self-Compassion in moving towards Post Traumatic Growth. These findings reassert that Psychological Flexibility and Self-Compassion are foundational to Acceptance Commitment Therapy and highly useful especially while working with trauma affected populations. The Author(s) 2024. -
EXPLORING THE NEXUS: DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS OF URBAN LOCAL PUBLIC SPACES AND CHILDRENS PLAY BEHAVIOR IN BANGALORE, INDIA
Research in the field of childrens play highlights its diverse benefits on developmental requisites. Specifically, parks and playgrounds emerge as key public spaces in an urban environment, which facilitates a range of play experiences conducive to developmental processes. The main aim of the study is to examine the design characteristics of formal public spaces that influence play behavior of children and the supervision modalities in the Indian context. To achieve this objective the study investigated a park and playground in a rapidly developing neighborhood in Bangalore. Systematic observations were conducted to observe childrens play opportunities with respect to the physical environments including adult supervision modalities. The outcomes reveal that childrens play in the urban context is a supervised activity. The study demonstrates a strong correlation between the age demographics and utilization patterns of play spaces. Though affordances for functional play and rule based games were exhibited in these public spaces, the research found minimal occurrences of Constructive, Imaginative and Exploratory play. Implications for planning and design includes adopting an age-responsive approach to accommodate diverse developmental needs and preferences of children while integrating natural and manipulable materials to enhance play value of play spaces. 2024, Jomard Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Mechanics of SH and anti-plane SH waves in orthotropic piezoelectric quasicrystal with multiple surface effect
Significant restrictions have been found in the selection of piezoelectric materials and the direction of wave propagation in earlier studies on surface acoustic wave sensors. The primary goal of the current work is to investigate how wave propagation direction influences the performance of SAW macro- and nano-sensors in an effort to remove such barriers in the technological revolution of SAW sensors. A proposed model is established to study Shear Horizontal (SH) and anti-plane SH wave propagation in piezoelectric materials with surface effects. The theoretical forms are constructed and used to present the wavenumber of surface waves in any direction of the piezoelectric medium, based on the Extended Stroh formalism. In addition, we take into account surface elasticity theory in order to obtain the phase velocity equation based on the wavenumber expression. The model incorporates surface elasticity, piezoelectricity, and permittivity to account for nanoscale surface phenomena. Two configurations are examined: an orthotropic piezoelectric material layer over an elastic framework and a piezoelectric material half-space with a nano substrate. Analytical expressions for frequency equations are derived for both symmetric and anti-symmetric waves. Numerical results highlight the critical thickness of the piezoelectric layer, where surface energy significantly influences dispersion properties. The effects of surface elasticity and density on wave velocity are analyzed, revealing a spring force-like influence on boundaries. The research investigates SH wave transmission in anisotropic, transversely isotropic piezoelectric nanostructures. The findings could aid in designing SAW devices and piezoelectric sensors, as well as producing more effective surface acoustic wave sensors, based on recent theoretical work summaries. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
SECURE DOMINATION IN TRANSFORMATION GRAPH Gxy+
In this paper, we characterize graphs for which the secure domination number of the transformation graph Gxy+ is 1 or 2. Also we prove that for any connected graph G with at least 4 pendant vertices, the secure domination number is greater than or equal to the secure domination number of the transformation graph G-++. We also find a bound for the secure domination number of G-+ when G is a tree. 2024 Jangjeon Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences and Physics. All rights reserved. -
CONVECTIVE INSTABILITY IN POROUS MEDIA: IMPACT OF CHEMICAL REACTION ON MAXWELL-CATTANEO COUPLE-STRESS FERROMAGNETIC FLUIDS; [??????????? ??????????? ? ???????? ???????????: ????? ???????? ??????? ?? ?????????? ??? ?????????-???????? ? ????????????? ???????]
The current study analyzes the initiation of convection in a Maxwell-Cattaneo couple-stress ferrofluid within a porous layer, considering the effects of a chemical reaction. Small perturbations are applied to the fluid under the assumption of a zero-order energy release chemical reaction. The system is cooled from the upper layer while maintaining a steady temperature at the lower boundary. We employed linear stability analysis and determined Rayleigh number using the Galerkin Method (GM). This study emphasizes the influence of magnetic, chemical, Maxwell-Cattaneo, and couple-stress parameters on the initiation of ferro-convection. The findings indicate that both magnetic and chemical reaction parameters hasten the initiation of ferro-convection, while the porous medium and couple-stress parameters have a stabilizing effect. Notably, it is demonstrated that the destabilizing effects of chemical reactions and magnetic stresses can be effectively regulated in the presence of couple-stresses. The solutions provide insights into the potential application of ferromagnetic fluids for controlling efficient heat transfer mechanisms. 2024 Oles Honchar Dnipro National University. -
Gendered Informality: An Assessment of Operational Attributes and Entrepreneurial Performance of Female-Owned Enterprises in Jharkhand
The present study utilises the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO)s 73rd round unincorporated non-agricultural enterprise data to analyse diverse operational and economic attributes of female-owned enterprises and their influence on enterprise performance with regard to enterprises gross value added (GVA) in the state of Jharkhand. The study additionally endeavours to ascertain the correlation amidst the operational attributes and the type of enterprise owned (established or own account) in the state. From a methodological standpoint, the current inquiry incorporates exploratory and regression analysis to give a comprehensive understanding of female entrepreneurship in Jharkhand and its gender differentials. The study findings indicate that specific attributes such as enterprise registration, account maintenance, enterprise locating outside the household premises, expanding and perennial status have a positive association with the GVA of the female-owned enterprise. It further highlights that female entrepreneurs, especially from marginalised backgrounds, view entrepreneurship as a necessity rather than a choice. There exists a notable gender disparity, with majority of enterprises owned by females predominantly operating within residential premises. Moreover, female involvement in a well-established enterprise is substantially lower compared to male workers, thus indicating an inverse correlation between the nature of the enterprise and its employment framework. 2024 Institute of Rural Management, Anand, Gujarat, India.