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Sustainable tourism development in the backwaters of South Kerala, India: The local government perspective
Improper waste management continues to be a major challenge in the backwater destinations of South Kerala, India and the local government has been identified as a key player having a strong influence on sustainable tourism development initiatives in the destination. The study examines the major obstacles encountered while implementing sustainable tourism development practices in the backwater destinations of South Kerala, India. Qualitative data collected with the support of semi-structured interviews with top government officials of the Tourism Industry is used for the study. The findings from the study show that improper waste management affects sustainable tourism development in the backwater destinations, and that community involvement and community support are pre-requisites for implementing solid waste management practices in the backwater destinations of the state. The study also enlightens the roles of various stakeholders in waste management so as to develop a strong perspective of sustainable tourism development in the region. 2020 Editura Universitatii din Oradea. All rights reserved. -
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PRACTICES: A PERCEPTION of BACKWATER TOURISM DESTINATIONS in SOUTH KERALA, INDIA
The Tourism Industry in South Kerala focuses more on Houseboat Tourism and Backwater Tourism. The unique, natural features set this destination apart from nearby places, as backwater destinations are rich in numerous natural resources. The sustainable development of these resources will highly enhance the livelihood of the communities in the backwater regions. They will be able to attract tourists seeking unique backwater experiences. Therefore, this article intends to comprehend the stakeholders' perceptions on Sustainable Tourism Development in the backwater destinations of South Kerala in India. A total of 277 respondents participated in the research and the study adopted a quantitative research design, while considering the influence of various factors on the Economic, Social and Environmental Sustainability. The data gathered from the study illustrated that the perception of stakeholders about Sustainable Tourism Development varied across different groups. Hence, all the stakeholders in the Tourism Industry need to work together, as this coordination will help to strengthen future development plans, in order to minimize the negative impacts of tourism in the backwater destinations of South Kerala. The study has also identified key turning points that will help to reshape the Sustainable Development of backwater tourism destinations of South Kerala. 2021 Editura Universitatii din Oradea. All rights reserved. -
An Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Waste Management: Decentralized and Community-Based Practices
Waste management has always been a growing concern, since enormous quantities of waste are generated in vulnerable tourism regions, leading to mounting environmental concerns and hazardous health issues, which are faced by the majority of the local bodies and local communities. Vulnerable destinations are unable to handle such large quantities of solid waste due to financial and institutional debilities. This chapter will present a comprehensive view of solid-waste-management mechanisms, and most importantly, will highlight important issues, like segregation of waste, an integrated approach for the treatment of waste and scientific disposal methods. Critical directions are presented to reiterate the several policies and programmes so as to improve the current scenario, and thereby, support the cities and towns by devising integrated strategies towards community engagement in waste management and the role of regulators in overcoming the challenges of solid-waste management in our country. This chapter is built on a sustainable outlook by providing an integrated framework of decentralized and community-based practices. It will also explore important dimensions of sustainability that will require greater attention towards a preliminary framework of sustainable community-based waste management. 2024 CRC Press. -
The Relationship between Assertiveness and Decision Making Styles among Emerging Adults
Emerging adulthood, the prolonged years from late teens through twenties marked by change and exploration before arriving at enduring life choices is becoming a normative period for young people worldwide. Past researches have described the emerging adults to be optimistic, assertive, self confident and making independent and effective decisions at the same time as miserable and indecisive. Lack of coherence in the conception about this new and distinct period in human development, the likelihood that it is pervading Indian culture and significance of this stage make it an important area to be explored. Hence, the current study investigates the relationship between assertiveness and decision making styles of emerging adults and attempts to identify the gender differences in their assertiveness and decision making styles.The Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire that measures self-reported decision making coping patterns and Rathus Assertiveness schedule that assesses self reported assertiveness level were administered to 1209 (Male, N = 581; Female, N= 628) undergraduate and post graduate students who were in the age range of 18-25 from five colleges in the city of Bangalore. The results of one way analysis of variance shows that decision making styles do have an influence on assertiveness such that assertiveness is significantly different for vigilance and buck-passing; vigilance and procrastination; vigilance and hyper-vigilance; buck-passing and procrastination and buck-passing and hyper-vigilance. Assertiveness was not significantly different for procrastination and hyper-vigilance. The emerging adults with vigilant style found to be more assertive than those with other decision making styles. 69% of the total sample had vigilant decision making style which is considered to be the effective coping style while only 31% had maladaptive coping styles like buck-passing (10%), procrastination (10%) and Hyper-vigilance (11%). A multiple regression results indicates that decision making style and assertiveness are moderately correlated (R=0.661); decision making style can predict assertiveness with a 0.661 accuracy level and that this value is significant at the 0.01 level of significance and that decision making style explains 43.7% of the variance in assertiveness (R2=0.437). No statistically significant gender differences were found in assertiveness and decision making styles. The study reveals that emerging adults choice and the frequency of usage of decision making style indicate the individual differences like assertiveness. It is recommended that existing literature on the decision making style and assertiveness can be enhanced with additional research that further examines the relationships among these constructs with a sample of emerging adults from different social, economic, cultural and academic background, adopting both qualitative and quantitative methods to reduce the sampling error and weaknesses of self report measures. In line with the findings obtained from the research, a training programme for improving decision making styles like assertiveness skill training could be developed even in educational settings. The results have implications for professionals working with university-aged individuals, particularly in the area of career and guidance and making stressful personal decisions with regard to life. Key Words: Emerging adults, Decision-Making Styles, vigilance, buck-passing, procrastination, hyper-vigilance, Assertiveness -
Adsorptive capacity of PANI/Bi2O3 composite through isotherm and kinetics studies on alizarin red
Adsorption offers numerous advantages for eliminating organic pollutants such as dyes, making it a valuable method for water treatment. Polyaniline/Bi2O3 (PANI/Bi2O3) nanocomposite is synthesized from aniline by the chemical oxidative polymerization method. The sample shows a high positive surface charge density as seen from zeta potential analysis. X-ray Diffraction analysis, FTIR analysis, UVvis spectroscopy technique, thermogravimetric analysis, BET N2 Adsorption-desorption analysis, DLS, and zeta potential analysis are the tools employed to characterize the PANI/Bi2O3 nanocomposite. The impact of PANI/Bi2O3 on the outcome of adsorption is confirmed by comparing the composite with pristine Bi2O3 and PANI. The effect of various factors like time, temperature, initial dye concentration, and varying pH on the adsorption efficiency is studied. A maximum adsorption efficiency of 95 % is observed when 100 mg of PANI/Bi2O3 nanocomposite is utilized for a duration of 100 min. The adsorption efficiency increases at higher temperatures, and a maximum adsorption efficiency is observed at a pH of 11.4. The adsorption isotherms proposed by Freundlich and Langmuir are examined to confirm the adsorption mechanism, which entails the creation of a single layer of dye molecules on the adsorbent's surface. Analysis of kinetic parameters indicates that the reaction follows pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics. The composite produced demonstrates effectiveness as an adsorbent for removing harmful organic pollutants from water sources. 2024 Elsevier B.V. -
PANI/Bi2O3 polymeric nanocomposite for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol
Nitro-aromatics pollute the aquatic environment and reach human beings via drinking water. 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) is the most common pollutant among them and can be reduced to non-toxic 4-aminophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). Polyaniline/bismuth oxide (PANI/Bi2O3) nanocomposite is synthesized from aniline and Bi2O3 by chemical oxidative polymerization. The composition and structural properties of PANI/Bi2O3 composite are identified by various characterization methods like X-ray powder diffraction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis , and zeta potential analysis. The synthesized PANI/Bi2O3 shows high catalytic efficiency towards the reduction of 4-NP in the presence of NaBH4 under optimized reaction conditions. The numerous active sites on the composite and the presence of PANI/Bi2O3 interface are the reasons for the reduction of 4-NP to 4-aminophenol. A complete degradation is achieved in 15min with 0.1g of the composite. This nanocomposite shows good stability for five cycles without losing efficiency. PANI/Bi2O3 possesses a high reduction capacity and can be used to reduce other nitro organic pollutants in water. The aim of the study is to study the effective catalytic reduction of 4-NP using PANI/Bi2O3. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. -
Some graphs with super vertex sum number 2
In this paper we give optimal super vertex sum labeling scheme for super subdivision of bi-star, path union of spider and algorithm to construct super vertex sum labeling of super subdivision of Caterpillar. 2018 Academic Publications. -
Svsl on combination of star with path
Super Vertex Sum Graph is a graph which admits super vertex sum labeling. In this paper, we combine stars and paths under different combinations which results in formation of new graphs and construct algorithm to obtain optimal super vertex sum labeling for the new graphs formed and their super subdivided graphs. 2020 Author(s). -
Moderating effect of social media usage on technology barriers to technology adoption by teachers
The education and learning process is redefined with the mesmerizing impact of ever-volatile technology platforms. With the advent of the Industry 4.0, supported by the intelligent web 3.0 connectivity catalyzed the transformation of traditional education philosophies and pedagogies in tune with the Learning 4.0, to empower both learners and educators as co-producers of knowledge. The researches brought to light that social application platforms became an indispensable part of the digital learning process. The bio-inspired technology designs considerably cast off the issues related to ease of use, perceived usefulness, and reduced the perceived internal barriers of the teachers to improve their Technology Adoption substantially. This Technology Adoption research was conducted under the theoretical framework of the education change model of Michael Fullan integrated with educators Communities of Practice. This descriptive research study framed to address how the teachers Technology Adoption was affected by their use of social media platforms and how it moderated their perceived Technology Barriers. Standardized questionnaires from Joe W. Kotrlik and Donna H. Redmann were adopted with a pilot study. Stratified cluster sampling was used to gather 1029 responses from Higher Secondary School teachers of six educational districts in Kerala. The analysis was done with IBM SPSS v.21 and Process v.3.4. Teachers Social Media Use and Perceived Technology Barriers were significantly correlated with the Technology Adoption of the teachers. The perceived Technology Barriers were reduced with respect to their Social Media Usage. The relation of perceived Technology Barriers with Technology Adoption was significantly moderated with Social Media Use. Gender and school sectors were neither mediated nor moderated Technology Adoption. These results are helpful in the teachers technology training programs and for further research. 2019 SERSC. -
Integration of technology initiatives with educational neuroscience and its impact on technology readiness to technology adoption by HSS Teachers, Kerala
The technology-enabled education process remoulded the modern education systems. The facelift of education 4.0 process harmonized the education systems with industrial demands and technology advancements. The education reforms of the State of Kerala with the tools of technology and neuroscience could achieve remarkable milestones in the education sector. This case study analyses the digital initiatives of KITE and its role on providing uninterrupted-effective education during the Covid-19 pandemic in Kerala. This study is affirmed with quantitative study on how these integrated technology initiatives impact on Technology Adoption of the HSS teachers with respect to their Technology Readiness. Responses of 857 teachers from six education districts of Kerala were used for this study. This study is relevant as it could connect the pre-Covid digital initiatives which could successfully empower the teachers to face the Covid-19 pandemic situation without interrupting the education process amidst the Covid-19 restrictions in Kerala. The study identified that the technology learning initiatives with tools of educational neurosciences have partially mediated teachers' Technology Readiness to Technology Adoption. The multiple learning initiatives integrated with the tools of technology and educational neuroscience could fully support the virtual learning throughout the State of Kerala during the Covid-19 pandemic situations. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved. -
Impact of Technology Readiness and Techno Stress on Teacher Engagement in Higher Secondary Schools
Rapid technology advancements resulted a fundamental shift in the education sector which redefined the teaching-learning process and teacher engagement. Based on numerous studies on work engagement models and technology readiness, this study explores, how the teachers' readiness to embrace educational technologies, impact on teacher engagement. With stratified cluster sampling model, data were collected from principals, managers, students and 122 teaching staff from the Higher Secondary Schools of Kerala participated in this quantitative study using standardized tools. The study affirmed that age has negative relation with technology readiness and teacher engagement shows an organic technology adoption trend than a disruptive style. Teachers were highly engaged with students-colleagues and varied across experience/age groups. Technology readiness factors positively impacted on social engagements with students-colleagues. As education technology usage is exponential, more future research is needed. 2021 Research Group Education and Virtual Learning (GREAV). All rights reserved. -
New insights into surface functionalization and preparation methods of MWCNT based semiconductor photocatalysts
The manuscript primarily describes the influence of various synthesis strategies on the photocatalytic properties of MWCNT/TiO2 binary nanohybrids. The multiwalled carbon nanotube modified titania hybrids synthesized via two-step reaction involving the covalent functionalization with green and mild oxidizing agent like H2O2, followed by simple surfactant/template free hydrothermal synthesis exhibited the maximum photocatalytic efficiency. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC)analysis showed complete mineralization of the persistent Rhodamine B dye in about 8 h. These synthesized nanohybrids in varying MWCNT content were tested for their photocatalytic efficiency in the degradation of explosive effluents like 4-nitrophenol and picric acid. The UVVis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UVVis DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), BrunauerEmmettTeller Surface area analysis (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)and Raman spectra analysis evidently revealed the effective synergistic interaction between the MWCNT and titania at the interface that has contributed to the significant enhancement of photocatalytic performance. 2019 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. -
Comprehensive Review on Video Watermarking Security Threats, Challenges and its Applications
Data is a crucial resource for every business, and it must be protected both during storage and transmission. One efficient way of securing data and transferring it is through digital watermarking, where data is hidden inside a medium like text, audio, or video. Video watermarking is visible or invisible embedded data on a video in a logo, text, or video copyright disclaimer. In this proposed paper, the goal is to analyze the characteristics of video watermarking algorithms and the different metrics used for them. It deals with the extent to which the different requirements can be fulfilled, taking into consideration the conflicts between them and the practical challenges of video watermarking in terms of attacks like geometric attacks and non-geometric attacks. It also focuses on the process of watermarking a video. Recent advances in data security indicate that employing a video watermarking technology to transmit private data will be an effective method of transmitting sensitive data. The Electrochemical Society -
TOPOLOGICAL INVARIANTS OF GENERALIZED SPLITTING GRAPHS AND k-SHADOW GRAPHS
A topological index or an invariant can be defined as a function from a set of graphs to the real line. Topological indices are invariant under graph isomor- phism. This paper deals with the general expressions for various topological indices of two derived graphs called generalized splitting graphs and k-shadow graphs. In particular this manuscript discuss about the first Zagreb index, second Zagreb in- dex, F-index, hyper-Zagreb index, symmetric division degree index, first and the second multiplicative Zagreb indices and a lower bound for the irregularity index of generalized splitting graphs and k-shadow graphs. 2022 Yarmouk University. All rights reserved. -
A novel discrete slash family of distributions with application to epidemiology informatics data
This study puts forward a new class of discrete distribution that can be used by the epidemiologists and medical scientists to model data relating to epidemiology informatics. The proposed distribution is superior to traditional discrete modeling alternatives, viz., discrete Weibull and geometric distributions in terms of its model fit and flexibility to handle heavy-tailed dataset. It is a flexible three-parameter discrete distribution, grounded in the slash family and can be considered as a refined extension to the geometric distribution. We explored the diverse properties of this novel distribution thoroughly by evaluating the mathematical properties. The models parameters are estimated using the maximum likelihood estimation method, where the methodology validity is confirmed through an extensive simulation study. Furthermore, the practical utility of the distribution to model epidemiology informatics was examined with the help of eight different datasets representing three different dimensions of the epidemiology informatics, viz., mortality, infection and medication statistics. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Roman domination in signed graphs
Let S = (G, ?) be a signed graph. A function f : V ? {0, 1, 2} is a Roman dominating function on S if (i) for each v ? V, f(N[v]) = f(v) + Pu?N(v) ?(uv)f(u) ? 1 and (ii) for each vertex v with f(v) = 0, there exists a vertex u ? N+(v) such that f(u) = 2. In this paper we initiate a study on Roman dominating function on signed graphs. We characterise the signed paths, cycles and stars that admit a Roman dominating function. 2023 Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University. -
GLOBAL POVERTY AND HUMAN SECURITY: A VASUDHAIVA KU?U?BAKA? PERSPECTIVE
Poverty has been a persistent issue throughout human history, affecting societies worldwide. In the major industrialized nations, social welfare policies served as the primary approach to poverty alleviation until the late 20th century. In 1994, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) introduced a human-centred sustainable development model, emphasizing human security as a means to eradicate poverty and other forms of insecurity. Despite these efforts, data from the World Bank and other international organizations indicate that a significant portion of the global population remains impoverished, highlighting the ongoing need for development and inclusivity. The ancient Indian concept of vasudhaiva ku?u?baka?, which promotes open-mindedness, interconnectedness, brotherhood, and fairness, offers a universal vision rooted in a family model. Interpreted in a contemporary context, vasudhaiva ku?u?baka? presents a global perspective that resonates with the principles of human security. Integrating this concept with the human security framework holds the potential to address global poverty and promote the universality of human rights. This article seeks to reconstruct the human security paradigm through the perspective of vasudhaiva ku?u?baka? in order to eradicate poverty and promote global well-being. 2024 Journal of Dharma: Dharmaram Journal of Religions and Philosophies (DVK, Bangalore). -
Evolution of Single-Session Therapy: A Bibliometric Analysis
OBJECTIVE: This bibliometric analysis aimed to explore the publication and citation metrics of the research literature on single-session therapy (SST) to understand its current status, trends, and future prospects. METHODS: Seventy-five keywords were validated by subject matter experts. Publications from 1972 through September 2023 were extracted from the bibliometric website Lens.org. Publication trends, citation patterns, prominent journals, and influential authors were examined as part of the bibliometric analysis. Citation network analysis, bibliographic coupling of authors, and coauthorship network analysis were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 301 SST publications, including 18 books, 85 book chapters, and 176 journal articles, were found, published by 493 authors. The citation- and publication-related metrics suggested a growing level of subject matter expertise over time. Initially, single-author publications held more prominence than collaborative work, but this pattern shifted. From 2011 to 2020, scholarly interest surged, resulting in 144 publications during this period. CONCLUSIONS: This bibliometric analysis, the first systematic exploration of the SST knowledge base, can be used to expand and enrich future SST research. -
Web-based single session therapy training for mental health support providers: a mixed-methods evaluation study protocol
The growing mental health needs and constrained resources in low- and middle-income countries necessitate scalable solutions. Single Session Therapy (SST) is a global trend in brief and cost-effective options for mental health interventions. It involves a single planned session between mental health service provider and client. This study aims to present a protocol to develop and evaluate a culture specific web-based training program to equip mental health support providers with the skills and confidence to deliver SST. The study protocol uses a mixed-methods evaluation design through three phasesneed assessment where psychologists and social workers collaborate to identify training needs and co-create the program; development and expert validation of the web-based training program; and randomized control trial to evaluate the training, followed by in-depth discussions with participants. This study breaks new ground by empirically designing and evaluating a training program for SST. It uniquely co-designs and validates a culturally sensitive SST training program, leveraging the expertise of a renowned international panel. This protocol goes beyond a blueprint for replicating this study, it serves as a foundational guide for nations seeking to implement effective SST training for their mental health professionals, preventing duplication of efforts. The Author(s) 2024.