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Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles immobilized on microporous molecular sieves as efficient porous catalyst for photodegradation, transesterification and esterification reactions
Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were immobilized on microporous molecular sieves (13X) via a plant extract mediated green synthesis method. The prepared material was then characterized using XRD, FTIR, TGA, FESEM, and TEM techniques. The synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles-molecular sieves (Fe2O3/MS) composite showed excellent photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) at 99% efficiency. Enhanced photocatalytic properties were observed in comparison with the pure iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles synthesized. Catalytic conversion of triglycerides to fatty-acid ethyl esters (FAEE) was carried out using sunflower oil, and the reaction showed very good catalytic activity in the transesterification of sunflower oil, converting 84% of the sunflower oil to FAEE. The catalyst was also used in the esterification reaction and found to have excellent applicability. The catalyst showed excellent reusability, and easy separation from the reaction mixture using an external magnet. This enables the synthesized material to act as a promising photocatalyst in degradation and organic synthesis. Very few reports are available on the synthesis of magnetic iron oxide coated on molecular sieves and used for photodegradation, transesterification, and esterification catalysis. 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Enhancing the stability of electrochemical asymmetric supercapacitor by incorporating thiophene-pyrrole copolymer with nickel sulfide/nickel hydroxide composite
The practical application of a supercapacitor predominantly relies on its sustained cyclic stability. Hence it is essential to develop materials with high stability for the efficient supercapacitor applications. Herein, we demonstrate the integration of a copolymer of poly thiophene-pyrrole (cPPyTh) to surpass the limited cyclic stability of the nickel sulfide/nickel hydroxide (NSH) composite. Though the lower electronegativity of sulfur in coexistence with hydroxide achieves a superior capacity for NSH, it lacks extended cyclic stability. By incorporating cPPyTh into the layers of NSH, the stability of the resultant composite (NCP) could be enhanced by preventing the aggregation of layered NSH during longer runs. NCP electrode provides a specific capacity of 87 C/g at a current density of 1 A/g in a three-electrode system. An energy density of 25.47 Wh/kg and power density of 8.65 kW/kg is obtained for the asymmetric supercapacitor fabricated with NCP as positive and modified activated carbon (MAC) as negative electrode. The NCP demonstrates a superior cyclic stability of over 94% for 10,000 cycles in comparison to NSH with stability ? 73% over 5,000 cycles for the asymmetric supercapacitor. 2021 -
Certain results on trans-paraSasakian 3-manifolds
Let M be a trans-paraSasakian 3-manifold. In this paper, the necessary and sufficient condition for the Reeb vector field of a trans-paraSasakian 3-manifold to be harmonic is obtained. Also, it is proved that the Ricci operator of M is invariant along the Reeb flow if and only if M is a paracosymplectic manifold, an ?-paraSasakian manifold or a space of negative constant sectional curvature. 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. -
In situ fabricated MOF-cellulose composite as an advanced ROS deactivator-convertor: Fluoroswitchable bi-phasic tweezers for free chlorine detoxification and size-exclusive catalytic insertion of aqueous H2O2
Combining the merits of structural diversity, and purposeful implantation of task-specific functionalities, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) instigate targeted reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and concurrent detoxification via self-calibrated emission modulation. Then again, grafting of catalytically active sites in MOFs can benefit developing a greener protocol to convert ROS generators to technologically important building blocks, wherein tailorable MOF-composite fabrication is highly sought for practical applications, yet unexplored. The chemo-robust and hydrogen-bonded framework encompassing free -NH2 moiety affixed pores serves as an ultra-fast and highly regenerable fluoro-probe for selective detection of toxic ROS producers hypochlorite ion (ClO-) and H2O2 with record-level nanomolar sensitivity. While the bio-relevant antioxidant l-ascorbic acid (AA) imparts notable quenching to the MOF, a significant 3.5 fold emission enhancement with bi-phasic colorimetric variation ensues when it selectively scavenges ClO- from uni-directional porous channels through an unprecedented molecular tweezer approach. Apart from a battery of experimental evidence, density functional theory (DFT) results validate "on-off-on"fluoroswitching from redistribution of MOF orbital energy levels, and show guest-mediated exclusive transition from "Tight state"to "Loose state". The coordination frustrated metal site engineered pore-wall benefits the dual-functionalized MOF in converting the potential ROS generator H2O2via selective alkene epoxidation under mild-conditions. Importantly, sterically encumbered substrates exhibit poor conversion and demonstrate first-ever pore-fitting-induced size selectivity for this benign oxidation. Judiciously planned control experiments in combination with DFT-optimized intermediates provide proof-of-concept to the ionic route of ROS conversion. Considering an effective way to broaden the advanced applications of this crystalline material, reconfigurable MOF@cotton fiber (CF) is fabricated via in situ growth, which scavenges free chlorine and concomitantly squeezes it upon exposure to AA with obvious colorimetric changes over multiple real-life platforms. Furthermore, multi-cyclic alkene epoxidation by MOF@CF paves the way to futuristic continuous flow reactors that truly serves this smart composite as a bimodal ROS deactivator-convertor and explicitly denotes it as an advanced promising analogue from contemporary state-of-the-art materials. The Royal Society of Chemistry. -
Novel soliton solutions of four sets of generalized (2+1)-dimensional Boussinesq-Kadomtsev-Petviashvili-like equations
In this paper, we examined four different forms of generalized (2+1)-dimensional Boussinesq-Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (B-KP)-like equations. In this connection, an accurate computational method based on the Riccati equation called sub-equation method and its Bklund transformation is employed. Using this method, numerous exact solutions that do not exist in the literature have been obtained in the form of trigonometric, hyperbolic, and rational. These solutions are of considerable importance in applied sciences, coastal, and ocean engineering, where the B-KP-like equations modeled for some significant physical phenomenon. The graph of the bright and dark solitons is presented in order to demonstrate the influence of different physical parameters on the solutions. All of the findings prove the stability, effectiveness, and accuracy of the proposed method. 2022 World Scientific Publishing Company. -
The role of switching cost in the e-service recovery framework among banking customers
Purpose: The emergence of tech-driven initiatives in retail banking has created a vast spectrum of system-related service failures; hence, e-service recovery quality is of prime importance to banks to ensure e-service recovery satisfaction. However, e-service satisfaction is dependent on the ease of moving from one service provider to the other; thus, switching costs assume great significance. This study aims to probe the moderating role of switching cost on e-service recovery satisfaction by exploring e-service recovery quality antecedents. Design/methodology/approach: A measurement model is suggested in the contextual settings of the Indian banking scenario and is estimated using structural equation modeling. Responses from 399 e-banking customers, who had experienced a service failure, were sought using a five-point Likert scale. Findings: The result affirms that recovery expectation is the most significant predictor of e-service recovery satisfaction, and that switching cost moderates the relation between e-service recovery quality and e-service recovery satisfaction. Practical implications: The study highlights the high relevance of switching costs in the e-banking context and emphasizes investment in marketing strategies and campaigns to do away with switching intentions. It also highlights the relevance of recovery expectations as an antecedent of e-service recovery quality and thus stresses the need to satisfactorily address the same in the e-service recovery process. Originality/value: This study contributes to the e-service recovery satisfaction literature in the banking context by empirically validating the moderating role of switching cost. It also identifies the critical antecedents of banking e-service recovery quality. 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Cries of war: Securitization of fluid transnational identities during war (a comparative study of securitization of Chinese Indians and Japanese Americans)
Fluid transnational identities are an omnipresent reality in the contemporary world, but what happens when war becomes a reality or the threat of war is imminent in a State which contains fluid transnational identities? This article tries to explore these dynamics to determine if the threat from transnational identities is an actual threat during war or an act of an elite few, and what follows after the war, by comparing the experiences of Chinese Indians and Japanese Americans. The study heavily leans on securitization theory to explore the questions posed and elaborate on the situations when habeas corpus was denied thereby incarceration and internment as a practice were justified. The relationship between the transnational population and the State under the Copenhagen School is also further elaborated on. The Author(s) 2021. -
Gender Differentials in Entrepreneurship: Insights from a Multi-method Study
Gender inequality is an obstacle to inclusive growth, and literature reveals shortcomings in the basic entrepreneurial assumption of equal access to resources, support and economic opportunities for women. International bodies have emphasised the need to examine gender differentials at various levels like, country, organisational and individual levels. Our study is a novel attempt in this direction and aims to build a comprehensive understanding of gender differentials in entrepreneurship using multi-method research design. We analyse and integrate findings from the macro-level using national level datasets (NSSO and Economic Census) and the micro-level using surveys (primary data and GEM India data). Our results note a gender equality lacuna, calling for the need to include meaningful sex-disaggregated data in national surveys, the entrepreneurial intentions of women, behavioural traits impacting women entrepreneurs, the importance of entrepreneurship education, fear of failure, self-confidence and the need for role models. We propose a model of macro and micro factors impacting women entrepreneurship in developing countries. 2022 SAGE Publications. -
Optimization of anti-corrosion performance of novel magnetic polyaniline-Chitosan nanocomposite decorated with silver nanoparticles on Al in simulated acidizing environment using RSM
The suitability of newly synthesized magnetic polyaniline-Chitosan nanocomposite decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ag@PANI-CS-Fe3O4) as a robust corrosion inhibitor for Aluminum (Al) in a 5 M HCl environment has been investigated via Weight Loss (WL), Alternating Current (AC)-Impedance Spectroscopy (IS), Potentiontiodynamic polarization (Tafel plots), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques. The protection efficiency (PE) was mathematically modeled using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to fit an empirical relation in terms of temperature, nanocomposite concentration, and time using the face-centered central composite design. The model was accurate with a coefficient of determination (R2 = 99.27%). The negative Gibb's free energy of adsorption (?Gads) values confirmed the spontaneity of Freundlich adsorption isotherm process on Al in 5 M HCl solution. The optimization simulation yielded maximum protection efficiency (of 97.88%) at 5 mg/L nanocomposite concentration, 1 h time, and an intermediate temperature of 304.8 K. Furthermore, the sensitivity of PE was evaluated to find that the low temperature 303 K is favorable for PE, whereas higher temperature will act adversely on PE. The results obtained by the RSM model are in agreement with the experimental observations. 2021 Elsevier B.V. -
Canine-assisted Therapy in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Scoping Review
Introduction: Animal-Assisted Therapy has been advocated to benefit individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. Among all the various kinds of animals used in the therapy, dogs are the most utilized because of their temperament and accessibility. Methods: This systematic scoping review was carried out to present the existing literature employing canine-assisted therapy in the diverse population of neurodevelopmental disorders. The study used the Arksey and O'Malley framework for scoping reviews. Several databases including the gray literature were searched for publications on animal-assisted therapy. Results: The search yielded 4898 articles of which 41 articles were eliigible for inclusion into the review. Conclusions: Scrutiny of the articles suggested a dearth of studies in the various sub-diagnostic categoriesfor neurodevelopmental disorders along with a lack of focus on adult populations with this diagnosis. In addition, the critical need for standardization of therapy guidelines and promotion of animal welfare is reaffirmed. 2022 Elsevier GmbH -
Nicotiana genus: a green and sustainable source for designing of nitrogen-rich efficient carbon nanocomposites for the hydrogenation of nitrophenol and non-enzymatic glucose sensing
Transition metals based nitrogen-doped carbon nanocomposites have been envisioned as a potential replacement for precious metal-based nanostructures to catalyze a variety of reactions. Herein, we report the synthesis of a group of nitrogen-doped carbon nanocomposites derived from the Nicotiana genus family plant, e.g. tobacco, a highly nicotine rich entity, and iron nitrate mixture followed by their exploitation for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensing. The controlled study suggests that the pyrolysis of tobacco results in ?7 at.% of nitrogen doping, an important heteroatom to enhance the catalytic efficiency of nanocomposites. The kinetics of the reduction of 4-NP follow a pseudo-first-order reaction. The time constant is found to increase with the Fe content in the composite owing to the formation of FeNx centers. The separation of a catalyst with the aid of a magnetic field offers a huge add-on to vouch for the recovery of these catalysts. Along with the display of appealing catalytic reduction, its application to non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensing is also demonstrated. Overall, the Nicotiana genus can be used as nitrogen-carbon precursors for designing of targeted N-doped carbon-based composites that could be exploited for various applications. 2021 Elsevier Ltd -
Commensality and Togetherness in Becky Chambers The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Food in literature is always part of a symbolic act, as the characters within do not eat to stay alive as humans do, but rather, this depiction of eating is always a symbolic process. Food, especially in science fiction and fantasy fiction, works on an even grander scale by being an integral part of the world-building process. It operates on a two-fold scale by serving as a familiar anchor in futuristic and fantastical settings, while also functioning as a defamiliarizing agent that adds to the strangeness of the story world. Food is an incredibly complex motif to be explored in literature, but what will be concentrated on here is the aspect of commensality that is related to food and food practices. Commensality, often seen as related to conviviality, is the practice of sharing a table and consuming food together. This practice has connotations of the deeper meanings vested within food practices in a communal and social sense. These practices promote harmony and feelings of belongingness and togetherness. This paper looks at The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (2015) by Becky Chambers through the lens of food to explore how commensality works to create a home and promote the feeling of togetherness amongst an inter-galactic space crew that consists of multiple alien species from radically different cultures and communities. 2022, Istanbul University Press. All rights reserved. -
Driving Financial Inclusion: Technology as an Indicator of Financial Ecosystem Development During the COVID-19 Pandemic in India
This paper examines Indias level of digital access to financial services as compared to other Asian countries. The study also intends to analyse whether COVID-19 has influenced the usage trend of the selected digital payment indicators in India. Data has been collected from the World Bank Global Findex Database and RBI bulletins. Cross country descriptive analysis was used for studying Indias digital financial access against the other Asian countries. Event study methodology followed by trend analysis was employed to examine whether COVID-19 has impacted the digital payment indicators usage in India. The findings of the study indicated that Indias position in digital financial access needs to be improved. It was further identified that COVID-19 has increased the usage of digital modes for financial transactions in India. There has been a significant increase in the usage volume of mobile banking after the declaration of the pandemic. Govt. can frame its action plans to make use of the opportunity created through the pandemic to improve digital financial access in India. 2022 IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Modeling Consumer Price Index: A Machine Learning Approach
The change in price of a group of goods and services is reflected in terms of consumer price index (CPI), making it one of the most important economic indicators. This is also the mostly used measure of inflation. Forecasted CPI values help the Government to take corrective measures to control the economic conditions of the country. This paper implements and examines two machine learning models such as artificial neural network (ANN) and ANN model optimized with particle swarm optimization (PSO) known as ANN-PSO to assess the accuracy in predictability of CPI. The data set for four groups such as food and beverages, housing, clothing, and footwear used for the calculation of all India CPI has been taken from the official website of the Government of India. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) has been used as the validator for model accuracy. The MAPE calculated for all experiments are less than 10% which indicates that the ANN-PSO models used are highly accurate for prediction of CPI of India. 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH -
A study on nanoliquid flow with irregular heat source and realistic boundary conditions: A modified Buongiorno model for biomedical applications
Titanium dioxide plays a vital role in cancer therapy methods (including photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy), skincare products, heat exchangers, and car radiators. Therefore, the dynamics of the TiO2 nanomaterial with H2O as basefluid over a nonlinearly stretched surface is investigated. For realistic nanoliquid modeling, the conventional Buongiorno model has been improvised (called modified Buongiorno model [MBM]) by incorporating the effective thermophysical properties of the nanoliquid. Experimentally derived correlations of the thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity of the nanofluid are utilized. The significance of passive control of nanoparticles is also studied. The heat transfer analysis includes the mechanism of Rosseland heat flux and exponential heat source. Similarity theory is used to obtain nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) from the governing partial differential equations which are solved numerically using bvp5c, a finite difference-based routine in MATLAB. Further, the heat transfer rate is statistically scrutinized for the consequence of magnetic field (Formula presented.), thermal radiation (Formula presented.) and exponential heat source (Formula presented.) by employing Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and sensitivity analysis. The temperature of nanofluid ascends with the exponential heat source, thermal radiation, and thermophoresis aspects. Furthermore, when the MBM is utilised, the thermal field of the nanofluid is greater than when the classic Buongiorno model is used. The rate of heat transfer correlates positively with radiative heat flux. The exponential heat source exhibits a negative sensitivity towards the rate of heat transfer. 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH -
Data Security-Based Routing in MANETs Using Key Management Mechanism
A Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) is an autonomous network developed using wireless mobile nodes without the support of any kind of infrastructure. In a MANET, nodes can communicate with each other freely and dynamically. However, MANETs are prone to serious security threats that are difficult to resist using the existing security approaches. Therefore, various secure routing protocols have been developed to strengthen the security of MANETs. In this paper, a secure and energy-efficient routing protocol is proposed by using group key management. Asymmetric key cryptography is used, which involves two specialized nodes, labeled the Calculator Key (CK) and the Distribution Key (DK). These two nodes are responsible for the generation, verification, and distribution of secret keys. As a result, other nodes need not perform any kind of additional computation for building the secret keys. These nodes are selected using the energy consumption and trust values of nodes. In most of the existing routing protocols, each node is responsible for the generation and distribution of its own secret keys, which results in more energy dissemination. Moreover, if any node is compromised, security breaches should occur. When nodes other than the CK and DK are compromised, the entire networks security is not jeopardized. Extensive experiments are performed by considering the existing and the proposed protocols. Performance analyses reveal that the proposed protocol outperforms the competitive protocols. 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. -
Modified PredictorCorrector Method for the Numerical Solution of a Fractional-Order SIR Model with 2019-nCoV
In this paper, we analyzed and found the solution for a suitable nonlinear fractional dynamical system that describes coronavirus (2019-nCoV) using a novel computational method. A compartmental model with four compartments, namely, susceptible, infected, reported and unreported, was adopted and modified to a new model incorporating fractional operators. In particular, by using a modified predictorcorrector method, we captured the nature of the obtained solution for different arbitrary orders. We investigated the influence of the fractional operator to present and discuss some interesting properties of the novel coronavirus infection. 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. -
EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF IMPOSTOR PHENOMENON ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AMONG GRADUATE STUDENTS
Background: The mounting pressure to pursue novel endeavours, excel in academics and extracurriculars, improper mentoring, and looming deadlines have primarily been responsible for graduate students succumbing to the cut-throat competition prevalent in universities. In trying to keep up with the growing expectations, they may experience Impostor Phenomenon, which is often accompanied by feelings of unwarranted inadequacy and intellectual fraudulence-where students constantly question their capabilities despite evident success. Attributing their accomplishments to a stroke of luck, they believe they are not worthy of praise. These experiences of impostor phenomenon end up exacting a heavy toll on the mental well-being of graduate students and subsequently, their perceptions of available sources of social support. Purpose: In this context, the present investigation attempts to explore the impact of impostor phenomenon on psychological well-being and perceived social support among Indian graduate students; and analyze the gender differences in the experiences of impostor phenomenon. Design/Methodology/Approach: The sample consisted of 230 Indian graduate students (115 males and 115 females) aged 18-25 years, who had academic scores equivalent to, or above, 65%. Purposive sampling technique was employed to gather data using the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale, Ryffs Psychological Well-Being Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Findings: Results of the study yielded that Impostor Phenomenon is a significant negative predictor of Psychological Well-Being, however no significant relationship was established with Perceived Social Support. No significant gender differences emerged from the data analysis. Conclusion: The results can be utilized heuristically to facilitate the identification of graduate students experiencing impostor phenomenon, provide early interventions, and prevent the culmination of the same into psychopathology, thus enriching the literature on this lesser-known phenomenon in an Indian context. 2022 RJ4All. -
Understanding Startup Valuation and its Impact on Startup Ecosystem
Startups play a substantial role in the economic growth of a nation, by introducing new technologies, ground-breaking innovation, creating jobs, etc. A couple of decades back, it was extremely difficult to start a business, but today new businesses pop up every day, all around the world. Recognizing the importance of a startup, governments across the globe are doing their best to provide an atmosphere where startups can bloom. Despite its importance and all the support, the startup failure rate is at 90%; about 10% of startups fail in the first year and 70% fail in two to five years. The startup boom saw the emergence of alternative sources of funding like Venture Capitalist, Angel Investors, etc. These investors (Venture Capitalist, Angel Investors, etc.) played a crucial role in startup success by providing easy access to funds which is a critical and scarce resource for any founder. Traditionally business success is linked with sustainable profitability but in the startup world most used method to define success is valuation. Based on CB Insights research, as of January 2022, there are more than 900 unicorns (startup with a valuation of over $1 billion) around the world and of these unicorns less than 10% are profitable. It's difficult to explain/comprehend how startups' which are neither profitable nor foresee profitability in near future are valued higher than traditional business with stable profitability. Current valuation methods have impacted the startup ecosystem. Today, founders start their business with exit in mind, the focus of founders is on growth/scale rather than profitability. There is a school of thought that believes that such valuations will soon result in the bursting of the startup bubble just like the dotcom bubble seen in late 1990s. The focus of this paper is to investigate the techniques used by investors for startup valuation and how these techniques are impacting the startup ecosystem and its founders. The paper looks at all stages of the investment cycle, from seed to IPO or takeover and understands the process of valuation at each stage and how it impacts all stakeholders in the ecosystem. 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. -
Development of Guidelines for Spouses Engaged in Home-Based Care of Persons With Motor Neuron Disease From Indian Context
Background: The caregivers of persons with motor neuron disease (MND) have several needs that are usually not voiced on any platform. Aim: To explore the lived experience of spouses of persons with MND, identify their needs and develop guidelines for better home-based care. Method: An exploratory study with 3-point in-depth interviews among 13 participants was conducted. Participants were the spouses of persons with MND under treatment at a national quaternary referral center. The interpretative phenomenological analysis identified participants needs. These needs, with literature review synthesis, guided the drafting of guidelines, which was validated by experts. Results: The needs were emotional, social, care systems, and skills. The guidelines developed contained 2 sections (1) Information for the spouses: understanding MND, communication, symptom management, marital relationship, palliative care, and everyday life made easier. (2) Well-being of the spouse caregivers: well-being of the spouse caregivers, self-care, mental health, supporting carers in palliative care, where to find help. Conclusion: The guidelines can be developed as a manual for the caregivers and for training healthcare professionals working with neurodegenerative conditions. The Author(s) 2022.