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INVESTIGATION OF ANTECEDENTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF USEFULNESS IN ONLINE TRAVEL COMMUNITIES: THE MODERATING ROLE OF DECISION MAKING STAGE
This study examines the perceived usefulness (PU) of online discourse and the decision-making behavior of users in Online Travel Communities (OTCs). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used on secondary data available in OTCs in the form of 852 threads to empirically test the proposed integrated model. The antecedents of the perceived usefulness of online travel communities were found to be the argument quality and credibility. These influence the PU of user-generated content significantly and are helpful in information adoption in OTCs. The PU of OTC discourse positively impacts travelers' information adoption and decision-making. The current study offers implications for OTCs and online service providers for enhancing the usefulness of user-generated content in OTCs and social media sites, leading to online information use and travel decision-making. Prior literature has explored the nature and magnitude of the influence of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) on information adoption and intention to use information for travel purchases from users' perspectives and has investigated the PU of third-party travel sites. This paper is an effort to examine PU and decision-making by analyzing the User-Generated-Content (UGC) posted by the actual users. 2023 Akdeniz University Publishing House. All rights reserved. -
Determination of heavy metals in various tissues of locally reared (country) chicken in major districts of Karnataka, India: Assessment of potential health risks
Food is one of the most prevalent ways that humans are exposed to metals. Heavy metals including cadmium, iron, zinc, lead, and mercury are harmful to humans and have a detrimental impact on health because they accumulate in biological organs. The concentration levels of these heavy metals were tested in different edible parts of the country (locally raised) chicken from various districts in Karnataka, India, namely Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mangaluru, and Udupi, using an Atomic-Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Heavy metal concentrations in various chicken parts were found to be below detectable limits (BDL)-0.0062, 0.027-3.178, and 0.262-2.103 ppm for Cd, Fe, and Zn, respectively, whereas Hg and Pb were BDL. The content of Zn was found to be significantly higher in all chicken samples from all examined districts, followed by Fe and Cd. Hg and Pb concentrations, on the other hand, were below the detection level in all samples. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of the observed metals from country chicken consumption were found to be lower than their respective FAO/WHO reference oral doses (RfD). The non- carcinogenic health hazards posed by the tested metals to the target population were estimated using the Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) values. The HQ and HI values observed in this estimation were less than one, indicating that exposure to these heavy metals through the consumption of country chicken is unlikely to provide possible health concerns to the examined regions human population. 2023, Universidade Federal do Parana. All rights reserved. -
Mentors perceived interest, motivation, and volunteering intention at DREAMS after school intervention programme
DREAMS stands for Desire, Readiness, Empowerment, Action, and Mastery for Success. Dreams afterschool intervention programme (ASIP) is to empower children who are weak in psychosocial skills to realize their full potential and to plan for a successful life with the help of college student mentors and senior community mentors. The present study explored the college student mentors interest and motivation to serve at DREAMS and the volunteering intention to stay or discontinue as mentors. The study bases its investigation purely on the mentors revelation of their experiences of DREAMS ASIP. Study followed phenomenological inquiry method and conducted semi-structured interview with 10 college-student mentors, which included 6 active mentors and 4 dropouts. A face-to-face interview conducted by the researchers recorded all the unique points diligently and conducted the data analysis using thematic analysis. Study found 3 main themes and 12 subordinate themes out of thematic analysis. The master themes are mentors interest, mentors motivation, and mentors volunteering experiences. The results section of the article presents the details of themes and sub-themes along with few excerpts of interviewees. Implications of the study might help other ASPs to understand the nature of their volunteers interest and motivation. Future researchers may study factors affecting the mentors strengths and weaknesses within the organisation. 2023 RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR ALL. -
Faculty acceptance of virtual teaching platforms for online teaching: Moderating role of resistance to change
Under this new normal world scenario, online teaching has been essential rather than a choice in continuing learning activities. During the COVID-19 period, virtual teaching platforms played an important role in the success of online teaching in various higher educational institutions. Thus, the current study attempted to predict faculty adoption of online platforms by introducing a set of essential drivers for engaging in online teaching. Following the theory of reasoned action, the study broadened the technology acceptance model variables and security and trust as extrinsic determinants and included resistance to change as moderators to invigorate the research model. Data were collected through an online survey with a sample size of 418 Indian respondents. Our results posit that perceived ease of use, usefulness, security and trust positively influence the faculty's intentions to adopt online platforms. In addition, the study also reported that positive intention leads to the actual use of virtual platforms. Furthermore, the research found the moderating role of the resistance to change dimension in the association of intention and actual use of virtual teaching platforms. The findings provide both theoretical and practical applications of educational technology. Implications for practice or policy The first step for accepting virtual teaching platforms is to help faculty to reduce their resistance for effective online teaching. Higher education institutions should have a policy promising faculty that online teaching using virtual teaching platforms will offer a safer and more trustworthy environment. Higher education institutions should undertake intense organisational renewal and implement bottom-up processes for synchronous learning. Regulators could frame a policy including virtual teaching platforms to provide interactive professional development opportunities. Articles published in the Australasian Journal of Educational Technology (AJET) are available under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives Licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Authors retain copyright in their work and grant AJET right of first publication under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. -
A Novel Paradigm for IoT Security: ResNet-GRU Model Revolutionizes Botnet Attack Detection
The rapid proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) has engendered substantial security apprehensions, chiefly due to the emergence of botnet attacks. This research study delves into the realm of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) by leveraging the IoT23 dataset, with a specific emphasis on the intricate domain of IoT at the network's edge. The evolution of edge computing underscores the exigency for tailored security solutions. An array of statistical methodologies, encompassing ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Friedman tests, is systematically employed to illuminate the evolving trends across multiple facets of the study. Given the intricacies entailed in feature selection within edge environments, Chi-square analyses, Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), and Lasso-based techniques are strategically harnessed to unearth meaningful feature subsets. A meticulous evaluation encompassing 19 classifiers, meticulously selected from both machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) paradigms, is rigorously conducted. Initial findings underscore the potential of the Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) model, especially when coupled with intrinsic lasso-based feature selection. This promising outcome catalyzes the formulation of an ensemble approach that harnesses multiple LassoCV models, aimed at amplifying feature selection proficiency. Furthermore, an optimized ResNet-GRU model emerges from the fusion of the GRU and ResNet architectures, with the objective of augmenting classification performance. In response to mounting concerns regarding data privacy at the edge, a resilient federated learning ecosystem is meticulously crafted. The seamless integration of the optimized ResNet-GRU model into this framework facilitates the employment of FedAvg, a widely acclaimed federated learning methodology, to adeptly navigate the intricacies associated with data sharing challenges. A comprehensive performance evaluation is undertaken, wherein the ResNet-GRU model is benchmarked against FedAvg and a diverse array of other federated learning algorithms, including FedProx and Fed+. This extensive comparative analysis encompasses a spectrum of performance metrics and processing time benchmarks, shedding comprehensive light on the capabilities of the model. (2023), (Science and Information Organization). All Rights Reserved. -
Analyzing the interactions among delay factors in construction projects: A multi criteria decision analysis
The construction industry is a crucial sector that drives economic growth and facilitates socio-economic development. However, construction projects often get delayed due to multiple controllable and uncontrollable circumstances. In this scenario, the construction industry is striving for potential solutions to resolve project delays. Thus, the present study objectives to analyze the delay factors that affect the timely accomplishment of construction projects in the context of emerging economies. The study adopts a mixed methodology comprising of Delphi, Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM) and Matrice d' Impacts Croises Multiplication Applique a Classement (MICMAC) method to model the identified delay factors. A Delphi analysis was conducted to finalize the most crucial delay factors to the on-time completion of building projects. The causal relationships and expert interpretations for each identified delay factor were then determined using multi-criteria decision analysis, TISM and MICMAC analysis. The study results highlight that lack of knowledge of newer construction methodologies and lack of project monitoring tools and techniques are positioned at the bottom level of model, which suggests that this delay factor influences others. The study results will help managers resolve the issues of project delays by selecting the most suitable approach. The findings from the study suggest adopting advanced technologies for effective communication, use of analytical tools for resource allocation and waste-scrapping approaches for eliminating delays in construction projects. The Author(s) 2023. -
Effect of social influence on the saving behaviour of freelancing undergraduate students, mediated by financial literacy and self-control; [Vliv socino aspektu na spo?icchovstudent? na volnnoze ve vztahu k finan?ngramotnosti a sebekontrole]
Currently, India is among the countries with the largest youth population with 65% of the people aged below 35 years. These youths engage themselves in a multitude of things which generation-x was not aware. Their daily routine, study habits, entertainment, computer knowledge, and financial affairs are different from that of earlier generations. There is a need to study their financial situation and saving habit as their approach towards enjoyment, recreation, and lifestyle are influenced by factors like social media and popular culture. This study aims to find the mediation effect of financial literacy and self-control on the relationship between social influence and saving behaviour of undergraduate (UG) students, who are freelancing while pursuing their studies. The study obtained 357 responses to questionnaires through purposive sampling method. The study adopted causal mediation research design and employed mediation analysis to find the direct, indirect, and total effects of the relationship between social influence and saving behaviour among freelancing UG students. The results of the study revealed a partial mediation effect, indicating that the social influence not only had a direct impact on the saving behaviour of UG students in India, but also mediated it through financial literacy and self-control. Further research could focus on understanding students knowledge of digital-financial management, as digitisation of the financial sector is rapidly expanding. 2023 The Authors. -
The Role of Cognitive Appraisal in Informed Decision-Making among Social Entrepreneurs: A Thematic Analysis
Social entrepreneurship (SE) is gaining momentum by providing innovative solutions to economic, social, and environmental problems by generating jobs and social inclusion. However, it involves different challenges that may lead to a negative appraisal. This study aimed to explore cognitive appraisal processes social entrepreneurs use to make informed decisions in their entrepreneurial journey. Interviews were conducted with 13 Indian social entrepreneurs, and the data were subjected to thematic analysis. The main themes were; appropriateness, implications, coping potential, and normative significance. The study proposes a cognitive model for the appraisal of SE. The study is important for aspiring social entrepreneurs to understand the evaluation components of appraisal to decide how appropriate SE is as a career for them. 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Investigating and analyzing the causality amid tourism, environment, economy, energy consumption, and carbon emissions using TodaYamamoto approach for Himachal Pradesh, India
Himachal Pradesh is a preferred tourist destination with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.76% between 201112 and 202021. The increasing trend of CAGR has boosted the tourism economy in the state while impacting the local environment. The negative impacts have recently increased due to changes in climatic patterns and increased tourism influx during the post-pandemic period. In this context, the present study analyzed the impact of tourism on the environment, economy, and energy consumption using the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. The novelty of this study is to the existing literature on sustainable tourism development through investigating the interrelationship between tourism, environment, economy, energy consumption, and carbon emissions by employing the TodaYamamoto (TY) technique. This study will be a pioneering scientific investigation with quantitative results in the western Himalayan states of India, encompassing Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. The annual data for each variable, such as per capita carbon emission (CEP), per capita Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), per capita GSDP square, per capita energy consumption (ECP), and per capita tourism receipts (TRP), was collected from 2010 to 2021. This study exhibited an inverted-U EKC in the state, signifying the initial stage of economic development and extensive exploitation of natural resources for tourism. The TY results indicated an inter-causal relationship and feedback association among the variables in the study area. Thus, increased TRP would lead to an upsurge in energy consumption affecting the environmental quality due to increased carbon emissions. Such environmental degradation in the state would negatively impact the tourism sector in the long run. The research findings would guide planners and policymakers in promoting sustainable tourism. 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. -
Profiles of Victimized Outpatients with Severe Mental Illness in India
Persons with severe mental illness (PwSMI) are at risk of being victimized due to persistent cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms, which can become potential threats for effective reintegration into the community. A total of 217 PwSMI, receiving outpatient psychiatric treatment from a tertiary hospital, were screened for abuse, and if they were identified as abuse, then information about contextual factors contributing to abuse, sociodemographic, family, and clinical and legal profiles was created. Overall, 150 PwSMI were victimized, of which 56% were females, 50.7% were married, 20.7% were educated up to middle school, and 31.4% were homemaker. The most common form of diagnosis was schizophrenia (43.3%), with a mean duration of illness of 14 years. All the victimized PwSMI were subjected to emotional abuse. PwSMI were more likely to be victimized by multiple family members due to poor knowledge and understanding about illness (24%). The majority of the PwSMI had disclosed abuse (62.7%) to nonformal sources (33.3%) with no documentation in the clinical file (82.7%). PwSMI experience ongoing abuse and are more likely to be re-victimized, which increases the need for regular screening and culturally sensitive and comprehensive community-coordinated care and support. 2023 Indian Journal of Community Medicine. -
Sentiment Analysis on Banking Feedback and News Data using Synonyms and Antonyms
Sentiment analysis is crucial for deciphering customers enthusiasm, frustration, and the market mood within the banking sector. This importance arises from financial datas specialized and sensitive nature, enabling a deeper understanding of customer sentiments. In todays digital and social marketing landscape within the banking and financial sector, sentiment analysis is significant in shaping customer insights, product development, brand reputation management, risk management, customer service improvement, fraud detection, market research, compliance regulations, etc. This paper introduces a novel approach to sentiment analysis in the banking sector, emphasizing integrating diverse text features to enable dynamic analysis. This proposed approach aims to assess the sentiment score of distinct words used within a document and classify them as positive, negative, or neutral. After rephrasing sentences using synonyms and antonyms of unique words, the system calculates sentence similarity using a distance control mechanism. Then, the system updates the dataset with the positive, negative, and neutral labels. Ultimately, the ELECTRA model utilizes the self-trained sentiment-scored data dictionary, and the newly created dataset is processed using the SoftMax activation function in combination with a customized ADAM optimizer. The approachs effectiveness is confirmed through the analysis of post-bank customer feedback and the phrase bank dataset, yielding accuracy scores of 92.15% and 93.47%, respectively. This study stands out due to its unique approach, which centers on evaluating customer satisfaction and market sentiment by utilizing sentiment scores of words and assessing sentence similarities. 2023, Science and Information Organization. All rights reserved. -
Analysis of Elliptic Curve Cryptography & RSA
In todays digital world, the Internet is an essential component of communication networks. It provides a platform for quickly exchanging information among communicating parties. There is a risk of unauthorized persons gaining access to our sensitive information while it is being transmitted. Cryptography is one of the most effective and efficient strategies for protecting our data and it are utilized all around the world. The efficiency of a cryptography algorithm is determined by a number of parameters, one of which is the length of the key. For cryptography, key (public/private) is an essential part. To provide robust security, RSA takes larger key size. If we use larger key size, the processing performance will be slowed. As a result, processing speed will decrease and memory consumption will increase. Due to this, cryptographic algorithms with smaller key size and higher security are becoming more popular. Out of the cryptographic algorithms, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) provides equivalent level of safety which RSA provides, but it takes smaller key size. On the basis of key size, our work focused on, studied, and compared the efficacy in terms of security among the well-known public key cryptography algorithms, namely ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography) and RSA (Rivets Shamir Adelman). 2023 River Publishers. -
A comprehensive study on the assessment of chemically modified Azolla pinnata as a potential cadmium sequestering agent
The major environmental issue raised throughout the world is the egression of toxic pollutants in water bodies. Hence, employment of novel technological interventions such as bioremediation and phytoremediation for mitigating the toxic effects caused by the pollutants has gained attention. The aquatic macrophyte, Azolla pinnata is utilized as a biofiltering agent in the present study for the chelation of metal toxicants from the artificial wastewater system. The nutritive value of A. pinnata was determined to be 268.99Kcal/100g energy and the mineral profiling showed the highest amount of calcium (54.7ppm), iron (14.04ppm) and manganese (7.96 ppm). The quantitative screening of total phenolic and total flavonoid contents showed a maximum of 402.334.29 mg/g GAE and 105.253.81 mg/g QE respectively and the sample exhibited strong antioxidant activity in quenching the DPPH radicals with an IC50 value of 88.27?g/ml. Similarly, the highest bioactivity was observed in methanolic and chloroform extract of A. pinnata biomass showing the zone of growth inhibition against E. coli (17mm) and S. aureus (18mm). The results recorded from the SEM-EDX, GCMS, FTIR and XRD confirmed the adsorptive properties of biomass. The chemically modified and unmodified Azolla exposed to cadmium metal solution showed the maximum adsorption of about 0.470.001 and 0.480.003 ppm in 60mins using the unmodified biomass with dosage of 0.75 and 1.0g respectively. Moreover, the results recorded from the instrumental characterization for the adsorptive properties of Azolla biomass proved that cadmium chelation is due to the modifications caused in porosity, surface structure and the addition of functional groups in the treated biomass surface. 2023 The Ceramic Society of Japan. -
A Study on Sense of Community: Case Example of Public Housing Project, Bengaluru, India
Background: In the realm of collective public housing, certain societal segments currently favor low-rise residential blocks due to their affordability and lower number of dwelling units per block, thus affording increased privacy for residents. However, the concept of associating residents benefits with social relationships has yet to garner sufficient attention. Objective: This article seeks to understand and examine the impact of public housing on the sense of community (SOC) within a public housing community. Methods: The study was conducted at the Bangalore Development Author-ity Jnanabharathi Residential Enclave in Kengeri, Bengaluru, Karnataka. This understanding was attained through a comprehensive review of existing literature and an on-site evaluation carried out using questionnaire surveys and photographs for visual interpretations. Findings: The results indicated a relatively deficient sense of ownership within the community. Homeowners exhibited higher levels of community involvement and engagement in various activities compared with tenants. Conclusions: Furthermore, the study recommends that public authorities reevalu-ate their perspectives on public housing developments and develop a policy-orien-ted approach for planning, design, and additional amenities to foster a stronger SOC belonging. 2023 Springer Publishing Company. -
Measurement of Corporate Social Responsibility of Financial Companies in the Indian Context
Purpose: This study aimed to measure the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of financial companies (banks and NBFCs) in India. This paper used content analysis to quantify the CSR performance of financial companies. Financial institutions loan money to businesses utilizing assets owned by saving bank account holders, thereby heightening their societal responsibility. Methodology: Data from 63 financial companies listed on the National Stock Exchange from 20142015 to 20202021 were considered. Cronbachs alpha, descriptive statistics, and z-score test were used in this research to check the reliability and normality of the CSR scores. Findings: The results showed that private sector banks proactively participated in social activities compared to public sector banks (PSB) and non-banking financial institutions (NBFCs). Scores of CSR improved during the study period. Practical Implications: The study will allow future research because every issue and factor considered in the scale needs attention to benefit humankinds future generations. Calculated CSR scores could be used to measure the impact on the financial performance of companies. Originality: Unlike prior research on corporate social responsibility, the current work built a model to measure the CSR of financial companies. 2023, Associated Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd.. All rights reserved. -
Pandemic, theatre and performance: Democratizing the subalterns through the Theatre of the Oppressed
The presented work analyses Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) methods impacting the pandemic. It follows the WHO timeline, when the COVID-19 pandemic had cast a dark shadow, making sustenance difficult for the marginalized section of Indian society. TO methods, though reflected, adapted and accommodated exhaustively in Indian applied theatre over the last four decades, offered a fresh, collective, democratic space during the pandemic. Forum theatre (FT) and legislative theatre (LT) praxis rendered a platform for activism, awareness and emancipation of the subalterns during the pandemic. Thus, TO renewed psycho-social dialogue and critical, creative, experimental space during this time. The applicability of such methods facilitating social change is gauged using Boals spect-actorship and Freires conscientization. The article looks forward to the TO signposts to serve as nodal points for further scholarly discussion and study on democratizing the disenfranchised population through FT and LT during the pandemic. 2023 Intellect Ltd Article. English language. All Rights Reserved. -
Digital Gender Gap, Gender Equality and National Institutional Freedom: A Dynamic Panel Analysis
While digital gender gap is a growing field of research in Information Systems (IS), there remains a dearth of research focusing on it. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between the digital gender gap in mobile and internet usage and gender equality. Additionally, this study also examines the impact of national institutional freedoms on the aforementioned relationship. Utilizing the theoretical framework of intersecting inequalities and building upon existing literature on the gender digital divide, this study aims to explore the associations between disparities in mobile and internet usage, gender equality, and the extent of national institutional freedoms encompassing economic, political, and media domains. In pursuit of this objective, we undertake a dynamic panel data analysis using publicly accessible archival data at the country level. The results indicate that national institutions have a significant impact on the relationship between the digital gender gap in internet and mobile phone usage and gender equality. The discussion encompasses the significance of our findings for both study and practice. 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Simulation and Experimental Analysis of L-Section in Reinforced Cement Concrete: Uncertainties in Performance and Strength
The design and construction of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) flooring play a crucial role in the overall stability of a structure, particularly in regions prone to tectonic activity. RCC floors comprise various beams, including intermediate T-sections and specific L-sections at critical points such as corners and around staircases or lift openings. This paper identifies a key challenge in building frameworks to resist tectonic loads. It further explores the components of the structure that provide potential for interruption, capability, and the safe transfer of tectonic loading to the array connection, all while maintaining sufficient strength. The L-sections were experimented on using various grades of concrete and sizes to reinforce connections under diverse loading conditions. L-sections contribute to reducing floor height, solving economic and technical problems, and creating advanced composite connections that integrate the proposed structural system. The analysis was conducted both analytically and experimentally to assess methods to resist earthquake forces based on stiffness, building strength, and elasticity capacity. These approaches have been identified to safeguard buildings during substantial seismic events. The development of the L-section is detailed, highlighting the loading process and the capacity to overcome various structural challenges. 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. -
India as a climate leader in the indo-pacific: challenges and opportunities
The non-traditional security threats in the form of incessant floods, cyclones, and all-time rising sea levels in the Indo-Pacific region call for an integrated and constructive response led by a climate leader. Climate change is seen way beyond the lens of a mere environmental catastrophe having the potential to destabilize a nations economy and polity. The global state and non-state actors have acknowledged climate change to be an alarming global security threat. However, the failure of collective management of the climate crisis has mandated a responsible climate leader to monitor the mitigation efforts. In the context of initiatives like the National Solar Mission that envisages India to be a global leader in solar energy, the paper intends to weigh the possibilities for Indias role as a cogent climate leader in the Indo-Pacific region. It seeks to evaluate Indias climate leadership based on its green policies and assistance to Indo-Pacific countries. 2024 Indian Ocean Research Group. -
An Enhanced Automation Analysis for Structural Algorithm in Agro-Industries Using IoT
The Internet of Things (IoT) based structural algorithm for automatic agriculture refers to the system of using powerful real-time data collected from a variety of sensors with software and analytics to autonomously manage agro-ecosystems. This algorithm can be used to monitor environments, analyze data and use this knowledge to take specific actions to help farmers and producers maximize their production and profitability. This algorithm provides an unprecedented level of precision, accuracy and control over the agricultural environment, allowing greater efficiency and optimization in farming practices. It enables monitoring, scheduling, and control of different agro-ecosystem components, such as water, soil, fertilizer, light, humidity, temperature, soil pH and crop growth. The algorithm can also point to general trends and patterns in the environment, as well as offer timely advice to farmers in response to real-time conditions. The algorithm is also capable of automatically diagnosing and responding to unexpected problems, which can help prevent costly mistakes and excessive waste of water, fertilizer, energy, etc. 2023 by the authors.