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Bridging the Digital Chasm: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Digital Divide in Shaping Healthcare Professionals
Industry 5.0 has ushered in a transformative era for the healthcare industry, propelling it towards a digitally empowered ecosystem. This paradigm shift underscores the indispensability of integrating advanced digital technologies into healthcare, not merely as an option but as a crucial necessity. This research delves into the profound impact of Industry 5.0 on healthcare, emphasizing the intersection of digital technologies, patient-centric care, and sustainable practices. Central to the investigation is the digital divide, which manifests as a catalytic intrusion into the healthcare sector's digital landscape. Regardless of demographic considerations among healthcare providers, the existing digital divide manifests in varying levels of access, skill, and offline outcomes and benefits. Our study meticulously explores the intricate dynamics of the digital divide within healthcare professionals, highlighting its influence on micro-level patient experience. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025. -
Microfinance Sector and the Supportive Role of Regulator in its Transformation: A Case Study from India
Microfinance is a proven business model to deliver financial services to unbanked. In the beginning years of microfinance, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) were engaged in microfinance initiative and used to raise capital through grants for their microfinance program, similar to other grant-based development initiatives. To become self-sustainable financial institutions, NGOs started to transform their microfinance initiatives to a for-profit legal entity. Microfinance experienced commercialization in the process of transformation which neglected the basics of microfinance, especially in protecting the interest of clients. Supportive role of regulator transformed the Indian microfinance sectors and formed sustainable financial institutions. The successful story of Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) intervention in shaping Indian microfinance sector counters the argument of free market principle in fixing the interest rate and healthy regulation for microfinance institutions. Supportive role of Reserve Bank of India created win-win situation for both microfinance borrowers, microfinance institutions and other stakeholders for the long-term sustainability. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021. -
Social performance and sustainability of Indian microfinance institutions: an interrogation
This paper has come forward from the research proposal to understand the effect of social performance on the sustainability of microfinance institutions. It has been revealed that the conventional method of assessment of financial institutions is not applicable to the microfinance sector. Performance measurement of microfinance institutions has to be different from that of other financial institutions because of the social aspects involved besides profitability. Social performance has now become part of microfinance business along with business sustainability. Our whole study course is entitled Effect of social performance on the sustainability of microfinance institutions. In this paper, we elucidate the topic, find the underrepresented research areas and formulate a research hypothesis for understanding the relationship between social performance and the sustainability of microfinance institutions. 2016, 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Intensifying the social performance and sustainability of microfinance institutions to address the social challenge of sanitation: An Indian case study
The microfinance model has helped to address the world's social challenges to some extent. Sanitation is one of the world's social challenges and microfinance can be used as an intervention tool to address this. Worldwide 1.04 billion people still practise open defecation, accounting for 15 per cent of the world population, and of which 594 million are Indians. To address this sanitation problem, Bharathi Women Development Centre (Bharathi), a Tamil Nadu-based non-government organization, used its microfinance programme and group network to educate about the need for toilets, and provided the resources and technical know - how to construct latrines in individual households. So far they have successfully constructed 14,609 toilets by providing microcredit and have experienced no difficulties in repayments of loans, by which it is proved to be a sustainable programme. Bharathi has faced many challenges while implementing this project, such as raising debt fund for on-lending to its sanitation portfolio; shifting the culture of open defecation after construction of toilets, especially with male members of the family; establishing a technical know - how workforce to construct the toilets in rural areas; helping the poorest of the poor to not be burdened by the sanitation loan because of its non-income generating nature; and maintaining the low-cost construction of toilets. This study illustrates how a relatively small NGO microfinance institution was able to create a niche market and implement a sustainable sanitation programme along with its routine microfinance programme by providing awareness, technical assistance, and credit to construct toilets. Practical Action Publishing, 2015. -
A GPS-Gradient Mapped Database-Based Fuzzy Energy Management System for a SeriesParallel Hybrid Electric Vehicle
The Energy Management System developed for the hybrid electric vehicle operates using a database with GPS co-ordinates and corresponding altitudes mapped, thereby giving a predictive control to optimize the operation of the seriesparallel hybrid system. The system aims at extracting the maximum potential of the seriesparallel hybrid power train architecture. The mapping of the latitude and longitude obtained from a global positioning system (GPS) to the altitude measured to create a database which generates a predefined driving cycle prior to the actual motion of the vehicle. The created database is then used in a MATLAB/Simulink model to simulate the operation of the seriesparallel hybrid system and implement the Energy Management System. The validated data is then tested in a Raspberry Pi (RPi)-based prototype. The Energy Management System regulates the vehicle dynamics based on the input drive cycle. The fuzzy logic-based control mechanism is implemented in the RPi to optimize the load sharing between the IC engine and the brushless DC motor. 2020, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. -
Gender Identification of Silkworm Pupa and Automated Cocoon Cutting Machine for Benefiting the Sericulture Grainages in Karnataka
Sericulture is the backbone of a mediocre farmer family in India. Sericulture provides a major financial support to the farmers with minimum infrastructure and maintenance. Farmers collect the seed cocoons from the grainages also known as seed factories. Grainages produce high quality seeds by mating the male and female cocoons. There is a huge demand of labor in these seed factories to process cocoons. The process includes deflossing, removal of pupa from the cocoon, gender identification, mating, storage of seeds, dispersal of eggs to farmers. Removal of pupa from the cocoon requires the labor to cut open a small portion of the cocoon and remove the pupa from inside. Presently in India, most of the grainages induce female laborers to perform the above job. Pupa is removed from the cocoon by cutting the cocoon using a stainless-steel blade. Each labour is given certain amount of cocoons to cut in a day. This requirement would force the laborers to perform the job at a higher speed which poses a threat of getting wounded by the blade. Hence the process of removal of pupa from the cocoon and sex identification of pupa to be automated. Thereby it is important to automate the possible processes in the grainages which could reduce human intervention and increase productivity. Bivoltaine hybrid race of silkworm namely FC1 and FC2 are the varieties under consideration for the research. Theses silkworm varieties are majorly used in grainages for seed production and hence the proposed machine was introduced. This semi automated cocoon cutting machine identifies the gender of the cocoon and later cut the required amount of cocoons minimally. This process would help in maintaining the maximum reliability of silk thread. Thereby the silkworm gender identification has to be non destructive. Image classification were done using Convolution Neural Network (CNN), Visual Geometry Group 16 (VGG16) and Efficient net methods, among which the latter produced highest accuracy. The Efficient Net method has produced the validation accuracy of 98.99% for FC1 and 99.9 for FC2 variety. An automated cocoon cutting machine was developed to cut open the cocoons at a high speed. It is important to automate the possible processes in the grainages which could reduce human intervention and increase productivity. This paper focuses on automating the gender identification and removal of the pupa from the cocoon. 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG. -
Human heart disease prediction system using data mining techniques
Nowadays, health disease are increasing day by day due to life style, hereditary. Especially, heart disease has become more common these days, i.e. life of people is at risk. Each individual has different values for Blood pressure, cholesterol and pulse rate. But according to medically proven results the normal values of Blood pressure is 120/90, cholesterol is and pulse rate is 72. This paper gives the survey about different classification techniques used for predicting the risk level of each person based on age, gender, Blood pressure, cholesterol, pulse rate. The patient risk level is classified using datamining classification techniques such as Nae Bayes, KNN, Decision Tree Algorithm, Neural Network. etc., Accuracy of the risk level is high when using more number of attributes. 2016 IEEE. -
Customer Segmentation in the Field of Marketing
The motive of this work is to classify and categorize customers depending on their familiar traits/characteristics so as to enable a company or a firm to adequately market their products to each category more attractively and competently. It is imperative for a firm to educate themselves with each and every detail about the customer, such as age group, sexuality, social class, purchase pattern etc as it paves way for customer segmentation. Businesses may utilize segmentation to make better use of their marketing resources, get a competitive advantage over competitors, and, most importantly, display a deeper understanding of their consumers' requirements and desires. Customer segmentation, when combined with customer targeting and positioning, creates the foundation for strategic marketing. A manager can find new marketing possibilities and create or adjust the product to satisfy the demands of potential clients using the notion of strategic marketing. The product's quality level determines its position in the market's overall offering. It's a crucial aspect in selecting which market segment a collection will target. The commercial world has gotten more competitive over time, as enterprises like these have to fulfil their consumers' demands and aspirations, attract new customers, and enhance their bottom lines. In this research, I have put the spotlight on the information used by firms for the purpose of customer segmentation in the most valuable manner. In addition to that, I have portrayed different models of customer segmentation and the benefits reaped by a business in implementing them. 2022 IEEE. -
Preterm birth prediction using cuckoo search-based fuzzy min-max neural network
In the latest history, a Decision making and prediction system has been investigated vigorously for several decades and has got a lift. Together with preterm birth study, the decision support system has been explored in different areas. Using fuzzy, neural network and cuckoo search algorithm, the medical decision support system is improved for the forecast of preterm birth in this document. A two-module pattern categorization and rule extraction system has been highlighted by this study, where in the former module emphasises an altered fuzzy min-max (FMM) neural-network-based pattern classifier, whereas the subsequent module emphasises oppositional cuckoo search based rule extractor. With the theory of opposition, this paper examines altered cuckoo search algorithm. Using Pre Term Birth (PTB) datasets, the empirical analysis is executed and applied using MATLAB. Performance assessment matrix occupied is the precision and our suggested method is compared with the active methods. It is examined that our suggested method has attained improved precision value (85.6 %) when compared to FMM (77.36 %) which illustrates the efficiency of the suggested method from the results. 2013 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved. -
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Beach Tourism in India
COVID-19 Pandemic has a profound Impact on the Indian tourism sector, especially on beach tourism. Research shows significant changes in the pattern of the ecological terrain of coastal areas and on the community dependent on tourism business and marine life, due to the imposition of lockdown for several months. The paper discusses the change in behavioral patterns of people during Pre and Post COVID-19 for visiting any beach destination in near future in terms of preferences in accommodation, selection of beaches based on crowd and other factors that will be considered in post pandemic days. This study brings out various key indicators shaping the pattern of beach holidays in the future based on the survey conducted among tourists belonging to youth population. The survey considered the tourists preferences of visits and factors they would look upon to choose beach holidaying in the Post COVID-19 years. The influence of the pandemic on quality of beaches, visitorswillingness to visit beaches in future, Post Pandemic opportunities and strategies of destinations for shaping tourism further have also been examined. Copyright IJHTS. -
Empowering indigenous adolescents: Life skills development and transformative student engagement through service-learning
This chapter synthesizes results from examining service-learning initiatives tailored for Indigenous adolescents. The authors emphasize customized educational approaches, community collaboration, and cultural sensitivity. The Paniya Tribes case study in Wayanad illustrates efforts of this kind that seek to address historical inequities and enhance students' academic performance, life skills, and engagement. The enduring impact extends beyond academics, empowering young people to take on leadership roles. Cultural sensitivity and the responsible application of technology are two factors that can significantly impact Indigenous education's trajectory in the future. Implementing suggested strategies and optimal methods advances inclusive and culturally attuned education, thereby preserving Indigenous cultures and fostering sustainable development. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Life skills for personal well-being
This investigation examines the integrative and transformative qualities of service learning in higher education, specifically focusing on its contribution to developing personal well-being-related life skills. By integrating significant community service with academic goals, service learning provides a comprehensive educational experience. Its defined components, theoretical framework, and real-world applications underscore the subject's significance. Student experiences and case studies illustrate its influence on empathy, resiliency, and communication. Strategic implementation approaches serve as a compass for purposeful undertakings. Service learning connects theoretical concepts with practical application, cultivating globally literate and socially conscious individuals who can navigate the everchanging realm of higher education. 2024, IGI Global. -
Managing stress, traumatic experiences, life skill training, and leading with a purpose
This chapter examines the obstacles encountered by minority women pursuing leadership positions in K-12 education, focusing on the interconnectedness of gender and ethnicity. This work explores the intricate terrain of stress and trauma, examining particular obstacles such as marginalization and microaggressions, thereby emphasizing the necessity for specialized assistance. The chapter delivers valuable insights regarding stress management and purposeful leadership, including Mindfulness, life skill training, tension reduction, professional assistance, mentorship, and peer support. The text highlights the significance of effective stress management in cultivating a supportive educational environment. The text culminates in an appeal for empowerment, emphasizing the capacity of obstacles to be catalysts for change in the direction of inclusivity and diversity for minority women leaders who strive to shape a diverse and progressive future. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Aging Bodies and Necropower: A Critical Study of Geronticide in Tamil Films K.D. and Thalaikoothal
This paper analyzes the act of thalaikoothal, performed on ill and infirm older people in the southern part of the state of Tamil Nadu, India, with reference to two Tamil films, K.D. (2019) and Thalaikoothal (2023), which portray the horrors of the practice. A kind of involuntary euthanasia, the ritual continues to have covert social acceptance as exemplified in the films, favoring the common stereotype that marks aging bodies as unproductive and unworthy of living. Therefore, this article explores the aging bodies in the films as sites of power, controlled by death enforced through Thalaikoothal, employing Mbembes concept of necropower. It also examines the effects of the practice on the elderly, who are compelled to prepare themselves for a forced death. The study further identifies the underlying factors contributing to the prolonged existence of Thalaikoothal even in the present times. 2023, University of Zadar. All rights reserved. -
Denial of Desire Depictions of Elderly Intimacy in Malayalam Cinema
[No abstract available] -
Dependence of Eigen frequency on the output performance of a piezoelectric nano sensor: A comparative study
Energy harvesting is an approach to generating electricity that uses the energy of the local environment directly. Instead of relying on batteries or power generated elsewhere, the world needs a new generation of energy-producing products. Generation or accumulation and energy consumption must be balanced when designing such a system. Before implementation into the real world, simulations are available for optimizing device designs, comparing them, predicting them, and formulating methodologies. In this comparative study, using a finite element simulation software COMSOL Multiphysics, an Eigen frequency analysis is performed to validate the relationship between Eigen frequency and output voltage and also shows how much the selection of a piezo electric base material depends on the natural frequency, excitation frequency, and output voltage relationship. A piezoelectric sensor is constructed with an initial base material and using material sweeps, another six materials are added and switched for the purpose. After applying allowable stress and frequency analysis, measured the output electric potential for the first five eigenmodes. Selecting seven different piezo electric base materials that possess unique properties from traditional lead zirconate titanate (PZT) to upcoming polymer material polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), there reveals the role of selecting suitable energy harvesting medium in generating proper output. From the experimented materials, zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminum nitride (AlN), and PVDF are found to be reliable towards the resonance concept and attaining optimum electric potential. Thus, our study strongly supports previous works carried out by the researchers regarding the effect of various piezo electric base materials on output response. 2023 -
Public Policy, Policy Research, and School Counseling in India
This chapter discusses the development of school counseling in India and examines public policy and policy research that influence the practice of school counseling. The chapter traces the history of school counseling in India followed by an examination of the contribution of several public policies that has implications for the professional practice of school counseling in India from post independent India. Public policies and programs from the sectors of education, health and mental health, family welfare, and department of children and women are evaluated for their implications for school-based counseling services. The chapter also examines the existing policy research base. Research related to school mental health and systematic reviews on child and adolescent mental health are reviewed and their implications for school counseling examined. The chapter concludes by discussing the policy gaps and highlighting specific recommendations for the practice of school-based counseling in India. The authors suggest several recommendations including the identification of education and health policies that can be achieved by having counselors in schools, an evaluation of existing policies and programs to determine the current level of implementation, and development of school counseling competencies and high-quality training models to build competencies in school counseling. Springer International Publishing AG 2017. -
Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis: A Review
Early detection and treatment is a successful method to fight against cancer. The use of conventional methods often limits the early-stage detection of the same. Nanotechnology, especially nanomedicine, has become an evolving field in research today. Nanoparticles, with their diverse application in medicine, have grown tremendously. Despite their physicochemical properties, the toxicity of nanoparticles in living organisms has helped the scientific community develop these nanoparticles for cancer treatment. In this review, we highlight the two different types of synthesis of nanoparticles: Top-down and Bottom-up approaches, many instances of various techniques and other inorganic nanoparticles that are good platforms for bioimaging and biosensing applications, drug delivery nanocarriers for specific tumor targeting, thereby reducing the toxicity to healthy tissues and Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and Photo Thermal Therapy (PTT), their mechanism and nanoparticles and examples of their surface functionalization used in cancer treatment. 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH. -
ThermAI: Exploring Temperature Analysis Through Diverse Machine Learning Models
Meteorological forecasting is crucial in multiple industries, including agriculture, aviation, and daily routines. The objective of this inquiry is to improve temperature predictions by examining and comparing several machine learning methods, such as linear regression, decision trees, and random forests. This work aims to fill the gap in assessing machine learning models for temperature forecasting on a broader scale by utilising the comprehensive Indian meteorological dataset, which covers a wide range of geographical regions. The research utilises a thorough technique that includes gathering data, selecting relevant features, choosing appropriate models, and evaluating the results using R-squared and Mean Square Error metrics. The findings demonstrate that the Random Forest model surpasses both multiple linear regression and decision trees in terms of performance, displaying superior accuracy and reduced prediction errors. This study enhances proactive weather management and decision-making processes by offering valuable insights and tools to stakeholders in various industries. The work is organised into distinct sections that encompass a literature review, methodology, results, and conclusions, providing a comprehensive viewpoint on developments in temperature forecasting. 2024 IEEE. -
Kuriakose elias chavara in the formation of human capital and its impact on indian society
Developing knowledge societies encompasses personal, social, ethical and political dimensions, integrating all its members and promoting new forms of solidarity involving both present and future generations. Kuriakose Elias Chavara had realized the power of human capital formation for the integral development of the society and initiated pioneering efforts to develop human capital, and established two indigenous religious congregations, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) for men and Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC) for women. The objective of this paper is to synthesize the vision of Kuriakose Elias Chavara regarding the concept of human capital formation and examine its result based on vision actualization of CMC congregation and its members and institutions. The paper is divided into three sections; the first section discusses the meaning of human capital formation in the Kerala and Indian context. The second section deals with the human capital formation through the vision and mission of Chavara and the last section explains the human capital formation and women empowerment, and its impact on knowledge societies through CMC congregation. It explains the transformation of individuals inspired by the vision of founder and support of the Congregation, which brings tremendous changes in the society. 2019 Journal of Dharma: Dharmaram Journal of Religions and Philosophies (DVK, Bangalore).