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Hydroponic cultivation of lettuce: evaluating yield and quality across different systems
The increasing demand for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in India, driven by changing dietary habits, health consciousness, and declining arable land, necessitates protected cultivation systems for a sustainable production of high-value vegetables. Limited research has been conducted on optimizing lettuce cultivation systems under protected conditions in India. This study evaluated the performance of three growing systems, soil-based, aggregate hydroponics, and a vertical A-frame nutrient film technique, under controlled greenhouse conditions. Three lettuce cultivars were assessed for growth, yield, and nutritional parameters. The nutrient film technique system achieved the highest leaf fresh weight (96.73 g) and marketable yield. Lettuce grown in the nutrient film technique also exhibited superior nutritional quality, with increased ascorbic acid (7.03 mg 100 g?1) and carotenoid (4.48 g g?1) content. Additionally, the vertical nutrient film technique system optimized space utilization, supporting 26 plants per square meter and significantly increasing the number of marketable leaves compared to soil-based and aggregate hydroponics. These results highlight the potential of vertical nutrient film technique cultivation to enhance lettuce productivity, nutritional quality, and resource efficiency, presenting a promising solution for sustainable urban agriculture and protected cultivation in India. 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Thematic Analysis of Quality Assurance Tools in Higher Education Institutions
Quality assurance tools are crucial in maintaining and improving higher education institutions standards, credibility and effectiveness. They ensure standardisation, institutional credibility, competitiveness, academic rigour and research quality, enhancing the teaching and learning experience. This article aims to qualitatively analyse various quality measurement tools, such as accreditation, ranking, peer review and student-led evaluation, used in the context of higher education institutions. Various qualitative analysis tools such as content analysis, thematic analysis and grounded theory approach were analysed first. Out of this, thematic analysis was selected for the qualitative analysis as the data and analysis are from literature and expert opinion, which lack primary data. The codes for the thematic analysis were taken from previous literature. The codes have operational definitions and are categorised into Input, Process and Output themes. Code values were assigned for the quality assurance tools for each code. The code count for the various themes helped to identify the usability of various tools. The study was based on Ludwigs theme generated from the Input, Process and Output system theory. The study found that accreditation is the best tool for qualitatively and quantitatively analysing an institution. It can be an ideal tool for quality assurance for an institution. Peer review, ranking and student-led evaluation ranked next in the quality assurance tool. This study aids organisations, governmental agencies and other educational institution stakeholders to select the best method for comparing institutions during admissions, grants processing and other processes. The study adopted the qualitative analysis tool thematic analysis. Hence, the study has subjective bias and is not free from the limitation of thematic analysis. The modelling approach is directed towards prediction rather than casualty. The study has taken the literature reviews and expert opinion into account. However, structured questionnaires and unstructured interviews helped better categorise the various codes into the respective themes. The statistical analysis would have made the observation more robust. This article fulfils an identified need to analyse the ideal quality assurance tool for quality assurance and measurement for institutions. This helps institutions meet national and international accreditation standards, policy formulation, strategic planning, continuous improvement, faculty workload distribution, accountability and boosts institutional reputation. 2026 Unisa Press. -
Housing sector recovery trajectories after the 2021 landslides in Kerala, India
Tackling homelessness is a critical priority after disasters especially in the Western Ghats of India, where landslides are becoming increasingly frequent and severe. This situation has rendered recovery in the housing sector more essential than ever. The present study specifically aims at investigating the recovery in this sector among households impacted by the 2021 landslides in Kerala, India, using Recovery Trajectory Index (RTI). It shows how the dynamic interplay between initial severity of impacts and subsequent delays in reconstruction together can shape the changing recovery status of households. Focusing on four critically impacted wards under the jurisdiction of Koottickal, a village level local government body, the research aims at understanding the current trajectory of recovery efforts. The highest RTI value refers to a slower recovery pace, and the lowest value signifies a faster pace. The index calculation is intended to contribute to prevailing quantitative recovery assessment frameworks for the identification of spatial and household-level disparities in recovery performance in similar hazard-prone contexts. The results highlight the need to prioritize equity in resource allocation, promote inter-agency collaboration to ease financial strain, and maintain a detailed household recovery database. Incorporating these measures would enhance preparedness and support more efficient, inclusive recovery planning. 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Do callous-unemotional traits and resilience work together or in conflict? Thriving after trauma in children
Cumulative trauma, which is devastating can lead to severe psychological outcomes. Exposure to various kinds of trauma, especially in childhood is even more harmful than the sheer volume of experience. Children experiencing cumulative trauma are at greater risk of developing callous unemotional traits. This study examined the mediating role of callous unemotional traits and the moderating role of resilience, in the association between cumulative trauma and behavioral problems among children. A survey of 314 vulnerable children, aged 13 to 17 years (girls = 167; boys = 147) was conducted at seven different institutes in Assam, India. The results indicated that the children experienced 16 different types of trauma during their developmental phases. The mediating model indicated a strong facilitating effect of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in the relationship between cumulative trauma and behavioral problems: externalizing (? =.01; p <.05); internalizing problems (? =.03; p <.01); personal adjustment (? =.03; p <.01); and school problems (? =.04; p <.01). Additionally, resilience did not moderate the association between trauma and behavioral problems. This study strengthens the evidence associating childhood cumulative trauma with an increased risk for the development of CU traits, supporting the notion that these traits could potentially reduce resilience. 2026 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Horror and the body: Corporeal transformations and postcolonial motifs in Satyajit Rays Neel Atonko and Khagam
The genre of postcolonial Gothic questions imperial power structures and exposes the anxiety and violence embedded in colonization. It combines imperial Gothic tropes with regional narratives. This article analyses two short stories by Satyajit Ray, Neel Atonko (The Indigo Terror) and Khagam, examining how Bengali horror fiction uses and subverts Gothic tropes through corporeal transformation. It discusses the babu/bhadralok (westernized Indian men) culture from a postcolonial perspective, and argues that the supernatural transformations depicted in the stories indicate the instability of colonial identity. The human body becomes the primary site through which colonial oppression and resistance are portrayed. Using Homi Bhabhas concept of mimicry, Julia Kristevas discussion of the abject, and Xavier Aldana Reyess analysis of body gothic, this article examines how the stories critique the violence of colonial ideology through postcolonial motifs that situate the white man in a powerless position, thereby challenging established power structures of imperial Gothic. 2026 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Socio-political Challenges and Aspirations of the Tarao Tribe in Manipur: A Qualitative Study on Marginalisation and Empowerment
This qualitative study investigates the Tarao group, one of Manipur's smallest Indigenous tribes. Using interviews, observation, and archival research, this research examined the Tarao community's socio-political status in the Chandel and Tengnoupal districts. It discusses how larger ethnic groups dominate while smaller communities like the Tarao remain marginalised. The findings show that the Tarao community is under-represented in governance, marginalised at the state level, and dominated by larger ethnic groups, resulting in a lack of political voice, social exclusion, economic restrictions, and fragmentation. This study examines how socio-political challenges affect the Tarao community's livelihood and negotiation with Manipur's socio-political framework. 2025 The Editor of Ethnopolitics. -
Romance and Hitchcock? Viewing master of suspense as master of romance
This essay through literature and textual analysis argues that romance or romantic love is a dominant theme in Alfred Hitchcocks films alongside suspense. Romance in Hitchcocks films is highlighted in limited studies in the past and the findings are not conclusive. This study analysed a selected sample of 19 prominent films of Hitchcock. It argues that romantic content in Hitchcocks films is similar to classic Hollywood romantic films. However, unique features of romance specific to Hitchcocks films such as working together to solve a mystery, and complicated love were also found as recurring themes. Hitchcock employs his auteur style in the portrayal of romantic love to an extent that the romantic content in his films can be characterised as having a distinct style lending itself to term it as Hitchcock romance. Hitchcock romance is the amalgamation of suspense and romance that support each other to drive the narrative forward. 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Sprinting beyond sexism and gender stereotypes: Indian female fans experiences in the sports fandom
Although almost half of Indias female population watches sports, their experiences are concealed by traditional masculinity, leading to exclusion and harassment. To explore these experiences in-depth, this qualitative study aims to understand what coping strategies Indian Female Sports Fans (IFSFs) employ to sustain their team identification. Utilising criterion sampling, participants were screened using the Sports Spectators Identification Scale to assess team identification and a Brief Sexism Questionnaire to confirm participants experience with sexism. The participants were Indian women who followed any sport and were not professionals in the sports industry. Ten highly identified fans with gendered experiences were recruited for semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis to understand IFSFs lived-in experiences, revealing superordinate themes of (1) Ontogenesis and Enduring Identification, (2) Gendered Experiences and Sexism, (3) Identity, Agency, Resistance, and Resilience, (4) Advocacy for Equality and Inclusivity. The findings reflect that IFSFs experience exclusion, harassment, and objectification in both online and offline fandoms, where they are targeted with death/rape threats, and attraction-based assumptions, questioning their authenticity as fans. To navigate this sexism, they use knowledge assertion, selective silence, and relational coping to claim space in male-dominated fandoms. In doing so, they actively redefine these marginal spaces as sites of empowerment where femininity and sports can coexist. A critical implication of this research is enabling sports organisations to develop inclusive fan engagement policies that actively encourage female fan participation, such as sensitising stadium staff, promoting gender-neutral language, and establishing an environment where sports transcend gender. 2025 International Society of Sport Psychology. -
Effect of Professional Development Program in Enhancing Leadership Skills of In-Service Teachers in Diverse Domains of Practice
In alignment with the recent National Education Policy and National Professional Standards for Teachers in India, which promote the Continuous Professional Development of Teachers (CPD), the present study developed, implemented, and evaluated a Teacher Professional Development Program on Leadership (TPDP-L) for developing and enhancing teacher leadership skills in six domains of practice. The participants (n = 54) of the study (20 from government schools, 18 from aided schools, and 16 from unaided schools) were selected through purposive sampling, ensuring diverse representation. The study employed a quasi-experimental, single-group pretest-posttest design, utilizing the Teacher Leadership Scale, a self-assessment questionnaire, to assess the programs impact. The result shows a large effect size and statistically significant differences in all leadership domains. The studys promising results suggest that TPDP-L is an evidence-based CPD program for developing and enhancing leadership skills among in-service schoolteachers. The studys findings evidence practical implications for implementing educational policies. 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Enhancing worklife balance: Social support, resilience, and job satisfaction among Indian gazetted police officers
Police officers grapple with the challenge of balancing their professional obligations and personal lives. They endure 10- to 12-hour shifts and make split-second decisions that can have life-altering consequences for themselves and others. This job adds complexity, requiring them to manage time and effort. This study examines the mediating role of job satisfaction and resilience in the relationship between social support and the worklife balance of gazetted police officers. The proportional quota sampling method was used to collect data from 242 respondents across different ranks (senior, middle, and junior) in the state of Karnataka. Structural equation modeling analysis was done on the collected data using SPSS Amos. This study demonstrates that social support significantly enhances both job satisfaction and resilience, which, in turn, contribute to better worklife balance. The findings highlight the mediating roles of resilience and job satisfaction, reinforcing the idea that a strong support system fosters personal and professional well-being. To reduce workload and improve worklife balance, organizations can increase recruitment in line with UN recommendations and establish peer support programs, mindfulness-based interventions, and cognitive behavioral programs through police training academies. 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
The little I receive is not enough: A qualitative study of food insecurity in the South Bronx
The objective of this study was to explore the lived experiences of food insecurity amongst Bronx residents. Applying a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted a qualitative study, entailing 38 interviews with food pantry recipients, 4 key informant interviews with social service administrators, and two focus groups with 12 food pantry staff and social service providers in New York City (NYC). Applying a precarity framework, we identified three themes: (1) unaffordability of living expenses in NYC; (2) financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (3) institutional and technological barriers to food access. We identified the following subthemes under theme one: rising food costs and high cost of living. Under theme two, we identified four subthemes: (a) large household size driving poverty for Bronx families; (b) vulnerabilities to food insecurity among older adults; (c) budgeting for reduced incomes during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (d) managing unstable employment. Under the third theme, we identified three subthemes: (a) lack of access to healthy, culturally appropriate foods; (b) need for wider service availability; (c) and not having smartphones for telehealth. Study findings demonstrate how precarity impacts the lived experiences of food insecurity and financial hardship for residents of the South Bronx during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2024 Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS). -
Factors Affecting the Risk Perceptions of Cryptocurrency Investors
This study explores risk perceptions in cryptocurrency investments among Indian investors. It employs a multistage random sampling survey of 228 investors. Four key factors influence this perception: conceptual clarity, investment education, awareness of investment options, and fear-induced psychological factors. The overall risk perception of crypto investors is high. Based on our findings, we suggest that the Indian government should organize an awareness campaign to create awareness and educate investors about cryptocurrency. Policymakers and investment managers should focus on transforming high-risk investors into lower-risk investors through education and support, fostering a more favorable investment environment. 2024 The Institute of Behavioral Finance. -
Hydro-thermo-electromechanical response in a size-dependent porous piezoelectric medium under memory-dependent MGT theory
This study explores the intricate coupled hydro-thermo-electromechanical behavior of a size-dependent porous piezoelectric medium. We uniquely employ the memory-dependent MooreGibsonThompson (MGT) framework for heat conduction in conjunction with Eringens nonlocal elasticity theory to analyze the effects of time-delay and nonlocality on various physical fields. Novel constitutive relations are developed to capture these combined influences. Analytical solutions for displacements, temperatures (solid and fluid phases), stresses (normal and shear), and electric displacements and potentials are obtained using normal mode technique. A detailed graphical analysis illustrates the impact of time, nonlocality, and porosity under both open and short circuit electrical boundary conditions. Three-dimensional plots confirm the dispersive, diffusive, and memory-dependent behavior. The main findings reveal that nonlocality significantly smooths field gradients and broadens spatial profiles, while memory-dependent thermal conduction results in wave-like and delayed temperature responses, with the solid phase reacting faster than the fluid. Furthermore, electric potentials and displacements are considerably enhanced under open-circuit conditions, highlighting boundary effect sensitivity. It is also observed that increasing porosity consistently decreases the magnitudes of all fields and restricts their penetration depths, indicating a structural softening effect. This work presents a unique analytical model that integrates memory-dependent MGT theory with nonlocal elasticity to analyze the hydro-thermo-electromechanical behavior of a fluid-saturated porous piezoelectric medium. The theoretical framework provides a robust foundation for advancing the design and development of piezoelectric sensors and actuators operating in coupled hydro-thermo-electromechanical environments, particularly those with porous structures. Potential applications span geophysical monitoring, biomedical implants under complex loadings, and MEMS where size-dependent and relaxation effects are significant. 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Size-dependent analysis of surface wave in irregular fractured porous seabed subjected to fractional-order derivative
This study focuses on the investigation of the dispersive and damping characteristics of surface waves through an irregular boundary of ocean bed composed of a fluid-saturated dual porosity/dual permeability material. The nonlocal fluid-saturated dual porosity/dual permeability layer (NFSDP2L) is confined by a nonlocal viscous liquid layer (NVLL) and a nonlocal viscous sandy substrate (NVSS) having fractional viscoelastic properties. The governing equations for the proposed model are derived using Eringens nonlocal theory. The complex frequency relation is obtained by applying the variable separation technique and enforcing appropriate boundary conditions. By dissociating the frequency relation into real (dispersion equation) and imaginary (attenuation equation) parts, graphs are generated to illustrate the influence of several key parameters., viz. nonlocality, porosity, sandiness, fractional-order, fluctuation, flatness, and position on the fundamental and higher modes of propagating waves. The effects of various parameters are also depicted through the graphical illustration of shear wave speed in NFSDP2L and NVSS. Furthermore, the surface response of shear stress against depth within the layered structure has been graphically illustrated. The validity of our mathematical model has been assessed by examining multiple relevant scenarios. 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Mental health professionals insights on developing and implementing a Mental Health Awareness and Destigmatisation program (MHAD) for adolescents
This study examined mental health professionals insights on developing and implementing a Mental Health Awareness and Destigmatisation (MHAD) program for adolescents aged 1418 years in Bangalore. Qualitative Interviews with 17 professionals revealed three main themes: 1. Awareness and Destigmatisation Programs: A Boon 2. Key Ingredients: Program Content and Delivery Style 3. Shaping Program Success: Key Drivers and Challenges. Professionals recommend interactive programs that promote open discussions and educate them on symptom recognition, online behavior, and healthy relationships. They identified key enablers and challenges, emphasizing the programs ability to empower adolescents, parents, and educators to create a supportive, stigma-free environment. 2024 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
How Social Media Marketing Impacts Relationship Quality for Masstige Brands
The Indian fashion industry is witnessing a significant transformation with the prominence of masstige brands. These brands cater to aspirational consumers who seek symbolic value and esthetic appeal without the financial burden of traditional luxury. Upper-middle-class working women in urban India form an influential demographic for such brands. They have a strong presence on digital platforms, are brand-conscious, and are eager to engage with fashion brands that reflect their aspirations, values, and lifestyle preferences. Despite the surge in masstige branding in India, limited studies focus on the influence of digital marketing efforts, particularly social media marketing activities, on the perception of masstige brand value and consumer-brand relationship quality and their impact on electronic word-of-mouth behavior in developing economies like India. The present study tries to fill this gap by proposing a conceptual model grounded in the established relationship marketing theory. A quantitative survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire distributed among upper-middle-class working women in India who actively follow and engage with masstige fashion brands on social media to test the model. Responses were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 and AMOS version 20.0. The analysis followed a two-step approach: first, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to assess the reliability and validity of the constructs, and second, a Structural Equation Modeling technique was used to test the hypothesized relationships. The studys results yield several significant insights on the firm and positive influence of social media marketing activities on perceived masstige brand value, significantly influencing relationship quality dimensions. 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Living Life Beyond Binaries- Bisexuality in Urban India
This qualitative study aimed to understand the lived realities of bisexual individuals in a society predominantly perceived through a binary lens. Describing the term bisexual by orientation as individuals who engage in same-sex and opposite-sex intimacies, taking into account several factors, that include but are not reducible to the sex and gender of the self and others. The research employed an ethnographic approach with a group of Indian adults. Interestingly, the study revealed that the participants did not consider bisexuality as a central component of their sexual behavior and identity, instead utilizing specific strategies to maintain a heterosexual facade while engaging in same-sex encounters. They regarded these encounters as part of their overall sexual experiences, distinct from a fixed sexual identity and relationships. Contrary to the prevailing notion that bisexuals must suppress their genders attraction to be in monogamous relationships, the participants affirmed being in monogamous relationships. They devised discreet methods to partake in same-sex encounters, safeguarding their monogamous relationships without feeling compelled to openly disclose their same-sex inclinations. 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Beyond Binary: Exploring the Dynamics of Bi-Curiosity Propulsion and Persistence Among Young Women
Sexual identity fails to adhere to the dichotomous models, transcending to a more fluid quality than normative compulsory heterosexuality. The present study investigates the experience of bi-curiosity, focusing on its initiation among young women residing in urban India. Bi-curiosity, a sexual orientation questioning marked by exploratory experiences, is a possible but not a necessary precursor to bisexuality. This qualitative study explores on the psychological and social factors contributing to a bi-curious orientation. It focuses on the subjective processes of development and maintenance of sexual identity questioning. Three organizing themes emerged from the Reflective Thematic Analysis: (a.) Affective Indicators, (b.) Social Experiences, and (c.) Intimacy in friendships. While sexual identity questioning was propelled by more psychological factors, like physical attraction, fantasy, experienced jealousy toward men, and comfort with the same sex, social and environmental factors contribute significantly. Individual experiences with patriarchy, social attitudes toward same-sex relationships, and their representation on media platforms often reinforce the process. Another important contributor was womens close friendships with the same sex, which are sites for physical closeness, emotional intimacy, and personal growth, and share these characteristics with romantic relationships. These factors emerged as important reinforcers to the development and maintenance of sexual identity questioning. 2024 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
The Role of Mega-events In Promoting Sustainable Behaviour: A Multi-group Analysis Using Micom
This study investigates the influence of participation in mega events, like Dubai Expo 2020, on factors related to environmentally responsible behavior. Data from 361 UAE respondents were collected, examining environmental concern, social and personal norms, ethical obligations, and perceived behavioral control. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling and Multi-Group Analysis tested the hypotheses. The results showed that environmental concern, ethical ideologies, and perceived behavioral control had stronger impacts on the intention for responsible behavior in event attendees than in non-attendees. Attendees also demonstrated a stronger positive impact on sustainable consumer behavior. These findings offer valuable insights into environmental psychology, sustainability, consumer behavior, and event management, and can inform strategies for promoting sustainable behavior in industries such as travel, tourism, and hospitality. 2024 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Acidified coconut husk as a potential biosorbent for adsorption of textile dye reactive yellow 160
Coconut husk could be employed as an environment friendly adsorbent for removal of various xenobiotics from the environment, especially the reactive dyes from the polluted waterbodies. In this study the Acidified Coconut Husk(ACH) with 0.1 N Hydrochloric acid was identified as a potentially low-cost biosorbent for the removal of Reactive Yellow 160(RY160) in aqueous solution. Optimization of various parameters such as the effect of agitation at shaker rotor speed of 120 rpm, adsorbent dosage ranging from 0.54%, initial dye concentration (200 to 1000 mg/L) and pH (3 to 11) were conducted and it was found that maximum adsorption percentage of 93% occurred with 4% adsorbent dosage at 200 mg/L initial dye concentration and pH 3 under agitating conditions. Adsorption was confirmed with the changes in FTIR spectrum, XRD and SEM of the ACH before and after adsorption. Adsorption kinetics studies proved a best fit into the pseudo second order kinetics model (R2= 0.9973) indicating chemisorption as the rate-limiting step of the process. Adsorption capacity(qe) of 4.56 mg/g fitted more into Langmuir isotherm model (R2= 0.9884) than Freundlich isotherm (R2= 0.8792) with Qmax value of 35.97 mg/g. Acidified coconut husk is proved as feasible adsorbent for textile dye removal from the aqueous environment. 2026 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.