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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. -
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). -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
Melatonin priming confers chromium tolerance in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) seedlings and field-grown plants
Heavy metal contamination of soils poses a significant risk to food safety by accumulating toxic metals in edible crops, such as leafy vegetables. This study tested whether melatonin seed priming reduces chromium accumulation while maintaining plant performance in Spinacia oleracea cultivar Arka Anupama under controlled and polyhouse conditions. Melatonin priming improved seedling growth under chromium stress, with 50-micromolar melatonin treated plants showing better performance. Under polyhouse conditions, 50 micromolar melatonin increased leaf number to 5.25 0.55 compared with 3.75 0.29 in chromium-stressed plants (40% increase), and improved leaf area to 3.70 0.35 cm2 in 100 micromolar melatonin-treated plants compared with 2.27 0.03 cm2 in chromium-stressed plants (63% increase). The chlorophyll normalized difference vegetation index increased from 0.15 0.04 in chromium-stressed plants to 0.26 0.01 in 50 micromolar melatonin-primed plants, representing approximately 78% improvement (significant p <.05). Atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis showed a 42.9% reduction in leaf chromium content following 50-micromolar treatment. Spectral analysis revealed stress-associated variations, including a 512515 cm?1 band under chromium stress. These findings indicate that melatonin priming improves plant growth and reduces chromium accumulation in spinach, with 50 micromolar showing the most consistent response. 2026 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Developing a Framework and Wireframe for AI-Driven Personalization and Recommendation Systems in Library Management: A Design Thinking Approach
This research develops a framework and wireframes for an AI-driven personalization and recommendation system designed to enhance Library Management Systems (LMS). AI adapts library services dynamically to individual user characteristics and behaviors, such as reading preferences and interaction patterns, using predictive algorithms and behavioral analysis to deliver tailored recommendations. The study is primarily grounded in a User-Centered Design Thinking approach to ensure the system is intuitive, responsive, and meets diverse user needs. The proposed framework emphasizes seamless data integration and adaptive interface design. Prototypes created using Figma reflect intuitive, inclusive, and accessible features aligned with user needs. The prototype was evaluated in a controlled environment with high-frequency LMS users using the System Usability Scale (SUS) to assess usability and user satisfaction, achieving a score indicating excellent usability. Although the AI processing engine remains conceptual, this research provides a structured foundation for the future implementation of AI-driven recommendation systems in LMS, supporting enhanced user engagement and improved Selective Dissemination of Information through personalized and inclusive library experiences. 2026 P. Arumugam, Jayachristrayar S, Rega R and Jesus Rayar. -
The Danish Girl: Mirror Reflections of Gender Identity
Explorations of gender identity often employ cinematic devices and psychological interpretations of social interaction. Within this context, the Tom Hooperdirected film The Danish Girl offers a gripping narrative centered on the life of Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe, a Danish painter and trans woman who underwent one of the earliest gender-affirming surgeries. The present paper examines crucial scenes from The Danish Girl, shedding light on the complexities of gender identity and self-discovery. Through a psychoanalytical lens, the study aims to illuminate insights into the human experience of gender identity and self-understanding using cinematic vignettes. Furthermore, the paper delves into the psychosexual dimensions of the narrative, examining relationships, desires, and conflicts with societal norms. This inquiry contributes to a deeper understanding of personal authenticity and challenges when navigating societal expectations. 2025 C. G. Jung Institute of San Francisco. -
Transgender women as knights of faith: navigating ethics between national conservatism and radical gender ideology
This study explores mental health and spirituality among transgender women in India, examining their experiences within global conflicts between national conservatism and radical gender ideology. Analyzing stories of eleven trans women, we show how faith provides resilience amid rejection and discrimination. We contend that right-wing populist movements redirect anxieties about capitalist exploitation onto marginalized groups, particularly transgender individuals. Through Kierkegaardian ethical lenses, we show how Hijra women embody Kierkegaards concept of knights of faith: transcending conformity to embrace authentic existence while maintaining mental health and spiritual integrity. We propose a MarxistKierkegaardian synthesis combining critique with existential authenticity, linking personal resilience. 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Empowering Adolescent Emergent Readers in Government Schools: An Exploration of Multimodal Texts as Pathways to Comprehension
This exploratory study, which was part of a larger investigation into multimodality, looked at the comprehension levels of 62 Grade 8 students from two government schools who were identified as emerging readers out of a group of 118 students. Through observations and interactions with teachers and students, the potential for multimodal texts to enhance comprehension was highlighted. The study specifically compared the effectiveness of a digital comic (Text A) and an audio-visual text (Text B) in enabling comprehension among these emergent readers. Participants were instructed to narrate the content and share their interpretations of these texts, with their responses recorded and analyzed. Feedback revealed a marked preference for Text B among 45 of the 62 emergent readers assessed. Employing theoretical frameworks related to comprehension, language production, multimodality, and task structure, this research concentrated on the subset of 45 students who favored Text B. The findings underscore the importance of aligning instructional materials with students preferred learning modalities, suggesting that such alignment enhances comprehension. The study proposes a refined approach to literacy education policy, advocating for the inclusion of diverse modalities to better meet the varied learning needs of students. 2024 Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers. -
What drives Generation Z to choose green apparel? Unraveling the impact of environmental knowledge, altruism and perceived innovativeness
This study proposes to determine the influence of Environmental Knowledge (EK), Altruism (Atr), Consumer Confidence (CC) and constructs of Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) like Attitude (Atd), Subjective Norm (Sub) and Perceived behavioural control (Pbhc) on consumers intention to purchase Green Apparel Products (GAPI). Moreover, the moderating effect of Perceived Innovativeness (PInn) on the relationship between Attitude (Atd), Subjective Norm (Sub), Perceived behavioural control (Pbhc), EK, Atr and CC was studied. To test the research model and hypothesis, a survey of 349 Generation Z consumers (1826 years) was conducted. Cronbachs alpha and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to determine the scales reliability and validity. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) validated the given model and hypotheses. In this research, six hypotheses were tested, and it was found that three hypotheses showed a direct relationship. Specifically, the result of SEM showed that Atd, Sub and CC were positively related to GAPI. Also, six hypotheses were formulated testing the moderating role of PInn. The results established that PInn moderated the relationship between Atd, Sub, CC and GAPI significantly. This research provides a novel framework to explore the relationship between the EK, Atr and CC and Generation Z consumers GAPI. 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Navigating turbulence: how economic policy uncertainty shapes tourism firms cash strategiesa global analysis
This paper investigates the strategies employed by tourism businesses to handle cash flow in the face of economic policy uncertainty. The study examines data from 1260 firms in 18 countries over a span of 15 years. The findings indicate that there is considerable variation among corporations when it comes to their use of liquidity, with the average corporation holding approximately 13.5 per cent of its total assets in liquid form. The analysis provides evidence that economic policy uncertainty has a positive and significant relationship to cash holdings in the tourism sector. These findings suggest that corporations increase their liquidity buffers in response to higher levels of policy uncertainty. Sectoral analysis also reveals that the sensitivity to policy uncertainty can vary significantly from one sub-sector to another. Ultimately, indicating varied factors that can lead to the differentiatingeffect of EPU on liquidity management of the tourism firms. 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Sex without Sexual Attraction?: Perceived Sexual Experiences of Indian Sex-favourable Asexuals
Asexuality is not a complete aversion to sex or sexual activity; instead, there are a range of ways that some asexual people engage with sexual activities. The current qualitative study explored the sexual experiences (self-pleasure and partnered activities) of sex-favourable asexuals within the Indian cultural context. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants and analysed using thematic analysis. Results revealed how sex-favourable asexuals experience sexual arousal without experiencing sexual attraction, leading them to engage in sexual activities. Participants understood their sexuality through feeling different from others, followed by self-exploration, resulting in self-acceptance. Further, participants identified self-pleasure as a tool for self-empowerment and stress management, leading to a preference for masturbation over partner-involved sex. Partner-involved sex was primarily due to extrinsic demands (peer pressure, pressure from partner). This study calls attention towards developing inclusive practices, sex education and community awareness about this understudied section of the queer community and, most importantly, enabling representation of their experiences within the academic literature about sex and sexuality. 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.