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Tattoos and Personal Identity: A Thematic Exploration Among Young Adults
The present study is an exploratory research, conducted among young adults to explore how they derive meaning and self-identity with the help of tattoos. The research paradigm guiding this study is constructivism because there are multiple realities, and the meanings are constructed by the individuals participating in this study and the researcher. Personal construct theory guides the present study. This theory provides the means to achieve the aim of understanding how individuals construct and reflect personal identity through their own tattoos. Earlier studies of tattoos have focused on the social and cultural meanings of tattoos. However, the current study takes a different perspective, investigating the meanings of tattoos for individuals who wear them and how their tattoos reflect their personal identity. Very limited studies have asked individuals directly to come up with the reasons behind being tattooed and for choosing particular designs. Thematic analysis of the data reveals that young adults see tattoos as a means of deriving personal meaning, seeking social validation, and redefining themselves with a new perspective while seeking integration and a means of self-expression. Overall, the implications of this study reverberate across academic, societal, and personal spheres, offering valuable insights into the multifaceted world of tattoos and their profound connections to personal identity. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025. -
Government's Initiative to Promote Sustainable Finance and Addressing ESG Issues
In recent years governments worldwide have highly focused on sustainable finance to have an overall growth of the economy while addressing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues as a long-term strategy towards a green economy by reducing carbon footprints and ensuring long-term financial stability. This paper analyses key regulations that the government and various financial institutions have set up for multiple companies to reshape markets and grow the economy. It also reflects various impacts of certain agreements that have happened universally and their importance. The information is collected by getting insight from the doc-uments, press releases, and other information sources released on government sites and other reliable sources. Also, considering various case studies it examines how countries have implemented ESG policies (with its prime focus on India). Moreover, this paper helps to find any gaps in these regulations designed by the government. It finds out the impact of these policies on the overall economy and makes people aware of Government releases. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
The Algorithmic Gaze: Power, Surveillance, and Despotism in the Digital Workplace
This chapter investigates the ways that algorithmic technologies reconfigure workplace authority by changing how we think about surveillance, evaluation, and control in data- driven management practices. Drawing from and reconceptualising Foucaults Panopticon and Zuboffs Surveillance Capitalism, it contends that the algorithmic gaze creates an invisible governance system, where trust and autonomy are replaced by quantification. Through case studies in service, fintech, and logistics sectors, the analysis highlights how discourses of efficiency and performance sustainability legitimise digital despotism, bias, and workers self- monitoring. The chapter concludes with a framework for digital humanism, which articulates ethical, transparent, and participatory governance and management, which can restore human dignity and agency in algorithmically mediated labour. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Examining the impact of uncertainty on business performance via strategic cost management adoption and implementation: the case of agro-based industries in and around Punjab, India
Dynamic business environments require a change to survive. Strategic cost management (SCM) must re-conceive its future as new, improved, or reformed under opportunities and tough demands. Traditional cost management may not be adaptable to business turbulence. Increasing shareholder and customer demand, rapid information and technology improvements in manufacturing, and worldwide market rivalry with antiquated tools can be difficult. SCM goes beyond cost reduction and includes revenue generation and competitive advantage. This article examines the relationship between adopting and applying SCM approaches and company success in agro-based industrial businesses. Empirical survey data from agro-based industrial companies in Punjab were analysed using multivariate data analysis. According to contingency theory, size, technology, total productivity maintenance, strategy, and organisation culture are factors related to strategic cost management. All dependent factors, including control variable size, favourably affected SCM acceptance and utilisation, which has a pragmatic effect on agro-based businesses. SCM utilisation also mediated performance. 2025 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. -
Bayesian and Frequentist Estimation of Stress-Strength Reliability from a New Extended Burr XII Distribution
In this article, we propose and study a new three-parameter heavy-tailed distribution that uni-fies the Burr type XII and power inverted Topp-Leone distributions in an original manner. This unification is made through the use of a simple shift parameter. Among its interesting function-alities, it exhibits possibly decreasing and unimodal probability density and hazard rate functions. We examine its quantile function, stochastic dominance, ordinary moments, weighted moments, incomplete moments, and stress-strength reliability coefficient. Then, the classical and Bayesian approaches are developed to estimate the model and stress-strength reliability parameters. Bayes estimates are obtained under the squared error and entropy loss functions. Simulated data are considered to point out the performance of the derived estimates based on the mean squared error. In the final part, the potential of the new model is exemplified by the analysis of two engineering data sets, showing that it is preferable to other reputable and comparable models. 2025, National Statistical Institute. All rights reserved. -
CoFe2O4-APTES nanocomposite for the selective determination of tacrolimus in dosage forms: Perspectives from computational studies
An innovative and cost effective electrochemical sensor was fabricated to determine tacrolimus (TAC) in pharmaceutical samples. In the present study, cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CFO) were synthesized hydrothermally using chitosan as the template and were further functionalized using (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). The synthesized CFO were characterized using various analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and high- resolution transmission electron microscopy. The CFO and CFO-APTES were further drop-casted on to the glassy carbon electrode (CFO-NH2/GCE) for the electrochemical determination of TAC. Under the optimum conditions, the CFO-NH2/GCE showed a very low detection limit of 0.03 nM with a high sensitivity of 21,448 ?A?M?1cm?2 and a wide linear TAC concentration range of 0.14 nM 75.83 nM. The proposed sensor showed good sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility and stability for the sensing of TAC and this has been demonstrated by analysing TAC in different dosage forms. This is the first study to report the interaction of CFO-TAC and CFO-NH2-TAC at the electrode/electrolyte interface. To support the experimental findings qualitatively, extensive density functional theory simulations were carried out to study the interaction at the interface. Hence the proposed sensor is very selective and sensitive towards the detection of TAC. 2022 Elsevier B.V. -
Highly Surface Active Anisotropic Silver Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agent Against Human Pathogens, Mycobacterium smegmatis and Candida albicans
Rapid synthesis of anisotropic silver nanoparticles via cost-effective, non-hazardous, and eco-friendly methods using naturally available gums are of greater significance as their chemical synthesis is associated with high toxicity. This study aims to synthesize highly surface-active anisotropic silver nanoparticles and evaluate their antimicrobial efficacy against human pathogens, Mycobacterium smegmatis and Candida albicans. Anisotropic silver nanoparticles were synthesized using silver nitrate as the metal precursor and gum arabic as the template. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, fourier transformation infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction (HRTEM-SAED) analysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TEM analysis showed the anisotropy and monodispersed nature of silver nanoparticles with an average size of less than 20 nm. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of the anisotropic silver nanoparticles were also studied keeping rifampicin and fluconazole as the reference. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was found to be 1 mM silver nanoparticles for both M. smegmatis and C. albicans. Synthesized anisotropic silver nanoparticles can be used as an alternative to antibiotics to treat the infections caused by M. smegmatis and C. albicans. Further, the effect of silver nanoparticles on haemolytic activity was also studied. 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH -
Nanobiosensors: A Promising Tool for the Determination of Pathogenic Bacteria
Pathogenic bacterial detection is a significant concern for the well-being of all human beings. These tiny microbes are capable of causing numerous diseases, which can be nipped in the bud through proper monitoring and controlling at the early stages itself. Some common pathogenic bacteria include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., etc. These microbes contaminate air, food, and water through different modes of transmission. The classical methods used for the identification of these bacteria are time-killing and backbreaking. Rapid pathogenic bacteria determination became possible through the intervention of biosensors. Biosensors are further modified with nanoparticles to build nanobiosensors that are tenfold efficient in bacterial detection. The optical and electrochemical nanobiosensors provide hassle-free detection of pathogenic bacteria, and pointof- care detection is also possible. This book chapter aims to give a brief idea about nanobiosensors starting from the principle to the advantages and disadvantages of bacterial detection. Relevant works of literature on different methods to detect bacteria, types of nanobiosensors, and their efficacy in pathogenic bacterial detection portray the current stand and the need for more innovations in the area of nanobiosensors. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022. -
Tuning of the surface structure of silver nanoparticles using Gum arabic for enhanced electrocatalytic oxidation of morin
Gum arabic stabilized silver nanoparticles have been used to modify carbon paste electrodes (AgNPs-GA/CPE) for the electrochemical sensing of morin, a flavanoid. The synthesized nanoparticles, before and after modification of electrodes were characterized by UVvisible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurements, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The uniform-sized spherical silver nanoparticles have particle sizes less than 10 nm. AgNPs-GA/CPE electrode has shown excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of morin at a potential of 0.14 V. The factors influencing the electrochemical determination of morin such as the effect of pH, the effect of scan rate, and the effect of concentration were studied in detail. The linear dynamic range was found to be 0.65 nM to 7.0 nM with a detection limit of 0.216 nM. The developed sensor has been successfully applied for the determination of morin in mulberry leaves and almonds. 2021 The Author(s) -
Transition metal oxides in electrochemical and bio sensing: A state-of-art review
This review article portrays the progress in developing novel electrochemical sensors using morphologically varied transition metal oxides. The role and applications of transition metal oxide nanoparticles of iron, titanium, manganese, zirconium, cobalt, nickel and their composites in the field of electrochemical and bio sensing are conferred in detail. Appropriate chemical functionalization of these nanomaterials guarantees the selective and sensitive determination of target molecules including DNA or creating antigen/antibody complexes. Substantial data is summed up in the tables. This review article highlights the significance of transition metal oxide nanoparticles as promising electrode modifiers for fabrication of sensors. The review ends up with a relevant discussion, existing challenges and future scopes. 2021 The Author(s) -
CoFe2O4-APTES nanocomposite for the selective determination of tacrolimus in dosage forms: Perspectives from computational studies /
Surfaces and Interfaces, Vol.35, ISSN No: 2468-0230.
An innovative and cost effective electrochemical sensor was fabricated to determine tacrolimus (TAC) in pharmaceutical samples. In the present study, cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CFO) were synthesized hydrothermally using chitosan as the template and were further functionalized using (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). The synthesized CFO were characterized using various analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and high- resolution transmission electron microscopy. The CFO and CFO-APTES were further drop-casted on to the glassy carbon electrode (CFO-NH2/GCE) for the electrochemical determination of TAC. -
Advanced electrochemical detection and profiling of the antihypertensive drug atenolol via a SPION-activated carbon nanocomposite interface
This study reports the synthesis of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), activated carbon (AC) and SPION-AC nanocomposites using a simple hydrothermal method. Characterization of the synthesized materials includes dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry, along with electrochemical characterization studies such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Among the SPION-AC nanocomposites, SPION-15%AC was employed to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The synergistic interaction between SPION and AC significantly enhanced the electrochemical properties of the system, leading to the development of a highly efficient platform for the detection of the antihypertensive drug atenolol (ATN) in commercial tablet samples. The sensor demonstrated excellent performance, with a linear detection range from 1.21 ?M to 285 ?M. With a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.401 ?M, the sensor offers precise quantification of ATN, making it a promising tool for improving patient care. High selectivity, reproducibility, and excellent recovery in complex pharmaceutical matrices further highlight the potential of this sensor for biomedical and clinical applications. 2025 RSC. -
Impediments of product recovery in circular supply chains: Implications for sustainable development
Product recovery has fascinated the concentration of organizations and is prominent among industry practitioners and researchers due to improved environmental concerns, social awareness, and economic benefits. Circular supply chain (CSC) compounds the concept of product recovery in global supply chain management to present a sustainable perspective. Therefore, this study aims to determine impediments of product recovery and CSC toward sustainable production and consumption in the background of manufacturing organizations. This study determines potential impediments from literature and in consultation with experts. Further, a fuzzy VIKOR approach is practiced to prioritize the impediments of product recovery and CSC. Then, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to verify the robustness of the framework attained. The results from the study reflect that lack of collaboration from supply chain performers, lack of tax policies for facilitating CSC models and limited expertise, technology, information on CSC practices are the critical impediments to product recovery in CSCs. The findings of the study could assist industry managers and practitioners in developing procedures and strategies to attain sustainable development. 2022 The Authors. Sustainable Development published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. -
Achieving SDGs through MSMEs: An empirical assessment of environmental consideration initiatives in India
Today, addressing environmental concerns and reducing carbon emissions has become imperative for every organization. Hence, eliminating the adverse impacts of business operations is no longer limited to large organizations, even small business organizations are taking a proactive approach in this direction. The present study aims to investigate pertinent issues related to the adoption of environmental practices faced by MSMEs in India and how these practices can fulfill the aim of achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs 2030). However, in this chapter, the authors are only going to emphasize the environmental aspect of the sustainability dimensions. Further, this study also identifies the factors that impact the adoption of environmental consideration initiatives among MSMEs in India. The findings of the study offer significant contributions to the research related to environmental consideration initiatives of the Indian MSMEs sector. Further, it also highlights the need for mandatory frameworks and guidelines to facilitate the adoption of sustainability practices among MSMEs in India. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Complex and Multifaceted Nature of Cryptocurrency Markets: A Study to Understand its Time-Varying Volatility Dynamics
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) provides a new way to perform complex financial transactions by exploiting blockchain's ability to maintain a decentralised ledger of transactions without being constrained by centralised systems or human intermediaries. DeFi provides alternative financial instruments that might lessen portfolio risk, especially given the erratic state of the financial markets today. This study analyses the association between the year of the coin in which it was introduced and the market capitalisation of the respective companies. Furthermore, the study also tries to understand the volatility associated with cryptocurrencies using EGARCH & GJR-GARCH models. The results reveal that market capitalisation is not similar for all three stages of the age of cryptocurrency. Also, negative news tends to impact Bitcoin more than positive news, and the volatility is persistent and long-lasting. Ethereum, BNB & Solana see more volatility from absolute past shocks; however, Tether exhibits low but persistent volatility as a stablecoin. 2024, Creative Publishing House. All rights reserved. -
Can Renewable Energy Be a Driving Factor for Economic Stability? An In-Depth Study of Sector Expansion and Economic Dynamics
India has emerged as one of the world's most appealing locations for renewable energy development. It has set lofty renewable energy goals to reach 450 gigawatts (GW) capacity by 2030. These aims indicate India's determination to move to greener and more sustainable energy sources. India has been investing in R&D to promote technological innovation in renewable energy. This includes improvements to solar photovoltaic technology, wind energy, energy storage technologies, and smart grid systems. Innovation is critical for improving efficiency, lowering prices, and increasing the reliability of renewable energy sources. This paper aims to analyse the linkages between economic growth and renewable energy usage in India. For this, the Granger Causality technique is adopted, and it is found that no short-run causality exists among the economic growth and RE installed capacity. However, Industrial Production Granger Causes both GDP and Renewable Energy Capacity. When the stock price data of the last five years of top renewable energy companies was also collected, it was found that all the companies are showing an upward trend. While renewable energy is growing rapidly, especially solar and wind power, it is insufficient to meet the bulk of India's energy demands. Renewables contribute to reducing carbon emissions and diversifying the energy mix, but they still account for a smaller percentage compared to thermal power. 2024, Creative Publishing House. All rights reserved. -
Classification of Vitiligo using CNN Autoencoder
Precise recognition of skin ailment is a time-consuming procedure even for Professionals. With the invention of deep learning and medical image processing, the identification of skin disease is possible in a time-efficient manner and accurately. Autoencoder is the generative algorithm but in the proposed work it is used as a generator and as well as a classifier. In this work, a Convolutional (CNN) autoencoder was used to classify the skin disease Vitiligo. In this work encoding and decoding layers were used but in the last layer in place of reproducing the original image, the classification layer was used to classify the image. The proposed work gave training accuracy of 87.71 % whereas validation accuracy was 90.16%. 2022 IEEE. -
Corroboration of skin diseases: Melanoma, vitiligo vascular tumor using transfer learning
The precise identification of skin disease is an exigent process even for more experienced doctors and dermatologists because there is a small variation between surrounding skin and lesions, a visual affinity between different skin diseases. Transfer learning is the approach which stores acquired knowledge while solving one problem and apply that knowledge to similar problems. It is a type of machine learning task where a model proposed for a task can be used again. Transfer learning is used in various areas like image processing and gaming simulation. Image processing is an evolving field in the diagnosis of various kinds of skin diseases. Here transfer learning is used to identify three skin diseases such as melanoma, vitiligo, and vascular tumors. The inception V3 model was used as a base model. Networks were pre-trained and then fine-tuned. Considerable growth of training accuracy and testing accuracy were achieved. 2021 IEEE. -
Optimal order quantity with endogenous discounted partial advance payment and trade-credit for inventory model with linear time varying demand
When buyers seek extended credit periods from relatively less secure suppliers, the supplier requires co-operation from the buyer for purchase of raw materials, etc., in terms of partial advance payment. For a single buyer single supplier supply chain, we develop an inventory model with a hybrid payment policy combining discounted advance payment to supplier with the supplier permitting interest free delay period to the buyer when buyer has the option to make advance payment. For the advance, supplier offers discount and may allow the buyer to set the discount rate and the advance proportion. For a linear demand function in such a scenario, we maximise buyer's net profit rate through optimal choice of payment policy and the buyer's replenishment. We consider two situations with discount: 1) exogenous; 2) endogenous for the buyer. Optimal solution is characterised theoretically. Numerical example reveals that by choosing advance proportion appropriately, the profit rate in the endogenous case can be higher than that in the exogenous case even with lower discount. 2021 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.. All rights reserved. -
Brand Identity and Image Management in Peer-to-Peer Platforms: Navigating Crisis in Digital Environments
The peer-to-peer economy is experiencing remarkable growth in a short span of time, showcasing a wide variety of platforms, dynamic business models and transactions. It is essential to gain a thorough understanding of how these platforms maintain brand image and their identity in this digital age. Despite the importance of the concept, and the rapid need to know how brand image is co-created in peer-to-peer platforms, literature lacks a theoretical understanding of the concept. This book chapter develops a brand image conceptualization and how platforms as a company, service providers and consumers play a crucial role in creating and maintaining brand image. This study will decisively examine how brand image is created, communicated and protected by stakeholders in these technology-driven environments. Also, the chapter emphasizes that effectively managing brand image in P2P environments requires a comprehensive approach. This approach should integrate technological solutions, safety protocols, and a deep understanding of the dynamic interactions among all the stakeholders. Copyright 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing.