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FITNESS TRAINERS PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS AND GYM GOERS EXERCISE INTENTION
In line with the law of attraction, physical attractiveness has been widely used in marketing as well as advertising due to its potency in persuading consumers to take action. However, would physical attractiveness of a fitness trainer influence gym goers intention to exercise? This question motivated this research. Based on recent literature reviews, several research constructs were identified to form a research framework to investigate the physical attractiveness phenomena in the fitness industry. Hypothetically, the impact of the physical attractiveness of a fitness trainer on gym goers exercise intention is postulated to be mediated by trainers perceived expertise, trustworthiness, likeability and perceived health. Questionnaires were administered among gym-goers from 10 randomly selected fitness centres across three districts of Melaka State in Malaysia, and 192 final sample data were obtained. Data analysis reveals fitness trainers perceived expertise and likeability significantly mediates the relationship between the physical attractiveness of fitness trainers and gym goers exercise intention. Physical attractiveness of fitness trainers does impact the exercise intention of gym goers indirectly. Implications of the findings to theory and practice are also discussed in this paper, as well as suggestions for future studies. 2022, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. All rights reserved. -
Gym-Goers Self-Identification with Physically Attractive Fitness Trainers and Intention to Exercise
Gym-goers often socially compare themselves with their trainers as they strive to look as attractive as their fitness trainers. The aim of this study was to better understand this phenomenon in the fitness industry. Relying on social comparison theory and social identity theory, self-identification with a physically attractive fitness trainer was posited to have a strong mediating effect on the relationship between appearance motive, weight management motive and gym-goers intention to exercise. The moderation effects of gym-goers age and gender in the direct relationships between appearance motive, weight management motive and exercise intention were also examined. The primary outcome of this study revealed that gym-goers who were influenced by appearance and weight management motives are more likely to identify with physically attractive fitness trainers. Additionally, gender significantly moderates the relationships between appearance motive, weight management motive and exercise intention. Appearance and weight management motives are the primary factors that influence the exercise intention of female gym-goers as compared to their male counterparts. This study sheds new insights into understanding the influence of the physical attractiveness of fitness trainers and its impact on gym-goers exercise intentions via self and social identification process. 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. -
A Prompt Study on Recent Advances in the Development Of Colorimetric and Fluorescent Chemosensors for Nanomolar Detection of Biologically Important Analytes
Fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors for selective detection of various biologically important analytes have been widely applied in different areas such as biology, physiology, pharmacology, and environmental sciences. The research area based on fluorescent chemosensors has been in existence for about 150years with the development of large number of fluorescent chemosensors for selective detection of cations as metal ions, anions, reactive species, neutral molecules and different gases etc. Despite the progress made in this field, several problems and challenges still exist. The most important part of sensing is limit of detection (LOD) which is the lowest concentration that can be measured (detected) with statistical significance by means of a given analytical procedure. Although there are so many reports available for detection of millimolar to micromolar range but the development of chemosensors for the detection of analytes in nanomolar range is still a challenging task. Therefore, in our current review we have focused the history and a general overview of the development in the research of fluorescent sensors for selective detection of various analytes at nanomolar level only. The basic principles involved in the design of chemosensors for specific analytes, binding mode, photophysical properties and various directions are also covered here. Summary of physiochemical properties, mechanistic view and type of different chemosensors has been demonstrated concisely in the tabular forms. Graphical Abstract: In our current review we have focused the history and a general overview of the development in the research of fluorescent sensors for selective detection of various analytes at nanomolar level only. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Evaluation of Social Media Marketing Literature in the Tourism Industry Using PRISMA
Social media is an effective communication and information-sharing tool for tourism enterprises and organisations. Tourism marketing shall tap the growing popularity of social media and internet users, embracing a technological shift by optimising the potential of social media. This research study evaluates the academic journal articles related to social media in the tourism industry published on EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar academic databases from 2005 to 2022. The article adopts a content analysis approach to review the articles and to evaluate the present state of knowledge of social media marketing in academic literature. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) is used for reporting and screening the review papers. The articles were coded and categorised under six major themes: Marketing, Destination experience/image, Tourism recovery, Smart tourism, Communication and Promotion. The research analysis has identified two major areas: (a) Travellers/tourists Perspective which has a focus on their behavioural attitude and (b) Tourism Agencies Perspective which has a functional approach. Based on the review of the literature to give direction for further research, an improvised version of the definition for the term social media with the inclusion of more specific terms in it has been proposed with theoretical and practical implications. 2023 MICA-The School of Ideas. -
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Temperature and pressure dependent luminescence mechanism of a zinc blende structured ZnS:Mn nanophosphor under UV excitation
A comprehensive photoluminescence and mechanoluminescence analysis of a ZnS:Mn2+ nano-phosphor with a zinc blende structure is presented. The sample containing quantum dot-sized nanocrystallites was synthesized by the chemical precipitation method and shows excellent orange luminescence at ambient conditions related to the 4T1 ? 6A1 transition. The sample shows stable and identical luminescence behavior under both UV and X-ray excitation at ambient conditions and also exhibits excellent self-powered mechanoluminescence properties. The pressure and temperature-induced luminescence mechanism of the phosphor is also established. The shift of the 4T1 ? 6A1 luminescence band of Mn2+ with both pressure and temperature and the luminescence mechanism is explained via the d5 Tanabe Sugano diagram. The broad luminescence band of the 4T1 ? 6A1 transition shifts from the visible to near-infrared range at a rate of ?35.8 meV GPa?1 with the increase of the pressure and it is subsequently quenched completely at a pressure of 16.41 GPa due to a reversible phase transition from zinc blende (F4?3m) to rocksalt (Fm3?m) phase. The high-pressure and temperature-dependent decay kinetics measurements of the sample luminescence are also reported. 2024 The Royal Society of Chemistry. -
Molecularly imprinted graphene based biosensor as effective tool for electrochemical sensing of uric acid
Graphene oxide based molecularly imprinted polymer was designed by incorporating vinyltrimethoxysilane into the layers of graphene oxide, which was copolymerized with functional monomers such as Itaconic acid (IA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) was developed via bulk imprinting technique. The prepared polymer was studied for selective sensing the uric acid (UA) in blood serum. The electrode was constructed by modifying bare glassy carbon electrodes with the prepared molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) via drop cast method. Electrochemical measurements were made by Cyclic voltammetric (CV) and Differential Pulse Voltammetric (DPV) response of the sensor. The physical and chemical properties of the resultant material will be characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD and FESEM. The constructed sensor showed a regression coefficient (R2) of 0.9302 with limit of detection (LOD) of about 0.565 ??M. The developed sensor is reusable without any compromise in its selectivity. All the results confirm that the constructed biosensor requires no pre-treatment of samples and is suitable for real sample analysis. 2023 The Authors -
Acid functionalized Arachis hypogaea skin based carbon nanosphere as efficacious material for enhanced energy storage
The present introduces a single step approach for enhancing supercapacitor performance by utilizing acid-functionalized porous carbon derived from the inner skin of Arachis hypogaea as a sustainable biomass precursor. Through pyrolysis at 800 C in a nitrogen atmosphere, the resulting porous carbon material demonstrates unique structural and electrochemical behavior as confirmed by FTIR, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FE-SEM, HR-TEM,EDS,BET analyses. The acid functionalized variant (FAH8) significantly outperformed the non-functionalized carbon (AH8), showing a fourfold increase in specific capacitance. Electrochemical evaluations revealed that FAH8 achieved a high specific capacitance of 273 Fg?1 at 0.25 Ag?1 in 3 M KOH, with an energy density of 22.5 Wh kg?1 and a power density of 125 W kg?1 in a three-electrode setup. The symmetrical CR2032 device of FAH8 exhibited a maximum capacitance of 98 Fg?1 and displayed excellent stability, with 98.5 % efficiency and 97.4 % capacitance retention after 7500 cycles. Notably, the device also delivered a high energy density of 23.17 Wh kg?1 and power density of 325.0 W kg?1. The enhanced performance attributed by the simple acid functionalization highlights the potential of this material in energy storage. Thus, the study not only emphasizes the effective use of low-cost biomass precursors but also provides a straightforward functionalization strategy to boost energy storage capabilities, paving the way for sustainable high-performance supercapacitors. 2025 Elsevier Ltd -
Do Koreans hate Indians? Fact checking viral online videos calling out Korean racism
[No abstract available] -
Contemplating hair: Many shades of hair oppression in India
What is it like to be a woman with wavy/curly hair in a country like India? Although hair stories are different for different women, one common hair story for all Indian women with wavy/curly hair is moments of insecurity regarding the normalcy and beauty appeal of their hair. Aside from the discrimination faced due to the texture of hair, Indian women also face restrictions and suffocations in terms of creative self-expression of hair. This chapter presents an overview of the hair culture in India from a historical perspective along with religious narratives. The nature of hair discrimination of women in India is discussed and the chapter also shed light on institutionalised illogical restrictions. The author's personal hair stories will serve as an example to underline the complexity of hair discrimination in India. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Reimagining North Korea in a new frame: review of the series Crash Landing on You (2019)
[No abstract available] -
Media in everyday life: review of the series Reply 1988
[No abstract available] -
Immortality and beyond: review of the film Seo Bok
[No abstract available] -
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. -
Beyond Bollywood and Hindi: making a case for other language films in India
[No abstract available] -
National cinema in India: exploring myths and realities
[No abstract available] -
Individuals Attitude Concerning Memes: A Study Reference to Active Social Media Users
Todays digital world, memes are more popular among the youngsters to express ones emotion. Nowadays, almost everyone is largely relying on social media to send memes and emojis in order to share the information in a humorous way. Lots of research article are reviewed about the social media memes, internet memes and this paper summarizes the usage of social media and following the trending pattern in communicating or sharing information through the social media platform. This study is aimed to study about the individuals attitude towards memes and its effect among the social media users. Through survey, total of 193 samples were collected by using questionnaire and statistical tools like Reliability test, Chi square and Correlation analysis have been used to interpret the collected data. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Navigating the landscape of green marketing trends and identifying greenwashing red flags
Through this chapter, the authors intend to provide information to the fashion and retail industry about the latest trends and their drawbacks, further increasing the awareness of environmentally conscious consumers. The objective of the study is first to examine the prevalent green marketing strategies adopted by fashion and retail businesses. Further, it also evaluates the actual reality and effectiveness behind the strategies used by brands to understand if they are creating an illusion of sustainability or are genuinely committed through case studies of various retail brands. Lastly it investigates consumer attitudes and perceptions of green marketing in fashion and retail. This research employs an approach to explore driving factors for green marketing in the fashion and retail industry. Utilizing secondary data, a comprehensive review of existing literature on sustainable practices, consumer behaviour, and industry trends was done. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Purification and evaluating in vitro activity of a fibrinolytic protease produced by a mangrove isolate Bacillus subtilis AIBL_AMSB2_M7E32
One of the main causes of heart-related problems globally is intravascular thrombosis. Microbial fibrinolytic proteases play a very crucial role in the management of thrombosis. Plasminogen activators and plasmin-like proteins, which are fibrinolytic enzymes of microbial origin, hydrolyze thrombin with great efficacy and without causing noticeable side effects. These fibrinolytic enzymes can also be manufactured efficiently and economically in huge quantities within a short period. However, the search for novel fibrinolytic enzymes demands difficult purification procedures, as well as physicochemical and structural-functional properties that provide information about their mode of action. In this study, the strain named Bacillus subtilis AIBL_AMSB2_M7E32, isolated from the Coringa mangrove soils, was shown to produce a fibrinolytic enzyme. The enzyme was purified by a four-step purification process that resulted in a 43.33-fold purification with a specific activity of 6368.20 (U/mg). Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the purified enzyme was a protein of about 28 kDa and showed fibrinolytic activity on a zymogram. In vitro assay on blood clots revealed that the purified enzyme could lyse the blood effectively by a percentage of 72.96 0.16a%, indicating that the enzyme could be used as a fibrinolytic agent. Furthermore, an observation for enzyme stability and its in vivo activity studies would be necessary for its application in the market. 2024 Bhavana Sompalli and Alok Malaviya. -
A novel fibrinolytic enzyme producer from mangrove soil sediments: Screening, isolation, strain improvement, and fermentation
Fibrinolytic enzymes are used for addressing many cardiovascular disease conditions. However, current fibrinolytic enzymes are highly expensive with many side effects which necessitate the development of alternative cost-effective processes for low-cost production of these lifesaving enzymes. Since the availability of a suitable strain is considered the basic requirement for any process development effort, we started our work in this direction with screening and isolation of fibrinolytic enzyme producers. The goal of this study was to screen and isolate fibrinolytic enzyme producers from a relatively unexplored environment, i.e., the mangroves. Mangroves are wetlands and are one of the unique and less studied habitats for the production of therapeutic molecules. Microbiota that produces fibrinolytic enzymes from Coringa mangroves located in Kakinada District, Andhra Pradesh, India, is lacking. Therefore, in this study, fibrinolytic enzyme-producing bacterium was screened from samples obtained from Coringa mangroves. Out of 200, protease enzyme-producing isolates obtained from screening 30 mangrove soil samples, 7 isolates exhibiting fibrinolytic activity were selected. Out of these 7, the highest fibrinolytic enzyme-producing bacterial strain (AIBL_AMSB2) was characterized by biochemical and genomic methods, which was finally identified as Bacillus subtilis subsp. Inaquosorum by 16S rRNA analysis. The strain was also found to be an amylase producer. AIBL_AMSB2 was subjected to strain improvement using random mutagenesis techniques (i) Ultraviolent radiations (UV) and (ii) Ethyl methyl Sulphonate (EMS), which resulted in an improved mutant strain AIBL_AMSB2_M7E32 exhibiting 54.70% improvement in fibrinolytic activity. Batch fermentation in controlled experimental conditions using the obtained mutant strain resulted in a 133.54% increase in growth OD and a 391.11% increase in enzyme activity. Thus, the study reports an increased fibrinolytic enzyme activity producing mangrove isolate and its production by submerged fermentation. Further studies to prove the potential of the enzyme on blood clots are necessary to utilize for industrial application. 2024 Bhavana Sompalli and Alok Malaviya.