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The pulp and paper industry is critical to global industrial and economic development. Recently, India's pulp and paper industries have been facing severe competitive challenges. The challenges have impaired the environmental performance and resulted in the closure of several operations. Assessment and prediction of the performance of the Indian pulp and paper industry using various parameters is a critical task for researchers. This study proposes a framework for performance assessment and prediction based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Artificial Neural Networks, and Deep Learning (DL) to assist industry administration and decision-making. We presented a case study based on eight industries to demonstrate the methodology's applicability. This study analyses and predicts industry performance based on sample data observations over 30 years. The result suggests the DEA-DL-based efficiency prediction has an overall MSE of 0.08 compared with the actual efficiency. Furthermore, the efficiency rankings are compared between the three techniques. The results suggest that the integrated DEA-DL method is primarily accurate in most scenarios with the actual values. The findings of this study provide a comprehensive analysis of environmental performance for policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation is one of the most difficult areas of educational pursuits. The most common type of evaluation and assessment is through a written examination. The majority of the time, questions is drafted right before the examination without going through a quality control process, which might cause confusion or incorrect interpretation of the questions by the students. Students' self-confidence and self-esteem grow as a result of their increased understanding of the question paper's structure, and they then affirm their ability to complete the task. The design of the question paper is prepared, with consideration given to the objectives, the various forms and types of questions, and the various content areas, a projected time, Level of difficulty anticipated. In order to enhance the standard of student evaluation and assessment, this article focuses on offering instructions and a scientific technique for creating effective question papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinomycetes are a suitable microbial group for the synthesis of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes. Enzymes that may degrade organic material, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, are released by actinomycetes. The aim of this research was to isolate actinomycetes from Rajkot, Gujarat, India’s soil and evaluate the activity of their cellulase and Xylanase enzymes. Starch Casein Agar (SCA) was used to identify a total of 30 isolates of actinomycetes. A qualitative plate assay (CMC-Na, Congo red) revealed that the highest zone of catalysis for MMD1 was 36 mm. Five strains were discovered to be effective for quantitative quantification of endoglucanase utilising filter paper and CMC as substrates: MMD1, MMD2, MMD3, MMD4, and MMD8. Following MMD 1 (endoglucanase 5.4 IU; FPase 4.4 IU), MMD 2 (endoglucanase 4.5 IU; FPase 3.4 IU) has demonstrated considerable endoglucanase and FPase activity. Beechwood xylan was used to treat sugarcane bagasse in order to test Xylanase, and 45% of the xylan (hemicellulose) fraction was obtained. MMD1 and MMD2 measured the xylanase enzyme activity (4.8IU and 4.2IU) in quantitative and qualitative assays (34 mm and 22 mm for BWX and 32 mm and 14 mm for agro-waste xylan). The strain MMD1 was identified as Streptomyces chartreusis through morphological, biochemical, and finally molecular characterization by 16S rRNA sequencing. It was then submitted to NCBI GenBank with the accession number MT254830. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technological advancements and emergence of new kinds of communication mediums, especially social media and networks, have brought an era of unprecedented connectivity, which can be leveraged for better science communication. This paper explores social media activity around Indian research papers with the objective of evaluating if the quantum of activity is sufficient enough to indicate that social media can be an effective medium of science communication in India. In the absence of any existing survey of social media usage by scientists in India, the paper uses altmetrics as a proxy measure to capture; science communication activities around two major classes, namely, science-science connect and science-society connect. Results indicate that social media activity around Indian research papers is relatively low as compared to the developed countries and also the world average. There is a higher activity in science-science connect (Mendeley) whereas science-society connect is less pronounced (other social media and news). The paper argues that there is a need to expose Indian research community to the opportunities that social media presents and that an appropriate use can be helpful for improved science-science and science-society connects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's scenario of India most of the youth is preparing for some competitive exam. If we think behind 15–20 years the number of candidates appearing for competitive exams were in thousands but as the population is increasing exponentially in India day by day the number of candidates is increasing in lacks. We can observe by daily newspapers that most of the competitive exams are facing paper leak problems. Although online examination systems are more effective and secure as compared to offline examination systems because it's not easy to open the question paper before the time starts. On the other hand there are also various consequences where the examination process can be hacked online. But the main issue with online examination process is to lack of resources to conduct parallel examination of millions of candidates, lack of techno enabled exam centers in small cities etc. Our focus is to propose a system in which offline examination can be conducted at most of the govt. and private centers in metro cities as well as small techno backward cities with reduced possibility to leak the paper before commencement of examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The medium of exchange for the transactions has been continuously evolved right from the stage of barter system to the current cashless economy. The cashless transactions, in real sense, the transaction between two entities without a medium of exchange. This paper intends to analyze the Cashless transactions in terms of value and volume. For this study the cashless transactions data is analyzed for 5 years. The secondary data is collected from RBI website. The RBI Annual Report 2019-20 and 2021-22 are used to analyze the total cashless transactions in the past 3 years. The statistical tools like Graph, Chart and percentage has been used to analyze the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, cow dung is widely utilized to create formulations that serve as effective plant growth enhancers with antimicrobial properties. The cow dung-derived handmade paper manufacturing process produces two waste-liquor streams, a Raw Liquor (RL) produced through the dewatering of the cow-dung slurry and a Black Liquor (BL) produced during the soda pulping of dewatered cow dung. The present study explored the potential of these waste streams to be used as plant biofertilizers for germination and cultivation of Vigna radiata seeds (mung bean, IPM-02-03 variety). An in vitro assay for seed germination efficiency and a pot study for plant growth promotion (PGP) activity were used to assess this potential. The in vitro assay demonstrated that nutrient-rich RL, with its 100% seed germination efficiency (better than the 85.7% of tap water) was an effective biofertilizer for seed germination. In contrast, BL yielded poor seed germination efficiency. The pot study showed that water irrigation led to good seed germination, survival, plant rooting and shooting, but it was probably deprived of nutrients for inducing good grain yields. When water was replaced with RL, it was able to replicate the results, but with good grain yields. In contrast, BL produced poorer germination, seed survival and PGP results. The poor biofertilization efficiency of BL was most probably due to the nutrient losses and toxic chemicals produced in the harsh pulping process. The results showed that RL, though considered a waste stream, is sufficiently nutrient-rich to act as an effective biofertilizer for germinating mung bean seeds and promoting plant growth and grain yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)-based English textbooks and question papers in developing second-language higher-order thinking skills (HOTS). Design/methodology/approach: Descriptive analysis establishes a causal relationship between learning objectives and second language (L2) writing proficiency. Content analysis is used to compare and analyze tabulated data for textbooks and question papers for the English language by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and CBSE. This method categorizes the materials and their assessments under HOTS and lower-order thinking skills to ascertain the relationship between learning objectives and L2 writing proficiency. Findings: The study highlights teaching material and assessment shortcomings and their alignment with learning outcomes to enhance students' writing skills. It underscores the need for HOTS-focused materials, discussing their impact on writing skills. The study also explores how textbook–question paper mismatch hampers Bloom's taxonomy-based cognitive skills. Practical implications: This research illuminates the efficacy of teaching and learning English as a second language (ESL) writing skills to improve the quality of education, which has real-world implications. The study highlights flaws in the educational system in India and suggests curricular and pedagogical changes. Originality/value: The research examines NCERT and CBSE ESL textbooks and question papers to align teaching and assessment methods. The results aim to improve education through ESL writers' HOTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the cellular manufacturing system (CMS) literature published from 1982–2021 to identify key issues and trends for the future. Design/methodology/approach: A six-stage methodology is used to conduct a literature review, which includes: (1) article collection; (2) inclusion/exclusion criteria; (3) reviewing the articles; (4) analyzing the articles; (5) framework development; and (6) future research directions. A total of 936 CMS-specific articles are reviewed. This paper made use of three software tools: the R package, VOSviewer and SciMAT. Findings: According to the findings, the majority of CM researchers focused on cell formation and design. The USA, Iran and India are the top three leading publishers. Additionally, the gap and future direction of CM are discussed. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first attempt to investigate CMS evaluation through bibliometric and thematic analysis and provides a decisional framework as well as steps for CMS adoption. For individuals who are interested in understanding more about CMS and its evolution, this paper offers a starting point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, survival of children with chronic diseases has significantly improved and a large proportion of them now are entering into adulthood. Transition of Care (ToC) of such patients with having childhood onset of chronic diseases to the adult health care system is well organized in developed countries, although it is an emerging concept in India. In situations where the systems for ToC are not in place, such cases are fraught with unsatisfactory health outcomes. With proper ToC in place, these patients are likely to receive uninterrupted care by the adult care physicians and hence reach their full potential. This document highlights the need, rationale and way forward for ToC of youth with special health care needs (YSHCN) across the country. It also describes the standard operating procedures to develop the ToC at a hospital level for clinicians and administrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines new forms of study-abroad expertise on social media and their role in mediating Indian student mobility to Germany. Firstly, it explores how mutual-support Facebook and WhatsApp groups—used by prospective international students in India to support each other through the process of applying to German universities—have contributed to the emergence of new forms of education consultancy, offered by Indian students or graduates of German universities, whom I call 'Student Guides'. In addition, it shows how some Indians studying in Germany have started 'Study in Germany' YouTube channels, aimed at aspirant student migrants, and have become important 'study-abroad influencers'. The paper analyses how these new forms of study-abroad expertise offer prospective international students social and cultural capital important for successful student migration, apart from shaping their imaginative geographies of Germany, and embedding them in cultures of mobility. Furthermore, the paper highlights how these new forms of study-abroad expertise intersect with, and critique, a more 'traditional' study-abroad expert: the professional education consultant. The paper draws on a digital ethnography of 'Study in Germany' Facebook and WhatsApp groups and YouTube channels, as well as interviews with the YouTubers, Student Guides, and Indian students in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With growing internationalism, there is a shift in research patterns in developing countries, especially China and India, generating vital and contemporary research areas that are beginning to challenge the existing Western‐dominated research literature in social sciences. Yet, many of the new ideas within conceptual papers by the social sciences are not empirically validated, let alone operationalized. This is where the group concept mapping method can play a role in bridging the gap between phenomenal conceptualization and having an empirically valid model that can then be operationalized. The group concept mapping process involves five steps: create statements, sort statements, run multidimensional scaling (MDS) of sorted units, run cluster analysis, and label the clusters. This approach allows for the collective thoughts of a pre‐defined group to be collected and organized into a tangible output with academic rigor. This paper offers an overview of the group concept mapping methodology, discussing the processes of the method, how the method can be utilized fully within the business and broader social science context, and the strengths, weaknesses, and practical implications of group concept mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With time, the law and economics of insurance have advanced from considering it solely as a security measure to recognising it as an asset class. Numerous companies now offer loans against these life insurance policies, accepting the 'property' nature of life insurance behind the veil (Doherty & Singer, 2003; Mancini & Murphy, 2012; Mazonas, Stallard & Graham, 2011). Recently the world witnessed sudden deaths at large scale during the COVID-19 pandemic. A study indicates that financial crisis is a major reason of acute stress and instability in adults' lives (Karim & Shetu, 2023; PK, TK & PK 2021) In such crisis situations, the secondary market assignment of life insurance policies could have been a boon for any person facing financial difficulty or not having a living family member/nominee. The market for life settlements flourished during HIVAIDS crisis in the USA and has shown steady growth since then in various jurisdictions of the world. However, in India, the doors for secondary market trading were closed in 2015 through a statutory amendment to the Insurance Act, 1938 presently in force in India. Contemporary academia is divided on necessity of the requirement of insurable interest on the secondary market assignment of insurance policies. Other legal issues such as moral hazard, and ethics of trading on life are debatable as well. The preliminary investigation revealed a scarcity of papers discussing these legal considerations around life settlements. However, among the top 10 countries in the global life insurance ranking, five are emerging markets including India having immense potential for life settlements market (Anon, 2021). Consequently, the researcher conducted a scientific SLR using PRISMA Method, along with reviewing selected papers in full, focusing on the legal and related economic considerations, to produce valuable insights for the emerging market. This paper presents the sole effort to pursue SLR on legal issues and put them in a place with the aim to ignite the discussion on legal considerations of life settlements. Importantly, this paper considers India as an emerging market for reference and the USA as a benchmark for established market. This paper adopted a theoretical approach to fulfill the need for legal analysis complimented with secondary data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, digital technologies have become ubiquitous, impacting and changing the ways society operates. Immense public and economic value is being created by improving access to information and resources. Hence, many public administration units around the globe continue to focus on digital transformation. Although mostly associated with digitizing services and workflow via software platforms, India's efforts have taken a "Lego building block approach" toward technology which can be repurposed and recombined to deliver solutions at the social level. These digital public infrastructure (DPI) blocks have had significant impact on socio-economic development. In this special issue, we explore the role of DPI in digitally transforming public service delivery and in creating public value. The issue aims to make an important contribution to public administration and digital government literature, by examining India's DPI and its positive externalities, in particular its role in financial and health inclusion. These papers include vital knowledge that can support policy processes on digital transformation and public value creation for India and other developing countries of the global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to review, discuss and synthesize the literature focusing on the Indian initial public offering (IPO) market. Understanding the Indian IPO market can help answer broader corporate finance questions. The growing number of IPOs in the Indian context, coupled with the increasing importance of the Indian economy in the global market, makes this review an essential topic. Design/methodology/approach: The systematic literature review methodology was adopted to review 111 papers published between 2002 and 2021. The authors used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses approach during the review process. Additionally, the authors use a bibliometric review methodology to examine the pattern and trend of research in this area of interest. Furthermore, the authors conduct a critical review and synthesis of the top 20 papers based on citations. The authors also use a co-citation network and manual content analysis method to identify key research themes. Findings: This review helps in identifying major themes of research in this area of interest. The authors find that majority of the research has focused on IPO performance whereas post-IPO performance needs critical attention as well. The authors develop a comprehensive framework and future research agenda based on their discussion. Research limitations/implications: Meta-analysis of the literature can be conducted to gain better insights into the findings of prior studies. Practical implications: This review paper develops a comprehensive overview on Indian IPO market which can be of interest not only to Indian scholarship. India as an economy is increasingly gaining attention at the global level. Hence, the future research objectives as illustrated in the study can be of interest for the global scholarship also. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review paper that examines, synthesizes and outlines the future research agenda on Indian IPO studies. This review can be useful for researchers, business policymakers, finance professionals and anyone else interested in the Indian IPO market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources (IJNPR) is a publication of the CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR). This study makes a bibliometric assessment of the papers published in the journal from 2010 to 2020. The data was collected from the website of the journal and was analysed using MS Excel. The bibliometric assessment examines the nature and distribution of documents by their types, the geographical distribution of the papers by countries, Indian states, institutions, and authors and the impact of their productivity as reflected by the citation indicators. In addition, the trend in authorship, citations and national and international collaboration was also examined. A total of 587 documents were published during the study period, of which the majority were original research articles. Analysis revealed that during the study period, contributions from 35 countries including India were published in the journal. Maximum contributions from India were from the state of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The study also found that only a small number of papers didn’t receive any citations but a substantial number of papers (17.7%) received 6-10 citations and about 1.7% of papers received 100 or more citations. Most of the highly cited papers were reviews. The multi-authored articles were predominant, whereas the least contribution was by single authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Summative assessments play a major role in shaping the student's learning. There is little literature available on validity of summative assessment question papers in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology. This study analyses 30 question papers from 6 reputed universities for content validity. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional record-based observational study was conducted where 30 university summative question papers in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology from 6 universities across India were evaluated for content validity. The learning domain assessed, the type of questions asked, and sampling of the content was compared and presented in the results. Results: From the results of the study, it was noted that 80% weightage was allotted to recall in most papers and only one paper tested for application. 70 to 80% of the marks were allotted to Forensic Pathology leading to disproportionate sampling. Core areas in Toxicology and Medical Jurisprudence were sparsely assessed. Conclusion: The content validity of the summative question papers in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology was unsatisfactory, emphasising the need for evaluation of the clarity and efficacy of the blueprints being used by the universities. Faculty training to motivate and influence a change in the mindset is necessary to bring about a course correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Conflict is an inevitable fact existing in any organization and it is understood as disagreement between two parties. Conflicts in simple terms may occur when severe issues arise and fury is invoked in the communication process. Conflict arises because of misunderstanding one's words or intentions. Objectives: To analyse and interpret the most preferred and rejected management styles to deal with the industrial conflict. - To explore different conflict management approaches in the study. - To study and analyse the conflict management styles adopted by the management in JK paper mills limited. Hypothesis: - The conflict variables are not varying over the classifications of the Demographic variables of the respondents. - The conflict variables are not varying over the classifications of the Employment variables of the respondents. Need: The production deficit and supply mismatch has made this industry import dependent for finished paper. The demand for paper in India is high and increasing. The supply shortfall for this industry is estimated at 20 million tonnes by 2021. The contribution of the paper industry to the GDP is high. Hence, the researcher felt the need to conduct a study on Conflict management approaches in paper industry with reference to JK Paper Limited, one of the prime organisations in the industry in Visakhapatnam. Methodology: Sample size is 544, Convenient sampling technique is employed for sample collection. To measure the conflict variables over designation, nature of work and classification of departments, ANOVA test is employed to measure its association among variables. Findings: The categorical variables are determinants of the situation in a manufacturing organisation and form a part of internal environment. Therefore, the study concludes the conflict variables determine the style of conflict management. Conclusion: The research study is confined to the employees of select JK Paper Mills Ltd only and it can be extended to other states or cities of India where paper mills industries are situated. It could be further extended to private and public sector paper mills industry of India identifying the conflict management styles adopted in these industries and the effectiveness of conflict management in these industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Productivity improvement is key to sustainability performance improvements of organizations. In a real-world scenario, the nature of inputs and outputs is likely to be imprecise and vague, leading to complexity in comparing firms' efficiency measurements. Implementation of fuzzy-logic based measurement systems is a method for dealing with such cases. This paper presents a fuzzy weight objective function to solve Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) CCR model for measuring paper mills' performance in India for 15 years. Design/methodology/approach: An integrated methodology is proposed to solve DEA models having fuzzy weights. The fuzzy DEA methodology is an extended version of the DEA approach that researchers have used for performance measurement purposes in imprecise and vague scenarios. The ecological performance of the paper industry is evaluated, considering some desirable and undesirable outputs. The effect of non-discretionary input on the performance of a paper mill is also analyzed. Findings: Analysis suggests that the productivity of the paper industry is improving consistently throughout the period. The comparative evaluation of methods suggests that a diverse cluster of DMUs and integration of DEA with the fuzzy logic increases the diversity in the efficiency score while DEA-DE imitates the results of CCR DEA. Originality/value: Proposed a fuzzy DEA-based analytical framework for measuring the paper industry's ecological performance in an imprecise and vague scenario. The model is tested on data from the paper industry in a developing country context and comparative performance analysis using DEA, fuzzy DEA and DE algorithm is done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to analyse the Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of Canada, Australia, The Netherlands and India, focussing on key internal and external processes, such as the exchange of information, operations and compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations. The paper relies on secondary sources to compare and assess the practices and strategies employed by FIUs within these jurisdictions. Design/methodology/approach: The paper relies on secondary sources to compare and assess the practices and strategies used by FIUs within these jurisdictions. Findings: The ability to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) in countries is influenced by several internal and external factors, including the efficiency of their FIUs' and compliance with FATF recommendations. The analysis of FIUs across the countries demonstrates a raft of multifaceted challenges and concerns. Yet, when it comes to compliance with FATF's recommendations, shared concerns emerge, hinting at the complex interplay between country-specific operations and global compliance standards. The paper recommends enhancements to the FIUs' operational efficiency and overall effectiveness in combating financial crimes. Research limitations/implications: The paper's findings are limited to openly available data (such as annual reports and internet sources) for the respective countries. The paper relies on the transparency of FIUs through public media, focusing on comparing and analysing the FIUs of only four specific countries, which limits the generalisations of the findings. Practical implications: This paper is significant for policymakers and FIU authorities, as they strive to improve the effectiveness of their units and assess their performance in alignment with international standards. The comparative analysis of the FIUs of India, Australia, Canada and The Netherlands provides valuable insights and recommendations that can inform policymakers and operational strategies towards enhancing how FIUs function globally. Originality/value: This paper offers a unique comparative analysis of the FIUs of India, Australia, Canada and The Netherlands. Its findings have practical implications for policymakers and FIU authorities towards enhancing performance against international AML/CFT standards and promoting global cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While promoting manufacturing growth is imperative to boost economic growth, potential adverse consequences on natural resources and ecology have created sustainability-related concerns and challenges. In India, with the reform processes deepening further and the business environment becoming more market-oriented over the years, the adoption of appropriate measures for sustainable manufacturing growth under such conditions would require a deeper investigation of the underlying dynamics, particularly to address the impacts of external shocks. This is especially true when external shocks alter market dynamics and, hence, input is used significantly in the manufacturing sector. Given this backdrop, the present paper examines how the major external shocks to the Indian economy during in the post-reform era have altered the resource use patterns in selected manufacturing industries. The paper uses secondary data collected from the KLEMS database of the Reserve Bank of India for the period from 1980–81 to 2019–20 and applies descriptive statistics and econometric techniques to address the research objective. It is found that energy intensity, vertical integration, capital intensity, and rate of growth of total factor productivity decreased over the decades, whereas labour productivity experienced an increasing trend in most industries. However, the trends are mixed in the case of material intensity. Further, the regression results indicate significant effects of external shocks on resource use, factor productivity, and structural changes. There are also industry-specific differences in the nature and extent of such changes. Hence, a deeper investigation of the underlying factors and impacts at a disaggregate industry level is necessary to draw more robust insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tax Audit is a process of checking the correctness of accounting records from Income Tax Law view point for business and profession. The objective of the tax audit is to ensure the accuracy of the accounting records of tax payer and due tax payable. In India legally, only practicing Chartered Accountants can conduct the tax audit. Chartered Accountant conducting the tax audit are called as Tax Auditors. The proposed research paper is about the technological developments taken place in tax audit in the recent period in India. The objective of the study is to give an overview of developments in tax audit in the period of digitalisation and technological developments. The paper will give useful guidelines to tax payer and tax auditor for facing the present challenges of tax audit. The proposed study is based on secondary data. This paper will provide valuable information to tax auditors, businessman and professional tax payers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a case study of India's Digital Stack, the paper seeks to understand how a discrete set of technology services when consumed by citizens can create public value of financial inclusion with regard to savings and access to credit. The research focuses on a single cross-sectional case study employing a deductive approach. The case-study approach is combined with the Granger causality test to empirically test relationships among various variables. The paper also makes an important contribution to public administration and digital government literature, by examining digital initiatives in India. These learnings can support the policy process about digital governance and public value creation for India and other developing countries of the global south. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acacia nilotica var. cupressiformis is an evergreen multipurpose leguminous tree species which is suitable to agroforestry purposes and mainly distributed in Western parts of Rajasthan in India particularly Pali and its adjoining areas. The species has many advantages, however the natural germination in wild is very limited due to its hard seed coat dormancy. Methods: The experiment was conducted to study the effect of presowing treatment on seed coat of A. nilotica var. cupressiformis seeds with ten treatments in completely randomized block design at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Pali Marwar. The treatments were replicated thrice. Result: Among the treatments, maximum germination and higher values was obtained in sand paper scarification with water soaking for 12 hrs (T2) followed by mechanical scarification with sand paper (T1), acid scarification (50% for 20 min) (T7) and acid scarification (98% for 10 min) (T5). Further, the present study aims to initiate the research areas for conservation and utilization of A. nilotica var. cupressiformis in Western parts of Rajasthan and other parts of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retracted articles by Indian scholars have received significant attention in recent times. However, no comprehensive study has been conducted to analyse the citations of retracted papers authored by Indian researchers. This study aimed to assess the citations to retracted works published between 2001 and 2020 pre‐ and post‐retraction. The study found that there was an increase in retractions over time, with empirical data suggesting that the number of retractions has increased significantly, from 72 papers between 2001 and 2010 to 365 papers between 2011 and 2020. Duplication (n = 128) and plagiarism (n = 119) were the primary reasons for retraction. Notably, 90% of the retracted articles continued to receive citations after retraction. Among the retracted papers, eight received more than 50 post‐retraction citations, 39 received 20 to 50 citations, 347 received one to 19 citations, and 43 were not cited at all post‐retraction. There was an overall 8% decrease in citations after retraction. Retractions were observed across journals of varying impact factor, with a higher number of retractions observed in journals with an impact factor of less than 5 (n = 286; 65%). Furthermore, smaller research teams of two to five authors accounted for 72% of the total retractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several research efforts were dedicated to analysing the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows on gross domestic product (GDP) and employment in the host economies. The variations in the conclusions signal that other variables influence and moderate the effects of FDI on GDP and employment. Institutional elements receive limited research attention, despite their influence on the host economies. This paper investigates the moderating role of institutional elements in the FDI-host economies on FDI’s effects on GDP and employment with China and India as case studies. The approach utilises three principal methodologies. The first methodology presents an in-depth analysis of China and India, highlighting selected institutional elements with the potential to influence FDI’s effects. The second methodology confirms the presence of a positive correlation between FDI and GDP and a negative correlation between FDI and employment-to-population ratio (EPR) in both China and India. The FDI, GDP purchasing power parity per capita, and EPR datasets are extracted from the World Bank – DataBank World Development Indicators to ensure the consistency of the data. The results of the quantitative analysis validate the qualitative analysis. The qualitative analysis confirms the moderating role of the selected institutional elements with variations in direction and strength. Significant variations in FDI’s effects on GDP and employment are strongly related to variations in the institutions of governance. The institutions of governance include the functionality of the state organs, the efficiency of the legal system and enforcement of the rule of law, and the quality of implementation of FDI-supportive policies. The findings aim to increase the absorption of the positive effects of FDI on GDP and employment in the respective countries. The research is a cornerstone of in-depth future research into the following areas: the role of selective FDI and constructive conditional FDI policies, the functionality of judicial authority controls, and FDI favourable exchange rates and interest rates policies. The novelty and contribution of the paper lie in its comprehensive exploration of the moderating role of institutional elements on the effects of FDI on GDP and employment in host economies, with a specific focus on China and India. The paper contributes significantly to the academic literature on FDI and economic development by emphasising the importance of institutional factors and providing actionable insights for policymakers and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deeptha Achar's text on the rise of the woman artist in India, indicates that formulating an aesthetic of the personal is a locus for defining the practice of contemporary women artists. Apropos visual art, textual material often forms an appeal to this aesthetics of the personal. In this paper, I propose to examine this intermedial exchange in the works of Nilima Sheikh and Rajyashri Goody. Their juxtaposed incorporation of literary extracts within the textures of visuality renders insight into the aesthetic creative process driven by emotional affect. While Sheikh's medium is painting, Goody employs a range of mixed media including ceramics, photographs, cookbooks, paper pulp as well as poetic texts. Their integration of literary narratives and poetry within the visual landscape creates a 'textural' aesthetics. Sheikh's paintings and Goody's installations/print both receive from, and re-represent the literary material them within the body of their works, thereby creating an aesthetics of intermediality. Examining the "textural" aesthetics and its antecedent relation to the aesthetics of the personal raise implications of a historicization of their respective politics (Sheikh engages with narratives of Kashmir, migration/displacement, and dowry deaths, while Goody engages with caste issues). The study uses Sara Ahmed's theory of emotional affect to propose that reading the textual aesthetic, evokes a feminist method of "doing" or "re-doing". This opens further enquiries into the possibilities of intermedial exchanges within the reading of art and literature specifically concerning emotional affect and its evocative implications for feminist methods of doing and its politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite taking initiatives for the cybersecurity industry, India’s rank in the MIT Cyber Defence Index 2022-23 is low. In this background, the paper discusses three distinct aspects, i.e., women in the cybersecurity industry, cybersecurity for women engaged in the micro sector, and cybercrime against women and suggests a framework with the corporate sector at its centre for improving the situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterial diversity in terms of structure and community profile, with special reference to water quality in the wastewater treatment plant of Indian paper industries, is poorly understood. In the present work, characterization of bacterial diversity using 16S (V3-V4 region) rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data with reference to physicochemical parameters in the wastewater treatment plant of two paper industries has been carried out. Amplicon data analysis revealed the presence of bacterial taxa belonging to the phylum such as Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Patescibacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, etc. Further, taxonomic classification upto genus level and functional analysis data indicated that genera such as Cloacibacterium, Aerococcus, Chryseobacterium, Microbacterium, Acinetobacter, Sphingobium, etc., were involved in the predicted metabolic pathways like carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid and aromatic compounds biosynthesis as well as degradation. Canonical correspondence analysis confirmed a significant correlation between the microbial pollutions loads and physicochemical parameters. Further, the chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids exceeded the acceptable limits prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board New Delhi, Government of India, for discharge of wastewater. This study finds the correlation between the bacterial community residing in the polluted water of wastewater treatment plant and their environmental preferences. The presence of these bacterial diversity in the wastewater treatment plant of paper industries may affect the maintenance as well as paper quality. In future, it will provide a benchmark for the better understanding and management of wastewater treatment plant in paper industries across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs about three distinct topics in pathology it discusses about the development of a lab-developed test (LDT) for multiplex HR-HPV genotyping in cervical precursor lesions, offering a cost-effective and sensitive screening test. Topic include it presents a comparative study of a rapid, economic acetic acid, Papanicolaou stain (REAP) over conventional Papanicolaou stain in oral cytology, demonstrating the efficacy of REAP as a cost-effective and rapid alternative.

Background: The importance of evidence-informed health policymaking is widely recognized. However, many low- and middle-income countries lack evidence-informed mental health policies due to insufficient data, stigma or lack of resources. Various policies address adolescent mental health in India, but published knowledge on their evidence-informed nature is limited. In this paper, we report results of our analysis of the role of evidence in adolescent mental health policymaking in India. Methods: This paper reports findings from the document analysis of key policy documentation (n = 10) and in-depth interviews with policy actors including policymakers, researchers, practitioners and intermediaries (n = 13). Framework analysis was used, informed by the components of a conceptual framework adapted from the literature: actors, policy and evidence processes, nature of evidence itself and contextual influences. Results: Results show that adolescent mental health policies in India were generally evidence-informed, with more key evidence becoming generally available from 2010 onwards. Both formal and informal evidence informed mental health policies, particularly agenda-setting and policy development. Mental health policymaking in India is deemed important yet relatively neglected due to competing policy priorities and structural barriers such as stigma. Use of evidence in mental health policymaking reflected differing values, interests, relative powers and ideologies of policy actors. Involvement of government officials in evidence generation often resulted in successful evidence uptake in policy decisions. Policy actors often favoured formal and quantitative evidence, with a tendency to accept global evidence that aligns with personal values. Conclusions: There is a need to ensure a balanced and complementary combination of formal and informal evidence for policy decisions. Evidence generation, dissemination and use for policy processes should recognize evidence preferences by key stakeholders, while prioritizing locally available evidence where possible. To help this, a balanced involvement of policy actors can ensure complementary perspectives in evidence production and policy agendas. This continued generation and promotion of evidence can also help reduce societal stigma around mental health and promote mental health as a key policy priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the historical context and current dynamics of the transboundary water issues between India and China. Both countries share multiple transboundary river basins, with the Brahmaputra River being one of the most significant. The importance of the Brahmaputra River to both nations goes beyond just providing resources. It has implications for national security, regional stability, and human livelihoods. However, China's upstream control over the river and its extensive dam-building projects have raised concerns in downstream India and Bangladesh about potential impacts on water availability, agriculture, and livelihoods. The river system is critical for the socioeconomic well-being of millions of people, yet the competing demands for water resources have led to geopolitical tensions. The paper highlights China's strategic use of water resources, including plans for large-scale dams, which India views as a potential threat to its water security. It also underscores the importance of a nuanced understanding of hydropolitics, emphasizing the need for human security, particularly water security, in addressing these challenges. It argues that while "water wars" are unlikely, "water tensions" are significant and must be addressed through comprehensive bilateral agreements and collaborative efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper explores the cultural context of maternal and child health (MCH) care practices and beliefs of Irula tribes. It identifies the factors and analyses the pattern of their domiciliary deliveries and neonatal care among Irula, which is one of the PVTGs (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) in Tamil Nadu. The paper adopted a descriptive research design based on the pilot survey and ethnographic fieldwork. It examines the health care beliefs and practices relating to maternal and neonatal care connected with a holistic view of the Irula community's cultural dimensions. The paper also demonstrates the factors for domiciliary deliveries, non-utilization of prevailing state's health interventions, and incentives for maternal and child health care services among the Irulas. Keeping in view the aforementioned argument, an empirical study was carried out in six Irular settlements of Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper empirically examines the effect of domestic monetary policy shock on external commercial borrowings (ECBs) to India for the period 2000:Q2 to 2019:Q4. The impact of domestic monetary policy shock on ECBs is assessed using two variables: interest rate differential and domestic money supply growth. The paper employs a structural VAR model and utilizes impulse response functions and forecast error variance decomposition analysis to derive empirical results. The empirical results based on impulse response functions indicate that the interest rate differential has a positively significant effect on external commercial borrowings to India, while the effect of domestic money supply growth is found to be negative. The forecast error variance decomposition analysis indicates that the interest rate differential explains about 14.6% and domestic money supply growth explains about 2% of the total variation in external commercial borrowings, implying that domestic monetary policy variables together explain about 16.6% of the total variation in ECBs to India. The results suggest that the central bank, through monetary policy interventions, can influence and manage the flow of external commercial borrowings to India. Furthermore, the study finds that the exchange rate, domestic industrial activity, domestic output growth, domestic country's creditworthiness, and domestic macroeconomic instability are other significant determinants of external commercial borrowings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IRNSS/NavIC is an independent navigation system developed by India. The dependence on external satellite-based navigation systems is gradually decreasing as a result of the deployment of our own navigation system, IRNSS/NavIC, which exhibits enhanced reliability. In this paper, a software-based IRNSS/NavIC receiver is developed using the standard Signal-In-Space Interface Control Document as a reference for signal structure, subframe patterns and parameter calculations. The IRNSS/NavIC receiver is validated with the I/Q data file as input which is generated by software based IRNSS/NavIC simulator. Analysis of the effect of a specific error on receiver output position necessitates repeated trials and modification, or in some cases, the development of new algorithms. The intermediate stage data can be viewed or stored as needed; a few examples are provided. In this paper Squared Correlators Code Discriminator (SCCD), a new multipath mitigation method has been designed and developed for IRNSS/NavIC receiver. The SCCD method is derived from Strobe Correlator (SC) and Combination of squared correlator method (CSC). The pseudorange bias is investigated and eliminated from the SCCD approach. The performance parameters of the IRNSS/NavIC receiver using each of the four approaches are compared, and the outcomes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development is essential for the survival of the planet. The massive increase in GHG emissions due to human activities has put the world in unrest. The Indian construction industry is emerging and evolving at a rapid rate and has understood the grave situation, and for saving the environment has come up with innovative solutions for developing green buildings or sustainable construction. In this paper, the two different (the GRIHA Rating System and the IGBC Green New Building Rating System) of India were studied. The sample size was 40 construction professionals working on green building projects. An interview schedule was used for data collection. The data was subjected to a suitable analysis and the AHP method was applied. Based on the research findings, strategies to go green has been suggested for the IGBC and GRIHA rating system which may serve as a ready reckoner for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the construction management process. Therefore, keeping in mind the above view this research paper "Review of Indian Green Building Rating Systems by Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) on Various Parameters" becomes indispensable. Hence, this research study can be considered an effort to empower construction professionals to create an extensive analysis of green building concepts and develop sustainably in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We undertake a case study on the SHIKSHA initiative in Uttar Pradesh in Northern India to understand how impactful the technology-integrated pedagogy through public–private partnerships (PPP) in education has been on the learning outcomes of students. A content analysis to understand the processes adopted by the SHIKSHA initiative is attempted. The digitized curriculum developed is found to be contextualized in accordance with the background of students, which can be aligned with constructivist learning theory. We also attempt a quantitative analysis to estimate the impact of these pedagogical practices on learning outcomes. The analysis finds that the average scores of schools with SHIKSHA interventions are higher by 58 percentage points. Also, under SHIKSHA, a 15-day period was given to the students for revision of the courses with the active participation of the teachers. The average scores after these revisions record an improvement as compared to the average scores before revisions. The paper suggests that the digitization of content by the government or through PPPs can help boost effective learning. JEL Classifications: C120, H520, I200, I210, I220, I280 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The era of digital capitalism poses conundrums for communication for development and social change scholarship and practice. On one hand, mainstream social media platforms are an increasingly ubiquitous element of the everyday media practices of growing portions of the global population. On the other, the profit-driven architectures can make these hostile spaces for progressive social change dialogues. While a burgeoning literature exists on the uses of social media as part of hashtag-activism and social movements, much less critical consideration has been given to NGOs' and civil society organizations' uses of capitalist-driven social media platforms in their development and social change efforts, and the challenges and compromises they navigate in this, consciously or not. This paper argues that meaningful uses of social media platforms for social change requires cultivating a hacker mindset in order to find tactics to subvert, resist, and appropriate platform logics, combined with an ecological sensibility to understanding media and communication. This paper analyzes how metaphors, specifically of a recipe, can offer a productive, praxis-oriented framework for fostering these sensibilities. The paper draws on insights from workshops with IT for Change, a civil society organization in India, which is both a leader in critiquing the political and economic power of Big Tech especially in the Global South, and beginning to use Instagram for its work on adolescent empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to determine the implications of Covid-19 on the livelihood of marine fishermen. It gives a concrete picture of how vulnerable communities like marine fishermen are affected due to the lockdown policies. The paper examines these communities' present status and the extent of vulnerability during the post-Covid period. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses an exploratory research design to find the solution to the research problem. 298 samples were collected and analysed within a sustainable livelihood theoretical framework. The scope of the study is limited to marine fishermen in Kerala, residing in six districts out of the nine coastal districts. The impact of the lockdown on income was analysed using paired t-test and results linked with the theory. Findings: The study has done an empirical analysis for three periods: before lockdown, lockdown and after lockdown, to identify the impact of lockdown on marine fishermen. The study's significant findings are that these fishermen's livelihood is at risk during the post-lockdown period, and many families are moving into a "debt-trap". Research limitations/implications: Policymakers can develop appropriate policy strategies to enhance the livelihood assets of vulnerable communities to include them in a sustainable framework. Originality/value: Only a few studies are highlighting the impact of Covid-19 on vulnerable communities in India. The effects of climate change on the marine ecosystem are already endangering marine fisher folks' livelihoods. In this light, it is vital to study the extent of the impact of income shock on the livelihood assets of marine fishermen due to the lockdown policy implemented in the State to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-03-2023-0192 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All over the world, waste and its disposal are becoming a more prominent issue, as landfills swell up and growing evidence points to its contribution to climate change and environmental degradation. In the developing world, waste pickers sort through solid waste and sell it to vendors, who will recycle the product into something consumable. The work they do is vital to climate change mitigation, as well as urban cleanliness. In a way, waste pickers, especially in India, are vehicles of environmental justice, but they are often discriminated against and subjected to inhumane working conditions. In this environment, the pandemic hit, making waste pickers' already precarious life even worse. This paper attempts to fill the gap in the academic literature by compiling a systemized literature review of the impacts of COVID-19 on waste-pickers' lives using an environmental justice perspective. The review also uses a Feminist Political Ecology perspective to illuminate the double jeopardy that female waste pickers face in the era of COVID-19, which academia often ignores. Ultimately, this paper shows that COVID-19 exacerbated the preexisting injustices that the waste picker community face and created an immense burden on women. This paper will show that it is important to notice the differentiation between female and male waste picker challenges, especially at the crux of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper has important policy implications as well as research considerations for both environmental justice and feminist political ecology scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study is conducted to understand an emerging public health problem in the garb of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) that affects about 6–21% of women in reproductive age from a systems perspective. Design/methodology/approach: The research is conducted in two phases. In phase 1, 15 women suffering from PCOS were interviewed to generate a knowledge map using an interpretive phenomenological research approach. The emerging themes were divided into four categories, namely individual, familial, societal, organizational, medical and systemic. In phase 2, five workshops were conducted with six invited actors to generate a causal loop diagram (CLD) of PCOS. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) are used in this study. Findings: A CLD from an individual's perspective with implications on organizational, societal and system levels. Research limitations/implications: Awareness of "lifestyle diseases" is increasing, and this research shall help future studies put PCOS in the larger psychosocial context. The geographical location of respondents can be a limitation, as the causal linkages could only be true for the research site. Practical implications: The CLD provides a comprehensive understanding of complex emerging phenomenon of PCOS. Social implications: The paper draws attention to factors such as frequently changing doctors, withdrawal from work, medication fatigue, inclination to adopt due to infertility, etc. Originality/value: This is the first such paper laying out the causal relationships between factors at the individual levels and connecting them to societal, organizational and system levels. This mapping can be useful for policymakers and industry leaders to empathize with PCOS sufferers so that their working conditions can be managed better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research paper aims to study the achievement of the objectives set by the Government of Kerala through the Arogyakeralam Pain and Palliative Care project. Design/methodology/approach: The research paper delves into diverse facets of an individual's well-being including medical, emotional, spiritual and social aspects, when confronted with an incurable and incapacitating disease through the intervention of the PPC project. This insightful study was conducted in the state of Kerala, India. Findings: The analysis reveals that quality of life (QoL) is most influenced by spiritual, social and psychological factors. This paper raises pertinent questions about the effectiveness of PPC initiatives within the realm of medical care. Social implications: The thought, conception and preparation of the subject is on improving social health care by assessing the existing practices followed by the local governance. This, by far, would benefit millions by formulating appropriate policies for improving the QoL. Originality/value: The Kerala model of health care has garnered global acclaim, standing shoulder to shoulder with the health systems of developed nations. Adopting "active total care" to address pain and allied indications, the Arogyakeralam palliative care program significantly enhances patients' QoL. The focus was to uplift the QoL of patients suffering from terminal illnesses post-pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence against women often stems from gender inequality, societal structures such as patriarchy, impunity, and institutional violence. Despite the remarkable progress it has made in establishing the representation of women in all fields, India still finds itself an unsafe country for women, with multiple cases of femicide reported every year. The present paper proposes a close look at violence against women in India through a multidisciplinary reading of Clea Chakravarty's novel La Voix de Sita [Sita's Voice] which is a retelling of the 2012 Delhi gang rape. Commonly known as the Nirbhaya Case, it ushered a lot of debates around women's modesty and morality, alongside controversial anti-feminist remarks by the dominant misinformed strata of society on women being responsible for crimes done against them and the branding of feminism as anti-national. By approaching the revisionist mythmaking of Indian epics in the novel through a feminist lens, the paper also traces the root cause of violence against women in India by analysing media reports, interviews, and anecdotes focused on the case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to focus on the issue of high employee turnover in the Indian tech industry. An integrative review is conducted to analyse the past and current state of literature, as well as prepare a research agenda for future studies. Design/methodology/approach: A pool of 72 articles published between 2010 and 2022 is reviewed with a special focus on Indian tech employees. This study elucidates the extent and impact of employee retention strategies through content analysis. Findings: Two broad perspectives have been established in the literature: the reasons for quitting and the explanations for staying. By means of a comprehensive review, this paper combines these two aspects of literature and suggests factors under organization's control to retain competent tech employees. Originality/value: The study is designed to integrate the two theoretical viewpoints of employee turnover literature by consolidating the reasons behind quitting behaviour and staying intention. Codes combining the two aspects are presented as a valuable resource to retain tech talent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]